I'm excited to host my good friend,
Author Michelle C. Reilly, as the first Midweek Escapes guest. I've known Michelle for a few years now, we've attended conferences together, and she's been an outstanding critique partner. She's an inspiration!
So, let's travel to PARIS with her!
***
I’ve traveled
and lived all over the world. Of all the places I’ve been, I’d have to say
Paris is my favorite. I’ve been there only twice, but while there, I feel as if
I’m home. Perhaps I’ve lived there in a previous life… Who knows? Haha. There
is so much history there. The city is huge, but the Metro makes getting to places
easy.
If you’re
planning on traveling there, where you would like to stay depends on your
budget. Unless you have a great amount to spend, plan on your hotel room being
small. The buildings there are old compared to the United States, and the rooms
were made smaller at that time. I did stay at a hostel during one of my trips
there, and I have to say it wasn’t bad at all. And inexpensive (about $59/night
for two people, and breakfast was included). If you are planning to travel
there, I highly suggest planning out and obtaining as much of your venue
tickets in advance as you can. It’s often less expensive this way and can help
with ensuring you’re not visiting during a holiday and the place is closed.
My favorite
place to visit is Versailles. It’s outside of Paris and is reached via an easy
train ride. It’s amazing to see the actual bedding used by Marie Antoinette.
The corner room at the end of the Hall of Mirrors (just prior to entering Marie
Antoinette’s bedroom chamber) has dates etched into the glass of the mirrors
from past visitors – from the 1800s! Make sure to visit the grounds of the
palace as there are many fun and excited discoveries to be found!
As for food…
Well, there are numerous places to eat. But I suggest, if you can, traveling
away from the touristy areas and find restaurants off the beaten path. They’re
less expensive and always fun. For the Metro, make sure to study the maps prior
to going. I’ve found the locals to be very helpful when wondering which train
to take. However, be careful while taking the underground walkways from one
station to another. Pickpockets are common. Don’t hold your cash all in once
place and make sure it’s hidden. This goes for anywhere you travel, not just in
Paris.
So far Paris
hasn’t played a role in my books, but I do have a character that I know is from
there. His story will come out one day. And it’s a good one! J
 |
Me in the Paris Catacombs with my copy of Darynda Jones’
Fifth Grave Past the Light.
|
 |
| My son, Alex, and I in front of the Seine. |
 |
| Panoramic photo of Marie Antoinette’s bedroom chamber. |
 |
| My son, Alex, and I on the top level of the Eiffel
Tower. We were lucky enough to (unknowingly) visit the Eiffel Tower on Bastille
Day (July 14th) in 2013. While at the top of the tower, jets started
flying past us streaming blue, white, and red streams of smoke, and helicopters
hovered nearby. It was amazing! |
 |
Me at The Louvre standing in front of my favorite painting by
David. It’s from after Napoleon crowned himself Emperor and he was crowning his
wife, Joséphine.
|
 |
| I love this house. We had just visited Sacré-Cœur in
the 18th arrondissement in Paris and found this jewel while exploring the area
further. |
Title: VARIANTS
Series
and Book #: The Anathergians Trilogy, Book 1
Author/pen
name: Michelle C Reilly
Genre: Science Fiction/Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Indy
Date of Publication: June 2014
ASIN: B00LE1B9DQ
ISBN: 1500364487
Number of pages: 280
Word Count: 92k
Blurb:
Sworn to Protect the Very People Bent on Destroying Them
POWERFUL
Auden, the king of the immortal Anathergian race, came to
Earth five thousand years ago when he and his people escaped from their destroyed
planet. His power is immense, but is threatened
because he has yet to take a Lifemate.
WITCH
With the blood of an Anathergian and a witch running through
her veins, Leah is a force to be reckoned with. After leaving her foster family
to learn how to master her new-found powers, Auden finds her. With him, she discovers her heritage, her
strength, and her love.
VARIANTS
An Anathergian is using variant strains of his DNA to turn
humans into Anathergians.
This enemy’s goal: use the Variants to take over the world
and take Auden’s place as king.
Auden and Leah’s goal: Stop the enemies and discover what
connections Leah has with them.
Buy links:
Excerpt
from Chapter 4:
He stood inside the entrance as the doors closed behind
him. His gaze was drawn to a slim calf covered in black denim hanging over the
arm of a wing back chair facing the desk. A black Converse shoe bounced up and
down. Then a dark head with gray eyes peeked at him from around the edge of the
chair. The girl’s near-black straight hair was cut at an angle where it touched
the tip of her chin on one side of her heart shaped face and ended at mid ear
on the other side.
He took a step forward, ready to reach for her. It was an
instinctive reaction and one he had never done before. He held himself still.
His insides sang to the tune of another like him. Oh, yes, she is most definitely of
Anathergian blood.
With reddened cheeks, she twisted away.
Marla reached her desk. Glancing from Auden to Leah, she
gestured toward the girl. “Auden, please meet Leah.”
The girl gave a halfhearted wave at him from beyond the
chair. Auden raised an eyebrow at Marla. The woman’s brow creased and she shook
her head, her curls bobbing against her cheeks. “Leah, have manners, if you
please.”
“I waved hello, didn’t I?” said a sulky voice from the seat.
Marla’s mouth went tight, and then she motioned for Auden
to come forward. He approached the side of the desk to get a better view of the
girl.
She was slight, but not too thin. Her long, shapely legs,
emphasized by the tight jeans, seemed to go on for days. Her short-sleeved fitted
black t-shirt had a drawing of a face with Xs for eyes. His gaze stopped at her
pert breasts that stood from the shirt for a moment. When he realized where his
stare had strayed, he brought his perusal higher. A pale, sateen neck gave way
to a stubborn jaw line. Parted wine lips made his throat parched. Her straight
nose was almost too big for her face, but it went well with her angled chin. A gunmetal
glare shot sparks at him and she bounced her leg to an agitated tune. It was
apparent she was not happy about her current situation. He could commiserate,
but it didn’t mean he would give into her rancor.
#
Leah scrutinized the man who, according to Marla, had come
to bring her to his people for
training. He was someone Marla trusted
and the training would help her grow.
As if. Leah already had people to
train her. Here, at Sanctuary. She didn’t need his people. And what could his people teach her she hadn’t already
excelled at?
She tilted her head back and glared at him, giving him her
best As if I care look. But, jeez,
was he huge! Holy crap, he could probably
take down a bull without using a horse or rope. His eyes were as dark as
the deepest depths of the ocean and churned with as much life as those seas. She
idly wondered what treasures were hidden there. When Leah studied his face, she
thought of exotic Egyptian pharaohs. He wore a black, long-sleeved buttoned
shirt made of a soft material that kissed his muscles like a lover. His jeans
molded to his muscular thighs and extended over black boots.
His gaze gave her a once over so thorough she had to subdue
the urge to squirm. Instead, she notched her chin higher. When he continued to scrutinize
her, she said, “You can stop staring.”
Marla’s intake of breath sent a small pang of guilt through
Leah’s chest, and she sent the woman a quick apologetic look. Glancing back at
Auden, she noticed a slight lift at one corner of his mouth. She covered her
own twitching smile and instead showed a sudden interest in the wood beams
lining the ceiling.
“What have you told her?” His baritone timbre made Leah
think of swimming in a serene lake with cool water surrounding her. It calmed
her.
“I told her we have known each other for quite some time
and I trust the training she will receive with you will be beyond reproach,”
answered Marla.
Irritated, Leah let out a small harrumph. “I’m sitting right
here. Please don’t talk about me as if I’m not right in front of you.”
“Oh,” he regarded her up and down, “do you wish to join the
conversation?”
That’s it! After
the morning she had, she wasn’t going to let this guy push her around. She
stood, taking fast steps toward him. “Do I wish to join the conversation?
You”—she pointed at him—“bet I do! Why am I going with you? What type of
training can you give me”—she pointed a thumb at herself—“that I can’t learn
here?” She gestured with her hands indicating the school. “What makes your people”—she poked her finger into
his chest and became even more annoyed because he didn’t even flinch—“so much
better than the people I have here?” She indicated the school again.
“Leah, this is unacceptable behavior,” interjected Marla,
her voice high with angry disappointment.
Auden, who hadn’t moved a muscle during Leah’s tirade, spoke
to Marla. “It’s fine, Marla. I can handle this.”
“Handle? Handle? Seriously?” Leah sputtered. “Do you
think you’re just going to ʻhandle’ me?” She made quotation marks with her
fingers.
“Right, then, I’ll leave you to it,” Marla said to Auden
and headed toward the double doors.
Author bio:
Michelle C. Reilly is a single mom of two wonderful boys.
She spent ten years in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman Preventive Medicine
Technician, which meant she was actually attached to or stationed with the U.S.
Marine Corps. She has a Masters in Science in Public Health, but she is
generally an IT geek and a geek of many other things as well. She currently
resides in Las Vegas, NV, with her two cats, Meowdy and Moose.
Feel free to visit, ask her questions, and hang out with
her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michellecorareilly.
Author website and social media
links:
