Interview: Debbie Viguie - Circle of Blood (A Witch Hunt Novel Book #3) + giveaway

Sharon: Hello Debbie! Welcome to the Flock. 

Debbie: Thanks for having me!

Sharon: The last book in your Witch Hunt trilogy comes out April 1, 2014. For those not familiar with the series could you tells us about your protagonist Samantha Ryan and what her situation is going into book #3 Circle of Blood?
Debbie: Samantha was raised in a very evil dark coven. When she was twelve her entire coven was massacred by a demon and she alone escaped. She turned her back on magic and tried to shut out that part of her life, eventually growing up and becoming a homicide detective. Then bodies began popping up with bizarre markings and she realized a new coven had sprung up in the place of the old one and she is forced to go undercover as a witch to stop the killings. She does and her life is completely destroyed. She uproots to a new city only to have trouble follow her there as well. Worse, she keeps losing herself piece by piece to the darkness inside. It takes her over completely when she realizes that she has just been a pawn in a much larger game. That is where book three picks up.

Sharon: What makes the witches and magic in your world unique?
Debbie: I tried to give it a very real feeling, like there was logic and science behind it. The people who can manipulate magic are literally manipulating the energy that flows around them and can cause changes in electrical and magnetic fields.

Sharon: Are there any consequences for your witches in using magic?
Debbie: Absolutely. When they use magic they are pulling energy from their own bodies so it can be very taxing if they are trying to do something big. They have to replenish by resting or pulling energy from their surroundings. If one does something too big there is a danger of actually dying which happens to several witches when a more powerful witch uses them against their will.


Sharon: You’ve written about witches, vampires and werewolves. Is there another supernatural creature you would like to try?
Debbie: Ghosts! Ghosts have shown up in some of my other books but I’ve been really wanting to write a creepy ghost story for a while now.
Sharon: could it be a smexy ghost that haunts a blogger’s house in…NC? <G>
Debbie: <laughing hysterically> Sure, why not!


Sharon: You have co-authored series with Nancy Holder and will be doing one with James Tuck. What process do you use to write with another author?
Debbie: We alternate chapters and revise as we go.

Sharon: Did you get together and map out the story?
Debbie: Absolutely. We work out the outline before we start writing and then check in with each other if we need to alter it drastically.

Sharon: Can you tell us anything about the supernatural Robin Hood retelling?
Debbie: Only that it is going to be amazing! I can’t reveal anything much more than that yet, but it’s been a very exciting process and I think readers are going to be blown away by what we’ve done.

Sharon: Do you have a favorite fictional witch?
Debbie: Besides my own? I really like Scary Godmother and also Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Sharon: Your bio says you like going to amusement parks. Do you have a favorite? And what is your favorite ride?

Debbie: Disneyland in California is my favorite. The Haunted Mansion and Thunder Mountain are my favorite rides.

Sharon: I love the Haunted Mansion in Disney World.
Debbie: It’s awesome! The one in Disneyland Paris is even more amazing. It is really gruesome and macabre in some places.

Sharon: Why did you name your cat Schrödinger? Is he in a box? Do you call him Dinger for short? <G>

Debbie: My husband named him. We call him Schrö for short and he has the most amazing ability to either seemingly be in two places at the same time or absolutely nowhere. We joke that until you actually observe the cat you don’t know if he exists or where he is. And, yes, if there is a box he is in it.

Sharon: If you could be on any game show (past or present) which would it be?
Debbie: Match Game. Whenever I see an old rerun they always look like they’re having so much fun.
Sharon: That brings back memories! Gene Rayburn
Debbie: And always Richard Dawson for the win! Watching those reruns you’d swear that man was psychic.

Sharon: What kind of knick-knacks do you have around your house? Do you collect something?

Debbie: I collect Disney memorabilia from my favorite rides, Halloween decor, mini lanterns, decorative boxes, journals, and pens. Lots and lots of pens.

Rapid Fire:

Sharon: magic markers or crayons?
Debbie: Crayons!

Sharon: popcorn or cotton candy?
Debbie: Popcorn!

Sharon: dark basement or dark attic?
Debbie: Dark attic is definitely scarier!

Sharon: Air bending or Fire bending?
Debbie: Fire bending because Zuko is my favorite

Sharon: ride a horse or ride a camel?
Debbie: Done both. Prefer the horse.

Sharon: Do tell?! Why were you on a camel?
Debbie: Marine World Africa USA in California when I was a kid offered camel rides. I did that several times. They also offered elephant rides which were awesome, too.

Sharon: dance the night away or sleep the night away?
Debbie: Dance!!

Sharon: What kind of music?
Debbie: A mixture of 80s through today. Some slow songs some fast.

Sharon: GI Joe or Ken?
Debbie: The Lone Ranger! But, I did have a Ken doll when I was a kid, too.

Sharon: throw it away or 5 second rule?
Debbie: Throw it away

Sharon: Thanks for stopping by. Is there anything you want to let our readers know before we tour the dungeon? 

*hands Debbie an asbestos poncho and umbrella*

Debbie: I wish my office looked more like the dungeon from the Snow White’s Scary Adventure ride at Disneyland. *Puts on poncho and promptly opens umbrella*

Circle of Blood (Witch Hunt #3) 
by Debbie Viguié
Paperback, 336 pages
Expected publication: April 1st 2014 by Signet
ISBN13: 9780451240149

Samantha Ryan—cop by choice, witch hunter by necessity—is about to confront the witch who has been secretly manipulating her life. But her search for the truth about her past may end in her death.

All her life, Samantha Ryan has been haunted by a circle of blood, which she has tried to keep at bay—ever since she escaped a vicious Salem coven of witches as a child. But now her carefully constructed life has given way to the darkness she might have embraced, had she not run away.

Angry, focused, and more than willing to use her powers on anyone who gets in her way, Samantha travels to New Orleans to confront Lilith Black, the witch who has been mercilessly shaping events around her for months.

But little does Samantha know that her own nightmarish past and Lilith’s are inescapably intertwined—and that what Lilith wants most of all is for Samantha to suffer until her final breath.

About the Author:

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Debbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of over a dozen novels including the Wicked series and the new Crusade series co-authored with Nancy Holder.  Much of Debbie’s writing has a dark edge to it, including her retold fairy tales, her latest being Violet Eyes, a retelling of The Princess and the Pea.  In addition to her epic dark fantasy work Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries and the upcoming Kiss trilogy.  When Debbie isn’t busy writing she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks.  They live in Florida with their cat, Schrödinger.

***GIVEAWAY***

A print copy of Circle of Blood (US ONLY)

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Book Review: Circle of Blood (Witch Hunt #3) by Debbie Viguie

Circle of Blood (Witch Hunt #3) 
By: Debbie Viguié
Paperback, 336 pages
Expected publication: April 1st 2014 by Signet
ISBN13: 9780451240149

Samantha Ryan—cop by choice, witch hunter by necessity—is about to confront the witch who has been secretly manipulating her life. But her search for the truth about her past may end in her death.

All her life, Samantha Ryan has been haunted by a circle of blood, which she has tried to keep at bay—ever since she escaped a vicious Salem coven of witches as a child. But now her carefully constructed life has given way to the darkness she might have embraced, had she not run away.

Angry, focused, and more than willing to use her powers on anyone who gets in her way, Samantha travels to New Orleans to confront Lilith Black, the witch who has been mercilessly shaping events around her for months.

But little does Samantha know that her own nightmarish past and Lilith’s are inescapably intertwined—and that what Lilith wants most of all is for Samantha to suffer until her final breath.

After leaving Salem, N.H. and San Francisco, CA, Samantha Ryan (a.k.a Desdemona) is now in New Orleans, after being baited to follow a trail left for her at the end of "The Last Grave". While in New Orleans Samantha discovers someone or something is using a lot of magic to keep other magic users trapped in the area, along with draining them of their magic and leaving them for dead.

With some help from her ex-partner and love interest, Samantha discovers  she wasn't the only one that survived the horrific killing of the coven she was a member of as a child. With amazing flashbacks throughout the story you find out that Lilith was the other member. Lilith is a woman hell bent on revenge along with attempting to recreate the ritual that killed the coven, but this time she aims to succeed where the coven failed.

The inner turmoil Samantha has with herself, if she really is Samantha or Desdemona was interesting to read and follow. The conflict Samantha has about her religion I found intriguing since she has always assumed using magic was "evil" and there is no possible way you can be good and use magic at the same time.

If you enjoy the show Grimm, I recommend checking this series out. The similarities between Nick and Samantha (both cops, both with supernatural abilities) are visible, along with similar side characters . This is also a great trilogy to read if you want a short series to get hooked on.

4.5 Sheep

Danielle

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter

Debbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of over a dozen novels including the Wicked series and the new Crusade series co-authored with Nancy Holder.  Much of Debbie’s writing has a dark edge to it, including her retold fairy tales, her latest being Violet Eyes, a retelling of The Princess and the Pea.  In addition to her epic dark fantasy work Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries and the upcoming Kiss trilogy.  When Debbie isn’t busy writing she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks.  They live in Florida with their cat, Schrödinger.

Sheep Book Review: The Thirteenth Sacrifice

The Thirteenth Sacrifice: A Witch Hunt Novel by Debbie Viguie

She stared down in terror at the breaks in the circle. The circle kept her safe; the circle protected her from what was outside-but only if it was unbroken….

Samantha Ryan is plagued by nightmarish memories of magic and fear…of strange chants and blood spilled. Because Samantha Ryan grew up in a coven that was seduced by power and greed.

With a cross around her neck and a detective’s shield in her pocket, Samantha has tried hard to put her horrific childhood behind her. But as the last in a long line of ruthless witches, she should know that such talismans are no match for the power of a coven that’s gone bad. And when young women start dying, only Samantha knows what the archaic symbol carved into their flesh means: The witched have returned to Salem. Now Samantha is going undercover-into a town obsessed with black magic, into her past, and into the dark, newly awakened heart of evil….

Samantha has been running from her past, trying to forget what happened to her and the coven she was raised in. Personally keeping herself from using magic, she has been working as a member of the Boston Police Department. Samantha and her partner Ed are called in on a case, a college coed was found dead at her off campus apartment. What made this one a little different was there was a bloody pentagram on the dead girls’ forehead. After a phone call from the coroner, it was determined that the pentagram was done in nail polish and not blood. After questioning the dead girls’ roommate, they get a phone call about a dead nun that was found at the local church, with a pentagram on her forehead also, which turns out to be red wax. Samantha knows something is going on, when after looking at the crime scene at the church, they go back to the college campus to investigate a third crime scene, this time it’s a male and it’s an extremely gruesome killing.

After doing some background checks on the three victims, it is discovered that the nun has a sister that is in the local metal hospital. Samantha and Ed get the chance to visit Jane (the nuns sister) during their questioning it is found out that Jane was “attacked” by these mysterious people, they wanted her blood, she was going to be used as a sacrifice, and Jane claims that she was branded. Samantha asked to see this brand mark, and she knew what it was the second she saw it. After being asked to leave the hospital, Ed basically demands to know what is going on and how Samantha knows so much about this. Samantha tells Ed the truth about how she was raised in a coven that used Black Magic and conducted human sacrifices.

Samantha knows she has to return to her home in Salem, MA. To further investigate these murders and the brand marks. Samantha doesn’t really want to do this, she wishes that someone else could investigate this, but she knows deep down in her heart that she is the only one that can go undercover and find a way into the coven to see what is going on. Despite the feelings of her Captain and her partner, she goes forward and does this on her own. Samantha somewhat steps back into her old role of using magic to find out who is behind these killings and why, using candle magic to summon members of the coven , she finds it a little more difficult to get to the heart of the matter and who it is that is running the show and why. After sometime Samantha finds out what is going on, and she is plans on putting a stop to it fast. It seems that someone wants to bring her old coven leader back from the dead and to let her finish what she had started so many years ago.

I was highly interested in this book just by reading the synopsis, having been to Salem, MA myself a few times, I wanted to see what kind of story can be done in this location and the ties to the magic that it’s known for. I have to say I was not disappointed at all. The mention of The Hawthorne Hotel, Red’s Sandwich Shop, The House of Seven Gables, and The Witch History Museum were a great reminder of why I loved going there to visit. The descriptions that were used for what was going on at that time of year were great also, since the apex of the story happens around Halloween. After reading this I really want to go back to Salem one of these days. There are a few squeamish parts in the book, they are flashbacks from Samantha’s life growing up in the coven, if being a visual type reader like myself and the thought of blood makes you queasy, I’m giving you warning now.

I'm giving The Thirteenth Sacrifice 4.5 sheep, this is a great first book for a new series.

~DD~