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| Today's Highland Warriors - the Royal Scots Dragoons |
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Anita Clenney writes mysteries, and paranormal romantic suspense. Before giving herself over to the writing bug, she worked in a pickle factory and a preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, and has been a secretary, executive assistant, and a real estate agent. She lives with her husband and two children in suburban Virginia. To find out more information, please visit her website at this link, follow her on Twitter @anitaclenney, or like her on Facebook at this link.
Kim: You have quite the resume! What were the challenges and rewards of working in a pickle factory?
Anita: I didn’t last at the pickle factory long enough to learn much more than how funny my friends looked in hair nets. We quit after lunch. It was one of those things that was short-lived but will exist in my memory forever.
Kim: When you worked as an event booker for a troop of Aztec Fire Dancers, did you learn any of their dance moves or fire handling?
Anita: I didn’t dance, but I did learn some moves. However, I only tried them out in my head. J The girls wore these long dresses in the most beautiful, vivid colors. They were so graceful. They danced around the fire. The men wore these little short skirts that makesa kilt look like a bathrobe. And they were bare-chested and had things around their legs. Very impressive.
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| Daniel Dae Kim at Hickam Elementary - check out link |
Kim: I read on your website that you are a fan of Lost, which was filmed here in Hawaii! Have you followed Daniel Dae Kim to Hawaii Five-O?
Anita: Oh, I LOVED LOST! I had always intended to watch the show but didn’t want to start in the middle. After the fifth season, my CP said she had the previous seasons and told me how great it was. I borrowed her DVD’s and watched the first five seasons in two weeks. I haven’t watched Hawaii Five-O.
Kim: What inspired you to launch a Scottish paranormal series? What resources do you use for research?
Anita: This story started with a dream and an idea about a buried warrior being found alive after 150 years. I wanted the warrior to be strong, a protector for humanity, and what better than a highland warrior? I use Google for research. I love Google.
Kim: Tell us about your new book, EMBRACE THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR.
Anita: Embrace the Highland Warrior is the second book in the Connor Clan series. Cody and Shay’s story is one of love, betrayal, and making peace with the past. Cody and his family spent years protecting the identity of a powerful female warrior who was targeted by an ancient demon, keeping the secret from even her. When she found out her entire life had been a lie, she abandoned Cody and her clan. Now, vampires and demons have discovered she's alive and are in a race to find her and the clan's sacred Book of Battles. Cody will have to break all the rules to save the woman who shattered his heart.
When the powerful demon who left Shay for dead discovers her empty grave, he comes seeking retribution, believing she possesses an ancient book he has sought for centuries. But the vampires also want the book, and they want her. Knowing she can’t fight this evil alone, Shay returns to her clan and the Scottish Warrior who betrayed her…the only man she’s ever loved, where she discovers that betrayal isn’t always what it seems. Sometimes it’s far worse.
Here is Shay’s first glimpse of Cody, after wrestling with him in the dark:
The essence of him was still there; the boy next door who’d kept her secrets, bandaged her scrapes, and comforted her against his scrawny chest, but there was nothing scrawny about him now. He was tall, with broad-shoulders and lean muscles undisguised by his soft gray T-shirt and worn jeans. Dark hair brushed his collar, giving him a rugged, dangerous look. His face was still stunning. Strong jaw, straight nose, and those intense hazel eyes that even at nineteen had tempted married women to watch as he walked past. Her gaze caught on the scar above his eyebrow, trophy from the motorcycle wreck when he was sixteen, and she remembered the terror of finding him sprawled on the rocky hill, so still she thought he was dead.
Kim: What's next for Anita Clenney?
Anita: I’m working on this series and a new paranormal relic hunter series that has gotten lots interest from Hollywood.
Hollywood loves Highlanders!
Mahalo, Anita, for joining us at SOS Aloha! Sourcebooks is giving away two copies of EMBRACE THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR - In Stores November 2011:
They were driven apart by a timeless secret…
Cody MacBain let the woman of his destiny slip away. A member of an ancient clan of Scottish warriors, he grew up beside Shay Logan as her secret protector, but his heart compelled him to become more. Until Shay’s true identity was revealed, and the fated pair’s chance was gone…
But danger will drive them back into each other’s arms…
Shay fell for the boy next door, suspecting nothing of the ancient secrets he guarded. After a stinging betrayal, she’s determined to banish the memories of her first love forever. But the past can’t let go, and the boy she once loved has returned to her a warrior determined to protect her from the unspeakable evil fate has planned…
To enter the giveaway,
1. Anita has a question for you - If you had to be a literary character, who would you choose?
2. Sourcebooks' giveaway is open to North American residents only. For international readers, I will randomly selected one winner to receive a 2011 Calendar with hot Hawaiian men - some may be Fire Dancers, some may be LOST extras, and some may be descendants of Scots who helped form the Kingdom of Hawaii!
3. Comments are open through Saturday, December 3, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 4.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Anita and her books, check out her website at www.anitaclenney.com.
Here are links to purchase Embrace the Highland Warrior:
- Amazon at this link.
- Barnes and Noble at this link.
And here's an excerpt from Anita:
Cody sighed. Might as well get it over with. He removed the shackles, returned them, and bent over her. “Shay, wake up.”
Her eyes flew open. She planted both hands against his chest and shoved, knocking him on his back, then sprang on top of him. “How dare you handcuff me to a bed?” she yelled, punctuating each word with a shake that rattled his brain. He didn’t fight back. She had to get it out of her system, and he didn’t blame her. He’d be more than pissed if someone shackled him.
She landed a fist into his stomach, and the breath rushed out of him. Okay, enough was enough. He captured her hands and rolled, trapping her under him.
“Get off me, you oaf.”
“I’ll get off when you stop beating the snot out of me.”
She let out a war cry and lunged for his throat, teeth bared. Intrigued, he hesitated a second too long, and she sank her teeth into his neck. A jolt of desire shot straight to his groin. He’d never been one for the rough stuff, but damn! He pulled back before she could do more than leave a bruise. He trapped her legs with his and held her hands above her head, letting his full weight press her into the soft mattress. She still struggled but could move only enough to get him excited.
“I’m sorry, Shay. I had to do it. It was too dangerous to let you go traipsing through the woods. I had to keep you safe.”
“What if he was hiding in one of the other bedrooms and sneaked in here while I was handcuffed to the bed? You left me so I couldn’t even protect myself.”
“Lach heard him out in the woods, but that’s why I locked the door, just in case. If this guy had broken it down to get to you, you would’ve screamed, and I would’ve come running. I was never far from the house.” He’d heard every name she called him.
Her eyes still flashed fire, but her breath was steadier, and she kept glancing at his mouth. He thought that was a good thing. He wondered if she’d calmed enough not to hit him, because he should move. She had to notice the effect all the wiggling around was having on him. He felt her hips push against his, and he groaned. He relaxed his grip and lowered his head, letting his lips touch her chin. He kissed his way to her mouth, and she head butted him in the nose.
While the stars exploded in his head, she shoved him aside and bolted out the door. He jumped up and went after her as she pounded down the stairs. He caught up with her outside. She was swinging her purse like a whip, headed for the car.
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
“Get away from me.”
“You can’t leave.”
“Watch me.” She opened the door. “I’m tired of people hiding things from me. I thought you were going to stop. Now you’re handcuffing me to the bed.”
“I explained it to you.”
“Don’t touch me,” she said, jerking away when he grabbed her arm.
“You’re not leaving.”
Shay straightened her shoulders. “You can’t stop me.”
He grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder, kicked the car door shut, and stomped up the steps.
“Put me down!” Shay kicked and twisted, cursing at him. He dumped her on her feet inside the door.
She blew her hair out of her face, and as soon as she could see, she threw a punch at his chin. He deflected it and grabbed her arm. “Stop hitting me.”
“How dare you throw me over your shoulder like some kind of caveman,” she spat, trying to wrench her arm free. It didn’t work, so she used her knee.
“Ah, not there.” Cody trapped her knee. “I made the mistake of letting you leave here nine years ago without listening to me. By God, I won’t do it again. You’ll listen if I have to sit on you,” he growled.
She drew back her other arm, and before she could throw the punch, he had her on the floor and was sitting astride her, pinning her wrists to the floor. She bucked and twisted, but he held her down. “We can do this all night if you want, but you’re going to listen to me this time.”
“Listen to more lies? You’re still hiding things from me. Like the fact that you have Nina’s entire house under surveillance. Like the fact that you’ve got a Bat Cave in your basement. Like the fact that you were in Scotland when the stalking started.”
“You think I’m your stalker?” he yelled. “Me! I’m trying to keep you alive. We’re all trying to keep you alive. That’s what the clan’s been doing your whole damned life, trying to keep you alive! And just like always, you’re making it hard as hell. Your father wasn’t a bloody spy, and that thing in your living room wasn’t a man!”
Her eyes flew open. She planted both hands against his chest and shoved, knocking him on his back, then sprang on top of him. “How dare you handcuff me to a bed?” she yelled, punctuating each word with a shake that rattled his brain. He didn’t fight back. She had to get it out of her system, and he didn’t blame her. He’d be more than pissed if someone shackled him.
She landed a fist into his stomach, and the breath rushed out of him. Okay, enough was enough. He captured her hands and rolled, trapping her under him.
“Get off me, you oaf.”
“I’ll get off when you stop beating the snot out of me.”
She let out a war cry and lunged for his throat, teeth bared. Intrigued, he hesitated a second too long, and she sank her teeth into his neck. A jolt of desire shot straight to his groin. He’d never been one for the rough stuff, but damn! He pulled back before she could do more than leave a bruise. He trapped her legs with his and held her hands above her head, letting his full weight press her into the soft mattress. She still struggled but could move only enough to get him excited.
“I’m sorry, Shay. I had to do it. It was too dangerous to let you go traipsing through the woods. I had to keep you safe.”
“What if he was hiding in one of the other bedrooms and sneaked in here while I was handcuffed to the bed? You left me so I couldn’t even protect myself.”
“Lach heard him out in the woods, but that’s why I locked the door, just in case. If this guy had broken it down to get to you, you would’ve screamed, and I would’ve come running. I was never far from the house.” He’d heard every name she called him.
Her eyes still flashed fire, but her breath was steadier, and she kept glancing at his mouth. He thought that was a good thing. He wondered if she’d calmed enough not to hit him, because he should move. She had to notice the effect all the wiggling around was having on him. He felt her hips push against his, and he groaned. He relaxed his grip and lowered his head, letting his lips touch her chin. He kissed his way to her mouth, and she head butted him in the nose.
While the stars exploded in his head, she shoved him aside and bolted out the door. He jumped up and went after her as she pounded down the stairs. He caught up with her outside. She was swinging her purse like a whip, headed for the car.
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
“Get away from me.”
“You can’t leave.”
“Watch me.” She opened the door. “I’m tired of people hiding things from me. I thought you were going to stop. Now you’re handcuffing me to the bed.”
“I explained it to you.”
“Don’t touch me,” she said, jerking away when he grabbed her arm.
“You’re not leaving.”
Shay straightened her shoulders. “You can’t stop me.”
He grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder, kicked the car door shut, and stomped up the steps.
“Put me down!” Shay kicked and twisted, cursing at him. He dumped her on her feet inside the door.
She blew her hair out of her face, and as soon as she could see, she threw a punch at his chin. He deflected it and grabbed her arm. “Stop hitting me.”
“How dare you throw me over your shoulder like some kind of caveman,” she spat, trying to wrench her arm free. It didn’t work, so she used her knee.
“Ah, not there.” Cody trapped her knee. “I made the mistake of letting you leave here nine years ago without listening to me. By God, I won’t do it again. You’ll listen if I have to sit on you,” he growled.
She drew back her other arm, and before she could throw the punch, he had her on the floor and was sitting astride her, pinning her wrists to the floor. She bucked and twisted, but he held her down. “We can do this all night if you want, but you’re going to listen to me this time.”
“Listen to more lies? You’re still hiding things from me. Like the fact that you have Nina’s entire house under surveillance. Like the fact that you’ve got a Bat Cave in your basement. Like the fact that you were in Scotland when the stalking started.”
“You think I’m your stalker?” he yelled. “Me! I’m trying to keep you alive. We’re all trying to keep you alive. That’s what the clan’s been doing your whole damned life, trying to keep you alive! And just like always, you’re making it hard as hell. Your father wasn’t a bloody spy, and that thing in your living room wasn’t a man!”
Your interview reminded me of my youngest daughter. When she was about two, she went around and told everyone, she was going to be a pickle maker when she grew up.
ReplyDeleteA literary characters I would be is Eve Rourke. She has it great!
Love the interview.
ReplyDeleteMy literary character would be Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice.
Wow that is a hard question. I make it easy for me and choose a character that was named after me. Lady Daniela from Joey W. Hill's A vampire's claim
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteso sad i can't be include to win anita's book whereas i'm really excited with her book ;(
ReplyDeletemaybe other chance oneday ;)
Hi Debby. That's too funny. A pickle maker. Hey, if it pays the bills...
ReplyDeleteDebby, I'm signing with Nora Roberts this weekend and I'm ashamed that I've never read her JD Robb books. I've heard great things about them. I'll have to read one.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Danielle! I'm sure lots of people would agree with you there. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteDannyfiredragon, now that's an unusual choice. How did this come about? Come on, spill the beans.
ReplyDeleteEli, thank you so much for stopping by, and I'm so sorry about the contest. My publisher will only do US and Canada. Guess they don't want to pay higher shipping charges. Sign up for my newsletter on my website. I may do some contests there.
ReplyDeleteIt goes to show sleep is good, especially with so many dreams inspiring wonderful stories. If I could be any literary character (so many!) I would like to be Mac from the Fever series. She's so strong yet still real and the world she lives in is an exciting one. I wouldn't want to experince everything she has but live her life in a typical day.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be Marianne from Sense and Sensibility!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new release - the cover is hot!
Barbara
LOL. I have known Joey for years and suddenly she surprised me when she named her heroine after me. She even named another after my Mom, who is really proud of this, as am I.
ReplyDeleteOh, another fabulous book from Anita! I would like to be Stephanie Plum for one day. After that, the action would be too much!
ReplyDeleteDorothy
Thanks for sharing the excerpt, Anita and congrats on your latest release!
ReplyDeleteA character that I'd want to be would be Cat from the Night Huntress series because she's tough, can kick-butt, can fling knives and use other weapons and of course, then I'll be married to Bones, lol!
Enjoyed the interview! For the life of me - can't think of any character I would like to be.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun interview! I read rave reviews about Anita's first book so now I'll get going to the book store!
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoy reading about literary characters but not sure I want to be one!
Tina
Oh my 2 favs Rob Roy & William Wallace Sighs.....
ReplyDeleteI an so getting Anita's books the Excerpts are Fabulous.
I have alway's liked Eliza from My fair Lady, Mary Poppins how wonderful would that be <3 Wendy yes that would be the Wendy from Peter Pan, Can you see a pattern??????.
I am not eligible (Canadian) Have a good one & enjoy the Sun Yes today we had SNOW ugh so not looking forward to the cold winter....
Ann/alba.
Dorothy, I would love to be Stephanie Plum also. Oh to see Lula in action, but I'm with you. One day would probably be enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Winnie. I think lots of ladies wouldn't mind being married to Bones. :)
ReplyDeleteKaren, you're probably like me. When I'm asked an unexpected question my brain locks up. Then when I'm trying to sleep a hundred good answers bombard me.
ReplyDeleteTina, I would be honored if you hit the bookstore. :) Thanks for stopping by the blog today.
ReplyDeleteAlba, oh...lots of good choices. And if you're in Canada, you qualify for the giveaway. My publisher doesn't like shipping outside the US and Canada.
ReplyDeleteokay anita, thanks to info me, will go sign up there ;)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be Eve Dallas from J.D. Robb's In Death series. Who wouldn't want to be married to Roarke!
ReplyDeleteI'm Elizabeth Bennett didn't you know? :D
ReplyDelete