Enslaved by Elisabeth Naughton (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Today I am super excited to welcome back Elisabeth Naughton, author of the Eternal Guardian series! Elisabeth is joining us with her new release, Enslaved, and she has brought along a few guests to help her out. Please give them a warm welcome...

The Dreaded Underworld…or Not…

Thank so much to Reading Between the wines for inviting me to stop by today and talk about one of my very favorite places…the Underworld!

For those of you who don’t know me…I write the bestselling Eternal Guardians series about a group of gifted warriors all descended from the heroes of Greek mythology. They protect their realm and the human world from threats born of the Underworld, specifically one evil goddess with a bad attitude.

Book five, ENSLAVED, which released on November 6, 2012, is Gryphon’s book. Gryphon spent a little time being tortured in the Underworld so I’ve asked him to stop by today and give us a tour this very dark and special place. (FYI…He is not thrilled with this request. In fact, he’s downright defiant…so I’ve asked his heroine, Maelea, to help out.)

Elisabeth: “Welcome Maelea and Gryphon! Thanks for giving everyone a peek at the workings of the Underworld! Readers are fascinated with this mysterious realm.:

Maelea:“I’m not sure how much help I’ll be. After all, Hades hates me. I’ve never actually been to the Underworld myself.”

Gryphon(Crosses his arms over his chest in a huff.): “I’ve been there. Trust me, you aren’t missing anything, sotiria.”

Elisabeth (Fidgets nervously because she doesn’t like that look in Gryphon’s eyes.): “Er, that’s okay, Maelea. You’re only here for moral support. And Gryphon, I know you’re not thrilled with the idea of going back but—”

Gryphon: “You did torture me there.”

Elisabeth: “Well…technically it wasn’t me. It was Hades.”

Gryphon (Huffs and shoots a glare Elisabeth’s way.): “No, pretty sure it was you. That’s one thing I remember, vividly.”

Elisabeth (Fidgets even more and glances toward Maelea.): “How about we just get started. Maelea, why don’t you tell me what you know of your mother’s realm?”

Maelea (SqueezesGryphon’s hand for support.): “Well, from what my mother, Persephone, has told me, there are five major rivers, which intersect in the middle of the Underworld. It’s hot and dark, and—”

Gryphon: “No. Wrong. Sorry. Yes, there are five rivers, but it’s not always hot and dark. It depends where you’re at. Some places are as cold as the Arctic. Others make your skin blister from the blinding heat. And every soul’s torture is different. Imagine your greatest fear, multiply it by like a thousand and then imagine that fear torturing you until you finally succumb and die, then imagine waking up the next morning to be tortured in a new and equally frightening way. And then imagine that everywhere around you, you sense someone watching. Someone waiting. Someone planning your next excruciating torture scene.” (Glares at Elisabeth again.) “I’m convinced she’s blond and sits behind a keyboard all day.”

Elisabeth (Grips her pen tightly, just in case she needs to use it to defend herself.) “Um…How about the Fields of Asphodel? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Gryphon (Narrows his glare.): “You mean Purgatory? I wouldn’t know. I bypassed that and went right into torture-ville. Spiders, snakes, flames…you put me through everything. And lets not forget good ol’ Kronos.”

Maelea (SqueezesGryphon’s hand and glares at Elisabeth too.): “Oh yes. Kronos. In Sin City. In the depths of the Underworld. Where not even his son Hades could see what sick things he was up to. Now was sending Gryphon there really necessary?”

Elisabeth (Shoots a look toward the door.): “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Why don’t we talk about Olympus. We could do a tour about that.”

Maelea: “Tour my father Zeus’s realm? Oh lets. He hates me now too. This will be so much more fun.”

Elisabeth (Straightens her back at the challenge in Maelea’s eyes.): “I’m sensing some animosity here. I did give you both a happily ever after, you know.”

Gryphon: “After sufficiently putting us through hell—literally.”

Maelea: “This is true.”

Elisabeth: “Yes, but aren’t you glad I did that? I mean, you wouldn’t be together now if I hadn’t, and Atlanta… Well, I don’t want to give anything away but she wouldn’t be where she is either if you hadn’t gone through what you both did.”

Gryphon: “I’m sure you could have worked that part out.”

Elisabeth: “Maybe, but readers wouldn’t have been nearly as satisfied.”

Gryphon: “I don’t give a flying rat’s a—“

Maelea (Places a hand on Gryphon’s chest to calm him down.): “I think what we’re both saying is, you could have given us a happily ever after without all the other awful Underworld stuff.”

Elisabeth (Considers): “Perhaps, but then your book wouldn’t be everyone’s favorite story.”

Gryphon (Frowns): I don’t care about being anyone’s favorite.” (Glances at Maelea.) “Except yours, of course.”

Maelea(Face softens as she smiles his way.): “I do like being your favorite.”

Gryphon(Casts her a warm smile.) “You’re always my favorite.” (Refocuses on Elisabeth.): “You, however, are not. You do know you’re getting more sick and twisted with every book, don’t you? I’ve a mind to warn Titus. If what you put me through is any indication, he’s in for a shitstorm of trouble.”

Elisabeth (Smiles as she thinks about book 6 in the Eternal Guardians series, due out in March 2013.): “Oh, Titus…now that’s a whole new story.”

Maelea(Stands and pulls Gryphon from his chair.): “Let’s not get her started. I’d much rather you show me why I’m your favorite than hear about Titus’s current torture.”

Gryphon(Finally smiles as Maelea leads him out of the room.): “Sotiria, I can think of all kinds of ways to show you.”

Maelea:(Grins back at him with a wicked gleam in her eyes.) “I can’t wait.”

Elisabeth (Glances around the now-empty room and sighs.): “And they wonder why I torture them. Once the book is done everyone forgets about me!” (Shrugs) “Guess I’ll go torture Titus to entertain myself.”

ENSLAVED BY ELISABETH NAUGHTON – IN STORES NOVEMBER 2012

“Do not miss this series.”—New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione

GRYPHON—Honorable, loyal, dependable…tainted. He was the ultimate warrior before imprisonment in the Underworld changed him in ways he can't ignore.
She calls to him. Come to me. You can't resist. But Gryphon will not allow himself to be ruled by the insidious whispers in his head. And there's only one way to stop them: kill Atalanta, the goddess who enslaved him. But with so much darkness inside, he can't be sure what's real anymore. Even the Eternal Guardians, those who protect the human realms and the gods, want to exile him.

Finding Malea is like a miracle. Somehow he doesn't feel the pull of the dark when she's near. And he's determined to keep her as near as possible, whether she wants him close or not. But she's a temptation that will test every bit of control he has left. One that may ultimately have the power to send him back to the Underworld...or free him from his chains for good.

Praise for Elisabeth Naughton:

“Entertaining and smoldering.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review of Tempted

“Creative worldbuilding and ever-present danger pull the reader into this mesmerizing tale.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ star review of Enraptured

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A former junior high science teacher, Elisabeth Naughton traded in her red pen and test-tube set for a laptop and research books. She now writes sexy romantic adventure and paranormal novels full-time from Oregon, where she lives with her husband and three children. Her work has been nominated for numerous awards, including the RWA RITA© Award, the NJ RWA Golden Leaf, and the RWA Golden Heart. When not writing, Elisabeth can be found running, hanging out at the ball park, or dreaming up new and adventures. Visit her at www.elisabethnaughton.com and follow her on Twitter, @ElisNaughton.

~*GIVEAWAY*~

Sourcebooks is giving away one copy of Enslaved (US and Canada only please.) To enter, just leave a comment on this post: Which one of Elisabeth's Guardians is your favorite? I have to admit, I'm partial to Orpheus. But if you haven't read the Eternal Guardians yet, which mythological Greek hero would you like to read about? Then fill out the Rafflecopter below. Additional entries are available but not required. Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway