We’re so pleased to have author E.J. Russell back with us today on the tour for her latest release, Tested in Fire, book two in the Art Medium series. E.J. has some artsy fun to share with us today, and there’s also a giveaway so be sure to check out the entry details below.

Welcome, E.J.!

Ceramics

Anyone who follows me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter probably knows by now that I’ve got twin sons who are both professional dancers. In fact, they’re dancing in the same company at the moment, and CH and I will be traveling to New York to see them perform this month! Yay!

DS A and B attended an arts magnet high school, specializing in dance, and having pretty much no interest in anything too intensely academic. Consequently, when they had to choose electives, DS A chose ceramics rather than, say, calculus.

Now, me—I’m so not a visual person, so if I were faced with that elective choice, I’d have chosen calculus over ceramics in a hot minute. I mean, art projects? That had to actually look good? The very thought has me teetering on the edge of panic and reaching for the wine.

But DS A did a great job. I mean, I doubt he’d ever be in the running as a ceramic artist like Antoinette Tessier in Tested in Fire, but at least none of his projects exploded in the kiln. I’m sure his teacher counted that as a win!

Rather than randomly creating random projects, the kids were, of course, directed by the teacher based on whatever principles she was introducing in any particular unit. One of my favorites was this one:

I can’t remember the exact wording of the assignment, but the gist was that they were supposed to create something that related to their specialty (but couldn’t be too “on the nose”). (To get the full effect, of course, you have to play the audition from A Chorus Line in the background—while ignoring the unfortunate eighties workout wear.

They had an assignment to make a 3D object and he made a rattle that looked as if it had just fallen off a supernatural tree. For another, they had to make…well…I’m not sure what the actual assignment was, but he made this:

I don’t think it has any supernatural properties, but I’m keeping my eye on it. Just in case.

About Tested in Fire

Six months ago, Stefan Cobbe was at rock bottom: grief-stricken, guilt ridden, debt laden, artistically blocked, and living on charity in an isolated mountain cabin. But after reconciling with his first love, Luke, and moving to Sarasota with him, Stefan is preparing for his first major show. Yes, he still has debts, and no, Luke doesn’t understand Stefan’s desire for independence. But compared to last year? No contest.

Luke Morganstern ought to be happy. After all, his art-investigation business has recovered and he’s got his boyfriend back. But Stefan stubbornly refuses to move in with him or accept Luke’s financial help, and it’s really starting to bug him. Who knew that the biggest test of their relationship wouldn’t be time or distance, but his own insecurities? After Luke’s next job—a trip to Italy to retrieve a mysterious artifact—he plans to convince Stefan that it’s time to totally commit.

But when Luke returns, he changes, and Stefan begins to suspect that the person in Luke’s skin isn’t Luke at all. He can hardly go to the police and claim his lover is the victim of a supernatural hijacking though. He needs alternative help to find Luke and get him back, because he refuses to let anyone—or anything—come between them again.

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About the Art Medium Series

Artists use all manner of materials to express their vision, to interpret the world around them, to affect the hearts and minds of their audience.

But what if the artist himself were the medium? And what if artistic inspiration weren’t the only force at work?

If painter Stefan Cobbe and art investigator Luke Morganstern don’t answer those questions fast, they stand to lose their reputations, their relationship—and their lives.

Buy The Artist’s Touch Here: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || iBooks || Kobo

E.J. Russell holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so naturally she’s spent the last three decades as a financial manager, database designer, and business-intelligence consultant. After her twin sons left for college and she no longer spent half her waking hours ferrying them to dance class, she returned to her childhood love of writing fiction. Now she wonders why she ever thought an empty nest meant leisure.

E.J. lives in rural Oregon with her curmudgeonly husband, the only man on the planet who cares less about sports than she does. She enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole.

Connect with E.J.: Website || Blog || Facebook || Twitter || Pinterest

The Giveaway

To celebrate the release of both books in the Art Medium series, E.J. is giving away a $25 Amazon credit and an ebook copy of both titles in the Legend Tripping series! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Contest closes at midnight, Eastern time, on April 7, 2017 and is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Don’t forget to leave your contact info!