Denise Verrico's Blog: Immortyl Revolution, page 13
September 15, 2011
Jaz Primo on Vampires/Book Giveaway Sunrise at Sunset
Please Welcome Jaz Primo! He's part of the Romancing Your Darkside tour. One lucky commenter will win an ebook copy or trade paperback of Jaz's book, Sunrise at Sunset.Winners will be chose by random drawing. Contest ends on 9/21/11 T 11:59 pm. EDT. Please become a follower of this blog and leave an email where you may be contacted.
Seriously? Vampires Dwelling Among Us?
Vampire lore and literature has been filled with the traditional tenants of "creatures of the night" that we love so well. When you say the word "vampire" the average person knows precisely what attributes to expect: sharp fangs, reanimated corpses seeking the blood of innocents, aversion to sunlight and garlic, arming oneself with holy relics and wooden stakes to combat the enemy, and supernatural strength and speed. Many successful authors of vampire literature rely upon these long-held doctrines as the foundations for their paranormal romances and urban fantasies. However, when I created my Sunset Vampire Series I wanted to do something fresh and different. My vision of the perfect vampire wasn't a cold-skinned animated corpse, but rather a living being whose human body had been transformed into something new and powerful. And while I incorporated some of the customary properties of traditional vampires, I wanted the key attributes to make sense and fit seamlessly within the boundaries of a logical structure.
Are you intrigued? Then please, let's proceed...
My Sunset vampires are living, breathing beings whose cells have preternatural qualities. Their bodies command vastly superior strength, speed, senses, and restorative constitutions that far exceed that of humans. However, they are not invincible. Their cells can be damaged by high doses of ultraviolet radiation, particularly sunlight. As living beings, they are susceptible to blades, bullets, and fire, though much larger proportions of damage are required than what is needed to kill or maim a human being. The cells of my vampire's bodies are fed by breaking down blood, thereby justifying retractable fangs for withdrawing such live-sustaining sustenance from their victims. Of course, since a vampire's cells have highly regenerative qualities, it stands to reason that their blood and saliva has healing qualities, as well. The cautionary element is that too large of a dose of such blood could threaten to overtake the cells inside of a human's body, thereby transforming them into a vampire.
By creating vampires with a living physiology it was much easier for me to imagine the plausibility of their existence. It also made them more realistic to combat, because as living beings, they're no more affected by garlic, holy water, or crosses than you or I are. Also, like humans, they aren't bound to a particular behavioral pattern. They could choose to act with either benevolent or dangerous intentions; merely with more influence and impact given their enhanced abilities. However, the challenge still remained to incorporate them into present-day society. In today's world, technology is a double-edged sword for vampires. While some advancements such as refrigeration for blood storage, UV-filtering film for exterior windows, and Internet-based commerce and communications have aided vampires with some of their challenges, other concerns remain. For extremely long-lived beings, the hiding from society or spontaneous creation of new identities is much harder with the increasingly collaborative information and surveillance systems utilized by governments. Such developments generated a host of new challenges. Given such concerns, it's only natural that vampires might collaborate into loosely-organized networks to maintain their secrecy or to profit from such services needed by their peers. Once the most obvious obstacles for societal integration were confronted and overcome, it became entirely plausible to me that a vampire might be living next door!
I hope that you appreciate my new approach to vampires, and that you will consider reading my Sunset Vampire Series. The first novel, Sunrise at Sunset, was published in October 2010, and the second novel, A Bloody London Sunset, was published in May of this year. A third installment, Summit at Sunset, is being released this November. All novels are available in both trade paperback and multiple eBook formats from major retailers including as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and Apple iBookstore. My sincere thanks to Denise for the opportunity to appear on Immortyl Revolution and for her support of the Romancing Your Dark Side Paranormal Blog Tour that I am participating in.
Here's the teaser for Sunrise at Sunset:
When is a bloodthirsty predator the best protection against a psychotic killer?
When the predator is both a vampire...and the woman you love.
"We vampires are focused and tend to shape our own realities."
My name is Katrina Rawlings, and I am a vampire. I declare that with neither pride nor ego. I am simply nature's most dangerous predator. On occasion, it's a very valuable quality. It helped me protect Caleb Taylor one day when he was very young. But that single, traumatic day is behind him now; wiped from his memory, or so I hope.
Caleb has finally matured into a rather striking young man, and believe me, I like what I see. I'll readily admit that there are issues for us to confront and overcome, though a sense of mutual commitment isn't one of them. I'm feeling hopeful for our future together, in fact. But an adversary from my past has returned to haunt me, and she's trying to get back at me through Caleb. That was her first...and last...mistake. I'll protect my Caleb at all costs, and I'll make her regret the day she was born.
So, I suppose that I'm not just a vampire. I'm about to become someone's worst nightmare!
You can find or follow me at the following locations!
Website: http://www.jazprimo.com/Blog: http://primovampires.blogspot.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Sunset-Vampire-Series/223514840998333 Twitter: @jazprimo
Jaz, thanks for joining me here today at
Immortyl Revolution!
Seriously? Vampires Dwelling Among Us?
Vampire lore and literature has been filled with the traditional tenants of "creatures of the night" that we love so well. When you say the word "vampire" the average person knows precisely what attributes to expect: sharp fangs, reanimated corpses seeking the blood of innocents, aversion to sunlight and garlic, arming oneself with holy relics and wooden stakes to combat the enemy, and supernatural strength and speed. Many successful authors of vampire literature rely upon these long-held doctrines as the foundations for their paranormal romances and urban fantasies. However, when I created my Sunset Vampire Series I wanted to do something fresh and different. My vision of the perfect vampire wasn't a cold-skinned animated corpse, but rather a living being whose human body had been transformed into something new and powerful. And while I incorporated some of the customary properties of traditional vampires, I wanted the key attributes to make sense and fit seamlessly within the boundaries of a logical structure.
Are you intrigued? Then please, let's proceed...
My Sunset vampires are living, breathing beings whose cells have preternatural qualities. Their bodies command vastly superior strength, speed, senses, and restorative constitutions that far exceed that of humans. However, they are not invincible. Their cells can be damaged by high doses of ultraviolet radiation, particularly sunlight. As living beings, they are susceptible to blades, bullets, and fire, though much larger proportions of damage are required than what is needed to kill or maim a human being. The cells of my vampire's bodies are fed by breaking down blood, thereby justifying retractable fangs for withdrawing such live-sustaining sustenance from their victims. Of course, since a vampire's cells have highly regenerative qualities, it stands to reason that their blood and saliva has healing qualities, as well. The cautionary element is that too large of a dose of such blood could threaten to overtake the cells inside of a human's body, thereby transforming them into a vampire.
By creating vampires with a living physiology it was much easier for me to imagine the plausibility of their existence. It also made them more realistic to combat, because as living beings, they're no more affected by garlic, holy water, or crosses than you or I are. Also, like humans, they aren't bound to a particular behavioral pattern. They could choose to act with either benevolent or dangerous intentions; merely with more influence and impact given their enhanced abilities. However, the challenge still remained to incorporate them into present-day society. In today's world, technology is a double-edged sword for vampires. While some advancements such as refrigeration for blood storage, UV-filtering film for exterior windows, and Internet-based commerce and communications have aided vampires with some of their challenges, other concerns remain. For extremely long-lived beings, the hiding from society or spontaneous creation of new identities is much harder with the increasingly collaborative information and surveillance systems utilized by governments. Such developments generated a host of new challenges. Given such concerns, it's only natural that vampires might collaborate into loosely-organized networks to maintain their secrecy or to profit from such services needed by their peers. Once the most obvious obstacles for societal integration were confronted and overcome, it became entirely plausible to me that a vampire might be living next door!
I hope that you appreciate my new approach to vampires, and that you will consider reading my Sunset Vampire Series. The first novel, Sunrise at Sunset, was published in October 2010, and the second novel, A Bloody London Sunset, was published in May of this year. A third installment, Summit at Sunset, is being released this November. All novels are available in both trade paperback and multiple eBook formats from major retailers including as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and Apple iBookstore. My sincere thanks to Denise for the opportunity to appear on Immortyl Revolution and for her support of the Romancing Your Dark Side Paranormal Blog Tour that I am participating in.
Here's the teaser for Sunrise at Sunset:
When is a bloodthirsty predator the best protection against a psychotic killer?
When the predator is both a vampire...and the woman you love.
"We vampires are focused and tend to shape our own realities."
My name is Katrina Rawlings, and I am a vampire. I declare that with neither pride nor ego. I am simply nature's most dangerous predator. On occasion, it's a very valuable quality. It helped me protect Caleb Taylor one day when he was very young. But that single, traumatic day is behind him now; wiped from his memory, or so I hope.
Caleb has finally matured into a rather striking young man, and believe me, I like what I see. I'll readily admit that there are issues for us to confront and overcome, though a sense of mutual commitment isn't one of them. I'm feeling hopeful for our future together, in fact. But an adversary from my past has returned to haunt me, and she's trying to get back at me through Caleb. That was her first...and last...mistake. I'll protect my Caleb at all costs, and I'll make her regret the day she was born.
So, I suppose that I'm not just a vampire. I'm about to become someone's worst nightmare!
You can find or follow me at the following locations!
Website: http://www.jazprimo.com/Blog: http://primovampires.blogspot.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Sunset-Vampire-Series/223514840998333 Twitter: @jazprimo
Jaz, thanks for joining me here today at
Immortyl Revolution!
Jaz Primo
Please Welcome Jaz Primo! He's part of the Romancing Your Darkside tour. One lucky commenter will win an ebook copy of Jaz's book.Winners will be chose by random drawing. Contest ends on 9/21/11 T 11:59 pm. EDT. Please become a follower of this blog and leave an email where you may be contacted.
Seriously? Vampires Dwelling Among Us?
Vampire lore and literature has been filled with the traditional tenants of "creatures of the night" that we love so well. When you say the word "vampire" the average person knows precisely what attributes to expect: sharp fangs, reanimated corpses seeking the blood of innocents, aversion to sunlight and garlic, arming oneself with holy relics and wooden stakes to combat the enemy, and supernatural strength and speed. Many successful authors of vampire literature rely upon these long-held doctrines as the foundations for their paranormal romances and urban fantasies. However, when I created my Sunset Vampire Series I wanted to do something fresh and different. My vision of the perfect vampire wasn't a cold-skinned animated corpse, but rather a living being whose human body had been transformed into something new and powerful. And while I incorporated some of the customary properties of traditional vampires, I wanted the key attributes to make sense and fit seamlessly within the boundaries of a logical structure.
Are you intrigued? Then please, let's proceed...
My Sunset vampires are living, breathing beings whose cells have preternatural qualities. Their bodies command vastly superior strength, speed, senses, and restorative constitutions that far exceed that of humans. However, they are not invincible. Their cells can be damaged by high doses of ultraviolet radiation, particularly sunlight. As living beings, they are susceptible to blades, bullets, and fire, though much larger proportions of damage are required than what is needed to kill or maim a human being. The cells of my vampire's bodies are fed by breaking down blood, thereby justifying retractable fangs for withdrawing such live-sustaining sustenance from their victims. Of course, since a vampire's cells have highly regenerative qualities, it stands to reason that their blood and saliva has healing qualities, as well. The cautionary element is that too large of a dose of such blood could threaten to overtake the cells inside of a human's body, thereby transforming them into a vampire.
By creating vampires with a living physiology it was much easier for me to imagine the plausibility of their existence. It also made them more realistic to combat, because as living beings, they're no more affected by garlic, holy water, or crosses than you or I are. Also, like humans, they aren't bound to a particular behavioral pattern. They could choose to act with either benevolent or dangerous intentions; merely with more influence and impact given their enhanced abilities. However, the challenge still remained to incorporate them into present-day society. In today's world, technology is a double-edged sword for vampires. While some advancements such as refrigeration for blood storage, UV-filtering film for exterior windows, and Internet-based commerce and communications have aided vampires with some of their challenges, other concerns remain. For extremely long-lived beings, the hiding from society or spontaneous creation of new identities is much harder with the increasingly collaborative information and surveillance systems utilized by governments. Such developments generated a host of new challenges. Given such concerns, it's only natural that vampires might collaborate into loosely-organized networks to maintain their secrecy or to profit from such services needed by their peers. Once the most obvious obstacles for societal integration were confronted and overcome, it became entirely plausible to me that a vampire might be living next door!
I hope that you appreciate my new approach to vampires, and that you will consider reading my Sunset Vampire Series. The first novel, Sunrise at Sunset, was published in October 2010, and the second novel, A Bloody London Sunset, was published in May of this year. A third installment, Summit at Sunset, is being released this November. All novels are available in both trade paperback and multiple eBook formats from major retailers including as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and Apple iBookstore. My sincere thanks to Denise for the opportunity to appear on Immortyl Revolution and for her support of the Romancing Your Dark Side Paranormal Blog Tour that I am participating in.
Here's the teaser for Sunrise at Sunset:
When is a bloodthirsty predator the best protection against a psychotic killer?
When the predator is both a vampire...and the woman you love.
"We vampires are focused and tend to shape our own realities."
My name is Katrina Rawlings, and I am a vampire. I declare that with neither pride nor ego. I am simply nature's most dangerous predator. On occasion, it's a very valuable quality. It helped me protect Caleb Taylor one day when he was very young. But that single, traumatic day is behind him now; wiped from his memory, or so I hope.
Caleb has finally matured into a rather striking young man, and believe me, I like what I see. I'll readily admit that there are issues for us to confront and overcome, though a sense of mutual commitment isn't one of them. I'm feeling hopeful for our future together, in fact. But an adversary from my past has returned to haunt me, and she's trying to get back at me through Caleb. That was her first...and last...mistake. I'll protect my Caleb at all costs, and I'll make her regret the day she was born.
So, I suppose that I'm not just a vampire. I'm about to become someone's worst nightmare!
You can find or follow me at the following locations!
Website: http://www.jazprimo.com/Blog: http://primovampires.blogspot.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Sunset-Vampire-Series/223514840998333 Twitter: @jazprimo
Jaz, thanks for joining me here today at
Immortyl Revolution!
Seriously? Vampires Dwelling Among Us?
Vampire lore and literature has been filled with the traditional tenants of "creatures of the night" that we love so well. When you say the word "vampire" the average person knows precisely what attributes to expect: sharp fangs, reanimated corpses seeking the blood of innocents, aversion to sunlight and garlic, arming oneself with holy relics and wooden stakes to combat the enemy, and supernatural strength and speed. Many successful authors of vampire literature rely upon these long-held doctrines as the foundations for their paranormal romances and urban fantasies. However, when I created my Sunset Vampire Series I wanted to do something fresh and different. My vision of the perfect vampire wasn't a cold-skinned animated corpse, but rather a living being whose human body had been transformed into something new and powerful. And while I incorporated some of the customary properties of traditional vampires, I wanted the key attributes to make sense and fit seamlessly within the boundaries of a logical structure.
Are you intrigued? Then please, let's proceed...
My Sunset vampires are living, breathing beings whose cells have preternatural qualities. Their bodies command vastly superior strength, speed, senses, and restorative constitutions that far exceed that of humans. However, they are not invincible. Their cells can be damaged by high doses of ultraviolet radiation, particularly sunlight. As living beings, they are susceptible to blades, bullets, and fire, though much larger proportions of damage are required than what is needed to kill or maim a human being. The cells of my vampire's bodies are fed by breaking down blood, thereby justifying retractable fangs for withdrawing such live-sustaining sustenance from their victims. Of course, since a vampire's cells have highly regenerative qualities, it stands to reason that their blood and saliva has healing qualities, as well. The cautionary element is that too large of a dose of such blood could threaten to overtake the cells inside of a human's body, thereby transforming them into a vampire.
By creating vampires with a living physiology it was much easier for me to imagine the plausibility of their existence. It also made them more realistic to combat, because as living beings, they're no more affected by garlic, holy water, or crosses than you or I are. Also, like humans, they aren't bound to a particular behavioral pattern. They could choose to act with either benevolent or dangerous intentions; merely with more influence and impact given their enhanced abilities. However, the challenge still remained to incorporate them into present-day society. In today's world, technology is a double-edged sword for vampires. While some advancements such as refrigeration for blood storage, UV-filtering film for exterior windows, and Internet-based commerce and communications have aided vampires with some of their challenges, other concerns remain. For extremely long-lived beings, the hiding from society or spontaneous creation of new identities is much harder with the increasingly collaborative information and surveillance systems utilized by governments. Such developments generated a host of new challenges. Given such concerns, it's only natural that vampires might collaborate into loosely-organized networks to maintain their secrecy or to profit from such services needed by their peers. Once the most obvious obstacles for societal integration were confronted and overcome, it became entirely plausible to me that a vampire might be living next door!
I hope that you appreciate my new approach to vampires, and that you will consider reading my Sunset Vampire Series. The first novel, Sunrise at Sunset, was published in October 2010, and the second novel, A Bloody London Sunset, was published in May of this year. A third installment, Summit at Sunset, is being released this November. All novels are available in both trade paperback and multiple eBook formats from major retailers including as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and Apple iBookstore. My sincere thanks to Denise for the opportunity to appear on Immortyl Revolution and for her support of the Romancing Your Dark Side Paranormal Blog Tour that I am participating in.
Here's the teaser for Sunrise at Sunset:
When is a bloodthirsty predator the best protection against a psychotic killer?
When the predator is both a vampire...and the woman you love.
"We vampires are focused and tend to shape our own realities."
My name is Katrina Rawlings, and I am a vampire. I declare that with neither pride nor ego. I am simply nature's most dangerous predator. On occasion, it's a very valuable quality. It helped me protect Caleb Taylor one day when he was very young. But that single, traumatic day is behind him now; wiped from his memory, or so I hope.
Caleb has finally matured into a rather striking young man, and believe me, I like what I see. I'll readily admit that there are issues for us to confront and overcome, though a sense of mutual commitment isn't one of them. I'm feeling hopeful for our future together, in fact. But an adversary from my past has returned to haunt me, and she's trying to get back at me through Caleb. That was her first...and last...mistake. I'll protect my Caleb at all costs, and I'll make her regret the day she was born.
So, I suppose that I'm not just a vampire. I'm about to become someone's worst nightmare!
You can find or follow me at the following locations!
Website: http://www.jazprimo.com/Blog: http://primovampires.blogspot.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Sunset-Vampire-Series/223514840998333 Twitter: @jazprimo
Jaz, thanks for joining me here today at
Immortyl Revolution!
September 13, 2011
Stacey Kennedy's Romancing Your Darkside Tour/Giveaway
A very big welcome to Stacey Kennedy! She is currently on the Romancing Your Darkside Tour.
Stacey has graciously offered a drawing to win a free ebook of Whatnots and Doodads. To enter, please leave a comment for Stacey. Drawing ends 9/21/11 at 11:59 PM EDT. Please leave a contact email. Winners are chosen by random drawing.
Stacey, I'm thrilled to have you here today. Tell us about your work.
Big thanks to Immortyl Revolution for allowing me to share their space today. I'm not sure about everyone else, but novellas are sometimes exactly what I'm looking for. Of course, I love deep stories that I can get lost in for days. But sometimes, life is just too busy for that kind of thing.
There are times when I don't want to spend a week with characters. Don't need a complicated story, because in truth, my life is so crazy I don't have the time to fully appreciate it. This is where my love for novellas comes in. It allows me to spend one night reading and I get a full wrap up of the story. Add in some sexy scenes in there…and I'm captivated.
I'd love to hear from you all—do you enjoy reading novellas or do you need more depth to your stories?
If you love novellas as much as I do, leave a comment with your email address to be entered to win an ebook of Whatnots & Doodads. Good luck!
A witch with unruly magic, a demon gone good, lava-hot passion and a tornado of emotions–just another night in Strange Hollow.
For Bryanna, a witch from the Asheville Coven, magic is on the fritz. Shunned by her coven and her boyfriend Layton for her unruly magic, she seeks a new life for herself. It just so happens, fate steps in and brings her to Strange Hollow–a place where being different is not only acceptable, but encouraged.
When Bryanna arrives in Strange Hollow, Zeke, a demon gone good, is burning with Hell's fire over her. Not only has she set his world ablaze, but he's found one soul he can save. He's determined to free her from the insecurities that have damaged her soul.
Together they experience lava-hot passion as they weave their way through a tornado of emotions. But when Layton returns for her, will Zeke's attempts to break the unworthy cage woven around her be enough to keep her in Strange Hollow forever?
Whatnots & Doodads buy link - http://www.staceykennedy.com/whatnots-doodads/
Stacey Kennedy's novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you'll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn't plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she's got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.
You can follow Stacey at these links:
Stacey's Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Stacey has graciously offered a drawing to win a free ebook of Whatnots and Doodads. To enter, please leave a comment for Stacey. Drawing ends 9/21/11 at 11:59 PM EDT. Please leave a contact email. Winners are chosen by random drawing. Stacey, I'm thrilled to have you here today. Tell us about your work.
Big thanks to Immortyl Revolution for allowing me to share their space today. I'm not sure about everyone else, but novellas are sometimes exactly what I'm looking for. Of course, I love deep stories that I can get lost in for days. But sometimes, life is just too busy for that kind of thing.
There are times when I don't want to spend a week with characters. Don't need a complicated story, because in truth, my life is so crazy I don't have the time to fully appreciate it. This is where my love for novellas comes in. It allows me to spend one night reading and I get a full wrap up of the story. Add in some sexy scenes in there…and I'm captivated.
I'd love to hear from you all—do you enjoy reading novellas or do you need more depth to your stories?
If you love novellas as much as I do, leave a comment with your email address to be entered to win an ebook of Whatnots & Doodads. Good luck!
A witch with unruly magic, a demon gone good, lava-hot passion and a tornado of emotions–just another night in Strange Hollow.
For Bryanna, a witch from the Asheville Coven, magic is on the fritz. Shunned by her coven and her boyfriend Layton for her unruly magic, she seeks a new life for herself. It just so happens, fate steps in and brings her to Strange Hollow–a place where being different is not only acceptable, but encouraged.
When Bryanna arrives in Strange Hollow, Zeke, a demon gone good, is burning with Hell's fire over her. Not only has she set his world ablaze, but he's found one soul he can save. He's determined to free her from the insecurities that have damaged her soul.
Together they experience lava-hot passion as they weave their way through a tornado of emotions. But when Layton returns for her, will Zeke's attempts to break the unworthy cage woven around her be enough to keep her in Strange Hollow forever?
Whatnots & Doodads buy link - http://www.staceykennedy.com/whatnots-doodads/
Stacey Kennedy's novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you'll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn't plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she's got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.
You can follow Stacey at these links:
Stacey's Website
Goodreads
Stacey Kennedy's Romancing Your Darkside Tour
A very big welcome to Stacey Kennedy! She is currently on the Romancing Your Darkside Tour.
Stacey has graciously offered a drawing to win a free ebook. To enter, please leave a comment for Stacey. Drawing ends 9/21/11 at 11:59 PM EDT. Please leave a contact email. Winners are chosen by random drawing.
Stacey, I'm thrilled to have you here today. Tell us about your work.
Big thanks to Immortyl Revolution for allowing me to share their space today. I'm not sure about everyone else, but novellas are sometimes exactly what I'm looking for. Of course, I love deep stories that I can get lost in for days. But sometimes, life is just too busy for that kind of thing.
There are times when I don't want to spend a week with characters. Don't need a complicated story, because in truth, my life is so crazy I don't have the time to fully appreciate it. This is where my love for novellas comes in. It allows me to spend one night reading and I get a full wrap up of the story. Add in some sexy scenes in there…and I'm captivated.
I'd love to hear from you all—do you enjoy reading novellas or do you need more depth to your stories?
If you love novellas as much as I do, leave a comment with your email address to be entered to win an ebook of Whatnots & Doodads. Good luck!
A witch with unruly magic, a demon gone good, lava-hot passion and a tornado of emotions–just another night in Strange Hollow.
For Bryanna, a witch from the Asheville Coven, magic is on the fritz. Shunned by her coven and her boyfriend Layton for her unruly magic, she seeks a new life for herself. It just so happens, fate steps in and brings her to Strange Hollow–a place where being different is not only acceptable, but encouraged.
When Bryanna arrives in Strange Hollow, Zeke, a demon gone good, is burning with Hell's fire over her. Not only has she set his world ablaze, but he's found one soul he can save. He's determined to free her from the insecurities that have damaged her soul.
Together they experience lava-hot passion as they weave their way through a tornado of emotions. But when Layton returns for her, will Zeke's attempts to break the unworthy cage woven around her be enough to keep her in Strange Hollow forever?
Whatnots & Doodads buy link - http://www.staceykennedy.com/whatnots-doodads/
Stacey Kennedy's novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you'll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn't plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she's got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.
You can follow Stacey at these links:
Stacey's Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Stacey has graciously offered a drawing to win a free ebook. To enter, please leave a comment for Stacey. Drawing ends 9/21/11 at 11:59 PM EDT. Please leave a contact email. Winners are chosen by random drawing. Stacey, I'm thrilled to have you here today. Tell us about your work.
Big thanks to Immortyl Revolution for allowing me to share their space today. I'm not sure about everyone else, but novellas are sometimes exactly what I'm looking for. Of course, I love deep stories that I can get lost in for days. But sometimes, life is just too busy for that kind of thing.
There are times when I don't want to spend a week with characters. Don't need a complicated story, because in truth, my life is so crazy I don't have the time to fully appreciate it. This is where my love for novellas comes in. It allows me to spend one night reading and I get a full wrap up of the story. Add in some sexy scenes in there…and I'm captivated.
I'd love to hear from you all—do you enjoy reading novellas or do you need more depth to your stories?
If you love novellas as much as I do, leave a comment with your email address to be entered to win an ebook of Whatnots & Doodads. Good luck!
A witch with unruly magic, a demon gone good, lava-hot passion and a tornado of emotions–just another night in Strange Hollow.
For Bryanna, a witch from the Asheville Coven, magic is on the fritz. Shunned by her coven and her boyfriend Layton for her unruly magic, she seeks a new life for herself. It just so happens, fate steps in and brings her to Strange Hollow–a place where being different is not only acceptable, but encouraged.
When Bryanna arrives in Strange Hollow, Zeke, a demon gone good, is burning with Hell's fire over her. Not only has she set his world ablaze, but he's found one soul he can save. He's determined to free her from the insecurities that have damaged her soul.
Together they experience lava-hot passion as they weave their way through a tornado of emotions. But when Layton returns for her, will Zeke's attempts to break the unworthy cage woven around her be enough to keep her in Strange Hollow forever?
Whatnots & Doodads buy link - http://www.staceykennedy.com/whatnots-doodads/
Stacey Kennedy's novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you'll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn't plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she's got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.
You can follow Stacey at these links:
Stacey's Website
Goodreads
September 11, 2011
Jessica McHugh's Song of Eidolons Tour
Today,the spotlight is on Jessica McHugh's Song of Eidolons
Jessica is going to tell us a bit about her unique take on the writing process. So without further ado, here's Jessica!
I'm not a blogger. If it's not obvious to you already, it probably will be after this post.
I'm a fiction chick. Everything about my life is invention, so it's difficult for me to sit down and write about something completely real without it being a rant. And let's face it, there's a lot to rant about. But I don't want to rant. I want to write something sweet, something uplifting, something helpful.
But I'll probably just end up sounding like an ass. A perky, all-eyes-on-me ass, but an ass nonetheless. I suppose reality and I don't get along very well.
I say, "Good morning, Reality. I'm Jessica and I have a lot of writing work to do, so I'm just going to stay home and get it done."
To which Reality always gives me the old-fashioned glove slap and orders me out to my car, out into a world that is neither cloaked in day or night. It's just dim. So seems the brunt of weekdays; until 2:30p hits and I give Reality the finger. Don't worry. Reality totally deserves it.
People tell me to blog about how I create characters or how I write dialog, but the truth is, I don't know how it happens. It's difficult for me to put my writing process into words. Sometimes I feel like my brain is dictating a conversation that's already happened. Often I get worried when the dialogue comes quickly; I'm afraid I've written it before, but I've searched my documents and it hasn't happened yet. Good for the book, sure, but bad for the author explaining how she came up with it. Not only am I scatter-brained about how I write, I'm also a little fuzzy on stuff I've already written. I work very quickly and multitask like crazy, so once I'm done with a story, I give it the heave-ho from Hotel JessBrain. My mind is already a cluttered mess of story ideas: ones I'm currently writing and ones I'm planning (all the way to 2014), so I just don't have the room for old ideas. When I'm asked about plot points or specific character details, I have to stop and think, "Okay, 'From the Herald's Wearied Eye'...that's...the dystopian...one..."
So I can't really talk about the internal process, but I can explain the process in which I write and edit for a little glimpse into my mad writing world.
1. THE IDEA
Pictured: some crooked-faced writer chick researching the Mutus Liber for "Song of Eidolons"
2. WRITE
Ale optional...sometimes...
3. STAB THE ALPHABET
(aka type handwritten material into the computer)
Hopefully, your desk actually faces the TV.
PS- Kevin Costner not always included.
4. FIRST REVISION/EXTENSION
...Unless you wrote it perfectly the first time. If that's the case, you better hide because I'm coming to steal your magic powers.
5. STAB THE ALPHABET (yes, AGAIN)
Ralphie Parker is to his pink bunny costume as Jessica McHugh is to Stabbing the Alphabet.
6. SECOND REVISION/ EXTENSION
7. You have to STAB THE ALPHABET again,
but I'm not going to dignify it with a picture this time.
8. AUDITORY REVISION
Don't be surprised if you have to wear an ice glove by this point.
Set the computer to read the manuscript aloud. Listen for errors or weird sounding phrases and fix as you go along, but ALSO rock out a bit because you're almost done!!
9. Finally, SUBMIT!!
Or, send to your Mom to edit and then, SUBMIT!
(Thanks, Mom.)
There you have it. That's my writing process, and except for Stabbing the Alphabet, I love every part of it. Wait, did it come across that I don't like Stabbing the Alphabet? I wouldn't want that to be misunderstood. ;)
Thanks so much for having me as a guest, Denise! This was an absolute blast, and I think I might just have earned my beer today. Depending on what time everyone out there reads this, you're welcome to have one too.
I'm with you, Jessica. I'm ready for my libation as well, but my drink of choice is Merlot. Thanks for being my guest and writing such an entertaining post!
Song of Eidolons
Delaney Lortal is a unique breed of girl. She is well spoken, extremely well read, and highly ambitious for love, but it is not those qualities that make her so unique. It's not even because in twenty-two years of life, she has never set foot outside of her grandfather's house. What makes her so unique is the truth behind a mysterious secret that has made her the target of a clandestine Order called the Orisanima. As wondrous as it is heartbreaking, Song of Eidolons follows Delaney's journey of enlightenment as she struggles to peel back the layers of deceit to discover the amazing truth about her origins.
Jessica McHugh is an author of speculative fiction that spans the genre from horror and alternate history to epic fantasy. A prolific writer, she has devoted herself to novels, short stories, novellas, and even playwriting. She has had nine books published in three years, including "Song of Eidolons", "The Sky: The World" and the first three installments in her "Tales of Dominhydor" series.
http://www.jessicamchughbooks.com/
Become a Fan of Jessica McHugh on Facebook!Buy Song of Eidolons on Amazon
Jessica is going to tell us a bit about her unique take on the writing process. So without further ado, here's Jessica!
I'm not a blogger. If it's not obvious to you already, it probably will be after this post.
I'm a fiction chick. Everything about my life is invention, so it's difficult for me to sit down and write about something completely real without it being a rant. And let's face it, there's a lot to rant about. But I don't want to rant. I want to write something sweet, something uplifting, something helpful.
But I'll probably just end up sounding like an ass. A perky, all-eyes-on-me ass, but an ass nonetheless. I suppose reality and I don't get along very well.
I say, "Good morning, Reality. I'm Jessica and I have a lot of writing work to do, so I'm just going to stay home and get it done."
To which Reality always gives me the old-fashioned glove slap and orders me out to my car, out into a world that is neither cloaked in day or night. It's just dim. So seems the brunt of weekdays; until 2:30p hits and I give Reality the finger. Don't worry. Reality totally deserves it.
People tell me to blog about how I create characters or how I write dialog, but the truth is, I don't know how it happens. It's difficult for me to put my writing process into words. Sometimes I feel like my brain is dictating a conversation that's already happened. Often I get worried when the dialogue comes quickly; I'm afraid I've written it before, but I've searched my documents and it hasn't happened yet. Good for the book, sure, but bad for the author explaining how she came up with it. Not only am I scatter-brained about how I write, I'm also a little fuzzy on stuff I've already written. I work very quickly and multitask like crazy, so once I'm done with a story, I give it the heave-ho from Hotel JessBrain. My mind is already a cluttered mess of story ideas: ones I'm currently writing and ones I'm planning (all the way to 2014), so I just don't have the room for old ideas. When I'm asked about plot points or specific character details, I have to stop and think, "Okay, 'From the Herald's Wearied Eye'...that's...the dystopian...one..."
So I can't really talk about the internal process, but I can explain the process in which I write and edit for a little glimpse into my mad writing world.
1. THE IDEA
Pictured: some crooked-faced writer chick researching the Mutus Liber for "Song of Eidolons"2. WRITE
Ale optional...sometimes...
3. STAB THE ALPHABET
(aka type handwritten material into the computer)
Hopefully, your desk actually faces the TV.
PS- Kevin Costner not always included.
4. FIRST REVISION/EXTENSION
...Unless you wrote it perfectly the first time. If that's the case, you better hide because I'm coming to steal your magic powers.
5. STAB THE ALPHABET (yes, AGAIN)
Ralphie Parker is to his pink bunny costume as Jessica McHugh is to Stabbing the Alphabet.
6. SECOND REVISION/ EXTENSION
7. You have to STAB THE ALPHABET again,
but I'm not going to dignify it with a picture this time.
8. AUDITORY REVISION
Don't be surprised if you have to wear an ice glove by this point.Set the computer to read the manuscript aloud. Listen for errors or weird sounding phrases and fix as you go along, but ALSO rock out a bit because you're almost done!!
9. Finally, SUBMIT!!
Or, send to your Mom to edit and then, SUBMIT!
(Thanks, Mom.)
There you have it. That's my writing process, and except for Stabbing the Alphabet, I love every part of it. Wait, did it come across that I don't like Stabbing the Alphabet? I wouldn't want that to be misunderstood. ;)
Thanks so much for having me as a guest, Denise! This was an absolute blast, and I think I might just have earned my beer today. Depending on what time everyone out there reads this, you're welcome to have one too.
I'm with you, Jessica. I'm ready for my libation as well, but my drink of choice is Merlot. Thanks for being my guest and writing such an entertaining post!
Song of Eidolons
Delaney Lortal is a unique breed of girl. She is well spoken, extremely well read, and highly ambitious for love, but it is not those qualities that make her so unique. It's not even because in twenty-two years of life, she has never set foot outside of her grandfather's house. What makes her so unique is the truth behind a mysterious secret that has made her the target of a clandestine Order called the Orisanima. As wondrous as it is heartbreaking, Song of Eidolons follows Delaney's journey of enlightenment as she struggles to peel back the layers of deceit to discover the amazing truth about her origins.
Jessica McHugh is an author of speculative fiction that spans the genre from horror and alternate history to epic fantasy. A prolific writer, she has devoted herself to novels, short stories, novellas, and even playwriting. She has had nine books published in three years, including "Song of Eidolons", "The Sky: The World" and the first three installments in her "Tales of Dominhydor" series.
http://www.jessicamchughbooks.com/
Become a Fan of Jessica McHugh on Facebook!Buy Song of Eidolons on Amazon
September 9, 2011
Amber Scott on Vampires and Blood Addiction/Giveway
Welcome to Amber Scott!
Amber is on the Romancing Your Darkside Tour. She is going to tell us about Vampires and Blood Addiction, a subject near and dear to my heart. Please leave a comment for Amber to be entered for an ebook giveaway and to also be entered into a drawing for the RYDS tour grand prize of a new Kindle! Make sure to leave an email so Amber may contact you. Winners will be chosen by random drawing. Contest ends 11:59 PM EDT 09/15/11.
[image error]
Blood is a Drug...
In Fierce Dawn and the ParaRealm series, human blood is a drug and vampires are addicted to it. This and the risk of certain immortal beings exploiting humankind is what triggered the separation of realms centuries past.
But like any good addict, vampires find their way over realm lines. (Sneaky blood junkies that they are.) Blood dens pop up here and there throughout history and there are ugly rumors of vampires and humans falling into an addictive exchange where the human is willing to give blood for the high they get, too.
Blood use causes extreme sensitivity to sunlight, to the point of severe burning. A vampire heavy into blood use is known to have 'kits' in the form of fangs.
The question I get a lot about all this is, how did the idea form?
I love vampires so much that I even studied vampire literature in college. I'm an avid reader of vampire novels. I love vampire films. And I've always seen vampirism as blood addiction. A lot of vampire elements strike true of addiction. The inability to see themselves in the mirror means denial to me. The seductive effects a vampire has on a virgin equates to the manipulative powers an addict will learn in order to exploit those who don't know about their addiction, thus are drug virgins. Vampires only come out at night, they are dead but not.
Think of a heroin addict, a meth addict. They hide from the world until they need their fix and then they would do nearly anything to get it. Lie, manipulate, steal. They look like hell, literally undead, and they are shells of their former selves. Drugs rule their lives much like blood rules a vampire's. Even the super strength we see in vampire mythos can be equated to drugs like steroids and PCP.
The thing is, if vampires are real, why not shifters and fae and all the other myriad of beings that appear throughout our various cultures. I don't feel like I created immortals as my jump off point for this so much as that's what they called themselves. But it makes deep sense to me. I even have scientific theories in my head to support the rules of this world. (Geek that I am.)
In "Fierce Dawn," we see the peripheral effects of vampirism. Elijah is a former vampire hunter. Lyric is in recovery from his addiction. Sadie, one of the first human changelings, becomes their focus. But as the series proceeds and the changeling effect takes hold of more and more humans, vampirism will become a central issue.
The tug and pull of blood use, its seductive power, just like you, I can't wait to see how this all unfolds, book by addictive book.
You can follow Amber at:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amberscottbooks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmberScottBooks
http://AmberScottBooks.com
http://www.amazon.com/Fierce-Dawn-ParaRealm-ebook/dp/B004UJGK1U/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
Fierce Dawn on Barnes and Noble
Romancing Your Darkside Book Tour
Amber is on the Romancing Your Darkside Tour. She is going to tell us about Vampires and Blood Addiction, a subject near and dear to my heart. Please leave a comment for Amber to be entered for an ebook giveaway and to also be entered into a drawing for the RYDS tour grand prize of a new Kindle! Make sure to leave an email so Amber may contact you. Winners will be chosen by random drawing. Contest ends 11:59 PM EDT 09/15/11.
[image error]
Blood is a Drug...
In Fierce Dawn and the ParaRealm series, human blood is a drug and vampires are addicted to it. This and the risk of certain immortal beings exploiting humankind is what triggered the separation of realms centuries past.
But like any good addict, vampires find their way over realm lines. (Sneaky blood junkies that they are.) Blood dens pop up here and there throughout history and there are ugly rumors of vampires and humans falling into an addictive exchange where the human is willing to give blood for the high they get, too.
Blood use causes extreme sensitivity to sunlight, to the point of severe burning. A vampire heavy into blood use is known to have 'kits' in the form of fangs.
The question I get a lot about all this is, how did the idea form?
I love vampires so much that I even studied vampire literature in college. I'm an avid reader of vampire novels. I love vampire films. And I've always seen vampirism as blood addiction. A lot of vampire elements strike true of addiction. The inability to see themselves in the mirror means denial to me. The seductive effects a vampire has on a virgin equates to the manipulative powers an addict will learn in order to exploit those who don't know about their addiction, thus are drug virgins. Vampires only come out at night, they are dead but not.
Think of a heroin addict, a meth addict. They hide from the world until they need their fix and then they would do nearly anything to get it. Lie, manipulate, steal. They look like hell, literally undead, and they are shells of their former selves. Drugs rule their lives much like blood rules a vampire's. Even the super strength we see in vampire mythos can be equated to drugs like steroids and PCP.
The thing is, if vampires are real, why not shifters and fae and all the other myriad of beings that appear throughout our various cultures. I don't feel like I created immortals as my jump off point for this so much as that's what they called themselves. But it makes deep sense to me. I even have scientific theories in my head to support the rules of this world. (Geek that I am.)
In "Fierce Dawn," we see the peripheral effects of vampirism. Elijah is a former vampire hunter. Lyric is in recovery from his addiction. Sadie, one of the first human changelings, becomes their focus. But as the series proceeds and the changeling effect takes hold of more and more humans, vampirism will become a central issue.
The tug and pull of blood use, its seductive power, just like you, I can't wait to see how this all unfolds, book by addictive book.
You can follow Amber at:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amberscottbooks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmberScottBooks
http://AmberScottBooks.com
http://www.amazon.com/Fierce-Dawn-ParaRealm-ebook/dp/B004UJGK1U/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
Fierce Dawn on Barnes and Noble
Romancing Your Darkside Book Tour
August 29, 2011
Kristie Cook's View on the Paranormal
Welcome to Christie Cook! She is my second guest on the Romancing the Darkside Tour.
Contest
Christie has graciously offered an e copy of each of her books, Promise and Purpose. She will choose one winner per book from a random drawing. To enter, leave a comment for Christie. Please provide an email where you may be contacted. Entries must be posted by Midnight on 9/2/11.
Building the Soul Savers World
One of my favorite parts about writing in the contemporary fantasy genre is world-building. The real world provides a familiar environment to work within, but the genre allows us freedom to create our own creatures, bring in legendary and mythical beings and even bring down the boundaries of time, space and alternative dimensions. As long as we can make it sound believable, we can even break the laws of science.
The characters of my Soul Savers Series occupy our world, although another dimension exists – the spiritual or "Otherworld." In the Otherworld, angels and demons fight for human souls, but it's also home to other entities, such as the faeries. The series, however, is about how these Otherworld spirits impact the physical realm and it mostly takes place in our human domain.
In my world, the ruling factions of the Otherworld – the angels and the demons – have each created their own armies on Earth. Vampires, were-creatures and mages (witches, wizards, warlocks and sorcerers) all exist in our world, though in secret. My main characters, however, are none of these, yet all of these. They are my own creation.
In Promise, we only get a glimpse of these secret entities that inhabit our world, learning along with the main character, Alexis. She learns more about them in Purpose, the second book, but it's in Genesis, a prequel that comes out in October, and Devotion, the third book in the series that releases in February, where we really get to explore this world that exists in our own.
As we become more immersed in the world I've created, we learn the rules and parameters. Why are my vampires able to come out in the daylight? (Dracula could, so why not? My vamps prefer the night because daylight weakens them, but it's amazing what a shot of mage blood can do for them.) Do they have any restrictions at all? (Of course! But not many.) What's the difference between a witch, a wizard, a warlock and a sorcerer? (Only gender separates a witch and a wizard but the level of power defines a warlock and a sorcerer.) As for the creatures I've made up, what powers do they and don't they have? (It's dependent on the individual and what gifts the angels give them.)
The most difficult part about writing this or any other fantasy genre is creating rules and sticking to them. If we set a rule early in the book or in the first book of the series, we must stick to that rule throughout. So whatever rules we make, we can't break them later for the sake of convenience.
For example, in my world, some mages have the ability to "cloak" other people, making them invisible. I've had to decide if the spell only works on people or if it "hides" objects, as well. If a woman is holding a purse, is it invisible, too? What if a character is carrying something bigger – perhaps huge? If he picks something up while cloaked, does that object become invisible, too? Or would it be seen as if floating in mid-air? When setting these rules, I have to think ahead and ask myself every possible "what if" situation to ensure I don't set myself up for future failure.
If we discover later that we need to break a rule we've set, we must have a plausible work-around that doesn't leave the reader thinking, "Puh-lease. That makes no sense at all!" We must be able to convince the reader to believe the exception to the rule.
I think one of the biggest sins an author in any of the fantasy genres can make is assuming the reader won't notice. After all, I believe readers enjoy reading this genre for the same reason I enjoy writing it – to escape into an alternative world the author has built. In the Soul Savers Series, I have built a unique world within our own, combining the familiar with the fantastical and adding in my own little twists and creations. Now…I better go check what I decided about the invisible purse rule before I write this next scene.
About the Author
Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, with the first two books, Promise and Purpose, available now and the third book, Devotion, coming February 2012. She's also written a companion novella, Genesis, coming October 2011.
Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at:
Promise
When Alexis Ames is attacked by creatures that can't be real, she decides it's time she learns who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their family's secrets closely. After meeting the inhumanly attractive, multi-talented Tristan Knight, however, Alexis retreats behind her façade of normalcy…until she discovers he's not exactly normal either. Then their secrets begin to unravel.
Their union brings hope and promise to her family's secret society, the Angels' army, and to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy – Satan's minions and Tristan's creators. After all, Alexis and Tristan are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.
Purpose
Lost in despair, Alexis teeters on the edge of an abyss, her lifeline of hope fraying into a thin thread. If it snaps, she'll plunge into complete darkness. With the help of her son and her writing, she's been able to hold on. Until now. Erratic impulses, disturbing delusions and her own demonic blood threaten her sanity. When she's forced to choose between hanging onto hope or letting go to serve her Amadis purposes, she faces a decision with inconceivable sacrifices.
Alexis runs to the one place she thinks will provide answers, only to find herself at the center of another battle of good versus evil, not only with the Daemoni, not only within herself…but also against the worst opponent imaginable. But even if she wins, what will she lose?
Author's Website & Blog: http://www.kristiecook.com/
Series Website: http://www.soulsaversseries.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristieCook
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/kristiecookauth
Tumbler: http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/kristiecook
Google+: https://plus.google.com/102746226001674797330/posts
Purpose on KindlePromise on Kindle
Contest
Christie has graciously offered an e copy of each of her books, Promise and Purpose. She will choose one winner per book from a random drawing. To enter, leave a comment for Christie. Please provide an email where you may be contacted. Entries must be posted by Midnight on 9/2/11.
Building the Soul Savers WorldOne of my favorite parts about writing in the contemporary fantasy genre is world-building. The real world provides a familiar environment to work within, but the genre allows us freedom to create our own creatures, bring in legendary and mythical beings and even bring down the boundaries of time, space and alternative dimensions. As long as we can make it sound believable, we can even break the laws of science.
The characters of my Soul Savers Series occupy our world, although another dimension exists – the spiritual or "Otherworld." In the Otherworld, angels and demons fight for human souls, but it's also home to other entities, such as the faeries. The series, however, is about how these Otherworld spirits impact the physical realm and it mostly takes place in our human domain.
In my world, the ruling factions of the Otherworld – the angels and the demons – have each created their own armies on Earth. Vampires, were-creatures and mages (witches, wizards, warlocks and sorcerers) all exist in our world, though in secret. My main characters, however, are none of these, yet all of these. They are my own creation.
In Promise, we only get a glimpse of these secret entities that inhabit our world, learning along with the main character, Alexis. She learns more about them in Purpose, the second book, but it's in Genesis, a prequel that comes out in October, and Devotion, the third book in the series that releases in February, where we really get to explore this world that exists in our own.
As we become more immersed in the world I've created, we learn the rules and parameters. Why are my vampires able to come out in the daylight? (Dracula could, so why not? My vamps prefer the night because daylight weakens them, but it's amazing what a shot of mage blood can do for them.) Do they have any restrictions at all? (Of course! But not many.) What's the difference between a witch, a wizard, a warlock and a sorcerer? (Only gender separates a witch and a wizard but the level of power defines a warlock and a sorcerer.) As for the creatures I've made up, what powers do they and don't they have? (It's dependent on the individual and what gifts the angels give them.)
The most difficult part about writing this or any other fantasy genre is creating rules and sticking to them. If we set a rule early in the book or in the first book of the series, we must stick to that rule throughout. So whatever rules we make, we can't break them later for the sake of convenience.
For example, in my world, some mages have the ability to "cloak" other people, making them invisible. I've had to decide if the spell only works on people or if it "hides" objects, as well. If a woman is holding a purse, is it invisible, too? What if a character is carrying something bigger – perhaps huge? If he picks something up while cloaked, does that object become invisible, too? Or would it be seen as if floating in mid-air? When setting these rules, I have to think ahead and ask myself every possible "what if" situation to ensure I don't set myself up for future failure.
If we discover later that we need to break a rule we've set, we must have a plausible work-around that doesn't leave the reader thinking, "Puh-lease. That makes no sense at all!" We must be able to convince the reader to believe the exception to the rule.
I think one of the biggest sins an author in any of the fantasy genres can make is assuming the reader won't notice. After all, I believe readers enjoy reading this genre for the same reason I enjoy writing it – to escape into an alternative world the author has built. In the Soul Savers Series, I have built a unique world within our own, combining the familiar with the fantastical and adding in my own little twists and creations. Now…I better go check what I decided about the invisible purse rule before I write this next scene.
About the Author
Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, with the first two books, Promise and Purpose, available now and the third book, Devotion, coming February 2012. She's also written a companion novella, Genesis, coming October 2011.
Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at:
Promise
When Alexis Ames is attacked by creatures that can't be real, she decides it's time she learns who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their family's secrets closely. After meeting the inhumanly attractive, multi-talented Tristan Knight, however, Alexis retreats behind her façade of normalcy…until she discovers he's not exactly normal either. Then their secrets begin to unravel.
Their union brings hope and promise to her family's secret society, the Angels' army, and to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy – Satan's minions and Tristan's creators. After all, Alexis and Tristan are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.
Purpose
Lost in despair, Alexis teeters on the edge of an abyss, her lifeline of hope fraying into a thin thread. If it snaps, she'll plunge into complete darkness. With the help of her son and her writing, she's been able to hold on. Until now. Erratic impulses, disturbing delusions and her own demonic blood threaten her sanity. When she's forced to choose between hanging onto hope or letting go to serve her Amadis purposes, she faces a decision with inconceivable sacrifices.
Alexis runs to the one place she thinks will provide answers, only to find herself at the center of another battle of good versus evil, not only with the Daemoni, not only within herself…but also against the worst opponent imaginable. But even if she wins, what will she lose?
Author's Website & Blog: http://www.kristiecook.com/
Series Website: http://www.soulsaversseries.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristieCook
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/kristiecookauth
Tumbler: http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/kristiecook
Google+: https://plus.google.com/102746226001674797330/posts
Purpose on KindlePromise on Kindle
August 25, 2011
David Fingerman on Do's & Don'ts at Book Fairs
Today I welcome David Fingerman, another author published by L&L Dreamspell. David offers some advice on ettiquette and selling tips for authors working a Bookfair.
Do's & Don'ts at the Book Fair
For a loner who shuns the public whenever possible, I guiltily admit that I enjoy participating in book fairs even though it's definitely out of my comfort zone. I'm forced to interact with the public, which I suppose is a good thing (especially if I want to sell any books). I have to compete with a myriad of authors, but at least don't have to worry about constantly being the center of attention (although, I do notice some authors strive for that). But for me, I can sit (and/or stand) for hours and observe people. I love observing.
This past weekend I had the pleasure of participating in the Northwoods Art Festival and Book Fair. It took place in Hackensack, MN, population a tad above 300. What's wrong with this picture? As it turned out ~ absolutely nothing. Always unpredictable, this year the weather couldn't have been better. Mostly sunny with the temperature in the 70s. The artists had it great. For us authors, weather wasn't a big deal because we were indoors (but had it been raining I'm sure that would've driven down the attendance). As it was, I think the entire town showed up, along with neighboring towns, and tourists. There were only about twenty or so of us authors, so – less competition.
Another plus was I got to observe the book fair as a whole while staying behind my table. Unlike the huge book fairs that cater to thousands of people, the atmosphere here was laid back and I could actually converse with people without having to raise my voice above the din. And like all book fairs, I got to observe a lot of do's and don'ts.Setting up a nice table is key. Grab the reader's attention. Gimmicks are good. For my novel, "Spyder" I had little rub-on spider tattoos scattered around the book (kids love 'em and drag their parents to my table). Behind me, a woman who had a couple of adventure books about her pup, had a dog dish with candy and had set up other pet paraphernalia. Down the row another author had copies of her book stacked on the table and that was all. I have no idea if she made any sales, but I did notice people glance at her table and keep moving. As an author she also did nothing to attract them. She didn't engage them in conversation, and didn't even smile (at least that I saw).
That brings me to the author. First off, dress appropriate. Unless it's a theme fair, I suggest smart-casual. If you have the personality for it, maybe over-the-top might be a good ploy to get more attention. But a tee shirt, shorts, and flip-flops definitely sends a message of why should I care.
Don't leave your table unattended. Most book fairs have staff that will gladly sit in if you need a bathroom break. At the very least ask the author at the next table to keep an eye on your books. I noticed one table that sat vacant for over half-an-hour. I'm guessing that the author wanted to check out the art festival. But while he was out a number of people stopped, thumbed through his book, saw no one, then wandered to the next table.
Another don't, and this is a pisser. Don't try to drag a potential customer from another author to your table. I only saw this once a couple of years ago. While one author was chatting with a reader, the guy at the next table interrupted and started pimping his own book. It went beyond rude. I don't know if it was staff or the author, but someone said something and he only did it that once. Show your fellow authors respect!I'd like to wrap up by talking a little about the mystery writer who sat across from me. While my sales were adequate, this woman raked up. She did everything right. It was obvious she had invested a lot of herself and a lot of money into her writing as a business. She radiated confidence, was outgoing, but not to the point of being obnoxious. It seemed to come natural for her (I hate people like that – mostly because I'm jealous). She dressed professional, her table was well set up, and her two novels had a number of award stickers plastered onto them. I had never heard of most of the awards, but they definitely caught my curiosity and suspicions.
When I got home I logged onto my computer and checked a few of them out. A couple of the contests the sticker said she was a finalist in had about a dozen finalists in just about every category imaginable. Whether it be true or false, I got the feeling that if you didn't win, at least you were a finalist. I also noticed that some of the contest entrance fees were quite expensive. One contest could cost up to $190. In other words, you're buying award stickers.
Yes, there are many good contests out there, just as there are many that I would question their legitimacy. As an author, I had to roll my eyes at buying an award sticker. But as an entrepreneur, I thought it was genius. This writer made a lot of sales because people want to read award winners. And who but other authors are actually going to check out contest awards?
So there you have it. I'm not going to go into the morals of buying award stickers. If you feel comfortable, and have the money – it works, I saw that firsthand. If it feels dishonest then don't do it – best to feel good about yourself. As for the rest of it, I think I can narrow it down to two words ~ be professional.
You can learn more about David at his website.
During the summer months when the sun is shining and birds singing, I'm perfectly content to sit in my office, with blinds drawn, typing away at my computer. My favorite day of the year is the first day I pull a flannel shirt out of the closet. After 24 years of working in the court system, I walked away to write full time. "Edging past Reality" is my first book of short stories. "Silent Kill" is my first novel, a suspense/thriller. My second novel, "Spyder" is more of an urban adventure. "Playing the Hand She's Dealt" a sequel to"Silent Kill" will be released soon.
Do's & Don'ts at the Book Fair
For a loner who shuns the public whenever possible, I guiltily admit that I enjoy participating in book fairs even though it's definitely out of my comfort zone. I'm forced to interact with the public, which I suppose is a good thing (especially if I want to sell any books). I have to compete with a myriad of authors, but at least don't have to worry about constantly being the center of attention (although, I do notice some authors strive for that). But for me, I can sit (and/or stand) for hours and observe people. I love observing.
This past weekend I had the pleasure of participating in the Northwoods Art Festival and Book Fair. It took place in Hackensack, MN, population a tad above 300. What's wrong with this picture? As it turned out ~ absolutely nothing. Always unpredictable, this year the weather couldn't have been better. Mostly sunny with the temperature in the 70s. The artists had it great. For us authors, weather wasn't a big deal because we were indoors (but had it been raining I'm sure that would've driven down the attendance). As it was, I think the entire town showed up, along with neighboring towns, and tourists. There were only about twenty or so of us authors, so – less competition.
Another plus was I got to observe the book fair as a whole while staying behind my table. Unlike the huge book fairs that cater to thousands of people, the atmosphere here was laid back and I could actually converse with people without having to raise my voice above the din. And like all book fairs, I got to observe a lot of do's and don'ts.Setting up a nice table is key. Grab the reader's attention. Gimmicks are good. For my novel, "Spyder" I had little rub-on spider tattoos scattered around the book (kids love 'em and drag their parents to my table). Behind me, a woman who had a couple of adventure books about her pup, had a dog dish with candy and had set up other pet paraphernalia. Down the row another author had copies of her book stacked on the table and that was all. I have no idea if she made any sales, but I did notice people glance at her table and keep moving. As an author she also did nothing to attract them. She didn't engage them in conversation, and didn't even smile (at least that I saw).
That brings me to the author. First off, dress appropriate. Unless it's a theme fair, I suggest smart-casual. If you have the personality for it, maybe over-the-top might be a good ploy to get more attention. But a tee shirt, shorts, and flip-flops definitely sends a message of why should I care.
Don't leave your table unattended. Most book fairs have staff that will gladly sit in if you need a bathroom break. At the very least ask the author at the next table to keep an eye on your books. I noticed one table that sat vacant for over half-an-hour. I'm guessing that the author wanted to check out the art festival. But while he was out a number of people stopped, thumbed through his book, saw no one, then wandered to the next table.
Another don't, and this is a pisser. Don't try to drag a potential customer from another author to your table. I only saw this once a couple of years ago. While one author was chatting with a reader, the guy at the next table interrupted and started pimping his own book. It went beyond rude. I don't know if it was staff or the author, but someone said something and he only did it that once. Show your fellow authors respect!I'd like to wrap up by talking a little about the mystery writer who sat across from me. While my sales were adequate, this woman raked up. She did everything right. It was obvious she had invested a lot of herself and a lot of money into her writing as a business. She radiated confidence, was outgoing, but not to the point of being obnoxious. It seemed to come natural for her (I hate people like that – mostly because I'm jealous). She dressed professional, her table was well set up, and her two novels had a number of award stickers plastered onto them. I had never heard of most of the awards, but they definitely caught my curiosity and suspicions.
When I got home I logged onto my computer and checked a few of them out. A couple of the contests the sticker said she was a finalist in had about a dozen finalists in just about every category imaginable. Whether it be true or false, I got the feeling that if you didn't win, at least you were a finalist. I also noticed that some of the contest entrance fees were quite expensive. One contest could cost up to $190. In other words, you're buying award stickers.
Yes, there are many good contests out there, just as there are many that I would question their legitimacy. As an author, I had to roll my eyes at buying an award sticker. But as an entrepreneur, I thought it was genius. This writer made a lot of sales because people want to read award winners. And who but other authors are actually going to check out contest awards?
So there you have it. I'm not going to go into the morals of buying award stickers. If you feel comfortable, and have the money – it works, I saw that firsthand. If it feels dishonest then don't do it – best to feel good about yourself. As for the rest of it, I think I can narrow it down to two words ~ be professional.
You can learn more about David at his website.
During the summer months when the sun is shining and birds singing, I'm perfectly content to sit in my office, with blinds drawn, typing away at my computer. My favorite day of the year is the first day I pull a flannel shirt out of the closet. After 24 years of working in the court system, I walked away to write full time. "Edging past Reality" is my first book of short stories. "Silent Kill" is my first novel, a suspense/thriller. My second novel, "Spyder" is more of an urban adventure. "Playing the Hand She's Dealt" a sequel to"Silent Kill" will be released soon.
August 21, 2011
B. K. Walker on Her Paranormal World
Today, I welcome B. K. Walker to Immortyl Revolution. She is on part of the Romancing the Darkside Tour. I'll be hosting several other authors as part of this series. There will be drawings to go with these posts. I've asked the authors to provide me with a little insight on how they build their paranormal worlds. So without further ado, here is B. K.!
Thank you so much Denise for having back at your blog. It's always a pleasure chatting with your readers. I'm having so much fun touring with these magnificent authors for Romancing Your Dark Side Tour. It's still early and already I've met some great people. Before we get started, I just want to let your readers know that by leaving a comment today and at any blog along this tour they will be entered into our grand prize drawing for a brand new Kindle and a Virtual Gift Basket full of goodies. You gain an entry for each blog you comment at, and you can find the entire schedule with a giveaway at each stop over at http://www.vbtcafe.com/.
Today's giveaway - 2 e-copies of Night Secrets, or readers choice of e-book from my backlist. Please leave a comment for B. K. in order to enter. Names will be chosen by random drawing. Commenters must post by midnight EDT Wed. 8/23/11. Please provide an email address where you may be contacted.
Creating My Paranormal World in an Everyday Setting
I love writing in the paranormal fiction genre. Not only can I create a world all of my own, but I can make things happen that you may not normally see. I can throw my characters in a modern day life, I can take them back in time, I can create magic that may never have even been heard of in our world. That's the greatness of writing in this type of genre. I can just let my imagination run wild.
What's the catch though? It must be believable. Even though I write about vampires, werewolves, witches, faeries, and whatever else I may throw into the mix, my characters, no matter what I'm writing, must be believable. If a reader can't connect, or imagine that character in it's description, then I'm not doing my job. Yes, you may see things in my vampires or werewolves that you see in other novels, but what separates my writing from the rest? It's the mix. Not too often do you see vampires, witches, werewolves, and/or faeries all in one story, and if you do, it's often for a brief scene. With my writing though, my make believe all work together, coincide together, live together. They may not always like each other, but they are all there in the forefront making the action happen. I've been told many times by readers that they've never seen such a diverse group of characters in their reading as what they've read in my books. The plus side, it works. It creates a world for readers that not only is believable, but that they want to read to find out more.
In Dares And Dreams, my main character, Lannie Spenser is a witch coming into her full powers when she turns 21. What she faces is also becoming half vampire, like her mother who is already a Vamp-Witch, in order to save herself and her coven from an evil vampire king that hunts her for those powers.
In Immortyl Kisses, Raine is hunted by a rogue vampire simply because she smells good. She's protected by a vampire and a werewolf, and she harbors feelings for both. Both vampire and werewolf must work together to keep her safe, and then in comes a witch giving them guidance as to what is to become and fights by their side as well.
Night Secrets, Keara Crosby is from a fey lineage, but shapeshifting is the power she develops fully. Meeting Channing, a werewolf, and Corbin a vampire, she is introduced to a world she only thought was make believe. As things start happening to her, she needs to find the answers. Only in her crazy Wiccan aunt will she find what she seeks and learn of a heritage that her late parents tried to protect her from. As you can see, once again I have quite the mix thrown into my storyline. I like playing with all of the different folk lore. It's fun to research it, figure out how I can change it up, and create my own twist to the existing lore, if you will. My muse just loves creating these characters and the plots to go with them. We create some pretty intense action and most times a surprising twist that the reader just wasn't expecting. I love the element of surprise (*chuckling*).
BK Walker currently lives in Transylvania, (j/k Central Pennsylvania), with her three children, Brittney, Hunter and Danny, her dogs Rancid, Sadie and Haven, a cat named Whiskers and a goldfish named Fat Albert. She has always had a love for reading and writing, even as a child she created stories reading them to her stuffed animals. With a love for vampires and werewolves, you will not be disappointed with her writing as she mixes up the paranormal juice. Aside from writing, BK also supports Indie Authors organizing virtual book tours, helping them to market and promote their work. Her book review site, BWB Reviews, is just another small way she contributes to the reading world. With many stories floating around in her head, she writes when she gets the time between working as a Pediatric Home Care Nurse, being a single mother, and continuing her college education in Graphic Art Design. When she's not arguing with her muse, you will often find her at a baseball game with her boys or drinking iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts enjoying a good book.
Keara Crosby had the perfect life. Her family was not hurting for anything. When her parents are suddenly killed, Keara must learn to live without them. After mourning their death for two months, Keara starts to live again. She follows her favorite band, hangs with her best friend Jared, and falls for the new kid on the block.
When her favorite band is playing at Night Secrets, a new club downtown, she takes her first outing since her parents death and finds this mysterious boy watching her. Mesmerized by his lapus blue eyes, she can't help but feel drawn to him. Her body responds to him in ways she never thought possible, and she needs to figure out why. What is it about Channing that has her yearning for his touch?
Not only is Keara drawn to Channing, but the owner of Night Secrets seems to be drawn to her. Giving her special treatment, she can't help but wonder what he's hiding, and the sense she's seen him before. When she's attacked in the parking lot, her world turns inside out, literally. Keara will soon learn that secrets of the night, just may be the death of her.
Night Secrets Excerpt
I almost made it to the kitchen when Aunt Aingeal
came running out of my room. She had an incense in her
hand and stopped in front of me fanning the smoke
around my body, chanting in Gaelic. I watched her in
amazement for a few moments, then I'd had enough.
"Aunt Aingeal please? I really would like to get a bite
to eat, and can't even understand a word you are saying.
What is it with you?"
She paused her actions and looked at me. "Yer father
'as nev'r told ya. I should've figured as mooch. Child, I
be placin' prootection upon ya. Go git yer grub and we be
talkin'." She sniffed the air around me. "I know of yer
accident, an' of tha' thing tha' brung ya 'ome. Ya put
yerself in too mooch danger all tha time. Now go. Go
eat, ya be lookn' like crap, an' th'n be comin' ta see me."
I looked at her in disbelief. She turned and went to her
room. What the heck was that all about? She was such
a weird woman. What didn't my father tell me? We've
always had a pretty open relationship. I did with both my
parents. I shook my head and headed for the kitchen. I
couldn't wait to hear this one.
After I filled my stomach Jamison was already
questioning me. "Miss Keara, do you feel better now?"
"Yes Jamison. I am full and feel like a million bucks.
Thanks."
"You look much better than when you first arrived
home.
Thank goodness you're okay. I'm glad you ate it all. It
will help you regain your strength." He smiled.
"Let me ask you something Jamison."
"Of course Miss Keara." He stood at attention.
"Is there anything about my dad that I should know
about? Something I don't know?"
Confusion was evident in his expression, yet I waited.
He pondered the question for a minute before he
answered. "I don't believe so Miss Keara. Why are you
asking?"
I sipped my tea. "It's something Aingeal said. She
said 'Your father has not told you. I should have figured
as much. I just don't know what she could mean." I
absently took another sip of tea.
"I'm not sure Miss Keara. You know your father never
spoke of Aingeal much. She is a bit…..eccentric shall I
say?"
"That she is Jamison. That she is. Well, I must go talk
to her and find out. Thanks for the tea and soup Jamison.
You're the best." I kissed his cheek and headed to
Aingeal's room.
From the hall I could smell her incense. The aroma
was strong, a mix of coconut and sage. What was with
her and her witchery? I just didn't get it. I could hear her
chanting again as I tapped on her door. "Aunt Aingeal,
can I come in?"
The door opened, a fog of smoke rolling out into the
hallway. She peered around the door so just her head
was visible. Her long red hair was wrapped in a black,
silk scarf. Her ears had large silver hoops dangling from
them. A silver chain with some weird looking stone hung
from her neck. "Come in me child. Come in."
This was the first time I'd ever been in her room since
she moved here. Looking around I couldn't believe all the
things she had. Shelves upon shelves lined the walls,
and bottles of every shape and size, all different colors
sat upon them. There were old books on a shelf that sat
on the floor, they looked ancient.
"Sit down me child. We must talk."
"What is the incense for?"
"Fer yer prootection child." She pulled two chairs up to
a round glass table and motioned for me to sit. She
busied herself gathering a brass ball on a chain, some
crystals, and a book off the shelf. She walked over to the
other end of the room and grabbed a purple bottle that
looked fit for a genie.
"What are you doing Aunt Aingeal?"
"Shush, me child. I be tellin' ya once I've all I be
needin'."
So I waited. Once she was done she came to sit in the
chair opposite me at the glass table. She spread all the
items out in front of us and opened her book. "Now.
Thar's a lot fer ya ta be learnin'. Yer father, bless 'is soul,
nev'r wanted ta believe nor carry on our heritage. He
thought it rubbish, but he was a fool."
"What heritage? What are you talking about?"
"Listen me child, and I will be tell'n ya."
"Okay." I raised my hands in surrender.
"Our family comes from a long line of Celtics from
Ireland. Ya wer' n't born a Crosby, but yer true name is
Flannery."
"What? Where did Crosby come from?" I knew we
were Irish with the flaming red hair we all had, but never
b. k. walker
Thank you so much Denise for having back at your blog. It's always a pleasure chatting with your readers. I'm having so much fun touring with these magnificent authors for Romancing Your Dark Side Tour. It's still early and already I've met some great people. Before we get started, I just want to let your readers know that by leaving a comment today and at any blog along this tour they will be entered into our grand prize drawing for a brand new Kindle and a Virtual Gift Basket full of goodies. You gain an entry for each blog you comment at, and you can find the entire schedule with a giveaway at each stop over at http://www.vbtcafe.com/.
Today's giveaway - 2 e-copies of Night Secrets, or readers choice of e-book from my backlist. Please leave a comment for B. K. in order to enter. Names will be chosen by random drawing. Commenters must post by midnight EDT Wed. 8/23/11. Please provide an email address where you may be contacted.
Creating My Paranormal World in an Everyday Setting
I love writing in the paranormal fiction genre. Not only can I create a world all of my own, but I can make things happen that you may not normally see. I can throw my characters in a modern day life, I can take them back in time, I can create magic that may never have even been heard of in our world. That's the greatness of writing in this type of genre. I can just let my imagination run wild.
What's the catch though? It must be believable. Even though I write about vampires, werewolves, witches, faeries, and whatever else I may throw into the mix, my characters, no matter what I'm writing, must be believable. If a reader can't connect, or imagine that character in it's description, then I'm not doing my job. Yes, you may see things in my vampires or werewolves that you see in other novels, but what separates my writing from the rest? It's the mix. Not too often do you see vampires, witches, werewolves, and/or faeries all in one story, and if you do, it's often for a brief scene. With my writing though, my make believe all work together, coincide together, live together. They may not always like each other, but they are all there in the forefront making the action happen. I've been told many times by readers that they've never seen such a diverse group of characters in their reading as what they've read in my books. The plus side, it works. It creates a world for readers that not only is believable, but that they want to read to find out more.
In Dares And Dreams, my main character, Lannie Spenser is a witch coming into her full powers when she turns 21. What she faces is also becoming half vampire, like her mother who is already a Vamp-Witch, in order to save herself and her coven from an evil vampire king that hunts her for those powers.
In Immortyl Kisses, Raine is hunted by a rogue vampire simply because she smells good. She's protected by a vampire and a werewolf, and she harbors feelings for both. Both vampire and werewolf must work together to keep her safe, and then in comes a witch giving them guidance as to what is to become and fights by their side as well.
Night Secrets, Keara Crosby is from a fey lineage, but shapeshifting is the power she develops fully. Meeting Channing, a werewolf, and Corbin a vampire, she is introduced to a world she only thought was make believe. As things start happening to her, she needs to find the answers. Only in her crazy Wiccan aunt will she find what she seeks and learn of a heritage that her late parents tried to protect her from. As you can see, once again I have quite the mix thrown into my storyline. I like playing with all of the different folk lore. It's fun to research it, figure out how I can change it up, and create my own twist to the existing lore, if you will. My muse just loves creating these characters and the plots to go with them. We create some pretty intense action and most times a surprising twist that the reader just wasn't expecting. I love the element of surprise (*chuckling*).
BK Walker currently lives in Transylvania, (j/k Central Pennsylvania), with her three children, Brittney, Hunter and Danny, her dogs Rancid, Sadie and Haven, a cat named Whiskers and a goldfish named Fat Albert. She has always had a love for reading and writing, even as a child she created stories reading them to her stuffed animals. With a love for vampires and werewolves, you will not be disappointed with her writing as she mixes up the paranormal juice. Aside from writing, BK also supports Indie Authors organizing virtual book tours, helping them to market and promote their work. Her book review site, BWB Reviews, is just another small way she contributes to the reading world. With many stories floating around in her head, she writes when she gets the time between working as a Pediatric Home Care Nurse, being a single mother, and continuing her college education in Graphic Art Design. When she's not arguing with her muse, you will often find her at a baseball game with her boys or drinking iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts enjoying a good book.
Keara Crosby had the perfect life. Her family was not hurting for anything. When her parents are suddenly killed, Keara must learn to live without them. After mourning their death for two months, Keara starts to live again. She follows her favorite band, hangs with her best friend Jared, and falls for the new kid on the block.
When her favorite band is playing at Night Secrets, a new club downtown, she takes her first outing since her parents death and finds this mysterious boy watching her. Mesmerized by his lapus blue eyes, she can't help but feel drawn to him. Her body responds to him in ways she never thought possible, and she needs to figure out why. What is it about Channing that has her yearning for his touch?
Not only is Keara drawn to Channing, but the owner of Night Secrets seems to be drawn to her. Giving her special treatment, she can't help but wonder what he's hiding, and the sense she's seen him before. When she's attacked in the parking lot, her world turns inside out, literally. Keara will soon learn that secrets of the night, just may be the death of her.
Night Secrets Excerpt
I almost made it to the kitchen when Aunt Aingeal
came running out of my room. She had an incense in her
hand and stopped in front of me fanning the smoke
around my body, chanting in Gaelic. I watched her in
amazement for a few moments, then I'd had enough.
"Aunt Aingeal please? I really would like to get a bite
to eat, and can't even understand a word you are saying.
What is it with you?"
She paused her actions and looked at me. "Yer father
'as nev'r told ya. I should've figured as mooch. Child, I
be placin' prootection upon ya. Go git yer grub and we be
talkin'." She sniffed the air around me. "I know of yer
accident, an' of tha' thing tha' brung ya 'ome. Ya put
yerself in too mooch danger all tha time. Now go. Go
eat, ya be lookn' like crap, an' th'n be comin' ta see me."
I looked at her in disbelief. She turned and went to her
room. What the heck was that all about? She was such
a weird woman. What didn't my father tell me? We've
always had a pretty open relationship. I did with both my
parents. I shook my head and headed for the kitchen. I
couldn't wait to hear this one.
After I filled my stomach Jamison was already
questioning me. "Miss Keara, do you feel better now?"
"Yes Jamison. I am full and feel like a million bucks.
Thanks."
"You look much better than when you first arrived
home.
Thank goodness you're okay. I'm glad you ate it all. It
will help you regain your strength." He smiled.
"Let me ask you something Jamison."
"Of course Miss Keara." He stood at attention.
"Is there anything about my dad that I should know
about? Something I don't know?"
Confusion was evident in his expression, yet I waited.
He pondered the question for a minute before he
answered. "I don't believe so Miss Keara. Why are you
asking?"
I sipped my tea. "It's something Aingeal said. She
said 'Your father has not told you. I should have figured
as much. I just don't know what she could mean." I
absently took another sip of tea.
"I'm not sure Miss Keara. You know your father never
spoke of Aingeal much. She is a bit…..eccentric shall I
say?"
"That she is Jamison. That she is. Well, I must go talk
to her and find out. Thanks for the tea and soup Jamison.
You're the best." I kissed his cheek and headed to
Aingeal's room.
From the hall I could smell her incense. The aroma
was strong, a mix of coconut and sage. What was with
her and her witchery? I just didn't get it. I could hear her
chanting again as I tapped on her door. "Aunt Aingeal,
can I come in?"
The door opened, a fog of smoke rolling out into the
hallway. She peered around the door so just her head
was visible. Her long red hair was wrapped in a black,
silk scarf. Her ears had large silver hoops dangling from
them. A silver chain with some weird looking stone hung
from her neck. "Come in me child. Come in."
This was the first time I'd ever been in her room since
she moved here. Looking around I couldn't believe all the
things she had. Shelves upon shelves lined the walls,
and bottles of every shape and size, all different colors
sat upon them. There were old books on a shelf that sat
on the floor, they looked ancient.
"Sit down me child. We must talk."
"What is the incense for?"
"Fer yer prootection child." She pulled two chairs up to
a round glass table and motioned for me to sit. She
busied herself gathering a brass ball on a chain, some
crystals, and a book off the shelf. She walked over to the
other end of the room and grabbed a purple bottle that
looked fit for a genie.
"What are you doing Aunt Aingeal?"
"Shush, me child. I be tellin' ya once I've all I be
needin'."
So I waited. Once she was done she came to sit in the
chair opposite me at the glass table. She spread all the
items out in front of us and opened her book. "Now.
Thar's a lot fer ya ta be learnin'. Yer father, bless 'is soul,
nev'r wanted ta believe nor carry on our heritage. He
thought it rubbish, but he was a fool."
"What heritage? What are you talking about?"
"Listen me child, and I will be tell'n ya."
"Okay." I raised my hands in surrender.
"Our family comes from a long line of Celtics from
Ireland. Ya wer' n't born a Crosby, but yer true name is
Flannery."
"What? Where did Crosby come from?" I knew we
were Irish with the flaming red hair we all had, but never
b. k. walker
August 18, 2011
Morgan St. James on How to Use Fate to Develop a Great Plot
I'm pleased to welcome Morgan St. James to Immortyl Revolution. Morgan is the third L&L Dreamspell author in the feature I've been running.
HOW TO USE FATE TO DEVELOP A GREAT PLOT
Morgan St. James
Fate is one of those "tricks of the trade" that can work in any genre and produce heart-thumping terror, boundless joy, romance, hatred or any number of emotions. Some believe in it, like me, and others say it's just something that happened. But think about its value when writing fiction.
When I conceived the idea for my Twist of Fate series, I decided that even if every book didn't have the same protagonist, "fate" would be one of the main "characters."
A chance passing of apparent strangers and the world turns upside down. What would have happened if two people who shape the chilling conclusion of a book each arrived at the fateful door a few minutes later or earlier? Nothing. Would they each have gone on their way without incident? Would they meet at some other time setting off the same firestorm? Using fate, it becomes the author's choice.
A car hurtles around a dangerous blind curve and slams into an oncoming car traveling in the opposite direction. They crash and one driver's life changes. A few minutes or even seconds earlier or later and they would have missed each other and continued on their route. I know—it happened to me in 1983. But for that accident many events and the directions my life took would have been radically different. For one thing, I probably wouldn't have been writing advice columns for authors, a "how-to" book and mystery novels. I would have been designing model homes—that's what I did.
When the author is plotting, all of the forks in the road must be considered. What events follow if a certain thing happens? What events follow if it doesn't? This is the fun part where you as the author shape fate and more or less play "God." You alone determine the protagonist's life pattern.
Fate is a powerful tool. It allows the author to map the plot like a chess game, always looking ahead at the options. If Event A happens, it sets off a chain of events. If it doesn't, life goes in another direction. At each milestone there are one or more choices that shape the story in the direction the author chooses.
Take this example: The robbery is carefully planned, everything is in place and has been checked and double-checked. It should go without a hitch. Then there is momentary electrical short, it sets off an alarm and it all goes wrong. Who could have anticipated that? It's one of those moments. A great example of this is Donald Westlake's "What's the Worst Thing That Could Happen?" where a chain of unanticipated mishaps resulted in a hilarious story. When asked how he plotted it, he said, "I bet...I bet if this had happened, then that wouldn't have happened; that sort of thing." He claimed to have the same line of thought when writing "Somebody Owes Me Money."
Fate is a very popular device in romances. How and why do the strangers meet? Take "Sleepless in Seattle." It is filled with these moments and that's what makes the story work.
There is a technique called bubbling where you start with a protagonist and/or event in the main bubble. Then take all of the offshoots. For each plot point draw a circle radiating off the main one and enter that action. Then for each of those draw four or five circles leading back to each event and think of an action that could be triggered. Continue as far down that path as you choose. Now take your protagonist on the fateful journey you have mapped. Happy writing!
A very big thanks to Morgan for her insight! You can find out more about Morgan and her books at her website and blogs.
http://www.morganstjames-author.com/http://www.morgan-stjames.blogspot.com/http://www.silversistersmysteries.com/
She's just launched the new Writers' Tricks of the Trade blog and monthly Newsletter, filled with tips, techniques, and experiences of myself and guest contributors in various facets of publishing. There is a Brag page for subscribers, conference listings, etc. The link for the Newsletter is in the right-hand column of http://writerstricksofthetrade.blogspot.com
Here is some information on Morgan's latest books:
Vanishing Act in Vegas
"Vanishing Act in Vegas," published by L&L Dreamspell, is the third book in the Silver Sisters Mysteries, was released this week in eBook, Kindle and paperback. The 4th book, "Diamonds in the Dumpster" is currently in work. The two previous books were "A Corpse in the Soup" (Best Mystery Audio Book 2007-USA Book News) and "Seven Deadly Samovars."
Join the zany sisters, Beverly Hills advice columnist Godiva Olivia DuBois, her twin sister--over the hill Alaska antique shop owner Goldie-- and their feisty 80 year old mother and uncle (former vaudeville magicians) as they try to solve the mystery surrounding Sin City's beautiful magician, Mara the Magnificent.
Filled with twists and turns, Vegas kitsch and a few backfires, this new Silver Sisters adventure is sure to delight.
Here is what reviewers are saying about the Silver Sister's Mysteries:
Morgan and Phyllice manage to incorporate just the right mix of tension and humor to keep it lively and interesting page after page. If you like the warm, friendly amateur detective mystery then this is one you should get. Sid Weaver, Reviewer and Wannabe Sleuth, www.mainlymysteries.com
Morgan St. James and Phyllice Bradner are as entertaining as Nick & Nora Charles or even better. If you like the late Anne George's Southern Sisters Series you'll love these two crime solving quirky characters who know how to create merry mischief and it's in their blood. Pamela James/Reviewer Mayhem & Magic website .
Writers Tricks of the Trade
"Writers Tricks of the Trade," published by Marina Publishing Group, was released over the past two weeks in eBook and Kindle-paperback will be available by the end of the month. Suitable for every fiction writer from novice to published. Here are a few of the blurbs:
"Regardless of genre, writing can be a mystery. In these 'Thirty-nine Steps' for aspiring scribes, Morgan St. James makes the conundrum far less daunting. Great, real-world, career-tested tips within these pages!" ~Megan Edwards, author of Roads from the Ashes: An Odyssey in Real Life on the Virtual Frontier
"Writers' Tricks of the Trade is one of those, rare books that you can read over and over. Read it through once, but keep it handy whenever you are blocked. You can open it to any page at random and find inspiration." ~John Brantingham, Professor of English, Mount San Antonio College, Walnut CA
HOW TO USE FATE TO DEVELOP A GREAT PLOT
Morgan St. James
Fate is one of those "tricks of the trade" that can work in any genre and produce heart-thumping terror, boundless joy, romance, hatred or any number of emotions. Some believe in it, like me, and others say it's just something that happened. But think about its value when writing fiction.
When I conceived the idea for my Twist of Fate series, I decided that even if every book didn't have the same protagonist, "fate" would be one of the main "characters."
A chance passing of apparent strangers and the world turns upside down. What would have happened if two people who shape the chilling conclusion of a book each arrived at the fateful door a few minutes later or earlier? Nothing. Would they each have gone on their way without incident? Would they meet at some other time setting off the same firestorm? Using fate, it becomes the author's choice.
A car hurtles around a dangerous blind curve and slams into an oncoming car traveling in the opposite direction. They crash and one driver's life changes. A few minutes or even seconds earlier or later and they would have missed each other and continued on their route. I know—it happened to me in 1983. But for that accident many events and the directions my life took would have been radically different. For one thing, I probably wouldn't have been writing advice columns for authors, a "how-to" book and mystery novels. I would have been designing model homes—that's what I did.
When the author is plotting, all of the forks in the road must be considered. What events follow if a certain thing happens? What events follow if it doesn't? This is the fun part where you as the author shape fate and more or less play "God." You alone determine the protagonist's life pattern.
Fate is a powerful tool. It allows the author to map the plot like a chess game, always looking ahead at the options. If Event A happens, it sets off a chain of events. If it doesn't, life goes in another direction. At each milestone there are one or more choices that shape the story in the direction the author chooses.
Take this example: The robbery is carefully planned, everything is in place and has been checked and double-checked. It should go without a hitch. Then there is momentary electrical short, it sets off an alarm and it all goes wrong. Who could have anticipated that? It's one of those moments. A great example of this is Donald Westlake's "What's the Worst Thing That Could Happen?" where a chain of unanticipated mishaps resulted in a hilarious story. When asked how he plotted it, he said, "I bet...I bet if this had happened, then that wouldn't have happened; that sort of thing." He claimed to have the same line of thought when writing "Somebody Owes Me Money."
Fate is a very popular device in romances. How and why do the strangers meet? Take "Sleepless in Seattle." It is filled with these moments and that's what makes the story work.
There is a technique called bubbling where you start with a protagonist and/or event in the main bubble. Then take all of the offshoots. For each plot point draw a circle radiating off the main one and enter that action. Then for each of those draw four or five circles leading back to each event and think of an action that could be triggered. Continue as far down that path as you choose. Now take your protagonist on the fateful journey you have mapped. Happy writing!
A very big thanks to Morgan for her insight! You can find out more about Morgan and her books at her website and blogs.
http://www.morganstjames-author.com/http://www.morgan-stjames.blogspot.com/http://www.silversistersmysteries.com/
She's just launched the new Writers' Tricks of the Trade blog and monthly Newsletter, filled with tips, techniques, and experiences of myself and guest contributors in various facets of publishing. There is a Brag page for subscribers, conference listings, etc. The link for the Newsletter is in the right-hand column of http://writerstricksofthetrade.blogspot.com
Here is some information on Morgan's latest books:
Vanishing Act in Vegas
"Vanishing Act in Vegas," published by L&L Dreamspell, is the third book in the Silver Sisters Mysteries, was released this week in eBook, Kindle and paperback. The 4th book, "Diamonds in the Dumpster" is currently in work. The two previous books were "A Corpse in the Soup" (Best Mystery Audio Book 2007-USA Book News) and "Seven Deadly Samovars."
Join the zany sisters, Beverly Hills advice columnist Godiva Olivia DuBois, her twin sister--over the hill Alaska antique shop owner Goldie-- and their feisty 80 year old mother and uncle (former vaudeville magicians) as they try to solve the mystery surrounding Sin City's beautiful magician, Mara the Magnificent.
Filled with twists and turns, Vegas kitsch and a few backfires, this new Silver Sisters adventure is sure to delight.
Here is what reviewers are saying about the Silver Sister's Mysteries:
Morgan and Phyllice manage to incorporate just the right mix of tension and humor to keep it lively and interesting page after page. If you like the warm, friendly amateur detective mystery then this is one you should get. Sid Weaver, Reviewer and Wannabe Sleuth, www.mainlymysteries.com
Morgan St. James and Phyllice Bradner are as entertaining as Nick & Nora Charles or even better. If you like the late Anne George's Southern Sisters Series you'll love these two crime solving quirky characters who know how to create merry mischief and it's in their blood. Pamela James/Reviewer Mayhem & Magic website .
Writers Tricks of the Trade
"Writers Tricks of the Trade," published by Marina Publishing Group, was released over the past two weeks in eBook and Kindle-paperback will be available by the end of the month. Suitable for every fiction writer from novice to published. Here are a few of the blurbs:
"Regardless of genre, writing can be a mystery. In these 'Thirty-nine Steps' for aspiring scribes, Morgan St. James makes the conundrum far less daunting. Great, real-world, career-tested tips within these pages!" ~Megan Edwards, author of Roads from the Ashes: An Odyssey in Real Life on the Virtual Frontier
"Writers' Tricks of the Trade is one of those, rare books that you can read over and over. Read it through once, but keep it handy whenever you are blocked. You can open it to any page at random and find inspiration." ~John Brantingham, Professor of English, Mount San Antonio College, Walnut CA
Immortyl Revolution
Author of Cara Mia, Book One of the Immortyl Revolution the first of a new vampire series.
- Denise Verrico's profile
- 51 followers
![[image error]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yR1pKm8stvc/TmoNJvscdsI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/76Bkj5YzSgw/s1600/securedownload%20Fierce.jpg){kind=link}