Denise K. Rago's Blog, page 23

How much to share

Christian Du Maure, the vampire in my debut novel Immortal Obsession is morally conflicted and is not sure how to move ahead. Should he be upfront and honest with Amanda, his mortal lover, or tell her only what she needs to know to keep her safe? Meeting with Michel, his best friend, atop Belvedere Castle in Central Park they debate whether or not to tell her the truth about something they both know but have kept from her and now he is back home and no closer to a decision.

Christian could feel the winter rays of the sun approaching as he hit the keypad and opened their front door. The house was quiet. Both Amanda and Tony were still asleep. Michels' plan sounded so simple but Christian knew about the best laid plans. The thought of leaving Amanda in New York made his stomach tighten. Tony could no more protect either of them from another vampire and Christian would never tell Tony the truth. It would put them both in more jeopardy.

Michel stopped him on the second floor landing.

"Think about it, mon ami. We could be there and back in a months' time and perhaps by then, Amanda may suspect something. Let her go back to her museum where she seems to be the most content and get back to her little life, sans the undead."

It almost sounded rational but Christian knew he would need to think it over yet there was not much time.

"Tonight, I'll have more time to mull it over Michel. It sounds good in theory but if another vampire discovered her secret—"

"Think on it. The faster you decide the faster we are able to go home."

Home.

New York City had been home since 1901 and the thought of leaving it frightened him. Paris was a painful memory, one he did not relish reliving, but there was no other way and Michel was already back in a city that Christian thought he would never see again.

"I am tired Michel. We'll talk tomorrow night."

As Christian passed his bedroom door on the third floor he could hear Amanda's rhythmic breathing which gave him comfort. He headed up to the fourth floor to the attic he had converted into a temporary resting place; complete with a brass bed and an armoire. As he undressed and slid underneath the covers, the cool silk sheets enveloped him and as he tried to imagine roaming the streets of Paris again, the sun rose and his death-like sleep claimed him for one more day.

Excerpt ~ Blood Kiss [Book Two in The Enchanted Bloodine Series]

The "itty bitty" book light

I have always been an avid reader.  My relationship with books borders on the mystical. I somtimes read while keeping my husband company as he watches sports.  In the summer time I read on the beach or sometimes with a glass of wine while sitting in my back yard. When we visit my mother-in-law in Florida during the winter months, I can usually knock off a book or two by the pool or at night.  There are so few disctractions I sail through novels.

However, since self- publishing my first novel last fall, I handle all the marketing which can be time consuming.  It just comes with the territory and so my reading time has been reduced to catching a chapter or two at night before the lights go out.   I tend to resent this, especially if I am in the middle of a great book, so I did the unthinkable.  I bought one of those "itty bitty" book lights.  

I could not wait to try it and so Friday night as my husband and I said goodnight I broke it out. I had just started The Longer the Fall in The Vampires of New England Series by Inanna Arthen.  I haven't had the chance to get into it and so I clipped my itty bitty book light onto a few pages and low and behold, I read 4 chapters.  Now, I can't wait for the lights to go out!  There's also that feeling of being awake when the world is asleep.  I must admit that I sort of like it. 

My next book is Heart Sick by Chelsea Cain.  This best selling series features a female serial killer.   I got this recommendation from one of my favorite blog sites titled  The Bookworm.   The novel is on Naida's Top 10 Favorite Horror Novels list and now I can't wait to read it.   Maybe I should save this one for the beach!

What to say?

As I was vacuuming my living room this morning mulling over my blog post for this week I was suddenly struck with the question, what the hell do I write about? I love blogging about my characters and scenes in my upcoming books but I also need to share my experiences as a writer with all the pieces that make up this career.  Well, this morning I just did not want to do it.  I thought about writing a post about nothing, sort of like Seinfeld, a show about nothing.  I had such a great weekend I am still thinking about.

I had the privilege of attending a house concert of a college friend who just happens to be an incredible musician.  Ema and I met in while completing our degrees in Anthropology.  He has an incredibly vast knowledge of music and has spent years going back and forth to South Africa.  His music blend numerous styles and his talent is obvious. I had such a good time being apart of his audience and I really am proud of him.  It's something he is so passionate about and it shows. 

I have met some wonderful bloggers along the way.  Jennifer Gresham, author of Everyday Bright writes an incredible blog.  She is so brilliant and full of such heart and soul that I look forward to her weekly posts.  She takes risks and I admire her so much.  Through her I am learning to do the same, not only with my writing career but in terms of my life overall.  It's a slow process, but you can teach an old dog new tricks and I am learning!  Thank you Jennifer.

Another writer I happened to come across is one Evelyn LaFont, the Keyboard Hussy.  She is extremely knowledgeable about self-publishing and is really funny.  I like visiting her blog and do so almost daily just to see what she is up to.  She's got such a very different style but  that is what keeps life interesting.   I enjoy the window into the world of other writers that blogging creates, plus I feel connected and it is so supporting. 

It's like I live in Mr. Rogers neighborhood.  Remember that show?  He would sing, who are the people in your neighborhood?  Well, my neighborhhood is expanding.  If not for this woman, I might never have gotten this far. Lindsey Donner, owner of Well Versed Creative is my marketing guru.  I honestly don't know where I would be without her.   I listen to her advice despite feeling uncomfortable at times, because I am seeing results and as I navigate my myriad choices in the vast world of social media I am beginning to feel like the captain of my ship rather than feeling adrift and alone.

Thank you.

Goodbye Liz

I don't know about you but I loved Elizabeth Taylor and I mourn her passing.  Aside from her stunning beauty she was a damn good actress.  Most people my age might remember her role in Cleopatra, but she was fantastic in such classics as Giant and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  I remember seeing her in National Velvet. Loving horseback riding as I do, she was the epitome of the young equestrian.  She had beautiful children, incredible jewelry and a big heart to match, donating to charities and fighting Aids. Then there were her eight marriages and seven husbands. She and Richard Burton married twice and though their battles are public knowledge I like to think that he was the love of her life and has been waiting patiently for her to join him.

Richard, your wait is over.

My love of Dexter

This may seem like a trivial post but I really don't watch much television.   I did when I was a kid, but as I got older, work, college and travel replaced hours spent in front of the tube.  I also read a lot and nothing takes me away from a good book.  Well, not nothing, but it would have to be something really special. I recently won the first season of a show called Dexter and after storing it for almost a year I decided to break it out.

Surprisingly, I fell in love with this show. I like most of the characters, but especially Dexter and his sister Debra. It is their relationship that intrigues me. They are opposites in every way and yet they have a special connection, despite Dexter being a foster child and a serial killer. Debra of course, has no idea. Dexter is very non-emotional, introspective and distant, but she has no clue as to the reasons for his behavior, and though Dexter only kills "bad people" I am sure Debra would not understand. Sibling love only goes so far!

So Dexter leads a double life, despite working as a blood splatter expert for the Miami PD and having a girlfriend who has two children of her own. I am not sure why I am so intrigued. I mean the premise is brilliant but it's not for the faint of heart. It can be really gruesome when you get right down to it. I began to dig a bit deeper as I generally do in life, and I have discovered that why I enjoy it so much is because as parent-less adult children, Debra and Dexter are all they have. They work in the same department, have lunch together sometimes and help each other out on cases. But Debra really does not know Dex and she never will, as least if it is up to Dexter, she never will.

In some ways, I see myself in Deb. Not in personality, but in how much she loves her brother despite knowing so little about who he really is while forever trying to figure him out. I have a brother who I love so dearly. I actually have four brothers, but I have a very special relationship with my youngest sibling. In fact, we watch Dexter together and though he is not a serial killer, he leads a very private life and a very different lifestyle from my own. I have come to accept him, just as Deb accepts Dexter's quirky personality.

At the end of Season One, Dexter is faced with making a choice between a sibling he never knew existed and his foster sister Deb. His brother assumes he will choose him because of their blood relationship, but Dex doesn't. His loyalty is to Deb, the sister he grew up with and loves, despite himself. I too understand those relationships that compell me to grow and change, yet are not based on blood. My niece, my stepsons…these are all relationships I hold dear yet came to me through marriages. I would die for them and one might argue why, as we aren't "related."

But we are. We are connected because we love each other when we don't have to. It's our choice and those intangible ties that bind us to people we might meet as strangers, became all too obvious to Dexter. Despite his aloof personality he chose with his heart, which only the most compelling and meaningful relationships move us to do. Secrets or not.

Author friends and fans

This is an interesting perspective on a writers's audience.

As I navigate the world of social networking I am constantly on the look out for articles and posts on this ever growing subject: Who is your audience?  I am learning all the time.  I happened to find this piece from SellingBooks.com. The article, titled  Author Friends Make Effective Fans  makes good sense.   Authors are also readers and crucial to our own success is to champion others.  There is room for everyone. What we give we get back and contrary to what I have been told, connecting with other writers fosters a special connection. Try it.

Japan

Like most of the world, I have been glued to the television, watching whatever film footage I can find of the devastation to hit Japan. Okay, so the 9.0 earthquake wasn't enough, there have been upwards of 150 aftershocks. Then, the eerie Tsunami with cars, boats, homes and debris in it's clutches, reminding me of a bad Japanese horror movie. It just doesn't look real. Added to this nightmare are the issues of a possible meltdown of not one, not two but three nuclear reactors?

It's hard to watch the people in the films. Many look dazed, shocked, especially if their loved ones are missing. Many have no homes left to speak of and I wonder where they will go? Without food and water, how long can people survive unless they get to shelters? I pray they receive help from all corners of the world and I ask myself, what can little old me do? I pray a lot and I know I can make a monetary donation, which can give victims tangible relief such as food, clothing or water. But I can't get the image of a young man, maybe in his teens who keeps repeating that he can't find his family, that most likely they have been washed away, taken by the giant wave.

On my worse day I have to remember his face, and countless others who have lost more in moments that I will in a lifetime.

Ebooks and Amanda Hocking

As a self-published author, I spend a lot of time researching websites, blogs and other authors. Recently I came across a young author named Amanda Hocking.  She is having much success selling her novels on the ebook platform. I have taken to reading her blog posts at amandahocking.blogspot.com and today I received this article through SellingBooks.com, titled Amanda Hocking is not lucky.  http://www.sellingbooks.com/amanda-hocking-is-not-lucky

I really admire her. She is hardworking, honest and down to earth.  Her success has taken years and she makes no bones about it.  She embraces a work ethic I admire and I find her an inspiration.  Thank you Amanda and much continued success.

My Last Gasp

After reading Immortal Obsession, some readers have asked me, how does one become a vampire? I thought about it at length and then decided perhaps it is best if one of them tells you about it. For those readers who have not read my novel yet, here is a little background:

Christian Du Mauré succumbs to a beautiful and seductive woman, along with his best friend Michel Baptiste, during the summer of 1756. All they know is that her name is Gabrielle and with her pale white skin and dark green eyes, they cannot take their eyes off of her. When she invites them home with her, they cannot resist, and so begins a relationship that will take them down a dark path.

My name is Christian Du Maure. I took my last mortal breath on the third of March 1757. I was not quite twenty years old.

Michel and I never knew her last name, or where she came from and it seems she just magically appeared one night at the home of some friends. She caught our attention and we both bedded her that night. I don't kiss and tell but it was one of the most incredible nights of my life. The three of us spent every night together, playing cards, going to the opera, drinking and much more. Michel never wanted it to end but somewhere in the recesses of my heart I knew it had to, for there was something evil about Gabrielle, something missing in her beautiful dark eyes, but we were young and so smitten.

Summer turned to fall and then to winter and suddenly I felt a chasm between the three of us. Michel was seeing Gabrielle despite my protests and warnings so I even went so far as to draw a line in the sand. It was either "her or me" I told him and at that moment I truly believed it until Michel all but disappeared from my life. Oh, I knew where he was and who he was with but he was changing. It was subtle at first; he was no longer eating or drinking much. He grew pale and seemed less humorous, more sullen, which was not like Michel. I was losing my best friend and I was helpless to stop whatever was happening between them.

Always loving physical work, I took to spending more time in my stables, grooming my beautiful black mare, Star Light. Despite the warmth which comes from toiling, I felt a chill and something made me turn around and there they were, standing in the doorway, watching me. By the vague expression on his face, I knew I had lost Michel but to what I could not even imagine, and then he told me. It was so unthinkable that for a moment I thought I had lost my mind. Gabrielle was a vampire he said and he had joined her. I tried not to listen, backing away from them both but I knew in my heart it was true.

He said they were leaving for Paris that night, leaving me behind and if that wasn't enough of an insult, Gabrielle planned to erase all memories of this night from my mind. It was a horror beyond words for me. How could I lose my best friend? How could I never see him again yet know he was out there somewhere with her!

And then, he beckoned to me and in a timeless moment everything stopped and I went to them.

Oh my, forgive me. I will continue another time.

From My Heart

Monday is Valentine's Day and I find myself reflecting on how happy and grateful I am for all the love I have in my life. I feel that Valentine's Day is not just for lovers, though that seems to be the main focus, but it's a time to reach out from the heart and thank friends, family, readers, writers, your dentist! Anyone you are thankful for in your life.

I actually sent out some special cards to folks I treasure dearly and value as a part of my life and my day. I felt that this was the least I could do for them. No one lives or works in a bubble and though there will be lots of flowers, candy hearts and romantic dinners shared tomorrow, I need to send a heartfelt thank you.