Waking the Dragon by Juliette Cross: Interview + Giveaway

Waking the Dragon
Vale of Stars, #1
by Juliette Cross

Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Number of pages: 288
Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs

The Gladium Province is on the verge of civil unrest as humans and Morgons, the dragon-hybrid race, clash once more. But amid disorder can also arise passion…

When the bodies of three human women are discovered in Morgon territory—with the DNA of several Morgon men on the victims—it’s just a matter of time before civil unrest hits the Province. But for ambitious reporter Moira Cade, it’s more than just a story, and it may mean risking her own life.

Descending into the dark underworld of Morgon society, Moira is paired with Kol Moonring, Captain of the Morgon Guard, for her protection. Fiercely independent, Moira bristles at his dominance, and defies his will at every turn. Yet resistance proves futile when passion flares between them, awakening powerful emotions within both, body and soul. But as the killings continue, can their fiery newfound bond survive an even greater evil—one that threatens all of humanity, Morgonkind, and Moira’s very soul?...

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Juliette calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. She has a B.A. in creative writing from Louisiana State University, a M.Ed. in gifted education, and was privileged to study under the award-winning author Ernest J. Gaines in grad school. Her love of mythology, legends, and art serve as constant inspiration for her works. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance--brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.

Juliette is a multi-published author, including her Nightwing series with Kensington Publishing and The Vessel Trilogy with Samhain Publishing.

Website: https://www.juliettecross.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Juliette-Cross/e/B00MQ18Z1W/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliettecrossauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Juliette__Cross
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/crossjuliette/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7795664.Juliette_Cross
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/XeKIn

Q & A with Juliette Cross

Q: Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
Hi! I’m so happy to be here on Shut Up & Read today. My heroine is Moira Cade, daughter of the biggest business tycoon in the Gladium Province. However, Moira wants to make a name for herself in the world of journalism. As senior editor at the college paper, she has tackled many tough stories, but none as serious as this one. Three human girls have gone missing; their mutilated bodies are found days later containing DNA of multiple Morgon men . Morgons are the dragon hybrid race living alongside humans in Gladium. Moira is paired with super-alpha Kol Moonring, Captain of the Morgon Guard, to investigate these gruesome murders. What neither of them know is that this mystery delves much deeper than they could possibly comprehend.

Q: What is the best advice you have been given?
I’ve been given so much great advice. Never give up; write every day; be supportive; never burn bridges. All wonderful advice I’ve heeded well—in my writing career as well as in life in general. But my favorite advice came recently when I met Cindy Nord at the RT Convention in May. We had a brief chat, and she told me, “Dream big, Juliette.” Love that lady, and I’m definitely listening to her. ;)

Q: How do you keep busy when you're not writing?
Ha! Well, I happen to have four kids, ranging from 18 down to 4. Yes, I know. I’m not a good planner in that category of my life. But they keep me busy. Summertime is here, so we’re getting ready for movie marathons. Harry Potter and LotR are my favorites. Bring it, baby!

Q: If you could have any superhuman ability, what would you choose and why?
To fly, of course. I’ll let Moira speak for me on the “why.” Here’s a snippet from her first flight in WAKING THE DRAGON with Kol Moonring.

For several seconds, I couldn’t even suck air into my lungs as we climbed higher and higher into the night sky.

“Breathe,” Kol commanded close to my ear.

I inhaled, taking in the deep black above us behind a canvas of glittering stars. The buildings below grew smaller, their lights like pinpricks of candlelight. As Kol winged north of the city into the wilderness, the heaviness of the dark wrapped us in a cool embrace. At this height, he beat his wings little, letting us soar on a smooth, even path, skimming above the clouds. A half-moon shimmered a radiant glow on the thin blanket of vapor beneath us.

“What do you think?” he asked, his arms still braced around me.

My hands and face stung from the icy wind. Other than that, I was enthralled. Completely and utterly besotted with the sensation of drifting between earth and sky.

Q: Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
I absolutely HATE to admit this, but I prefer ebooks because of the convenience. But I still love wandering through bookstores, looking at all the pretty covers and holding and touching them. Sounds pervy, but you know what I mean if you’re a booklover. Bookstores make me smile.