Smoldering Embers by PM Briede ♥ Fun Facts, Book Tour & GIVEAWAY ♥ (Paranormal Romance)

"Death is only the beginning." You hear that all the time. Maybe it is, for the soul who passes on. But what about the ones who are left behind?

I lost my husband unexpectedly in a tragic accident and now have to move back to my childhood home in New Orleans. Thank God for my friends Wesley and Paige. I’d be absolutely lost without them. As I pick up the pieces of what is left of my life, we settle back into our old routines. That is until I hire Olivier to work for me. Now my world is once again turning upside down as the people I’m closest to, old and new, shed the skin of what is familiar and ultimately redefine the nature of our relationships. Couple all of this with the return of my debilitating headaches and ominous dreams of green fire, and well, I’m just at a loss.

What do you do when what you thought you knew turns out to be wrong? What do you do when you find out you can’t trust the people closest to you? What do you do when you keep trying to move forward but life keeps getting in the way? And given all of this, how am I supposed to figure out who Charlotte Grace is now?

Smoldering Embers introduces you to a world that I would like to think could possible exist today. The story is set in New Orleans, Louisiana, a city that I adore for its quirky culture and diverse sub-communities. I like to write realistic fiction and given that Smoldering Embers is my inaugural foray into writing, I based many of the key scenes and characters on events and people from my life.

Fun Facts: As a youth, I was a dancer and martial artist, both were sports/art forms I loved. I danced for almost fifteen years, including a summer spent with the Dallas Ballet Company and earned the rank of 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae-Kwon-Do and was a national champion for the southeast during high school. I imbued Charlotte Grace with that same love of art, music, dance, etc. It was my goal to make every reader feel as if they were a dancer or a fighter, depending on the scene, even if you are not. So every scene is written in a way that you feel as though you living Charlotte’s life right along with her.

Behind The Scenes: During your journey through Smoldering Embers, you’ll meet many characters, but two in particular are the very embodiment of real individuals. First and foremost, is Paige Lochs, Charlotte’s best friend. She is one hundred percent my best friend, from her features, to her language, and even her mannerisms. My best friend and I are separated by many states but talk regularly and are as close today as we were in college. This was my way of honoring our friendship and thanking her for it. So, as I’m sure you can imagine, Paige Lochs holds a very special place in my heart.
Secondly, you’ll meet Henry Montplaisir. Henry is also the embodiment of a boy I dated in college. The other men you’ll encounter are compilations of boyfriends, friends, and even my husband, but Henry represents the one boy, whom for many years, I considered the one I let get away. He was generous and handsome and a real sweetheart. We had a relationship that only lasted a few months and I chose to chase flattery over substance.

Did You Know: I share with you to some of my favorite New Orleans’ hot spots throughout my story. Music plays an important role in my writing, so a few key scenes throughout the series take place at my favorite Jazz Club, Fritzel’s. This is one of New Orleans’ oldest Jazz clubs located in the heart of the French Quarter. I found Fritzel’s by accident one evening during my junior year when a friend and I were wandering the Quarter and we both fell in love. The club just has that bluesy atmosphere that immediately sucks you in and you can’t help but feel transcended by the live music constantly playing within.
Though it is only mentioned, you can’t write a book centered in New Orleans without bringing up Café Du Monde and their world famous beignets. Also found on the east end of the French Quarter off Decatur, Café Du Monde is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. With its outside seating, nestled kitty-corner from St. Louis Cathedral, you are so immersed in the soul of the city you truly feel a part of it.
Lastly, I’ll point out Coop’s Place, also on Decatur, where you’ll find amazing Cajun food. Coop’s has a truly southern everyman feel. When I stumbled upon it, again from just wandering the streets with friends during my college days, it quickly became a must stop whenever I was in the city.

Truly seeing him now for the first time since I’d moved home, I was honestly blown away. His golden hair shone in the morning sun but couldn’t completely hide the few strands of silver that were there. His baby face was leaner then it had been but still round with tiny wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and mouth. Just a couple of inches taller than me at five ten he’d never been overly muscular but instead had a slim, trim build. When he opened his brown eyes, I no longer saw inquisitiveness but the years had given them wisdom. I now understood the presence he presented to the rest of the world. While I would always love the boy I’d known for years, my heart fluttered a bit at the idea of getting to know the man he’d become.

“Tell me what you see?”

“Just you, Wesley.”

“How?”

A bit uncomfortable with how perceptive he was to the direction my thoughts had gone, I delayed my answer by taking a sip of coffee and breaking eye contact. He sat up and angled himself towards me. I shrugged my shoulders. “You’re my best friend, Wesley. Always have been, always will be.”

“Look at me, Char.” His voice was commanding. When I didn’t lift my head to face him his voice was firm when he spoke again. “Charlotte.” I hid my stress behind the hand I covered my face with. How had we gotten here? Was this a conversation I wanted to have? Was it an idea that I wanted to explore?

♥ Click on the covers for more info ♥

I am a lover of all things artistic. I grew up surrounded by the performing arts both as a spectator and performer. That love of creation and design is the fuel for my writing now. Being able to create and entertain is a dream come true.

The imagination is a powerful thing, able to take you places you never dreamed. I write realistic fantasy. The idea of the possible having impossible explanations fascinates me. That idea is the driving force behind the Charlotte Grace series.

If you are interested in receiving updates when I release new books, please visit me on Facebook at http://facebook.com/pm.briede or follow me on Twitter @PMBriede.