Mini Interview with Helen Harper author of the Blood Destiny series and a giveaway too!

I've been given a mini interview with Helen Harper. :-)

Here's what she wants to share with us today:

1. What are you working on right now?

I’m starting to think about the fourth book in the Blood Destiny series and what shape it’s going to take. I have a lot of ideas that keep floating around my head, but not very much down on paper. As the head of a busy English teaching department, I am lucky that I frequently have holidays that I can dedicate to writing, but equally unlucky that often my term time evenings are given up to school work due to the nature of the job. The anticipation of what will end up on paper is exciting though!

2. What do you think you’re really good at?

Is it a terribly British thing to find it much easier to write about what I’m bad at than what I’m good at? Ermmm…, I once placed second in a musical competition by playing the bagpipes. I’ve not picked them up for years now as I wasn’t actually very good (pretty much tone deaf, I reckon), but I don’t think the judges had ever had a teenager playing the pipes before so they were deafened into submission!

I guess I’m actually pretty good at perseverance and being resilient. Once I start something, I hate to give up on it, so I generally keep trying until I’m successful in some shape or form. Someone once said to me that I’m the kind of person who always follows through and does exactly what I say I will, which I’m actually rather proud of. I think it’s easy in this consumer driven society to expect a lot in return without ever putting very much effort in, and I’d like to think that I buck that trend.

3. What do you think you’re really bad at?

I’m just terrible at meeting new people and making new friends. You would think that with having moved all around the world and never stayed for long in one place that I would be more adept at it, but I end up getting incredibly tongue-tied and can’t think of anything to say. I always feel as if there’s a strange void between first meeting someone and doing the small talk bit, and then them becoming good friends. I never quite know how to bridge that gap and am always surprised when I do. I think that’s probably more down to my friends’ good natures, tenacity and sunny personalities than anything I personally manage to achieve.

I am also genuinely rubbish at knitting. I swear that at least five different people have tried to teach me, and that I have definitely persevered with it without ever giving up, but there just seems to be some kind of mental block when it comes to me, needles and wool. I understand the principles and I know what to do, and yet my end result is always a misshapen holey piece of scrap that unravels within about five minutes. I just don’t get it!

About this Author:

Helen Harper is an English teacher currently living abroad in Malaysia. As a long time reader of urban fantasy, she finally bit the bullet and began to develop her own series of novels.

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland. "I always loved the escapism provided by those genres," states Helen. "No matter how bad life gets, you can always find a route out, even if only temporarily, in the pages of a good book."

The growth of urban fantasy fascinated her - the mix of reality and fantasy along with strong heroic female characters appealed from the very beginning, and inspired her to write her own.

Facebook Author page / Twitter

Purchase it from Amazon.


Bloodfire Blurb:

Mackenzie Smith has always known that she was different. Growing up as the only human in a pack of rural shapeshifters will do that to you, but then couple it with some mean fighting skills and a fiery temper and you end up with a woman that few will dare to cross. However, when the only father figure in her life is brutally murdered, and the dangerous Brethren with their predatory Lord Alpha come to investigate, Mack has to not only ensure the physical safety of her adopted family by hiding her apparent humanity, she also has to seek the blood-soaked vengeance that she craves.

 
EXCERPT from Bloodfire:

My hand finally found what I was looking for when it curved round a cold metal canister. It never to hurt to come fully prepared. I pulled out the hydrogen peroxide, twisting it so the nozzle faced the stone, and sprayed a tiny portion onto the black surface. As soon as the chemical hit the shiny surface it began to foam. It was definitely blood. The curling heat inside me rose higher and my insides felt as if they were starting to burn. The feeling of panic matched the bloodfire but I did my best to push them both back down. Neither would help me right now. I put the stone carefully into a side pouch where it wouldn’t get lost.

The moon continued to shine steadily down, casting shadows amongst the heavy trees. I could hear the distant hooting of a night owl out searching for prey and the skitter of a small animal somewhere nearby. I ignored them all and concentrated on the signs I could see at my feet. There was something else there. Reaching into my pack again, I found my torch, and clicked it on to look closer.

He had been this way. John was light on his feet and left little trace of his presence but I knew him well and knew this area. He’d disturbed the bush to my right, brushing past it as he ran. And judging by the distance between his steps, he’d been running fast, as if something had been after him. I frowned and arced the torch over the area, first close by then further along the path. There was something up ahead. Stepping forward, I tried separately to sense what it might be, but I was no shifter and came up short.

Purchase it from Amazon.


Bloodmagic Blurb:

After escaping the claws of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the Brethren, Mack is trying to lead a quiet lonely life in Inverness in rural Scotland, away from anyone who might happen to be a shapeshifter. However, when she lands a job at an old bookstore owned by a mysterious elderly woman who not only has a familiar passion for herbal lore but also seems to know more than she should, Mack ends up caught in a maelstrom between the Ministry of Mages, the Fae and the Brethren.

Now she has to decide between staying hidden and facing the music, as well as confronting her real feelings for the green eyed power of Corrigan himself.

Purchase it from Amazon.


Bloodrage Blurb:

Mack begins her training at the mages' academy in the hope that, by complying, the stasis spell will be lifted from her old friend, Mrs. Alcoon. However, once there, she finds herself surrounded by unfriendly adults and petulant teenagers, the majority of whom seem determined to see her fail.

Feeling attacked on all fronts, Mack finds it harder and harder to keep a rein on her temper. Forced to attend anger management classes and deal with the predatory attentions of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the shapeshifter world, her emotions start to unravel. But when she comes across a familiar text within the walls of the mages' library, which might just provide the clues she needs to unlock the secrets of her background and her dragon blood, she realises that her problems are only just beginning...

Purchase it from Amazon.


Blood Politics Blurb:

You'd think that life would finally be dealing Mack Smith a kind hand. Living in London, and with the opening of the new improved city version of Clava Books mere days away, things appear to be settling down. Other than the terrible nightmares about dragons, that is. Or the fact that she's being constantly tailed by a string of mages, shifters and faeries, all of whom are constantly demanding her attention. And that's without even bringing the temptation of Corrigan, Lord Alpha of the Brethren, into the equation.

Then, when a local dryad asks her for some help, things really start to fire up. There are some long hot summer days ahead...



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I love, love love this series! I have read all of the books including the Fourth book, Blood Politics. These are YA with just a sprinkling of bad words.
If you like supernatural creatures especially shifters, you absolutely must read these books!

There is a sweet romance trying to happen between Mack and Corrigan. I love it!

This series reminds me a little of two of my favorite series: Mercy Thompson and Sookie Stackhouse. Mercy because Mack is an outcast just like Mercy is and she's also kick a**, caring, and loyal.  It reminds me of Sookie because at first no one knows what Mack is and she seems to befriend all of the groups that dislike each other.

This series is AWESOME!!!!!

You really should try it if you haven't already. :-)


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