Archangel's Desire

Friday, December 12, 2014

Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: The Legacy of the Key by @slmorgan1

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Book Blast

 

clip_image002The Legacy of the Key

Ancient Guardians Series

Book One

S. L. Morgan

Genre: Fiction: Fantasy Romance

Historical, Science Fiction

Publisher: Pasidian Press

Date of Publication: December 21, 2012

ISBN-10: 0615736742

ISBN-13: 978-0615736747

ASIN: B00ARK6SUO

Number of pages: 372

Word Count: 101,102

Book Description:

No matter where you are, facing your reality with passion and purpose will always lead down the path you were intended to go.

While Reece Bryant is making her way through this world on her own, she is suddenly confronted with the truth of her existence, and the reality of her future. It is when she encounters two alluring and mysterious men, that a series of extraordinary events takes place, putting Reece’s life in grave danger. With her life in the balance, Reece must blindly trust the two mysterious strangers; and when she does, she is brought into an enchanting world that is beyond her logical comprehension.

This captivating land reveals new worlds and new dimensions to which her existence is paramount. But it is once she falls in love with the stunning Levi Oxley that everything will change, and Reece’s life will be in more danger than ever before.

Forced to return to Earth and face a Council of Worlds, Reece discovers there is more to this enchanting dimension than she could have ever imagined.

At a moment’s notice, even thru the fog of our denial, our journey can become crystal clear. And within the revelation, once our fear subsides, we can find contentment and purpose if we focus on the things that matter most. Trust—Courage—Love

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/b2DdKCL3Bjs

Available at Amazon Kobo iTunes BN Smashwords

The Legacy of the Key is the first installment of S.L. Morgan’s new fantasy romance novel. The romance in this novel is perfectly suitable for young adults, teens ages 13 and up.

Prepare to journey into a captivating new world…that will remove you from reality as you know it! A 2014 Global ebook Gold award winning book and a 2014 Silver award medalist in the Reader's favorite international awards.

Praise for The Legacy of the Key:

5-STARS Ancient Guardians: The Legacy of the Key by S.L. Morgan is an enchanting novel with a flawless plot, breathtakingly vivid scenery and characters that so completely come to life and are relatable. The story took me from this world and transported me to a different time and to a place so beautiful and magnificent I sometimes needed a moment to pause and just take in the breathtaking scenery described therein. ~Reader's Favorite Review by Faridah Nassozi

5- STARS "There are two words to describe this book: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. It is very difficult to put into words how much I enjoyed it. The concept of the different worlds and dimensions among us was unique and very intriguing; it immediately had me hooked.". ~Reader's Favorite Review by Cheryl Schopen

5-Stars "The book is fast paced and will take readers to another dimension altogether. It is a great roller coaster ride with fantasy, science fiction, mystery, romance, action, suspense and a new dimension all woven together.

Excerpt

The fall semester of Temple University’s medical program in Philadelphia had finally come to an end. Reece handed in her last final, and walked out toward the area where her friend Jack was meeting her to drive her to the airport. She had been dreading this day, not because of the finals, but because she was flying back to San Diego. Halfway through the semester, Reece had been notified that she would have to return home to settle the last of her father’s estate.

Two years ago, the summer after she graduated from college, her father died of a massive heart attack. He left her alone; with no one she could call family.

She had planned to stay in San Diego to pursue her medical degree, but it took nearly everything she had to stay and cope with her father’s death. In the end, she could no longer bear to live in the city that reminded her so much of him, and their years together.

After his passing she fled to Philadelphia in search of a new life. She had settled in quickly, making a couple of friends who helped to take her mind off of what she had left behind. Her grades were excellent, and she could not have been more proud of how well she was doing on her own. She felt strong.

Now, she had to return and face again the reality of it all again; the painful memories and feelings of weakness that she had so successfully suppressed.

She was determined not to let this trip tear down the strength she had found. She refused to let the past haunt her anymore. The trip would not be a long one; she would quickly handle the paperwork regarding the sale of her father’s home, and then return to her life in Philadelphia.

“Hey, Reece,” a familiar voice called out, pulling her out of her distant thoughts. “You’re out early; I was just going to wait out at the benches for you.”

Jack was getting ready to start his internship. He was an even tempered guy, and enjoyable to be around. They had developed a quick and entirely platonic rapport from the moment they met, and he always made her feel comfortable.

She smiled. “Thanks for taking me to the airport, Jack. I hated to call you so late, but Lori’s cancellation was kind of last-minute.” Lori and Reece had shared an apartment since Reece’s arrival in Philadelphia.

Jack placed his arm around her shoulders as they started walking. “So, when is Lori going to admit she’s in love with me, and get rid of that geek, Mitch?”

Reece chuckled. “When you get over yourself, and you’ve shown you can stay in a relationship longer than one night.”

He stared back at her. “Figures. Why do women always wait for Prince Charming to come along? I could be Prince Charming if that’s what it takes.” he laughed at himself.

“Jack, I’m sure you could. I think many of your girlfriends thought you were!”

“Well, whatever dork Lori wants to date is her problem, not mine. I’ve never been the type to attract the brunettes anyway. It’s always the blonde’s that seem to be attracted to men like me.”

Reece stared at him incredulously, “You’re unbelievable.”

He laughed. “Actually, come to think of it, there is one blonde haired, blue eyed girl that hasn’t fallen for my charming sensibilities…” He looked at her and smirked.

Reece shook her head, “And that’s not going to change, either! I don’t get it.”

“Get what?”

“The fact that you have to stereotype every female you come across. How shallow can one person be? You’re actually judging your relationships with women by the color of their hair? It’s stupid, and it’s half the reason you can’t stay in a relationship longer than one day.”

Jack laughed, “Awe, Reece, that’s what I love about you, always trying to keep me in line. And you know what? You’re probably right.”

“I’m always right.”

Jack dropped her off at the airport about two hours before her flight. Airports, ugh. If there was any place that she dreaded, it was an airport full of rush and chaos. On this trip, she had enough to contend with without additional stress.

She gritted her teeth through the security inspection, then shouldered her backpack and made the rounds of the shops, hoping to keep her mind occupied. She studied what seemed to be every souvenir in the terminal, then headed over to her departure gate and found a seat. She had at least half an hour before boarding.

As she sat back, she noticed two young business men walking toward the gate. They were dressed immaculately, in perfectly tailored suits that gave off an air of absolute supremacy. It wasn’t their magnetic and powerful presence that had her studying both of them, but there was something strangely familiar about them. Even so, she couldn’t place their faces from any class she’d been in. Well, it’s obvious they wouldn’t be in college, Reece, they’re dressed like they own the airline company. Who are these guys? It was bothering her that she couldn’t identify where she had seen them before.

One was dark-haired. Tall, dark, and very handsome, she thought with an internal chuckle. He was probably in his late twenties, but had an intimidating presence. He walked as though he commanded the entire gate, perhaps the entire airport. She frowned, trying to figure out whether it was the way he held himself, or the odd sense that she knew him, that caught her attention.

The blond man beside him was about the same height, and equally stunning, but less intimidating. The good-humored expression on his face set him apart from the other man. He looked as though he was recalling the punch line to a good joke. The men walked through the waiting area and stood near the large windows, away from the crowd.

Without warning, the dark-haired man looked away from his friend and stared directly at Reece. Their eyes locked, and she startled, but tried to continue gazing casually around the room. Her eyes didn’t see what was in front of them, though; she was wondering why these men seemed familiar.

She could not resist another glance back toward the window. The blond man was already staring directly at her. Busted. Perhaps she hadn’t been as discreet as she’d thought. He smiled vibrantly at her to confirm it.

Oh, well... She gave him back a smile, and looked past him at the sky outside. Thankfully, boarding was now announced. Reece stood and turned away.

Knowing this would be a long flight, Reece had opted to fly first class. She was one of the first to board, and found a comfortable aisle seat.

Two uniformed pilots sat in the front row. Perhaps they were going to take over the flight after Chicago, where more passengers would board. As soon as the airplane moved away from the gate, Reece rested her head against the leather headrest, closed her eyes, and allowed herself to drift off. It seemed now that the long week was finally catching up with her.

She woke enough to refuse when an attendant approached her to ask about refreshments. As she laid her head back, the two pilots in the front row stood and walked toward the cockpit. That’s a bit out of the ordinary, Reece thought sleepily.

She heard a step and looked backward down the aisle. Through the curtain that separated first class from coach, stepped the two young men she had seen earlier. They didn’t stop, but walked toward the cockpit. Now, she was a little concerned. Both men looked extremely somber. She noticed their blue eyes. Very blue eyes. They were almost—they were glowing, like sapphires reflecting the light.

Reece looked around at her fellow passengers, but no one seemed to notice anything strange. In fact, no one seemed to notice anything at all; they all stared straight ahead like mannequins, and the flight attendants were nowhere to be seen.

Now the two men were in the cockpit. Must be crowded with six in there, Reece thought nervously. Her heart beat faster.

The aircraft then went through an odd array of motions. It banked hard in one direction, and then immediately dropped. Reece’s stomach reacted instantly, and she gripped the armrests so tightly there should have been finger dents in them. The plane was climbing now. She looked for some comfort from the other passengers, but found none. Everyone in the cabin was expressionless and stoic, staring blankly ahead. Reece began to wonder if it could all be some strange dream.

Just then, the plane lunged sharply forward; it felt as though they were in a nose dive, speeding back down toward the Earth. Suddenly, a flash of light lit up the cabin, blinding Reece. While she was still dazed, another blinding flash lit the cabin.

After the two bright flashes, the airplane started to level out. The lights in the cabin flickered. It seemed the bright lights were the cause of the electrical malfunctions in the aircraft. Or was it the other way around? At any rate, they were not heading downward anymore.

Reece began to calm down. The plane flew smoothly without any more abrupt movements. Quiet conversations sounded around her, and she felt as though she were waking from a trance. The cabin was dark, and the people around her were talking to each other with concern.

A voice came over the intercom. “Good evening, passengers. This is your pilot speaking. It seems that our aircraft is experiencing various forms of technical difficulty. There is no need for any undue concern, but to err on the side of caution, we have requested, and have been granted, clearance to return to Philadelphia. We are en route there now. I ask that all passengers remain seated until we return the aircraft safely to the ground.”

Reece remained quiet; she did not know what to believe. Shortly after the pilot made his announcement, the airplane began its descent. Once safely on the ground again and the airplane slowly returned to an open gate, the pilot came over the intercom again, thanking the passengers for their cooperation and expressing his apologies for the inconvenience. Reece sat in shock and wondered if it had been a dream. Dream or reality, I want off this plane, she thought, and she grabbed her backpack.

As she followed the group back into the airport, she noticed the two young men again, walking ahead of her. The blond man was acting as if he had just got off a plane in Las Vegas after a winning streak, but the dark one seemed uninterested in his friend’s enthusiasm. They stopped, both of them staring down at some object in the dark one’s hand. Reece looked at them speculatively. They raised their heads simultaneously, looking directly at her. She could not pull her questioning eyes away from them, wondering if they were the cause of the airplane’s malfunctioning. They returned her gaze, seemingly as interested in her as she was in them. Everything in her wanted to stop and question them, but for fear of making a fool of herself, she turned her attention back to the crowd in front of her and continued to walk past them. Before turning the corner, she turned back one last time. They were both staring intently at her. The dark blond smiled at her warmly. There seemed to be more behind his smile than just politeness.

After Reece managed to secure another flight out for the next morning, she called Jack for a ride home from the airport. She hated to bother him again, and should probably just take a cab ride home, but she’d rather not be in the presence of strangers after what she had just experienced. Jack had wasted no time returning to pick her up, and she was grateful for it. The distress of the strange flight started to diminish as soon as she was away from the airport.

Jack dropped Reece of at her apartment. “Marti’s later?” he asked.

It was their usual coffee shop. “Sure.” she smiled at him. “Lori will bring Mitch; think you can stand it?”

He clasped his hands dramatically. “Ah, my broken heart!” Then he reverted to his normal voice. “Pick you up at six, okay?”

Reece dumped her backpack at the door, plopped down onto the sofa, and turned on the television. She dropped her purse to the floor next to her and grabbed the remote. Flipping through the channels, she found a sea life documentary to watch. Graceful dolphins, swimming, swimming... Suddenly, she felt as if it were three in the morning; she could hardly keep her eyes open. She let her body relax and closed her eyes.

She woke abruptly from a dreamless sleep, thinking she’d heard the door. She sat up, looking toward the door, expecting Lori to enter. There was no sign of Lori, and no sign the door had been opened. The deadbolt remained in the locked position.

Old building noises. She sank back into the sofa, pulling over her the blanket they kept draped over the back. She leaned over to grab the remote control from the coffee table.

Something moved. In the kitchen? It was just a glimpse, out of the corner of her eye. She sat back, taking slow breaths. Probably nothing. She stared into the kitchen—open to the living room, with a counter between.

Phone. She picked up her purse and fumbled around for her cell phone. As she retrieved the phone, she looked up and was stupefied by the figure standing in front of her. She tried to blink it away, but it remained; solid, unmoving.

“Dad?” she whispered.

She stared in amazement at the image of her father, standing in her living room. He didn’t move, or respond to her. He stood there, expressionless, as if he was studying her.

Reece felt as if a heavy weight had landed on her, instantly paralyzing her. She could not do anything except stare at him. He was wearing the clothes he had worn the last time she saw him; dark brown slacks, and a crisp, blue shirt.

Suddenly, he smiled his heartwarming smile.

Reece’s eyes filled with tears, and the image blurred. She’d forgotten how much she missed him. She felt a flood of repressed emotions far greater than those she’d feared her trip to San Diego would evoke. His face, his presence, and his smile brought back vivid memories of him and their life together; memories she had tried to set aside so she could function without him. These were the memories that made her wonder how she could go through the rest of her life alone.

Frightened by the realization that her deceased father standing in front of her, she squeezed her eyes shut, hoping this image would go away. Strangely, the weight lifted slowly, and she regained control of her large muscles. When she dared to open her eyes, he was gone. She felt both frustration and relief. Was her perpetual anxiety over her impending trip causing hallucinations now? She needed to get hold of herself.

Slam! Reece leaped off the sofa and turned back toward the door.

“Geez, girl! What are you doing here?” It was Lori, jumping back into the doorway and dropping her Keys.

With her hand over her heart, Lori stared at Reece in shock. Reece was the mirror image of Lori, with her hand covering her chest. She took a deep calming breath. “Sorry Lori, my flight was pushed out until tomorrow. The plane had issues or something.”

Lori let out a sigh of relief and bent over to pick up her Keys. “Well, that’s…” she started.

“Never a good thing, I know.” Reece finished her sentence.

An hour later, they were all in Jack’s car. He drove the car as if he were in a high-speed chase.

“Slow it down, Jack,” Reece said. “I knew I should have taken own my car,” she muttered to Lori who sat next to her in the back seat.

Lori smiled and leaned forward to put a hand on Mitch’s shoulder. “You’re driving next time, honey.”

“Hey,” said Mitch, “I’m actually enjoying myself. It’s not every day I get to jump into a classic ‘67 Camaro SS. I’m curious, how fast can these cars really go?”

A large smile stretched across Jack’s face. “I can fix your curiosity if you’d like.”

Lori exhaled ostentatiously. “Why don’t you do that after you drop us off, Jack? Then you both can go kill yourselves together. What is it with men and cars?”

Reece shrugged her shoulders. More talk about cars would just encourage Jack to do something stupid. “Hey, what do you guys think about going to dinner instead of coffee? I’m not really in the mood to sit in a coffee shop right now. School’s out and we’ve spent enough time there studying for finals.”

Lori smiled. “Good call, Reece. I’m hungry, anyways. Let’s go to that new Italian restaurant. It’s supposed to be nice.”

Jack laughed and responded. “Whatever you women want, I’m just the driver.” he looked toward Mitch. “You cool with that, Mitch? Oh wait, never mind, you’re always cool with anything.”

He tried to make eye contact with Reece in the rearview mirror. Reece ignored him pointedly, looking out the window.

They were stopped at a red light, a block south of the restaurant. Pedestrians hurried past on the sidewalks. Two of them—What?—two of them were the young men who’d been on the airplane. Reece’s heart raced.

“Reece? What are you staring at?” Lori had grabbed her arm.

“What? Um, well, there was… it’s just...” She turned back to look out the window, and the two men were gone.

“Just what, Reece?” Lori said, trying to look past Reece out the window.

“Oh, nothing. My mind was somewhere else. I’m sorry, what were you saying?”

Lori laughed. “Girl, you need a cocktail or something! You’re starting to act delirious.” she laughed, but her eyes showed concern.

“I just need to eat something; it’s been a long day.”

The restaurant’s parking lot was full. “Well, of course, this place is packed! Hopefully, the garage we passed has a spot available.” Jack huffed. “You girls need to learn how to cook dinner or something. By the time it takes me to park, you both could have cooked and served us men a nice, healthy meal.” He spun the car back down an alley to find more parking.

“We ‘girls’?” said Lori. “You ‘men’? Learn to cook yourself, Jack! Until then, just park the car and quit complaining, or you can wait with it until we finish.” They pulled into an extra parking area and found a spot. Before he was out of his car, Jack noticed another car nearby. “Are you serious!” he said, walking up to it. “Check out this car, guys. It’s like some prototype or something.”

Mitch walked over to the car while Reece and Lori stared at them both, annoyed by the delay.

Lori called out to them, “It’s nice, Jack. What is it, a Porsche or something?”

Jack laughed as he walked the length of the sporty black car. “It’s not a Porsche. I’ve never read, or heard, about anything like this! I wonder whose it is; this car has to be worth well over a hundred thousand bucks!”

As he walked closer, the car emitted a warning sound. Reece crossed her arms. “Jack, can we GO? You are most likely about to meet the owner; I’m sure it has some kind of pager. I’m ready to eat.”

Jack’s head snapped up, and he walked away from the car; turning back over and over, as if he wanted to check it out one more time.

Once inside the restaurant, they were seated in a secluded, candle-lit nook behind a red brick archway. While waiting for their orders, they engaged in conversation about their challenging finals earlier that day. As usual, Jack entertained the group with his natural humor. It was definitely the environment Reece needed to take her mind off of the strange events from earlier.

In the midst of her laughter, Reece glanced up to see if the waitress was returning with their meals, only to be frozen in shock. Across the way, the two men from the plane were sitting at a table which faced theirs. The blond man was staring directly at her, and when she tried to act as though she hadn’t noticed them, he raised his wine glass in her direction and smiled.

She looked back to Lori and Mitch sitting across from her, trying to shake herself into reality. Are they following me? Who are these guys?

Lori looked at her quizzically. “Reece, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Reece shook her head and tightened her fist angrily. This could not be happening.

“What do you need?” Jack said. “I’ll get the waitress. Why are you so tense?”

Reece heard all of their voices like echoes in the background as she pulled herself together. She closed her eyes and unclenched her fists. “Water,” she said softly. “I just wanted to see if refills were coming.”

She had to pull it together, and she would do it now. Reece would not allow these men to intimidate her in anyway. Whether or not these two interesting men had anything to do with the strange occurrences on the plane, or if they were following her now, she would prove to them she wasn’t afraid of them. Inwardly she was concerned, but she would not let them see that.

Jack was the one to break the silence. “All of this over a glass of water? Stay here; I’ll go get the waitress.” Reece clutched his hand. “Sheesh, Reece, can you release the death grip? I won’t make a scene, but Lori’s right; you look like you’ve had a paranormal experience or something.”

Shortly thereafter, the waitress appeared with refills, followed by other staff with their plates. Jack sat back, and once the staff left, Reece laughed. “Sorry guys, it has been a very long day. I think I just need to eat. This food smells delicious, doesn’t it?”

Her friends looked worried. She knew they’d never seen her act this way. And quite frankly, she was beginning to worry herself.

Reece ignored their discomfort. She started in on her plate, took a bite, and smiled brilliantly. “Guys, stop staring at me, we don’t need any more drama.” she laughed as she took another bite, “Now, what were we talking about before I almost melted down over a glass of water?”

Jack didn’t hesitate to break up the awkward moment. While he continued to relax everyone at the table with his humor, Reece reached for her glass of wine. She felt the eyes of the men stealing glances at her, and now it was time to show them, they didn’t intimidate her.

She looked over at their table. Both men were engaged in conversation, but must have noticed Reece watching them. The dark haired man looked over at her, bringing the blond one’s eyes to follow his gaze. After Reece had the blond man’s attention, she arched her brow, raised her wineglass to him, and smiled with confidence. The darker one’s lips turned up slightly, while he brought his attention back to his friend, the one who Reece was gazing directly at. The blond chuckled softly, and returned her smile with amusement. Then, without another glance back to Reece, he returned to his plate before him.

Handsome or not, Reece was annoyed that these two mysterious men were playing games with her. It was best if she just ignored them from here on out. She knew if she didn’t, it would not take much for her to walk over to their table and start demanding answers. With that in mind, she engaged herself in the lively conversation her friends were now having, and ignored any desire to return her attention back to the men.

The rest of dinner was uneventful, and Jack entertained everyone so well that they seemed to forget about Reece’s odd behavior.

Back at the apartment, Reece wished Lori a good night, and fell into bed. The alarm clock would ring soon enough.

  Author Interview

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

I have always been a detailed ‘story teller.’ Never once did I imagine putting my stories down on paper. I went to college to pursue a degree in Teaching, until I became pregnant with my oldest son. Fortunately, my husband and I were blessed with him having a job that would support me becoming a stay at home mom. After all the kiddos went off to school and I grew tired of re-reading all of my favorite books and trying to find more, I decided it was time to write a book series that I wanted to read. The next thing I knew, I found myself doing what I was truly meant to do in life. I have never been more fulfilled doing something in all my life. I absolutely love writing.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

It was really when I sent this book out on its first blog tour. The honest reviews started coming in from bloggers and readers that I’ve never met and they came back with wonderful reviews, absolutely loving the book. That is when I sat back and realized, I’m a writer, I’m entertaining reader’s with my story.

How long did it take to get your first book published?

Over a year. I chose to self-publish and that can be a very difficult journey. Not only are you seeking out a professional editor on your own, re-writing, editing, editing and editing…but you have to start preparing to market your book. Then comes looking for a professional artist for your book cover. From the moment the story is written on paper and you start working to bring that book to publish, that’s when it seems like there will never be a light at the end of the tunnel. But, with hard work, dedication and endurance, I survived and The Legacy of the Key saw it’s publishing date a year after I finished writing it.

Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?

I am a stay at home mom. When the kiddos are off to school is when I have my time to sit down and write, edit and keep my book series going.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

The second book, “The Uninvited” was published on February 2014. This book brings reader’s back into the enchanting realm of Pemdas, only to find a strange mystery awaits them and all who live in Pemdas. As protective as Pemdas is for Reece Bryant, there are indeed ways that the Guardians are forced to continue their struggle in protecting her.

Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?

I self-publish.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

I can write one to two chapters a day when I have no distractions. These books literally draw me in, hold me hostage and won’t let me go. I wrote the second and third books in this series in a month. It’s the editing that slows the release of these books down.

What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre?

Books of a different genre? Right now, I have four books written in this series. I believed I was finished with the series after I finished book 4. Then an idea came to me and now I can’t wait to write the fifth book. I also plan to write a prequel to the entire series once I finish book 5. I also am tossing the idea around about writing a children’s novel that brings children into the enchanting world of Pemdas through the life of the unique critters in this world.

What genre would you place your books into?

This series has reached ages 13 all the way up to reader’s in their 80’s. This book can fit into so many different genre’s, fantasy, science fiction, romance, fantasy historical romance, young adult, new adult/college. It really runs across a lot of genre’s, I think that’s pretty neat.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

I love historical romance novels. I love the Jane Austen era. I also love the fantasy of C.S. Lewis. I knew it would be highly difficult to play in the world of historical romances, so enter the fantasy of C.S. Lewis and with the fantasy of the novel, my historical world could be whatever I wanted it to be. It gave me the freedom to create a new culture and world without anyone saying, “That’s historically inaccurate.”

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

I absolutely love all of my characters. Reece Bryant, is the main female character who must face this new world and deal with having her life flipped upside down. She also must face some pretty ‘stuck-up’ women of her age and she handles them very well. She has a strong personality and in writing her being brought into this world, I could easily relate to every emotion she felt. Levi Oxley, I love everything about his personality and his selfless nature. Being the Emperor’s son, he doesn’t let this position or title go to his head, quite the opposite really. I enjoy that about a man and sadly, Levi is one of those ‘men’ that it seems you can only find in novels these days. Lastly, Harrison Oxley, cousin and close friend of Levi’s. He is sharp-witted and adds great humor to the story. You never know what that guy will say or do and it’s always a good time when he’s around!

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?

I stared writing in November of 2011. I was inspired to write by wanting to read a novel like this one. I wanted to read something that I really have never read before, something unique. I couldn’t find a book that was resolving that need for me, so I wrote this series.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

I have to listen to music. Music brings the characters and scenes to life in my head as if I were watching a movie. Then I pop open my laptop, make sure I have a piping hot cup of coffee and start in on my writing.

Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?

With having to edit my third book, I rarely have time to check all the reviews of the book. I do read them, the good, the bad and the ugly. Recently, the book hit #6 in all of Free kindle downloads and negative reviews started immediately rolling in, saying that this book needed to be edited. I had brought this book through at least 10 edits, sent it off to beta test-readers to see if there were more distracting errors and after we believed everything was cleaned up and polished, these awful reviews came in. It was my job as the author of this book to ensure these reviews were accurate. I sent the book off to two copy-editors, they went through the book and cleaned up any punctuation errors and grammatical errors the book had. Just recently the book has been republished and I am confident that the negative reviews about errors should no longer come. This situation proved to me that reading reviews can be very helpful to your work. The great ones keep me humbled and inspired, the bad ones, I let roll off my back (crazy as it may seem, the entire world of reader’s are not all going to like this storyline *wink*) and the reviews that offer critique, I take very seriously and look into what had this reviewer critiquing the book. I feel that if the Reader’s take time to review the book, I should take time to read them and enjoy them.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

I wrote the book and then chose the best title that would fit the series and the subject of the book in the series.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

This is where a lot of creativity comes in on my part. I wanted unique names, but not difficult names. I honestly stared at the letters on my key board and thought of ways to change names, to create names and to decide upon them.

Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?

I picked the characters and places and then decided on their names. It’s almost like naming your children. You want a name that will fit their personality. I am very unique with names anyway, so it was fun picking un-common character names.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

As I write, it is strange, the character’s personality traits come to me. Reece was one I really had to watch, she would be under the most fire because there are so many out there looking for a strong, relatable female character. I feel she handles her own very well.

Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")

Not necessarily, I just want reader’s to enjoy a world where chivalry still exists, those in high respectable positions (The Emperor and Empress and family) not finding themselves above everyone, but humble and concerned for all of those in need and have less than them. I want reader’s to enjoy a world where a man stands to honor a woman entering a room and is loyal to her with whatever she needs.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

I love hardback books. I can’t wait until the day comes where I will be able to publish this series in hardback. Right now, I am perfectly settled with a softcover. I love having a book in my hands when I read.

What is your favorite book and Why?

Have you read it more than once? Pride and Prejudice. I love the wit of Miss. Elizabeth and how she attracts the ‘stuck-up’ Mr. Darcy. I can read this book over and over again.

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?

I will be honest, books and movies are almost two separate worlds. In books, your mind creates the characters you’re drawn too and when the movie does not portray those characters, it’s very difficult to enjoy the movie. I think the worse book to movie, would be the twilight series. The best book to movie would be the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice. They nearly followed every word and scene in Jane Austen’s book. Although, Miss Elizabeth in that version is not the Elizabeth I see in my mind when I read. Colin Firth will ALWAYS be the best Mr. Darcy.

Your favorite food is?

Italian. YUM!

Your favorite singer/group is?

Evanescence, Amy Lee.

Your favorite color is?

Black, I love the power and sophistication that this color brings in clothing and even on cars.

Your favorite Author is?

Jane Austen

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  About The Author

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International Award winning author S. L. Morgan grew up in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Over the past nine years, she and her husband, Jason Morgan, their three kids moved throughout the United States. Recently, S.L. Morgan was blessed to move back to her hometown of Oakhurst California where she is currently editing the third book in the Ancient Guardians Novel Series.

S.L. Morgan was born telling vivid and long stories to anyone who would listen. With a personality that is extremely driven, she finally decided to put her stories to paper. With her passion and love for Jane Austen classics and the wonderful imaginative books from C.S. Lewis, she created the new Novel Series, Ancient Guardians.

Recently S.L. Morgan has been honored with awards for The Legacy of the Key, winning the 2014 Reader’s Favorite Silver medal for Fiction: Supernatural and also winning gold in the Global eBook awards for Fiction: Fantasy Romance. The Legacy of the Key was also a recipient of four 5-star review seals from Reader’s Favorite reviews.

With her second book in the series published, receiving a 5-star seal from Reader’s Favorite Reviews and now a nominee for the Global e-book award, S.L. Morgan is currently working on edits for the third book in her series.

When not entirely consumed by writing and editing, S.L. Morgan absolutely loves to be out on her boat in the summer or hitting the slopes in when winter comes around. She prides herself in her Starbucks Gold card and is convinced this series would have never made it to publishing without a Venti Café Americano.

With a profound love for her family, life and friends; S.L. Morgan enjoys every minute of every day, endeavoring to live her life at its fullest. With a very open and friendly personality, she enjoys interacting with her reader’s and helping those in need.

Humbled with every book review, be them good or bad, S.L. Morgan continues to write in her series with the hopes of entertaining more and more reader’s everyday.

Website: www.slmorganauthor.com

Blogsite: http://ancientguardiansnovel.wordpress.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/slmorganauthor

Book Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AncientGuardiansLegacyOfTheKey

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6861881.S_L_Morgan

Twitter: @slmorgan1

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/SL-Morgan/e/B00ARXKAL4/

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