GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY - Shadow of the Sun - Laura Kreitzer - BIR2010

Shadow of the Sun by Laura Kreitzer was chosen as one of our Best I've Read 2010 selections.

Shadow of the Sun
By: Laura Kreitzer
Publisher: iUniverse
Author website

Book Summary:
(from Goodreads)
Gabriella's past is a mystery, but that never stopped her from achieving her goals. As a supernatural specialist, and far more intelligent than anyone her age, she has always been ignored by her peers. Because of the isolation she has always felt, she put her life and soul into her job. Being a supernatural specialist hasn't given her the divine intervention she always longed for, until one day a shipment arrives from Italy containing three dead bodies with an uncanny ability to regenerate. Gabriella is frightened and intrigued, but not as scared as she becomes when a dark creature attacks her.

As the bodies come back to life, the plot takes an unexpected twist that you won't see coming. The supernatural world only begins to unfold before her as angels appear, her dreams start to haunt her, and the very past she has forgotten comes back with startling clarity. Romance blooms, escape plans are made, an assassin is out to kill her, and death is only around the corner. But what is more terrifying than all of it is the fact she is the chosen one, the Illuminator, the one who will save them all.

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~ ~ ~ GUEST POST ~ ~ ~

Laura Kreitzer stopped by BtC, and we asked her what would happen if she woke up in an alternate reality one day.

So Between the Covers sent me this for my guest post on their blog: You wake up one morning in an alternate reality. Where are you and what happens during your day?

This is a dangerous question to ask because, as you guessed it, I am an author with a wild, crazy imagination. So, since Shadow of the Sun seems to be the main topic around the BIR2010 blogs this Thursday, I am going to wake up in the world I created for the Timeless Series.

::shakes self to prepare to go into Story Mode::

Thursday morning my life will not consist of a Red Bull, yogurt, cheese, and a snuggle with my puppies and boy (a.k.a. my fiancé). Actually, I will wake up in a room that is familiar to me in the sense that I created it. The large, arched windows, the incredibly comfortable couch just under the windows, and the huge bed that screams comfort. Trust me, I know . . . I’m the one lying on it! For a fraction of a second I actually forget Red Bull exists. Only for a fraction, ‘cause really, I’m addicted something fierce!

“Well, this is cool,” I think as I get up and stretch in my awesome flannel PJs. Actually, my mind seems to be focusing on the fact that if I am truly, in fact, in this world I created . . . where the hell is sexy Andrew at? Seriously? Forget Gabriella! Hah! But what is even “awesomer”—is that a word? Well, it is now—is the fact that down the hall I run into Lucia, one of the Angels that shouldn’t exist. But there she is with her dark red hair, soft, olive colored skin, and sexy-as-hell white dress cut short on her lengthy legs. Damn, she’s hot and I’m jealous as I look at my pudgy belly. Oh well. She smiles brightly at me and beckons me forward. Of course, all I can think about is: “You better be bringing me to sexy Andrew so I can touch his sexy pecs!”

You see, I have this one tract mind and it’s a wonder that I actually write anything with plot. (And I guess some would argue that the plot sucks anyway . . . so maybe it is true I have only a one tract mind. . . .)

Anyway, Lucia opens a portal (for those of you who haven’t read Shadow of the Sun, this is Lucia’s gift: to open portals to other worlds) and shoves me through, and not too kindly either. Jeez, I think as I rub my shoulder. Maybe I shouldn’t have made her such a strong character after all! My mind is so busy thinking about how super-powerful Lucia is it takes me a moment to realize she has literally shoved me into heaven. Not even joking! (And I know what you are thinking. Andrew’s there, right? Wrong.)

There are freaking golden gates that tower above me until I lose sight on them in the pearly (yeah, I just said that) clouds. Except there’s a problem with this picture. There’s a wooden sign in a strange language that, surprisingly, I can read! It says “Closed for Christmas.” I almost die laughing as I fall over and let tears of insane cackling take me over. Clouds are amazing soft, I think as I roll upon them, losing my mind and laughing harder now. Anyone would think I was on some kind of drug, but the truth is I truly am this weird in real life too—ask any of my friends. This is normal. Lucia, who steps through the portal behind me, stares at me strangely. If only she knew. . . .

“Come on, Laura! We have things we need to take care of. First stop—and last for you? The Guardian Spirits,” says Lucia pointedly, though I can tell—mainly because I’ve created her—that she is slightly amused by the abnormality that is Laura Kreitzer. Or perhaps enigma? “You’ve got to tell them to stop playing stupid practical jokes. Like this one!” She points at me with raised eyebrows. “You created them. Make them stop. When you aren’t writing our story they get bored. And things like this—” her hands move up and down at me “—happen.”

As I stand, my laughing is cut short at her words. “Wait. What? I’m here as a practical joke done by the Guardian Spirits?”

Lucia rolls her eyes and beckons me forward as I follow dumbly with an opened mouth. Then, when it hits me, I start guffawing all over again. There might have even been snorting—not like I’d tell you readers! Hah! And it isn’t like I’d tell you how many times I tripped thinking I needed to step over the clouds when, in fact, I can step through them. So, with the hilarity of the situation I catch up with Lucia, a grin spread so wide across my face I’m sure my cheeks will crack.

“Does this mean I don’t get to meet Andrew?” I ask while skipping. Yes, I skipped through heaven. So what? Or, actually, I guess this would be the Ethereal Eternity since this is my reality. Cool.

“Ehno tells me I should keep you far, far away from Andrew. Something about crazy animal noses and ripping of clothing . . . and—” her eyebrows come together, confused “—something about using Andrew like he was a stripper pole, though I’m not even sure how he knows what a stripper pole is . . .” she trails off. I know what she is thinking because, well, I know her better than anyone. She wonders if Ehno’s been to a strip club. Quiet, sweet, future-knowing Ehno.

“As if!” I scoff, not very reassuringly, but I was being serious. “That man has eyes only for you!” Now it is my turn to roll my eyes. “Where are we going anyway?”

“To the golden gates.”

“Right. . . .”

Sure enough we’ve come full circle. We are back at the same golden gates, but this time the sign is missing. I scratch my head. Christmas hasn’t happened yet. Strange! Maybe it was another one of their “practical jokes.” It only makes me grin like a lunatic. (Some would argue I am a lunatic, no metaphor needed.) There’s a man just outside, looking just like an Empyrean Guard soldier.

“Tell the Guardian Spirits that next time they should be more clever with their jokes,” says Lucia as she pushes me toward the man who catches me by the tops of my arms.

My, he is sexy. I love my world.

“Nice meeting you, Laura, but you belong on the outside, creating this world. Not living in it.” Lucia’s words are soft. “Now quit goofing off and finishing writing Abyss!”

I pull from Sexy Man’s arms to see Lucia off as she creates her freakin’ cool looking portal and steps through, gone from the Ethereal Eternity before I have a chance to say another word.

“Come one, the Guardian Spirits are expecting you,” says Sexy Man with an incredibly endearing wink.

Even this excites me because I don’t even know what the Guardian Spirits look like. Before the stud pushes me through the gates I turn to the giant hunk of yumminess. (He’s tall, huge muscles, blondish hair, a stunning smile . . . basically your sexy immortal type.) “So, do I at least get a kiss or something?” I ask. I mean, really! I wake up in this world I created and I get kicked out before I am able to see the sexy Andrew and then pushed onto this sexy man. Don’t I get one kiss? It only seems fair.

The gates are wide open behind me as he moves closer, leaning down to put his lips to mine, but he stops before he kisses me. “I better have a larger role in your next book,” he whispers across my skin and pushes me through the gates where all disappears and I wake up back in my house.

Well damn. No Andrew, no sexy immortal kisses, and I still didn’t get to see these mysterious Guardian Spirits. I fold my arms and huff.

And there you have it lovely readers! I would have really gone into detail but then everyone would get bored! If you haven’t read Shadow of the Sun, it is on sale on Kindle and Nook right now for $1.99! Good luck to those who enter to win a copy of a signed ARC copy of Shadow of the Sun!

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~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~

We're very excited to have one (1) SIGNED ARC of Shadow of the Sun to give away! The winner will be chosen by random.org.

This giveaway is open to US addresses only.

YOU MUST BE A BLOG FOLLOWER TO ENTER.

This giveaway ends December 15, 2010 at 12:00 midnight EST.

Please fill out this form to enter.