V.R. Cumming's Blog, page 10
July 11, 2014
Now Available: The Vampire's Pet, Episode 4: The Cold Man
Episode 4 of The Vampire's Pet series,
The Cold Man
, is now available for purchase through Amazon.com and Smashwords. It should be up in the Barnes & Noble and iBooks stores within the next two weeks. This one's a bit darker than the other stories in the series, but considering the path Eric's taking, that's to be expected.
Here's the story's description:
Since his punishment at the behest of the vampire Elizabet, Eric Logan's life has taken a turn for the worst. His girlfriend has left him and for some inexplicable reason, he can no longer find relief from the sexual tension hounding him, a tension enhanced by the vampire blood flowing through his veins.
Worse, the monster created during his punishment has grown strong enough to challenge Eric's control over his body and mind. If he can't rein that monster in, Elizabet will be forced to destroy him. In his desperation for life, Eric turns to his budding friendship with Jason Bellmont, who may hold the key to helping Eric gain the upper hand over the cold evil infiltrating his mind.
The turn is inevitable and its time draws near. Soon, Eric will become a vampire and rule over his own stable of pets. To do that, he'll need all the help he can get, from Elizabet, the vampire who wishes him to become her next favorite, and from the vampire queen, whose visit provides Eric an opportunity to forge a strong alliance...if she doesn't kill him first.
I hope y'all enjoy this installment in Eric's journey!
July 10, 2014
Title Change for The Vampire's Pet, Episode 4
Just a couple of quick notes about tomorrow's release of The Vampire's Pet, Episode 4. The first is the title, which has been changed to The Cold Man. The story itself hasn't changed or its direction, just the title.Also, here's the description, for those of you who are anticipating this one's release:
Since his punishment at the behest of the vampire Elizabet, Eric Logan's life has taken a turn for the worst. His girlfriend has left him and for some inexplicable reason, he can no longer find relief from the sexual tension hounding him, a tension enhanced by the vampire blood flowing through his veins.
Worse, the monster created during his punishment has grown strong enough to challenge Eric's control over his body and mind. If he can't rein that monster in, Elizabet will be forced to destroy him. In his desperation for life, Eric turns to his budding friendship with Jason Bellmont, who may hold the key to helping Eric gain the upper hand over the cold evil infiltrating his mind.
The turn is inevitable and its time draws near. Soon, Eric will become a vampire and rule over his own stable of pets. To do that, he'll need all the help he can get, from Elizabet, the vampire who wishes him to become her next favorite, and from the vampire queen, whose visit provides Eric an opportunity to forge a strong alliance...if she doesn't kill him first.
I'll begin uploading Episode 4 tonight to Smashwords and Amazon.com. Until then, happy reading.
July 9, 2014
Being True to the Story: Where All This Is Going
I'm sure everyone will be happy to hear that Episode 4 of The Vampire's Pet series is right on schedule for release on Friday, just two days from now.
Last night, I was contemplating one of the scenes and the steadily darker tone the series is acquiring. When I first set out to write TVP, I had no idea where I was going with it. It was an experiment in writing, a way for me to explore the stories in my head that couldn't be written under my other pseudonym.
Now, you might hear a lot of writers refer to themselves and their stories as "character driven" or "plot driven," or even "tension driven." A few even advocate for writing cookie-cutter stories that exactly follow a set formula, but none of those are what I try to do. For me, it's all about the story and whatever I have to do to be faithful to it. So, Punished featured mild bondage and The Vampire Queen contains some dark and, frankly, disturbing imagery that might put a few readers off, but that's where the story went. If I tried to work within a specific genre convention, the story would suffer and readers would notice. I'd rather not let y'all down like that, so, just be aware that where the story leads, I follow, and sometimes, that will be places you'd rather not go.
Now, along those lines, I also want to put it right out there that TVP is the first part of what will eventually be a trilogy. I have no idea what form or forms the other entries in the trilogy will take yet and I can't reveal the titles without spoiling the ending for TVP, but here's how the series is shaping up:
Part 1: The Vampire's Pet Series, told from Eric's POV.
Part 2: A story (either serialized or in novel or novella form), told from Gianna's POV.
Part 3: A story (either serialized or in novel or novella form), told from Eric's POV.
There will be a Happy Ever After, but it doesn't happen until the end of the third series/book. Until then, just think of these as your typical Urban Fantasy with romantic elements. It'll keep you from going nuts.
There are a couple of other things I want to mention while I'm on this subject. First, I'm not sure what forms the second and third stories in the trilogy will take. I'm very tempted to do Gianna's story as a novella, but that will take time. The beauty of the short story serial format is that I can finish each episode in a relatively short time without making too big of a dent in my established writing schedule (for stories written under my other pseudonym, stories that I'm committed to releasing at certain times). For example, I try to finish writing the first draft of a chapter of an episode (about two to three thousand words each) in one sitting, which usually takes about two to three hours, after which I need additional time to polish and format the story before it can be published. (I estimate that I spend at least one hour polishing for every hour spent on the first draft.) Three weeks gives me plenty of time to write and publish an episode without interfering with my previously established writing schedule.
A lot of readers (not mine!) complain about the serialized format, and some even go so far as to accuse authors of trying to milk extra money from their readers. Not me, I swear! If I didn't serialize TVP, it would never be published, thus denying readers a really interesting story. If Gianna's story turns out to be better in novella or novel format, it will likely take at least two to four months for me to develop, write, and polish it. Yes, two to four months, and that's at the earliest. It's a long wait between stories, so I might find a way to serialize it as well. We'll see!
The other thing I'd like y'all to know is that I absolutely will be offering TVP and other serialized stories as bundles. Anyone who wants to wait until that bundle comes out before reading Eric's story is more than welcome to do so. Remember, my goal is to bring you the best story possible and to make it easy for you, the reader, to access it. So, please have patience with me as I finish out the entire arc from Eric's introduction to the world of the Vampyr, to Gianna's role in the overall story, and then back to Eric to end with what I hope will be a very satisfying HEA.
Peace and much love, my friends.
Last night, I was contemplating one of the scenes and the steadily darker tone the series is acquiring. When I first set out to write TVP, I had no idea where I was going with it. It was an experiment in writing, a way for me to explore the stories in my head that couldn't be written under my other pseudonym.
Now, you might hear a lot of writers refer to themselves and their stories as "character driven" or "plot driven," or even "tension driven." A few even advocate for writing cookie-cutter stories that exactly follow a set formula, but none of those are what I try to do. For me, it's all about the story and whatever I have to do to be faithful to it. So, Punished featured mild bondage and The Vampire Queen contains some dark and, frankly, disturbing imagery that might put a few readers off, but that's where the story went. If I tried to work within a specific genre convention, the story would suffer and readers would notice. I'd rather not let y'all down like that, so, just be aware that where the story leads, I follow, and sometimes, that will be places you'd rather not go.
Now, along those lines, I also want to put it right out there that TVP is the first part of what will eventually be a trilogy. I have no idea what form or forms the other entries in the trilogy will take yet and I can't reveal the titles without spoiling the ending for TVP, but here's how the series is shaping up:
Part 1: The Vampire's Pet Series, told from Eric's POV.
Part 2: A story (either serialized or in novel or novella form), told from Gianna's POV.
Part 3: A story (either serialized or in novel or novella form), told from Eric's POV.
There will be a Happy Ever After, but it doesn't happen until the end of the third series/book. Until then, just think of these as your typical Urban Fantasy with romantic elements. It'll keep you from going nuts.
There are a couple of other things I want to mention while I'm on this subject. First, I'm not sure what forms the second and third stories in the trilogy will take. I'm very tempted to do Gianna's story as a novella, but that will take time. The beauty of the short story serial format is that I can finish each episode in a relatively short time without making too big of a dent in my established writing schedule (for stories written under my other pseudonym, stories that I'm committed to releasing at certain times). For example, I try to finish writing the first draft of a chapter of an episode (about two to three thousand words each) in one sitting, which usually takes about two to three hours, after which I need additional time to polish and format the story before it can be published. (I estimate that I spend at least one hour polishing for every hour spent on the first draft.) Three weeks gives me plenty of time to write and publish an episode without interfering with my previously established writing schedule.
A lot of readers (not mine!) complain about the serialized format, and some even go so far as to accuse authors of trying to milk extra money from their readers. Not me, I swear! If I didn't serialize TVP, it would never be published, thus denying readers a really interesting story. If Gianna's story turns out to be better in novella or novel format, it will likely take at least two to four months for me to develop, write, and polish it. Yes, two to four months, and that's at the earliest. It's a long wait between stories, so I might find a way to serialize it as well. We'll see!
The other thing I'd like y'all to know is that I absolutely will be offering TVP and other serialized stories as bundles. Anyone who wants to wait until that bundle comes out before reading Eric's story is more than welcome to do so. Remember, my goal is to bring you the best story possible and to make it easy for you, the reader, to access it. So, please have patience with me as I finish out the entire arc from Eric's introduction to the world of the Vampyr, to Gianna's role in the overall story, and then back to Eric to end with what I hope will be a very satisfying HEA.
Peace and much love, my friends.
June 20, 2014
Now Available: The Vampire's Pet, Episode 3: Punished
Punished, the third episode in The Vampire's Pet series. is now for sale through Smashwords and Amazon. It should be available through Barnes & Noble and iBooks within about two weeks.Here's the description:
Eric Logan has spent the past two months as a pet to the vampire Elizabet. Along the way, he's become steeped in the world of the Vampyr and enjoyed the benefits of being a pet, including greater strength and stamina, and the ability to spot beacons, humans who are genetically suited for a life among the Vampyr.
On his third visit to Elizabet's mansion, Eric makes a grave error by being late for his monthly appointment with her, earning punishment in a way he doesn't anticipate. What follows pushes him close to the edge of turning and has harsh consequences for the life he's built outside of his role as a pet.
As Eric struggles to deal with the effects of that night, he must also come to grips with deeper realizations about himself, the love he holds for the beautiful Gianna, and the secret longings of his heart.
I hope y'all enjoy this continuing saga!
June 18, 2014
News
Just a couple of quick items to update y'all on the writing progress around here.
A New Life has received its first review on Amazon. Five stars! Here's hoping many other readers enjoy this beginning tale in Eric's saga.
If you haven't read A New Life, now's the perfect time to download a copy. In honor of the upcoming release of the third episode in the series, the beginning story is now available for free through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Smashwords.
Speaking of the third episode, I fully expect to begin uploading Punished late tomorrow evening, in time for its release this Friday. Hopefully, I'll have a description up tomorrow so y'all can see what it's about. This one's a little bit more, ah, intense than the previous installments. I mean, look at the title. Yes, there is mild (voluntary and consensual) bondage. With a title like Punished, would you expect anything less?
Anywho, I'll have more updates tomorrow and Friday. Until then, happy reading!
A New Life has received its first review on Amazon. Five stars! Here's hoping many other readers enjoy this beginning tale in Eric's saga.
If you haven't read A New Life, now's the perfect time to download a copy. In honor of the upcoming release of the third episode in the series, the beginning story is now available for free through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Smashwords.
Speaking of the third episode, I fully expect to begin uploading Punished late tomorrow evening, in time for its release this Friday. Hopefully, I'll have a description up tomorrow so y'all can see what it's about. This one's a little bit more, ah, intense than the previous installments. I mean, look at the title. Yes, there is mild (voluntary and consensual) bondage. With a title like Punished, would you expect anything less?
Anywho, I'll have more updates tomorrow and Friday. Until then, happy reading!
June 9, 2014
Motivations for Writing: Point of View
I write romances under another pen name, the typical "boy meets girl and strange things happen" kind with a Happy Ever After. In most romances like that, the female character is the lead character even if there are an equal number of scenes written into the story from the male and female perspectives. I enjoy writing those tremendously or I wouldn't write them at all, but I do have one problem with them: I'd far rather write from the male's point of view from start to finish, something that's not possible with the typical romance. I've found that I write better from the male's PoV than from the female's.
Yes, I'm really a woman and the intended audience for all of my stories is (typically) women.
Still, in my writing, my male characters are more real, their views more understandable; it's much easier for me to slip into their heads than it is for me to slip into the heads of the many female characters I've written.
I never have just one reason when I set out to do something. There's usually a whole host of intertwined motivations backing up an action. In the case of The Vampire's Pet Series, I really wanted to explore sexuality more than I'm able to in the romances I write; specifically, I wanted to explore the kind of open sexuality exhibited in this series where it's possible to deeply love one person but plausibly have relationships with others as well.
I also wanted to be able to write a romantic relationship from the PoV of a male character. Eric is a typical college student until he allows Devin to seduce him into the world of the Vampyr. Exploring this situation from his perspective rather than from Elizabet's or Gianna's has allowed me to stretch my creative wings. Writing from his PoV feels very natural. Once The Vampire's Pet series is completed, the next story will be written from Gianna's PoV, but for the moment, I'm having a lot of fun delving into this world through Eric's eyes.
Yes, I'm really a woman and the intended audience for all of my stories is (typically) women.
Still, in my writing, my male characters are more real, their views more understandable; it's much easier for me to slip into their heads than it is for me to slip into the heads of the many female characters I've written.
I never have just one reason when I set out to do something. There's usually a whole host of intertwined motivations backing up an action. In the case of The Vampire's Pet Series, I really wanted to explore sexuality more than I'm able to in the romances I write; specifically, I wanted to explore the kind of open sexuality exhibited in this series where it's possible to deeply love one person but plausibly have relationships with others as well.
I also wanted to be able to write a romantic relationship from the PoV of a male character. Eric is a typical college student until he allows Devin to seduce him into the world of the Vampyr. Exploring this situation from his perspective rather than from Elizabet's or Gianna's has allowed me to stretch my creative wings. Writing from his PoV feels very natural. Once The Vampire's Pet series is completed, the next story will be written from Gianna's PoV, but for the moment, I'm having a lot of fun delving into this world through Eric's eyes.
June 2, 2014
First Draft Funnies
Last night after finishing my "normal" writing day (at 3 a.m.), I decided to write down the first line of
Punished
, the third episode in The Vampire's Pet series, since it had been plaguing me all day. Just a line, I thought, and then I'll go to bed. Two hours later, it's 5 a.m. and I've finished the first scene.
And what was the line that sucked me (Vampire humor. Har.) into writing for two hours instead of sleeping? It was:
I was fifteen minutes late to my December appointment with Elizabet.
So there you have it, folks, a first look at Punished and the beginnings of a cautionary tale: When the first line of a scene occurs to you in the middle of the night, either ignore it and go to sleep, or be prepared to stay up all night writing.
Hope your week is cheery!
And what was the line that sucked me (Vampire humor. Har.) into writing for two hours instead of sleeping? It was:
I was fifteen minutes late to my December appointment with Elizabet.
So there you have it, folks, a first look at Punished and the beginnings of a cautionary tale: When the first line of a scene occurs to you in the middle of the night, either ignore it and go to sleep, or be prepared to stay up all night writing.
Hope your week is cheery!
May 26, 2014
Now Available: The Vampire's Pet, Episode 2: Entangled
The Vampire's Pet, Episode 2: Entangled is now available for purchase through Amazon and Smashwords. It will eventually also be available through Barnes & Noble and iBooks.The next episode, Punished , will be available on or about 20 June 2014. I know I promised to move release dates forward if I could publish early, but I have two major projects due about that time and a third that I'm supposed to've finished this past week. Alas! These other commitments have to come first. I will not, however, neglect those readers who enjoy reading Eric's continuing saga.
I'll also be releasing the title of the fourth episode soon, so keep an eye out for that. Until then, happy reading!
