Thursday 31 January 2013

Book Review: .40 Caliber Mouse by Stephen Pytak

The .40 Caliber Mouse
by Stephen Pytak
Thriller
Mazz Press
Review copy supplied by author

3.5 Stars

Blurb:

The first novel in The .40 Caliber Mouse series, this action-packed thriller is an introduction to Corinn Michaels. Artist. Computer hacker. Angry spirit. And a low-rent mercenary's key to starting a deadly online business.

Corinn is an Internet criminal haunted by spectres from her past. Five years back, the friends, lovers and accomplices she knew in college had reported her subversive activities to police. She did time. The betrayal changed her world. She suffered a breakdown, tortured by her memories of the ones that got away. Unable to move on, she believed her life was at an end.

A job offered encouraged her to reconsider her options. A stranger in black asked her to resume her life of crime, to become a new kind of terrorist, to start a website for a mercenary called The .40 Caliber Mouse. She grinned as she made the deal. "On one condition..."

The Mazz Press edition of this book features actress Victoria Vaughn as "Corinn" on the cover and the book includes 10 illustrations by Dash Martin.

Review:

It's always a bit difficult when you have criminals as your main characters. You're always asking the questions, could you relate to them, should you relate to them? As I was reading this book it reminded of the films of Quentin Tarantino, so if you liked that sort of style, you'd probably like this book.

It was a bit too violent for my taste, reminiscent of a first person shooter adventure video game, and I have never been into those types myself. There seemed to be a lot of violence for no apparent reason, but as you get further into the book, you realise there is a reason, that the unknown mercenary is not just only just accepting random gigs from the website Corinn set up for him, he is also hunting someone down. His past is revealed gradually, which keeps you guessing and keeps you reading to find out more.

I'm not sure that I could say that I enjoyed the book, some of it was a bit too gory for my taste, but it was interesting and it's the characterisation that keeps you coming back. Corinn is the angry young woman who thinks fate has dealt her a raw deal, then you have the mercenary himself whose story eventually elicits sympathy for him, and then you have another hit-man who is determined to get rid of the mercenary - how can he keep his prices up when the mercenary will do the same job for so little money? There are glimpses of humour in parts which helped a lot. It had the touch of a black comedy in it which saved it from being completely all about the violence and body count.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Thunder by Taryn Kincaid




About the Author:

TARYN KINCAID is a multi-published author of sensual romance. Her 1Night Stand series stories, LIGHTNING and THUNDER are available from Decadent Publishing and wherever eBooks are sold. Her Regency romance, HEALING HEARTS, for Carina Press; her erotic paranormal, SLEEPY HOLLOW DREAMS, for The Wild Rose Press, are also available wherever eBooks are sold.


Thunder
by Taryn Kincaid
Paranormal/Erotic Romance/Urban Fantasy
Series: 1 Night Stand/ Sleepy Hollow 2
36 Pages
Decadent Publishing

Blurb:

Lonely young witch, Veronica Hardwicke, has struggled to get on with her life after the death of the elderly husband who’d left her a fortune and a sprawling estate in mystical Sleepy Hollow. When frightening things go bump in the night on a stormy Fourth of July, who better to call than the sexy developer and contractor, Sean Jones, who's been renovating her mansion for months?

Sean may grace the tabloid pages with a different supermodel on his arm every night, but it's Veronica who drives him nuts. Ignoring his instinct to stay away, he answers her summons.

Will the thundering passion of their 1Night Stand tear down the barriers between them?

Excerpt:

Veronica paced back and forth in the grand entry foyer of the Belmont mansion, the kitten heels of her Prada mules clacking on the marble floors.

The rest of the place might not be finished, but she’d insisted on having a few rooms completed, so at least she felt like she was living in a home, rather than a massive, never-ending construction project. Well, her contractor had insisted, even though working around the main entrance and central hallway created more work for him and his crew. But she was forced to admit he was right.

Her cell phone chimed on top of the antique credenza shoved flush against one wall. She leaped for it. Probably Geneviève, to regale her with all the fun she was having in Paris. Or Sean, to advise her he couldn’t make it after all. She sighed and read the text message on the small screen.

Congratulations, Veronica. 1Night Stand has found your date. Have a good time.

With both anxiety and mounting excitement, she stared at the screen and waited. No other info. Outside in the night, thunder boomed. She jumped then laughed at herself.

Ghosts are one thing, but freaking out at the weather now? Cripes, you really do need this date!

She let her imagination run wild, then texted back for more details:

When? Where? Who?

An insistent pounding at the front door jarred her out of her fantasy. She swung the door open on another explosive crack of thunder.

Sean stood on her doorstep, his soaked T-shirt molding sculpted pecs and abs, his drenched hair flattened over his brow. Rain poured down as he fiddled with his iPhone, a bemused expression on his face. Behind him, jagged arrows of lightning tore the dark sky. He glared at the screen, glanced at her in confusion, then back at the screen.

Veronica’s own phone pinged again. Thunder roared. She read the message in disbelief.

You’re looking at him.

The book is available from Decadent Publishing | amazon





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Tuesday 29 January 2013

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Raising the Bar by Lucy Felthouse



http://www.fmbpromotions.com/2012/12/tour-schedule-raising-bar-by-lucy.html


About the Author:

Lucy is a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied Creative Writing. During her first year, she was dared to write an erotic story - so she did. It went down a storm and she's never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Constable and Robinson, Decadent Publishing, Ellora's Cave, Evernight Publishing, House of Erotica, Ravenous Romance, Resplendence Publishing, Sweetmeats Press and Xcite Books. She is also the editor of Uniform Behaviour, Seducing the Myth, Smut by the Sea and Smut in the City.

Website | Facebook  | Twitter  | Goodreads | Lucy Felthouse Newsletter


Raising the Bar
by Lucy Felthouse
Erotica
Decadent Publishing
Available from:
amazon uk | amazon us | B&N | ARe | iTunes | Kobo | Bookstrand

Blurb:

When Kayleigh takes a gap year before starting University, she decides she’s going to stay away from guys and just concentrate on having fun and experiencing life. That means going through a lot of batteries, but she’s happy and satisfied.

That is, until she gets to Spain on her travels and meets her new co-worker, Luciano. The scorching hot Spaniard soon has Kayleigh’s knickers in a twist— literally—and the time they spend together seriously raises the bar for her sex life. How will any other man ever compare?


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Adult excerpt after the jump

Monday 28 January 2013

Release Day Blitz: Shattered Circle by Linda Robertson







About the Author:

Linda Robertson is the mother of four wonderful boys, owns three electric guitars, and is followed around by a big dog named after Bela Lugosi. Back in her high school days she was the lead guitarist in a heavy metal cover band, and now she is a member of Hagatha's Bluff (best known as "The Hags"). This hard rock band plays a mix of covers and originals, in and around her hometown of Mansfield, Ohio. She loves stand-up comedy, really good margaritas, and movie heroes who look hot in loincloths.

http://www.authorlindarobertson.com/
http://www.facebook.com/authorlindarobertson

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

I plan the big points, the beats that have to be hit, and leave just a general idea of how to get from here to there with the rest. That way it has structure, but it also has the freedom of that "in the moment" creativity. Sometimes an idea comes unbidden that forces me to change the beats. You have to be open to let those ideas flow.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

Absolutely! My series was supposed to be about Johnny. I had his character in mind as the lead, then I started working on his ideal companion and Persephone came along. She took over, as her story was the stronger one to me, although now that I've opened up the world in books 5 & 6 (WICKED CIRCLE and the new release SHATTERED CIRCLE) by using 3rd person scenes for everyone but Persephone's POV scenes, I'm able to delve in to Johnny's backstory and bring it to the light as his character arc pushes him into the spotlight as the about to be crowned King of the Wærewolves.

What is your favourite food?

Chocolate. Sweets. The stuff I shouldn't have. I love it in my coffee. Gimme cookies, brownies, ice cream. You can add chocolate chips to just about anything...

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I'm best when I'm doing things late, late morning, late night, but not night owl late. Let me sleep in until 10 am, fabulous. Let me stay up until midnight, perfect! But that's only doable in the summer. Otherwise, the kids have me up to see them off to school. Otherwise, I don't think they'd go. Hee hee.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

I want to see Venice and take a gondola ride in the spring. It just seems so romantic and inspires my sense of wonder. I also want to visit Machu Picchu and the Pyramids because I've always been fascinated by them.

Do distant places feature in your books?

In the Persephone Alcmedi series, they have travelled to Pittsburg and upstate New York. But another book I'm currently working on is set in San Francisco. A collaboration I'm also currently working on is set in Russia.

Do you listen to music while writing?

Constantly. I love Hans Zimmer's movie scores, because music without lyrics works best for me. I'd like to have the rock n roll cranked while I write but I end up singing along and focusing on those words and not getting any on the page.


Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

SHATTERED CIRCLE is the 6th installment in the Persephone Alcmedi series from Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books. The vampire hierarchy has taken the haven from Menessos, and transitioning it into Goliath's rule--and the plotting of the Shabbubitu--strains their relationship to the breaking point. The wærewolves are losing their den as the local Department of Transportation intends to seize it and tear it down to make way for the new highway (I placed them in a real building in Cleveland that ODOT has truly taken and torn down for their I-90 project...). As if that isn't enough for Johnny to deal with, his new assistant, Aurelia, shows herself to be a serious threat to all he holds dear. Seph’s beloved foster daughter, Beverley, has been playing with a magical artifact that’s far more dangerous than she realizes. Our heroine, named for the goddess best known for being abducted, summons help from a mystical being so potent that even vampires fear him . . . and the cost of his aid may be more than she’s willing to pay. So...Seph, Johnny, and Menessos are facing threats from all sides—and a few from within. These forces may cement their tenuous supernatural union, or shatter it forever....

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

SOOO much! I always say the first book is the worst book. Working with my editor taught me many invaluable lessons over the years. I think the biggest thing I learned, the thing that has had the most impact on me and which I have given some seminars on at conventions is how to polish your manuscript before you send it in, to give it the best chance of being noticed. It's about overused words and word choice, but mostly, it is about your command and use of language. Books are full of words, stories are nothing but massed words. The ones you choose and how you put them together are so vitally important. People think I can write sentences, I can write a book. Yes...and no. Communication has become so strange in this modern age. Go find sources that show actual letters written between people a century ago. They USED their language. It was beautiful. Hell, read Poe. Just the opening to Ligeia.... Writing is more than communication. It needs to be engaging, it needs to define characters, it needs to develop an interesting plot, and it needs to do all this in an economy of words...and the language one uses will make all the difference.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Ahhh, to have a tardis, to go back and make changes. Yes. I'd apply the above lessons more sternly. I'd use my time more wisely, I’d not let some life situations interfere so much. Late 2011 through mid 2012 were wonderful and terrible all at the same time for me. If I could only have known then what I know now... :-)

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

Everything! Everyone! Aside from the industry folk like editors, copyeditors, etc., who have the obvious influence, the world is fair game to me. The character Nana is a conglomeration of my mother and aunts and all the older women I know. She embodies the spunkiness I see in them, as well as the wisdom, and the aches and pains. That springboard from reality makes her real. It's the same with the wærewolves den I mentioned earlier. When I heard ODOT was truly tearing down the building I'd housed my wærewolves in, that influenced a subplot that has affected WICKED CIRCLE and SHATTERED CIRCLE. It was a wonderful little bit of truth, of chaos, of the unexpected crap that kicks you when you're on your way up, on already really down. I had to throw that in there. I try to stay open to those bits of reality that I can drop into the story. It's what makes it feel real.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

It's more work than you know. If your skin isn't thick, if your ego bruises easily, or if you are trying to get into writing for any reason other than the passion you have for telling a good compelling story, then you might want to look into being a gas pump attendant or cashier. (I've done both. Neither was hard on the ego or required extra-thick skin.) However, if hard-work and critical thinking isn't the complete starter-set for a whine-fest to you, if you can take criticism, and if you're going to write those darn stories no matter what anybody says or thinks, then challenge yourself and master those skills.

What are three words that describe you?

Creative. Goofy. Hard-working.

What's youfavourite book or who is your favourite writer?

It's tough to answer that. I will always love both, Ellen Kushner's "The Fall of the Kings" and Jennifer Roberson's "Sword Dancer."

Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book

JUST YOUR AVERAGE MEGA-WITCH. . . .

It’s tough being a modern woman, but Persephone Alcmedi has it worse than most. Being the prophesied Lustrata has kicked her career as a witch into high gear, and juggling a wærewolf boyfriend who is about to become king of his kind and a seductive vampire who bears her magical Mark isn’t easy either.

Still, Seph’s beloved foster daughter, Beverley, is causing more trouble than these two men put together. The young girl’s been playing with a magical artifact that’s far more dangerous than she realizes. Now Seph must summon help from a mystical being so potent that even vampires fear him . . . and the cost of his aid may be more than she’s willing to pay. Seph, Johnny, and Menessos face threats from all sides—and a few from within. Will the forces of destiny cement their tenuous supernatural union, or shatter it forever?

List of previous books if any

VICIOUS CIRCLE (#1)
HALLOWED CIRCLE (#2)
FATAL CIRCLE (#3)
ARCANE CIRCLE (#4)
WICKED CIRCLE (#5)

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.

www.authorlindarobertson.com
 and on I post on Wednesdays at www.word-whores.blogspot.com


Sunday 27 January 2013

Author Interview: Kenya Carlton


About the Author:

Kenya has a B.A. in Mass communication, Television and Radio. She has fifteen years in production of television and film and five in television engineering. In 2009 Kenya Produced Dawn a short film and Executive Produced Destination Everywhere the pilot for a travel series through her production company Black R.O.K Productions established in 2008.


http://kcbookcafe.com/

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

I’m a plotter. Everything is plotted out before I start. Most of the time the story will take a turn that I didn’t anticipate originally, but it always seems to work out for the best when that happens.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

There was a time or two that a few side characters wanted to take the whole story and run away with it. I had to stop them in their tracks, since their personalities were just too big and would have caused plenty of chaos every place they went.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Night Owl, my ideas flow better late at night. Mornings are definitely foggy on the brain front.

Do you listen to music while writing?

Loudly! I do my best writing with music. Different genres, fast or slow, it has to be blasting for me to get into a good head space to knock out some chapters.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

Brazil is a romantic suspense. Two agents from different fields, fighting the bad guys while fighting mutual attractions, it is one of those love hate type of deals.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

I’ve learned to have patience with part of my life. Most of the time everything is in slow motion, and then it’s rush, rush, rush, edit, edit, edit all at once.

Is there anything you would do differently?

If I said yes it would mean I haven’t learned anything.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

The more you write, the better you get at it. And more importantly, patience.

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

I don’t have just one favorite book or author, but I will say anything that makes me think about it long after I read is a favorite.


Brazil
by Kenya Carlton

Blurb:

Charly Beaudliar has fooled many powerful men. Completely discounted due to her good looks, she makes for the perfect spy.

Unfortunately, FBI agent Leo Santos finds out the hard way that he can’t make the beauty do anything she doesn’t want to.

In desperate need to capture and destroy a man who obliterated his childhood, Agent Santos tries to enlist the femme fatale for help on a life-threatening case, a request Charly reluctantly fills.

Together, heady emotions collide on a mission that not only jeopardizes their hearts but also their lives, but Leo is determined to put his past to rest, even if it’s with the help of a woman he doesn’t trust and is not entirely sure he even likes.

AWOL from their bureaus, Charly and Leo are forced to rely on each other in order to right the wrongs from his childhood and catch one of the world’s biggest drug czars. With no room for mistakes, these two agents must squelch the soul-stirring chemistry between them in order to come out of the mission alive.

Book Spotlight: A Stage for Traitors by Serban V. C. Enache

A Stage for Traitors
by Serban V. C. Enache
Fantasy

Blurb:

Emperor Hagyai Rovines has sent Sycarus to the Desertlands, to return home with an Aharo maiden for his son and heir. The emperor's exiled brother, Amarius, means to reclaim the throne, and he has powerful friends in the empire, waiting for the right moment to turn their cloaks. Lord Birus Mandon seeks to root out the traitors. Lord Kalafar Sodomis is faced with choosing battle or neutrality.


Read an excerpt after the jump:

Saturday 26 January 2013

Book Spotlight: The Life and Times of the Heir and the Keeper




The Life and Times of the Heir and the Keeper
A Caspian University Novel
by Etta King

Blurb:

They say college is a lot of things; a haven, a four-year party, the place you met the girl – or guy – of your dreams. What they don’t tell you is, the best part of college is the drama YOU bring to the table! After all, that dirty little secret, that not-so-little white lie, and those texts you wish you could erase from cyberspace can’t stay hidden forever. At CU, someone’s always watching, and you better hope there isn’t a camera phone on hand when you get caught.

It’s the Spring Semester, but it’s not all fun in the budding sun for Jon and Franz. Follow them as they delve through the politics of secret societies, the inevitable drama of the F-word (that’s FAMILY, for the uninitiated), creepy Resident Advisors, creepier residents and girls who don’t always say what they mean. Who wouldn’t need two months to recuperate?

Amazon Paperback |  Amazon KindleBarnes and Noble


Book One The Life and Times of Elizabeth and the Duchess Kindle |  Paperback






About the Author:

Etta King is the author of the Caspian University novels, a series chronicling the life and times of a group of wealthy teens who inevitably discover the various flavors of college drama. Etta writes from her personal experiences as a college co-ed and as the product of an all-girls prep school. Here she witnessed the very eccentricities and foibles which she depicts in her novels.


In a home filled with books, it was no surprise that Etta grew to be an avid reader, and that translated into writing when she was thirteen. She wrote simply for the fun of it, whatever would come to mind, from fantasy to thriller to romance, and shared her stories with her friends.

In 2010, at twenty-one and just as she was about to graduate from college, Etta began writing "The Life and Times of Elizabeth and the Duchess." This was a story which had first taken shape in 2008, after her freshman year, but had been put on hold. With graduation looming, Etta recalled the characters, and the events which had inspired them, and took pen to paper. Literally, as Etta enjoys writing out her stories before typing them out. Soon the first book had been completed and the series was born.

"The Life and Times of the Heir and the Keeper," comes as the sequel to "Elizabeth and the Duchess," and serves as the second semester of these teens' college saga. Etta is currently working on the third book, in what will be an eight-part series.

Etta King lives with her family in Westchester, New York.

Website: http://www.ettaking.com

Blog: http://www.ettaking.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Etta_King

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElizabethandtheDuchess


Friday 25 January 2013

Author Interview: Carol Van Etta




About the Author:

Like most authors, Carol Van Atta is no stranger to the written word. She penned a short novel at age 12 (somewhat frightening illustrations included, and lots of bunnies were involved), and had a creative writing piece published in her high school newspaper (about David Bowie's Diamond Dogs LP). Yes, she's an ex-80's chick.

Devouring books from numerous genres, Carol developed a deep thirst/hunger for more reading material, and could almost always be found with her nose in a book.

She has contributed to several popular inspirational anthologies and devotional books, and lives in the rainy wetland of Oregon with a terrifying teen (another in college) and a small zoo of animals. She is taking an undetermined hiatus away from inspirational writing to delve into her darker side. (Though you can check out her latest spiritual suspense novel, Soul Defenders). It is rumored that this genre-jumping occurred after Carol discovered two suspicious red marks on her neck, and experienced an unquenchable urge to howl at the moon.

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

Some planning and a whole lot of letting the story flow.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

Yes, and I tend to let them. They seem to know best!

What is your favourite food?

Ice cream.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

What is morning?

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

Micronesia. I read an awesome creative non-fiction book about a young man’s experience in the Pacific Islands during his time in the Peace Corps. I was fascinated by the culture and beauty described. Today, in my “day job,” I have an opportunity to work with several families from the islands. Their stories are beyond interesting. I want to go!

Do distant places feature in your books?

My current two books are set in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. I happen to be from Oregon which happens to be part of the Pacific Northwest. I have a book I’m working on that takes the characters to Haiti.

Do you listen to music while writing?

Not always. I can write with just about any background if I’m in the mood.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

I Kissed a Dog is a paranormal romance with sizzling suspense and fantasy elements. My main female character, Chloe Carpenter, has an unusual talent. She can understand animals. When she stumbles into the thoughts of a very manly man, Zane Marshall, she is more than surprised, she’s shocked. Her ability has never included her human counterparts. Despite her new experience, her ability is still an animal-only kinda deal. The very human man is actually a very sexy werewolf (yep … an animal). Murder, mayhem, and mystery pull the two together and into an adventure they never saw coming and might not survive.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

A ton. I’m always learning. The publishing industry has changed immensely since my first published story was featured in an anthology over ten years ago. There are so many opportunities for writers to get their work into the hands of readers around the globe. E-publishing, smaller, indie presses, and self-publishing have become viable and acceptable options for today’s writers.

Is there anything you would do differently?

I would have spent more time perfecting my first book in 2003. I was accepted by a smaller indie press that I didn’t know much about. Let’s just say I learned a lot, and would spend more time researching publishers and polishing my work if I could go back in time. Thankfully, my experiences continue to get better with time and experience.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

So many wonderful men and women have influenced me over the years. I have a dear, older friend, Roberta. She invited me to my first critique group. Her unconditional support of my writing journey helped me develop a foundation in my life and allowed me to improve my skills in a supportive environment. She encouraged me to follow my dream and not give up. God planted dreams in my heart and opened doors when the timing was right. Without my spiritual walk, I’d be lost back somewhere in the dust of despair. I’ve come a long, long way from my old haunts and habits.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

Don’t give up. Keep writing. Find a mentor or mentors you admire and trust. Did I say: Don’t give up?

What are three words that describe you?

Bold. Encouraging. Creative.

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

That changes frequently. Really. I read so many genres and authors. You’d be surprised. I’m reading so many new authors now. As I mentioned, with low cost ebooks available, I’m trying and enjoying books I might never have picked up before.

Any places readers can find you on the web:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Werewolves-of-the-West-I-Kissed-a-Dog/153030771437034

https://www.facebook.com/carol.vanatta.1

http://www.werewolvesofthewest.com/

http://vampswereswhyohmy.blogspot.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1237874.Carol_Van_Atta

Thank you, Carol and good luck with your books :)

Thursday 24 January 2013

Author Interview: Joseph Spencer




About the Author:

As a boy, Joseph Spencer immersed himself in the deductive logic of Sherlock Holmes, the heroic crime fighting of Batman and Spider-Man, and a taste for the tragic with dramas from poets like Shakespeare and Homer.


Before Joseph took to spinning his own tales, he pursued a career in print sports journalism, graduating with honors from Clinton (IL) High School in 1996 and summa cum laude from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 2000. He covered such events as NASCAR’s Subway 500 race in Martinsville, the NBA Draft Camp in Chicago, the Junior College World Series, and Minor League Baseball’s Midwest League All-Star Game during a ten-year career throughout the Midwest. Now, he works as an emergency telecommunications specialist with an Illinois police department. The combination of years of writing experience with a background working with law enforcement professionals gave rise to his writing aspirations.

Joseph was married Dr. Amy (Waggoner) Spencer, an accomplished veterinary doctor, on March 14, 2012. He received word his debut novel was accepted by his publisher, Damnation Books, the next day. Joseph and Amy look forward to their honeymoon in Paris in September 2012. Murphy, a 15-year-old orange tabby, is perhaps the most vocal member of the family. The Spencer family enjoys reading Charlaine Harris, George R.R. Martin, Mary Janice Davidson, and most paranormal stories. The Spencers also enjoy quoting movie lines from The Princess Bride, Rain Man, Bridesmaids, and Office Space.

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

Honestly, I didn’t do a lot of prep work in the form of outlines and character sketches for the first two books in my Sons of Darkness series. Grim and Wrage, which will come out later this year, started with a few small concepts and I grew them from there. However, I recently began a project where I asked my wife, Amy, who is an avid reader, to join with me in planning a book. We are developing a novel using Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method at www.advancedfictionwriting.com. I’m toying with working on our idea as a brief break from my series. For those who liked Grim, I’m planning for seven Sons of Darkness. I hope there’s interest enough from readers to make it quite a series.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

I love to write storylines which are character driven. I think it’s more important to stay true to a character rather than giving readers what they expect. I’d say a lot of people who’ve read my work said they didn’t see my ending coming, but they were satisfied with how it concluded the story even though it’s a little unconventional. My favorite part of writing is exploring a character, and telling that character’s story. In Grim, there’s a lot of characters with elaborate back stories, so in a way I think they do take over the story part of the time.

What is your favorite food?

Everyone in central Illinois loves a local Italian restaurant called Avantis. They make subs with sweet bread called Gondolas, and have great sauces and salad dressings. For the service and the quality and quantity of food you get, it’s a great place. They’ve got all sorts of sandwiches, pizzas and pastas.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

For years, I worked late hours at newspapers and third shift on my job now at the 9-1-1 emergency communications center. Ten years ago, this is an easy call because I was a night owl hands down. However, my wife has earlier hours for her job, so I’m becoming more of a morning person to mesh with her schedule. Although, it’s definitely nice to shop in 24-hour places for groceries and stuff like that if you can because it’s empty. I hate the stupid driving and congestion inside the stores that you encounter during the day.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

My wife and I have checked New York and Paris off our list. We’d like to explore a great deal of Italy next. From TV and movies, Venice looks so beautiful. We’d also like to visit Rome. I went to Europe for the first time last September when my wife and I went to Paris for our honeymoon. For people who dream to travel, don’t wait until you’re old to see what you want to see. Paris was breathtaking, and it’s fun to visit museums there and see history and heritage from a different perspective. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere other than the United States, but there are several parts of Europe I’d like to see.

Do distant places feature in your books?

I created a fictional town in the Midwest based off places I’ve lived. I didn’t want to make a mistake trying to recreate a real place in my work. However, I’m planning to place a new idea for a novel that my wife and I are planning in St. Louis.

Do you listen to music while writing?

I’ve learned that I write best in complete silence. I’ve tried listening to music, but I just can’t focus. As crazy as it sounds, my characters don’t speak to me with a lot of background noise drowning them out. I know lots of writers who’ve got an iPod going while they write, but I can’t do it.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

Grim is a tragedy. There’s a man who has no idea who his family is, who grew up with no sense of identity and no parental figures, and who loses everyone who truly mattered to him in his life. He’s felt like he’s had to prove himself his entire life, and the only way he knows how is to make a deal with a supernatural being. His deal forces him to hunt down killers and fiends to avenge the souls of victims who can’t move on in the afterlife. The being convinces this desperate man that what he’s doing is just, even though he’s becoming as despicable as the men he hunts. To justify his own actions, he seeks out a virtuous heroic figure, and attempts to engineer his fall from grace in that man’s time of need. His thinking is if this man, who has symbolized justice for so long, becomes a man like him then maybe he’s a heroic figure, too, rather than a monster.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

I used to think that to get published that you had to have an agent, and I’ve found that’s not the case. There are a lot of options for writers these days. There are a lot of great independent publishers, and the self-publishing business aspect of the industry is taking off. You get a lot of rejection, and I think it’s important if you believe in your work to keep going. Never quit on yourself or your work.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Being unfamiliar to some of the marketing aspects, I think I would’ve started sooner with scheduling blog tours like the one I am on now. It’s all a learning process, so you’ve got to evaluate the costs of doing something against the potential impact of doing it. Right now, I’m just trying to introduce myself to as many new readers as I can in the hopes that they’ll like my work and continue to read it as I write more.

Who has influenced your writing?

I think I’ve learned something from every book I’ve ever read whether I liked it or not. I do want to credit my editors of Grim, Avril Dannenbaum and Michael Garrett, for teaching me about aspects of fiction writing. I also want to thank Kim Richards, owner of my publisher Damnation Books (www.damnationbooks.com), for giving me a chance as a brand new writer.

What are three words that describe you?

Sarcastic, relentless and driven are probably the words I’d use. I think it’s important to laugh, and I’d compare my sense of humor to a style similar to Seth MacFarlane. I’m also relentless and driven when I lock in on what I want. I won’t stop until I reach my goal or I go as far as I can go.

What is your favorite book?

As far as a classic, I’d have to say The Count of Monte Cristo because it’s the first time I read an anti-hero like Dantes. Society said you really shouldn’t root for him because of the nasty, vindictive things he does, but you do end up rooting for him. I love Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter series. He’s created an icon out of a character that is usually considered a social pariah.

Blurb of upcoming release

Wrage, Book 2 of my Sons of Darkness series, is complete at 119,997 words and continues in the occult crime thriller vein I introduced with my debut novel, Grim, published by Damnation Books on Sept. 1, 2012. Here's a brief description:

As more dark secrets come to light, the battle for souls will push Prairieville to the brink of war in the living and supernatural realms.

Jeff Wrage swears a blood oath to Abaddon, the mysterious supernatural avenger of murder victims, to hunt the crooked cop who butchered his wife. But Jeff privately wonders whether he can be the executioner Abaddon requires to hold up his end of the bargain. Their pact throws the supernatual realm in chaos and threatens to trigger an apocalyptic fight for control of the afterlife between the Sons of Darkness and Sons of Light foretold in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

To make matters worse, Orlando Marino sees the death of Cyrus Black as his opportunity to restore the Marino family's stronghold in the Prairieville organized crime scene and to become a mob kingpin. He unleashes a plague which turns its victims into mindless followers, and Cyrus' heir, Grevis Black, is too busy rooting out a traitor in his midst to stop the coming turf war in the realm of man.

The fate of men and supernaturals alike rests with freshly promoted Homicide Detective Anna Duke, who reluctantly steps into the shoes of her mentor while struggling to come to terms with her unrequited love. As she tries to clear the fallen hero's name, she takes on a case where corpses go missing and her new partner is believed to be dead. When she starts learning the truth about her true identity, she'll uncover a trail of secrets which leaves her questioning her tragic past and begins her journey to avert the destruction of all creation.

Links to find me on the web:

www.josephbspencer.com

http://www.damnationbooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615727520
 (ebook)

http://www.amazon.com/Grim-ebook/dp/B0093Q8L9Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358730066&sr=8-2&keywords=grim+by+joseph+spencer
 (Kindle book)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grim-joseph-spencer/1112783042?ean=9781615727537
 (Barnes & Noble Nook & paperback)




Tuesday 22 January 2013

Author Interview & Giveaway with Anne Sweazy-Kulju




About the Author:

ANNE SWEAZY KULJU has won awards for editorials and honors for short stories, but now she writes historical fiction adventures, exclusively. Her debut novel, “the thing with feathers,” was released by Tate Publishing in September 2012. Her book, “Bodie,” a total thrill ride, is expected to release in early 2013, and she is currently busy on her next book, “Grog Wars,” set in 1850’s Portland, Oregon, the Shanghai capital of the world. Anne lives near Pacific City, Oregon, and divides her free time between the beach and Mount Bachelor. Readers may learn more about Anne and correspond with her on her website at www.AnneSweazyKulju.com


20 Questions with Author Anne Sweazy-Kulju



1. When and why did you start writing?

I started writing “for real” (until then, I was just writing magazine articles and dreaming of selling a short story) after a major car accident, in May of 1993. We were a two-income family, but self-employed. I had to figure out a new profession I could do from my bed. It was a pretty short list, I could only think of two things… and I didn’t want to be a telemarketer (dear me, what did you think I was going to say?)

2. What inspired you to write your first book?

It was a very old photograph. In early 1990, my husband and I chucked everything, including a couple of sweet public utility jobs in SoCal, and moved to the kind-of-mysterious Oregon coast. We restored a 1906 Victorian farmhouse and opened a Bed & Breakfast Inn. The youngest member of the family that built the house was a famous photographer who lived his entire life there. He died at the age of 99. During the restoration, we found some of his old photographs in the attic. Looking at one of a pretty young woman standing on a rock at the river‘s edge, I was instantly mesmerized, but also awash with sadness. Even though the girl in the photo was smiling, it was the saddest smile I had ever seen. I wondered what it was that made her so. In fact, it haunted me for days after, and then I told my husband, “I think I know why she was so sad, and I am going to write a book about it.” His reply was to knock myself out. *He meant that in a nice way.

3. What other authors inspire you?

Flannery O’Connor has been my greatest influence. I love her beautifully flawed heroes, wicked mean villains and grotesque settings, always salted with southern poverty and peppered with racial and religious elements. Also, Jack London, John Steinbeck, Hemmingway, Nelson DeMille, Jean Auell, Mark Twain, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Rebecca Wells, Jacqueline Suzanne, and Margaret Mitchell -- these are all authors whose dialogue rings true, and whose writing I found to be very visual.

4. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in writing?

Well, yes… I write historical fiction, exclusively. It’s my thing. I love the research part, because I always learn so much. I have books and photocopied reference materials up to my arm pits. The challenge for me is to be historically accurate about physical settings, time periods, actual events, even the professions of my primary and secondary characters, without getting bogged down in technicalities. I mean, I love Tom Clancy, and he is extremely accurate about his settings, et al. But, I don’t want to write the equivalent of his “up periscope; down periscope” for ten pages. Balance without sacrificing interest, which is the challenge.


5. Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?

Yes, lots of things. I learned quite a bit about the history of the state I call home (Oregon), and about the practices of some Baptist congregations. But the most important take-away, was that I learned there was almost no fiction in the literary world that reached out to the victims of child-rape and/or incest; there were no characters written to be their survivor, or champion, or hero. It has been my experience that when we humans find ourselves in a bad place, when we are at our saddest, angriest, or most fearful, we often to turn to literature, and we look for characters we can relate to, who maybe shares our struggles and strengths, who presses on through adversity, overcomes, and perhaps even triumphs. I wrote this book almost twenty years ago and put it on a shelf. But back when I had started writing it, there were no girls with dragon tattoos, and there were no heroines like Blair. I learned we really needed one.


6. What is your greatest strength as a writer?

I am told by readers my greatest strength is the visual way I write. I’ve been told they can feel, taste and see my story as it unfolds in their head. That is the most complimentary thing I could hear about my writing style. But as for strength, I think it is my bullish refusal to believe in writer’s block. I think that is a bunch of hooey.

7. Have you developed a specific writing style?

I believe I have. I research stuff to the hilt, then I create pages and pages and pages of background about each character--even tertiary ones, before I begin writing. Then I use my completely fleshed-out, realistic characters to push my plot forward in well-researched settings. By the time I begin writing, my characters are well-rounded enough to be real people, to me. I think that is why they become so real to my readers.

8. Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Ha! NO. But then I’m usually packin’ a sixer of Andre Brut and a big club I borrowed from Jack London. (“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”)

9. What is most rewarding about writing?

Hearing from folks who tell me they loved reading something that I wrote. It’s a wonderfully warm fuzzy.

10. What is the one line in your writing that you love the most?

In this book, I would have to say it is this one (Sean Marshall to Blair Bowman Marshall): “We all do what we have to do to survive. I mean, I believe God expects us to fight for our lives, don’t you?”

11. What advice can you give to beginner writers about writing sex scenes?

I would recommend reading Flannery O’Connor first. Examine how she can impart a suicide occurrence without ever mentioning death, suicide, or the hanging of oneself? She covers all the sensory stuff so well, the reader “just knows” what happened. I think a good writer can (and should) do the same thing with sex scenes. I believe this because, no matter how hard a writer tries or how talented she is, she will never nail that perfect sexual encounter better than a reader can imagine for his or her self. Consider this: I wrote a novel which revolves around the awful taboo of incestual child-rape, and it was published by a Christian publishing house. Every once in a while, at any given author appearance or talk, I will still have a reader approach me and say he or she thought the rape scenes were just a little too graphic, too raw. Isn’t it interesting that I never actually detailed a rape anywhere in the book?

12. What kind of research did you do for this book?

I did a mountain of research. I wrote this before the internet was available for PCs. (When I got my first computer, its hard drive was ¾ of 1 mb.) So, it was many trips to libraries and sending for materials from far away libraries, plus visits to local historical museums and historical societies. I also did a few (old school) interviews: 1) the best friend and estate executrix to the real-life person I fashioned Sean Marshall after--he is my book’s hero; 2) the Tillamook Pioneer Museum Curator; 3) veterans who suffered, or knew someone who had suffered, from a traumatic dissociative disorder; and, 4) school administrators and social services counselors, about recognizing the signs of sexual abuse in students. It was difficult to glean material about the subject--and PTSD was a term not yet coined. When I did my first edit (almost 20 years later), I had the internet at my fingertips, and thus the world. I used it to tighten up facts and remembrances of things like, for instance, my childhood memories of Chicago--to find the perfect home for Cindy.

13. How did you get interested in writing in this genre?

Oh that’s easy. I never really considered any other. My father was a high school history teacher (and football coach) for some 40 years. He got me interested in history the same way he hooked his students: with cool, little known historical facts. He taught history by event, instead of by timeline, and it was much more fun (and easier to retain the knowledge) than by memorizing dates. I was writing little stories even as a kid and I loved it when I could throw in some interesting historical facts, ala dad, to confound the reader as to what is real and what wasn’t.

14. Tell me about this book, what made you want to write this story?

I guess you could say that photo haunted me into it. And when I found out how little in the way of literary heroes was available to the poor souls who are so victimized, I knew I had to write this story--and I had to write it well.

15. Can you recommend any reading or websites that have helped you in your writing (research, stylization, etc.)?

I have read several books by Linda Seger, an award-winning screenwriter, on character development. I believe faceted character building is tres important in novels, but it really is more a craft than an art. Her suggestions helped me to create tighter, stronger characters that really come to life in a reader’s head.

16. What is the best advice you have ever gotten about writing?

My Communications 101 Professor told me, “Don’t ever become a journalist.” He gave me my only college “C”. He’d said I deserved a lower grade than that, but because I was a good writer, he did not want to ruin my GPA. So, you’re probably wondering why I was given the poor grade. It’s because of suspense--I guess I was born to write fiction, because (he said) I always bury the lead.

17. What is one of the most rewarding things that have come from being a writer?

I have gained a sense of self-worth. I am disabled and was unable to earn a living, after having worked full-time, and sometimes working two jobs, since I was fourteen years old. It left me feeling pretty worthless. It doesn’t help that my disability checks now read, “Government benefit check”. I mean, really? And here I thought those checks were drawn on an insurance policy I had paid premiums into since I was 14. (Sorry; irks me!)

18. What are you reading right now?

Research works on China and the Oregon Trail, Lew Hunter‘s “Screenwriting 434“, and for an entertainment break, I am reading a screenplay written by a talented friend.

19. What is the one thing you want your readers and other writers to know about you?

I would like book lovers (and book writers) to know that I am just getting started. The more I write, the more I want to write. I have a notebook filled with story and character ideas that I can’t wait to dive into, if I just had more time in the day, and more days in the week.

20. What can we expect next from you?

Next out is “Bodie” (Spring 2013). This historical fiction (Western) adventure is blended with a healthy dose of psychic and political intrigue. And, it is based upon a true story--my own! When two sisters discover they had been sharing the exact same repetitive dream for years, and decide to undergo “regression” in hopes of learning more, neither woman would have believed it would lead to murder. Bodie is distinguished as having been the most violent town in America’s history. The town averaged a murder a day, which was blamed on bad weather, bad whiskey, and bad men. But the sisters think it was something else entirely. Goodbye, God! They‘re going to Bodie to investigate!

My current manuscript under construction, “Grog Wars,” is a super-fun, free-bootin’ free-for-all, which will be at least as much fun to read as it is to write. The characters are complex and bursting with color, and the settings are sweeping and stretch across three different continents. It is an epic adventure I have to tear myself away from in order to work on other things. I’m glad I won’t have to be away for long!





This Thing with Feathers
by Anne Sweazy-Kulju
Historical/Family Saga

Blurb:

As the inhabitants of Cloverdale, Oregon, welcomed in the twentieth century, they were not unaccustomed to hard times and thorny situations. Small communities banded together for protection and hope. Heroes and villains were often difficult to decipher.

When an itinerate Baptist preacher arrived with his baby daughter and a wife lost on the trail, there was no one prepared to suspect what lurid secrets and heartbreak he might be concealing. As the preacher sets his sights against those who might oppose him, the names and the lives of the good people of Cloverdale may not be spared.

Yet in the midst of the machinations of a mad man, virtue and valor can persist. The Thing with Feathers is known to fly through wars, depressions, and natural disasters. Will the Marshall clan and the good people of Cloverdale find it in time?

Excerpt

“Seems she don’t much care for song leaders neither.” The musician reached for another piece of the pie.


“On the contrary.” Preacher Bowman gave the man a knowing look.

“Serious? Naw. Pull my other leg, it has bells on!” he’d told him.

“I never knew a young girl who didn’t attempt to lure a man she’s interested in away from the prying eyes of her father.” The preacher pushed his platter away from himself and smiled. “You’ll probably be wanting your payment now. I believe I promised you better pay than you’ve ever had before. Well, my man, it waits for you in the canning shed out back.” Bowman nodded his head toward the kitchen window. He encouraged the music man to get up and take a look.

The musician followed Bowman’s gaze out the window that hung over the kitchen sink. He spotted the side of the small shed and his eyes caught barely a glimpse of Blair’s floral skirt moving within. He tossed a confused look to the preacher, who gave the man a surreptitious wink and then resumed his seat at the table.

A lecherous look registered in the music man’s deep-set eyes about the same instant the preacher’s intentions reached his cramped mind. The musician reached for the back door handle and opened it, looking back at the preacher once more to be sure that that was what the preacher intended. He was rewarded with a silent nod.

Preacher Bowman reached for another slice of pie.

***

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Book Spotlight: Cocaine Vampires by Jim Cryns


Cocaine Vampires
by Jim Cryns
Horror

Blurb

What do a sex-crazed kleptomaniac, a bipolar suicide risk and an obese drug enforcer have in common? They're all vampires.

Five members of a dysfunctional vampire clan are struck by a terrorist attack which alters their DNA and forces them to confront the unthinkable--their mortality.

Excerpt

Chapter One

I seek to cure what’s deep inside, frightened of this thing that I’ve become.”

Griffin dreaded the taste of human blood. He said the viscosity reminded him of coppery warm milk; at least that was what he had always told me. Personally, I never did mind the taste; it was part of what we were. His face came alive with tics, twitches, blinks, and an eerie jitterbug of facial moves. Griffin prepared to lead our clan feed, with my permission as alpha. There was a good chance he’d bail on the lead, he often did.

His ritual was a motorized, unconscious series of events, which gave him a feeling of acceptance for what was about to take place, what always took place. It was Griffin’s way of psyching himself up and he was doing it now. I found the practice both amusing and fascinating.

A handsome man, he wore his blonde hair long. His face was angular and he led with his chin, already shadowed by tomorrow’s beard, something he believed gave him an edgy look. I’ve always thought it’s just plain slovenly and made him look insolent.

We’d waited for half an hour, and finally, someone was approaching. The tall guy with white hair looked like a prick--I immediately didn’t like him, which made the feed that much easier, no remorse. He wore a pink Polo shirt and hideous green golf pants, and walked as though the sidewalk belonged to him. We fed on members of the Milwaukee Athletic Club every chance we got. We also fed in any neighborhood regardless of creed, class or color. But this was the type of feed where I was appreciative of the fact he was going to die.

The downside of feeding on wealthy people was the fact they were missed when they disappeared. They held jobs where other people depended on them to oversee the signing of their paychecks. It may be cruel to say it but homeless people were a staple. They brought the least amount of attention. The irony was most homeless people had more integrity than the guys upon which we were about to feed. If I had my way it would be the fat cats that were the chief source of our feeds.

I think it’s important to delineate between a feed and a kill. While we do both it’s important to know there’s a difference. We feed because we have to and that results in our prey dying. We kill on occasion when it protects our identity, or in self-defense. Killing for the sake of killing was frowned upon. That was not to say I hadn’t done it on occasion, but it wasn’t the smartest thing to do.

Most members of the Athletic Club were lawyers, judges, doctors, bankers or CEOs of a company. To us, it didn’t matter. If we could impose a little justice, take out an asshole once in a while that was a bonus. We didn’t discriminate between men or women, we were equal opportunity vampires, but we try to avoid children, then again, that’s not to say on occasion they don’t end up as prey.

Polo-guy stopped to light his cigar and he looked drunk, his knees wobbled. Three friends followed through the revolving door. At least I assumed they were his friends as they were dressed in equally tasteless and dreadful clothing.

Cocaine Vampires is available from amazon

Book Review: The Armageddon Conspiracy by John Thompson


Review copy from author's publicist
The Armageddon Conspiracy
by John Thomspon
Thriller
4 Stars

Blurb:

Fast-rising money manager Brent Lucas has no idea that the head of his new firm is a Christian fanatic or that his multi-million dollar job is a set-up until a billion dollars disappears from a client's account--and until he ends up as the only suspect. Determined to clear himself, he goes to his client's home where he finds only corpses. Narrowly escaping, Lucas runs from both the FBI and his would-be killers.

Fueled by memories of his brother's tragic death in the Trade Center and aided by his ex-fiancée, a beautiful cop assigned to the Project Seahawk anti-terrorism taskforce, Lucas begins to unravel a flawlessly planned conspiracy. He discovers his politically unassailable boss has masterminded a plot aimed at bringing about Armageddon-with stolen missiles, depleted nuclear fuel and a band of Muslim terrorists intent on killing the President. As the FBI closes in, Lucas launches his own desperate attempt to stop the madness before it is too late.

Review:

Finding it difficult to get a job after he blew the whistle on his last firm for insider trading, Brent Lucas finally accepts an undercover job on behalf of the justice department to investigate Genesis Advisers, who are also under suspicion of the same thing. What Bent discovers however, is something he hadn't expected. His new boss, Prescott Biddle is a fanatical Christian, who says he has a direct line to God and that's how he knows what the market will do. It's strange, all right, but not illegal, so Lucas wonders what he's really doing here and he's barely at the firm a month before everything comes to a head and Lucas is on the run, framed for murder and embezzlement and desperately trying to get anyone to believe him.

This is a deftly plotted, well-executed thriller. I enjoyed most of it, but I felt disappointed that we as readers find out a lot about the 'bad guys', who they are, what they are willing to do and their motivations a long while before Lucas did. It would have worked so much better if the reader found out things at the same time as Lucas did, it would have added an extra layer of tension. So instead of just Lucas wondering who he can trust, the reader is unsure as well. It lets the story down somewhat that the reader gets to know so much before the main protagonist and diminishes some of the tension.

What makes this stand out from a lot of thrillers is the characterisation. Brent Lucas is just a normal man, he's not some ex elite special forces chap who can kill a man barehanded with his eyes closed. He's just an ordinary guy caught up in extraordinary circumstances and we really get to know Lucas as a character here: from his disappointment with his break-up with Maggie, to his grief over losing his family. After his father's death his mother killed herself by setting fire to the house with Lucas and his brother in it. His brother became a fireman and died during 9/11 and parts of the book are Lucas talking with his heroic dead brother, which I found rather poignant.

There are various point of view throughout the book, from Maggie to Biddle and Abu Sayeed, the mastermind behind the importation of the missiles in a bid to assassinate the president and each has their own part to play in the narrative. None of the characters come across as two-dimensional, they are all fully realised with all of their own baggage, which makes them stand out more.

A good read if you enjoy fast-paced thrillers.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby

Sunday 20 January 2013

Author Interview: A. Sangrey Black



http://www.fmbpromotions.com/2012/12/tour-schedule-if-wishes-were-shadows-by.html


About the Author

A. Sangrey Black is the darker, kinkier alter ego of paranormal romance and urban fantasy writer H.A. Fowler. This pseudonym gives her the freedom to explore the more shadowed side of sexuality and romance that have fascinated her since she started reading Anne Rice novels at an entirely in appropriate age. She allows her Bloodthirsty Muses to take her wherever they please, however outside her comfort zone.


Besides fiction, she also makes a living as a freelance writer. She reads constantly, loves to travel (especially by train.) She's a certified cheese and coffee addict, practices yoga and meditation, and is careful to quickly and accurately follow the demands of two very picky felines. She is also one of those twisted vampire freaks that studies them as important philosophical and literary figures… as well as sexy fictional boyfriends.

Hi Annette! Thank you so much for having me today. I always love talking to readers and bloggers… or at all, really.


Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

A combination of both. I need the safety net of an outline so I know where I plan on going, but I'm open to following where the characters or the action might want to wander if they change their minds somewhere along the line. Having an outline means I can look and see where I need to adjust things so they turn out more or less the way I want.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

All the time! Especially in specific scenes. I usually write out skeletons of action and dialogue for each scne, but characters very often have different ideas of what they want to say or do. As long as it doesn't change things in a major thematic way, I let them go. They're the backbone of the story, after all.

What is your favourite food?

Honestly, almost anything with cheese involved: mac & cheese, quiche. But I'll say a tie between loaded nachos and pan pizza with extra cheese and pepperoni.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Definitely a night owl, although that's changing a bit as I get older! I'm starting to find my most productive hours are from late morning to late afternoon. What kind of vampire writer writes in the height of the day!?

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

I've always been drawn to Scotland. It's a mix of the fact that the majority of my ancestors are from there, and my lifelong love of Scottish romances that have made me long for the beauty, history, and romance of it all. If I ever make enough money, that's where I'd go.

Do distant places feature in your books?

Not yet, unless the future counts. They're mostly set in the continental US, although that will probably change in the future with the characters from IF WISHES WERE SHADOWS.

Do you listen to music while writing?

No, I need quiet while actually writing, but I do build playlists that I listen to in the car or around the house just to keep the emotional flow going. It also often inspires me to add, change, or subtract things when I sit down to write again.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

It's my first published piece outside of "mainstream" paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I decided to take on a pseudonym to take on new genres that I've been wanting to try for a long time, and IF WISHES WERE SHADOWS is the first. It's a mélange of genres: hardcore BDSM, dark romance, vampires/paranormal, ménage… it was a blast to write, and really proved to me that I want to do more in this area.

I also wanted to come at a vampire romance from the POV of a human lover. Calinda is by no means an innocent -- she and Adam have been in the BDSM life for two years, but she's walking into a much darker world, both literally and figuratively, when it comes to the part of her vampire's life that he's sheltered her from. She's an adrenaline junkie, and has absolutely no qualms about doing whatever Adam wants to do, but once she's in the thick of it, she's going to be faced with aspects of herself that she was never in touch with before, and that changes everything. The decisions she planned to make take on a whole new meaning.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

Don't take anything personally -- especially from editors/publishers/critics. They're just doing their jobs, and they don't have the time to care that this book or novella or short story is the child of your heart. To them, it's just words on a page, and the only question is: will it sell?

Don't give up. No matter how many rejections you get, keep polishing your piece, keep getting editorial comments, take what the rejections say seriously (if you get a personalized rejection, that is a GOOD THING!), keep submitting. Keep working on other pieces. Just KEEP WRITING. You can never succeed if you don't try.

Don't read Amazon or Goodreads reviews. Seriously, the ratio of vicious, insulting screeds to actual constructive criticism in those places doesn't make it worth the hurt. Read review blogs instead.

Is there anything you would do differently?

I would have gotten an agent an tried harder to get into the Big Houses back in 2006, when I was first published. I would have had a chance to ride the huge vampire wave that's ebbing now. I'll still keep writing vamps because that's my great love, but I don't think we'll ever see another explosion of popularity like the post-Twilight craze again.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

Oh, that list could go on forever. Of course, there are writers that I just adore, and reading their works just keeps me going even when I feel like I don't have anything left in me. I mean, look at Nora Roberts/JD Robb (the latter is one of my absolute favorite series and couples) -- how many books does she put out a year, and most at an incredibly consistent quality? Diana Gabaldon, with her rich, historical world and arguably the most sexy hero and deeply devoted romantic couple in fiction. Kim Harrison and Jim Butcher, creators of two of the most amazing fantasy worlds I've ever read.

But I'm also inspired by the world around me. Little things like the natural environment where I live; places I visit; music; movies and television. Almost anything can carry the seed for a story or character.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

I ripped this off from La Nora: Put your butt in the chair, every day. Even if it's for five minutes, write, no matter what. I highly recommend the "Morning Pages" method created by Julia Cameron in THE ARTIST'S WAY -- she describes them on her page as: "Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages*– they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page…and then do three more pages tomorrow.

It sounds difficult. It sounds hokey. It sounds cliché. But if you make a habit of writing every day, you'll be shocked at what you can produce over the course of a few months or a year. Don't worry about whether it's "good" or hot, or publishable, just put words on paper. They're yours, not anyone else's.

What are three words that describe you?

Quixotic, sarcastic, procrastinating

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

I meantioned it earlier, but my all time favorite book is OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon. She's also my favorite writer, although Kim Harrison and her Hollow's Series is very close behind. Another books that means a great deal to me is Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book

IF WISHES WERE SHADOWS by A. Sangrey Black

Calinda Byer is a self-assured, assertive businesswoman who knows what she wants -- and vampire Dom Adam Stratford is it. Their wild love life has awakened her inner submissive, introduced her to the special freedom of leaving her power and will with her clothes on the bedroom floor. She is ready for eternity with him to begin, to taste the world of immortal BDSM, where bodies are all but indestructible and there are no rules to keep things sane or safe.

Stratford has been around long enough, and known enough humans, to realize that the idea of being a vampire is often more romantic than the reality. There is innate violence, a relationship with blood and pain that mortals can't begin to understand, even in the depths of the most depraved dungeon. His truly deep feelings for Calinda prevent him from agreeing to her pleas to become a vampire until she has a much better idea of the things he does in the shadows when she isn't beside him.

A weekend at his country home promises dark delights like nothing Calinda ever dreamed, and surprises beyond her understanding. Will she risk her very soul to step into that sensual darkness, or will she say the safeword and run for her life?

List of previous books if any

While this is my first novella writing as A. Sangrey Black, I have a number of more mainstream pieces published as H.A. Fowler:

THE VEIL

THE VEIL II: OTHERWORLD

NEPTUNE RISING

SWORD OF REGRET

BETTER NOT CRY (if you're in the mood for a steamy holiday story!)

POSITIVE ENCOUNTER

You can find these at all the major outlets, plus All Romance Ebooks.

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.

A. Sangrey Black ("Alternative" Fiction: BDSM, Dark Erotica, Horror, Paranormal, LGBT): http://asangreyblack.blogspot.com

@ASangreyBlack

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/a.sangreyblack

H.A. Fowler ("Mainstream" Fiction: Erotica, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy): http://bloodthirstymuses.wordpress.com

@HAFowler

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/h.a.f0wler



An excerpt from the book

“Are you certain you wish to go on?” he asked.

Calinda grinned in spite the horror-movie air and his grim demeanor and nodded. There were no shadows dark enough that would keep her from taking this journey with him. Nothing she wouldn’t do if he asked it of her, just as she knew he would, if he hadn’t already tasted all of her secrets.

Satisfied, Adam took her hand, pressed a small switch on the wall beside them, and led her down a narrow set of stone stairs, now illuminated by a dim red light. The stairway curved sharply, and he was guiding her down and down forever, circling into the depths of who knew what. She had learned from experience that the border between the heavenly and hellish was very fine indeed. She liked it that way.

Calinda’s heart thundered, her stomach fluttering with nerves, and she relished each sensation, tucking it away in her memory like some women might keep tickets to a show she’d attended with her lover. She had been an adrenaline junkie since the day she was born. Instead of drugs, she far preferred driving fast cars, jumping out of airplanes, and dating ancient, sadistic vampires than pills or needles. This occasion, with its mysteries and uncertainties, was better than any shot of pure heroin straight into her system, and the vampire she loved was giving it to her. He had become so many things to her in the two years they’d been together, and adrenaline dealer had been one of the greatest of them from the moment they met.

She remembered with an electric shiver through her system the first moment when she realized what he was, when she invited him home knowing what he could do to her. The biggest charge of her life. She gave his hand a squeeze in thanks. No, she had no difficulty in taking this journey. There was only one thing that could be at the bottom of this staircase, spiraling them into the depths of the earth together: the darkness he kept talking about, made manifest. The deepest shadows inside him. She was so eager to see it she was already wet.

If Wishes Were Shadows is out now from Cobblestone Press

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