Author Monica Burns talks about her new series and giveaway

Hi everyone, so happy to be here at Bitten by Paranormal Romance, and a huge thanks to Laurie and Stacey for allowing me to talk about my new paranormal series.


BbPNR-Monica would you please give us a little about yourself?

Monica-A little about me…hmm, well, I’m an eclectic soul who’s still figuring out how to grow up. I’m still a kid at heart. Despite the body’s attempts to tell me otherwise, I’m a lover of all things that generally just kids love. Give me a good computer game, video game, action adventure movie (Star Trek, National Treasure, Iron Man anyone??) or the ultimate thrill, ROLLERCOASTERS! I also tend not to be the stereotypical shy, reclusive writer. I love to chat with readers. Actually, I can usually talk someone’s ear off. As for the official blurb, I’m a workaholic wife and mother, and I believe in following your dreams.

BbPNR-Now Monica for the biggie;) Please tell us all that you can on your new series.
Monica-The Order of the Sicari. Where do I start without boring you to tears? Maybe Ares. HAWT. Lysander. HAWT. Dante (although he’s not made an appearance yet). HAWT. Marcus (older, but still sizzling). HAWT.


These guys are Italian alpha males, cut from the same cloth as the ancient Roman Praetorian Guard who served the Caesars. I’m talking hard-edged warriors who can’t be tamed except by the women who love them. Even then these guys can still take control of their woman and demand their surrender with a sweet whisper of Italian in their ears.

I’ve always loved ancient Roman history, and when I was trying to develop a series that was unique yet still had a familiarity to it, I was at a loss. I’d never built a paranormal world before, and it’s one thing to love a genre, but a whole different ball game to write it. So in a fit of depression I sat down to escape from my woes in the delicious soap opera ROME from HBO. I was enraptured and got a tiny nugget of an idea.

The Basics

Hunted for two thousand years by their enemies, the Praetorians, the Sicari are telekinetic assassins who kill in the name of justice. They take out criminals who the justice system lets slip through the cracks. We’re talking drug lords, child molesters, murderers, etc. And they do it quietly and with great skill as they’re incredible swordsmen. They don’t use guns. It’s easy to kill with a gun, but to kill with a sword takes greater skill.

The telepathic Praetorians took to hiding in the Church two thousand years ago. What better place to hide than inside the very entity that is persecuting those thought to be practicing witchcraft. The Praetorians also have the ability to target the Sicari using the vast resources of the Church.

The Sicari and the Praetorians have been looking for an artifact called the Tyet of Isis that contains a valuable object. Problem is, neither side knows what’s in the artifact. On top of that it’s been missing for two thousand years. But the Sicari know enough that if the artifact falls into Praetorian hands, they’re going to be in a major world of hurt. So my heroes are determined to find the artifact to save the Sicari from extinction.

Sicari Warriors

I’d like to say that my Sicari heroes came to me like a bolt out of the blue. But they didn’t. They’ve evolved slowly, but with great clarity. Ares, the hero in Assassin’s Honor (06/10), was a delight to write because he was showing me the Sicari world in bits and pieces just like he does Emma. And I confess I had trouble letting go of Ares, he’s such a great hero. His sacrifice at the end makes him even more endearing to me.

The Sicari world itself is so complex that I had to scale back some in order not to overwhelm the romance. Characters started showing up who I knew would eventually have their own books, but I didn’t know them well at all. Cleo is a good example. She showed up at the end of Assassin’s Honor, and she plays a strong part in Assassins Heart (09/10) and it looks like Book 3 is going to be Cleo’s book with a mysterious rogue Sicari. And her mother Atia will be sharing that book with the conclusion of her own story that started in Assassin’s Heart.

Speaking of Assassin’s Heart, I have to say that Lysander is probably one of my all-time favorite heroes. He’s so tortured, and I love how Phaedra helps pull him out of his shell. I also love the past life aspect that affects these two characters trying to deal with some really nasty villains in present day Rome. The book has some scenes that left me in tears, and as I’m an alpha female, that’s rather unusual (me crying). So I’m proud of the book. I just finished edits to the books, and I found it ironic that after Lysander and Phaedra’s HEA, I would come across a song that so epitomizes their HEA. It’s Westlife’s When You Tell Me You Love Me. The words just echo with all the emotions these two characters overcame in achieving their HEA. Check out the video on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3hhgtazt_Y

I am eager to see how readers respond to the Order of the Sicari books and my heroes. I love them all, and even my villains. Thanks again to Laurie and Stacey for having me here, and I hope you’ll check out Assassin’s Honor when it hits shelves on June 1st. Just as a teaser, you can read the first three chapters of Assassin’s Honor for free on my website to get a taste of Emma and Ares.

http://www.monicaburns.com/BookshelfAssassinsHonorExcerpt.htm

Monica will be by later today so if you have a question please ask.

Now, I have a copy of Assassin's Honor for a giveaway.
If you want a chance to win the book please say enter me with your comment or question and leave your email that way I can tell who is entering and who isn't.

The drawing requirements

Drawing is open to residents in US and other countries. Void where prohibited. Shipping/handling fees for shipment of book outside the US is responsibility of winner. International winners may pay the required postage via PayPal. To ensure as many readers as possible have a chance to win a copy of the book, Monica awards only one book per reader, per household.
Ends 5/15/10