Rachel Tsoumbakos's Blog, page 68

Hot New Release by Author Monique McDonell; 'Hearts Afire'

Time to get excited everyone - book number two is hot off the presses for Australian author, Monique McDonell! Here's the blurb to wet your appetite ;-)
Hearts Afire Blurb 

A jilted bride, a sexy fireman, a tropical island, a fear of the ocean,  
a fear of commitment, a new neighbour, an old flame, a secret identity – this is the story of HEARTS AFIRE. Cassie Callahan is not having a great day. First her fiancé jilts her hours before the wedding and then her sister sets off the alarm and sprinklers at her catering business, flooding the premises, soaking the wedding banquet and bringing the fire department. When Jack Urquhart the cute fireman offers her a shoulder to cry on they both feel an instant attraction but they each know the other is not what they are looking for. She isn’t looking for a player and he is definitely not looking for the marrying kind. Hearts Afire takes them on a journey from Sydney’s inner-west to Tropical North Queensland, and back, in search of and avoidance of love. Will either of them realise that there is no risk at all in trusting your heart to the right person? 

***

Sexy firemen? Jilted brides, awesome Aussie backdrop - if this sounds like your cup of tea, then head over to Amazon.com now and pick up your copy today!
Amazon
You can also subscribe to her blog:
www.moniquemcdonell.com.au

The Twilight-land of NaNoWriMo - Are You Game to Enter?

For the fourth year running I will be committing the month of November to pure insanity! This is also known as NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month. For 30 days I will buckle down, eat a truckload of red bullets, avoid chores and human contact - all in the crazy notion I can get a novel completed in that time. Three years straight have proved that I can.
This year is a little different though. Normally, the month of October is spent researching my chosen topic. The topic is normally finalised sometime around August/September, although the search for it starts on December the 1st. This October I have researched...nothing.
Not once have I typed something into Google and wondered if this will be the final straw that breaks the camel at the FBI headquarters' back. In previous years I have actually typed the following terms into Google: AIDS, cold & flu viruses, genetic mutations, crossing the common cold with another virus, glock, red glock, how to use a gun, mental institutions of Australia, floor plans of Larundel, mental health act of Victoria, delusional episodes, Lithium, legal requirements for mental illness, mental illness boundaries within the confines of the law, conspiracy theories, how to use a bow and arrow, deer stalking (actually, that last one was my husband, but it's sure to muddy the water some more). Yep, the FBI have to be concerned by now!
So what inspired this turn of events? Surely, with three completed manuscripts, I have have proven to myself that this is the magical formula needed? Well, actually, the first manuscript was completed, but absolute rubbish. This year I am attempting to rectify this.
In the far away year of 2009, back in the days when dreaming about being a published author was a full time occupation for me, I had also read a little known book by an author you've probably never heard of, a Mormon bird called Stephenie Meyers. That book had the peculiar title of Twilight . It was my first foray into the vampire genre and I am embarrassed to say that I delved into that book three times (and the subsequent unheard of follow-ups  New Moon , Eclipse and Breaking Dawn). I found it delicious yet not nearly bad enough for me. I wanted my vampires to be just a little more kick arse in the nasty but drool worthy department. If Meyers could write about vampires, then anyone could, I decided before embarking on the NaNoWriMo ship, Viking hat firmly planted on top of my head!


So I attempted to write my own vampire novel. As a result, Indiana Meets A Vampire was written in 30 days and 30,000 words over budget. I wrote the whole thing in 1st person. It was glorified, albeit badly written, porn but it was mine and I loved it dearly.
During that month I also picked up my second vampire crush. A small tome called Dead Until Dark , written by a quaint little southerner called Charlaine Harris. I wish I had the time to read this novel during NaNoWriMo. Some would say I should have read it instead of writing Indiana Meets A Vampire.
So, after my second attempt at NaNoWriMo, I scored my first publishable novel, you've probably heard me speak of it occasionally? If not, you can buy it here . Emeline and the Mutants taught me that I should only ever write in 3rd person - especially when there are sex scenes involved! Reading my biting, dirty, nasty vampire/human sex scenes is why some people cannot look me in the eye to this day. I still apologise to my beta readers for this.


In an attempt to rectify the horrific mental images I forced upon people in 2009, I will be ripping apart Indiana Meets A Vampire (and giving it the tentative working title of Indiana Loses Her Mind But Finds Her Way ). Sure, there will still be vampires in it, the story just wouldn't be the same without Sam, the vamp who travelled to Australia on the First Fleet. Camilla Le Fanu will be there also, but I suspect the major role she plays in book three (oh, did I forget to mention that I tortured my beta readers three times that year?), will be dimmed quite significantly. The story this time round will be more about Indiana and her unique abilities. Her memory loss will still be there and playing an integral part in the plot. I won't deny readers vast amounts of blood and gore and sex either, but hopefully I can keep most of it justifiable this time round!
So, is this considered cheating? Well, I don't, but other might, is the short answer. I will be keeping the plot line for the first two novels basically the same. The third novel now has a very distinct and remarkably tragic ending, but no start or middle (and probably no need for it's current title of Indiana Goes to a Brothel!). I will be reading the original manuscript before rewriting it, but then things will get interesting as I write the lot from scratch!
Want to watch my progress during November, then either check back here, or watch the live updates on my NaNoWriMo profile here . The burning question is though - will I eat more red bullets than last year?

Is it Too Late to Dislike Psy's 'Gangnam Style'?

So if you've been following me on Facebook or Twitter, you just might have noticed my posts every Sunday morning. You know the ones, they all have the #SBSPopAsia hashtag on them. Let me start by saying I LOVE Asian music. Everything about SBS's PopAsia makes my heart sing. I love the crazy dress styles by both the girl and boy bands and the sometimes oddly phrased lyrics (Did they really just say they want a 'taxi, taxi, taxi on my tooshie, tooshie, tooshie?' Or, really, she's singing a song about how awesome her boyfriend and all of a sudden she wants a taco?!) There are moments when I am madly dancing around the house and others when I am embarrassed to admit had me shedding a tear. 
So why am I suddenly hating on Psy's 'Gangnam Style' ?
A month ago I was posting the YouTube link because I loved it so much. I found the dancing child hilarious and the elevator scene giggle-worthy too (even if it was just as weird as the photo I posted above of Psy sitting on the toilet while singing to us).
What's changed?
Mass saturation is what has changed. I know I should love a song for it's merits alone, but being a Triple J listener and a lover of alternative music in general, I find myself cringing every time a song becomes so popular that celebrities everywhere are dancing like a horse *sigh*
So who else is game enough to admit they're over this song? Or are there other songs that make you cringe because they've been played so much?
And finally, here's a couple of PopAsia alternatives to get you dancing again. Just be warned (guys), that hot blonde (Yohio) is really a dude ;-P And make sure you look for the Aussie link in f(x)'s 'Electric Shock'.

Issue 2 of New Horror Magazine Sanitarium Hits the Shelves 20th October!

Okay, so you want to know what happens next in Zombie Apocalypse Now!? Well, the next exciting instalment is about to hit the cyber-shelves! Make sure you head on over to HP's MagCloud on the 20th of October for the newest edition of Sanitarium magazine - it's only $2.99. It's certainly a (trick or) treat at that price, so spoil yourself this Halloween while scaring yourself silly at the same time ;-D
Purchase Sanitarium magazine here.

American Horror Story: Asylum vs. Australian Horror Story: Larundel

So, who watched the premiere episode of American Horror Story: Asylum ? Besides the fact that there appears to be an even level of sex and gore in this show, I am finding other things interesting too. Having only watched the first ten minutes so far, I already am making comparisons between the institution that inspired my novel, The Ring of Lost Souls, called Larundel and the one in the show called Briarcliff.
American Horror Story Asylum: Briarcliff
So lets have a look at the similarities so far:

Both were built at the start of twentieth century. Briarcliff in 1908 and Larundel in 1938 (but the larger facility it belonged to, Mont Park , was founded in 1912. However the oldest buildings which were built around 1911, now officially belong to the Larundel section)Briarcliff was originally a tuberculosis centre. While Larundel never housed tuberculosis sufferers, the buildings that did, were situated in the very next suburbLarundel housed the criminally insane. People like serial killer Peter Dupas spent time there. These 'locked wards' have now been demolished, but there are plenty of stories on the Internet that claim the houses built over that area are now haunted.  Briarcliff converted to a centre for the criminally insane in the 1970sEven the name forms a coincidence. While Larundel is in the suburb of Bundoora, a mere three suburbs away is one called Briar HillBloody Face the serial killer. As I said in an earlier point, Larundel housed serial killers. While Dupas was not known by any fancy serial killer tag, he was known to mutilate his female victims in a bloody fashionDr. Arthur Arden performs torture on his patients in an attempt to discover the meaning of madness. While there have been no actual reports of behaviour like this at Larundel, there have been plenty of unsubstantiated rumoursGraffiti - both places have tons of it! Not to mention the mess! People just don't seem kind to old asylums :-/ 
Australian Horror Story Asylum: Larundel


All this and so far I have only watched a small portion of American Horror Story: Asylum!
Let me know if I have missed any.

Heart Search Interview

Today I have been lucky enough to score an interview with the fabulous author of Heart Search: Lost, Carlie. M.A. Cullen (apparently no relation to Edward, but I have my doubts, since she really seems to know her genre!) Here's what she had to say: 
CC: G’day Rachel, thank you so much for having me here today. I’m so excited to be in Oz! 
RT: You're very welcome Carlie! First off, can you tell me a little about your book? 
CC: It’s about a young couple, Remy and Joshua, who are on the verge of getting married when he ups and disappears after hurting her physically just two days before the wedding. Remy is understandable distraught, but after taking advice from her twin, decides to set off to find him.  
She embarks on a long, lonely journey which is full of emotion and tests her mettle in more ways than one. When weird things begin to happen to her, she even begins to doubt her sanity. 
In the meantime, Joshua has become immortal and finds his maker. He learns not only how vampires feed, but that he has gifts above and beyond the norm. He has his own battles as he tries to forget Remy and becomes embroiled in coven politics, endangering his new life. 
Their parallel journeys have connections running through the story and there’s a killer ending. 
RT: What inspired you to write this novel? 
CC: I’ve written since I was a child and I’d had this idea floating around in my head for a while. I began making notes and then Remy and Joshua popped into my head, almost fully formed and demanded I tell their story their way. Who was I to refuse? Once I began writing it, they took over and nine months later the first draft was finished. 
RT: Heart Search is quite a personal journey for Remy, did any of this come from your own personal experiences? 
CC: Well, as far as I know, none of my ex’s have been bitten and become immortal! [Chuckles] *RT: Once again, I seriously think she's related ;-P* I’ve also never set off on a journey like Remy did. However, I think all writers take something from past experiences and put it into their writing, no matter how insignificant. Like virtually every other woman on the planet, I’ve had my fair share of heartbreak over the years and I did draw on some of that for the emotional scenes with Remy. I think when writing something of that nature, it’s good to reflect back on the way one reacts as it makes it more realistic. I have had a personal journey of my own to find myself in the past few years and it does take a certain amount of inner strength. I’d like to think some of that rubbed off on Remy. 
RT: Recently I interviewed an author about Fifty Shades and why women seem to love stories that involve bad boys. In this instance, the bad boys are vampires, why do you think we love them so much? 
CC: Hmmm. I think it’s a combination of things actually. Vampires are generally portrayed as being handsome and charismatic, despite their blood-thirsty natures, and the immortality issue is attractive. So many people dread getting old and dying and as vampires almost never die, staying young and beautiful forever, it’s the same type of thing as finding the fabled ‘Fountain of Youth’. Also, I think women sometimes fantasise about having a bad boy as it’s so atypical to their real natures; the danger and excitement which surrounds them is attractive. 
RT: Can you give us any hints about Remy and Joshua's journey in the next novel? 
CC: Uh-oh! Now you’re pushing your luck, Rachel! [Laughs] What can I tell you that won’t give too much away? Remy’s heartache isn’t over by a long shot yet you come to see the real fighter in her emerge – much more so than in book one. Joshua still has battles to fight and not just in his coven. There’s a twist early in the book that shakes both Remy and Joshua’s worlds enormously, but for different reasons. The coven leader has a new lady on his arm and the sins of the past are revisited. That’s all I’m going to say. 
RT: Rats! I was hoping to get a scoop there. Okay, so how many books are planned for this series? 
CC: Three in total at the moment. However, the way Remy and Joshua take me over when I’m writing, who knows what they have planned? 
RT: I agree, characters certainly have a way of getting under your skin and ruling the show sometimes ;-P So there turns out to be more than three books, I can CERTAINLY live with that! Speaking of books, do you have any other novels in the pipe works? 
CC: Um, yes I do. I’m sketching out some ideas for a fantasy one featuring the lovely lady I use as my avatar. She gives me a great deal of inspiration so I’ve decided she needs her own book or two. I have a working title and a rough theme, but in this one I’ve got some serious world-building to plan and magic systems to work out. I’m excited by the prospect, but will do little more than make notes as I think of things until I’m done with Heart Search. I’m not the sort of writer who can have several projects on the go at once – I prefer to concentrate on one project at a time. 
RT: I agree, creating worlds takes time, one at a time for me too please. I am in AWE at the authors who can drop one world and pick up half way through in another one though. So, how did you start writing? 
CC: I started writing for my own amusement as a kid. I had to learn to amuse myself as I grew up as an only child with parents who both worked. I loved reading, especially fairy tales and began writing my own before I reached double digits. I’ve never really looked back since. 
RT: Who inspires you (Literary or otherwise)? 
CC: How long have we got? [Chuckles] My late parents inspire me – losing them taught me that life is too short to be unhappy and to follow my dreams while I can. My daughter is also a great inspiration; she is so supportive of my writing and brings such joy to my life. Outside of them, I’m inspired by ‘my family’ at Myrddin Publishing, the late Princess Diana, J K Rowling and a whole host of other authors whose books have enriched my life. 
RT: And, finally, just for fun...If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and why? 
CC: Oh this is a hard one! Why are the fun questions so damn difficult? There are too many awesome choices! [Laughs] Ok-ay, I think I’ll go with the ability to teleport. It would be beyond cool to just be able to decide to go somewhere, like a beach in the Caribbean when it’s freezing cold and chucking it down with rain at home, or to pop in on my family in the US or Canada or even those in the UK in the blink of an eye, or visit places I’ve always wanted to go, but never been able to afford. But I’d have to be able to take my daughter with me – and my laptop! :)
RT: Ooooh, teleporting sure does sound like a LOT of fun! Thanks so much for popping in and saying hello. I know your schedule is completely crazy this month, so I really do appreciate it! 
CC: I’ve had a bonza time here with you today, Rachel. Thank you so much for having me. Now did you say something about a barbeque?? 
RT: *Chucks another shrimp on the barbie for Carlie* 
Now, I think I have an idea what that twist may be in book 2, but why don't you head on over to Amazon.com and pick up your copy of Heart Search: Lost and once you've finished reading it, stop back here and let me know what you think the twist is! 
AmazonAmazon UK

Zombie Apocalypse! Comes to Sanitarium Magazine

Recently, I started up a quaint little serial called Zombie Apocalypse Now! I was posting weekly editions to Wattpad merely to entertain my zombie friends and fans. For those of you who have noticed that the entries are no longer up on Wattpad, I can now tell you why.
Zombie Apocalypse Now! is being made available exclusively through Sanitarium magazine ! Starting from Issue 1 which went live on the October 2nd, you can follow the stories of four women who are bought together in a post-apocalyptic adventure involving the undead.



In Issue 1, Rosalyn was introduced. On the 20th of October, Berta (also known as the crazy cat lady), will be gracing the pages of this wonderful new magazine.
So what is Sanitarium? It's a brand new digital magazine that showcases the best new horror short stories from across the globe. The first magazine included works from 
Rick Allden Marie Robinson Patrick HayesW.B. StickelHannah M. RichardsonMitchell John BryanTeijayandCristel Kaa Hedberb
Each edition is only $2.99 and can be downloaded to your iPad, in PDF or Webviewer, so there is no excuse not to check it out now!



The upcoming issue will include stories from the following authors:
Russell C. ConnorGavin WilsonMichael CliftonRon J. CruzRay T. WoodruffRob SalemandA.R. White

Make sure you like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and subscribe to their  Blog  to find out all the updates on this new and exciting new magazine.
Let me know what you think of this great new magazine! And don't forget to share the news wherever you go ;-)

Heart Search: Lost Book Excerpt

So now that the wonderful vampire novel Heart Search: Lost by the amazing Carlie M.A. Cullen (apparently no relation to the lovely sparkly one) has been released on Amazon.com , my guess is that you want to check it out as soon as possible. Well, I can help out in this department. Carlie has been gracious enough to provide an short excerpt of the novel and you can read it (exclusively) here on this blog!

Around 10:30am, Joshua returned to the house. His mouth was set in a grim line, his eyes hooded and his skin pale grey. He climbed the stairs, using the banister rail to drag himself and entered the bedroom. He didn’t seem surprised to find it a mess; the bed wasn’t made and dirty laundry was still on the floor. Moving automatically, he quickly straightened the duvet, picked up the washing and dropped it into the laundry basket in the corner of the room. He opened his wardrobe, grabbed a holdall from the top shelf and started pulling clothes off hangers to stuff into it, not caring if they got creased. Hangers were flying off the rail, but he ignored them in his haste. He yanked open his underwear drawer, pulling it completely off the runners, the contents tumbling to the floor. He snatched handfuls of socks and pants and chucked them into the top of the bag before going into the bathroom and seizing toiletries off the shelves.
When the bag was full, he picked it up and without a backward glance, marched down the stairs. He dropped it by the front door and walked into the lounge. On the coffee table was the pad and pen they’d been using to make the wedding lists. He sat on the sofa and pulled the coffee table closer so he could lean on it. He seized the pen, and sat with it poised over the blank sheet, trying to marshal his thoughts. The first sign of emotion crossed his face as he wrote ‘My darling Remy,’
An hour later, wearing a desolate expression of absolute grief, he drove away from the house.

Now that you've the excerpt, you can purchase the full novel for only $2.99 here! (And in the UK, here.)

Carlie M A Cullen Carlie M A Cullen was born in London. She grew up in Hertfordshire where she first discovered her love of books and writing. She has been an administrator and marketer all her working life and is also a professional teacher of Ballroom and Latin American dancing. Carlie has always written in some form or another, but Heart Search: Lost is her first novel. This is being launched 8thOctober 2012 through Myrddin Publishing Group and work has started on book two: Heart Search: Found. She writes mainly in the Fantasy/Paranormal Romance genres for YA, New Adult and Adult.Carlie is also a professional editor.Carlie also holds the reins of a writing group called Writebulb. Their first anthology was published September 2012.Carlie currently lives in Essex, UK with her daughter.

Heart Search Rafflecopter Giveaway!

Heart Search by Carlie M.A. Cullen is now available on Amazon! Please follow the links below to purchase your copy today:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
There is also a cool Rafflecopter give-away so why don't you head over there now to check it out!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

And all the other fans of this great book who are also hosting this give-away are listed below (Thanks to Joy Keeney for this link)
joykeeney.wordpress.com
mariavajohnson.comalisondeluca.comneverjudgeabookbyitscovers.blogspot.co.ukdonnalsadd.wordpress.comstephenswartz.blogspot.comjoykeeney.wordpress.comadarasdreams.blogspot.co.ukmcswainandbeck.wordpress.comthecollegecrawl.blogspot.comjoan-hazel.blogspot.comMadelineDyer.co.uk 

American Horror Story: Asylum Season Two Starts October 17th!

Now I didn't get the chance to watch Season 1 of FX's American Horror Story , so I can't comment on how good (or not) it was. I have had a whole pile of friends tell me I should check it out though. Season 2 , however, has got me waiting, perched precariously, on the edge of my seat!

Considering one of my books, The Ring of Lost Souls , is based in a disused mental asylum, the storyline for Season 2 of American Horror Story has gotten me all excited. Jessica Lange will play the sadistic Sister Jude and several of the cast from Season 1 will be returning. Maroon 5's front man, Adam Levine  is playing a character called Leo and HBO's Big Love actress Chloë Sevigny will not be a closeted second wife, but Shelly the Nymphomaniac!

Some of the imagery released for the FX channel show is fantastic, there promises to be a hydrobath, a bloody face, strange stairwells and the 'hellovator'. Besides the uber creepy image above, the one below is probably my fave:


This poster shows the possibility that it will tie in closely with the storyline I chose for The Ring of Lost Souls. While I steered clear of the clichéd evil nun (although I am sure Jessica Lange will be brilliantly eerie), I did use a time frame that promoted the Larundel asylum as old and abandoned. I get the feeling that there may be some time travel involved in American Horror Story: Asylum as well. Maybe not to the extent that I used it, but it will be interesting to see how they play around with the fact that the story line is based in the 1960's.
So, what are you expecting from this season of American Horror Story? Are you sad to see the old characters go? Or excited to see where FX will take the next season?
And while you're waiting for October 17th, why not check out my book, The Ring of Lost Souls? 
It's available on:
 Amazon Kindle 
iTunes
Angus & Robertson
Lulu
and 
Smashwords