Invocation
Aileen Erin
(Days of Iron and Clay, #1)
Publication date: March 19th 2024
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
From USA Today Bestselling Author Aileen Erin comes an all-new action-packed, romance-filled paranormal series.
There are three things I know without question.
One: demons are real.
Two: humans make awful mistakes that get them in demonic trouble more often than you’d think.
And three: I’m the only one who can help them.
I straddle the line between the mortal and spiritual realms every day. People might think they’re two different places, but they’re not. They lay on top of each other. It’s messy, and that’s why so many people need my help. Since I was little, I’ve been called all kinds of names—unusual, abnormal, even insane. Which is fitting, since they keep throwing me in to mental facilities. I’ve been in and out of them my entire life.
But no matter what people say, no matter what I’m risking, I will always help those in need.
Because there’s an endless war carrying on all around us, every minute of every day. One that can’t be seen by mortal eyes. But I can see it, the spiritual battle for mortal souls, and I’m working hard to make sure my father is on the losing side. He — Astaroth, Satan’s general— is why I can do this. He’s why I’m not normal. I can’t have friends, a life, or a boyfriend. I won’t be selfish enough to drag someone into this fight. But I’m not lonely. Not exactly. I have my mom. She’s my rock, my best friend, my partner. She helps me do what needs to be done, and she’s never afraid when it feels like I’m always afraid.
Because I hear my father whispering my name each night, his taunts echoing through the spiritual realm. He’s hunting me, and I know the day will come when I must face him again.
Every portal I open could be the one that finally pulls me back to Hell, and I wonder if I will brave enough, strong enough, good enough to fight him.
My name is Samantha Catherine Lopez, and I am Nephilim. This is my story.
**Fans of the Alpha Girls series will love this new series set in the same world, with a few familiar faces, but you DO NOT have to have read a single word of the Alpha Girls series to enjoy Samantha’s story.
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Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
INVOCATION is the first in a spin-off of my USA Today bestselling Alpha Girls series. Samantha Lopez—first seen in Being Alpha, and then again in Alpha Erased—is the focus of the series. She’s a girl who can see and interact with the spiritual realm. She’s known to be the resident demonologist for the local wolf pack, her found family from Alpha Girls. INVOCATION is spooky and action-packed, with a slow-burn romance. You can also catch an early Samantha story in the short story anthology, Two More Days, put together by Colleen Hoover.
Do you have a favorite character?
Usually, my favorite character is the one that I’m writing. I really do love Samantha. But I think my favorite character that I’ve written is Amihanna from the Aunare Chronicles.
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
No. I had too many friends burned by the process. So, after graduating with my MFA, I decided to go the indie route!
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?
I decided to go indie when I graduated with my MFA. I saw a huge opportunity for growth in 2012-2013, and I liked the idea of having more control over my career. I liked being able to decide when I wanted to publish something and what I wanted to publish. I also loved the idea of picking my own covers and handling everything myself. I’d had too many traditionally published friends with horror stories. Traditional was a bit of a last resort for me.
I decided to form my own small publishing company with another author. Together, we made a business plan + a marketing plan. With that, we were able to land a distribution deal, and that has made all the difference in my indie career.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I like to listen to music, but nothing with too many lyrics. Mostly, electronic, ambient, or modern classical. I like a quiet, comfy spot, noise-cancelling headphones, and Scrivener. I usually write for 4-5 hours/day. I would write more, but I’m a mom who also has to go pick up a kiddo from school!
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
YES!!! I have a developmental editor, who helps me as I’m writing. Think big picture: plot points, description, character arcs, etc. And I have a copyeditor. Think small picture: typos, grammar, etc.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
Since I’m with a big distributor, I’m able to have my books at ALL retailers! You can get it online pretty much anywhere books are sold. I also sell directly through my website at www.aileenerin.com.
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?
It’s always a careful balance! I find marketing pulls from the same well as writing, so I have to schedule it out on a certain day. Or set aside a little bit of time for it every day, depending on where I am in my launch schedule. Otherwise, it’ll take everything from my writing.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
Reading! I read about 3-4 books/wk. I used to have a bigger habit, but with the kiddo, time just flies by.
What’s next for you?
I’m writing the currently unnamed second book in the Days of Iron and Clay series which will hopefully come out this winter. I’m also writing the first book in an all new Romantasy series, set for some time in 2025.
Author Bio:
Aileen Erin is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd–from Star Wars (prequels don’t count) to Star Trek (TNG FTW), she reads Quenya and some Sindarin, and has a severe fascination with the supernatural. Aileen has a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles, and spends her days doing her favorite things: reading books, creating worlds, and kicking ass.
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