Congratulations, Raylene is the winner of a free book! It was a very close vote, and in the end we went with the blue rather than the orange because it fit the series better, but we did make some changes to it to make it stand out a bit more. What do you think? Edits are going well for Hear Me, it’s out of my hands at the moment, being worked on by my talented team.

In other news, the next book after Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down in the Forged Bloodlines series will be Release Me When the Sun Goes Down. Look for that one to come out in early May 2014.

Also, how cute is the holiday touch the Captain added to my page above? Happy Holidays to everyone!

Hey guys! Work on Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down is coming along well, just hit the 70K word mark last night and still going strong! I hope you guys are following me on my author page on Facebook for daily updates and teasers.

Laveda Kasch (who won the contest to become a character in the book btw) came up with a fun set of interview questions for both Rob and Bishop, and the boys had such a good time they asked me to post them here. I’ll do Rob’s this week and Bishop’s next. Also, if you leave a question or two for them in the comments, they just might answer yours as well!

Q1. What’s your favorite color?
*Let’s out a long exhale* I dunno, I never really stopped to think about it much. *Goes silent for a minute* Red. It’s definitely red.

Why red?
I have a fond memory or two of a certain girl in a red dress.

Q2. Favorite kind of music?
I ain’t a fan of most modern music, but I like a proper ballad. Nina Simone was tops, and Doris back in the day. I like music that has something to say.

Q3. Last spontaneous thing you did?
Something I shouldn’t be talking about.

Q4. How do you decompress?
How do you mean, relax? I suppose I have simple needs. A beer, a good book, a bit of telly on in the background and I’m golden.

Q5. What would be your perfect future?
There ain’t no such thing. Anyone who says differently is telling porkies.

So you don’t think if you ended up with Anja that it would be a perfect future for you?
Didn’t say that, just don’t think it’s likely to happen.

Q6. Boxers, briefs or nada?
You really asking me about my skivvies? I should ask you the same. What you got on under them jeans, yeah? *chuckles* Boxers, if you must know. Neatly pressed.

I’ll show you mine if you show me yours…
None of that, cheeky monkey…

Q7. Exactly how old are you?
I was born in 1921.

Q8. Described each other and then yourselves in 3 words or less.
Bishop – stupid, lucky bastard, bit of an idiot. More than three words, that, but you get the sentiment, yeah?
Me? I’m just me.

Q9. What is it about Anja that attracts you? Is it just her beauty?
It ain’t about how beautiful she is on the outside. You’re expecting pretty words now, ain’t you? That’s not me, mate. Ask Bishop.

Q10. What are your feelings about Jakob, especially where Anja is concerned?
Jakob’s got every right to do as he pleases with Anja. That’s all I’ll say about it.

Will you not fight for her?
*expression darkens* I can’t go against Jakob. It ain’t my life I’m worried about risking. I’d give it up in a flash if I thought… *reaches for a cigarette, finds an empty pack and crumples it back into his pocket.* I won’t risk her life for my selfish wants.

Q11. Rob, can you tell us what was going through your head when you were drinking Anja’s blood “right from the source” the first time?
*leans back, takes a pull on his beer* Thought I’d died and gone to heaven. I reckon that’s what it’s like up there. All soft and sweet and willing… It wasn’t for me though. I reckon I’ve always known that.

Q13. Rob, can you tell us what “business” you had to take care of the first time you left Anja? Or was it only because you were trying not to get to close?
I needed to get my head on straight. Can’t do my job proper if I’m not thinking clearly. Didn’t do me no good though, did it? Here I am, just as muddled as before.

Q14. Rob, did you really kill Ellie? Maybe you didn’t and she will show up later?
I did what had to be done. Ain’t likely she’ll turn up in this lifetime.

Q16. What was it like watching Anja fight Angel? What was going on in your head?
That was a rum night. Looking back I can see her strategy plain enough, but at the time… it was all I could do not to hurl m’self on the barrier every time Angel landed a blow on her. Anja showed her a thing or two though, didn’t she? *smiles, full of pride*

Q18. Do you think things will be easier or harder for Anja now that everyone knows who her creator is?
I don’t reckon she’ll have an easy time of it with Jakob out and about. He’s been forced into a different lifestyle than his choosing for some time now, I think she’ll find it… jarring when she comes to see how he is out in the world.

Q19. Rob and Bishop how do you guys feel about each other? Is there any bad blood there?
I wouldn’t say bad blood exactly. Bishop’s a good enough bloke. A straight shooter. A bit too duty bound, but I can understand that. In truth I envy him, I suppose. A chance like what Jakob gave him don’t come around very often. I’d kill for a chance like that. He had everything and he pissed it away. Come to think of it, I don’t envy him at all.

Laveda Kasch!

Thanks to everyone who entered, I loved reading your conmments! Laveda, I’ll be sending you a questionnaire via email to talk more about your character in Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down. I’m hard at work on the outline, working out all the ins and outs. Probably start writing it in the next week or so.

Have you ever wanted to get frisked by Bishop? Snarked at by Bridget? Tackled by Rob? Then enter to become a character in Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down, the sixth book in the Forged Bloodlines Series!

Wait, what? No, really! I’m having a contest to let one of you into Anja’s world.

The winner gets a character named after you, or a name of your choosing. BUT, if you pick something like Boobies McGee it’s probably going to be a stripper character, so keep that in mind.

This is designed to be a bit part. It could be anything from a new waitress at the Bleeding Hart to one of the unseen Order members, to the quirky guy who delivers blood from the local blood bank. I may end up killing you off, unless I get truly inspired. In which case, I could end up keeping you around for a while.

Here’s the nitty gritty:

The winner must be available by either email or on DM on Facebook to talk about your name, description and personality traits (I have a quiz to send you). The more communicative you are, the more time I have to work you into my outline and the better the role will be. In addition to getting a character named after you, the winner also gets an advanced copy of Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down, as well as a shout out on the acknowledgements page.

This sounds shiny and all, you say, but how do I enter?

All you have to do to enter is to comment on this blog post.

But to make things more interesting, here are ways to get bonus entries:

* Leave a comment on this blog post (+ 1 point)
* Follow me on Twitter (+ 1 point) (https://twitter.com/Mystewitch)
* Tweet about the contest with a link to this blog (+ 1 point)
* Join my mailing list/newsletter (+1 point) (http://eepurl.com/vP9aT)
* Like my author page on Facebook (+ 1 point) (www.facebook.com/lisaolsenrobotbrain)
* Mention the contest on Facebook with a link to this blog (+ 1 point)
* Leave a review for one of my books on Amazon (+1 point)
* Mention the contest on your blog (+ 1 point)
* Secret Option #9 – Include one reason why you’d make a great character (+1 point)

Already left a review for one of my books? Cool, you can count that. Already following me on Facebook? Invite a friend to like the page, both you and your friend will get a point if you both mention it in your comment.

Do all of the above and you’ll end up with a total of 9 possible points. Just mention in your blog comment the number of points you earned and how you earned them. The winner’s points must be verifiable. I’ll be reaching out to the winner via email.

By entering this contest, you are agreeing to let me use your name/description/personality in my book at my sole discretion. Yes, I will chat with you about your character and will take suggestions as to where you would like to enter into the book, but at the end of the day, I’ll end up writing it how I think it best fits in with the plot. So, that means if you don’t like what I do with the character, you can’t sue me for eleventy million dollars or anything.

Here is a sample comment:

Ooh, pick me, Shirley McGirlyson! I have a total of 7 points because I follow you on twitter, your author page on facebook, I left you a review for Wake Me as Shirlygirlreads, I tweeted about your contest as @shirleygirl, I shared it on Facebook, I am commenting here and secret option#9, I would make a great character because I am double jointed!

This contest is open until November 10th and the winner will be announced on November 11th, so I can start writing as soon as possible.

So, get working on those points and comment below. The winner will be drawn at random (the more points you have, the more entries you’ll get).