Guest Post/Giveaway Dark Passages Sara Reinke

Please give a warm welcome to Sara Reinke, she is guest posting today! Thank you Sara for stopping by!

They say opposites attract. But it’s been my observation in life that at least as far as creative people go, that’s not necessarily true. Although my current efforts at artistic expression are pretty much exclusively writing, with the occasional bit of Photoshop cover art or graphic design thrown in, in the past, I’ve enjoyed sketching and painting, as well. I think if you’re an artistic type, you explore a wealth of different mediums and outlets until you find the one that works best for, and allows you the greatest amount of creative expression and freedom. Like I said, for me that’s writing fiction. But I’m still able to connect with—and find myself drawn to—likeminded artistic people who express themselves in other ways.

For example, yesterday we hung out with our friends, Sara and Dale. (When we visit with them, I’m “the other Sara” just to avoid confusion.) Sara loves to draw with pastels and chalk, and after admiring a particularly beautiful piece she has in her living room, she pulled out her sketch pads and showed me a portfolio of her work. When I used to draw, I focused mainly on portraits and figure studies; mastery of still-life studies and landscapes always eluded me for some reason. Sara prefers still-lifes, and her drawings of glass containers and fruits are imbued with vibrant color and extraordinary luminosity. Her eye for detail allows her to carefully shade, so that bottles look three dimensional, shadows drape realistically, and light seems to ebb and flow around the contours of her subject matter. I was so impressed.

Her husband is likewise talented. He sketches in charcoal, which I’ve tried myself in the past—and wound up wearing more often than not, lol. But I think the area of his talent that impressed me the most was woodcarving. Their house and yard are filled with intricately crafted sculptures, gracefully twisting sun-blanched shafts of wood with wizened faces peering curiously out at you. He showed me a coat of arms he’s been working on; the detail is it is astonishing. He’s carving it from a solid block of mahogany, but somehow has managed to carve multiple layers out of it, elaborate scrollwork and minute details on the crest and shield. If you ask him how long it takes to make something that beautiful, he’d tell you “about a case of beer.”

But we artistic sorts are our own worst critics like that, the first ones to downplay what to others may be an obvious and impressive talent. I’m guilty of the same thing. If you met me in
person and asked what I wrote books about, I’d probably get a sheepish look on my face. It’s not that I don’t think my stories are good, or I don’t enjoy writing them and sharing them with readers—it’s just that as a creative sort, I’m embarrassed to tell you about what makes me feel artistically passionate. I’d rather you read my books and find out for yourself.

My friend Dwayn is the same way. I’m an earring fanatic, and love to find beautiful, unusual jewelry to wear. I stumbled across his website (http://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthPawArtref=pr_shop_more; he has another shop here: http://handmadeartistsshop.com/shop/SouthpawArt) and after buying some earrings, struck up an online friendship with him. He works with both leather and chainmail, creating some really unusual and unique pieces for both men and women.

When I learned to draw, my aunt was my mentor, teaching me the basics of proportion and scale in figure sketching, but from there, I was pretty much self-taught. (Same holds true today with my Photoshop work.) Dwayn is pretty much the same, and as he explained the process to me of how to create something from leather, I was really impressed, because it’s a long process that requires as much patience and technical proficiency as artistic skill. I have to admit that his chainmail jewelry is my favorite, primarily because that’s the sort I wear more often than not. The earrings I bought are elaborately detailed, and he uses both silver and gold-toned chain links to give them a unique and beautiful ability to capture light; they almost seem to glow. They’re intricate, but lightweight—the best part, because they don’t weigh your earlobes down like so many dangling earring types can. As we speak, I’m waiting on a copper Byzantine-style bracelet he made that I absolutely love, and I’ve managed to convince him to help me with some custom-made pieces that I can use for giveaway prizes to celebrate my next upcoming release—earrings crafted in the shape of a triquetra, a trefoil Celtic knot pattern that figures prominently in Forsaken, Book One in The Netherworlde Series, which launches in July.

I think that’s one of the best things about being a creative person—and surrounding myself with other artistic types. No matter our medium of expression, we all understand and appreciate the work involved in the art itself, and support one another. I don’t know if Dwayn will ever read my books or not, but he’s bought them, and I’m going to continue buying jewelry from him because I love it. If Dale and Sara ever decide to put their respective works up for sale, I’d love to invest in those, too. I figure it’s not only is part and parcel of being friends, but also of being kindred artistic spirits.

About Sara

“Definitely an author to watch." That's how Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine describes Sara Reinke. New York Times best-selling author Karen Robards calls Reinke "a new paranormal star" and Love Romances and More hails her as "a fresh new voice to a genre that has grown stale."

Dark Thirst, Book One in The Brethren Series is out of print in paperback through Kensington/Zebra, but is available in Kindle ebook format. In it, Brandon Noble is one of the Brethren, an ancient clan of ruthless vampires. Horrified by his birthright,Brandon shuns the ritual of the first kill, earning his family's lasting wrath. When he finds love with a human woman named Angelina -- forbidden among the Brethren -- his fate is sealed. Can Brandon protect Angelina from his enemies -- and his own dark thirsts?

Dark Hunger, Book Two, is available from Kensington/Zebra in mass market paperback and multiple electronic formats, including for Kindle and the Nook. In it, Tessa Noble-Davenant will do
anything to protect her brother, Brandon, even if that means traveling across the country with Rene Morin. A cynical, brooding, yet startling sexy vampire, Rene seems to take pleasure in finding fault with Tessa's every move. Despite this, a sensual attraction begins to develop between the two, one to which neither can afford to succumb. Rene and Tessa are being followed -- and a single misstep will put them at the mercy of forces more dark and powerful than they can even imagine...

Dark Passion, Book Three, is available in trade paperback and multiple e-formats through Double Dragon Publishing. In it,Augustus Noble is a man with secrets. His entire life has been built on half-truths, betrayals and lies—desperate measures to keep the woman he loves, EleanorTrevilian-Noble, as his own. The patriarch of the Brethren, he has struggled for centuries to create an empire of wealth and prestige for her. Now all that he has fought for is in jeopardy—his grandson Brandon has risked it all in a desperate bid for independence and freedom. And just as Augustus can’t allow Brandon to escape the ages-old traditions of the Brethren race, he also can’t let the Brethren—and especially his longtime nemesis—discover a truth that, if revealed, would see them all killed.

In the fourth installment, Dark Passages: Tristan & Karen, Tristan Morin is a vampire on a mission: to not fall in love with Karen Pierce. To do so would prove that humans and Brethren were meant to be physically and emotionally bound to each other something he, as a full-blooded Brethren, refuses to believe. It would be so much easier if Karen wasn't beautiful. And if there wasn't something about her that draws him like a moth to a flame, damn near impossible to resist.

And in Book Five, Dark Passages 2: Pilar & Elías, Pilar Cadana has one thing on her mind: revenge against Pepe Cervantes, the vampire who murdered her father. But her plan to get close to him by working as a stripper in his nightclub backfires when she meets Elias Velasco, the police detective assigned to her father's case. Pilar has known tremendous heartache, sorrow and loss, but in Elias's arms, she feels safe enough to trust again...and even dare to love. But as the passion between them grows, so too does the danger -- because Pilar has dark secretes of her own. And while she's everything Elias wants, he may just prove to be everything Pilar needs.

Readers will find an “About the Brethren Series” page at www.sarareinke.com that fills them in on the series to date, and the different characters introduced so far, if they haven’t read any

of the preceding titles. Plus, for a limited time, readers can subscribe to my e-Newsletter and receive a FREE ebook copy of Dark Thirst, Book One in The Brethren Series. There’s no better

way to be introduced to the world of the Brethren vampires than with the book that started it all!

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 170 KB

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0983216304

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Publisher: Bloodhorse Press, LLC (February 8, 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Language: English

Amazon

Blurb:

Tristan Morin is a vampire on a mission: to not fall in love with Karen Pierce. To do so would prove that humans and Brethren were meant to be physically and emotionally bound to each other -- something he, as a full-blooded Brethren, refuses to believe. It would be so much easier if Karen wasn't beautiful. And if there wasn't something about her that draws him like a moth to a flame, damn near impossible to resist.

Karen has always felt an inexplicable attraction to Tristan. More than just the fact he's strikingly handsome, it's as if being with him is something natural, comfortable and right. But soon a brash choice on his part leaves her heartbroken and confused, and a sadistic new enemy will put their tentative love -- and their lives -- to the ultimate test.

Learn about the Brethren http://sarareinkeauthor.blogspot.com/p/contact-feedback.html

About the Author:

"Definitely an author to watch." That's how Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine describes Sara Reinke. New York Times best-selling author Karen Robards calls Reinke "a new paranormal star" and Love Romances and More hails her as "a fresh new voice to a genre that has grown stale." Dark Thirst and Dark Hunger, the first two books in her Brethren Series of vampire romance are available now from Kensington/Zebra Books. The third installment, Dark Passion, is available in print and ebook formats from Double Dragon Publishing. I always enjoy hearing from readers! Drop me an email and let me know what you think of the Brethren Series, or my other available titles!

Sara's Links:

Website:

Blog:

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Now On To The Giveaway, Sara has generously offered a,ebook copy of Dark Vengeance and to enter its really simple, Answer this question, Tell us your favorite Brotherhood/Brethren type series? Who is your favorite and why? Don't forget to leave your email or some way I can contact you if you win. The giveaway will run from June 25th to July 2nd, winner will be announced July 3rd.