Guest Post & Giveaway with Sandy James

Author Sandy James is here with us today talking about imagination. Welcome back to The Book Vixen Sandy!

---

I’m really happy to be the guest blogger today on Book Vixen!

Choosing a blog topic is always difficult. I didn’t want to have readers take a look at the first paragraph and think, “Boring!” I also didn’t want to write about topics other writers have covered again and again and again. That meant I have to stretch my imagination a little… which inspired me to talk about…imaginations!

Have you ever tried to stretch your brain and “invent” a world? It’s not easy to play God. Writers who do so deftly often end up being popular—think Hunger Games or Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. When I started writing my Alliance of the Amazons, I quickly realized just how difficult it was to create a world. But when it was all said and done, I came to an epiphany.

The most important thing I learned was a superhero is only a superhero if she faces a supervillain!

As you build a world, for every power given a supernatural being—whether a heroine or a villain—there’s got to be one for the opposition. How tedious would it be if the heroine gets super powers that are so strong the battle’s conclusion arrives too swiftly and easily? Superman is only truly a hero when he faces Lex Luthor.

Look at The Avengers. If you take the time to analyze what made it so successful, you’d see that it was Loki who drove the story. Sure, it was great to watch the tense sparks fly between Iron Man and Thor. The Hulk inspired compassion. Captain America made us melancholy. Hawkeye had a cute butt. And Black Widow showed women can kick ass too. But let’s be honest…it was Loki who made things happen. Had he been easy pickings, the movie would have been box office poison.

As I created my Amazons, I gave every bit as much thought to who would be their archenemies as I did to empowering my women warriors. While each book has a great villain, I have to say my favorite is in The Brazen Amazon, which released on May 6th from Carina Press. I picked Sekhmet, an Egyptian goddess who has set her sights on Zach Hanson—the story’s hero. For those of you new to Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet is one of the biggest of the baddies. She’s known as “The Destructor,” because her father—the god Ra—created her for one purpose. To destroy the world. Cue the Amazons to try to stop her evil machinations!

I enjoyed writing the Alliance of the Amazons so much that I’m now working on two new urban fantasy series. I hope to have news on them in the near future. I’m also blessed to have signed a contract with Grand Central Forever Yours for a new contemporary romance series. The first book—tentatively titled The Bottom Line—releases in February 2014. And don’t forget to catch the closing chapter in the Alliance of the Amazon when Sarita’s story—The Volatile Amazon—is released by Carina Press.

Thanks again to the Book Vixen for letting me hijack her blog today!

---

My income tax return says that I am a teacher. I had originally intended it to say “lawyer,” but romance, marriage, and motherhood set my life on a different course. I’ve been married to Jeff James since 1983. Even after all these years, he is still the love of my life. Jeff and I have two grown children who make us proud every day.

My husband and I share another strong and wonderful interest that is not only a great part of our day-to-day lives but has also become a running theme throughout some of my books. We own a small racing stable of Standardbred Harness horses, pacers to be exact. We have always loved the sport and as our children grew up enough to have their own interests, Jeff looked into what it would be like to own a racehorse. We jumped into the sport with both feet and are loving every minute of it. I’ve added a link to Jeff’s website if you’d like to follow the progress of our horses.

As another bit of personal information, I’d like to share that several years ago I was diagnosed with lupus. I know that there are others out there who either have had the same diagnosis or know someone who has. I’m sharing this because I want to encourage you all that chronic illnesses do not have to keep you down and out of the swing of life. I still teach, still work with my horses, have a wonderful family life, and am still able to spend hours at my laptop writing on my latest book.

Find the author online: website | goodreads | twitter | facebook

---

Title: The Brazen Amazon
Series: Alliance of the Amazons, Book 3
Author: Sandy James
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: May 6, 2013 by Carina Press

Zach Hanson is a tech wizard, capable of creating and improving gadgets--including remote nuclear warhead launchers. But he's always known that he's destined for something more, something greater, something...supernatural.

Powerful Air Amazon Gina Himmel is one of four sisters called to protect the world from those who would do it harm. Demigods in league with an Ancient have been taking over the bodies of leaders in the military and technological sectors, and Gina is sent to San Francisco to watch over Zach.

Under Gina's protection, Zach is introduced to a world of ancient deities, rogue gods and the bold, brazen Amazons who keep humanity safe. Amidst the whirlwind of battle, Zach and Gina discover a love that could give them the power to save the world—or destroy it.

 

---

Thanks to Sandy James, one lucky winner will receive an ebook copy of The Brazen Amazon, book 3 in the Alliance of the Amazons series. Good luck to all who enter!

• No purchase necessary.
• Must be 18 years old or older to enter.
• Giveaway open Internationally. Void where prohibited.
• Odds of winning depend on number of entries. Many will enter, however, only one will win.
• Comments are appreciated, however, you must fill out the Rafflecopter form in order to enter this giveaway.
• Please read TBV's Giveaway Policy before entering.
• Giveaway ends 9:01 pm (Pacific Time) on 5/20/2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway