Barbara G. Tarn's Blog, page 100

Random Friday

Hello, Priyanka! It was a nice surprise to see your face plastered all over Rome, Italy! ;) Of course I knew what it was all about since Muse H is so proud of you! :D Except I don’t watch TV, and I doubt I can get that channel for free, so I won’t be watching Quantico. If anyone is seeing it, please comment with your thoughts on the show, thank you! :)

On the long distance flights to Japan I watched a few movies and of course I chose from the Bollywood selection! ;) On Swiss (Zurich-Tokyo) I watched only one movie, PK. More out of curiosity for the poster with naked Aamir covering himself with a tape-recorder than because I really really really wanted to see it. I mean, Aamir Kahn is not one of my favorites! ;)

And now I can tell he has only two faces, the serious one a la Lagaan, and the silly one a la PK – and he shows both in Dhoom 3, so I guess he covered it all, LOL! Anyhow, this is a comedy, it’s funny and I didn’t mind it. I might watch it again with my friend who likes him, but I don’t think I’ll buy the DVD…

On the return flight, Lufthansa Osaka-Frankfurt, I had time to watch two, since it was daytime for me and I didn’t sleep much (which made me crash when I got to Frankfurt and I had that six hours layover and I wanted to kill the travel agent who had booked that flight – end rant/digression).

So I watched first Dil Dhadakne Do, since I liked all Zoya Akthar’s previous movies and wanted to see this one too (and Aamir Khan is only a voice, so… very happy not to see his… ears! ;) I’m mean, I know).

It was already on the to-buy list and still is. It’s another family comedy, well, probably dramedy, and I loved it. I see now that I’ve seen two movies in a row with ! :) I like her, so I don’t mind…

And then I watched Tanu Weds Manu Returns, with double bill of

It was another fun movie – well, another dramedy – and I think is plump but cute! ;) I will probably add this movie to the to-buy list as well. Whenever I get back to London/Southall, I shall try to email the guy beforehand, so when I get there he has all the DVDs I need! ;)

That’s all for Bollywood randomness! Have a great weekend!

Writer Wednesday

Mighty Editor sent back the latest story proofread, so stay tuned for the next title – a retelling of Sleeping Beauty on Silvery Earth as m/m romance. Not much sex, but lots of cats for a very sweet love story! ;) It’s a fairy tale, so no hard stuff, LOL! Here’s a preview of the cover art (without frame and without lettering)…

I’m writing the short contemporary stories based on the openings I wrote for my online workshop. Two I just keep writing from the assignment, since it was nailed. One I had to rewrite it completely (I wasn’t quite there, so I used a restaurant in Kyoto and rewrote the scene). And the fourth… I’m skipping it for now, since I really don’t know what story could spring from that sentence, LOL!

Anyhow, those are contemporary short stories and they will be published sometimes before Christmas, hopefully. Either with the reprint of other ex-B.G. Hope titles or alone and then in the collection that follows Six Months and Other Love Stories.

I will do a POD version of the contemporary titles when they’re all written. I don’t like thin books, so I’ll probably put them all together. Or maybe not, I don’t know. Today I should receive the proofs for Rajveer and Star Minds Interregnum, so stay tuned for those.

By the way, Createspace now allows direct bank transfer also to Italy, so I’ll finally see those few dollars of the 5 books I’ve sold either on CS itself or its expanded distribution. Very happy I don’t have to wait to reach the 100$ treshold! :)

Writerly links! Can you make a living in comics? – applies to writing too, IMHO. Or any other art form, as Colleen herself points out. I don’t make a living yet, but one day… persistance is the only way, I guess! ;)

Kris Rusch on translations… excellent points. I try to avoid translations when I can, but I liked Gaby Hauptmann novels, and since I don’t speak German, I had to read the Italian version. I have no idea if I missed something or not! ;) And I remember reading the Hitchhiker’s Guide in the late 1990s and wondering how on Earth one could translate Douglas Adams’ crazy prose into Italian… yes, I was reading the original, and I’ve never tried the actual translations!

When I started writing in English, I tried to preserve my “Italian voice”… but then I evolved, as a writer and as a person, so now I think I have a new voice both in English and in Italian! ;) Except I write in English first now and then, when I can, translate it back into Italian… I wish I could quit DayJob so I could split the days into translation-time and writing-time… :)

Have a great week!

 

Happiness is…

All the names changed… 5 years later! (except Madison *waves at Madison* and Viv *waves at Viv*) I wouldn’t know who to name this year… but I know you’re out there! :)

Random Friday

So, Japan. If you travel to Japan, you don’t need to bring travel slippers or PJs, since the hotels will give you that – at least in Takayama and Kyoto they had PJs for guests. I sleep with a nightgown, so I didn’t try them.

Takayama hotel PJ on Muse H

If you’re a smoker, you better stay at home, since it’s forbidden to smoke except in selected areas (meaning no, you’re not allowed to smoke in the streets either).

Food – since I don’t like sushi, I was kind of wary and thought I’d eat only ramen for 9 days. Nope. I actually had ramen only once. I didn’t mind tempura, loved the crabs and I like shrimps. I even had meat and it was good. So the food is fine – I didn’t starve! :)

People – they’re all very nice, but their English is mostly non-existent, therefore it’s very frustrating sometimes. Oh, and I dared crossing a street with a red signal (it was green when I started, but I hadn’t noticed it was soon going to turn red) and I got honked and chided (in Japanese) – to which I could only apologize with a bow.

Places – the natural places are at their best with autumn-colored leaves. Those reds, oranges and yellows mixing with various shades of green are beautiful even outside of the Japanese gardens with their maxi-bonsai and carefully crafted fountains, lakes and whatnot.

Buildings – sometimes those pagodas were a little too colorful for my tastes! ;) I was happy to visit different styles of houses at Shirakawago (rightfully listed as World Heritage site). Unfortunately it was raining and most pictures came out blurred. But it was a nice change of landscape from the castles and temples of Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Nara! :)

Public transport – I’ve managed to take the JP (subway) in Tokyo on my own, and it wasn’t too bad. Except the English writings last very shortly, even on trains, so you have to look for them! :) Then I tried the Shinkansen (high-speed trains of Japan) and normal trains. And bus/coach and car with driver since for two nights there was only 3 of us – our lovely guide Aya, Andrea and me.

It was a good taste, but it was enough for me. I’m still sorting through the 1800+ pictures, so maybe I’ll leave that for another post – probably divided into slideshows (food, nature, temples, castles, etc). I guess my love story with Japan is over. I should have visited 10 or 20 years ago…

(for whomever is new to this blog, that’s Muse H and me. Follow link to see what he actually looks like – but then I don’t look like that either, LOL!)

Book of the Day: Rajveer the Vampire

Barb:

with another excerpt!

Originally posted on Authors to Watch:

Today’s Book of the Day is

Rajveer the Vampire

by Barbara G. Tarn

A “sun clan” warrior can never become a true child of darkness.

Turned into a bloodsucker by an ancient Celtic vampire, Rajveer, a proud Rajput warrior of a Suryavanshi clan in 14th century India, becomes almost invulnerable.

Immortal, he loses his family to war and time and travels through northern India, seeing history unfold. Threatened by both human wars and evil vampires, can he remain true to his sworn vow not to take human lives?

A vampire’s journey through centuries.

In this new novel, Barbara G.Tarn combines her love for history (especially medieval) and fantasy. It’s the story of a vampire through the centuries that will appeal to both historical fiction readers and vampire lovers all over the world.

*******

Excerpt from Rajveer the Vampire:

CHAPTER THREE

SISTER-IN-DARKNESS

Rajveer slowly adjusted to his new sleeping schedule. The…

View original 897 more words

Writer Wednesday

Hope you enjoyed the characters that kept you company for the past couple of weeks. If you’re an author and would like to have your character (or yourself) interviewed, feel free to contact me. I did manage to jot down some 400words while in Japan – not really Japan-related, more “Group tour” inspired – but I won’t write the story yet. I have a couple more to finish first.

When the Lights Go Out is now in print on Createspace only. Soon Rajveer the Vampire will also be available (I have to adjust and correct the PDF, order the proof copy and then it will come out also in print) along with a contemporary title and S.K.Y.B.A.N.D. Omnibus. I have to work on PODs versions this month! :)

But there will also be a new ebook in English (and one in Italian) in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, go grab your copy of Rajveer the Vampire, since during the weekend I’ll rise the price tro 6,99$. Nobody pre-ordered it, so I’m leaving the pre-order price for a few more days.

I’m also author of the month on Goodreads again, so feel free to drop by and ask questions. About Japan, there will be a post soon. About the rest, just hop there and interact as you please. I have caught up with the blogosphere, but didn’t find anything worthy of sharing, so no writerly links.

Trying to get back to normality… I remember calling 2011 the year of the Sloth – this year I’m even more of a Sloth, though! I guess the half century is starting to weight on my shoulders… Have a great week!

Happiness is…

Upcoming Release: Rajveer the Vampire

Barb:

better late than never… and if you won a free copy, now is the time to claim that free coupon on Smashwords! :)

Originally posted on Authors to Watch:

Mark your calendars for November 1, 2015! Rajveer the Vampire by Barbara G. Tarn is now available for pre-order on Amazon and at other retailers. This is a must-read for vampire fans!

A “sun clan” warrior can never become a true child of darkness.

Turned into a bloodsucker by an ancient Celtic vampire, Rajveer, a proud Rajput warrior of a Suryavanshi clan in 14th century India, becomes almost invulnerable when he drinks enemy’s blood.

Immortal, he loses his family to war and time and travels through northern India, seeing history unfold. Threatened by both human wars and evil vampires, can he remain true to his sworn vow not to take human lives?

A vampire’s journey through centuries.

In this new novel, Barbara G.Tarn combines her love for history (especially medieval) and fantasy. It’s the story of a vampire through the centuries that will appeal to both historical fiction readers and vampire…

View original 25 more words

Sunday Surprise

Rajveer the Vampire

 A “sun clan” warrior can never become a true child of darkness.

Turned into a bloodsucker by an ancient Celtic vampire, Rajveer, a proud Rajput warrior of a Suryavanshi clan in 14th century India, becomes almost invulnerable.

Immortal, he loses his family to war and time and travels through northern India, seeing history unfold. Threatened by both human wars and evil vampires, can he remain true to his sworn vow not to take human lives?

A vampire’s journey through centuries.

In this new novel, Barbara G.Tarn combines her love for history (especially medieval) and fantasy. It’s the story of a vampire through the centuries that will appeal to both historical fiction readers and vampire lovers all over the world.

Rajveer the Vampire by Barbara G.Tarn is now available for on Amazon US,  Apple US, Barnes&Noble,  Kobo US and Smashwords for 4,99$.

Print version coming soon.

***

excerpts that were posted during Amaranthine week on Facebook

from Chapter Two

“Rajveer! Charumati tells us you’re sick!”

Akshita and Enakshi surrounded Rajveer’s bed at sunset. He woke from his deep, dreamless sleep and found them climbing on the mattress with Charumati who wore a worried frown on her beautiful face. His first wife – a kshatriya like him – had told the other two he’d been sleeping all day, obviously. He didn’t feel feverish anymore and his new sense of smell told him Akshita was also menstruating.

“I’m fine,” he answered as Enakshi nestled against him.

She still had traces of the vermilion he’d put over her black hair when he’d married her. A vaishya – her father owned a small farm outside the walls – she was the latest acquisition. The wedding ceremony had ended a week earlier and they had barely consummated once.

“I just have to change my habits a little for the time being. I’ll do night duties from now on and sleep during the day.”

“Should I have some food brought in?” Charumati asked, still frowning.

“I’m not hungry, beloved, don’t worry. I’ll eat something before going on watch.” He couldn’t tell them he longed to drink their blood.

“You are so cold,” Enakshi whispered, shivering against him. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Yes, little one, I’m fine,” he assured, squeezing her. “I had a bad fever, I’ll need a few days to recover.”

“I think we should do another pilgrimage,” Akshita said, fidgeting with her gown. She had long black lashes that made her look very seductive when she wanted to – and she knew it. Daughter of a rich merchant that had often dealt with Rajveer’s father, she’d known him since childhood, therefore she’d been the obvious second choice after five years of fruitless marriage with Charumati. “Or you should spend more time with us.”

“Oh, please, I’ve been longing for you since the chaturthi-karma!” Enakshi added, staring at him with her doe eyes. The rite performed on the fourth day of marriage had seen him take her virginity, but he hadn’t gone back to her bed since. He was pleased to hear she had enjoyed it so much that she wanted more.

“What do you say, Charumati? Should I spend more time with them?” Rajveer turned to his first wife. “Charumati?”

The young woman stared at him in both fear and wonder. She had glimpsed his fangs and was now filled with doubts. Rajveer was startled to discover he could read her mind – not clearly, but he could tell what she was feeling. He understood now how the much more powerful Bran had read him like a book.

At the sound of her name, she snapped out of her musings and smiled briefly, but not with her beautiful black eyes.

“Sure, Enakshi should have her chance, like Akshita and me,” she said quickly, averting her eyes.

The other wives stayed for a little longer, and then Charumati shooed them out of his bedroom. She carefully closed the door and slowly came back to the bed, staring warily at Rajveer. He opened his arms to welcome her, but she sat at the edge of the bed and kept her distance.

“Charumati…”

“I don’t know what happened to you, but the fever changed you,” she said.

“You are most perceptive, beloved. Yes, some change occurred, and I cannot explain it. But whatever it was, it will not change my love for you. I would never ever hurt you or the other two and will keep fighting for us – our home, our freedom. Like I said, I fear my habits will have to change slightly, since the sunlight seems to drain me of my strength.”

“What have you become?”

He moved to take her in his arms and felt her stiffen against him. “I’m still a mighty warrior, and you’re still my one and only love,” he said before kissing her.

“Your skin is so cold,” she whispered, caressing his clean-shaven cheek but nestling against him. “Rajveer, what have you done?”

“I didn’t want to die in my bed,” he answered, laying her down.

He covered her with kisses that made her moan, but she kept him at arm’s length. He could feel her menstrual cramps and the blood running in her veins, but he resisted the impulse of biting her. He simply cuddled her until she fell asleep in his arms.

***

excerpt from Chapter 3

(the king of Mewar has been held captive by the Sultan of Delhi – he’s supposed to give up his wife, the beautiful Rani Padmini)

The palanquins left the fort at daybreak, giving the sultan the impression the queen was coming to him. Rajveer watched them leave before collapsing to sleep.

He woke up hours later with a gasp and found Akshita by his side.

“Charumati is with Rani Padmini,” she informed him.

He nodded, knowing of Charumati’s duties as lady-in-waiting to the queen.

“Rana Ratan?” he asked, frowning.

“He’s back.” Akshita grinned. “The sultan was furious and our men inflicted heavy losses on his army.”

Rajveer exhaled in relief. But then Akshita’s smile vanished.

“Heroes saved the day, but Gorka and Badal have fallen at the gates of Chittor,” she said. “And they weren’t the only ones. You should visit Anuja before it’s too late.”

Rajveer jumped out of bed. Anuja was his sister, and Akshita knew her very well. Her words implied his brother-in-law had also fallen on the battlefield. He rushed out, barely grabbing his sword.

Rajveer arrived just in time to see Anuja jump into her husband’s funeral pyre – much like their mother had when their father had died. Anuja had his same honey-colored eyes and she smiled ruefully at him before the sati, as if to tell him, “Soon Charumati will do the same for you.”

As the sun set, Rajveer reached the sultan’s camp, furious, and ended many soldiers’ lives both with his sword and sharp fangs. The human blood was intoxicating and his thirst for revenge made him drink so much that he ended up feeling dizzy – and very slow.

A Muslim warrior saw him stagger through corpses and sounded the alarm. Rajveer was surrounded, although he could see fear on his enemies’ faces – probably because his mouth still dripped with blood.

“Face a Hindu demon’s wrath!” he screamed before attacking, oblivious of being outnumbered, feeling invincible and ready for another slaughter.

His warrior instincts were heightened by his new nature and he didn’t feel too bad drinking enemy blood. But then he wasn’t really thinking as he slashed with his blade left and right, biting when flesh came too close to his fangs.

The soldiers fought him valiantly and wounded him, but he didn’t feel any pain. He still had more strength than any of them and they couldn’t hold him down.

And then Kaylyn joined the fight, with her long gown and a short dagger, cutting throats like the Goddess Kali. Her long chestnut-brown hair was loose, and she looked like a fury to the startled soldiers who soon retreated, cursing them both.

“Let’s go back,” Kaylyn said, offering her hand to a still panting Rajveer. “You ate your fill, no use staying here.”

“I want to kill them all,” he growled.

She smiled. “You can’t. Not even with my help and Bran’s. There’s too many of them. Come, Rajveer. Time to go home and tend your wounds.”

He grunted, but followed her back to the fort. The gates were closed, but she climbed the steep path to the northern entrance that had only one gate, trying to stick to the shadows. Then she continued up the bastions and over the false merlons like a colorful lizard, until she reached the parapet of the wall walk where she sat to wait for him.

He followed a little clumsily. He had drunk too much. His head was spinning, and he wondered if it was the wounds weakening him.

Like Bran, he couldn’t really fly, but he could jump and glide and climb surfaces. He stopped for breath on the battlement and looked left and right for any guards on watch.

Kaylyn took him down to the shadows of the walls, moving quickly through the darkest spots, and checked his wounds.

“They’ll be gone in the morning,” she said. “You had so much blood, you were almost invulnerable.”

Rajveer noticed he wasn’t bleeding anymore and the wounds were already closing. Amazing. Whenever he’d be able to fight during the day, he’d be invincible. Maybe Gorka and Badal would still be alive if he could have joined them.

***

Rajveer the Vampire by Barbara G.Tarn is now available for on Amazon US,  Apple US, Barnes&Noble,  Kobo US and Smashwords for 4,99$. Print version coming soon.

 

Random Friday

Hi guys,

I’m Samantha and I come from another world – the original, old Silvery Earth, where people are immortal and never grow up. When I’m not switching bodies at will, I travel to other universes, especially books or movies. That’s how I met Rajveer the vampire, for example!

So, I’m taking over the interviews on this blog! And here I am, meeting people from other books/universes/whatever!

Hello handsome. Tell me a little about yourself.

I am Rufus Redblade. I was once Captain of the Royal Guard, but times have changed. Now I am a blade for hire. I’m a Griffin Rider. We used to be the elite, for it takes a certain sort to tame and ride a Griffin. Many try, few succeed, and fewer still survive it long.

Age? No idea. I don’t keep track of such things.

That’s fine, I don’t do either. Describe your appearance in ten words or less.

Male, tall, dark haired, many scars

Do you have an enemy or nemesis? If so, who are they and how did they become an enemy?

A man like myself has many enemies. I have fought in the civil wars, the border wars, defended the late Arch Duke, although not well enough, I have pissed off mercenaries, priests, husbands, fathers, brothers, and politicians. Fortunately for me and unfortunately for them the name Redblade is well earned. The Griffin Riders are feared. In many ways that’s far more useful than respect, and easier to earn.

Wow, you’ve been busy! Would you kill for those you love? And would you die for them?

Yes. I loved the old Arch Duke, he was an honourable man, far more so than some of his predecessors. I fought for him, beside him and upheld his peace. My friends, my allies I would kill for and they for me. In our profession we must watch each other’s backs.

Where do you live?

Ilmar. I have a dwelling in the countryside, beyond the main city but I’m often out working.

Are you involved in a relationship? If so, with who and what is it about them that you find appealing?

Yes. Few people know of it. I have a woman, Silena, she is strong, intelligent and I can truthfully say she is the only woman to tame an old warrior’s heart. She has been through so much, the loss of her husband (not by my hand), her sons and much more. Still she is strong, joyful when we are together and determined to protect her family and her legacy no matter what.

She is a woman doing, what in our society, is a man’s job and doing it better than most men could.

I like her!What is the biggest challenge you face in the story?

Well killing dragons isn’t something I do every day….Big armoured flying monsters with teeth the size of my head and who can spit caustic breath? Yes THOSE dragons.

Yes, not the most safe job available. Do you have a family? Tell me about them.

Not really. Only Silena, and my Griffin Riders. Oh and Bloodsnap, my griffin. I have no official family, perhaps a few bastards here and there but my parents died long ago and my siblings I haven’t seen for years.

Please give me an interesting and unusual fact about yourself – besides killing dragons and mounting griffins, I mean.

I have the skull of a hydra as a keepsake. Now they are buggers to kill.

I bet they are! What 2 or 3 questions do you wish I’d asked and what are your answers to them?

What does dragon taste like? I was in a pretty bad state after the fight so my memory is a little hazy. It tastes like old venison, coated with pepper and soaked in cheap brandy. It’s magical though, REALLY magical. Taste doesn’t have much to do with it. A man who was dying, finds he isn’t. The senses are heightened. The world is born anew.

How does one kill a dragon? With a great deal of luck, some very good weapons and more courage than sense.

How is something the size of a dragon able to fly? Don’t ask me – I’m a mercenary. However that’s not an answer, so I’ll say they are OLD, magic is strange and misunderstood. There are a lot of thermals in the mountains – the griffins use them. It’s a dragon, it can do what it damn well pleases.

Rufus Redblade appears in Of Blood and Scales featured in Heroika: Dragon Eaters

http://www.amazon.com/HEROIKA-DRAGON-S-E-Lindberg-ebook/dp/B00VFVCQRS/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HEROIKA-DRAGON-S-E-Lindberg-ebook/dp/B00VFVCQRS/

Author’s interview for the release of the anthology.

Author Bio:

A. L. Butcher is the British author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles fantasy series, and several short stories in the fantasy and fantasy romance genres.  She is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet and a dreamer. When she is grounded in the real world she likes science, natural history, history and monkeys. Her work has been described as ‘dark and gritty’ and her poetry as evocative.

Blog: http://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6430414.A_L_Butcher

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alexandra-Butcher/e/B008BQFCC6/

Twitter:@libraryoferana

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