Please welcome to my blog Nadja Losbohm, author of the paranormal and urban fantasy novel, The Huntress.
Book
blurb
Ada
Pearce is an average young woman. She is 5’4” tall, overweight,
and doesn’t play sports of any kind. Shortly after her 21st
birthday a mysterious priest informs her of her destiny as a
huntress. Ada doesn’t believe that story at first, but when she
finds out that creatures of the night threaten the human population,
she accepts her destiny, gives up her former life, and moves into the
secret rooms of St. Mary’s Church, which had been built hundreds of
years ago, and begins her training.
In flashbacks, the protagonist herself tells her story, beginning with her first meeting with the enigmatic and unapproachable priest, through her first year of training and her secret life, to the problems she encounters on her first hunt, and the issues which crop up when a priest and a woman live together…
The Huntress – The Beginnings: a charming mixture of science-fiction, fantasy romance and humor.
In flashbacks, the protagonist herself tells her story, beginning with her first meeting with the enigmatic and unapproachable priest, through her first year of training and her secret life, to the problems she encounters on her first hunt, and the issues which crop up when a priest and a woman live together…
The Huntress – The Beginnings: a charming mixture of science-fiction, fantasy romance and humor.
Book
excerpt
I
ran down the street. The glow of dawn was slowly breaking above the
rooftops. There was a wonderful play of colors that started off with
yellow before it turned into pink and purple then finally blended
with the remnants of the nocturnal blue. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! I
ran like mad through the backyards and felt something running down my
arm. I immediately knew it was blood. My blood.
That
damn beast must have had a go at me with its claws. That’s another
scar. Great! I already had a notable assortment of those. Almost
every type of monster had left a mark on me, except the vampires, and
I really had no intention of getting too close to those.
Racing
through town, I felt like I was running in place. The church wasn’t
yet within sight. “Please, please, please!” I begged and looked
over my shoulder. Panic overcame me after I realized that the monster
had caught up with me and was getting ever closer. Shit! Why was I so
slow today? I ran through an empty intersection. The traffic lights
were on orange, like every night after a certain hour. I turned
around the corner at the Chinese restaurant where red paper lanterns
hung down golden tassels and colorful plastic flowers sat on the
windowsills. I zigzagged hoping to shake the monster off, but it was
no use. It was still on my tail. Desperate, I whispered Father
Michael’s name and tried to imagine what he’d say to spur me on
and make me run faster. But then I saw the church tower. The cross on
top looked down at me. Thank God!
I
gathered every bit of strength I had and raced down the alley towards
the church. I ran, winding my way around the trees. I heard the
monster panting behind me. I couldn’t see it, but it sounded like
it just dashed through beds of flowers. In the corner of my eye, I
saw rose bushes and soil flying about. People would probably think
that a bunch of drunkards were on a rampage again. Then I saw Father
Michael. He was standing on the stairs in front of the church door.
His dark silhouette paced restlessly back and forth. The lanterns’
yellow light cast a black shadow on the walls of the church.
I
was so glad to see him I started crying. That’s
not a good idea,
Ada!
The tears obscured my vision. I blinked a few times, but the tears in
my eyes just wouldn’t stop coming. I called Father Michael’s name
and saw how he turned abruptly. His cassock fluttered. How long had
he been waiting there for me?
I
couldn’t wait to reach him and be inside the safe haven of the
church walls. My feet weren’t quick enough and I stumbled. I
tripped over the curb. I thrashed around with my arms before I fell
down flat on my face. I felt my hands and knees scraping the asphalt
as I heard Father Michael shouting. I struggled back up on my feet
and looked at the church. The Father came running towards me across
the square. “Where’s the sword?” he shouted.
I
automatically reached to my side but there was nothing. Damn! I must
have dropped it as I fell. I looked around and saw it a few meters
away. Just as I wanted to run and get it, the Father pushed me aside
and grabbed it. I watched the scene with big, wide eyes. My heart
almost stopped when I saw the monster getting ready to jump. The
Father stood there calmly. He looked like a statue holding a sword
and waiting for the right moment to use it. The monster took off and
pounced at him. One of the two screamed but I couldn’t tell who.
The only thing I could clearly discern was the Father standing right
under the monster, which was hovering over him. Father Michael’s
arm swung up before the sword slashed the monster’s belly open. The
Father turned and whirled around before he finally settled on his
knees behind the dead monster.
Mesmerized,
I glared at him. I had never seen anyone move like that. He was as
gracious and supple as a dancer, yet as precise and relentless as a
machine that had only one purpose: to kill.
I
couldn’t take my eyes off him as I walked towards him. He took my
breath away. He looked like a knight on his knees before his king,
offering his sword in allegiance.
“That
was … incredible!” I murmured, looking back and forth at him and
then the dead monster.
Father
Michael raised his head and looked at me, but didn’t really see me.
His eyes were distant, almost veiled. He seemed to be in some kind of
trance. He blinked before the veil fell off.
"Yeah,
really incredible!” he repeated sarcastically. He got up. “What
the hell was the matter with you?” he said, snapping at me. He came
towards me and stood right in front of my face. He was so furious, he
panted and breathed quickly. I felt every breath of his on my skin.
He
scared me and I started to stutter. When he started swearing, I knew
he was really, really mad.
“You’re
hurt,” he interrupted as his tone suddenly mellowed. He grabbed my
arm roughly to check the injury. Feeling the pain, I took a strong,
deep breath.
“I’m
sorry,” he said gently, his eyes softening. “You go on ahead.
I’ll be right with you and see to your wounds. I just need to take
care of this here,” he said, pointing at the dead monster.
Buy it here
Brief
bio
Nadja
Losbohm was born on December 14th, 1982 and lives in Berlin, Germany.
Her first fantasy novel "Alaspis - The Search For Eternity"
(German edition available only) was published in 2012. Since then she
has published the popular series of fantasy romance books "The
Huntress". In German there are parts 1-5 available (ebook and
paperback). "The Huntress - The Beginnings" is the first
part of the series and the first English book Nadja Losbohm has
published.
Interview:
1.
I love urban fantasy and I am curious what books and authors
influenced you growing up. What made you decide to be a writer?
I’ve
loved fairy tales and fantasy books since I was a child. I grew up
with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales and “A Neverending Story” by
Michael Ende. I think this is why I also like to write in this genre.
It’s just great to become a part of a fictitious world and to
escape from everyday reality. But it was Karen Marie Moning who
really influenced my writing style. I love her “Fever”-series.
Her way of writing and telling the story is brilliant; I had so much
fun reading these books.
When
I was 19 years old, I found out about the works of an artist, who’s
also an actor, but he does so many different things: painting,
photography, music, writing. That really impressed me. I always liked
to draw and paint, but his many-sidedness made me want to try
something new. That’s when I decided to write my first fantasy
story.
2.
How hard has it been to get into the English market? Tell us about
your efforts and what you are doing to try and make your book a
success here.
It
is pretty hard to get into the English market. I don’t say I’ve
made it yet. I’ve been given only a handful of chances and
opportunities, but I cherish them all very much! The first thing I
did was trying to get into contact with English speaking book
bloggers, but I never got any replies. So, if there’s anybody who’d
like to read and review my book or would like to do an interview –
just let me know.
Facebook
was a great help. I found the Fantasy Sci-Fi-Network there. Members
of the FSFNet are international authors coming from different
countries. They were so welcoming and friendly to me. They offered me
to do interviews with me and help me to promote my books. They are a
great bunch of people! I also did a giveaway, where you could
download my ebook “The Huntress” for free or I lowered the price.
I regularly post on Facebook and Twitter. I also try to write more
English short stories to find new readers, who can read these online
for free.
3.
Did you always plan on self publishing or did you try and find an
agent or publisher first.
No,
I did not plan on self-publishing at first. Like many other authors,
my dream was to find a huge publishing company, but after I sent my
book to several publishers I had to face up to reality. I didn’t
get replies or received refusals. But I thought it would be a pity
not to share the story with others. So, I started self-publishing it
and I’m glad I did.
4.
What have you learned as an Indie author that you wished you knew
when you first started out?
I
wished someone would have told me the truth about how many authors
are out there.
I had no idea. I wished someone would have told me how hard it can be
to wait and how much work it is to be an indie author, but I love
what I do, so I don’t give up.
5.
What are you currently working on now and do you have plans to have
any of your other books translated to English?
At
the moment, I’m working on my first German children’s book with
short stories and poems about values, which are important to me, such
as tolerance, help, respect and hope. I’m also working on a new
series of books with one of the characters from “The Huntress”. I
do have plans to translate one of my books. It’s the second part of
“The Huntress”. And together with a fellow author, Leisl Kaberry,
I could already translate a poem. Hopefully more is going to come.
There’re lots of plans and ideas.
6.
What can you say to those reading this today that might convince them
to give your book a try?
If you’re looking
for a unique story, if you like strong female characters, who never
give up, “The Huntress” is your book. It is funny, exciting and
romantic. It has elements of fantasy, science fiction, mystery,
paranormal, humor and love.
It
is a quite personal story and written with much blood, sweat and
tears. “The Huntress” is a matter dear to my heart or I wouldn’t
have fought for her to get translated, which took almost two years. I
had so much fun writing this story. I know there’s some kind of
uncertainty about translated books and maybe “The Huntress” is
not perfect. But please give her a try. It’s worth it.
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