N+M's Blog: SO SAYETH THE LITERARY DARK PRINCE, page 2

I Love My Authors: The Literary Dark Prince on the Hot Seat!

Welcome to I Love My Authors   OMGosh I am STOKED!!! I have one of my Favorite Authors on the blog today ~ Nathan Squiers  ~AKA~ The Literary Dark Princ



Read more at  I Love My Authors: The Literary Dark Prince on the Hot Seat!

Nathan Squiers - Crimson Shadow: Sins of the Father *Official*

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WHY FAN(g)S? (a psychological dive into the global vampire phenomenon)

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The ghostly glow of an evening mist dragging like a dying thing across the barren street that echoes with the lonely fallen steps of a solitary morsel. The melodic clacks give away a rising tension as their tempo increases; the urgency in the stride reflecting the racing of their pulse. A hushed murmur drifts by like a lingering thought—the already phantom memory of its call burning into every crevice of their terror-soaked mind—and a shadow washes over the towering and foreboding walls of the nearby building; the series of structures lining the night-bathed city quickly becoming a cage of iron and stone that closes in with every panicked breath. From behind: a chuckle—-the unmistakable tune of a predator's victory made all the more dreadful coming from an all-too-human mouth. Overcome with fear, the once-lone wanderer makes a mad-dash away from the voice, ignoring the ache of exertion and the burning of oxygen-starved lungs as they whimper and fight to form the words to call for help. Despite the effort, the futility of the attempt is made evident as the shadow falls upon them—consuming them in a whirlwind of darkness and enveloping them in a hungry abyss—and they finally find voice enough to shriek as the glow of inhuman eyes narrow on their own and a pair of glistening and dripping gore-stained fangs break past the veil.

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Though the legends and myths that have existed since the dawning of human civilization always point towards the certain suffering and death of their victims, the popularity of vampires and creatures tied to their tales have flourished. Beyond that, the legends have warped and evolved to take monstrous and demonic beings that were in no way human and (more to the point) attractive in ANY way, shape, or form and turning them into a being of sensuality and beauty that has only served to take an already-compelling icon and add the element of sex and attraction to the mix. Despite the terror associated with the legends and the obvious dangers that such a being could present to our kind, the world's collective obsession with vampiric beings has escalated to points that define genres of media entertainment, motivate fashion and lifestyles, and even shape entire groups and communities.

But none of this actually boils down to the "WHY" of the phenomenon. What is it about these beings that so aggressively draws us in and sinks its metaphorical fangs into our jugulars and refuses to release.

Why are we so inclined to be fans of the fangs?

Past the inherent and two-dimensional fascination with the powerful and lustful creatures dwells a truth that, ironically enough, defines humanity. We, as people—as weak, soft, terrified, and mortal beings—will forever be compelled to idolize and focus on figures and symbols that our ever-growing minds hope will reveal some secret to their success in living, loving, and liberating themselves from the mundane and redundant. When we're young, we look up to parents, older siblings, fascinating members of the local community, and, of course, the characters we grow up loving that perpetually illustrate strength and integrity in television, movies, books, and comics. We dream and strive for the day when we'll find ourselves free of our youthful weaknesses and be free of doubt and confusion… but that day never comes. Months turn to years and then decades and, as we fall into the ever-famed adulthood that we've dreamt so long would mystically provide us with clarity and understanding of life, the universe and everything we discover we're just as frail and just as oblivious, but now cursed with the capacity to UNDERSTAND just how oblivious.

And so, with no magical age dawning upon us with rays of god-like understanding, we forever leap-frog from idol and icon in an ever-constant-yet-insatiable hope to finally feel that we're greater than we are.

Because, in the end, we're still only human.

Only human!

Our subconscious minds see the futility in the search for that one man or woman who can be a guru to cure us of our limitations, and they turn to the beyond; turn to that which transcends humanity; turn to mythology.

An obsession with our limited longevity and a fear of what lies beyond this life has been a motivator for theory-upon-theory-upon-theory. Death represents an inescapable oblivion—an eternal NOTHING—that eats away at our cores because, when all is said-and-done, "nothing" means EXACTLY that to us: nothing. How does one define something if there's nothing to define? We experience a cornucopia of REAL and TANGIBLE that to imagine nothing—no sight, no sound, no smells or tastes, nothing to feel, and no mind to recognize the void—is an incomprehensible notion. And if the history of mankind has taught us nothing else, it's that we HATE that which we cannot comprehend. We assign titles to everything to convince us we hold power over it and try to define the inner workings of this, that, and everything with a limited knowledge of what it is we're trying to define. And so, in an effort to combat the confusion and fear associated with death, we fabricate alternate realities that exist for us beyond this lifetime; theories of heavens or hells or limbos or hauntings or, rather than living an eternity elsewhere, being born as a new person and starting the cycle anew.

All because death and our impending nothing TERRIFIES us.

Enter the vampire. A being who's existence is defined almost unanimously with immortality; a being that represents no need for fear of what lies beyond. And though this eternity relies on a willingness to destroy the lives of others, the natural need to survive motivates us to take that step. If a building is on fire, the occupants' need to survive outweighs the sympathy of others' needs, and it's an all-too-common event that situations like that find people trampled and trapped so that others have the leverage to survive. Is it really such a stretch to see us as so monstrous as to literally steal the lives of strangers to sustain our own?

And what of those who find themselves at the bottom of the stampede? What of those who find themselves trapped within the inferno because somebody wanted to survive enough to lock away the threat of death with them still at risk? What do you think they would give for a body that doesn't break underfoot or the strength to take down any obstacle?

Enter the vampire. A being whose supernatural abilities make even the most able-bodied star athletes look like a joke in comparison. A being who exists in legends as capable of easily holding their own against armies and able to tear down buildings with their unbreakable claws. A being whose speed and reflexes make them a nearly uncatchable and un-killable force for any who stand in their way. A being who sees the threat of those who intimidate them in their everyday life as nothing more than an insignificant creature; no more dangerous or threatening than a newborn puppy—blind and defenseless and oblivious.

A being greater than man or beast but, at the same time, a enigmatic hybrid of the two.

A being capable of communicating and controlling and even BECOMING the animals that we eagerly and desperately struggle to understand.

A being that is not only unafraid of the darkness, but REVEL in it!

All the limitations and shortcomings of man encompass the strengths and traits of the creatures we idolize, because, at the root of it all, we crave a life that's free of fear and uncertainty.

And so we eagerly consume movies and literature and music and any-and-all forms of media and society that pertains to vampires so that we can lose ourselves in that tranquility. Men bellow and cheer as Blade and Selena take on hordes of the undead using vampire strength and cunning and women melt into the steely grip of Lothaire and Edward and Lestat in their paranormal romance novels because they represent total freedom from the normal and a sense of security (as well as cheering on Blade and Selena as they take on hordes of the undead; sorry, guys, but you gotta share the badass whether-or-not you're willing to dive into the romance).

Vampires are, body and mind and drive, what we can NEVER be, and that limitation—that hunger for a taste of what we'll never have—keeps us coming back for more of the fan(g)tastic creatures.

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Is Disney's "Brave" heroine a lesbian?? ... WHO CARES?!

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And
The Literary Dark Prince stares… and blinks… and stares… and blinks…
and as the words on this post refuse to alter their conveyed message he
begins to see the error lies not with them, but the fact that—despite
every iota of logical reasoning screaming and crying at lung-bursting
degrees—there are ACTUALLY people out there that would CARE!!
So-goddam-what if a Disney character is gay?! Snow White lived with
SEVEN men who constantly bribed her with diamonds, Belle fell in love
with a 10-foot GORILLA-DOG, Ariel pranced about with exposed genitals
on a public beach several days prior to being married to Eric by a
priest with an obvious erection, Jasmine all-but WHORED herself to
Jafar to distract him from Aladdin, Jane fell for Tarzan when he was
barely a coherent human being, and Mulan was a cross-dresser.


Society, get ready for a bomb-shell of a shocker: SEX EXISTS!! All
elements associated with sex (nudity, arousal, exploration,
experimentation, curiosity and—HOLY SHIT?!—homosexuality are a PART of
the human condition that drives us to discover both other human beings
AND ourselves)!


Ready for another world-melting revelation? KIDS ARE NOT STUPID!!
They see Mommy and Daddy pucker up with pursed lips and—here comes “2 +
2”—if men and women can kiss one another, then who’s to say it stops
there? The deductive reasoning of the minds society tries so desperately
to cloud from every truth they deem unsuitable are more-than capable
of rationalizing the facts for themselves. Hiding sexuality from
children is not going to make them not realize that, if they cast their
gaze downward, THERE’S SOMETHING BETWEEN THEIR THIGHS, and THAT alone
is motivation enough for children to explore avenues of WHAT it is and
WHO else has them.


If a Disney princess is gay, then I’m certain a perceptive child that
gives enough of a damn to psycho-analyze the broad while she’s
slinging arrows and being badass will be happy as a pig-in-shit to do
so, but, seeing how the notion of BIGOTRY and HOMOPHOBIA—the only REAL
lesson that all this song and dance teaches kids—have yet to enter into
their minds, I severely DOUBT that they’re going to care one way or
the other.


To the kids out there: stay young forever!


To the adults out there: grow-the-fuck-up!!






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The Literary Dark Prince LOVES The Legion:

Here's a Legion-made trailer for the Crimson Shadow series set to Vampires Everywhere! (a personal favorite band)!!

12 Crimson Shadow Kindle shorts and what they mean to the upcoming Crimson Shadow #2: Sins of the Father

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With book #1, "Noir", of my Crimson Shadow series now available (both in PAPERBACK and KINDLE formats) and book #2 debuting in November 2012, Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing and I have decided to release a series of Kindle shorts from the series--12 in total--that will be released one-by-one every few weeks up until the next novel. Most of these shorts will feature the series' character, Xander Stryker, as he goes about his vampiric business after the happenings in book #1, as well as some that serve to introduce some other characters/themes. All of these stories, in some way or another, will lay an in-depth foundation for book #2's release and give you, the reader, a greater understanding of the chaos that Xander's in store for. Already there have been two releases--"Magic Murderer" and "Just Another Night"--and I thought I'd give a little glimpse of what's still to come:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"Magic Murderer" (NOW AVAILABLE):

"The world of magic is unified by a single truth: "The arts have tainted you."

For one man--a man corrupted by power and driven by a lust to kill--the price of his pursuits for power has become both a reason and a means of destroying lives. As this madman quickly discovers, the potential for murder and maiming are almost infinite when a flick of the wrist or a blink of an eye can rip flesh and snap bones, and the creative means of slaughtering innocents is a blood-red and limitless sky.

With fragmented thoughts and distorted truths festering in the twisted mind of this magical maniac, a sadistic killing spree ensues. As his campaign of carnage takes its toll on a family there seems to be no end to the bloodshed in sight…

… until he finds himself bathed in a Crimson Shadow."

 

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"Just Another Night" (NOW AVAILABLE):

"A graveyard in the dead of night.

While most would avoid such an eerie setting, for three friends looking for a safe place to toke up, it is the perfect place to get high without getting caught. Unfortunately, for these stoners, fate has given them more to worry about than nosy cops.

In the blink of a bloodshot eye, all hell breaks loose... literally.

As forces beyond the friends' perception and control turn a calm night in a marijuana-haze into a terror-filled bloodbath all hope seems lost. But there's far deadlier beings roaming through the headstones, and a Crimson Shadow soon eclipses the carnage.

Talk about the ultimate buzz-kill!"

 

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"Victim" (COMING SOON...):

"'The scars we wear are a constant reminder of what we've suffered through; of what we've survived. But the scars of every fight, every sacrifice, and every mistake are only skin-deep.'

For Xander Stryker, the "Crimson Shadow", this truth is all-too obvious, and though his vampire body will not scar easily, he still wears the reminders left behind from his human life. And while it's simple to see the history of abuse and self-destruction on Xander's body, it's the scars he wears on the inside that haunt him the most.

Despite having left the human race in a previous life, with a little motivation from a helpless victim, he may still be able to maintain his humanity."

 

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"What Happens in Vegas" (COMING SOON...):

"Few would see Las Vegas--"Sin City": the gambling capitol and center for greed, lust, gluttony, and debauchery--as an ideal place for a dedicated Christian to vacation. However, with her closest friends promising a relaxing getaway and an insistent husband, Rachel is given no way to avoid the trip. Besides, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

At least that's what they say!

But when her vacation takes an unexpected turn and finds her in the dark clutches of unholy forces, Rachel has no choice but to carry her Hellish burden out of Sin City and back into the loving embrace of her unaware and unsuspecting family.

Is Rachel strong enough to resist the dark forces and see that her family remains free of their curse? Or will her faith and dedication be warped beyond repair as a Crimson Shadow envelopes her world?"

 

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"A Tasty Nostalgia" (COMING SOON...):

"There's no end to the memories one can get lost in when you've lived for so many centuries; no shortage of of flashbacks and, moreover, no guarantee for your sanity.

Dane's vampiric existence has taken its toll on his mind. Every sight, every sound, everything reminds him of events long-since past--and when you're a predator who needs to live in the NOW, being trapped in the THEN can cost you your next meal.

On this night, Dane finds himself struggling to stay in the moment as he stalks his newest memory, and not even his ever- vigilant gargoyle companion can keep him focused.

Has he finally fallen victim to prolonged longevity... or is there a worse fate awaiting him in an encroaching Crimson Shadow on the horizon?"

 

[image error] "True Love's First Kiss" (COMING SOON...):

"Ruby. My name is Ruby...

At least that's the name I've tried so hard to hide behind.

With no home or family, I've been forced into the night to sell all that I have left in this world: myself. However, try as I might to escape my past, the memories refuse to let me shed who I once was. And I'm left with the cold truth:

Nobody loves me.

Not even me...

But tonight... tonight seems different; a sense of foreboding promise that has my senses and my curiosity peaked. Has my existence become so shallow that my mind is driven to fabricate false hopes... or could there truly be a touch of Crimson waiting for me in the Shadow of my life?"

 

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"Christian's a FREAK" (COMING SOON...):

"Christian's been living the high-life: popularity, star football player, any guy... er, girl he could want, and, best of all, Xander Stryker is DEAD!

Sure, he might miss driving his fists into the loser's stomach on a daily basis, but knowing that the emo punk burned up a year ago has had him on cloud-9 ever since.

Until he wakes up after a night of club-hopping with a chunk of his throat ripped out and no clear memories of how...

Now, with his life and his sanity circling the drain, he has to come to grips with an inevitable truth that everyone else can see:

Christian's a FREAK!

And, before long, his bright and perfect life will be marred by a Crimson Shadow!"

 

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"Killer" (COMING SOON...):

"Don't ask why. There's not always a reason...

... and if there is, you may not want to hear it.

There are those that find pleasure in the deaths of others; those that live to destroy lives. Their minds--twisted and depraved and warped--exist in a darkness that most refuse to accept, and this darkness exists even in a world of monsters--turning nightmares in on themselves.

So what happens when a creature that already exists to kill refuses to stop?

What happens when a monster becomes a kill?

Sometimes they find themselves in the chilled darkness of a Crimson Shadow."

 

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"LUNA(tic) (Part 1/3)" (COMING SOON...):

"Xander is falling in love with his best friend, Estella...

And while it's difficult to believe after a life of loneliness and self-loathing, it's becoming hard to deny. But she's so innocent--so pure--and could never love a blood-sucking bringer-of-death like him that has made hunting out-of-control monsters a way of life. Though she may be a witch with extraordinary powers, there's no changing the obvious gaps between them.

He could never expect her to accept him as something more…

It's all enough to drive a vampire insane!

But, as certain as he is that their friendship will never evolve, he can't help but dwell on what their future may hold... and perhaps, in the shade of a Crimson Shadow, love can prevail."

 

[image error] "LUNA(tic) (Part 2/3)" (COMING SOON...):

"Xander is falling in love with his best friend, Estella...

And while it's difficult to believe after a life of loneliness and self-loathing, it's becoming hard to deny. But she's so innocent--so pure--and could never love a blood-sucking bringer-of-death like him that has made hunting out-of-control monsters a way of life. Though she may be a witch with extraordinary powers, there's no changing the obvious gaps between them.

He could never expect her to accept him as something more…

It's all enough to drive a vampire insane!

But, as certain as he is that their friendship will never evolve, he can't help but dwell on what their future may hold... and perhaps, in the shade of a Crimson Shadow, love can prevail."

 

[image error] "LUNA(tic) (Part 3/3)" (COMING SOON...):

"Luna is completely, utterly, and exponentially out of her mind! And, in her ever-hazy world--a world clogged and overflowing with sweet, sweet blood--the only thing she sees clearly is an up-and-coming power in the vampire community: Xander Stryker.

The son of the legendary auric vampire and co-founder of the once-proud Odin Clan and his rise in the mythos ranks have steadily gained attention. For Luna, a chance to share the next few centuries with a legend (even a growing legend) sounds like an ideal way to free herself from her mundane, scab-sucking existence.

But, before she can claim what's rightfully hers, there's the matter of his pet witch, Estella Edash.

Fortunately for Luna, however, the growing legend and his human company has gotten the attention of others, as well, and when Estella is snatched away, Luna sees an opportunity to be the light in the Crimson Shadow's life."

 

[image error] "Exorcism Gone Awry" (COMING SOON...):

"Father Tennesen, in an effort to combat the evil forces, has dedicated his life to freeing innocents from malicious forces. Along with a ragtag group of followers, his campaign has seen many cases of demonic possession, and while his efforts are noble, success in the field of exorcism is a rarity.

But Father Tennesen is nothing if not persistent.

When he and his team are contacted by a mysterious and wealthy stranger claiming to be posessed, the others see it as a chance to cash in on their efforts... but Tennesen's goals are a bit more personal. For a man who's dedicated his life to faith, his is beginning to wane. So when things take a turn for the worst and Tennesen finds himself in a dark and desperate place, will he succumb to the darkness...

Or will a Crimson Shadow answer the call?"