Book Spotlight & Guest Post Women of War by Lisa Beth Darling

Title: Women of War

Author: Lisa Beth Darling

Series: Of War

Genre: Immortal/Paranormal Erotic/Romance

Publisher: Moon Mistress Publishing

Release Date: February 14, 2013

Edition/Formats Available In: E~Book & Print

This story spans four generations of women in Alena's family from her great-grandmother, Shar Draíocht the last known Queen of the Dark Kingdom. Morrowind, her tortured daughter. Maven, Alena's free spirited mother. And ends the night Alena washed up on Ares' shore. With intensity, lust, fear, and strength these Women of War make their way in the world revealing the hidden truths of the past and Ares true connection to his beloved Wife, Alena.

Where did the inspiration for this story come from?  What is the story behind the story so to speak?

There's a line in "Labyrinth" that goes 'Sometimes the way forward is also the way back'. That was true when we came to the end of "Child of War-Rising Son".    I knew we (the Muse and I) needed to go back before we could successfully go forward.
In "Women of War" all of the secrets of Alena's past and her family history are revealed to the reader but not any other characters in the storyline.  The reader discovers the reason why Ares never tells anyone that he found the Dark Kingdom so long ago. It tells the tale of Shar Draíocht, our heroine' great-grandmother and the last known Queen of the Dark Kingdom taking us from her up through the lonely and tumultuous life of our heroine, Alena,  to the time she lands on Ares' shores, which is where "The Heart of War" (first novel in the series) begins.

Tell us about the book cover. How does it represent your book?  How did you choose the artwork? 

The cover is very simple and that's what I love about it.  Just a small meandering path leading off to who knows where.  It represents the journey the tale takes as it relates Alena's full story.

Where does your inspiration for your stories come from?

The shortest possible answer to that question is; The Muse—or as I call him, The Big Guy.

Most of us have heard the phrase that “he or she” is “A Natural”. Usually we hear it in conjunction with some type of sports/athletic ability or in regards to genius or savant. But the phrase is not limited to those areas. All of us are born with some innate ability or talent, some are natural leaders, others natural caregivers, more natural musicians, artists, poets, architects…you name it. Each and every one of us was blessed by the Gods with a talent—mine is writing. The trick, of course, is finding it, sticking with it, and honing it.

For me, it all started in the 4th grade when my teacher gave the class its very first creative writing assignment. The topic she gave us was the first flight of a baby bird. The second I put pencil to paper my whole body started buzzing and I was transported to a place far beyond my desk. All of the other kids wrote about a baby bird spreading its wings and flying through the air happily chirping away. Me? My bird died. It struck an airplane, and fell to the ground dead. Mama bird cried. Poppa bird cried. Even God cried as He sent the rain down to Earth. (Mind you, I hadn’t even heard of Icarus yet but my little 4th grade tale was pretty parallel!) My teacher took me aside to ask me why I had written my story this way. I said I didn’t know. She’d asked us for a story and that was the picture that came into my head. She said it was a good story and she gave me an ‘A’ but told me that I should write about happier things next time.

Bad advice. I’m glad I never took it to heart.

I got in trouble in Junior High when my stories turned hotly erotic and, well, my classmates loved them but they were confiscated by teachers and that caused a few problems as you can imagine. The underlying thing, the really big thing about being called down to the Guidance Counselor's Office wasn't the reprimand, no, it was the very begrudging but honest admission of the Counselor who never failed to tell me how good my 'too adult for Junior High' stories were. She even called in my English teacher who told her how much he loved my stories even if they were 'too adult for Junior High'.  After class one day, he pulled me aside knowing how conflicted I felt over the reception my little stories. He asked if I ever heard of The Muse.

AHHHHHHHHH

It really was a moment in time where the skies turned bright blue, the clouds parted, glorious rays of sunshine rained down upon me while the angels struck up a rousing chorus.

From that day unto this day, The Muse has been by my side, through thick and thin. The stories became hotter, adultery, darker, and I've taken my lumps along with my curtain calls over them.  I wouldn't change a thing. I am blessed—some days it feels like a curse, I know, I know—I am flattered that The Big Guy came to live in my head allowing me channel these wonderfully gritty stories from him, into my head, down my arm, to my fingers and, finally, to the keyboard. 

To Celebrate the Release of Women of War Lisa Beth Darling is making the Of War Anthology *FREE*

On February 14 and 15 for your Kindle Just Click on the Image Below for your free copy 

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