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As many of you may know, our beloved sister hostess SHARON DONOVAN, tragically passed away on 11th April 2012. We who knew her, loved her, and were inspired by her courage and determination to face head on whatever life threw at her. When she could no longer see to paint she turned to writing and showed her amazing talent in the Inspirational Romance and Romantic Suspense genres, and her story 'Charade Of Hearts' was awarded the coveted Predators and Editors Award in January 2011.

This Blog was a source of great delight to her, she was one of the founder hostesses and she contributed to the fun and silliness in her own original way, and was kind enough to let her unique creation, the hunky butler 'Oliver' join us for our Friday romp and prepare 'virtual breakfast' for the guests on the following morning. It's beyond hard to have to go on without her, but we know that she would have been the first to insist that 'the show must go on.' She is, and will always be with us in spirit.
Sharon, dear friend, we will never forget you.
The Author Roast and Toast is part of the legacy you left us. Let's raise a Toast to you as well as all our guests.
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Friday, April 13, 2012

Cynthia Vespia's New Release Party for Demon Hunter: Saga

  This Friday the 13th's Roast has been prepared for several days and we know that Sharon would have been the first to insist that 'the show must go on.' She is, and will always be with us in spirit. Sharon, dear friend, we will never forget you. The Author Roast and Toast is part of the legacy you left us. We love you.


CYNTHIA, MARY, PATSY AND LYN WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS POST TO THE MEMORY OF SHARON DONOVAN, A DEAR FRIEND, TALENTED WRITER AND SISTER HOSTESS, WHO PASSED AWAY ON 11TH APRIL 2012
Dear Sharon, you will always be with us in our hearts



"Why are we hiding? Is this gonna hurt? Is there pain involved. Will there be demons?” Lyn peers into the banquet hall at the Medieval Festival in celebration of the release of  Cynthia Vespia ‘s  new Novel.  Demon Hunter: Saga 

“Where is everyone? I thought the place was supposed to be jumpin’. I don’t see a single soul.” 

Mary, hidden behind Patsy’s huge Popeye arms, chuckles and sighs. “It is Friday the Thirteenth; you didn’t expect things to be normal did you? I’m surprised there are no goblins or vampires or even, mummies!”

“Mummies,” Lyn questions. My mummie isn’t here."

 Patsy grins. “Boy could I use that as material. Not mommie, mummie.You know, there’s something odd going on here. 

"We arranged this Festival so we could wear great costumes and act like damsels in distress. In the process we meet some hot guys who are carrying lances and are part to the reenactment.” Lyn says. 

Mary jumps in. “But, nooooo. I didn’t put this heavy dress on and squeeze my hooters into another tight dress to end up at a party where no one shows…!”

Mary gasps as suddenly the room is filled with guests.


The empty tables are filled with mutton, roasted pig, meat pies, a side of beef, and tons of dishes oozing steam and delicious smells. The tables are filled with goblets and serving wenches pour mead, ale, rum and juices for guests. “What the heck.” Patsy’s mouth drops and she falls back into Lyn, whose arm is shoved and her glass of mead ends up on Sharon’s dress



 "Mead Lyn,” Sharon clicks her tongue. “We just saw things appear and into your hand suddenly a glass of mead shows up and ends up on me, as usual. Why does that not surprise me?” She sighs, “I just expected it to be Mary who got me drenched, you’ve been hanging out so much she’s rubbing off on you. Ugh!!! I’ll be right back. I have to change.”


Mary shrugs and Sharon returns in but a minute. 


Mary points to the desert table and they all look that way. “No cake but, look at all the pies and custards and those are bread bowls filled with stuff. It smells wonderful, Oliver you are one heck of a Butler.” 
Sharon smiles as Oliver, in his vampire costume,  tips his head and gives Mary a small salute. 

All of a sudden the room is once again empty and the glass of rum at Patsy’s lips is gone! “So close,” she mumbles, “so darn close.”

"Did you do that?"
Lyn points at Mary.
 
Mary laughs, “yeah I used my magic, whoooooooo!” Mary makes an eerie sound and the room is once again filled with guests. “Something strange is going on here. Look, it’s Cynthia and she has a magic wand in her hand.” Mary gestures toward their elegant guest of honour and as they all look toward the talented author they see her raise the wand to cast a spell. 

“No, Lyn screams. I think you are making people blink in and out and you have to stoppppppp…”Lyn suddenly shrinks down to knee height.

 “That’s cutting you down to size,” Patsy mutters. Mary chuckles and then her eyes bug out as Lyn is suddenly twenty feet tall. 

She looks down at her friends and shakes her head as Sharon jokes. “It’s the Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman and look at the size of those feet.” Lyn raises an eyebrow then laughs as she is her correct size in an instant.

Cynthia tells them with a twinkle in her eye. “I heard you girls like to play.”


Oliver’s belly laugh is heard above the chatter of shocked people. Then Cynthia waves the wand and everyone goes back to dinner. All is instantly forgotten. 

“That’s some wand.” Lyn giggles. “Let me try it.”
She waves the wand and well... you can just imagine!!!!

Welcome to the Author Roast and Toast and one lucky commenter will not only have fun, but get a free ebook copy of Theater of Pain.

BLURB:

DEMON HUNTER: SAGA

Do you know what horrors lie beyond these pages? Costa Calabrese has just uncovered the truth about his past. Some truths should never be revealed. When you learn you’re the son of the worlds foremost and feared hunter of demons, life’s rules inevitably change. Now Costa has been chosen to walk in his famed father's footsteps and take up the role his bloodline demands of him...whether he wants to or not. He is a killer of killers, laying waste to the scourge of evil that threatens the existence of mankind. He is the chosen one. He is the Demon Hunter.

EXCERPT:

Slowly, perhaps foolishly, I peeled back one of the heavy doors and peered inside. At first sight it looked as though it were a simple dinner party. Both men and women filled a long table drinking red wine and carrying on with laughter. As I looked again I found it to be a most disturbing vision.

            ‘Twas not wine that they drank but blood, tapped from the neck of a poor soul by some crude device that resembled a spout. He hung upside down and they drained him into their cups until he went pale.

            I shuddered to think of such torture. These beings truly were soulless and they needed to be halted in their scavenging of human life. Looking out over the table all of them were merrily distracted in their gluttony. My eyes scanned each face seeking the one who would make the best target to start with as I silently loaded my crossbow.

            I turned to motion behind me for Paralay and Talisa to arm themselves, thankful that I had led them in and they had not endured the shock of the sites I had seen. Most likely that display alone would’ve sent them running for the exit.

            As I turned back to the vampire dinner party I felt my own urge to flee. Sitting in one of the cushioned back chairs, goblet of wine in hand, and staring direct towards me was Lord Lecarde.

            He winked at me, drained the remainder in his goblet, and in a flash that hideous countenance was a breath away from my own face. He moved with lightening-like speed, tearing open the door he caught me by the cloak and pitched me inside the room.

            I came up overhead and landed back first upon the dining table. The vampire lot made a unanimous hissing sound, abandoned their goblets to the ground, and came over me to feed on the new blood that hand been handed to them like a gift.

            Luckily for me I was not alone in this quest. My companions came to my aide immediately, jumping into the fray and pulling the vampires off of me before any real damage could be inflicted.

            With the pack off of me I tried to shake the senses back into my noggin. My head pounded. When my eyes focused once again I found that I was directly underneath the vampire's hapless victim as he swung to and fro from the ceiling fixtures. They’d not time to cork the spout as his neck before the altercation had erupted so fresh blood dripped down and began pooling across my shirt and chest. It was warm and thick. This unnerved me to no end. I quickly shifted from the table top and found myself once again facing Lord Lecarde.

            The turbulence behind me had not subdued but I could not pull myself away from my battle with Lecarde to see if my companions needed help. He was my one and only focus. We stayed squared off face-to-face and as I looked into his hideous eyes the memory of that day in Gryphant came flooding back over me. He’s escaped me once before, it would not happen twice.I moved forward, he as well, but before we clashed I dove past him into a tumble. He whirled round with great speed but not fast enough to thwart me from my intent. I stopped just near my crossbow, the bolt still chambered, and drew it up eye-level with Lecarde’s face.
-Cynthia Vespia

www.OriginalCynAdvertising.com
www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia
www.twitter.com/cynfulcharm


BIO:
Cynthia Vespia has a background as a certified personal trainer; licensed private security guard; and trained mixologist. But the allure of writing has always remained her first love. As a skilled wordsmith she established a successful career as a journalist and promotional writer. Throughout that time she remained true to her passion and pursuit of writing novels..


Today Cynthia writes quality, character driven novels full of suspense as well as dark fantasy. With a plot pace to stir the adrenaline and keep the pages turning, Cynthia likes to refer to her novels as "Real life situations that you could find yourself in but hope to God you never do." In her spare time she enjoys reading, movies that involve a strong plot/characters, and keeping active through various forms of martial arts and as an active fitness competitor.



***GIVEAWAY***

To win a copy of Cynthia's book, 'Theatre Of Pain' all you have to do is just leave a comment and your e-mail address.

Contest ends tomorrow and everyone who comments is elligible.

38 comments:

  1. Welcome to the Roast, Cynthia and congratulations on your new release.We wish you much success and stupendous sales.

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  2. Good Morning Everyone! I love my dress, red and black, my favorite color combination! Cynthia, the release sounds terrific - more excerpts please! Maybe if I wiggle my long nose, I can make a few things disappear - what about that chest Mary?

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  3. Hello dear sister hostess, yes I must say red and black really suits you.

    Now, where's our Mary disappeard to with her chest?

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  4. A delightful roasting, ladies, and a wonderful tribute to Sharon, bless her.

    Cynthia, your book sounds intriguing. Loved the excerpt. Good luck with it!

    cathiedunn at gmail dot com

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  5. My this setting is very eerie - I love it! YUMMM, the food looks wonderful! Maybe a wee nip would ease my slight nervousness at the surroundings.

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  6. Hi Cathie, how nice to see you here, and yes, Cynthia's book sounds terrific doesn't it!

    I'd be careful about the 'wee nips' Patsy dear, there are some guests who seem to have very long teeth!

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  7. Thank you ladies...its a helluva party! Though I must state for clarification the NEW release is titled DEMON HUNTER: SAGA but the winner of the comment and win contest will get my other thriller THEATER OF PAIN :)

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  8. If I may be so bold...and since this is my party I'm going to be *grin*
    Check out the trailer for Demon Hunter on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdA1H4-bL_E

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  9. Man do I look sexy! I must say you outdid yourself when you picked out this dress Lyn. Mary tries to walk, but she finds her dress makes it difficult to do more then baby steps.
    Pass that mead, no wait a double boiler, rum shot inside of a glass of mead? I've never been really drunk and I hear it's fun?
    Wow! Great trailer!!!
    How did we do that! Demon Hunter that sounds even better. Get those demons!!!

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  10. Just be careful you don't lean too far forward Mary dear, that dress is a little on the snug side and you'll probably bounce straight outta the door! LOL

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  11. So sorry Cynthia, how did we manage to get your book title wrong. Hopefully the demons have put it to rights now!

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  12. Understandable what with the dreary motif and the word "Pain" in the other title. All is well as I see Demon Hunter resting in the custard pie.

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  13. Title - schmitle - where's the booze! ACCCKKKKK - there's a huge rat with gleaming yellow eyes staring at me from the stairway leading to the dungeon! I ain't going down there! Mary, trip your body over here and protect me.

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  14. Fantastic trailer, Cynthia - and isn't this magic wand great, one wave and the video is now embedded in the Roast for all to see!

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  15. Hmmm. Should we wave the correct book into the text?? LOL. Sharon is laughing at us!

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  16. What - you mean it isn't! *Gulp* Lyn rushes off, wand in hand

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  17. She works wonders with that wand of hers!
    Long as you have it out, I could use a wrinkle or two ironed out!

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  18. Excellent! That wand beats Harry Potter's hands down

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  19. How about another excerpt Cynthia, lets get into that story!!

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  20. EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT for DEMON HUNTER: HEROES CALL


    As the mighty hunter of demons, Costa Calabrese has known wealth, fame, the fear of men and true love. Now one brush with The Destroyer is threatening the life he treasures. Costa's entire world is being exposed as nothing but a lie. Costa's greatest and final battle is at hand as he battles the darkest demons of all...the ones in his head.



    EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT:

    A thousand possibilities ran through my mind. I tried to persuade myself that he was right. Talisa would come back and everything would be as it was before. Deep in my heart I knew the truth. And then I saw it, the marking on the wall just as in my visions. It read: "I am sent here by the chosen one. So shall it be written. So shall it be done. Child of light, be it daughter or son, is to be destroyed." She was gone just like that. Vanished without a trace or an explanation. The only thing that made any sense to me were the visions. Something dark and sinister had invaded our home and swept Talisa off into the night. How could I have let this happen? I speak all the time of not having regret and now I had to live with another. I would never, ever forgive myself for leaving her that day. I had tried to make peace within myself, saying it would only be for a little while and then I'd return to her and we'd live out our lives together until we were old and gray. But suddenly my perfect world had been turned upside down and I'd somehow lost the love of my life. I fell to my knees, shattered with despair. Paralay tried to comfort me to no avail. Nothing he could say would make me feel any better. The only person I wanted to talk to was the one person I couldn't find. My breath caught in my chest and I started to shudder. I couldn't speak. Pain hollowed out my insides like a searing hot knife and I felt as though my heart might literally shatter. I couldn't catch my breath and when I did I only managed to utter one word. "Destroyer."

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  21. LOVED the trailer and Congratulations Cynthia...now why do you seem to fit so well into our friends at Author Roast and Roast?? Scary.

    Bless you all for this dedication to Sharon. It is hard for me to express how much her life and passing has touched me.

    A special message above to Sharon...look at your loved ones Sharon! They do you proud.

    Much love.

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  22. She loved this roast and she will always be a part of it.

    Now that was a thrilling excerpt. I needed it!!! There's nothing like the thrill of a fast paced scene!!

    Don't you like my outfit? Sharon, I can imagine what you'd do with that one!!! :0)

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  23. Lyn thanks for waving the wand and putting the right book in the story!
    When you have a well written author, you gotta mention them all!!!
    It could have been a gremlin? Because a unicorn owner has magic without a wand. Imagine the power, she could turn us into something else. Hey, I'd like to be a successful something, or if you are turning me into an animal. A beautiful horse to hand with Cuddles?

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  24. Oh and Patsy don't you touch my hooters with your spells!!!

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  25. Here I come, ready or not! *she waves the wand- POOF - Mary's chest looks like Patsy's*

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  26. AAAAAAHHHHHHH I'm flat chested. And my God look at the size of my calves!!!!
    It's the popeye curse!! HHHHEEELLLLLP!
    Mary faints away, even as she sways with the change of her center of gravity. This is a real case of the dropsies!!!

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  27. Oh dear, poor Mary, 'flattened' Good job she fell on her back she's no shock absorbers any more! Give me back that wand Patsy - I'll change her into a cute pony!

    Cynthia, I just loved your excerpt - it really drew me and and has me wanting to read the book - and I'm still drooling over that trailer!

    Karen, thanks so much for coming by, and I think dear Sharon touched everyone with whom she came into contact with her wit and humour - she will be terribly missed.

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  28. Cynthia - it was so fun today. And my fellow hostesses and friends - Sharon is with us in spirit. We are sending our thoughts into the void.

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  29. Thank you for a great party and all the nice comments. You gals are awesome for putting these together...it is a fabulously unique idea to promote and reach out to readers.
    A hardy hoo-rah to Sharon!

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  30. Congrats on the new release. Sounds like a great book. Am sorry to hear about Sharon. I just found out. Will miss her greatly.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  31. Sue, thanks so much for stopping by, lovely to see you as always.

    Cynthia, you've been a wonderful special guest and we've loved having you. We wish you huge success with your new release and humendous sales.

    As Patsy says, our beloved Sharon will always be with us as our sister hostess and we hope this Blog will continue to serve as a tribute to her and her wonderful creation of the character 'Oliver'.

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  32. Cynthia, Demon Hunter sounds like a thrill a minute, a definite for my TBR list.

    Ladies, please accept my condolences on the loss of such a lovely friend. I didn't have the chance to get to know Sharon well, but what interaction I did have with her showed her to be a sweet woman with a generous soul.

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  33. I came back to see if there's anything left to eat. LOL. It is such a nice day here until later some rain. Cynthia you really have done a lot of different kinds of jobs. Does the kind of jobs you have had in your life influence your writing?
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  34. Demon Hunter: Saga really hooked me! Good luck and congratulations! As a newcomer to this blog I'm sad to learn about the passing of Sharon Donovan. From everything I've seen I can only conclude she was a heck of a lady. It's too bad I never got to know her.

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  35. Hywela...humendous, I like that word!

    Sue, I've drawn from different experiences for different novels. Demon Hunter embodied alot of my training for fitness. I've written a suspense about Las Vegas that involved alot of my time as private security. It just depends what the story calls for.

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