Guest Author: Erica Hayes & Revelation

Erica Hayes

Erica HayesI am excited to welcome author Erica Hayes, who has just released Revelation, the first novel in her new Seven Signs series.

A fallen angel with a mission and a medical examiner who’s lost her faith are fighting for their souls in a glittering, near-future Manhattan…

Blind faith is for fools. That’s what Dr. Morgan Sterling believes. And she’s going to prove it by curing the zombie plague ravaging her city’s slums. She’s certain it’s not a sign of the End of Days, but a nasty disease—until an angel appears in her morgue in a flash of glory.

Luniel is not just a fallen angel. He’s a powerful warrior sworn to fight evil in hopes of a chance at redemption. He’s after the demon princes who are stealing the seven vials of holy wrath which, when perverted, will unleash eternal hell on earth.

To stop the plague, Luniel needs Morgan’s help, and her faith. But Morgan believes science is their salvation. If the zombie plague is a demonic curse—and if Luniel is true—he’ll have to prove it. Even if he loses his heart to true love or his soul to Hell…

To read the first chapter, click here.

Make sure you stick around to the end. We’ll be giving away a copy of Revelation.
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When I decided to write an end-of-the-world book, I immediately thought of New York City.

I mean, if you were a bunch of crazed demons who wanted to bring on the end of the world, where else would you hold your Apocalypse? It has to be Manhattan. It’s epic. Everyone knows it. And so many juicy famous landmarks to destroy!

But when I started Revelation, I’d never been to NYC. I live in Australia most of the time. It’s a long way! Sure, there’s Sex in the City and Woody Allen movies and Google street view to look at. But that’s all just visuals. To properly put a place in a book, there’s no substitute for actually going there.

So when I visited New York for the first time last year, I had a blast. It looked just like the films! Yellow cabs, traffic, crowds on the sidewalk. But I was mostly interested in the atmosphere. I listened to how people talk – as fast as Aussies! I smelled the food and fruity scents of the Sixth Avenue markets, and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. I rode the subway and got lost in the West Village – all those streets look the same! – and paddled in the fountain on a hot day in Washington Square Park.

I climbed the red stairs in Times Square. I ate a hot dog and a pretzel, and lined up for a cheeseburger at the Shake Shack. I saw that yes, you can actually see the Narrows Bridge from Liberty Island, and that no one smokes in Central Park, and that the view from the Top of the Rock is best just a moment before sunset. (Oh, and that Godiva store at the Rockefeller Center? Best. Milkshake. Ever. That’s going in a book one day!)

I was only in New York for a week. But I like to think it adds authenticity to my stories – and even in paranormal romance, it’s important to find that element of realism. My fallen angel hero, Luniel, lives on a street in Harlem that I’ve walked down. He will live there, that is, as the book’s set in a violent near-future where gangs of crazy people make the streets a scary place. Why does an angel live in Harlem? Because, he says, it’s inconspicuous. No one cares about one more weird neighbor. They’re just happy he doesn’t set the place on fire too often! The part of Harlem I saw was lovely, but like any cityscape, I could totally imagine it going to hell, and so Lune’s little loft apartment near Morningside Park was born.

When Lune stands on Liberty Island at the beginning of Revelation, poking his toe into a sea full of blood, it’s at a spot I’ve been to. I’ve photographed the view, smelled the ocean, listened to the birds. (There was no blood the day I went there. But I can imagine that part!) When my demon villain sits at sunset at the Top of The Rock, swinging his evil little demon legs over the edge and plotting his nasty schemes, I can show you what he sees, help you feel the wind in his hair.

Even walking down the street in New York is an experience, and you can’t get it from movies. I hope I’ve replicated that for you. With angels, and the Apocalypse. Hey, it could happen…

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Meet Erica Hayes!

Erica Hayes live in Australia, the luckiest country in the world. I’ve done law student, air force officer, editorial assistant and musician. And now I have the best job in the world — imagining.

In my stories, magic and wonder abounds. But the mortal world is an enchanted place too, if you know how to look. I’ve laughed atop the Great Wall, sported with the gargoyles at Notre Dame and gazed up awestruck at the Great Pyramid. Let me share that sense of wonder with you.

Just because you don’t see it right away doesn’t mean it’s not there. So laugh under the stars. Dance in the rain. Howl at the moon. You never know who’s watching.

EHayes-RevelationContact Info
Website: website
Blog: Blog
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter

Want to purchase Erica’s novels?
Seven Signs

  1. Revelation at Amazon | Book Depository
  2. Redemption at Amazon | Book Depository (March 5, 2013)

Shadowfae Chronicles

  1. Shadowfae at Amazon or the Book Depository
  2. Shadowglass at Amazon or the Book Depository
  3. Poison Kissed at Amazon or the Book Depository
  4. Blood Cursed at Amazon or the Book Depository

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Contest Time!

Thank you Erica for taking the time to stop by Literary Escapism!

Erica is giving away a copy of Revelation. To enter, all you have to do is answer this one question: If you were a bunch of crazed demons who wanted to bring on the end of the world, where would you hold your Apocalypse? 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 October 15th at which time I’ll determine the winner with help from the snazzy new plug-in I have.

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

10 Comments

  1. Thanks for a great post and congrats to Erica on the new release! I’ve got major book lust for this book :)

    I’d say… LA cuz you need sun and beach for a good apocalypse :)

  2. I’m watching Revolution on NBC right now, so when I hear apocalypse, I’m picturing Chicago all trashed and run down like thy showed in the tv series. So I would pick Chicago right now

  3. {waves} thanks for dropping by! California would certainly make for a nice warm apocalypse… I haven’t started watching Revolution yet — it does sound good!

  4. I’ll start with Rome. With the small streets, it would make it easier to find our prey. *evil laugh*

  5. Melbourne, where else?

    :) The city is vibrant, has four seasons in one day, and already has great underworld element to corrupt.

    Congrats, Erica, on your release. I wish you the very best in this new series.

  6. Seems to me DC would be good since you have all the politicians there already. And down south wouldn’t be good since to many folks carry guns.

Comments are closed.