A Holiday Character Interview & More

Happy Friday!  I had some great writing days this week and am really enjoying Aidan's book.  I can't wait to start sharing some favorite quotes with you.  ;-)  

I also received some wonderful news!  Rendezvous with Yesterday won the 2016 Readers Choice Award for Best Historical Romance at GraveTells!  Thank you!!  I admit I love to make people laugh.  And I've heard from so many of you who laughed along with Robert and Bethany while reading this one.  Thanks so much!  :-)

Since Facebook's algorithms keep limiting my page reach, I've begun to mention some posts here and provide links to them in case you missed them and want to join the fun.  Here are a few from this week:

Who's the Hero of Immortal Guardians Book 7?

This is what David looks like in my imagination

May Your Days be Long Upon the Earth

And the Winners are . . .

Since the holidays are upon us, I thought—instead of my usual weekly favorite quote or sneak peek—I would share a character interview I wrote around the time Night Reigns released in which Sarah mentions an incident that took place while she and Roland were Christmas shopping.  Todd (one of the guards from network headquarters in my Immortal Guardians series) is interviewing Sarah and Roland (heroine and hero of Darkness Dawns). :-)  

___________________________________

Todd: Thanks for joining me for a second interview.

Sarah: *smiles* We're happy to be here.

Todd: I have to admit I was surprised to get your call.

Sarah: *elbows Roland*

Roland: *grunts* We're happy to be here.

Todd: Really?

Roland: *looks askance at Sarah* Sure.

Sarah: *big grin*

Todd: Okay, what's going on?

Sarah: What do you mean?

Todd: The only one Roland is ever happy to see and spend time with is you. And your smile, while lovely, is way too bright.

Sarah: *wilts* Okay, here's the thing. We're kind of . . . hiding out.

Todd: Why, what did Roland do?

Roland: How do you know I did something?

Todd: Because you're . . . you. They don't call you antisocial for nothing. So, what'd you do?

Sarah: I took him Christmas shopping.

Todd: You what?

Sarah: Well, I just thought . . .  The immortals have all been so sweet and wonderful, welcoming me into the fold . . . and I've been trying hard to bring Roland into the fold along with me, since he usually lingers on the outskirts . . .

Todd: Roland doesn't linger on the outskirts. He lingers about a hundred miles beyond the outskirts. So far beyond them, the outskirts can't even catch a glimpse of him, which frankly, neither the fold nor the outskirts mind.

Roland: *scowls*

Sarah: Anyway . . . while we were shopping—

Todd: Did he hold your purse for you?

Roland: *growls*

Sarah: Don't poke the bear, Todd. While we were shopping, there was an . . . incident.

Todd: Ah, man. He didn't kill anyone, did he?

Roland: You like to live dangerously, don't you?

Sarah: You see, I know Darnell likes to play video games and wanted to get him some of the newest ones. There was quite a crush, what with Christmas right around the corner, and . . .

Roland: That little snot pushed you.

Sarah: Yes, he did. A boy pushed me.

Roland: He wasn't a boy. He was twenty if he was a day.

Sarah: It doesn't really matter. What does is that I would have handled it myself if you hadn't decided to step in and protect me. You know I can take care of myself.

Roland: *smiles* She can. She kicks ass.

Sarah: Yes, I do.

Roland: I love that about you.

Sarah: I know. And I wish you would have remembered that when that moron shoved me.

Roland: *eyes flash bright amber* He put his hand on you. He's lucky I let him keep it.

Todd: What exactly did you do?

Sarah: *jerks a thumb in her husband's direction* That. You know immortals can't keep their eyes from glowing when they're in the grips of strong emotion. Well, Roland was furious.

Todd: Oh, boy.

Sarah: And he flashed his fangs.

Todd: Ah, man.

Sarah: And tossed the man across the store as if he were a tennis ball.

Todd: Way to keep a low profile there, chief.

Sarah: Utter chaos ensued. Which led to more shoving and pushing.

Todd: *groans* Come on, man. There must have been children present!

Roland: The children thought it was cool. It was the parents who freaked out.

Sarah: I ended up having to call Richart and have him teleport us out of there. Chris had to send in Cleaners. Seth had to wipe a lot of memories. It was a mess.

Todd: *shakes his head at Roland* You just spread that . . . cheer wherever you go, don't you?

Sarah: I thought it would be best if we lay low for a while and do pretty much anything we can to get back on Seth's good side.

Roland: I don't think I've ever been on Seth's good side.

Sarah: Yes, but I have, sweetie.

Todd: Okay, well, let's see if another interview will help. *jumps when Seth appears*

Seth: Really? You can't even go Christmas shopping without scaring humans?

Todd: I'm out.

Sarah: What about the interview?

Todd: *on his way out the door* Call me tomorrow . . . if you can. 

___________________________________

Happy Holidays!!  :-)

Dianne

Favorite Quote Friday—A Blast from the Past

Happy Friday!  I had a great writing week.  Aidan and his leading lady have been making me smile and laugh a lot.  I hope you'll enjoy reading their story as much as I'm enjoying writing it.  :-)

I'll be giving away an Immortal Guardians and The Gifted Ones Swag Pack or two on my Facebook page this weekend.  I hope you'll drop by and join the fun!

Great news.  Rendezvous with Yesterday has been nominated for Favorite Historical Romance in the 2016 GraveTells Readers Choice Awards.  Woohoo!  If you'd like to cast your vote, voting continues through December 19th, 9PM Pacific Time.  :-)  

Speaking of Facebook . . .  I've been hearing from readers who haven't been seeing my posts as often as they used to.  Those of you who have pages of your own know that Facebook is constantly changing its algorithms and letting pages reach fewer and fewer of the people who have liked their pages.  So I thought I'd share direct links to some of my posts from time to time.  :-)  Here are some of this week's:

Kickboxing Aerobics and Cupcakes

Stephen King on the Strange Power of Childhood

#TeaserTuesday Rendezvous with Yesterday

You were right.  It's termites

Sorry to see the weekend end

And an older post that is still getting attention.  :-)

Sheldon got some odd looks at the park today . . .

Amazon/Kindle • Audible • Barnes&Noble/Nook

iBooks/iTunes • Kobo • Walmart

Amazon CA • Amazon UK

It's time once more for Favorite Quotes Friday!  Bastian played a role in a scene I just wrote, which brought his book to mind.  So today I thought I'd share a mini-excerpt of Phantom Shadows:

_________________________________

Seth returned his attention to Bastien.  “You have company.”

Bastien looked at Melanie.

“Not her,” Seth said with exasperation.  “A handful of vampires are headed this way.  You’ll hear them momentarily.”  He reached out and touched Tanner’s shoulder.

“Wait!”

“What?”

Bastien stared at him.  “What are you doing?  Aren’t you going to take Dr. Lipton with you?”

“No.  I want her to continue monitoring you.”

“While I’m fighting vampires?” Bastien asked incredulously.

“She’s been trained.”  Seth looked at Melanie, who nodded she was okay with it.

Then Seth and Tanner disappeared.

Bastien couldn’t believe it.  He turned to Melanie.  “What did he mean you’ve been trained?”

She shrugged sheepishly.  “I can kick ass.”

She said it with such reluctance that Bastien felt a rush of amusement.  His lips twitched as he fought a smile.

“What?” she demanded with a frown.  “You think I can’t?”  She crossed her arms in a defensive pose that only drew his attention to her lovely breasts.

“No, it’s just . . .”  Eyes up.  “You looked so chagrined when you said it, like someone admitting they’d just farted or something.”

She laughed and lowered her arms.  “It just felt weird to say it.  I’ve never been comfortable tooting my own horn.”

Something as simple as her smile should not make his heart race and his body react in unsuitable ways.  It really shouldn’t.

But it did.  It also cast a spell that made it impossible for him to avoid smiling back.

This was not good.

_________________________________

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Favorite Quote Friday—A Sorceress of His Own

Happy Friday!  We've had the most wonderful dark, rainy, thunder rumbly, chilly days here.  Perfect writing weather!  :-)  And speaking of writing . . .

I've been getting a lot of emails and messages from readers, asking me if there will be any more books in my Immortal Guardians series.  I've mentioned it here and on Facebook.  But if you missed the posts . . . 

There will definitely be more Immortal Guardians books.  I'm having far too much fun with this series to end it anytime soon.  Aidan's book—Book 7—is up next.  I'm working on it now and am having a lot of fun with it.  I'm thinking it will release in Summer 2017 or thereabouts.  I'll let you know the exact release date as soon as I have it.  More books will follow.  I don't know how many, because I'm a pantser, not a plotter.  But I do know that Seth's book won't end the series.  It will only end this particular series arc, then another will begin.  :-)

Haven't picked up a copy of Rendezvous with Yesterday yet?  Not sure Time Travel Romance is your cup of tea?  Then join me at Romantic Historical Reviews for a fun excerpt and giveaway.  Up for grabs is a kindle copy of Robert and Bethany's story.  Today is the last day to enter!

A Sorceress of His Own

The Gifted Ones Book 1

eBook

Kindle • iBooks • Kobo • Nook • Amazon UK

Amazon CA • Amazon DE • Amazon AU • Amazon FR

Paperback

Amazon • Barnes and Noble • BAM!

Audiobook

Audible • Amazon • Tantor Audio

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  I've heard from so many readers who enjoyed seeing Dillon and Alyssa again in Rendezvous with Yesterday   So I thought today I would share a brief excerpt from A Sorceress of His Own that features them:

__________________________

“You are staring, Dillon.”

Blinking, he realized he had indeed been staring.  

A flush of uncertainty painted her features.

He smiled and closed the distance between them.  “Forgive me.  I was merely committing your beauty to memory ere you hide it beneath this.”  Reaching up, he helped her tug the black robe down over her head.

Her color deepened.  “You flatter me.”

“I speak the truth.”  Dillon clasped the lowered cowl loosely in both hands, one on either side of her face.  Her pale skin provided stark contrast to the midnight material.  Her glossy raven hair had been tamed into a single braid, accompanied by so much muttering and grumbling that he had chuckled as he stopped to watch her wrestle with it.  Her full lips were still rosy and slightly swollen from his kisses.  

So much warmth and understanding filled her gaze as she stood staring up at him that he wanted to crush her to him and never let her go.

“Dillon?”  She waited for him to raise the hood into place.

“I cannot,” he murmured, unmoving.  He should feel some guilt, he supposed, for the main motivation of his refusal appeared to be greed.  

He was greedy for the sight of her.  Every smile, every twitch or purse of her lips.  Every blink of her entrancing brown eyes.  Every flicker of her long lashes.  Every rising, falling, and drawing together of her sculpted eyebrows.  Every crinkling of her forehead.  Every wrinkling of her nose.

How could he bear to have it hidden from him again now that he knew all that he would be missing?  

Even more unthinkable… once she raised the cowl, would Alyssa slip back into her role of advisor and forget all that they had shared?

Her hands came up to clasp his wrists.  “You know this is how it must be.”

“For now,” he conceded with reluctance.

She shook her head, eyes full of regret.  “For always.”

Nay.  That he would not, could not accept.  Leaning down, he pressed a quick, hard kiss to her lips, then drew the hood up to shield her face.

“We shall speak more of this later,” he intoned and led her from the solar.

__________________________

Have a wonderful weekend!  I'll be spending mine with Aidan and his ladylove.  :-)

Dianne

Favorite Quote Friday

Happy Friday!  I've been diligently working on Aidan's book—Immortal Guardians Book 7—this week.  I always enjoy spending time with my Immortal Guardians family.  And I had another one of those moments when something happened in a scene that made me think, "Ooh, cool.  I totally didn't expect that!"  :-)  

I just love being a pantser.  So many interesting things would never have happened in my stories if I had carefully plotted them out before writing them.

Incidentally, a lot of readers have been asking me when the next Immortal Guardians book will release.  I've gone indie now, so I won't have an exact release date for Aidan's book until about three months prior to the release.  But I'm thinking it will release in Summer 2017.  I hope you'll enjoy it!

New reviews have been pouring in for both books in The Gifted Ones series.  I was so thrilled by them that I wanted to share a few with you.

A Sorceress of His Own

The Gifted Ones Book 1

Amazon • iTunes • Kobo • Barnes and Noble • Audible

"This book was AMAZING! I loved everyone in this book. OMG! So romantic!! I cried so many times. This was perfect. Can't think of one bad thing about it and that's rare for me."

—Amazon Customer

"Duvall does it again with a great storyline, lovable characters and all the mysticism I crave. Thanks for another great series, looking forward to reading more!"

—Randa Smith

"Brilliant.  Hated that it had to end."

—Asam

"Love it. It has everything. Strong female character, heated love scenes, magic, battles, and intrigue. I've already read it 3 times and i just go it. couldn't help myself."

—kate g

"If you like Nalini Singh and JR Ward and Rebecca Zanetti and have not tried a book by Dianne Duvall, I highly recommend that you do."

—Beckster

"Delightful book, captivating with adventure, romance and magic. My favorite thing about this book is that the author was able to portray what true love is all about."

—Robin Greensoul

"Great story. Every character intriguing and main characters just wonderful. Very fulfilling reading. Exactly my kind of romance and fantasy."

—Clee

Rendezvous with Yesterday

The Gifted Ones Book 2

Amazon • Barnes and Noble • iTunes • Kobo • iBooks • Audible

"Loved everything about this book! The characters, the world, the writing style. I like this one just as much as the first one if not more. I loved the small glimpse it gave of Marcus and the interaction he and Seth had in this book. It takes on a life of its own and sweeps the reader away. I forget that I'm reading and for me can't get better than that"

—Amazon Customer

"I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Immortal Guardians series and Gifted Ones. I couldn't put this book down! Hot, steamy, I loved the characters and throughout the book there were parts that made me laugh till I had tears in my eyes. Such a wonderful book, series, and I hope there's more in the future!"

—Courtney

"Great book. It was worth the wait. Loved every minute of it and I hope we get more from this series."

—Patricia Grandison

"I would recommend this book to anyone who is familiar with Lara Adrian, Christine Feehan and Sherrilyn Kenyon. I loved every moment while reading this story and was sorry to reach the end. Can't wait for the next installment."

—Mama Bear / Cynthia

"Such a great series! Love Bethany and Robert's love story and more on Marcus's past! The Immortal Guardians series is one of my favorites. Thanks for the Gifted Ones!"

—VT

"I absolutely love this series as well as the Immortal Guardians. Highly recommend reading these stories. Am always looking forward to more"

—Amazon Customer

On Sale for a Limited Time — $1.99 (Save 75%!) 

ebook

Kindle • Nook • iTunes • Kobo

paperback

Amazon • BAM! • Walmart

audiobook

Audible • Amazon • Tantor

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  Since Aidan has been on my mind so much, I thought today I would share a scene from Shadows Strike—Immortal Guardians Book 6 (can be read as a stand-alone novel)—that features him.  For those who haven't read the book, I thought I would mention that little Adira is the daughter of Aidan's friends.  In this scene, Aidan is trying to protect her from their enemy.  :-)

______________________________________

Aidan tugged his coat closed around the baby wailing against his chest and teleported to Telfer, Western Australia.

“It’s okay, little one,” he murmured as he instantly teleported again to Svalbard, Norway. “It’s okay. Uncle Aidan will keep you safe.”

He took her to Motuo, China. Then to La Rinconada, Peru. Easter Island. Kosaka, Japan.

He spent mere seconds in each destination before he moved on, fearing Gershom would appear at any moment and try to tear the babe from his arms.

Aidan vowed he would die before he let the Other have her.

In McMurdo, Antarctica, he began to croon a song his mother had sung to him when he was a boy. It took them through Colmar, France. Kiffa, Mauritania. Burano, Italy. Monsanto, Portugal.

The babe ceased weeping in Bibury, England.

Her breath stopped hiccupping in Mombasa, Kenya.

Her little head began to bob with weariness in Meissen, Germany.

She fell asleep in Salta, Argentina.

______________________________________

When it comes to Aidan, I think readers have mentioned this scene and the "Lotto" scene in Night Unbound more than any others.  :-)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne