Author spotlight & COMMENT giveaway, Avaritia by Mathew Ortiz {Review, Q&A and Dream Cast}

Welcome all to Maquintock Bay. A sleepy little town a few hours north of Boston on a picturesque stretch of New England coast. The town’s folk live a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the simpler life, even if just north of them dwell the infamous Oswald family. The Oswald Estate is only minutes north of the town but most people avoid it. The town’s history tells of witches and supernatural events at the stately mansion. Is there truth to the rumors? Witches aren’t real, are they? 

Prodigal son William Oswald Blackthorne has come home to take his place as head of Oswald House and his family. He sets about renovating and repairing his family home since it had fallen into disrepair. All seemed to be going well until he butted heads with his obstinate siblings, an overbearing aunt and the opinionated staff. Just when he thought everything was hitting its stride, Rushford Harrington, the head of the construction company, refuses to send his men to the house. Who the hell does the man think he is? No one tells an Oswald ‘no’! 

Rush Harrington has his hands full. His workers are frightened. The gossip about Oswald House has made it near impossible to find workers to do the renovations his company promised. Now the Oswald family members are making his life crazy with abrupt changes to the renovation plans. When he attempted to talk to William Oswald Blackthorne, the man refused to speak to him. So Rush pulled his teams. Next thing Rush knows, a handsome and irate blond man barges into his office and into his life; Rush realizes that nothing is ever going to be the same!  Grab your copy now from Amazon. 

If you are a fan of Charmed, Practical Magic and/or the Double Alchemy series by Susan MacNichol... you will LOVE this book.

The Oswald family Witches are descendants of a long line of powerful witches dating back to the Salem Witch trials. The four of them are strong, fierce, loyal and squabble like cats and dogs most of the time. Renovation of the family home has fallen on the shoulders of William, the oldest, who is constantly undermined by his siblings Duncan and Jaime, the only girl in this quad. The strained bond between William and Duncan is only surmounted when William starts dating the owner of the company providing the renovations, Rush Harrington.

You see, hundreds of years ago during the trials, the three eldest Oswald brothers were hanged for being witches. William, Oliver and Duncan to which the youngest and only surviving brother, Jaime, fought back against the family that killed his brothers... the Harringtons. And as this story progress’s, you learn that the Oswald’s mother Mia gave them their names for good reason.

William recognizes a bond and an attraction to Rush that is only possible through a bond mates connection. And yet, he fights it every step of the way. Rush is used to being the one in charge, the man on top (pun intended) and getting exactly what he wants. What he wants now is William, their families generations old feud doesn’t apply to them as far as Rush is concerned. But Rush is a human and William fears what will happen if he falls in love, accepts the bond and has to share his family secret. More so, he fears losing Rush when he learns the truth most of all.

This was an action packed, nonstop thrill ride full of emotions, passion and drama. All the while William and Rush are trying to navigate the evergrowing bond between them, the Oswalds are fighting a very real threat that wants to eliminate them all. Now William faces the fear of Rush being in danger because of who William is, which only adds to the stress on their budding relationship. But the chemistry they share is impossible to ignore, especially when fate is involved.

Ortiz definitely put in his time researching the craft, the trials and the supernatural aspect of this story. It shows in the finished product and a depth to the story that otherwise wouldn’t have been there. The passion and electricity that is evident between William and Rush just from that first meeting was evident as well. I loved the constant threat of danger and the ever present electricity that flowed between characters.

While there were a few typographical errors, I recognized the intensity with which Ortiz writes all of his stories, so the flow and the intrigue never faded. And if you are a fan of Ortiz’s Renovations series, you get to visit with those guys at the end of this story when he ties in the families. This really is a must read, It was long and took me a few hours, but it seriously felt like minutes by the time I reached the end. I saw a LOT of Practical Magic type issues and situations, so again, if you are a fan you’ll seriously love this supernatural story. 

Mathew Ortiz was born in Nuremburg Germany in 1970, the son of an Army man and his Hungarian wife. The youngest and most spoiled of three, he spent his younger days reading anything he could find. Hs family relocated to Fort Smith, Arkansas from Germany when he was only two. Here is where he attended primary school and college, obtaining a degree in Nursing. Always restless, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona. It was at a party he met the love of his life, Tim. After nearly nine years in Phoenix, Matt and Tim relocated to Orlando, Florida in the early 2000s to be closer to Tim’s parents. After writing so many papers for his Bachelor’s in Nursing, he wondered if he could write something for fun. He wrote his first novella in early 2012. Enjoying the positive responses, it emboldened him to keep going. Happy tapping away at his laptop, he spends quiet evening watching British Sitcoms with Tim and their plump lovable pug Ollie.

Matt Ortiz's Amazon page.

~ Where are you from, and where do you call home now? 

Well that’s a bit of a journey. I was born an Army brat in Nuremberg Germany. When I was two, my 

family moved to Ft. Smith, Arkansas. I lived there until I graduated nursing school. Then I moved to 

Phoenix, Arizona. It was there that I met my other half Tim. After ten years, his parent’s health began 

to decline, so we moved to Orlando, Florida to be closer to them. His mother past on two years ago and now his father lives with us. 

~ What inspires you when writing?

That’s the odd thing. It can be anything. Cookies and Coffee started out as a short story from a dream. 

The Love and Salvage came about from growing up gay in Arkansas and watching Duck Dynasty. I 

thought, why not write a quirky series of hillbillies and homos. Inspiration comes from anywhere for 

me. A movie, a picture, a dream. The Oswalds languished for over a year before I put the first words on paper, so to speak. By the time I started the premise, though the same, had radically altered.

~ While I was reading Avaritia, I was reminded of the TV show Charmed and the movie Practical Magic, was there any inspiration taken from these two forms of media when you were writing the story?

In a way yes, in that I wanted to portray a family of witches. I also wanted a family a male witches. I 

think I drew more upon Downton Abbey for the premise. As to the characters, I drew upon my own 

family’s dynamics to supply the angst of the characters. Nothing like firsthand experience with crazy 

family for the best inspiration.

~ How much research did you do into the Craft, and the Salem Witch trials? I found a lot of the 

information in the text to be accurate.

I knew that if was going to write something like this, that I would be crucified for inaccuracies. I have 

been an occult fan for years. I love shows like the Haunting in Connecticut, the Craft and Warlock. 

Any books on ghosts or the supernatural will interest me. I read about the Salem Witch trials as a 

child, I think around my tenth year. Other kids were watching cartoons, I was reading about witchcraft 

through the ages. So when writing, I have multiple extracts for information. I put my own spin on things, especially about the powers each witch has and how they develop. You will see more in the next book. 

~ How do you stay focused when writing? 

I usually go outside on my patio to write. In the fall, winter and spring, Florida weather is gorgeous. Out there I have peace and quiet. Now in the summer, I am trapped indoors from the humidity and heat.

It definitely is nosier in the house as compared to the patio. I just put my ear buds in and tune out my 

family. Oh and really good beer helps!

~ Who is your favorite character to write, and why?

From my old series, I loved writing Cormac O’Malley and his husband Addison Ong. In Oswalds, I like writing for Oliver. He is a grungy, frat boy, that everybody thinks is as dumb as a box a rocks. They couldn’t be more wrong. Oh and Hale! I loved Hale. He was my reluctant witch and I loved writing him, my version of Samantha Stevens.

~ What’s next for Mathew Ortiz? 

Well, I have six more sins to write and then I am writing three books to wrap up my Renovating Love, Cookies and Coffee and Love and Salvage Series. Then I think I can rest. Tonight however, I have a date with shortbread cookies and biscotti cream spread!

And now, lets meet the Oswald witches, shall we... 

William Oswald Blackthorne is the oldest of the Blackthorne siblings. Bossy, arrogant, hot headed, he is a total alpha male and is used to barking orders and getting results. He has the World Power of Evocation, specifically control and generation of electricity. This gift grants him the ability to control machines, more so computers. He parlayed that into a career as a computer programer. The owner of his own company, he loves what he does and his passion runs high for it.

Duncan is the second Blackthorne brother. Where William and Oliver are built like linebackers, Duncan is whippet thin. Bookish, he is the more thoughtful of the brothers, the more sensitive. His power over fire, is always trying to get out. It is a World power under Evocation. Not only is he a witch but he is a Rememberer. A witch that stores information others forget. Still and formal, Duncan has a darkness in him that matches his fire that he lets few see.

Oliver is the youngest male Blackthorne. Gifted with golden good looks and a winsome personality, he can charm his way into and out of any situation. Relying on his looks, his family thinks he is somewhat and airhead. They couldn’t be more wrong. His current power is moving objects with his telekinetic power, another World Evocation power. He also is the owner of ‘Restless Spirits’, a paranormal research group. He help out Seth Okuda and Levi Gaither get rid of their ghost.

With three gay older brothers always snatching up the hot guys could give any baby sister a complex. Not Jaime Blackthorne. Self-assured, this summoning witch can call forth objects and teleport them to her. A Conjuration power under the World abilities. Being so young when her parents died, she doesn’t remember them as well as her brothers and that pains her deeply. The path she is choosing is taking her away from Oswald House. A path she chose not to share with her brothers.

  

First let me say thank you to Mr. Ortiz for stopping by today and sharing some inside scoop on this hot new series, as well as his vision for these sassy, sexy witches! 

Want to win an ebook copy of Avaritia? Well, leave a comment below with a message for the Author. Have you read one of his other stories? Let him know your thoughts. Or just thank him for stopping by and donating this ebook today! Be sure to leave your contact email so that if you are the lucky winner, we can get you that ebook. Mr. Ortiz himself will choose the winner on the 21st. 

Good luck everyone!!!