Slip
Between the Sheets with...
Jonah
from A Mermaid's
Kiss

(Releasing Nov 2008 from
Berkley Sensation)
Some destinies are made to be denied.
As the Prime Legion Commander for the Goddess, Jonah has been battling the
Dark Ones for centuries. He has led countless angels into battle, and has seen
too many of them slaughtered. Now, his noble spirit has begun to tire with the
weight of endless war-which allows a Dark One to strike a blow that severs his
wing and knocks him into the sea.
Anna is a Daughter of Arianne - a direct descendant of the mermaid whose
poignant legend and lore is much darker and more complex than the human-made
fairytale. For tragedy and isolation are the fate of all the Daughters of
Arianne. Anna's longing for love compels her to risk her very life to protect
and hide the fallen Jonah. And the longer Jonah delays his return to the
heavens, the more Anna's secret passions are tempted.
Anna knows that Jonah's destiny lies beyond her desire-and that
if she repeats her ancestor's mistakes, heartache will be her only reward. But
as she falls more in love with him, Anna wonders if she's destined to lose her
heart and her dreams to save Jonah's soul.
Hello everyone and welcome to the very first Slip Between
the Sheets! I'm thrilled to have a very divine hero here with us
today—Jonah from Joey W. Hill's A Mermaid's Kiss. Jonah, let's kick
things off with the question all girls want answered! Boxers or briefs?
Jonah: Hmm. As an angel of the Goddess, I don't really wear either. My weapons
and a scarlet red battle kilt, held with a belt indicating my rank, are all I
wear. Since the kilt comes to mid-thigh, which is adequate protection, I wear
nothing beneath it. Anna says my uniform is proof the deity who created me is
female. I would ignore her when she says such irreverent things, but her sweet
lips curve in a smile only a stone could resist.
Alyssa: Now my curiosity is peaked! Let's take that question a step
further—if underwear is unnecessary, just what do you sleep in? Us ladies
would like a visual! ;)
Jonah: Anna's arms. Though she is a mermaid, she can shift to human form, and
often does, so that I may take her on a flight through the clouds before
bedtime. I rock her to sleep in the cradle of my wings, for she likes the way
the feathers feel against her bare skin. We settle into a bed made up of the
clouds, the stars close above us. Other times, we go into her world, beneath
the water. We float in the warm currents and watch the plankton become
phosphorescent above us, caught by the moonlight.
Alyssa:
I think I just melted. That sounds heavenly. Anna sure is one lucky
mermaid!
So, does Anna keep you all to yourself, or are there any
pets in the picture? Little white doggies with wings, perhaps?
Jonah: None, unless you count that irascible sea witch Mina,
who Anna insists on keeping as a friend. Watching over Mina, making sure she
is safe from the Dark Ones she has angered, has become a trial, particularly
since she resists our protection. However, my young lieutenant, David, seems
eager to take over her feeding and watering.
However, I am
considering it. Anna seems to think Mina fancies David, though I think that
ill-natured creature fancies only her own dark haunts and vile potions.
Alyssa: Ohhh, the Dark Ones? Now the plot becomes intriguing. Tell
me--the devil aside, who's your worst enemy?
Jonah: Actually, what you call the devil is my best friend. For all that he
is arrogant and overbearing
, Lucifer has been a true
friend. He was ready to kill me when I was possessed by Dark Ones and wanted
to destroy the world, and it is difficult to find a friend loyal enough to do
that. Though I admit, at the time, he seemed a little overly eager to prove
that loyalty.
But to your question. Until recently, I would have said the Dark Ones were my
worst enemy, for of course they are who I have fought for centuries, to
protect the Goddess and her Earth. However, I have realized my worst enemy can
be myself, if I allow despair and darkness to take me. Since Anna's beauty and
light makes it almost impossible for me to be lost in the dark anymore,
Lucifer can safely put his scythe away.
Alyssa: Well, I'm relieved to hear they'll be no
scything--thank you, Anna! You're far too magnificent of a creature to
sacrifice to the dark side, Jonah.
But as we all know, some aren't so lucky. With all your
battles, I'm sure you've known loss. If you could bring one person back to
life and spend a whole day with him or her, who would it be and why?
Jonah: It is still difficult to speak of him, forgive me. Ronin. He was my
lieutenant and fought with me for decades. I viewed him as a son, and yet I
did not appreciate the man as I should have. He was courageous in battle, but
more than that, he had the gift of laughter. I underestimated its value until
I had to do without it. When you face death as often as we in the Legion do,
the ability to see the humor that pervades life, and even death, is crucial.
In dark moments, he had the ability to make the angels in my command smile,
provide them relief through a hard belly laugh, or even just a passing
chuckle. Such things created spears of light through darkness. He may have
handled a sword well, but as a soldier, I believe that was his greatest
weapon. He wielded it on behalf of us all.
Alyssa: Ronin sounds like an incredible man and I'm very sorry to hear
about his death. Being able to laugh even in dark times is indeed a special
gift. I take it, however, you tend to have a bit more of a temper? How do you
act when angry?
Jonah: Anna insists that I resemble a blowfish when I get angry. She puffs out
her cheeks, purses her lips and makes me believe she is channeling Ronin's
spirit, for I swear, she can make me smile when no one else can, just as he
did. I tease her, for when we met she was in awe of angels-though in truth,
she slapped me within the first day. While that memory still makes her flush,
she is quick to retort she should have realized then how infuriating a mate I
would be. I know she doesn't mean it, however, for her eyes soften when she
looks at me, and her body trembles when we touch. I pray that I will always be
deserving of her love and devotion. I have told Lucifer this. He gazes at me
thoughtfully, pauses in the sharpening of his scythe and responds, "Lesser
miracles have been known to happen. Not many, mind you, but some."
Alyssa: LOL, that devil! Which brings me to my final
question--pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth. The seven deadly
sins. Which is your weakness?
Jonah: Lust is not a sin if indulged in honor of the Goddess, and to cherish
the female you love. If it is a sin, it would be Anna's fault I suffer from
it. I have known many beautiful women, for it is an angel's way of grounding
himself after battle. However, since I met her, there is no other for me. When
I see her playing in the waves, her blond hair sleek on her skull, her lovely
pale shoulders, the overlap of her purple and blue scales over her generous
hips, I want only to join with her, wrap her in my wings and roll
through the waves and the sky together forever.
Alyssa: Indeed, a beautiful answer! Per your view, I've
officially crossed lust from my mental list of sins. J (But darn, now it
doesn't seem near as naughty!)
Well folks, that's all! I hope you've had a great time
getting to know Jonah, whom I want to thank for indulging us today! Jonah, I
wish you and Anna all the best!
If you enjoyed meeting Jonah, be sure to pick up a copy of
A Mermaid's Kiss when it releases in November from
Berkley Sensation! In the meantime,
you can whet your appetite with an excerpt on Joey Hill's website:
www.storywitch.com.
Have an author or character you'd like to request? Email
suggestions to brooksalyssa@msn.com.
Remember to check back for a new Slip Between the Sheets every Tuesday
and tell your friends!
Until next week,
Alyssa
www.alyssabrooks.com
(Published authors wishing to participate can email me at
brooksalyssa@msn.com to schedule an
interview!)
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