Author Spotlight: Mary Bernsen

Introducing fantasy/paranormal author Mary Bernsen, and her novel Healing the Bayou.

What is a Queen without her King?

After learning that she is adopted, Eliza sets off to locate her biological family and finds them in the Louisiana bayou. But they’re more than just locals—they’re descended from the area’s most famous Voodoo queen, Marie Laveau—Eliza’s great-great-grandmother. Surrounded by a mysterious world of séances, spells, and sacrifices, Eliza finds herself worshiped as the last great priestess. What’s more, she’s inherited the ability to heal the souls of others with a simple touch of her hands.

Eliza is expected to cultivate this gift so she can claim her title as Queen and return the Voodoo community to glory. A task Eliza wouldn’t mind as long as she could perform it beside the devastating Samuel Mueller. But according to tradition, Samuel is her keeper, and a keeper never becomes romantically involved with his ward. His sacred duty is to protect her. And the bayou is rife with enemies who would sacrifice anything to eliminate outsiders like Eliza..

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Interview with Eliza:

1. What is your full name? Is there anything significant about your name?
My name is Eliza Lane Morgan.  I guess what's different about my name, is that it really isn't my name.
It's the name my adopted parents gave me.  Nicole Paris was my birth name.

2. How old are you?
Twenty-four.

3. Tell us about your family. What do you like and not like about them?
Well, the family that I grew up with was pretty awesome.  There was Mom, Dad, Uncle Charlie, and Aunt Patrice.  They were  the most welcoming, and accepting people I've ever known.  But they lied to me my entire life about who I was.

My biological family is a totally different story.  I never met my parents, but my aunt Vivian is a plotting, scheming, witch (literally!)

4. Who was your first kiss, and what did you think of it?
Samuel was my first kiss, and it was...breath taking.

5. What is your occupation?
I'm a student--a psychology major.

6. What are your best and worst qualities?
I definitely have a tendency to be way too trusting, which I guess could count as both my best and worst trait, right?

7. What quality do you value most in a romantic partner?
I have to know he will protect me without smothering my independence.  I want to know I can rely on him.

8. What is your favorite thing to do?
Help the wonderful Voodoo community...be it providing blessings, teachings, or just a warm, welcome home.

9. What is your greatest fear?
Losing any one else I love...I've lost way too many.

10. What is your most treasured possession?
The djakout Samuel gave me.  Even when I didn't believe in the power it posesses to protect me, I knew he did and I loved him for it.

Healing the Bayou is available at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

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About the author:
Mary Bernsen is a southwest Florida native currently living in Punta Gorda with her two beautiful children and a third, much larger child that she affectionately calls husband. She is a stay-at-home mother and spends her days creating characters on the good side of twenty-five because she is in serious denial about the fact that she is now on the bad side of it. She has a passion for fantasy of any kind along with historical fiction. If she isn't having conversations with her made-up friends, you can usually find her clipping coupons or out on the boat enjoying the muddy waters of Peace River (as long as it isn't below 80 degrees).

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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