Author Name: Beany Sparks
Beany Sparks is paying us a visit today to talk about shifters, magic, and her latest release, Ryan’s Wizard! Read the interview, check out the excerpt and don’t forget to enter the contest for the ebook copy of Ryan’s Wizard!.
Our interview:
Q. What was the inspiration for Ryan’s Wizard?
BS: Well with the way I ended Aiden’s Shepherd (Paws and Magic 1) I kinda had to write Ryan and Olly’s story, and fast! It helped that PITA was feeling chatty.
Q. I love books with a magical component, especially wizards. What is it about magic and wizards that prompted you to put them into your story?
BS: To be honest, Aiden was initially going to be just a regular human. I remember getting to a point and thinking, do I want to give him magic? And then I thought, why not! So Aiden got his magic, then his cousin Olly, a wizard, made his debut.
I like the freedom you get with the magical/paranormal world, you can do anything you want.
Q. Magic and mates, they seem made for each other. How did you think of combining the two?
BS: The shifter aspect was always going to be there. In fact that’s what the series was going to be about. But then as I was writing Aiden’s Shepherd, the magic practically jumped in front of me and yelled SURPRISE! The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. So the series went from being a shifter series to shifters and magic, becoming Paws and Magic.
Q. Favorite genre to read? Favorite to write in? Or are they the same?
BS: I love to read and write about shifters, vampires, magic, and paranormal in general. I like contemporary too, but it doesn’t give you as much as freedom to play.
Q. Have you always loved a good fantasy? What was the first fantasy story that made you love this genre?
BS: I have actually. Books in general were my escape, but fantasy let you escape to a completely different world and that appealed to me.
The Night World series by L.J. Smith was one series that introduced me to vampires, witches, werewolves, and shapeshifters. I’m still waiting for the final book to be published though…
Q. Lately I have been reading some marvelous books by terrific Australian and NZ authors. This feels like a tidal wave of delight. What do you think has prompted this marvelous influx? Ebooks, perhaps?
BS: I think eBooks have played a big role. I also think we have some wonderful scenery that just can’t help but inspire people to write.
Q. Is there special Australian folklore to draw upon for magical elements or creatures?
BS: Hm… I’m sure there is but nothing is coming to mind. I might have to have a good look into that. I see a possible plot bunny in my future…
Q. When thinking about constellations, here in the US ( Northern Hemisphere) we have the Big and Little Dipper that can’t be seen down under, you have the Southern Cross, which can only be seen from your perspective.. How are our stories different and Is there a similarity to be found in our stories? Apart from speech or spelling?
BS: I think language itself would definitely be a big difference. Not because of the spelling but because of the slang. Even between Australia and New Zealand there are different words for the same thing.
Then there’s the weather. When we think of Christmas we think of sunshine, heat, beach and BBQ (okay and shirtless men in shorts), not cold and snow. In fact, we dont have snow, not even during winter. Not unless you head to one of the few places that actually have snow.
Even our cowboys would have different scenery and different issues to deal with.
Q. What childhood story or author had the biggest impact on you as a child, an adult or a writer?
BS: L.J. Smith definitely and how can you go past Harry Potter? I also have to say Amber Kell because Amber’s story (Attracting Anthony) was the first MM story I ever read.
Q. What’s next for Beany Sparks?
BS: I’ve got a Christmas merman story coming out December 15th from eXtasy Books with the sequel coming out in February 2015. Then it’s back to Paws and Magic with book 3 scheduled for March.
Author Bio:
Beany lives in Western Australia. She first started reading romance novels in 2008, but it wasn’t until January 2010 when her Kindle got delivered that the world of erotic romance opened its doors to her, and she hasn’t looked back.
With suggestions and support from friends, her muse—“affectionately” known as PITA—was finally able to break free, and in January 2014 her first story was written. Since she can’t put PITA back in his box, Beany has decided to give in and team up with him. Together they’ve made plans to write both MF and MM stories.
Author Contact:
She can be reached at beany.sparks@gmail.com
Or visit her at www.beanysparks.com
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Cover Artist: Latrisha Waters
Sales Links: http://www.extasybooks.com/Ryan-‘-s-Wizard/ and at Amazon
Ryan’s Wizard Blurb:
An alpha ends up with more than he bargained for when he finds his mate…his wizard mate.
After years of no contact, Oliver “Olly” Grey was finally able to reunite with his cousin Aiden. He’s surprised to find that Aiden now has a mate—a male, shifter mate—named Lex. And it’s Lex’s pack mates that Olly is there to help save. What he hadn’t expected was Lex’s brother Ryan.
Ryan Shepherd was happy to have found his brother Lex, and even happier to know that his brother was happily mated. But there is something about Aiden’s cousin Olly that Ryan doesn’t trust, especially when he also smells like the man currently holding his pack members captive. Yet that doesn’t stop Ryan from wanting to hold and comfort the man, and eventually he realizes why—Olly is his mate.
Now the four of them need to plan a rescue mission, but what happens when they run into the two men that had held Lex captive and those same men come to the cabin in the middle of the night?
Categories: Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal
Ryan’s Wizard Excerpt:
Aiden burst out laughing and moved one hand to ruffle Olly’s hair.
“Hey!” Olly exclaimed as he pulled back in order to glare at Aiden, who just smiled bigger and pulled him back into his arms.
“I couldn’t resist,” Aiden said, the laughter evident in his voice.
“Yeah, whatever. Anyway, back to what I was saying, but hopefully without interruptions this time.” Olly looked pointedly at Ryan when he said that. Ryan seemed to be studying him intently, but didn’t utter a word.
Olly looked away and started talking again. “I know where the pack is, or at least, I know where a bunch of canine shifters are being held.”
“How do you know that they’re part of our pack?” Lex asked, sounding like he was trying to restrain his eagerness.
Olly turned to him. “Because I heard a few of the guards talk about how they captured a bunch of them together.”
“And why didn’t you get caught?” Ryan asked, anger in his voice.
“Because,” Olly paused, then sighed. “The house they’re being held in belongs to Walter.”
Aiden gasped and when Olly looked at him, he saw the horror that was on his face.
“How long has Walter had shifters imprisoned on his property?” Aiden asked, outrage in his voice.
“I don’t know for sure, but it would be a number of years.” Olly couldn’t face any of them as he said that.
“Who is this Walter?” Ryan growled.
Olly looked up at him, then looked away as he replied, “My father.”
Pages: 157 pages
Tour Dates:
Tour Stops:
10-Nov MM Good Book Reviews, Love Bytes, The Hat Party, Inked Rainbow Reads
11-Nov Carly’s Book Reviews. Parker Williams
12-Nov Molly Lolly, BFD Book Blog
13-Nov Amanda C. Stone, Hearts on Fire, Multitasking Mommas, Cate Ashwood
14-Nov Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Blogger Girls. My Fiction Nook, Iyana Jenna
Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of Ryan’s Wizard. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the link provided for the entry form and for all additional contest details.
Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Dates/Tour Stops:
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 