Guest Post: Meet the Bad Boys from Nefertiti's Heart by A.W. Exley

I was torn about what to write for this guest post. I had two choices, either my daily routine as a writer, or sharing the men who occupy space in my head. Guess which won? :)

In Nefertiti's Heart the men are divided into two camps. First there are the good guys. We have Inspector Fraser, on the trail of a serial killer. Sergeant Connor, his muscle on the street. Lord Weaver Clayton, carrying the guilt of what his father did to Cara.

Then, there are the bad boys…

Let me introduce the head bad boy, Nathaniel Trent, Viscount Lyons also known as the Villainous Viscount, because of his underworld activities. He's a man who looks good in (and out!) of a suit. He keeps his emotions hidden deep inside and he wants something from Cara, and it's far more than an ancient artefact.

Next up is Nate's long-time friend and pirate captain, Lachlan Hawke, also known as Loki. He's a tattooed and pierced rogue, who rides the skies in his airship The Hellcat. Unlike Nate, Loki is an open book, to the point he has no internal dialogue. If there is a woman around, he likes to find an excuse to get his clothes off. He only has a small part in Nefertiti's Heart, but demanded a larger role in the sequel. He would also like me to point out that by small "part" I actually meant small "role"…

Last we have Jackson Jackson. His parents were so enamoured when he was born, they named him twice. Just don't rib him about it; he's a tad sensitive over the double name thing! Jackson is Nate's main bodyguard and henchman. Common born, with a rough edge, he calls a spade a spade and doesn't stand on ceremony with anyone. He usually refers to Cara as "doll" despite her being a noble. He and Cara get off to a rough start, what with her shooting him and all. Despite that, he has a grudging respect for her. Personally, I think he's developing a bit of a soft spot for her, despite his gruff exterior.

Do you always root for the good guys, or are you a fan of the bad boys? 

Who is your favourite literary bad boy?

Nefertiti's Heart
by A.W. Exley

Synopsis: 
Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father - sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.

Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.

Self-preservation fuels Cara's search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

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About the Author

Books and writing have always been an enormous part of my life. I survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, I overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.

Today, I write steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. I live in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.

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