Denise K. Rago's Blog, page 20

A Secret Meeting – Paris 1787

Her gift was her ability to see the future through the touch of an object. She could hear peoples' thoughts and know their minds.  Josette could see the life force inside people, energy like balls of glowing light surrounding them. Her blood was sacred and powerful, not something to be given away lightly. The mystic told  her there would be three men who would mold her fate. Two would be light and one dark and they would forge her destiny, and though they looked like men, they were something old yet young about them as if they existed between two worlds.

She had no idea what the mystic meant until the night she had been walking on the Pont Neuf with her lover, the vampire Gaetan and they had run into vampires Christian Du Maure and Michel Baptiste.

Michel came closer  and sat down beside her on the divan.  She tried to avert her gaze but he held her spellbound with his beautiful eyes.

"Gaétan will take his revenge." He explained.  "Not today, not a year from now, but he will seek revenge for this injury to his pride."

Josette was surprised at his perception.  "I don't doubt that you will be there to protect Christian."

He touched her hand gently.

"I would protect him from even you."

Josette dropped her shawl.  His eyes moved from her face down to her slippers, taking in the deep green silk dress with the low cut décolletage.  He leaned closer and picked up a strand of her hair and she fought the trembling.

"I have never known Christian to be so enamored of anyone."

She smiled shyly as he twirled her hair around his long finger.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered, running a finger along her cheek.

She forced a smile. "So, do you approve of me?"

"He loves you but I think you will tire of him before too long.  It's your nature my beauty; it's in your blood."

He ran his fingers down her neck.

"Your compliments stir me, but as you well know Michel, beauty can be a curse. It can blind us, yet Christian is not

so fooled. I admire him for his sense of morality."

He chuckled as his cold lips brushed her ear. "I think your curiosity and lust will win out over your sense of morality, my lady."

Before she could argue, he was gone.  She barely heard the door close behind him.

An Exciting Indie Event

As Christmas Eve approaches I have to share the kaunch of a really cool event for Independent authors hosted by The Women's Literary Cafe beginning on Christmas Eve and running through next week.

And I  quote "For 7 days we are going to CELEBRATE THE INDIE INITIATIVE, featuring WLC authors, bringing our readers hidden talents and household names side-by-side. This is not a 99 cent event. We want to promote great literature that celebrates a fair and equitable value for readers and authors. This is an Kindle ebook celebration"!

I know there are many like-minded authors out there who have independently published their novels and readers who can't get enough of them.  Please drop by and show your support.

Happy Holidays and only the best in the New Year.

Happy Holidays

Before I step away from my computer for the next week or so, I want to take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and only the best in the New Year.

Cheers!

Up and Coming Events

As the year winds down and another begins, I thought I would let you guys know about some interesting events that are coming up for me.

December 2011~

Won't you join us Indie Authors at The Women's Literary Cafe beginning on Christmas Eve?

And I  quote "For 7 days we are going to CELEBRATE THE INDIE INITIATIVE, featuring WLC authors, bringing our readers hidden talents and household names side-by-side. This is not a 99 cent event. We want to promote great literature that celebrates a fair and equitable value for readers and authors. This is an Kindle ebook celebration"!

January 2012~

I have a character interview on January 4, 2012 at Werevampsromance.  At this time I am not sure which character from my novel will be featured.

February 2012 ~

I could not make this event in North Carolina so I sent a few signed copies of my novel to them to put on display. Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book

Fair brings together more than 75 authors, including two New York Times bestselling authors, Carla Neggers and Michael Palmer, more than 24 award-winning authors, and authors of almost every genre for all ages under one roof to sell and sign their books, participate in panel discussions and talks, network and interact with fans one-on-one.

March 2012~

I will be a part of this Indie author event, hosted by Tanya Cantois at All Things Books.

April 2012~

Once again I am honored to take part in Author Month with Melissa Cabrera at Werevampsromance.  It was such a success last year and so much fun, how could I not come back again?

Happy Thanksgiving

Just a quick post to say thank you to all my family, friends, bloggers, reviewers and readers.  It has been an incredible year and I am so grateful to have such wonderful people in my life.

Happy Anniversary

One year ago on November 9, 2010 I had a book launch party for my novel, Immortal Obsession. I had worked for several years to make this dream come true and I felt blessed to share it with family, friends and readers.  I received some wonderful gifts to commemorate this night but perhaps the most wonderful surprise was the arrival of a dear friend who came all the way from Sweden to be at my book signing!

I posted a photo of the two of us sitting together at my signing table on my facebook page under Photos/Immortal Obsession.  I think about that night often and I doubt there is an author out there who does not remember their first book signing.  Again, to everyone who came out that night I thank you again.  You helped to make that night one I will never, ever forget.

 

Time Passages

It's hard to image but Wednesday, October 26th will mark the 30th anniversary since my father's passing.  Though I can remember exactly what I wore the day of his funeral, what the weather was like, my own emotions; I have a hard time accounting for exactly where the last 30 years has gone.  In many ways, it feels like only yesterday I was visiting him bed side.  He had gone blind from his illness but we held hands as we talked quietly about nothing really.  I kept things light and right before he fell asleep I remember him saying "I'll see you tomorrow" and as I left his room I knew I would not.  I was only 24 and he, a mere 63, we were both way too young.

At 24 I had no idea what the future would hold, how 30 years would feel now as I looked back on that day. My memories of him are faint and distant, like watching a film of a time long past.  I remember when I realized that he had been dead more than alive in my life, that I spent more time at the cemetary where he is buried, than we might have actually spent together when he was alive.

I  think of him every day and my house is full of photographs of him.  I often ponder the passage of time, especially on significant anniversaries, such as this one.  How do we measure the passing of time?  I know I am aging but I still feel like "me."  I see how others age and this reminds me of time moving on. Technology continues to change, along with fashion, food tastes, politics.

As a writer who writes about vampires, I am often pondering time.  How must it feel to not only lose all your loved ones, but your sense of self as the centuries pass and the world changes?  Time continues to flow with you in it's grasp, yet your memories of the people and places that you called "home" fade? How could I experience such emotion in order to make my characters more real?

I took 30 years and tried to imagine 300 years and in doing so I realized that my father is a feeling, a presence that lives inside my mind and heart, no matter the time and place. Carrying my loved ones inside of me keeps me feeling human, a part of something much bigger, whole; yet I still miss him.

Spotlight Interview on Author.com

Not to bore you but here is my Spotlight Interview on Author.com. It's websites such as this one that happily promote self-published authors.  Please stop by readers and if you are an author, there's no better place to call home. Thank you.

Christian spills his guts

My vampire, Christian Du Maure speaks out about being one of the undead over at All Things Books, a wonderful website for Indie writers and readers.  Eeach day boasts another author interview or a character from a novel who gives you a little insight into their world.  Thank goodness for websites such as this one and  for Tanya who is such a wonderful hostess, so please stop by and meet my beloved Christian.

 

One Year Later

It's almost hard to believe that tomorrow marks a years since I launched my website and my novel, Immortal Obsession.  I remember the nervousness and excitement waiting for the morning of 10-10-10 to arrive and now, it is 10-10-11.  I spent a lot of time contemplating how to commemorate this first year.  Should I host a contest or a giveaway?  Nothing jumped out at me and as the anniversary approaches, I thought the best I could do would be to say thank you.

Yes, a heartfelt thank you to the professionals and friends who helped me to reach such a cherished goal of publishing my first novel.  You all know who you are and at the risk of leaving anyone out or offending someone, I will simply say thank you.  I also wish to thank all the book reviewers who read and reviewed Immortal Obsession as well as those kind folks who allowed me a guest post.  I truly love doing interviews whether it is myself or my vampires doing the talking.

Then there are my friends, family, acquaintances and all those who took a chance on an unknown author and bought a copy of my novel.  It means so much to me to share the world of Amanda, Christian, Josette and Michel with you all and I hope to have the next novel in the series done by next fall.  Writing is something that I love to do but it is not something I can force.  Sometimes it comes very easy and at other times I need weeks to sort out a chapter.  I tend to change horses in mid-stream to satisfy my intuition and when my muse calls, I run, believe me.

When I think about goals for the next year they quite simple: continue writing, sell more copies of my novel, give and gain support to other writers and  read more, yes, continue my love affair with the written word and the writers who inspire me as well.

Thank you again.