Judas’ Kiss haunts him 2 millennia into his unending existence. Torn between petty gods and their hunger for power, a faithless police officer slips further into machinations that have already cost the life of someone he loved. Mark’s story finally begins to unfold in the newest volume of Angella Graff’s well received series: The Judas Curse.

Just as Detective Ben Stanford is ready to put the past at rest, he’s pulled down once again into the chaos of gods, theology, and mystery. Told that his sister is alive and the two immortals, Mark and Judas, have been kidnapped by the treacherous goddess, Nike, Ben must find a way to rescue the pair before she can harness their powers.

While Mark waits alone, forced to write out the story of how their powers came to be, and Judas lay tortured by the angry Goddess, a reluctant Ben must enlist the help of an unwilling being from the ancient Norse Pantheon.

Time is ticking, and the hard-headed detective must use everything he learned in the past to prevent another disaster, which could potentially wipe-out the human race.

Excerpt: Mark’s Story

Author Interview

What are the main themes of your book?

The main themes of the book are sort of fantasy incorporating mythology and religion. It’s trying to marry the beliefs of the modern world with the ancients.

Who or what inspired your story?

The series itself was inspired by all of the theology classes I took when I was at University studying theology. This particular book even more so, since I got to delve into the backstory of Mark and Judas and sort of implement a lot of the old knowledge I acquired during my studies. I’m a history fanatic, so any chance I get to tell a historical tale, I jump at the chance. From my feedback, that part of the book really shines.

What do you like best about your primary characters?

Well for Ben, I like to watch him grow from being the hard-headed Atheist guy to becoming more open and more open-minded. Watching him attempt to reconcile his own personal beliefs with what’s going on around him is fun and interesting.

With Mark, I like watching the person he is, and seeing bits of his old personality come through, despite how old he is.

With Judas, honestly I’m enjoying his sort of absolute apathy to the world around him after everything he’s seen and everything he’s been through.

What are their worst peculiarities?

Ben’s hard-headedness probably first of all. And his ability to deny things that are happening right in front of his face- though he is growing beyond that.

Mark’s would probably be his absolute rationality and how he takes everything completely and totally literal.

With Jude, I would go with also what I love about him, which is his complete and total apathy. It’s tough to watch a character that just doesn’t care anymore.

How does your main character evolve?

Ben really makes a lot of strides in the way of becoming more accepting. Even if he doesn’t believe, he accepts that things aren’t always what they seem, and it allows him to take greater, and safer steps forward.

Mark doesn’t really evolve much yet. He’s still very stuck in the person that he is, and this sense of self-preservation, though he does let go of a few things towards the end of the book.

Jude does break out of his apathetic tendencies towards the end, and realizes that there is a little bit of fire left in him.

What’s the principal message you want to send to your audience?

That not everything is what it seems. Mostly that nearly all religions came from a same base and same place. This book isn’t meant to provide a new religion, merely to entertain and to encourage people to step out of their literary boxes and try something new.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has said about your book?

“… Graff’s background in theology and history comes out splendidly in that she paints an accurate picture of the times and characters, but she also introduces teachings, theories and alternative beliefs about Jesus and his story. Luckily not in the flat and fast way the Da Vinci Code used to exploit such themes but in a much more solid and founded way.” –Christoph Fischer

Where can we purchase it? It’s available at Amazon and at Createspace for the paperback.

About the Author

Angella Graff was born and raised in the desert city of Tucson, Arizona. She married and became a mother very young, and after getting started with her family, began her University studies where she found her passion for creative writing, history and theology.

She now resides in Tucson with her husband Joshua, three children, Christian, Isabella and Adia, and their three cats, Archive (Ivy), Lasciel and Fix. She prefers to spend her days writing, gardening, and reading non-fiction theology theory books. Angella is also an avid, if not fanatic fan of Doctor Who and BBC Sherlock, which tend to dominate her dry, sarcastic humor, a lot of which is apparent in her writing.

Currently Angella is working on an Urban Fantasy series called The Judas Curse, involving extensive research into Mythos, Christianity and history. The first book of The Judas Curse, The Awakening, was released November 2012.

For more information, visit Angella’s website, Amazon page and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

To learn more about the author and her work visit Angella’s author showcase page.