A New Thing

It's been a little while since I posted, so thought I'd slap something down for you all.

Been busy with edits on Vampire Caprice (4^th book), and working on something a bit different. My non-fiction work called “The Cat Whisperer”, is coming along, and I hope to publish it this fall.

My dear friend, Carole Gill, happily read through this to catch my mistakes and type-o's. I told her no rush, I knew she was busy. But she went right to work on it, and I got it back today.

She reports, “I LOVED IT!”

I was a little worried about some of it, as I didn't leave much out. This is non-fiction, taken from my journal about the feral mother cat, and the kittens she had, and their growing up and every little emotional blow I had over the things that happened to them.

I worked on it all summer long, on and off, trying to get it to sound natural, and yet not too rag-tag [because it came from my journal, I tend to write w/o worry about tense, punctuation and even spelling].

I've always written in a journal. Since high school (and no, I'm not telling you how long, as it doesn't matter, but it's decades!). Although the majority of my journals are paper, I've now begun writing them into my computer—I've got bins filled with my paper ones. What I'll do with them I have no idea. But there are stories in there, believe me. Some that are embarrassing—for me and maybe other people. This is where you get the memoir, of course. Usually it's about some emotionally-packed incident in a person's life. Well, you know, maybe those people always got on Opra, but I'm not after that. So I went with something safe—no cat will sue me, I don't think. And one would think “how can a story about feral cats be interesting?” You have no idea.

My husband is one of the stars in this book—him being the “cat whisperer”. He's actually always had this attachment toward animals, and a kind heart, and for some reason the animals sense this. However, his starring roll is taken over by one of the off-springs, Half Pint. A tiger-striped cat with (as my husband describes him), Jack Nicolson's eyes. Yeah, they're like half-lidded.

Half Pint was the runt, and yet he was the boldest. Since he grew older, has been the cat in charge, has been able to bring back (to the house), the other two cats after the mother took them out into the wilds. When you meet him, and see how friendly he is, you simply think he's a darling. For being born from a feral cat, this is astonishing enough. It's said you have to make human contact with feral kittens early on, or they won't trust you. They're wild. The first thing I offered Half Pint (the runt) when he was a kitten, was my bare toe, which he proceeded to lick and chew on. Since then he has always liked my bare toes, and I offer them to him on occasion still, careful of his claws.

So, that's what's up next for me, once I get something figured out for the cover. I have no idea how I'll get this done, or what I can do with it. I was thinking of using one of the pictures, but I'm not sure it will work (wish I could share the pictures here, but can't).

I'll let the mss. rest for a few weeks, and read through it for anything else that I might have missed.

In any case, I think cat lovers will adore this story. I'll let you all know when it comes out.

Until then, see you around the usual haunts!

Vampires, Bloody Good Reading!

Hey, all my pretties. I hope you had your fill of turkey, and the shopping trips are done. For now.

Today I thought I would give my blog over to my friend, Carole Gill. She's got some great horror novels if you like Gothic with a terror-twist to it. She has a way with sending chills up your spine. Well, let her tell you about her House on Blackstone Moor series.

We love vampires. Vampire fiction is broad enough to please every reader. There is drama, terror and sometimes comedy and why not? People have diverse tastes.

I love writing about vampires but in my current series I am writing about other issues as well.

The question of good vs. evil is at the core of my fiction.

In The House on Blackstone Moor there is the issue of child abuse which is alluded to. The heroine, Rose Baines asks if one act of evil can let (worse/supernatural) evil in. I will leave my readers to make final judgement on that.

As for my heroine, evil does, indeed, enter Rose’s life. One outrage affects her destiny forevermore.

Due to reader response I did decide to turn the book into a series and I’m glad I did. The second book has just been released.

THE BLACKSTONE VAMPIRES SERIES: WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

It’s about sin, decadence and devil rites not to mention madness and obsession. It’s also about good v. evil, the eternal struggle. There’s love too but it comes at a terrible price for my heroine.

This isn’t light reading. In my fiction, the damned yearn for absolution (some of them) while others are not repentant; they wallow in sin and corruption.

The House on Blackstone Moor, Book One:

"They say my father was mad, so corrupted by evil and tainted by sin that he did what he did. I came home to find them all dead; their throats savagely cut. My sisters only five and eight were gone as well as my brother who was twelve. My mother too lay butchered in her marriage bed. The bed her children were born in..."

Young Rose Baines discovers the savage murders of her family by her mad, incestuous father.

She is plunged into a nightmare of hell and is incarcerated in two madhouses after which she is helped to obtain a position as governess at Blackstone House.

The house is located on haunted moorland. Nothing is as it seems for Blackstone House and its inhabitants have hideous secrets. There is unimaginable horror there but there is love too--love that comes at a terrible price.

The story is as haunting as it is terrifying and will remain with the reader long after its disturbing tale has been told.

The first two chapters of the sequel are included also.

http://www.amazon.com/The-House-Blackstone-Moor-ebook/dp/B00804XJBA/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Unholy Testament – The Beginnings, Book 2

The day Eco first laid eyes on Rose Baines was the day she discovered (The House on Blackstone Moor) her family’s savage butchery at the hands of her mad, incestuous father.

“I saw you leave the house that day, Rose, that terrible day you discovered your family butchered. I saw you…”Eco realizing he has fallen in love with her pens a confession documenting all of his sins committed in the course of his immortal existence. The one request is that Rose reads his confession.

Rose, having become his captive, is forced to read this unholy testament of his.

From Ancient Egyptian vampire cults to Roman vampire brothels to The Dark Ages, The Crusades, The Black Death of 1348 to his meeting with child murderer and Satanist, Gilles de Rais, concluding with his wicked affair with the Blood Countess herself, Erzebat Bathory.

Eco is, if nothing else, frankly and brutally honest. The pages are filled with debauchery and vice and murder--yet, there is also love or what Eco swears is love.

The story is continued in Unholy Testament – Full Circle, to be released in early 2013.

The first two chapters and book cover of Unholy Testament – Full Circle is included in this book.

Unholy Testament – The Beginnings picks up where

The House on Blackstone Moor left off.

Please note:

Unholy Testament – Full Circle continues the story of Eco and his debauchery and sin. It will be released in early 2013.

The fourth book in the series will be out in 2013 as well.

Carole Gill's Blog: http://carolegillofficialauthor.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/carolelynngill

Well, these sound very exciting, Carole. Of course I've read the first one and it was an exciting read. I've never read anything quite like it! I hope this gives my readers plenty of ideas for holiday gifts for those who might enjoy this (or grab for themselves!)

Thanks for being on my blog today!

Saturday Post ~ Events

Birdsong waking me up in the morning... nothing better. Unless I'm outside enjoying coffee with my husband. The birds were all making a good racket. The woodpecker drumming on his favorite branch, the geese down in the pond getting things going early as the sun rose in the east. Beautiful morning, but will become hot quickly. He has just installed the window air conditioner in my office, so I'll be comfy (^;

Got a few things to announce. First, my third book, Vampire Nocture, is with my publisher, so that's out of my mind for now. Then, after finishing the short story, I went and turned to the fourth book. Wouldn't you know it? Like a siren's song, I was drawn to it. This one is slightly different, and a little bit of a challenge as I will be writing the book from different POV from other characters, such as Bjorn Tremayne, Bill Gannon, and so on. I'm writing from Sabrina's POV in first person. Everyone else is in 3rd person. This one has required me to look into different real places for the book. I've had to pull up maps of places like Colorado Springs, and also Paris. I happen to love doing research, so I don't mind digging up stuff for the background of my characters. It takes time, but I don't mind it. I like to take Sabrina to new places. Some places I've been before (like Colorado Springs/Colorado, Nebraska, etc.), and others I've never been at all (like Paris).

OTHER AUTHORS OF INTEREST:

Up-coming post: I will have author, Heather McCorkle over for a visit on Thursday. I'm very happy to be part of her book tour, for her book To Ride a Puca. This sounds like a great read about the Druids! I'm excited for Heather!

My good friend, Carole Gill also has a book tour coming up, and it is very exciting for her as she is re-releasing her book, The House on Blackstone Moor. To find where she will be visiting in the upcoming weeks, you can go to her blog HERE.http://carolegillofficialauthor.blogspot.com/2012/05/upcoming-book-tour.html to find the links for each stop. There will be giveaways too.

Do you have any plans for the weekend? Let me know, leave a comment, if you want.

Random Act of Kindness

Kindness is POWERFUL! We, as writers, know what it's like day in and day out.  We all have hit the wall, whether it is with a piece of writing, or knowing where to turn for advice, and help. Personally, I don't know what I would do without a lot of you guys! I wrote before the Internet and blogging was there, and believe me it was lonely, scary--scarier than it is now. Some of you have no idea what that was like having no one to turn to, unless you were part of a writing group.

I've come to know a LOT  of kind people out there, and at the end of this post I will be mentioning some of you, so PAY ATTENTION! YOU WILL GET THIS AWARD!

With that said I just want to turn you attention to The Bookshelf Muse who has brought a lot of us together to commemorate and celebrate these Random Acts of KINDNESS. To commemorate their release of their book The Emotion Thesaurus, that is free to you when you go to their site, Becca and Angela are hosting their Random Acts of Kindness BLITZ for writers. They are encouraging us to name some people we feel deserve the award. This is like a "thank you" to those people who have helped us in some way--big or small--maybe posting you as a guest on their blog, or maybe they have helped you with critiques, or maybe they have offered kind words when you were down. It doesn't mater how, but the fact that they were there when you needed them.

MY BLITZ:
I'm naming three people today, and I want you to go and visit them.

Shelly Arkon for all her acts of kindess, and helping critique a novel of mine, even though she is as busy as ever, now with her grandchild to take care of. She is someone who will not let you down!  YOU ROCK, SHELLY!

I also want to thank author, Carole Gill, who has been helpful and we are now in a joint venture of blogging and possibly much more in the future. We seem to have a lot in common, vampires are just one of those things. YOU ROCK CAROLE!

And Heather McCorkle was my very first follower, and we both came over from another site, and have been following one another ever since--oh golly, it might be 4 years or more! Could that be right? Anyway, she has always been there, and I've always enjoyed her beautiful writing and we have done guest blogs and will continue to do so. She is one of the more genuine people you could ever know out there. HEATHER YOU ROCK!

ALL THREE OF YOU WILL BE GETTING MY EMAIL AND THE AWARD!

News from Me

Hello, my pretties. How are you all today? I've been busy with my usual Saturday stuff, and now I'm back in my office, and I need to work. But first some news.

First off, if you are into vampires and love free things, I want to send you over to Carole Gill's Official Author page. She has the prequel, "Dreams of a Vampire", to her book "House on the Blackstone Moor" up for free over on smashwords, plus if you wish to win her book you only need to leave a comment there. Get all the information on her giveaways at the link above.

I had the opportunity to read Carole Gill's book "House on the Blackstone Moor, and found it refreshingly different in a sea of cookie-cutter vampire novels. Set in Gothic England, a tale of madness and how a young woman thinks she has escaped it, only to be swept up by even more evil than she had ever thought possible, and also, amazingly, finds love. I enjoyed the book very much!

If you did not know it, Carole and I have teamed up on a sister blog called Bloody Good Vampires.

If you have not stopped by as yet, do so. I have only just begun blogging there, but it is filled with great flash fiction and other tidbits on or about vampires. Everything vampires is our motto! We each will be doing what we call our "Tales from the Vampire Vault". This will be our flash fiction pieces, so do drop in to see what we dig up.

I have other news. I am just pages away from finishing my third novel's edits, and will be sending it off to publisher in a week's time. I've also settled on a title.

Are you ready?

Vampire Nocturne.
I chose the word "nocturne", because it basically encompasses the novel's over-all feel. NOCTURNE means "a romantic or dreamy musical composition/thought appropriate to night." It is my steam punk/vampire novel which has more of a romantic slant to it than the first two. I hope to get this to my publisher quickly so that they have plenty of time to work on line edtis, etc, and you will be reading it before Christmas!

Hope your weekend is great. Ta, for now. 

Power Outage & Smart Tornadoes?

There's nothing like a power outage to make you realize just how much you depend on electricity. We've had no rain for weeks, and finally this large weather system came in last night. And we got our rain! We had the usual lightning storm--nothing major. At 12:39 a.m. the lights/power went out after something went BOOM!. We got up, I made sure everything was alright with my computer. I even unplugged it. I still don't trust my surge protector 100%. Anyway, we didn't have power come back on until 8:20 a.m. which means we were out for 8 hours. We even went out in the park and pumped water into pails--not an easy task, believe me! And were about to put the camp stove outside to make ourselves some instant coffee--and TADA!--ELECTRICITY!

We made coffee (OMG! it was so good!), and some breakfast. And we put things back into refrigerator, having packed them into the coolers.

When the ComEd truck came by this morning around 6:00a.m., and we saw that the guy was checking the transformer and things in our yard, we at least knew they were looking for the problem. It wasn't here, but obviously they found the problem. Outages were all over the county. 30 people in our area were affected by it.

The news from the mid-section of the U.S. was much worse. Five people died when a tornado hit the town. The tornado actually hit the tower, which supplies the electricity for the sirens. It was almost as if it aimed for it--I know that's impossible, but the sirens didn't go off to warn people. I sometimes think these storms/tornadoes have become smarter, and more ruthless these days.

Tonight will be our turn as the cold front advances after the warm front that will boost our temperatures to at least 80. Things will get rather "dicey" according to meteorologist.

I actually wanted to bring you something more interesting, and will, once I'm able to work on this (research it), about Nicolas Cage possibly being a vampire from the Civil War era (tell me if you've heard this one). I'll try and get my post set up for later in the week so please keep checking in. Hopefully a tornado won't end my ability to do this for ever. If you are concerned, thanks. And if you see me posting both my Monday Coffee Klatch and Tuesday Teasers, you can rest assured we have been spared. These have been some deadly tornadoes lately.

And I'm joining forces with author Carole Gill on her blog Bloody Good Vampires. Once we get things figured out, my books and links will be on the side bar, and we will both make posts on it, plus we plan on a corresponding group on facebook where people can join up--for both authors and readers of vampire, horror/Gothic horror, and the supernatural. More on that as we get things built up.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Guest Post by Carole Gill: Romance & Horror

Hi, my pretties. I've got a treat for you! My good friend from across the pond, Carole Gill, author of House on Blackstone Moor has agreed to stop in and do a guest post for us.

After the post we will get to know Carole, and hear about her novels and short works as well, because I plan on having her back soon!

So, take it away, Carole!

Romance & Horror: The Ultimate Conflicts!

Do they go together? Didn't you almost die when Dracula told Mina (film version) "I would cross oceans of time for you"?

I did!

From the first moment he saw her he thought of Elizabetha. After she knows the terrible truth, she hates him for killing Lucy, but well--! The girl can't help it!

Is Dracula horror? No, you don't have to answer that.

The talented and marvelous lorelei Bell asked me to guest post on her blog and I'm delighted to do it!

This post reflects one of my own:
Can Real Horror Have Romance In it?
Sure! What are greater conflicts than danger and desire?

Paraphrasing from my favorite play Streetcar Named Desire, horror is riding on the ultimate streetcar. Sometimes it's too dangerous to get off! We can see the danger. We can feel the threat down to her fingertips. But we get off, usually before the end of the line too.

We have to! Something calls to us, something we are unable to ignore!

Desire!

So we leave the safety of our streetcar and find ourselves exposed, looking for that which called to us.

Desire!

But there could be danger?

Danger AND desire, what better mix for horror?!

Someone happened to say real horror could not have romance in it.

I didn't agree.

I did post and I inclcuded this quote from a horror fan, Rick Youmans:
"It is one of the two motivational forces behind the horror genre. Either the return of unrequited love (the other being vengeance for a wrong). Any construct of horror that denies this has no understanding of its real power in the present sense. The abstract nature of vengeance, against society et al, is the predominate foci depicted in the visual mediums, while the search for love in a cruel world is the foci of the written medium... for the most part..."
Thank you Rick!

I mentioned Dracula (Bram Stoker's film version earlier). Now, I'd like to say this: although the novel, Dracula, and the films differ on this issue, I still feel there is an undercurrent of sexuality in the novel. I think Bram Stoker is clearly writing about female sexuality in the character of Lucy and Mina.

I also feel that Dracula's action with regard to over powering Mina (novel) and forcing her to feed on him is sexual. It is sexual abuse, really, when he restrains her.

Naturally, he's not her knight in shining armor and she's not wanting to have his babies exactly. But it is sexual, albeit darkly so. Can't this be twisted 'love'?

Is sick love some sort of pathological 'love'?Yes?

Well, if that is so then it's sick love or dark romance: sick or not.

With regard to the film (my favorite by Coppola) I think it is quite clear that there is quite a bit of sexual longing and tension present. Mina and the Count want to go steady and right away! That's pretty obvious. It also makes for some great scenes!

We watch it and are fascinated but do we ever doubt for one second that we are watching a HORROR film? NO!

With regard to horror fiction in general, there is what I term 'dude horror' which is often horror written mainly by men for men. The women depicted in this sort of fiction tend to be victims. There is, in my opinion, little or no 'romance'. There may be sex but candlelight dinners and violins, no.

I wonder, though, if sexual longing and desire along with genuine love cannot be present in dark horror.

I wirte Gothic romance, but my fiction is very different from what is commonly termed Gothic romance. This is not paranormal romance. It is darkest horror with some romance in it (sometimes).

The question is can dark Gothic romantic horror be considered horror?

Life has horror in it. And supernatural horror with the worst evil imaginable might have a thread of longing that is a kind of love.

Why can't the worst demonic being have loved once, whether briefly or for a micro second?

Why narrow the field?

Why define horror with restrictions?

If paranormal romance isn't horror, can darkest Gothic romance be considered to be horror?

Many writers writing today think it can. What do you think?

About Carole

This has been an interesting journey for me. I went back to writing about ten years ago. Life had gotten in the way and I finally had the opportunity to write once again.

I joined a local workshop. Somehow I found myself selected by North West Playwrights of England for further development! It was an invaluable experience but I preferred writing fiction.

Currently, I am published in a number of horror and sci-fi anthologies. I also have many short story collections up on Amazon.

I hope you check them out, some are pretty dark.

I enjoy writing dark horror however my greatest love of all, genre-wise, is writing dark Gothic romantic fiction.

My novel, The House on Blackstone Moor is being re-released shortly. Please stay tuned for updates!

The novel is quite dark:as a matter of fact it is darkest gothic horro and romance combined. The themes are vampirism, madness, obession and devil worship. It is recommended for readers over 18.

The sequel, which is turning out even darker, is entitled Unholy Testament and will follow.

After that I will be releasing a very special novel, I have already begun to work on. If you like vampires and darkest romance, you will be delighted. And if you ador Dracula, well--!

Meanwhile, you can find me at:
website: http://carolegillofficialauthor.blogspot.com/
facebook author page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carole-Gill-Author/120405794703293?ref=ts

I also have a Dracula fan page. I mean doesn't the old man deserve it?"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dracula/228746553886476

And Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/carolelynngill

Alright! Thank you Carole for stopping by. I do hope that everyone enjoied this as much as I did. And goes to check her links out. I've just stopped by her Dracula fan page, and found that a fun spot to root around in. I will have Carole back on a regular bases and when she's ready to release her book, we'll have a little book launch for her!

I'm visiting my good friend Jeremy Hawkins today!

Hello, my pretties! A beautiful spring morning here in rural Illinois.

I'm over visiting Jeremy Hawkins (a.k.a. Retro Zombie), on his site JMH Digital [Two Thumbs]
Where I answer 21 questions and give you a little peek into my life. Jeremy is a dear, sweet guy. He's got a lot of pans in the fire right now, and made time for me on his blog so, go and show your appreciation, please, and leave a comment.

Thanks


OTHER NEWS:

I'm having someone over to my post tomorrow. I want to introduce you all to Carole Gill, author of House on the Blackstone Moor. We are going to be host posting on each other's blogs periodically. I wanted to bring in someone who had the same interests as me, but slightly different. She is really into the dark Gothic romance, and her book will be re-released, and I'm going to bang my drum about it when she does, because it is quite a different tale and a great read, as well. And she and I have become great friends in the past year or so.

Meanwhile I'm still on my edits, and will do my best to bring you something once in a while on this blog as I have time.

Please come back tomorrow and welcome Carole Gill!

RANT: I Can't Leave Comments At My Favorite Blogs!!!

Yesterday, I went to T.C. McKee's blog, and wanted to leave a comment that I loved her new writing space. I would have made a nice comment, say some encouraging words and so forth.

But NOOOOOOoooo!

I can't leave comments any more on places I used to come to. The only way I can is to use the Anonymous button, and leave my name inside the comment. If there is no Anonymous button, I can't leave any comment. This is very frustrating. This has been on-going for more than a month now.

Not only that, but I can't FOLLOW anyone new. I also can't SEE my own followers. So, I don't know who you are. I've waited for a few months and this hasn't straightened out at all. I'm just frustrated that I can't leave comments mostly.

So, if you wonder what happened to me, why I haven't been by and you actually miss me, I'll leave a comment to your post weekly, HERE and try to do it on Thursday. I'll place your name or name of your blog in the label list below.

T.C. McKee: I wanted to tell you that I love your new writing space. That desk is great. I don't know what to do about the dog, however. it was funny about the slobber trails.

Carole Gill of Bloody Good Vampires: I'm sorry I have not been able to make any comments over on your blog any more. I think I agree with you pretty much all the time on your rants. I just can't comment. I feel like I'm looking in on a party going on and no one is able to let me in. ]=

Ranting about this problem hopefully will get every ones attention, because there are other people I used to leave comments on their blogs, and they probably think I'm just no longer stopping by. I can't think of all of them, but as the weeks pass I'll write my comments right here and post them and put your blog/name in the label line.

Night time Thoughts

Okay, I know what you're thinking. I don't usually post twice in one day--like they say that lightning doesn't hit the same place twice. Riiiight. But dang it I did have a wonderful day. My back feels about 50% better. I still have to watch twisting and bending. But aside from that one physical aspect, I had a free day to do what I want.

I marveled at the new floor and cabinets in the kitchen, knowing that in two weeks they should be done with it all. Plans for the colors and what we'll do with it filling my spare moments as I make a list of things we'll need.

Today, I also won an ebook from my visit yesterday at Marissa Farrar's Official Author's Page, The House On Blackstone Moor by another (new) friend, Carole Gill. I will not tell you how long it took me to figure out how to get this book downloaded. And I'm thinking I didn't even need to do the Adobe down load at all, once I went back and did a simple down load to an RTF format. Sheesh!

Anyway I thank both Carole Gill and Marissa Farrar. Marissa has added a Friday interview with authors on her blog, and she has kindly invited me to be on it in June. So, whoo-hoo!

I've also worked further into my second book, did some research on King Solomon, and a magic ring he was supposed to have that helped him command demons, which relate to some degree with the second book's details, which lead me to some other interesting things that were just as interesting as my main interest. I love Wikipedia.

Then, tonight I began penning a scene down for the third book. It's actually the climax scene, merely because it was just there, even though I am no where near this scene in the book's actual writing progress. I'm only half way done! You see, I am a "panster", Carole! I can't help it. I think it's one of those obsessive things. Outlining doesn't work for me merely because the scenes come to me and I write them, sometimes out of sequence. My only basic structure might be a plot-planning template to keep me on track, and then possibly writing short descriptions down on note cards and placing them in order of where I want them. If that's outlining I'm a monkey's aunt. But it does keep me from deviating too much and hold me on track toward where I want to go with the book. And if it changes mid stream, no big deal. I love when my characters decide they are not what I expected them to be. Like Jett of the third book turns into a prince instead of a necromancer. I'll admit the necromancer idea wasn't bad, but Jett decided he was Drakulya's son. Go figure. And Sabrina is attracted to him, where as, in the beginning I didn't want her to be. That girl is hard to figure! But then, the were-creature sort of has her dancing in circles, so I can't blame her much.

And finally, but not least, Michelle Bradford-Arkon tells me that she will be posting a review on my book, Vampire Ascending, at her blog tomorrow. I will place a link for you all to take a peek.

Tomorrow I'll be singing the phrases "Ding-dong, the witch is dead!" because the most horrible man in this century, Osama bin Ladin, was killed by American forces. Good riddance!

I see by my clock that it is getting late and I do have to get up in the morning and go to work "sigh", but I will have this day in my mind, remembering all the things I accomplished and things that happened and all the people who happened by today.