Denise K. Rago's Blog, page 4

Happy Halloween

No matter your age there is nothing quite like celebrating Halloween.  As a child I can remember anticipating putting my costume together, the excitement of going out with my best friend [ we lived next door to one another] and when we were old enough, going out unchaperoned! Tons of kids lived in our neighborhood and I have such vivid memories of all of us moving from house to house with either a parent or an older sibling with our outstretched pillow cases. We were so innocent. Going out after dark is something we don't think much about as adults, but as a 10 year old, to be wandering around my neighborhood in the dark... it was spooky yet so much fun.  No matter your age, enjoy this magical night! 

Happy Anniversary

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of the publication of my latest novel, Eternal Hunger. I can't believe how much time has passed. I wish to thank everyone who has taken the time to both read and review this novel, remember, reviews help us Independent authors. In my up and coming newsletter, I'll talk more about my latest project, contest winners and the advent of Fall. 

Secrets travel fast in Paris ~ Napoleon Bonaparte

Everyone has secrets.  I frequently ponder what manner of secrets my friends and loved ones hold.  Do you ever wonder just what your spouse, partner, lover or friend may not be sharing with you? Have you ever known someone for a very long time who one day in the course of regular conversation just happens to share something you had no idea was a part of their history?  This knowledge will change how you view them, though I'm not saying its for better or worse.  It just is.  

Yes, we all have secrets, but the thing is, my novels are built around secrets. 

As I begin my  fourth book in this series; tentatively titled "All That Remains," I am still grappling with my characters secrets.  Vampires can live for a very long time and carry with them some pretty powerful secrets, especially those who dwell in the enchanted city of Paris. Like us mere mortals, they love their secrets too. Secrets keep vampires alive (along with blood) as they are power, and power is very, very seductive. 

The best part about a secret is that it can be sprung at the most inopportune time, rattling more than a few immortal cages. My guess is that secrets are spilled more often than not by those immortals, and so, It's like the observation made by Napoleon centuries ago, yes, secrets travel fast in Paris. 

Saying Goodbye

I cannot believe that the summer is winding down. No, officially summer does not end until September 22, but the days are growing shorter, the shadows longer, the sun, muted and not as intense.  

It's been a wonderful, relaxing summer for me.  I hope you have had the same experiences too.  My contest is soon drawing to a close.  I will select a winner and it's timely because I'll be starting to work on my fourth novel soon. 

So, until Labor Day comes along, enjoy what is left of the summer. 

Ain't no cure for the summertime blues

It's a bona fide heatwave here in the northeast. Even for someone like me who frequently vacations in Florida, who loves the beach and the sun, I am remaining diligent while on the beach; umbrella, sunblock, sunglasses, oh, and lots of books! What a great way to catch up on summer reading.  What are your summer plans? Do they include reading or writing?  As I begin book IV in The Enchanted Bloodline Series I am looking forward to a bit of writing too while hanging out under the umbrella. Enjoy and stay cool!

Notre Dame of Paris

It was 1978 and I was twenty one years old. I had never been abroad but chose Paris as the city I wished to continue my undergraduate degree in Art History. I consider myself both an Anglophile and a Francophile yet Paris had won out and so off I went in January of 1978.

You know how places have smells? Paris will forever remind me of diesel fuel and gray days for that is how I first experienced her. For me, Notre Dame carried the scent of wax, wood and feeling insignificant yet I felt such a sense of calm and awe. Total awe. This feeling would never leave me.

Yes, there are other churches in Paris, but none like Our Lady of Paris. I remember the first time I saw her lit up at night, a beacon of spirituality, history and hope. I was so young yet I felt so lucky to be in what would become my favorite European city. I don’t know, there is something about Paris that calls to me; maybe that is why all my novels are set there.

As I watched her burn yesterday, I felt sick, a sentiment I know was shared with millions around the world. I watched with such a sense of defeat, of helplessness and dread. I kept asking myself how can you replace a monument that witnessed centuries of wars, marriages, revolutions and kings? Which holds such profoundly religious and significant artifacts?

The answer is, you cannot. It’s been twenty-four hours and I am still on shaky ground here. I still cannot believe what I witnessed yesterday on the television. I know Notre Dame will be rebuilt and perhaps I will be alive to witness the next incarnation of this beacon of art, history and spirituality, but right now, I have a knot in my stomach. I am in shock and though I cannot adequately express my grief, I need to write about it, to take keyboard in hand and pour some of my feelings out here on this page.

March Madness

Spring has arrived, sort of.

I am presently working on my fourth novel, tentatively titled, All That Remains. I have taken a bit of a break after publishing Eternal Hunger, just to get my bearings. I have a lot going on in my personal life and as much as I enjoy writing, I need a break. Amanda, Christian and Michel are still out there trying to put their lives back together.

I’ll be in touch again soon. Thank you for dropping by.

The Subtle Art of Romance Writing

When I looked up the word romance in the dictionary, numerous definitions came up:

1) A love affair, especially a brief and intense one.

2) Sexual love, especially when the other person or the relationship is idealized or when it is exciting and intense.

3) A spirit or feeling of adventure, excitement, the potential for heroic achievement, and the exotic.

4) A fascination or enthusiasm for something, especially of an uncritical or inexplicable kind.

5) A novel, movie, or play with a love story as its main theme.

Romance writing concerns itself with a love story, which could possibly be a brief, exciting and intense affair; includes sexual or physical love and can be filled with the spirit of adventure and generally, a fascination with the other person. Each of us has our own perception of what defines an exciting or intense affair, how we perceive adventure and experience physical love and passion and what might draw us to another person.

When writing “paranormal romance,” I have the additional responsibility of bringing romance into the world of beings that are not entirely human. Vampires – those seductive creatures whose very speech or touch can bring us to our knees and lead us down a very wicked path.

Within the realm of romance writing, I weave a bit of the erotic, something elusive and arousing, yet I tend to leave much more to the imagination than I put down on the page. I prefer to hint, to suggest and let the reader fill in their own fantasies based on what sits well with them. This connection elicits the emotional response between the characters and the reader. When Amanda Perretti finally meets Christin Du Mauré and realizes he truly does exists, her fascination and need for him are palatable, even when she discovers he is a vampire.

Conversely, vampires experience love too and Christian Du Mauré is no different. Having loved and lost centuries ago, he still harbors guilt and pain and still pines for his lost love to this day. His regrets and desires form an interesting paradox. Each of us experiences love in a myriad of ways and it might be safe to say, we would define romance differently as well, no matter whether we are mortal or immortal.

Hello, New Year!

Hello, 2019! It’s a new year, which means it’s time for new goals & new resolutions, new adventures, new books to be read, and more. One of the things I’m most excited for in 2019 is writing the next book of the “Enchanted Bloodlines” series (yes, there will be a fourth!). I’ve already started, so it’s well underway and I can’t wait to share it with you all.

I’m also hoping to travel more in 2019. Traveling with my husband is one of my favorite activities (we’re fans of Florida in particular) and I’m excited to explore more of our world with him at my side.  Last year saw the birth of a new grandbaby, so staying healthy is another resolution at the top of my list for 2019 – I definitely want to see that little one grow! And, of course, there’s a book goal – my 2019 Goodreads reading challenge.

All in all, 2019 is shaping up to be an exciting year. I hope that all of you guys have equally as exciting ones coming up as well! What are some of your 2019 goals? I’d love to hear about them (and maybe find some new ones to try out)!

Love,

Denise

Favorite Reads of 2018

Books are “a uniquely portable magic” to quote Stephen King. I can’t think of a better stress reducer than curling up with a good book.  Books have always been there for me and so I thought I would share some of my favorite reads of this year. Some of these authors are longtime standards, and others I am reading for the first time. That is the beauty of picking up a book by an unknown author.  They can suddenly become a fan favorite. Here are some of mine for 2018.

https://denisekrago.com/v2/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Favorite_Reads_of_2018.mp4

A very Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to all! Thank you for your interest in and support of my novels.