Recently, I took part in a really cool blog hop, around...

Recently, I took part in a really cool blog hop, around Halloween-time.  I met a lot of fascinating authors of spooky stuff, including one James Garcia, Jr.  

I like James, so I invited him to share with me what his experience has been like presenting his horror novel Dance on Fire with the world.  Now, before you get excited, this isn't a book about your fantasies of offing Michael Flatley.

Nope, this is a book far less common than that old theme.  This a Christian Horror novel.

So without further ado, heeeeeeeeere's Jimmy!

"Nathaniel is a vampire. He wandered into the Central California town of Kingsburg, California, intent on bothering no one. He feeds on the blood of stray cats and other vermin, wanting nothing more than to have a place to rest his head. Vincent is a second vampire and the one responsible for making Nathaniel. He has been searching for his long lost "son" for well over two centuries. Vincent's goal is to take Nathaniel home or kill him. Nathaniel has often wished for death, wondering why God ever allowed this punishment: to walk the earth undead and unable to be redeemed. Does God remember the little boy from Romania who watched his parents die, was raised by the murdering vampire, only to become one himself? What does God think of Nathaniel and could there yet be redemption for one outside of heaven…?"

 

          Wait! What? Did I read that right? What do vampires have to do with God or going to church? These two subjects shouldn't go together… Am I Right? Perhaps I should explain…

 

          I discovered horror fiction when I was an adolescent and I ate it up. Although my family was God-fearing, we really didn't go to church regularly. It was only later, after I had followed the pretty girl to her church that I became a Christian. Having been writing horror fiction myself by this time, I suddenly felt as if I should be writing other (Read: more Godly) topics. I tried this for some time; however, horror soon called me back.

 

          You see, what I love about dark fiction is how it pulls me to the edge of my seat with wonderful moments of suspense, and shocking and clever plot twists that keep me riveted to the couch. I'm not a fan of torture porn or books or films that simply invent new ways to eviscerate or dismember a human body.

 

I was just as surprised as you are now to find that my debut novel ended up becoming a crossover. It was originally intended to be a crime thriller. When it suddenly became infested with vampires, I had a decision to make. Since we needed another vampire story like a hole in the head *laughs*, I ultimately realized that the only way that I was going to get anyone's attention was to keep the scary parts, aim for a PG-13 read and bridge the horror with faith and redemption.

          Why PG-13? First of all, please don't misunderstand: this is no thrill-less rollercoaster. I removed the F-bombs that had been present in the original manuscript as a personal choice for this book; however, I did not remove the rough language entirely. I really don't think you can here. While one is being chased by a monster or knife-wielding killer, I doubt very seriously if one's comments would be "Shoot!" and "Darn it!" If the story requires a harsher word, I'm all for it. On the other hand, after the 32nd F-bomb the word has gone well beyond its power. How strong is the moment in The Princess Bride, for example, when Indigo Montoya deviates from his famous line by saying: "You killed my father, you son of a bitch. Prepare to die!"

 

          For those of you who might be worried, I don't preach in this story. This was simply my attempt to place my novel on a shelf with a lot less competition. To be sure, there is blood and gore within these pages. There just happens to be a bit of God there, too. Will some be turned off by my particular angle? Yes. However, that is true of any story of any genre.

 

          Since I am a Christian, am I marketing myself as a Christian author? No. Ultimately, what I have written should be labeled as horror. Yet, even I must admit that part of the reason is due to the fact that I fear that much of Christianity is not quite ready for it. It will take no issue with the themes in my story, but might still have a serious problem with the tools that I use to get us there. For instance, contemporary worship music has been appreciated for many decades; however, the use of loud electric guitars and heavy drums that accompany the new breed of artists was not.

 

I do hope that my crossover novel will help and not hinder this process. There are more crossover novels and authors every year. My pastor thought highly of my novel, and had me down for an interview at the church, but that was my church; only time will tell whether I get invited over to the next church. The following is what he had to say:

 

"I love what Garcia has done… I agree with previous reviewers that the characters are drawn with depth and substance. Garcia has a gift for dialogue that 'shows' more than 'tells' the reader about the characters. I was also struck by the imaginative storyline which builds tension to the dramatic, bittersweet climax. Garcia mixes a horror thriller with deep suggestions about the nature of grace and providence and leaves you thinking about these concepts long after the book is finished. Although the violence and language make this a PG-13 read, the depth of the issues addressed make it interesting and insightful for who like to mine for theological significance in a novel." 

 

          Am I simply a crossover author? Not necessarily. I have some much darker stuff within me as well, that could very easily be R-Rated. We'll see what the future brings. It the meantime, whatever you might rate Dance on Fire, it has spent much of this year at the top of the Highest-Rated Horror category in the Smashwords store, to which I am very thankful.

 

          Before I finish this post with the rest of my novel's synopsis, I would like to thank Red for inviting me to share a little of myself with you, her audience. Thank you so much for your time.

 

          "Ten days before the start of the Kingsburg Swedish Festival, the most tumultuous week in the history of Kingsburg has begun with two vampires leaving death and destruction in their wake. Kingsburg Police Detectives Mark Jackson and Michael Lopez, Barbara and the entire Lopez family find themselves drawn into something that threatens to destroy them all or leave them scarred forever.

          "In a marriage of the classic horror story and the Christian themes of good conquering evil and redemption, Dance on Fire is the account of characters being drawn into the fire and the supernatural forces around them watching as they burn."

Buy Dance on Fire at Smashwords.  Not sure?  Listen to James read.