I’m thrilled to be hosting one of my favorite writers (and people!) on the blog today – Cynthia Eden, who writes FANTASTIC paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Cynthia is a national best-selling author whose books have received a great deal of acclaim, and have been published in several foreign languages. Her publishers include Kensington Brava, Harlequin Intrigue, and Grand Central. She’s here today to tell us about Angel Betrayed, the latest wonderfully dark and sexy book in her current paranormal series.
Angel Betrayed is your second Book in the Fallen series. Why do you think angels have become such a popular figure in paranormal romance, especially fallen angels?
I think angels are interesting because they are powerful figures that can both offer hope…and promise some serious danger. Angels can be good, they can be bad, and they can be all sorts of things in between. My angels tend to fall more on the “darker” side since they are Angels of Death, and I think (hope!) that readers are enjoying reading about this new breed of paranormal bad boys.
Tell us a bit more about your Fallen series, and this book in particular? Sam sounds like an unrepentant alpha male, which is just how I like them!
Thanks so much for asking about the series! In my Fallen books, my angels do not feel any emotions until the moment they lose their wings. So when they become cast out from heaven, they plummet, their wings burn away—and with that burn, they lose their immunity to emotion. As they hit earth, they are also hit with every emotion that humans feel…love, anger, hate. Sometimes, these emotions can drive a fallen angel insane.
Sam is a definite unrepentant alpha. A tough guy with some serious bad-ass powers. He’s the fallen that most paranormals fear. And I loved writing about him!
Why did you pick New Orleans as the setting for this book?
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities. I try to visit the Big Easy at least 2-3 times each year. Because I am so familiar with the city, I knew I could incorporate some great landmarks in the books, and I was looking forward to doing that. New Orleans is also a city that just seems magical. Whenever I’m there, it’s all too easy for me to imagine that paranormal creatures are lurking in the nearby cemeteries.
Can you also tell us a little bit about your self-publishing ventures and anything else you’re working on right now?
I’d be happy to chat about them! I am working on several projects right now (I like to keep busy!). I will be releasing four books with Harlequin Intrigue (2 are completed, 2 will be done by the end of the year), and I will also be releasing a new phoenix shifter series with Kensington Brava (2 are completed, 1 is in the works). On the indie front, I hope to have at least 2, maybe 3 more, releases by the end of the year.
These indie titles will be paranormal stories. I’ve gotten a lot of great fan mail from readers asking me to write a full-length Bound story (vampires & werewolves) so that is something I am strongly considering. Another one that I am working on is an altered reality story—in this story, humans are the endangered species, and the vampires and the werewolves are the ones battling for dominance.
Thank you very much for taking the time to interview me! It has been a pleasure!
Cynthia, thanks so much for joining us today. Lady, you are a powerhouse! I can’t wait to read your latest book, and I’m also very intrigued the by idea of your upcoming phoenix shifter series. Readers, Cynthia is kindly giving away a copy of Angel Betrayed to one person who comments today. Just tell me what you think about angels as heroes for a chance to win a copy of Cynthia’s new book!
I think that angels can be cool. I haven’t read to many heroes that are angels. When I do I might really love them. Till then there just cool.
Yep, angels are pretty cool!
LOL, I am all for angels being cool! 😉
Angels are powerful beings. I think they make excellent heroes.
Especially in Cynthia’s books!
Thank you, Vanessa! 😉
So glad you think so, Mary!
Yay for angels! But any nephilim in future books?
I think I’ll pass that question over to Cynthia!
Oh, this is a good question! And I don’t want to be too spoilerish, but I used one of the nephilim interpretations to create some of the “demons” that are in my books. (When the angels mated with humans and created beings that were a mix of both.)
Reminds me of the television show, Touched by an Angel!
I’d forgotten about that show, Laney! As I recall, it was very popular.
I used to watch that show–it would always make me all teary. 🙂 But I have to warn you…my angels of death are very different–WAY more on the dark side.
I love the premise and am excited to read the series! GL!!
kerryjcj AT verizon DOT net
Me too, Kerry!
Thank you, Kerry!
Love Angels as Heros. 🙂 Love your first book especially!
Isn’t Cynthia great, May?
Vanessa, you are totally making me blush!
Aw, thank you, May!
Hey Cynthia –
Just stopping by ;). I love the Bound novellas and didn’t know you were considering writing a full length novel. That would be really okay with me :).
Laney4 –
These angels are a far cry from Touched By An Angel :). These guys are intense and Sam truly is a bad boy – you’ll love him.
Don’t enter me – I own it :).
Thanks for stopping by, Viki!
Hi, Viki! Thank you for coming by!!! I so want to write a full-length Bound story. I have 2 full-length indie paranormals that I’m hoping to release very soon.
I always like your interviews, Cynthia! I think I have said this before, but will say it again – I love our Bound series and read them all in just a couple of days. As for Angels as heroes…when I read the first book I was thinking to myself – how can a fallen angel be a hero? Satan? Hello? Of course, in this fiction series it is easy to see how they can be heroes. I still have Angel Betrayed on my TBR list and plan to read Sam’s story. I am looking forward to it. Looking forward to your other books coming out, too.
Hi, Amy! I’m so glad you enjoyed the interview-and the Bound stories–thank you!!!
I think having angels as heroes is very appropriate, especially if they’re battling evil. So many people expect evil to win most of the time, so angels need to win once in a while.
I’m all for those angels winning!
I like all kinds of heroes and I haven’t met an angel hero yet. I do like the ring of it. When I think of angels I think of them as untouchable, otherwordly creatures, and when I think of heroes I think of strength and loyalty. I think all these traits combined is very enticing.
I know there are fallen angels though and I wouldn’t mind seeing them as heroes also. Their past or reasons for being fallen might make them all the more interesting.
Strength and loyalty are such wonderful hero characteristics. Love those!
See why an angel shouldn’t be a hero! And an angelic hero would be greatly different…
Hey, Raonaid! How are you? I like to mix things up with my heroes. 🙂 Angels now, phoenixes coming soon…hmmm…wonder what I should do next?
I like to read about angels and anything not the norm. I’m afraid I haven’t read her as yet, but her books do sound intriguing!
catslady, I’m not kidding when I say that Cynthia is one of my favorite authors! You should definitely try her out.
So glad to hear the books sound intriguing to you!
Why not have angels as hero’s I think by definition angels are hero’s so what a great place to start a book from! Thanks for the interview Cynthia.
Carin mawmom(at)gmail(dot)com
I agree, Carin! They make awesome heroes.
Thank you for checking out the interview!
I personally really enjoy reading about angels as heroes because I find that often, the mythology or world building in books pertaining to angels is very interesting and intriguing. There are so many different directions that authors can take with angel mythology or how they use it as inspiration, which is pretty much the same with any other paranormal or mythological creature. Hence, why paranormal romance is my favourite to read! 🙂
Great point, winnie! There are so many spiritual traditions and mythologies about angels – very rich source of ideas.
Angels make damn fine heroes 😉
sionedkla@gmail.com
Agreed!!
I agree with you both, ladies!
I like angels as heroes. It’s a nice change from other supernatural characters and provides different material to work with (angels as sexual beings, etc) that not many people have read before. This sounds like a good series, I’m definitely going to check it out!
Bridgett, I think you’ll love Cynthia’s books!
Thank you, Bridgett!
I can not even begin to tell you how much I love Angels/ Fallen Angels as romance alpha male leads! Woo Hoo!! =)
Judi, you’ve come to the right place!
Judi, you just made my night!
I really like the idea of angels as heroes. I love the imagery of being wrapped in wings.
That’s a lovely image, Megan!
Megan, wouldn’t that be amazing?
I think Angels, and Fallen Angels, are great Hero material. Angels are known to be exceptionally beautiful and I love reading about the flawed beautiful men!
Me too, Jacki!
Oh, Jacki, I am right there with you. Give me those flawed but gorgeous guys!
when I first heard of books w/ angels as the hero I was like “huh?” can’t say that the 2 would go together in my mind, however the couple books that I’ve read with angels I’ve actually have enjoyed so never say never. I think it really depends on the story being told & the writer’s ability to tell it just as with any other hero. 🙂 Cythia’s book sounds interesting as does some of her possible future stories 🙂
I love your “never say never” attitude! I’m always ready to try something new.
Vanessa, thanks so much for being an incredible hostess!
I had a great time chatting with everyone!
Thanks for coming on, lady! Great fun!
While I enjoy angels as heroes, I think my preference is for demons (I blame Lords of the Underworld for that).
Thanks for the generous giveaway and I love Cynthia’s Deadly series.
I think angels are heroes and don’t like the premise that there are evil angels.
Hi, Cynthia! I love your books! Angels as heroes=WIN!! Nice chatting! 🙂
I like angels as heroes. They are powerful and gorgeous. 🙂