tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87506556032170723442024-03-05T15:49:04.798-08:00Author InterviewsAmy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-20612391212012560132011-10-06T21:56:00.001-07:002011-10-06T21:56:24.339-07:00Halloween 2011 with Keta Diablo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPtlqZQNP0FpHpoerFQ9T8kfBT1ONZBNG-pozTr8wwq3Big9Tdmi7ZjS8hTatBN1moYjYcYUhQ0OZglTE84ME1ULq3R_lads0rBZ_bSM-g5hB0GhNZGNLofwbLxYNrByA3id5Ch-2b-8/s1600/Deborah+Magnus+Logo+for+me.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPtlqZQNP0FpHpoerFQ9T8kfBT1ONZBNG-pozTr8wwq3Big9Tdmi7ZjS8hTatBN1moYjYcYUhQ0OZglTE84ME1ULq3R_lads0rBZ_bSM-g5hB0GhNZGNLofwbLxYNrByA3id5Ch-2b-8/s1600/Deborah+Magnus+Logo+for+me.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Welcome to the
2<sup>nd</sup> Annual Halloween Bash, Keta. It's always a pleasure to
have you as my guest here at Ramsey's Reviews. I have had numerous
reviewers talk about how awesome your stories are and I look forward
to your new releases. Thank you for taking the time to answer some of
our Halloween questions. </b></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Tell us your
latest news. Do you have any current projects you’re working on?</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon4rYnSkWxyLKy3Z2OA0gKM5Zru6hj95SpnVO_XbMqO77RrvQA_mY3gFSbQos7ibXHn50ahey9jvadc-8c4sKwWcNBwsbt1maFnUoW_B628ePDPV5irpDWA6Nr2_j0wvyL3ItsTPGUhI/s1600/Land_of_Falling_Stars.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon4rYnSkWxyLKy3Z2OA0gKM5Zru6hj95SpnVO_XbMqO77RrvQA_mY3gFSbQos7ibXHn50ahey9jvadc-8c4sKwWcNBwsbt1maFnUoW_B628ePDPV5irpDWA6Nr2_j0wvyL3ItsTPGUhI/s1600/Land_of_Falling_Stars.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Hi Amy, first I want to thank you
for hosting another *Fantastic* Halloween Bash. They’ve been so
much fun. And thank you for asking about my current projects (a pile
that never shrinks). I have a release coming out October 5</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>
through Books We Love Spice. </b><i><b>Land of Falling Stars</b></i><b>
is a re-release of an erotic romance/historical with a Civil War
theme. Watch for the release </b><span style="color: red;"><b>OCTOBER 5</b></span><span style="color: red;"><sup><b>th</b></sup></span><b>
here: Keta’s Kindle Page: </b><span style="color: blue;"><u><a href="http://amzn.to/qsrw5D"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>http://amzn.to/qsrw5D</b></span></a></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I’m
also writing the first novella in the *Lone Star Series*. The title
of the first book in the series is </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Waking
the Dead.</b></i></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>I have five books planned about the
Bannister brothers in, of course, Texas. These are also historical
books . . . think HOT, HUNKY COWBOYS! </b><i><b>Waking the Dead</b></i><b>
will be released in November 2011. Readers can also follow my romance
blog Keta’s Keep for information about all new releases:
</b><span style="color: blue;"><u><a href="http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com/"><b>http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com</b></a></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OE4Fc2RQfoZTmmGaLvSr2Gqb0Bb92B-eKujeDtXt0E670a2nztbzzaLl26DvQBjMQ5GhyJmk1aU92iIeCm5HrD-o64Mm_PTbCzjt5LfDL4ksogrWvoa4KPRGYIN1cEtOHt2q2i1_R3w/s1600/51jLywUxaZL._AA160_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OE4Fc2RQfoZTmmGaLvSr2Gqb0Bb92B-eKujeDtXt0E670a2nztbzzaLl26DvQBjMQ5GhyJmk1aU92iIeCm5HrD-o64Mm_PTbCzjt5LfDL4ksogrWvoa4KPRGYIN1cEtOHt2q2i1_R3w/s1600/51jLywUxaZL._AA160_.jpg" /></a><b>And finally, I’m in the process of
writing the sequel to </b><i><b>Where The Rain Is Made</b></i><b> (a
paranormal shifter nominated for a Bookie Award by Authors After Dark
in 2010). This is the story of Marsh DuVall who, like his sister
Cesca, was kidnapped by the Cheyenne dog soldiers in the first book.
Readers can also sign up for my newsletter for more information:
</b></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><u><a href="http://www.ketadiablo.com/"><b>http://www.ketadiablo.com</b></a></u></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>.
I give away three books to readers every time the newsletter is sent
out.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>When and Why did you begin
writing?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I’ve been writing about six years
now and have 21 books on the market. Like most authors, I write
because my life would seem incomplete if I didn’t. What other
occupation allows one to lounge around in their pajamas all day? I
love the freedom that comes with writing, but that doesn’t mean we
don’t have to be disciplined and abide by a schedule. No books
equals no income!</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Where do you
get your information or ideas for your books?</b></span><br />
<b>From
several sources. I’m an Internet-surfing junkie. In fact, there are
days when I force myself to disconnect from the web to write. </b><i><b>Land
of Falling Stars</b></i><b> was spawned from a true-life story I read
on the Internet about cousins who fought on opposite sides during the
Civil War. I spun off on that story and asked myself what could
possibly happen if two men loved the same woman, yet one fought for
the North and one for the South. You can see where this is going,
right?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-evTfqNMkz2CDaiUCp6CFlAMe4as39NU4IaorRPmtSOn1cW3XYvh3TKwlzOrllMxa7Nf3rDk2YrDH5TIU4Cq5N693NRnKsSBenzBG58PZAVBhAD6c3k0mQ2xbOjWQKsNWMBr5OO9Af4/s1600/BADGE+No.2+-+Sojourn.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-evTfqNMkz2CDaiUCp6CFlAMe4as39NU4IaorRPmtSOn1cW3XYvh3TKwlzOrllMxa7Nf3rDk2YrDH5TIU4Cq5N693NRnKsSBenzBG58PZAVBhAD6c3k0mQ2xbOjWQKsNWMBr5OO9Af4/s320/BADGE+No.2+-+Sojourn.png" width="160" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I also have very vivid dreams and
keep a notebook on my nightstand. If I wake up in the middle of the
night from a dream, I jot down some notes so I don’t forget. And I
also love people-watching. One can learn a lot by watching humans
interact. Particularly helpful when it comes to writing dialogue is
to take note of their expressions, or if I’m lucky enough, listen
while they have a conversation. People don’t speak in perfect
sentences, but often uses gesture, animated faces and broken words.
Watch them sometime and you’ll see what I mean. </b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>What do
you think makes a good horror story?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>The same things that make all
stories good, suspense, thrills, tension, dynamic characters and a
plot that moves forward at a face pace. I don’t read much horror,
but lately I’m taking a keen interest in the genre. When I select a
horror book, I want to be scared, but not necessarily with gore and
guts. I’m much more frightened by a story like </b><i><b>Silence of
the Lambs</b></i><b> or </b><i><b>Copycat</b></i><b> than I am
Nightmare on Elm Street.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>What is
your favorite scary movie or book?</b></span><br />
<b>See above.
</b><i><b>Silence of the Lambs</b></i><b>. For years my mom wouldn’t
watch it. She was terrified of Anthony Hopkins’ voice. One night
she was visiting and my son had the movie on. Before long, Mom was
glued to the sofa and watched the entire movie. Then she said,
“What’s the name of that film?” Boy was she surprised when she
found out it was </b><i><b>Silence of the Lambs.</b></i><b> </b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>What makes
you interested in the genre your write?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I cut my teeth on Kathleen Woodiwiss
and Rosemary Rogers. I remember reading by flashlight under the
covers and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to Steve and
Ginny next (<i>Sweet Savage Love</i>). And Woodiwiss, well, she
really paved the way for romance. Her first books, <i>The Wolf and
the Dove</i> and <i>The Flame and Flower </i>reeled me in forever. It
seemed natural for me to gravitate toward writing historical romance
when I started.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMqZYlyyzPB5awG6w70Aj4HEKzi81SC5GwzLo1qV8MrWX-Q1NEKI2rTPu6Gs-UB9KoT99vfOwovBeYMQ4zFTcC5CteMhiNlF64pTRIfQui25Hoxtsvs6PLgj_SKCq1g_oqgS88dFX_ZI/s1600/Cradle+of+Dreams+%2528200+by+300%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMqZYlyyzPB5awG6w70Aj4HEKzi81SC5GwzLo1qV8MrWX-Q1NEKI2rTPu6Gs-UB9KoT99vfOwovBeYMQ4zFTcC5CteMhiNlF64pTRIfQui25Hoxtsvs6PLgj_SKCq1g_oqgS88dFX_ZI/s200/Cradle+of+Dreams+%2528200+by+300%2529.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>When you
were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it
propel your creative muse to write about it later? </b></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>If I went by my childhood, I’d be
writing about angels or spirits. I had several near-misses, as in
almost died, in my childhood. The stories are too lengthy to delve
into here, but I knew I had an angel watching over me when those
tragedies took place. There’s no other way I could have survived
without one. I don’t know my angel’s name, but I sure know what
*she* looks like. I was raised with all boys and let me tell you, if
an only girl can survive that in her childhood, she can survive
anything as a grown woman. I have the battle scars to prove it. I
still ask my mother, “Where were you??” LOL </b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Do
you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared
yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I’m a chicken. I’ve never liked
the dark; don’t believe I’ve ever slept without some type of
light on in another room. I don’t know what it is about light, but
I feel much safer with one on. I don’t watch really scary movies.
My dreams are vivid enough, thank you very much. </b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Where
do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic
content?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I wouldn’t write excessive gore
since I don’t read it. Suspense and scary is good, but do we need
all that blood and guts to scare us? As for erotic content there are
certain words I RARELY use but that’s a personal thing. I don’t
care for words that disparage women in any respect. You know the
words I’m talking about, right? For some reason men have</b> <b>used
certain words with women when they’re angry.</b> <b>Somehow, saying
“You’re a dick, you know that?” doesn’t seem as personal and
cruel as some of the words they use. </b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHQ3h1FQOp3BE7k2sxmp4pH367UZD6wm0g1Trl0__sscj5i7VyFP4XCwYjD3JOP-U17uY2uy58K_6cx9UpS39i6p7FhTTrVjr5iGBx3WVHSQlFyYdY8kRM49oWaD5EGARQZlu2YjfDqM/s1600/Decadent_Deceptions.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHQ3h1FQOp3BE7k2sxmp4pH367UZD6wm0g1Trl0__sscj5i7VyFP4XCwYjD3JOP-U17uY2uy58K_6cx9UpS39i6p7FhTTrVjr5iGBx3WVHSQlFyYdY8kRM49oWaD5EGARQZlu2YjfDqM/s1600/Decadent_Deceptions.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I read all types of erotic romance
and occasionally erotica (there is a difference). I don’t draw
lines when it comes to other authors and their writing. They have to
do what seems best for them. </b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Could
you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Again, thanks so much for asking.
Here’s the blurb for <i>Land of Falling Stars</i> (mentioned
above).</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>After her
parents die in a fire, Sophia Whitfield struggles to save her beloved
home, Arbor Rose. The Civil War has devastated the South, and another
blue coat has come to steal her meager possessions. Before the hated
enemy inflicts his destruction, she shoots him. And soon discovers
the soldier is Gavin, the champion of her childhood.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Gavin's
dark secret lurks in Sophia’s future. When she discovers the truth,
she's torn between a burning hunger for the man she truly loves and
loyalty to Jesse, their childhood friend. The despicable acts of war
have changed everything Sophia and Gavin once cherished. Yet
somewhere deep in their hearts, the mystical Land of Falling Stars
still exists. </b></i></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaVvPXuxMKJpbbTGV6ZpMOzpl0pF3QI49b3nt5t2V9-i0WxLvSKioN4S2KweErNMft6r4uwiiqmq5euLlsMvjGuRGLzOgxMe7-3WCyAyizXFiha6brF5EcQA6lGWtEOSYiAjekb-3wR8/s1600/Where_the_Rain_is_Made.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaVvPXuxMKJpbbTGV6ZpMOzpl0pF3QI49b3nt5t2V9-i0WxLvSKioN4S2KweErNMft6r4uwiiqmq5euLlsMvjGuRGLzOgxMe7-3WCyAyizXFiha6brF5EcQA6lGWtEOSYiAjekb-3wR8/s1600/Where_the_Rain_is_Made.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>And here’s
the blurb for </b><i><b>Where The Rain Is Made</b></i><b> (read the
reviews here: </b></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><u><a href="http://amzn.to/ev0I3Y"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><b>http://amzn.to/ev0I3Y</b></span></a></u></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: small;"><b>)</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><b>A
decadent-looking savage has captured Francesca DuVall and her brother
Marsh. Now she spends every waking moment planning an escape. She
didn’t count on the powerful draw of desire interfering with her
scheme while in the clutches of the brutal Cheyenne Dog
Soldiers.</b><br /><b>Ethan Gray is a curator at a national museum
. . . most of the time. When he travels through time to help his
beloved People he’s Meko, leader of the most revered and feared
tribe of the plains. Their worlds are decades apart and yet Meko
can’t resist the dark beauty he kidnapped during a raid. Violent
battles loom on the horizon, but there’s only one he must win at
all costs – the capture of Cesca’s heart forever. </b><br /><br /><b>From
the windswept plains of Colorado and the harsh life of a Dog Soldier
to the placid life of a curator, their love was fueled by passion and
kindled by destiny.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Where can your
fans go to find more information about you and your books?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJq7TIGKhLqw5-AagYAaRrROtjcQPfzUQegIW_r2LAM8ot37PMBDuXSXPRIqW4XhGky6dtU69ZPT_VHwZCsfr78KdnNzcMRs4sQqp4CFqL971tQnKOdsbRj_o3c79KOerFvaj6t-SmH-s/s1600/Dust_and_Moonlight.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJq7TIGKhLqw5-AagYAaRrROtjcQPfzUQegIW_r2LAM8ot37PMBDuXSXPRIqW4XhGky6dtU69ZPT_VHwZCsfr78KdnNzcMRs4sQqp4CFqL971tQnKOdsbRj_o3c79KOerFvaj6t-SmH-s/s1600/Dust_and_Moonlight.jpg" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Keta
Diablo lives in the Midwest part of the country on six acres of
woodland. When she isn’t writing or gardening she loves to commune
with nature. Keta is a multi-published author in both erotic romance
and gay fiction. Her latest paranormal novel, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><i>Where
The Rain Is Made</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">,
has been nominated for a </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><i>Bookie
Award</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">
by Authors After Dark in the Best e-novel category. In addition,
Keta’s books have received numerous Top Pick, Book of the Month,
and Recommended Reads awards from the top professional review sites. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><b>You
can find her on the Net at the following places:</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><b>Keta’s
Amazon page: </b></span><u><a href="http://amzn.to/or7XUP"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><b>http://amzn.to/or7XUP</b></span></a></u></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><b>Keta’s
Keep Romance Blog: </b></span><u><a href="http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><b>http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com</b></span></a></u></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><b>Keta’s
Author Home: </b></span><u><a href="http://www.ketadiablo.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><b>http://www.ketadiablo.com</b></span></a></u></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.4in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><b>Keta’s
Facebook Fan Page:</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><b>
</b></span><u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/KetaDiablo.Author"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><b>http://www.facebook.com/KetaDiablo.Author</b></span></a></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Is
there anything else additional you would like to share with your
readers?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>From my heart: Dear Readers, thanks
so much for supporting me and my books. I know without you, success
can not be achieved. Professional reviews are nice, don’t get me
wrong, but what really makes my day and keeps me pushing to get that
next book out, are the wonderful e-mails I receive from readers. Our
world is not in a good place right now. If I can bring a small
measure of pleasure or escape to <i>your</i> world, I’ll consider
my goal accomplished.</b></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Here’s hoping all your reads in
the future take you on endless journeys of enjoyment and magic.</b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ecILHvz1kejYZjX_g4Nlf0Ma1lutxyvuMrcBq-hVF9k9A7fhkq_sz1j4x7aNP9F4ysa3Kxfv87viOcVv-t7xGDhVDUErfnLrt3XWU4oOQj0YBnWqPIxI35RA597oKqn-7LsFMPKqZnM/s1600/keta-diablo-animated-banner.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="67" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ecILHvz1kejYZjX_g4Nlf0Ma1lutxyvuMrcBq-hVF9k9A7fhkq_sz1j4x7aNP9F4ysa3Kxfv87viOcVv-t7xGDhVDUErfnLrt3XWU4oOQj0YBnWqPIxI35RA597oKqn-7LsFMPKqZnM/s320/keta-diablo-animated-banner.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-45055712921324057172011-10-06T21:55:00.001-07:002011-10-06T21:55:22.606-07:00Halloween 2011 with Tamara Monteau<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-m1ZBCZmznubpBh7rRWOXtnH-gqVl8skZzjv7LG1bP87vq2TNvctNg5g8UUrqAnqRUC_Q21tKsYKbl9d-YZGj4EnvTkWaeng2tCVkCGsbEFZsdm_gheyzc30-qBXmn-REtcYwWz995M/s1600/havensRealmBanner.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-m1ZBCZmznubpBh7rRWOXtnH-gqVl8skZzjv7LG1bP87vq2TNvctNg5g8UUrqAnqRUC_Q21tKsYKbl9d-YZGj4EnvTkWaeng2tCVkCGsbEFZsdm_gheyzc30-qBXmn-REtcYwWz995M/s320/havensRealmBanner.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I
am pleased to have the author of The Darker Path and the Haven's
Realm series, Tamara Monteau, here with us for the next couple of
days. Tamara, thank you for taking the time to chat with us about
your books. I am looking forward to reading The Darker Path when it's
released. Readers, Tamara will be sticking around during her
interview to answer your questions, so please feel free to post.
Every post you make will gain you extra entries into the October 1<sup>st</sup>
Halloween Contest for a chance to win a Halloween-themed e-book. So
let's start posting those questions and HAVE SOME HALLOWEEN FUN!!!!</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tell
us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working
on?<i> </i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhv-VkO7RXo8jKUcKwzBRkl3t11llIDSChSfrOG4aFyT6DtY7B9gRkeBTCRC_Vq5IZHopyFCjUXF-QeczkI42NZpLVCPKcDpnz1PICZiT5ssDmC95U8oou1HefxNLE-ZKcCiSjFp-bnU8/s1600/The+Darker+Path+cover1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhv-VkO7RXo8jKUcKwzBRkl3t11llIDSChSfrOG4aFyT6DtY7B9gRkeBTCRC_Vq5IZHopyFCjUXF-QeczkI42NZpLVCPKcDpnz1PICZiT5ssDmC95U8oou1HefxNLE-ZKcCiSjFp-bnU8/s320/The+Darker+Path+cover1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>The
Darker Path</i> is in editing. My third book, <i>Dragon Lord</i>, and
the fourth, <i>Haven’s King</i>, are scheduled for release by the
end of the year. I have already begun work on my fifth novel, which
will be book five in the <i>Haven’s Realm series</i>. It doesn’t
have a title yet, but for those who are familiar with my work, it
will be the story of Vincent, and will have a few side-trips. It
should be a fun read.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>When
and Why did you begin writing?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I
have always been interested in creative writing, even as a child. I
have an overactive imagination, so the transition to writing my
fantasies was inevitable. It took Dan Curtis’ revival of the <i>Dark
Shadows</i> saga in 1992 to spur me into writing for real. I felt
sorry for Barnabus Collins, and began creating my own characters.
Before long, I had developed my culture.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
do you get your information or ideas for your books?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Out
of my head. Or, perhaps to be more precise, out of the heads of my
characters, who seem to take on a life of their own not long after I
start a project. When my “friends” are less than forthcoming, I
research their finer points on the web. Wikipedia is only one of the
sites I frequent, but I find it has the bulk of the information I
need to fill in the blanks.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
do you think makes a good horror story?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Suspense,
a following plot, and believable events. I like a story that keeps me
on the edge without sending me over into disgust. Mindless slaughter
does not a good story make.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVkyuB2iy4UeILwok-n4lI8d4VY74WofTExmDu54kg3mFq-C99_lP5o0DxYVg0pmgm6nEif3JFYINIrlU4Z5JZXkXYXGKLqU078UlHc-_SAWx7tmZIt7l-xFFDLGTluv72CRkZ6fWlNk/s1600/haunting_ver1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVkyuB2iy4UeILwok-n4lI8d4VY74WofTExmDu54kg3mFq-C99_lP5o0DxYVg0pmgm6nEif3JFYINIrlU4Z5JZXkXYXGKLqU078UlHc-_SAWx7tmZIt7l-xFFDLGTluv72CRkZ6fWlNk/s200/haunting_ver1.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
is your favorite scary movie or book?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
Haunting. Both versions.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
makes you interested in the genre your write?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I
don’t really know. I guess it has something to do with the
forbidden desire aspect. I’ve always loved vampire stories. There’s
just something about an all-powerful lover, and the power of
submission, that appeals to me. </b></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>When
you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did
it propel your creative muse to write about it later?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Outer
Limits could always get my heart racing. When I was five, a bad storm
hit in the middle of a suspenseful part and the power went out. I
remember looking out the front window and seeing Mom and Dad
wrestling with a large metallic monster (an aerial antenna). I joined
my sister under the bed. No, this did not influence my writing. It
was just the most scared moment I can recall. </b></span></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaekkjFgwW0b96prhQ7AjxbiySh7oHFmdU_hvjaaKBPySVzpPqHNEKUhtFaQPN3pxoEEzLws0NzaykOAZ82krwTMInkj1i7Tv9zOURfBCpY8Be7TO0OtaEUDl17q4WdWXtzzToVMlxgM/s1600/TDbannerAd.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaekkjFgwW0b96prhQ7AjxbiySh7oHFmdU_hvjaaKBPySVzpPqHNEKUhtFaQPN3pxoEEzLws0NzaykOAZ82krwTMInkj1i7Tv9zOURfBCpY8Be7TO0OtaEUDl17q4WdWXtzzToVMlxgM/s320/TDbannerAd.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Do
you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared
yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I
have had many occasions while writing where events unfold in
drastically different ways than I had foreseen. When I come up for
air and read what my fingers just laid out, I find myself astounded.
Sometimes I firmly believe my imaginary friends are more real to me
than I want them to be. That’s the part that scares me.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic
content?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Crass,
vulgar language. I have gotten gory on occasion. (The worst was a
scene at the end of Dragon Lord where a man’s head explodes.) I’ve
been known to throw in a cuss word or two. I don’t like the “F”
bomb. It’s not necessary. And there are ways of making love without
obvious and graphic language. Innuendo allows the reader to fill in
the details for themselves. I prefer reading stories that sketch the
scene and allow my own imagination to pick it up from there.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Could
you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGNuDpjIe6rYddP6EdDWIJ3S5xR51n-awE2NuplCscoXlIyBIoy4uaXYH7huC-0yZbDQ2JD0qbQoPcweG6it_3xdDvQ127Fr7EEuAkuoH9hFp7x6Z320GfRrukBwfnVTYppBJr32oSZY/s1600/Twilight+Destiny+Cover2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGNuDpjIe6rYddP6EdDWIJ3S5xR51n-awE2NuplCscoXlIyBIoy4uaXYH7huC-0yZbDQ2JD0qbQoPcweG6it_3xdDvQ127Fr7EEuAkuoH9hFp7x6Z320GfRrukBwfnVTYppBJr32oSZY/s320/Twilight+Destiny+Cover2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
only one I can share is from my first novel, Twilight Destiny,
Haven’s Realm 1. When The Darker Path, Haven’s Realm 2, is
approved, I can give you that as well. A full excerpt is on my
website, <a href="http://www.havens-realm.com/">http://www.havens-realm.com</a>,
but here’s a taste:</b></span></span></div>
“<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>It’s after
two in the morning. What are you doing out here alone?”</b></span></span><br />
“<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I was thinking
about us,” she told him shyly.</b></span></span><br />
“<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Oh?” He
gently lifted her face and studied her. He saw the longing in her
eyes, the</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>uncertainty. She
nodded again and reached up to smooth a strand of hair from his eyes.
When her</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>fingers brushed
his ear, he caught her hand and pressed her knuckles to his lips. He
pulled her</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>into his arms and
held her tightly against him while his own feelings waged a war
within him.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>When she raised
her face to his, his lips found hers of their own accord. He couldn’t
give her the</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>tender kisses
he’d held himself to. Instead, all the feelings he’d held tightly
at bay broke free of</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>their bonds. She
returned his kisses hungrily and clung to him as if she were
drowning.</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>He wanted her.
God help him, he did. He sensed her passion rising, and when he
realized</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>she intended to
let him take her as far as he would go, his tenuous control nearly
snapped. She</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>touched her
tongue to his lips in a tentative gesture, igniting his passion into
a raging storm that</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>demanded answer.
He took possession of her mouth, drank in her sweet, warm depths
until her</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>knees weakened.
In another moment, he’d have her on the ground, exploring every
inch of her,</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>making her his
own. It was only with the greatest difficulty that he managed to stop
before he did</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>just that. He
pulled her tightly against him and held her while he did his best to
bring his</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>mutinous body
back in line. “Oh, Catherine,” he said at last, his voice
strained.</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>She trembled with
frustration and need. “Joshua…” Her voice sounded like a sob.
She tried</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>to push away, but
he held her more firmly. “Joshua, I…”</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlOPcZ7Ki67VN8tJRxNdEyedJ-EZLlYlMY5sckUXIA8zDpQ_SJ-R1S3ktMDdSPRUCbdhrEfRQNO5lc-tUMAasg31sDr7ux-zq2-J63cD9VrOjTOSF0esKeF-IL-j5l4aZdngVaTlQYuw/s1600/DragonLordCover_LRG.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlOPcZ7Ki67VN8tJRxNdEyedJ-EZLlYlMY5sckUXIA8zDpQ_SJ-R1S3ktMDdSPRUCbdhrEfRQNO5lc-tUMAasg31sDr7ux-zq2-J63cD9VrOjTOSF0esKeF-IL-j5l4aZdngVaTlQYuw/s320/DragonLordCover_LRG.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>He pressed his
fingers against her lips so suddenly it took her by surprise. “No,
love. Be</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>still.” When
her sobs started bubbling their way to the surface, he stroked her
hair and tried hard</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>to soothe her. “I
know how you feel,” he said softly. “I know what you want. We
mustn’t. Not</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>yet.”</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>She pushed
against him until he reluctantly allowed her to leave his arms. The
look on her</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>face spoke to him
of the pain and frustration in her heart. “I’m in love with you.”
Her statement</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>sounded like a
desperate challenge.</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>He felt a lump
growing in his throat. “Aye.”</b></span></span><br />
<br />
“<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>You…you love
me too.”</b></span></span><br />
<br />
“<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>More than I
can tell you.”</b></span></span><br />
<br />
“<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I know you
want me as much as I want you.”</b></span></span><br />
<br />
“<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>So much so
it’s killing me,” he confirmed, his voice growing thick with
anguish.</b></span></span><br />
<br />
“<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Then, why…?”</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>He turned from
her, unable to face the strength of her pain for another moment.
“There are</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>things you need
to know first. Things I haven’t been ready to tell you. Things
that…” he paused</b></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>to
swallow the lump in his throat, “things that may frighten you.”</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Haven’s
Realm. <a href="http://www.havens-realm.com/">http://www.havens-realm.com</a>
</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Is
there anything else additional you would like to share with your
readers?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Not
really. All my information is on the site. I’m looking forward to
answering questions.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-50549328604446197352011-10-06T21:54:00.000-07:002011-10-06T21:54:05.884-07:00Halloween 2011 with Cynthia Vespaia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtdr1AVWnFh-mwPRcvpSf6shzQQNgMuhAyqfhhb2fwOj7FchRM-uDTfBPH-QsMwITctX8GaKrx4VXXBhiOWnN81B_P_bu0ly8OW0lXnsWTOR8bzGFVZI2t0_NN1m-5CElCb8hgJLQ83g/s1600/redsnakebanner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="38" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtdr1AVWnFh-mwPRcvpSf6shzQQNgMuhAyqfhhb2fwOj7FchRM-uDTfBPH-QsMwITctX8GaKrx4VXXBhiOWnN81B_P_bu0ly8OW0lXnsWTOR8bzGFVZI2t0_NN1m-5CElCb8hgJLQ83g/s320/redsnakebanner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Welcome,
Cynthia Vespia, to Ramsey's Reviews 2<sup>nd</sup> Annual Halloween
Bash. I am looking forward to reading more about Cynthia and her
books. Come on in and sit for a spell and enjoy reading about her
latest releases. Thank you, Cynthia for taking the time to be with us
today and tomorrow. </span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="LTR" id="Section1">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VhPoCSLSNQ2cRid9LxKDDMUk0-GNBfL2kAxG-tdzKOZHmyYXm6nYGhPjw_QNzIUpSzkjpty8vi4xXL5E5bg58F7UbontndGwQWqlbS4OXDbrMLk04w2BAvq0BMpwn2P0Do3gJfCQGsg/s1600/CRESTUMB.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VhPoCSLSNQ2cRid9LxKDDMUk0-GNBfL2kAxG-tdzKOZHmyYXm6nYGhPjw_QNzIUpSzkjpty8vi4xXL5E5bg58F7UbontndGwQWqlbS4OXDbrMLk04w2BAvq0BMpwn2P0Do3gJfCQGsg/s1600/CRESTUMB.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Tell
us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working
on?</b></span><br /><b>There have been some exciting changes. The
Original Cyn, that's me, will be debuting a plethora of new and
newly revised projects. Favorites like </b><i><b>The Crescent</b></i><b>
will be getting a facelift and coming over to Kindle, etc. while new
projects will be released within the next few months. Stay tuned to
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/www.cynthiavespia.com">www.cynthiavespia.com </a>and
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia">www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia</a>
for all the details. </b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>When and
Why did you begin writing?</b></span><br /><b>I started writing around
age 8. I used to read a lot and I was fascinated with the worlds
that authors created. It was a bit of an escape for me. I got
serious about writing in high school when I read </b><i><b>Dean
Koontz</b></i><b>. He quickly became my favorite author and I knew I
wanted to have a writing career from that point forward.</b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>You
have great taste, I too began reading Dean Koontz at a very young
age. Right then I knew I liked thrillers and the paranormal. I guess
he is the reason I later took an interest in horror as well, even
though Stephen King helped some too. Where do you get your
information or ideas for your books?</b></span><br /><b>The ideas for
my novels come at random. I may be watching TV or reading something
and it just pops into my head. I have gotten ideas in yoga class; on
a trip to the mountains; and even in the shower. I try to always
have a pen and paper nearby.</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiauf0S_B9F2-w9CKHsnPN68izFIOrL79gqbmJMctx0nPazjZCFVcXPwslqR-09BYLlPV9WaaZbsVV11zbCDGThvq3hNghJY6wnHNBmYLjl1aZyauyGTqX4OYesDqhWfFPEWFAZsHbOI/s1600/Demon-Hunter-resize.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiauf0S_B9F2-w9CKHsnPN68izFIOrL79gqbmJMctx0nPazjZCFVcXPwslqR-09BYLlPV9WaaZbsVV11zbCDGThvq3hNghJY6wnHNBmYLjl1aZyauyGTqX4OYesDqhWfFPEWFAZsHbOI/s1600/Demon-Hunter-resize.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><b>What
do you think makes a good horror story?</b></span><br /><b>Malicious
intent. Seriously, the more cold-hearted the killer is the higher
the stakes. But I also believe in the psychological aspect of any
type of horror. If they are just slasher stories for no apparent
reason that isn't really going to fly. You have to have great pacing
too. Hitchcock was a master at the craft. The psychological tales
are a lot scarier to me than blood and guts.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>What
is your favorite scary movie or book?</b></span><br /><b>My first
instinct is to say </b><i><b>Misery</b></i><b>...for both. Again, it
is psychological. And as an author it is a scary, scary thought to
wind up in that predicament. I'm sure that is why S</b><i><b>tephen
King</b></i><b> wrote it.</b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>What
makes you interested in the genre your write?</b></span><br /><b>I
write fantasy and contemporary thrillers. It is what I like to read.
Fantasy has always fascinated me because it is complete fabrication
but at the same time tried-and-true characters and mythological
creatures that are well known. Elves, orcs, centaurs, etc. And when
an author can come up with their own classification, or language
like Tolkien did, that is just brilliance at work. Then on the flip
side you have the thrillers which when I write them they are
everyday people who wind up in extraordinary circumstances. I refer
to them as real life situations you could find yourself in but hope
to God you never do. But in writing it is always fun to ask "what
if." </b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>When you were a
child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel
your creative muse to write about it later?</b></span><br /><b>I've
never liked ghosts. Sometimes strange things occurred in my home and
they were really unexplainable. Now here I am with my thriller Life,
Death, and Back that touches on that very subject so I guess, yes it
fascinates and alternatively scares me at the same time to think
there are spirits still lurking around.</b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>Do
you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared
yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</b></span><br /><b>Yes!
I'll go back and reread some early stuff I did and think "who
wrote that?!" Some of it is very dark and twisted.</b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>Where
do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic
content?</b></span><br /><b>It has to fit the story. I never just
throw in sex or violence just to sell books. If a novel doesn't call
for a particular scene to be overly descriptive then I leave it at
that and the reader can fill in the blanks. Sometimes less is
more.</b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>Could you share some of
your blurbs or exerts with us?</b></span><br /><b>Certainly. Here now
is an excerpt from Life, Death, and Back:</b></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>CHAPTER
I</b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxKK8v5YHMg6S7gRd2U_1fh8Gkb-Uesxnqa9tbMnRRDkjyKD31ABzbOFz_0zCIzN6Ha4eyVKK73dVEcgZ1caidPF1bmRW0TVzTAyjI00Ikk7W1OqtqPfZOij1jJgZXkJhO-w4RVyN9lY/s1600/LIFEDEATHCOVERthumb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxKK8v5YHMg6S7gRd2U_1fh8Gkb-Uesxnqa9tbMnRRDkjyKD31ABzbOFz_0zCIzN6Ha4eyVKK73dVEcgZ1caidPF1bmRW0TVzTAyjI00Ikk7W1OqtqPfZOij1jJgZXkJhO-w4RVyN9lY/s1600/LIFEDEATHCOVERthumb.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
first sojourn from life to death was very much the epitome of birth.
Brilliant flashes of light were aglow all around bathing snapshots
of memory, minute but hardly trivial.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>When
the ride stopped and the suspension of disbelief released him, Bryan
was curious to find his own corpse stretched out at his feet. It lay
on the grassy lawn in front of his office building, twenty feet from
where he had initially been walking.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
corpse, his corpse, stared up at him through one wide eye. Sightless
now it still echoed the feeling of shock that he had felt the very
moment the vehicle had struck him.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Though
he wanted to look away from the tragic scene utter terror and
confusion gripped him still. Pedestrians and motorists surrounded
the accident and sirens wailed in the distance. He was
oblivious to it all.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>All
Bryan wanted to do was crawl back inside his body, stand up and say,
"Hey, look at me, I'm fine. Not a scratch." Then there
were strong impulses pulling him into the belief that this was just
a nightmare. At any moment he was going to respond with a shudder
and a cold sweat but he would wake, frantic at first, until he found
himself in bed next to his lovely wife, Holly.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>He
hadn't bothered to wake her that morning. She was radiantly aglow in
her pregnancy as she slept. It was their very first child and they
were overjoyed to be experiencing this miracle after only one year
of marriage.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bryan
had kissed her on the cheek and gone on his way to the law firm. His
place of business was another joyful experience to be able to share
with Holly. Bryan was the youngest of his class to seek and sustain
a substantial position within a reputable law firm. Of course it
helped that his father had owned and maintained the firm since Bryan
had been a boy. But now it was his own, inheriting it when his
father had passed away just two years after Bryan had graduated from
law school.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>It
was an unusually cloudy day in Stanford, but nevertheless Bryan was
in an upbeat mood. Whistling as he crossed the street to his offices
he had never even seen the drunk driver's vehicle coming. Perhaps he
had not wanted to. As the saying goes he had been looking upon the
world with rose-colored glasses up to that point. No harm could
befall him, he was indestructible. Throughout life Bryan had truly
felt blessed, now it was all gone. In an instant his entire life had
been snuffed out. His promising future was no more. All that was
left was another casualty in the war of drinking and driving. He was
no longer Bryan Adam Caleb outstanding lawyer, loving husband,
expectant father, and genuine nice guy. Now he was just another
statistic.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>But
Bryan didn't understand what was happening. If he was dead, why was
he still on this Earth? What happened to the other side? So many
unanswered questions tore through his mind.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>He
refused to believe it.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>As
paramedics encompassed the accident scene Bryan turned and ran. His
mind was in frenzy and he just needed to get away, get some space to
determine what in the world was going on. </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>His
pace quickened to the point where he felt as though he had wings and
could lift off. Finally he came to a stop at the end of the
block and to his surprise he was not at all fatigued. His leg
muscles did not ache and he was not breathing heavy. In fact, he was
not breathing at all.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Still
in disbelief he went to check his pulse for some sign that he was
still alive. His fingers passed straight through his arm. There was
no solidity to his wrist at all. He tried two more times with
nothing but the same result.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bryan
looked around frantically for help. With his head on a swivel,
something above him caught his eye. Lights gleamed up in the sky
like as though a great crystal was wedged between two clouds
precariously placed for the sun to shine off it. </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>He
stood awed looking at the magnificent colors waning in every
direction. It brought him a smile and a sense of peace. After a
moment he even thought he glimpsed his loving father's face high
above beckoning him to come forward and join him. </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqhYWDBY556TRvcx_h1tmjZwVOBWTcQ1Lgr7IYKZBtjM9VDvktp_4ATG4BIm6hP-4sloUiznEQfoq_Nje58Zm0Z0zj4qsZEFY5CkbiE-GTgfTd3zQ1C8_AUYyO9ayAwVjcTFX9pgUUXM/s1600/Demon-Hunter-2-Seek-and-Destroy-mockup2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqhYWDBY556TRvcx_h1tmjZwVOBWTcQ1Lgr7IYKZBtjM9VDvktp_4ATG4BIm6hP-4sloUiznEQfoq_Nje58Zm0Z0zj4qsZEFY5CkbiE-GTgfTd3zQ1C8_AUYyO9ayAwVjcTFX9pgUUXM/s1600/Demon-Hunter-2-Seek-and-Destroy-mockup2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bryan
began to imagine just how nice it would be to be at his father's
side again and to see his mother again in perfect and simple bliss.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
lights shone brighter and began to descend down towards him. Bryan
stood stock still as they came closer and closer. The bright glare
was such that he had to close his eyes but the pleasant images still
remained. He felt his feet lift off the ground and he began to rise
up with the jubilation.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Many
wondrous memories were encompassing him now. Simple joys he new as a
boy, more substantial and rich emotions of love and faith and virtue
that he'd experienced as a man. Those worlds of days long
since past were uniting on a grand scale and lifting Bryan up higher
and higher into ecstasy the likes of which he had never known
before. But with this cataclysm of extraordinary peace came
relevance and a fear.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>This
illuminated structure of memories was a portal allowing him access
to the other side. It was the ever after, bounty and life
everlasting would be soon to come. Bryan's time here on Earth had
been full but was now over. But he wasn't ready to leave yet.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>"No,"
he stated. His voice was low at first as he still clung to the
tranquility of the descending portal and the majesty of what it
was. </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>He
tried hard to shake it off, feeling indifference of a strong nature.
Something was wrong. He did not belong here, not now. There was too
much left for him to do. He did not want to leave his unborn child
fatherless. The Caleb Family Law Practice was on a steady rise;
Bryan needed to leave his legacy before he left this Earth.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>As
his will to stay grew stronger and stronger he shouted "No!"
more defiantly than before and this time it broke him away from the
suction of the light. </b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>To
find out what happens, order your copy of <i>Life,
Death, and Back</i> <span style="font-style: normal;">right
now. </span></b></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /><b>Where
can your fans go to find more information about you and your
books?</b><br /><b>I'm online at <a href="http://www.cynthiavespia.com/">www.cynthiavespia.com</a>
or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia">www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b><br /><b>Is
there anything else additional you would like to share with your
readers?</b><br /><b>I love hearing reader feedback. That's why
I write. Some people are only in it for the money. I write for the
reader so thank you.</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="color: red; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Contest: </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;">Post your comments and you will automatically be entered into the October 1st Halloween surprise drawing. </b></span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-85463149755559877942011-10-06T21:53:00.000-07:002011-10-06T21:53:09.133-07:00Halloween 2011 with Susan Blexrud<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNH4U0rNezRmd5ssFQDEYqtEIEMELBNkpvwIE9181zBA8Aov1-6B2w_OW4a9S8LregW9V_xwQ8dsjXArFsx6H4xv_VO_307HuFW7WrcsfV3nmLgsEl7nupbqX0FsYBWdsukROUXdl1yg/s1600/susanportrait.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNH4U0rNezRmd5ssFQDEYqtEIEMELBNkpvwIE9181zBA8Aov1-6B2w_OW4a9S8LregW9V_xwQ8dsjXArFsx6H4xv_VO_307HuFW7WrcsfV3nmLgsEl7nupbqX0FsYBWdsukROUXdl1yg/s200/susanportrait.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Readers and
fans, please welcome Susan Blexrud to Ramsey's Reviews 2<sup>nd</sup>
Annual Halloween Bash event. Susan is chatting about things that go
bump in the night and go unexplained. Pull up a chair and sit for a
while. This is an author you don't want to miss and a story your
gonna want to read.</b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;">
<span style="color: red;"><b> </b></span><b><i><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana;">"Alpha males should have a sense of humor, whether they're vampires, Mayan warriors, or the boy next door."</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Tell us your
latest news. Do you have any current projects you’re working on?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I’m working on a Civil War story
entitled <i>The Gettysburg Vampire</i>. Here’s the blurb.</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Students
at Gettysburg College know the legend of the Stonewall Jackson, a
Civil War ghost train. For this year’s winter holiday play,
Theater Professor Abby Potter has dramatized the popular tale using a
little artistic license. She’s added a vampire. But she has one
big problem</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">—finding
a decent thespian for the leading role. She bristles at the
suggestion that Malcolm McClellan, a history professor at the college
and a renowned Civil War re-enactor, would be ideal for the part.
She’s avoided the brooding, mysterious man for years. But it may
be perfect casting.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>When and
why did you begin writing?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I can’t NOT write (please forgive
the double negative). I’ve been writing since elementary school,
majored in journalism in college, and spent 30 years writing feature
articles before trying my hand at fiction, which I ADORE!</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Where
do you get your information or ideas for your books?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOW_01wQuHXwbComNN5CpLpieTueAVJupB9V3EsGcxVZ10dJZ4K8PYDMayn1_IYXZW7pSBnhOmkyX5rY4v4oZfcDGLF0RRRe2lK83J6Wex6guJ4IdBxcaK2JXuC6B-VL3TZuMEFnkWGP2/s1600/Black+Fang.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOW_01wQuHXwbComNN5CpLpieTueAVJupB9V3EsGcxVZ10dJZ4K8PYDMayn1_IYXZW7pSBnhOmkyX5rY4v4oZfcDGLF0RRRe2lK83J6Wex6guJ4IdBxcaK2JXuC6B-VL3TZuMEFnkWGP2/s200/Black+Fang.jpg" width="133" /></a><b>My ideas are usually a result of
something I’ve seen in the news or elements of history that attract
me. For </b><i><b>Black Fang</b></i><b>, the genesis of the story
was a very real disease in bats called white-nose syndrome, and for
</b><i><b>The Gettysburg Vampire</b></i><b>, the idea came after
vacationing in Gettysburg. I was mesmerized by the battlefields and
the eerie sense of carnage that permeates the town.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>What
do you think makes a good horror story?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>In a word—the UNEXPECTED. Horror
is that element lurking around the corner that springs out at the
hero or heroine when you least expect it. </b> <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>I
couldn't say it better myself, Susan.</b></span> <span style="color: red;"><b>=)
What is your favorite scary movie or book?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Anything by </b><i><b>Stephen King</b></i><b>
can get my adrenaline pumping. I don’t really have a favorite, but
</b><i><b>Carrie</b></i><b> and </b><i><b>Pet Cemetery</b></i><b>
come to mind.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>What makes you
interested in the genre your write?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Life is tough, and a little escape,
I believe, provides a welcome respite from the realities of our
failing economy, children who are still struggling to find their way,
poor health, etc. Escaping through the supernatural introduces new
worlds and new possibilities, and I like the idea that there is more
in this vast universe than the eye can see.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>When
you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did
it propel your creative muse to write about it later?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk1W6WUvZAtyJ7G8LVbuoW4MkMKmmriETJPF1VvUfEhlsHvsvwdWrnAYtN0yDAJHRttyEFPevORlNPnLjjowjM1QcDIrZ6XWvIUYKytZavoL6BfLRCnzfdR7jqFqojhdrHvxDOiZKCGE/s1600/lovefang_sm.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk1W6WUvZAtyJ7G8LVbuoW4MkMKmmriETJPF1VvUfEhlsHvsvwdWrnAYtN0yDAJHRttyEFPevORlNPnLjjowjM1QcDIrZ6XWvIUYKytZavoL6BfLRCnzfdR7jqFqojhdrHvxDOiZKCGE/s200/lovefang_sm.jpg" width="126" /></a><b>I was frightened of something under
my bed, though I didn’t know what it could be. I suppose that fear
of the unexpected has helped me write stories about danger that lies
just below the surface.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Do you
remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared
yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I’ve had some dreams that scared
me, but I could always connect them to something I’d seen or heard,
so no, no real surprises.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Where
do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic
content?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I’m more into communicating love
and longing than raw sex, and I’m not crazy about gore. It’s one
of the reasons I greatly prefer </b><i><b>Charlaine Harris’s</b></i><b>
books to the </b><i><b>True Blood</b></i><b> HBO series. Her books
focus on her characters’ emotions, while the TV series seems more
dedicated to shock and awe.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Could
you share some of your blurbs or excerpts with us?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Here’s the blurb and an excerpt
from the fifth story in my fang series, <i>Black Fang</i>.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>BLURB:<br /><span style="font-family: Calibri,serif;">Someone
is deliberately infecting bats with a deadly fungus. The flying
mammals are dying by the thousands, and along with them, a
significant number of vampires in bat form have also succumbed. </span></b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri,serif;">Enter
John and Lauren Wright. The vampire couple has conquered evil
enemies in the past, but the perpetrator behind the bat deaths is
more cunning than any they’ve encountered. Though John initially
suspects that werewolves are the culprits, he discovers he is up
against a colony of Unseelie faeries. The intoxicating scent of the
faeries has been known to deceive vampires, pitting friend against
friend—and wife against husband. </span></b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>EXCERPT:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">John and Teensy landed
in the palace’s kitchen, where the cook promptly began beating John
on the head with a wooden spoon.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> “Stop!” He rubbed
his cranium. “We’re here to see the king. He’s expecting us.”</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> “Well, you have a
strange way to make an entrance.” The cook, wide as she was tall,
gave John the stink eye.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> “My fault,” said
Teensy, dusting off her hot pink sweatpants. “I must have used one
spider leg too many in the potion. I was aiming for the banquet
hall.”</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> “You’re right
under it,” the cook said as she nodded to a vaulted doorway. “Take
those steps. I’m sure you’ll be a big hit.” She swatted John
on the butt with her spoon as they passed her. “Or at least the
gorgeous guy will.”</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> They hurried up the
steps with Teensy chattering instructions along the way. “Stay
close to me when we get in the hall. I may need to whisper, and I’ll
be able to feel if you’re inching to the dark side.”</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNXM-J7PG_wL9EVcpDSNIiZ4VR3DjGbSceR04Y_9ygcx_8z0sA8K9meCLXxYorx83NqarL1LptUbByYLOHCUkFNzRn6TDd14K35g34fk2qir6Z1YTrpb66BUwa_iu0SccJVQQdU3jXIE/s1600/lovefangprint.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNXM-J7PG_wL9EVcpDSNIiZ4VR3DjGbSceR04Y_9ygcx_8z0sA8K9meCLXxYorx83NqarL1LptUbByYLOHCUkFNzRn6TDd14K35g34fk2qir6Z1YTrpb66BUwa_iu0SccJVQQdU3jXIE/s1600/lovefangprint.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> “I won’t let them
get to me.”</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> “Right.” Teensy
tugged on John’s sleeve. “Don’t get cocky.”</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> They burst into the
banquet hall. John counted eight guards stationed at the doorways
and then focused on the dais. The king was seated at his throne with
a lovely, and very naked, faery maid sprawled face down/butt up
across his lap. He was spanking her vigorously with his bare hand
while two other faeries bounced around them, obviously enjoying the
show. Lauren was standing next to the seated king, a smile as big as
the Florida sun on her face.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> “Lauren!” John
called as he walked toward her, his hand held out. “Come to me, my
love.”</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> She looked at him and
clapped her hands. “Wow, you’re cute!”</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> Teensy, who was
attached to John like a pilot fish on a shark, said, “Egad, it’s
worse than I thought. She has no idea who you are.”</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> John stopped at the
bottom step that led up to the throne. He sensed the guards circling
him and getting closer as he approached the king. Again, he said,
“Lauren, come to me, my love.” His heart pounded in his ears.
She looked so beautiful…so vulnerable…and so clueless.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> “My, my, you got
here quickly, and uninvited, at that.” The king pushed the faery
off his lap, rose from the throne, and put his arm around Lauren’s
shoulder. John stiffened as she leaned into the king. </span></b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> “This ain’t gonna
be easy,” Teensy whispered. </span></b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> John waited until
Lauren’s eyes met his. “Avery misses you.” </span></b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> Lauren cocked her
head, and Teensy took advantage of the brief spark of recognition in
Lauren’s eyes to throw a handful of sparkly dust in Lauren’s
direction. She sneezed.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> “Seize them,” the
king shouted to his guards.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Where can your
fans go to find more information about you and your books?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Here’s where you can find me, and
I love to hear from readers!</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.susanblexrud.com/"><b>www.susanblexrud.com</b></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.thedarkcastlelords.com/"><b>www.thedarkcastlelords.com</b></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.embracetheshadows.wordpress.com/"><b>www.embracetheshadows.wordpress.com</b></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Is there
anything else additional you would like to share with your readers?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>What really juices me is
communicating with readers. There are so many interesting people who
read paranormal fiction, and I love to hear from them.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Susan, thank you for taking the time
to tell us about your book releases and let the readers learn a
little bit more about the author behind the books. It is an honor to
have you here with us and is a privilege to have you as my guest. </b>
</div>
Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-46734991426122712392011-10-06T21:52:00.000-07:002011-10-06T21:52:09.941-07:00Halloween 2011 with Lynn Lorenz<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQhQPoC_gszlGhj0u2UCcjI6PsIgJ0wHZ9axJU13Miyb_2nfbkx8LGfNqlFGnri6_irgxTrV5p0C_1l33GNsc9OEvK6j8KyXQXt-UJmTjHCy898uynYx_PGW3gTMfwxB6UglDEu-Fl4U/s1600/McCallansBlood_sample2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQhQPoC_gszlGhj0u2UCcjI6PsIgJ0wHZ9axJU13Miyb_2nfbkx8LGfNqlFGnri6_irgxTrV5p0C_1l33GNsc9OEvK6j8KyXQXt-UJmTjHCy898uynYx_PGW3gTMfwxB6UglDEu-Fl4U/s320/McCallansBlood_sample2.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Please
welcome Lynn Lorenz to Ramsey's Reviews Halloween Bash!! Thank you
Lynn for taking the time to answer some of our questions. It's great
to hear you have so many releases coming out. Congrats! Readers,
stick around after the interview to post your comments. All comments
that are posted on Jane Toombs' interview session and Lynn Lorenz
interview session will be entered into a Halloween e-book surprize
drawing on October 1</b></span><span style="color: red;"><sup><b>st</b></sup></span><span style="color: red;"><b>.</b></span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>Tell
us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working
on?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I’ve got a new
book in the<i> Rougaroux Social Club series</i> coming out Oct. 4<sup>th</sup>
from <i>Loose Id</i> - it’s a gay romance set in the Louisiana
bayou country. I also have a traditional romance, <i>A Death in Katy</i>
coming out Nov. 5<sup>th</sup> from <i>Etopia Press</i>.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I’m currently
working on several projects – a novella about Bad Boys for <i>Amber
Quill Press</i>, a self-pub effort vampire story, and the next
<i>Rougaroux book</i>.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><b>When
and Why did you begin writing?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I’ve been writing
since junior high but it never went anywhere. Life happened and then
in 2006 I started writing again. I wrote about 5-8 books before I
sold my first book </b><i><b>The Mercenary’s Tale</b></i><b>, a gay
medieval romance, to </b><i><b>Loose Id</b></i><b>. And it’s been
non-stop ever since. I love telling stories, I love creating
characters that just tug at your heart, and then do evil and cruel
things to them as they fight for their HEA.</b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>Where
do you get your information or ideas for your books?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Real life. Nothing
is as weird as real life.</b> <br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>What
do you think makes a good horror story?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I used to read
</b><i><b>Stephen King</b></i><b>, but also </b><i><b>Lovecraft</b></i><b>,
</b><i><b>Shirley Jackson</b></i><b>, and a lot of gothic authors. I
want to feel on edge, scared, but I don’t want to be grossed out. I
hate slasher stuff. I want more of the old campfire ghost story type.
That’s what I was going for when I wrote </b><i><b>Cemeteries</b></i><b>,
for </b><i><b>Amber Quill Press</b></i><b>. The kind of story that
drags you in, then Bam! You’re hit with the ending and your heart
is racing and pulse is pounding. But for this book, it had to be a
romance – with a HEA. That was tough, but I think it worked.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjqi4UHHRJ19kTuoLkmwodDsvnX5anTiWx7frR41D2UDwjm77B1fyND-Do1kK4OMv_O9zvpzi2P1tZjJOET57Vu9x9Nb1kvBWs72tOyhPDXwUpk9BfExuiKy5CCRnQIdn9MQUR3kYjjQ/s1600/med_AvalonPatrol1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjqi4UHHRJ19kTuoLkmwodDsvnX5anTiWx7frR41D2UDwjm77B1fyND-Do1kK4OMv_O9zvpzi2P1tZjJOET57Vu9x9Nb1kvBWs72tOyhPDXwUpk9BfExuiKy5CCRnQIdn9MQUR3kYjjQ/s1600/med_AvalonPatrol1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
is your favorite scary movie or book?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I think some of the
scariest stuff was written by </b><i><b>Shirley Jackson</b></i><b>.
</b><i><b>We Have Always Lived in the Castle</b></i><b> just creeped
the hell out of me.</b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>What makes
you interested in the genre your write?</b></span> </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I love to write the
story in my head at any time, and it can be contemporary, paranormal,
historical are sci-fi. It’s the characters who drive the story and
the plot and the genre. I just listen to them, and they’re usually
right.</b> <br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>When you were a child,
what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your
creative muse to write about it later?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Goodness. I grew up
in New Orleans, we’re et up with haunted houses and stories of
ghosts – urban legends – zombies and vampires. I remember seeing
<i>Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte</i> as a kid, and being terrified. My
friends and I had a clubhouse and we’d sit in it and tell stories
about the cemetery on the corner and about the ghost of <i>Mona Lisa
in City Park</i>, and about the slaves that were tortured and killed
in the French Quarter.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>All that
story-telling paid off, I suppose. When I wrote </b><i><b>Cemeteries</b></i><b>,
I was inspired by all the tales I’d heard as a kid, about the most
famous cemeteries in the world – the Cities of the Dead - that New
Orleans is famous for.</b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>Do you
remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared
yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Not really. Some
times, my villains are so twisted, I wonder where that came from, but
there’s a lifetime of scary movies, books and experiences I can
draw on.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLrLYyrO_ERluf4fpsH80VXl78LFREi0cRLL7CWPaTT6a4aBUGVgQJD9RgMHE7UETSJJ-DKpfAhAT6xsK_lQIh9sXQnDyC9wEGhJOcGoRQl-6CYtGezYycjGjJ86qglyM2z5DFeZeca8/s1600/AmbassadorsDaughter_ByLynnLorenz_200x300.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLrLYyrO_ERluf4fpsH80VXl78LFREi0cRLL7CWPaTT6a4aBUGVgQJD9RgMHE7UETSJJ-DKpfAhAT6xsK_lQIh9sXQnDyC9wEGhJOcGoRQl-6CYtGezYycjGjJ86qglyM2z5DFeZeca8/s1600/AmbassadorsDaughter_ByLynnLorenz_200x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I do believe in
spirits – I’ve been in haunted houses, stayed in a haunted
plantation, and even had a few other-worldly moments myself.</b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>Where
do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic
content?</b></span><br /><b>I can’t stand violence against children.
I hate gory stuff – people die – but no blood spewing, guts
flowing kind of thing. I like more of a mind-scare – where you’re
creeped and scared, but not grossed out.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Could
you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>This is from<i>
Cemeteries</i>, a ghost story, set in New Orleans, from <i>Amber
Quill Press</i>, <i>Amber Allure</i>. Mike and Jacob meet on a bus
that takes them to the Cemeteries, a cross road in New Orleans with a
cemetery on every corner. Mike falls hard for Jacob, but Jacob is
mysterious and secretive. When Mike discovers Jacob’s secret, will
it be the end or just the beginning? </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Excerpt --</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Every
night for the rest of the week, Mike rode the bus, and Jacob waited
for him. And every night, during that ride, they shared a special
moment in time, as if they were the only two on the bus...no driver,
just them and what was between them. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>But
always, when the bus coasted to a stop at the crossroads where four
cemeteries met, the doors hissed open, and Mike said goodbye to Jacob
with a kiss, Mike knew he wanted more. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePcZbXOKQZ4elkuKXYFlExqH6oBzF4dWafe7FI4EMgpjLpUxFA9z_xtVL38uJO1zRI6U477pnOKI_xqnl2s1H6KMrJmUOmov_QgYLJyjFGuKLSw0PlvhtfKJkUnySGxtsZX536lsMhg4/s1600/Cemeteries.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePcZbXOKQZ4elkuKXYFlExqH6oBzF4dWafe7FI4EMgpjLpUxFA9z_xtVL38uJO1zRI6U477pnOKI_xqnl2s1H6KMrJmUOmov_QgYLJyjFGuKLSw0PlvhtfKJkUnySGxtsZX536lsMhg4/s320/Cemeteries.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
need, the hunger for Jacob built in Mike, like molten lava builds up
pressure under the earth, until fissures crack and the burning heat
shoots out to dazzle the night sky. And even though he told himself
it was too soon, that he didn't really know Jacob, Mike knew he'd
fallen in love with the man on the bus. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mike
climbed on the bus, heart hammering, and nodded to Mr. Roberts. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jacob
waited for him. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mike
sat in the seat next to his lover and took his hand. "I've got
the next two days off." </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Oh?"
Jacob frowned. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Yeah.
I won't be on the bus." </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Oh!"
Realization struck in Jacob's blue eyes. He nodded. "I
understand." </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Will
you be here?" </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Yes,
I'm always here." Jacob shrugged. "Will you be back after
that?" </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Yeah,
I'll be back at work, so I'll be here. I just wanted to let you know.
You know"--Mike cleared his throat--"in case you missed
me." He dared a shy look into Jacob's blue eyes, longing to tell
him how he felt. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Two
nights. I'm going to miss you." Jacob took Mike's hand. "I
can't tell you how much it means to me, spending time with you."
</b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Me,
too. Don't you want more? Don't you want to have dinner? Or
breakfast? Watch the sun rise? Come to my house and sleep with me in
my bed?" Mike leaned close and kissed Jacob's ear. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jacob
shuddered and closed his eyes as he bared his throat to Mike's
questing mouth, but he didn't answer. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Don't
you?" A wave of uncertainty passed over Mike. Maybe this didn't
mean as much to Jacob as it did to him. Maybe Jacob didn't understand
Mike had fallen in love with him? </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Maybe
he had to just tell him and make him understand. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Mike,
I want those things. All of them. It's just impossible. Right now."
He gazed out the window. "Maybe never." </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"What?
Look, man, let's just get off the bus and go to my house. Or yours, I
don't care which." </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"No,"
Jacob shouted. "I can't." His eyes filled with tears. "I
can't go with you, Mike. Can't we just stay like this?" </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Riding
the bus?" Mike wiped a fallen tear from Jacob's cheek. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Yes.
Just riding the bus." </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD42zhyphenhyphenyreK9uvUQPrMwVYv70NUTbRV5rcsU0Z1k1gTwrfrleHy2Q9ckCfYJaaYeUSnutrcRzAeI4n56KgU7M8DFQwD-jv_w7IqMCwlApkgIYYsvBL_1RZ1kLyaoPfq3AZ0ee0Ya8eMBY/s1600/Lorenz_RedVelvetMoonEbook1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD42zhyphenhyphenyreK9uvUQPrMwVYv70NUTbRV5rcsU0Z1k1gTwrfrleHy2Q9ckCfYJaaYeUSnutrcRzAeI4n56KgU7M8DFQwD-jv_w7IqMCwlApkgIYYsvBL_1RZ1kLyaoPfq3AZ0ee0Ya8eMBY/s320/Lorenz_RedVelvetMoonEbook1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mike
leaned back and exhaled. Either Jacob didn't want anything more or
couldn't give him any more, and Mike got that. He didn't like it, but
he got it. Now he had to decide what he could live with, and he
didn't know the answer. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"But
why? If you just explained it to me, I could understand." </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jacob
shook his head. "I can't tell you. It doesn't work like that."
</b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"What
doesn't work like that?" </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Damn
me." </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jacob's
soft curse surprised Mike. And as Jacob straightened in his seat and
turned to face him, Mike knew the blade of rejection was about to cut
his heart out of his chest. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"I
don't want more, Mike." </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jacob
reached out to take Mike's hand, but Mike jerked away from him. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"You
were just using me?" he asked, not really wanting to know the
truth. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"No.
What we have is so special. I never thought I'd have this much, but I
<i>can't</i> have more, Mike. I can't. It's not allowed."
Jacob's tears tracked down his face, and Mike reached up to brush
them away. </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Sure
we can. If we lo--" </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.19in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Stop
it!" Jacob shouted and jumped up. "Don't say it. Don't <i>ever</i>
say it." </b></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>To my website
</b></span><span style="color: blue;"><u><a href="http://www.lynnlorenz.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>http://www.lynnlorenz.com</b></span></a></u></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>You can find a list
of all my books, with links to buy to the publishers.</b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-39605053662042369962011-10-06T21:51:00.001-07:002011-10-06T21:51:18.584-07:00Halloween 2011 with Jane Toombs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpdYJJ5ZK63VBsMfnbSYPnElo1yrBi6ECUfNwqjQhtNtORhi07slBQx08zlvUEn8_f5b9y6ZSJynMblPigy5jZsgoxLA99_Gllw3HSia1I-M6ka8TxovzZiEwZPCESN8EO4_0XA7dGcw/s1600/turquoise.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITSsuVaon-0IqMwY2slZtoLzce7oDdvNsg2nQONJjm97t2jLX0LDphwqVuoHt7i26LJIAk66BQzygK22ErsMXW1ZUN60zUf4O3VdS-UAJWIDluaf-ljWEbSbxukmTfZQxrDm-MWDnJT0/s1600/HuggerDoll510.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITSsuVaon-0IqMwY2slZtoLzce7oDdvNsg2nQONJjm97t2jLX0LDphwqVuoHt7i26LJIAk66BQzygK22ErsMXW1ZUN60zUf4O3VdS-UAJWIDluaf-ljWEbSbxukmTfZQxrDm-MWDnJT0/s320/HuggerDoll510.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">For the next two days, author <i>Jane Toombs</i>
will be here as our guest. Please welcome her to Ramsey's Reviews.
Thank you Jane for being able to take the time to answer some Halloween
questions for us. Congrats on your releases, too. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Tell us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working on?</b><br />
<b>I have the first two books of <i>Dangerous Darkness</i></b><b> out from <i>Red Rose Publishing</i> and am working on the third, <i>Terror From Before</i>.
When I have that finished , I'm taking a long out-of-print historical
saga and dividing it up into either four or five novellas for <i>Books We Love Publishing Partners</i>
to put on Kindle for me. They do the covers, but I have to format them
and make sure there are no typos. They had been professionally edited
once long ago. I have no desire to involve myself with trying to put
them on Kindle myself as I am about as far from being a techie as can be
imagined and am happy to pay <i>BWLPP</i> the small royalty fee they take. At the same time I'm doing this, I will be starting the third book for my <i>Underworld Series</i>, <i>Uncanny</i>, for <i>Eternal Press</i>. My most recent release from <i>Devine Destines</i> is <i>The Turquoise Dragon</i>, my first attempt at a YA and is paranormal suspense romance (on Kindle).</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">When and Why did you begin writing?</b><br />
<b style="color: white;">I
began writing when I was either six or seven, because I wanted to learn
to use my father's big old L.C. typewriter. He'd told me he'd teach me
when I could read and write well, but when he did, I'd have to write him
a story on the typewriter. So I wrote a one-page story (elite type)
about how he found and brought home to me my first kitten. He read my
effort and told me it was good, letting me bask in that praise for a bit
before he pointed out several ways I could improve my story. I rewrote
it with the changes and even at that age I could see it was better, And
so he became my first critiquer, never failing to say something positive
before suggesting ways to make it better. </b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpdYJJ5ZK63VBsMfnbSYPnElo1yrBi6ECUfNwqjQhtNtORhi07slBQx08zlvUEn8_f5b9y6ZSJynMblPigy5jZsgoxLA99_Gllw3HSia1I-M6ka8TxovzZiEwZPCESN8EO4_0XA7dGcw/s1600/turquoise.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpdYJJ5ZK63VBsMfnbSYPnElo1yrBi6ECUfNwqjQhtNtORhi07slBQx08zlvUEn8_f5b9y6ZSJynMblPigy5jZsgoxLA99_Gllw3HSia1I-M6ka8TxovzZiEwZPCESN8EO4_0XA7dGcw/s320/turquoise.jpg" width="214" /></a><br />
<b>I'm
sort of like a major airport with ideas circling like planes, waiting
for me to let them land and turn into a story. I don't ever remember not
having a new idea for a story, even if I didn't use it.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">What do you think makes a good horror story?</b><br />
<b>I've
actually only written one true horror story, Hugger Doll, from Double
Dragon Publishing (on Kindle now). But some of my other books contain
horror elements. One of my two stories in Whiskey Shots Vol. 9 from
Whiskey Creek Press is "Blood Calls to Blood," which is a true horror
story. (Also on Kindle.) And BWLPP put together a number of my dark
short stories and poems in Ten Past Midnight, (Kindle) so I guess I do
like to write dark. Except the green ghoul story in that book actually
ends happily. <br />For me, a good horror story is one that really scares
me but doesn't disgust me or overwhelm me with gore. By their nature,
good pure horror stories never really end happily. </b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">What is your favorite scary movie or book?</b><br />
<b>For
me, nothing ever beat the first Frankenstein movie with Boris Karloff
or the first Dracula movie with Bela Lugosi, perhaps because I was young
at the time. Dracula as a book holds up, but for me, Frankenstein
didn't. Much of Edgar Allen Poe's poetry is wonderfully scary and I also
read that early. Both H.P. Lovecraft and Abraham Merritt were masters
of horror and I devoured everything they every wrote, liking some better
than other. Much of Merritt's was also paranormal fantasy, as well and
he did tend to have more happy endings. </b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">What makes you interested in the genre you write?</b><br />
<b>Since
I'm writing mostly paranormal suspense romance these days you can tell
that my love of paranormal and my liking for happy endings plays a part
here. </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNPDzend-9D3YJTty0viBtDSHkZI_ztnBRqt48M2UBQXwuKTvaxcSDECaSqa0KEq8sQ1WNLFgYv3S9NzSU4w9EmMRWl1XSMlzeqZm0zqLf5zb13xxEoPEmbOw6RV8Wsy4HrY_Ty_UVXk/s1600/shadowfloor.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNPDzend-9D3YJTty0viBtDSHkZI_ztnBRqt48M2UBQXwuKTvaxcSDECaSqa0KEq8sQ1WNLFgYv3S9NzSU4w9EmMRWl1XSMlzeqZm0zqLf5zb13xxEoPEmbOw6RV8Wsy4HrY_Ty_UVXk/s1600/shadowfloor.jpg" /></a><b style="color: red;">When you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your creative muse to write about it later?</b><br />
<b>I
really wasn't afraid of any real animal, even though I lived in a
village surrounded by woods. Yes , there were bears in those woods, but I
never carried any food with me, which is generally what attracts bears.
No other animal was likely to do me harm as log as I avoided porcupines
and skunks. Wolves didn't come back into Michigan until long after I
left town and coyotes stayed out west at that time. We had no poisonous
snakes. Still don't in the Upper Peninsula. So any scary creature I
feared was in a book and was imaginary. But, yes, H.P. Lovecraft's
Cthulu scared me, perhaps because he is a highly intelligent monster.
Which is maybe why most of my scary creatures are paranormal. </b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Do you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</b><br />
<b>I've
come up with some wild things, and, yes, some were scary, but no
creature I ever conjured up truly scared me. I read scary books as a
child because my parents allowed me to read anything I wanted to, and
got scared reading them, but not afterward. I haven’t a clue where my
monsters come from. </b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Where do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic content?</b><br />
<b>I
can't write erotica. Whether it's because I'm a nurse and can't bring
myself to use slang terms for body parts or because it's not my favorite
thing to read, I don't know. I can write sensual scenes with no
trouble, so sensual sometimes that occasionally one of my books will be
labeled erotica. But I generally read and write only m/f. As for gory,
nurses see a lot of blood, so that's not a problem. but I generally
don't go into great detail on horrific scenes. </b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Could you share some of your blurbs or excerpts with us?</b><br />
<b>Dangerous Darkness Series </b><br />
<b>Book I Shadow On The Floor </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMh_ClzdprrYQ1cGmdKHf2IK3YPcpk1BC4lGxclnaxubooofva4mrcJUn59W-py8Q0qTb2eXvxJ3VP5EABFfR_n8Mi2XzIz7s4CMYlPRFiJyxrGbc0_DJPx11Mv13cIg9UgajPS_6kS8/s1600/nonsuch.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMh_ClzdprrYQ1cGmdKHf2IK3YPcpk1BC4lGxclnaxubooofva4mrcJUn59W-py8Q0qTb2eXvxJ3VP5EABFfR_n8Mi2XzIz7s4CMYlPRFiJyxrGbc0_DJPx11Mv13cIg9UgajPS_6kS8/s1600/nonsuch.jpg" /></a><b>Blurb: <br />As
a former secret op turned lawyer, Dev is suspicious of the reason
Natalie has fro coming to work for his elderly uncle as a companion. Is
she hiding from something or someone? And why can she see the shadow on
the floor in his uncle's den and avoid stepping on it when no one but
family has ever noticed it? <br /><br />Excerpt: <br />Natalie made a polite
acknowledgement of the introduction, gazing at the tall auburn-haired
late thirties or so man standing by the windows. His jeans and
sweatshirt showed an athlete’s body, but seemed surprisingly casual for a
lawyer type. Maybe he didn’t work on Wednesdays. Since he wasn’t
seated, she remained standing. Always better to face the opposition eye
to eye. <br /><br />Dev assessed her. At least thirty, brown hair and eyes,
slim, her loose shirt and baggy pants hiding any curves she might
have. Pale lipstick, no other makeup, hair pulled back in a ponytail.
Even then attractive, though it seemed obvious she’d done all she could
to play it down. Why? One to keep an eye on. <br />He walked over to her,
avoiding the shadow by long habit, and held out his hand. When she
responded he clasped hers firmly and got the shock of his life. She
broke the contact so fast he knew she’d felt the same jolt of—what was
it? Some kind of recognition? Yet he knew he’d never seen Natalie West
before. <br />“Please sit down,” he managed to say. When she did, he took a chair himself. Forget what just happened. Stick to business. <br />“I understand my uncle has hired you as what he calls his house assistant.”<br />“Yes.
I told Charles I could do no personal care, since I had no nursing
experience. I will cook and take care of the house, as well as helping
him in other than personal areas.”<br />“Are you from around here?”<br /> “Not until lately.” <br /> “Stop being suspicious, Dev. In case you didn’t notice, she didn’t step on the shadow.” <br />Dev
glanced at his uncle, then at the body-shaped shadow on the floor that
had been there ever since he could remember, even though there was
nothing in the room to cast a shadow like that. He’d never stepped on
it either. Nor did Charles. Most others never seemed to even notice it.
But then, no one, not even his uncle, had ever detected the faint tinge
of evil the old place exuded, only Dev. He’d never found anything to
account for it.<br />“So you can see she’s the right person for this house,” his uncle insisted. <br />“You’re not bothered by living in this creaky old place?” Dev asked her.<br />“Not at all.”<br />Natalie
might or might not work out, but he could tell his uncle was set on
her, and she wasn’t nervous about the house. It’d taken him months to
get the old man to agree to hire anyone, and she was the first of the
few applicants they’d had that Uncle Charles approved of. Hiding her
looks was no crime, and he couldn’t see anything else to object to.
Amazingly, she’d seen the shadow and walked around it. As for the evil,
his uncle had never been harmed by whatever it might be, so she was
probably safe enough. <br />“I’m pleased my uncle’s found a house assistant,” he told her. “I hope this works out for both of you.”<br />His
agency training had taught him to identify reactions. Though her facial
expression didn’t change, he caught her slight relaxation. For some
reason she badly needed this job. In an area she wasn’t from, in an
isolated house. Gotcha! She’s hiding out. No telling what from, but
he’d damn well do his best to find out. And he sure as hell didn’t mean
to act on whatever had connected them for that electric moment.</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTIHGq3RYktDDx4hDof9mpOxyJtt0RhigXl2L-vbFJQKcRqQGopOQoZyOZ-FOnET4z8zdAF2Oq93GF53j_Rmm8NSDYO40O_eGpIavxTyh7ZhCRs76BAJPRTKLVeCyplriDW8U3WL2eYY/s1600/watcher.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTIHGq3RYktDDx4hDof9mpOxyJtt0RhigXl2L-vbFJQKcRqQGopOQoZyOZ-FOnET4z8zdAF2Oq93GF53j_Rmm8NSDYO40O_eGpIavxTyh7ZhCRs76BAJPRTKLVeCyplriDW8U3WL2eYY/s1600/watcher.jpg" /></a><b>Book
II Watcher At The Door Blurb: Sarah came home to take care of her young
brother after their home was destroyed in an arsonist's fire that
killed their parents. They’re temporarily living in a summer cabin in
the woods. The last person she expects to see is Mal, her once lover.
Worse, she has the feeling she and her brother are being secretly
watched. But is the watcher human or an animal? <br /><br />Excerpt: Sarah
Volek stopped on the deer trail feeling watched. Her twelve-year-old
brother, Ivor, had complained of the same thing a couple of days ago.
She glanced around. The pines were tall to the right, their shade
discouraging undergrowth. To the left, grew young maples mixed with
birch and ash, plus lots of bushes, all with new green leaves of
mid-June. Which hid human or animal from view. She shrugged and hiked on
toward the cabin she shared with Ivor. Probably what she felt watching
was a deer or other wild animal wary of humans. <br /> She’d always
loved the woods. Under any other circumstances, she’d be happy to be
back home in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula wilderness. Three weeks ago, the
house in town where she’d grown up had burned to ground, killing both
her parents. If Ivor hadn’t been away at a Boy Scout overnight camp-out,
he’d have died as well. A lump rose in her throat as she remembered his
tearstained face and the lost look in his eyes when she’d arrived from
downstate and picked him up from his friend’s house. Worst of all, the
sheriff suspected arson. <br /> Just as she reached the cabin door,
she heard Ivor call her name. He burst into view, waving papers. “I got
the go-ahead for my project on fishers. And guess who’ll be helping me?”<br /> “I can’t imagine,” she said as she let herself in, Ivor at her heels.. “I can’t imagine. One of your teachers, I suppose.” <br /> “Nah. Come on, guess. You know him.” Ivor stopped beside her, showing her the okay from the school superintendent.<br /> “Hey, guy, you forget I haven’t lived in Ojibway for going on eight years now. Tell me who.”<br /> “The DNR district officer, Mr. Martin. He said he knew you in college.”<br />
“Mal Martin?” Good grief, she’d figured if she never saw him again it’d
be too soon. “He’s the Department of Natural Resources officer here?”<br /> “Yeah. Lucky for me.” <br /> Not so lucky for her. If Mal was going to help Ivor with his project, though, she’d have to be polite. <br />
“Mr. Martin thinks it’s a great project and says his department will be
interested in looking at it when I finish.” Ivor grinned. “That oughta
impress my teacher when she grades me on it.”<br /> “Sounds like it.”<br /> “So it’s okay with you if Mr. Martin comes by the cabin sometimes?” <br />
There was no way she could refuse. “Of course.” After all, they were no
longer college kids. No big deal. The past was just that. She’d moved
on and he certainly must have as well. After all, it’d been a long time
ago--going on ten years. <br /> He hadn’t been the best looking guy
she’d ever seen, but he’d sure been the hottest. She’d never forgotten
the night they’d… No! she wasn’t going there. Over was over.<br /> “What’s for supper?” Ivor asked as they entered the cabin. <br /> “Macaroni and cheese. Brownies for dessert.”<br />
“All right! Mr. Martin said he might drop by after he got off work, So
maybe you could ask him to eat with us if he’s early. If he isn’t, he
still can have some brownies.”<br /> Great. Ivor was working up to an
acute case of hero worship, and she didn’t dare do a damn thing about
it. Sarah knew she could never fill Mom’s shoes, but Ivor did have her
to look after him. As she recalled Mal, he was about as far from the
ideal father figure as she could imagine. But he was a man, and Ivor
needed one around right now.<br /> But she didn’t. She glanced down at
her grungy jeans and faded sweatshirt. No, she was not going to change
on the chance Mal might drop in. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail
and needed washing. She wore no makeup. So what?<br /> As she fixed the meal, Ivor hung out in the cabin’s tiny kitchen area. “You know what he said about fishers?”<br /> Meaning Mal, of course. “What?”<br /> “Take a weasel, cross him with a wolverine, that’s a fisher.”<br /> “Sounds like a pretty mean animal.” <br /> Ivor grinned. “Yeah.”<br />
In college Mal had been mean and lean himself, showing off on his hog,
usually with some gal hanging onto him. Even Sarah Volek. Scared the
hell out of her, but exciting, too. Like he’d been. <br /> Ivor had just finished setting the table for them when someone knocked at the door.<br /> “It’s him!” Ivor dashed to open it. <br />
Sarah didn’t look up as she set the salad on the table, already annoyed
at herself because she’d weakened and put on lip gloss. But when Ivor
brought Mal over to her, she had to face him. <br /> “Sarah. Been a
long time.” His voice was the same, deep and sexy. He held out a hand.
Good manners made her respond, but she broke the contact as quickly as
possible. “Yes, hasn’t it?” she said, noting the tartness in her voice.
Damn. She’d tried for neutral. <br /> He looked surprisingly neat in
his DNR uniform. Not like a different man exactly, but it took away from
the bad boy image of him in her mind. His brown hair was still curly,
but tamed and short. Eyes the same startling blue, though the
devil-may-care glint was missing. Conscious she’d stared at him far too
long, she looked back at the stove. <br /> “Sarah says you can stay for supper,” Ivor said. “It’s macaroni and cheese. With brownies for dessert.” <br /> “Sounds good to me. Thanks for inviting me, Sarah.”<br /> She hadn’t, Ivor had. <br />
To her relief, her brother took charge of the conversation at the
table, firing questions at Mal that kept the topic fixed on fishers.
They were finishing dessert when the phone rang. Ivor jumped up to
answer, muttering into the phone as he carried it off to his bedroom. <br />
She rose to carry the dirty dishes to the sink. Before she could reach
for Mal’s plate, he was on his feet, plate and utensils in hand. He set
them on the counter by the sink. “You wash, I’ll wipe,” he said. <br /> “Wiping is Ivor’s job.”<br /> “It’ll be my thanks for a great supper.“ <br />
No way to refuse without being ungracious. But the kitchen was so
small, the enforced intimacy unsettled her. No way did she want him to
touch her. <br /> Sarah groped for something to say. “I felt like I
was being watched when I walked in the woods today,” was all she came up
with. “Ivor’s mentioned the same thing. But I figure it’s maybe a deer
or other animal. “<br /> “Likely to be. We did have a rogue bear in
the area, but I haven’t spotted him anywhere close lately. Not that he’s
dangerous to humans who aren’t carrying food. But awhile back he killed
a calf at a farm a mile up the road from here. I’ll keep an eye out.”<br /> Great. Now she’d given him a reason to hang around the cabin. <br /> “Sorry about your parents,” he said. <br /> She nodded, not wanting to get into what happened.<br /> “Sorry about us, too. More sorry than you’ll ever believe.”<br /> “You got that right.” The moment the words were out she regretted them.<br /> “You’re not into bygones?”<br />
Saying no meant the past meant more to her than it really had. “You’re
welcome in the cabin any time to help Ivor. I do appreciate you helping
him. But I’m off limits.”<br /> He grinned at her, that same old
rakish grin that used to make her heart pound. And still could. Ignoring
her speeded pulse, she frowned.<br /> He dried the last pan and slid
it into the lower cupboard she indicated. “Thanks again for a
real home cooked meal.” Ivor reappeared and he turned toward him. “You
about ready, partner?”<br /> Sarah retreated to the bedroom while the
two of them co-opted the table to lay out papers. So she was a coward.
Safer to be. Despite turning on her CD player to listen to her current
favorite, The Ghoul Dogs, she was all too conscious of the man on the
other side of that closed door. Neither could she get involved in any of
the books stacked on her dresser.<br /> Instead, she stood, hugging
herself, looking out the window into the dusk. Dad had kept the trees
cleared around the cabin, but the woods pretty much surrounded the
cabin, except for the front, which faced onto a dirt road. The place was
fine for the summer and even into the fall, but there was no way she
and Ivor could winter here. <br /> Sarah well knew she should be
making plans for their future. Instead her mind persisted in wandering
back to those college days. Mal had been three years ahead of her at
Michigan State. Thank heaven she’d never had another episode as violent
as the one at the party celebrating his graduation. They’d all had a bit
too much to drink, but, damn it, even if the guys were cheering him on,
he shouldn’t’ve made such an effort to seek out every girl in his class
and kiss her, some far too passionately. <br /> She never was at her
best during her time of the month, but the vodka had taken care of her
jitters. Unfortunately, it also quashed all her inhibitions. She
shuddered to think of the exhibition she’d made of herself. Not that she
remembered it clearly, but her so-called friends made sure to dump
every detail on her the next day. <br /> “You went weird crazy, showing your teeth and snarling, “Mine! Mine!”<br /> “You landed on the poor guy’s back like a cat with all its claws out.”<br />
Worst of all, she remembered Mal’s comment as he hauled her out of the
place. “You’re acting like some wild animal. What the devil got into
you?”<br />She snapped that she never wanted to see him again. He’d left the next day without saying goodbye to her. <br />
The back of her neck suddenly began to prickle, jerking her back to
here and now. Nothing moved outside her window, no animal or person was
visible in the gathering darkness, yet she knew absolutely that
something out there watched her. <br />Something dangerous. </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pm77myWMQ1xiYfJHtW6Nf6w18miX8C-AUN_r00PYwiQdBGbOiAxo-J5_qtOnhPrfTafUq9_FKXn1-hTnjJgGepgg85I_olIwfv3pL0ovDw-qzezIsoxmkt34h7u-_1rOSt7T4sCpjz0/s1600/nullvoid.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pm77myWMQ1xiYfJHtW6Nf6w18miX8C-AUN_r00PYwiQdBGbOiAxo-J5_qtOnhPrfTafUq9_FKXn1-hTnjJgGepgg85I_olIwfv3pL0ovDw-qzezIsoxmkt34h7u-_1rOSt7T4sCpjz0/s1600/nullvoid.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Where can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?</b><br />
<b>My web site at <a href="http://www.janetoombs.com/">www.JaneToombs.com</a> Or <a href="http://www.jewelsofthequill.com/">www.JewelsoftheQuill.com</a>
, click on authors, then my name and my pages will pop up. JOTQ is a
closed group of twelve authors who promote each other. Also we do a lot
of giveaways, so check us out. </b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Is there anything else additional you would like to share with your readers?</b><br />
<b>I
do like to hear from readers. If you care to email me it’s jtoombs(
at) jamadots (dot) com and I‘ll certainly answer, Furthermore, If you
don’t mind sharing your snailmail address with me I’ll be happy to send
you a read-only CD with excerpts from all my recent books and their
cover on it. <br />Jane </b><br />
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />
<br />Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-13166546444421721222011-10-06T21:50:00.000-07:002011-10-06T21:50:16.714-07:00Halloween 2011 with Augusta Li (and Eon)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNmrUHAU3lzNaCfZa1JI53uviFTzZCXloGZM38OHZPg9-pnhBANRfPoIEcbAfDUnFlTAJqxkQT6NIQP8RDHp3f8yTFFPx0y_ap51rSz-gr_MPL1OLF5xXO4Er_FKIv6R-xph3nGlXMR8/s1600/HK-Disneyland1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNmrUHAU3lzNaCfZa1JI53uviFTzZCXloGZM38OHZPg9-pnhBANRfPoIEcbAfDUnFlTAJqxkQT6NIQP8RDHp3f8yTFFPx0y_ap51rSz-gr_MPL1OLF5xXO4Er_FKIv6R-xph3nGlXMR8/s320/HK-Disneyland1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT">
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2708748695243143133" name="receivestrings"></a><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>
Augusta Li (and Eon) it's wonderful to have you as a guest again for
Ramsey's Reviews 2nd Annual Halloween Bash. I see you have been busy
creating more stories to entertain your readers with. Thank you for
taking the time to answer some questions for us.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Tell
us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working
on?</b></span><span style="color: maroon;"><b><br /></b></span><b>I've been
fortunate enough to have quite a few new releases in the last couple
of months! </b><i><b>Silver Publishing</b></i><b> released my urban
fantasy novel </b><i><b>Epiphany</b></i><b> on August 13th. It's the
story of two young men, Elijah and Dust, trying to make a place for
themselves in the tumultuous climate of 1970's America, while trying
to secure a dangerous enchantment that will save Dust from the forces
trying to destroy him. It's the first in a series called </b><i><b>Ensorcelled</b></i><b>,
and a novel-length sequel will be forthcoming. In the mean time, I'll
release a series of novella-length works about Dust and Elijah's
adventures working as freelance wizards. Those are titled,
appropriately,</b><i><b> Ensorcelled</b></i><b> </b><i><b>Adventures</b></i><b>.
The first is my Halloween-themed story, </b><i><b>The Midnight
Children</b></i><b>, in which Dust and Elijah are hired to seek out a
local legend that's targeting magic-users. The second, </b><i><b>Wisp
and White Hart</b></i><b>, is a holiday story, but it's anything but
sweet and fluffy. </b><i><b>The Midnight Children </b></i><b>will be
available at Silver on October 29th, and </b><i><b>Wisp and White
Hart</b></i><b> in December. Read on, and I'll post some excerpts
from </b><i><b>Epiphany</b></i><b> and </b><i><b>The Midnight
Children</b></i><b>!</b><i><b>Epiphany</b></i><b> is
available now:
<a href="https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/epiphany-p-445">https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/epiphany-p-445</a></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMc7SNVuPFYd1lU_CFMrq-0bS6bXizLJKcAtQIyIB8ibYb2HjAGPpd5FA35Ja0YmP41tNjGIDDBaZYOFj9aUz9JSTfjAaS-CToSLQRWwMoLmvBfBNoDv0InrGCOrJyqTqYtTFuho9O_JlQ/s1600/BootsGentleman_pr.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMc7SNVuPFYd1lU_CFMrq-0bS6bXizLJKcAtQIyIB8ibYb2HjAGPpd5FA35Ja0YmP41tNjGIDDBaZYOFj9aUz9JSTfjAaS-CToSLQRWwMoLmvBfBNoDv0InrGCOrJyqTqYtTFuho9O_JlQ/s320/BootsGentleman_pr.jpg" width="211" /></a><b>In
other news, I released </b><i><b>Boots for the Gentleman</b></i><b>,
an epic steampunk adventure written with </b><i><b>Eon de Beaumont</b></i><b>,
at </b><i><b>Dreamspinner Press</b></i><b>. It isn't a horror story,
but there's plenty of fighting, magical creatures, faeries,
zombie-like automatons, and an adorable clockwork boy called Frolic.
On September 19th, I'll be releasing a solo-written spin-off set in
the same universe, about a young pickpocket named Robin who's trying
to protect himself from the dangerous faeries living in the
wilderness around him, even as he's falling in love with one. It's
called </b><i><b>Snowdrop</b></i><b>, and will be available here:
<a href="http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/">http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/</a><br /><br />You can read </b><i><b>Boots</b></i><b>
now!
<a href="http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2483">http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2483</a></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>When
and Why did you begin writing?</b></span><br />
<b>I've only been
writing for a few years now, and I really do it out of love for my
characters. I feel like these great people exist out there in the
ether, and just need me to help them be born.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Where
do you get your information or ideas for your books?</b></span><br />
<b>A
lot of my work is set in made-up worlds, so that just comes from my
head! When I do need to do research, I find it best to go to the
source. </b><i><b>Epiphany</b></i><b> is set in 1974, well before my
time. The most valuable information I got was from people who
experienced that era first-hand. I do the same with locations, trying
to find someone who lives or lived there who is willing to let me
pick their brain.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>What do you
think makes a good horror story?</b></span><br />
<b>Originality. The
market is flooded with vampires and werewolves, probably due the
success of </b><i><b>Twilight</b></i><b> and similar books. A few of
them are handled by their authors in a unique way, but there's a lot
of similarity. I like to read a book where the unexpected happens,
whether it's because a new creature or threat is invented, or because
a traditional monster is portrayed in a new and different way. I like
to take chances in my books, and I like books that take chances as
well.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>What is your favorite scary
movie or book?</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>When I was a kid, I looked
forward to watching the old black and white horror movies on TV. My
favorite was </b><i><b>Bela Lugosi's Dracula</b></i><b>. I looked
forward to Halloween in a large part because I knew it would be on
late at night. I never missed it, and I still don't. I love that the
actors and the writing conveyed the mood without the need for flashy
special effects.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>What makes you
interested in the genre your write?</b></span><br />
<b>I write across a
lot of genres. The common themes are action and adventure. I like a
face-paced, unpredictable story, be in a realistic setting, an urban
fantasy, a steampunk, sci-fi, or fantasy world. Most of my stories
are pretty hot, too, though they're often nowhere near traditional
romances.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>When you were a child,
what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your
creative muse to write about it later?</b></span><br />
<b>I'll be
honest and give everybody a good laugh. I've always had an irrational
fear of narwhals. In attempt to get past it, a wrote a rather
touching scene in my novella </b><i><b>Neskaya</b></i><b> where my
protagonists bond while watching a group of narwhals swim by. I still
think they're really bizarre and kind of creepy, though.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Do
you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared
yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</b></span><br />
<b>The
blood rituals in </b><i><b>Neskaya</b></i><b> were pretty intense. I
don't think I slept more than a few hours over the weeks that I wrote
that one. And it was originally intended to be a Christmas
story...</b><br />
<br />
<b>Want to read it?
<a href="http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2124">http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2124</a></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Where
do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic
content?</b></span><br />
<b>Heh. I don't.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Could
you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod4fg8m5jxhbViwaSgXtA-cL4SHZKySwNSR4CHfZj0E1Ne_jUkC4R2TRjzd7YZADfLKruzSkar8Bu3r-l-dxdoPs2CClQxuRLa0vXP0HEICA2UaI7jL06lZ1D3NT2jaqYfkEXcqt594Hx/s1600/Epiphany-Augusta_Li400x600.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod4fg8m5jxhbViwaSgXtA-cL4SHZKySwNSR4CHfZj0E1Ne_jUkC4R2TRjzd7YZADfLKruzSkar8Bu3r-l-dxdoPs2CClQxuRLa0vXP0HEICA2UaI7jL06lZ1D3NT2jaqYfkEXcqt594Hx/s320/Epiphany-Augusta_Li400x600.jpg" width="212" /></a><b>From
</b><i><b>Epiphany</b></i><b> (Ensorcelled 1)</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>1974. When the
residents of the backwater town of Epiphany, Nevada drive off a hurt
and hungry young man because he has long hair, timid diner cook
Elijah Tupper can't find the courage to stand up to them. Later, both
guilt and strong attraction compel Elijah to seek out the drifter who
calls himself only Dust. He finds him camped in the Mojave, and Dust
and Elijah agree to travel together, though Elijah can't possibly
imagine the task that awaits them.<br /><br />Dust's painful past has
left him mistrustful of people and the world. He also possesses
mysterious powers, though hunger and injury have left him weak.
Elijah vows to aid and protect him, even if Dust can't believe that
Elijah has no ulterior motives. A fragile trust slowly forms between
them, despite Dust's cynicism and Elijah's insecurity. As they seek
to recover the magic that will save Dust from the forces trying to
destroy him, they must enlist the aid of the county sheriff who
originally banished Dust from Epiphany.<br /><br />Though Sheriff Sam
Woodward doesn't approve of Dust or his blossoming relationship with
Elijah, he agrees to help the young men to protect his town from
Dust's enchantments. In order for the three men to succeed and
survive their dangerous, magical journey, each of them must adapt and
grow. They'll need all of their skills to survive the corrupt city of
Las Vegas and the twisted, supernatural realms beyond.<br /><br />Here's
an excerpt. Enjoy!</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>The
whole frigid, lonely time he'd spent walking from Epiphany, Elijah
had imagined various scenarios. He'd pictured Dust hugging him with
gratitude and inviting him to be his companion. He'd anticipated
being greeted with happiness and surprise by the other man. Until
now, it hadn't crossed Elijah's mind that Dust might not want to see
him. After all, Elijah hadn't defended Dust when the townspeople
drove him away hungry. Elijah had been too scared of his mother and
the sheriff to speak up. What if Dust thought he was a coward? Elijah
felt queasy. He was sure, now, that he'd misinterpreted the look Dust
had given him and the way he'd stroked Elijah's hand. Nobody like
Dust would be interested in somebody like him: an insignificant
person from an insignificant place. Elijah had been fooling himself.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>As
much as he wanted to turn back and save himself the hurt and
humiliation, Elijah kept walking. The least he could do would be to
leave the coffee and sandwiches. Dust would certainly appreciate the
blanket. Elijah would set them down, apologize for what had happened
at the diner, and start the long trek back home. Hopefully, he'd be
able to sneak in the back door and through the mud room without his
mother catching him, grilling him, and eventually pummeling him with
whatever was closest to her hand. Whatever unpleasant thing befell
him, he would accept as penance for not speaking up against what had
been done to Dust.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>The
drifter sat in front of his tiny fire, hugging his knees. His dark
hood covered everything but his nose, lips and chin. His frozen
breath hovered in the stillness like a ghostly companion. Elijah took
a deep breath and said, "Hello."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>Dust
turned his head quickly toward Elijah, the fire reflected in his eyes
making them look like glowing embers against his shadowed face. His
hand shot out in Elijah's direction as if he held a weapon, but his
palm was empty. It groped the cold air, the way a person felt around
for a pair of lost spectacles. He slid the hood back and squinted
into the darkness. Seeing Elijah, he dropped his hand and relaxed.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"You're
the cook from the diner," Dust said.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>Elijah
nodded. "I brought you some sandwiches and coffee."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>Dust
rose stiffly and walked over to where Elijah stood just at the edge
of the ring of fire light. He looked amazed. "You mean you
walked all the way out here to bring me sandwiches?"</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"Yeah,
it's no big deal," Elijah said.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"Thank
you," Dust said.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>Elijah
slid the bag from his shoulder and held it out to Dust. "There's
a blanket in there too. I thought you might be able to use one."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>Dust
seemed too stunned to even reach for the offered provisions, so
Elijah set the bag down by the drifter's feet. "All right then,"
Elijah said, "guess that's it. I'm sorry about the way everybody
treated you. It wasn't right, and I do apologize. Take care." He
thrust his shivering hands back into his pockets and turned.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"Wait,"
Dust said, and Elijah faced him.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"You
need anything else?"</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"No,"
Dust said. "Why did you do this?"</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"Well,
you were hungry," Elijah said. "And it's cold out here."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"You
mean that's it?"</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"What
else would there be?" Elijah asked.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"Come
sit down," Dust said. "At least warm up before you walk all
the way back to your town."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNQyiFaLM3WAg55n-PjhKipWmBGOrtJGeXHCibjkG2OHyPB4LHuB49j2nIEWzSywypviBvBWy6ZF33YVcE4WLTjjll_Hb9xkd-3XNuiC5DCB4BMtiqZhtN93Wg7T-IdwC4D_Ar7_bMGwZ/s1600/2011HT_The_Midnight_Children-Augusta_Li400x600.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNQyiFaLM3WAg55n-PjhKipWmBGOrtJGeXHCibjkG2OHyPB4LHuB49j2nIEWzSywypviBvBWy6ZF33YVcE4WLTjjll_Hb9xkd-3XNuiC5DCB4BMtiqZhtN93Wg7T-IdwC4D_Ar7_bMGwZ/s320/2011HT_The_Midnight_Children-Augusta_Li400x600.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b>"Okay,"
Elijah said, and he followed Dust to the fire. They sat cross-legged
on the hard-packed earth, looking at each other over flames. Dust
unzipped the gym bag and stripped the foil from the sandwiches. He
smiled at them as if they were priceless jewels before starting to
eat. Then he silently tore pieces of bread and meat into chunks and
shoved several of them into his mouth at a time, looking over his
shoulder now and then as if Elijah's mother might appear from behind
a cactus and snatch the food away again. Elijah had never seen a
human being eat like that. He was reminded of the stray dogs they
sometimes had to drive away from the dumpster behind the restaurant.
Dust's rapid swallowing, an occasional grunt of pleasure, and the
soft crackle of the fire were the only sounds. In less than ten
minutes he'd finished three sandwiches. Elijah poured some coffee
into the thermos lid and handed it to the drifter.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"Hope
you like lots of sugar," Elijah said.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>Dust
took a long gulp. "You have some too," he said to Elijah.
"To warm up." He held the little metal cup to Elijah's lips
and tipped it forward. As Elijah drank from the cup in his hand, Dust
slid closer until their shoulders touched. The sudden warm solidity
against his arm shocked Elijah. When he realized that Dust had
touched him, he almost choked. Dust lowered the cup but didn't pull
away. Elijah wiped the coffee from his chin with his sleeve.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"You
don't have a cigarette, do you?"</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"No,
sorry," Elijah said. Questions raced and collided in his mind
like bumper cars. He wanted to ask Dust where he was going, where
he'd come from, and why. He wanted to know how the drifter had been
injured, how long it had been since he'd eaten. The biggest question
also remained: Would Dust let Elijah go with him?</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"You
said there's a blanket in here?" Dust asked as he rummaged
through the pack. He found the corner of the blue quilt that had been
on Elijah's bed and unfolded it. He threw it over his shoulders like
a cape and said "Well, get under."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>Elijah
hesitated and pulled away. He hadn't been expecting this level of
familiarity so soon. It confused him and scared him a little bit. He
had almost no experience with such situations, but Dust smiled
sincerely, and Elijah took a deep breath, forcing himself to say,
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"Come
on," the drifter urged, holding the corner of the blanket out
from his shoulder. "We'll both be more comfortable if we share."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>Elijah
spread the blanket across his back and tucked the satiny edge under
his chin the way he did when he went to sleep at home. Dust's warmth
beside him after his long walk acted almost as a sedative. He
realized, to his surprise, that he felt completely safe and
comfortable around this stranger. He poured another cup of coffee and
laid his cheek lightly against Dust's shoulder.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"Dust,"
Elijah said, barely above a whisper. The drifter's blue-gray eyes
stayed fixed on the fire. "Dust?" he said again, a little
louder.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>The
black-haired young man turned. He looked so beautiful and mysterious
in the amber glow that Elijah inhaled sharply. "Dust, can I ask
you something?"</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"Dust?"</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"You
said, at the diner, that you were Dust," Elijah said, blushing
and feeling stupid. "What should I call you?"</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>Dust
placed a soft kiss on Elijah's forehead that made him tremble from
his ears to his freezing toes. "Call me whatever you want. Call
me Dust if you want to, and ask me whatever you want."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>Elijah
swallowed hard. "I want to help you. Whatever you're trying to
do, I want to help."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"Why?"</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"I—"</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"It's
okay," Dust said. He put his arm around Elijah and pulled him
closer. "I'd like it if you came with me. It's pretty rough,
though, as you can see." He pointed at his camp: a backpack for
a pillow and a pile of burning twigs and brush.</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>"I
don't know what I'll be able to do," Elijah said. "I don't
really have any talents, except cooking."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_x5vPDQt2HUhWACx7mItvLSb1lsvyX_belx-HwegZ8aWZAWOr81jdN2qvMCsXRFSXRgziBAmkpPZR2zsrEVkHn2Avkecx_1VAfOkld0MNJHO8pcoiuWMN5ZEvdjvZTO6YMiKfQZxhbc/s1600/article-page-main-ehow-images-a07-tu-bd-scary-halloween-wedding-themes-800x800.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_x5vPDQt2HUhWACx7mItvLSb1lsvyX_belx-HwegZ8aWZAWOr81jdN2qvMCsXRFSXRgziBAmkpPZR2zsrEVkHn2Avkecx_1VAfOkld0MNJHO8pcoiuWMN5ZEvdjvZTO6YMiKfQZxhbc/s200/article-page-main-ehow-images-a07-tu-bd-scary-halloween-wedding-themes-800x800.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Dust
nestled his face into Elijah's thick hair and spoke softly into his
ear. "That's not true. You have a pure, innocent soul. Real
goodness is rare, rarer than riches, or power, or anything. It's a
treasure. Besides—" Dust gripped Elijah's chin between his
thumb and finger and inclined his head so their eyes met. "—you're
really cute."</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b>And
here's a sneak peek at The Midnight Children, my Halloween offering
this year! Dust and Elijah have been hired to investigate the murders
of several magic-users. They've just arrived in town, and are staying
at the home of their employer...</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2708748695243143133" name="_anchor_1"></a>
<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hours later,
Elijah and Dust lay sleeping together on one of the narrow beds.
They’d opened the window to the fragrant, night air and their room
smelled of pine, wet maple</span></span> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">leaves,
damp soil and wood fires. Dust’s eyes fluttered open, and he became
aware of Elijah’s bare back against his chest. The toasty meeting
of their skin beneath the blankets contrasted with the chill breeze.
Soft snores drifted from the other man in a slow, peaceful cadence.
Maybe he’d dreamed the faint laughter he’d sworn he heard. His
nightmares came less frequently now, but they still came. Odd that he
had no memory of this one; normally it took him hours to banish the
visions from his mind. Maybe his imagination played a trick on him.
Still, Dust lay awake with his arm draped over Elijah’s ribs,
listening.</span></span></b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Something
disturbed the gravel outside; it sounded like a person running.
Pushing himself up on his elbow, Dust leaned closer to the window.
Another person ran past the house, and another. Squinting into the
night, Dust perceived almost a dozen small, dark silhouettes flitting
about, racing and skipping up and down the dirt road that ran next to
the house. He heard high-pitched, tinkling laughter: a young girl.
More voices joined hers in merriment. Some of them sang an old
nursery rhyme: “Boys and girls come out to play. The moon doth
shine as bright as day. Leave your supper and leave your sleep. Join
your playfellows in the street.” Dust shuddered. </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>What the hell
is going on? It must be three in the morning.</b></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah.”
Dust shook his shoulder gently, and Elijah grumbled and stretched his
arms over his head.</span></span></b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hmm?”</span></span></b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wake up. Put
your clothes on and get your sword.”</span></span></b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Huh? Why?”</span></span></b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Something’s
going on. Hurry.”</span></span></b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>They dressed
quickly and crept through Jonas Kehler’s silent house to the front
door. Outside, a chill mist obscured the bottoms of the trees and
made the ferns and berry fronds appear to float, disembodied, from
the vapor. Cold wind whipped up eddies of brittle leaves and small
twigs. The gibbous moon had fallen below the mountain peaks, and most
of the residents had long since turned off their porch lights and
Halloween decorations. The small town didn’t have streetlights, or
even traffic lights. Dust looked up and down the narrow road,
straining to discern what direction the eerie laughter came from.
“Can you give us some light?” he asked Elijah.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA3W2OKjmy_SaBSdHEAFiB0QUbkolIPA_mvByoV1dxp4W62o2fTPS8Hxre4uP7OWimm6VwCZfZ41wmEyCPiVlOWNYiby9eQwQY6hBJI-bDfuhKWoNCzmH07WXzJGl_Zg5c9Uxwc4xllU/s1600/article-page-main-ehow-images-a07-75-be-make-scary-signs-800x800.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA3W2OKjmy_SaBSdHEAFiB0QUbkolIPA_mvByoV1dxp4W62o2fTPS8Hxre4uP7OWimm6VwCZfZ41wmEyCPiVlOWNYiby9eQwQY6hBJI-bDfuhKWoNCzmH07WXzJGl_Zg5c9Uxwc4xllU/s1600/article-page-main-ehow-images-a07-75-be-make-scary-signs-800x800.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Elijah opened his
hand and a sphere of warm, golden radiance formed over his palm. It
floated into the air, level with their shoulders, and drifted along
with them as they walked. A shriek pierced the night; not a scream of
terror but a child’s exclamation of delight. More laughter
followed. Something rustled the bushes about a hundred yards ahead of
them before a few small shadows darted across the path.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What are kids
doing out here?” Elijah wondered aloud. “Some kind of Halloween
prank?”</span></span></b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dust shook his
head. “They seem way too young for that. Listen, they’re singing.
I think most of them are up ahead, near those houses.” He pointed
to a semi-circle of modest homes arranged around an old, stone well.
In the high grass of the round lawn they shared, a group of children
giggled, jumped and frolicked.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is really
creepy, Dust,” Elijah said.</span></span></b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Without
responding, Dust cautiously moved closer. He and Elijah had almost
made it to the edge of the grass when all of the children stood as
one and rushed toward the door of a brick house. Still laughing and
singing, they beat against the door, kicked it, and threw the weight
of their small bodies against it until it gave way. Dust heard the
wood splinter just before the group poured into the building. Glass
broke inside, and a woman screamed.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh, shit,”
Elijah said as he unsheathed his katana and ran for the house.</span></span></b></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2708748695243143133" name="_msocom_1"></a><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Where
can your fans go to find more information about you and your
books?</b></span><br />
<b><a href="http://www.yaoimagic.com/">http://www.yaoimagic.com/</a><br /><br />My blog:
<a href="http://augusteli.blogspot.com/">http://augusteli.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Facebook:
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/Ninja.Gus">http://www.facebook.com/Ninja.Gus</a><br /><br />Twitter:
<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/GusAndEon">http://twitter.com/#!/GusAndEon</a></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Is
there anything else additional you would like to share with your
readers?</b></span><b> </b><br />
<b>Have a Happy Halloween! Thanks from the
bottom of my heart to those who support me! Thanks to Amy for having
me!<br /><3 Gus.</b><br />
<br />
<br /><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-76155426690780463222011-10-01T15:54:00.001-07:002011-10-01T15:54:26.673-07:00Halloween 2011 with Tracey Mitchell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5qDlj6nnEEfkNK5oql8uhfoFwq4iDfu10fBIE4Sy0_be3GC4LLOSvK0MazaxiHwu5CagTQl3p_YA4x2px29eSYdeUMl_89n6IaQbm_bUmekWNhA89VEjQH4AoBgYMI1BqB6Vy1E1PH0/s1600/SM_500x750.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5qDlj6nnEEfkNK5oql8uhfoFwq4iDfu10fBIE4Sy0_be3GC4LLOSvK0MazaxiHwu5CagTQl3p_YA4x2px29eSYdeUMl_89n6IaQbm_bUmekWNhA89VEjQH4AoBgYMI1BqB6Vy1E1PH0/s320/SM_500x750.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Tracey, welcome to Ramsey's Reviews 2</span><span style="color: red;"><sup>nd</sup></span><span style="color: red;">
Annual Halloween Bash. I am thrilled to finally have you here as my
guest. You have been working extremely hard lately and your
publishing company, as well as your writing has really taken off for
you, which is extremely awesome! </span></b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Tell us your latest news.</span> <span style="color: red;">Do
you have any current projects you’re working on?</span></b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Currently I’m
working on another rewrite of <i>Dawn of kNight (Book 3 of the kNight
Series)</i> and also a very adorable YA Contemporary Romance called
<i>Sound of Thunder</i>.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>When and Why did you begin writing?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I began writing
at the age of sixteen. Mr. Wilson, my English teacher gave us an
assignment to write a short story based on the starting sentence…”One
dark and stormy night…”. I couldn’t think of anything to
write, and stared at the blank paper for at least an hour, rolling
around any thoughts that could possibly make a story. When I put the
pen to paper and wrote the beginning sentence what followed was the
beginning of what later became a writing career. The short story
impressed my teacher enough he asked me to stay after class so he
could tell me that I really needed to consider writing for a career.
Of course he recommended several books, mostly by <i>Stephen
King</i>…because he told me I wrote in the same gory style as King
did. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Okay, that was
my first attempt at writing, and the short story I wrote turned out
to be a dark horror. At sixteen, I was a major horror buff ,and loved
any horror movies. So was it a wonder I wrote a horror story that
scared half the class? </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXRHePgfdbcBgPEUuEcLIJcgfdwFluWHPaVajXxyWR7v2EaezQu3PTqiYoyD-8yKdU6DmyLdmFyDz_OYu82nmSPS50uOBM-daHeKR_NOJ2sCWus_Kh5R_Opo7mzVFoeIoZTvQZEYWBPk/s1600/hoffine-horror-photography.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXRHePgfdbcBgPEUuEcLIJcgfdwFluWHPaVajXxyWR7v2EaezQu3PTqiYoyD-8yKdU6DmyLdmFyDz_OYu82nmSPS50uOBM-daHeKR_NOJ2sCWus_Kh5R_Opo7mzVFoeIoZTvQZEYWBPk/s200/hoffine-horror-photography.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>LOL. I too, love my dark horror genre.
Lately I have been watching back to back horror movies on Netflix
just to get my fix. Haha. Where do you get your information or ideas
for your books?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>It depends on
what I’m writing. If I’m writing a story that is based on a
specific legends I might go to a library for books about the legends
and also use the internet as another source of information. My story
ideas pop up at any given time. Sometimes I might just get a piece,
one scene and write it down. Months, or years later I might pull that
little nugget out and see if I have anything else to add that might
make a novel.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>What do you think makes a good horror story?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I love a horror
story that has the old school stuff, blood, guts, gore, and suspense.
I really like a book to read like watching a movie, if that’s at
all possible, and to keep me sitting on the edge of my seat until the
last page. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>That is how I visualize any type of books,
like watching a movie. If while reading a story I don't get that
mental movie picture in my mind, then usually the writing isn't
progressing like it should – smooth flowing scene execution is
vital to a 5 star review. What is your favorite scary movie or book?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I would still
have to say my favorite scary movie of all time is <i>Howling</i>,
which is tied with <i>Silver Bullet</i>. Although, I have to give
credit to <i>Hell Raiser</i>. My favorite scary book- The <i>Shinning
by Stephen King</i>. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYEaK69-THtqoxzWyxZIn8TiYIqvq_wGkvTkB3NNDkWl32Ow1UBEzqwB2r3WyhkthGsctBCU_7xTGCsgMb4QvoiL-kJJtj7MQdDAW2SwO9UqZ_p_QMjEbfmnMFuyTo64cIJ_yGM9V7Xg/s1600/silver-bullet.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYEaK69-THtqoxzWyxZIn8TiYIqvq_wGkvTkB3NNDkWl32Ow1UBEzqwB2r3WyhkthGsctBCU_7xTGCsgMb4QvoiL-kJJtj7MQdDAW2SwO9UqZ_p_QMjEbfmnMFuyTo64cIJ_yGM9V7Xg/s320/silver-bullet.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Ahh <i>Silver Bullet</i>. I never thought I
would ever find another soul who liked this movie as much as I. One
of the best short stories and movie, IMO, ever made. What makes you
interested in the genre your write?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I believe that
the genre chooses the writer and not the other way around. A story is
crafted from the imagination of the writer stemming from something
familiar. For instance, I love cutting off the lights, climbing onto
the sofa with a blanket and pillow to watch scary movies. If I laugh
at a scary part, it didn’t thrill me. My early writings in horror
were dark, and twisted, probably due to the fact I enjoyed dark
thrillers. My paranormal romance, <i>Dark of kNight,</i> meant to be
a horror novel titled <i>Beast Within</i>. The story still revolved
around the two main characters, but the horror factors were dominate
and the ending graphic, gory and violent. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>When you were a child, what creature or
story scared you the most? And did it propel your creative muse to
write about it later?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My favorite
creature- werewolves of course. I think I’ve seen every horror
movie made about werewolves, even the cheesy ones! <span style="color: red;">(LOL!
Me too)</span> I believe it did propel me to become a little creative
with the muse. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Do you remember ever coming up with anything
so wild that you scared yourself, leaving you to wonder where that
came from?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Oh- yes, and
that story is still hidden somewhere in a file and I haven’t
touched it since. It was one of those tidbits I started and put away
for a later day to be revived. I am hoping to return to the horror
genre and write more dark horror. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>I hope you do soon. I would love to read
what type of horror goes through your mind. Where do you as an author
draw the line on gory description and/or erotic content?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Blood, guts and
gore, I think is pretty normal for horror. I would have to draw the
line on the age of the characters, I can’t write any harm to babies
or under age children…just can’t do it. But adult wise, it goes.
As far as erotic content, yes, I’ve read some horror books that
scared you stiff, (no pun intended), and yet they had really erotic
content on the sex scenes. I think I would have to draw the line
there with creature and human sex.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XLK_4lbbj6Rj1ZVxlLv6NETkr1hwtR_0ngSgSpuhInqSMR0cyQaxJE4fxV06ayrLvE08BrSMPggQkFThnIvXbiImozVCkH8FW5xrFHf-Y-I9pdDawQPZuu4PgQc3Cg8v6U5mq4_SVlc/s1600/horror_genre.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XLK_4lbbj6Rj1ZVxlLv6NETkr1hwtR_0ngSgSpuhInqSMR0cyQaxJE4fxV06ayrLvE08BrSMPggQkFThnIvXbiImozVCkH8FW5xrFHf-Y-I9pdDawQPZuu4PgQc3Cg8v6U5mq4_SVlc/s200/horror_genre.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Could you share some of your blurbs or
exerts with us?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Sure. I’ll
give you an excerpt from <i>Silver Moon</i>. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Jennifer pulled
the Mustang over on the opposite side of the road. A sudden relief
swept over her when the car door opened and the old man stepped out.
The crazy evening and conversation would end. She opened the car
door and stepped out onto the road. If the story he told her was
true about the mutilated bodies then she didn’t want the same thing
to happen to him. Cautiously she followed him across the road to the
truck. Her eyes darted around the darkness, searching for any
threatening signs of danger.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>Awe Miss
Jennifer, you don’t have to watch over me. I can fend for myself,”
he forced out a smile. He raised the gas container, placing the tip
into the truck.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>I know
you can Ben,” she returned a warm smile. “I just want to make
sure you are not in the news tomorrow.”</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Old Ben
chuckled. He finished pouring the gas into the truck and turned to
Jennifer who stood anxiously with her arms folded across her chest. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>I would
like to give you something in return for helping an old man,” he
said. He placed the empty container in the back of the truck.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>No- no.
Really, I don’t expect anything. I wanted to help.”</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Ben opened
his mouth to say something and froze. His eyes focused on the
approaching car. Suddenly his eyes narrowed and his grey eyebrows
burrowed together. The car slowed down to a stop behind the Mustang.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>The motor
turned off on the shiny black Porsche. The dark tinted windows
prevented Ben and Jennifer from seeing the driver. A second or two
passed before the driver’s door opened. The hair on the back of
Jennifer’s neck prickled. Chills swept over her arms when the
driver climbed out of the car.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>The driver
of the fancy new sports car wore black jeans and a black silky shirt
with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The black color of his
clothing enhanced his dark appearance.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmecrjHdQUR-UVfF7Xjm1DEBQw7tpI7yM5Emf6Gz4GTzZGB64P_oaDAOphe-JfzXGjusV-ZAziK-40URtLediIs87l7NdF-zlxCzO02RIGv_2T4Smyy00LRzQeGXArMjdr-CaeTlpMlw4/s1600/DOK_EBOOK.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmecrjHdQUR-UVfF7Xjm1DEBQw7tpI7yM5Emf6Gz4GTzZGB64P_oaDAOphe-JfzXGjusV-ZAziK-40URtLediIs87l7NdF-zlxCzO02RIGv_2T4Smyy00LRzQeGXArMjdr-CaeTlpMlw4/s200/DOK_EBOOK.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
“<b>Miss
Jennifer, why don’t you get in the truck?” Ben whispered softly.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Waves of
fear rushed through her body, rendering her thoughts helpless. All
reason had left her in that moment. She clearly heard the warning in
the old man’s voice. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>Is
everything alright? Car problems?” The smoothness of the
stranger’s voice mellowed in Jennifer’s fear.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>I just
brought him back from the gas station. His truck ran out of gas,”
she stated firmly.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>The
stranger moved closer. Jennifer’s breath caught in her throat. He
was breathtaking. The smooth way he walked across the road brought
out a gasp in her breath. The long black leather coat he wore flowed
quietly with each step he took. He walked as a man who had power and
control. Confidence. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>Missy,
please…” Ben whispered again.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>I think
the old man is fairly concerned about your well-being my dear,” the
handsome man held out his hand to her. “My name is Joshua.”</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>Joshua
thanks for your help, but I think we are finished here.” Jennifer
reached out to take his hand. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Ben grabbed
her hand and forced it down by her side. His sudden move startled
her. Joshua’s eyes immediately darted towards the old man.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>I don’t
think I’m the one she needs to fear tonight, old man,” Joshua’s
voice turned icy.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Jennifer’s
heart suddenly slammed against her chest. Her pulse raced. Her mind
swirled with horrifying thoughts and images. Tiny beads of sweat
moistened her hands. Her life was in danger, she thought as she took
a step away from the two men. How could the old man hurt her? Or
was it this stranger that threatened her life? </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCP59RzsUeCuAZMsgORybR7JmRFU40pMW4uN88j5swjCz0scwXjKsNt1JBi6u6V59qul-FOMG-fMkb8wfYSMKiUhisGxYFIWPn_BdacNVdc8kqZZYodixR8h5P0bjQWOqpm2IR489JkU/s1600/FOK_Ebook+Cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCP59RzsUeCuAZMsgORybR7JmRFU40pMW4uN88j5swjCz0scwXjKsNt1JBi6u6V59qul-FOMG-fMkb8wfYSMKiUhisGxYFIWPn_BdacNVdc8kqZZYodixR8h5P0bjQWOqpm2IR489JkU/s200/FOK_Ebook+Cover.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
“<b>Missy,
just do as I tell you and get in the truck.” The old man’s voice
became harsh and rough.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>He plans
on killing you.” Joshua stated firmly. “Come with me and I will
save your life.”</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>HE’S
LYING!” Ben spat out. “He plans on taking you for himself! You
don’t want to be what he is!”</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Words were
not coming to her. Jennifer’s mind jumbled with confusion. What
is Joshua? How did Ben know him? She didn’t have the answers to
make a rational decision. At this point the only choice she had was
to run away from them both. She darted for her car. Before she had
a chance to take two more steps, she heard a clicking sound of a
revolver behind her. The sound of a single gunshot filled the air.
The next second she felt something hard hit her shoulder, sending her
toward the ground. The burn. It burns! Her eyes closed tightly as
the burn turned into excruciating pain. She released a scream when
she realized she had been shot. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Her ears
rang with fear. Her heart pounded loudly. Adrenaline rushed through
her veins. Pain flooded across her body. A pain of fire flooded
through her body. This was not a normal gunshot wound, she thought
as her eyes closed tightly. Her whole body convulsed with the waves
of a raging fire. For a moment, she thought her body was going to
combust into flames. Her death would be by fire, she just knew it.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>The next
few seconds were blurs of a horrifying nightmare. Her eyes flickered
open long enough to see Ben holding a gun and Joshua wrestling
against him. It didn’t look like a fair fight. Jennifer knew she
had to move, get to her car and call for help. Her hands clawed at
the ground. Dirt filled underneath her fingernails. The waves of
burning pain crashed against her veins again. The world swirled
around her. She lost control of her body and fell toward the ground
again. A bloody scream released from deep in her throat as another
wave of pain momentarily blinded her. Darkness enveloped her eyes,
preventing her from seeing the two figures as they fought. She could
still hear them. Their bodies slammed against the truck. Their feet
rustled against the grass on the ground. The grunts and growls of
the two men were loud and clear as they continued with their
struggle.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Her vision
returned. Not clear, but clear enough for her to see Joshua had
relieved the old man of his weapon. She wished she had closed her
eyes as she watched Ben grab something from the back of the truck and
hit Joshua alongside of his head. She watched the handsome man fall
backwards to the ground. He didn’t move. He must be dead she
thought. Jennifer wondered if she would be next.</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>That was suspenseful indeed. Wow, I know I
want to read more. What happened to Jennifer? And is this handsome
stranger, Joshua, going to spring back up? Is he good or evil? Or is
it the old man that the evil one? Guess I will have to read the book
to find out. =) Where can your fans go to find more information about
you and your books?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>My website is
<a href="http://www.darkofknightseries.com/">http://www.darkofknightseries.com</a></b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRuoBuc1fgS9PU0pyF-N5OYr6XFTqLxa8nLfgDaeX7vqO9Iy2Gkp2YZQLPHuAOXGeDiE0NUb09mGfPtDsHkkVvxhWw9SlwPnCF67Shf0r0yhOd-s3-ZZS2INqxRf2LTV62FJiApdG_k4/s400/KnightMagazine.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Is there anything else additional you would
like to share with your readers?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I mentioned I
have several books in the works, and several short stories on the
burner. If you enjoy my work please visit the <i>darkofknightseries
</i>web site to keep track on what I’m writing. Some of my work
will be turned over to my literary agent, such as <i>Glisten</i> an
urban fantasy, may be under a pen name. I’ll try to keep the fans
posted on any news of new releases. Also, news updates on anything
related to the <i>Dark of kNight</i> screenplay to movie. </b>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thank
you, Tracey, for allowing me to interview you and thank you even more
for all the fantastic information on you and your books.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">All
commenters will be entered into the Halloween Contest ending on October
31st. Make sure you leave your email address. Post away. We would love
to hear your comments. What's your favorite scary movie of all time? How
intense do you like your horror content? </span></span>
</span>
</div>
Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-9457494968474564602011-09-21T02:27:00.001-07:002011-09-21T02:27:56.391-07:00Halloween 2011 with Regan Taylor<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVDdJcrux6c4aCQaUQiJtg04dr0SN2W63suadXr9JrY8axqweG7ze8d6Y7jtOE5McM7bHaZb0GN3jOLjDkKIN22ti5w-_p_7LrHbTQCH1_dqUJOHnqs0gAW0xm-4jMfOREr958dHCA8U/s1600/rrHw-HweenSign227.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVDdJcrux6c4aCQaUQiJtg04dr0SN2W63suadXr9JrY8axqweG7ze8d6Y7jtOE5McM7bHaZb0GN3jOLjDkKIN22ti5w-_p_7LrHbTQCH1_dqUJOHnqs0gAW0xm-4jMfOREr958dHCA8U/s320/rrHw-HweenSign227.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Welcome
Regan Taylor to Ramsey's Reviews 2</span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">nd</span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
Annual Halloween Bash! I am excited about hosting you for the next
several days and I know your readers would like to know what you have
been up to lately. </span></span></b></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Tell
us your latest news. Do you have any current projects you are working
on?</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Always!
Okay, with several of the Awe-struck and Mundania authors we’re
doing a blog tour – 7 authors, 7 weeks and surprises along the way.
You can find out more info at my website at <a href="http://www.regantaylor.com/">www.regantaylor.com</a></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m
also going to be doing a book signing with fellow authors </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mary
Martinez</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">,
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Tawny Weber,
Dee Brice</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
and J</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>ulia
Barrett</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> at
the Rios Winery in Calistoga (Napa Valley), California from 6-8 on
October 20. If you are in the area, come by, have some wine, chat
with us and enter to win a gift basket from the 5 of us!</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExCxHhf0mVVMvQ8-MhHl7q4-gsvY3Z4dpKni76vsve4tc6PZ6ROTlKT0_lfuOhMDmc7kGBrYe31FPue5kHmUS6gYxxk8CUSxPCp_jx-j2Tdh3-CPuWev9wiKbr9l0fNkby8wb6GRlcLrc/s1600/3263NEVERENDINGDREAM510-250x250.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExCxHhf0mVVMvQ8-MhHl7q4-gsvY3Z4dpKni76vsve4tc6PZ6ROTlKT0_lfuOhMDmc7kGBrYe31FPue5kHmUS6gYxxk8CUSxPCp_jx-j2Tdh3-CPuWev9wiKbr9l0fNkby8wb6GRlcLrc/s1600/3263NEVERENDINGDREAM510-250x250.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>And
as to current projects, I am completing edits on </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Neverending
Dream</b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
which is the fourth book of my </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Four
Cups series</b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
with </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>eXtasy</b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
(<a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/">www.extasybooks.com</a>). This
one is a little different for me and was inspired by my 85 year old
aunt who happens to be a major Facebook aficionado. Major into the
games. </b></span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Following
that I’ll be in edits for </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Devil’s
Details</b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>,
also with </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>eXtasy</b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>.
Pretty much at the same time Jennifer Cloud and I will be in edits
for </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Her
Eyes</b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>,
coming with </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Awe-struck</b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
(<a href="http://www.mundania.com/">www.mundania.com</a> – the
parent company for the Awe-struck imprint) this fall. </b></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>And
I’m always writing. It’s my escape from my day-to-day life which
is actually pretty cool. Currently I’m writing </b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The
World</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>,
a romantic suspense.</b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>When
and Why did you begin writing?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My
first two books were non-fictions. The first was in response to my
own experience with carpal tunnel and coming close to losing
everything – literally everything. The second was a textbook for
college students with disabilities, primarily learning disabilities
and to be used in a class teaching skills to help those students make
it through university. I began writing fiction in 2005 as a way of
dealing with my job as a police dispatcher. </b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
do you get your information or ideas for your books?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Oh
everywhere. Not a day goes by that I don’t see or hear something
that is either a potential story line, a quote that is just too good
to pass up or event that would make a good scene in a book. Life is
so full of what seem to be isolated or even mundane incidents that
can be transformed into a story if you just tune into them. </b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
do you think makes a good horror story?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipsiR1y18tXtuxiYteJWZQVjE6NZt6oj6WRCspP9vXuDZaVKg4AyavzPs667a5-T8rQ0gJPMV8IFbzzz4Bn2afE9cyuNPjHgQfaLo4WBqRNLthWB-fxzPu-s76ed4jSQqiWYRDVpF7k0/s1600/Free-Scary-Halloween-Music-Songs-and-MP3.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipsiR1y18tXtuxiYteJWZQVjE6NZt6oj6WRCspP9vXuDZaVKg4AyavzPs667a5-T8rQ0gJPMV8IFbzzz4Bn2afE9cyuNPjHgQfaLo4WBqRNLthWB-fxzPu-s76ed4jSQqiWYRDVpF7k0/s320/Free-Scary-Halloween-Music-Songs-and-MP3.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I
can answer this best by giving an example. My co-author for </b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Her
Eyes</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>,
Jennifer Cloud writes chilling horror. It’s not just scary –
Jennifer takes your worst childhood nightmare, brings them into
adulthood and you soon find that the monster under your bed was real,
is alive, well and coming to get you. </b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
is your favorite scary movie or book?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
Ever Happened to Baby Jane.</b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
makes you interested in the genre your write?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I
mainly write time travel, but it often has a twist with a hint of
reincarnation or past lives reaching out to pull you back in. With
time travel I can, at least in my imagination, go to any place, any
time and meet anyone I want. The possibilities are endless. </b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>When
you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did
it propel your creative muse to write about it later?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I
grew up in a family of psychics. We believed in ghosts and
communicating with the dead. What scared me most was actually pretty
silly – the open scenes of the original </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Zorro</b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
when Guy Williams would make the Z in the opening sequences. For some
reason it terrified me. It wasn’t the scary part of it that got me
writing but the dashing hero Zorro was</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">.
</span></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFjXK25nYdmVBs7vvZm_dk3AwluCLAQV7pFixprq4619u_edpGdVMrBvBGsqNd1T8ygpxwtCFc4d66odYuVaaXMUVK2QyyxFIRCU-cZUKSKROqXqTn8bUZMj0NOEJpYqICwmXs81aQMU/s1600/rt-he3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFjXK25nYdmVBs7vvZm_dk3AwluCLAQV7pFixprq4619u_edpGdVMrBvBGsqNd1T8ygpxwtCFc4d66odYuVaaXMUVK2QyyxFIRCU-cZUKSKROqXqTn8bUZMj0NOEJpYqICwmXs81aQMU/s200/rt-he3.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Do
you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared
yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yes,
but not the normal kind of scared. When I wrote a scene in </b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The
Glass Cage</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
where someone dies it scared the hell out of me because I’d never
been that much in touch with my own dark side. It came out again in
</b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>With
All Dispatch</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
(book 2 of my </b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Treasure
Antique series</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
due out in spring 2012 with </b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Awe-struck</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>)
when I wrote a scene with someone dying in a particularly brutal way.
</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic
content?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>No.
Not really. I believe in telling the story that needs to be told. You
know how we hear we use, for the most part, only 10% of our brain? I
believe that when we write, if we let the story unfold the way it
wants to be told, we tap into at least a part of that other 90%.
</b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Could
you share some of your blurbs or excepts with us?</b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sure!
</b></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My
latest release is </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>America's
Hero</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, a time
travel that features Marine Corps F/A -18 pilot Cass Winter and
Hollywood Hottie, Austin Quinn. CJ Hollenbach was my ideal for Austin
when I was writing the book and talk about thrilled when DCL signed
America's Hero and he agreed to be on my cover. He is everything
Austin is -- if you ever have the occasion to chat with CJ you'll
find he is a very warm, caring and interesting person. </span></span></b>
</div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
book is special to me on several levels because I have Marine's in my
life. There are elements of those Marine's in Cass and even in
Austin. </span></span></b>
</div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>We
have a bit of a trailer for you:
</b></span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB0ofkupYQA"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB0ofkupYQA</b></u></i></span></span></a></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On
the heels of a dramatic rescue, Hollywood Hottie Austin Quinn decides
he's the man to play United States Marine Corps Major Cass Winter's
role in the film. The problem is the Major wants nothing to do with
the actor -- no matter how many men and women swoon over him. When
Quinn wrangles a ride in the Major's F/A-18 Hornet, they land in a
time and place neither ever expected. </span></span></b>
</div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*
* * * *</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Treasures
Antique Series</span></b></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXoVfntSn91A5GAbpPWUwB-MK2qWtMrwddTXpMB3HqibrfQIfDDsxHSziN0aDlJjz94-zALaS4PNrYGzOK-LeFvKfikEEYco5rroR0Q5FbOdrTlllZgq2jWbTbo_2yBCpbzhKnYsRaHo/s1600/The_Photograph.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXoVfntSn91A5GAbpPWUwB-MK2qWtMrwddTXpMB3HqibrfQIfDDsxHSziN0aDlJjz94-zALaS4PNrYGzOK-LeFvKfikEEYco5rroR0Q5FbOdrTlllZgq2jWbTbo_2yBCpbzhKnYsRaHo/s1600/The_Photograph.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">My
latest release with </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Awe-struck</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">
is </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Photograph, book 1 of the Treasures
Antique series</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">. The series is set in nearby
Napa, California. Well, nearby to me </span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">.
If you’ve ever been there you know Napa is an interesting blend of
rural wineries and small town charm. </span></b></span>
</div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I’m
sure I’m not the only avid reader, or even reader, who found
herself imagining what it would be like to have one of our romance
heroes come to life. Okay, I will admit, my personal romantic hero is
in my life and has been so through good times, rough times, happy and
sad. He was my first beta reader, a former Marine and U.S. Marshal.
With The </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Photograph I</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">
took that imagination of having a hero walk off the pages in a
different kind of way. You also meet a few other characters, one
whose real identity is revealed in future stories. I recently signed
book 2 of this series, </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>With All Dispatch</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">
which has a special place in my heart because I wrote in the last
days of my 22 year old kitty Molly’s life. </span></b></span>
</div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Oh!
And you do meet my own kitty Maitai in the guise of Taister. </span></b></span>
</div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">But
on to The Photograph:</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWn_xeze9wCKCQ_VNU9mQz1jJNVwQ6TOOu47wR359852Ko_OayQQCl6TrsR-9jg7lE9pFO7VMEgLL6RCdPNEP31CA77_WGtilVDqsE7hrrPJv0Ldwba2utuVDpuLVcRDLkMlN5ZLCrT0/s1600/Regan+Taylor+book+cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWn_xeze9wCKCQ_VNU9mQz1jJNVwQ6TOOu47wR359852Ko_OayQQCl6TrsR-9jg7lE9pFO7VMEgLL6RCdPNEP31CA77_WGtilVDqsE7hrrPJv0Ldwba2utuVDpuLVcRDLkMlN5ZLCrT0/s200/Regan+Taylor+book+cover.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">From
the time Carrie Taylor discovered the magical worlds of romance
novels, she has devoured them one right after the other. She not only
thrilled to each new hero, one more dashing than the one before.
Carrie clearly saw herself as each beautiful heroine waiting to be
rescued by each daring hero. And then one day, she brought home a
photograph. A very special photograph and suddenly her imaginary hero
turned into a living and breathing man. Or did he? At one time Black
Eagle scoffed at the girls of his village wishing on a falling star.
And yet his one great wish, that of a woman of his own, was never
realized. And then one night, he wished upon a star. Can the love of
a man from the past help a modern woman with her modern problems in a
modern world?</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>backed
her against the door, holding her firm in his embrace. "You are
mine, Cassandra, mine and mine alone."</i></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>As
the stunningly handsome blond-haired man took the dark-haired beauty
in his arms, his oh, so sensuous lips coming closer and closer to her
own, Cassandra knew he would take her in a passion that only grew
hotter and hotter with each taking. She felt him hot and hard against
her, leaving no doubt what he wanted of her. "Yes, Erek, yes.
Now and always."</i></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>He
reached for her, pulling her into his embrace, knowing this was the
love he had waited a lifetime for. No man, no army could keep them
apart. Never again would they be torn from each other. This would be
a love for all time. "I love you, Cassandra. I will love you
forever."</b></i></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*
* * *</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Carrie
Taylor sighed and closed her eyes as she held the book to her chest.
"Why don't they make men like that in real life? Why can't I
meet my own Erek? A man who's not only totally gorgeous on the
outside with a fabulous chest and nice butt, but a really nice guy on
the inside? A guy who you can tell anything to and he'll listen and
help you do whatever it is you really want to do?"</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While
good for company on a dark, cold, rainy winter night, Taister's
'meow' didn't really answer her question. She scrunched the
long-haired black cat's ears before turning off the light beside her
bed. As she snuggled under the covers, she heard Taister's purr from
the foot of the bed. At least he was faithful, not like that jerk
Dean. "Dean Welman--what an absolute loser," she told the
cat. "The porker. Taister, tell me this, just because I hung out
with him--all right, dated him--am I a loser?"</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When
the cat didn't respond with more than a louder purr, Carrie thought
back on the man she'd recently broken up with. Dean had come on all
charm and kisses, promised her the moon and then went and two-timed
her. Such was the story of her life. "Hell, he wasn't even that
hot in bed!" Chalk up number--well whatever number he was. And
come to think of it, </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>he</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
was definitely the loser. "I'm well rid of him, Taister, that's
for sure."</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Drifting
off to sleep, Carrie replayed the last few chapters of </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Her
Knight</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> in
her mind, seeing herself in the role of the heroine, Cassandra. Erek,
of course, looked just like the model on the book cover. She could
almost feel the soft velvet of the deep burgundy gown worn by
Cassandra on that same cover, her cheeks warming at the thought of
the bare-chested Erek with his long blond hair flowing over his
shoulders, his powerful hands kneading her breasts. Erek was the best
hero she'd read in a long time. As a dream lover, he was ideal. At
least in her dreams someone loved her.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My
website at <a href="http://www.regantaylor.com/">www.Regantaylor.com</a>
</b></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Is
there anything else additional you would like to share with your
readers?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">No,
just thank you for having me!</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-1849830996483849922011-09-21T02:26:00.001-07:002011-09-21T02:26:37.707-07:00Halloween 2010 with Ashlynn Monroe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNtNENBhmtN4r9kPfhtAETcCUiGbOwWGcKOFzI64pHU_a5OjPSmmf5uWnpaZN0NBm-KwJrhHfupiT4B9-RmWZetKyMYjEZW4q3QMhW9ViFYXPjoReuRIAdOEd0qUoFQKIhFJxktjBRi4/s1600/273412_100000491733108_1502084_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNtNENBhmtN4r9kPfhtAETcCUiGbOwWGcKOFzI64pHU_a5OjPSmmf5uWnpaZN0NBm-KwJrhHfupiT4B9-RmWZetKyMYjEZW4q3QMhW9ViFYXPjoReuRIAdOEd0qUoFQKIhFJxktjBRi4/s1600/273412_100000491733108_1502084_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Please
welcome Ashlynn Monroe to Ramsey's Reviews. Ashlynn is one of the many
talented authors we have visiting during the 2nd Annual Halloween Bash.
It's nice to have you here Ashlynn. Thank you for taking the time and
sharing some of your news with us today. </b></span></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tell
us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working
on?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: white;">I’ve
been contracted for my romantic paranormal Christmas story: </span><i style="color: white;">A
Daddy for Christmas.</i><span style="color: white;"> S</span><i style="color: white;">ilver Publishing</i><span style="color: white;"> will release my
fun romance about a social worker, three little boys, and a werewolf
this December.</span><br style="color: white;" /><br /><span style="color: maroon;">When and Why did you
begin writing?</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I’ve
been writing since I was thirteen but didn’t have the courage to
pursue publication until my thirtieth birthday. I guess that’s how
I dealt with the big 3-0 *wink*. I first tried to find an agent but
was told my work was too short, so I researched and found
e-publishing. I sent my first novella, <i>Hidden Magic</i>, to <i>Wild
Horse Press</i> and was delighted to be contracted by the publisher a
very short time later. I was contracted at the end of February 2010
and on June 4, 2010, I became a published writer. This is a much
cherished anniversary date and this year I took my kids out to a
special supper to celebrate. It was a birthday of sorts for me as I
use a pen name. I’ve been blessed with finding multiple publishers
who are willing to believe in me. It’s expanded my friend base and
my knowledge about the craft I love. The first person who bought
<i>Hidden Magic</i> changed my life and filled a hole in me I didn’t
even know existed. Whoever you are, thank you so much, everyone who
buys my work gives me a wonderful gift and they don’t even know it.
This has enriched my life tremendously. I’m just a working mom
struggling to make ends meet and make life better for me and my
kiddos. Having the validation the people enjoy my creativity really
gives me a special joy that helps me get through the tough times. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span>
</div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
do you get your information or ideas for your books?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-size: small;"><b>My
daydreams, nightmares, music, but most just randomly pop into my
brain.</b></span><span style="color: maroon; font-size: small;"><br /><b style="color: red;">What
do you think makes a good horror story?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>A
believable yet terrifying tale, any horror story that makes me think
“duh” isn’t one I enjoy.</b></span>
</div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
is your favorite scary movie or book?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
Stand, by Steven King, Considering how sickly my kids and I are we’d
have been the first ones done for lol.</b></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIud9w8jC6fCB2pM1khfziCsm2uHDuB5UTUdL3C-5MscDMRpEG-Frc0dInydboUrztFywoe3IOEgk5n_zwJ4etFswc-JSyKNdxFeWpoeitsGIJba67gzapOcAELq63Js1Gaw_CyiIa1_A/s1600/ChemicalLust_150x225.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIud9w8jC6fCB2pM1khfziCsm2uHDuB5UTUdL3C-5MscDMRpEG-Frc0dInydboUrztFywoe3IOEgk5n_zwJ4etFswc-JSyKNdxFeWpoeitsGIJba67gzapOcAELq63Js1Gaw_CyiIa1_A/s1600/ChemicalLust_150x225.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
makes you interested in the genre your write?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I
love romance, but anything unique such as werewolves just enhance the
story and the power to create so much more that I can’t imagine
what I’d do if I couldn’t write paranormal or urban fantasy
again.</b></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<div style="color: red;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>When
you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did
it propel your creative muse to write about it later?</b><b> </b></span></div>
<div style="color: white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
Headless Horseman, The idea of a body without a head really freaks me
out. I often had nightmares about him and still cringe at the idea
of reading </b><i><b>Sleepy Hollow</b></i><b>
again. Honestly, he hasn’t inspired anything specific.</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon;"><b>Do
you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared
yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</b></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><br /></span><b style="color: white;">I’ve
had a few scenes that scared me badly enough to stop writing them.</b><span style="color: white;">
</span><b style="color: white;"> I’m a pansy lol.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon;"><b>Where
do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic
content?</b></span><br /><b style="color: white;">Erotic content I’m not shy about, but I
think gory should stop at any description that turns the reader’s
stomach.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Could
you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?</b><b> </b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I’m
so excited for my October 30</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b> release of
</b><i><b>Don’t Take Candy from Werewolves!</b></i><i> </i> </span>
</div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Here’s
the blurb.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jenica
Bradley isn’t ordinary. She’s the seventh daughter of a seventh
daughter and one of the last of the Atlantian race. Now, to save her
people, she must complete a pact her people made long ago, and mate
with the Alpha-male of the local werewolves.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Malone
Luna returns to lead his father’s pack. He soon finds himself with
a confusing need to protect the little Atlantian witch—bitch—who’s
to be his mate, but all she wants from him is freedom. He’s pretty
much sure he can give her that, but not before he’s had her.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>This
story was a blast to write and the title still makes me smile. This
is a fun Halloween tale of courage, duty, and passion.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLCMKIinl6OwBcsiLTDJbqz5f6YMEBLDdFBEC1ASeNFmSU4Rb9Pxq_NwfFxXWiJMUw8mPwV865Fnyaw4CEfhnZckF9QsfLE8Yp91TyFueBOXfa0T_LIuGVQwrGJsHnFXv-C_mqCBb6Dc/s1600/SlaveToHisDesires_Small_51k.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLCMKIinl6OwBcsiLTDJbqz5f6YMEBLDdFBEC1ASeNFmSU4Rb9Pxq_NwfFxXWiJMUw8mPwV865Fnyaw4CEfhnZckF9QsfLE8Yp91TyFueBOXfa0T_LIuGVQwrGJsHnFXv-C_mqCBb6Dc/s1600/SlaveToHisDesires_Small_51k.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ashlynnmonroe.com/"><span style="color: #256a78;">http://www.ashlynnmonroe.com</span></a></span></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Is
there anything else additional you would like to share with your
readers?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Halloween
is one of my favorite holidays. Everyone gets to be someone else for
one day. This year I hope you’ll go wild and be everything you’ve
dreamed to be. If you decide to take some me time after you take the
kiddos out trick-or-treating I hope you stop at
</b><a href="https://spsilverpublishing.com/"><b>https://spsilverpublishing.com/</b></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
and download a copy of my book.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I
hope that if you haven’t read me you’ll take a look at my
back-list, but <i>Don’t Take Candy from Werewolves</i> is one of
the very best things I’ve written. I love this story!</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Visit
her website at </b><a href="http://www.ashlynnmonroe.com/"><b>http://www.ashlynnmonroe.com</b></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
to learn more about the worlds she imagines.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wild
Horse Press-<a href="http://www.wildhorsepress.webs.com/">http://www.wildhorsepress.webs.com/</a></b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hidden
Magic-Wild Horse Press-Urban Fantasy Romance</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
Mirage High series-YA Paranormal-Wild Horse Press</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dark
Miracle-Wild Horse Press-Erotic Paranormal</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blood
and Bondage-Wild Horse Press-Erotic Paranormal</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wild
Hearts-Wild Horse Press-Paranormal Romance</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
Mirage High series-YA Paranormal-Wild Horse Press(print anthology or
individual eBook shorts)</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blood
and Bondage-Wild Horse Press-Erotic Paranormal</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>My
Soul to Keep-Wild Horse Press-Urban Fantasy Romance</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Kiss
Me, Kill Me, Bite Me-Wild Horse Press-Dark Paranormal Romance</b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Reality
Stinks-Wild Horse Press-Urban Fantasy Romantic comedy</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bKg4QIWJhRNDqSbF-FkkyD3yjfGtg3aL7PsTwyk-8JwPYMMOBq_JMIQ8hPrFtFUYaFJ6F4LoW2H9iBxaLn0bfwHf5paLCSWRdeFkD0h7RTtibileHXdwE5LtFsZHAyU2XxPcK4PMXbA/s1600/halloween-horror-cards.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bKg4QIWJhRNDqSbF-FkkyD3yjfGtg3aL7PsTwyk-8JwPYMMOBq_JMIQ8hPrFtFUYaFJ6F4LoW2H9iBxaLn0bfwHf5paLCSWRdeFkD0h7RTtibileHXdwE5LtFsZHAyU2XxPcK4PMXbA/s320/halloween-horror-cards.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cobblestone
Press-<a href="http://www.cobblestone-press.com/">http://www.cobblestone-press.com/</a></b></span></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Chemical
Lust-Cobblestone Press-Science Fiction Erotic</i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Silver
Publishing- <a href="https://spsilverpublishing.com/">https://spsilverpublishing.com/</a></i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Passion's
Escape-Silver Publishing-Science Fiction Erotic</i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lost
Heart's-Silver Publishing-Science Fiction Erotic</i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Wish-Silver
Publishing-Urban Fantasy Erotic</i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Just
One Night-Silver Publishing-Paranormal Romance</i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Vampires
and Mistletoe-Silver publishing-Paranormal Romance</i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Captured
Heart and soul-Silver Publishing Erotic Anthology</i></span></b></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Don’t
Take Candy From Werewolves-Paranormal Romance-coming October 30<sup>th</sup>
2011.</i></span></b></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A
Daddy for Christmas-Paranormal Romance-Coming December 2011</i></span></b></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>kNight
Romance Publishing-<a href="http://knightromancepublishing.com/">http://knightromancepublishing.com/</a></i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Clockwork
Hearts Series-kNight Romance Publishing-Paranormal steam punk Coming
Soon</i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Wicked
Ink Press-<a href="http://www.wickedinkpress.com/">http://www.wickedinkpress.com/</a> </i></span></b>
</div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blood
Kin-Keith Publications-Paranormal Romance</i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Templar Vampire Series-Keith Publications-Paranormal Romance</i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Evernight
Publishing-<a href="http://www.evernightpublishing.com/">http://www.evernightpublishing.com/</a></i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Fallen
Angels-Evernight Publishing-Steam Punk Romance</i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Protector
Mine-Evernight Publishing-Paranormal Romance</span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Indecent
Encounters-Evernight Publishing-Erotic Romance Anthology</span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Master
of Mine-Evernight Publishing-Erotic Romance Anthology </span></b>
</div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Willow
Moon Publishing-<a href="http://www.willowmoonpublishing.com/">http://www.willowmoonpublishing.com/</a></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Dream
Mists-Willow Moon Publishing-Paranormal Romance</span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Decadent
Publishing-<a href="http://www.decadentpublishing.com/">http://www.decadentpublishing.com/</a></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">The
Vengeance Series-Decadent Publishing-Urban Fantasy</span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Back
in the Saddle-Paranormal 1 Night Stand Series Short</span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Self
Published-<a href="http://ashlynnmonroe.com/">http://ashlynnmonroe.com/</a></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Denae’s
Lesson-Seven Deadly Sins Anthology-self-published group effort with
some of my favorite small press authors.</span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Eternal
Commitments-Paranormal Romance</span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Beachwalk
Press-<a href="http://www.beachwalkpress.com/">http://www.beachwalkpress.com/</a></span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Slave
to his Desires-Beachwalk Press</span></b></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IkOb1zMxw8ZHfTiPGanb_JmgCzHo1KgqMLF6JqSE6qzZs1i4weF-xCMzq39a8r7G3yFlltfLHER6M2Ibk3JKPWFFhw_Kkf-6yUMP_70AgqznB6iZU2_vtc-bhn_cafM0ZSydiZG5SqU/s1600/scary-halloween.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IkOb1zMxw8ZHfTiPGanb_JmgCzHo1KgqMLF6JqSE6qzZs1i4weF-xCMzq39a8r7G3yFlltfLHER6M2Ibk3JKPWFFhw_Kkf-6yUMP_70AgqznB6iZU2_vtc-bhn_cafM0ZSydiZG5SqU/s200/scary-halloween.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Please
don’t pirate books, buy them from a legitimate vendor and not from
a thief. Please don’t download from file sharing sites because I
can guarantee if it’s for sale anywhere, the author isn’t making
the choice to “share” it with you. That’s theft. Also, please
don’t upload an ebook to these sites and only borrow them
legitimately using the library or Amazon or Barnes and Noble. There
are tons of free books on Amazon, All Romance Ebooks, One Place for
Romance, and various publishers. Night Owl Reviews offers free reads
ever Thursday, and there are many wonderful giveaways on small press
author and publisher blogs and websites. You’ll not only get a
wonderful free read but you’ll get to establish a connection to the
fantastic men and women who write independent fiction. We don’t
have assistance politely declining facebook requests and sending out
form emails, we are real people who get up and put on our big
girl/boy panties one leg at a time. I’d love to hear your opinions
and ideas about my work at <a href="mailto:authorashlynnmonroe@gmail.com">authorashlynnmonroe@gmail.com</a></span><span style="font-size: small;">.
Join my website as a member too because I often send out goodies. I
appreciate my reader and author cyber friends and you guys are as
much a part of my life as my living and breathing see-ya-at-lunch
pals. </span></b>
</div>
<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">**HUGS**
Ashlynn Monroe </span></b>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEdOwmPHDati8fv0m1xdTOOxvt_sz8pRb60tNcWwvKvdn6TRqb2Jp4XrVAP6s6HSpee64Gi9vkvbQg5Ydn2Gq6lzyrREVqdzu_4cdxtbrlxfh1mZm8P3YQW9DDb4Z5EtNoC9a1HszQy0/s1600/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEdOwmPHDati8fv0m1xdTOOxvt_sz8pRb60tNcWwvKvdn6TRqb2Jp4XrVAP6s6HSpee64Gi9vkvbQg5Ydn2Gq6lzyrREVqdzu_4cdxtbrlxfh1mZm8P3YQW9DDb4Z5EtNoC9a1HszQy0/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE4cAaphIGQTKHZ5SwliMhvtx_PN1AyGtSz8u6e3fZ1ODh4JQFH3muxvfOgSmUVuAqy0jPRkVJ4Dj8skr7gNSLcbpEZLD7hRNXG0mt478ifnIptRT-OMjwqvi2E47hcjv5gWwxyavAK0/s1600/%2524%2528KGrHqR%252C%2521m%2521E3J4eozIQBN8B2LWmh%2521%257E%257E0_3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-91936947802898322742011-09-21T02:24:00.001-07:002011-09-21T02:24:55.315-07:00Halloween 2011 with Michele Hart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3EYFzrYvcwA339asdTDpg5BZcoY_W-opdtyhQljzFgYhHAONos5lf4ivWY2Rr9muW5sLFfvc5bqv-56B5hUVKqJ9Rm08LSYVCRc2Y29MrqRXdYYCtZji1jYOLI-3-i7BvMMc286SLdiJ/s1600/Luminous+Nights+by+Michele+Hart-cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3EYFzrYvcwA339asdTDpg5BZcoY_W-opdtyhQljzFgYhHAONos5lf4ivWY2Rr9muW5sLFfvc5bqv-56B5hUVKqJ9Rm08LSYVCRc2Y29MrqRXdYYCtZji1jYOLI-3-i7BvMMc286SLdiJ/s200/Luminous+Nights+by+Michele+Hart-cover.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="color: red;">
<b>Fellow
readers, I am please to have author Michele Hart with us today. Michele
shows her incredible spirit through her vivacious writing. Welcome
Michele to Ramsey's Reviews Halloween Bash.</b></div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: black;">Michele</span>: Greetings, Halloween Bash, Ramsey’s Reviews, and readers of passion and fright!<br />I
love Halloween, Samhain to me, and it’s always the funnest time of the
year. I love costumes, keep a couple dozen on hand, in case I might need
to go shopping as a Jedi, check the mailbox as a dark fairy. You never
know when these needs come up. There just aren’t enough costumed events
for me.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Tell us your latest news. Do you have any current projects you’re working on?</b><br />
<b>Michele: I’m thrilled my newest release, the sizzling, gritty, high-action Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romantic Adventure, <i>Gangbusters</i>,
is coming out this November. Angels, demons, lasers, secret technology,
demonic possession, microchips, fist fights, teleportation, unholy
resurrection, forbidden passion, assassination, doomed missions,
daredevil antics, a battle for love against a Hell-spawned horde. The
usual. :-)<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">When and why did you begin writing?</span><br />Michele:
In 1990, I’d met a gorgeous mohawked punk rocker named Torch with big
blue eyes and more earrings in his ears than I had. He was a wildly
creative being of light with a smile like the Devil’s own. He taught me
how to be creative. I penned a story of a hero just like Torch in
Luminous Nights. Helping someone learn they are creative is one of the
greatest gifts a person can bestow upon another, and I was very lucky
Torch came into my life and gave me that. He’s still one of my best
friends.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?</b><br />
<b>Michele:
If I’m writing a Sci-Fi Romance, I start with a science that intrigues
me. I speculate the people who will work with it, then it’s on. I’m MIA
for a few months writing the story.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">What do you think makes a good horror story?</b><br />
<b>Michele:
Suspense. Surprise. A good dose of revulsion, but not too much. Dark
characters that insidiously crawl into and nest in my mind.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">What is your favorite scary movie, book, or theme?</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NYg77yrap_ocn1XtzsdEC1AlovY8WfNfaJGRPv2U5S8zH8PJ6I-g6K36HjhzA7PWZqif8OkUdLntojhodR14UlVfHjUXi2q9kgNndRAylHYeVsCptd3SggCSEn2b7tFHnhM9A-G0_1I/s1600/zombieblog_photo4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NYg77yrap_ocn1XtzsdEC1AlovY8WfNfaJGRPv2U5S8zH8PJ6I-g6K36HjhzA7PWZqif8OkUdLntojhodR14UlVfHjUXi2q9kgNndRAylHYeVsCptd3SggCSEn2b7tFHnhM9A-G0_1I/s1600/zombieblog_photo4.jpg" /></a><b>Michele:
I LOVE to be scared! I have favorite themes. I lovelovelove the
monsters, but real-life scares get me better. Serial killers, UFOs, and
government super-weapons. Apocalyptic views of the future. I love to
write them, too. The fear of possible horrors sends lightning through
me! Any story with those scenarios make me peek out the drapes to the
sky, consider how much the government is watching me, plan for a zombie
apocalypse. :-) Those thoughts are so fun and challenging.<br />Have you
given thought to what you’d do in the event of a zombie apocalypse?
Maybe you should. The Center for Disease Control thought of it. While
you’re planning your survival during a zombie apocalypse, plan for a
natural disaster: <a href="http://emergency.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies_blog.asp">http://emergency.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies_blog.asp</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://emergency.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies_blog.asp"> </a><br />Favorite monster movie: <i>Alien vs.. Predator</i>.
It’s overgross for my taste, so I cover my eyes at those moments. I
love the Predator technology. AvP is a very good and suspenseful story,
contains mythology, and a butt-kicking female protagonist. I am
compelled to love it.</b><br />
<b style="color: red;">What makes you interested in the genre you write?</b><br />
<b>Michele:
A love of science, technology, adventure, and twisty surprises. An
affection for hot chemistry between lovers. A worship of the alpha-male.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">When you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your creative muse to write about it later?</b><br />
<b>Michele: I’d been twelve years old and alone in my home when I saw the <i>Scars of Dracula</i>.
Scared the pants off me. Too old to believe in vamps, I was so nervous,
and I walked to my mother’s job just so I wouldn’t have to be alone. I
loved vampires before that, but that movie scarred me for life, and gave
me a curiosity/love for horror. As much as I love them, I haven’t
written a vampire story. But I probably will. It’s just too
irresistible. I love monsters.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Where do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic content?</b><br />
<b>Michele:
I like straddling fences. I write Mainstream Romance that snuggles up
to the erotic. I almost always write about crime, so my stories end up
being a bit violent and peppered with nasty talk from criminals. I try
to ratchet down the gore, figuring if the reader wanted gore, they’d
read Clive Barker. I’m not a big fan of gore, so it’s not my focus, but
my stories do have foul language, blood, bodies, fist fights, gun
battles, and horrible deaths. Not for the faint-hearted. I know I’ve
given my publisher a headache considering the warnings my book might
require because my stories might straddle a couple of those fences in a
way that it becomes an opinion if it’s too gory/sexy/violent to earn
some kind of warning. Interestingly, my readers have told me my stories
were not too gory/sexy/violent. I’ve walked away with only adult
language warnings. Woo-hoo! I want to haunt the gray area, ride that
fence.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Could you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?</b><br />
<b>Michele: Here’s a scary scene from my Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romantic Adventure, <i>Vigilant</i>:</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigi00NSdpTwaDSBmjvugaampxienii2qG_xyYiUfzvzvYMn5ZxZfWi02YllQ_JTZKTEW_pBrbMGaZAm4QptMOgQNoLJAiiHNU4vOQ991q9_H21CZknPbUgwoYM6UtkdsQSOs8G3jQdeYwP/s1600/Vigilant+by+Michele+Hart-cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigi00NSdpTwaDSBmjvugaampxienii2qG_xyYiUfzvzvYMn5ZxZfWi02YllQ_JTZKTEW_pBrbMGaZAm4QptMOgQNoLJAiiHNU4vOQ991q9_H21CZknPbUgwoYM6UtkdsQSOs8G3jQdeYwP/s200/Vigilant+by+Michele+Hart-cover.jpg" width="133" /></a><b>“Did
you execute my men, Marshal?” the demon Morosi asked the seething cop
he held caged for the revenge show playing out before his eyes.<br />Yadira
shivered in her shackles, chilled for the horror Morosi would put her
through. She stayed quiet, afraid the only sounds she could utter were
cries of fright.<br />“Your men had attempted suicide by coming to take
me,” Weber deadpanned from behind bars, his vision focused on her lying
chained to the bed. “One’s still alive, but he wants to die. I don’t
think he’ll return to your employment.”<br />“I’ll have him killed before his trial.”<br />“That would save Alliance citizens a fistful of money.”<br />The I-Marshal began to slam his big combat boot into the cage lock she’d failed to pick. <br />Slam!<br />She desperately prayed Weber could weaken the bars. <br />“If you think I’m going to let this go your way”—slam!—“you’re wrong.”<br />“You’ll grow old, Dokiel, kicking those bars. It’s a bomb-worthy metal.” <br />Rising
horns blended into Morosi’s black hair, creeping her out His black
eyes rimmed in red cruised her body with clear intention to anger the
I-Marshal’s more base instincts. “Does it sicken you, son of fire, to
witness me ruin her? You won’t want her after this.”<br />Slam!<br />Yadira
fisted the small spike in her hand to conceal it, dreading the size of
her only weapon. She didn’t know that Morosi possessed a heart to stab
or even if he were alive in any way that made him killable by a mere
mortal. Would Morosi find the spike in her possession and beat her
bloody for it? It would no doubt be foreplay for the monster. <br />Slam!<br />“I’m going to destroy you, Morosi.”<br /> “People in Hell want ice-water, Marshal.”<br />Slam!<br />Pleased
with the cage’s strength, the demon grabbed Yadira’s ankle and yanked
her harshly to stretch her body the length of the bed. She fought, but
his grip cut the blood flow to her foot. He cuffed that ankle in leg
chains to the bed footboard. She shuddered again, and worked to be brave
and think clearly. Or fake it.<br />“More likely, I’ll teleport off this
planet in an eye-blink while you stand trapped in a cage, watching her
bleed, listening to her weep. Her buyer will collect her afterward.
Another thing you can’t prevent.”<br />Slam!<br />“Returning to the abyss you came from, you ghoulish fucker?” Weber taunted him.<br />Laughing, Morosi grabbed her other ankle, and her most vigorous fight was fruitless. He chained her other leg to the footboard. <br />“There’s no place like home. As you ignorant mortals are fond of saying.”<br />Yadira’s
hands were cuffed together on one side of the headboard, and the demon
would have to unlock her right hand to reposition it for his ultimate
act of revenge. <br />Slam! <br />“I’ll hunt you down, Morosi, and drain
your demon body of your corrupt blood. I’ll see your carcass go up in
the blue flames you deserve.” <br />Slam!<br />“But the two of you will have this memory forever. She’s never going to recover.”<br />Her
limbs secured, Morosi straddled her hips in morbid domination, despite
her awkward position. His rough hands stripped the remnants of her
blouse from her body, leaving her bra and topazes to cover her. His
awful eyes drilled into the sky-blue jewels Weber had given her, as
though the demon needed to concentrate to rid her body of them. Morosi
hadn’t complained of pain when Weber had busted him in the mouth or had
burned a beam through his head, but the monster feared a gift of love
around her neck. He’d ordered his men to remove the jewels in an attempt
to avoid them. <br />“I’m going to uncuff your hand, and you’ll remove the jewels,” the demon gunman hissed above her.<br />Slam!<br />“Take them off yourself!” Yadira screamed at him. “If you aren’t powerless in the face of goodness!”<br />Bare-handed,
the demon snatched the topaz necklace from her neck, scattering the
jewels in all directions. She heard the sizzle of his flesh, and he
howled aloud, gritted his teeth to bear the pain. His blood-red lips
curled up to reveal sprouting fangs. Her mind warped in consideration of
all the horrible things he could do to her.<br />Slam!<br />Crazed Morosi
shook his horned head and seemed to grow bigger. Tendrils of smoke rose
from his nostrils. His fangs flashed, white and sharp. His black vision
roved over her, and his mood changed to a sick glee.<br />“Yadira, you’re
the most marvelous piece of art I’d like to crush. The helplessness, the
fright in your eyes makes them sparkle. The paleness terror gives your
flesh is delicious. You’re so weak, you’re beautiful. Your buyer should
want to see it often.”<br /> “I’m not weak!”<br />Slam!<br />“I can see what
the I-Marshal took, and that was supposed to be mine. I’ll wipe away the
triumph for him while he watches. Considering all the revenge you
represent, I’ll make this last a very long time. What do you say, son of
fire, to watching the repercussions of stealing Yadira’s innocence from
its rightful owner? It was something I’d murdered for.”<br />Slam! Weber’s only answer was another slam of his combat boot into the cage lock.<br />Having
her chained and pinned beneath him, the man transforming into a beast
removed his stiffly pressed shirt, revealing carvings on his lithe and
darkening body growing bulkier in his slow shift. Steel-girded muscle
expanding told her she’d not escape the demon.<br />Slam!<br />Yadira
repulsed at the thought of this damned creature violating her so
hideously. She began to weep, hoping to convince her captor she’d given
up on a rescue, that his infliction of fear worked, and she no longer
had fight in her. She surrendered. Weeping was easy.<br />Morosi delighted in her loss of hope. <br />Slam!<br />“I’m going to destroy you, Morosi,” the I-Marshal promised the demon again, his concentration focused on breaking the cage lock.<br />“You’ll want to, especially after this.”<br />Yadira
tried not to shudder, but the fear controlled her. He had her stripped
down to her bra and panties, and those barriers wouldn’t last long.<br />The
demon’s lascivious inspection stopped at her bare thighs. He growled,
“I see your handprints burned into her, Weber. I don’t care that you’ve
marked her for your possession.”<br />Weber’s handprints seared into her
thighs? She’d fantasized his touch had melded into her flesh. It was the
vision he’d given her and a wish she’d made in the shower with his
scorching, pleasuring hands stroking her thighs, water droplets sizzling
away.<br />Slam! <br />“I care, Morosi, that you’re violating my property. You’ll meet holy fire for touching her.”<br />When
the filthy demon uncuffed her hand concealing the spike to recuff it
across the headboard and maximize his access, his grip was
overconfident. She yanked her hand from his grasp and stabbed at the
throb in her tormentor’s neck.<br />***<br />Check out my Web site for more.</b><br />
<b style="color: red;">Where can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?</b><br />
<b>Michele: Visit me at <a href="http://www.iloveshapeshifters.com/">http://www.ILoveShapeShifters.com/</a> for steamy, peril-packed excerpts, 5-star reviews, and suspenseful book trailers. Angels and demons and lasers. Oh my...</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Is there anything else additional you would like to share with your readers?</b><br />
<b>Michele: Look out for <i>Gangbusters</i>,
coming November! Investigate I-Marshal Stories. Where do the mortals
fit in the war between the angels and demons? Who can save them? The
sons of the Fallen, sons of fire, of course. Read more: <a href="http://www.michelehart.com/b28-book.htm">http://www.MicheleHart.com/b28-book.htm</a><br />Explore angels, demons, and lasers...oh, my. <a href="http://www.michelehart.com/series-i-marshals.htm">http://www.MicheleHart.com/series-i-marshals.htm</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Thanks so much, readers, Ramsey’s Reviews, and the Halloween Bash for spending a few minutes with me. </b><br />
<br />
<b>Have an exciting day,<br />Michele Hart<br />Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romance Author<br />~ Walk Another World ~<br />GANGBUSTERS - Coming Nov '11 - Hide From the Demon Horde.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Want to get scared this Halloween?<br /> Follow the shadow, risk, and mystery.<br />
How about a sssexy and dangerous shape-shifter escaped from a
prison-planet for your summer affair? Can I interest you in a brawler
with a badge who can read your thoughts? Are you ready for a risky
mind-control adventure battling the CIA? Feel like fighting the Mob
today? Do you desire to be frightened by demons, rescued by angels?
Would you like to be trapped on a space station with your high-school
crush? A gangland hit man named Heretic awaits you…<br /> Discover passion, dare, and adventure under all-new moons and stars.<br /> Investigate Michele Hart. <a href="http://www.iloveshapeshifters.com/">http://www.ILoveShapeShifters.com/</a></b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Thank
you, Michele, for taking the time to show us your vibrant and talented
writing. I look forward to hearing more about your upcoming releases. </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13ukhPi5t7Moam8vBeY6WjFV3vBalUHeuMRN92BdH601u4ZwDqX5Agtf2T-uBKfrHHubLRrmyjVE6F9sey2hxyVKxt14vlkrqO-tdVFZbiNY0pgJwfIajb6E94P6vJBuX0xYZfYAYGV_3/s1600/Luminous+Nights+by+Michele+Hart-cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13ukhPi5t7Moam8vBeY6WjFV3vBalUHeuMRN92BdH601u4ZwDqX5Agtf2T-uBKfrHHubLRrmyjVE6F9sey2hxyVKxt14vlkrqO-tdVFZbiNY0pgJwfIajb6E94P6vJBuX0xYZfYAYGV_3/s200/Luminous+Nights+by+Michele+Hart-cover.jpg" width="133" /></a><b>Got a flavor for scary? <br />Beware avenging angels.<br />***<br />Cop or convict?<br />How many faces can one man own?<br /><br />
An assassin wearing a holographic mask and a prison tattoo boards
Rachel’s freighter during a prison riot, intent on collecting gadgets
capable of changing a man’s identity from the black-market gang who'd
stolen them. Rachel’s never sure of Jack's identity nor his goal, but he
claims to be an Alliance I-Marshal. Cop or convict? The clues never
stop contradicting. She's horrified to find the bright holographic mask
conceals the gruesome face of a monster. And the badge doesn’t slow him
from murdering people right before her eyes.<br /> When Rachel learns
Jack will trade innocent lives for the digital miracles, she determines
to make the mercenary grow a heart. How could a stone-cold killer kiss
her so hotly? How could she kiss such a dangerous deceiver?<br /> Jack
has done years in prison to learn who’d stolen the remaining Gemini
ticks, 3-D magic. Nothing will keep him from gaining extreme technology
capable of unleashing galaxy-wide chaos. Forget feelings for Rachel. She
can’t stop him from killing everyone involved. <br />***<br />a 2011 Golden Quill Contest finalist!<br />Read passion-filled excerpts and a tense first chapter,<br />explore 5-star reviews, watch a book trailer:<br /><a href="http://www.michelehart.com/b15-book.htm">http://www.michelehart.com/b15-book.htm</a><br />***<br /> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAH-HnqfNG-1p97UDzbpc4nIfwcl4BwNHPuzbh4Fw3PQWU7beG55iA_GyBPj6QksD_axyCunNKyBTQqcQjnBw-73CJOQNwWkk0EcENNTh35j2HHYiPUGvIs-T5LG70MEx0DS24XrKyeI/s1600/mh-mb3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigi00NSdpTwaDSBmjvugaampxienii2qG_xyYiUfzvzvYMn5ZxZfWi02YllQ_JTZKTEW_pBrbMGaZAm4QptMOgQNoLJAiiHNU4vOQ991q9_H21CZknPbUgwoYM6UtkdsQSOs8G3jQdeYwP/s1600/Vigilant+by+Michele+Hart-cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigi00NSdpTwaDSBmjvugaampxienii2qG_xyYiUfzvzvYMn5ZxZfWi02YllQ_JTZKTEW_pBrbMGaZAm4QptMOgQNoLJAiiHNU4vOQ991q9_H21CZknPbUgwoYM6UtkdsQSOs8G3jQdeYwP/s200/Vigilant+by+Michele+Hart-cover.jpg" width="133" /></a><b>One surviving hijacker is charged with the murders of a hundred citizens.<br />One cop sees her innocence.<br /><br />
Alliance I-Marshal Weber hauls Yadira to her home planet and
infiltrates the human-trafficking ring controlling her. But he finds
himself unbearably attracted to his witness. A gift for detecting
deception reveals she’s the next victim of a criminal industry.<br />
Descending into shadowy worlds of slavery, Yadira endures a dark angel
stalking her dreams and watches the quiet I-Marshal become dangerous in
her defense. Everything about him moves her…except the memory of seeing
him execute the most important man in her life. Shouldn’t she take
vengeance? Delusions of a heavenly guardian affect her mind.<br />
Slavers and demons plan to snatch her from Weber’s custody while he is
uncovering connections, and Weber won’t hesitate to execute the guilty
surrounding Yadira. Who but a son of fire can save her from fiends
harboring hardcore fantasies of harming her?<br />***<br />Discover hot, peril-packed excerpts, a perilous first chapter, <br />check out the 5-star reviews, watch a mysterious book trailer:<br /><a href="http://www.michelehart.com/b27-book.htm">http://www.michelehart.com/b27-book.htm</a><br />***</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAH-HnqfNG-1p97UDzbpc4nIfwcl4BwNHPuzbh4Fw3PQWU7beG55iA_GyBPj6QksD_axyCunNKyBTQqcQjnBw-73CJOQNwWkk0EcENNTh35j2HHYiPUGvIs-T5LG70MEx0DS24XrKyeI/s1600/mh-mb3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAH-HnqfNG-1p97UDzbpc4nIfwcl4BwNHPuzbh4Fw3PQWU7beG55iA_GyBPj6QksD_axyCunNKyBTQqcQjnBw-73CJOQNwWkk0EcENNTh35j2HHYiPUGvIs-T5LG70MEx0DS24XrKyeI/s200/mh-mb3.jpg" width="133" /></a><b>What would any man do, holding the secrets to mind control<br />while the woman he wants resists his charms?<br /><br />
Jon Paige discovers his employer is developing illicit mind-control
techniques. He quickly learns how to hijack the system and breaks down
his beautiful assistant’s persistent walls. Will Holly forgive him for
sneaking into her mind, if she ever learns of it?<br /> Holly Maddox is determined
not to dip her pen in the company ink, a policy that’s served her
well…until Jon comes along. He steals her mind when he’s in the room,
weakens her fortitude with every flash of his flirty eyes and secretive
smile. How will she keep herself from falling in love with her boss when
he melts her impulse control?<br /> When Jon and Holly decide to
sabotage the brain-washing experiments, they learn they’re up against a
greater power than they’d bargained for. Doing the right thing risks
lives. Will the truth of their beginnings wreck their sizzling affair?<br />***<br />Explore cool excerpts, find fabulous reviews, watch a suspenseful book trailer:<br /><a href="http://www.michelehart.com/b26-book.htm">http://www.michelehart.com/b26-book.htm</a><br /><br />Run from the monsters.<br /><br />Read and live an adventure.<br />Have an exciting upcoming weekend,</b><br />
<br />
<br />Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-78921739931277325982011-09-16T19:25:00.001-07:002011-09-16T19:25:40.075-07:00Halloween with Zenobia Renquist<div style="color: red;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B_XickA3JOnpWdf3u39-KSMIMp8P4wnGxxPtJOm3RNzrixoqiFyd3zTTxmV5z2DIVqOXzd6yEzI4_q9t7M8nF5G_01xj8JVu2D8P-tejx-HPNJsUqRE79Qt73Dr774lLaStlhu-W3Ac/s1600/A_vampire_romance_by_elizabathory.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B_XickA3JOnpWdf3u39-KSMIMp8P4wnGxxPtJOm3RNzrixoqiFyd3zTTxmV5z2DIVqOXzd6yEzI4_q9t7M8nF5G_01xj8JVu2D8P-tejx-HPNJsUqRE79Qt73Dr774lLaStlhu-W3Ac/s200/A_vampire_romance_by_elizabathory.jpg" width="159" /></a><b>Please Welcome, </b><b>Zenobia Renquist, as my quest for the next several
days. Zenobia, it's great to have you here with us. Vampires are one
of my favorite “creatures of the night” to read about. I would
love to read how you incorporate these creatures into your own
written realm. Thank you for taking the time and sharing some of
yourself and your stories with us.</b></div>
<div style="color: red;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red;">
<b>
</b></div>
<b style="color: red;">Tell us your latest news. Do you have any current projects you're
working on?</b><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b><br />
<div style="color: white;">
<b>I recently signed a contract with <i>Ellora's Cave</i> for a
mainstream sci-fi interracial romance that should be coming out in
the next few months. I'm currently working on a dragon, non-shifter
romance that is about half way finished.</b></div>
<b style="color: red;">When and Why did you
begin writing?</b><br />
<b>I started writing in high school because I wanted
to see fantasy/paranormal romances with a black heroine. Not only
that, I wanted said black heroine to be in an interracial
relationship. Since I couldn't find any at the time, I decided to
write my own. I started writing to get published in college.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Where
do you get your information or ideas for your books?</b><br />
<b>My ideas for
my books come out of thin air. A sound or the way someone says a word
will trigger an idea that evolves into a story. There's no rhyme or
reason for it. I simply write it all down as it comes to me.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiELl7Jhof7i-NPxOmUEK-Tp2LAvaPGEdTvQJvK46UgD5QlFMYxIwl4Pn67CW4Ud_s6ZuYnNm-exyBN576KGyLt0zulTeivWgSWmlafOrrGC5NuXpS1baU8VZixeWI6Oru-oi0SVym7QE/s1600/12_pict_90759.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiELl7Jhof7i-NPxOmUEK-Tp2LAvaPGEdTvQJvK46UgD5QlFMYxIwl4Pn67CW4Ud_s6ZuYnNm-exyBN576KGyLt0zulTeivWgSWmlafOrrGC5NuXpS1baU8VZixeWI6Oru-oi0SVym7QE/s200/12_pict_90759.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">What
do you think makes a good horror story?</b><br />
<b>I'm all about the
psychological. Something has to screw with me mentally to get me
scared. Slasher, blood-and-guts horror usually makes me laugh.
Because of that, I'm more prone to watching Asian horror than
American horror. American horror goes for gross out and jump moments.
Asian horror is about mind games. There are no set rules. A person
can die from simply looking at the window of a house, and the main
character won't always make it to the end.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">What is your
favorite scary movie or book?</b><br />
<b>My favorite scary book is <i>Phantoms
by Dean Koontz</i>. That had me turning on the light to sleep at night. I
plan to read it again just for the thrill of it. The movie adaptation
was very underwhelming and not nearly as creepy as the book. My
favorite scary movie... I'm not sure. There are several horror movies
I like to watch, but not because they scare me. I need the
laugh.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Dean Koontz is one of my favorite authors, too. I began
reading his books when I was in high school, and actually had a very
good collection of almost everyone of his books. What makes you
interested in the genre you write?</b><br />
<b>I love created worlds and
civilizations and then tossing my characters (usually the heroine)
into that world and making her deal. Fish out of water stories is
what I do best. That probably stems from me growing up as a military
brat. I moved around a lot, so I know how it feels to be tossed into
a new town, a new school, and having to adapt or be left out.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">When you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most?
And did it propel your creative muse to write about it later?</b><br />
<b>The
creature that scared me the most was a toss up between <i>Freddy Kruger</i>
and the red-eyed gnome from <i>Cat's Eye</i>. Nowadays Freddy makes me
laugh. But that red eyed gnome still haunts me a little. I plan to
dabble in horror romance in the near future. When I do, I hope to
capture that childhood terror on the page for my readers to
enjoy.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzbMTxzuGA-FjIDykBgzbafQv4lqaCmSSPa1-mdrYnfLoQt2hLNKuTnydbmTPfsd-04OP0mtsnFHolZoScDYE2BRDJhjG1Vzw_jFDwgXwplRp5eYrjMPtGVMcOCqwKsv_1mEVl6OodS0/s1600/catseye2.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzbMTxzuGA-FjIDykBgzbafQv4lqaCmSSPa1-mdrYnfLoQt2hLNKuTnydbmTPfsd-04OP0mtsnFHolZoScDYE2BRDJhjG1Vzw_jFDwgXwplRp5eYrjMPtGVMcOCqwKsv_1mEVl6OodS0/s200/catseye2.gif" width="160" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Oh, and when you do, please let me know, I shared that
same nightmare of the creepy little gnome sucking the life out of me,
when I was a child. <i>Cat's Eye</i> was one of the best short stories of
Stephen King, along with The Mist. (IMO) Do you remember ever coming
up with anything so wild that you scared yourself, leaving you to
wonder where that came from?</b><br />
<b>I did not. However, I had a
nightmare that scared me silly just a few months ago. When I finally
got myself to wake up (just before the monster was about to grab me),
I sat in bed breathing hard and tense for a few minutes before I
scrambled for my computer so I could write it all down. <i>Wes Craven </i>is
on to something when he writes down his nightmares.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Where do
you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic
content?</b><br />
I describe enough to get a feel of the situation and the
scene. I'm not trying to gross anyone out or give anyone an anatomy
lesson. <br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Could you share some of your blurbs or excerpts with
us?</b><br />
<br />
<i><b>CAVEAT EMPTOR SERIES</b></i><br />
<br />
<b><i>-- CE1: Charmed Lover -- </i></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic66fp5df3B1LnVKQJMrPK6pHT2LwFzxIS_I8U-TncEdDoFgqUkpyzpEyHpFZ1JEgXSxRusNNriHHDNj6KGR8WD_84NwmzBSMpl9Mj04vFQ24CJZOBElda7nSbnqivwbjXl4FbW35QR6Wb/s1600/ce_charmed-200x300.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic66fp5df3B1LnVKQJMrPK6pHT2LwFzxIS_I8U-TncEdDoFgqUkpyzpEyHpFZ1JEgXSxRusNNriHHDNj6KGR8WD_84NwmzBSMpl9Mj04vFQ24CJZOBElda7nSbnqivwbjXl4FbW35QR6Wb/s200/ce_charmed-200x300.jpg" width="131" /></a>Ryver is
one of the many humans who owns a vampire. She purchased Theron for
home security. When the magic charms keeping the vampires docile and
subservient suddenly start failing, Theron goes from protector to
threat. A nationwide, mandatory recall of all vampires is in effect.
Ryver is ready to comply, but a night of passion spent in Theron's
arms changes her mind.<br />
<br />
It's only a matter of time before
someone figures out Ryver and Theron's secret. With the threat of
mages bearing down on them, Ryver has to decide if she's willing to
give up her lover -- or her freedom.<br />
<br />
Read Chp1 -
<a href="http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/2011/04/charmed-lover-by-zenobia-renquist.html">http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/2011/04/charmed-lover-by-zenobia-renquist.html</a><br />
<br />
<i><b>--
CE2: Trapped Lover --</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAJT-4_yqpZ23SA_GuILXIEj0MYg-qQDCtEilsKgJUYd3UHmaYZXsZMW3_nNL1yJWZ36495rBdS2GYMgD_1roNuHmGULdhiHCLbReZndB8SDudcncVwo05WUzti-iF8rpot3-M2SYTFkp/s1600/ce_trapped-200x300.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAJT-4_yqpZ23SA_GuILXIEj0MYg-qQDCtEilsKgJUYd3UHmaYZXsZMW3_nNL1yJWZ36495rBdS2GYMgD_1roNuHmGULdhiHCLbReZndB8SDudcncVwo05WUzti-iF8rpot3-M2SYTFkp/s200/ce_trapped-200x300.jpg" width="119" /></a></div>
Ryver knows she can never go home again.
That's fine by her, since she's with Theron, the vampire she loves.
Now living in vampire territory, she's learning more about Theron,
and not all of it is good. The more she sees, the more she's
convinced that the man she fell in love with, the man who can make
her body sing with a single touch, might not be the man she thought
he was.<br />
<br />
Read Chp1 -
<a href="http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/2011/06/trapped-lover-by-zenobia-renquist.html">http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/2011/06/trapped-lover-by-zenobia-renquist.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>--
CE3: Provoked Lover --</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcTjVwp-DT_nx4z1zENYZ2jk-p9CVfKv3EWe7FTmiHeLq7e7kZv8taI8ldyX7BOSG5Ma-xmvH5sEsEh1WrifSOqVfmj3DFBYnKbgCjx95fKYteI0ZY42AWKvMHJblujghHcRgMdIm01UM/s1600/ce_provoked-200x300.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcTjVwp-DT_nx4z1zENYZ2jk-p9CVfKv3EWe7FTmiHeLq7e7kZv8taI8ldyX7BOSG5Ma-xmvH5sEsEh1WrifSOqVfmj3DFBYnKbgCjx95fKYteI0ZY42AWKvMHJblujghHcRgMdIm01UM/s200/ce_provoked-200x300.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
After an attack leaves Theron's allies
scattered, Sicily finds herself in the care of Lamon, a vampire who
looks like he would rather kill her than protect her.<br />
<br />
The
unlikely pair must become very close -- sexual energy is necessary to
disrupt the spell the mages are using to track Sicily.<br />
<br />
Emotions
become confused as their bodies entwine. Sicily finds herself falling
for a man she can't have... or can she?<br />
<br />
Read Chp1 -
<a href="http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/2011/07/provoked-lover-by-zenobia-renquist.html">http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/2011/07/provoked-lover-by-zenobia-renquist.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>--
CE4: Anguished Lover --</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9ZRT3ObPOxIZTEOkJFnIIzeuSlRIECFAKAXAAtvo_CG92TyKJhcZa7lvB5iVzofyxYngvMu9SNp1NS2PmLRBbkqgysd3J3AjtYQjzwlajFte-99kKbM5GVbQ4DWyf38pv2tbpJKzDu4/s1600/ce_anguished-200x300.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9ZRT3ObPOxIZTEOkJFnIIzeuSlRIECFAKAXAAtvo_CG92TyKJhcZa7lvB5iVzofyxYngvMu9SNp1NS2PmLRBbkqgysd3J3AjtYQjzwlajFte-99kKbM5GVbQ4DWyf38pv2tbpJKzDu4/s200/ce_anguished-200x300.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
Sicily has volunteered to put herself on
the front lines in the vampires' fight against the mages. Lamon has
no choice but to go with her to keep her safe. When the worst
happens, Sicily has to find out just what she's willing to sacrifice
to save the lives of her lover and her friends.<br />
<br />
Read Chp1 -
Coming to <a href="http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/%20on%2012%20September%202011">http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/ on 12September 2011</a><br />
<br />
<div style="color: red;">
Where can your fans go to find more information
about you and your books?</div>
<div style="color: white;">
Website:
<u><a href="http://zenobiarenquist.com/">http://zenobiarenquist.com</a></u></div>
<div style="color: white;">
Blog:
<u><a href="http://dreneebagby.blogspot.com/">http://dreneebagby.blogspot.com/</a></u></div>
<div style="color: white;">
Twitter:
<u><a href="http://twitter.com/dreneebagby">http://twitter.com/dreneebagby</a></u></div>
<div style="color: white;">
Facebook:
<u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Author.DRBagby.ZRenquist">http://www.facebook.com/Author.DRBagby.ZRenquist</a></u></div>
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Is
there anything else additional you would like to share with your
readers?</b><br />
I'm an avid anime fan and my storytelling style is
similar. Even when something seems out of place or inconsequential,
pay attention because it might become important later. It's a wild
ride. All I ask when reading my books is that you <b>Leave Your Reality
Behind</b>.Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-48760196053218860172011-09-16T19:23:00.001-07:002011-09-16T19:23:39.324-07:00Halloween with Desiree Holt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qY78uAJOXDhc0ASgjRixW5Ik5ZNpNlrhEYsQWPGFd5WvLvAv0CJWZiACD3RzsbQ-mqwfXSR9OTb22l2NoTzuSmtiBpXRffA1J38TzS6jvaNkkD9lhJmIeWrS1aE5aKhAZ8TVG5bSmfE/s1600/got-chupacabra.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qY78uAJOXDhc0ASgjRixW5Ik5ZNpNlrhEYsQWPGFd5WvLvAv0CJWZiACD3RzsbQ-mqwfXSR9OTb22l2NoTzuSmtiBpXRffA1J38TzS6jvaNkkD9lhJmIeWrS1aE5aKhAZ8TVG5bSmfE/s200/got-chupacabra.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Welcome,
Desiree, to Ramsey's Reviews 2</span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">nd</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">
Annual Halloween Bash. Your new releases sound so thrilling that I
can't wait to have our readers read about them. I especially like
your upcoming release featuring a Chupacabra. That sounds very
interesting.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Tell
us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working
on?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">September
will see the release of Book 4 in my Phoenix Agency series, F Stop.
There are 5 books in the series, all about alpha ex-military men who
meet women with a special psychic ability. Each ability is different.
In F Stop, Kat Culhane is a remote viewer, with the ability to focus
on things such as geographic coordinates and “see” things
happening there. I’m also at work on Branded By Lust, Book 4, Night
Seekers. Eight team members, six of them shifters, hunter the
legendary devil beast, the Chupacabra.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">When
and Why did you begin writing?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">I’ve
always had the desire to write, even spent some time working for
weekly newspapers. And in college I did sports reporting. But it
wasn’t until 2004 that I finally had the time to sit down and
actually pull all those plots out of my notebooks and see what I
could do. And I haven’t stopped since then.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Where
do you get your information or ideas for your books?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">My
brain never stops working, picking up pieces and bits and whirling
them into some kind of story. I meet great people to interview, I do
a lot of Internet research and I use a lot of my life experiences.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVqzfM6-MvaVA14K7T1_vx_uAd-aRTBz8VEJ_mByQauNjtcfs8KWz5gsH9FKBLe76AHeRyZbLWApgsi4GOp5lr1Ytx9cQBJosBfvFMe65SMrGfH17xJovI4Z4vMx2XUV6grvMXlhVw4k/s1600/Twilight-Halloween-Collection.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVqzfM6-MvaVA14K7T1_vx_uAd-aRTBz8VEJ_mByQauNjtcfs8KWz5gsH9FKBLe76AHeRyZbLWApgsi4GOp5lr1Ytx9cQBJosBfvFMe65SMrGfH17xJovI4Z4vMx2XUV6grvMXlhVw4k/s200/Twilight-Halloween-Collection.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">What
do you think makes a good horror story?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Something
that scares me to death! But this is not a genre I either read or
write. I can take paranormal to the edge but that’s about it.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">What
is your favorite scary movie or book?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Psycho
is still the icon for me. It still scares me to death but I watch it
anyway!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">What
makes you interested in the genre your write?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">I
like to explore different areas of the imagination. Books are a great
place to create my fantasies and live them out.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">When
you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did
it propel your creative muse to write about it later?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">I
still remember my sister, who was older than me, reading Little Red
Riding-hood. For years I couldn’t even look at a picture of a wolf.
Odd that today, wolf shifters are among my favorite characters. But I
still remember diving under the covers when I heard that big, bad
wolf voice.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Do
you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared
yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Oh,
yes. And it’s still in my Ideas folder on my computer. Maybe one of
these days I’ll be brave enough to write about it. It had to do
with mind control.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Where
do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic
content?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">First
of all, whatever it is, it has to fit into the plot and the character
images. Gore and sex just for the sake of gore and sex, don’t work
for me. And of course, my stories are always romances, so that in
itself, sets certain boundaries. So whatever it is, it has to fit the
romance and the story and not detract from it or be jarringly
different.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Could
you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qK0JtDjLGpNqo0TSiK8WZsUJkv2UEwawDXqA0BgEIYMkxTftC8hBwk6_g-tMiqubStwyLF5LkG7sbR2_GhgyY_LgIPAPI2Cia79TdW5dsBNqx4zHLB4ovH5Sm4D_av4H9gTr35kQdBY/s1600/JoyRideFinalLarge.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qK0JtDjLGpNqo0TSiK8WZsUJkv2UEwawDXqA0BgEIYMkxTftC8hBwk6_g-tMiqubStwyLF5LkG7sbR2_GhgyY_LgIPAPI2Cia79TdW5dsBNqx4zHLB4ovH5Sm4D_av4H9gTr35kQdBY/s320/JoyRideFinalLarge.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Blurb
from Joy Ride:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2708748695243143133" name="_GoBack1"></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;">Emma,
the good girl poster child, is running from a life she suddenly sees
as gray and suffocating—a life where she’s successfully buried
all her hopes and secret dreams. Until the night she wanders into
Aftershock and is immediately drawn to the hot bass player. The
electricity of his performance, the powerful music he coaxes from his
guitar, the heavy vibration of each note reaches out to something
deep inside her and wakes an Emma she didn’t even know
existed. Marc doesn’t much care for the groupies who hang
around the band. He needs a woman he can create a future with that’s
a counterpoint to the craziness of the rock music business. When he
sees Emma for the first time, something inside him cracks wide open.
Just one sizzling glance between them, and he’s sure he’s found
the woman to complete his life. But as the relationship grows,
there’s a huge stumbling block: Emma won’t tell him her name. The
sex is fabulous but he wants more…. Although Emma is finally
finding her true self, her fear of everything falling apart builds a
barrier she can’t seem to cross. Marc is taking her on the joy ride
of her life, but will her own insecurities destroy everything? </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxqneKpUVZs4m9HNGtod_6mCx-SjsezlbDp4acE_MoIIFyCzpE79CHdj4maCmCJxXIBzpwPsK1IHwtlVzh55b4iV1Fdmj8-liroQaZssyN-LfknNgcjiceWh25HerTBovFo_6FmGwajc/s1600/deliciousdanger_msr.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxqneKpUVZs4m9HNGtod_6mCx-SjsezlbDp4acE_MoIIFyCzpE79CHdj4maCmCJxXIBzpwPsK1IHwtlVzh55b4iV1Fdmj8-liroQaZssyN-LfknNgcjiceWh25HerTBovFo_6FmGwajc/s1600/deliciousdanger_msr.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua,serif;">Blurb
from Delicious Danger:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Kelly
Monroe was shocked when her dog, Xena, a Caucasian Ovcharka seemed to
bond at once with Rick Latrobe, a partner in the high profile Phoenix
Agency. Ovcharkas are known for linking with only their owners. But
Xena is picking up Rick’s wave length, very much aware when an
attempt is made on Rick’s life, and driving Kelly crazy with
signals of danger regarding Rick’s current project, ferrying a
shipment of arms to a private security cadre in Iraq. Rick is nearly
killed when the shipment is stolen by terrorists who are hot in his
trail. Only Kelly and Xena, coached by members of The Lotus Circle to
expand the psychic link between the three of them—can keep him
safe. As Rick scrambles to learn who’s behind the whole mess, the
relationship he and Kelly have deepens. But Xena is the real star,
not only signaling when danger is at hand but “sniffing” out the
killers. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Where
can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.desireeholt.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">www.desireeholt.com</span></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">They
can also join my mailing list there</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,serif;">Is
there anything else additional you would like to share with your
readers?</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes.
They can also find me on Twitter @desireeholt and Facebook
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/desireeholt">www.facebook.com/desireeholt</a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2708748695243143133" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<div style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank
you, Desiree, for taking the time to answer some of our questions. I
really enjoyed having you with us for this Halloween Bash. Good luck
with all your books, and maybe one day you will finish that scary
tale. =) Happy Halloween.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-60414171721140002452011-09-16T19:19:00.000-07:002011-09-16T19:23:52.823-07:00Halloween with Stavros<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnbWCMLGu2d1hgG6ursEaE7r3hURWZ-6QaHqoDkdar8f2IAYULKx4P-5pg13SagOGUzcd_-R5RfDUQqQzKJTZKOAD3uYZ0gUAbPVCRV8k38OJxn4iOkvrnMzmwRFE_acwew_P-dA_pJs/s1600/203575_243277222370809_541864_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnbWCMLGu2d1hgG6ursEaE7r3hURWZ-6QaHqoDkdar8f2IAYULKx4P-5pg13SagOGUzcd_-R5RfDUQqQzKJTZKOAD3uYZ0gUAbPVCRV8k38OJxn4iOkvrnMzmwRFE_acwew_P-dA_pJs/s200/203575_243277222370809_541864_n.jpg" width="133" /></a></b></div>
<b>Stavros,
welcome to Ramsey's Reviews. Thank you for taking the time to share a
piece of yourself and your books. I have been looking forward to your
interview for a long time and excited to finally meet the man behind the
writing. </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Tell us your latest news. Do you have any current projects your working on?</span></b><br />
<b>Yes, I’ve just released <i>Dead Girl: A Romantic Zombie tale of Revenge </i>and this September the sequel to <i>Blood Junky</i> is coming out. So, I’m very excited about that.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">I have been reading <i>Blood </i></span><i>Junky</i><span style="color: red;">
and the world building is amazing. There is so much detail to the main
character's life that you feel as though you are really connected to
them. When and Why did you begin writing?</span></b><br />
<b>It’s
always been something that I’ve done. I like to tell stories and
create characters. Though, I began writing poetry and short essays.
This started when I was in my early teens, and as I grew, sharing my
work with friends, family, teachers, I noticed that they seemed to like
what I wrote. So, I continued to work on it.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniJLZ5GlgIqkSPTBZ7qnN6n2NZ3kTwKUcRAf3WxVe4D1ZCd390z1_JtOwiu4wVpVch0i3he2bXjNrHGBtX6SdtspUEg9_1340qDRlRFW_1tne8LMuPXQcRLC8VGkCZsP5Urz6JjA3Z10/s1600/Chapter+6+illustration.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniJLZ5GlgIqkSPTBZ7qnN6n2NZ3kTwKUcRAf3WxVe4D1ZCd390z1_JtOwiu4wVpVch0i3he2bXjNrHGBtX6SdtspUEg9_1340qDRlRFW_1tne8LMuPXQcRLC8VGkCZsP5Urz6JjA3Z10/s1600/Chapter+6+illustration.jpg" /></a></b></div>
<b><span style="color: red;">Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?</span></b><br />
<b>Mostly,
the idea springs internally and I research the rest. Life experience
adds a flavor and direction to any piece, but I like to get out of my
head with a character or story and see where it wants to go. </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">What do you think makes a good horror story?</span></b><br />
<b>Good
writing, good characters, and good situations. Horror is so diverse
that literally you could apply a broad technique. As long as the piece
is consistent and well written I’m hooked.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">What is your favorite scary movie or book?</span></b><br />
<b>Too
many favorite horror movies to mention really. I grew up reading
science fiction long before I got into horror, and then my horror tastes
were limited to mostly werewolves and vampires. Mostly werewolves.
But I read <i>The God Emperor of Dune twice</i>, and I love Patrick Suskind’s <i>Perfume and Wilde’s Picture of Dorian Grey</i>. Of course, <i>Dracula</i> and <i>Interview with a Vampire</i> were seminal. The works of <i>Ray Bradbury</i>, <i>Douglas Adams</i>, <i>Piers Anthony</i>, the <i>Conan books</i>, <i>Isaac Asimov</i>, and <i>Sir Author Cannon Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes</i> were enjoyable and influential reads.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">What makes you interested in the genre you write?</span></b><br />
<b>I
love horror. I grew up on it early. My Dad used to wake me up at
night to watch Creature Feature with him, so I learned at an young age
to appreciate the strange and unusual.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">When you were a child, what creature or story scared you the most? And did it propel your creative muse to write about it later?</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUwRxkzj9FkVud2mwNrrtcu178IXQ4VtnFr58oB9HBsvkso60Oj3K_1wZiC_jD4CCqnYzADkwtu-z1v69wbDGaJO_Xrco7cFl2aZU95hMj7XICuTUoOLS2kG9bg4l1tuCcNqQti71ZiI/s1600/Chapter+45+illustration.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUwRxkzj9FkVud2mwNrrtcu178IXQ4VtnFr58oB9HBsvkso60Oj3K_1wZiC_jD4CCqnYzADkwtu-z1v69wbDGaJO_Xrco7cFl2aZU95hMj7XICuTUoOLS2kG9bg4l1tuCcNqQti71ZiI/s1600/Chapter+45+illustration.jpg" /></a></b></div>
<b><i>Night of the Living Dead</i> had me terrified. I was too scared to walk through the house. John Carpenter's <i>The Thing</i>
made a deft impression, and I still love those special FXs! I love all
of those black & white Universal monster films and had model kits
for all of them, including the <i>Hunchback</i> and I<i>nvisible Man</i>. And the <i>Hammer films</i> and all of <i>Vincent Price’s movies</i> fed my hungry for the macabre. So, yeah, its fed the coffers of my creative muse.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Do you remember ever coming up with anything so wild that you scared yourself, leaving you to wonder where that came from?</span></b><br />
<b>I always wonder where it comes from, and give thanks to God.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Where do you as an author draw the line on gory description and/or erotic content?</span></b><br />
<b>For
me that’s easy. It all depends on the nature of the piece I am writing
and the characters involved. I tend to write as my character thinks.
If a particular character is having sex or killing or disfiguring a
person or plotting something wicked my motivations are all character
based. My personal interests and feelings about it are completely left
out.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Could you share some of your blurbs or exerts with us?</span></b><br />
<b>When I buy a book I always read the first page. So, here’s the first or so pages of each book.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<div style="color: red;">
<b>Blood Junky:</b></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL0a_XZG7inJPbTmQrgEGSuK0hfqIQoe6OEOMDpYbI0PvauSC9aNyQ5p-cBB-Ej12GYNdcwjEl_iHlkdSG5Z6oH1mXnE6QrNcqEKiV2wSouxNGKJpD54jhHono_Q36bCMINS4ervEG10/s1600/Book+w+Spine+-+shado.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL0a_XZG7inJPbTmQrgEGSuK0hfqIQoe6OEOMDpYbI0PvauSC9aNyQ5p-cBB-Ej12GYNdcwjEl_iHlkdSG5Z6oH1mXnE6QrNcqEKiV2wSouxNGKJpD54jhHono_Q36bCMINS4ervEG10/s200/Book+w+Spine+-+shado.png" width="153" /></a></b></div>
<b>Lin
looked out over the tawdry lights of the city of lost angels. A
million pinpricks that filled the moonlit night with brilliant noise.
There’s no real dark anymore. The earth is crowded; guttersnipes and
trash. Breathing smoke, a tattooed dragon on the slag stone balcony,
she pulled hard from the cigarette. Its glowing red tip briefly added
to the twinkling as Santa Ana winds grabbed the ashen embers and ferried
them through the streets like little glowing devils seeking fuel to
ignite the desperate pith of the city. The cancer-stick was stale, at
least three years old. Stuffed in a drawer the last time her thoughts
fell on Dominique. </b><br />
<b>Dull bitterness, in mind and body, a
steady ache; the smoky flavor sent spasms through her parasite in angry
shudders. It despised the smoke and pushed it out of Lin’s nostrils,
screaming for blood. Her thin, white robe floated on a breath of air. </b><br />
<b>From
up here, where all the smog gathered around this west coast haven, in
her castle in the sky, her deluxe apartment far from the throttle and
choke of the world, she could hear the chaos clashing below. Crushed
under the soles of her bare, waxen feet, sounds drifted up to her.
Called to her. Pleading for scant recognition, each lonely voice
clamored in the din, each a single cell in the red tapestry proclaiming
its mortality. A cacophony: pointless conversations, bleating car
radios, hookers on their knees in alleys, police thrusting a robber to
the ground, a baby’s cry, a drug addict haggling price from the meager
metal protection of an idling car, and an old man’s last breath – all
circulated into the drumming mood of this sanguine night.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>One
hundred years ago it wasn’t like this. The town still held some
glimmer of magic. Hell, it wasn’t like this fifty years ago. But who’s
counting? Who even notices that the magic is gone, leaving in its wake
the lingering remains of an extinguished black wick on an old dusty
candle held waiting in the breast of one who still mourns its passing?
Lin sighed. This used to be such a fun town. Now there’s just too many
people breeding like a damn disease, infecting every living cell,
spreading out like a well-fed cancer. Viral. </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Dreaming
of bygone nights lit by the pale glamour of the same moon blinking down
time after time, Lin placed her alabaster hands on the stone railing of
the balcony terrace as she jettisoned the soft cotton cargo of the
cigarette into the Santa Ana air. She watched it tumble and turn,
spiraling to the fetid street below. The blood parasite within writhed
along her spine and ribs. It caused her jungle tattoo to quiver into
inked life. Toucans took flight across her back, into that blank spot
where Lin was thinking of putting a city scene. Nature vs Man. The
epitome of progress. Living on the Pacific Ring of Fire, nestled into
the big shoulders of skyscrapers and movie stars, it only felt right to
finish the elaborate design with a monument to the civilized state. Not
until Three Hundred, though. That’ll be a seminal year. I will finish
it then.</b><br />
<b>Lin curled a finger around the hand-carved
spirits glass, swishing the red liquid within. Her parasite, her
Jadaraa Soo, wound around her wrist, pushed into her fingertips with
love, and cradled the cup. It was hungry. It wanted to go out into the
illumined night and drive its tendril features into a warm body. It
yearned, unceasingly, to be fulfilled. Lin opened her mouth and kissed
the cup for a hefty dose. The parasite cringed at the blood’s cold
temperature. Withdrawing at first into its veiny legs, it receded back
to its full girth, seeping throughout Lin’s body like a wave on a
beach. To the painted host, the chilled hemoglobin felt good against
this warm, dry night. It cooled her stillborn flesh and fucked with the
Jadaraa Soo. A ‘lil kick for the bastard to make her smile. A
not-so-brutal reminder to the beast within that she does what she likes
despite what it wants. Lin didn’t feel like going out tonight or
calling The Service to have a Sanglant delivered. So, this cold plate
would have to do for them both. </b><br />
<b>A few seconds after
ingesting the blood, the veins of her captor began to purr like a giant,
caged cat. Softly. Just softly, mimicking the jungle beast tattooed
on her left calf. After all, blood is blood. That’s all the thing
wants: blood. An endless cycle of self-consumption from the day that
Lin let it consume her vital fluids, let the vile thing be born in her
body, let the blood become beast and beast become being; the Jadaraa Soo
ended one life, and began another.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>“Blood. Blood eats Blood. That is the rule. It is as simple as that.”</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<div style="color: red;">
<b> Dead Girl: A Romantic Zombie Tale of Revenge:</b></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8-oZoYRQkfK1P3UqtQjn2iYgLzwqJDVaWhqMK9euW13tbsdyjjJN707AkxJwhWboAK0vdnBondYXycjbKKg1d-qehIFx75XhckMdT1P6_CzZPM6yAW9oBuswLRWonfzBRv2Zj3upU88/s1600/DG+Book+Perspective+-+L+-+e.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8-oZoYRQkfK1P3UqtQjn2iYgLzwqJDVaWhqMK9euW13tbsdyjjJN707AkxJwhWboAK0vdnBondYXycjbKKg1d-qehIFx75XhckMdT1P6_CzZPM6yAW9oBuswLRWonfzBRv2Zj3upU88/s200/DG+Book+Perspective+-+L+-+e.jpg" width="150" /></a></b></div>
<b>Jamie
Lund didn’t hear the splash when her body hit the water. She didn’t
feel the cold grip of swirling liquid engulf her or lift her back up to
the surface minutes later. Jamie never noticed a murder of crows
perched on the railings of the dilapidated concrete bridge. Or, the way
moonlight reflected off their coal black wings, shimmered in the
rippling river, or her wet hair. Jamie Lund didn’t see, feel, or hear
much of anything anymore. Because, at twenty-two...Jamie Lund was dead.</b><br />
<b>The
water carried her like a baby and birthed her to the grassy bank on the
other side of the bridge. A branch grabbed the black, mini-skirt she
wore that night and held it against the tug. A thousand ebon eyes
watched her body drift and moor like a boat. A cold wind bent the tall
grass on the river’s edge and filled the night with wings. Against the
churning bubble and the damp lights of the city in the distance a
cacophony of beaks erupted. Caws like locust fell from the sky.</b><br />
<b>As
if struck by a hammer to the chest, breath fueled Jamie’s lungs. An
awakening gasp burst through icy, cold lips and teeth that were filled
with muddy leaves and liquid. Jamie’s back arched and her head rose
from the water with a jolt. Her eyes were milky white and distant. She
sucked in a gulp of air with the grate of a straw searching for that
last drop of soda under the ice; raspy like thorns – broken as the wind
in the hollow of a tree. Her arms pushed up and drove her hands deep
into riverbank mud. The chips and cracks in her once red polished nails
were getting dirty. Crows swarmed above her as a single mood. She
coughed the river from her throat and pulled her shaking body from the
frigid wet.</b><br />
<b>Ebon eyes glared at the wretched girl from the
sky, from the trees, and their concrete perch on the dilapidated bridge
as she struggled with stiff limbs to drag her sore and aching body
through the tall weeds to the road. Jamie sat at the edge of the busted
tarmac and looked around as her vision slowly tuned into her
surroundings. The moon smiled down on her, a faint yellow, illuminating
a patch of earth that she had never known or been to before. Nothing
was familiar. Everything felt wrong. Fog peeled back from her memory
like Russian dolls, opening into itself, getting smaller and smaller
with the same affect, revealing nothing. She didn’t know how or why she
was here. Worry blossomed inside her chest like a fruit basket. </b><br />
<b>She
tried to call out. To simply speak, to utter a sound, to work her
feeble voice, but her throat burned hot nails all the way down her
windpipe. A tiny squeak parted from her icy blue lips and she placed a
hand to her throat. It was fraught with pain. She struggled. She
worked her jaw to loosen her voice box, wind the organ up to play, but a
flash of memory slammed into the back of her skull. It shook her
shoulders awake, repeating on a loop. Scorching Jamie’s cerebral
cortex, her eyelids fluttered. </b><br />
<b> She was looking at herself
in the freestanding mirror - getting dressed. A column of jet-black
hair fell past a bare shoulder, framing her pretty face. She had a
lithe, curvy shape, sensual lips, and thin fingers that pulled the
zipper of her skirt up the side of her hip. She turned the cute, little
black number around so that the fastener was in the back. She
straightened her black lace bra, smiled, and then did her make up. She
was going out...</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>But, where? </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Suddenly,
Jamie felt wet and shivered. Fear crept past her damp clothes and
crawled under her skin as she lifted herself onto the road. Every
muscle rebelled. Her knees argued at the thought of bending. The
joints in her fingers and elbows ached, popping with movement. Her back
felt as if someone had surgically implanted a slab of concrete and a
blinding pain ran from her neck down her spine. Her shoes were missing,
toes numb, the sides of her feet scrapped along the busted edge of the
tarmac as she rose crooked and wobbly onto two weak legs. It was a
horrible dream, unspooling limbs for the audience of the blackbirds.
Nothing was clear, nothing was familiar. A dull ringing filled Jamie’s
ears and she felt cold. Bitter and deep, that sprang from her center.
Jamie Lund felt the cold that no one ever feels, but which, we’re all
made to visit. Somewhere vaguely in the coils of her mind the little
lost dead girl was reminded that it was July. Its not supposed to be
this cold out! Slowly, Jamie wrapped her arms across her chest and
lumbered toward the distant lights of the city.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Might I say that you are truly an author who knows how to wrap one's soul around emotion. I will be reviewing </span></b><b style="color: red;">Dead Girl: A Romantic Zombie Tale of Revenge</b><b><span style="color: red;"> very soon. It's one book that I am dying to read. =) Where can your fans go to find more information about you and your books?</span></b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.bitemereallyhard.com/">www.bitemereallyhard.com</a>
– affectionately known as BMRH. You can go beyond the books, download
art and other fun stuff, read short stories and poetry, see artwork and
illustrations, get tips on how to survive the zombie apocalypse, keep
track of conventions and shows, buy cool stuff at the Arti(s)fact Store,
and generally peek behind the wizard’s curtain to see how the magic
happens.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Is there anything else additional you would like to share with your readers?</span></b><br />
<b>Thank you for reading. I will write more.</b>Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-1318042862481718702011-03-01T05:34:00.000-08:002011-03-01T05:34:55.800-08:00Interview and Contest with author Stephanie Amox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa1Wn0HAs4q79ToiIA-bj9g0ABDWRmqsWNnThR6BTmc8Gus5MJ32Bsp_Dr8vxoFAoem_jC79IUJ4HsmwheHTaN6OVRWNBAi5xphpa4paP2zNxoCQ6s3YoXv0kpLnEbYuz5MYjdtEPvAZt/s1600/Painfully+Ordinary+stephanie+amox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa1Wn0HAs4q79ToiIA-bj9g0ABDWRmqsWNnThR6BTmc8Gus5MJ32Bsp_Dr8vxoFAoem_jC79IUJ4HsmwheHTaN6OVRWNBAi5xphpa4paP2zNxoCQ6s3YoXv0kpLnEbYuz5MYjdtEPvAZt/s320/Painfully+Ordinary+stephanie+amox.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tell us a little about yourself.</b>I am a huge hockey fan. We have season tickets to the Dallas Stars and watch games on tv whenever possible. I have two children, Caitlin – age 17 and Brady – age 10. Caitlin has been involved in competitive cheer for almost 10 years and Brady plays select ice hockey. My husband, Mike, is my cheerleader and drill sergeant all rolled into one. He picks me up when I’m feeling down and whips me into shape when I’d like to slack off. I’ve always lived in the North Texas area and absolutely love it here. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<b>How long have you been writing?</b>I have doodled on the edges of paper for years. I talked about a storyline I had in my head for years and my husband finally convinced me to sit down and get it onto paper.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<b>What inspired you to write your new release, Painfully Ordinary?</b>My kids are a huge inspiration for me. How can I tell them to shoot for the stars and chase their dream, if I’m not willing to do it myself? Having them around and experiencing their interactions with their friends first-hand make the conversations between my characters much easier to write and more believable.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<b>What is the strongest character voice you have had while writing?</b>Caitlin is by far my strongest character voice. I wanted her to be independent and strong-willed – able to stand on her own two feet. At this point, her personality is so developed, I can almost hear her voice when I am writing.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<b>What are your future projects?</b>Painfully Ordinary began as a single book. However, the characters simply weren’t done telling their story and since – 2 additional books will be released. The second book in the series, Family Secrets, will pick up where Painfully Ordinary left over. Many questions will be answered and a few new questions will arise. I believe the fans will enjoy the second book even more than the first.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<b>After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind?</b>Unwind? What’s that? Seriously though, I have a hammock in my back yard and love to spend time there just relaxing. Sadly enough, my brain keeps on firing and those “relaxation” moments usually end up triggering a writing marathon. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How many books do you have in print/e-book now?</b>Right now Painfully Ordinary is the book in the series to be released. Family Secrets is tentatively set for a Fall/Winter 2011 release.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<b>Would you leave us with an excerpt, video, blurb?</b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<b>Excerpt from Painfully Ordinary</b>:<br />
I tapped my pencil on the edge of my desk, impatiently waiting for Mr. Von to start class. Sometimes I wondered how he managed to get himself dressed in the morning. Suddenly, my pencil slipped out of my hand, rolled off the edge of my desk and clattered to the floor. <br />
Crap. <br />
I bent down to pick it up and found myself looking into the face of the most stunning guy I had ever seen. He had rugged good looks, instead of being the “pretty-boy” male model type. Vin Diesel might have some competition for my attention with this guy.<br />
Holy crap! This must be one of the guys Leah was talking about this morning. Whew, she wasn’t exaggerating. No wonder she was all wound up. <br />
I had no idea how long my internal monologue went on, but I realized he was still holding my pencil out for me. <br />
“Thanks.” I mumbled, blushing to the tips of my ears.<br />
Oh man! Why hadn’t I straightened my hair this morning and worn something cute? <br />
Tami turned around looking at me through narrowed eyes. I heard her laugh and then mutter “retard”. <br />
I had never been able to stand her, so I just stared and raised an eyebrow in challenge. She looked from me back to where he was sitting directly behind her, and it wasn’t until that point I realized he was still watching me. <br />
Tami turned all the way around in her chair and placed her hand lightly on his arm, giving him a bright smile. <br />
“Oh, you’ll have to excuse Caitlin,” she said in a sickeningly-sweet, baby voice and giggled. “She is just so uncoordinated.” <br />
Oh, no she didn’t! Who was she calling uncoordinated? Unfortunately, my emotions tend to show all over my face. When I’m pissed, everyone knows it, and I was all kinds of pissed at her. She looked me in the eyes, daring me to do something. Normally, I would just blow her off. I really don’t care what she thinks, and quite frankly, she is a waste of energy. However, this time, something inside me snapped. Perhaps it was the whole lack of sleep thing again. I turned back to face the newcomer, giving him my brightest smile. He looked startled and gave me a grin in return that took my breath away. <br />
“Oh, ignore Tami. She’s just mad because someone dropped a house on her sister.” <br />
He looked down at the floor and, to his credit, didn’t actually laugh, but I saw his shoulders shake.<br />
Tami glared at me. <br />
“Caitlin, you are such a freak.” Leaning closer to me and dropping her voice, she continued. “You can just forget about him. He won’t want some little nobody like you. He will be mine. I’ll tell Ryan you were looking at him, and that will be the end of that, won’t it?” <br />
This was exactly the kind of thing that always set Ryan off. Ex-boyfriends are the absolute worst. She fixed a fake smile on her face and turned back to the newcomer. <br />
Tami always used the exact same tactics, and he would probably fall for it just like all the others before him–and believe me, there were plenty before him. I turned just in time to see him scowl and remove her hand from his arm. I laughed out loud, couldn’t help myself. He turned, giving me a conspiratorial wink. Mr. Von decided to start class at that exact moment, so I never got to see her final reaction, but I could assume it wasn’t good, since this was the second time he had blown her off. Throughout class, I could feel the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. I felt someone watching me, but the only person sitting behind me was the new guy. I really needed to find out his name, so I could stop referring to him as “the new guy”.<br />
Why would he be looking at me? I am painfully ordinary. A guy like that could have anyone he wanted. <br />
I couldn’t figure him out. Then I experienced a moment of sheer panic, remembering how I had left the house in such a rush that morning. <br />
I seriously hoped I didn’t have some sort of Alfalfa-thing going on with the back of my hair. <br />
I rubbed my necklace between my fingers, as I always do when I’m upset. It’s a dark-gray stone cut into a unique pattern, like a flame, held on a long, black cord. My mom gave it to me when I turned sixteen, and made me promise to wear it every day. I never take it off, except when I’m at tumbling. The stone has been worn smooth by the constant rubbing, as holding it always relaxes me. <br />
The bell rang, signaling the end of class. I must have completely lost track of time, but what else was new? <br />
Tami got up from the desk placing her arm in new-guy’s . She looked up at him, batted her eyelashes and said, “Talon, will you walk me to second period?” <br />
I rolled my eyes. <br />
Sorry, I am meeting up with Jace,” His voice was deep and smooth and he had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. He fixed his gaze on my necklace then smiled, pivoted on his heel, and left the room. <br />
A trill of laughter escaped my lips. Strike three. <br />
Tami’s face turned an ugly shade of purple. She threw her purse over her shoulder and glared at me. <br />
“I’ll say hi to Ryan for you.” <br />
Crap. This is exactly why I don’t normally banter with her. It’s just not worth the trouble in the end. She was really going to make me pay for this. I laid my head on my desk and waited for the ground to open and swallow me whole. <br />
<br />
<b>Do you have any internet site that fans can stay in contact with you? Twitter, Face Book, My Space, etc.</b>Painfully Ordinary has a Facebook fan page. I check it regularly and respond to comments and answer questions as often as possible. You can also reach us on Twitter at painfullyordin.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Face Book: </span></div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Painfully-Ordinary-by-Stephanie-Amox/236354753901?sk=wall">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Painfully-Ordinary-by-Stephanie-Amox/236354753901?sk=wall</a><br />
Twitter:<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/painfullyordin">https://twitter.com/#!/painfullyordin</a>Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-52409252510757924802011-02-14T20:43:00.000-08:002011-02-15T14:11:13.440-08:00Interview and contest with Melanie Nowak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43ByDRnOJcWXimF04h_VBettPU3dUgy6SgXyRXsIqpGG0CegsqgvUZgn9LRAnWhWee7CnxnlQWMr8T36L1IBJY_vb4Szm0Xw9BfR_W7S-m495g1r-RxGAHSQo8CZH1In424tSUdbJJa4/s1600/Melanie.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43ByDRnOJcWXimF04h_VBettPU3dUgy6SgXyRXsIqpGG0CegsqgvUZgn9LRAnWhWee7CnxnlQWMr8T36L1IBJY_vb4Szm0Xw9BfR_W7S-m495g1r-RxGAHSQo8CZH1In424tSUdbJJa4/s200/Melanie.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Interview with Melanie Nowak</span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Author of the venomous vampire series ALMOST HUMAN</span></u></b><br />
<div style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Important Note: If blogger will not allow you to post, please email me your questions and comments and I will post them myself. I am sorry for the inconvenience this may cause you, but please don't hesitate in joining the conversation.</span></u></b></div><div style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Email: <a href="mailto:trinagon@bellsouth.net%20">trinagon@bellsouth.net </a> </span></u></b></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br />
</span></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">After the interview post your comments to enter Melanie's contest for a chance to win a free signed set of Almost Human~The First Trilogy. </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">(International entrants will have to pay shipping)</span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Tell us a little about yourself.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Melanie:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> I am a happily married mom of 2 boys. My wonderful husband and I have shared almost 20 years together, and we are a very close family. We live on Long Island in N.Y., but hope to be moving upstate into the Catskill mountains very soon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">As far as things you can’t read off the back of the book cover in “About the Author”… basically I just love fantasy – I love it. Whenever possible, my childhood was spent roaming the forest alone imagining that I was a shape shifter or a faery. When I was at home or at school, I was buried in a fantasy book or daydreaming out the window. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Now that I’m supposed to be a grown-up (LOL), I can be a practical mom, keeping everything on schedule (mostly) and running smoothly, doing what needs to be done. I do very much love spending time with my family. We have great fun together and I feel very blessed in my life; but at heart, I am still a dreamer. I always will be. Having the opportunity to escape into my fantasies while writing <i>ALMOST HUMAN</i> is a passionate obsession I greatly treasure.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<b> How long have you been writing?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Melanie:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> I never thought that I would be a writer! As a child I was forever playing “Let’s Pretend”, and throughout school, I was an avid reader who aspired to be a singer and actress. I always had a creative imagination for stories, but I wanted to act and live them, not write them! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Although still very active in drama classes during college, I became a teacher. Eventually I received my Masters in Library and Information Science to be a school librarian, but after my children were born, I was fortunate to be able to stay home with them. During the day while doing housework, I found myself thinking up ideas for venomous vampires, and a story involving characters I created. It was unlike anything else I had seen or read, and I felt badly to think that my ideas would just be forgotten. So one night, I sat at the computer and decided to just write them down for myself. That was the first time I ever wrote something that was not a school paper, but a work purely for entertainment. Before I knew it, I'd been writing for hours! It started in a sort of ‘screen-play’ format, because I was used to dealing with that in my drama classes, but I soon started expanding on that to add the characters’ thoughts, and I eventually converted it to a novel. So I guess I started writing at the age of 34… call me a late bloomer :-)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I wrote the books originally for myself, so although I copyrighted them in 2004, they were not officially introduced to the public until I put them on Kindle in 2008. The series was then released in print in 2009.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<b> What inspired you to write your Almost Human series?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzJnX8N2az9eAYt-NOpEpHmfSku3TmmGsHL6c7Gh-WLiPQCD_qR9NNfITYkyRNr9kRjP3ck-h89cWsQ0i2yixQXwfk23PPk25Psu-2Fs0aD5sg6x4qnwqZz3bmiN88Tk7xJlZrtQNng4/s1600/Fatal+front.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzJnX8N2az9eAYt-NOpEpHmfSku3TmmGsHL6c7Gh-WLiPQCD_qR9NNfITYkyRNr9kRjP3ck-h89cWsQ0i2yixQXwfk23PPk25Psu-2Fs0aD5sg6x4qnwqZz3bmiN88Tk7xJlZrtQNng4/s200/Fatal+front.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Melanie:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">A few things came together to bring <i>ALMOST HUMAN</i> to life. I’ve always been interested in bats. Vampire bats have a </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">anticoagulant</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> in their saliva called “draculin” (named after Count Dracula!) that keeps blood from clotting. I had the idea that such a thing would be useful for vampires as well. It would also be useful if they had something to keep the victim calm, like a drug.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">I always wondered about a vampire’s ability to put victims in thrall. In old movies, vampires are always able to hypnotize people, and it’s never really explained. People are just ‘under their power’. I always wondered – why? How does it work? I put those questions together with the anticoagulant/drug idea, and took it further. What if vampires could inject their victims with venom – like a snake? Only the venom would not be deadly poison, but a combination of drugs that kept blood from clotting, kept the victim calm and even willing, and also could mark territory for the vampire, leaving a mark that other vampires could see. The vampire could then use the existence of this ‘drug’ in their victim’s system, to put them in thrall as well. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">The idea of venomous vampires seemed so logical to me, that I assumed for sure that someone else had done it already. I began searching my library for a book like that, so I could read it! This was probably in the late 80’s and there weren’t very many vampire books around at that time. I never found what I was looking for, and I filed the idea away. It never occurred to me to write it myself, LOL.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Around that time, I had discovered Anne Rice’s vampire chronicles and absolutely loved them. That was the first time I read something from the vampire’s point of view. The way that she captured emotions and described surroundings was mesmerizing to me, and I really connected with her story. I’m also a huge fan of the T.V. series <i>“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.</i> Joss Whedon is a genius! That said - towards the end of the show, I started disliking some decisions the writers made. I understood their vision, but I also saw missed opportunities. I would have done things differently. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">That started me thinking of my own storylines and my own characters, incorporating my venomous vampire idea. None of this was written down, just daydreamed during housework. Then one day I realized that a lot of the ideas I had were really good, and it depressed me to think that it would all just be forgotten. So, I sat down one night at the computer, to write out a few things so I wouldn’t forget, and could look back at them one day. The scenes just came pouring out and before I knew it, I’d been up writing almost the whole night! That’s when I realized that I had a real story to tell, and wanted to write it all out from beginning to end. That is how my <i>ALMOST HUMAN</i> vampires were born.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <br />
<b> What is the strongest character voice you have had while writing?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3u-mMNTC6g1qnFXoKmZDtfSaxJscqEy4ey4Uh3-g7KQU48c2o5g-KxQbm4Be9usH9HQ-JhyRGgiQb599bYGw7T22kV4xC2FTrkseUl0OAtvnxZKwTG65doz2mt_gEneIzWB0uhUqJfA/s1600/small+Born+front.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3u-mMNTC6g1qnFXoKmZDtfSaxJscqEy4ey4Uh3-g7KQU48c2o5g-KxQbm4Be9usH9HQ-JhyRGgiQb599bYGw7T22kV4xC2FTrkseUl0OAtvnxZKwTG65doz2mt_gEneIzWB0uhUqJfA/s200/small+Born+front.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Melanie:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Each of these characters has been taken from the seed of something within myself. I’ve been lucky enough in my life never to have been sexually abused or addicted to drugs, but everything that goes into making up the personalities for my characters, how they feel and react to things, has come from some little grain of dealing with something in my own life - magnified. At some point in my life I have totally identified with and "been" these people. Even if it didn't outwardly show, this is how I felt and wanted to react. Writing through my characters is extremely cathartic for me, and I feel each of them very strongly when writing for them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Outwardly I’m sure my friends and family would say I am most like Felicity. Physically, I’ve modeled her after myself; intellectually and emotionally she is very much the girl that I was at that age. I was usually pretty quiet and shy, constantly reading my fantasies rather than trying to live them out. Because of that, I identify very closely with Felicity, but I have to admit that it’s often more fun to write for my other ladies, Allie and Sindy. They are the characters that will tend towards the ‘unexpected’ in a scene; times where I will suddenly know that they will do something I hadn’t planned on, but that is their nature and what I need to let them do. Allie is much more sassy and daring than I have ever been in life, and Sindy… well let’s just say it; She can be an evil bitch – and who wouldn’t think that was fun to write? Sindy was my most insolent character, as far as straying from her planned story. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">I plan out the general outline of my books well in advance of writing a single word. There will be 12 books to the series, and I do have them all loosely outlined at this point (Including a 13<sup>th</sup> book that will be a spin-off novel). There are times the story evolves a little differently as I write it, but it never truly strays from the overall outline. I have some complexly intertwined storylines leading from one book to the next, and one trilogy to the next, some of which have not even really been introduced yet, but have seeds and foundations sown throughout all of the prior books. To change anything drastically would alter the overall plan for the entire series.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">When I write, I get very immersed in my characters, often going over a ‘scene’ several times, to look at it from each characters perspective, and be sure their actions and words ring true. Sometimes I make a choice because I know it’s what one character would do – but it messes things up for the other characters. I find myself very against altering an event once envisioned; to change something feels like a lie – like I am not telling what really happened. So I relate the events as I first envision them, forcing the other characters to adapt and react as they must. Eventually things come back to the original outline again, they’ve just taken an alternate path than I first planned. Difficult occurrences are opportunities to show character growth. Things don’t always happen the way we expect them to in life, and we have to learn to deal with that. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<b> What are your future projects?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Melanie:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> I have been thinking about my characters and their story for years, and have already planned their future for many books to come. I have decided to write my <i>ALMOST HUMAN </i>series as a succession of trilogies. The series will continue chronologically with the same characters throughout, but each trilogy will have a new focus and storyline that follows through its three books. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Writing the series as a succession of trilogies gives readers the opportunity to feel a sense of completion during points in the story, even though the series will still continue for many books to come. I have planned 4 trilogies for the <i>ALMOST HUMAN</i> series, meaning 12 books in all, and then I have plans for a spin off novel, which may result in a series of its own.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">At the moment there are 4 books available in the series, </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">and I am</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> now writing <i>Volume 2: Descendant of Darkness</i>, for the second trilogy, and hope to release that book later this year. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<b> After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Melanie: </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I spend time with my husband and kids when I’m not writing. We have video game tournaments, and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, canoeing and skiing. I also make beaded bracelets (stringing beads is very relaxing) and I breed tropical fish for pet stores. My other favorite recreational activity is singing. I sing all the time around the house, and once in a rare while I will slip away for a girls night out of karaoke. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<b> How many books do you have in print/e-book now?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Currently there are 4 books available for the series, all of them out in paperback and e-book:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">ALMOST HUMAN ~ The First Trilogy</span></u></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Volume 1: Fatal Infatuation</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Volume 2: Lost Reflections</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Volume 3: Evolving Ecstasy</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">ALMOST HUMAN ~ The Second Trilogy</span></u></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Volume 1: Born to Blood</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">ALMOST HUMAN ~ The First Trilogy </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">was featured in the <i>New Title Showcase</i> of <i>Book Expo America</i> in May 2010. At that time, the series became available Internationally in ebook and paperback, online and in your local bookstore – if it’s not on the shelf – ask for it!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">You can purchase <i>ALMOST HUMAN</i> online through Amazon at:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Melanie-Nowak/e/B002BRGYWS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1">http://www.amazon.com/Melanie-Nowak/e/B002BRGYWS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Or at a discount through my website, where you can also read free sample chapters:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.melanienowak.com/">http://www.MelanieNowak.com</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
<b> What else would you like to share with us?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Melanie: ALMOST HUMAN</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> is an independently published series, meaning that I handle every single aspect of it completely by myself with no outside help. There are of course pros and cons to that: I don’t have financial backing for a large promotional campaign, and I’m called upon to do things for the books that I don’t have much experience with, but it has been an incredible journey for me, and I am extremely proud to be able to present my vision for the series to readers without it being changed to suit the ideas and formats of a publisher. This series is my raw emotional relation of these characters and their lives.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Like most of my readers, I am a working mom with humble ambitions. However, I have this story inside of me that is just burning to be told, so I am following my heart and putting it down on paper to share with others. As a reader, my favorite aspect of a story is being able to connect with a character or idea and take it with me after I’ve finished the book. As a writer, I hope that my story resonates with my readers, and gives them something to take with them in life – an interesting new idea, a comforting thought, or even just a friend to take off the shelf and visit when you need them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My favorite quote that really sums up the part books have played for me in life:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote style="color: white;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." ~Charles W. Eliot</span></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I hope that my characters are a ‘constant friend’ to others as they are to me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <br />
<b> Would you leave us an excerpt, video, blurb?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Melanie: </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I would be happy to. Here is a little excerpt from the first book of the <i>ALMOST HUMAN</i> series: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Taken from chapter 5 of <i> FATAL INFATUATION</i></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">------------------------------------------------------------</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Felicity hadn’t seen Cain since that night. She kept telling herself that was a good thing (he’s a vampire stupid!), but in a strange way, she was kind of disappointed. Now that she had gotten over the initial shock of it all, she felt terrible. This was not some nameless creature of the night, lurking in wait for her. He was a real person; and even though he frightened her, she couldn’t help but feel that somehow she was the one who had betrayed <i>his</i> trust. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cain said he had thought she’d known what he was. Could it be, that he hadn’t sought to deceive her at all? She knew she ought to worry that it was all part of some elaborate lie, but somehow she just couldn’t bring herself to believe that. It wasn’t even really what he said, but more the look in his eyes. It hurt him that she was frightened, she knew it did. She was almost anxious to see him again. The other night felt surreal, but to see him again, without the moonlight and the drama; would he look the same to her? Would there be warning bells going off in her head? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Felicity sat down on the floor behind the counter, next to the box of recently arrived romance fantasy novels. She pulled one out to look at the cover. It depicted a knight in shining armor on his noble steed, standing over a fallen dragon. Behind him rode his fair damsel, no doubt recently rescued from distress. If only life were that simple. How did she know the knight was any safer than the dragon? At least the dragon was forthright in its intent. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She put down the book. This train of thought was getting her nowhere. Time to get some work done. She straightened up from behind the counter and let out a yelp of surprise. He was standing right there. Cain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He tried not to smile. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well…” She was annoyed that he had caught her off guard. “I had finally <i>stopped</i> expecting to see you every time I turned around,” she said defensively. She studied him a moment. No alarms in her head, just her heart trying to pound out of her chest. He seemed quiet, a little sad. “You haven’t been here the last few nights.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He gave a little shrug. “I thought it best if I stayed away.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then why are you here now?” she asked him archly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There aren’t very many places to go in this town at night, and I don’t like crowds.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well, if you don’t like the town, why do you stay?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m not finished,” he stated matter of factly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Finished with what?” She realized that she was firing a barrage of questions at him, but she couldn’t help it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He raised an eyebrow at her directness. “Something I set out to do.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She let out an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes. “Fine, be all cryptic and mysterious. Does that mean you <i>didn’t</i> come in here to see me?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He had to smile. “Well, now <i>that</i> is a loaded question, isn’t it? I think I’ll decline to answer for now, for I do need your help.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She leaned toward him over the counter and lowered her voice, looking around to see if anyone was near. “Are you looking for the other vampires?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He looked at her quizzically. “No,” he answered in a conspiratorial whisper, “I’m looking... for a book.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She leaned back, feeling pretty silly. “There’s an OPAC computer right behind you. Just type in the author and title.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes, the thing is… computers, they don’t really like me. Besides, my typing is horrific. Help me out?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Felicity looked at him in assessment. If she didn’t know better she would think he was just a regular guy, trying to get a little extra attention. She wished she knew what was really going on in his head. She let out a little sigh, and decided to play along. “Fine,” she said with a tight smile. Perhaps he really did need her help; and if not, a little flirting never hurt anyone, right? She came around from behind the counter to the computer. He turned to look over her shoulder as she addressed the keyboard. “Author?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Max Lucado.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Title?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s not about me.” She gave him a questioning glance. “That’s the name of the book, I swear,” he said, smiling innocently.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She entered it. “That’s weird, it’s in the Christian section.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That makes sense, it’s a Christian book.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Now she turned fully to stare at him. “Are you kidding?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is that a problem?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not for me it isn’t. But... what if there’s a big cross on the cover?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Guess I’ll have to wear gloves,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He made her think of a remembered line from Alice in Wonderland... ‘Curiouser and curiouser’. “So what, you’re like… a <i>religious</i> vampire?” He smiled, but before he could answer, she remembered something. “Your tattoo!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What about it?” He almost sounded self-conscious, very unlike him so far.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Genesis... what was it?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Genesis 4:7,” he admitted </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s from The Bible, right? Was that from, before you... died?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “They didn’t do much tattooing back in 1692,” he said with a little grin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> That took a minute to register. “Wait; did you say 16, like in 16 <i>hundred</i> and 92?” He gave her a little nod. “But that would make you over 300 years old!” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Truth be told, I’m 340. What’s the matter, don’t you like older men?” he asked playfully.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She had a hard time assimilating that, so decided to put it away for later thought. “What is it?” She gestured toward his arm, though it was covered by a light denim jacket at the moment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A reminder.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So what’s it mean?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I think it’s pretty self explanatory,” She gave him a blank stare. “Been neglecting your studies have you?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It wasn’t in my curriculum,” she said with a sarcastic smirk.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Shameful, that. Then let me enlighten you,” he said, with a resigned sigh. “The Lord is speaking to Cain, and says ‘If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.’ Something I thought worth remembering.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She pondered that a moment. “I’m assuming you’re not the original, so what kind of name is Cain, anyway?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “One that fits,” he said with a little shrug.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But not the one you were born with?” He gave his head a little shake. “So what’s your given name?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He looked into her eyes, and then wrinkled his nose at her. “I forget.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She laughed. “I know you’re supposed to be one of the ‘Great Pretenders’ and all, but for a vampire, you’re a really rotten liar.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I can accept that. Are you going to get me my book, or do I have to cry prejudice?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “One Christian book, coming up. Maybe I should have you pay first, in case you make it burst into flames or something.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Very funny. It’s true words can carry power, but not in that way. Perhaps I should point out the fact that my arm is still here, burn free.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He followed her to the book in question. No cross on the cover, just a pretty sunset, or maybe it was sunrise. Would that be scary to a vampire? Too weird. She led him back to the register where she scanned the book and handed it over. “$14.95.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He gave her a twenty. “Keep the change; call it a tip for friendly service.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She put his change on the counter. “I’m not allowed to accept tips.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then consider it payback for ice cream accepted under false pretenses.” He broke eye contact to look down at his book, as she recalled the night he’d bought her the ice cream. Had he really thought she’d known what he was? She felt bad for being so freaked the other night, even if it was justified. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She studied him for a moment as he read the inside jacket cover of the book. He looked like an ordinary guy. Okay well, maybe not <i>ordinary.</i> He looked like an extremely attractive guy. Early twenties probably, broad shoulders, very nice build. His hair fell down into his eyes as he looked at the book and he absently swiped it aside, although it fell back again almost immediately. He was a little pale, but he certainly didn’t look supernatural. He looked up from the book to find her staring at him. She quickly searched for something to say. “I suppose you’ll be taking it over to the cafe?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Mr. predictable, that’s me.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Right.” She had an odd thought as she swept the change from the counter into her pocket. “Do you actually <i>drink</i> coffee, or is that just for show?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He seemed to find her question amusing. She supposed such a direct question might be considered rude, but she couldn’t help but wonder. “I can drink what I like.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She came out from behind the register and began walking him over to the cafe. She noticed Ben staring, but ignored him. The presence of the man beside her commanded her full attention. “So what do you do besides drink coffee and read?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He looked a little sobered by that one. “Fight.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Other vampires?” she asked quietly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He eyed her seductively. “Temptation mostly.” She wasn’t sure whether to melt or shudder.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">------------------------------------------------------------</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<b> Do you have any other internet sites that fans can stay in contact with you? Twitter, Facebook, My Space, etc.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Melanie: </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I love being able to keep in touch with readers! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">There is a group page for the series on facebook at: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=88000657954">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=88000657954</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">You can also find links to my personal pages on facebook, Twitter, MySpace & Goodreads in the “About the Author” section of my own website, where I post series updates, and I also have book discussion forums and ask the author message boards! Become a member for free at:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.melanienowak.com/">www.MelanieNowak.com</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<b> Thank you, Melanie for being our guest author for this month. Best of luck with your books. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> It has been my pleasure! I would sincerely like to thank Amy of Ramsey’s Reviews for giving me the opportunity to introduce everyone to my venomous vamps! Thanks for having me & happy reading!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">~ </span><span style="font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">M</span><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">elanie Nowak</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br style="color: white;" /> <br style="color: white;" /> <span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><b>Post your comments below. If blogger will not allow you to post a comment then email me at <a href="mailto:trinagon@bellsouth.net">trinagon@bellsouth.net</a> with your comment and I will post it myself. I am truly sorry for the inconvenience. </b></span><br />
</span></div>Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750655603217072344.post-78251470106216670832011-02-14T20:39:00.001-08:002011-02-14T20:39:59.648-08:00Interview with K.A. M'Lady<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0PmSKDP2yxg3ZBfQ4pfym86ZF9EEoWGQnjgMlKKcV2KEm0hsqOX7xOsAuRPgje7tdU63RuPBT0D6blXJrmdnLkhtMYGVzFR1x4z8_HbMHSUevT1eCb4XcOnye2mvcSonkKtBlagjEM4/s320/LogoBanner2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kamlady.net/">www.kamlady.net</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><b>Welcome, K.A. M'Lady, to Ramsey's Reviews. I am happy to have you with us today. I have read several books in your Faith Savage series, and let me tell you, I love them. What a great idea you have centered around Angels and Archangels. Faith Savage is such a strong and determined protagonist and your two rivals fighting over her attention really steams things up. Now, let's get to the questions because I am dying to find out more. </b><br />
<b><br />
</b></div><div><b>How long have you been writing?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHOnMkS_ymmhxqEahieC0HUP84mrRnwQKW80QDzkGz8ctNp6jWctMh3hNqPqxEX0b1waZbfFcR_z_yRWdNzUoEi4NdZUMBPw3uhFih6-m0HkLFJe0jbum6rZleawbupOWZSvDSc1TfM0/s1600/FaithSerial.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHOnMkS_ymmhxqEahieC0HUP84mrRnwQKW80QDzkGz8ctNp6jWctMh3hNqPqxEX0b1waZbfFcR_z_yRWdNzUoEi4NdZUMBPw3uhFih6-m0HkLFJe0jbum6rZleawbupOWZSvDSc1TfM0/s200/FaithSerial.jpg" width="123" /></a></div><div>I've been writing as long as I can remember, really. My mom recently had brunch for the holidays with some old childhood friends and even they commented that I was always writing -- even as a kid. It's something I've always loved - words. They take us to such wonderful places. Help us escape, create, dream. Inspire us to greater things. I've always thought there has to be more to life and there is -- I just have to create it...<br />
<br />
<b>How many books/e-books do you have published?</b></div><div>Wow, you're going to make me go look this one up. Um, let's see -- since I took that first leap I've had published 4 novels, 9 novellas, and 2 poetry chapbooks. I've also been included in 2 anthologies and recently put together 2 additional anthologies - one being for charity for the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_0" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; cursor: pointer;">Armed Forces</span> Children's Education Fund, and I've have had approximately 30+ poems published locally and on the internet.<br />
<br />
<b>How did you come up with the idea of Faith Savage and her ability to mingle with the angels of Light and Darkness?</b></div><div>I don't think it was so much of an idea of mingling with the angels of Light and Darkness as more of a matter of fact. It goes back to that savage faith thing. When I was sorting out the idea of Faith and what I wanted her story to portray it was a bit personal. More of 'what leads us to have or not have a savage faith.' And no, this isn't a 'get on my soapbox and make you a believer.' It's more a question -- what happens in each of our lives that gets us through the darkness kind of thing. What or who has gotten me/us through the dark times? And believe me, we all go through them. Most days I swear Murphy sits outside my house, leaning against my porch, legs casually crossed, smoking his cigarette and blowing smoke rings into the cold morning air, waiting for me to walk outside so he can stalk me -- the rotten s.o.b. Tell me he's not a demon in disguise.</div><div>So, I wondered, if I were to write about a character who'd been through hell but God had a master plan for her what would she choose to do about it. (Free will and all.) And does He have this sort of plan for all of us -- even the non-believers? I know, sort of deep. But it's things like that I wonder about sometimes.</div><div>I've always been fascinated by faith and religion and what people believe and don't believe and the why's behind things. And I find it fascinating that in every culture in the world that <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_1">angels and demons</span> have a reference - long before the onset of Christianity. It's things like that which spark my imagination.<br />
<br />
<b>Give us some behind-the-scene information on how you come up with your stories and the process of the books development.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwiHwAZGQhCi5aD-1B4SxmTzxJnIt3ehTvYpkx7Xdr8C_QfYpZ6FnOJCPqlI8FsfIjA8xlZijMOzFF3qU515eYtiQ8ORk-XIYMo3bHaPQ1Tm1WxRCnZzao4OLqovjIghzYFsZzJc6X4k/s1600/GetLucky.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwiHwAZGQhCi5aD-1B4SxmTzxJnIt3ehTvYpkx7Xdr8C_QfYpZ6FnOJCPqlI8FsfIjA8xlZijMOzFF3qU515eYtiQ8ORk-XIYMo3bHaPQ1Tm1WxRCnZzao4OLqovjIghzYFsZzJc6X4k/s1600/GetLucky.jpg" /></a></div><div>Some of my stories just steamroll me. Rihker from my Realm series was like that. I'll get a name or an opening blurb and I'll have to write it down and before I know it the first page or chapter is written. Sometimes I have no idea where some of this comes from. I've tons of story ideas and not enough time to sit down and write them - full time job and all. But the day will come eventually that I can just sit with my laptop and write away. Then my publisher should be worried if she can keep up - .</div><div>As far as how the stories progress; I generally don't do <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_2">story plots</span>. It's just not my thing. I tried it once and I literally felt like my characters were laughing at me. Saying, "yeah, riiiight. We are soooo not doing that." So, I tend to have the idea of where the story starts, where I want it to progress, and how I want it to end. I get to a chapter and have an idea of what I would like to happen. The rest of the time I let the characters and my story lead me. It's a whole lot more fun that way. And I get to be surprised when I get to the end, too. Usually by the time I get to the finished product I'm completely amazed that this was something I accomplished. That this was a story that I, in fact, wrote. The whole process is amazing and I'm always grateful for the gift.<br />
<br />
<b>The main heroine, Faith Savage, is a head-strong and independent character. How do you identify yourself with your characters as you create them?</b></div><div>I'm a Taurus, so I'm completely head-strong and stubborn. I don't think I'd be capable of writing a whiny, wimpy, floor-mat of a character. It's not in my nature. I suppose I could try - write the opposite - but they'd not be able to be my heroine. I think a heroine can have their flaws, have their weak spots and moments of tenderness. But to me, heroines plunder on, drive through, never say die and never give up -- even if they want to. They can cry, they can groan but they just can't quit.<br />
<br />
<b>Who is the most difficult character you have written thus far?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINP4qNdtkp8KaX3kIPqx2h-GYyouWScSxid3twJ7ll4Zm1y1sApDRECjSIsrPKxoeDrNpEtR-wbgkTkSbliTdAuUYs4H18NCMneZPKK9n8i2YTH9s-OXFG97xX-GmblLntz4EG9PhYoA/s1600/SongoftheWolf.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINP4qNdtkp8KaX3kIPqx2h-GYyouWScSxid3twJ7ll4Zm1y1sApDRECjSIsrPKxoeDrNpEtR-wbgkTkSbliTdAuUYs4H18NCMneZPKK9n8i2YTH9s-OXFG97xX-GmblLntz4EG9PhYoA/s200/SongoftheWolf.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div>I don't think I have any one character that is any more difficult than any other. The creatures in <i>Realm</i> keep me busy as there are so many. From Rihker, who is a half-breed human-pixie that is becoming so much more than that. To the Trolls, Ogres, Vamps, Were-creatures and so on. I have to keep a list of them. Their names, features, powers. Rihker's <i>Tells</i> grow with each new story in the series so I keep a list. I hate reading series that in one book the character has blue eyes and is a Werewolf and in the next the author has forgotten and the character has green eyes and has suddenly become a Were-jaguar. </div><div>I'll probably have to start making a list for Faith and her crew as the series progresses. But for now there are still just a handful to keep track of.<br />
<br />
<b>What are your future projects for this year?</b></div><div>I just released for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_3" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Christmas</span> the <i>Just Another Paranormal Christmas Anthology </i>(for Charity) and my story, <i>Once Upon A Dragon</i>, so I'm still in promo mode for it. Then later this year - early spring I'm hoping - I'll have the next three installments in my <i>Faith Savage series </i>released. Book 5 ~ <i>The Ash Collector,</i> Book 6 ~ <i>Wicked's Kiss </i>and Book 7 ~ <i>Sinner</i>. All of the proceeds from the sales of Book 7 ~ <i>Sinner </i>will go to benefit <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_4" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; cursor: pointer;">Big Brothers Big Sisters</span> so I'm very excited about the release of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd4ee9Umd7ud9pYhI_JEj7D5Ece_KpVN07ErN-gqm2NoXULc2FikZzWaVakMqhfHCab9qK5tmt_4qT3Gfy3B8ou-Yv-fnEKpOBMwivSu8r1Elrb9gyASfTVl_d8pKzbkwQjgPfRxwtJE/s1600/RealmSeries.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd4ee9Umd7ud9pYhI_JEj7D5Ece_KpVN07ErN-gqm2NoXULc2FikZzWaVakMqhfHCab9qK5tmt_4qT3Gfy3B8ou-Yv-fnEKpOBMwivSu8r1Elrb9gyASfTVl_d8pKzbkwQjgPfRxwtJE/s200/RealmSeries.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><div>Other than that I'm just working. Right now I'm working on the completion of <i>Realm</i> - Book IV ~ <i>Blood Oaths</i> <i>- Warrior Rising</i>. Then it's on to my story titled, <i>Bride</i> -- kind of a twist in the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_5">Bride of Frankenstein</span> story but a bit more contemporary and a bit darker. I haven't quite sorted all of it out yet. She's still in the rough stages. I'm also working on <i>Tiffany Trance and the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_6">Temple of the Dog</span> Mummy</i>; an archeological, time-travel, fantasy series. Tiffany is fun, horribly book smart but absolutely lacking in the street-smart department. She gets herself in all kinds of trouble in all sorts of different time periods. And lastly, I'll be wrapping up my year with another installment for <i>Faith Savage </i>- Book 8 ~ <i>Messenger</i>.</div><div>I know that's a lot but I'm, a planner from hell, and I like a challenge. If I'm not busy I'm bored. Besides, this keeps me out of trouble.</div><div><br />
<b>Do you have any other internet sites that fans can stay in contact with you? <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_7">Twitter</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_8">Facebook</span>, etc.</b></div><div>You can find info about me and my work on my website - <a href="http://www.kamlady.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_9">http://www.kamlady.net</span></a> on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_10">Myspace</span> - <a href="http://www.myspace.com/kamlady" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_11">www.myspace.com/kamlady</span></span></a> or on my blog - The Otherworld - <a href="http://kamladyotherworld.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_12">http://kamladyotherworld.blogspot.com/</span></a></div><div>and of course you can hook-up with me at Facebook under K.a. M'Lady. Or just send me an email - I always respond to all of my mail - <a href="http://us.mc1804.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mladyfair12@yahoo.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_13">mladyfair12@yahoo.com</span></a><br />
<br />
<b>Where can readers find your books to buy?</b></div><div>The easiest place to buy my books is direct from my publisher - Mojocastle Press - <a href="http://www.mojocastle.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_14">http://www.mojocastle.com</span></a></div><div>I'm also at All Romance eBooks, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_15" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; cursor: pointer;">Barnes & Noble</span>, Amazon and of course links are on my website - <a href="http://www.kamlady.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295112283_16">www.kamlady.net</span></a>.</div><div>Thanks so very much, Amy for letting me spend time with you and your readers today. I had a great time.</div><div><b>K.A. M'Lady, It's been my pleasure having you here. Thank you for your time.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Contest</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Starting Jan. 15th and Ending Jan. 31st.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">One lucky commenter will win 2 of the Faith Savage stories: The prequel to Faith Savage~Temptation and the first book~Faith Savage: Demon Huntress. These are a great addition to anyone's TBR pile and you will enjoy them. I know I have!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">All you need to do to enter is post a message. If you want 5 extra entries into the contest, then spread the word of this event to your friends and family on different social medias: Facebook, Twitter, My Space, etc. and email me to let me know.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://trinagon@bellsouth.net/"><span style="color: black;"> trinagon@bellsouth.net</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Until then, good luck and happy reading!!!</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
</div>Amy J Ramseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373296428506550202noreply@blogger.com0