Cursed By Furies
A Tale of Vikings, Elves, and Gods
The Cursed Elves
A Tale of Vikings, Elves, and Gods
The Cursed Elves
Book One
Diedra Drake
Genre: Mythic Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Apache Creek Publishing
Date of Publication: September 03, 2019
ISBN: 9781088922415
ASIN: B07WD29D3P
Number of pages: 402
Word Count: 107,500
Cover Artist: Apache Creek Publishing
Tagline: What if the myths were all real?
Book Description:
1000 years ago the Elves nearly destroyed their species through war. As punishment, their ancestors cursed them and trapped them on the Earthly plane.
Priscilla Forester is a 500-year-old Cursed Elf, with abilities far different from most. She knows there is some secret about her origins, but has given up thinking she will ever discover the truth.
However, Fate was only waiting for the right moment to reveal its secrets. As Priscilla and her lovers battle against warring Elf Houses, her true nature begins to emerge, and it is more than anyone had bargained for.
Amazon
Excerpt
Mitchell parked in the lot, careful to stay out of the immediate line of sight while Raymond filled up his tank.
Mitchell sighed as he realized his fangs had been out because of all the blood and stress. Another mistake. His superiors were going to kill him. He tightened the belt over the wound like a tourniquet, and the sudden pain made Raymond pass out again.
Mitchell parked in the lot, careful to stay out of the immediate line of sight while Raymond filled up his tank.
He replaced the pump nozzle before entering the store to get his chips and pay for the gas. Another car pulled up, and the driver also went inside. A few more minutes passed, and Mitchell started to grow concerned.
Raymond didn’t normally dawdle, and there weren’t so many cars around that there should be a big line. Maybe the clerk was having problems with his register or…
A shot rang out. Then another.
Mitchell’s heart sank and fear surged through him as he nearly tore the door off getting out of the car. He was inside the store in a blink and took stock of the situation in seconds. Raymond lay on the floor bleeding from his side, the red pool growing quickly. The clerk's body hung slumped over the register counter, blood pouring out from his chest.
The shooter’s eyes darted back and forth between the two victims, his breathing chaotic as he rubbed his fingers through his hair and pressed his palms to his temples. His eyes wide as he stared at the bodies and the blood. He didn't immediately realize anyone else was standing there. When he finally noticed Mitchell, it was but a moment before the shooter’s neck was broken and he collapsed next to where his gun had fallen.
Mitchell dashed to the automotive aisle and returned with a pack of terry cloth rags and duct tape. He ripped open Raymond’s shirt, tore one of the cotton rags out of the bundle, and started mercilessly packing the wound. Raymond screamed in agony for a few seconds, then his body became limp as he lost consciousness.
“Sorry Ray, it’s better this way," Mitchell mumbled as an apology.
He put his fingers underneath the bleeding side of Raymond’s body and felt around looking for an exit wound. Sure enough, the bullet had gone entirely through. With one hand Mitchell shifted Raymond onto his side, then shoved another piece of rag into the exit wound. When he rolled him back over, he noticed the fabric on the front was completely saturated and blood was pouring out of the injury again.
“Dammit. Something’s bleeding inside." He took a shaky breath. “Shit!”
He wiped off as much blood as he could to dry the skin, folded a piece of cloth like a bandage, and duct taped it over the opening in his flesh. He repeated the process on the back.
Mitchell looked around and realized he needed to lock down the scene. He stood and flipped the sign on the front entrance to 'Closed,' then hit the nearby light switches so the interior went dark.
He returned to Raymond, lifted him effortlessly, and carefully carried him outside to where he’d left his vehicle in the parking lot. He managed to open the passenger door and put him in the seat, then reclined it back to keep his body at an angle. As he was about to close him in, he noted the seat belt. With a last-minute idea, Mitchell ripped it from the wall of the car and started sliding it under Raymond.
Raymond regained consciousness for a moment, took one look at Mitchell, and began yelling in terror while pulling away.
Mitchell sighed as he realized his fangs had been out because of all the blood and stress. Another mistake. His superiors were going to kill him. He tightened the belt over the wound like a tourniquet, and the sudden pain made Raymond pass out again.
Author Bio
Diedra Drake is a life-long student of mythology and history, with a particular interest in the ways that different cultures tell the same stories using name variations. She is competent in classical Latin, and enjoys reading the classics – particularly Homer, Plutarch, and Shakespeare. For relaxation, Diedra loves to crack open a new historical romance novel or binge a new series on streaming. After a couple of decades being a business owner in the technology industry, she decided to explore her other interests through the creation of a mythic fantasy romance world. She lives in Central Texas with her family, which includes a small cat colony and a couple of dogs, and tries to ensure she gets a daily serving of ice cream for continual inspiration.
Interview
Please welcome Cursed By Furies author Diedra Drake to Diane’s Book Blog.
My favorite part of ‘Cursed by Furies’ in The Cursed Elves series is when Priscilla begins to realize that she shouldn’t have to apologize for being who she is and starts to embrace her full nature.
How long did it take you to write Cursed By Furies?
I wrote ‘Cursed by Furies’ in a two week writing rampage in December of 2018. It is, probably 95% the same as the day I put the final period on it.
If you were stranded on a desert island which of your characters do you want by your side?
Jarl, for sure. He’s a Viking, a man of the sea. Not only great, sexy company, but highly practical as a choice.
If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who would it be?
I could easily be good friends with Raymond and Jonah, probably Jarl too. I feel like I have a lot in common with all of them.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I’ve been obsessed with mythology my entire life, but I randomly got into a conversation with my daughter about how I would explain Vampires, mythologically. I said it would have to be a curse, and that means they had to start off as a different being. So then it became a question of, what kind of being and who would have the power to pull off a curse like that. I immediately thought of the Furies, because I’m a mythos junkie, and they enact punishments in mythology. The concept basically was built backward from there, and easily tied into the mythos that I know so well, and it was important to me that it would actually fit in reasonably and historically.
What is your favorite book that you wrote?
Of the three I’ve completed in this series, I think book two is my favorite, but book one is the one I’m the most proud of at this time.
What books have most influenced your life?
A deep love of the classics has influenced everything. I’ve read, and re-read the Iliad more times than I can remember. I love Homer, Plutarch, and Shakespeare, but I’m a fan of all mythology which really bloomed a lot when I was studying Latin for years.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
I’m actually writing a book that I call ‘1 and a half.’ I don’t want to give away the name of 1.5 because it could be a bit of a spoiler for book 1 as it is right now (the name may need to change). Basically, it takes place in the two-year gap between book 1 and 2. Largely it deals with the way so many of their lives have changed after the events of book 1, and how they’re all dealing with the major adjustments. Some are coping with things better than others.
What book are you reading now?
I’m just about to start reading Fairy Tale Lies (Opposites Attract Book 1) by DK Marie. DK is a Twitter friend of mine, and I like to prioritize reading books from friends.
https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tale-Lies-Opposites-Attract-ebook/dp/B07RGKLCQQ/
What do you prefer paperback, hardcover, or ebooks?
Nowadays I prefer to read first on my Kindle, and if I like a book a lot I’ll buy a physical version. For my shelves, hardcover is my favorite.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I have several books coming out over the next year, and I’m always looking for beta readers. If you like the first book and you have an interest in giving insight on the next ones, or just getting a chance to read it before anyone else, you should consider being a beta reader for me.
If anyone wants to know what is coming down the pipeline, or get access to my beta reads, they should join my newsletter. There are links to it all over DiedraDrake.com and I don’t send it out all the time, usually once or twice a month (max!), but my newsletter people get everything first.
Giveaway
Great Interview
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