Today I’m thrilled to host author Anne Marie Andrus who is spreading word about her new novel, Raimond, which releases October 25, 2018 and is a prequel to her debut vampire romance fantasy, Monsters & Angels.
While working on a sequel she realized she really needed to write a prequel. It’s an excellent example of letting the characters the writer has created lead the story.
Alright Ann, take it away!
In these last few days before the release of my newest novel, Raimond, I’ve been reflecting on how my previous work, the Monsters & Angels Series was born.
In January of 2013, the winter after Superstorm Sandy, I was desperately searching for an escape. Though the season was tremendously bleak and depressing, it held an unexpected gift. Endless nights and bottomless cases of wine gave birth to a story.
Monsters & Angels is the tale of Sorcha Alden’s life and death, her tragedy, rebirth and epic love. I released that novel as my debut in October of 2017 and immediately got to work writing the sequel…then a funny thing happened. I realized that a step back was necessary in order to move forward. My readers also pointed out that, while I was writing Sorcha’s story, Raimond was the true super-star of this saga. Raimond is the more than a prequel, it’s the foundation for Monsters & Angels…and now we can truly waltz into the future.
Back in 2013, I wrote the story I wanted to read, full of characters that I wanted to fall in love with. Sometimes, I forget how it happened…the rush of being swept away by characters that didn’t exist until the moment they stepped out of the smoke and took the stage.
Obviously, I’m a great fan of vampire fiction and New Orleans. I was (still am) an incredible fan of The Originals. The ending of that series left a huge hole in my heart. Now, more than ever, I’m so grateful to be able to step back into the refuge of Monsters & Angels.
As I let myself sink into the magic of New Orleans October, my mind wanders…to stained glass windows and dangling shutters that framed strange faces…along alleys lined with crooked doorways, when haunting footsteps echoed next to mine. Back to the shadowy labyrinth where I met the Monsters…
A doomed commander, blessed with the heart of a savior
A blood slave, hiding her exotic appetite,
A perfect prince, arrogant and viciously flawed,
A trained healer, born to be a killer,
A legendary warrior, incapable of simple trust,
A second son, unwilling to be held hostage,
A brilliant politician, searching for courage to love,
A city behind walls, glittering and moody, ravaged and reborn,
And a fledgling nurse with the soul of an angel, carrying a spirit fierce enough to make them all family.
In the novel Raimond, the Monsters & Angels Series opens by introducing leading man, Commander Raimond Banitierre. (View the trailer here.)
Hero to martyr…
Assassinated in the earliest days of the French Revolution and tricked into decades of vampire slavery, Raimond fights for freedom and chases his ultimate dream of becoming a physician. His escape from France takes him across the Atlantic Ocean to Savannah, Georgia and through a trial-by-fire residency as battlefield surgeon during the American Civil War. Along the way, Doctor Banitierre encounters unlikely allies, finds precious love and suffers losses devastating enough to spiral him into despair.
The arrival of Prince Draven Norman appears to be the final nail in Raimond’s coffin. Draven’s invitation to join the mystical royalty of New Orleans is either treachery or the next step in Raimond’s miraculous journey.
Soldier to saint…
Monsters & Angels begins in 1936, on the brilliant autumn day of Sorcha Alden’s nursing school graduation. Driven by tragedy to honor her family name, Sorcha’s quest sends her from the bleak but familiar streets of New York City, through the sultry city of New Orleans, and on to a charity mission in the brutal jungles of Nepal.
Falling in love with handsome Doctor Vir Ashayle could have been a fairytale.
One tragic death, two haunted lovers…
Being murdered and waking up as a blood-thirsty monster, became her living nightmare.
The dawn of an immortal dynasty…
Forced to start over in a cutthroat underworld of bitter rivals and jealous ancestors, Sorcha returns to New Orleans as a newborn vampire with medical director, mentor and benefactor, Duke Raimond Banitierre, at her side.
Can the Crescent City’s magical harmony, the collective force of her newly found family, and Raimond’s fierce heart give Sorcha enough courage to fulfill her eternal destiny?
View the Monsters & Angels Trailer
Anne Marie Andrus has been an equestrienne, chorale singer, EMT and baseball fan. Roaming the back roads of New Jersey with her family, she found great respect for antiques, historical locations and the stories they hold. Her current list of favorite pastimes include coffee, bourbon, and Les Misérables–which requires more bourbon. She has been known to attend sporting events just for the flyover. The boat she and her husband christened Glory Days, is her escape from the chaos of everyday life.
The inspiration for Anne Marie’s series, Monsters & Angels, is her fascination with vampires and her passion for everything New Orleans. When she isn’t writing, she can be found working nights with the critical care team in a busy trauma center.
In addition Monsters & Angels, Anne has two stories, Where The Power Hides and A Glimpse Of The Monster, available in Dan Alatorre’s newest scary story anthology, Dark Visions, sequel to best-seller The Box Under The Bed.
You can learn more about Anne at AnneMarieAndrus.com and Monsters & Angels Blog.
K.M. Pohlkamp - Author Website 
Thank you for hosting Raimond today! 🙂
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