Thursday, October 28, 2010

Featured Author LM Pruitt & Giveaway!




 Blog with Bite would like to present



L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida, with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things, and would probably kill a plastic plant. She is the author of Shades of Gray: A Jude Magdalyn Novel, the first in the Jude Magdalyn Series. She is currently at work on Shades of Desire, the second novel in the series, as well as New Moon Rising, a new series featuring Cari Gravier.
L.M. Pruitt's Blog.





When I sat down--or laid down, I can't really remember--to begin plotting Shades of Gray, I knew very few things for certain. What I did know was this:
                                -the main character, Jude Magdalyn
                                -there would be vampires
                                -it would be set in New Orleans

I'm going to focus on that last one, New Orleans. It would seen trite and cliched and terribly overdone to set a vampire story in New Orleans. Anne Rice did it. Sherilyn Kenyon did it. Probably who knows how many others (now there's a trivia question for you--but I digress) have done it. Why throw my hat into an overpopulated ring?

First, why not? I like a challenge. Second, New Orleans is quite possibly my favorite city in the world. Granted, I haven't been to all that many cities, but when the best way to describe a place is "second home", you don't need to visit a slew to make sure. Third, and most important (for world building purposes), New Orleans has an immense historical paranormal background.

Gather round the campfire. But you have to bring your own s'mores.

Most people know that the original colonists of New Orleans were less then reputable members of society--thieves, rapists, murderers, you get the drift. Despite their lack of social graces, they had the same desire that most men do. No, not a beer. A woman.

Seems like there'd be an easy fix--send over the less than reputable women. Except the women kept running away with the natives. So the French government as the brilliant idea to send over reputable middle class girls. Properly dowered by the Church, full parental blessing.

Again, seems like a great idea. But the ship made a stop before New Orleans. The local men there were all too happy to let those girls know what was in store for them--and it wasn't pretty. So when the ship reached New Orleans, there were no girls. But there was plenty of other stuff.

All the girls' belongings, conveniently transported in large, rectangular boxes bearing a strong resemblance to caskets, sat on the dock for weeks. Until the sisters of the Ursuline Convent took them and placed them on the third floor. Where they remained under lock and key and behind tightly closed shutters.

Three guesses what most people, even to this day, think are on the third floor. And it ain't linens.

Fascinating by itself. But what if those caskets weren't just boxes, but the vampire equivalent of Purgatory? I mean, what better place to keep the bogeyman than under Church protection. The shutters nailed shut with nails blessed by an archbishop. All bases covered.

But then what happens when one "prisoner" gets out, not once, but twice? And then he lets everyone else out?

To find the answer to those questions, you'll have to check out the sequel to Shades of Gray, Shades of Desire, available on Amazon November 2 and on Kindle by Halloween.

Thanks to Rachel and all the staff at blogwithbite. Don't forget to leave your name in the comment section for a chance to win a signed copy of Shades of Gray AND Shades of Desire. Happy Halloween--and happy reading!




Contest Deets:


  • One winner for this particular contest {Signed copy of Shades of Gray AND Shades of Desire}
  • Commenting on this post will earn entry into this contest, but please answer the FOR OUR READERS question to be eligible. Not following directions will result in your comment not counting
  • Winners will be chosen using Random.org
  • Following BlogwithBite.com is not required
  • Extra entries will be offered, separate comment for each entry please, if you leave multiple entries in one comment it will only be counted as one entry
  • Contest ends October 31st, 2010 11:59 CST
Extra Entries:
  • Like Shades of Gray Facebook Page {here}  {Leave name last initial}
  • Follow BlogwithBite.com {GFC, Email}
  • Like BWB on Facebook {Leave name last initial}
  • Add a HALLOWEEN HYSTERIA button to your sidebar {leave link}
  • Spread the word in any way, twitter, facebook, post, sidebar, etc. {leave link}
  • Reviewed Infinite Days or Masked by Moonlight for BWB 
  • Comment on any HALLOWEEN HYSTERIA posts {between now and Oct 31st} 

23 comments:

Rosie said...

I would love to be entered into this contest. I'm a sucker for anything written in New Orleans. It's a great town full of mystery and history. I especially love the story of how New Orleans was populated with the not so nice crowd. Thanks

rosie0512 @ hotmail . com

Lucy D'Andrea said...

This is a great givaway! Please count me in!

lucy.dandrea@gmail.com

Lucy D'Andrea said...

Extra entry:

I follow the blog through Google and hotmail (e-mails)


lucy.dandrea@hotmail.com

Lucy D'Andrea said...

Extra entry:

I "Liked" Shades of Grey Facebook page

last name initial: D

lucy.dandrea@gmail.com

Lucy D'Andrea said...

Extra entry:

I "liked" BWB on facebook!

lucy.dandrea@gmail.com

Lucy D'Andrea said...

Extra Entry:

I added the HALLOWEEN HYSTERIA button to my blog.

http://ldandrea.blogspot.com/

lucy.dandrea@gmail.com

Judy said...

I love vampire books set in New Orleans also. I live about 2 hours from New Orleans and love to go there. The Voodoo festival is there this coming weekend!! I will put these books on my TBR list.

Judy
magnolias_1@msn.com

Judy said...

I follow Blog With Bite on GFC-Judy.



Judy
magnolias_1@msn.com

Unknown said...

I a follower and email subscriber. I think New Orleans is a good place for paranormal books to take place. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read the book. It sounds really good. Tore923@aol.com

debbie said...

I think new orleans it the perfect setting for a story like this. It has a background of different cultures, all having a rich history. That makes for a great vampire story. I would love to read this book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Megan said...

Sounds like a great book!! Count me in!

megankyser at gmail dot com

Megan said...

I am a GFC follower


megankyser at gmail dot com

Megan said...

I Like the Shades of gray Facebook page

(Megan K)


megankyser at gmail dot com

Megan said...

I like the BWB page on Facebook
(Megan K)


megankyser at gmail dot com

Megan said...

I have the Halloween Hysteria button on my blog

http://amethystdaydreams.blogspot.com/

megankyser at gmail dot com

Megan said...

I tweeted about the giveaway

http://twitter.com/mekyser/status/29103288962

megankyser at gmail dot com

Read for your future! said...

Just stopping by to say Hi. If you havent already. Stop by and enter my book giveaways and my Poll.
http://readforyourfuture.blogspot.com/
See you next week
Lora

Please enter me in your contest,

Kelly aka yllektra(I Work For Books) said...

Oh, I don't think I remember any other books set inNew Orleans.. the closet one I can recall is The Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse Series, but it was in Louisiana not really in NO. lol
But I think a Vampire book Series taking place there is a fantastic idea!!

I'd love to be entered in this contest if it is international! XD

yvantis[at]crehotmail[dot]com

Kelly aka yllektra(I Work For Books) said...

I am a GFC follower. (Kelly A.)

yvantis[at]hotmail[dot]com

Kelly aka yllektra(I Work For Books) said...

I like BWB on FB as Kelly A.

yvantis[at]hotmail[dot]com

Kelly aka yllektra(I Work For Books) said...

I also liked the Shades of Grey FB page as Kelly A.

yvantis[at]hotmail[dot]com

Kelly aka yllektra(I Work For Books) said...

I tweeted the contest:
http://twitter.com/yllektra/status/29261654320

yvantis[at]hotmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

I would love to be in your contest! I love New Orleans and their jazz music! Totally awesome!
kelsey.gilley@gmail.com