Kay Phoenix: Author Michelle C. Reilly

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!

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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 14^th) 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:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LE1B9DQ/

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.

Make sure to visit her website www.michellecreilly.com for more information about her and her upcoming books.

Feel free to visit, ask her questions, and hang out with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michellecorareilly.

And if you’re a tweet-a-holic (or even if you’re not), follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MichelleCReilly

Author website and social media links: