Lisa: We’re so pleased to welcome author Sadie Rose Bermingham today on the tour for her newest collaboration with author Bellora Quinn, Digging Deeper, book four in their Elemental Evidence series from Pride Publishing. Welcome Sadie! Let’s start with a book question: what’s your favorite scene in Digging Deeper, and what makes it a fave?
Sadie: In this, the fourth book in the Elemental Evidence series, things heat up when Mari’s abusive ex, Tomas Arregui, comes to London, ostensibly recruiting Elementals. The tension begins to rise when he and Jake bang heads for the first time. I love this little scene because it tells us pretty much all we need to know about Tomas in a very short snatch of conversation. Jake already dislikes him and Tomas pretty much demonstrates to the reader that Jake’s mistrust is not out of order so he gives the man a piece of his mind.
Lisa: Would you care to share an excerpt from the scene with us?
The Excerpt: “The security work I do here doesn’t have anything to do with my being an Elemental, most of the time.”
“But you are a part of the program here for Elementals? I thought they would have you working on projects using your ability?”
Jake clenched his jaw at the not so subtle implication that he was entirely replaceable. “A portion of my time is designated for research and testing related to psychometry and how it might be used to breach certain secure locations, but I also work on IT systems.”
Arregui’s expression was blatantly patronizing. “I see. Our people will be very interested in the work you’ve done, I’m sure. Have the programs you’ve worked on been tested against an interface?”
“An interface, or a specific interface in particular?” Jake countered.
Arregui hesitated for a moment. “I must confess, I hoped to meet with your fellow Elemental, too, but I understand Dr. Gale has moved on to bigger and better things. We worked together for a short time in Barcelona. Marijne was always ambitious.”
The statement was innocuous on the surface but the tone fairly dripped with smug condescension. If Jake hadn’t already known they had slept together, the emphasis on how ambitious Mari was certainly would have had him wondering.
“I don’t think you and Ilmarinen have anything more to discuss. He’s told you as much already.”
Arregui raised one perfectly formed, mahogany-colored eyebrow in response. He glanced sidelong, in Professor Newberry’s direction, but she was over on the far side of the office talking to another colleague and not paying them much heed.
“And why would Dr. Gale tell you such a thing, Mr. Chivis?” he asked in a smooth, atonal purr.
“Oh, I think you know perfectly well why. Listen, whatever past you and he had, he’s made it obvious that he doesn’t want to relive it. I’d advise you not to keep embarrassing yourself by chasing him.”
“Or you will see me off, Jake? Is that how it is with you two? What a surprise. I did not think that… Well, never mind,” Tomas said. He did not seem offended by this hushed warning. “Let me give you a word of caution concerning Dr. Gale, Jake. Marijne’s a beauty, and the brightest there is. But that one won’t give you what you want, no matter how hard you work for it. Don’t waste too much time chasing after that sweet tail, my friend.”
Jake laughed at him. He couldn’t help it. “God, you are as much of a pompous ass as I thought you’d be. What Mari gives me is none of your fucking business.” He should have left it at that but impulsively he added, “Just because you failed to perform doesn’t mean every man he’s with is destined to failure as well.”
Lisa: Have you ever created a character so despicable that even you hated them and can’t believe you made them up? If so, who was it and what made them so awful?
Sadie: Tomas is pretty nasty but back when I wrote my first full length book, I created a character named Ceria who was my principal Big-Bad in the story. I primarily hate her right now because I’m working through that book/series to see if there is anything retrievable and it strikes me now how appallingly clichéd and one dimensional she is as a villain. She is an evil bitch, who basically seduced a sorcerer to his death so that she could steal his talents for her unborn child (magic is inherited in this world) then planned to sacrifice the child in order to raise a Demonic Entity to do her bidding. Ceria is focussed on creating chaos in the world I built in order to profit from it magically. She truly has no redeeming characteristics – apart from great hair and excellent fingernails! *laughs*
That series also contains a character named Jared Greybane, whom I hated so much that I killed him, then resurrected him (twice) so that I could kill him again!
Lisa: Let’s take off your author cap and put on your reader cap for a moment: what do you look for in a book, what sort of protagonists do you love, and do you have a favorite genre/sub-genre?
Sadie: I love Fantasy. My reading habits are heavy on fantasy fiction, both High and Urban. I like a good outsider-prevailing storyline. Heroes from the wrong side of the tracks. Bad boys made good. If there’s a good dose of gender-fluidity in there too, it doesn’t hurt. I do like an unconventional protagonist in the stories that I read. Robin Hobb is good for this. Her wonderful, defiantly non-binary Fool character is one of my favourites in modern fantasy. Mercedes Lackey and Poppy Z Brite are also brilliant at writing androgynous MCs. I fell in love with Lackey’s beautiful tragic Last Herald Mage, Vanyel in my twenties. He was my first real experience of a queer MC in fantasy. PZB’s Drawing Blood, a haunted house tale about a hacker on the run and an orphaned cartoonist, drawn to each other and the house where the latter’s family were murdered by his suicidal father, is a masterpiece of urban horror fantasy.
Lisa: What book are you reading right now?
Sadie: I’ve just finished Angel Martinez’s All the World’s an Undead Stage, which is the last book in her wonderful Offbeat Crimes series. These stories about a precinct of cops with defective paranormal abilities have keep me entertained for a couple of years now and I’m kind of sad that this is the last one. On the upside – I’m just about to beta Trysts and Burning Embers, which is the second book in her new Lijun series with Freddy Mackay and I’m very excited to read that. The first book ‘Fireworks and Stolen Kisses’ was a fantastic, challenging read and I’m already very drawn into the world of two-spirit beings and the very different social and ethnic backgrounds they are creating for their main characters there.
Lisa: If James Corden invited you to Carpool Karaoke, what song(s) would you sing with him?
Sadie: I love this question. 😊 As a lifelong muso, there are so many songs that I’d love to include. Probably far too many for a simple fifteen-minute video clip but these are just a few.
I love Scissor Sisters, so either I Don’t Feel Like Dancing or Filthy Gorgeous would have to be in there for the glitter.
Pet Shop Boys are another favourite but there are so many PSB songs that I would struggle to pick just one – maybe It’s A Sin or Shameless.
Trash, by my musical addiction Suede is another that fills me with joy, and I know that James is a Suede fan because I’ve seen him at one of their London shows.
David Bowie would have to be in there, probably Life on Mars for epic quality.
And I grew up listening to ABBA, so I guess Dancing Queen or Take A Chance On Me, to finish.
Lisa: I’m glad you liked that question! That’s such a fun segment, because it doesn’t matter if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket; there’s nothing that’s not fun about singing your favorite songs at the top of your lungs 😊 Thanks for dropping by today, Sadie!
About Digging Deeper
Unearthing the past brings them closer together…and to danger.
A maniac is on the loose in London, drugging young women and assaulting them before burying them in shallow graves.
When Inspector John Cordiline asks Jake Chivis for his unique assistance as a Fire Elemental with the Cemetery Rapist case, he feels he can hardly refuse. What begins as a simple job—trying to get memories from a suspect to aid conviction—soon takes a darker turn when one of the victims dies and an offer of help comes from an unexpected and unwelcome source.
Dr. Mari Gale is disturbed to find that his former lover Tomas Arregui is London and wants to meet with him. Despite his best efforts to avoid the man, fate seems to be pushing him onto a collision course with Tomas. And the impact will cast him into more trouble than he could ever have imagined.
Digging deeper for the truth could be the death of them.
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of non-consensual sex, murder, graphic violence, desecration and description of confined spaces.
Buy Links: Pride Publishing || 3rd Party eTailers
About the Authors
Originally hailing from Detroit Michigan, Bellora now resides on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida where a herd of Dachshunds keeps her entertained. She got her start in writing at the dawn of the internet when she discovered PbEMs (Play by email) and found a passion for collaborative writing and steamy hot erotica. Soap Opera like blogs soon followed and eventually full novels.
The majority of her stories are in the M/M genre with urban fantasy or paranormal settings and many with a strong BDSM flavour.
You can take a look a Bellora’s blog and find her on Facebook and Twitter.
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A storyteller since before she started school, Sadie also enjoys reading, photography, live music and long walks on the beach.
Sadie has worked as a bookseller, a pedigree editor for the racing industry and a local and family history researcher. Originally from the north of England, she has been working her way across the UK ever since. She currently resides on the south east coast with her long term partner, where she hopes to buy a mobile home and establish a whippet farm.
You can take a look at Sadie’s Website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
The Novel Approach Reviews 
Great interview and series!
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