Deena Remiel: Author Interview

You are in for a real treat today as I have a really unique author visiting the blog today to talk about her new book Relic.  Read on as I uncover a wide variety of topics with Deena Remiel!

Thanks to Marissa over at Sizzling PR for allowing me a spot on this tour!

About the Novel:

Raphael, a Brethren Savior, an angel with a forgotten past, has lost his power to heal and is on a self-imposed guilt trip to get it back. If he can’t, his tour of eternal duty as Brethren Savior will be revoked. On his journey, he winds up enmeshed in a web of attempted murder and resurrection all thanks to a woman he’s only seen in a photograph and by chance on an Arizona desert hiking trail.

Serena Sikes is a wanted woman. Desired by “undesirables” for a gift her brother gave her- a stolen relic with suspected healing powers. Hunted down in the Arizona desert and left for dead, she is found by none other than the angel who cannot heal.

Raphael and Serena are inexorably bound together, for locked deep within the relic’s heart had lived the soul of his long lost wife. Now, it resides inside Serena. Evil lurks around every corner as Raphael tries to keep both Serena and his dead wife’s soul alive and lustful temptation at bay.

Three souls bound together by an ancient relic, bound by a timeless gift, and bound by a love that is eternal.



About the Author:

It was the mystique of Arizona’s history and landscape that called to Deena and catapulted her career as an author. When she’s not writing romance novels and poetry in the wee, small hours of the morning or in the deep, dark of night, Deena teaches language arts to middle school students. She currently lives in Gilbert with her husband and two children, but New Jersey will always tug at her heartstrings. She loves connecting with her fans, so find her at deenaremiel.com. 

Deena on FACEBOOK
Deena on TWITTER

Author Interview:

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I was taught to play the piano when I was very young. As I grew, I became interested in music and musical theatre. That lent itself to exploring song-writing and poetry. From there, I moved into short story, journaling, and finally, novels.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

RELIC is the second book in the Brethren Series. It picks up where Trinity, the first book, ends. Raphael, Brethren Savior, is tasked with notifying the sister of a dead man that he is indeed dead and giving her his personal affects. Serena, the sister, has been hunted down and left for dead in the Arizona desert, and he happens upon her on a healing journey of his own. You’ll have to read the book to find out how they are inexorably bound together!

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Finding the time to write is quite a challenge because I am a full-time teacher. So when a break comes along, or the weekend, I run to find my quiet place to write.


Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I always talk about Sherrilyn Kenyon because she is a favorite of mine. But today, I will talk about another favorite… Linda Howard. I’m a fan of romantic suspense, and she does this genre masterfully. The depths that she goes to brings her main characters and villains to life is incredible. I strive to create villains that are just as creepy and heroines that are just as strong.
.
Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

Not right now, but I would LOVE to!

Who designed the covers?

I have a phenomenal cover artist! Her name is Fiona Jayde, and she does all my covers for this series.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Well, Raphael has a past he knew nothing about, so the hardest part was helping him resolve issues between the past and present.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned all about past life regression for this story and it was fascinating!

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Always write, always read, and always remember your fans. They are our lifeblood. Without them our stories fall on deaf ears.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I’d like to thank all my Disciples, my Inner Sanctum, and Street Angels for their devotion to the Brethren, to their tireless help with promoting the Brethren, and for being great friends to me.
To new readers, welcome aboard! There’s a Brethren for everyone!


Book Excerpt:

Serena lay asleep in her hospital bed, a small, seemingly fragile wisp of a woman. The way the setting sun cast a glow about her face, she looked enchanting and more like a delicate flower. He could almost smell the sweet scent of a Lily of the Valley in the air. He shook himself free of his musings as he moved into her room and quietly took a seat next to her.

Glancing around the room, he found the sweet-smelling culprit that had captivated him—a small bottle of perfume. Returning to gaze upon his enchantress, he noticed the bruising along her jaw line much more pronounced since he’d first come upon her. A cold, steel anger welled within him. His eyes trailed down to her slender arm outfitted with an IV, and to all the machines with their bells and beeps.

“I’m sorry, Serena,” he whispered. “You wouldn’t have needed all of this if I could’ve done my job properly.” He bristled in frustration and leaned his head against his arms resting on the bedrail. He noticed her stirring in her sleep. She seemed agitated and surprised him by blindly reaching out to grab hold of his hand.

“Mmm…I cannot die. I am immortal. An feidir le heinne cuidiu liom? Can anyone help me? Graim thu, Raphael, anam chara. I love you, my soul mate.” Serena whimpered and fell silent once again.
The chair screeched across the floor as Raphael sprung out of it like a Jack-in-the-box. Her hand stayed firmly gripped around his, and a flood of memories—well-hidden for centuries—came crashing through unbidden. Sirona, Goddess of Healing—the love of his immortal life, his wife—smiled at him as they walked in the mountains. She bathed him in the hot roman baths. She made love with him under the stars. She was lifeless in his arms as he carried her to her temple. He was asking E.L. to wipe his memory clean of all remembrances of her and to harden his heart.
Raphael wrenched his hand away from Serena’s tight grasp, involuntarily backing up to the door. He clutched his chest over his racing heart, now filled with centuries of unresolved anguish, his mind buzzed with too many questions.

Serena’s eyes fluttered open. He must have had a look of utter horror on his face because she raised her hand to her face shielding the bruise. “It appears worse than it feels,” she stated quietly. 

“Really. Have you come to fix the TV? They told me someone would be coming by this afternoon to fix it.”

“Uh…no,” Raphael croaked. “I, uh…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’ll be on my way.” I have to get out of here. Who the hell is she, some kind of witch? Why is this happening now? And where do I begin to process what I just experienced?

“But wait. Who are you? Why did you come to my room?”

Now she doesn’t know who I am? What gives? “I’m the one who found you and brought you here to the hospital, actually. I was checking to see how you were doing. Now I see you’re doing much better, so I’m going to leave you to your rest.” Raphael headed to the exit.

“Wait! Please, before you go I’d like to say something.” He turned around slowly and stood transfixed by her glittering emerald eyes. “Thank you. You saved my life, and I’m forever grateful.” 

She smiled, and her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

“Make no mistake,” he grumbled. “I didn’t save you. The doctors did. But you’re welcome for bringing you here. Now, I really must go.”

“Hey,” Serena shouted as he walked out the door, “what did you say your name was?”

He stopped but couldn’t face her again. “I didn’t.”