A Daemon Earns His Wings!

Today, First Timers Presents is thrilled to welcome first time author Gina Lamm and heroine Ginger Thistlewaite from One Night to Fly, a recent release from Decadent Publishing in their 1NightStand series.

Where are you from, Ginger? A little town in the Blue Ridge mountains.

What is One Night to Fly about?

A well-meaning, but meddling friend of mine decided that I needed to go out on a date. She set me up for this dating service, conveniently not telling me that it was called 1Night Stand. *Ginger laughs* I think she knew there was no way I’d go along with it if I knew.

What did you think the first time you saw Baird Kirkland? I thought he was kind of overconfident. A little bit of a player, you know? He was way too hot, and that Scottish burr? Wow. Too good to be true, so he had to be an ass.

And your second thought? He knew way too much about me. It was scary, but then really incredible that he knew me that well that quickly.

Did you think it was love at first sight? Maybe at the sight of his Daemon wings. *she smiles* I’d thought those were just dreams, so to see them come true that way? Truly magical.

What do you like most about him? The way he likes to laugh. The way he holds me in his arms, and wraps his wings around me. It’s indescribable.

How would you describe Baird? Well, he’s tall, and really fit. He’s got shaggy blonde hair, and he’s tanned. Kind of looks like a surfer until you hear his burr. And that deep voice, with that accent? Totally delicious. I’m normally a pretty level-headed person, but when I see him? Yeah, not anymore.

How would he describe you? He’d probably say that I’m kind of a nervous perfectionist with way too many hang-ups. But he’d also say that he loves my body, even though I’m on the short side. He makes me feel beautiful.

What made you choose insurance adjuster as a career? Honestly, I’m not a big fan of my job. It’s just something that paid the bills until I met Baird. Now that I know who and what I am, I’ll be happy to leave it behind for something else.

What is your biggest fear? That I’m crazy, and my dreams mean more than they should. Well, it was til Baird showed me otherwise.

How do you relax? A flight under the stars.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? I was always a fan of Velma from Scooby Doo. She was ordered, logical, and smart. She didn’t get enough credit, I thought.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Madame Evangeline [the leader of 1NightStand] told me to relax and live a little. That’s got to be it.

Let's read a blurb, shall we?

Ginger Thistlewaite doesn't want a blind date. She's happy with her career, her lonely apartment, and the strange visions that keep her company each night. But when a meddling co-worker sets her up for a blind date, she feels she has no choice but to go along with it.

Baird Kirkland's been searching for a Daemon female for a long time. Human women can't satisfy the urges within him so he hires Madam Eve's 1NightStand dating service to find a suitable Daemon match, hoping one night will lead to something more.

Baird rubs Ginger wrong from the start. But when hes Daemon wings burst free, a vision straight from her dreams, will Ginger be able to resist him?

On that intriguing note, Kat wants a turn: Gina, what movies or books have impacted your writing?

Oh, tons and tons! I’m a fan of lots of authors. Julia Quinn, Catherine Coulter, Piers Anthony, JR Ward, Kresley Cole, Stephen King, too many more to mention.

Tell us a bit about Decadent Publishing. How did you hear about them? I was looking for a way to stretch my writer-muscles, and found out about a call for submissions for paranormal 1Night Stand stories from Decadent. I wrote it for fun, subbed on a whim, and ta-da!

Tell us a bit about the submission process. How long did it take from query to release? I queried in June, on a Sunday morning. A contract was in my email that very night. Many happy dances.  I think two full months between contract and release? That’s pretty fast, all in all!

It's time for an excerpt, so let's get going!

Ginger couldn't believe her ears. A Daemon? Baird stood, smiling at her, his form shadowed by massive folded black wings. Wings. Just like she had in her dreams. They'd flown together, exactly the way she did in her dreams ever night. The only thing he hadn't done to mimic her night-time memories was wrap her in the glossy dark feathers as he claimed her.

Her body betrayed her, the pit of her belly curling at the thought of him covering her that way. The buttons of his shirt had pulled open during the flight, revealing a muscled chest as well as a lean throat. His broad shoulders tapered to slim hips. As if in response to her scrutiny, the front of his slacks tented.

“You know what I mean.” His burr deepened, his brilliant eyes darkening at her scrutiny. “I told you. I alone can make those dreams come true.”

Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. She sat on the chaise, immobilized by the blue of his eyes. He came toward her, prowling like a predator about to strike. The hypnotic rill of his hips mesmerized her, overturning her normally logical brain. Reason flew out the window as he pressed a knee into the seat beside her, straddling her lap. His wings extended, wrapping around her, leaving them in the tight cocoon of darkness.

“Ah, Ginger.” The R of her name rolled off his tongue.

She shut her lids against the magnetic pull of his gaze. “What are you doing to me?” she whispered.

“Giving you what you want.” His mouth dived down to claim hers.

Kat: Giving me what I want? Whoa baby! Where do I sign up for a 1NightStand—and will Ginger share this man with me? Based on the excerpt, Gina, you are destined to have a long and happy life at Decadent Publishing! Thanks so much for visiting First Timers Presents.

For more information about Gina Lamm, go to: www.ginalamm.net

To purchase One Night to Fly, go to http://www.ginalamm.net/books.html

We hope you'll all stop back the next time we showcase a first time author. Stay tuned!

Kat