Featured Author: Julieanne Lynch

Welcome Today's Featured Author

Julieanne Lynch!!!                                

Living on the razors edge, Giselle Bergman's life is torn apart by her cheating boyfriend. Little does she realize that he is the least of her worries when her long term friend, Alex, reveals a secret long hidden, and introduces to his family and a new, darker world; a world of lies, deceit and corruption.

Thrown from one problem straight into another, the razors edge gets thinner and sharper, testing Giselle's sanity and vitality. Never truly knowing who her allies are, Giselle soon learns not to trust anyone, not even herself.

How far will Giselle run to escape what fate has dealt her?  Will she truly be free from the shadows that not only want her soul, but have her reborn as their Queen?

Join Giselle on a journey that is only beginning... Not even she can hide when living within the shadows.    



Excerpt
 
 “Relax. Just keep eye contact and scowl. Scowl like a mad woman,” he whispered as we parted company. “Laters, Bergman.” With that, he was gone.
I was on my own.
Marc eyeballed me as I slowly made my way over to him. The bell rang, and people bumped past me as they rushed off to homeroom. I, on the other hand, had to lay a few things to rest before I could face my day of boredom, and its side helping of bitchiness.
“Hi!” I greeted all three of them.
“Um, morning, G,” Aaron said as he nudged Doug in the arm.
Guys must have some sort of secret code, because without Aaron saying anything, they both looked at each other, then at Marc, and left.
“You took your time coming in today,” Marc said as he slung his bag over his shoulder.
“Yeah, but that’s my business,” I bitterly retorted.
“G, you’re meant to be my girlfriend. Maybe you should start acting like it.”
“What? Are you for real? You’re such an ass, Marc.” Anger began to boil inside me, and I walked on ahead of him.
“Giselle, wait!” he called after me. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t even cut it, Marc,” I replied. “You blew me off for what? Drinks with the ‘guys.’ I went to so much trouble. Can you imagine how dumb I felt waiting for you to turn up?”
“I really am sorry. I didn’t know Andy was going to some frat house. If I had known, I wouldn’t have gotten into the car. I swear, G, I would have shown up. Only, things got out of hand.” His eyes shot to the ground, as he avoided having to look at me.
It was so hard staying mad at him. I really wanted him to grovel more, and feel like total shit, but I couldn’t do it to him. I adored him, and wanted to make up so badly.
“It was our anniversary, Marc. Four years is a pretty big deal, but you can make it up to me,” I said coyly.
Looking up into his delicious blue eyes, I felt my anger melt. I was more than ready for our make-up kiss. Pulling me in close to him, he cupped my face in his hands, and gently pulled my mouth to his. I could smell his cologne, and as it danced in circles around my nostrils, I kissed him back, our tongues lightly brushing together. The kiss drew a few whistles of approval, and a stern mouthful from Mr. Green.
“What is the meaning of this public display of . . . of . . . ?” he stuttered.
“Affection,” Marc said, trying to finish the line for him.
I held in my laughter as he led us into the school, and straight to Principal Brooks’ office. Standing outside of Brooks’ office, neither Marc, nor I, said anything, but his smile said it all. We were back on track.
“Bergman, Clark, g . . . g . . . get in here now!” Green bellowed from the doorway.
Marc entered the office first, and I hastily stopped at the door, avoiding eye contact with Brooks.
“Bergman, close the door when you’ve decided to join us,” Green said sarcastically as he folded his arms.
His face was red and swollen, and by the looks of things, the night before had been a heavy one. Everyone knew he was a little too fond of the booze.
“Giselle, come in, and close the door,” Principal Brooks directed me.
Obediently, I shut the door behind me, and stood close to Marc, trying my best not to laugh. When I get nervous, I tend to mask my feelings by laughing, or making light of the situation, but right then and there, I doubted my humour would have been appreciated.
“Giselle, I am very disappointed in you. How many times have we had this discussion? You are always late for school, you’re behind in your assignments, and, to be blunt, I am getting quite sick of your casual display of affection with Mr. Clark.”
I could not believe it. He was pinning it all on me! “But . . .” I tried to speak.
“Enough of your excuses! You’re on detention for the rest of the week. I believe you should be in English. If you make it quick, I am sure Ms. Royston won’t add to your ever-growing record of disobedience.” He ushered me out of the room. “Marc, this game on Friday night . . .” The door closed, and the conversation became nothing more than muffled voices.
As I made my way to class, I could not have felt more pissed off. Walking into the already quiet classroom was bad enough, but having Evie smugly looking at me as I fumbled through my bag was the last straw.
“When you’re ready, Giselle,” Ms. Royston said.
Sitting down, I looked around for him. There he sat, smiling at me, showing concern with those luminous green eyes, and instantly, I felt calm.
“You okay?” he mouthed at me.
Nodding my head, I tried not to distract Ms. Royston, but failed.
“Is there something you’d like to share with the rest of the class, Giselle?” she asked.
I could feel my cheeks growing red, and my heart pounded hard in my chest. “No.” My voice quivered.
Everyone was looking at me. I could feel Evie’s eyes staring hard at me, but I refused to give in, and stared ahead.
“Really? Well, maybe you can take part in our class discussion. What is Atticus’s relationship to his children like?” She sat back against her desk, and folded her arms, waiting for my input.
Oh, my God! I thought. I had read the book. well, only slightly, but God, I didn’t have a clue. My face became redder and redder as I slowly died inside.
Alex spoke up. “Atticus is a kind, and I suppose, loving father. He reads to his children, and offers them comfort when they need it. He is also capable of teaching them pretty harsh lessons, like when he allows Jem to come with him to tell Helen Robinson about Tom’s death. He is also a very wise man, one who is committed to justice and equality, and his parenting style is based on fostering these virtues in his children. He even encourages Jem and Scout to call him “Atticus” so that they can interact on terms as equal as possible. Well, that is what Giselle and I discussed earlier, anyway.” He confidently sat back in his chair, and grinned at me.
“Well, that was . . .” Ms. Royston began. The bell rang, and I was out of that room in a flash.
I stood by my locker, defeated by Monday’s usual round up, and craved my warm bed. I wanted to escape the usual bullshit of school life, and wanted nothing more than to run away, to live my life far from there on the other side of the world.
“It can’t be that bad,” Alex said as he stood beside me.
“Wanna bet? I have just had the worst morning ever. I was hauled in by Green for kissing Marc, and now Brooks has me on another week of detention. My dad is gonna kill me!” Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath.
“Ouch! But at least you have the prom on Saturday. That is something to look forward to, right?” He tried his best to make me feel better.
“With the way my week’s going, I doubt I’ll make it to Saturday.”
“Oh, come on, G, play it cool! Just keep your head down, and for God’s sake, stay out of Green’s way,” he said as he hugged me.
“Yep, but that’s easier said than done.”
The noise from the corridor began to fade, and the bell rang again. I had an awful knack for being late for everything, and at this rate, I was more than likely going to be late for my own funeral.
“See you later. I gotta go dazzle the lovely Ms. Shultze.” He winked at me, and left me alone.
I stood with my eyes closed for a few moments, trying my hardest not to succumb to the overwhelming feelings growing inside me. I wanted to cry. Hell, I wanted to throw a tantrum that a two-year-old could get away with, but knowing the endless chaos it would bring would probably ruin my school life forever. I played it safe, and held my emotions in instead.
Opening my locker, I searched for my Algebra book. “Damned thing!” I cursed to myself.
Instead, I found a sealed brown envelope lodged between my music folder and my copy of To Kill A Mockingbird. Pulling it out, I looked it over, checked the corridor for any peering eyes, and opened the blank envelope. Inside, I found a disc and a small note. There was nothing else. That was when I decided to let my curiosity get the best of me. The message had been pieced together with cut-outs from magazines, but the words had the profoundest effect on me.

Once upon a time, a girl had a dream. She had the boy. She had it all. Now it’s time to burst that bubble.

Without hesitating, I skipped the rest of the day’s lessons. I knew no one would be home when I got there. Dad was away on another business trip, and Mom was more than likely planning some charity convention with the other contenders for ‘Mother of the Year.’
Grabbing a bag of chips and a can of Pepsi from the refrigerator, I casually strolled into the family room, sliding the disc into the DVD player, and pressing play. Sitting back on the sofa, I chugged down half of the can, and started munching on my favourite snacks. Before I could swallow my mouthful, what I saw caught me completely off guard. Struggling to control the ever-growing knot in my stomach, my eyes filled with tears. I was torn in two, full of disbelief at what I was seeing, and anger that this was no set up. I wanted to scream, but the voice would not come out.
Breathe, Giselle. Breathe!
That was when reality really hit me, and I started screaming uncontrollably, tears streaming down my cheeks. My head pulsated as I searched through my bag for my phone whilst the audio played in the background. Her laughter and moans filled my head, and in a rage, I threw the controller at the TV screen. It cracked, and the screen went dead momentarily.
Frantically, I dialled Alex’s number, and paced, waiting for him to answer.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Alex . . . Alex . . .” I sobbed.
“Giselle, what’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.
“Oh, God . . . Marc and . . . He . . .” I broke down.
“Where are you?” he asked.
“Home.”
Sitting on the floor in the middle of the room, I cried. Inside, my stomach churned over and over, and at times, I felt like vomiting, but it didn’t happen. Instead, I took long deep breaths to counteract my sobs. Dizziness plagued me as I tried to make sense of what I had seen. Surely, it had been some kind of sick joke, but it was too real. Marc had to have known about this, but I was at a loss as to what to do. If it was true, things would never be the same again. Inside, I could feel a part of me die.




Press Release:

within the shadows – the movie
NOBLE HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT PICTURES sets the vampire trilogy slate for THE SHADOW WORLD, based on the series of urban romance fantasy novels by Irish bestselling novelist, Julieanne Lynch. It chronicles the underworld life of a teenage mortal girl, GISELLE BERGMAN through a period of her life. The series is told primarily from Giselle’s point of view, beginning with the epilogue of “Within Shadows” and Part II, “Escaping Shadows”. The final chapter, “Fighting Shadows”, is in development.
Since Vamptasy Publishing released the first novel, “Within the Shadows”, in 2012, the Shadows Series has gained immense viral popularity and has achieved commercial success in Australia, Canada, Ireland and The United Kingdom. The series is most popular among young adults who follow supernatural mystique. The Shadow series of film adaptations has been penned by Mark Roemmich and the epilogue is slated for 2015. Zora Dehorter CSA, Casting Executive, will cast the series.
NHE Pictures

                             

Giselle has barely had time to accept her new life, never mind the prospect of motherhood, but she finds herself, yet again thrown into chaos. Only, this time there is more than just her life at stake.

Awakening in a world among the angels, Giselle finds friendship with Ysoriel, an archangel, but little does she realize that Aurelius is under the watchful eye of Xavier and his minions, and soon enough Giselle falls prey to their wickedness.

Loyal and dashing Antoine does all he can to protect Giselle from Alex and Atarah, but underestimates the power of Xavier, His journey takes him down to he pits of The Shadow World and a battle that see's him question his own existence.

With vampires and shadow creatures vying for her life, can Giselle escape the darkness consuming her, or will she finally descend into the world of shadows?


Excerpt
Chapter One

Giselle

“GISELLE, CAN YOU hear me?” Antoine’s voice echoed through my head as I fought the dizziness of sleep. “It’s time to wake up. Giselle!”
I stirred, but found it hard to focus my eyes on the light of the room. It was so bright, and the backs of my eyes stung. I focused my blurred eyesight on the electric blue eyes of the dark-haired man kneeling in front of me. His gentle smile and whiter-than-snow complexion was a welcome sight. A broad grin swept across his face, his beautiful white fangs glistening in the room’s light.
“Welcome back, sweet Princess,” his velvety voice intoned.
Coughing, I sat up on the bed, and looked around me. “Really? How long was I out for?” I asked as I cleared my throat and stretched my arms out while yawning.
“Just a little over–” he paused, counting under his breath. “Nine weeks.” He smiled.
“What? How is that even possible?” I shouted, stunned that I’d survived that long and puzzled by the length of time I’d slept, dreamt, or whatever it was.
“I had to do what was best for both mother and child,” he remarked, and pointed in the direction of an IV line attached to my arm. A bag of blood hung above it and was almost empty.
“Huh? What’s this for?” I asked, confused, and felt rather stupid for asking.
“That was to ensure both you and the child received the right sustenance. Plus, I got to play the hero whilst you slept.”
“Yeah? I bet you really enjoyed that.”
“Well, one would be stupid to deny the obvious, but I have always been a sucker for damsels in distress, especially beautiful princesses like you.” He was so irritatingly confident and smug with himself.
“Oh, whatever. Just take it out. I’m awake now, so I can take care of myself.” I shook my arm in front of his face, and waited for him to remove the line.
As Antoine tended to my arm, I surveyed the room we were in. It was large and oval-shaped with a round window at the far end. Mirrors of all shapes and sizes adorned the walls. I could not help but notice a portrait of a beautiful raven-haired woman nearby. Her deep blue eyes and smouldering skin were unlike that of any woman I’d seen before.
In the past six months, I’d come across some very beautiful women. None more so than my ‘mother-in-law,’ who just so happened to take an unhealthy interest in me. I was now carrying the child of her adoptive son, Alex. It was because of her that I was on the run. Thus, something inside me made me wary about those who were blessed with such beauty.
“So, where are we?” I asked, half expecting some riddle or the usual half answers Antoine was so good at delivering.
“We are in a place far from the human world. Of course, you already know that, but where exactly, depends on how you envisage the Other World. We may very well walk with shadows, but we have angels on our side.”
The same woman from the portrait walked into the room holding a decanter full of red liquid. Her hair shone like silk and moved effortlessly as she glided towards me. Her whole body glowed in the flickering light, and I was completely dumbfounded by the power of her presence.
“Giselle, I am glad you are well,” she said as she poured some of the elixir into a silver-rimmed glass and handed it to me.
Taking it from her, I meekly whispered, “Thanks,” and proceeded to take a sip from the familiar scent of tantalizing crimson. It worked a treat and soon ignited the flame that had been simmering whilst I slept.
“Who are you?” I asked as I drank another mouthful, savouring the luxury of its thickness and letting it glide down my throat.
“Sweet Princess, this is Ysoriel. She has been our saviour,” Antoine proudly declared.
They exchanged a look that spoke a thousand words, and I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous about the adoring gaze they shared.
“Earth to Mars,” I sarcastically whined as I threw my legs off of the bed. “Geez, get a room!”
Antoine looked at me with disapproval. I hated it when he scolded me as if I were a child.
“Dare to mock me again, and you’ll find yourself back in the land of dreams,” he threatened with a sparkle of mischief in his eyes.
“Okay! I was only joking,” I said as I stood up.
What happened next scared the living crap out of me, and I mean that literally. I screamed as I looked down at the bump that was clearly visible beneath my t-shirt.
“Holy hell, what’s wrong with me!?”
Antoine rubbed the bump. “That, sweet princess, is your unborn child.”
“What? How? It’s only been a few weeks. I mean, does it grow that quickly?” I asked, completely speechless.
Ysoriel smiled at me. “The child will continue to grow at an accelerated rate, just as you will. This is all a part of the divine beauty of life.”
“Okay, I think I need to sit down.” I frantically tried to control my breathing.
“Don’t be so scared. This is, after all, something you knew would happen. Besides, I kind of like the new you. It’s heart-warming to see someone so beautiful carry the next generation of our kind. You will succeed, just as long as you continue to embrace your path.”
“Yeah, easy for you to say. I should be at home, doing stupid girly stuff. Not this . . . Oh, God, I think I’m going to be sick,” I moaned as Antoine handed me a basin, and I threw up.
I don’t know if it was panic or the pregnancy sickness, but the prospect of my growing baby scared the living daylights out of me. I was pretty sure Antoine knew this. He always seemed to calm me down, and if it wasn’t for the adoring gaze he gave me, I think I would have believed that glamour didn’t exist. But I knew him and his tricks too well, and this was one of those moments.
“Dear little Princess, I think you ought to calm those nerves down, or at least put them on the back burner for a while. You will be fine, I promise you. Have I broken any of my promises yet?” He smiled as he wiped my chin with a silken handkerchief.
I shook my head and whispered, “No, you haven’t. Well, not yet, anyway.”
“All is well. Now come, let’s get you cleaned up and ready to face the world.” He took me by the hands, and helped me and my bump to my feet.
“Ysoriel will assist you. Don’t be scared. She hasn’t fallen yet,” he quipped as he winked at her.
“Fallen? You mean, like an angel?” My voice was a little high-pitched, and I struggled to clear it.
“Indeed, child. I am an angel, an arch angel, and I can’t see myself falling anytime soon. Although, there are some who would stop at nothing to see that happen. Rest assured, I am still very much a part of the divine,” she smoothly replied whilst taking me by the hand.
I looked back at Antoine who sat smugly in his chair, and watched us walk out of the room into an unbelievably beautiful garden.  Gasping in awe, I could not believe what I was seeing. It was like something out of a picture book, and I think Ysoriel approved of my reaction.
“It’s magnificent, isn’t it?” she gushed as we walked past exotic palm trees, rows and rows of wild ferns, lines of orange, red, pink, and red Amaryllis, Tulips, Ginger, and a bedding of Orchids.
The smell was amazing. I inhaled the delicious aroma as the mixture of scents spun in circles around my nose.  “What is this place?” I asked.
“This is what I like to call my own little piece of heaven. It’s as good as it gets in a world controlled by chaos,” she remarked as her voice lowered.
“So, um, how does an angel know a vampire?” I inquired with curiosity, shifting the direction of the conversation.
“Oh, I guess you could say our paths crossed quite some time ago, and we have remained firm friends ever since.”
“Yeah, but I mean, you know. You guys seem to like each other an awful lot.” I watched her carefully from the corner of my eye.
“How could we not? We have, after all, shared many remarkable moments together. Some of them have found a permanent place in my heart.” She paused. “Giselle, may I ask you something?”
I fidgeted. “Umm, yeah sure?”
“I can see you have grown quite attached to Antoine, but how do you see your relationship with him?”
“What?” I asked, stunned.
“Do you have any romantic feelings towards him?”
Shocked and embarrassed, I was instantly on the defence.  “Oh, God, no! I could never look at him like that. Besides, have you noticed how awful I look? I’m not exactly desirable, at the moment. But no, I could never be anything more than a friend to him,” I lied. “Anyway, it’s not me he loves. I’m right, aren’t I?” I noticed how her gaze shifted back towards the white-rimmed building we’d exited moments ago.
“Some things remain forbidden, no matter how much the heart desires it,” she said as we walked into a small building at the end of the path.
“I knew it!” I whispered.
I realized we were standing in a bizarre-looking bathroom. Large squared windows lined the walls. They were covered discreetly with thin baby blue-coloured voiles. A huge rectangle bath sat centre stage in the room, like a pool in the ground. Towards the rear of the room, water flowed over stones and the gentle stream of water spilled down to the bath where the water gently rippled.
Cushions had been scattered to one corner of the room. Their colours were rich and opulent, quite strange in a place that seemed to mirror the simplicities of life. I accepted that things weren’t always what they seemed, and ignored the questions that almost fell from my lips.
“You will find all you need in here. There is fresh linen laid out for your use, and your clothes are hanging in the closet to your left. When you’re finished, I would love for you to join me for lunch.”
She was so serene and elegant. I felt like crying for feeling jealous towards her.
“Angels eat?” I asked, trying not to sound too smug.
“Well, we like to blend in,” she laughed.
“Blend in here?” I remarked, my voice full of heavy sarcasm. “This is a world away from what I’m used to.”
“Even so, I feel it a necessity to make an effort, and sometimes things aren’t always what they seem. Giselle, remember the phrase, ‘Never judge a book by its cover’? That applies here.” She smiled at me and left the room.
Standing close to the door, I looked at the luxurious bath, and craved the touch of the warm water on my skin, but a part of me was frightened of stripping my clothes off and seeing the damage Alex had caused. It wasn’t too long ago that I was fighting for my own life after he beat me. He’d thrown me into the shower cubicle of our room back in Armenia, and almost strangled me to death. Yet somehow, I’d survived the brutality.
I was left with terrible wounds that needed lots of stitching, and to this day I hadn’t seen the results. I guess you could say I was a little naive to believe they’d gone. I knew too well that things just didn’t disappear. It was going to take time to heal completely, and time was something I would have to learn to accept.
Moving from the side of the pool-sized bath, I walked over to the opulent cushions scattered across the floor. I sat down on them, and observed the room and all of its little features. It was like something out of a fairy tale. The rich colours of purple and gold almost clashed with the tranquil blue of the voile, but somehow, it all came together beautifully. Tiny little drawings hung on the walls behind me, little designs of stars intertwined with silver threads, and right in the heart of the picture, I could almost make out the shape of a woman with white feathered wings. It was beautiful.
I exhaled deeply and tried putting off the inevitable, but I knew I had to wash, so standing up, I loosened the gown someone had put on me whilst I ‘slept,’ and let it fall to my feet. I closed my eyes tight, avoiding having to look down at my growing abdomen and the shadow I knew had grown.
Curiosity got the better of me, and opening one eye, I peered down at my breasts and saw how they had grown. Between them, the darkness spread down and rested on the top of my now protruding baby bump. Staring at the neat round shape, I grimaced. I knew the child was Alex’s, and hated having a part of him growing within me. Yet somehow, I knew I would love the baby no matter what.
Strolling over to the side of the bath, I stepped in. My body sank down beneath the warm water, and I let it flow over my head, washing away the stains of the past nine weeks. I lay floating on my back, clearing my mind of all its stress when the most surprising thing happened for the first time.

The Outlands, a place where no civilized person ever goes, holds a secret, a darkness that no one has ever seen. But one girl is destined to cross the threshold of the dead and seeks her ever after in the unlikeliest of places.
Yet, only the truest of love can overcome the darkness of the Outlands. When one girl finds eternal happiness, another is damned from existence.
Can true love really free you from the shackles? Or is temptation a road well traveled?


THE THORN HAD wedged itself deep inside her thumb and as she screwed her face in pain, he couldn’t help but snigger.  It wasn’t the first time he’d secretly watched her from behind the mill.  In fact, it had become a regular occurrence.  There was just something so magical about her that he felt drawn to her.  Of course the fact that every inch of her body screamed out to him, there was no denying the effect she had on him or any other man in the village.
Slipping the bloodied finger inside her mouth, she sucked hard, trying to dislodge the minute piece of bark.  But frustratingly, it stayed put.
“Bloody stupid thing!” She cursed.
Again he chuckled to himself, before regaining his composure he wiped his brow and appeared from behind the old water mill.
“What be wrong with ye lass?” he asked.
Startled, she swung round and exhaled a deep breath of relief when she caught sight of him. "Percy Wainswright, what are you doing lurking around here.  You know my father will give you a thrashing if he sees you skiving from the fields.”
Laughing, he walked over to her and took her thumb to his lips.
“Then I guess we be keeping this secret.” He said as he kissed the tip of her bloodied thumb and looked at her for what would have been classed an inappropriate length of time.
Clearing her throat, Constance felt her cheeks flush but inside her heart raced.  There was no doubt about it, Percy Wainswright was gorgeous, slightly thuggish, but all the same every inch of a man, and Constance couldn’t have felt more relaxed in his company.
“You can be so silly sometimes,” she said as she pulled her hand away from his mouth. “Anyway, you should get back to work, I know Alfie will be keeping an eye out for anyone not pulling their weight, and we can’t have you losing a day’s pay.”
“Now ‘int that the sweetest thing. You being all concerned about me like that.  Maybe yonder heat has gone to yer head.” He said as he playfully pinched her nose.
“Percy, I am serious.  You know what my father is like, and besides, if you play those cards right, you just might get to dance with me tonight.” She smiled as she picked up her basket of wildflowers and waltzed back towards the estate, sneaking a look back at him.
“I’ll be keeping ye to that miss.” He shouted as he put on his hat and happily went back to the fields.

* * *

Sneaking through the side door, she hoped Maud wouldn’t see her or her filthy shoes. 
A loud roar, followed by thunderous footsteps came behind her as she snuck through the pantry and into the parlour.
“Constance Godwin, I will wring your neck when I get me hands on you.” Maud bellowed.
Up the stairs and straight to her room, Constance shut the door tight and quickly unlaced her boots, and threw them behind the wardrobe.  Taking a towel from the top draw, she dipped it in the bowl of water and wiped the end of her skirt, trying to remove the small splatters of mud.
Her bedroom door swung open and there stood the woman, the size of a mountain.
“How do you expect to get married off if you spend all your time roaming the Outlands, and bringing God knows what back with ye?” Maud shouted.
“Maud, I am in no hurry to be wed to anyone.” She retorted.
“Ah, comes the words of wisdom from the twenty-two year old daughter of his Lordship. Trouble is my little ‘un, age and beauty wither, just like those weeds you keep bringing into my kitchen.” Her words stung.
“Well bugger it all then.  I don’t care. I’ll happily grow old here and take over my father’s endeavours. Besides, how are we supposed to know about the folk that live beyond the Outlands if we don’t seek them out?”
Shock spread across Maud’s face. "Girl, you are never to cross the boundaries.  Do you hear?  Those beings aren’t allowed to mix with us here folk; it would be a grave sin.”
Turning her back on Constance, Maud paused at the door and sighed.
“A girl needs a mother, not a maid.”
Throwing herself on the bed, Constance touched the locket that sat on the nape of her neck and tried to remember, but it was getting harder.  Each day her mother’s memory faded, and something still confused her to no end.  She had never truly learned of the circumstances that surrounded her death.  All she could remember was the smell and the terror on everyone’s face.  Even her father never spoke of that night, and nowadays, getting a simple grunt from him was hard enough.  She hated the isolation from the truth.  For men who talked about honour and pride, they didn’t exactly find the answers they swore they would.
There were too many secrets and lies, and more oft than not wanted to escape to another place were truth and love was the only way of life.
Bitterness soon replaced her momentary grief and picking up her diary, she threw it against the wall.
“Damn you all!” She shouted.
A slight knock came from the door, and turning her head she inhaled a long breath before bothering to answer.
“Come.” She sighed as she sat upright on the bed.
In walked Lottie, her hair a mass of red curls and freckles strewn across her face.  Her pale blue dress clung to her body and it was evident she was on a mission to snag ‘the man of her dreams’, Edmund Penticott.  They had been courting for nearly a year now, and time was of the essence, and in Lottie’s world, time that was best served being a very naughty girl.
“Well I see you are making an effort as usual.” Her voice was full of sarcasm.” Oh, come on, Connie.  Tonight will be fun.  Try to at least pretend you care.  Even for little old me.”
“Lottie, you really do confuse me sometimes.”
Shocked, Lottie sat down on the edge of the bed and scowled, then her lips turned up and she smirked. "I can’t help that I am eager to impress the most handsome man in the land, and besides, you know Perceval will be there, vying for you like always.”
Slightly taken aback, Constance pretended she hadn’t heard Percy being mentioned and instead opted to change the subject.
 “I went slightly across the boundaries today.” She proudly said as she got up from the bed and opened the door of her overly large wardrobe.
“Oh my God!”  Lottie exclaimed. “Do you know what they do to those who cross beyond the border?”
“Of course I do, I am not stupid.  I was just a little over zealous today.  Oh, you should have seen the wild ferns and the meadows.  Not at all the way the elders would have you believe it.”
“Did you see any of them? Is it true what they say? ” Lottie asked in a hushed voice.
“No!” Constance sighed. "But, I did hear the oddest sound coming from deep within the forest, and the strangest feeling overcame me.”
Lottie sprang up from the bed and rushed over beside Constance, pretending to be more interested in the assortment of dresses in front of her. "And?”
“And nothing, it was like a cry, but it sounded so inhumane.  Not at all like any wild animal we have here.”
A serious look spread across Lottie’s face, and she turned a pale shade of white. "Promise me you won’t go there again…please Connie.  We know nothing off them that live there.  What if something had happened? What if you had been taken?  It’s not worth thinking about.”
Taking her friends hand in hers, Constance saw the deep concern and worry.  Nodding her head she spoke. "On one condition.”
“Name it.”
“That I get to ride up front tonight.  I’d hate to play gooseberry.”
Giggling, the two girls rummaged through the dresses, and chose the perfect one for the dance.

                    

In a world full of fantastical wonder, one lone vampire walks headfirst into an old age battle, but what he meets he is ill prepared for. Antoine Vilniv, beautiful, cunning and dangerous, never bargained for an angel willing to give her life for his.
Through impossible elements a life long friendship is forged, but with it comes a curse.
Could even the impossible become the possible? Could stolen moments ever be anything more than bitter kisses?
Join Antoine and Ysoriel as you've never seen them before.

Teaser
THE LAND OF AURELIUS had always been seen as a place holding mythical magic and was a safe haven away from the dangers of evil.  This was where one woman, an angel named Ysoriel took refuge from the chaos that the world had found itself in.  Here she was granted peace from the man himself God who decided to give a little back to the wounded soldier who had more than proved her loyalty to him and all things divine.
It was here that Ysoriel sought solitude away from the burning fires that she had long put behind her.  She had been at the forefront of many battles and now in her late life, she was not at liberty to take part in the on-going battle between good and evil.  For she had been marked and was on the hit list of many demons alike, so here in Aurelius, she was safe, nothing dark could harm her, and as long as the stronghold of the boundaries of Aurelius remained intact, then she along with her loyal servants would remain safe.
Yet the darkness had been looming.  She could sense the increasing heat and the smells that accompanied it were sulphuric and burned the back of her nostrils.  Standing on her tower, she looked out across the wild and beautiful land that had become her home.  She saw the beautiful sun, its yellow glaze gently rested over the hills and shores of the lakes, it sparkled and gleamed and the reflections were magnificent, but still, lurking in the background, a shadow had begun to descend upon her fine kingdom.  Her heart sank knowing that it was probably coming close to a time where she would have to step back into battle and take on the task of saving those around her, but all of it would come at a cost.
                     
* * *

From beyond the boundaries a lone man approached the stronghold and with a gentle tap from a single finger the wards that had once kept all evil out had finally been weakened.  Casually he walked in through the vines and palms that hung low over the beautiful assortments of flowers and wild creepers. Strolling along he hummed to himself and smiled at the beauty of the land he found.
His dark black hair shone brilliant in the rays of the sun and his electric blue eyes blazed with a tinge of copper whenever the sun flickered through them.  He saw for himself the pull of the land and instantly found it captivating, but underneath the rows of flowers and lingering scents, he could feel the increasing atmosphere, and a bad feeling ran through him.
It was then he saw her standing under the willow tree, her luscious long raven hair and pale complexion pulled him towards her.  He had heard so much about her beauty, yet he never believed she would be this beautiful; in fact she was even more radiant in the flesh.  This instantly made him desire more than just a glimpse of her, he desired something from her and the thirst was gripping him from deep within his throat.
  From behind her, Ysoriel could clearly see the sky darken and in place of the penetrating sun, came a force of evil she had not encountered before.  She knew at best that today would probably be her last, but with a clad ironed will she was determined to fight to the end.
  Beneath her feet the ground shook, and grasping a hold of the willow tree that stood between her and the four walls of the grey stoned tower, she fought hard to regain her balance.
The air around the once beautiful land became stagnant, once where plum trees and exotic ferns stood, now rows of depleted foliage lay in their place.  The ground had dried up to an inch of its life.  Nothing would ever grow there again, and the pain of such knowledge was strewn across Ysoriel’s face.
This place, this piece of heaven had been granted to her before time begun.  Ysoriel was an entity of the divine, a force of pure good.  Now the damned had been released and it was her battle; a war between good and evil.
She sensed him before she saw him.



Purchase Links

Within the Shadows
Amazon:http://amzn.to/VULiwf
Nook:http://bit.ly/1tv0q1K
Kobo:http://bit.ly/1octOlk
iBooks:http://bit.ly/1pi8COM
Smashwords:http://bit.ly/1rw1xeh
Escaping Shadows
Amazon:http://amzn.to/1ko83Er
Nook:http://bit.ly/Xj4Jji
iBook:http://bit.ly/1rKOvca
Kobo:http://bit.ly/1psLld8
Smashwords:http://bit.ly/1reR47G
An Early Winter
Nook: http://bit.ly/1qWPtpz
iBook: http://bit.ly/1oCJD9F
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1oqYJKE
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/XDWLBo
Bitter Kisses
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1yLqjxm

                   
About Julianne Lynch:


Julieanne Lynch is an author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Julieanne lives in Northern Ireland, is married to her childhood sweetheart and together they have five children.
Before becoming a writer, she considered a few different career paths, a rock star being one of them. She studied English Literature and Creative Writing at The Open University, and considered journalism as a career path. However, she decided writing was the way for her and believes all of her education and reading prepared her for it.
An avid reader, Julieanne has always had an encompassing fascination with folklore. When not writing, she enjoys crime series such as Criminal Minds, CSI, NCIS and Cold Case, and loves anything with Vampires, listening to metal, meeting new people, drinking lots of green tea, and sharing her dreams with her children. She is a self-professed goth wanna-be,and is happy when left to write into the early hours of the morning.
Julieanne’s YA series, the Shadow World novels, so far contains Within the Shadows & Escaping Shadows, the third instalment, Fighting Shadows will be released in 2015. It follows the war between vampires and shadow creatures. Giselle Bergman, an 18-year old human girl, falls victim to a scheme by one of her closest childhood friends, and embarks on a journey that sees her become the centre of a battle between good and evil.
Julieanne is represented by Sam Hiyate, of The Rights Factory.


Interview with Julianne Lynch:

1.    Can you tell us a little about your books?
I write in a whole array of genres, but my most popular is paranormal/dark fantasy.
My books are fun, fast paced, sometimes twisted and very much unpredictable. I like to write the kind of books I like to read, so it makes perfect sense for me to enjoy what I am creating. I don’t think I could do this job if I didn’t enjoy it.
I don’t like to be pigeonholed, or labeled. I much prefer to be free to write whatever book that is screaming to be told. It makes for a thrilling read.

2.    Do you prefer to write standalone books or series?
In all honesty, when I sit down to write a book, I normally never have plans for a series. Some books don’t require a second or third book to tell the story, yet, there are characters that just don’t shut up, and you find yourself having to give them a voice. I do, however, enjoy writing a good series. I love developing characters, introducing new plot twists, creating a dynamic world that is both fantastical and entertaining. I also have a hard time saying goodbye to a character who has been a huge part of my life for a good number of years. It’s almost like watching your first born go off to school and you get that awful heartbreaking empty feeling inside. Which of course leads to serious amounts of chocolate coma’s.

3.    What book was the first one you wrote?
My first book was “Within the Shadows”. It was originally outlined back in 2008, before I moved from the UK back to Ireland. It then took me another year before I even looked at the outline and writing the opening chapters. Putting it aside, I preoccupied my mind with the thoughts that it wasn’t good enough, or that I was being ridiculous thinking I could accomplish something from the book.  But after some family trauma, my sister encouraged me to continue writing, and I did. The book was finally completed in the summer of 2010.

4.    Which one of your characters has been your favorite to write about?
I have a character called Nathan Stone who features in my adult crime thriller novel, “Stone Cold”. I have enjoyed writing about him immensely. He’s so terribly conflicted and mean, yet vulnerable. I love how I can never predict what he’s thinking (crazy, I know) but because he is such a complex character, he is everything that people will hate, but want to sympathize with at the same time. Plus, I have some of the plot based in Northern Ireland, which is my home country and there is nothing more liberating than using good old Irish history and conflict to get the juices going.

5.    Do you have a favorite spot to write?
I am lucky. I have my office, which is filled with all my favorite things. I love the privacy and freedom that I have when I sit down at my desk to work, plus, it’s great to lock out the world and forget for a few hours.

6.    Is it hard to write for both adults and teens?
For me, no. I am a mother of five, so, I enjoy writing teen drama.  My fourteen-year-old daughter reads and likes the majority of the books, and can at times be my biggest critic. But I do love being able to push boundaries with my adult novels. I love the freedom to explore without worrying about being too bold. I think I have the balance just right. 

7.    Do you listen to music while you write?
Yes! I am a HUGE music fan. I LOVE Spotify and created playlists for a few of my books. I think that the right music can help inspire, if not enhance the writing experience.
Some of my favorite bands are featured daily:
Linkin Park
Stained
Maroon 5
Within Temptation
AC/DC
The Eagles

8.    When did you know you wanted to write a book?
I’ve always been creative, but I knew from a very early age that I had to write. Be it stories, song lyrics, poems, newspaper articles, or books. It was there all along, it just took me a while to harness the desire and finally chase my dreams.
I studied Literature with Creative Writing at University, and gained a BA. I think once I realized my potential, I knew that one day I would finally find my niche and begin writing full-time.

9.    What's one random fact about yourself that you can share?
I have a birthmark in my left eye. It sits right in the iris and makes my eye look like it is mixed in color - blue/hazel. It’s kinda odd looking, but it’s kinda cool, too.

10.    What are writing projects are you currently working on?
I have many that have just been completed and sent off to my agent. But right now, I am working on revisions of “Stone Cold”, writing “Silently Still”, and writing the sequel to “The Taken” -  “The Storm”