Guest author, Cassandra Pierce
Please welcome author,Cassandra Pierce
Who is Cassandra Pierce?
Cassandra Pierce has been a fan of Gothic literature for most of her life, even studying the origins of the genre in college and graduate school. Before long, she got the urge to create paranormal romances of her own and is now hard at work on more Darkisle novels, among others. When she is not writing, she teaches college and is active in a charity that rescues and rehomes abandoned pets.
~Tasty tidbits about Cassandra~
Do you write under a pseudonym?Yes…In fact, over the course of my writing career I have used several different names…including some male ones. Nobody ever suspected a thing. These people are sort of like my evil twins, or Ms. Hydes, if you will. Pseudonyms are incredibly liberating because you can take on controversial subjects or write something really kinky, and never take any actual heat for it!
What is your favorite movie?Shattered Glass. It is the true story of a magazine writer who fakes all his stories. I have worked in the magazine business and find this film endlessly fascinating. Plus Hayden Christensen, a.k.a. Anakin Skywalker, plays the writer, which is another bonus.
What kind of vehicle do you drive? A Dodge Caravan, which doubles as a junk mobile since I don't have a garage.
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear on a daily basis? None. I lose things too easily and a wristwatch tends to scuff my laptop.
Have you ever gone commando (no underwear)? Never...I am way too Victorian for that.
How old are you? 45 (gulp)
~Interview with Cassandra~
What genre/s do you write? I tend to write Gothics, especially vampires, but recently branched out into male/male stuff as well as werewolves. And I just had a scifi accepted by Siren, so I am getting into that genre as well.
What made you decide to write the genre you do? Simply personal taste—it's what I've always enjoyed writing. As a teenager, I nourished myself with Daphne DuMaurier, Mary Stewart, and Victoria Holt books, plus I have been madly in love with Barnabas Collins since the 70s. When vampires became the "in" thing again, I was ready to jump in with both feet, though the reality is I'd been writing stuff like that all along. I just had a better chance of being published, and luckily it worked out.
Was there a specific author/individual that inspired you to become a writer? Emily Bronte has been my muse since my teenage years…Wuthering Heights captured my imagination in a way nothing else ever has. I went on to study Gothic novels in college and earn a Ph.D. in Victorian Literature, all because of that one book.
Wow, a Ph.D. Impressive! What is your latest book about? When does it come out? The sequel to Darkisle, called Loving Two Vampires, is currently scheduled for a winter 2010 release. Early 2011 should see the publication of my science fiction ménage, Captain Gareth's Mates, and possibly a m/m werewolf novel I just finished. The Darkisle series will continue for at least one more book, and these other two also have the potential to become series books if they catch on with readers.
Does your family know about your writing career? Sadly, my parents passed away several years ago, though I did publish a paperback Regency with a small press while they were still alive. As far as my current stuff, my two sisters and brother know everything and are very supportive. I have not been able to convince them to get into ebooks, though. They are waiting for paper copies.
I'm sorry to hear about your parents, but at least they got to see your talent on actual paper. So do the rest of your family say about it? They have always known I was a little kooky, so erotic vampire stories and wild alien sex romps don't strike them as anything out of the ordinary for me. At least, they are too polite to say anything about it to my face.
What are your thoughts on eBook piracy? I'm like every other author I know: it burns me up to think that there are copies of my work floating around that I will never see a dime from. I hope everyone reading this will support an author's right to be paid for her (or his) hard work and refrain from downloading under-the-table "freebies." Or at least send in the money later if you enjoyed the book. It's NOT the same as passing on a used paperback to a friend. It's more like stealing money out of our pockets.
I wholeheartedly agree! So, how old were you when you started writing? The earliest thing I can remember writing was a Tarzan ripoff crossed with a romance novel. I called it "Bosonzi and the Hunters." Bosonzi was a jungle woman who tamed wild animals and outwitted big-game hunters along with her three teenaged daughters, who lived in a tree house with her. Eventually, she convinced the hunters to leave the poor animals alone, and her daughters married some of the guys on the safari. I typed it all up on a little red child's typewriter and even designed a cover. I can still remember the first line: "Bosonzi awoke to the screams of monkeys, as she did every morning." That was in 1973, so I was about 8. It's been all uphill ever since!
Why did you choose eBook publishing? It's the wave of the future. On certain episodes of classic Star Trek, they carried books around on little CD-style disks, and on The Next Generation they used things called PADDS, which were basically Kindles or Nooks. Who knew that would all come true in our lifetime? I am a huge Star Trek fan so I want to be in on it!
Do you have a day job? If so what do you do? I am Assistant Professor of English at a small private college in New England. Much as I love writing, I love my other job, too. And it looks like I am finally going to start teaching creative writing there. I just may inspire some new ebook authors for all of us to enjoy.
I want to thank fellow Siren author, Cassandra Pierce for taking the time to answer my questions.
Want to find out more about Cassandra? Visit her at:
http://www.cassandrapierce.com
Read below for an excerpt from Heirs to Darkisle, book 1
ExcerptA pair of French doors opened onto a small patio overlooking the rock-strewn beach. Noticing her interest, Sebastian pushed them open and motioned her outside. Briana headed straight for the sand. He caught up to her as she made her way toward the water.Finally, things were falling into place tonight. They were alone. The Morgans' private beach was quiet and romantic. Even the weather was cooperating. The moon was glowing a vibrant amber, and the wind was blowing off the ocean, strong but pleasant. Sebastian tilted his face and let the salty gusts tousle his hair. "Storm's coming. I can feel it." Briana nodded. "Well, we get a lot of those in the spring. One of the bird-watchers at the motel told me the winds can get strong enough to blow tropical birds up here. Amazing, isn't it? You might wake up to find a flamingo on your roof.""Unlikely, though appealing." He smiled, but looked back as if to make sure. "So how do you like Morgan House, with or without rare ornithological specimens?""Makes me realize how small my own place is. I'd be embarrassed to show you around the way you just did for me.""Not at all. I would be delighted to be your guest.""You know…I feel I should do something for you, considering all you've done for Todd. I'm not much of a cook—my idea of a big meal is a frozen pizza—so I don't quite dare to invite you for dinner.""A meal would not be necessary. I'd enjoy your company without any food at all." "That's nice of you to say. Have you met many people since you got here?""Your brother and Ami were the first. Aside from you, though, none have been as memorable."Briana hoped the darkness obscured her hot blush. "This probably isn't the easiest place to start over. Darkisle is one of those towns where everyone knows everyone else, as the old saying goes. If you haven't lived here all your life, it can be tricky to fit in. Boredom is another issue. Fall and winter get pretty dreary, believe me.""Yet you choose to stay," Sebastian observed. "Mostly because I don't know any other way of life. My family has lived here for generations, just like yours." She paused as a sudden thought came to her. "I wonder if they knew each other, way back when.""An intriguing possibility." "I doubt my great-grandparents traveled in the same circles as yours. Still, it's an amusing thought.""Quite."They had strayed close to the waves. The sand here felt wet and hard."I'm going to take off my shoes," she said. "The water will destroy them."Sebastian watched her pull off her boots and socks and toss them as far as she could onto dry land. With a murmur of pleasure, she thrust her bare toes into the sand and burrowed them in deep."Do you like the water?" she asked Sebastian. "I'm afraid not. I prefer to observe from a distance.""I can deal with boats as long as the waves aren't too rough. But you're right. Looking at it from here is perfectly fine."He murmured noncommittally and slid his hands into his pockets. Briana casually swung her gaze along the water and ended up staring right at him. There was no question which view pleased her more. "You probably won't mind spending the winter here. I get the feeling the isolation won't bother you at all.""Why do you say that?""Because you always seem so content, so self-assured. Like now. You look like someone who prefers being alone."He removed his hands from his pockets and gingerly stepped through the rocks, making his way cautiously toward her. He settled himself beside her, careful not to submerge his feet the way she had. "It may look that way because I am so used to being alone.""Then I'm wrong?""Not entirely. I admit I've spent most of my…existence…on my own. With solitude comes safety. You've probably discovered that for yourself."Briana nodded. "To some extent.""I won't deny my interest in self-preservation. At times, it has become an obsession. I have desired it above everything else—money, position, even love. That particular door closed for me long ago. I made a conscious decision never to pry it open.""Why?"He turned his face to the night sky, and Briana took the opportunity to study his profile. By now, everything about him had begun to arouse her: the firm, aristocratic planes of his cheekbones, the graceful way he moved, the controlled rhythms of his speech. He was utterly unlike any man she had ever met. "Over the years, I've come up with a number of reasons. Perhaps I should call them justifications. No doubt some seemed legitimate, at least at the time. Strangely enough, at the moment I can't remember a single one.""I'm glad to hear that."Suddenly, he fixed his eyes directly on hers. That she felt herself drawn into those mysterious, dark green depths came as no surprise. What she did find inexplicable was the giddiness that crept over her, the slight blurring of her own vision that accompanied his interest. She felt grateful for the solid rock beneath them."Sebastian," she whispered. Her voice grew husky with need. "Shh."She fell silent. The longer his gaze held hers, the more lightheaded she became. She didn't move as his right hand came to rest on her shoulder, fingers stroking the side of her neck. The contact only intensified the need that swept through her with the force of a wave swamping the rock they perched on.
Want to read and adult excerpt? Click on the link below.
http://www.sirenpublishing.com/cassandrapierce/
Check out the second story in Cassandra Pierce's tantalizing DarkIsle series, Loving Two Vampires.
Buy at: http://www.bookstrand.com/loving-two-vampires
Excerpt
He folded his arms and stared at her until she found herself getting lightheaded again. "This is your first time here."It hadn't been a question, and she saw no point in denying it. "Yes.""Name?" "Lindsay Tanner." She hadn't meant to reveal her last name, or at least not her real one. Somehow, it rose to her lips as if she had no control over her own speech. The assault must have shaken her more than she'd realized. "Uh…yours?""Caine Waldram." He reached out and grasped her hand. The coldness of his skin sent a shiver up her arm and straight to her nipples. Her own face suffused with heat as the front of her skimpy outfit stretched outward to form twin points. Caine's smile expanded along with the garment."An interesting name," she said in an effort to distract him.He shrugged. "People took Biblical names seriously when and where I was born. Either my parents had a strange sense of humor or they had a premonition about the sort of man I would become.""The Biblical Caine was cursed, you mean.""He also murdered his brother. Fortunately, I remained an only child."Though he was no longer touching her, she shivered again. "Well, you seem like a fine man to me. After all, you just saved me from that disgusting man…and from myself, I suppose." "I did what was necessary. I'll speak to management later and get our ill-mannered friend barred." He shrugged again, distracted. His gaze swept the room behind her. She was tempted to turn around, but resisted the urge. For some reason, she couldn't tear her attention away from him. He captivated her in a way the objective researcher in her found unsettling."Good idea."His smoldering gaze swung around again and pinned her. Whether a trick of the lighting or not, his eyes still appeared entirely black—perhaps like those of his Old Testament namesake. "And aside from that, are you enjoying yourself tonight? Do you like Purgatory?"No doubt he expected her to comment on the pun, so she ignored it. "It's…interesting.""I can see why you would say that. You didn't come here looking for companionship, like most everyone else. Nevertheless, you look lonely. I'm not sure you even realize it."In fact, Lindsay didn't consider herself lonely, even though her determination to earn a series of academic degrees and soon, hopefully, start a career, had made her personal life unsatisfactory at times. "There's a difference between being alone and lonely," she protested."I didn't just mean tonight." He lifted his hand and turned it palm upward to indicate a spot across the room. This time, she pivoted on her heel and looked in the direction he indicated."Now there's a man who needs companionship," Caine went on, his arm still raised. "Gabriel Blackstone is another very old acquaintance of mine, but he happens to be one you can trust. And I know as well as I know my own name that he's lonely. So go." His hand dropped to her shoulder, and he nudged her so subtly that Lindsay was moving forward before she even realized it. She didn't need to glance back to know Caine had vanished again.A tall blond man stood in the spot Caine had directed her toward, holding a tall metal goblet to his chest. His chin tilted up, and his gaze remained vacant, as though he were trying to lose himself in the strobe lights and music.Even though he scared her a little, she found Caine Waldram handsome. She couldn't deny that.But Gabriel Blackstone was, simply, the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
Adult Excerpt
Who is Cassandra Pierce?
Cassandra Pierce has been a fan of Gothic literature for most of her life, even studying the origins of the genre in college and graduate school. Before long, she got the urge to create paranormal romances of her own and is now hard at work on more Darkisle novels, among others. When she is not writing, she teaches college and is active in a charity that rescues and rehomes abandoned pets.
~Tasty tidbits about Cassandra~
Do you write under a pseudonym?Yes…In fact, over the course of my writing career I have used several different names…including some male ones. Nobody ever suspected a thing. These people are sort of like my evil twins, or Ms. Hydes, if you will. Pseudonyms are incredibly liberating because you can take on controversial subjects or write something really kinky, and never take any actual heat for it!
What is your favorite movie?Shattered Glass. It is the true story of a magazine writer who fakes all his stories. I have worked in the magazine business and find this film endlessly fascinating. Plus Hayden Christensen, a.k.a. Anakin Skywalker, plays the writer, which is another bonus.
What kind of vehicle do you drive? A Dodge Caravan, which doubles as a junk mobile since I don't have a garage.
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear on a daily basis? None. I lose things too easily and a wristwatch tends to scuff my laptop.
Have you ever gone commando (no underwear)? Never...I am way too Victorian for that.
How old are you? 45 (gulp)
~Interview with Cassandra~
What genre/s do you write? I tend to write Gothics, especially vampires, but recently branched out into male/male stuff as well as werewolves. And I just had a scifi accepted by Siren, so I am getting into that genre as well.
What made you decide to write the genre you do? Simply personal taste—it's what I've always enjoyed writing. As a teenager, I nourished myself with Daphne DuMaurier, Mary Stewart, and Victoria Holt books, plus I have been madly in love with Barnabas Collins since the 70s. When vampires became the "in" thing again, I was ready to jump in with both feet, though the reality is I'd been writing stuff like that all along. I just had a better chance of being published, and luckily it worked out.
Was there a specific author/individual that inspired you to become a writer? Emily Bronte has been my muse since my teenage years…Wuthering Heights captured my imagination in a way nothing else ever has. I went on to study Gothic novels in college and earn a Ph.D. in Victorian Literature, all because of that one book.
Wow, a Ph.D. Impressive! What is your latest book about? When does it come out? The sequel to Darkisle, called Loving Two Vampires, is currently scheduled for a winter 2010 release. Early 2011 should see the publication of my science fiction ménage, Captain Gareth's Mates, and possibly a m/m werewolf novel I just finished. The Darkisle series will continue for at least one more book, and these other two also have the potential to become series books if they catch on with readers.
Does your family know about your writing career? Sadly, my parents passed away several years ago, though I did publish a paperback Regency with a small press while they were still alive. As far as my current stuff, my two sisters and brother know everything and are very supportive. I have not been able to convince them to get into ebooks, though. They are waiting for paper copies.
I'm sorry to hear about your parents, but at least they got to see your talent on actual paper. So do the rest of your family say about it? They have always known I was a little kooky, so erotic vampire stories and wild alien sex romps don't strike them as anything out of the ordinary for me. At least, they are too polite to say anything about it to my face.
What are your thoughts on eBook piracy? I'm like every other author I know: it burns me up to think that there are copies of my work floating around that I will never see a dime from. I hope everyone reading this will support an author's right to be paid for her (or his) hard work and refrain from downloading under-the-table "freebies." Or at least send in the money later if you enjoyed the book. It's NOT the same as passing on a used paperback to a friend. It's more like stealing money out of our pockets.
I wholeheartedly agree! So, how old were you when you started writing? The earliest thing I can remember writing was a Tarzan ripoff crossed with a romance novel. I called it "Bosonzi and the Hunters." Bosonzi was a jungle woman who tamed wild animals and outwitted big-game hunters along with her three teenaged daughters, who lived in a tree house with her. Eventually, she convinced the hunters to leave the poor animals alone, and her daughters married some of the guys on the safari. I typed it all up on a little red child's typewriter and even designed a cover. I can still remember the first line: "Bosonzi awoke to the screams of monkeys, as she did every morning." That was in 1973, so I was about 8. It's been all uphill ever since!
Why did you choose eBook publishing? It's the wave of the future. On certain episodes of classic Star Trek, they carried books around on little CD-style disks, and on The Next Generation they used things called PADDS, which were basically Kindles or Nooks. Who knew that would all come true in our lifetime? I am a huge Star Trek fan so I want to be in on it!
Do you have a day job? If so what do you do? I am Assistant Professor of English at a small private college in New England. Much as I love writing, I love my other job, too. And it looks like I am finally going to start teaching creative writing there. I just may inspire some new ebook authors for all of us to enjoy.
I want to thank fellow Siren author, Cassandra Pierce for taking the time to answer my questions.
Want to find out more about Cassandra? Visit her at:
http://www.cassandrapierce.com
Read below for an excerpt from Heirs to Darkisle, book 1
ExcerptA pair of French doors opened onto a small patio overlooking the rock-strewn beach. Noticing her interest, Sebastian pushed them open and motioned her outside. Briana headed straight for the sand. He caught up to her as she made her way toward the water.Finally, things were falling into place tonight. They were alone. The Morgans' private beach was quiet and romantic. Even the weather was cooperating. The moon was glowing a vibrant amber, and the wind was blowing off the ocean, strong but pleasant. Sebastian tilted his face and let the salty gusts tousle his hair. "Storm's coming. I can feel it." Briana nodded. "Well, we get a lot of those in the spring. One of the bird-watchers at the motel told me the winds can get strong enough to blow tropical birds up here. Amazing, isn't it? You might wake up to find a flamingo on your roof.""Unlikely, though appealing." He smiled, but looked back as if to make sure. "So how do you like Morgan House, with or without rare ornithological specimens?""Makes me realize how small my own place is. I'd be embarrassed to show you around the way you just did for me.""Not at all. I would be delighted to be your guest.""You know…I feel I should do something for you, considering all you've done for Todd. I'm not much of a cook—my idea of a big meal is a frozen pizza—so I don't quite dare to invite you for dinner.""A meal would not be necessary. I'd enjoy your company without any food at all." "That's nice of you to say. Have you met many people since you got here?""Your brother and Ami were the first. Aside from you, though, none have been as memorable."Briana hoped the darkness obscured her hot blush. "This probably isn't the easiest place to start over. Darkisle is one of those towns where everyone knows everyone else, as the old saying goes. If you haven't lived here all your life, it can be tricky to fit in. Boredom is another issue. Fall and winter get pretty dreary, believe me.""Yet you choose to stay," Sebastian observed. "Mostly because I don't know any other way of life. My family has lived here for generations, just like yours." She paused as a sudden thought came to her. "I wonder if they knew each other, way back when.""An intriguing possibility." "I doubt my great-grandparents traveled in the same circles as yours. Still, it's an amusing thought.""Quite."They had strayed close to the waves. The sand here felt wet and hard."I'm going to take off my shoes," she said. "The water will destroy them."Sebastian watched her pull off her boots and socks and toss them as far as she could onto dry land. With a murmur of pleasure, she thrust her bare toes into the sand and burrowed them in deep."Do you like the water?" she asked Sebastian. "I'm afraid not. I prefer to observe from a distance.""I can deal with boats as long as the waves aren't too rough. But you're right. Looking at it from here is perfectly fine."He murmured noncommittally and slid his hands into his pockets. Briana casually swung her gaze along the water and ended up staring right at him. There was no question which view pleased her more. "You probably won't mind spending the winter here. I get the feeling the isolation won't bother you at all.""Why do you say that?""Because you always seem so content, so self-assured. Like now. You look like someone who prefers being alone."He removed his hands from his pockets and gingerly stepped through the rocks, making his way cautiously toward her. He settled himself beside her, careful not to submerge his feet the way she had. "It may look that way because I am so used to being alone.""Then I'm wrong?""Not entirely. I admit I've spent most of my…existence…on my own. With solitude comes safety. You've probably discovered that for yourself."Briana nodded. "To some extent.""I won't deny my interest in self-preservation. At times, it has become an obsession. I have desired it above everything else—money, position, even love. That particular door closed for me long ago. I made a conscious decision never to pry it open.""Why?"He turned his face to the night sky, and Briana took the opportunity to study his profile. By now, everything about him had begun to arouse her: the firm, aristocratic planes of his cheekbones, the graceful way he moved, the controlled rhythms of his speech. He was utterly unlike any man she had ever met. "Over the years, I've come up with a number of reasons. Perhaps I should call them justifications. No doubt some seemed legitimate, at least at the time. Strangely enough, at the moment I can't remember a single one.""I'm glad to hear that."Suddenly, he fixed his eyes directly on hers. That she felt herself drawn into those mysterious, dark green depths came as no surprise. What she did find inexplicable was the giddiness that crept over her, the slight blurring of her own vision that accompanied his interest. She felt grateful for the solid rock beneath them."Sebastian," she whispered. Her voice grew husky with need. "Shh."She fell silent. The longer his gaze held hers, the more lightheaded she became. She didn't move as his right hand came to rest on her shoulder, fingers stroking the side of her neck. The contact only intensified the need that swept through her with the force of a wave swamping the rock they perched on.
Want to read and adult excerpt? Click on the link below.
http://www.sirenpublishing.com/cassandrapierce/
Check out the second story in Cassandra Pierce's tantalizing DarkIsle series, Loving Two Vampires.
Buy at: http://www.bookstrand.com/loving-two-vampires
Excerpt
He folded his arms and stared at her until she found herself getting lightheaded again. "This is your first time here."It hadn't been a question, and she saw no point in denying it. "Yes.""Name?" "Lindsay Tanner." She hadn't meant to reveal her last name, or at least not her real one. Somehow, it rose to her lips as if she had no control over her own speech. The assault must have shaken her more than she'd realized. "Uh…yours?""Caine Waldram." He reached out and grasped her hand. The coldness of his skin sent a shiver up her arm and straight to her nipples. Her own face suffused with heat as the front of her skimpy outfit stretched outward to form twin points. Caine's smile expanded along with the garment."An interesting name," she said in an effort to distract him.He shrugged. "People took Biblical names seriously when and where I was born. Either my parents had a strange sense of humor or they had a premonition about the sort of man I would become.""The Biblical Caine was cursed, you mean.""He also murdered his brother. Fortunately, I remained an only child."Though he was no longer touching her, she shivered again. "Well, you seem like a fine man to me. After all, you just saved me from that disgusting man…and from myself, I suppose." "I did what was necessary. I'll speak to management later and get our ill-mannered friend barred." He shrugged again, distracted. His gaze swept the room behind her. She was tempted to turn around, but resisted the urge. For some reason, she couldn't tear her attention away from him. He captivated her in a way the objective researcher in her found unsettling."Good idea."His smoldering gaze swung around again and pinned her. Whether a trick of the lighting or not, his eyes still appeared entirely black—perhaps like those of his Old Testament namesake. "And aside from that, are you enjoying yourself tonight? Do you like Purgatory?"No doubt he expected her to comment on the pun, so she ignored it. "It's…interesting.""I can see why you would say that. You didn't come here looking for companionship, like most everyone else. Nevertheless, you look lonely. I'm not sure you even realize it."In fact, Lindsay didn't consider herself lonely, even though her determination to earn a series of academic degrees and soon, hopefully, start a career, had made her personal life unsatisfactory at times. "There's a difference between being alone and lonely," she protested."I didn't just mean tonight." He lifted his hand and turned it palm upward to indicate a spot across the room. This time, she pivoted on her heel and looked in the direction he indicated."Now there's a man who needs companionship," Caine went on, his arm still raised. "Gabriel Blackstone is another very old acquaintance of mine, but he happens to be one you can trust. And I know as well as I know my own name that he's lonely. So go." His hand dropped to her shoulder, and he nudged her so subtly that Lindsay was moving forward before she even realized it. She didn't need to glance back to know Caine had vanished again.A tall blond man stood in the spot Caine had directed her toward, holding a tall metal goblet to his chest. His chin tilted up, and his gaze remained vacant, as though he were trying to lose himself in the strobe lights and music.Even though he scared her a little, she found Caine Waldram handsome. She couldn't deny that.But Gabriel Blackstone was, simply, the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
Adult Excerpt
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