The Warlord Cain Dath... Giveaway & Character Interview

He's exotic, he's powerful, he's loyal and misunderstood, what's not to love about my Lao Warlord?

The reviews and mail for 'A Warlord's Lady' have been coming in thick and fast  and I'd like to thank all my readers who've spent the time reviewing and commenting on my latest release.

So at the suggestion of a friend, I've decided to post an interview with the hero of the book... and will give away one e-copy of the book to a commenter.

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Interviewer: 'Good Morning.'
Dath: 'Good morning.'

Interviewer: 'First thing first, how do you pronounce your name?'
Dath: *smiles* 'Cain - as in the biblical character and Dath as in Dat. The 'th' in Lao is pronounced 't'.
Interviewer: 'I bet a lot of people get that wrong,'
Dath: *shrugs*

Interveiwer: 'What do you think of the book cover?'
Dath:*blushes*  'Err, I like the book cover.'

Interviewer: 'Is it strange seeing books written about you?'
Dath: 'I'm getting used to it, I suppose.'
Interviewer: 'You don't sound very convincing.'
Dath: 'That's a shame, I meant to be.'

Interviewer: *laughs* 'OK then, you are a Warlord from Laos, what exactly does that mean?'
Dath: 'The title Warlord has historically been used in Laos to describe individuals who fight against the central power systems. It is something people call me, rather than what I call myself.'

Interviewer: 'In your position as 'warlord' what do you do?'
Dath: 'I work to help protect the interests of magical beings with the ultimate aim of lessening unfair government restrictions and impositions on them.'
Interviewer: 'How do you protect them?'
Dath: 'Sometimes it simply requires talking to the right people, other times it requires guns and bullets,' *shrugs* 'Governments can be stubborn and deaf to common sense - particularly when it comes to things they don't understand. I'm here to make them listen any which way I can.'

Interviewer: 'Would you like to tell the readers a little about yourself, and your childhood?'
Dath: *visibly stiffens* 'I grew up in Vientiane in a tumultuous time, the Lao Civil War and its aftermaths had left the country in a difficult place, it was not an idyllic childhood.'

Interviewer: 'The question everyone is dying to hear is what is so special about Sabra Westwood?'
Dath: 'What isn't special about her? She is strong but still vulnerable, funny, down to earth and amazing with people. She's the most lovable person I've ever met. She makes me feel like I'm a man not just a misconstrued public identity. No one ever made me feel like that until I met her.
Interviewer: 'You have a beautiful love story with Sabra, what went through your head the first time you saw her?'
Dath: 'I was worried that she was in the company of a very dangerous individual. Her skin blushed rainbow, and, well, it's hard to explain, but I simply had to do something. She looked so vulnerable, I wanted to help her - I'm glad I did.'

Interviewer: 'We've all heard about the Laos Prophecy, what do think of it now that the excitement of the past few months is over?'
Dath: 'I don't know I suppose it's a part of my cultural history and that's what it should remain. If I have learned anything, it is to follow your instinct rather than words on paper.'

Interviewer: 'Where will you and Sabra settle? Laos or Australia?'
Dath: There is much work still to be done in Laos, but Sabra still likes Australia so I am happy to divide our time between both.'
Interviewer: 'Will their be children in the future?'
Dath: 'I certainly hope so.'

Interviewer: Jurgen had a lot of chemistry with both Mags and Christy, so I have to ask, who will he end up with?
Dath: *laughs* 'You'd have to ask him.'

Interviewer: 'You seem to have a great number of mythical and magical beings in residence at your compound. Do you have a favourite type?'
Dath: *raises an eyebrow* 'That would be like asking do I have a favourite race of people. The answer is no, I don't. Whether aufhocker, thriae, rakshasa or naga, every one has their good side and bad - it's not up to me to judge them. If they come to me in good faith and friendship, that's what I will give them in return.'
Interviewer: 'What about Shadow Men, does that opinion apply to them as well?'
Dath: *hesitates* 'I am yet to meet a Shadow Man who isn't out to harm someone, however, if one came to me asking for my help or protection, I would not turn my back.'
Interviewer: 'You're a better man than many.'
Dath: *shrugs* 'I try.'

Interviewer: 'Thank you Mr Cain Dath, good luck in your future endeavours - and for coming today.'
Dath: *smiles* 'It was my pleasure.'

I hope you enjoyed that little look into Laos' sexiest Warlord, if you've got other questions you just need to know the answer to, or just want to go into the running for a copy of the book leave a comment below.

 

A Warlord's Lady, is on sale now at all good e-book retailers.

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WIP it, WIP it good.

Thanks Danielle for the Post suggestion!

So I have been writing madly before the Australian school year begins, the aim is to get my WIP completely polished and done in a few weeks (my poor critique partner is going to have her hands full at our next meeting!)

As you may know, this WIP about a different side of my magical world - but keep your eyes peeled and you may see a familiar face!
The focus is in this book is on a magician Warlord, from the South East Asian country of Laos - and let me tell you, the hero, Warlord Cain Dath  is proving to be a complex guy to write!

So for this week's post I'm doing some character profiles. They're useful things, not only for the reader anxious to get a taste of the book, but for me to make sure I'm staying true to my characters despite the difficult circumstances they find themselves in!

HERO
Name: Warlord Cain Dath
Age: approximately 34 yo.
Home: North of Nam Khan River, the jungle, Laos.
Profession: Magician Warlord.
Personality: Quietly ruthless, determined.
Quote:

 It took a second but rage exploded. The thinly veiled panic that had dogged him daily since Sabra had escaped erupted. “What?” Was all he could muster before he gripped Jürgen by the collar and dragged him closer. They were face to face. Cain could smell the scent of aufhocker oozing through the pores on Jürgen’s face. Canine, a bit human and a lot sour – the smell just made him furious. “Fuck you Jürgen! How could you?”

Jürgen struggled like a puppy in his grip, reluctant to fight but desperate to be free.

“It was an accident.” His German accent was guttural. “I was fighting with Maggie, and Sabra opened the door, I swung my claws to catch Maggie, but your woman stepped in my way.”

Sweat bubbled on Jürgen’s brow, the scent now rancid. Cain struggled not to tighten his grip on his neck and strangle the life from the damn aufhocker.

“I should kill you for this…” Cain hissed. “I’ve killed men for much, much less. You know it.”

HEROINE:

Name: Sabra Westwood

Age: 23 yo.

Home: Rockingham, Western Australia

Profession: Payroll Clerk

Magical ability: Chameleon.. and something else.

Personality: Positive, quick to laugh, determined.

Quote:

I suddenly became aware of the artistic sculpture of muscles beneath his snug shirt. I really wanted to have a holiday fling. No, actually if I want to be uncouth - I was gagging for a shag. It had been months since I’d been with a man, and I didn’t like it and nor did my body. My pulse began to race at the mere thought of touching the raw hard muscles that moved so enticingly beneath the white of his shirt. He must have read something in my eyes, and he smiled quickly, offering a flash of wolfish teeth. Something swooped inside me and I found myself barely able to suppress a gasp.

 Let it be said, I am not modest, but I’m not a beauty by any means, not in Australia and certainly not in Laos, where the girls all seemed pretty and petite. Yet the look in the man’s eyes was appreciative and dare I say it - bordering on desirous?  Perhaps he was just a gigolo? Did they have such things in Laos? They’d certainly had them in as we’d toured through Thailand. Then thought came unbidden, did I want to become another western notch in a cocky bar-boy’s belt – for a paltry hundred thousand kip? Yes actually, I rather liked the idea. The notion of handing over the equivalent of twenty Australian dollars to get my rocks off seemed like a better idea than returning to Perth single as well as sexually frustrated.

I really like Sabra. She's fun to write as you may gather from that excerpt :)

Now below are some images that I like to look at for motivation (manspiration images are excluded!)

Jungle in central Laos.

Nam Khan River 

 

 

Chameleon

chromatophore cells (colour changing cells)

Vientiane, Laos

 With that, enjoy!