Susan Hanniford Crowley's Blog: From Nights of Passion Blog, page 123

Super Blue Blood Moon Paranormal-Scope

Wednesday is a moon event. For more information, visit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/01/26/how-and-where-to-see-the-super-blue-blood-moon-of-2018/?utm_term=.72a22c1b93eb

While I am not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked to the paranormal in the world in many ways. So are you.

The paranormal-scope is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to guide your life by.

The week for:

Aries:

House elves are on strike. Time for an early spring cleaning. Get rid of clutter.

Taurus:

Zombies wander looking for better fashion. It’s time to get rid of the old worn out stuff and get some new outfits.

Gemini:

Gremlins are on the prowl. Mechanical failures are possible at this time. Appliances get old and break.

Cancer:

Elves are celebrating a new doorway opening. Keep your eyes open for changes at work and in your social life.

Leo:

Pegasus lifts his wings and takes you soaring. You will see new wonders.

Virgo:

Faeries are dancing with cheer. Good things are coming your way.

Libra:

Shapeshifters exercise for fun. Check with your doctor and review your exercise routine.

Scorpio:

A Pixie pulls your hair. You are not paying attention to something vital.

Sagittarius:

Werewolves love the comfort of the pack. Plan a get-together for family or friends.

Capricorn:

There’s a vampire in your corner. Fun and mystery is coming your way.

Aquarius:

A mermaid song can be beautiful. Expand your music collection and listen more.

Pisces:

Dragons fire your imagination. Explore your creativity. Take a class or workshop. Make new friends.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!

NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle! In Amazon Print! In Barnes and Noble Print!

Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and  Barnes and Noble Print

Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.

Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.

Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.

A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.

The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print

When Love Survives, Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Hi, My Name is…Author Interview with Tiffany Roberts by Ripley Proserpina

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This summer, I was introduced to the writing of author Tiffany Roberts. I read Dustwalker, a post-apocolyptic love story. Immediately, I was hooked on the writer’s voice, and then I learned Tiffany Roberts was actually the pseudonym of husband and wife writing team Tiffany and Robert Freund! A husband and wife writing team?! I couldn’t imagine sharing my words with anyone, and when I say sharing, I don’t mean, “Hey, let me tell you about my world,” I mean, “These are my toys. You can’t touch them.” But Tiffany Roberts is more mature than me, and as a result, creates characters and worlds that are utterly unique. Tiffany and Robert agreed to answer my questions about their writing team, and share it with you, so ENJOY!

Q: I’ve never written as a team—what do you do when one of you wants a story to go in a specific direction and the other doesn’t? Or has that never happened? If so, are there any genres one of you would like to write in that the other just isn’t comfortable with? 

A: We tend to avoid conflict in story direction by creating fairly detailed outlines for every book before we start writing. This gives us both a firm idea of where we’re going and keeps us on the same page. That’s not to say we never have disagreements on elements of the story, just that we work most of them out before we start so the actual writing process is as smooth as possible.

Tiffany has played around with erotica, but Rob has no interest in it. When it came to writing Undying, our entry in the Sonhadra sci-fi romance collaboration series, Rob wasn’t up for reverse harem, and while Tiffany enjoys reading them from time to time, she was okay with avoiding it.

Q: Recently, you published the book, Treasure of the Abyss. What inspired this story and what was the biggest challenge you faced while writing it?

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A: The inspiration actually came from one of Tiffany’s erotica ideas. She was in the middle of writing a short story about an octopus man/creature who saves a human woman from drowning when she suddenly decided she didn’t want it to be a short, but a full-length novel written under Tiffany Roberts. And she is extremely glad she did.

The biggest challenge for this book was getting into Jax’s head. Figuring out how to make him relatable but alien was difficult at times, more so than any other inhuman character we’ve written before.

And of course his *cough* anatomy. We know some people are turned off by the tentacles, but our goal was to make them just another part of his body, not some disgusting thing. We’ve seen reviews saying we didn’t get naughty enough with them, but ultimately, that was never our intention. We wanted a love story with steamy love scenes. Not tentacle porn (as people are quick to joke and assume, haha!).

Q: One of things I love about your writing is your voice, and how you seamlessly switch between character points of view. Do you think being a male and female writing team gives you a unique ability to get into a character’s psyche? 

A: It’s definitely helpful to our process. It allows us to split the burden—Rob primarily writes the male perspective, and Tiffany the female. In the later parts of a book, we’ve usually hit the point where either of us can step in as necessary if one of us gets stuck.

Q: Dustwalker was the first book I read of yours; it featured a post-apocalyptic universe where robots and humans lived side by side. What inspired you to write this and what draws you to science fiction?

A: There were quite a few things that inspired us to write Dustwalker, and they all came together in a flurry of creativity like we’ve never experienced before or since. The main inspiration for Tiffany was a drawing she came across by Luis Royo featuring a male robot and a human woman (sorry, too dirty to share!). Rob had planned to write a short story about a robot who falls in love with a human while attempting to figure out why her dancing is so unlike anything he can replicate (it was going to be a gift for Tiffany). And then Tiffany was also listening to ‘In The Night’ by The Weeknd which was a big inspiration for creating Lara. We ended up talking to each other one night and shared these ideas (along with a lot more that are too numerous to get into here), and were surprised at each other’s interest in it, as we’d only done fantasy stories together up until that point.

We found science fiction to be extremely fun! For us, it provided the limitless, imaginative world-building we loved from fantasy, and it created something of a sense of liberation — being able to utilize modern language, concepts, settings, and items made the experience much smoother for us in many respects. While we do plan to write more fantasy books in the future, we’ve fallen in love with sci-fi romance, and will continue writing them until we run out of ideas.

Speech Round of Randomness 

Captain Kirk or Captain Picard? 

Tiffany: Eh…no opinion *Whispers to Rob* Who?

Rob: Picard.

Enterprise or Firefly? 

Tiffany: I’ll go with Firefly…though I’ve only seen the movie, Serenity.

Rob: I…have the same answer as Tiffany, exactly.

What is the last song you listened to? 

Tiffany: Wicked Game by Kristofer Dommin

Rob: Fear of the Dark by Iron Maiden

What is the last book you read? 

Tiffany: Whirlwind by YOU!

Rob: Do comics count? Dragonball by Akira Toriyama

Jetpack or Hoverboard? 

Tiffany: I’m telling Rob ‘No’ right now.

Rob: Hoverboard. What’s wrong with a hoverboard, Tiffany?

Tiffany: You are so accident prone.

Rob: That’s not even true. A couple of incidents and I’m accident prone? Don’t make me choose the jetpack instead!

Bio:

Tiffany Roberts is the pseudonym for Tiffany and Robert Freund, a husband and wife writing duo. Tiffany was born and bred in Idaho, and Robert was a native of New York City before moving across the country to be with her. The two have always shared a passion for reading and writing, and it is their dream to combine their mighty powers to create the sorts of books they want to read. They live in southwestern Idaho with their three children, where they are now actively pursuing their dream.

Social Media Links: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTiffanyRoberts/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authortiffanyroberts/

Buy Links:

Treasure of the Abyss: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078M9FJFL

Dustwalker: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073YSSZBK

How to Write A Fiction Novel, Part 10 – Love Scenes

Let’s not be shy. If you’re going to be a romance author, you will be writing love scenes. [image error]The “sweet” romances don’t go past kisses and hand-holding. But other romances whether they be contemporary, paranormal, or historical, have passion unleashed.

There are many books and workshops on this matter that give a great deal more details that I can give in one blog post.

Most authors agree that dialogue is crucial to setting the mood. Words between lovers are everything. It tells you how they feel, what they are willing to commit to physically and emotionally, and their emotional state.

The characters tell so much about themselves by what they to their lover and what they take off and how. How they treat each other whether it’s tender and gentle or playful or lustful abandon reveals so much about their commitment and intent.

Here is an example from Vampire King of New York.  It’s a scene where Max and Evelyn are trying to make some decisions about their budding relationship.

*

Evelyn hadn’t expected to like Maria and the mountains. It took her back to when Jack took her on a trip to Austria and Eastern Europe. She couldn’t stop looking at the mountains. They made her feel calm. She liked the cragginess, the wind at night. The longer she watched, the more absorbed she became in the story. The evil taking over Austria was the Nazis. When Captain von Trapp is drafted and sings with his family for the last time in the festival, tears ran down her cheeks. Evil waited to escort him to this German ship. “So long, farewell.” It’s only a song, but also a ruse to get them off stage and into hiding. When they left their hiding place in the abbey and went into the mountains to flee to Switzerland, her rapidly beating heart started to calm. Death had been too close. Evelyn knew this feeling very well.

“Did you like it?” Max looked down at her, obviously trying to understand her expression. “All I can feel from you is pain then relief.”

“I understand why you like the movie.”

He kissed her. Evelyn returned the kiss. Her tongue easily parted his lips and stroked his fangs.

“Aieee.” He pushed gently away from her for a moment. “Evelyn, you just asked me for sex. Did you know if you stroked a vampire’s fangs, you’re initiating sex?”

“Yes.” Evelyn looked up at him, feeling every inch the vixen.

He narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure? After what happened today . . .”

She nodded.

Max pulled her into his lap and into a kiss. He worshipped her face with his lips. Tracing her jawline down to her neck, he blazed a hot trail of kisses. In a blur, he moved her under him on the sofa. She never opened her eyes, but trusted in his hands, his body. Max was very aware of how much she trusted him.

*

To see what happens in this part of the book, visit this link for the R-Rated scene at our adult content site Romance by Starlight at https://romancebystarlight.wordpress.com/2018/01/27/love-scene-from-vampire-king-of-new-york-continues/

To see what’s next, check out Vampire King of New York at Amazon in Kindle and Amazon Print at https://www.amazon.com/Vampire-King-Susan-Hanniford-Crowley-ebook/dp/B00D70NC6O

or at the Barnes and Noble Online Store in Print: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vampire-king-of-new-york-susan-hanniford-crowley/1116839039

*

If you have missed the other lessons in “How to Write a Fiction Novel,” here they are:

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-2/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/11/25/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-1/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/09/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-3-do-your-characters-breathe/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/16/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-4-how-to-avoid-the-squishy-middle/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/23/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-5-climaxes-and-how-they-happen/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/30/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-6-real-dialogue/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2018/01/06/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-7-settings-are-more-than-a-place/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2018/01/13/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-8-material-objects-of-importance/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-9-clothes-make-the-character/

Happy Writing. Next week we will pause to talk about “Conferences.” If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write them in the comments box.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!

NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle! In Amazon Print! In Barnes and Noble Print!

Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and  Barnes and Noble Print

Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.

Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.

Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.

A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.

The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print

When Love Survives, Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Jockeying For My First Big Win by Stacy Hoff

   

Last week I found out that JOCKEYING FOR YOU won Southern Magic RWA 2017 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. JOCKEYING was entered in the contemporary romance category. I am still over the moon with joy. JOCKEYING was one my hardest novels to write, due to the extensive amount of research I had to conduct.

Before I wrote this novel, I knew noting about horse racing. The learning curve was steep. Thankfully, writing JOCKEYING was a labor of love.

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Now that I received this award, I can take extra pride in this book. And I’m inspired to keep on writing more.

Onward and forward! (While toasting my win with a glass of champagne.)

SIGN UP FOR STACY’S NEWSLETTER! http://eepurl.com/bG0HZD

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JOCKEYING FOR YOU print version http://amzn.to/2eanq2o

JOCKEYING FOR YOU Kindle version http://amzn.to/2c8Hi5t

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WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS FOR STACY HOFF:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorStacyHoff

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorStacyHoff

Web: http://www.stacyhoff.com 

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HOTTER THAN THE CARIBBEAN – In the Caribbean, the secrets, sex, and scandals are hotter!

AMAZON LINK: http://amzn.to/2xW3WtJ

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BETTING ON LOVE IN VEGAS (BUILDING LOVE series, #1)  Love is the biggest gamble of all!

NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT: https://www.amazon.com/Betting-Love-Vegas-Stacy-Hoff/dp/1682913422/

Kindle version: http://amzn.to/2kAgBvK

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DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC print version http://amzn.to/2cubwCf

DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC kindle version http://amzn.to/1KjfP9V

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DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES print version http://amzn.to/2dXO1zV

DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES Kindle version http://amzn.to/1YEseie

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LAWFULLY YOURS print version http://amzn.to/2e6Ug8k

LAWFULLY YOURS Kindle version http://amzn.to/1Ky5CZm 

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Good to be You

Do you ever find your days monotonous? Why does that seem to bother so many of us? And yet when it comes to so many things in life we all want to be one sort of way. I know this doesn’t apply to everybody but a good majority of us want to be slimmer, healthier, smarter, more confident, more eloquent and the list goes on and on.

Do you have a favorite movie start? Or singer? Or even sports player? A lot of times, our favorite starts are our favorite because they were amazing in such and such movie or because they sang this awesome song but additionally, we tend to admire those that we want to emulate to some degree. I mean who wouldn’t want to be incredibly talented and paid large amounts of money to be that way?

And yet, could you imagine a world where everyone look and spoke and sang and acted like Beyonce or Tom Brady or Chris Pine? I mean sure we would all be beautiful and talented but would that beauty and talent really stand out if it was all the same and wouldn’t that world be a tiny bit boring?

Bottom line? Variation is good, diversity is good, change is good and if they aren’t all the time then I’ll stop by saying they can be good. All that means for you all reading this blog is that in my opinion, we are all fine as we are. Sure it isn’t bad to be healthier nor is it bad to educate ourselves but we shouldn’t have to be someone else to be accepted nor should we place those expectations on others.

Happy writing this week!

 

Dark Mornings Paranormal-Scope

Things may not be what they seem. Many things are in flux and changing.

While I am not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked to the paranormal in the world in many ways. So are you.

The paranormal-scope is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to guide your life by.

The week for:

Aries:

Pixies are flexible. Things are changing for you on all fronts. Don’t exclude travel from your plans.

Taurus:

Elves appreciate a strong worker. Your efforts are starting to be noticed. Keep going. Smile a lot and be on time.

Gemini:

Zombies are persistent and when they work as a team succeed. Do the same to achieve your goals. This does not include eating brains.

Cancer:

Werewolves meet new people and don’t put expectations on them. Get to know a person better first.

Leo:

A vampire knows you’re letting others suck the life out of you. Stop overworking yourself. Be more balanced in your work and social life.

Virgo:

Gremlins use teamwork to get things done. Use this method at work and in your family life.

Libra:

Mermaids can be sensitive. Be aware that people are having a hard time. Be sensitive to the feelings of others.

Scorpio:

Faeries are delicate creatures, but they don’t take pressure from anyone to influence what they do. Be your own person.

Sagittarius:

Goblins are as careful with their money as they are in career decisions. You take care also.

Capricorn:

Dragons soar to new heights and take you with them. Prepare for changes in your life.

Aquarius:

Gnomes are brilliant when it comes to organization, which is a key for you. You must organize everything in your work and personal life to keep up the positive flow.

Pisces:

Shapeshifters mean change. You’re going to meet people that will be significant in your career. Pay attention.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!

NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle! In Amazon Print! In Barnes and Noble Print!

Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and  Barnes and Noble Print

Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.

Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.

Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.

A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.

The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print

When Love Survives, Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

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This is the End, Beautiful Friend… by Ripley Proserpina

This is the end of the book. I have ten thousand more words (or fifty pages, double-spaced, twelve-point font) until my current work in progress is finished. The stage is set, and all the characters are ready for the big show.

And I’m dragging my feet.

This is my favorite part (except for the beginning, I LOVE writing the beginning of a book), but I find myself a little bit nervous about tying it all up. The characters in this book, the second of a three-book series, will return after all.

But I’m not ready to say goodbye.

In between this book the final one in the series, I need to write three unrelated books. That means there’s going to be a few months (probably more) until I see these characters again. And they’ve been my good buddies these last weeks. I don’t want to say goodbye. I don’t want to make them suffer before I give them their happily-ever.

Even now, the page is open, the cursor blinking at me, and I closed it to write this, putting off their ending because I just don’t want to be done. Briar, the first book in this series, combined all the things I love about writing—research, fantasy, mythology, history.

Then I got into the second book. It has everything I loved, times ten. I got to do more research, this time about evolutionary biology and art history. I have notebooks full of information about mimicry and predators than I may never use.

So wish me luck in these last days, the end of the story. And I’ll keep reminding myself that I have other notebooks, with other stories, that are waiting to be told.

How to Write A Fiction Novel, Part 9 – Clothes Make the Character

So much is revealed by what your character wears. In my book, Vampire Princess of New York, Donovan Dupre is seen wearing his jeans, t-shirt and leather jacket, as he parks his Harley outside an antique shop. Right away you get the impression that Donovan is a bit of a loner, definitely a tough guy that would do anything for the right woman, and a little set in his ways. When he goes in to see Noblesse Vander Meer, because she has asked him to be there, she is wearing a pencil shirt, blouse, her hair in a tight bun. She’s all business. But as the story progresses you see the change in clothing and hidden character traits reveal themselves.

In many ways, writing the clothing of your characters in their first scene gives the reader insight into their personal characteristics, quirks, beliefs, feelings about who they are or who they think they have to be.

In the first scene from Vampire of New York, you see the real Max Vander Meer, the vampire behind the name who has lived for over a thousand years and still believes in the old ways. He not only believes but deep down, he is still that Viking.

*

[image error]Maximillion Vander Meer stood in the jagged mouth of the ice cave with a wolf skin girding his loins and fur boots on his feet. A frigid breeze breathed its welcome over his bare chest, arms and legs.

He smiled and closed his eyes to step back into the Viking past he loved, where he was free. He threw back his head and howled in exuberant abandonment. Then he ripped off the wolf skin and kicked off his boots. Max ran to the shadowed alcove he knew so well. A flicker of the past sparked in his brain and Vikings filled the cave, their voices rich in the chant of a ritual forgotten in the modern age, invoking the protection and wisdom of Odin, Thor, and Freya. Then he blinked and they were gone. Their voices silenced by time.

Every time he entered this sacred place hollowed out by his ancestors, their presence worked magic and distracted his weary heart from the curse inhabiting his body. This power brought him back to the Viking warrior deep within him, as only here could he reconnect with his lost humanity. Every passing moment the curse pulled him further from whom and what he’d once been. That was the danger in being a vampire. It wasn’t the chill of his body, but the distance that crept into his heart. He was on the edge of forgetting how the laughter of his son warmed him to his toes. The memory of Svenna’s delicious heat as her soft skin lay against his flesh igniting the fire between them, slipped through his fingers like water. Inhaling the fragrance of flowers in her hair had made him feel powerful. Even the excitement of the next adventure filled with salt spray and swords clashing faded away. His heart no longer raced.

The dire flaw in immortality was the sameness. Centuries of monotony blurred into others. Few ancient ones survived the deadly soul-numbing tedium of every day being the same. Closing on a thousand years, too many chose to lie in the sun and burn in agony over the course of two days until they crisped away in the wind. When the true burning began, night, the blessed night, offered no reprieve. The recent “chosen” death of his friend Coelhus was etched in his memory, making Max’s need more urgent than it had ever been. Coelhus had given up. After centuries of dreaming of a woman named Celeste, he ceased to believe she could be real. Coelhus could no longer bear the loneliness and the endless searching. Consumed by his dashed dreams, he gave his body to the sun. Max stayed with him in his last moments, and while he couldn’t deter his friend, he resolved not to end in ashes himself.

Time had robbed him of love, but today, in this moment, Max meant to get it back. Right now! Only this sanctuary of ice and stone seemed real to him; the human world faded into insignificance. Even the responsibility he owed his own kind lost its meaning. He had come to make a last sacrifice. If it didn’t work, he didn’t know what he would do next. His belief, however antiquated when viewed by others, never failed him.

He had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Since the death of his wife many centuries before, nothing more could happen to his empty heart. The feeling of being human haunted him from time to time like an elusive fragrance or taste. Memories were a different matter. The curse, as he called it, made every memory eternal, the pain as raw and consuming as the day he’d lost her.

Squeezing the ancient dagger in his fist, Max stepped up to the frozen altar. The three carved stone figures stared blankly at him. Time, and a growing sophistication, taught him that they were nothing but stone, still the part of him that was Viking would always believe. Holding fast to that reverence of a bygone age, he stood before them.

“I do not call on you, Odin, Father to all, but I respect your wisdom.” He bowed. “I do not call on you, Thor, the strength of every warrior, but I respect your power.” He bowed again. “I call on Freya’s mercy to regain my house, to find the only woman who can heal my heart.” Kneeling with his gaze fixed to the ground, he then rose to stand over the frozen altar. Before the feminine carved figure, he sliced his forearm and let the blood drip onto the icy surface. “In the name of Freya, let me be worthy. Lead me to love. Help me find it or lock me in the ice forever. I can no longer bear the torment of life without true love.”

In that moment, Max felt more Viking than he had in centuries. Every night since their parting, he had dreamt of his wife, Svenna. He remembered their wedding night. She was frightened, and he could not stand the idea of her fearing him.

“I will kiss you, Svenna, and I will keep kissing you until you tell me that you are ready to receive me.”

She stared at him with tears in her eyes and pressed her lips to his. He kissed her back and after tenderly ministering to her mouth with gentle nibbles and playfully entering her mouth with his tongue, he kissed every part of her face then her neck, then her shoulders. Each soft part of her surrendered beneath his kisses and caresses.

Finally with eyes partly closed and a smile of complete ecstasy on her lips, she whispered, “Take me, my love, and make me yours.”

Max lingered in those thoughts, replaying his favorite bits in his mind. Then the dream grew dark.

With one bad decision, Max lost his love forever when he left to pillage. That’s what Vikings did, but he shouldn’t have, not that one time. He should have stayed and respected the omen she received in a dream.

The village they came to looked like any other but it wasn’t. They attacked at night to gain surprise and they were.

The vampires showed no mercy, ripping their heads off and drinking down the blood. A few made a valiant last stand and were rewarded with slavery or a slow demise. The vampire queen drank from each of them until they shivered into death.

Max shuddered, remembering her black eyes unblinking staring into him. The moment she touched him, he wished for death. Her squealing laugh made his ears bleed. “I hear you, Viking. Death is a repose. You will never know rest.”

The vampire queen enslaved him. He could never figure out whether it was her making him a vampire that diminished his strength or if her magic made his chains unbreakable. She tormented him and demeaned him. It didn’t stop him from wishing for Svenna, for waiting for the moment when he could escape.

After seven years, something was different with one of the chains. The magic had weakened. Max didn’t know why but he tested it, and he felt stronger. The vampire queen was in the hall outside the room about to come in. There were voices and she left. This was his chance.

The imaginings of a desperate man makes hearth and home look better the closer you get to it. All the time and hardship seemed to disappear the closer he got to his home. By light of the moon, he looked through his window. Svenna was older but still beautiful. Instead of just his son, a boy and girl played before the hearth. Gordas, his friend, sat in his chair. Svenna bent to hold a lighted twig to his pipe. Then Gordas pulled her into his lap, and they laughed.

Svenna had remarried and had another child. She looked happy, and he would not take that happiness from her. Being a vampire meant he could not be what he was before. He was a monster that terrified others. Even though he traveled far to feed and took no one from their village, those who knew him would fear him. His beloved would fear him.

Filled with sadness, Max retreated to the forest. By day, the curse forced him to hide, but by night, he could gaze at her from the wooded fringe. The years passed, and Max watched her from a distance, never revealing who he was. He couldn’t, although in his mind, he devised a thousand different plans to win her back as he slept each day. When night came, he realized each plan would fail and only put his family in danger. So he watched as his beloved Svenna grew old and died. The girl and boy had grown and now had families of their own. Svenna had lived her life without him and that hurt more than any thrust of a blade. He made the decision to leave that day. Staying would only inflict more pain on his shattered heart.

Being a vampire also meant he was free. The world, his to wander and take as he pleased. What did that really mean? Loneliness. The centuries passed and women found their way to him for a brief time, but the fire he needed for life was not among any of them. Morning would come, and he’d retreat into the dark to dream of the one woman that could fulfill him. Only a lifemate could ignite the fierce passion that would turn a vampire’s eternity into paradise. The concept of lifemates was a mythology that Max did not believe. Then his friend David Hilliard found his beloved Laura among the humans. Their love and happiness filled Max with hope, a hope that inspired him to petition the goddess for one last chance at love. He would find his love, or die.

Standing, bleeding on the altar, Max closed his eyes. He could picture his love’s face. During all the years without her, he dreamt of her, then a few years back the vision of her had changed. First she was a child, then a teen, and recently an adult. The Svenna he knew had a round face. This new Svenna had a more oval face. The nose was shorter. She wore her blonde hair in sweeping curls below her ears. The Svenna he had known wore her wavy hair long, very long by modern standards. He did not understand at first why the woman of his dreams had changed. Her eyes, however, never changed. They were still the summer sky blue he found so comforting, and for a warrior, whether in the modern day boardroom or on the battlefield of old, he wanted comfort to embrace him and ease his war-torn heart. He wanted it but could not believe it. Coelhus suffered the same illusionary dreams that promised love but delivered despair. The dreams foretold the rebirth of his Svenna. Perhaps it was part of Loki’s mischief to deceive him. Still there had to be a woman somewhere to heal him, and Freya was his only hope of finding her.

Being an outsider looking in went beyond hunger. That was why so many of their kind would lie out in the sun until it was over. Only one thing made eternity bearable—love.

Opening his eyes, blinding light threw him to his knees. When the brilliance dimmed, the Goddess Freya stood before him. Her blonde hair tumbled in waves over her full breasts. A golden necklace rested on her collarbone with white linen draping her hips. The cloak of raven feathers rested on her shoulders. Never in his many years of worship had Max seen a god. Never until this moment.

Not daring to gaze too long into her wondrous face, Max cast his eyes downward. “My Goddess, I pledge my sword to you.”

“I do not want your sword, Reynard, or Max, or whichever name you call yourself, Vampire. You have pledged to be encased in ice if you return without her.”

Max shuddered. He was foolish to make such a declaration.

“You have requested my help, and I will grant it. You travel to a city with a growing evil. Amidst the chaos, a heart that’s closed awaits you to awaken it. Tread carefully. She will fear you. Make the wrong move, and you will both be lost.” Light flared, filling the cave. Then the goddess was gone.

The slice on his arm was already healed. Stepping slowly backward, he bowed again before turning swiftly and heading for the mouth of the cave.

A symphony of bells drew his attention to the black case on the ice floor. He opened the briefcase and took out his BlackBerry.

“Vander Meer.”

“Your jet is ready per your instructions, sir. We need to submit a flight plan. May I ask the destination?”

“New York City.”

“Very good, sir. We await you at your convenience.”

“Thank you.” Max closed the phone. Quickly he opened the suitcase. He crouched, as one would by a fire.

The cold didn’t bother him, but he put on the dark blue Armani suit anyway. He donned socks and leather boots. Then he put on the heavy, hooded overcoat.

Transformed into the modern man, Max took a final look around his ice sanctuary and at the three figures on the altar. He had never made an offering to Freya before. There are moments when even a Viking is afraid. And this was one of them.

*

Now think about it? What makes a man? A wolf skin loincloth or an Armani suit? What does this scene tell your about who Max really is?

For those interested, Vampire Princess of New York is available in Amazon Kindle at https://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Princess-York-Arnhem-Knights-ebook/dp/B01LWXYX1G/ and Amazon Print at https://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Princess-Susan-Hanniford-Crowley/dp/1682913260/

It’s also in print and can be ordered online at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vampire-princess-of-new-york-susan-hanniford-crowley/1125966996

(An interesting thing about Amazon is that if you click on a book, you will see the author’s name in small print. Click on the name and it will bring you to the author’s page which lists all the books and their formats that are available. Vampire King of New York and my other books will be there. They are also listed on the bottom of this blog post.)

If you have missed the other lessons in “How to Write a Fiction Novel,” here they are:

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-2/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/11/25/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-1/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/09/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-3-do-your-characters-breathe/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/16/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-4-how-to-avoid-the-squishy-middle/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/23/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-5-climaxes-and-how-they-happen/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/30/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-6-real-dialogue/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2018/01/06/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-7-settings-are-more-than-a-place/

https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2018/01/13/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-8-material-objects-of-importance/

Happy Writing. Next week we will talk about “Love Scenes.” If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write them in the comments box.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!

NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle! In Amazon Print! In Barnes and Noble Print!

Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and  Barnes and Noble Print

Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.

Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.

Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.

A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.

The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print

When Love Survives, Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Winter Writing by Stacy Hoff

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The above picture is of my backyard. For most of this winter, my backyard has looked just like this. Cold. Snowy. And beautiful.

A view just like this inspired me to write a cold weather tale not too long ago. Thinking how hard it would be for me to survive outside in frigid temperatures started my fingers flying across the keyboard. Before I knew it, DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC (the stand-alone, action/adventure/romance, sequel to DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES) was born.

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The upside of the cold weather this year is that I’ve been housebound. This has given me a lot of time to write, and to work on my writing career. In fact, I’ve been cramming in all the writing-related activities I can. As soon as the spring comes, my schedule will get much busier with activities for my kids.

I hope the weather stays cold. I thought those crazy words would never come out of my mouth!

How are you doing this winter?

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SIGN UP FOR STACY’S NEWSLETTER! http://eepurl.com/bG0HZD

WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS FOR STACY HOFF:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorStacyHoff

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorStacyHoff

Web: http://www.stacyhoff.com 

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HOTTER THAN THE CARIBBEAN – In the Caribbean, the secrets, sex, and scandals are hotter!

AMAZON LINK: http://amzn.to/2xW3WtJ

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BETTING ON LOVE IN VEGAS (BUILDING LOVE series, #1)  Love is the biggest gamble of all!

NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT: https://www.amazon.com/Betting-Love-Vegas-Stacy-Hoff/dp/1682913422/

Kindle version: http://amzn.to/2kAgBvK

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JOCKEYING FOR YOU print version http://amzn.to/2eanq2o

JOCKEYING FOR YOU Kindle version http://amzn.to/2c8Hi5t

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DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC print version http://amzn.to/2cubwCf

DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC kindle version http://amzn.to/1KjfP9V

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DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES print version http://amzn.to/2dXO1zV

DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES Kindle version http://amzn.to/1YEseie

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LAWFULLY YOURS print version http://amzn.to/2e6Ug8k

LAWFULLY YOURS Kindle version http://amzn.to/1Ky5CZm 

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Cold, Cold, Cold

Cold, cold, cold. A good portion of the U.S. is really feeling cold this week. The reason I’m writing about the cold this week is that at these lower temperatures, it can really be hard to think let alone feel any sort of inspiration. It just got me thinking about how writers search out inspiration for books.

I can’t speak for everyone, but I know for me personally, my inspiration is music. Other influences can be places I go or people I see around me. I get inspired by other authors I read, even in reading other languages– sometimes some of the Latin based languages can describe a room (or something else that may seem mundane) and make it sound like a work of art.

Being back on the east coast, I remember how I felt before moving to the desert. It rains more and that can get tiring. Winter isn’t lush and green, it is gray and gloomy. All of these things can affect a mood. The main difference now is that I’ve lived somewhere where the sun shines some 360 days of the year. Surprisingly, even the shining sun can be tiring. And while winter can be gloomy, an overheated summer can be stifling. Bottom line, each side has its advantages and disadvantages. This being said, it helps to understand both sides as it allows us to know what we may or may not be missing. I know this isn’t always possible though.

So the point of today’s ramblings? Find inspiration in everything around you–it can be done if you look closely. You don’t need paradise for every work. Sometimes a gloomy mood makes a perfect scene. Be flexible and open and happy writing this week.