Meet the 2015 Golden Heart Paranormal Romance Finalists: Dragonflies that Go Bump in the Night

Shifters. Witches. Fallen angels. Demon hunters. Vampires. We love them all.

Not matter which thing that goes bump in the night is the subject of a paranormal romance, it is sure to not only get your heart racing, but also your blood boiling.  It is my pleasure to introduce the RWA® 2015 Golden Heart® finalists in paranormal romance:


"The Magical Librarian of Tulsa, Oklahoma" by Nancy Coiner

In a world where experts in magical security work out of strip-malls and vampires get woken up by unwise tourists on Twilight tours through Romania, Tulsa’s prestigious College of Magic has a problem. Five talented students from Kate Lafon’s senior seminar have hacked through the spells that lock the Rare Book Room and released several magical animals from a famous medieval bestiary. At the end of a chaotic night, one of those creatures is missing. And Kate, as the Senior Curator, is going to be held responsible. 

So begins Kate’s search for the Great Serpent of Greece. She’s helped by Merle Horvath, an academic hotshot with a specialty in magical creatures, who has a lurking smile and a late-night-radio voice that make Kate’s toes curl. All seems headed for a quick happy ending until a student goes missing and Kate discovers the hard way that contact with the Serpent causes people to change sex. So, sporting a stronger jaw-line, shorter hair, and rearranged private parts, Kate sets off with Merle and a group of academic misfits on a road-trip across the country, aiming to recapture the Serpent from a disgruntled magician fired by the College and a black-market collector of magical creatures. The search takes them all the way to Las Vegas and the newest casino in town, Prospero’s Island. There the Serpent is only one of many unusual exhibits and acts. . . .

Nancy grew up where she’s set the opening of her book—in Tulsa—and growing up there meant growing up safe and loved but also restless. So as soon as she could, she set out on academic adventures. After she earned a BA on the east coast, a master’s in England, and a doctorate from Stanford, she taught at the college level for many years. Now she teaches literature to troubled, smart, creative, wonderful kids at a high school in Massachusetts. Nancy lives with her husband among the trees. And on the weekends, she writes.

She is seeking representation.


"Demons Don’t" by Jeanne Oates Estridge

After the demon Belial enrages Satan by beating him in a poker game, Belial must think quickly to avoid spending the next century up to his eyes in maggots. He convinces God and Satan to revisit their ancient wager over free will and to let him represent Evil. If Belial wins, he’ll be promoted to Chief Operating Demon. If he loses, the maggot pit will be the least of his worries. He has just seven weeks to seduce and corrupt his target.

God chooses Dara Strong, a nurse, as his champion. Dara has demon-fighting in her genes, so when Belial walks into her free clinic, disguised as a doctor offering to volunteer, Dara feeds his application into a shredder and orders him out. Thus begins a battle between two cosmically well-matched opponents. As conflict breeds passion and passion transforms into love, the couple face two seemingly insurmountable obstacles: how can they prevail over the Lord of the Underworld, who is determined to win at any cost? And how do they ransom the soul of a fallen angel from an unforgiving God?

Jeanne is currently seeking representation.

Websites: The Raisin Chronicles - http://raisinchronicles.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeanneEstridgeFanPage?ref=aymt_homepage_panel


"Howlin Hearts" by Kristal Hollis

Raised by an alcoholic mother, Cassie Albright craves stability. When Brice Walker, the sexy grandson of the elderly woman with whom Cassie now lives reveals to her that  he is a werewolf and she is his one, true mate, Cassie’s world careens out of control and she fights the fiery passion that flames between them. But, Brice’s patience and constant presence calms her insecurities. Until, she witnesses the savagery of wolfan justice. Horrified, Cassie must learn to accept man and beast, or reject the bond that brought them together and forever destroy the only true love they will ever know.

Kristal is curious by nature and firmly believe that life happens off the beaten path. When not exploring the world around her, she is furiously penning romantic tales about feisty, independent heroines, and sexy, stubborn Alpha heroes. Whether it’s a fantasy, futuristic, or paranormal world, these couples will learn they must let go their past and use both hands to grab onto their futures if they want to claim their happily-ever-after. Because although Fate provides opportunity, choices determine destinies.

Kristal is seeking representation.

Website:  www.kristalhollis.com
Twitter: @KristalHollis
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorkristalhollis


"Better Dead" by Pamela Kopfler


Holly Davis believes her cheatin’ husband deserves to choke on his divorce papers and spend eternity roasting in hell after nearly bankrupting her Louisiana bed and breakfast. At least, she’s half-right when he turns up dead, but she’s dead wrong when she accidentally calls him back from the grave. Unless she wants to be stuck with her ghostly ex forever, she has until Halloween to wedge him through the pearly gates by cleaning up the mess he left behind—a smuggling ring he started behind her back at her B&B. Thirty days isn’t much time and only one man can help. But it’s gonna cost her. Jake McCann is back in town after he left with a hunk of her heart years ago. After her disastrous marriage, another blow could be fatal, but she'll worry about her heart later. First, she has to stay out of jail, while she gets her ex into paradise.

Pamela Kopfler was born a Texan and tumbled through twelve schools all over the USA before she finished high school, but she's a Southerner - through and through. Now, she calls South Louisiana her home and writing her passion. Her evolution to the writing life took the scenic route, just like her early romp through the country. She's a certified teacher but traded in that profession for writing, hosting, and reporting for local TV and telling stories on local Public Radio. Then the unthinkable happened. Her prince finally arrived but with a catch. Love always has a catch. She had to relocate and leave her career behind. The writing and the romance survived the move. Now, she's determined to conquer the novel. In addition to her Golden Heart finals, she's won or placed in thirty-two contests, including the overall Daphne du Maurier, Sandy Star, Emily, and Dixie Kane. Pamela is the program director of her local RWA chapter (SOLA) and loves to meet and help other writers.

Pamela is a finalist in the paranormal category of the 2015 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® contest. She is seeking representation and can be reached through her website, pamelakopfler.com, or Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/pamela.kopfler.


"Magic City" by Heather Leonard

Most people believe Birmingham, Alabama is called the Magic City because it sprang up overnight, like magic. A select few know the city’s secret. It sprang up overnight because of magic. In Magic City, closeted witch (although she prefers to be called an "elemental engineer" or "skilled in chance reduction technology" due to the historical baggage associated with the "w" word) Hazel Matthews confronts how her secret is intertwined with the Magic City’s in order to find the inconsiderate so-and-so who not only killed her former fiancé (who truth be told, probably needed killing), but also infected her with a fatal effluvium curse. Hazel must face creatures the Grimm brothers couldn’t explain, the persistent carnal interest of her former fiancé’s brother, an insatiable Leanan Sidhe and the overprotective tendencies of a perpetually drunk Brownie to find a way around the curse or die within four days.  

Throughout its history, Birmingham has always been a city of dueling worlds. Race. Class. Old South. New South. Industry. Gentility. Magic City uses the lessons from Birmingham’s tumultuous past as a backdrop to contrast the worlds of the Natura (humans) and Diaspora (remnants of the supernatural beings who have turned Birmingham into magical Casablanca).
Magic City puts a Southern twist on the themes of La Belle Dame Sans Merci by John Keats. 

Heather Leonard, a labor and employment lawyer/mediator by day, writes paranormal romance and romantic suspense in her ever so sparse free time. If she were a super-hero (and she wants to be - capes are sooo in this year), her superpowers would be the ability to find the best bottle of cheap champagne and answer all questions relating to Star Wars trivia. Her weaknesses would be the inability to resist good champagne and Star Wars trivia challenges. She also likes to talk about herself in the third person, as this bio indicates.

Heather is seeking representation.

You can find her on this blog (www.MagicCityWriting.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HNLeonardAuthor?fref=ts), and Twitter (@HNLeonard - https://twitter.com/HNLeonard)


"Mapping Fate" by Kimberly MacCarron


Her newly-nominated book MAPPING FATE is a New Adult mashup of magic and murder/mystery. When local girls are found dead in front of broken mirrors, Moira Cassidy teams up with the hot admissions officer at the local college to solve the murders, as rumors spread that Bloody Mary is back, seeking revenge against the town where she was killed 100 years ago.

Kimberly graduated with majors in Writing and Communications with minors in English and Public Relations. She worked as a speech writer, an assistant editor for a magazine, and a public relations specialist. It wasn’t until after she was married with children that she decided to pursue her dream of writing her own books.

She lives outside Washington, D.C. with her husband, five kids (ages 9-14), a demanding cat and one neglected garden. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found volunteering at school, chauffeuring kids to soccer, and covertly listening to her teenage daughters talk to their friends. In the name of research, of course.

Kimberly is a member of RWA, WRW, YARWA and The Golden Network. She is represented by Michelle Grajkowski at 3 Seas Literary Agency.


"Undercover Enchanter" by Melanie McCarthy

With over a decade of professional writing experience, Melanie is the writer of eight fiction manuscripts, including four fantasy romances, three contemporary romances and one children's fantasy. Her manuscripts have seen success in various RWA-sponsored contests including First Place in the Sweet Spicy Spooky Contest, Unsinkable Heroine Award in the Molly, Third Place in the Southern Heat Contest, Third Place in the STAR Contest and two semi-finalist showings in the Molly Contest. She was also a finalist in the FRW Golden Palm, the Cleveland Rocks Romance and the RWA Emily competitions.

Melanie is represented by Marisa Cleveland of The Seymour Agency.


"Coyote Walks" by Maria Powers

Prudence Porter, born a witch, is blood bonded to be the next family keeper of the Gabriel Hell Gate. But when her mother's death is foretold, Prudence will do anything to save her mother's life, even if it puts the entire human realm in jeopardy. Of course, the sexy coyote messenger who walks through her door may just have the power to change  everything.

Alex Driscoll, a shape shifting coyote from the Messenger clans, is determined to finish one last assignment in Gehenna and then he’s leaving to find his brother. Trouble is this assignment bonds him to Prudence and now he must face the Prince of Hell or risk losing Prudence forever. Only how can he ever be sure that she loves him when it was magic that brought them together. A shape shifting coyote and a born witch brought together by magic and betrayal must find the courage to trust each other and their love or risk plunging the world into a new dark age ruled by demons and fallen angels.

Maria Powers grew up in Southern California. She graduated with a degree in English and
promptly entered the Business world. By day she works in Affordable Housing wrangling
contracts and agreements with several government agencies, and by night she writes kickass
heroines and tough heroes with sensitive hearts ready to be tamed by the girl next door or beaten
into submission by the witch on the corner, whatever works. Maria’s current work in progress is
a Paranormal Romance series set in the San Gabriel Valley. The first book in the series, Coyote
Walks, is a finalist in this year’s Golden Heart® contest. She’s a member of the Romance
Writers of America® and is a member of three of the four local chapters, Los Angeles Romance
Authors, Orange County Chapter – RWA, and East Valley Authors.

Maria is currently unagented and seeking representation. She’s on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/MariaPowersWriter?ref=hl and on Twitter @MariaPowers1. You can  find her at www.mariapowers.com.


"Stone Hunter" by Tara Sheets


Two-time Golden Heart® finalist, Tara Sheets, is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Romance Writers of America, and a graduate of the University of Washington’s Popular Fiction Writing Program.  She is a PNWA Literary Contest judge and has also served as a coordinator, moderator, and category chairperson for the annual PNWA Writers’ Conference.  Tara spent most of her childhood as an American abroad, growing up in different countries.  Always a voracious reader, she learned from a very early age that books have the power to take you anywhere you want to go, no matter where you are. In college Tara studied English Literature, Psychology, Philosophy, and Journalism.  She received a B.A. in Communications from California State University of Sacramento and worked as an editing intern at a public relations firm.  Shortly after graduating, she moved to the Pacific Northwest, where she discovered lots and lots of rain.  It took her ten years to decide to stay.  Now she has a book-loving family, a furry mop of a dog named Merlin, and one of Tolkien’s ents in her backyard.  She wouldn’t dream of living anywhere else.