Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "bitten"
Bitten - Coming This Valentine's Day!
I am very excited to announce that I will be releasing my new novel, BITTEN this Valentine's Day.
I write this having written the book's final words - always such a momentous and surreal feeling; a book that I have been working on for a very long time. The idea first came to me in January 2015, while I was still working on 'The Jack O'Lantern Men', orginally planned as the third in a trio of supernaturally-themed seasonal novellas.
The more I delved into the stories of these characters, the more there was to tell. Some of the themes I explored in bitesize chunks in 'Whispers from the Dead of Night' have also woven themselves into my new tale of murder, fear and desire. I cannot wait to share this with you!
Redrafting and editing is well underway, and the book will soon be available to pre-order. Look out for the synopsis, which I shall share with you tomorrow. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @leeallenauthor and don't miss the cover reveal and teasers over the coming weeks.
It is almost time to disturb the slumber of the damned...
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
I write this having written the book's final words - always such a momentous and surreal feeling; a book that I have been working on for a very long time. The idea first came to me in January 2015, while I was still working on 'The Jack O'Lantern Men', orginally planned as the third in a trio of supernaturally-themed seasonal novellas.
The more I delved into the stories of these characters, the more there was to tell. Some of the themes I explored in bitesize chunks in 'Whispers from the Dead of Night' have also woven themselves into my new tale of murder, fear and desire. I cannot wait to share this with you!
Redrafting and editing is well underway, and the book will soon be available to pre-order. Look out for the synopsis, which I shall share with you tomorrow. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @leeallenauthor and don't miss the cover reveal and teasers over the coming weeks.
It is almost time to disturb the slumber of the damned...
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - Coming This Valentine's Day!
My new novel, BITTEN - coming this Valentine's Day! Check out the synopsis below:
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Now available to pre-order on Amazon.
Don't miss the cover reveal and teasers on Instagram and Facebook over the coming weeks - follow me @leeallenauthor, links below.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Now available to pre-order on Amazon.
Don't miss the cover reveal and teasers on Instagram and Facebook over the coming weeks - follow me @leeallenauthor, links below.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Happy St. Dywnwen's Day! Plus, an update on "Bitten"...
Happy St. Dwynwen's Day from here in Wales!
As the Welsh patron saint of lovers, St. Dwynwen's day is regarded as Wales' equivalent to Valentine's Day.
Dwynwen's tale is that she fell in love with a man whom she was not permitted to marry, another having been selected for her, and prayed to God to let her forget him. She was granted her wish by an angel visiting her with a potion to drink, while the object of her affection was frozen in a block of ice.
Subsequently, God granted her three wishes - for the love of her life to be freed from his frozen prison; for the hopes and dreams of those truly in love to be granted; and, finally, that she should never marry another. She thus devoted her life to serving God, as a nun.
Look out for the date, 25th January, marked by a pivotal scene in my new book, BITTEN.
I have been hard at work editing the final chapters this past weekend. Editing is often the part of the process filled with most anxiety, when I begin to question every word, every sentence, everything each character says, every plot point. But it is always incredibly rewarding when it's complete; the hope being to have polished the book to the best that it can be.
Look out for the cover reveal later this week on Instagram, @leeallenauthor (link below). I shall also soon share some teasers to whet your appetites...
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller, coming this Valentine's Day!
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
As the Welsh patron saint of lovers, St. Dwynwen's day is regarded as Wales' equivalent to Valentine's Day.
Dwynwen's tale is that she fell in love with a man whom she was not permitted to marry, another having been selected for her, and prayed to God to let her forget him. She was granted her wish by an angel visiting her with a potion to drink, while the object of her affection was frozen in a block of ice.
Subsequently, God granted her three wishes - for the love of her life to be freed from his frozen prison; for the hopes and dreams of those truly in love to be granted; and, finally, that she should never marry another. She thus devoted her life to serving God, as a nun.
Look out for the date, 25th January, marked by a pivotal scene in my new book, BITTEN.
I have been hard at work editing the final chapters this past weekend. Editing is often the part of the process filled with most anxiety, when I begin to question every word, every sentence, everything each character says, every plot point. But it is always incredibly rewarding when it's complete; the hope being to have polished the book to the best that it can be.
Look out for the cover reveal later this week on Instagram, @leeallenauthor (link below). I shall also soon share some teasers to whet your appetites...
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller, coming this Valentine's Day!
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - Teaser I
Here is the first teaser for my upcoming novel, BITTEN, available from this Valentine's Day!
___
For centuries, human beings have reported the phenomena of waking in the small hours of the morning for no discernible reason.
It is believed that this is the time when evil is at its most potent, while others suggest this is when the veil between the living and the dead is at its most porous.
Perhaps they have awoken from a dream they cannot remember. Some attribute the uneasy feeling of eyes upon them to animals hidden outside in the darkness.
However they interpret it, many cannot shake off that feeling of being watched, the shiver running through them even as they turn over to return to sleep.
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller, coming this Valentine's Day!
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Check out the cover reveal from earlier this week over on Instagram.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
___
For centuries, human beings have reported the phenomena of waking in the small hours of the morning for no discernible reason.
It is believed that this is the time when evil is at its most potent, while others suggest this is when the veil between the living and the dead is at its most porous.
Perhaps they have awoken from a dream they cannot remember. Some attribute the uneasy feeling of eyes upon them to animals hidden outside in the darkness.
However they interpret it, many cannot shake off that feeling of being watched, the shiver running through them even as they turn over to return to sleep.
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller, coming this Valentine's Day!
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Check out the cover reveal from earlier this week over on Instagram.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - Teaser II
Here is a second teaser for my new novel, BITTEN, coming this Valentine's Day!
___
It takes many mouths to tell a tale, many years to form a history, many minds to inform a philosophy. A tangle of events, experiences and perspectives to develop a full image of the truth. Even then, it may be seen through a darkened glass, veiled by smoke and mirrors.
Many may think they know me, but I assure them they do not. There are those who wish to consume others, to feed on them like vultures, yet they fail to see beneath the mask. For to truly know another, you must meet them within the shadows of the night.
Do you wish to know who I am? Do you dare to know me? You wish to partake of my body; of my blood. Perhaps in the darkest corner, you shall find my retreated soul, where it lies damned in eternal torment.
How to embark on such a quest, you may ask yourself? First, you must hear my confession.
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller.
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
___
It takes many mouths to tell a tale, many years to form a history, many minds to inform a philosophy. A tangle of events, experiences and perspectives to develop a full image of the truth. Even then, it may be seen through a darkened glass, veiled by smoke and mirrors.
Many may think they know me, but I assure them they do not. There are those who wish to consume others, to feed on them like vultures, yet they fail to see beneath the mask. For to truly know another, you must meet them within the shadows of the night.
Do you wish to know who I am? Do you dare to know me? You wish to partake of my body; of my blood. Perhaps in the darkest corner, you shall find my retreated soul, where it lies damned in eternal torment.
How to embark on such a quest, you may ask yourself? First, you must hear my confession.
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller.
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - Preview
Here is a preview of the opening scene from my new novel, BITTEN, coming this Valentine's Day:
___
Slivers of moonlight glittered through the slats of the blinds, which clacked together gently, rousing Holleigh from her light slumber. She turned over and rubbed her eyes, screwing them half-closed in an effort to decipher the blur of her bedside clock.
The blinds clacked again, startling her. The window was open, the wind moving the slats back and forth behind the curtains, which were half drawn, billowing slightly outwards. She hugged her goose-pimpled torso under the cotton and rose from the bed, surprised she had managed any sleep at all. She felt nauseous with nerves, anxious at the outcome of the impending operation.
Her mind drifted once again to the argument she’d had with Ethan several days earlier. It had not been pleasant. She had a job to do tonight and he did not react well to it. She recalled the rage in his eyes and his raised voice, his mockery at her faith in what her job stood for and that justice would prevail.
There is no justice, he had told her, only the means-justified end crafted by those powerful enough to pull the strings.
Recalling his expression of hatred for what she represented, the twisting feeling in her gut brought her close to tears. Years of emotional strain, both personal and professional, were to be put to the test tonight. Many, she knew, would be of the opinion she had made it far worse for herself. She had become distracted with Ethan and she should have expected his reaction and his feelings on the subject of what she had done; what she proposed to do. She had the sudden thought that she may not survive it. But the wheels were already in motion.
She reached past the blinds and slammed the window beside the door that opened on to the narrow balcony outside the apartment, hoping to shut out the cold. Love bites on her breasts and thighs glowed purple in the silver light. With the rest of her body gripped in a vice of cold, she still felt the heat in those wounds, while her vulva throbbed with warming sensitivity. She drew the curtains tight and sat back on the edge of the bed. She recalled Ethan’s blazing eyes, the twist of his mouth, the contortion of his face, his scorn and contempt.
Then he had kissed her. She still felt the force of that kiss even now, as his whole body clashed against hers. They made love with an aggression that she still felt jarring, conjuring conflicted thoughts and emotions. There was something raw and vulnerable in the aftermath of a sexual encounter. To have succumbed to animal desire and allowed another to physically experience you so intimately. It was both comforting and unsettling.
She let her body drop back on the bed and closed her eyes. She had simply to wait. She slid her black cotton shirt dress up around her waist, her fingers slipping beneath her black lace hipsters. She could withstand the burgeoning desire no longer, the thoughts of him that invaded her mind, the desperate need for him to invade her body over and over again. Her fingers felt cold as she touched herself, her fingertips circling, stroking. She closed her eyes, chewing her lip.
How many watched her curtained windows from outside? Waiting for movement. Within, she stoked secret desire. Still, days later, she could smell the sex in the room from her and Ethan’s passion. It was almost time now, the reason for Ethan’s wrath. She recalled his dominion over her, overcome now by the effect he had upon her. She let herself cry out, a soft emission piercing the night air. She sighed, allowing a smile to linger on her lips.
She pulled her dress back down her legs, getting up off the bed and walking down the corridor to the bathroom to freshen up and change into fresh underwear. Over the sound of the running tap, she heard something that may have come from outside. She switched off the tap, listening intently.
The tinkling of smashing glass came from the bedroom.
She walked on bare feet to the bathroom door, looking down the corridor to the room at the end. Quietly, she moved into the corridor and approached her bedroom. The moonlight cast a faint shadow on the floor ahead. Her curtains were parted.
Reaching the bedroom door, she peered around the architrave into the room. Seeing nothing, she edged around the doorframe and inside, looking at the shattered window visible between the gap in the curtains.
The moonlight shifted around her. Before she could react, hands gripped her wrists, fingernails that felt like claws digging into her skin. She cried out and was spun around, a long finger tilting her chin upwards. His eyes were beautiful, shining a deep crimson from the midst of the silver flooding the room. She gazed at them, breath catching in her throat.
He kissed her mouth slowly. She tasted metal. He stooped and touched her neck with his lips. She felt her orgasm rising again, feeling a sharpness piercing her skin, groaning as the man drew on the fresh wounds.
A crash invaded her senses, accompanied by shouting and activity spilling into the corridor. He was pulled away from her and she became aware of his snarling and hissing words, but could not decipher their meaning.
A hand reached out to steady her. Looking up, she saw her superior, Detective Superintendent O’Neill, beside her.
“You’re okay, PC Ryder, it’s over. We’ve got him. We finally got him.”
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller.
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Coming soon to Lulu.com, Apple Books, NOOK and Kobo.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
___
Slivers of moonlight glittered through the slats of the blinds, which clacked together gently, rousing Holleigh from her light slumber. She turned over and rubbed her eyes, screwing them half-closed in an effort to decipher the blur of her bedside clock.
The blinds clacked again, startling her. The window was open, the wind moving the slats back and forth behind the curtains, which were half drawn, billowing slightly outwards. She hugged her goose-pimpled torso under the cotton and rose from the bed, surprised she had managed any sleep at all. She felt nauseous with nerves, anxious at the outcome of the impending operation.
Her mind drifted once again to the argument she’d had with Ethan several days earlier. It had not been pleasant. She had a job to do tonight and he did not react well to it. She recalled the rage in his eyes and his raised voice, his mockery at her faith in what her job stood for and that justice would prevail.
There is no justice, he had told her, only the means-justified end crafted by those powerful enough to pull the strings.
Recalling his expression of hatred for what she represented, the twisting feeling in her gut brought her close to tears. Years of emotional strain, both personal and professional, were to be put to the test tonight. Many, she knew, would be of the opinion she had made it far worse for herself. She had become distracted with Ethan and she should have expected his reaction and his feelings on the subject of what she had done; what she proposed to do. She had the sudden thought that she may not survive it. But the wheels were already in motion.
She reached past the blinds and slammed the window beside the door that opened on to the narrow balcony outside the apartment, hoping to shut out the cold. Love bites on her breasts and thighs glowed purple in the silver light. With the rest of her body gripped in a vice of cold, she still felt the heat in those wounds, while her vulva throbbed with warming sensitivity. She drew the curtains tight and sat back on the edge of the bed. She recalled Ethan’s blazing eyes, the twist of his mouth, the contortion of his face, his scorn and contempt.
Then he had kissed her. She still felt the force of that kiss even now, as his whole body clashed against hers. They made love with an aggression that she still felt jarring, conjuring conflicted thoughts and emotions. There was something raw and vulnerable in the aftermath of a sexual encounter. To have succumbed to animal desire and allowed another to physically experience you so intimately. It was both comforting and unsettling.
She let her body drop back on the bed and closed her eyes. She had simply to wait. She slid her black cotton shirt dress up around her waist, her fingers slipping beneath her black lace hipsters. She could withstand the burgeoning desire no longer, the thoughts of him that invaded her mind, the desperate need for him to invade her body over and over again. Her fingers felt cold as she touched herself, her fingertips circling, stroking. She closed her eyes, chewing her lip.
How many watched her curtained windows from outside? Waiting for movement. Within, she stoked secret desire. Still, days later, she could smell the sex in the room from her and Ethan’s passion. It was almost time now, the reason for Ethan’s wrath. She recalled his dominion over her, overcome now by the effect he had upon her. She let herself cry out, a soft emission piercing the night air. She sighed, allowing a smile to linger on her lips.
She pulled her dress back down her legs, getting up off the bed and walking down the corridor to the bathroom to freshen up and change into fresh underwear. Over the sound of the running tap, she heard something that may have come from outside. She switched off the tap, listening intently.
The tinkling of smashing glass came from the bedroom.
She walked on bare feet to the bathroom door, looking down the corridor to the room at the end. Quietly, she moved into the corridor and approached her bedroom. The moonlight cast a faint shadow on the floor ahead. Her curtains were parted.
Reaching the bedroom door, she peered around the architrave into the room. Seeing nothing, she edged around the doorframe and inside, looking at the shattered window visible between the gap in the curtains.
The moonlight shifted around her. Before she could react, hands gripped her wrists, fingernails that felt like claws digging into her skin. She cried out and was spun around, a long finger tilting her chin upwards. His eyes were beautiful, shining a deep crimson from the midst of the silver flooding the room. She gazed at them, breath catching in her throat.
He kissed her mouth slowly. She tasted metal. He stooped and touched her neck with his lips. She felt her orgasm rising again, feeling a sharpness piercing her skin, groaning as the man drew on the fresh wounds.
A crash invaded her senses, accompanied by shouting and activity spilling into the corridor. He was pulled away from her and she became aware of his snarling and hissing words, but could not decipher their meaning.
A hand reached out to steady her. Looking up, she saw her superior, Detective Superintendent O’Neill, beside her.
“You’re okay, PC Ryder, it’s over. We’ve got him. We finally got him.”
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller.
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Coming soon to Lulu.com, Apple Books, NOOK and Kobo.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - One Week to Go!
Just one week to go! My new novel, Bitten, will be released on Valentine's Day - next Sunday, 14th February.
I have spent the last fortnight undertaking a final read-through to capture any more edits, scrutinising the novel line by line - an exhausting, at times panicked, but ultimately rewarding activity. Fuelled by sugar and caffeine, I have journeyed with my characters once again. I am both excited and nervous now that publication day is almost here.
Working on Bitten was my primary focus throughout 2020, while locked down at home safe from the pandemic that still holds the world in its grip. Focussing on my writing helped me through many struggles. Without it and the unending support of family and friends, I may not have survived it. I am incredibly grateful to have a passion that I can fully explore behind closed doors - many have not had that luxury.
Thank you, too, to all my readers and followers - your feedback for Whispers from the Dead of Night has kept me going; I was determined to finish Bitten in time to share it with you this Valentine's Day! I still don't quite believe or know how I achieved it. I have been working very hard on this book. I hope you will enjoy the result.
A tale of murder, fear and desire...
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Coming soon to Lulu.com, Apple Books, NOOK and Kobo.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
I have spent the last fortnight undertaking a final read-through to capture any more edits, scrutinising the novel line by line - an exhausting, at times panicked, but ultimately rewarding activity. Fuelled by sugar and caffeine, I have journeyed with my characters once again. I am both excited and nervous now that publication day is almost here.
Working on Bitten was my primary focus throughout 2020, while locked down at home safe from the pandemic that still holds the world in its grip. Focussing on my writing helped me through many struggles. Without it and the unending support of family and friends, I may not have survived it. I am incredibly grateful to have a passion that I can fully explore behind closed doors - many have not had that luxury.
Thank you, too, to all my readers and followers - your feedback for Whispers from the Dead of Night has kept me going; I was determined to finish Bitten in time to share it with you this Valentine's Day! I still don't quite believe or know how I achieved it. I have been working very hard on this book. I hope you will enjoy the result.
A tale of murder, fear and desire...
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Coming soon to Lulu.com, Apple Books, NOOK and Kobo.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - Out Now!
BITTEN is out now!
Release day has arrived for my fifth book, now available to download from Amazon and Lulu.com, and available at more retailers shortly.
An erotic horror vampire thriller, it tells the story of the hunt for a serial killer who strikes on Valentine's Day, leaving his victims exsanguinated. PC Holleigh Ryder wants to find justice, but at what professional and personal cost?
BITTEN is woven of many genres - it is on one level a crime thriller, a police procedural, a psychological thriller. It is also an erotic thriller, a dark love story, a gothic romance. It is a horror story, a vampire thriller. And it is also a tale about a quest for justice in our murky world where the lines often blur.
I am so thrilled to finally be sharing this story with readers. It has been with me for many years and I cannot wait for you to read it and to hear your feedback.
In the meantime, I may begin tinkering away at book 6...
Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!
___
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Release day has arrived for my fifth book, now available to download from Amazon and Lulu.com, and available at more retailers shortly.
An erotic horror vampire thriller, it tells the story of the hunt for a serial killer who strikes on Valentine's Day, leaving his victims exsanguinated. PC Holleigh Ryder wants to find justice, but at what professional and personal cost?
BITTEN is woven of many genres - it is on one level a crime thriller, a police procedural, a psychological thriller. It is also an erotic thriller, a dark love story, a gothic romance. It is a horror story, a vampire thriller. And it is also a tale about a quest for justice in our murky world where the lines often blur.
I am so thrilled to finally be sharing this story with readers. It has been with me for many years and I cannot wait for you to read it and to hear your feedback.
In the meantime, I may begin tinkering away at book 6...
Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!
___
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bookstagram Author Interview
1) Please introduce yourself?
Hello! I'm Lee Allen, an author based in South Wales in the UK. I've thus far published five books, the most recent being "Bitten", an erotic horror vampire thriller.
2) When did you first realise that you have an interest in writing and wanted to become an author?
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. My best estimate is that I was around five years old, but it may even have been sooner than that when I started committing stories to paper. I have always loved books and reading and wanted to be able to create my own too. So, in a way, it feels as if I've always known I wanted to be a writer and I can't point specifically to when it started. But I haven't stopped since.
3) Which genre do you prefer the most to write and according to you which genre do you find difficult to write?
I tend to blend different genres together in my work. People often imagine genre to be neatly divided into boxes, yet there are complex webs of sub-genres and grey areas, stories being much like life itself. Primarily I tend towards the thriller and horror umbrellas, but within that there is so much potential - crime, romance, erotica, sci-fi, psychological, historical, the list goes on. I had a lot of fun mixing different genres when writing my short story collection "Whispers from the Dead of Night".
My new novel, "Bitten", combines erotic thriller, police procedural and gothic horror.
My work tends towards being quite dark, so I think I would probably struggle to write comedy - particularly sitcom or romcom.
4) How long does it take you to complete a book?
It varies from book to book. I was still in school when I wrote my first novel, which took me about two years to complete. My first novella took me a year to write around work, while my second novella took only six months (I was made redundant around that time).
I wrote my short story collection across a period of eighteen months. "Bitten" was already half written by the time I began working on it again just over a year ago, and I took a year to complete it. Both of those books were written around my day job, primarily worked on during evenings and weekends. I would love to be able to work on writing full time in the future - which will then mean more books (or longer books) for my readers!
5) What is the easiest and difficult part for you while writing a book?
I love writing. So, for me, the easiest part is being in the thick of a story, exploring themes and plotting for my characters, being in the midst of writing the next scene, building those images and thoughts and feelings. The characters live inside my head. I love what I write about, so even background research is fun. I feel I have found my vocation with writing and love burying myself in it.
Perhaps what's most difficult is overcoming the doubts and anxieties that creep in along the way, the thoughts that I may never finish writing the story, having to persevere through all those doubts to get to the end. I'm a perfectionist, which sometimes makes it a challenge to even pick up a pen to write the next sentence, through the fear it won't be my best writing. When it comes to editing, it can become quite intense and fraught with anxiety.
6) What was the reaction of your family when you decided to start writing books?
My family have always been very supportive of my writing. It feels like it's been a part of me my entire life - it's who I am - and they have embraced that. The stories may not always be in genres they would choose, but nevertheless they have supported me and are proud of what I've achieved.
One of the things that sticks in my mind is when my grandad, who rarely read fiction, started reading my first book, "Those Crimes of Passion". He said there was far too much sex and violence in it for him. Yet compared to "Bitten", it's remarkably tame! I wonder what on earth he would have made of that - it cannot help but make me smile.
7) Are you planning to launch a new book shortly? If yes, what theme are you deciding to write upon?
I recently launched my new novel, "Bitten", on Valentine's Day. It's the story of a police officer, Holleigh Ryder, and the pursuit of a vampiric serial murderer who strikes on Valentine's Day. It's an erotic thriller, a police procedural and a horror story entwined into one. I've already received positive feedback from readers and am very excited to hear from more!
Beyond "Bitten", I've already started work for my next book, which is in the very early stages at the moment.
8) What are the things that you are interested to do, other than writing ?
I love reading, music, film and television. I have a keen interest in the topics and themes I write about, which makes research fascinating. I believe that's something that is key to writing - if a writer loves what they do, it bleeds into their work, and their readers will feel that enjoyment too.
I also enjoy going to the theatre and cinema, or eating out at a restaurant, at a time when we were able to do those things safely. But I'm frequently a home bird - it's where I feel most relaxed and most productive and my imagination is free to roam in my next book.
Interviewed by Diksha Malik - see the post on Instagram.
Order Bitten from Amazon, Lulu.com, and Barnes & Noble.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Hello! I'm Lee Allen, an author based in South Wales in the UK. I've thus far published five books, the most recent being "Bitten", an erotic horror vampire thriller.
2) When did you first realise that you have an interest in writing and wanted to become an author?
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. My best estimate is that I was around five years old, but it may even have been sooner than that when I started committing stories to paper. I have always loved books and reading and wanted to be able to create my own too. So, in a way, it feels as if I've always known I wanted to be a writer and I can't point specifically to when it started. But I haven't stopped since.
3) Which genre do you prefer the most to write and according to you which genre do you find difficult to write?
I tend to blend different genres together in my work. People often imagine genre to be neatly divided into boxes, yet there are complex webs of sub-genres and grey areas, stories being much like life itself. Primarily I tend towards the thriller and horror umbrellas, but within that there is so much potential - crime, romance, erotica, sci-fi, psychological, historical, the list goes on. I had a lot of fun mixing different genres when writing my short story collection "Whispers from the Dead of Night".
My new novel, "Bitten", combines erotic thriller, police procedural and gothic horror.
My work tends towards being quite dark, so I think I would probably struggle to write comedy - particularly sitcom or romcom.
4) How long does it take you to complete a book?
It varies from book to book. I was still in school when I wrote my first novel, which took me about two years to complete. My first novella took me a year to write around work, while my second novella took only six months (I was made redundant around that time).
I wrote my short story collection across a period of eighteen months. "Bitten" was already half written by the time I began working on it again just over a year ago, and I took a year to complete it. Both of those books were written around my day job, primarily worked on during evenings and weekends. I would love to be able to work on writing full time in the future - which will then mean more books (or longer books) for my readers!
5) What is the easiest and difficult part for you while writing a book?
I love writing. So, for me, the easiest part is being in the thick of a story, exploring themes and plotting for my characters, being in the midst of writing the next scene, building those images and thoughts and feelings. The characters live inside my head. I love what I write about, so even background research is fun. I feel I have found my vocation with writing and love burying myself in it.
Perhaps what's most difficult is overcoming the doubts and anxieties that creep in along the way, the thoughts that I may never finish writing the story, having to persevere through all those doubts to get to the end. I'm a perfectionist, which sometimes makes it a challenge to even pick up a pen to write the next sentence, through the fear it won't be my best writing. When it comes to editing, it can become quite intense and fraught with anxiety.
6) What was the reaction of your family when you decided to start writing books?
My family have always been very supportive of my writing. It feels like it's been a part of me my entire life - it's who I am - and they have embraced that. The stories may not always be in genres they would choose, but nevertheless they have supported me and are proud of what I've achieved.
One of the things that sticks in my mind is when my grandad, who rarely read fiction, started reading my first book, "Those Crimes of Passion". He said there was far too much sex and violence in it for him. Yet compared to "Bitten", it's remarkably tame! I wonder what on earth he would have made of that - it cannot help but make me smile.
7) Are you planning to launch a new book shortly? If yes, what theme are you deciding to write upon?
I recently launched my new novel, "Bitten", on Valentine's Day. It's the story of a police officer, Holleigh Ryder, and the pursuit of a vampiric serial murderer who strikes on Valentine's Day. It's an erotic thriller, a police procedural and a horror story entwined into one. I've already received positive feedback from readers and am very excited to hear from more!
Beyond "Bitten", I've already started work for my next book, which is in the very early stages at the moment.
8) What are the things that you are interested to do, other than writing ?
I love reading, music, film and television. I have a keen interest in the topics and themes I write about, which makes research fascinating. I believe that's something that is key to writing - if a writer loves what they do, it bleeds into their work, and their readers will feel that enjoyment too.
I also enjoy going to the theatre and cinema, or eating out at a restaurant, at a time when we were able to do those things safely. But I'm frequently a home bird - it's where I feel most relaxed and most productive and my imagination is free to roam in my next book.
Interviewed by Diksha Malik - see the post on Instagram.
Order Bitten from Amazon, Lulu.com, and Barnes & Noble.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bookstagram Author Interview
1. Does writing energise or exhaust you?
Both, undoubtedly! Sometimes simultaneously. I love writing and researching and building my plots and characters. I can sometimes spend hours drafting scenes and writing notes. There are other times when I can barely manage the next sentence - though I believe this is often due to external factors or on days when I've allowed doubts and anxieties to creep in. Overall, I feel happiest when I'm writing and getting into the next scene always makes me feel happy and relaxed.
2. Does a big ego help or hurt writers?
I think perhaps ego may have the same impact for writers as it would in any area of your life or in any profession - if it gets too big, it'll get in the way; but it also needs to be big enough to allow for self-belief and self-confidence.
For writers, it's necessary for us to get inside the heads of our characters. We require a huge amount of empathy along with our imaginations. I suppose one's own ego being too big could get in the way of that. Equally, when you're writing, it's just you. If you don't believe in yourself and your writing, no one else is going to do it for you.
When it comes to putting your work out into the world, you need to have the confidence to do it. So perhaps you need to at least be able to fake it! I suppose we are good at making things up.
3. Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
I think emotion plays a huge role in any creative artistic process, but it depends on what you may be writing. For me, empathy and imagination are vitally important in writing fiction, as it must be with many areas of non-fiction, poetry, music - particularly if you want to create authentic and believable characters. It's probably particularly important in genre-fiction, as the events and plots you describe may be rare, unusual or fantastical. If the characters aren't realistic, you run the risk of losing the reader.
I believe if you can connect to a character's thoughts and emotions, you can let them drive your story and your readers will connect with them, and in turn their stories will resonate. As a reader, I most enjoy those stories where I feel I've connected with the characters. As a writer, I strive to do the same for my readers.
4. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
So far, everything I've written is a standalone, but while characters may not crossover, there are common themes between some stories. It may come to a point where characters will crossover at certain times or in certain places. I'm also planning for some characters to return in the future. There may be some sequels in the works, but I'm not ready to share what they may be quite yet!
5. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I always read my book reviews. I love hearing what readers thought of my work, if they've enjoyed the stories and found they resonated with them. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who takes the time to read and review my work.
When it comes to anything that may not be so positive, I remind myself that art and entertainment are subjective. Not everyone is going to like everything. Though I am yet to receive an overtly negative review, so I have no doubt it would be disheartening.
What I've found most interesting with reviews for my short story collection, “Whispers from the Dead of Night”, is that different readers have different favourite stories. In fact, I've seen the same stories described as readers' favourites and least favourites. It just goes to show that people's opinions are different and you can't allow it to steer your writing.
Feedback for “Bitten” has been very positive so far, and I'm very excited to hear more of what readers think.
6. What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
I find it very difficult learning to overcome my perfectionism, particularly when it comes to editing. It can, at times, be very overwhelming and wrought with anxiety.
Perhaps the greatest difficulty is in overcoming the doubts and anxieties that creep in along the way - thoughts that I may never finish writing the story; persevering through all those doubts to get to the end. Once it's complete, it's then about summoning the confidence to release it!
It is the feedback from readers that keeps me going. On days I'm not sure of myself, it's their comments about how much they have enjoyed my work that help me put aside the doubts and keep on writing.
7. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I have several plots and scenes for multiple books floating around at any given time, all of which I intend to return to. As for books I've already started, there are two that are currently unfinished. They've not been abandoned, just postponed.
"Bitten" was one such half-finished book when I chose to concentrate on "Whispers from the Dead of Night" in September 2018. Following its release, I returned to "Bitten" last year.
As for completed books, I have two stories for children that remain unpublished. I hope to share them one day. In the meantime, I have begun working on book six.
Interviewed by Tanmay Mehta - see the post on Instagram.
Order Bitten from Amazon, Lulu.com, and Barnes & Noble.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Both, undoubtedly! Sometimes simultaneously. I love writing and researching and building my plots and characters. I can sometimes spend hours drafting scenes and writing notes. There are other times when I can barely manage the next sentence - though I believe this is often due to external factors or on days when I've allowed doubts and anxieties to creep in. Overall, I feel happiest when I'm writing and getting into the next scene always makes me feel happy and relaxed.
2. Does a big ego help or hurt writers?
I think perhaps ego may have the same impact for writers as it would in any area of your life or in any profession - if it gets too big, it'll get in the way; but it also needs to be big enough to allow for self-belief and self-confidence.
For writers, it's necessary for us to get inside the heads of our characters. We require a huge amount of empathy along with our imaginations. I suppose one's own ego being too big could get in the way of that. Equally, when you're writing, it's just you. If you don't believe in yourself and your writing, no one else is going to do it for you.
When it comes to putting your work out into the world, you need to have the confidence to do it. So perhaps you need to at least be able to fake it! I suppose we are good at making things up.
3. Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
I think emotion plays a huge role in any creative artistic process, but it depends on what you may be writing. For me, empathy and imagination are vitally important in writing fiction, as it must be with many areas of non-fiction, poetry, music - particularly if you want to create authentic and believable characters. It's probably particularly important in genre-fiction, as the events and plots you describe may be rare, unusual or fantastical. If the characters aren't realistic, you run the risk of losing the reader.
I believe if you can connect to a character's thoughts and emotions, you can let them drive your story and your readers will connect with them, and in turn their stories will resonate. As a reader, I most enjoy those stories where I feel I've connected with the characters. As a writer, I strive to do the same for my readers.
4. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
So far, everything I've written is a standalone, but while characters may not crossover, there are common themes between some stories. It may come to a point where characters will crossover at certain times or in certain places. I'm also planning for some characters to return in the future. There may be some sequels in the works, but I'm not ready to share what they may be quite yet!
5. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I always read my book reviews. I love hearing what readers thought of my work, if they've enjoyed the stories and found they resonated with them. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who takes the time to read and review my work.
When it comes to anything that may not be so positive, I remind myself that art and entertainment are subjective. Not everyone is going to like everything. Though I am yet to receive an overtly negative review, so I have no doubt it would be disheartening.
What I've found most interesting with reviews for my short story collection, “Whispers from the Dead of Night”, is that different readers have different favourite stories. In fact, I've seen the same stories described as readers' favourites and least favourites. It just goes to show that people's opinions are different and you can't allow it to steer your writing.
Feedback for “Bitten” has been very positive so far, and I'm very excited to hear more of what readers think.
6. What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
I find it very difficult learning to overcome my perfectionism, particularly when it comes to editing. It can, at times, be very overwhelming and wrought with anxiety.
Perhaps the greatest difficulty is in overcoming the doubts and anxieties that creep in along the way - thoughts that I may never finish writing the story; persevering through all those doubts to get to the end. Once it's complete, it's then about summoning the confidence to release it!
It is the feedback from readers that keeps me going. On days I'm not sure of myself, it's their comments about how much they have enjoyed my work that help me put aside the doubts and keep on writing.
7. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I have several plots and scenes for multiple books floating around at any given time, all of which I intend to return to. As for books I've already started, there are two that are currently unfinished. They've not been abandoned, just postponed.
"Bitten" was one such half-finished book when I chose to concentrate on "Whispers from the Dead of Night" in September 2018. Following its release, I returned to "Bitten" last year.
As for completed books, I have two stories for children that remain unpublished. I hope to share them one day. In the meantime, I have begun working on book six.
Interviewed by Tanmay Mehta - see the post on Instagram.
Order Bitten from Amazon, Lulu.com, and Barnes & Noble.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
