Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to your author’s attention? Occupation?

My name is Cassandra.  I am a sorceress.  I am also now Queen of the kingdom of Savon.  I was the personal advisor to King Matthew, a man I loved since we were children.  We were raised together in the palace.  And since I am a sorceress, I came to my author in a dream.  *wink*

What or who is the greatest love of your life? Why? What drew you to them?

My greatest love is Matthew.  I fell in love with him the first moment I laid eyes on him when we were children.  I nearly didn’t marry him since I have no royal blood.  I was nearly married to his Commander of the Army, Victor.  I’ve always felt safe with Matthew.  That is what drew me to him.

What’s your greatest fear?

Losing Matthew like I lost my father and mother.  They were murdered by men following Gorgon, an enemy trying to take over the kingdom.

  How do the other characters in your book view you?

Many, like Victor (my former betrothed) only see my great magic and power.  The citizens of my kingdom see the girl who saved them from starvation.  Some in the palace see only a woman who slept her way to the crown.  Matthew only sees the real me.

 What do you prefer? To spread & hear gossip, or be the creator of gossip fodder?

Neither.  I’ve been the subject of gossip one too many times.  I avoid gossip when I can.

  What was your happiest moment?

Oh, it was definitely marrying Matthew.  It was my wildest dream come true.  I never thought it could happen.

 What trait in others do you find most deplorable?

Deceipt.  Thanks to Victor I learned that painfully first hand when he delivered me to Gorgon himself.  To think I almost wed him…

 The random question: If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

Scarlet, the color of Savon.  I am proud to be a citizen of Savon, my homeland.  And of course, its Queen.

*~*~*~*

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Blurb:

Cassandra is brought to the palace by her grandfather, the sorcerer Malicar, after her parents are brutally murdered.  After being presented to King Thomas she is raised alongside two boys – Thomas’s son, Matthew and Victor, the young man chosen to be Matthew’s commander of the army.

However her life in the royal palace comes at a price. She is vowed into a life of servitude Matthew’s advisor, forfeiting the dream of having a husband and children of her own.

As they mature into adults, childhood curiosities turn to jealousy and burning desire. Cassandra finds herself caught between the two men and forced to make a decision – to throw away her vows for the life she dreamt about with a man she does not love or to stay shackled to the promises she made as a child to be with the man she wants with her heart, body and soul but cannot have.

 

Excerpt:

In no time, she stood in the courtyard, the soldiers around her completely oblivious to her presence. She glanced up as Victor rode next to her. “Lock yourself in the tower. I will see you when I get back,” he instructed as he kissed her on the cheek.

“Stay safe,” she murmured.

Cassandra looked to the ground as Victor’s horse trotted away. Then, she raised her head as she heard hoof steps approach. Matthew wandered across the courtyard, leading his stallion behind him. His eyes, yearning and desperate, locked on her.

She shuddered as he approached, his stride determined as he wove his way around the soldiers scattered around the courtyard. He stopped, dropping the reins of his horse, when he reached her.

Without warning or care for decency, Matthew cupped Cassandra’s face in his hands drawing her lips to his and parting them in a soul-wrenching kiss. She clung to his arms as he tasted her, clearly searching for confession, answers—her love for him. As he pulled away, he whispered, “Lock yourself in. I could not live another day if anything happened to you.”

Matthew’s fingers caressed Cassandra’s skin once more before they slipped away to grasp his horse’s reins. He glanced at her over his shoulder before he disappeared behind the wall. Cassandra hugged herself tightly, her limbs shaking in uncertainty.

Collecting herself as much as possible, she wound her way to her tower blindly. Her thoughts were incoherent. Matthew? Victor? She rubbed her fingertips against her swollen lips. Both had made their feelings for her abundantly clear. And both were riding out to battle. Above all, the vows she had taken as a child dictated she could have neither of them.

Tears filled her eyes as she collapsed onto her cushion. The only thing she knew with clarity was that she needed to get her thoughts together. It wouldn’t be long before she would be joining them on the battlefield.

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Bio:

Tricia Andersen lives in Iowa with her husband, Brian and her three children – her sons, Jake and Jon, and her daughter, Alex.  She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in English and from Kirkwood Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Communications Media/Public Relations.  Along with writing (which she loves to do), Tricia coaches and participates in track and field, does kickboxing, reads, sews and is involved in many of her children’s activities.

Tricia is a member of the Romance Writers of America and RWA Chapter 177 From the Heart Romance Writers.

Author’s links:

1.  Blog – http://insidethiswritersmind.com/

2.  Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/t.l.andersenauthor

3.  Website – www.triciaandersen.com

4.  Twitter – https://twitter.com/triciaandersen or @triciaandersen

5.  Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5122241.Tricia_Andersen