Hello! Thank you so much for inviting me on your blog today!
Of course!
Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book? When did it come out? Where can we get it?
My
latest release, Virtus Sex, is a revitalization
of the first book of my most successful series, the Virtus Saga. This book was
originally published as The Sex, but after 10 years from its release, I felt
the need to rewrite it in my current style.
Yes,
because when it was first written, I was just starting out as an author, so my
style, plot construction and character building were…primitive at best :-)
This
is also why the full title of this novel is Virtus
Sex, The Sex: Author's Cut.
Now
the story is much more fluid and the characters practically jump out at
you—that's how real they are!
To
understand about Virtus Sex, you must
first understand about the saga itself.
It's
an Erotic Dark Fantasy Paranormal Romance Series that Explores the Dark and
Light Sides of Power and Love between Three People.
But
it's also the Making of a Trio: the Virtus Saga shows how power and love can be
equally shared.
It's
comprised of 10 books in all that must be read in sequence, one after the other
for the story to make sense. There are 3 amazing characters with super-powers.
There's 1 sinister pyramid, but 1,000 scorching MMF erotic scenes. Mostly,
there's 1 tense battle of good versus evil.
Now
completed, this erotic dark fantasy series is continuing to receive critical
acclaims. The concept of a world free of violence attracts readers. The fiery
MM and MMF sex keeps them hooked to every page. Dripping passion and lust woven
inside an imaginary frame ruled by magical powers, this saga is nothing more
than the age-old battle of good versus evil, only without the violence usually
associated to such fierce struggles for survival.
The
titles say it all:
The
Sex
The
Game
The
Festival
The
Leader
The
Pledge
The
Heat
The
Princess
The
Lord
Not
In The Game, Deleted Scenes from The Game
Virtus
Sex, The Sex: Author's Cut (previously published as Virtus, The Sex but has
been completely revised and doubled in size with the addition of many new
scenes)
The
way it all starts and progresses, nothing is as it seems.
Soul-mates Prince
Duncan Caldwell and Lord Christopher Templeton share a love that is unrivaled,
until Duncan takes shelter in Ylianor Meyer's dilapidated shack. Ylianor has
always loved Duncan, and while Duncan is attracted to her, she remains a
servant—okay to bed, but not acceptable consort material. Unwilling to accept
it, Ylianor vows she will do anything, even come head to head with his
insufferable lover, to stay at his side.
But
there is more going on than either of the three realize.
Lord
Arthur Fairchild, Leader of the High Council, knows his planet Sendar is doomed
unless the predestined Hero steps in and blocks the darkness threatening to
take over. And even if one person alone fits the bill, Arthur does the
unthinkable—not only does he summon the Hero, but the Hero's consorts as well.
Sendar
needs these three special people to become fully aware of their powers and
learn how to use them together, working as one above and beyond their personal
issues. They must become one whilst being three to make it through the difficult
times ahead. If they do not, the Virtus which holds all of Sendar's secret
could destroy them all. And then how will their world survive?
Regarding book 1, Virtus Sex, The Sex: Author's Cut, this is the first installment, the
book that starts the entire saga. As I said above, this new edition is so much
richer than the original version. The characters are more vivid and
three-dimensional. The plot is more linear and direct. The story is more
detailed and articulate. The sex scenes are more torrid and satisfying. All in
all, this new book 1 of the Virtus Saga gives readers a better grasp of the
series and it's a highly recommended starting point for all those interested in
dark fantasy romance.
Where
can you find Virtus Sex?
Okay, great!
Is there anything which prompted this book? Something that inspired you?
Is there anything which prompted this book? Something that inspired you?
Yeah,
the three amazing characters who dominate not just this book, Virtus Sex, but the entire series of the
Virtus Saga.
Duncan
Caldwell, Ylianor Meyer and Christopher Templeton filled my day and night
dreams long before I realized I wanted to pick up my writing career.
I always find it interesting to see where the muse takes us as writers.
Let me ask a different question.
When did you know you wanted to write? Or has it always been a pastime of yours?
Let me ask a different question.
When did you know you wanted to write? Or has it always been a pastime of yours?
Never
just a pastime, writing has definitely always been part of my life ever since
high school. Publishing "Nostalgia", a short story in the school’s
journal was my career's peak, which I topped in college with several articles
written for The Phoenix, an Emory University journal. Believe it or not, I also
wrote a full-length novel in that period, which I remember nothing about except
the title that is "Untitled".
But
writing and knowing you want to write
are two different things.
So
when I returned to Rome, Italy, I abandoned writing in favor of more “serious
stuff” like graduating, finding a job, blah, blah, blah. To make a long story
short, I lived life rather than write about it until I had to give voice to an
experience that had tormented me since my American days. It came out as a
novel, Piccolo Crocevia a Cinque (loosely translated Little Five Points), but
I had to wait 10 more years, before I 'knew' I wanted to be a writer.
And I haven't stopped since :-)
It
started out with the recurrent visions of Duncan riding at night, utterly lost
in a land that should’ve been very familiar to him, having to take shelter in a
village shack by a coming storm. But the dark, beautiful woman opening her door
is not the stranger he believes at first. From that moment on, they were
constantly with me. Whether asleep or awake, I kept thinking of them as though
they were parts of my real life. Not a fantasy at all, it was like I grew more
and more obsessed with them until I had to set their story down on paper. And
believe it or not, I didn’t start out with the idea of writing a series!
The
story developed on its own, the characters telling me bits of it until I saw
the greater picture underlying it all. In a way, it was odd in that I
discovered the plot as if I were a reader, not the author, for many things
didn’t make sense at first, their explanation coming much further down the
road, like why doesn’t Duncan remember Ylianor, someone he’s grown up with and
shared his childhood days?
But
this didn't stop me. I kept writing and rewriting the 10 books of the series. And
now that I've gone back to the beginning, it's like I've finally completed a
circle.
Do you have any favorite authors yourself, Laura?
I
got plenty! A ton of them actually, ‘cause I read so much in my time, I’ve had
to give books away for lack of space.
My
favorite authors are mostly fiction, history, fantasy, sci-fi and paranormal.
No,
no horror ‘cause I’ve always been too impressionable (funny for me to say it,
uh?) and can’t sleep easy after watching or reading something in the horror genre.
Here’s
a brief list to give you an idea of my tendencies: Philip K. Dick, JRR Tolkien,
Marion Zimmer Bradley, Joyce Carol Oates, Margaret Mitchell, Charlotte Bronte,
Emily Bronte, Jane Austin, Robert J. Sawyer, John Grisham, Michael Crichton,
Lindsey Davis, Ellis Peters, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Rex Stout,
Evelyn Waugh, Somerset Maugham, Ellery Queen, Katherine Kerr, Emilio Salgari,
Umberto Eco, Elsa Morante, Alexandre Dumas, Fiedor Dostoievski, Lev Tolstoy,
Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens, Thomas Mann, Eric Maria Remarque, PD James,
Marguerite Yourcenair, Simone De Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Miguel De Unamuno,
Albert Camus, and many more.
Nice!
So, do you write in a specific place? Time of day?
I
don’t have any specific place or time when I write. I hate routines. I write
when I feel like it. Could be early morning, middle of the afternoon, late late
at night, but mostly when I get inspired. And it could be any place. From my
bedroom to the living room, but also on the beach, a place where I spend an
inordinate amount of time during spring, summer and fall.
Cool! :)
Are there any words you'd like to impart to fellow writers? Any advice?
First
of all, to believe in oneself always and no matter what because if you don’t,
no one’s going to do it for you. And this is true for any occasion!
Secondly,
to be patient. This industry, meaning publishers and editors, has its own times
and sometimes, or rather most of the time, they never coincide with an
author’s time.
So
just hang in there and never lose hope!
Thank you so much for stopping by to visit us here today at Writing in the Modern Age. It was wonderful having you! :)
Readers, here is the blurb for Virtus Sex, book one of the Virtus Saga.
When
Prince Duncan Caldwell loses his way home and knocks on a stranger’s door,
looking to find shelter, he doesn’t know his life is about to change forever.
Not because he can’t tear his gaze away from the beautiful woman who opens that
door, but more so because she’s a stranger yet he can’t shake the feeling she
belongs to him. And discovering she’s been banned from his home can’t stop the
vortex of his feelings nor the truth of his world from crashing down on him.
This
is just the beginning of the Virtus Saga, where nothing is as it seems. Not the
world, since its all-pervading sex drive hides a scary lack of violence. Not
the people, since soul mates Prince Duncan Caldwell and Lord Christopher
Templeton share a love that is unrivaled until that fateful knock on Ylianor
Meyer’s dilapidated shack.
This
book starts the love and the passion that entwines fiery sex into this
intricate three-way relationship. It’s a unique connection, laced with jealousy
and violence that are unknown to their world. This is not just another erotic
dark fantasy series. This is the making of a trio. Of three remarkable
characters that must overcome their uncontrollable lust to face the truth about
themselves and their planet if they want to defeat the darkness about to devour
them. To be as one whilst three! To share power and love in equal measures.
This is their real challenge, the lesson they must learn. Otherwise, how will
their world survive?
The
genre is Erotica, Gay LGBT, Ménage à Trois, Dark Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance,
Series, m/m, m/m/f
Purchase Links:
Universal Reader Link: https://books2read.com/u/bxzVXk
Publisher: https://www.extasybooks.com/laura-tolomei/978-1-4874-2482-4-virtus-sex/
BookStrand: https://www.bookstrand.com/virtus-sex
Here is an excerpt from the book.
Where the fuck am I?
Glancing dejectedly at the unfamiliar land, he felt
utterly lost.
Which was impossible.
Born and raised in the Silcamore District, he knew
Black Rose had to be just around the corner, had probably been circling it for
the past hour or so. Yet the fact remained. The more he raced his horse, the
less he recognized the territory.
Damn!
The entire day spent riding home only to be in the middle of nowhere!
Annoyed for the waste of time, his knees tightened
around Fuzeon’s belly, vowing he would reach home if it were the last thing he
would do. And he might just have gotten his wish had a fat drop not hit his
nose first, then his forehead.
Rain,
great! That’s all I need!
Night had just fallen, with Stella setting at the
twenty-fifth hour, an hour ahead of time
given the full day of cloudy overcast sky. Now it looked anything but friendly,
and the big black clouds that had steadily gathered over the horizon promised
nothing good, as did the ominous thunderbolts that pierced the velvety darkness
with distant flashes.
Goddamn it!
He needed cover and fast, but none seemed available in the flat emptiness he
was crossing. Just my luck! Where’s a shelter when you need one?
To think his father had taken such pride in running
the Shelter System, making sure that all travelers on Silcamore’s roads had
adequate hospitality to see them through their journey. Too bad he hasn’t placed one here, wherever here was, or wherever
he would be going as he hurried away from the wet drops.
The downpour suddenly increased as though to spite
him. To irritate him mostly, since the watery droplets had the most unfortunate
habit of infiltrating through his long hair and clothes to run down bare skin.
Snorting, the horse reminded the rider he might not
be the only one feeling uncomfortable. “Hey, Fuzeon.” Bending toward the black
head, he spurred him. “Let’s get a roof over our heads before we both drown.”
Fuzeon nickered softly in agreement and accelerated
as if he had just such a place in mind. So, the man raised his gaze and noticed
a distant light on the left. Faint and unstable to be sure, still the first
sign of life in what seemed to be an eternity.
Quickly steering Fuzeon, he rushed in that
direction, only to realize he was at the village’s outskirts, just a stone's throw away from Black Rose. But by then, he
was too tired and wet to care.
Reaching the pale glimmer, he realized it came from
a poorly kept and neglected shack, with an annexed stable that looked like a palace.
Must be Fuzeon’s lucky day. Getting off the horse, he tied him up next to an
empty trough. At least he’ll be sure to spend a better night than his master
will.
Then speeding
to the front door, he knocked loudly, trying to ignore how run down the
rest of the place was.
“Yes, just a minute,” a female voice answered.
After a few moments, she appeared on the threshold.
“Good evening, sir.” Lit from behind, a complete
stranger stared back at him with huge, green mesmerizing eyes.
And what he read in them was something so unusual he
could not help sinking in it. A mix of relief, happiness, anticipation and so
much more jumbled together, so strong, he feared he would drown in it.
“May I help you?” As though she realized the effect
she was having on him, her expression changed to a faintly mocking one.
“Yes, I...” If he hesitated, it was because he was
pulling himself together and trying to recover a semblance of control. Too many
emotions were surging to the fore all at once that he simply had to stop to
analyze the person in front of him.
At first glance, he could have sworn he had never
seen her before in his life. But the second glance told a totally different
story, until awareness hit him like something long repressed or unjustly forgotten.
By the gods, I know her!
Which seemed as impossible as his getting lost in a
territory he knew like the back of his hand.
Breath caught in his throat, he checked her over one
more time. Young, tall, very slim with well-shaped
muscles that testified to a life on horseback, dark hair and extremely
beautiful—he could not shake the weird
sensation of looking in a mirror, as if she were his reflection or a twin he
had somehow lost without remembering where or how. Because something about her
colors and general build was impressively like him.
Eighteen or nineteen at the most, her thick, silky
hair had the same raven black hue and texture as his, even if hers was longer
also compared to his below-the-shoulder
cut. Her perfect oval face had stolen some definite features from him, like the
straight nose, exquisitely designed soft lips and the clear-cut almond shape of the dazzling green eyes.
If this was the only discordant note, for his eyes were as black as cinders, it
only strengthened the feeling he knew her at some intimate level he could not
quite define at the moment. No, not a casual acquaintance at all—the more he examined her, the more she felt
over and beyond familiar as if she belonged to him, which again was impossible
because no member of his family lived in the village.
Maybe she has worked at Black Rose.
But hard as he thought of the many women employed at his home over the course
of his twenty-one years of age, he found
no trace of a name to associate to this startling creature.
“Hem...” The woman cleared her throat. “May I help you?”
“I’m sorry, Milady.” Snapping out of his odd
musings, he shifted on his feet. “But with the storm and all, I seem to have
lost my way to—”
“Black Rose?” There was a note of incredulity in her
voice he found a bit taunting.
“Well, I guess you know where I live.” Then again,
everyone in the village knew of Black Rose.
“Also who you are, for that matter.” The hint of a
smile curved her lips before she made a show of bowing. “Welcome to my humble home,
Prince Duncan Caldwell.”
“All right.” No
surprise here, either. He was the local celebrity after all. “Since you
seem to know all about me, may I enquire on your name, Miss...”
“Ylianor.” Angling her head, she leveled her gaze
with his. “Just Ylianor.”
“Who’s there?” The angry man’s voice broke the
strange magic that had trapped him, rooted him to the ground it seemed, to the
point he had also ignored the rain beating down on his back.
“I’m sorry.” With a start, she jumped away from the
door looking every bit as bewitched as he was. “It’s raining harder, and I’ve
kept you outside.” She gestured behind her. “Please, come in.” Then turning
around, she raised her voice, “Coming, Father.” Focusing back on him, an
apologetic smile split her lovely face. “If you’ll excuse me...” Without
waiting for a reply, she went to a nearby table, picked up a small candle and
disappeared up a flight of stairs.
Hailed by loud thunder, he entered the house, as
poor and desolate on the inside as it was on the outside. Sparse candles lit
the table and the few chairs scattered around a cold fireplace next to an empty
kitchen. Nothing more to see, he waited patiently for her to return, which she
did shortly after.
“Here.” She handed him a towel. “At least you can
get dry.”
“Thanks.” He smiled gratefully, shifting the long
hair to rub the back of his neck.
“Would you like to stay the night?” Slightly
embarrassed, her cheeks colored of an adorable red shade. “I mean, with the
rain and all, maybe it would be better.” She seemed to pull herself together.
“There’s a free bed upstairs, and I could fix you something to eat.”
Judging from the little furniture he had seen, he
guessed the small shack would be unable to provide for too many sleeping
arrangements. “Where will you sleep?”
“Oh, I won’t be doing much sleeping tonight.”
Retrieving his towel, she folded it on the back of a chair. “My father is
dying, so I’ll keep to his bedside.”
“I’m sorry.” He really was, even if nothing she had
said so far had shed any light on who she really was, or on what her connection
to him might be. “Can I be of assistance?”
“No, thank you.” She did not sound sad, just
exhausted. “He’s been ill for a long time, but tonight I feel it’s his last one
in this dimension.”
“I see.” Not sure he did, he tried to be convincing.
Averting her gaze, she glanced out the window. “If
you’d like, I’ll take care of Fuzeon.” For a moment, she seemed lost as though
fascinated by what she was fixing so intently. “I’m sure this thunderstorm has
frightened him enough already. My father always keeps a few bales of hay
stashed away for just such occasions.”
“You seem to know an awful lot about me.” Surprised,
he cocked his head. “And about my horse.”
“Not to worry, Prince.” She patted his shoulder
gently, as though he were a child in need of reassurance. “I’m the stable
keeper’s daughter, so not only do I know your family quite well, but also your horses.”
“You are John Meyer’s
daughter?” That explains the familiar air!
But not why he did not remember her.
At her nod, he knew things were not adding up at
all. “Until he became ill, John stayed in Black Rose.” That had happened a year
or so ago. “He had a place above the stables that was for him and his family—”
“I didn’t live there,” she was quick to grasp where
he was going.
Too quick.
“I lived here, in the village.” Then she pursed her
lips, evidently unwilling to keep talking about it.
Which only perked up his curiosity. “Never even came
to visit him while he was working?”
John Meyer had been Black Rose’s stable-keeper forever, the man both he and his father
had blindly entrusted with the precious charge of their four-legged friends. Like Prince Charles loved to
tell his son, John had no equals, and it had become more evident since the man
had fallen ill and left his service without Duncan being able to find an
adequate replacement anywhere.
“No, I never did.” Averting her focus, she stared
away from him. “About Fuzeon, would you like me to—”
“Yes, please, if you could look after him, I’d be
most grateful.” Following her gaze, he noticed that the window next to the door
gave a clear view of the horse inside the stable. “We come from a long journey,
and maybe I taxed him more than I should have.”
Nodding in understanding, she grabbed a candle and
went outside. He spied her from the window as she entered the stable to reach
Fuzeon, his dark frame already moving to welcome her. Then resting his muzzle
on her shoulders, he allowed her to caress his back. So he grew more perplexed.
Fuzeon was a very special horse that did not trust
people, often including his own friends. Fuzeon privileged him alone after he
had managed to overcome the horse’s diffident nature. And considering the fact
he had accepted neither his mother nor his sister, the animal’s behavior seemed
even more puzzling.
On returning, she placed the candle near the table
and pulled out a chair. “You can sit if you’d like.” Her voice trailed to the
kitchen, “While I fix dinner.”
Accepting her offer, he plopped down, feeling every
tired bone in his body. On the opposite side, she gathered a few plates then
retraced her steps, bringing a vegetable soup, some bread and a small piece of cheese.
“Here you go.” She set everything in front of him.
“I know it’s not much.” A trace of regret veiling her lovely eyes, she went
around the table to sit in front of him. “But with Father’s illness, I haven’t
had time to look after anything else.”
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Not that it was enough
for two, practically not for one either.
She glanced at the little food as though it were her
dinner and breakfast. “I ate already.”
It sounded like a lie, pure and simple. And judging
from her extremely thin frame, he was about to decline her offer when a noise
distracted him.
“Hey, slut, where’s my food?” The voice upstairs
shouted, “Are you going to let me starve, you bitch?”
No, he could not believe his ears, nor could he
recognize his friend since childhood in the spiteful vulgarity of this enraged
tone. His John Meyer had been a quiet and patient man, not very talkative, much
preferring the company of his beloved horses, always hard at work with a
passion few others possessed.
“Please forgive my father.” As though reading his
mind, she leaned forward. “He’s very sick. The disease has consumed his mind as
well as his body. Now he doesn’t know what he’s saying half the time.” She got
up from her chair. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll bring him dinner.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Rising himself, he
felt embarrassed and concerned for her.
“No, thank you.” But she seemed to have things under
control. “No one can do anything for him anymore.” In the kitchen, she grabbed
a tray and headed upstairs.
Falling back down, he tasted the first spoonful of
soup, wondering where she found the strength to put up with this strenuous
situation. True, she seemed resourceful and organized. Yet also alone, as alone
as if she did not have a living relative besides the one who was dying now. Not
one person in the whole world who gave a damn about her—
“Are you done, stupid cow?” John’s overbearing voice
crashed in his thoughts. “Get out of here! I don’t want to see your ugly face
again. Fuck off and leave me alone.” There was a slight pause, as though
perhaps she was trying to make him see reason.
Only he could not catch her soft voice.
“I said get out! Get out of my house and stay out!”
John’s breath appeared to be unusually strong for a dying man. “Leave, filthy
bitch. Do you hear me?”
Next thing, she came down two steps at a time, face
pale and drawn.
“Are you all right?” He immediately got out of the
chair and strode to meet her halfway.
“Yes, I’m fine.” Another lie, though he lacked the
heart to challenge it. “Don’t worry. I know it’s hard to believe he’s dying,
but it will happen tonight, so...” She shrugged as if to indicate she would
tolerate the nasty behavior to make his passing easier.
“Maybe I could talk to him.” He tried to ignore the
fact she had read his mind again, for the second time. “We used to be friends
when he worked at Black Rose, and he’s taught me all I know and appreciate
about horses—”
“No, please.” She raised a hand in frustration. “His
mind is so far gone that he hardly recognizes anyone anymore. Or if he did,
he’d just treat you as badly as he’s been treating me lately.” She peeked at
the stairs behind her shoulders, her long hair falling on her breasts. “It’s
best if you remember him in his better days, handling his adored animals,
rather than this bitter shell that has nothing left of the man he used to be.
Besides, his energy’s slipping away fast, and it might be too much of a strain
for him.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Understanding her point, he
let it go. “But what will happen to you when he does pass away? Will you stay here?”
“I...” At the hesitation, her brilliant green eyes
clouded. “I might.”
“Is
something wrong?”
Intriguing...add this novel to your Goodreads bookshelf, readers!
The book sounds like a great read! We'll be sure to check out this steamy, dark fantasy paranormal ménage romance!
Get it now!
Author Bio
With
original borderline stories at the edge of accepted conventions, Laura Tolomei
guarantees an erotic earthquake with each new novel.
Laura
Tolomei lives in Rome, Italy, and is the author of 28+ books in her very
particular and unique genre—Erotic Romance with an Edge. Novels on the edge of
accepted conventions written in her breezy narrative style that hooks you
from page one, such is her trademark,
and she guarantees an erotic earthquake with each book! Among others, they
include the critically acclaimed scorching dark fantasy Virtus Saga, all ten
books of it, along with the kindred spirits of both the ReScue and the Soulmate
Series, not to mention her horror novels as well as a few historical ones.
On
a more personal note, she has been traveling the globe since age five and has
no intention of quitting. Having been an avid reader her entire life, she
decided at age forty to write her own stories and is still enjoying every
minute of it. A convinced vegetarian for over 10 years, she had to be more
"elastic" in her eating habits due to health issues. Regardless, the
world she has built for her renown Virtus Saga is strictly vegetarian, and no
human living there would ever dare eat meat. She also loves cocktails, and her
favorite one, Negroni, is featured prominently in her ReScue Series.
Author Links:
Website/Blog: http://www.lallagatta.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lalla.gattaWebsite/Blog: http://www.lallagatta.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraTolomei
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LallaGatta
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/lauratolomei
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/lauratolomei
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lallagatta/
Publisher: https://www.extasybooks.com/laura-tolomei/
BookBub: https://bit.ly/2XShVik
Laura's Books:
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