There is a boutique hiding out between the
fractured, narrow storefronts lining New Gotham’s foggy docks. The shingles are
ribbed and black. Washed, peeling paint and displays offering views into wicked
leather and lace studded glam. The mannequins are ghoulish beauties stitched
together from whatever was left from the last fool to cross one of the sinister
witches.
Welcome
to Sinister Stitches
“…apparel
for a wicked fairy tale.”
A spicy trinity of black magic sisters
breathe star-dusted dreams to life with their gothic apparel boutique. They are
schooled in the old ways of “fabric-bending” by the Needlewitches of old. With
this knowledge, they’ve created an entire line of clothing that all share the
same basic design element: one-size fits all. Each garment will magically
tailor itself to its wearer once worn. Last time the Witches-Who-Stitch, hosted
a literary catwalk, heroines were called from all walks of life and genres to
challenge their seamstress skills. This time, their men have joined the fun—apparently,
they’ve been sent to the boutique. (Whether they like it, or not.)
The witches were NOT expecting men. Their
expertise is usually limited to DEMANDING their husbands NOT wear that in public, and, of course, the fashioning
of fantastic clothing for all of literature’s heroines. (New Gotham’s men usually
get their goods from Rumpel’s Twisted Threads, BUT that’s beyond the point, the
girls put a quill to their interview, changed some bits, and rose to the
occasion.)
To enjoy the hilarity, please check out some
of the questionnaire Roxanne Rhoad’s
Brom from
No Place I’d Rather Be (Paranormal Pleasures II) was asked
to fill out after he stalked into Sinister Stitches.
THE
WITCHES WHO STITCH QUESTIONNAIRE
Please provide the witches with your
name: Brom
Please provide the witches with the
following:
Hair Color: Blond
Hair Length: [ ] Short and
Sharp, [ ] Shaggy and Sexy, [x] Lush and Long
Eye Color: Blue
Skin Tone: [ ] Ghoulish, [x] Snow White, [
] Cina-baby, [ ] Mochalicious, [ ] Dark Chocolate, [ ] Other:_________
Please provide the witches with your
measurements and body-type
a.) Height: 6 foot
b.) Body Type: [ ] Skeletal,
[ ] Lean and Tender, [x] Lean and Tough, [ ] Ripe and Edible
Do you have any extra extremities? Place an
“X” to all that apply.
[ ] Horns or [ ] Halo
[ ] 20 ft. of Hair or More
[ ] Gills and Fins or [ ] Hooves
[ ] Wings (Span: )
[ ] Tail (How many: )
How many heads do you have? (Your boy bit doesn’t count!) Just one.
Do you have arms and legs? If so, how many? Normal, 2 of each.
How dead are you? [] Living, [X]
Undead, [ ] Astral Form
What are you? (Species/Breed)
Vampire
What is the occasion? (Ideas include:
Wedding, Funeral, Sabbath, etc. Oh, and seduction is a valid occasion. The more
details, the better.)
Seductive date
night with our poly triad (m/f/m) vampire/witch/human
What’s the occasion setting? (Beach,
haunted castle, grand ball, etc.)
Fancy dinner party
Will you be fighting for your life at some
point in the evening?
Possibly, one should always be prepared
Will you be set on fire? Better yet, will you
be setting other people on fire?
I hope not
Will you be grave-robbing? (Dirt is a
tailor’s tedium.)
Definitely not
What are you wearing right now? Who picked
that outfit out? (Basically,
who let you leave the crypt in those?)
After a couple centuries,
I think I am capable of dressing myself though occasionally I do love a magical
touch
Do you hope to be naked at some point in the
evening?
(All right, dirty birds. Such questions are actually intended toward the
weres and shifters in regards to their transformations.)
You did say weres
and shifters but as a vampire bent on seduction, nakedness is always on menu
Describe your last brush with Death in two
sentences. (Helps
us plan for the unexpected.)
Stupid jealous human with a wooden stake
tried to best me, it didn’t work
Do you need a secret compartment for gigantic
swords? Guns and condoms? Eyeliner, maybe?
No, not at all.
What are your three favorite colors?
Red, black,
midnight blue
What two colors ninja your brain, sweetie?
Anything bright and
sunny, vampires and bright colors just do not mix
Please pick a style that you feel embodies
you the best. If none apply, feel free to surprise us by providing your own
brilliant description in the “other” slot.
[ ] Dark Angel: This
is for the spoonfuls of charming. The good-natured and naughty boys next door
types. Thoughtful and sensual. Loyal and intelligent. More often than not, his
head is in the clouds, but those dreams and that smile holds hope for all of
us. Our philosophers.
[ ] Beast King: This
is for the warlords and alphas. The type of men who walk into a room and their
presence hushes out the sun. They live
in their bodies, but their minds are searching for the next challenge. Hands
for fighting and these boots for ass-kickings. Our protectors.
[ ] Smooth Criminal: This
is for the bad boys. You know, the types---mother’s worse nightmares. The kind
of man that makes your skin itch every time he devours you with that hundred
yard stare. Chances are his senses of humor is as wicked as his tongue. To hold
him, isn’t to catch him. Our scheming rogues.
[x] Black Knight: This
for the mysteries. The ones no one can quite make heads or tails out off. He’s
a mixture, a melting pot of strong, sinister, and sweet. He might be Dark Angel
one day, and a Smooth Criminal other days. Our brothers.
[ ] Other: _____________________
Who is your favorite comic/storybook villain?
Villain…Loki
If you could be any comic/storybook book
hero, who would it be?
Superman, yes he is
the best superhero because he was born that way, not made.
Now, tell us who you love the most.
Sonora is my
everything.
Anything else you’d like to add…
After
many barrels of chocolate, a dash of magic, and furious sewing…
Sinister
Stitches’ Gothic Dame
Madame
Mari presents Brom’s
Completed
Threads
“Count Classic”
The fey lingering in the shadows is old, monarch-like
butterfly wings dwarf her face in dark shadows, and her flowing Mortisha gown was
spun from cobwebs and spider tears. All you can see are her eyes. Slanted,
glowing and violet. They’re almost…arachnid. If you’re a woman, you’re just a
little disturbed. If you’re a man, you are most intrigued (If you’re LGBT,
you’re lovin’ it). After all, a Muse never ages. She motions toward the
ghoulish mannequin, and a smile pinches her wrinkled, red mouth:
Capable of dressing yourself? Ha, don’t make me cackle, boy. First of all,
I ain’t sure what you’re doin’ here, shugah. Why on earth did you come here?
There is another store in New Gotham that does nothing but tailor threads for
men. Be sure to grab a Twisted Threads business card from the counter before
you go. Of course, we’ll fashion something for you to wear to the dinner party.
Does no good to turn down good business, and, you, sir vampire…
*uses the tip of an African
blackwood wand to lower her glitter purple granny shades on the bridge of her sleek
nose*
Are good, good business. What?
What’s that face for? *cackles happily*
Goodness, relax. I haven’t the wings for that kind of thing anymore. Besides,
we’ve got some stitchin’ to do, eh?
You’re a classic, so we’ve made sure to keep things sharp and neat. I’ve
had Brenda brandish those killer scissors of hers, and she’s snippet you an elegant
“American” style three-piece sinful black suit.
It is meant for those with wider frames, it will give you flawless lines.
It isn’t tapered down the sides either, but it is tailored tight to the
shoulders. We don’t want your single-singled breasted jacket hanging loosely.
And frankly, we’ve decided to do away with shoulder pads. You don’t need ‘em,
shugah. The gorge between the lapels is a little higher than normal, but we wanted
to draw the proper attention to your neckpiece.
A simple Cary Grant bow tie. Timeless.
Oh, and we’ve also given the suit “Doctor Cuffs.” They were originally
used when designing suits for Victorian doctors, allowing them to roll up their
sleeves without having to take off their jackets while tending patients. We
thought that might come in handy, should things get…well, a little bloody.
We suggest pairing this suit with a Dracula fan-collared cloak, or a
Helsing leather duster. The inner lining should be red, but white might be an
interesting contrast. Likewise, Astrid insists you tie back all that blond hair
into a single tail at the nape of your neck. You know, so the ladies have easy
access to that throat for…bloody kisses.
Now, why don’t you go find yourself a tall bite to drink? (Or two.)
IMPORTANT
BULLETINS from THE PIXIES:
For more information about Roxanne Rhoads and Brom the Vampire’s
adventures in No Place I’d Rather Be (Paranormal Pleasures II), please
check out her author website.
Care to
check out the last round of Sinister Stitches interviews? Check out Sophie Avett and Jennifer Blackstream’s
paranormal den, the Brimstone Pub. All SS interviews are retired there after
their tour until the release of the SS e-book.
For more
information about Sophie Avett’s New Gotham Fairy Tales, the Sinister Stitches
series, and recent releases, please check out her
website.
Image
Credit(s): Handmademedia
Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance (MM/New Adult)
Publisher: Skeleton Key Publishing
Date of Publication: May 1, 2014
Number of pages: est. 22 pages
Cover Artist: Elaina, For the Muse Design
There’s a wild animal on the loose in the black forests surrounding New Gotham...
Well, Peter doesn't care.
Peter Ume is more interested in finding a way to alleviate the skull-numbing boredom of a city wide shut down. So far his ideas for excitement hover between stealing an unwary idiot’s underwear (soul works, too), setting someone’s eyebrows on fire, or stabbing the next person he meets in the eye with a hot French fry.
It turns out, he’ll be able to save assault and theft for a rainy day. As luck would have it, this naughty kitsune is about to meet the big bad wolf.
And man, is the wolf in for a surprise...
Warning: This story can be read as a standalone, but you will want to smack Sophie for it. (Or so the ravens have said.) So, do keep in mind that there is a part two. (And it will be a freebie. Sophie’s Pixies will carrier pigeon everyone more information soon.)
Sophie Avett is kind of a nerd. Like not even one of the cute, hip ones everyone brags about nowadays. More like the socially awkward hippie who eats way too much bread and dreams about being a dragon from behind towers of mythology books. Um...yeah. Picture old, tattered paperbacks and comic books--mostly Batman and Wonder Woman--dwarfing a tiny desk, with just barely enough room for the troll who writes there and the 70 pound hell-hound that insists on laying it's wet nose on top of her bare foot.
Granted not the most exciting existence, but she tries to make up for it by writing romances populated with her own peculiar ilk of paranormal beasties. Trolls, wyverns, the obscure Nordic brownie--she likes to keep things interesting. And bloody. (And mostly naked--but, we'll keep that bit between us.)
***
Giveaway:
Tour giveaway
1 Gray Shell Pearl Shamballa Style Bracelet from Bits and Pieces which is featured in the book and prize pack - The entire prize pack will include: the bracelet, some trinkets and wonderfully sarcastic little note from Mrs. Pott’s.
10 ecopies of ‘Twas the Darkest Night
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