Haunted Dreams, Dark Destinies

2012: What Now?

2012-01-08T11:35:00.000-05:00

The year started off a bit shaky. Migraines and sinus headaches waylaid me the first couple days. Then I got hit by an unfavorable review on the anniversary of Death Sword's release. Ouch! January 5 was the 23rd year since my mother passed away in a car accident.

January 4 saw a more positive take on the new year with the release of an interview, courtesy of Ashley Barron. You can read it here: http://blog.thepriyas.com/2012/01/04/author-interview-pamela-turner.aspx

I wanted to see what the rest of 2012 would bring regarding writing. Since I hadn't submitted any story in 2011, one of my goals this year is to submit a minimum of two manuscripts. But what else could I learn about myself that would help or hinder my literary intentions?

I decided to read the Tarot. Specifically, I laid out a six card Simplified Celtic Cross. Now I am by no means a professional Tarot reader. What I interpret from the reading may be far different than what other Tarot readers might. But I also believe the Tarot delves into ones intuition. Perhaps this reading will show that aspect of these cards.

The Tarot deck I used was the Celtic Tarot.

1. Experience to Date: 8 of Swords
A woman bound and blindfolded, pinned and surrounded to the ground by eight swords. The card of "imprisonment." But it seems to be more one of self-confinement. How many times had I failed to finish and submit a story because I feared it would be rejected? Yeah, self-doubt does that to a person.

2. Where You Are Now: 10 of Pentacles
This card is considered to be the passing of time. I think for me it's regret over not accomplishing anything with my writing in the past year. Not that I can do anything about it. But I also look at this as being a temporary solution, one I can change.

3. Near Future: Empress
Is this a good sign? The focus is on "prosperity, action, beneficial influence..." I wonder if it means I'll have a manuscript ready to submit in the near future. I have an UF currently with beta readers/CPs, so maybe...

4. You in Environment of Future: Lovers
My husband is very supportive, allowing me to focus on my writing and classes. Granted, he hasn't read much of what I've written but I'm not going to quibble over that issue. :-)

5. Best to Hope for: Chariot
Well, this card is pretty self-evident. The idea is I'm in charge of my writing career. I just need to take control of it.

6. Outcome: Queen of Pentacles
I look at this card as being a positive one. It seems I will attain some results but perhaps not all I want regarding the writing. Still, any positive step is a good one.

Overall, I believe 2012 will be a good year writing wise. Not only because the reading indicates such but because I plan to make it so.

Season's Greetings!

2011-12-24T16:17:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and

a prosperous 2012!

DR RAYNE'S CURE FOR SIGHS

2011-12-20T12:05:00.000-05:00

In thirty years as an editor, I've found the same words blight and bloat the style of many authors. One of them is 'sigh'.

In real life, people who constantly sigh soon get on our nerves. Few folks enjoy the company of sighers. The same applies to fiction: readers don't like characters who sigh a lot.

Yet, sighs creep into fiction and multiply like vermin. If you're not on your guard, your novel soon reads like this:

He sighed....She sighed deeply.... He heaved a deep sigh... A sigh escaped from her lips.... With a sigh, she did this... Sighing, she rose.... He looked at her and sighed...

Moreover, a character who sighs at the slightest trigger comes across as a wuss.

One sigh is enough for the reader's subconscious to file that character as a wimp. Two sighs make the character a wimpy wimp. By the time your heroine has heaved her third sigh, the reader has lost respect for her.

It's raining - sigh.

Aunt Agatha is coming - sigh.

Little Laura misbehaves - sigh.

The kitten scratches - sigh.

Work needs doing - sigh.

Another Monday - sigh.

Life goes on - sigh.

Use your wordprocessor's Find&Replace tool to count how many times you've used 'sigh', and then cut most of them.

By cutting the sighs, you'll make your writing tighter and your characters spunkier.

I recommend keeping just one or two sighs in the whole book: one for a wimpy minor character, and one in the second half of the book where your protagonist has real reason to sigh.

I'd love to hear from you. When you've checked your WiP for 'look' and 'turn', post a comment to tell me how many you've found, and whether you're going to cut some of them.

What other 'wordy words' do you think writers can cut from from their word diet?

If you have questions about writing style, or need advice on how to tighten your writing, please ask. I'll be around for a week, and I enjoy answering questions.

JANUARY ONLINE CLASS: THE WORD-LOSS DIET

If your writing style tends towards wordy waffling, if your critique partners urge you to tighten, and if editorial rejections point out dragging pace, this class may be the answer. It's perfect for toning your manuscript before submitting to editors and agents, or for whipping it into shape before indie publishing.

This is an interactive class with twelve lessons and twelve assignments, for writers who have a full or partial manuscript in need of professional polish. At the end of the class, you may submit a scene for individual critiques.

Dr Rayne's Word-Loss Diet is much more fun than depriving yourself of food, and you'll see real results fast.

The Word-Loss Diet, presented by Rayne Hall. 1-31 January 2012

Deadline: December 29, 2011. Fee: $25

http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#JAN

'Author portrait by Kuoke; copyright Rayne Hall.'

AUTHOR BIO

Rayne Hall is the author of more than twenty books in different genres, published under several pen names with different publishers. Currently, she writes scary horror and outrageous fantasy fiction, and tries to regain the rights to her previously published works so she can re-publish them as e-books.

She has a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing, and has worked for nearly three decades in the publishing industry in Britain, Germany, China, Mongolia and Nepal, mostly as an editor.

After writing and editing, her great love is teaching, and she teaches online classes for writers: 'Writing Fight Scenes', 'Writing Scary Scenes', 'Writing about Magic and Magicians', 'Writing about Villains', 'Dr Rayne's Word-Loss Diet', 'SWOT for Writing Success' and more.

https://sites.google.com/site/writingworkshopswithraynehall/

A Tale of Two Vampires

2011-12-01T15:30:00.000-05:00

(Cross-posted from Write Club)

It's official! I finished The Ripper's Daughter, my vampire Victorian paranormal mystery for National Novel Writing Month on November 20 and verified it November 25.

I wanted to write about vampires, but I also wanted my story to be different. So I decided to make the relationship between Nathan and Stephen a symbiotic one. Stephen needed Nathan to drink his blood and Nathan had someone he could feed from without endangering other people's lives. Their relationship goes much farther, however, a sexual one they need to keep hidden from society. Not only that, but also continuing the charade of Stephen, Nathan's master, playing the part of his manservant.

Inspector Lewis

What really inspired me to write this story, though, was Inspector Lewis. The show aired on Masterpiece Mystery while I was plotting my NaNo WIP. Not that the two have anything in common except I knew, after watching Inspector Lewis, I wanted Nathan to be a former Detective Inspector.

Who would I pit Nathan against? Then it came to me. Who is the most infamous murderer in Victorian history? Jack the Ripper. (Okay, there are others, but I'm going with the most well-known.) And what if Jack the Ripper weren't human? What if he were a werewolf, and only Nathan knew this? So the DI risked his life and all he had to become a vampire and stop the Ripper? But what if he failed?

I explore this throughout the story. The guilt Nathan feels at failing to catch the Ripper and the determination to stop him when he finds the Ripper has come to Louisville, Nathan's new home. Nathan now owns a saloon called The Cloak and Dagger. I wanted a place where he could get information but not resort to making him work as a police officer or as a reporter. Besides, both those jobs would require working in daylight, something Nathan can no longer do. He can go out in overcast weather but direct sunlight will cause considerable damage, even death. And if Nathan dies, so does Stephen and vice versa.

Although this is a first draft, I thought I'd share a short excerpt.Remember, this is from a draft and is not intended to be considered final.

Please enjoy!

Excerpt:

I caught Stephen biting his lower lip, a worried expression on his face. Concern? He needn’t worry. After all, he turned me, knowing a vampire’s strengths and weaknesses. He knew I wouldn’t take foolish risks.

No, it was something else. Stephen hadn’t eaten or drunk much the last couple of days and seemed a bit sluggish and redder in the face, as if stricken with high blood pressure.

Something primal stirred in me. A faint coppery smell triggered an ache in my fangs which dropped slightly.

Our eyes met, Stephen’s blue ones darkening. He rose, pulling the brocade curtains shut against the moonlight and any passersby. We couldn’t risk complacency. To do so could put our lives in danger.

He crossed the room and sat on the sofa next to me. The light from the lamp glinted on his hair, throwing shadows across his face, the bridge of his aquiline nose. But my attention was drawn to his carotid artery. I licked my lips, desire pooling in my body, heightened by his nearness and the smell of blood. As my fangs continued to drop, my need grew and I shifted impatiently, eager to drink.

Stephen leaned his head back. I unbuttoned his shirt collar, pushing it aside to reveal pale flesh at the juncture of neck and shoulder. Leaning in, I breathed in the scent of soap and water, a clean smell.

He made no sound as I licked the skin, readying it. I looked down to see Stephen clench his fists and I wrapped my fingers around his wrist. The gesture served two purposes, to comfort him and to anchor myself against the ecstasy of drinking his blood.

Stephen closed his eyes. My breathing quickened, my heartbeat increased as adrenaline pumped through my bloodstream. In contrast, Stephen’s breathing and heart rate slowed as his heart struggled to pump the excess blood circulating through him.

Again, I marked the spot with a gentle swipe of my tongue, tasting salt. The ache in my fangs intensified and I became heady with passion, both for his blood and his body, which needed to be satisfied in that order.

I bit, incisors pricking his skin. A thin line of blood trickled free and I lapped at it. Within seconds I fed, my mind focused on Stephen and the pleasure this act gave both of us.

For him, it was relief. For me, it became an almost orgiastic experience.

His hand tightened on my leg, fingers pressing into my kneecap as I continued to drink. At first I worried I hurt him. But he assured me the sensation was one of pleasure-pain and far more preferable to the discomfort he felt when his body became gorged with too much blood.

The Ripper's Daughter and an Update

2011-11-25T13:34:00.000-05:00

First, I'm excited to announce I won NaNoWriMo with my short novel, The Ripper's Daughter.

"Nathaniel James, former DI with Scotland Yard, is now a vampire and owner of the saloon, The Cloak and Dagger, in Louisville, Kentucky. But he can't seem to let go of his inspector past. When the mauled bodies of prostitutes start showing up, Nathan believes the Ripper has come to the River City. But why? And who is the mysterious young woman who now accompanies the Ripper?

Nathan knows one thing. The police won't be able to catch the Ripper using conventional methods. Not when their killer isn't human."

(Note: That's a working blurb, nothing official.)

This story is my first mystery. It's a cross-genre paranormal erotic romance/mystery. For those of you who don't know, I love reading whodunits, from cozies to hard-boiled. I'm currently reading Fadeout by Joseph Hansen and wondering why it took me so long to find the David Brandstetter mysteries.

The other news is a bit more complicated. I've discovered I may be an Empath. Earlier this month, on the 14th and 15th, I suffered from a near-suicidal depression. It was so bad, I also nearly deleted my works-in-progress, including my NaNo project. I had no idea why I felt this way. Life up to then had been fine. Wednesday came and the miasma of pain disappeared, as if it had never been there. Strange, I thought. But then I learned that on that same Monday, someone I knew had killed himself.

This is something I've been struggling with. Have some of my other "depressions" merely been psychic reactions to other people's deaths? People I didn't know? People who died by their own hand, consumed with a grief so strong they projected it onto me?

If this is true, it's something I need to deal with. Like someone said, we all have an empathic ability to some extent. I guess I'd kept mine shut off for so long I'd no idea.

I attended his memorial service. Even though I'd only met him a few times, I wanted that chance to say goodbye.

Suffice it to say, I didn't destroy any stories. (The thought of retyping doesn't appeal to me.) I've gone back to Serpent Fire, the second book in my Angels of Death series. I know it needs work but I think I'm ready to tackle it. Same with my other angel urban fantasy. But I plan to write more stories involving other preternatural beings, including some not common to Western readers, such as the alp.

Because you know what? I don't plan to give up on my writing. I'm just not wired that way.

Tuesday Guest Blog: The Lure of the Dark Side

2011-11-01T09:20:00.000-04:00

Into the Darkness

by Kerri Nelson

In the battle between good and evil there is always a dark side and a light side. In my recent release, Courting Demons, I’ve appropriately named mine “The Dark Order” and the “High Order”. I chose “High Order” because I wanted to have the angelic feel as in “Angels We Have Heard on High”. And although I don’t give too much detail on the High Order in this story it is sort of a given that it is run by angels or Guardians and that they have a plan that has yet to be revealed.

I can’t share that plan with you now but I can tell you that the High Order will be heavily featured in the sequel to Courting Demons…coming soon!

In the meantime, we get to visit the Dark Order several times during this story. First, Paisley goes on trial there for her vengeance spell gone awry. Later, we get to experience that world through the eyes of a demon character as well.

So, what is it about the dark side that so interests us? I doubt that most of us really wish we were on the side of darkness. But yet, we cannot deny that it has an allure to it that draws us back time and time again.

Is it the feeling of the forbidden? The taboo taunting us? Maybe we are just intrigued with knowing how the other half lives.

Whatever the reason, those who are fans of paranormal and fantasy cannot deny our desire to take a journey into the darkness. In my dark world, I’ve inserted both humor and a bit of scariness but Paisley must walk a fine line between the light and dark if she is to get her life back in order.

The question remains, if given the chance, would you be willing to take a walk on the dark side? Or, would you rather bask in the safe glow of the light?

Thanks for hosting today, Pamela. And to everyone who drops by, don’t forget to enter my Kindle contest no later than November 7^th! The grand prize winner will be announced at my Twitter Party on November 8^th.

Book Title: Courting Demons

Blurb:

Paisley Barton was already having a bad day before she turned her husband into a rat.

First, she was fired by her boss and then came home to find hubby in the shower with a naked blonde chick. They say that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned but this break-up may just unleash hell on Earth when Paisley casts a spell of vengeance against her philandering husband.

After her spell casting inadvertently opens a portal between dimensions, Paisley finds her family home transformed into a nightly courtroom for settling disputes between demons of the underworld and she’s the judge! If that’s not enough, she’s got to deal with a charming, ancient demon named Camden who wants to be her personal bodyguard while trying to explain her husband’s sudden, mysterious disappearance to sexy police Detective Dalton Briggs.

But Paisley will show them all that an everyday working mom is better equipped than most to deal with the mystical mayhem…and with a tempting demon hottie and a flirtatious young detective vying for her affection, she soon learns that being single again isn’t so bad after all.

“When a wronged wife turns her cheating husband into a rat, you know you have to keep reading! Kerri Nelson offers up a lot of fun and wild magic in Courting Demons!” --Bestselling author, Linda Wisdom, Demons are a Girl’s Best Friend

Author Bio:

Kerri Nelson discovered her love of writing at an early age and soon became a columnist for her local newspaper winning the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.

After a fifteen year career in the legal field, Kerri fulfilled her lifelong dream of publication and is now an award winning multi-published author of nearly every genre under the sun (and moon) and also writes young adult fiction under the penname K.G. Summers.

A true southern belle, she comes complete with a dashing southern gentleman and three adorable children for whom she often bakes many homemade treats.

Kerri is an active member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America as well as numerous chapters including Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal Writers and her Presidency of Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.

Read more about Kerri’s books at her website: www.kerrinelson.com

Follow her on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/kerribookwriter

Visit her industry blog here: www.thebookboost.blogspot.com

Buy Links (print and e-book versions available 9/15 wherever books are sold but here’s the publisher link—free gift available with purchase of print copy—while supplies last):

http://jupitergardens.com/Courting-Demons-by-Kerri-Nelson-print.html

Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Courting-Demons-ebook/dp/B005OAY7TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316621839&sr=8-1

Giveaway for the day:

Leave a question or comment to be entered to win today’s prize: A choice of e-books from my back list!

Details on how to enter to win the GRAND PRIZE Kindle at the end of my “Dark Days of Demons Tour” located here:

http://kerribookwriter.blogspot.com/2011/09/courting-demons-blog-tour-win-kindle.html

Excerpt link for Courting Demons: http://www.jupitergardens.com/excerpts/kn_cd.html

Free Halloween Reads

2011-10-29T21:04:00.000-04:00

Hi, everyone. If you're interested in short horror fiction, I have a few free reads over at my site The Sepulchral Library.

What, if any, horror-themed stories are you planning to read this Halloween? I plan to read stories from Haunted Legends, Teeth, Bloody Parchment, and Apexology Horror.

This, of course, is contingent on how much plotting I get done on my NaNo project. :-)

Tuesday Guest Blog: The Evolution of a Romance Reader

2011-09-27T14:13:00.004-04:00

by Trish McCallan

I’ve been a reader for as long as I can remember. Back in grade school I devoured any book that had an animal in it. I went through all the dog books, all the horse books, all the pig, cat, chicken, goat, mule, deer and spider books that our local library had. I used to bike there every couple of days with a basket full of books and return with a basketful of books. My mom used to laughingly claim that I missed every family vacation because I had my nose buried in between the pages.

Even then I wanted my happy ending. I hated books where the animal died. Hated them. Hated them. Hated them. I wouldn’t even check them out. I’d ask the clerk at the counter. Lassie doesn’t die, does she? Or the Black Stallion’s Minx doesn’t die, does she. Old Yeller doesn’t—he does? Back on the shelf it would go.

So looking back, romances and I were a natural fit. I wanted a happy ending, even back then—without knowing what a happy ending was—that’s what I was looking for.

I still remember stumbling across my first romance. I was a teenager at the time, around fifteen, still on a horse kick. And someone loaned me a book about a city girl who gets shipped to her grandparents for the summer and rescues a starving horse. There was a boy in this book. A local cutie, who happened to be the town’s expert on horses. He helped the heroine nurse her horse back to heath. I guess you’d call it a sweet young adult romance. I think there some kissing, but that was all. I devoured it, and it wasn’t the horse action I was hooked on! After I finished the book, I biked to my local bookstore to buy more. Problem was he didn’t have anything else like it, instead he pointed me to the Barbara Cartland section of the wall. I didn’t know enough to look at the blurb, so I bought the books that had a horse on the cover. *g

And that’s how I discovered romances. I bought from Barbara Cartland’s shelf until there were none left, and then I moved down the row, which happened to be Harlequin presents. I used to save up my allowance, and my paper route money and I’d spend every penny on books. I never saved a dime because I was always buying books. These, you see, weren’t books I could find in the children’s section of our local library. I didn’t know enough to look in the adult section.

And then, wonder of wonders, I discovered I could get these same books really, really cheap at the local Goodwill. So I used to go down and buy shopping bags full of them. At the Goodwill, there were other romances too, historicals mostly. So I bought them as well. I was in high school by then, and most definitely did not need sex education.

I read my first romantic suspense while in college. It was from the now dissolved Silhouette Intimate Moments line, and they quickly became my favorites. I knew exactly when to expect the new releases to arrive and I’d buy every single one of them. This is where I discovered Linda Howard, Suzanne Brockmann, Rachel Lee, Kylie Brant, and a host of other romantic suspense authors. When my favorite authors moved to single title, I followed them. As the category lines became more and more bogged down with clichéd storylines, I branched out into single title romantic suspense and pretty much stayed there.

I’ve read almost everything through the years, with the exception of inspirationals. But my two favorite genres have always been romantic suspense and paranormal. It’s no surprise, I suppose, that every single book I’ve written combines these two elements.

So tell me, do you remember the first romance you read? How did you find it? And what did you move onto from there? What was your evolution as a romance reader?

Blurb:

Beth Brown doesn’t believe in premonitions until she dreams a sexy stranger is gunned down during the brutal hijacking of a commercial airliner. When events in her dream start coming true, she heads to the flight’s departure gate. To her shock, she recognizes the man she’d watched die the night before.

Lieutenant Commander Zane Winters comes from a bloodline of elite warriors with psychic abilities. When Zane and two of his platoon buddies arrive at Sea-Tac Airport, he has a vision of his teammates’ corpses. Then she arrives—a leggy blonde who sets off a different kind of alarm.

As Beth teams up with Zane, they discover the hijacking is the first step in a secret cartel’s deadly global agenda and that key personnel within the FBI are compromised. To survive the forces mobilizing against them, Beth will need to open herself to a psychic connection with the sexy SEAL who claims to be her soul mate.

"Forged In Fire is a smoking hot adventure with an irresistible alpha hero. Danger, action, suspense, and a steamy romance make a story that's impossible to put down!"

Patti O'Shea, National Bestselling Author of Through a Crimson Veil

Buy links

amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LPUCB6

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forged-in-fire-trish-mccallan/1105460502?ean=2940013009103&itm=1&usri=fiorged%2bin%2bfire2c%2btrish%2bmccallan

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/86910

Tuesday Guest Post: WHEN MAGES MAKE MISTAKES

2011-09-20T00:00:00.050-04:00

(by Rayne Hall)

Photo Credit: Dreamstime_xxl_19705302

You can create exciting plot complications if the magician who casts a spell gets it wrong.

Here are some ideas you can use in your fiction. Although I've used the female pronoun, everything applies to magicians of either gender.

* The magician summons a spirit (e.g. a demon) to do her bidding - but that spirit is malevolent and more powerful than she expected, and she is unable to keep it under control.

* The magician creates a protective circle around herself which shields her from the summoned spirits and from evil - but then she accidentally steps out of the circle.

* The magician recites a complicated spell ... but she misremembers a word or mispronounces a syllable, and the outcome is not what she intended. (This happens only with forms of magic which rely on the precise wording, for example, ancient Egyptian magic. It doesn't happen with forms of magic where the intent is more important than the word, such as Wiccan witchcraft.)

* The magician wants something intensely, and doesn't mean to cast a spell ... but she has unwittingly raised magical energy by dancing or drumming, and her intense desire turns into a spell... one which she comes to regret bitterly.

* The magician, roused to righteous anger, casts a harmful spell (a hex or a curse) on someone... but the harm returns to her, and she suffers the same fate. (In some forms of magic, it is said that the harm returns threefold, or hundredfold.)

* The magician casts a benevolent spell to help someone... but by helping one person, she is harming another (e.g. by helping a friend succeed at a job interview, she robs someone else of the chance), and the harm returns to her.

* The magician casts a spell on the spur of the moment, which at the time seems the right thing to do... but afterwards, she realises that what she has done is unethical, or has unwanted consequences.

* The magician summons a god into the circle .... but gods don't take kindly to humans who boss them about. Although they may lend a helping hand to the magician who invites them, they may punish the presumptuous ones.

* The magician raises magical energy to fuel a spell (for example, by dancing, drumming or chanting)... but she raises more than she intended, and the spell magnifies out of proportion. She may intend to light a candle, and instead set the house on fire. She may intend to bring an afternoon's sunshine, and instead bring ten years of desperate drought.

* The magician may desperately try to concentrate on the spell, because magic works through the mind... but in a situation of acute danger, she can't concentrate. The more urgently she needs to concentrate, the less she is able to. Perhaps the gun-armed killers are already breaking down the door, or the sadistic villain is torturing her lover in the same room, and the distraction means she can't summon the concentration she needs to work magic.

* The magician casts a spell for what she wants to happen... but she forgets to specify how. For example, if she's desperate for cash, she may cast a spell for a hundred thousand dollars, and a week later she learns that her beloved sister has died and in her will left her that amount.

* The magician casts a spell for what she wants to happen... but she forgets to specify when. The results come years later, when she has long forgotten about the spell, and when the results are no longer desirable.

Magical mistakes can seldom be undone. Trying to undo a spell may even mess things up further. A sensible, experienced magician will always think carefully before she works magic, considering the necessary preparations, the ethic implications, and the possible consequences - but the magician in your novel may not always be careful and sensible.

The fiction potential of magical misjudgements and screw-ups endless. I hope this article has inspired your creativity.

If you have questions about magical mistakes, or want feedback for an idea, or if you need help with a magical mistake scenario in your WiP, please ask. I'll be around for a week and will answer questions.

Rayne Hall teaches an online workshop 'Writing about Magic and Magicians'. Create believable magicians (good and evil), fictional spells which work, and plot complications when the magic goes wrong. Learn about high and low magic, witches and wizards, circle-casting and power-raising, initiation and training, tools and costumes, science and religion, conflicts and secrecy, love spells and sex magic, and apply them to your novel. This is a 4-week class with 12 lessons and practical assignments. If you wish, you may submit a scene for critique at the end of the workshop.

The next dates for this workshop are:

October 2011: Celtic Hearts RWA www.celtichearts.org/workshops.html
March 2012: Lowcountry RWA www.lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/
April 2013: Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal: www.romance-ffp.com/workshops.cfm

Her other workshops include 'Writing Fight Scenes', 'Writing Scary Scenes' and 'The Low Word Diet'. For an updated listed of her upcoming workshops, go to sites.google.com/site/writingworkshopswithraynehall/

Rayne has had more than twenty books published under different pen names, with several publishing houses and in several languages. Her latest novel, Storm Dancer, is a dark-heroic fantasy about magic and demons.

Putting the "Fan" in Fandom Fest

2011-07-27T12:52:00.000-04:00

(Cross-posted from Write Club)

This past weekend, two types of fans descended on the sci-fi/fantasy/horror con known as Fandom Fest. The first consisted of authors, readers, editors and publishers devoted to speculative fiction. The other kind blew air on perspiring con attendees. Yes, folks, when other bloggers mention the unbearable heat, they speak the truth.

Nevertheless, this con is particularly special because not only did I participate in an Author Reading with Kathryn Sullivan and Sarah Glenn, where I read the first chapter of my short novel, Death Sword, I also sat on my first panel: “Urban Fantasy – Can You Define It?” Other authors on the panel included Michael Williams, Denise Verrico, Missa Dixon, and Julie Kagawa. Yes, folks, I sat next to a RITA winner. For those of you who don’t know, Julie Kagawa won the 2011 RITA for best young adult romance with her novel, The Iron King.

The problem with panels, of course, is not being able to attend them all. Fandom Fest offered a diverse selection, ranging from “Academic Credibility for Speculative Fiction” to “Cover Art – A Book is Judged By Its Cover” to “The Paranormal in Fiction.” And no, I can’t tell you my favorite panel. I enjoyed them all.

Also enjoyed hanging out with three other members of Savvy Authors: Amy McCorkle, Marian Allen and Fiona Young-Brown. Except for Amy, I hadn’t met Marian or Fiona in person until then, even though they live in the region.

Of course, cons are for networking. Not only did I collect a number of business cards and bookmarks, I also chatted with authors and publishers, some who I’ve met before at previous cons. Gwen Mayo, a Kentucky mystery writer, gave me some good advice about noting information on the back of someone’s business card for future reference. And Missa Dixon gave me tips on how to prepare for a panel. I’m happy to say my first time went pretty well. Not perfect but better than I expected.

Credit also goes to Gwen and Sarah Glenn of the local chapter of Sisters in Crime for telling me about Fandom Fest and encouraging me to contact Stephen Zimmer, the literary track director. And thanks to Stephen for letting me play in his sandbox.

Fandom Fest Literary Track: http://fandomfest.squarespace.com/literary-track/

Fandom Fest Literary Guests: http://fandomfest.squarespace.com/literary-guests/

Fandom Fest Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fandom-Fest/109559779115312

Fandom Fest

2011-07-21T14:45:00.000-04:00

Networking often brings opportunities we might otherwise have missed. If not for an announcement in the Kentucky Literary Newsletter, I wouldn't have known about ConGlomeration. Nor would I have had the chance to read an excerpt from my debut short novel, Death Sword.

This weekend, I have another opportunity to read from Death Sword at Fandom Fest. Not only that but I'll also be on an urban fantasy panel with fellow Kentucky writers Molly Harper and RITA winner Julie Kagawa (along with Denise Verrico and Missa Dixon).

If it wasn't for networking, I wouldn't have even known about Fandom Fest. That information is thanks to Gwen Mayo and Sarah Glenn of the local Sisters in Crime chapter (which I must join). They suggested I contact Stephen Zimmer, director of the literary track (Fandom Fest) and introduce myself. Why not? So I did and now here we are.

I'm looking forward to meeting my fellow authors. Some I've met before and others are new to me. But that's what's so great about cons.

And there's always opportunities for more networking. :-)

Fandom Fest is this weekend, July 22-24 in Louisville, KY (Fern Valley Hotel and Conference Center, 2715 Fern Valley Road). Tickets are available at the door.
The Literary Track program can be found here.

Tuesday Guest Blog: The Memories in my Collection of Sea Glass

2011-06-28T11:09:00.000-04:00

When my father was still living, we spent many hours on vacations searching for and collecting sea glass. I still have our jar full of weathered “gems” sitting on my writing desk. The title of my latest release, Sea Glass and Sand Memories came quickly, when I had only a shred of the plot and setting in mind. It has a double meaning. To me, the title is all about the memories of those family trips, the wonderful times I had with my father who I miss a lot. The second meaning of the title comes with the ending. When my main character, young woman named Kate, returns to a familiar location in search of sea glass, she finds a surprise in store for her.

Sea glass is glass found on beaches of oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes that has been tumbled smooth by the action of waves, water, and sand. The results are pieces of broken glass, frosted and smooth like gems. In a rainbow of colors, the original source determines the color and texture. The most common are Kelly green, brown, and colorless, mostly from bottles used to sell beer, juices and soft drinks. Less common colors include jade and amber (from whiskey and medicine bottles), lime green, forest green, and soft blues (from soda bottles during the 1960s or earlier). The rarest colors are purple, cobalt/cornflower (Milk of Magnesia and Vick’s VapoRub bottles) and aqua (Ball Mason canning jars).

Dad and I aimed for any color other than clear with equal delight. Many great pieces of our collection came from the setting of my story, the western coastline of Lake Michigan, the dunes area. That area of shore has a relaxed, time-stands-still feeling I think made a good setting to harbor a mysterious ghost story. It’s a quaint artsy area, a quiet place where unusual happenings could pass unnoticed for years…until the right person stumbled in like Kate.

Blurb:

Looking forward to a relaxing week at a Lake Michigan coastal resort, Kate finds much more than the picturesque dunes she intended to paint. Adventures start when her requested room is switched beside an unusual couple – a witch and her lover, a ghost.

During her stay, the handsome ghost, Anson, tries to ensnare her into helping him escape the witch who killed him and then enslaved his spirit. That witch holds him captive on the property of his mother’s resort. Anson wins Kate’s heart and loyalty, but is that enough to set him free?

Warning: This story contains paranormal sex, pagan abuse of a ghost spirit, nightmares, and happy family memories.

Excerpt:

A loud knock on my door made us hush.

I held my breath.

I heard metal scraping, as though the door bolt slide open. A shadow moved across the rug in the main room.

My pulse rang in my ears.

Zandra stood in the bedroom doorway, her face ashen. “Lover, you and I have something to discuss. Leave her!” she commanded.

Anson gathered his clothes and left obediently. With only a chilling look cast at me, she turned and followed him.

What would she do to him? I dressed quickly and quietly, moving to a position under their sitting room window, listening to every noise. Soon, they argued.

“I own your soul,” Zandra pronounced.

“You possess me only by your black deeds.”

“You are my lover. What do you think you’re doing with that girl?”

“I will never love you.” His voice remained composed and assertive.

She declared, “Then, you will never love her.”

I rose up just enough to peer through a slat in the blind.

She stomped across the room, snatched an amber-colored bottle from a shelf, and yanked out the stopper. She turned toward Anson. Her face looked like a corpse, drawn and white. She proclaimed, “Captus anima!”

My mouth dropped open as his form vaporized into smoke sucked in by the bottle. When all his matter entered the vessel, she quickly replaced the stopper.

Her lips curled. “You will never love again.” Then, she looked directly at me.

Horrified, I dropped down. My heart thumped in my chest. Had she seen me? I waited. Nothing happened. Then I heard her footsteps, but they sounded from farther in the apartment. I crept back to my room. I sat on the floor, completely still, listening. Still nothing. A faint glow of dawn shone through the window. What should I do?

Author Bio:

Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Her creativity also spills into watercolor painting and drawing. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in 2008, she’s happily transforming into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors. Crazy about cycling, she usually passes the 1,000 mile mark yearly. She is learning kayaking and already addicted. She’s been a yoga enthusiast for over a decade and that spiritual quest helps her explore the mystical side of fantasy. She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at new stories with toes wiggling in the sand. Every day at the beach is magical!

Links to Marsha and her books:

Website http://MarshaAMoore.com

Blog http://MarshaAMoore.blogspot.com

Twitter http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore

Facebook http://facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/marshaamoore

Sea Glass and Sand Memories purchase link

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=139&category_id=69&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Movie Review: Devil (2010)

2011-06-21T17:25:00.000-04:00

Although not considered a thriller, Jean-Paul Sartre’s play, No Exit, shows how tensions can fester when people are forced together in a confined space.

Devil takes this concept and brings it into a world of skyscrapers, cell phones, and CCTV security cameras. But at the core is a story of the human condition and how quickly people can degenerate into querulous behavior.

The story begins with Detective Bowden called to investigate the suicide of a victim who jumped through a skyscraper window several stories up. A widower, he’s still trying to deal with the hit-and-run death of his wife and son.

Meanwhile, five people enter an elevator in the same building where the suicide took place. They are given no names, known only by their description or occupation: Guard, Mechanic, Salesman, Old Woman, and Young Woman. Perhaps the intention to keep them nameless is to keep us from identifying with and sympathizing with them. Indeed, they are not the most pleasant characters. Like Sartre’s doomed trio, they hide sins, some darker than others. And it is these sins the Devil is eager to point out.

The elevator soon stops, leaving the five trapped aboard. At first they’re not too alarmed, being assured by the security guards, Lustig and Ramirez, they’ll be rescued before long.

That is, until the lights go out. When they come up, the others are horrified to see the Young Woman has been bitten in her back. Tensions already on the brink start to spill over into accusations. What’s the best way to defeat your enemy? Make them bicker among themselves.

Injury soon leads to death, the first victim being the smarmy, sleazy salesman. Detective Bowden, at the scene of the crime, is called into the building to investigate these strange killings where elevator occupants are picked off one by one until only three are left: the Guard, the Young Woman, and the Mechanic.

Ramirez insists he’s seen the Devil in the elevator when the lights go off. The others, not prone to what they believe is superstition, write off Ramirez’s religious ramblings and seek to find mundane reasons for the stalled elevator and the motive of one whom they believe to be a murderer. The only question is who’s guilty?

By this time, the Young Woman, Mechanic, and Guard, driven to the point of fisticuffs, are ordered to remain in their respective corners. While Bowden and the guards, along with city firefighters, do what they can to free the others, the Devil claims its prize, leaving its victims to reflect upon a world where their sins are bared.

Although not original in its execution, Devil balances tension, building it as the elevator occupants come to realize one of them is a killer. The film is not particularly horrifying, given the murders happen “off-stage,” that is, in the dark. And it didn’t take me long to figure out who the Devil was. The ending was bittersweet, and yet satisfying, a closing chapter on the lives of two characters. Despite its flaws, the film is watchable, compact enough in its 80 minutes to retain the level of suspense needed. Too much longer and it would’ve felt bloated and lost its impact.

Devil is directed by John Erick Dowdle and written by Barry Nelson and M. Night Shyamalan

Playing with Book Trailers (For an Unpublished Book)

2011-06-16T18:22:00.002-04:00

I suppose you're wondering what would possess me to make a book video for a novel that hasn't yet received a contract. What am I? Arrogant? Presumptuous? Stupid? Crazy?

Well, probably. Maybe not all on the same day but at least one out of four. However, none of those adjectives fit the current description. So why?

I wanted to. Simple as that. I've been taking a short break from writing and decided to work on my drawing and video editing skills. (Note: the drawing is another blog.) For those of you who don't know, I used to shoot and edit a local TV show (that lasted one season). And I like working with video and imagery.

It also gave me a chance to use footage I'd shot years ago on 16mm film (converted to video). In fact, one of the rolls of film I shot inspired a scene in the book. Yes, it may be disturbing to some. Certainly unsettling. Unfortunately, Eastern Cemetery has a reputation undeserved or not. Its history is tragic enough without the vandalism.

But there it is. Whatever the fate of the book, I hope you enjoy the trailer. If nothing else, it was a fun creative exercise.

Guest Post: Salvation of Humanity Through the Hands of the Supernatural Beasts

2011-05-31T08:21:00.000-04:00

I kind of thought the title would either grab your attention or baffle you. What does it mean and why did I pick it? I was going back and forth about what I would discuss today. Philosophy, ideology, mythology, anthropology or theology? Maybe a little of them all if you can connect the threads for yourself.

Pamela invited me to her blog. Thank you! She said she had a blog about supernatural creatures.

Hi I’m a.c. Mason. I know a little about supernatural creatures since I sometimes feel like one. When I’m not being a strange creature I’m an evil master mind plotting to take over the world. As you can see, I’ve yet to reach my ultimate goad. Lol.

I’ve also worked on many races of supernatural creatures for my books, but I’ll focus on the two that are currently published.

My first creatures were the Aequitas. For those of you that don’t know aequitas, equitas is Latin for: justice, fairness, equity.
I liked the first word a lot. And I christened my creations the Aequitas.
What are the Aequitas?
They are humanoids who:
Travel through realms and planets.
They are immortal.
They can fly with angel’s wings that come out of their back, they can learn to harness inner peace, and work on the side of what is just.
They can communicate telepathically.
They exchange blood to share their most sacred gift a part of their soul.
They have demon strength, cunningness, and speed.
Their eyes turn black when using demon attributes.
They can collect and release souls.
They are a race of slaves, born into servitude with the purpose of balancing good and evil.

They are the equalizers between the forces of good and evil. The duality within them was wonderful the play with as a writer. Having the universes as the backdrop gives me a lot of freedom, but Earth, Heaven and Hell play big roles.

In Aequitas I Betrayal you are introduced to the world of the Aequitas and their saga continues in Aequitas II Punishment. I’m currently working on the final book of the trilogy Aequitas III Redemption.

My second supernatural creatures are the Shunu.

I’d learned about the Shunu, one of three sons of a God known by some of the Turkic peoples while doing other research. I do far too much research. I know a lot useless information. Shunu is a lupine (relating to a wolf or wolves) deity and my shifters are his descendants. The mythology of my wolf-sprits comes from the Turkic beliefs.

Shunu are my shifters:

They can shift into spirit form or solid wolf.

Each has a second ability. VanWolf dreams of possible futures. You have to read the series to find out what the other pack members gifts are.

But Shunu aren’t the only supernatural creatures in the Wolf-Spirit series. There are werewolves-a mixed breed (Part Shunu and Human), Amyrsana—chieftain (witches and warlocks) and the Aru tos—deities (demi-gods).

In Chocolate Damsel you are introduce to the Wolf-Spirit series and the harrowing adventure continues in Chocolate Temptation. The wolf-spirit series treks through WWII starting in Paris France when the city is occupied. I do intend on writing other wolf–spirit novellas in different time periods.

I hope that give you a look into my supernatural creatures and me.

Now I have a question for you. Why do we seem to want human salvation to come from the supernatural? Have we lost faith in our fellow man?

If you want to learn more about me, a.c. Mason or my books you can find me at www.acmason.com and my books here.

Pamela thanks for having me and my strange creatures by.

a.c. Mason

Darkness ♀♂ Desires

www.acmason.com

Tuesday Guest Post: Sonya Clark

2011-05-24T08:00:00.024-04:00

Roxie Mathis is the Mojo Queen

There are certain things readers of urban fantasy have come to expect because of their prevalence in the genre. Kick-ass, leather pants, and tramp stamps are common descriptors for urban fantasy heroines. When I started writing Mojo Queen I knew I wanted something a little different for main character Roxanne Mathis.

Roxie is a paranormal investigator. She’s also a hoodoo root worker who can see auras and spectral entities. Her life isn’t about beating up bad guys, it’s about using natural magic to defend against supernatural problems. She’s got a casual wardrobe of jeans and cargo pants, tee shirts and boots. She wears glasses, what with being near-sighted. If she had the extra money to spare she’d choose to blow it on blues records rather than a tattoo. Unlike the reluctant heroines of some stories, Roxie has no real desire for that fabled “normal life”. She feels at home in a supernatural world most would find terrifying. Here’s a passage from Goofer Dust Blues, one of the Mojo short stories available on the Free Reads page of my blog.

A gust of wind disturbed my hair, giving me a little spook. It tripped that switch in the back of my brain or deep down in my gut or wherever it was, the switch that flipped when the spook was just right and shivered across the ends of my nerves. The thing is, I like the dark. I like the spook. I feel at home there, walking alongside the things that go bump in the night. Not for nothing is my best friend a vampire.

Someone brave enough, or crazy enough, to be friends with a vampire must not be afraid of anything. Roxie does get scared though, and she has a healthy respect for all those creatures and spirits that live in the dark and sometimes cause mischief and mayhem. She gets scared, but she does her job anyway. She doesn’t make a big deal out of it but she believes in helping people. Most folks can’t handle the supernatural world so they don’t know what to do when they come face to face with it. Remembering what it was like as a kid and first dealing with her auric vision and finding herself surrounded by ghosts, Roxie wants to help people who are out of their depth in the dark. Even if it means sometimes she finds herself in over her head. She might have to bluff her way through a situation, or she might have to jump blind and hope she sticks the landing. With her knowledge of hoodoo, her magical abilities, and yes her vampire best friend, she hasn’t found a thing yet she didn’t have the mojo to vanquish. Who needs leather pants when you are the Mojo Queen?

Learn more about the author at http://www.sonyaclark.net/

Winner!

2011-05-16T15:52:00.000-04:00

Toss the confetti! We have a winner of Danielle Monsch's Ebook Pleasure Satellite!

Congratulations, MM Queen of English. Please send your email address to Danielle at Dani(at)DanielleMonsch(dot)com and she will send it to you.

Thank you all for commenting. I'm sorry there was such a debacle with Blogger these past few days. Hopefully, they've fixed the problem and everything will return to normal. :-)

Tuesday Guest Post: Danielle Monsch

2011-05-10T07:13:00.002-04:00

VAMPIRES HERE I COME!

Sometimes I’m kinda shocked that my first story wasn’t a vampire story.

I often say (and it’s mostly true) that I started writing because of a dearth of vampire stories. I know, crazy to think of, right? But yes, there was a time you couldn’t close your eyes, pick up a book from the store, and have a one in five chance it has a vampire character in it.

Since I became obsessed with vampires and couldn’t find enough stories, I started writing my own. Enough people said they liked my stories that I began to accept I had some talent when it came to the writing thing. Now, it took me a long time before accepting I had talent morphed into wanting to do it for a living, but that’s another story.

Back to now. Now I’m a Writer! Now, I can write any little story that crosses my mind and make it work. Now I’ve got about half a dozen stories in various stages.

No vampires.

Why? I mean, I still love my vampires. Sure, it’s not the obsessive love I had in my teenage years, but they are still my favorite supernatural creature.

Do I want to write a vampire story? Absolutely. And I will. I really will.

But I have to find the right story. There used to me too few vampire stories, now – OK, I won’t say there are too many, I don’t believe that – but if I’m going to write a vampire story I want it to be my unique take on it, something that I haven’t seen before.

So for now, vampires are on the back burner.

Still, for now doesn’t mean never. I’ve loved vampires for so long there is no way I’ll not write a vampire story sometime in this (hopefully long) writing career of mine.

My teenage self is looking forward to that day.

What supernatural creature do you enjoy reading about most? One random commenter will receive a free copy of Danielle’s latest story, Pleasure Satellite, found here at http://bit.ly/Dani_PS

Danielle Monsch is a Romantic Geek Girl Writing in a Fantasy World. You can find Danielle on the web at www.DanielleMonsch.com, www.twitter.com/DaniMonsch, www.facebook.com/DanielleMonsch or email her at Dani@DanielleMonsch.com

BLURB:

Nevan’s life is nothing but duty and honor. The eldest son of a prestigious House, he has a life mapped out ahead of him, including mating a woman for whom he feels nothing but brotherly affection. But then one night he discovers a woman who makes his blood boil and his body hard.

Seena has known nothing but blood and pain in her life. A fighter for the BloodRing, she is nothing more than spectacle, her life and death meaningless except as entertainment for the masses. Then one night a male comes to her in secret with a bargain the likes of which she has never been confronted with. The ultimate fight, which will lead her either to freedom…or to his bed.

Nevan will allow nothing to stop him from possessing the human. On the Pleasure Satellite anything is permissible, and to the strongest goes everything.

EXCERPT:

The lights began dimming, a signal that the next fight was about to start. Samos bared his teeth, a semblance of a grin that did nothing to hide his bloodlust. “My Lords, you are in for a fine fight!”

The other males sat forward, near reverberating with excitement in their seats. Farana also looked forward, though she held herself so still Nevan feared she might shatter. Having nowhere else to look, Nevan’s gaze went towards the ring as well.

As with every other fighter’s entrance, a thin mist of smoke covered the ground floor before the opposing cage doors opened, loud clanks and groans as the old but effective gates rose to let in the fighters.

And when the smoke cleared, a collective gasp came from the crowd.

“Human!”

“It’s a human!”

“I’ve never seen one before!”

Nevan was as shocked as any other being here, though long habit kept his face blank. While humans weren’t an extinct species, it was rare to see them outside one of their few existing strongholds. How the Peddler came across one, he had no idea.

Xenil spoke. “Is that truly a human?”

“A female human?” added Jaron.

Samos seemed very pleased with the shock the human’s entrance seemed to engender. “Yes, it is truly a female human. Rare and deadly, she is. She would not represent me in the BloodRing otherwise.”

The human’s eyes traveled the crowd, and Nevan understood at once she was searching for Samos. She seemed to have knowledge of who the Peddler would gravitate towards, her eyes starting with the highest boxes, the ones that held the spectators of wealth and power. After sighting the Peddler, she studied the box’s other inhabitants. Farana almost fainted with fright when her eyes met the human’s and she quickly looked away.

The human’s eyes met his.

Tevarian females seldom looked their males in the eyes. The few females of other species he had met had been intimidated by his size and by his species ferociousness, and therefore were skittish around him.

The human locked gazes with him, not looking away until whatever question she was searching for was answered - not intimidated, not hurried.

Nevan’s throat felt thick as their gaze held, his breath impossible to get into his lungs.

“Nevan?”

The voice of Farana broke through the hold of the human’s eyes and Nevan turned his head to look at the female at his side, shocked to find he was standing partway up, not remembering moving at all. He cleared his throat. “I wished to get a better look at the human,” he said, sitting back down.

E Nomine & Trinity Blood

2011-05-08T19:15:00.000-04:00

I'd actually forgotten how much I enjoyed Trinity Blood, an anime involving a vampire who works for the Vatican. Anyway, this is an AMV for E Nomine's "Vater Unser". (E Nomine is a German music project).

Oh yeah, Abel's wings and weapon rock. :-)

“F” is for Focalor

2011-05-07T20:40:00.001-04:00

I first came across Focalor (transliterated Fuokaroru) in Yoko Matsushita’s manga Yami no Matsuei (Descendants of Darkness). It wasn’t until I started conducting research for Death Sword I learned Focalor is a former angel of the order of Thrones.

According to The Dictionary of Demons (Michelle Belanger), Focalor “has power over the wind and seas. He can overturn ships of war and drown men in the waters.” Despite this ability, however, apparently Focalor can also be “commanded to leave people unharmed and he is said to willingly consent to this request.”

A duke of hell, Focalor commands 30 legions of demons (A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels – Gustav Davidson). When summoned, he appears as a man with gryphon wings.

Focalor is unique among demons in that he hopes to one day return to Heaven.

"E" is for Erlking

2011-05-06T19:45:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite songs by Sarah Brightman is "Figlio Perduto" ("Lost Son").

After reading the descriptions of the Erlking, I wondered if her song wasn't based on the legend. It is.

According to Finlay Cowan, in his book, Incredible Characters, the Erlking is a “malevolent spirit of German origin, whose aim is to whisk children away to an uncertain doom by offering them treats and a visit to his palace.”

Goethe’s poem, “Der Erlkonig” is a well-known poem based on the legend and has inspired many writers and musicians, including Jim Butcher, Philip K. Dick, and E Nomine (a German musical project).

If you’re interested in learning more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erlking (information about the Erlking)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Erlk%C3%B6nig#In_popular_culture (Goethe’s poem)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuo6PUeyHmA (Sarah Brightman singing “Figlio Perduto”)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OexgtEnsWs (E Nomine’s “Die Schwarzen Reiter”, influenced by Goethe’s poem)

"D" is for Draugr

2011-05-05T12:16:00.000-04:00

Looking for an alternative to the ubiquitous zombie? You might want to tap into Norse mythology and the various draugar (plural form).

According to Wikipedia, Tolkien’s barrow-wights are based on the draugr legends. This is entirely possible, considering The Lord of the Rings contains elements of Norse mythology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrow-wight).

If you want to learn more about draugar:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draugr

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/d/draug.html

"C" is for Cait Sith

2011-05-04T19:54:00.000-04:00

Not quite as big as a dog... My cat Shadow

I first came across the character Cait Sith in New Vampire Miyu by Narumi Kakinouchi. I don't know if she intended for him to be based on the Celtic legend or not.

Anyway, a few years ago I was working on a YA Sith novel & came across the name "Cait Sith" again. (Note: Sidhe is a variant spelling.)

The legend of Cait Sith is apparently Scottish in nature and refers to a large cat from the Highlands. This creature, according to the Scottish folklore site, is "as big as a dog and completely black except for one white spot on its breast." (http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk./folklore/scottishfolkapp.html)

In my untitled Sidhe novel, Cait Sith/Kellas Cat is a protector of the heroine and also a Threshold Guardian (for you Writers Journey fans). Hm, maybe I should revive this story.

Tuesday Guest Post: Rayne Hall

2011-05-03T06:36:00.000-04:00

WONDER WEAPONS: RELEASE THE MAGIC

When writing paranormal and fantasy fiction, we writers can invent fantastic magical weapons. However, these weapons need to be interesting so they enrich the story, and believable so the readers can suspend their disbelief.

A weapon which can kill anyone, anytime, is implausible and boring.

Here are some ideas how to create a magic weapon, inspired by real magic traditions from different cultures. Your weapon probably includes some, but not all, of these ideas. Have fun!

MATERIAL, SIZE AND SHAPE

* The weapon is made from a solid, natural material: stone, wood, or bone. The bone could be from a ritually sacrificed animal, from a human ancestor, from a hero or saint, or from a slain enemy.

* It may contain a crystal, or a precious or semi-precious stone, because these are good at storing and intensifying magical energy.

* It has an elongated shape, like a wand or a staff. Indeed, it may be disguised as an everyday elongated object, such as a pen or a walking stick. The magician points it at the target, similar to aiming a gun.

* The weapon can be of any size, from a tiny jewellery pendant to a tree trunk.Small items have the advantage that the magicians can carry them on their body or hide them in their garments. Large items may be stationary and everyone knows of their existence and location.

* There is probably a religious connection. For example, the weapon may be sacred to a goddess or god, blessed in a temple, manufactured by monks, invented by a god, given to the hero by a goddess.

* It is probably old, perhaps inherited through generations.

* It can only be given - for example, in gratitude by the craftsman who made it, or granted by a priestess on her death bed. It can not be bought with money.

* The manufacture of the weapon involved a ritual and a sacrifice. This may have been a human sacrifice. The weapon may have been dipped into the sacrifice's blood.

HOW IT WORKS

* Most magic works through the user's mind. To activate the weapon, the magician needs to concentrate, perhaps think a certain sequence of thoughts. The use of a magical weapon is never purely physical (such as pulling the trigger on a gun). It's the mental effort ath counts. This can create interesting situations when the magician needs to concentrate to use the weapon, but can't concentrate in the heat of the battle.

* The damage inflicted by a magical weapon may be invisible. It may kill without leaving visible wounds, baffling the doctors.

* Magical weapons may act slowly. A person may get hit by a magical weapon and not realise it until hours or days later, by which time it's too late to seek help, and the person withers away.

* The weapon may affect the target's mind rather than the body. For example, it may rob that person of the will to live, or of the courage to fight.

* Many magical weapons work on one of the elements (earth, air, fire, water). For example, the weapon may kill by shaking the earth on which the target stands, or by heating the air the target breathes.

* The weapon can hit targets which are hidden. Its energy can move through or around obstacles.

* The user needs training to wield the weapon. This probably involves training in magic (power raising, mental focus, directing energy), as well as training in the use of the specific weapon. In the hands of an untrained person, the weapon may be ineffective, or may kill the user.

CHARGING AND CLEANSING

* Before use, the weapon needs to be magically fuelled (the usual term for this is 'charged'). This may be done in a certain place (at a spring, in a temple, at a crossroads) or by a certain person (a senior magician, a crone, a priestess). The charge involves a ritual, which may be simple or complex, and is often religious in nature. Sometimes, a weapon can be charged by leaving it lying in running water, or exposed to bright sunlight, or to the light of the full moon. If the weapon contains a crystal, it's the crystal that gets charged.

* After use, the weapon needs to be ritually cleansed. This may be a simple act such as rinsing in running water, or it may need a prayer, or a complex ritual at the temple. The cleansing and the re-charging are often done in the same ritual.

FICTIONAL COMPLICATIONS

* To be interesting, the weapon needs to have at least one weakness which causes difficulties for its user.

* After being ritually charged, the weapon works only for a specific period - perhaps for seven hours, or until the next new moon. After that period has passed, it may become inaccurate or less powerful, or stop working altogether.

* The weapon may only work in the hands of certain people: initiates of the order, male virgins, or post-menopausal crones. This can create interesting situations, for example, if it works only in the hands of a male virgin, the enemy may send a seductress.

* The weapon depends on the user's attitudes and beliefs. What if the weapon works only for a user whose religious faith is unshaken? What if it only works for someone who is free from fear?

* In many magic traditions, the knowledge of names plays an important role. Perhaps the weapon works only if the user knows the target's true name.

* In some magic traditions, especially modern ones, visualisation is important. Perhaps the weapon works only if the user can visualise the target's face.

* The weapon may work only if the user is in a state of altered consciousness (i.e. in a trance); this can be tricky in a battle.

* Magic spells often take time. The user needs time to raise magical energy and to direct her will at the desired outcome. In an urgent fight situation, time may be short.

* Magic requires intense concentration. Perhaps this weapon needs several seconds of total concentration before every shot, and this concentration can be hard to come by in the heat of a fight.

* The weapon may work only in the presence of a certain element (earth, air, fire, water). For example, the user must stand near an open fire, or the target must be close to running water, otherwise it won't work.

Enjoy inventing a magical weapon. I'd love to see what you come up with, and I hope you'll post your ideas here. I look forward to helping you refine your fictional weapon.

If you have questions about writing fight scenes or about magical weapons, feel free to ask. I'll be around for the next couple of days and will respond.

Rayne

Rayne Hall writes dark fantasy and horror. She has published more than twenty books under different pen names in different genres, and her stories have earned Honorable Mentions in 'The Years' Best Fantasy and Horror'. She holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing, and teaches online classes.

Even if you've never wielded a weapon, and don't have a clue about magic, you can write an exciting fight scene and create believable magic. Rayne will show you how, in her workshops on 'Writing Fight Scenes' and 'Writing About Magic And Magicians'.

The next workshops are:

Writing Fight Scenes, June 2011: www.romance-ffp.com/event.cfm?EventID=303

Writing Scary Scenes, July 2011: www.writersonlineclasses.com/?page_id=534

Writing About Magic and Magicians, Ocrtober 2011:www.celtichearts.org/workshops.html

B is for "Buer"

2011-05-02T18:14:00.000-04:00

This one was a toss-up between the demonic dog Black Shuck and the demon Buer. I decided to go with Buer simply because I'll probably write about Black Shuck in a later post. (He's a character in a couple of my stories.)

Anyway, Buer is served by 50 legions of demons and is also the character in Dzieje Mistrze Twardowskiego (a Polish film based on Faust), according to Finlay Cowan's Dragons and Fantasy Beasts. (I love foreign films and this isn't available on Netflix. Grr...)

Sorry. Distracted. Buer has a lion's head and five goat legs (Cowan). According to The Dictionary of Demons (Michelle Belanger), Buer "teaches a wide variety of disciplines, from moral and natural philosophy to logic. He also teaches the virtues of herbs and can heal disease... He is constrained by the angel Aladiah."

26 Days of Preternatural Creatures: "A" is for Alp

2011-05-01T17:59:00.000-04:00

Okay, so recently there was this A-Z blog challenge. I missed it but decided to start one of my own this month. The idea is to profile 26 supernatural beings (hopefully) beyond the ubiquitous werewolf or vampire.

The first creature is the Alp. I came across this spirit from ancient German folklore in Finlay Cowan's Fantasy Artist's Pocket Reference: Incredible Characters.

I highly recommend this book, along with Dragons and Fantasy Beasts, especially if you're into drawing or writing about mythological creatures.

Anyway, here's a link to the alp, via Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alp_%28folklore%29

Highlights of ConGlomeration

2011-04-25T19:52:00.000-04:00

Okay, am I allowed a "squee" moment here? :-) Actually two.

This past weekend I attended ConGlomeration, a local sci-fi/fantasy convention. One of the workshops was "A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words" in which artists and authors swapped projects. The author would write a story based on the artist's work and the artist would sketch a picture based on the author's writing.

Christine Griffin and I were paired off. This is what Christine drew for me: a portrait of Xariel, my hero from Death Sword.

This is the first time an artist has ever drawn a character from my stories. So I'm stoked. LOL

In return, I wrote a short piece based on the digital print below. The story follows.

“A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words”

(ConGlomeration 2011)

Story by Pamela Turner

Art by Christine Griffin

(http://www.fantasyflightgames.com)

(Author’s Note: This past weekend, April 22-24, 2011, I participated in the workshop “A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words” at ConGlomeration, a local sci-fi/fantasy convention. The idea was for artists and authors to swap creations. The artist would draw something from the author’s writing and the author would write a story based on the artist’s picture.

The above digital painting “Jon and Ghost” was originally created for Fantasy Flight Games’ A Game of Thrones and is being used solely to illustrate the accompanying story it inspired. No copyright infringement is intended or implied. I make no money from this narrative which is available free.)

****

Three days journey across frozen terrain and temperaments were as frigid as the sleet pelting Odin’s face and cloak. They needed to find Skuld. The encroaching blizzard and constant bickering between his raven, Munin, and Skuld’s white wolf, Varg, only impeded matters.

“I can’t believe you lost her,” Munin sneered. The raven ruffled shaggy black feathers against the bracing wind.

“Shut up, carrion eater,” Varg snapped, fangs bared. The wolf’s crimson eyes gleamed. “I didn’t lose Skuld, as you so eloquently put it. Loki kidnapped her.”

“That’s enough. Both of you.” Odin’s breath condensed in the air. His hand curled around the pommel of his sword. Damn his impetuous raven. Varg was agitated enough. He had good reason to be. A Valkyrie and wolf were bonded to each other. Whatever fate befell one affected the other. Even death.

Both god and wolf looked out over the icy landscape. Blue-gray sky met snow-packed white mountains. Here the land was austere, uninhabitable. This was her realm.

An ordinary man would have frozen to death by now. But they couldn’t turn back. To do so would be dishonorable.

“I wouldn’t have lost my Valkyrie.” Munin squawked and flew skyward as Varg reeled, snarling. The wolf started to launch himself at the raven only to be stopped by Odin’s upraised hand.

“I understand you’re upset, Varg. But if you can’t control yourself, I’ll send you back to Asgard.”

The wolf growled low in his throat as he backed down. “Understood.” He glared at the raven who landed on Odin’s shoulder. “But if he says one more word…” He snapped his fangs at empty air. “Raven dinner.”

Odin glanced at Munin. The raven averted his head but finally nodded after a moment’s hesitation.

“I can’t believe Loki kidnapped her.” Varg’s eyes narrowed. “When I see him…”

“I’ll deal with Loki,” Odin promised. He brushed strands of dark hair from his cheek as a sudden breeze sliced across the barren landscape.

Munin squawked again. “I don’t like this. She won’t be happy, Odin.”

Odin nodded. “I know.” As if confirming his suspicion, the temperature plummeted several degrees. Icy pellets stung Odin’s face and even Munin crawled closer to his master, dipping his head under the god’s hair for shelter. Varg squinted against the frozen onslaught, shaking his shaggy coat free of the crystals melting against his body heat.

The wolf stopped short, hackles raised, head lowered, ears back. His body tensed. “Can you feel it?”

Odin nodded. A sense of deep despair mingled with the cold, making it seem more oppressive.

Ahead of them a chasm yawned in the mountain, its dark interior leading to passages unknown.

Varg looked back at them. “Welcome to Hel.”

Tuesday Guest Post: Kathryn Scannell

2011-04-19T08:59:00.000-04:00

Today I’m offering readers here a free sample. If you’d like to read a short story set in the same universe as my new release, Embracing the Dragon, drop me an email (Kathryn.scannell@gmail.com) and I’ll send you a copy. The title is Leap of Faith. It takes place about a year before the events in Embracing the Dragon, and features two minor characters who appear in Embracing the Dragon. It’s a M/M romance, and includes an explicit M/M sex scene with knife play and BDSM, so if those things would make you uncomfortable, you should not read this story. Embracing the Dragon does not include any BDSM scenes – Danny is depressingly vanilla.

Danny O’Riordan, the main character of Embracing the Dragon, is near and dear to my heart. I’ve grown very fond of him, but one of my beta readers made a comment while I was working on this book that made me stop and think. He commented, based on this book and on some other stories involving this character that haven’t seen publication yet, that he would not want Danny to live next door to him because he decided far too easily to solve problems by killing someone. I see it a little differently – I wouldn’t be worried about having him as a next door neighbor (other than the possibility of getting caught in the line of fire when someone tried to shoot at him).

Yes, he kills when he needs to. But it’s never without looking at whether there are other options. Killing is not something he wants to do, but he sees a lot of situations where that’s the only acceptable option. This story is an interlude of a few weeks snatched from the middle of a war. He’s been through enough that he takes a very professional attitude toward violence – once you’ve decided you need to do it, you do it as efficiently and with as little risk to yourself, your people, and bystanders as you can manage. That’s an attitude that puts him outside most people’s comfort zone. There are times when he sets aside a lot of our fundamental rules for dealing with other human beings, and that scares people when they run into someone who does it.

At the same time, he has what I see as redeeming features that balance that violence. He’s tremendously loyal to his friends. When he takes responsibility for leading people, he cares deeply about their interests. He loves his family. It doesn’t come into play in a large way in the book, but he has a huge soft spot for kids. Outside those situations where violence is required, he’s really a pretty nice guy.

But that leaves me with a question. Lots of romance readers like a darker hero. We love out bad boys. But how dark is too dark? Do you draw a line somewhere? Is there a magic number where the body count is just too high to find a hero appealing anymore? If he gets into a situation where he needs information to keep his friends safe and gets it by beating it out of someone, is that crossing the line? Or does it not matter as long as the author doesn’t describe it too graphically?

Is that line different depending on the subgenre? Is a body count for the hero acceptable if it’s a historical romance, but not if it’s a contemporary?

Finally, does the ending matter in answering that question? Is it okay for the hero to have done unacceptable things in his past, or even at the beginning of the book, as long as he’s redeemed by the love of a good woman/man and intends not to do those things again? What if he *isn’t* changed by the relationship? How dark is it OK for him to be at the end of the book? And, since hero is an ambiguous term when you’re talking about M/M romance, what about the love interest?

These are serious questions for me, and for Danny, because not only is Danny fairly dark by many standards, but Emperor Mordellir, one of the people in the story who wants him as a lover, is a far darker character. Mordellir is pretty far beyond the pale in terms of both his past and what he’s likely to do in the future. This is one of the issues Danny has to wrestle with – how can you justify to yourself loving someone who commits terrible acts, even if they are committed in the name of the greater good? What’s your answer?

Embracing the Dragon is available in various electronic formats from Torquere Press:

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3116

Blurb:

Danny O’Riordan’s life was complicated before he had the vision of a past life that forced him to admit to himself that he was bisexual. There’s a war going on, and being Liegeman to Aran, the Elven King of Avalon puts Danny squarely in the middle of the politics of two worlds, Earth and Avalon. Adding a romantic relationship to the mix could be explosive.

His lover from that previous life has been reborn as Mordellir, the ruler of the Tengri Empire. The Dragon of Heaven is the most powerful person in his world. Will he want Danny back once he knows he’s been reborn? If he does, how far will he go to get his way?

Danny knows it isn’t smart to get involved with the Dragon of Heaven. Aran hates the Tengri. Following his heart and renewing that old relationship with Mordellir will leave him torn between his commitment to Aran and those old feelings which are still frighteningly strong. If he yields to temptation, can he balance his love for both men?

Excerpt:

[This excerpt is several chapters into the story. Danny has just found himself needing to entertain Emperor Mordellir very unexpectedly. His reactions are complicated by the fact that he’s an empath, and thus he knows more of what Mordellir is feeling than is reasonable.]

Looking at him now, in this mood it was easy to see the resemblance to Demeth. Certainly there were differences. Demeth had been only part Tengri. He'd been shorter and a bit heavier built. Demeth's hair had reddish highlights, which hinted at demon in his family somewhere. But there was still something in the body language, and the aura which reminded Danny achingly of those memories of Demeth. It wouldn't be hard to put this man in place of the image of Demeth in those memories...

Thinking that had not been a good idea. Danny realized his mistake when he felt his cock start to swell. Just remembering the damned dreams he'd been having was enough to get him hard again, and the bathrobe he was wearing was not going to hide it. He could see a telltale bulge already. He shifted to cross his legs, hoping to keep things under control, but it just didn't work.

Mordellir had noticed, too. His gaze followed that moving bulge, and he gave off a mix of amusement and interest. All the extra blood that wasn't already in Danny's cock rose promptly to his face as he realized that.

Mordellir grew even more amused as Danny turned bright red. "I didn't think you were interested, Daniel. It's certainly nothing to be embarrassed about. You're a handsome young man. I'm not intimate with all my Favorites, but it's certainly an option."

Danny cursed inwardly. This was rapidly becoming a disaster. "No! I'm not-- I mean I don't-- Oh Hell." He ground to a halt. Doing anything would be stupid, and guaranteed to make settling the problem of those old memories worse, not better, but how did he say no without insulting the Emperor? Especially when his cock was obviously saying yes.

"Slowly, Daniel," Mordellir said gently. "If I read that wrong, I'm sorry. Will you tell me why you’re so confused and embarrassed? It can't be just having an erection in front of someone else, not after living among the Elves and the Kennakriz. What is it?" He looked probingly at Danny out of his good eye.

Danny took a deep breath to try to calm himself. "No. This isn't simple to explain. You didn't misread my reaction, but it would be a terrible idea to act on it."

"Why?" Mordellir sounded genuinely puzzled.

"Because you're the Emperor of the Tengri, and I'm the senior Liegeman to the King of Avalon, who happens to hate Tengri in general, and you in particular. That gives whole new levels of meaning to conflict of interest," Danny said, wondering why he was explaining the obvious to someone this experienced in politics.

"So?" Mordellir felt perplexed. "Is this an Earth thing? A little sex hardly constitutes anything important. It's not as if there was a commitment involved. There isn't even a chance of children to worry about negotiating."

Email: Kathryn.scannell@gmail.com

Website: http://www.kathrynscannell.com

Blog: http://kathryn-scannell.dreamwidth.org

Tuesday Guest Post: Danica Avet

2011-04-12T10:35:00.000-04:00

I have a secret: I love bad boys. What? You’re not shocked? Okay, so I don’t think I’ve ever made my adoration of the bad boy a secret. How could I? They’re just so…bad and dangerous!

When I started writing the Veil series, I needed a bad guy and I just knew for sure he was Malachi Cromwell. Then as I got to know Malachi through Ruby: Uncut and on the Loose, I realized he wasn’t a bad guy. Okay, well he is, but he’s a redeemable bad guy. I fell a little in love with him because he was charming, witty, and smexy. What’s not to love? Sure, he’s a top general in an evil army, but he has a reason for his profession!

Oops, doth the writer protest too much?

Maybe I am, but I can’t help it. In Succubus-in-Waiting, the second book of the series, he shows that he’s not the bad guy I thought he was in the first book. I found myself oddly interested in what made him the way he was and where he would end up. It can’t be easy to go from being one of the most hated men in the Veil to trying to redeem yourself and that’s where I sprang upon the idea for his love story.

He’s had some tough breaks. I’m going to try not to give too many clues about his past so you can explore them yourselves, but trust me; he has his reasons for what he’s done. The most important part about his story is he’s trying to change his ways and earn the respect of his family and the other Veilerians. That isn’t easy; not when you’ve been the boogeyman of the Veil for centuries.

Malachi started the series out as a villain and ended up a lovable, honorable hero. Yes, I’m still in love with him. My sister is, too. I have to admire him. Other than the people who consider him family, he’s distrusted by everyone on both sides of the good and evil fence. The Veilerians are scared of him and what he might do. The Eturians (the faction of the Veil that wants to take over the human world) want him dead for betraying them. He’s caught between a rock and a hard place and he handles it with grace.

At least until his heroine comes along. Did I mention she’s an assassin given the task of killing him in the most gruesome manner possible? Yeah, this is when Malachi’s charm and yearning to redeem himself saved his cute butt. Our heroine, Noelani Fayard, has her work cut out for her because what Malachi wants, he gets. And he wants Lani. Even though he’s working on the whole redemption thing, he still has that streak of bad boy-itis and he’ll make sure Lani can’t resist him.

Now for the question I’m eager to learn…Who is your favorite anti-hero ever? Do you have more than one? Inquiring minds want to know and if you leave a comment, I’ll have a random drawing to pick a winner of a hand-painted Mardi Gras mask and a set of Romance Trading Cards (www.romancetradingcards.com) for the entire series.

You can Danica at these fine interweb locations:

www.danicaavet.com

www.danicaavet.wordpress.com

www.fourfoxesonehound.wordpress.com

Facebook

It isn’t every day a fairy gets an assignment with only one outcome: her death. As an assassin with the Eturian army, Noelani “Shade” Fayard has killed more than her share of traitors, but for the first time in centuries, she hesitates to take out her target. The Halfling marked for death makes her wonder what life would be like if it weren’t for the blood staining her hands and soul. He makes her feel for the first time in centuries.

Malachi Cromwell, a former Eturian general, wants to reclaim his place in The Veil, not fall in lust or love. He knows better than to let his heart take the lead, especially when he discovers Lani was sent to kill him, just like she’d killed the very people who held his fate in their hands.

Can they overcome their distrust and bitter pasts to forge a future together?

Repost: A Short Paranormal Story

2011-04-10T17:43:00.000-04:00

Initiation

Why had I let Emily drag me to a wine tasting party in Eastern Cemetery in the middle of the night?

She moved easily among the gravestones as if blessed with cat eyes. Even her Goth apparel, a long pleather skirt topped with a ruffled white blouse, burgundy frock coat, and black platform boots, failed to deter her.

I, on the other hand, struggled to keep my long velveteen dark purple skirt from dragging along the ground or getting caught on the edge of a jagged tombstone. All this walking – in Doc Martens, no less – had me struggling for breath in a too-tight corset Emily had insisted I wear.

Emily claimed Goth citizenship. I carried a green card.

“Hurry up, Anna!” Emily called over her shoulder.

I glared at her.

“We’re almost there!” Emily pointed toward a small bend in the road. Ahead of us loomed a statue of a headless woman, the white marble shadowed gray in the moonlight.

Personally, I saw no appeal in holding a wine tasting party in a graveyard with a tragic past. Nor was I eager about the possibility of getting arrested. But Emily had insisted I join her, assuring me no problems were anticipated and I could leave if I became too uncomfortable.

Our destination was the chapel at the far end of Eastern. Except for the sound of our shoes on the pavement, all was quiet.

The silence was disconcerting.

Surely we couldn’t be the only ones attending. I glanced at my watch. Fifteen minutes before midnight. Had everyone already arrived? I looked out over the expanse of tombstones but they stood silent and unyielding. Whatever secrets the dead had taken with them stayed buried.

The stone chapel loomed ahead, austere, silent and dark. No cars lined the oval drive.

We drew closer to our destination. An iron gate barred the front entrance, secured by a chain and padlock. Two panels of the nine-panel stain glass window above the doorway were broken out. I’d read about the vandalism which necessitated the security measures.

The side entrance was also closed off but Emily squeezed through the gap between the gate and doorway. I followed, silently grumbling at how the corset constricted my rib cage. Why had I let Emily talk me into wearing it?

We entered the dark interior. Emily’s fingers gripped my arm, her touch cool.

“Where is everyone?” I whispered. Part of me wondered if Emily were playing a practical joke or if she had more sinister motives.

To be honest, I didn’t know Emily very well. She wasn’t a friend, more of an acquaintance. We’d met in a life drawing class at college. One evening, while glancing through a yearbook dating back to the 1930s, I came across a photograph of a young woman who looked as if she could be Emily’s twin. The resemblance was uncanny.

We stepped into what I assumed to be an antechamber converted into an office. Torn cemetery records littered the floor. The air smelled dank and damp.

A chill gripped me as I looked around the room. Filled with a sense of foreboding, I shivered, cold despite the short black jacket I’d insisted on wearing.

A doorway led to a large circular chamber where the funeral services must have been held. The walls were strewn with graffiti, messages warning us to stay away. Closed doors led to unknown rooms, perhaps chambers where the living could grieve in private.

The sound of clinking glasses seemed to echo in the chamber. I looked around, again wondering if this was a good idea. We were trespassing. As long as we didn't make too much noise, no one might notice. Part of me thrilled at the notion of doing something against the law while my more pragmatic side insisted the sooner I left, the better.

Emily said something behind me.

I turned to ask her to repeat herself. The words fell off my tongue to join my jaw already on the floor.

She had vanished.

The logical part of my brain insisted she couldn’t have disappeared. Nor had she time to return the way we’d come in. People didn’t vanish into proverbial thin air, no matter how convincing illusionists made it seem.

Shaken, I started toward the exit.

A hand clamped down on my shoulder.

I yelped, jumping about a foot in the air. Whirling, I glared at my assailant, fists clenched and ready.

Again, I was struck speechless.

I couldn’t say he was handsome. Intense, yes. His brows were drawn together and he frowned as he studied me with dark, almost black eyes. By contrast, his hair was white, falling to his shoulders. Unlike Emily and me, he didn’t dress Goth but wore a black tuxedo. One hand held a crystal glass of dark red wine.

The stranger bowed. “Perhaps I should introduce myself. I’m Nathaniel.” He lifted the back of my hand to his lips. Like Emily, his touch was cool. “You must be Anna.”

“Emily brought me here for a wine tasting.” I gestured about the empty room. “But it seems she ditched me. If you don’t mind, I’ll see myself out.”

Nathaniel shook his head. “I would hate for you to come here and not partake of one glass.”

I shrugged. While I didn’t appreciate Emily leaving me, I couldn’t trust Nathaniel either. What if he’d doped the wine?

“I’d rather pour my own glass, thank you.”

The corners of Nathaniel’s mouth turned up in a smile. “Of course. I understand you don’t trust me. Would it help if I said Emily recommended you?” He extended the glass. “I can assure you the wine is free of any tampering.”

I wasn’t naive. Nor did my intuition dance around waving red flags. Granted, this wine tasting was unorthodox but I didn’t have to drink the alcohol. A sip first. Any unusual taste and I’d stop right there.

My fingers curled around the delicate stem. Lifting the glass, I took a small sip. A sweet if slightly bitter taste with a hint of cloves lingered on my tongue.

Nothing seemed unusual. Nathaniel watched as I tilted the glass and swallowed a mouthful.

Ever eaten one of those candies that starts out sweet then turns sour? The wine changed, became more coppery. Even stranger, images of young men and women played across my mind like a silent slide show.

The flavor was familiar yet strange. Why couldn’t I place it?

Suddenly alarms and whistles clamored inside my head and I hurled the glass to the cement floor. The crystal shattered, spraying shards.

Blood. I’d drunk blood.

Repulsed, my hands flew to my mouth as I tried to wipe away traces of another’s life essence. Eyes wide, I could only shake my head and back away from Nathaniel to press against an unyielding wall. Despite the expanse of the room, the air seemed stifling, rank with decay.

Nathaniel shook his head as he glanced at the broken glass. “What a waste. Good blood is hard to obtain.”

“How many of those people did you kill?” I glared at Nathaniel, daring him to challenge my assumption. I’d never had any desire to drink blood or even engage in a vampire role playing game. The only vampire-related book I’d read was Dracula, the only movie I saw was the one with Gary Oldman. Other than that, the world of bloodsuckers meant little to me.

I bit my lower lip. Emily had known. She’d dragged me here under false pretenses. My fists clenched again. Damn it. When I saw her...

Nathaniel shook his head. “You mustn’t blame Emily. She only did as ordered.”

“As ordered?” Did he mean to excuse her betrayal?

Nathaniel looked past me for several moments, his expression pensive. “There are humans who are vampires but their true natures are hidden so deeply they never realize who they are. Emily is sensitive. She’s able to find these people and bring them to us. If they can survive the wine tasting, they become initiated into our world.”

“And the ones who don’t survive?” I glanced at the droplets of blood glistening on the floor.

Nathaniel gave me a direct look. “They die and their blood is used in the next ritual.” He paused, as if choosing his next words. “Sadly, not everyone can survive the physical and psychological changes. That you have is a miracle. I’d almost given up on finding another.”

My knees nearly gave way and I had to grip the wall to keep from collapsing. Emily had only been friends with me because she thought I was a vampire?

“How long has she been doing this?” My voice cracked.

“A while. To be honest, an initiate is found only every few decades or so.”

I closed my eyes, bringing that yearbook photo to the forefront of my mind. The person in that picture was the same Emily who’d accompanied me to the graveyard chapel.

“Is she a vampire?”

Nathaniel shook his head. “Merely a scout, for lack of a better term.” He strode toward me. I pushed my back tighter against the wall. “You shouldn’t be afraid,” he chided.

I looked away, biting my lower lip. The corset strained against my ribs as I struggled to take a deep breath. I needed air. My chest ached and thin beads of sweat dotted my hairline.

His fingers undid the black silk cords and the corset fell open, revealing a simple white blouse underneath.

Freed from the constraints, I gulped oxygen into my lungs.

“You realize you will never age, never die?” Nathaniel stepped back. His eyes locked with mine and I couldn’t look away. It was as if he’d lifted the sash to the window of my soul to peer inside.

I needed a distraction. “Where’s Emily?”

“She’s asleep until we need her again.”

That familiar chill traced icy fingers down my spine. “Where?”

Nathaniel shrugged. “In a sepulcher.”

“She’s dead?” My stomach roiled and I pressed a hand against my mouth to stave off dry heaves.

“She died, yes. But not before I tried to save her life by making her a vampire.” A flicker of pain and concern crossed Nathaniel’s face. “She was my only daughter and I’d already lost my wife to the typhoid epidemic.” He gave me a rueful smile. “As you can see, my plan didn’t work as I’d hoped.”

“Why do this?” My fingers clutched at my skirt. “Why not leave us alone?” How dare he have the audacity to assume I wanted to be a vampire.

“If you deny your true nature, you’ll only torment yourself to the point you’ll need to find a way to exorcise your personal demons.” Nathaniel laid a hand on my arm, his touch tentative but also strangely reassuring. “Trust me, this way is much easier.”

I stared at him. Had he sensed the bouts of almost indescribable depression that haunted me? Had he tapped into my memories and seen me standing in the bathroom, wrist held under running water, razor blade at the ready?

The possibility of trading my old existence for a new one sounded enticing. Here was a chance to forgo the pain.

“Will it hurt?”

Nathaniel shook his head. “No, but it won’t be easy at first. We’ll help initiate you into your new life.” His voice softened. “You must understand the decision is already made. Fight it and I guarantee you will only be miserable.”

I closed my eyes. Never again to feel the warmth of the sun or to look up into a cerulean sky. If I said yes my existence would be relegated to the shadows and the night.

“We do venture outside on overcast days. But we don’t sleep in coffins or turn into bats.” He wrinkled his nose.”Can’t believe people think that.” A pause. “Nor do we talk like Bela Lugosi.”

“Who’s that?” I asked innocently.

Nathaniel cocked his head and gave me a bemused smile. “Never mind.” He started toward the entrance, stopped, and turned. He crooked his index finger, beckoning me. “Come.”

Perhaps I would regret it later but this life remained meaningless. Even Emily had a purpose. My other choice was a mundane existence where the only reward was death. Option two wasn’t perfect but if Nathaniel were right, I might regret saying no.

Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and went to join him.

Lost a Follower

2011-04-10T02:05:00.000-04:00

Seems I lost a follower. So for those of you who are still here, a big resounding

Thank you!

Tuesday Guest Post: Nerine Dorman

2011-03-29T05:12:00.000-04:00

In a nutshell, The Namaqualand Book of the Dead is a story about obsessive love, and the lengths Chloë, a young woman, will go to find out the truth behind her lover’s death. It’s also partially a travelogue, an inner and outer journey. Set in South Africa, the tale unfolds partially in the sometimes harsh but mostly beautiful Namaqualand, in a small West Coast village called Lambert’s Bay. I hope to share some of the magic of the landscape to those who wonder about this southern African region and its people.

One place that isn’t nearly as magical as our West Coast, is Sunrise Lodge. This guest lodge is based on a real venue in Cape Town, a pay-by-week “backpackers” (and I use the term very loosely) in the city. A friend of mine used to board there and it’s the arse-end of accommodation in the Mother City. It really is as bad, if not worse, than how I’ve described it in the novella. The lodge frightened me deeply, and it’s one of these buildings that beg for some sort of literary memorial. The people who live there are either refugees from central and northern Africa, or they are people who have nowhere else to go but down.

My chosen settings begs for some sort of supernatural oddities, and while there is a paranormal element to this tale, I don’t place a huge amount of emphasis on creatures. I’ve always wondered about writing a story from the point of view of someone who is largely ignorant of the supernatural, and that’s where Chloë comes in. Her world slowly takes a turn for the strange, with a growing realisation of the horror happening around her. On top of that, I’ve always fantasised about how supernatural beings would behave in South Africa, with all its sunlight and already precarious social situations.

As always, I feel there aren’t a hell of a lot of paranormal stories in non-US settings, and I feel South Africa has a lot to offer readers in terms of an exotic environment with enough touchstones of familiarity (we are a Westernised African nation) so that readers will not be completely out of their depth with some of the terms.

So, if you’re looking for an adventure in Africa, my novels offer just that, with enough weirdness to satisfy those who’re after things that go bump in the night. And, if you loved The Namaqualand Book of the Dead I have more planned. I recently finished an urban fantasy novella entitled What Sweet Music They Make, which I’ll be revising in March. I can say this much: my vampires don’t sparkle, and they’re generally bad for your health.

Read more about The Namaqualand Book of the Dead: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=313

Follow my blog here: http://nerinedorman.blogspot.com

Or like my Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nerine-Dorman-author/173330419365374

Invasion of the Plot Bunnies

2011-03-24T13:04:00.000-04:00

Seems I've been remiss about posting lately. Not that I haven't been working. :-) Finished the second draft of the Zaphkiel novel and am currently getting ready to work on the third. I'm not sure if I'll have it ready for Angry Robot since the March 31 deadline is looming. However, I do have something to submit to other publishers or agents and that's what matters.

I'm currently plotting my Script Frenzy project: Twelve Angry Men meets Feast. (Okay, you can all stop groaning. For the record, I like Twelve Angry Men. I've seen the movie and read the screenplay.) The still untitled horror screenplay is pure escapism. I've got 30 days in April to write a 100 page screenplay and I have jury duty. Of course there's no connection... (Looks off and whistles innocently.)

As if Script Frenzy weren't enough, I'm involved in a 50k writing challenge through one of my writing groups. I'll probably do that in May. Finally came up with an idea for a steampunk story involving a vampire in Victorian Louisville. Since the story involves steamboats, guess what I'll be doing in my spare time. Yep. Research. But Louisville's nick name is River City.

Dare I mention the murder mystery I'm also lobbing about in my skull? This is what I get for getting caught up in the frenzy known as March Madness. Go Wildcats! :-) But yeah, I've been wanting to write a murder mystery and this time I have a title but no plot as of yet. (Okay, someone's murdered but that's about the extent of that.)

If you're palming your faces and wondering just what the hell am I thinking, have no fear. I'm one of those writers who lets ideas simmer in the back of my subconscious. In the meantime, a 275 page draft of the untitled Zaphkiel Project awaits my attention.

Back to work.

Winner of Teresa D'Amario's Tigress By the Tail ...

2011-03-08T15:55:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Kim Bowman! (Round of applause.)

And thank you to Teresa D'Amario for guest blogging and showing us an awesome book video trailer.

Happy reading, Kim!

"Read an E-Book Week"

2011-03-07T18:03:00.000-05:00

What E-Book are you going to read in celebration of "Read an E-book Week"? From March 6 to March 12, readers are encouraged to read a digital book and learn more about E-Publishing.

I first learned about E-Books when I started reading Dear Author, a blog site dedicated to book reviews and industry news. In fact, it was a review on Dear Author that led me to read my first E-Book. That was James Buchanan's Personal Demons (MLR Press), a book I've read twice and highly recommend, along with the Taking the Odds series.

Not only has E-Publishing introduced me to new authors, it's given me a chance to be published. Death Sword is strictly digital in format. I tend to write short novels and since many E-Publishers accept shorter works, this gives me the opportunity to submit my work. (I'm also glad to see opportunities with the small presses, given the publishing industry is in such a flux.)

Anyway, hope you find an E-Book to read this week. There are many available from publishers like Lyrical Press, Carina Press, Samhain, Ellora's Cave, Etopia Press, MuseItUp Publishing and more. And you can read erotica, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, horror, etc.

As for me, I have a few ideas of what's going on my TBR list. :-)

Happy reading!