Paranormal Excerpt - The Secret Door

My "working" cover for visual
inspiration as I wrote for "The
Secret Door."

Here is a special "sneak peak" excerpt from "The Secret Door." The excerpt could change from the final publication. Leave a comment today, Saturday, and Sunday along with your email and I'll select one winner to receive a PDF copy of one of the Budapest Moon Books, The Hungarian, The Count's Lair, or Danube in Candlelight, winner's choice.

EXCERPT:

Footfalls near the door caught his attention. The sweet, innocent scent of apples teased his senses. He swallowed. This woman was not Inna. The door opened and the lovely Sophia Varga walked in. She offered him a small smile and placed the tray she held on the nightstand before taking a seat next to the bed.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Unwell."
"You had a rough night."
"Indeed."

She held up her hand. "May I touch you?"

He nodded. Sophia placed her palm against his forehead. "You feel hot."

"A fever is typical after a transformation," he replied.

She withdrew her hand. "Yes, it is. I've brought lotions and the elixir you need. Will you allow me to attend you?"

He pursed his lips, concern and curiosity making an odd mix. Where was Inna? After a long pause he acquiesced. "All right."

She plucked a glass off the tray and presented it to him. "Your elixir. Drink up. I'm sorry I wasn't able to come sooner. Konrad and I worked as fast as we could. You're lucky your butler is so knowledgeable about your dietary needs. He was a big help to me in the kitchen."

"Inna taught him. Where is she?" He sipped from the glass.

"She has a concussion." Sophia paused, offering him a sympathetic smile. "She had a deep gash behind her ear when she came to us last night. Rita, Tomas' wife, stitched the wound, but her pupils are still dilated and she's dizzy. Rita's with her now. As soon as Inna's better, Rita will send her to you."

"I have your word that's the extent of her injuries?"

"Yes." Sophia slid off his pajama bottoms, leaving only his undergarment covering his manhood. Then she took the jar of lotion and scooped out a handful, positioning herself near the end of the bed where his feet rested. As a wolf he needed the lotion, made of rose petals, camphor, and aloe, to heal his skin. Usually Inna applied the healing crème. Zoltan scooted toward the headrest, positioning his back against the board as he finished his drink. The liquid warmed his throat and heated his stomach. The elixir accelerated his healing factor and augmented it, giving his muscles and joints a chance to recover from their distended positioning as a wolf. Even now he internally felt the muscles and bone coming together in the break of his arm, and he felt the skin mending in his shoulder. Still, it would take days for the injuries to fully heal, but days would be infinitely more tolerable than weeks.

He glanced at Sophia. Determination furrowed her brow. Zoltan appreciated her initiative and her desire to take Inna's place. Sophia had a giving heart, one Zoltan admired. He leaned over and grabbed the wooden tray off the nightstand, quite a feat for him since he wasn't that good with his left hand. There was a plate of food on it - eggs, chicken, milk, and potatoes – items that helped his healing factor as well. Starving, he shoveled the food awkwardly into his mouth.

Sophia rubbed the lotion onto his foot and Zoltan drew in a sharp, involuntary breath. Adrenaline rushed through his limbs, sparking his feral attraction.

You can find Stephanie at:

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:
http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Paranormal Week: A Look at the Award Winning Moldavian Moon Series

GOLD winner in the 2012 Reader's Favorite Contest, Fiction: Supernatural, "The Wolf's Torment."

The witches in this series are torn between loyalty and love, often making difficult choices in the face of adversity. The Moldavian Moon series is a notch darker than the Budapest Moon Series and the wolves have little to no redeeming qualities – they are truly "bad to the bone." Set in Romania between 1860-1880's, the series captures a classic paranormal feel involving witches, werewolves, and vampires.

In BOOK 1, "The Wolf's Torment," Crown Prince Mihai Sigmaringen is a witch. His best friend, Viktor, marries Mihai's sister, Sonia. Mihai himself marries a witch, Theresa. The dynamic between the characters becomes complicated when Viktor is bitten by a wolf. He struggles to retain his humanity, but eventually crosses a line, forcing Mihai and Theresa to make the most difficult choices of their lives.

REVIEW: "The Wolf’s Torment is certainly more than a story about a werewolf. There is quite a bit of depth in this multifaceted story of a family’s struggle with life, love and loss. The ending is definitely bittersweet and I had many questions that I hope will be answered in the next book in the series. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this intriguing tale. Fans of historical, paranormal romance should give The Wolf’s Torment a try." – Poinsettia, Long and Short Reviews, 4.5 Books, Nominated for BOOK OF THE WEEK.

BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-163/Stephanie-Burkhart-Moldavian-Moon/Detail.bok

In BOOK 2, "Twilight Over Moldavia," Prince Stefan is Mihai's son. He's also been cursed to become a werewolf on his 18th birthday. He's got one chance to break the curse – fall in love with the princess from Carpathia, Caroline. But is Caroline a woman he can fall in love with? Complicating matters is Timon, the werewolf who wants to see the curse fulfilled in Stefan.

REVIEW:
"Twilight Over Moldavia is even better than the first book in the series. It is an excellent story filled with just the right balance of romance, magic, and danger. Stefan and Caroline’s story certainly has a happy and satisfying ending, but the epilogue opens up a whole new story line. I’m already looking forward to the next book in this exciting series." – Poinsettia, 5 Books, Long and Short Reviews, Nominated for Book of the Month, FEB 2012

BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-247/Moldavian-Moon-Book-Two/Detail.bok

COMING UP:

BOOK 3 in the series will be "Sunrise Over Brasov," and its due to be published in July 2013. Prince Michael Sigmaringen is on a mission to save Lady Rosa Getzi, the woman he loves, from the wolf Clement and his witch, Cassandra. Rosa, however, has been traumatized by her captivity and isn't quite giving of her trust. Can Michael make her fall in love with him all over again?

You can find the Prequel Free read here:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-130/Stephanie-Burkhart-Moldavian-Moon/Detail.bok


Tomorrow: A Look at "The Secret Door."

Spotlight: The Award Winning Budapest Moon Series

AWARDS:
Most Unique/Unusual Romance Setting 2011 – Hope Chest Reviews

2011 SILVER Award Winner Reader's Favorite Contest, Romance: Sci-Fi/Fantasy – "The Count's Lair"

2012 FINALIST Reader's Favorite Contest, Romance: Sci-Fi/Fantasy – "Danube in Candlelight"

The wolves in the Budapest Moon series find themselves trapped between the modern world and the dictates of the old myths which come from being a wolf.

In BOOK 1, "The Hungarian," Matthias Duma finds himself in England so his daughter can get to know her grandparents. He struggles with his condition, and discovers it's not easy to conceal the fact he's a wolf from the world. When he meets Katherine Archibald, she challenges him, stimulates him, and breaks through the battlements surrounding his heart. Dare he fall in love again? The novel is set in 1901 in England and Budapest.

REVIEW:
"I highly recommend The Hungarian, even if you aren't that interested in the paranormal such as werewolves. The romantic tale of The Hungarian is enough to win over anyone." - Sizzling Hot Book Reviews, 5 Hearts

BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-87/%3Ci%3EBudapest-Moon-Book-One%3C-fdsh-i%3E-cln-/Detail.bok

In BOOK 2, "The Count's Lair," Anton Varga can't deny the attraction he feels for Lady Amelia Andrassy. She drives away the loneliness that surrounds his heart. Fearing she won't believe his secret, (he's a wolf) he gives her 3 clues. Can Amelia accept Anton for what he is? The novel is set in 1901-2 during Christmas in Budapest.

REVIEW:
"This is one of the best werewolf books I have ever read. Stephanie Burkhart gives a great view of the 18th Century Catholic Church and Werewolf relationship, as well as going into more detail about the attributes of werewolves. If you enjoy the Werewolf legends, or just romantic relationships, The Count's Lair is a wonderful read." - Sizzling Hot Book Reviews, 5 Hearts

BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-142/Stephanie-Burkhart-Budapest-Moon/Detail.bok

BOOK 3, "Danube in Candlelight," is set in 1922 just after World War I. Morgan Duma returns to Budapest after living in England with relatives. The daughter of a wolf, her unusual eyes and lupine characteristics set her apart from other women. Morgan becomes a nurse, but her mother's severe injuries and her father's secret drive her down a reckless path which werewolf Zoltan Kristos takes advantage of. He turns Morgan. Is the love Morgan shares with Adam strong enough to withstand the challenges of her lupine's condition?

REVIEW:
"Once again, Stephanie Burkhart has touched my imagination and with her writing brings 1922 Hungary to life. Danube in Candlelight is a very romantic, yet spicy read. This is a must read if you enjoy the paranormal werewolf stories or even if you merely enjoy a great romance." – Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-219/Budapest-Moon-Book-III/Detail.bok

COMING UP:

BOOK 4 in the series, "The Secret Door" will be available in FEB 2013. Set in 1927, the story takes place between Sopron, Miskolc, and Budapest. Zoltan Kristos falls hard for Anton Varga's daughter, Sophia. When Zoltan is pursued by a reckless wolf, Sophia comes to his aid. Can love bloom in a garden full of secrets and denials?

QUESTION: How do you spend your Halloween? Do you pass out treats? Bake? Watch scary movies? I'd love to hear your comments.

Tomorrow: Things That Go Bump in the Night

Welcome to Paranormal Week at Desert Breeze!

Q&A with Paranormal Author Stephanie Burkhart

Welcome to Paranormal Week at Desert Breeze. Halloween is just around the corner. The spooks, ghouls, and goblins are on the hunt. If you get a chance, explore the interesting paranormal titles Desert Breeze has to offer here: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-Paranormal/Categories.bok

QUESTION: Tell us a little about yourself, Stephanie. How long have you been writing?

STEPH: I grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire. When I turned 18, I joined the US Army and spent 7 years stationed overseas in Germany. In 1997, I left the Army and settled in California with my husband. Currently, I work for LAPD as a 911 dispatcher.

I've been writing since I was six, but I didn't start writing for publication until I got out of the Army. My first story was a self-published effort, Destination: Berlin, but I'm looking for a new home for it. I've been on Writing.com since 2005 and it really helped me grow as a writer.

QUESTION: When did you realize things went bump in the night?

STEPH: When I was a little girl. I was convinced a vampire lived under my bed, so I always made sure the covers reached my neck. It probably didn't help that I watched "Creature Double Feature" on Saturdays, either. I learned everything I needed to know about vampires, werewolves, Godzilla, zombies, and Frankenstein from watching that show.

QUESTION: The Budapest Moon series is set in Hungary. Have you been? Tell us about the series.

STEPH: I was deployed to Hungary from July – October 1997. I was stationed in Taszur, Hungary in support of the troops in Bosnia. My time in Hungary was very rewarding to me. I also had a chance to go to Budapest on a USO trip. Budapest was amazing. When I began to write Matthias and Katherine's story, I knew I wanted to set it in Budapest. It's a city where you just might believe a werewolf might live.

The series explores how werewolves struggle to live in a changing world while trying to deal with their dangerous infliction. The series spans from 1901-1927. The wolves have witches to tend to them during the full moon. They deal with adversity, challenges, experiencing their emotions in a heightened state from disappointment to love. Can the power of love help them manage their challenges of being a wolf?

QUESTION: Have you ever written a ghost story?

STEPH: I have! It's a free read offered with Desert Breeze called "Under a Christmas Moon." A ghost haunts Matthias and Katherine, the couple from "The Hungarian," in the Budapest Moon series.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite witch that you've written?

STEPH: I love all my witches. I really enjoyed writing "Beatrice" from "The Wolf's Torment." My favorite witch outside of my writing is Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite wolf that you've written?

STEPH: Another toughie! My heart goes out to "Anton" from "The Count's Lair." He had a real tough life growing up and then he's bitten by a wolf.

QUESTION: Do you have a favorite paranormal movie?

STEPH: I love the Underworld movies, especially 1 and 2. I loved 3 for the back story. Kate Beckinsale is great as "Selene."

QUESTION: Are you a plotter or a panster?

STEPH: A panster for sure. I draft a rough outline, then plot out the first 3 chapters. Then I "fly by the seat of my pants" until the end.

QUESTION: Do you decorate and get dressed up for Halloween?

STEPH: I like to decorate the front yard for the boys, but this year I haven't. Sadly, there's just not enough time in the day. I haven't decided if I'll be Spongebob or Daenerys for Halloween.

I'd love to hear your Hallowen plans. Are you going to give out candy? Get dressed up? Attend a party? Host a party? I usually give out Junior Mints because my son has a nut allergy and I don't like to give out candy with nuts.

Feel Free to visit the following paranormal author pages:

STEPHANIE BURKHART:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/StephanieBurkhart/Page.bok

J MORGAN:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/JMorganBio/Page.bok

BARBARA SCOTT:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/BarbaraScottBio/Page.bok

CAINA FULLER:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/CainaFuller/Page.bok

DANIELLE THORNE: DEATH CHEATER:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-259/Death-Cheater-Danielle-Thorne/Detail.bok

JANET BUTLER:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/JanetButler/Page.bok

Tomorrow: Travel to Hungary and meet the wolves of the Budapest Moon Series

Author Spotlight - The Inspiration behind "Twilight Over Moldavia"

When I was a young girl, I used to watch "Creature Double Feature" on Saturdays and became convinced that there were beings who went bump in the night like vampires, werewolves, witches, and zombies. Silly me – I thought if I covered my neck with my sheets the vampires couldn't get me. Oh, and I never did figure out what happened to all the lint under the bed so I think there was merit to my theory.

All those creatures of the night resonated with that young girl so when I grew up, I wanted to write about them. Being the optimist I am, I gravitated toward romance writing. When I discovered paranormal writing, I'd knew I'd found my niche.

In 2005, I wanted to write a paranormal romance about a werewolf. Vampires were pretty popular back then and I wanted to explore the wolf. My idea? I wanted to write a fairytale in reverse where the princess had to save the prince. Inspiration had taken root.

I threw a dash of gothic and a pinch of moonlight into the plot and wrote "Twilight Over Moldavia." Prince Stefan had been cursed to become a werewolf on his 18th birthday. Can Caroline's love save him? I wrote the first draft then tackled "The Wolf's Torment," explaining how Stefan came to be cursed. I went through several drafts of each and my self-published "The Wolf's Torment" in 2007 had more horror elements than romantic ones. In 2009, I signed contracts with Desert Breeze for the Moldavian Moon Series. The published version of "Twilight Over Moldavia" is draft #4. It's a story close to my heart because I love how Caroline and Stefan come together to face adversity. I usually don't draw inspiration from music, but for their story, I drew a lot from "Astronomy" by Blue Oyster Cult. Inspiration comes from the willingness to explore - and Blue Oyster Cult.



BLURB: Would you marry a man cursed to become a werewolf?

4 Stars, Vijaya Schartz, author
In this novel full of danger and intrigue, sexy scenes, and unspeakable secrets, the werewolves are the villains, and oh how dangerous they are, and unwashed, and uncivilized. The kind of villains you love to hate.

5 Stars, Mona Risk, Author "No More Lies"
Burkhart's writing style grabs the reader from the first page. She keeps you breathless with her suspense as she transports you to exotic areas you will enjoy discovering.

Barbara Hodges, Author, "The Blue Flame"
Twilight Over Moldavia whisked me into a part of the world I knew nothing about, and gave me a wonderful love story filled with suspense too. What more could a reader desire? I will be reading the first book in this series and will be looking for the third, I can’t hardly wait.


BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSAhxv0lTIM

BUY LINKS:

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-moldavianmoonbooktwotwilightovermoldavia-667833-139.html

AMAZON KINDLE:
http://www.amazon.com/Moldavian-Moon-Book-Two-ebook/dp/B006RQ7LU8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325479348&sr=8-1

PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-247/Moldavian-Moon-Book-Two/Detail.bok

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Stephanie Burkhart

Question: I don't know much about "Twilight Over Moldavia." What's it about?

Steph: "Twilight Over Moldavia" is a paranormal romance set in the 1880's in Romania. Prince Stefan is cursed to become a werewolf on his 18th birthday. He learns this just as he's getting engaged to Caroline. She must make a choice to go ahead with the engagement or not. Timon, the werewolf who cursed him, hunts Stefan throughout the Romanian principalities, determined to claim Stefan for his pack.

Question: How long did it take you to write?

Steph: I wrote the first draft in 2005 and it was very different from this version. I put the draft aside and focused on other projects. From 2006-2009, I started a 2nd and 3rd draft, but didn't settle upon this draft until last summer. It took about eight weeks to write this version.

Question: Where did the inspiration for the story come from?

Steph: I love supernatural creatures, but decided I'd focus on werewolves instead of vampires because the basic premise of the wolf has a living, breathing man behind the beast. I wanted to focus on how the wolf struggles to retain his humanity. For me, witches are a natural fit for the wolf, an organic companion. Witches also have struggles, like learning to fit into the human world.

For "Twilight Over Moldavia" the premise was simple. I wanted to write a fairytale in reverse where the princess had to save the prince. The plot and characters grew from that.

Question: How did you come up with the title, "Twilight Over Moldavia?"

Steph: For Stefan's principality, Moldavia, it's truly twilight when the promise of the nation, the crown prince, is cursed to become a werewolf. By using "twilight" in the title, I hope to provide a small amount of hope that Stefan can be saved and find "happily ever after."

Question: How much research did you do?


Steph: Tons! I researched werewolf myths, witches, Romania, Romanian customs, Orthodoxy, Romanian names, Transylvania, Wallachia, Dracula, the Black Sea, and Bran Castle just to name a few.

Question: Tell us a little about the heroine, Caroline. What are her strengths?

Steph: When the story opens, Caroline has just been name the Crown Princess of Carpathia. She did not expect to have the title since she was her parents' second daughter, but her older sister, Edwina, died in a riding accident.

Caroline knows her own mind. She's the best horsewoman in Carpathia and she's skilled in archery, very non-princess traits her dancing is passable and her embroidery is abysmal. She knows she disappoints her mother, yet it's her understanding of duty that her father teaches her which drives her choices. Caroline hopes that ultimately she can make her mother proud of her.

Question: How did Stefan come to be cursed?

Steph: For that, you'll have to read "The Wolf's Torment," book 1 in the series.

Question: Do you have to read "The Wolf's Torment" before reading "Twilight Over Moldavia?"

Steph: No. I believe "Twilight Over Moldavia" can stand alone, but "The Wolf's Torment" will help the reader better understand how Stefan came to be cursed.

Question: Do you have an ebook reader?

Steph: I have a Kindle 2nd generation and a Kindle Fire. I love them both.

Question: Did you make any new year's resolutions?

Steph: To lose weight. I'm back at Weight Watchers and joined the weight loss challenge at work. If you want to follow my journey, I'm blogging about my experiences every Saturday on my blog, "Romance Under The Moonlight."

BLURB: Would you marry a man cursed to become a werewolf?

4 Stars, Vijaya Schartz, author
In this novel full of danger and intrigue, sexy scenes, and unspeakable secrets, the werewolves are the villains, and oh how dangerous they are, and unwashed, and uncivilized. The kind of villains you love to hate.

5 Stars, Mona Risk, Author "No More Lies"
Burkhart's writing style grabs the reader from the first page. She keeps you breathless with her suspense as she transports you to exotic areas you will enjoy discovering.

Barbara Hodges, Author, "The Blue Flame"
Twilight Over Moldavia whisked me into a part of the world I knew nothing about, and gave me a wonderful love story filled with suspense too. What more could a reader desire? I will be reading the first book in this series and will be looking for the third, I can’t hardly wait.


BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSAhxv0lTIM

BUY LINKS:

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-moldavianmoonbooktwotwilightovermoldavia-667833-139.html

AMAZON KINDLE:
http://www.amazon.com/Moldavian-Moon-Book-Two-ebook/dp/B006RQ7LU8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325479348&sr=8-1

PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-247/Moldavian-Moon-Book-Two/Detail.bok

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Danube in Candlelight

Enjoy this "spine-tingling" post from Danube in Candelight. Leave a comment today, Saturday, and Sunday and Monday I'll pick a winner to receive my giveaway goodie bag: A GC to Panera, a bag of chocolate, a decorative autumn pumpkin hand crafted by my friend, Lori Powell, and MacIntosh Apples Yankee Candles.

Thanks so much for supporting me during this week.
Smiles
Moderator Steph

*****************


Zoltan stood in the middle of a patch of red roses. His eyes were closed, and he breathed deeply. Should she approach him? He furrowed his brow, fisted one of his hands, and brought it up to his chin. Her heart went out to him.

"Zoltan?"

His eyes snapped open. "Morgan? You shouldn't have followed me. Go away."

"You look awful. Can I help?"

He glanced at the moon and raked a hand through his hair. "I can't manage anymore. I must leave. Now."

"Then let's do so with dignity. Take my hand, and we'll walk back in there and leave through the front door."

His expression betrayed his struggle.

"I don't think I can. Even now I feel the tug of the moon. Its wicked light is draining the rest of my strength."

Morgan pursed her lips, knowing he had grown progressively weaker throughout the evening. Still, she offered him her hand. She wanted him to know she trusted him.

"Be strong just a little bit longer."

His eyes darkened dangerously. A look of warning crossed his features, but she ignored it. She could handle this. Her father could. Why couldn't he?

"Take my hand, Zoltan."

With a suddenness she didn't expect, he lunged for her hand, pushing it against the roses. The thorns on the rose stem pricked her flesh, making her bleed.

"Oh!" She brought her hand to her chest, but Zoltan pounced on her and grabbed her wrist. For a moment he studied her intently, then he opened his mouth. Long, white, pristine incisors hung past his lower lip.

Morgan's heart spiked with fear. He couldn't handle this. By God, the man was gone and had been replaced with a beast.
"Let me go, Zoltan."

He refused, pulling her hand toward him. She tried to tug it free, but he was incredibly strong. She couldn't break his grasp.
He brought her blood-stained hand to his nose and took a long breath.

"Sweet and coppery..." he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as he let the words trail away.

"Zoltan, let me go." Fear and panic laced her voice.

He flicked out his tongue and licked the blood off her hand. She tried to pull away. Instead of letting her go, he jerked her toward him, wrapped his powerful arm around her waist, and continued to lap up her blood. His sharp incisors brushed her hand. Fear thrummed through her veins. She couldn't break his hold. A glance at his eyes revealed all common sense had left him. Venom dripped off his elongated teeth.

"No, Zoltan, no..."

His teeth sliced into her flesh at the wrist. Her head spun. She pushed feebly against his chest and grew weak in his grip.

The pleasure was heady -- like that of a narcotic. Zoltan became one with her, his heart beating in time with hers. His life in Miskolc before the war came to life inside her head. She experienced his heartbreak and sadness, becoming one with him as she experienced his turning.

"No more killing. I won't kill again, ever. I swear it."

"Zoltan..." Her life force ebbed.

"Forgive me, Morgan."

He had satisfied his need to take, and her narcotic high drained away. She must take now if she wanted to live.

He offered her his wrist.

"Bite me. Take from me so you will live."

Morgan snapped her mouth open and sank her teeth into his flesh. The high returned, and she greedily took from him. In the back of her mind a man shouted her name, but she couldn't pull her attention away from Zoltan, or she would die.


*****

REVIEWS:
5 Stars, Reader's Favorite:
This story is the closest I have ever come to reading a book that feels like a movie!

5 Hearts, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews:
Once again, Stephanie Burkhart has touched my imagination and with her writing brings 1922 Hungary to life. Danube in Candlelight is a very romantic, yet spicy read. This is a must read if you enjoy the paranormal werewolf stories or even if you merely enjoy a great romance.

Book Trailer on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgzUIHCRN0I

BLURB:
Set in Budapest 1922, The Hungarians are recovering from the war. Adam Varga is Hungarian to the bone and becomes an architect to help rebuild his nation. Morgan Duma returns from England also intent on helping to rebuild her country.

After a tragedy happens to her mother, Morgan discovers her father is a werewolf. She begins to question who she is, becoming more reckless, more daring, and her choices more bold. When Zoltan Kristos, a known werewolf, requests Morgan accompany him to the summer ball, Morgan has to decide which man will best fit her life.
PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-219/Budapest-Moon-Book-III/Detail.bok

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Hungarian-Moon-Book-Three-ebook/dp/B0061XJFG0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1320188529&sr=1-1
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hungarian-moon-book-three-stephanie-burkhart/1107039692?ean=2940013659148&itm=1&usri=danube%2bin%2bcandlelight

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

10 NOV

Author Spotlight - Hungarian Cuisine - Tokaji & Goulash

As you read "Danube in Candlelight" you discover Morgan and Adam like to drink Tokaji. So… what is it? You might be surprised.

Tokaji is a sweet, topaz colored wine frequently known as a Hungarian dessert wine.


"Tokaji" is a name of wines from the "Tokaj-Hegyalja" region in Hungary and Slovakia and is used to label wine from the area. The wine region is known for producing sweet wines and Tokaji is made from grapes that have been affected by noble rot.

Cool fact: Tokaji is mentioned in the Hungarian national anthem!

Interestingly, Tokaj-Hegyaja used to be in the Kingdom of Hungary but was given to Slovakia when the nation was separated by the Treaty of Trianon. (The treaty is mentioned often in "Danube in Candlelight.")

In 1920, following the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a small part of the Tokaj wine region (approx. 1.75 km²) became part of Czechoslovakia due to the Treaty of Trianon, while the rest remained part of Hungary.

Louis XIV loved Tokaji. His grandson, Louis XV did too and often shared it with mistress, Madame dePompadour. Louis XV coined the phrase: Wine of Kings, King of Wines which is used on tokaji labels today.

Emperor Franz Josef (who was also King of Hungary) had a tradition of sending Queen Victoria Tokaji Aszú wine, as a gift, every year on her birthday, one bottle for every month she had lived, twelve for each year. On her eighty-first and final birthday (1900), this totaled an impressive 972 bottles.

If you want to try tokaji you can find it in BevMo.


Hungarian Goulash is a stew of meat that is generally seasoned with paprika, a spice abundantly found in Hungary. It's a sweet pepper and doesn't burn.

Here's a recipe for Goulash that I enjoy and late autumn is a great time in the US to give it a try.
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons caraway seeds
• 1 pound beef shoulder, fat trimmed, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons Hungarian sweet paprika
• 10 cups canned beef broth
• 1 12-ounce russet potato, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 parsnip, peeled, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into matchstick-size strips
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 6 tablespoons sour cream

How to prepare:

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion and caraway seeds and sauté until onion begins to soften, about 8 minutes. Add beef and paprika; sauté until meat is brown on all sides, about 15 minutes. Add broth. Bring to boil, scraping up browned bits at bottom of pot. Reduce heat to low; simmer until meat is just tender, about 40 minutes.

Stir potato, parsnip, carrot, and garlic into soup. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, celery, and bell pepper. Simmer until vegetables and meat are very tender, about 15 minutes longer. Cool slightly.

Transfer 3 1/2 cups soup to blender. Blend until smooth. Add to soup in pot. Stir in parsley. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool slightly; chill uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before serving.)

Ladle soup into 6 bowls. Top each with 1 tablespoon sour cream.

(Personally, I lay off the sour cream. When I was stationed in Hungary, I never had goulash with sour cream. Other than that, I enjoy this recipe and find it very authentic.

REVIEWS:
5 Stars, Reader's Favorite:
This story is the closest I have ever come to reading a book that feels like a movie!

5 Hearts, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews:
Once again, Stephanie Burkhart has touched my imagination and with her writing brings 1922 Hungary to life. Danube in Candlelight is a very romantic, yet spicy read. This is a must read if you enjoy the paranormal werewolf stories or even if you merely enjoy a great romance.

Book Trailer on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgzUIHCRN0I

BLURB:
Set in Budapest 1922, The Hungarians are recovering from the war. Adam Varga is Hungarian to the bone and becomes an architect to help rebuild his nation. Morgan Duma returns from England also intent on helping to rebuild her country.

After a tragedy happens to her mother, Morgan discovers her father is a werewolf. She begins to question who she is, becoming more reckless, more daring, and her choices more bold. When Zoltan Kristos, a known werewolf, requests Morgan accompany him to the summer ball, Morgan has to decide which man will best fit her life.
PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-219/Budapest-Moon-Book-III/Detail.bok

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Hungarian-Moon-Book-Three-ebook/dp/B0061XJFG0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1320188529&sr=1-1
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hungarian-moon-book-three-stephanie-burkhart/1107039692?ean=2940013659148&itm=1&usri=danube%2bin%2bcandlelight

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

10 NOV

Info for today's post was taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokaji

Author Spotlight - The Characters in "Danube in Candlelight"

Our stories are all about characters, but creating characters can be a chore. I've got some ideas that will make creating characters fun and I'll share with you my casting choices for my latest paranormal release, "Danube in Candlelight."

It's all in the faults…and strengths.

What makes a character rich and complex is how "human" they are and how you show their strengths and weaknesses.

None of us are perfect. Don't expect your characters to be. To present 3D characters, they need to strong…and weak. Morgan's strength in "Danube in Candlelight" is her loyalty and her nursing. She's confident in her abilities. Her weaknesses? She makes reckless choices that put her in danger. Haven't we all made poor choices? Morgan's restlessness stems from learning her father's secret – he's a werewolf.

Adam Varga is an all around good guy. His strength? He's loyal, steadfast and confident in who he is. His weakness? He's too trusting and that can get him into trouble.

I like to create characters bios with the basics about my characters – a physical description and 3 likes and 3 dislikes. Then I like to list strengths and weaknesses. Writing a short scene or short story helps me to flesh out the push/pull of a character's emotions.

When it comes to painting a physical description, I like to cast my characters. For me, it brings them to life and gives them a face.

"Morgan Duma"

For Morgan I cast: Abir Timani. She's got that exotic look I'm striving for in the character with rich dark hair and haunting dark eyes.









"Adam Varga"

For Adam, I picked Jacob Young. He's got those blonde hair, blue-eyed looks that embody the character's mother, Amelia. He possess a stiff lip that speaks to the determination that Adam needs and eyes that speak to the passion inside the character's heart.








"Max Foldi"

For Max Foldi, Adam's best friend, I selected James McAvoy. He's got the look that says "best friend," to me. His acting taps into a sense of honesty and genuineness the character embodies.








"Emily Duma"

For Emily Duma, I picked Liv Tyler. Emily is Morgan's half-sister and big sister, and Liv has such a way about her, she brings out Emily's kindness, toughness, and talents, qualities many "oldest" children usually have.












"Zoltan Kristos"

For Zoltan Kristos, I selected Joseph Fiennes. He's got that arrogant, cocky look needed to embody Zoltan's feral nature.

I hope you enjoy my character choices for "Danube in Candlelight."

REVIEWS:
5 Stars, Reader's Favorite:
This story is the closest I have ever come to reading a book that feels like a movie!

5 Hearts, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews:
Once again, Stephanie Burkhart has touched my imagination and with her writing brings 1922 Hungary to life. Danube in Candlelight is a very romantic, yet spicy read. This is a must read if you enjoy the paranormal werewolf stories or even if you merely enjoy a great romance.

Book Trailer on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgzUIHCRN0I

BLURB:
Set in Budapest 1922, The Hungarians are recovering from the war. Adam Varga is Hungarian to the bone and becomes an architect to help rebuild his nation. Morgan Duma returns from England also intent on helping to rebuild her country.

After a tragedy happens to her mother, Morgan discovers her father is a werewolf. She begins to question who she is, becoming more reckless, more daring, and her choices more bold. When Zoltan Kristos, a known werewolf, requests Morgan accompany him to the summer ball, Morgan has to decide which man will best fit her life.
PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-219/Budapest-Moon-Book-III/Detail.bok

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Hungarian-Moon-Book-Three-ebook/dp/B0061XJFG0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1320188529&sr=1-1
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hungarian-moon-book-three-stephanie-burkhart/1107039692?ean=2940013659148&itm=1&usri=danube%2bin%2bcandlelight

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

Author Spotlight - What's in a name? Creating a Title

by: Stephanie Burkhart
Creating a title for your work in progress can always be a challenge. It has to embody the story and hint at romance. Interestingly, it took me a bit to find "Danube in Candlelight," but when I did, I knew I had the right title for Book 3 of the Budapest Moon Series.

When I originally contracted the series, I had written "The Hungarian" and plotted "The Count's Lair." Book 3 would be about Matthias' daughter, Morgan, and Anton's son, Adam. Morgan would have to deal with becoming a werewolf. That was the basic plot of the book. The title still escaped me.

A few months later, I read "Crown in Candlelight." It was about Henry V's wife, Katherine Valois and her 2nd husband, Owen Tudor. The title appealed to me. (Mind you, the book was difficult to get through and I don't subscribe to the theory that Katherine was schizophrenic, just a "genetic carrier") but that's beside the point. The title resonated with me. It festered in the back of my mind until I had "Danube in Candlelight."

But what did it mean? I had this really cool title, but now I had to flesh out a more meaningful plot.

Here's where my research paid off. The story would be set in Budapest, 1922, in the aftermath of World War I. The Hungarians were on the losing side of the war and saw their boundaries reduced to what is modern day Hungary. The Communists took control of the government, but threw the nation into chaos. The former nobility rose up, overthrew the Communists and established a constitutional monarchy with a regent. The regent entered into the Treaty of Trinanon, Hungary's peace accord with the victors of the war. Hungary then began the slow process of reconstruction. The Hungarian nation is shadowed by Candlelight during this time (my metaphor) but a flame can grow stronger as a nation does, or it can sputter out.



Morgan's world is shattered when she learns her father is a werewolf. While she's not a wolf, her actions become more reckless as the flame of her soul flickers. Adam's flame is steadfast.

Both Morgan and Hungary must push forward and face their future. Will the candlelight burn bright and strong or weaken and become extinguished?

REVIEWS:
5 Stars, Reader's Favorite:
This story is the closest I have ever come to reading a book that feels like a movie!

5 Hearts, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews:
Once again, Stephanie Burkhart has touched my imagination and with her writing brings 1922 Hungary to life. Danube in Candlelight is a very romantic, yet spicy read. This is a must read if you enjoy the paranormal werewolf stories or even if you merely enjoy a great romance.

Book Trailer on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgzUIHCRN0I

BLURB:
Set in Budapest 1922, The Hungarians are recovering from the war. Adam Varga is Hungarian to the bone and becomes an architect to help rebuild his nation. Morgan Duma returns from England also intent on helping to rebuild her country.

After a tragedy happens to her mother, Morgan discovers her father is a werewolf. She begins to question who she is, becoming more reckless, more daring, and her choices more bold. When Zoltan Kristos, a known werewolf, requests Morgan accompany him to the summer ball, Morgan has to decide which man will best fit her life.
PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-219/Budapest-Moon-Book-III/Detail.bok

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Hungarian-Moon-Book-Three-ebook/dp/B0061XJFG0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1320188529&sr=1-1
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hungarian-moon-book-three-stephanie-burkhart/1107039692?ean=2940013659148&itm=1&usri=danube%2bin%2bcandlelight

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Stephanie Burkhart

Q: What's "Danube in Candlelight" about?

STEPH: The story takes place in Budapest, 1922. The Hungarian nation is rebuilding after losing World War I. Morgan Duma returns form England and almost immediately, her mother, Katherine, is gravely injured in a fire. Morgan learns her father, Matthias, is a werewolf, and in order to save Katherine from a morphine addiction, he's going to turn her into a werewolf. Morgan is shattered by her father's dark secret. Complicating matters is Zoltan Kristos, a known werewolf who believes Morgan is the woman for him. Morgan's heart, however, belongs to Adam Varga. Which man is the right one for her? Can Morgan accept her father's dark secrets?

Q: How long did it take you to write?

STEPH: Approximately 10 weeks. I basically did NaNoWriMo in April this year. ☺ - and July.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the story?

STEPH: If you can believe this: a lot of research! When I contracted the novel, the intent was to always have Morgan face the challenges of becoming a werewolf. The series would have to move into the 1920's, (since her parents story is told in The Hungarian in 1901.) placing her story at the end of World War I. I did a ton of research about Hungary in 1920. It was troubling times. The Communists had infested the nation and the Treaty of Trinanon practically crippled the recovery. While the Hungarians wanted a constitutional monarchy, they didn't want Otto Hapsburg, the rightful Hapsburg ruler, to return and instead accepted a regent. Taking the totality of the situation and the recovery of the Hungarian nation, I wove a recovery theme into the story. Candlelight provides only a little illumination and the atmosphere of the nation made me think of Candlelight. From there, I added fire and shadows. So the inspiration didn't come over night, but grew over the course of several days as I researched.

Q: How important was the setting?

STEPH: Setting creates mood and ambience and this is a story about werewolves, after all. I'd like to think Budapest is a place where you just might believe a werewolf would exist. Even today the city captures an early 20th Century charm with its exotic buildings and bridges.

Abir Timani inspiration for
"Morgan Duma"


Q: In "The Hungarian" and "The Count's Lair" your protagonists are men. In this story, it's a woman – Morgan. Why?

STEPH: It was time to explore the werewolf myths through a woman's eyes. Katherine and Matthias raised Morgan in a loving home, but they kept the truth from her that Matthias was a werewolf. When Morgan has to look at her parents lie, she's rocked to the core of her being. She's shocked these two people – her parents – lied to her, yet they're not bad people. She questions not only her world, but her beliefs as well.

Q: What do you want readers to take away after reading the novel?

STEPH: I'd like them to feel a sense of hope. No matter what the challenges you face, you don’t have to face them alone.

Q: Are you planning a 4th book for the series?

STEPH: Yes. It will be called "The Secret Door."

Q: What's your writing space like?

STEPH: It's the buffet table in my dining room. Depending on my state of organization, its either covered in paper or neat.

Q: Do you have an ebook reader?

STEPH: I have a Kindle. Can't wait for the Kindle Fire.

Q: Who's your favorite football team?

STEPH: College: USC. Pro: NE Patriots.

Joseph Fiennes inspiration for:
"Zoltan Kristos"


REVIEWS:
5 Stars, Reader's Favorite:
This story is the closest I have ever come to reading a book that feels like a movie!

5 Hearts, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews:
Once again, Stephanie Burkhart has touched my imagination and with her writing brings 1922 Hungary to life. Danube in Candlelight is a very romantic, yet spicy read. This is a must read if you enjoy the paranormal werewolf stories or even if you merely enjoy a great romance.

Book Trailer on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgzUIHCRN0I

BLURB:
Set in Budapest 1922, The Hungarians are recovering from the war. Adam Varga is Hungarian to the bone and becomes an architect to help rebuild his nation. Morgan Duma returns from England also intent on helping to rebuild her country.

After a tragedy happens to her mother, Morgan discovers her father is a werewolf. She begins to question who she is, becoming more reckless, more daring, and her choices more bold. When Zoltan Kristos, a known werewolf, requests Morgan accompany him to the summer ball, Morgan has to decide which man will best fit her life.
PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-219/Budapest-Moon-Book-III/Detail.bok

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Hungarian-Moon-Book-Three-ebook/dp/B0061XJFG0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1320188529&sr=1-1
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hungarian-moon-book-three-stephanie-burkhart/1107039692?ean=2940013659148&itm=1&usri=danube%2bin%2bcandlelight

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

Author Spotlight Week - Cast the Movie: The Wolf's Torment

A story is all about characters and a writer must get into "character" so they can live and breath and entertain. To do that, I use character bios to help me round out my character's personality. I also cast the characters. I find that casting the characters really give me a strong visual of them and the actors style also gives the characters an added depth.

I'm going to share my casting choices with you for The Wolf's Torment. These actors are in no way affiliated with the story and their images have been used for inspiration only.

Enjoy!

Mihai
The initial inspiration for Mihai was actor Jon Hensley circa 1985-1986. He's best known for "Holden" on As The World Turns. I love Hensley's look during this time. He's tall, well defined, has that thick ebony hair and his character at the time had a bit of an edge to him.
















However, if casting Mihai for a movie right now. I just might select Daniel Radcliffe from Harry Potter. Daniel is young, well defined and has the eyes I envision Mihai has.

Theresa
The initial inspiration for Theresa was young Julianne Moore. She has the eyes and hair I envision for Theresa. However, if I was casting Theresa for a movie right now, I'd cast Jennifer Ferrin. She's best known for her work as "Jennifer" on As The World Turns, but she has that look that is completely Theresa.



















Viktor
Oh, Paul Walker is perfect for Viktor with his blue eyes and blond hair. I just melt when I see him.














Sonia
I love Jennifer Love Hewitt for the role of Sonia. She captures that delicate femininity that Sonia embodies.


















King Stelian:

Michael Douglas has that older look to him and I can imagine he'd pull off Stelian's "saltiness" with ease.

Bane
Christian Bale is perfect for my heartless werewolf, Bane. He's got the grit and hard edges that Bane needs.

Hecuba
Young Hecuba is Emmy Rossum. Emmy has that young, exotic look I envision for Hecuba. For Old Hecuba I'd cast Olympia Dukakis.

Beatrice
Keri Russell is perfect for Beatrice. She's got that auburn hair and winsome smile that embodies Beatrice's personality and makes her look convincingly like a sister to Ferrin's "Theresa."


















REVIEW FOR THE WOLF'S TORMENT

From The Pen & Muse:
A complete werewolf story through and through, Burkhart does it again with an amazing cast of characters, entertaining dialogue and plot. Lovers of historical paranormal romance will enjoy this read, the first in the Moldavian Moon series.

Link: http://thepenmuse.net/archives/2720


ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

A knock on the door shook her out of her musings.

"Come in."

Mihai entered wearing breeches tucked into riding boots and a simple white linen shirt with long sleeves. "Do you have a minute?"

She put the brush on her bureau and motioned for him to sit on her bed. "What, no 'good morning?' Where are your manners?"

Mihai flashed her a quick smile, but paced the length of her bed instead of sitting on it.

Something had made him anxious. "Good morning, Sonia."

"So, what has you so full of vigor this early in the morning?" she asked.

"I had a dream last night."

"Do tell."

He stopped and looked directly at her, his eyes dancing with confusion. "Theresa came to me in a dream. She wanted to wish me a Merry Christmas."

Sonia raised an eyebrow. She knew he was sensitive to the emotions of those around him and his dreams were exceptionally vivid. Their mother was a witch and they suspected these sensations were inherited from her. Sonia was good at reading others' expressions, but she wasn't as sensitive to those around her -- not like Mihai.

"Say something," he said.

Sonia smiled, the imp in her unable to resist teasing him. "Did you wish her a Merry Christmas back?"

"Sonia, do not joke!"

"What do you want me to say?"

"I...I don't know. What's she like? Did you see her in September?"

"I did, and in fact, she sent you a gift for Christmas. It's under the tree. I sent her one back from you."

"What did you send her?"

"An ornament for her tree."

He clasped his hands in front of him. "Thank you for being so thoughtful."

"You're welcome, but why are you so anxious? It was just a dream."

His shoulders tensed and she knew he was in turmoil. "Does she have auburn hair? Hazel eyes? Is she slender?"

"Yes."

"She's very pretty," said Mihai. It was more of a statement than a question.

"She has attractive features, I suppose."

"She's pleasant? Has a nice disposition?"

"Yes. Why are you asking me all this? What did your dream tell you?"

"I've been dreaming of her since I was five. She was a girl then. My last dream was several years ago, before I left for England. I stopped dreaming of her while I was away."

"How unusual. You don't just dream of the same person over and over."

"It's our mother's blood working in me -- I'm convinced of it."

"So...are the dreams good or bad? They don't sound harmful. Are they perhaps enlightening?"

"No, they aren't harmful. Theresa is a lovely young woman and I fear I might have ruined things for her."

BLURB: Mihai Sigmaringen has a secret – he's a witch. Will love give him the courage to save his family from a destructive werewolf.

Visit the Book Trailer on You Tube and give it a 'like' at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzHE2spBeeU

The Wolf's Torment is available as an ebook only on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Sony Ereader. Formats include: PDF, html, and epub which can be found on the Publisher's Website at: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-163/Stephanie-Burkhart-Moldavian-Moon/Detail.bok

About the Author: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She also served as an MP in the US Army. Multi-published, she has a children's book, "The Giving Meadow" with 4RV Publishing. She's an avid reader , loves coffee in the morning, and her favorite Harry Potter movie is "The Prisoner of Azkaban."

You can find me at:
Website:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
Blog:
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166
Tweet me at:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

Author Spotlight Week - The Power of Love, a character interview with Theresa von Kracken

Actress Jennifer Ferrin, inspiration for the character "Theresa"

A Character interview with Theresa von Kracken Sigmaringen

Gael: Hi all, I'm Gael, the owner of MUSEum, a bar where many a muse come to relax. I'm here today with Princess Theresa Sigmaringen from "The Wolf's Torment." Welcome, Theresa. Would you like a drink?

Theresa: Thank you for having me, Gael. It's nice to step out for the day. Do you have any tea? I find that wine or tuica upset my stomach.

Gael: Tuica?

Theresa: Romanian plum brandy.

Gael. Ah, well, I'm sorry to hear it.

Theresa: I'm expecting, you see.

Gael: Congratulations! But weren't recently married?

Theresa: Um, yes.

Gael: You naughty girl, you!

Theresa: An engaged couple in my religion is allowed all the rights of a married couple and Mihai and I…well, we enjoyed a night.

Gael: What religion are you?

Theresa: Romanian Orthodox. I converted so I could marry Mihai.

Gael: Mihai must be something special if you were willing to convert.

Theresa: He is. He's very kind and sweet, but he works long hours.

Gael: Is he good looking?

Theresa. Lord, yes. I only have eyes for him. What really makes him special though is that he's a witch.

Gael: A witch? Really? He told you that?


Theresa: Yes, he did. There's an energy about him that makes my body come alive. He's so passionate about the things he believes in.

Gael: Was converting to Orthodoxy a big change for you?

Theresa: No. I was raised Protestant, but I find the Orthodox faith very spiritual. There's a lot of symbolism involved.

Gael: So what's an Orthodox wedding like?

Theresa: It's very involved. Once the bride enters the church, she meets her bridegroom in the vestibule. The priest blesses the rings and the best man exchanges them rings between the couple. Then we enter the church. We're given a candle by the Priest representing the light of Christ and we have to hold it throughout the mass. After the mass, we crown each other and walked around the altar 3 times. Then the priest pronounces us husband and wife.

Orthodox Wedding Crowns


Gael: Gosh, I would have fainted!

Theresa: I almost fainted when Mihai kissed me.

Gael: Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Theresa: To Varna, in Bulgaria. It's a spa town. I enjoyed it very much.

Gael: Sounds like fun. I enjoy a nice, relaxing spa day myself. How do you keep busy when Mihai is working on the railroad project?

Theresa: Aside from painting, I like to visit the children at the orphanage. I've given it my patronage so the children there have it a little easier. It's so rewarding to visit them. They're so giving and honest. It's refreshing to me to spend time with them.

Gael: Does it bother you that your husband is a witch?

Theresa: Not in the least. It's a part of him. I accept him for what he is, but I frustrated at times. He's very busy with the railroad project. I must have more patience.

Gael: It sounds like you're very patient to me.

Theresa; Well, thank you.

Gael: Thanks for visiting today.

Theresa: You're welcome. If you're ever in Romania, try the tuica.

Gael: I will.

BLURB: Mihai Sigmaringen has a secret – he's a witch. Will love give him the courage to save his family from a destructive werewolf?

REVIEW FOR THE WOLF'S TORMENT

From The Pen & Muse:
A complete werewolf story through and through, Burkhart does it again with an amazing cast of characters, entertaining dialogue and plot. Lovers of historical paranormal romance will enjoy this read, the first in the Moldavian Moon series.

Link: http://thepenmuse.net/archives/2720


Visit the Book Trailer on You Tube and give it a 'like' at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzHE2spBeeU

The Wolf's Torment is available as an ebook only on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Sony Ereader. Formats include: PDF, html, and epub which can be found on the Publisher's Website at: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-163/Stephanie-Burkhart-Moldavian-Moon/Detail.bok

About the Author: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She also served as an MP in the US Army. Multi-published, she has a children's book, "The Giving Meadow" with 4RV Publishing. She's an avid reader , loves coffee in the morning, and her second favorite movie witch is Emma Watson's "Hermoine" from Harry Potter.

You can find me at:
Website:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
Blog:
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166
Tweet me at:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

Author Spotlight Week - Creating a Paranormal World, Setting

Growing up as a girl in the 1970's, I remember some of my favorite books were the Hardy Boys mysteries. The best part were the settings – the spooky caves and dank manors. I could just close my eyes and I'd be there in the scenes. As a teenager, I fell in love with Victoria Holt. She revitalized the gothic romance with her 19th Century settings, dark, spooky mansions, and imperiled heroine. What else do the Hardy Boys and Holt have in common? Secrets.

All those elements attract me to paranormal writing – dark, haunting castles, exotic locales and secrets. In "The Wolf's Torment," I blend all of these elements to establish my setting – Delfin Castle in Constanta, Moldavia, a town snuggled up next to the Black Sea.

Delfin Castle is the ancestral estate of the Sigmaringens, the ruling family of Moldavia. I envision a castle similar to Bran Castle, on a hill, with several towers, which are different sizes, each providing a majestic view of the Black Sea. The castle has secret passages, dark corners, and hidden balconies. You have to live in the castle with Sonia and Mihai in order to navigate the maze within.

Romania implies exotic. While the climate and seasons are very similar to the mid-Atlantic states in America, the food, customs, and even religion are different. The Romanian people are very superstitious and witching in Romania is a recognized profession to this day. The food consists of wine, meals such as lamb and pork, oatmeal, crepes, and vegetables such as cabbage, onions, and peppers. Fish is also a big part of the diet as is cold soup.


While Romanians are generally a friendly people, their customs mean a lot to them. From religious customs to superstitious customs, Romanians embrace them with a passion. In "The Wolf's Torment," I blend them together when Mihai, Viktor, Sonia, and Theresa color Easter eggs. The first egg colored must be blue and given to children for good health and luck. When Sonia cracks the egg Viktor gives her, she believes she's brought down bad luck on them. When Sonia's father can't continue on Martisor, she takes it as a sign of bad luck as well.

For me, every paranormal story must have a juicy secret. In "The Wolf's Torment," both Mihai and Viktor have secrets to keep – Mihai is a witch and Viktor is a werewolf.

Setting is so important to a story because it establishes a mood – a tone. A paranormal is perfect for shadows and secrets and that's a big part of the appeal for me.

REVIEW FOR THE WOLF'S TORMENT

From The Pen & Muse:
A complete werewolf story through and through, Burkhart does it again with an amazing cast of characters, entertaining dialogue and plot. Lovers of historical paranormal romance will enjoy this read, the first in the Moldavian Moon series.

Link: http://thepenmuse.net/archives/2720




ENJOY THE EXCERPT:

"Come." He gestured to the door and she walked out. Mihai slipped in front of her and they took a hall that led towards the servants' area of the castle. Just before they reached the servants' living quarters, he opened a door that was disguised as part of the stone wall and went inside. A small table with a candle in a pewter holder stood near the door. Mihai lit it and closed the door. Theresa followed him as they ascended the stairs. Thank goodness her dress had a thick crinoline under it, keeping her fairly warm. The staircase was cold and made of stones, yet Theresa was thrilled to learn of this secret passage.

They climbed for several minutes. They must have been high up in the castle by now. Mihai passed two wooden doors in the staircase until coming to a third at the end of the staircase. He opened it and Theresa walked into a darkened room illuminated by a small sunbeam coming in through dirty glass doors. Mihai walked over to the fireplace, placed wood and kindling in it, and started a fire. While he did that, Theresa walked around the room.

It was compact, yet cozy. There was a shelf with blankets, pillows, books, maps, and writing tools. A huge telescope mounted onto a metal tripod rested in front of the glass doors.

The fire blazed to life and Mihai grabbed a blanket, throwing it in front of the fireplace. He motioned for Theresa to sit down and she did. Mihai sat next to her. His expression appeared intense, and then softened.

"I bet you're wondering why I brought you here."

"I am curious."

"Well, I would have preferred to show you the winery or even take you out on the royal yacht, but it's still winter and too cold for those things."

"I understand."

"This is my escape when I can't leave the castle."

She arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I like to look at the stars. My mother acquired the telescope." He paused and pointed to a stack of papers on a nearby shelf. "Those are my homemade star charts."

"You're an amateur astronomer?"

"I am." He paused again, and drew in a breath. "I brought you here because this place is private and special to me, and I know we could talk without being spied on."

She giggled. "Us? Spied on?"

"I case you hadn't noticed, my father is very keen that I...like you."

"I did notice." His expression stilled and grew serious. Granted, she was nervous too, but she tried not to show it so much.

"So, do you?" she asked.

"Do I what?"

"Like me?"

He rubbed his hand across the nape of his neck. "Well, I would like to learn more about you."

BLURB: Mihai Sigmaringen has a secret – he's a witch. Will love give him the courage to save his family from a destructive werewolf.

Visit the Book Trailer on You Tube and give it a 'like' at:

http://www.youtube.comwatch?v=FzHE2spBeeU


The Wolf's Torment is available as an ebook only on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Sony Ereader. Formats include: PDF, html, and epub which can be found on the Publisher's Website at: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-163/Stephanie-Burkhart-Moldavian-Moon/Detail.bok

About the Author: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She also served as an MP in the US Army. Multi-published, she has a children's book, "The Giving Meadow" with 4RV Publishing. She's an avid reader , loves coffee in the morning, and her second favorite movie witch is Emma Watson's "Hermoine" from Harry Potter.

You can find me at:
Website:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
Blog:
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166
Tweet me at:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

Author Spotlight: Divine Inspiration: Q&A with author Stephanie Burkhart, her muse Juliet & Gael from MUSEum!

Author Stephanie Burkhart

Welcome to a chat with Author Stephanie Burkhart, Gael, the owner of MUSEum, and Juliet, Stephanie's pixie muse from New Galatia.

Gael: Welcome ladies to the Desert Breeze Spa. Barbie will be here in a minute for your nails. Any coffee before we start?

Steph: I'll take some.

Juliet: (wrinkles nose) Lemon water for me, please.

Gael: (snaps fingers) Gus! Coffee and lemon water.

Juliet: (plops down on Stephanie's shoulder) I'm ready Gael, fire away.

Steph: She's a go-getter.
Gael: I can tell. How does she do it if she doesn't drink coffee?

Steph: Energizer Bunny Batteries.

Gael: Okay, let's talk about your latest release, "The Wolf's Torment." This is a paranormal romance with werewolves, witches and a vampire thrown in for good measure. Where did you find the inspiration?

Juliet: I told Stephanie she had to write an epic.

Steph: We compromised with a 3 book series.

Juliet: No seriously, Stephanie wanted to write a fairytale in reverse so she wrote "Twilight Over Moldavia" first. Poor Prince Stefan was cursed to be a werewolf. Can the beautiful princess' kiss lift it?

Steph: From there I wanted to know about Stefan's parents – Mihai and Theresa. How could they curse their son to become a werewolf? "The Wolf's Torment" was born.

Juliet: I helped. Thank Odo for pixie dust and Sandra Sookoo.

Gael: Mihai sounds like a very romantic name. How did you choose it?

Steph: I wanted a distinct Romanian name.

Juliet: She pulled it out of a hat. Trust me.

(Gus passes out the coffee and lemon water)

Gael: Where does the story take place? In Romania or Moldavia? What's the difference?

Juliet: Romania could use a little modernizing if you ask me.

Steph: (swats at her ear) Moldavia is a Romanian principality on the coast of the Black Sea. Romania was actually united in 1859, but for the story I fictionalize it.

Gael: Why pick Romania?

Steph: I wanted a place were you would believe these creatures might actually exist.

Juliet: Did you know that being a witch in Romania is a legitimate work profession? Check this out:

Juliet, the Pixie Muse
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12126670


Gael? How important is the setting?

Steph: Very! It helps to set the mood and feel of the story.

Juliet: And let me tell you the Black Sea is very creepy. There's an Ukrainian folk tale that tells how a destructive arrow was thrown into the Black Sea. When the sea is violent or has a real turbulent storm, its blamed on the arrow.

Gael: Sounds like you did a lot of research.

Steph: I read up on the Black Sea, Orthodoxy, and Vlad the Impaler.

Juliet: Orthodoxy! There's a beautiful religion. They crown each other when they get married.

Gael: What's "The Wolf's Torment" about?

Steph: It's a coming of age story for Mihai. He has a secret – he's a witch. He must embrace his witching heritage to save those he loves, but he doesn't find the courage until Theresa steps into his life. Love is a very powerful motivator.

Gael: How does the character of Viktor fit into the story?

Steph: Viktor struggles with demons that are too feral to control. Can he master the beast?

Gael: Sonia is Viktor's wife and Mihai's sister. How important is her character?

Steph: Just when Sonia thinks she's found happiness it's snatched away from her. How she deals with it shows true courage.

Gael: Sonia gets sick, doesn't she?

Steph: Yes.

Gael: How does Theresa come into Mihai's life?

Steph: It's an arranged marriage, but Mihai and Theresa have been dreaming of each other since they were children. What they share is very similar to the "kenning", which you read about in romantic Scottish historicals. Theresa is really help-mate for Mihai. She loves children as much as he does. She's perfect for him, but her patience is tested like it never has been before and I think that's what makes readers connect with Theresa.

Gael: You frame events in the story around holidays. Why?

Steph: To show the passage of time. There's Christmas, the start of Lent, Martisor, Easter, weddings, deaths…

Gael: I've never heard of Martisor. What's that?

Steph: A Romanian holiday held on 1 March to celebrate the start of spring.

Gael: Is Mihai a skilled witch?

Juliet: He gets witching lessons from Theresa's sister, Beatrice.

Steph: I love Bea! She tells it like it is.

Juliet: I think there's a little of Steph in Bea. –wink—

Gael: Spill! What's the most pivotal scene in the novel?

Steph: Viktor's decision to switch the babies.

Gael: A baby switch! How awful!

Juliet: Well, he is a werewolf. What do you expect from him?

Gael: One last question: In the movie, who plays Mihai?

Juliet: Daniel Radcliffe! He makes my wings flutter. And he's over 20.

Steph: But he's played a witch before.

Gael: Who plays Theresa?

Steph: Jennifer Ferrin. – but honestly, Jon Hensley circa 1986 has the perfect look for Mihai.

Gael: Thanks for popping in ladies. I see Barbie is here. Enjoy your spa day.

Steph: Thanks for having us, Gael.

Juliet: I'd like hot red roses for my nail polish…

BLURB: Mihai Sigmaringen has a secret – he's a witch. Will love give him the courage to save his family from a destructive werewolf.

REVIEW FOR THE WOLF'S TORMENT

From The Pen & Muse:
A complete werewolf story through and through, Burkhart does it again with an amazing cast of characters, entertaining dialogue and plot. Lovers of historical paranormal romance will enjoy this read, the first in the Moldavian Moon series.

Link: http://thepenmuse.net/archives/2720


Visit the Book Trailer on You Tube and give it a 'like' at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzHE2spBeeU

The Wolf's Torment is available as an ebook only on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Sony Ereader. Formats include: PDF, html, and epub which can be found on the Publisher's Website at: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-163/Stephanie-Burkhart-Moldavian-Moon/Detail.bok

About the Author: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She also served as an MP in the US Army. Multi-published, she has a children's book, "The Giving Meadow" with 4RV Publishing. She's an avid reader , loves coffee in the morning, and her favorite movie witch is Daniel Radcliffe from Harry Potter!

You can find me at:
Website:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
Blog:
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166
Tweet me at:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart