BookLover Sue: Interview & Giveaway - Variants (The Anathergians Trilogy, Book One) by Michelle C. Reilly

Variants

The Anathergians Trilogy, Book One

by Michelle C. Reilly

Genre: Sci-Fi Fantasy with Romance

ISBN: 978-1500364489

ASIN: B00LE1B9DQ

Number of pages: 270 print, 325 Kindle

Word Count: 92k

Available at
Amazon
and CreateSpace

Book Description:

Sworn to Protect the Very People Bent on Destroying Them

POWERFUL

Auden, the king of the immortal Anathergian race, came to Earth five thousand years ago when he and his people escaped from their destroyed planet. His power is immense, but is threatened because he has yet to take a Lifemate.

WITCH

With the blood of an Anathergian and a witch running through her veins, Leah is a force to be reckoned with. After leaving her foster family to learn how to master her new-found powers, Auden finds her. With him, she discovers her heritage, her strength, and her love.

VARIANTS

An Anathergian is using variant strains of his DNA to turn humans into Anathergians. This enemy’s goal: use the Variants to take over the world and take Auden’s place as king. Auden and Leah’s goal: Stop the enemies and discover what connections Leah has with them.

Excerpt from Chapter 4:

He stood inside the entrance as the doors closed behind him. His gaze was drawn to a slim calf covered in black denim hanging over the arm of a wing back chair facing the desk. A black Converse shoe bounced up and down. Then a dark head with gray eyes peeked at him from around the edge of the chair. The girl’s near-black straight hair was cut at an angle where it touched the tip of her chin on one side of her heart shaped face and ended at mid ear on the other side.

He took a step forward, ready to reach for her. It was an instinctive reaction and one he had never done before. He held himself still.

His insides sang to the tune of another like him. Oh, yes, she is most definitely of Anathergian blood.

With reddened cheeks, she twisted away.

Marla reached her desk. Glancing from Auden to Leah, she gestured toward the girl. “Auden, please meet Leah.”

The girl gave a halfhearted wave at him from beyond the chair. Auden raised an eyebrow at Marla. The woman’s brow creased and she shook her head, her curls bobbing against her cheeks. “Leah, have manners, if you please.”

“I waved hello, didn’t I?” said a sulky voice from the seat.

Marla’s mouth went tight, and then she motioned for Auden to come forward. He approached the side of the desk to get a better view of the girl.

She was slight, but not too thin. Her long, shapely legs, emphasized by the tight jeans, seemed to go on for days. Her short-sleeved fitted black t-shirt had a drawing of a face with Xs for eyes. His gaze stopped at her pert breasts that stood from the shirt for a moment. When he realized where his stare had strayed, he brought his perusal higher. A pale, sateen neck gave way to a stubborn jaw line. Parted wine lips made his throat parched. Her straight nose was almost too big for her face, but it went well with her angled chin. A gunmetal glare shot sparks at him and she bounced her leg to an agitated tune. It was apparent she was not happy about her current situation. He could commiserate, but it didn’t mean he would give into her rancor.

Leah scrutinized the man who, according to Marla, had come to bring her to his people for training. He was someone Marla trusted and the training would help her grow. As if. Leah already had people to train her. Here, at Sanctuary. She didn’t need his people. And what could his people teach her she hadn’t already excelled at?

She tilted her head back and glared at him, giving him her best As if I care look. But, jeez, was he huge! Holy crap, he could probably take down a bull without using a horse or rope. His eyes were as dark as the deepest depths of the ocean and churned with as much life as those seas. She idly wondered what treasures were hidden there. When Leah studied his face, she thought of exotic Egyptian pharaohs. He wore a black, long-sleeved buttoned shirt made of a soft material that kissed his muscles like a lover. His jeans molded to his muscular thighs and extended over black boots.

His gaze gave her a once over so thorough she had to subdue the urge to squirm. Instead, she notched her chin higher. When he continued to scrutinize her, she said, “You can stop staring.”

Marla’s intake of breath sent a small pang of guilt through Leah’s chest, and she sent the woman a quick apologetic look. Glancing back at Auden, she noticed a slight lift at one corner of his mouth. She covered her own twitching smile and instead showed a sudden interest in the wood beams lining the ceiling.

“What have you told her?” His baritone timbre made Leah think of swimming in a serene lake with cool water surrounding her. It calmed her.

“I told her we have known each other for quite some time and I trust the training she will receive with you will be beyond reproach,” answered Marla.

Irritated, Leah let out a small harrumph. “I’m sitting right here. Please don’t talk about me as if I’m not right in front of you.”

“Oh,” he regarded her up and down, “do you wish to join the conversation?”

That’s it! After the morning she had, she wasn’t going to let this guy push her around. She stood, taking fast steps toward him. “Do I wish to join the conversation? You”—she pointed at him—“bet I do! Why am I going with you? What type of training can you give me”—she pointed a thumb at herself—“that I can’t learn here?” She gestured with her hands indicating the school. “What makes your people”—she poked her finger into his chest and became even more annoyed because he didn’t even flinch—“so much better than the people I have here?” She indicated the school again.

“Leah, this is unacceptable behavior,” interjected Marla, her voice high with angry disappointment.

Auden, who hadn’t moved a muscle during Leah’s tirade, spoke to Marla. “It’s fine, Marla. I can handle this.”

“Handle? Handle? Seriously?” Leah sputtered. “Do you think you’re just going to ʻhandle’ me?” She made quotation marks with her fingers.

“Right, then, I’ll leave you to it,” Marla said to Auden and headed toward the double doors.

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Let's Learn a Little about Michelle C. Reilly:

What is your writing environment?

I like to write using my Microsoft Surface RT. There’s plenty of reasons for this. First and foremost, the browser isn’t very fast and it’s only online when I want it to be. That means no Facebook, no Twitter, etc. I love that it comes with Office 2013. I can write in nearly any environment, but it’s sometimes easier to go into a coffee shop. I prefer the bookshops with coffee shops, because, of course, I love books. I have a hard time drowning out background noise, so I’ll often listen to brown noise to help me concentrate.

Who is your perfect hero and why?

Well, I could say tall, dark, and handsome, but that’s such a cliché. I think a real hero is someone that is honorable and dependable. Someone who can say their mind without offending me, but can also take what I have to say without being offended. A real hero is there for someone no matter what. They’re passionate and compassionate.

What authors have caught your interest lately and why?

As a former Hospital Corpsman, I love military-related books (or any action books, especially the Jason Bourne stories).I like to check out audiobooks from the library and I recently discovered Howard E. Wasdin, who is a former Navy SEAL Team Six sniper. I love the fact that the information from him is more accurate than others. I also really like Lizzy Ford, who I met recently. She is also former military.

What type of book have you always wanted to write?

Romance has always been at the center of my heart when it comes to writing. But I also love action, mystery, and a good fight or battle. So, I try to have all of these elements within my books.

Top 3 things on your bucket list?

I don’t really have any bucket list items. Rather, I have life goals… For my two sons to be happy, to be successful at what I love, and to write a book (or more than one book) that people enjoy and means something special to them.

How did you get the idea for this particular novel?

The idea for Variants came to me in 2004. Chapter ten came to me first. This is the scene where Leah goes through her transition to become fully Anathergian, or D’harl. I knew it was a violent and very sexual experience and that a blood exchange was required in order for her (or any Anathergian) to survive going through V’nurch—the transition to become D’harl. I knew immediately who and what Auden was prior to even knowing who Leah was. I just knew Leah as the female, but Auden came to me nearly full formed. Once this scene came to me, much of the rest of the story came to me, and I immediately wrote out an entire outline.

What is your favorite scene in your new release?

I really love the scene when Auden first meets Leah at Sanctuary, the cabin where the Council of Witches teaches their students. She was so put out and he was totally flummoxed.

What are you working on now and when can we expect it to be available?

I’m feverishly working on WITCHES, which is book two in the Anathergians Trilogy. I’m also working on a novella, but it’s still in the beginning stages.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love going to the movies. I’m also a big IT tech, so I’ll often be found on the computer working on something or other having to do with social media or web development.

What would you consider a perfect date?

I think a particular place isn’t super important for a date. For me, it’s more the atmosphere. I don’t like fancy restaurants. I’m much more comfortable at a diner. Good company, good food, good coffee, and good conversation.

What is one interesting fact about you that readers don’t know?

In tenth grade, I had the lead role in my high school production of Corie in Barefoot in the Park.

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About the Author:

Michelle C. Reilly is a single mom of two wonderful boys. She spent ten years in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman Preventive Medicine Technician, which meant she was actually attached to or stationed with the U.S. Marine Corps. She has a Masters in Science in Public Health, but she is generally an IT geek and a geek of many other things as well. She currently resides in Las Vegas, NV, with her two cats, Meowdy and Moose, and her dog, Katie aka “The Old Lady.”

Make sure to visit her website www.michellecreilly.com for more information about her and her upcoming books.

Feel free to visit, ask her questions, and hang out with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michellecorareilly

And if you’re a tweet-a-holic (or even if you’re not), follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MichelleCReilly

Website: www.michellecreilly.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/michellecorareilly

Twitter: @MichelleCReilly

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/michellecreilly

Tour giveaway:

- 3 swag bags (includes bookmark, post-it, magnet, and temporary tattoo)

- 1 signed paperback book

- 3 kindle books

- 1 amazon gift card $10