Joan Kayse Winner

The winner of a copy of

Ruarc:Bound by Stone is:

Glenda

Congratulations, Glenda! 

Please send us an email with the following information:

Choice of Kindle, Nook or print copy of the book and the appropriate

e-mail or snail mail address.

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Joan Kayse

It's St. Patrick's Day so who better to visit us today than our favorite Irish (by way of Kentucky) lass, Joan Kayse! You may know Joan from Romance Bandits or from her ancient Rome romances but she's here today to chat with us about a new direction in her writing. She's moved forward a few centuries and taken her talents to the magical, mystical Emerald Isle with a terrific new series. Let's find out more about it!

Hi Joan! It’s a pleasure to welcome you today to talk about your new Guardian Isle series. These books represent a new direction in your writing. Please tell us about the premise of the series and how many books there will be.

Hi Dishes! PJ, thanks for having me. Have you ever wondered how much gold was in the pot at the end of the rainbow? Turns out that pot of treasure contains more than precious metal, it contains the essences of life itself….foundation, resilience, knowledge and more. The gifts that comprise life. Each treasure is aligned with a warrior of the Leithprachaun clan, the solitary Fae assigned to protect them. As long as the treasures are contained, all is well. But what happens if they are lost or stolen?  The Guardian Isle series answers that when the curse of a Dark Banshee Queen separates the Leithprachauns from their essence. The time for renewing is upon them and if they can't find them and take them back, then darkness will destroy life as we know it.

There are nine books in this series.

Ruarc: Bound by Stone kicked off the series on February 21^st. What can readers expect from this first Guardian Isle book?

This book  introduces lovers of paranormal romance to a different take on the magical beings.  An alternate Irish mythology. Sure you've heard of Leprechauns, but that's just bad press from a ticked off Fae hierarchy. The Leithprachaun are proud, solitary Fae who must face the consequences of their father's mistakes and recover their treasures and save the world. Save existence.  In Ruarc: Bound By Stone, you meet Ruarc whose treasure portion is that of foundation . He's been feeling anything but stable as his treasure continues to elude him. His magic's going wonky and his High King, his brother Patric's not pleased. But neither are his brothers and sister who look to him to lead the way to redemption.  Being solitary in nature, used to being alone, he's stunned to find out the only way to ground himself is through the connection with a Cheile, a soulmate destined for only him. 

Ruarc and his clan have some pretty cool magical powers. If you were granted a magical power for yourself, what would you choose and why?

Well, there's fun magical powers and then the ones to save humankind. I guess I'll go with the fun choice and choose levitation.  That way, I wouldn't have to dislodge Cricket or Grayson the Monkey Cat from my lap when I want a snack :D

I think Rachel would probably approve of that power too! 

What inspired you to create this new series and why Ireland?

My inspiration came from my first trip to Ireland in 2002. It sounds SO cliché but I can say without a doubt that as soon as I touched down, I felt at home. My heritage is ¾ Irish and there was such a connection! I truly felt one with the world around me. Ireland is beyond description gorgeous even on those rainy days.  Creation occurred there and in my mind, that's where our world started…IN Ireland :D That's the why to the setting. This storyline was inspired by watching a REALLY handsome Irish stone mason working on…you guessed it…a stone wall! Yum. O.

Will these books be digital only or will they also be available in paperback?

Yes and yes. It will be available on Kindle, iTunes, Nook, GooglePlay and trade paperback.

After reading this book, I’ve decided I need to add breakfast at an Irish B&B to my bucket list. I know you enjoy playing in the kitchen, so what are your go-to breakfast dishes to make? Any Irish favorites?

My favorite breakfast to make is at Cracker Barrel or IHOP :D But I love scrambled eggs and bacon and being Southern a good biscuit and gravy would not be amiss. I'm really not sure how they decided what entailed an Irish breakfast on my visits there but two things I came to love. Muesli …though I figured out WHY on my second trip…I was putting Irish MILK/CREAM on that cereal LOL. And I developed a liking for white blood pudding. Very sausage like. Dang…now I'm craving some.

When can we expect the next book in the series (you’ve hooked me!) and are you able to tell us anything about it?

I plan to have the second book out by year's end. It will tell the tale of Brady Sullivan, whose treasure is music. The Irish are very connected to music and song and in that way spirit too. And it doesn't matter which instrument…I saw a guy play the spoons in a pub and he had his eyes closed connecting with the rhythm and the timing. Sigh. Love me some Irish trad music.

Is there anything you’d like to add about Ruarc, Aine or the other Guardians?

Just that I'm thrilled to bring stories with a fresh perspective in terms of paranormal beings. And to showcase the wonder that is Ireland.

Speaking of Ireland, I'm delighted to have you here on the day when everyone celebrates their Irish roots...whether they have them or not! Tell us, how do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Any special traditions? If money and time were no object and you could celebrate this holiday anywhere in the world, where would you be and with whom?

I wear green in some manner or fashion on St. Patrick's Day. If I'm off work that day, I will stop by for fish and chips at a local pub Molly Malone's. They have trad musicians that day and the atmosphere is energizing...even without the Guinness. :D I love the primal beat of a bodhran drum.

Oh, you have to know I'd be in Ireland, along the coast of the southwest or in Killarney deep in the National forest, sitting on a rise looking at the lakes. And hmmmm...would would I be with? I'd love to be with Patric, High King of the Leithprachaun. He has a lot on his place besides colcannon and could use a shoulder to lean on...and maybe a back rub...a temple massage...a...a...yeah...a shoulder to lean on. :D 

LOL! Not a bad way to spend the holiday! 

Thanks for visiting with us, Joan! Would you like to ask our readers a question?

You're welcome PJ and thanks again. Hmm…a question. What would you like to find in the pot at the end of the rainbow?

Joan is giving away one copy of Ruarc:Bound by Stone to a randomly chosen person who leaves a comment. Winner's choice of Kindle, Nook or print.

Life is grand—until the fate of the world is laid on your shoulders. Ruarc Dongahue should be used to life's unexpected twists and turns. After all, at age thirteen his own life was turned upside down when a stranger claimed him as his son—and informed him he was a Leithprachaun, a warrior of the Fae. Entrusted with the essences of life, the treasures of both mortal and Fae worlds, Ruarc grew into a man, becoming the warrior his clan expected, living life in the moment. Cue another twist when the wrath of the Dark Banshee queen steals and hides the treasures from the Leithprachaun's hands. Aye, life is feckin' grand. 

After the death of her family, Aine O'Neill stopped believing the stories of the Fae and magical worlds her Irish grandmother thrived on . She went from a dream filled young girl to a woman who lived by logic and common sense meeting the real world head on as an investigative journalist. But logic cannot ease her grief when her grandmother dies and she must travel to Ireland to settle her estate. In, out and she can get back to business. Instead she finds a dilapidated manor house and a hot, sexy Irishman who claims to be—a leprechaun. 

The essences of the world must be gathered together every third era for renewing to prevent the Fae and mortal realms from disintegrating into chaos. A trick that, as neither Ruarc nor his siblings have recovered them. Centuries spent searching have led him to an estate in the Irish countryside and a gorgeous Yank with emerald eyes, luscious curves and fiery spirit that sends the solitary Fae spinning. When he discovers she is the key to locating his essence he attempts to manipulate her into helping him . But its more than access to the property that Aine brings the Leithprachaun warrior. Time is short and with his magic and his heart spinning out of control, Ruarc must come to grips that there is more at stake than the world's existence...his heart and soul. 

The fate of the world lies in the Essences of Life, the treasures of both mortal and Fae realms. Once every third era, the Essences must be assembled together at the sacred stone circle or life will sink into chaos and death. The safeguarding of these treasures has rested in the hands of the Leithprachaun, the warrior clan of the Fae. The Dark Banshee queen has released her wrath on the warrior clan and stolen the precious items, cursing them to give their heart, something the capricious Fae cannot do, to find them. The renewing is rapidly approaching and time is running out. Will dark forces gain the power of life, dooming the world to extinction? 

Tick, tock… 

Today's Special - - Joan Kayse

I am so excited to welcome Joan Kayse today.  Many of you know Joan as one of the famous (infamous?) Romance Bandits - and we know her as one of the nicest people around - but today we're welcoming her as a newly published debut author!  That's right.  We finally have the opportunity to read about those Roman heroes!  When Joan isn't busy creating sexy heroes, she's busy as an orthopaedic nurse.  Find out more about her at her website and connect with her at Facebook and the  Romance Bandits blog.

Please join me in giving Joan a very warm welcome!

Good morning Dishes!

Heartfelt thanks to PJ and Andrea for having me today.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

That, my friends has been my motto since the day I decided to get serious about all these stories flying around in my head. I’ve even considered having it tattooed somewhere on, er…my person.

My name is Joan and I write Roman historicals.

Kind of sounds like a 12 step program, doesn’t it? Well, it felt like it in 2001 when I began to explore the alternately astounding, energizing, frustrating, beat your head against the wall, raise your fist with fervor world of romance writing. That was the year I attended my first RWA conference in New Orleans. It was there that I met my first challenge in writing a non-Regency, non-Scottish historical. “I write Roman historicals” I stuttered, still not quite used to actually SAYING I was a writer. Oh, the looks of pity, the soothing “Oh, sweetie…really. Look at the market” responses. Would have withered some. Me? Just made me all the more determined to do just that.

Understand I was a baby writer then, having only been focusing on publication for a little over a year, after my mother passed away and I hit that “evaluate your life” phase of grieving. After all, she bestowed on me my creative mind and passion for the things I love. I grew up reading and loving romance, especially historical romance. Why not write one?

While I adore all types of history, Rome in all of its infamous, magnificent, decadent glory is my favorite period of all. I have no logical explanation for it. I mean the closest I got to studying it was taking two years of high school Latin. Substituting Latin words in the refrain of “Willie Go Round in Circles” was about all I took away from that. Oh, and a major crush on Mr. Powell the teacher J

But I KNEW from the first day I sat down to flesh out THE PATRICIAN  that I would be telling three heroes’ stories and they really, only could take place in Rome. Take a little bit of alpha, a touch of wounded (or in Bran’s case…a LOT of wounded) and a smidgen of an all consuming Empire that threatens their very existence. Throw in vibrant heroines that meet them toe to toe and voila….a series was born.

My fellow Banditas over at The Romance Bandits have created an elite contingent of gladiators. Demetrius, Lucien and Marcus are great guys (and mix a mean margarita) but there were more than gladiators and tribunes living and loving in 52 CE. Meet the first of my hot, Roman heroes:

Jared of Alexandria shuns both his Roman and Hebrew blood, a curse that’s kept him on the fringes of society, to become a powerful and successful merchant prince. When his trading empire is threatened by an unknown enemy who not only wants to see him ruined but dead as well, he uses every means to put an end to it. He turns to a beautiful barbarian seer, a slave with hair the color of firelight and eyes that shine like emeralds only to be betrayed into a fate worse than death—slavery.

But Jared’s not the only one who’s been dealt a blow by the Fates:

Bryna of Eire lives each day burdened by the yoke of Rome and her own guilt for leading her beloved brother and clansmen into Rome’s clutches. She curses the gift of sight which her master exploits, keeping her under lock and key, telling fortunes and fattening his purse. When an opportunity to be freed of her confinement comes, Bryna takes it, though her instincts warn that lying to the sensual, golden-eyed man that plagues her visions risks her very soul.

.Conflict much? And it starts from the very beginning. Here’s an excerpt from THE PATRICIAN:

Bryna’s head shot straight up with the creaking of the door. Her eyes burned from the sun streaming into the gloom of her cell. Against the blinding light, she could see only the silhouette of a very tall man. She forced herself not to rub her arms and betray the anxiety skimming along every inch of her body.

            The man stepped inside. Coeus started to follow, but was stopped by a muscular arm stretched across the entry.

            “I have paid my coin,” the man said. The rich timbre of his voice seemed familiar. “I would speak with the seer alone.”

            Coeus’ face turned several shades of red before tilting his head in acquiesces. “As you wish, master.” He backed out but not before shooting Bryna a hard look of warning. The door slammed closed.

            Accustomed to the dismal light, Bryna’s eyes adjusted quickly. The man stood with his back to the door, legs braced, his face draped in shadows. The long sleeves of his robe fell toward his elbows when he crossed his arms over the broad chest of a warrior. A furring of black hair jutted out from beneath the neckline of the tunic, eliciting a coil of warmth deep in her belly. She pulled her gaze away, trailed down his narrow waist and froze at the knife fastened to his belt.

            The light of a thousand stars flashed in her mind and she was running along a dark path, her hand grasping that of a small child. Distorted sounds echoed around her, weeping, screaming followed by a weight of grief so heavy her vision-self fell to her knees. Blinking through smoke at the grove of tall palm trees, she looked down, bile rising in her throat. The sightless eyes of the beaten, bloodied woman stared at her and a wave of guilt ripped through her gut.

Bryna gripped the edge of her seat as she settled back to the present, still feeling waves of energy pulsing from him, unsettling impressions of anger and vengeance and resolve. Beneath the maelstrom she glimpsed gentler traits, but those were quickly swept away, unable to stand up to the stronger emotions. She bit her lip at the familiar power that flowed from him. It bombarded her from every direction, overwhelming her senses with one certainty—he was dangerous.

            And she was going to lie to him.

The Roman world is filled with more than gladiators and centurions. It’s filled with people like Jared and Bryna, fighting an Empire and a society that would deny them that which they seek most. Love.

What interests you most about Ancient Rome?  Are you stubborn like me?  Have you ever been told "you can't?"