Guest Blogger — Rie McGaha

Author Rie McGaha

Today’s Guest is Rie McGaha, who writes paranormal novels, in addition to other genres.

Check out her books here:

Noble Romance Publishing

Rie On Writing….

I am often asked when I first knew I wanted to be a writer and I always have the same answer. Writing is not what I do; it’s who I am. I have been writing since I could make letters. I wrote fairy tales when I was young, morose poetry and lyrics as a teen, and as a young mother, I wrote bedtime stories for my kids. It wasn’t until all but two had moved out that I began to write for publication. I had always wanted to, but with twelve kids and the onset of grandkids, I never had time before that.

I can tell you there is nothing like the thrill of that first acceptance letter, or email, saying the manuscript is going to be published. It’s better than eating the best chocolate, or having the best sex of your life, or winning the lottery—seriously! Not only did my first contract make me feel validated as a writer, but also gave me the courage to continue submitting other stories. To date I have about a dozen or so published works with several more coming out this year.

Newest Book

My most recent release, Ancient Blood, (Noble Romance Publishing, May 31, 2010), is a sequel I didn’t plan to write. I think that’s the cool thing about stories, they tend to take on a life of their own and the characters come to life and want their own stories. Ancient Blood came about because Blood Line, the original book in this series, had a secondary character named Ganda, who took on a life of her own and demanded her story be told.

Ancient Blood tells Ganda’s story, as it should since she is the only one of her kind. Her mother, a witch from the World Beyond cast the spell that changed her father, a sleek, black wolf, into a mortal man. When the elders found out, they tried to convince Ariel to reverse the spell, but when she refused them, they cursed both her and her beloved Ocala. On each full moon Ocala would change. He would be held in limbo somewhere between his human and wolf state, ruled by his instincts and natural lust for blood, and any child that may happen between them would also bear the curse. Ganda is the fruit of their marriage.

Ganda is a passionate, faithful, loyal, strong woman. When she met her human husband, Colin, it was love at first sight and after they wed, he asked to become what she is, and she brought him over. For thousands of years the two lovers roamed the earth but when they found Egypt torn by war, they wanted to help heal the land. Unfortunately, the ensuing battle cost them both more than they could have imagined, and it’s a decision Ganda would live with for the next three thousand years.

I always thought how strange life can be and how one little decision to do, or not to do, one little thing can change the course of a person’s lifetime. I’ve been in that position myself. A decision I made at one time changed not only my entire life but the ripple effect changed the lives of those I loved most. However, once a decision is made and carried out, the deed cannot be undone and the best anyone can do is live with the fallout. In my case it wasn’t three thousand years, thankfully, though it was ten years, it felt like thousands.

I like writing paranormal, shape shifter stories because I can use real situations for my characters, but I can also give them ways to overcome that I don’t have. Learning to overcome and being able to live with past mistakes is a huge step in coming to terms with who you are and who you want to be in the future. And when you get to be my age, you have to be able to live in your own skin, or life is no longer worth living.

Ancient Blood by Rie McGaha
(G excerpt)

Excerpt from Ancient Blood by Rie McGaha

Rie McGaha’s website

Ancient Egypt 1997 BC
The entire country had been decimated by a civil war that had raged for the past hundred years. The land had once been green with fertile valleys watered by the great river. Crops had grown and the people had been happy. Once filled with gold, silver, and jewels, the king’s treasury now lay nearly empty. The fertile valleys lay barren and the great river choked with debris, and there seemed to be no way to win a war that continued day after endless day, the people screamed for peace, for relief, and for rescue, but were met by silence.

King Mentuhotep IV inherited the debacle from his predecessor and had been largely unsuccessful in his attempts to quell the rampage. His friend and advisor, Amenemhat I, had stood by his side for the past twenty years, helped him, and prayed to the god, Amun, for intervention on Mentuhotep’s behalf. The King valued Amenemhat’s opinions and was thankful to his friend for all his help. Mentuhotep hadn’t the slightest idea that Amenemhat also prayed Amun would make him successor to the king. Amenemhat was not of royal blood, would normally never be able to succeed the throne, a position reserved for an eldest son, but he would never let a little thing like rank and order stand in the way of becoming the next ruler of Egypt.

The dais resided in Memphis, the last stronghold of the war that raged throughout the country. Little was left, the gods knew. Nearly everything that could be used to fund the king’s campaign had been sold or melted down as weapons. Egypt had little left worth fighting for and Mentuhotep knew it wouldn’t be much longer before the factions were fighting at his gate. He also knew he had precious little left to fight with, little ability to keep the gates from being destroyed and with them, the last shreds of his dynasty, his kingdom, and his life. A desperate man in the middle of desperate times, he would turn away no idea, no suggestion. If anyone presented an idea with the possibility of turning the tides of war, he would willingly accept them. So when Amenemhat excused himself to travel to Thebes to pray before his god, Amun, on behalf of Egypt, on behalf of its one true ruler, Mentuhotep wearily nodded his consent.

Amenemhat traveled under the cover of darkness, knowing the danger he would face if recognized, and knew it would surely end his life. The people would welcome no consort of the crown. They were hungry, their children were dying, and they had little will left to help themselves, but they would have no problem killing the right-hand man of the dynasty they blamed for their deplorable lives.

After traveling most of the night, he reached Thebes by early morning light. Exhausted as he entered the temple to pray and be fortified, he stood before the altar of Amun, and Amenemhat felt a shiver run over his flesh and knew he was not alone. Slipping the knife from his waistband, he held it hidden in the folds of his robes. He turned slowly, and then involuntarily sucked a breath into his lungs at the sight he beheld.

The woman was ethereal in her beauty. Dark, thick hair fell to her knees in glorious, shining waves. With eyes as black as night, she peered at him from beneath heavy lashes. The faintest blush against alabaster skin highlighted her cheeks. Red and full, her perfect mouth nearly curved into a smile, but not quite. Her gown appeared to shine like silver, held beneath her firm, full breasts with a girdle of braided gold. The long sleeves fell like bells past her wrists, covering her hands as they lay loosely at her sides. Standing with bare feet, she observed him as if he was the intruder. The knife in his hand clattered on the marble floor.

Thank you for joining us here today, Rie, and we’re looking forward to reading your books.