I am excited to welcome author Stephanie Julian, who is celebrating the release of her third Goddess novel, Goddess in the Middle.
Romulus and Remus are sexy werewolf cousins with an unbreakable bond. When they meet beautiful goddess Amity and save her from an encroaching demon, they discover that the three of them together are way more powerful than any of them could ever have imagined. And they’re going to need that power to overcome the forces that are determined to steal Amity’s magic and destroy the two men. As different as night and day, and each an amazing man in his own right, Rom and Remy make all of Amity’s deepest fantasies come true …
Are you intrigued yet? If not, there’s an excerpt available on Stephanie’s website, but don’t forget to finish here first!
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When I started to write Goddess in the Middle, I’d already written two books in the Forgotten Goddesses series and 10 stories in the same world in the Magical Seduction and Lucani Lovers series.
I’ve been building this world for a while and I’ve played off a lot of myths, some obvious, some not so much.
While I really didn’t have any myths that related to Amity, there was one that I kept in the back of my mind as I was writing—the myth of Persephone.
In Greek mythology, Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and the harvest-goddess Demeter. Persephone was abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld, and the time she spends with Hades in the underworld is our fall and winter and her return to Earth is spring and summer.
I’ve always loved this myth because there’s such a great romance at the core. At least that’s the story I’m sticking to.
In Etruscan mythology, Charun is the God of the Underworld and he wants out. He’s sick of being confined and he believes he’s found a way to achieve his goal—consume the powers of the Forgotten Goddesses and break free of spells keeping him in Aitas, the Etruscan Underworld.
This does not endear him to the Goddesses (although Thesan and Lusna have found their mates because of his pursuit) and Charun is a marked man.
In Goddess in the Middle, Charun sets his sights on Amity, Etruscan Goddess of Health. While Amity finds two very sexy werewolves to protect her, Charun discovers a kinship with damaged, wounded Perrin.
Perrin is a patient of Amity’s who survived a horrific attack by her former abusive boyfriend but she’s not ready to face the real world again.
While Amity tries to heal Perrin, Perrin and Charun conduct a secret communication that leads to an unexpected—Well, you’ll have to read to find out.
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Meet Stephanie Julian!
Stephanie Julian is the author of the Magical Seduction, Lucani Lovers and The Fringe series from Ellora’s Cave and the upcoming Forgotten Goddess series from Sourcebooks Casablanca. A former reporter for a daily newspaper, she enjoys making up stories much more than writing about real life. She’s happily married to a Springsteen fanatic and is the mother of two sons who love her even when they don’t have any clean clothes and dinner is a bowl of cereal.
Contact Info
Website: http://stephaniejulian.com/
Blog: On A Moonlight Night
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Tumbler
Want to purchase Stephanie’s novels?
Forgotten Goddesses
- What a Goddess Wants at Amazon | Book Depository
- How to Worship a Goddess at Amazon | Book Depository
- Goddess in the Middle at Amazon | Book Depository
Lucani Lovers
- Kiss of Moonlight at Amazon | Book Depository
- Moonlight Menage at Amazon
- Edge of Moonlight at Amazon
- Moonlight Temptation at Amazon
- Grace in Moonlight at Amazon
Spell Bound at Amazon | Book Depository
Shadow Magic at Amazon | Book Depository
Size Matters at Amazon
His To Keep at Amazon
The Bigger They Are… at Amazon
By Private Invitation at Amazon | Book Depository (December 31, 2012)
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Contest Time!
Thank you Stephanie for taking the time to stop by Literary Escapism!
Stephanie is giving away a copy of her novel, Goddess in the Middle. To enter, all you have to do is answer this one question: What is your favorite myth? With all the fairy retellings, would you like to see an updated version of a certain myth? If so, which one? Remember, you must answer the question in order to be entered.
Even though I’m not giving the additional entries any more, you can still help support the author by sharing their article, and this contest, on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere you can. After all, the more people who are aware of this fabulous author ensures we get more fabulous stories.
The winner must post a review of the novel someplace. Whether it is on their own blog, Amazon, GoodReads, LibraryThing or wherever, it doesn’t matter. Just help get the word out.
The contest will stay open until July 12th at which time I’ll determine the winner with help from the snazzy new plug-in I have.
You’ve already talked about my favorite myth – Persephone and Hades. I first read the story when I was a young teenager and it struck me then as so romantic. I had no absolutely no trouble imagining Hades as a poor tortured hero, just looking for someone to love him, LOL. In fact, I couldn’t understand why Persephone was so desperate to get away from the Underworld.
I’ve always liked Norse mythology and would like to see more books based on that.
I’ve always loved the story of Hercules…maybe because my daughter watched the Disney movie seventy gazillion times? Anyway, I’d love to read a more “adult” version, I think it would be really interesting.
I know exactly what you mean, JenM. Dark and tortured is such a draw for a hero. I’m anxious to write Charun and Perrin’s story. Thanks for stopping.
Sandy, Vikings, yes! gotta love big, hunky blond guys with big…hammers. Thanks for stopping.
Ooh, Cheryl, now there’s an idea. I’ll have to think about that one…
Thanks for stopping.
Thanks for a great post and congrats on the newest release!!!
I really can’t think of a specific myth or fairy tale that hasn’t been done but I would love to see the more obscure ones, like Norse or Chinese , get spotlighted :)
that’s a great idea Erin and part of the reason I chose an obscure set of deities for my books.
I studied myths from many countries in college. I don’t think Norse or Celtic Mythology gets enough attention.
thats tough.. medusa is a big fav.. i think she needs a better story..