Congratulations to my fellow author Shiela Stewart on her new release!
Abused for years by a sadistic fiancé, Missy Green has had enough. Running away is her only recourse. Wanting a new life, she takes refuge with a group known as the Stargazers. Taken in by illustrator Draco Starr, Missy is elated to finally find peace. Yet, something doesn’t seem right about her host.
Born in the pits of hell, Draco Starr was once a fearsome Demon, For centuries he collected souls for Satan. Having done his time, Draco sets out to start a new life. Even with more wealth and prestige than anyone could ever want, something is still missing in his life.
Love.
Missy is about to have her world turned upside down. Discovering Draco is a demon is terrifying enough, but finding out she too is a demon is more than she can handle.
Can Missy deal with her new life, and the affection she is beginning to feel for Draco, or will the past come back to haunt her?
Excerpt:
Feeling something warm slide down her neck, she wiped at it with her hand, and saw the bright red blood. Her hands quivering, she looked up and saw her reflection in the mirror. “Oh…God.” She quivered, stumbling back. There was so much blood.
Ronald had begun cutting her for thrills just after they’d become engaged, and not a day went by that she didn’t suffer at his hands.
“Joanne!”
She jumped at the sound of his voice echoing up the stairs and spun around in a desperate need to escape. There was only one door leading from their room, and she could hear him stumbling up the stairs. She had nowhere to run.
“Joanne!” he bellowed.
“No…no…no…” she repeated, shaking her hands as if that would help her think faster.
“You are going to pay for that, you bitch.”
She spun around, saw the window. It was her only means of escape. Slinging the backpack over her shoulder, she ran for the window and threw it open. He was getting closer, she could tell by the sound of his voice.
“You think you can hide from me? I know this place like I know the back of my hand. You can’t hide from me.”
She slid one leg through the window, bracing herself on the ledge. Her foot slipped and she cried out in fear as she clung to the ledge. The willow tree outside was too far away, and she knew if she tried to reach it, she would only end up falling.
“You can’t run from me.” His voice slurred from the alcohol he’d indulged in earlier. “You’re mine. Mine!” he screamed, moving closer to the window.
She looked down. If she didn’t let herself go, he would drag her through the window and back into the house. He would finish the job he had started. He would kill her.
Closing her eyes tight, inhaling deeply, she released her hold and let herself fall. “Don’t let me die,” she pleaded, as she dropped the two stories to the ground.
She heard him screaming at her as she ran, and it was incentive enough to push past the pain to escape.
“You can’t get away from me. I’ll find you!”
The streets were dark and nearly empty. She ran without stopping. Her life depended on it.
It was a hot summer evening, and the sky showed no indication of cooling down with rain. Her hair clung to her face, damp with sweat. The houses she ran past were only a blur. In the distance, someone’s music was blasting through an open window, the song unrecognizable. Her legs burned, but she knew if she slowed down now, Ronald would still have time to catch her. Swallowing her pain, she turned the corner and nearly ran someone down in the process.
“Whoa there, missy. What’s the rush?”
Panicked, her heart pounding so hard she felt ill from it, she continued to run.
Where was she going to go? What was she going to do? He would find her, and he would drag her home, and kill her.
I don’t want to die.
The blood from her wound trickled down her neck. Ducking behind a building, she opened her backpack to look for her jacket. Though it was a warm June evening, it was her only choice until she could get somewhere to clean and bandage the wound. Slipping on the heavy fall jacket, she zipped it right to her chin, and slung the pack over her shoulder. With a quick peak around the building, she darted out, and continued hurrying away, keeping her head down so as not to be recognized.
She heard a car pull up beside her and as she turned, saw Ronald behind the wheel.
“Get in the fucking car, Jo!”
Joanne screamed and bolted off. She ran down the street and slipped into an alley. When she heard his tires squealing, she knew he was coming after her. At the end, she turned left and continued to run. The sound of voices ahead drew her attention. As she looked up, she saw the crowd. Maybe she could lose him there. Pushing herself, she ran faster. As she neared the throng of people, she slowed down. Slipping into the crowd, she mingled while keeping watch for Ronald’s car.
When a hand clamped onto her arm, Joanne nearly screamed. Lifting her head, she saw a chubby-faced brunette, and mercifully, not her fiancé.
“We’re about to board. Whoa, cool tinted contacts. C’mon. You can sit with me.”
“What?” Confused, she looked around at the crowd before her.
“Your eyes. I like the colored contacts. The gold goes well with your black hair.”
“They’re not contacts.”
“Really? Weird. Come on, we’re boarding.”
Baffled, she found herself tugged toward the crowd. “No, I…I don’t—”
“Is that all you’ve got?”
“Pardon me?”
“Personal belongings. You just have the one bag?”
“Yes.” Before she could protest, the woman pulled her forward, and when she looked up, she saw a big black bus before her. “What’s going on?”
“We’re about to board. Isn’t this exciting? I’m Jennifer Laurence, by the by. And you are?”
Board a bus? Her first thought was to break free and continue running, until she heard a car squeal to a stop. Looking in the direction of the sound, she saw Ronald climb out of the car. She couldn’t let him find her.
“Hey, hello.” The woman snapped her fingers in front of her face, startling her. “You okay?”
She was anything but okay. “Yes.”
“What’s your name?”
Keeping an eye on Ronald, she inched closer to the woman. Using her real name was not an option, not if she wanted to get away from Ronald. “Missy.” The name just popped into her head. That’s what he’d called her, that man she’d nearly knocked down a minute ago.
“Missy what?”
“Green. Missy…Green.” All she could think of was her favorite color. It was a decent name, she supposed.
“Cool. Well, looks like it’s our turn. Come on.”
Character interview:
What are the names of the characters being interviewed?
Draco Starr
What is the main book you’ll be talking about in the interview?
Awaken the Demon. BK 1 in the Demon series
What genre is the book?
Paranormal romance
What is your name?
Draco. I adopted the last name Starr when I came topside. As a businessman, I wanted my employees to refer to by by my last name. Only my friends are allowed to call me Draco.
Why were you given that name?
My father, Satan, thought it was a strong name, a name a warrior would have. It’s Latin for Dragon. Thus far I have lived up to the name.
When were you born?
Centuries ago. My kind don’t hold onto specific dates like humans do.
Who has been your greatest influence? Why?
Originally, my Father was my greatest influence. There is no greater force than Lucifer. I was raised to fear and obey him. Since coming topside, the greatest influence in my life has been the love of my life, Missy. Her strength, her kind nature and understanding is admirable. She has taught me not only how to love, but to open my heart and become a kinder man.
Where did you grow up? How do you feel about it now?
I was raised in the pits of hell. Now most think of hell as a fiery pit with torture and pain. Part of that is true. There is plenty of pain for sinners. Each individual has their own personal hell. The Keepers which are the guardians of the sinners, feed off of the worst fears of the sinners and that is what they live in over and over. For instance, putting a murderer in the circumstance in which he killed his victims only pleasures the human. The Keepers are in charge of finding that inner fear, that one thing that would distress the sinner the most and that is what they endure for ever.
I, on the other hand lived in a section of hell that is for creation and grooming. It’s a place where Father keeps his children and those sinners whom he feels worthy of turning into a demon. In reference to human life and as they grew up, mine was far different. I was groomed from birth on to become a fearsome warrior. The goal for my life was to have me collect souls for Satan. I spent decades doing so.
Where do you currently live? Do you like it?
Currently my wife, Missy and I live in Eerie, Pensivania. I decided a decade ago to make this my home. Do I like it? I wouldn’t have moved here if I hadn’t. Why I like it is simple. Aside from the extreme beauty and the water the business industry is booming here. I procure several businesses that are high in productivity and wealth. There is no better place, I found than Eerie for that.
With whom do you live? How do you feel about them?
My wife, my love, Missy and my trusted friend and man of all trades, Hunter. As I stated above, Missy has taught me to open up and find that kindness in my soul. Without her, I would still be a ruthless self absorbed tyrant. I’m still ruthless in business, but not so that I… shall we say… eradicate those that I feel do not match up to my standards. As for Hunter. He has been with me for decades. I needed someone at my side who I could trust, whom I could mold into the right type of person to help me in all manner or things. He has been at my side through thick and thin, and has never given me cause to remove him from my life. I used to be very hard on him at times, but since my love came into my life, I’ve come to realize just how deeply I care for Hunter and how valuable he is to me. I am proud to call him my friend.
How do you feel about children? Do you have or want to have your own?
Over the past decade, I came to realize that I needed more in my life. I needed a mate, but not just any mate. She had to be special. When I discovered that twenty three years ago, a child had been born of a human and a demon, a taboo worth killing for, I knew instantly I needed to make her mine. It took more years than I care to discuss for me to find her, and when I did I was determined to claim her as my own. My only intention was to claim her, but the moment I laid eyes on her, I felt something stronger. Love.
We have discussed children, but as I said, having children between a human and a demon is taboo. Although Missy is only part human it is still forbidden. Being as headstrong and determined as I am, I will find a way to convince my father to allow us at least one offspring.
How did the two of you meet?
As I stated, I was in search of the demon/human woman for my mate. I knew the year she was born and I knew her father was incarcerated in hell for his indiscretion. So with the knowledge of the year of her birth I started a company called, The Starr Gazers, to find her. I sent out thirty invitations at a time, to children born the same year as she, making sure not to just have women but men as well. I figured it would look suspicious if I just invited women here. The ruse was to invite certain individuals who I felt worthy of joining one of my company’s and have them sit through a few seminars before I made my decision.
From the moment I saw her and those beautiful golden eyes, I was enthralled. Something about her drew me in. I knew it was forbidden to claim a human, but something about Missy made me want to throw out the rules and take a leap. It wasn’t until she began to transform into her true form, a demon, did I realize why I was so drawn to her. It was not easy convincing her to be with me. She was a headstrong determined woman who had run from an abusive man who refused to be dominated once more. In time, she began to fall in love with me, and I learned I too could feel love. I would give my life for her and not a day goes by that I am not thankful that she stepped into my life.
Buy links:
Check out book 2 in the Demons series:
Offer the Demon:
Twenty-one years ago a bargain was made for her existence. Twenty-one years ago was the beginning of the end.
Born to serve Satan, Aurora Starr wishes she could lead a normal life. Being a demon, that’s not so easy to do. By night she takes the lives of those Satan chooses. Despite her hatred for her job, she knows she must continue, but all she wants is to live like a normal human.
Enter Scott Monroe.
Tall, blond, and gorgeous, he is more than Aurora can resist. Although mating with a human is taboo, Aurora throws caution to the wind and begins seeing Scott. But when Satan makes her choose between her family or the man she loves, Aurora has had enough.
Will love win in the end, or will Satan damn them all?
Lea Bronsen 
Thanks so much Lea for having me today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by, Shiela. It was fun interviewing your deliciously devilish character 🙂
LikeLike