Author on Board: Flossie Benton Rogers Welcomes Jennifer Davies

Please welcome the fabulous Jennifer Davies! I’m excited to find out about her working life as a writer and her new book in the Children of Annwn series, The Battle. Make sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for a chance to win Jen’s new book!

Thanks Flossie for letting me appear on your blog today —  Xxx

A little bit about me…
Jennifer Owen-Davies is the author of the Children of Annwn YA romantic fantasy series. She loves creating stories that touch your heart and take you away to a magical world that leaves you craving more. Jennifer also writes adult paranormal/sensual romance and hopes to publish further stories later in 2015. When she isn’t writing, she loves to read and her tastes include Nora Roberts, Catherine Cookson, Jane Austen, Jodi Picoult, Deborah Harkness, Cassandra Clare, Suzanne Collins, P.D. James, Patricia Cornwell, Pittacus Lore, Diane Gabaldon and many more. In her spare time, she enjoys managing a local writers group and maintains an Alzheimer’s Support group on Facebook, a cause close to her heart. She also loves discovering old treasures at yard sales and revamping them, watching Grey’s Anatomy, Revenge and Vampire Diaries, walking on the beach, cooking, and when there’s time the gym.

Jennifer Davies has been married for nineteen years to her greatest supporter, and is mother to four fiercely independent boys. Life is busy. Jennifer and her husband are originally from Cardiff in Wales, but they now live on the East Coast of America in North Andover with her family and two cats. She is always striving to improve her work and delight her readers. Jennifer fell in love with New England, and among the pages of the books are references to both local beauty spots and historic sites from the area and from back in the UK that have captured her imagination. Jennifer loves to hear from readers.
She also has a penchant for anything Cadburys and adores French Pinot Noir…
Facebook Author Page 
Website 

Blurb:
Mia’s stuck in the human realm, and her magic has gone AWOL. Her sworn enemy Greyson swoops in and kidnaps the powerless Mia, ensnaring her in his spider’s web with an offer to restore her magic. Oblivious to the risks, Mia accepts, what will be her destiny?
Ryder visits London with his friends, and Fusion enters the Battle of the Bands competition, believing the location of a portal to be nearby, but he’s bewitched by a beautiful siren. In a blood-thirsty battle for control, Ryder breaks all the rules bringing out the ancient blades and calls upon the Alltud, an arcane group, but will they help?
A battle commences to control not only Mia but the Gilgamesh, an omnipotent magical power in her possession. Ryder has agreed to end her life if she fails but will he be able to sacrifice the love of his life?
It’s time to put the greatest power of all to the test!

Excerpt:
Snowflakes floated down like tiny cotton balls from the sky, and Mia opened her mouth wide, sticking her tongue out to catch one. The icy crystal tingled, and Mia giggled as it melted on the warm cushion of her mouth. Exhaling, small white clouds escaped, hovering in the freezing air. Snow covered her jacket until she removed her hands from the pockets, dislodging the thin layer. Shivering, Mia rubbed her hands together, but couldn’t muster the tiniest spark of heat to warm her ice-cold limbs. The exquisite silver filigree ring on her left hand that was embedded with tiny diamonds sparkled up at her, and she smiled. Ryder’s ring sat snuggly on her hand. Smiling, she stared at the delicate and handcrafted ring, but a gust of frigid air drew her attention and any warmth away.

Mia stared across the distance at the magnificent expanse of Appalachian Mountains barely visible through the wild misty snow and howling wind. She should be inside where the heat was ramped up so high it was like a sauna, but Mia needed the energy and chaos of the storm to recharge her magic. Arctic air nipped at her cheeks, letting her know that magic was out there. Focusing on the swirling mass of wind and snow, she stretched her hands out to harness its strength, but like a dead battery that wouldn’t charge, nothing happened.

A coiling fear twisted in her gut as the bitter cold sharpened her senses and she braced herself, ready. Time froze as if taking a deep breath, and she stared at the powerful storm, listening for him. Goose bumps rippled along her arms as a footstep landed behind her, and Mia spun around with her fists raised in the air ready to fight her demon. She stared at broad shoulders encased in a gray parka covered with a dousing of fresh snow, straggly dark hair and intense chestnut eyes that narrowed at hers. His mouth twitched into a smile and he stood still.

“Hey, it’s me,” Ryder complained, raising his hands in surrender and frowning before he pulled her into a strong embrace. Brushing her long hair back over her shoulders, he rubbed her cold nose with his before dropping a gentle kiss on her tightly closed lips. Her stiff shoulders softened. Mia masked her fears but as soon as Ryder touched her and met her gaze, he sensed them. He stepped back, taking his heat with him as he gripped her arms firmly. “You think he’s here, don’t you?”

She nodded, too afraid to say the words in case Greyson slunk out from the shadows in front of them. Instead, she snuggled closer into Ryder’s firm body as if his strength would obliterate her terror. Sliding her arms around his waist, she clung to him, and he hugged her back in a possessive hold. Mia rested the side of her face against his dove gray shirt, listening to his heart stampeding inside his ribs. In his arms, she was warm and safe. He smelled delicious, fresh with a hint of vanilla and musk, and for a moment she let go of the nightmares, knowing she was protected in Ryder’s embrace. He pulled his coat further around her as she trembled, shielding her from the world.

“Mia, please tell me we are not back on that precipice with Greyson? He cannot take what isn’t his. Don’t you believe in the power of our love? You’re wearing my ring on your finger, and yet the idea of surrendering yourself lingers. I can see it. I love you Mia, and I forbid it, do you hear me?”

Tears bubbled and fell down Mia’s cheeks as she twisted the beautiful silver Celtic knot ring he’d put on her finger earlier. It was a simple wide band with twists and knots, which flared out in the center to form a large filigree heart studded with tiny diamonds. She loved it. Ryder had given it to her saying that the heart was his, and it now belonged to her. Ryder removed his arms from around her back to hold her shoulders, creating a distance between them, and instantly the cold invaded. He lowered his head, searching her eyes, pleading for an answer, gazing intently for a response. Mia stared at his breathtaking beauty, unable to believe he was hers.
“I will never leave you. I will always be right here,” she said, stabbing her finger in his chest where his heart beat.

Last September, I had my first YA romantic fantasy Children of Annwn:The Promise published with Secret Cravings Publishers. In April 2015, the second book in the series The Battle was released, wow!

This has been a crazy time, writing every day or as near as possible not always hitting my target or achieving the goals. Some get pushed over to the next day but my agenda gets busier and busier as I fill it will lists of things I need to do.
• My blog posts and other blog posts for marketing and promoting.
• Contacting the media to promote books and local signing.
• Contacting the libraries to arrange for my books to be added to their collection.
• Contacting book stores to organize book signings.
• Writing posts on Twitter and Facebook.
• Strategizing how to increase my followers.

Learning how to manage my time has and is a work in progress because I’m a dreamer and get easily distracted.
I do however have a plan to make things easier and it requires the help of a college student willing to gain invaluable experience in marketing and promoting something to add to their resume when looking for a job! My search has begun and a job description is being drafted ready to blitz out to various agencies in the hope of getting my assistant!

Since the book release, I have attended one book signing locally in the middle of a freaking snow storm but it was wonderful and a huge learning curve for me for the next one which is on 16th May in Wales. In March, I attended two book club groups to review my book and I have one arranged for June. It is great to meet with people who have read the book and are so caught up with the story that they were overflowing with questions. It was also another great lesson for me in what other perceive and questions that need to be answered or looked at for the further books.
In April, I appeared on the local cable channel chatting about my journey as a writer and what has inspired me which was scary and yet once I settled and relaxed great fun. 

Life is busy, but fun, daunting, backbreaking and sometimes I need more hours in the day. However, I wouldn’t change anything because I love what I do. Writing stories that others love is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

To celebrate Mother’s Day I will give away one e-book copy of The Battle. All you have to do is post a comment on my author FACEBOOK PAGE and the winner will be chosen at random. Cheers and happy Mother’s Day from Jen. xxx