Featured Author: Sara Taney Humphreys

Current Read: Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day

Please welcome today's feature author, Sara Taney Humphreys! Some of you may recognize Sara from the Happily Ever After group interview from February.

Tell us about your first book, The Amoveo Legacy.

I'm really excited about it. I've always loved vampires but shape-shifters are particularly interesting to me. I had the idea for the series for a long time but finally sat down to write it last year. It's set in Westerly, RI, which is where my family has a summer home. There's something so beautiful and mysterious about the beach and it just felt right to set the first book there. I'm actually doing a book signing in Westerly at Paddy's Beach Side Restaurant, which is highlighted in the book.

Here's a little burb about The Amoveo Legacy:

What if everything you knew turned out to be a lie? You find out that you aren't even human - at least not entirely. What if, one day, you realize your world will never be the same again? These are the questions that Samantha Logan must face in The Amoveo Legacy. A dream on her thirtieth birthday compels her to leave her artists loft in New York City and move back to the beach with her grandmother, Nonie. However, the instant Samantha steps foot on the salty shores of her childhood home, she realizes the landscape has changed.

The moment she encounters the mysterious, arrogant neighbor Malcolm Drew, her life is never the same. Through a seductive courtship, he introduces her to the magical, mystical world of the Amoveo: the dream walking, telepathic, shape-shifters that he claims are her true heritage. However, Malcolm holds back a secret that could destroy them both. Will he be able to protect Samantha and convince her of the secret legacy buried deep inside her?

I'm hooked! Is this book part of a series? Tell us more about it.

This series is about The Amoveo people; they are an ancient race of shape-shifters who have lived secretly among humans for thousands of years. The Amoveo are made up of ten different animal clans; Eagle, Lion, Panther, Tiger, Bear, Wolf, Falcon, Fox, Cheetah and Coyote. They are telepathic, dream walking, shape-shifters that are born with a pre-destined soul mate. If an Amoveo does not find their mate by the time they reach the age of thirty they begin to lose their abilites and eventually die. They can only have children with their life mates. They are physically beautiful, incredibly strong and once they are mated have considerably longer life spans than humans. However, the limitations with their breeding patterns, makes their race extremely fragile.

Only two branches of humans know of the Amoveo's existence; the Caedo family and the Vasullus family. For generations, the Caedo family has dedicated their lives to the annihilation of the Amoveo. Like so many others, they are driven by fear and ignorance. They have hunted the Amoveo to the brink of extinction. When an Amoveo is killed, their mate eventually dies and any children they would have had are lost. The Vasullus family, however, serve as protectors for the Amoveo.

The first book which is set on the misty, summer shores of Rhode Island, focuses on the courtship of Malcolm Drew of the Eagle Clan and his mate, Samantha Logan. Sam is the first of her kind. She's a hybrid; half human and half Amoveo. Her very existence challenges everything that the Amoveo have known. Her parents were killed in an accident when she was an infant, and she was raised by her human grandparents. As a result, Sam was never taught any of the Amoveo ways and her abilites have lay dormant all of her life. At least until she meets Malcolm. A dream on her thirtieth birthday compels her to leave her life in NYC and move back home with her grandmother, Nonie. The novel focuses on the quickly evolving, passionate coupling of Malcolm and Samantha. He introduces her to the magical, mystical world of The Amoveo people and her newfound legacy. Their courtship is complicated by the looming threat of the Caedo that are hunting them. Can Malcolm convince Samantha before it is too late?

Very creative and unique - I can't wait to read it! What has surprised you most about being a published author?

The incredibly small amount of marketing that is done by the publisher. All of it falls on the author.

I've heard that from several other authors as well. You have four children - four boys. How in the world do you find time to write?

That is a consistent challenge! I do most of my writing at night after they're settled. I have a very patient husband.

Thanks goodness for sleeping children and patient husbands! Do you listen to musci while you write? If so, what are some of your faves?

I love Billy Joel, Maroon 5 and Nickelback. I used to be an actress so I have a lot of show tunes on my IPod...much to my hubby's dismay. Currently my absolute favorite artists are Amy Petty and The Strike Nineteens. Amy is an incredible musician! Her music really speaks to me and wakes up my muse. Amy is actually playing with me at several of my book signings. You can find her musci at her site: http://amypetty.com . My faves are "Honey On the Skin" (which she and her label let me use for Book 2's trailer) and "Long Way Down".

I'm definitely going to check her out. That's so cool that you got to use her song on your trailer! Do you ever get "writer's block"? If so, how do you deal with it?

Two ways. First, I'll talk out possible directions of the story with my husband. He really is such an incredible sport! He has patiently listened to all of the Amoveo adventures (or possible adventures). Also music. Amy Petty's music in particular.

Good strategies. Read any good books lately?

I just finished Christine Feehan's new novel in her Carpathian Series, Dark Posession. It was great! I love her work.

I'll have to add that one to my "to be read" list. If a book club was discussing your book, what would drive the conversation?

Interesting question. Probably the twist to the story...who's the real bad guy.

Now I'm really intrigued. What's next for Sara Taney Humphreys?

Book 2: An Amoveo Heart is in the works now and will hopefully be out in September. I'm also working on a vampire series. It's kind of "Sex and the City" with vampire chicks.

You're running a very special contest right now as well as donating proceeds of your book to a special cause. Tell us more about that.

Sure.

As a special thank you to our service members and their families I am running a very special contest for Military Wives ONLY. This contest will run from June 1st to August 31st, and during the contest months a portion of the proceeds from ALL of my book sales will be donated to the ASMBA STAR Foundation. The mission of the ASMBA STAR Foundation, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is to improve the quality of life of the military service member, veterans and their families, by contributing to the financial, educational, social, employment and medical needs unmet by the U.S. government. The Foundation has awarded grants to organizations such as the National Military Family Association, Helping our Veterans, Operation Stand Down, and many others.

How to enter:

Send an email to info@novelromance.net with a picture of you with your spouse in uniform and a little bit about what branch he serves in, where you've been stationed, challenges you've been presented with, etc., for two entries into the contest. If you purchase The Amoveo Legacy, email the receipt along with your photo for eight more entries in the contest.

Please put "Military Wives Contest" in the subject line.

Prizes:

Once a week, one entrant will be chosen and featured on her blog. These weekly entrants are the semi-finalists. Over the Labor Day weekend, one winner will be selected by Sara from the semi-finalists. The Grand Prize Winner is to have her name used as a character in one of her books and a $100 Amazon gift certificate.

First Prize is a $50 Amazon gift certificate.

Second Prize is a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

Thank you to all of our military for their service!

You can see the weekly Semi-Finalists on my blog http://amoveoromanceseries.blogspot.com .

What a wonderful way to give back, Sara! What is your favorite thing about summer or favorite thing to do in summer?

Definitely family BBQs. No doubt. Those Rockwellian moments that we remember forever will color our memories of the entire season. I just try to make sure I stop and recognize them when they happen.

Sara is running a contest for Armchair Heroines readers. If you sign up for Sara's newsletter, you get 10 entries into a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift certificate. If you purchase Sara's book, email proof of purchase to her and you'll get an additional 100 entries into the drawing. Be sure to comment below and let us know what you did so she knows to include you in the Armchair Heroines contest.

Thanks and have a great Wednesday!