Author Spotlight: Welcome Back, Leigh Ann Edwards!
I always love having Leigh Ann Edwards on the blog–she writes such amazing paranormal stories, she has converted me to a romantasy reader–at least to her books, which keep you glued to the page.
Leigh Ann Edwards writes smoking hot romantic fantasy adventures with badass heroines, alpha heroes, history, castles, and magic
A grandmother of four, Leigh Ann wields her keyboard in Alberta, Canada with her husband and a few furry muses by her side. Her heroines don’t need to be rescued but will gladly work with a competent partner to right the wrongs of whatever world they inhabit.
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Hello everyone. I’m thrilled to be here today. As always, I’m extremely grateful to my lovely friend, Nan, for inviting me to her author spotlight. I’m so glad that with her busy schedule with her own books and her copy editor jobs, she continues to offer writers the chance to highlight their stories.
There have been several changes in my author journey since I was here in April. I’m eager to tell you about some of the exciting new happenings. While all my previous series remain with Tule Publishing, my Daughters of Time series is now being published by my dear friend, Roxanne Snopek, through her Simon Creek Press.
She has been my amazing developmental editor for the last four series. Roxanne is now also my copy editor and has taken on the new role as publisher. She astonishes me with all she knows and with how focused she is in learning everything she needs to through each step of the publishing process.
I have the talented Mia Gleason working on my website and doing some marketing. Marlene Engel who has been my fantastic final editor for nearly all my books has agreed to carry on with this series too.
The Witch and the Gatekeeper has a stunning new cover that ably showcases the romantasy genre and is recognizably linked to the upcoming books in the series.
With that lead in, I’m actually here to talk mostly about book two, The Witch and the Time Traveler. Because drum roll please…tomorrow is release day and I’m just buzzing with enthusiasm. Reviews from ARC readers have been wonderfully encouraging.
When I first imagined The Daughters of Time, I knew each of these women deserved her own story. They’re connected by blood, by magic, and by an extraordinary friendship that stretches across centuries, but each one has a distinct personality and a path she must walk herself. Getting to spend more time with them has been one of the greatest joys of writing this series.
Readers have already met gentle, compassionate Eilis. She leads with her heart, even when it puts her in danger. She sees the good in people, believes healing is worth every sacrifice, and quietly discovers there’s far more strength inside her than she ever imagined.
Next came Darian; and let me tell you, Darian has opinions. Where Eilis pauses to think, Darian acts. She’s fiery in every sense of the word. Independent, stubborn, fiercely loyal, and absolutely unwilling to let anyone decide her future for her. She keeps me on my toes, which probably explains why I smile so much while writing her scenes. I loved creating her story. I can’t wait for readers to get to know her better and to be introduced to Magnus.
Darian is what most people would call a tomboy…which definitely would not have been common back in Colonial Massachusetts. It probably helps that her parents, like all the other witches parents in the series, were time travelers. Darian works with her father as a carpenter but also helps out at the blacksmith shop.
Magnus is a time traveler, a Scot from the future, a gorgeous six foot six, alpha male guardian sent by the Celtic God of War and Chaos (who just happens to be Darian’s maternal grandfather) to covertly watch over Darian. Yet even Magnus doesn’t know the true reason why he’s there.
One of my favorite things about this series besides the romances, is watching these women discover one another. They come from different centuries, different lives, and different experiences, yet they understand each other almost instantly. They encourage one another, challenge one another, good-naturedly tease one another, and remind each other that they never have to face darkness alone.
Perhaps that’s why I’ve found myself moving through this series a little faster than I originally planned. These stories are eager to be told, and I don’t like keeping impatient witches waiting any longer than necessary. The world keeps growing every time I sit down to write, revealing new corners, new dangers, and new friendships I hadn’t expected when I first began.
With a smaller team and only a few books being published our schedule is much more flexible as well.
Along with the female friendships, there will still be plenty of romance and steamy love scenes! There will certainly be magic, of course. There will be heroes who think they’re in charge until they meet the remarkable women destined to change their lives. And yes, there will be villains, both human and supernatural. I still firmly believe they deserve their comeuppance. Some traditions are simply worth keeping.
This isn’t the first time I’ve written a series with four female friends as main characters. It’s the third. The first was with The Witches of Time––a prequel to Daughters of Time. These four young women are just that, the next generation and the Daughters of the Witches of Time.
(The other four female friend series, Witches of the Mystical Stones, wasn’t connected to any others.)
It is always interesting creating characters with personalities and traits different enough that they are set apart from the others.
Like in real life–– female friendships in fictional stories–– naturally come with some personality clashes. Especially when they’re from different centuries. Four women simply won’t always get along or agree on things. For instance, Darian, the female main character in this book, doesn’t typically see eye to eye with Fiona the heroine from book three. Although those two women are presently nearly the same age, Darian is Fiona’s great grandmother. They just rub each other the wrong way even though Fiona resists conflict and Darian thrives on it. Eilis is the peacekeeper and Trista, ever the optimist, tends to love everyone.
I thought it might be interesting to let the four women’s personalities shine through while they do their part to promote this series. So, here it is.
Marketing through the centuries.
Eilis O’Brien: Healer and Air Witch- lives in the sixteenth century. Daughter of Alainn and Killian from The Irish Witch and Witches of Time series.
“I’m tellin’ you one and all. Sure you should come along with me to Ireland. There’s bound to be enchantin’ magic in the air, danger beyond the castle walls for evil tends to seek out my kind. There’s also a strong, brave, steadfast and fiercely loyal young man whom I have loved far longer than I dare to admit. Or that anyone knows about. I’m certainly hopin’ my secret is safe with you.
My story is where it all begins. Should you require convincin’ let me tell you one especially curious detail. Another secret. In a long-abandoned castle wing I discovered a hidden room and within it, a magical mirror that led me to other witches of my lineage who’ve become my best friends. It’d be grand if you’d come along for our journey, it would.”
Darian Wyndham: Carpenter, Blacksmith and Fire Witch. Lives in early seventeen hundreds colonial Massachusetts. Daughter of Arianna and Darius from The Witches of Time.
“Eilis, my somewhat annoyingly gentle ancestor, has politely invited you to begin this remarkable series and even given away a vital part of the story. However, my tactics will not be as subtle.
Just open the bloody book before I have to wave my hammer about to make my point. I probably shouldn’t need to tell you to begin at book one in a romantasy series. Yet, I will because it just makes good sense to read hers first. You would better understand the progression of events and not have to muddle through and miss out learning some of the first parts.
There are riveting battles to fight and centuries to cross to connect with my friends. In my story there’s a certain infuriating yet rather appealing Scotsman who thinks he can tell me what to do. Pfft, does he have a surprise in store for him.”
Fiona Prescott: Earth Witch. Training to become a doctor. Lives in Victorian era Boston. Daughter of Ainsley and Cal from Witches of Time.
“It might not have been ideal… still, I had my life quite under control before magic, time travel, my well-meaning but troublemaking sister witches, and Dr. Lincoln Hammond thoroughly complicated it all.
If you enjoy seeing a perfectly sensible woman––albeit a witch––make increasingly questionable decisions, while carefully concealing a history of unwise choices––do continue on to my story. If you hope to appreciate how the past shapes what comes after, I’d recommend them to be read in chronological order. The books are conveniently numbered which should assist in not reading them out of sequence. Our family lineage is rather unusual, but I believe you’ll find it well worth unraveling.”
Trista Calhoun Mahoney: Water Witch, Daughter of Angelique and either Faolan or Danhoul from Witches of Time. Lives during the late seventeen hundreds along the coast of southern Ireland. She makes and sells herbal remedies. And magical potions.
“Oh, just go on and dive in…not to the water, although in my opinion it is the best place to be…but dive into the series. Won’t you? You’ll not be disappointed. There’s magic––of course, plus intrigue, plot twists, gorgeous men––though none nearly as fine as my often-absent captain. He is not a pirate despite what the others say. There are also evil creatures in the sea and beyond.
Plus, I haven’t mentioned the other three witches, my dearest friends and soul sisters, who although I wouldn’t change much about them, do desperately need to be more carefree…like me. I have been described as flighty. But I’m simply unburdened by convention. I’d wager I’ll soon become your favorite for there’s room for everyone in my gigantic heart.”
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Well now, that was fun. I could have gone on and on. That’s what happens when you’re deep into a series. You spend so much time with your characters they become friends. The antagonists anyway. There are definitely some characters I wouldn’t want to have anything to do with. Hence my theory on comeuppance.
Here’s a snippet from Darian and Magnus’s story… The Witch and the Time Traveler:
Darian was nearly back to the cabin when she heard boot falls on the path and a now familiar whistling.
“Magnus,” she said on spotting his tall frame. “You’re out an about when darkness nears.”
“As are you, miss…er… lass.” He sounded filled with drink.
“Darian,” she said.
“To be honest I feel a bit forward calling you by your given name. We’ve only just met today and you might verra well be my master should you decide I’m fit for the smithy position.”
His tongue sounded thick.
“You didn’t take heed about abstaining from Bessie’s applejack cider, did you?” She laughed.
“That’s so. The woman seemed insistent and nae wanting to insult her when she’d made me a fine meal and offered me a warm bed at a fair price, I drank.”
“Bessie would appreciate your company and not eating alone, but in truth, the applejack would have been given to you in hope of loosening your tongue and offering information you ordinarily might not.”
“That clever crone. I was ambushed by hospitality and curiosity in equal measure.”
“That’s about the size of it.” Darian laughed again. “I hope you didn’t give away too many personal details.”
“Och, I kept my head about me,” he slurred. “She’s a cunning old woman, but she gleaned naught but what I was comfortable telling.”
“Well done, Maggie.” She patted his arm and grinned at the amusing ––to her–– pet name she’d given him.
When he looked down at her she knew with sudden clarity, that it was hunger she saw in his captivating eyes.
“Could I perhaps claim drunkenness if I was so bold as to kiss you, lass?”
He said it lightly––yet she saw he was serious.
She could feel the warmth of his body and smell the scent of pine. Bessie always asked for the soap from Mam who used pine needles in her lye and animal fat mixture to create a clean forest scent. Bessie must have also included a bath in his overnight stay.
“And what would I claim should I permit you to kiss me?” Darian stepped closer. “For I’ve had nothing save weak ale with my supper.”
“Perhaps only that your blood runs hot as mine even when we look upon one another.”
He wasn’t wrong.
She swallowed. “You are bold and overly presumptuous.”
“Tell me I have assessed the situation incorrectly.” He stepped so near she felt his heat––caught the faint scent of cider on his breath––and she did not move away.
“Would we share this possible kiss here on the path where anyone might see?”
He arched one eyebrow. “Only if you wished it and if you didn’t fear being seen. Bessie would dine on that gossip for weeks.”
She laughed softly.
“No one is about just now. Or is your reasoning more in thinking that should the kiss lead to more, it cannot be here?”
That seemed to sober him swiftly.
“I wouldnae presume there’d be more than a kiss, Darian.”
The way he said her name with his deep voice and appealing accent made her body quiver.
She still hadn’t scared him off for he stood where he was.
“Be warned, a kiss would not sway my judgement as to whether you are given the post as smithy. Foremost, we must determine if we can work together.”
“It was nae my reason at all,” he said, softly brushing a wispy hair from her cheek. “For wanting to kiss you.”
“Go on then…explain.” She tilted her chin up to look in his handsome face.
“It was that the verra instant I looked upon you…it…it is difficult to put into words.”
He didn’t have to for she’d felt it, too.”
“Well…get on with it then. Kiss me before I change my mind.”
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Thanks for letting me share some of my excitement on pre-release day and more information about my Daughters of Time series. And thanks again, Nan, for the invitation to be here. You are a valued friend. I hope to come back the end of January to talk about book three, The Witch and the Alchemist.
GIVEAWAY! For a chance to win a signed copy of book one in the series, or e-books of books one and two, judging by the earlier dialogue from the four witches, is there one you believe you’d get along with best? Or who you think you’d become friends with first?
Like a mother, I can’t be impartial because I know their backstories and of course I love them all. I actually like them , too, most days! haha!
The Witch and the Time Traveler
Colonial magic, a reluctant protector, and a fire that neither can extinguish…
Darian Wyndham, a powerful fire witch descended from an ancient Celtic god, has never needed a man. As a gifted blacksmith in colonial Massachusetts, she’s built a life on her own terms. But her secret magic has awakened ancient demons, each determined to destroy her and the sister witches bound to her across time.
Magnus Munro can bend time itself, a gift that makes him useful to the Celtic deities and dangerous to everyone else. When handed the unwelcome assignment of protecting the fire witch, the order is as clear as the warning: guard her but do not touch her. The command, he thinks, is simple. But he can’t heed the warning—not when the same fire burns in her eyes.
Darian is drawn to the mysterious stranger, but she refuses to surrender the independence she’s fought so hard to claim. Then an ancient portal fractures time itself, hurling her into the heart of the Salem witch trials. To survive, she’ll have to embrace powers she’s spent her life hiding… and trust the one man she refuses to need.
Together they must defy gods, demons, and history itself before the darkness hunting the daughters of the witches of time destroys everything they are destined to protect.
Perfect for readers who love steamy romantasy, time-travel romance, Celtic mythology, and historical fantasy.