Shane K.P. O'Neill's Blog, page 5

THE BATTLE FOR SOULS HAS BEGUN: THE DRACULA CHRONICLES by SHANE KP O’NEILL

I have always loved the horror genre, I mean really loved it. When I started reading books seriously in my early teens my friends and I would pass around or recommend one horror novel after another.  We all loved heavy rock music and we all loved horror novels.  Of course, in the mid-1980’s we were spoiled with both. Heavy rock was truly in its heyday and so was the horror genre.  To me they seemed to go hand in hand.  There were so many great books to choose from back then, from masters like…

Stephen King
Dean Koontz
Robert McCammon
Shaun Hutson
James Herbert
John Saul

These were just my favourites, but there were many others. And then we also had a huge catalogue of movies to keep us entertained. Times were good. Not only did we have movies that materialised from the books written by that select group above, but we had John Carpenter and Wes Craven among others feeding the monster.  On top of that we had a host of classic horror movies from previous decades featuring the likes of Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Vincent Price and even this was just the tip of the iceberg. I would safely say the amount of horror movies I saw in my teenage years alone must have numbered in the many hundreds.

For me this was the only genre that mattered, in book form and on the big screen.  It followed naturally then that when I decided I wanted to write, it would only ever be as a horror writer.  I was always a writer, in one degree or another, learning my craft from a very tender age.  The very first stories I penned, I actually wrote by hand in those days, were all tales of the macabre that I would read to my best friends doing my utmost to shock and abhor them.  The expressions my words brought from their faces were like a drug to me, and that irrepressible need to be appreciated as a writer was here to stay.

But horror was not the only love in my life.  I also had a deep relationship with history and all things to do with it, which grew stronger within me as time passed.  In time this manifested itself into an amalgamation of the two.  And the focus of that became Dracula.

I have been aware of Dracula the vampire for as long as I can remember.  I saw my first Dracula movie when I was a young teenager and was forever hooked.  At the age of 16 I wrote a Dracula story of about 50,000 words which is likely to end up in Chronicle 6 of The Dracula Chronicles.  Dracula the man I did not discover until I had just turned 21.

I had just moved to England where I knew few people and had no social outlets.  Those were the days before us peasant folk had any concept of the Internet or the technological boom that was to come.  That left the likes of me with the local library.  And on my very first visit to the library in my new town I discovered the works of Radu Florescu and Raymond T McNally, the two Harvard professors who achieved fame as biographers to the great Vlad Dracula.

I read their books a half a dozen times each and then hunted down any other books on my new favourite subject.  Over time I digested quite a few and formulated a picture of the man in my mind that I was so desperate to write about.  Of course I wanted to write about Dracula the man and Dracula the vampire in the same book, or series of books, as my project evolved into over time.  In late1992 I wrote twenty chapters of my new concept.  Then for twelve years I didn’t look at it again.

During my 12-year hiatus from writing the horror genre changed noticeably, and in the years since.  The genre was carved up into dozens of sub-genres with a variety of names under monikers such as paranormal fantasy and romance and urban fantasy.  This was okay I suppose, as there are so many directions once can move in within the horror genre.  But it didn’t sit so well with me, and especially with my favourite area of horror, the vampire.

I grew up as I have said earlier watching movies with Christopher Lee and reading books from Stephen King and Robert McCammon where vampires didn’t come out in the daytime.  They didn’t sparkle under the sun, they weren’t romantic creatures or broody.  They didn’t fall in love with mortals, they fed on them.  They burned or vanished into dust when touched by sunlight.  They were a far superior race that preyed on us weaker humans.

Now I accept that in the wake of Harry Potter the powers-that-be in the film industry saw a huge market open for exploitation, i.e teenagers or young adults as they seem to be categorised these days.  They are there to make money naturally.  But did they have to fill the void left by Harry Potter with a series that virtually destroyed the vampire as us connoisseurs knew it?  This left an indelible mark on me.  I yearned like so many others for a return to the much darker, more traditional vampire.  And there are none as traditional as Dracula himself.

But I wanted to do something really serious with this subject and with my ideas.  I wanted to create something awesome and mind-blowing that people will remember always.  To try and explore the darkest recesses of the mind, the heart and the soul both in the characters in my books and in those reading them.  It was my aim to shock, terrify, abhor, offend, mesmerise, arouse and captivate everyone who would pick up one of my books.  I wanted to write a scary-as-hell horror novel with real monstrous vampires, but that could only be a part of what I was looking to create.  My desire was to build a world to rival Tolkein and C.S.Lewis where my reader could escape to and become lost in.  I wanted to build something that Dracula was central to, but that was so much bigger than him.  And I hope now I have succeeded in doing that with The Dracula Chronicles.

In 2004 I took it up once more and over the next eighteen months produced the novel, Reckoning Day.  This book is based entirely in December 1986, the same month I left Ireland, and was centred on the resurrection of Dracula.  It is a full-blown horror story full of vampires (of the darkest variety) and satanic ritual.  It was epic in scale and was well over 350,000 words by the time I finished it.

But I had no room in this story for all the 15th Century material I had written years before that centred on Dracula’s conversion from man to vampire and his early years as a vampire.  Hence I re-wrote those chapters in a new book, Bound By Blood, which I got done in six months, and The Dracula Chronicles series was born.  That only covered the period from Dracula’s death in 1476 to 1612.  I still hadn’t written anything of Dracula the man.

I figured I would write ten chapters or so and put them in at the start of Bound By Blood.  Another six months and 250,000 words later I had only covered the period in Dracula’s life from 1431 to 1456 and was forced to make that a book in its own right.  The Gates Of Babylon became Chronicle 1, meaning I had to write a second book to bridge the gap up to 1476 and Bound By Blood.

I have since had to break The Gates Of Babylon into two as well. When I began the re-writes for it in March this year, the first half of the book took on a life of its own and became a 175,000-word manuscript.  That has now become The Path To Decay, which is Chronicle #1 and The Gates Of Babylon will be Chronicle #2, hopefully to surface by March next year.  There may have to be two more books then to precede Bound By Blood.

But I was so happy to do this.  To write these novels about the real life and the real world of the historical Vlad Dracula was a wonderful experience.  I am creating a small handful of historical epics in the process and have built the most incredible profile one of history’s most amazing, yet most misunderstood men.  But these earlier Chronicles are not only sprawling historical adventures.  They are also stories of dark Gothic horror, romance, paranormal fantasy and erotica.  By crossing into various genres while trying to remain true to its horror foundation, I have endeavoured to add more meat to the bones of the story and give much more depth to my characters.

It is here my concept has really taken shape and here I have built the premise of Lucifer wanting to ascend again to Heaven through the destruction of the Catholic Church.

God’s creation of man led to a split in Heaven and a division of the angels as a result of Lucifer’s jealousy.  The First Great War of the Angels followed, which resulted in Lucifer and his followers being cast out.  The war raged on and to end it, God agreed a truce with Lucifer.  The main condition of this was that Lucifer could contest the soul of every living being, as long as he did not interfere with their free will.  Should he control more souls than God at any time then he can ascend again to Heaven and signal the end for mankind.

When the battle for souls runs close, the Crucifixion eradicates man’s sins and undoes all of Lucifer’s work.  The Catholic Church stands as a reminder of that great victory over him.  Lucifer then realises if he can destroy the institution of the Catholic Church and bring down the last great icon of God, he can then turn man against God once more.  He searches for a millennium for the right candidate to see through this immense task and decides on the young Vlad Dracula as the instrument to achieve his ends.

The series follows the life of Vlad Dracula from birth and Lucifer’s manipulation of him.  It follows too the life of his brother, Andrei, who is God’s weapon to counter the work of Lucifer.  It is a journey through the ages set against the real world of Vlad Dracula that moves on through the lives of all the major players in history.

Tales of the black sabbath

The new series of horror short stories by Shane KP O’Neill is launched on Saturday, June 1st.

The Tales Of The Black Sabbath begins with Orchid which is available from Amazon US for $0.99 and Amazon UK for £0.77.

Synopsis

Imagine, if you will, the dread at losing the one you love – when all that you hold dear is suddenly, and inexplicably, taken from you. And then, when all seems lost and nothing can lift the darkness threatening to consume you, a stranger walks up to you and says he can restore all you have lost. What would you do? Could you resist that last glimmer of hope?

This is the dilemma facing Mark Wiseman. While standing at his wife’s graveside and looking down on her casket, a man tells him he can give her back to him. Should he let her go? Or should he accept the offer to be with his beloved once again? For such things carry a price and is it a price he is able to pay?

Featured Author: Alexandra Anthony

It’s the third Monday of the month and my featured author for May is my friend, Alexandra Anthony. Alexandra is the writer of two current vampire series: My Vampire Lover and The Dark Hart Chronicles.  She lives in the American Midwest with her husband and daughter.

 

1. Alexandra, can you tell us who you are and why you’ve chosen this genre?

Alex: I’m a self-published author from the Midwest.  I love all things vampire and paranormal.  When I’m not writing, I home school my nine year-old daughter.

2. What is it about vampires that you find so captivating?

Alex: The fact that they are immortal creatures, frozen in time so to speak.  I also find them to be very erotic, sexual creatures.  I suppose that’s one reason I find them captivating.

3. I feel the same way about them. So what are you hoping to bring to the genre that we haven’t seen before?

Alex: I’m not sure I can bring anything new to the vampire romance genre, but my vampires are day walkers.  They could be in line behind you at the bank or could pass you on the street and you’d never know.  The fact that they work among the living adds a fear factor that we don’t think about.

4. Do you like any other vampire/horror writers?  Have any of them influenced you?

Alex: Anne Rice was one of the first authors I read that drew me into the world of vampires and witches.  I’d say she’s one of my biggest influences.

5. And do you have a favourite vampire novel or movie?

Alex: I’d go with The Vampire Lestat as my favourite vampire novel.  As for my favourite movie, I’m going to go with Bram Stoker’s Dracula with Gary Oldman.

6. Oh yes, a true classic for sure.  Tell us something about your books.

Alex: My books are paranormal, erotic romance books.  They’re very erotic and the scenes are very sexual and graphic, but not in a crass way.  In both of my series, the vampires and their love interests are committed to one another and they have deep emotional attachments to each other.  I joke that they aren’t for the faint of heart!

7. If you were meeting someone for the very first time, what would you say to pique their interest in your work?

Alex: If you are tired of fade to black vampire romances, give my book a shot.  My books are romance, with a bite.

8. I know already there is a good deal of erotica in your work. Do you feel it important to mix vampires and erotica? 

Alex: I found the need necessary.  To me, vampires are sexual, erotic creatures.  Why gloss over the erotic aspect when it can add to the story?  It adds another dimension to the story.

9. If a movie was to be made from your books, who would you choose to play your main characters on-screen if you had the power to choose?

Alex: In The Vampire Destiny Series, I’d go with Alexander Skarsgaard as Stefan.  Josephine would be Isla Fischer.  In my newest series, I don’t have one person in mind to play Nick.  When I created him, I imagined a mixture of David Boreanaz and Brandon Flowers and he’s my Nick.  Savannah would be someone like Rachel McAdams.

10. Rachel McAdams.. schwing schwing. I often wished I was Ryan Gosling, I have to say. Is there anything you would like to say to us or share before you go?

Alex: Just a huge thank you for allowing me to share my books on your site-and a huge thank you to my readers and fans.

Website http://www.alexandraanthony.wordpress.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/authoralexandraanthony
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6438033.Alexandra_Anthony

 

SHANE KP O’NEILL on the WIZARD’S CAULDRON

Since I began my journey as a writer I have given many interviews and featured on many different blogs.  There has been one in particular that I have wanted to appear on and my wish was realised last week when my friend, Emma Edwards, stepped in for Wiz and interviewed me at the Cauldron.  Of course, Wiz added his finishing touches to make it my favourite interview to date.  Here’s what happened…..

You have published two volumes of The Dracula Chronicles so far, what is next for the series?

Yes I began with Bound By Blood which I broke into Volume 1 & 2 and released together.  This is not the beginning of the series, but the first one where readers will see Dracula the vampire.  I felt it necessary to begin with the vampire first.  In the summer I intend to release the very first book in the series, The Path To Decay.This goes back to the night of Dracula’s birth and of course, the birth of his brother, Andrei; sired by the same father but born in very different circumstances.

Read the full interview here at The Wizards Cauldron

SHANE KP O’NEILL ON BLOGTALK RADIO 29/4/2013

On Monday 29/04/2013 I make my second appearance on BlogTalk Radio as the guest of Joseph Aquilino on his Author Nook show.  Below is the link to the Facebook event that gives all the details of how you can tune in.  You can even listen directly from your own website.  The show airs at 14:45 EST which is 19:45for UK listeners and 20:45 for people in Europe.  I hope you can join me.

Find out how more about the event here

FRIDAY REFLECTIONS – JUST HOW SUBJECTIVE IS WRITING

I’ve been giving this subject a lot of thought as it is one that concerns every writer; be it the writer sitting at #1 in the NYT bestseller lists or the person self-publishing a book that no one knows about outside of their immediate circle of influence.

We each have our own style of writing and methods of expression, yet there is a literary Stasi who say we have to conform to certain rules and styles.  One of my favourite writers, James Herbert, was unapologetic in his style and rightly so.  A writer is within his/her rights to adopt whichever style they wish.  No one has to read it if they don’t want to.  Perhaps the point being made here is that unless we conform to the machinations of the literary Stasi then they will harangue us publicly until no one wants to read our work.  They have done this to E.L. James though I don’t think it has harmed her sales any.

So what is correct and what is not?  In proper English the colon and semicolon is used frequently.  Lynn Truss in her famous 2005 article claimed, “The difference between them is too negligible to be grasped by the brain of man.”  Is that a good enough reason to dismiss these items of punctuation?  If we are to write in correct English should we not then use them?  Just because Hemingway or Vonnegut or King would not use them in their works?  Where was the literary Stasi then?  And to you Ms Truss: Is it fair to assume that there are those of us that don’t know the difference to fit with your argument?

Yet in the main American writers refuse to use them.  Kurt Vonnegut was much more lambasting in his criticism of them than Truss.  Stephen King, another favourite of mine, will never use a semicolon in a million years but will happily berate anyone using an adverb in their text.  Many argue that they are old-fashioned, which I would accept as true.  But then so is using the word “said” as a speech tag all the time.

Jane Austen was a great writer; it is undisputed.  But the way she would follow speech with “-,” said Darcy or “-,” said Miss Bennett belongs back in the early 19th Century, perhaps with the semicolon.  Would anyone dare criticise her use of adverbs?

For me the largest bone of contention I have is the use of dialogue tags and separating them from actions in the text.  I have a particular dislike of the word “said” and its blatant overuse.  Members of the Stasi will say that it is a word that usually escapes the eye and that people don’t see it.  Well, I see it and seeing it over and over again irritates me no end.

I will use an example.  It would be normal for me to write something like: “It is the way of the world,” Dracula grinned.  The Stasi would insist that reads as, “It is the way of the world,” Dracula said, grinning.  The latter may be correct, but to me it breaks the flow and definitely so if written that way five hundred times in a novel.  As far as I am concerned every use of speech in text is followed by some manner of punctuation: be it a comma; a question mark; or an exclamation mark.  To me that separates the speech from the action that comes after.  When I write: “It is the way of the world,” Dracula grinned – a comma has separated the two and the action then follows the speech.  The Stasi will no doubt berate me for this and I will most likely conform.  I certainly don’t like to be accused of errors in grammar when I do know the difference for it is such comments that hurt me the most as a writer.

So I would like to open a discussion on this issue.  What do you think?

Fang-tastic Books Interview with Shane KP O Neill 26.11.2012

On November 26th 2012, I was featured on the Fang-tastic Books blog and interviewed by Roxanne Rhoads. For those who missed it, I have posted the full interview below.

 

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?

My name is Shane O’Neill. I am originally from Ireland, but live now in Norway.  My project is The Dracula Chronicles, an epic new angle on the Dracula legend.  Remembering back to when I was a teenager, my friends and I were always reading and passing around books written in the horror genre.  This would include works by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert, John Saul, Shaun Hutson etc.  It followed then that this was the genre I wanted to write in as well.  The horror genre has always captured people’s imagination, be it in book form or on the big screen.  Girls like to be scared and have a reason to lean into their guys.  Their guys like the chance to be there to protect and comfort them, as well as being scared themselves.  There will always be a market and a great interest in this genre, and I love it.

What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?

Of all the different elements in the horror genre, vampires are easily the most exciting.  I am certain the majority of us that love this genre are all equally turned on by the vampire.  For me personally, I was captivated by Christopher Lee’s Dracula, mesmerized by Gary Oldman’s portrayal, I was terrified by Stephen King’s vampires and Anne Rice’s vampires left me breathless.  I am not so excited by some of the modern trends directed more towards the YA audience, but it leaves me hoping something better will come along again.  While I wait for that to happen I give you The Dracula Chronicles.

What inspired you to write this book?

I have been interested in and loved Dracula for as long as I can remember. When I used to baby-sit my kid sisters and was not restricted by my parents as to what I could watch on TV, I got to see quite a few of the old Hammer horror movies, and loved those with Christopher Lee as Dracula. Then in my late teens I discovered the real historical Vlad Dracula.  I always felt it had been my destiny to write, and therefore I wanted to write about him.  But I did not want to write anything that resembled the known images of Dracula and opted to do something more grandiose and epic in scale.  That is the goal I set myself with The Dracula Chronicles series.

Please tell us about your latest release.

I am releasing Book 3 first so that I can give my reader the vampire from the very start.  The story begins with Dracula’s final triumph on the battlefield.  He is mortally wounded and as he lays dying in the nearby monastery, Lucifer comes to claim him, but instead of harvesting his soul he creates the first vampire.  So Dracula gains his immortality through having Lucifer’s own blood coursing through his veins.  Lucifer sets him the task of turning man against God by destroying the institution of the Catholic Church.  This leads Dracula on an epic journey through the ages and sees him involved in every situation throughout the 16th century where the Vatican’s influence is harmed.  Therefore, he propagates the Reformation in 1517, ensures a Spanish victory over France in the Italian Wars of the 1520’s, the split between Henry VIII and Rome, and so on.  But this is just the vaguest of outlines.  The book involves so much more.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters’ names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?

Actually, most of the characters in my book are real people, and people known to many of you who will read the book.  Only a few are fictitious, and with those I give them names to correlate with their location or country of birth.

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?

They were all challenging to a degree, especially the real historical characters, as I had to give them all personalities and have them interact with each other and the vampires, and be believable.  The fictional characters were the easiest to build.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?

In the first two books I, of course, most enjoyed creating Dracula the man and giving my readers a true picture of the man I believed him to be. In Bound By Blood the two characters I enjoyed the most were Varkal and Ruxandra.  Varkal is a fictional illegitimate son of Dracula’s.  He is absolutely despicable in every way and I enjoyed working on him, and building a character I expect my readers will loathe.  Ruxandra is Dracula’s real granddaughter and I convey her to be the exact opposite.  Despite still being a monster created from Darkness, she is sensitive, loving, sensual…essentially everything that Varkal is not.

Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?

I have a picture of many of my characters in my mind before I even start, from various historical texts I’ve read and, of course, from the big screen.  Naturally, I try to impose my own stamp on them.  Wherever possible, I try to let them develop as I write yes.

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?

Sure, I would love to though I will cut it off before the best part.  The scene comes from Chapter 58 – It is 1528 and Dracula has sent his granddaughter to meet with Anne Boleyn at her residence outside London, to convince her to warm to the advances of Henry.

Ruxandra arrived at the house where she saw just the one guard outside.  From within she picked up only the thoughts of a young woman.  It let her know there was nobody else in there.

When the guard sloped off to relieve himself she stole inside.  She closed the door quietly and walked into the house.  Anne had just stepped out of a bathtub.  The two of them froze.  It was an awkward moment.  Ruxandra found herself staring at the naked girl.

Anne stood there without a care in the world.  Suds dropped from her breasts and onto her stomach.  She did not speak, but looked the stranger in the eye.  The look on her face betrayed her thoughts.  Her expression said, “What are you looking at?”

Ruxandra fell victim to a fit of laughter.  It prompted Anne to do the same.  She answered the younger woman’s thought.  “I was looking at you.”

Anne looked puzzled.  “Did I say that out loud?”

“I can see why the King is so taken by you.  Who would not be?  You are a dish.”

“Why, thank you,” Anne smiled.  “I am glad I meet with your approval.”

“I am only telling you what I see.”

“Are you looking to have your way with me as well?” she teased.  “Do you want to do all manner of wicked things to me, just like the King?”

Anne waited, curious as to the response her question would yield.  Ruxandra just blushed.  She dismissed it with a smile.

“That is a yes then, is it?” asked Anne, not letting go.

“It was not,” Ruxandra assured her.  “I was a little surprised.  That is all.”

“Surprised?  Why?”

“No woman has ever tried to flirt with me before.”

“Really?  I find that hard to believe.”

Ruxandra laughed again, though this was more of a nervous one.  “Why do you say that?”

“Well, you really are quite the beauty.  I am not sure if I have ever seen a woman as beautiful before.  Not in this country at least.”

She blushed even harder.  “Oh stop.  That is silly talk.”

Anne shrugged her shoulders.  “Fine.  But if you think I look good, you should take a look at yourself.”

She toyed with one of her nipples, as she spoke.  Ruxandra watched her for a moment and then turned her head away again.  Anne showed no desire to conceal her nakedness or to dry herself off with a towel.  “Why did you turn your head?

Ruxandra found it hard to breathe for a moment.  “So I cannot see what it is you are doing.”

“Does it excite you?” Anne probed.  “Knowing that another woman finds you desirable?  An attractive one such as myself no less.”

The truth was that it did excite her.  It embarrassed her that the advances of another woman could make her feel like this.  She sighed and turned to face Anne again.  This was not why she was here.

It annoyed Anne that the woman did not respond to her question.  She began to wonder why she was there at all.  Who is she?  She stepped back into the tub.  How did she even get in here?  Where is the guard?  The bubbles reached up to her neck as she lay back.  “So why are you here?”

Anne sat and waited for her to answer.  She began to wonder if her visitor was prepared to satisfy any of her curiosities.

Ruxandra walked up to the tub.  She leant against it with both hands.  “I have come here to talk to you about your future.”

“Why do you have an interest in my future?”

“There are many that do.”

“And that includes you too?”

“Yes it does.”

Anne grinned at her.  “Then you had better climb in,” she said.  She indicated with a nod of her head to the spot in front of her.

“You want me to climb in there with you?”

She nodded with a smile.  “That is if you want me to talk to you.”

Her visitor looked down at her.  Anne sat there with her knees together and a smile still etched across her face.  Ruxandra paused and wondered what to do.  She looked down at Anne a second time, fighting the temptation to get involved with her.  But at the same time she felt aroused.  The first traces of moisture leaked from between her legs.

She took a deep breath.  Biting her lower lip, she undressed slowly.  Anne gasped when she saw her naked.  The woman had the most perfect body she had ever seen.  Her smile changed to a look of wonder, as her lips parted.  There and then she knew she wanted her.

This was not lost on Ruxandra.  She held Anne’s eyes with her own and placed one foot into the tub.  The water still felt warm.  She pulled her other leg over and then sat down opposite the English girl.

There was not much room in the tub with the two of them inside it.  Ruxandra had the much longer legs.  For her it was even more awkward.  To be able to relax properly she knew she would have to place her legs over Anne’s.  She did this.  The action brought the two women much closer together.

For a time the women looked into each other’s eyes.  They did not speak.  Both of them just sat and enjoyed the moment.  A great excitement raced through them.  Eventually Anne picked up a cloth from beneath her legs.  She squeezed the warm soapy water over Ruxandra’s breasts.  Ruxandra found the sensation electrifying.  She closed her eyes and groaned.  The warm water washed over her nipples, making them tender, but erect.

She trembled slightly.  Her every instinct told her Anne was going to kiss her.  But she wanted her to.  She waited with expectation until Anne brushed against her lips with her own.  When the moment came it touched every delicate nerve in her body.  She responded hungrily, pulling Anne close in the most intimate embrace.  Their lips melted into one longing kiss.

Their tongues touched.  It triggered the same ache in both women.  Without a word they left the tub and rolled onto the bed nearby.

Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?

Yes, absolutely.  The book/s needed extensive research to maintain full historical accuracy even though I was already well versed in much of it.  I discovered many legends throughout the course of my research, which I am not sure how much of relate to true historical fact.  Some examples of these would be Old Mother Shipton and her prophecies about Cardinal Wolsey, the soothsayer Dracula’s father met prior to the Battle of Varna, Dracul Litovoi and the feared Vlach tribe that fought on the side of Dracula’s father, and even the way his father met his death.  Another one might be the account given by the old boatman from the Schiavone who is said to have witnessed the dumping of the body of Giovanni Borgia, and some of the events I write about concerning the death of his father, Pope Alexander VI.  It all makes for good reading though.

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?

The world I create begins with the world in which Vlad Dracula lived, the 15thCentury Balkans.  I was meticulous in my approach so I could convey, to the best of my abilities, what that world was like in its truest sense.  But it was a brutal age where the value placed on life is not what it is today.

With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?

I would like to say these books can be read as stand alones.  The first book I wrote is now Book 6 in the series and could stand on its own, the same as my first release could, and that is Book 3 in the series.  To aid this process I sometimes use a prologue.  Whereas many people in the industry frown on prologues, I feel they are a necessity at times, especially for a series such as mine.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?

In all honesty, no I don’t.  In 2006 I wrote The Gates Of Babylon and Bound By Blood, which together, total over a half a million words.  Any time I have sat down to write, I can write.  But then again, I have taken extended breaks from writing by choice… and breaks for as long as 3 or 4 years.  I have read recently that some surveys conducted believe that 80% of writers suffer or have suffered from depression and that science has identified a direct link between a depressive state and a creative state of mind, that our brains focus more on creative aspects when we are depressed.  I believe this to be true.  When I have had my happiest times in life I have written very little.  When I have been miserable I write volumes.  But I have never sat down to write and not been able to do so.

Do you write in different genres?

That is one of the best things about The Dracula Chronicles.  On the surface my series appears to be a dark Gothic horror.  I have to tell you it is much more than that and much more than just another vampire series.  My books cross over into several other genres such as historical adventure, paranormal fantasy, romantic tragedy and erotica.  There is something here to appeal to most tastes, so most importantly it is a fusion of many genres that come together in one lengthy, but fast and exciting novel.  It may appear to be a man’s book, but is definitely a woman’s book too.

In other projects away from The Dracula Chronicles I will stick with the horror genre.

When did you consider yourself a writer?

You are a writer from the very first time you put pen to paper, whatever the quality of the piece.  Many people have varying ideas on this, but to me it begins the moment you write something.  I started writing stories and poems around the age of 8 or 9, long before computers or laptops and even when a typewriter might have been considered a luxury item.  So for me it was my first musings with a pen and paper as a kid.

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?

The older I get, the more I have grown to appreciate my family and I love time with them whatever we are doing.  They are my real passion in life and that which I love the most.  I did play scrabble on the international stage for a few years, but gave that up after participating in the 2007 World Championships.  Mainly now I love to read, cook, visit places with an historical significance or even just take a break somewhere hot with my family.  I love various sports and follow my teams religiously and with the greatest of passion.

What was the last amazing book you read?

Actually it was a book called The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  It fell into my hands in a time of great crisis in my life and helped me really understand myself, and also the person I love.  Such an insight is priceless and for that reason I would definitely call it an amazing book.

What can readers expect next from you?

Following the release of Bound By Blood there will be a series of horror shorts and then an anthology called Tales Of The Black Sabbath, which will have variant endings from the originals.

The next volume from The Dracula Chronicles – The Gates Of Babylon – will surface in 2013.

Where can readers find you on the web?

In many places actually…..

Amazon US - http://www.amazon.com/Shane-KP-ONeill/e/B00A75SM4O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shane-KP-ONeill/e/B00A75SM4O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Website & Blog -  www.draculachronicles.co.uk
Twitter – @ShaneKPONeill
Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/user/DraculaChronicles
Facebook -http://www.facebook.com/ShaneONeillsDraculaChronicles
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12341417-shane-o-neill

Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?

Sure, I would love to.  Thank you, Roxanne, so much for having me and for asking me so many great questions.  I’ll leave you with the moment Lucifer bites into Dracula’s neck.

*

Before Dracula could respond Lucifer lifted him up by both his arms.  He raised his protégé high into the air.  The pain was intolerable, but paled in comparison to that when the Devil bit hard into his neck.

The pain was more concentrated than the blade or arrowheads that had left him near death.  Lucifer’s breath was like fire upon his skin.  His eyes bulged from their sockets and he fought hard to breathe.  As his throat muscles spasmed he felt like his face was about to melt.

He managed one loud scream.  Inside his body he felt the little blood he had left emptying from his veins.  The sound alerted the boyars.  Their efforts to force open the door of the chapel finally paid dividends.  They burst into the chapel and made for the altar to see what ailed their master so.

The sight that met their eyes left them both horrified and stunned.  They saw Dracula suspended two feet above the ground.  A vicious wound showed on his neck.  They could see blood there, but it did not trickle down.

The boyars ran up to him.  They drew their swords and cried out to him for direction, not knowing what to do.  Lucifer continued to drink.  At the same time he absorbed the fear of the men around him.  When he had drunk enough he discarded Dracula on the steps below the altar.

He licked his lips.  The taste satisfied him.  He took a moment to savour it, and the smell.  It was good.  He smiled, having wanted to do this for such a long time.

The boyars felt a presence as he walked among them.  They tried to put it out of their minds.  The sight of their master on the floor concerned them more.  They attempted to resuscitate him.  But there was no need.  He was not yet dead.

Dracula clutched at his stomach with both hands.  The movement was so sudden it scared the men half out of their minds.  He emitted a cry that was almost inhuman.  His men stepped away.  The presence amongst them grew more apparent.  They turned their focus to it and scanned the empty air around them in an attempt to locate it.

Their master’s body shook violently on the steps.  His arms and legs flailed wildly.  Foam and vomit streamed from the corners of his mouth and his eyes rolled up inside his head.  They watched until only the whites of the orbs showed.

A second animal-like cry filled the chapel.  It echoed off the walls around them.  Outside the abbot dropped to his knees in prayer.  Every other man and woman that had not done so, did so now.  Lightning raged across the darkening skies.  The thunder bellowed after it, as a prelude to the downpour that followed.

Make sure to visit the Fang-tastic books blog for more stories, interviews and reviews

Michael Brookes Feature

It is author of the month time and my featured author in the horror genre for the month of April is Michael Brookes from the UK.  Michael has penned a very interesting-looking chiller called The Cult Of Me and a collection of horror short stories titled The Odd Quartet.

Michael Brookes:

By day I work as a Producer for one of the leading UK independent game developers. I currently live in probably the flattest place in the world in the east of England, although over the years I have lived all over the country. I’ve always been interested in writing it is only recently that I’ve really pushed myself to finish a complete book. That effort has now seen the light of day and I’m looking forward to starting the next book. I’m also an avid reader with Ian M Banks and Terry Pratchett being amongst my favourite modern authors. My favourite story of all time is Paradise Lost, a hard read, but a sublime story.

1. Hi, Michael, and welcome to The Dracula Chronicle’s Blog. Can you tell us who you are and why you’ve chosen this genre?

Michael: Hi, my name is Michael Brookes, I’m an author and a video game developer and to be honest I think horror chose me.

2. Yes I can identify with that. So what is it about the horror genre that captivates you?

Michael: The great thing about horror is that it covers all aspects of life. Almost any story can be told with the horror lens. Looking at the classic horror authors (old and new) they all bring something new.

A good horror story plays upon fear. Fear is one of the primal emotions. Even creatures without reason know fear.

3. That is so true. What are you hoping then to bring to the genre that we haven’t seen before?

Michael: I like to find new angles to approach things, to find ways to twist the normal perception, although most of all, I want to tell interesting stories.

4. Well The Cult Of Me has certainly piqued my interest. Do you like any other horror writers? Have any of them influenced you?

Michael: Yes, I’m a big fan of the classics like Lovecraft and Poe. Lovecraft’s vision of a dread universe sparks something with me. I’m also a fan of more contemporary authors; Clive Barker stands out for me as one of the great modern horror writers.

5. Do you have a favourite horror novel or movie?

Michael: Clive Barker’s Books of Blood are an excellent collection of short stories. For film I’ll stick with the Clive Barker theme and go for the first Hellraiser film.

6. I have to confess I did enjoy the Hellraiser movie, though I haven’t read Clive Barker at all. Naughty me. Tell us something about your books: The Cult Of Me and The Odd Quartet.

Michael: The Cult of Me is the first book in the Third Path Trilogy. It tells the story of a nameless man who grows up with the ability to invade and control people’s minds. He uses this ability to torment the people around him. He sees it as a game, a sport in which he is the only player. Eventually he tires of the game and decides to enact a bloody last stand. He surrenders himself to the authorities and while in prison he discovers he isn’t as unique as he thought.

An Odd Quartet is four short stories. The first is a ghost story about the Yellow Lady. We then meet Death who contemplates his existence at the end of the universe. A hostage rescue mission puts a special forces team into a situation they were not trained for. And the final story is about a young demon taking his possession exam.

7. Horror shorts hold a real fascination for me, as I write them too. I’m always keen to see what new ideas other writers can come up with. Those four sound really interesting to me. So, if you were meeting someone for the very first time, what would you say to pique their interest in your work?

Michael: I like to bring something different to my stories, the nature of good and evil and why the universe is the way it is. Lofty thoughts, but telling a good story is my main goal.

8. Quite right too. Okay this is a question I put to everyone I interview. Do you see a connection with the horror genre and erotica or do you feel this is restricted to just vampires? Is that a road you’re looking to travel down at any time?

Michael: Erotica has some similarities to horror; it speaks to something primal in all of us. While I’m not interested in writing erotica as a genre, if the story needs it, I will include it.

9. If a movie was to be made from your books, who would you want to play your main characters on-screen if you had the power to choose?

Michael: I think Gabriel Byrne would do his usual excellent job with the Friar. The others I’m not so sure about.

10. What an awesome choice. In one of my later Chronicles, Reckoning Day, I modelled one of my characters, Father Michael Dunne on him. Is this possibly Stigmata having a profound effect on us? Okay, Michael, in closing.. Is there anything you would like to say to us or share before you go?

Michael: I’d like to thank you for featuring me on your blog and to thank my readers, both current and yet to be.

You can find Michael Brookes online at:

Blog: http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TheCultofMe

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

Luke Romyn Feature

In the tradition I have followed here on my blog, I am delighted to do a special feature on fellow author, Luke Romyn. This is unlike my usual monthly feature where I interview a fellow Indie author from the horror genre here on my blog. I wanted to do this so I could showcase two reviews I have written for two of Luke’s books.

I have to say, with the exception of a few great writers, I rarely leave my comfort zone and read books outside my genre and I do read a lot. Therefore it was very exciting to discover another writer in my genre of the quality of Luke Romyn. And not only is he a great talent, he is a really nice guy too. So it gives me great pleasure to feature him here today.

To date Luke has written five books. There is The Dark Path and Blacklisted, which are connected through the main character in The Dark Path; the deadly killer, Vain. Then there is a series called The Prometheus Wars with two titles: Beyond Hades and Slaves Of Valhalla. Luke has recently launched a second series called The Legacy Chronicles. The first title from this, Corpus Christi, was released recently on February 26th. Just the titles alone are enough to make me drool. The content that lies beyond those covers is of real quality and enough for me to want to do this today. So far I have read The Dark Path and Beyond Hades, but I will be devouring the other three very soon. Let me now introduce you to the man himself.

LUKE ROMYN

Luke Romyn has spent many years, over nineteen in fact, working in the security industry. From door work in some of Australia’s roughest pubs and clubs to protecting Mickey Mouse and the Disney crew from the overzealous jaws of tenacious toddlers, Luke has worked throughout Australia and internationally in a vast array of roles.

He’s done close protection for UK celebrities in Fiji and chased feral pigs and snakes out of the jungle film sets on Steven Spielberg’s and Tom Hank’s epic: The Pacific. There are few things Luke hasn’t seen.

With all this experience behind him, it would be tempting to write a set of memoirs. Instead, Luke utilized it to fuel his own expansive imagination and began writing fiction. Initially starting with short stories, Luke rapidly progressed onto novels.

Luke’s first three books have been category best sellers on Amazon, with over 220,000 copies being distributed to date.

 

THE DARK PATH

New York’s underworld quivers at the mention of his name. Evil courses through his veins like blood and his conscience has lain dormant for over a decade while he has slashed and burned his way to the top of the food chain. Vain. The Dark Man, born of torment into an existence of death. In the underworld of killers he reigns supreme. And yet he is chosen for a task of supreme benevolence. Why would he be selected to save a young boy, the Avun-Riah, and then protect him against a horde of enemies, both mortal and demonic? Because he is the only one with any hope of success. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have risen from the pits of Hell and, along with a fanatical army of cultists, are ranged against Vain. If the boy is slain then Sordarrah will be raised to destroy the Earth, a feat even Lucifer never managed. Evil is being used to fight evil in the ultimate battle for the outcome of all existence. Armageddon sits upon the horizon and all that stands in its way is a man whose path has always been dark.

MY REVIEW OF THE DARK PATH

The Dark Man, born of torment into an existence of death. In the underworld of killers he reigns supreme. And yet he is chosen for a task of supreme benevolence. Why would he be selected to save a young boy, the Avun-Riah, and then protect him against a horde of enemies, both mortal and demonic?

Because he is the only one with any hope of success.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have risen from the pits of Hell and, along with a fanatical army of cultists, are ranged against Vain. If the boy is slain then Sordarrah will be raised to destroy the Earth, a feat even Lucifer never managed.

That’s what I read before I picked up the book. Doesn’t it sound great? Well I can promise you it is. The blurb for this book is spot on. Vain is the epitome of evil: dark, mysterious, silent, cold and deadly. I thought he was reminiscent of Stephen King’s George Stark in The Dark Half, but in truth he is a much darker, and scarier, character. Everything about him is perfect if you’re a lover of the horror genre, even the shred of humanity that survives deep within him. Mr Romyn is clearly affluent with the dynamics of abuse and grief, which are quite prevalent within Vain’s makeup, and these struck a chord with me.

This book has a great opening and a great finish, the two aspects most significant to me in enjoying a book.. and it is just as good in between too. It is clever and subtle on many levels. I love Romyn’s vision of Hell contained within and Vain’s interactions in that domain. It adds body and depth to the spectre of the book. The concept and premise is great and had especial appeal to me. Vain is the ultimate anti-hero and with so many great supporting characters such as Priest, Gabriel, Empeth and, of course, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

I love a book that moves with pace. If anything this book was too fast for me at times, but is it fair to criticise an excellent work for such a reason? I think not. In truth, there is nothing to complain about. This is a really exciting read, with plenty of thrills, great characters, a great premise which is delivered on in full and a great climax to top it off. I have recommended this book to many and will continue to do so. Luke Romyn is fast becoming one of my favourite writers and I like some of the very best. The new generation of horror writers is here. Keep your eyes open folks; there is more to come.

 

BEYOND HADES – THE PROMETHEUS WARS #1

What if mythology isn’t myth? The ancient Greeks told fabulously detailed stories involving unbelievable creatures – monsters dominating all tales from that time. Were they just highly imaginative, or was their inspiration from somewhere else?

Doctor Talbot Harrison, a professor in archaeology, receives a phone call one day which will destroy everything he perceives as reality. His brother has been mysteriously killed and within moments the United States Military appear at his door, literally dragging him from his home. Thrown into a helicopter under intense armed guard, it doesn’t take long until they are attacked by something which cannot possibly exist, something drawn to destroy the one man who can stop the beasts from a land beyond Hades…

MY REVIEW OF BEYOND HADES

What if mythology isn’t myth? The ancient Greeks told fabulously detailed stories involving unbelievable creatures – monsters dominating all tales from that time. Were they just highly imaginative, or was their inspiration from somewhere else?

This is a question I have asked myself before too. I have long been a firm believer that where there is smoke there is fire. And in line with that I doubt all these creatures are things of myth. There has to be substance to the stories and a basis to the legends that have stood the test of time. Therefore I am grateful that someone has delved into this mythology and given us a fantastic story that will also stand the test of time. I studied ancient Greek history at university and love all areas of Greek mythology. Indeed it would not be inaccurate to say that of all the mythologies of all the civilisations in the world, current and extinct, none grab the attention quite the same way as that of the Greeks. Therefore, when I saw the title: Beyond Hades, I was already sucked in. But it is about what lies beyond the underworld of Greek mythology that we are dealing with here. Yes it is Tartarus.

It would suffice to say that many know of Hades and the River Styx where Achilles’ mother submerged him to make his body invincible, though forgetting the backs of his ankles.. the place the Greeks believed you went when you were dead. But Tartarus is the place where they sent the wicked to punish or imprison them. As you can imagine Zeus was responsible for sending all manner of hideous beast there.

Enter Luke Romyn. He opens this world to us and educates us in depth at the horror that is Tartarus, the horror that dwells Beyond Hades. The US military has opened a gateway to this realm and unleashed these immensely powerful forces onto an unsuspecting world. The pace with which this guy writes is incredible, a real adrenalin rush. He throws us headfirst into his vision and delivers so many twists and turns at the speed of light, which never allows us a chance to take a moment to get our breath back.

I absolutely love the way he incorporates the legends of Atlantis and blends it with new elements to the myth of Olympus and the role Zeus played in protecting the world over several millennia. The characters, real and mythical, have real depth and you can’t help but care for them and experience their tribulations. It is a riveting and clever piece of fiction with too many twists to count that deserves global success. I reckon it will happen because the cream always reaches the top, in every aspect of life. The day some big shot movie producer reads this book, Luke Romyn will be a household name.

Friday Reflections – The Love Dynamic

Up until now I’ve limited myself on my blog to writing solely about my books, or featuring articles related to vampires or the horror genre. So I’ve decided to use Fridays, wherever possible, for writing about my thoughts on other issues away from books and movies in the horror genre.

So the question on my mind today is: Are men and women meant to co-exist together? I know there is an emotional and, indeed, a physical need for such an attachment. As well as this there is a deeper need and desire to be loved, especially by the one we ourselves love. But how many of us ever have this need properly fulfilled or, on the other hand, how many of us actually manage to fulfil that need in the person who desires it from us?

I have seen a lot of the world and known a lot of women, been involved sexually and otherwise with far more than I ever had a right to, but I have given my heart to very few. Through all these experiences I have never had this need fulfilled, nor have I been able to fulfil it in those who have sought it from me. What is the reason for this serious flaw in the human character? I am flawed I know, as are those I have loved. What is it in us as a species that we struggle so emphatically in this area? I know my case isn’t unique. I only have to look at the divorce rates in the various countries around the world and all the unhappy people around me to know that.

So I ask why is it that men and women fall down in this area? Gary Chapman has many insights into this dynamic with his love language books. He correctly talks about the in-love phase we go through as couples, which lasts on average about two years. From there couples usually have two alternatives. Quite often they remain together in long and unhappy marriages and put up with their situation, or they break up and search for that in-love feeling again. The lucky few find that deeper love that replaces the in-love and find the balance needed to keep their relationship stable. But even then, many still don’t last the course.

Why is this? In all my years I still cannot understand how two people can love each other so much, as was the case in my marriage, and then finish up virtually hating each other. Is it because men and women are too different to be able to bridge the gaps that exist between the sexes? For sure, men and women are very different creatures and, in the majority of cases, rarely ever understand each other on the level we need to function in perfect harmony. Is it because what we think is real and true love is actually nothing more than lust? Even though we do all those things we would never do in the rationality of our everyday lives and go to great lengths for that other person that are far and beyond what we would normally do. Is it nothing more than lust that drives us to do this and not what we construe as real love? Is it just a primal need to mate with the one we so desperately desire? I am beginning to think this could well be the case. How else can you rationalise going from what we conceive as being madly in love to being so emphatically out of love? If it isn’t a case of that deep lust being gone, then what is it?

I don’t have the answers and it is likely that I never will. The one real lesson I have learned from it all is this. If you are a man who will love your children, then be very sure of the woman you choose to have them with. All that glitters is not gold for beauty really is only skin deep. How long it has taken me to realise that. They say time heals all wounds and generally that is true. As difficult as it is and as painful as it is, that pain of losing a partner you love, be it acrimoniously or through bereavement, will fade and dull eventually. However, the pain of losing a child remains day after day and year after year. This I know so so well. That pain never dulls. That pain never goes away. It is a raw, festering wound that eats away at the very essence of who you are. It eats away at the vitality that makes you who you are. This has been life’s toughest lesson for me.

The love dynamic? I’m still not sure if it has any practical basis in reality. There are obviously some people who would argue against this, but on the whole the evidence to me suggests it is a myth.