Blood and Water - Vampires Gone Wild

Hi Everyone! To celebrate the upcoming release of Supernatural Underground - Vampires Gone Wild, I'm introducing you to my contribution, Blood and Water, set in San Francisco 1906, days before the great earthquake . . . Read reviews of all four novellas at Unwrapping Romance.

Winners are
Chelsea B, Mary Kirkland, Bonnie and Barbara E. Copies will be sent to you February 12. Thanks everyone for jumping in!  

 Bonnie, I can't find your email to send you VGW. Email me please :)

We're giving away four copies (on the release date, February 12, 2013) so pop a note in the comments to be in the draw. Meanwhile, here is an excerpt to get you started. Enjoy!

Blood and Water

6:12 p.m. Sunday, April 15, 1906

Stellan shot toward the ferry, his naked body gliding through the water just under the waves. He swam over sharks and knobble-backed sturgeons, while above, the setting sun turned everything to gold. Brilliant clouds were mirrored on the glassy surface. Beautiful … but worrisome. There would be dozens of passengers on the observation deck tonight. Dozens of deaths.

The more the merrier, Salila said, her voice rippling through his mind. She wasn’t too far behind him.
He swam harder. The ferry was heading southwest and coming up on Goat Island, a rock in the middle of the bay. 

Listen to me, Salila. You don’t have to do this!
 

Oh, but I do!

The paddle wheel cut through the swell. It rose over the hum of the steam engine and the distant siren sounds of whales traveling slowly up the coast. Stellan was tempted to break the surface when he reached the Bay City ferry, but the sun, and better judgment, kept him beneath the waves. He dove, skimmed the hull, and came up on the port side, sticking to the shadows. In a leap, Stellan grabbed the lifesaver netting and climbed until he could see the main deck.

People were chatting in small groups, gazing at the horizon, taking in the last rays of the sun. Stellan counted them, sweeping his eye across the deck, up to the wheelhouse, and down the other side before stopping short. The fine hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

A woman walked toward the starboard railing, her breathtaking figure radiant in the light. The wind danced in her floor-length skirt, revealing the outline of long, slender legs. Fine lace pulled tight across her lower back, accentuating the curve from hips to breasts. Stellan felt a pounding in his chest. Impossible, he thought. Everything else was falling away, his vision a vignette with only the center, only her, in bright clarity. She was like living fire, or was that the sunset? Magnificent! What are you playing with, my lady? She seemed inordinately preoccupied with a small wooden box mounted on stilts. He watched, fascinated. Ah, a camera …

Isn’t she lovely? Salila cut into his mind.

He growled deep and twisted around, his dark hair trailing over his shoulders and down his broad back as he tried to spot the Mar woman in the water. This has to stop!

That’s not what Teern says. She surfaced and disappeared again. Taunting.

Stellan’s eyes went back to the deck. The object of his attention was sliding a glass plate into the camera. Quickly, she ducked under a black hood, and the whole thing flashed like a shooting star. A photographer! The thought would have made him smile if he weren’t so busy working out how to save her life.

The sun dropped into the sea, and the belated fog began to rise. A Mar fog. It was Salila’s shroud against detection. Stellan tore his eyes away from the woman long enough to dive back in and swim to the prow. The ferry chugged on, but the sound of the whales vanished. They tended toward silence when the Mar were hunting. The waves beat against his back as he clung directly underneath the main deck. He couldn’t see her anymore, but he could hear.

“There’s enough light for one more shot.”

She’s optimistic.

“Put your cape on and come inside, Miss Ralston! It’s gone quite cold and will be pitch-dark before we dock. You’ll catch your death …”

He hoped she would heed the warning. It would be the death of all those left chatting under the stars if Salila and the others had their way.

“Angelina Ralston!” The well-dressed matron beside her continued. “You’re not listening.”

Angelina … Stellan licked salt water off his lips. An angel … Her hair was auburn red and reminded him of autumn trees along the Atlantic Coast. Her eyes were dark like Egyptian onyx, and her lips full, inviting. She wore a long-sleeved ivory dress with pearl buttons that ran from her slender waist, between her round breasts to her high, lace collar. On her head was a matching hat, cocked up on one side. Stellan’s throat went completely dry when she spoke.

“Mrs. Blackwell, I am comforted by your concern.” She donned a forest green cape that hung to her black leather boots. “I assure you, though, I’m not the slightest bit cold.” She lowered her sweet voice. “The sea is mesmerizing, and the vista like warm embers. Look how the pale evening light dances across the rising mist. It’s so beautiful. If only I had a camera that could make sense of these subtleties … this other world.”

“Very poetic, I’m sure …” Mrs. Blackwell huffed.

“Ah, but light is poetry,” Angelina said to herself. Then louder, over the chatter of the other passengers, “There’s too much to experience on deck, Mrs. Blackwell. I can’t bear to walk away from the sensations.”

“Miss Ralston! Now I must insist you retreat to the safety of the cabin. Your father wouldn’t have you lingering in ‘sensations’ of any kind, I am sure.”

“Fortunately, Father is not here,” Angelina whispered . . .

 * * * 
More about Vampires Gone Wild: Kerrelyn Sparks's demure Pamela and sexy vampire sidekick battle the Malcontents in "V is for Vampwoman." Kim Falconer's aqueous San Francisco vampires in "Blood and Water" want nothing from "landers" -- unless it's dinner, but that's until Stellan meets Angelina. Pamela Palmer carries readers to Vamp City in "A Forever Love" where trapped Lukas pines for his lost love. When she appears, Lukas will fight to keep her alive. It's been a hundred years since Valiance has dated; all is great until they're attacked, but quiet Esme will shock Valiance in Amanda Arista's "First Dates Are from Hell."

Watch this blog for highlight from all the Vamps Gone Wild authors!

Kerrelyn Sparks  - V is for Vampwoman - reviewed in Unwrapping Romance

Pamela Palmer - A Forever Love
Amanda Arista - First Date 
Kim Falconer - Blood and Water

Kim Falconer is a Supernatural Underground author writing paranormal romance, urban fantasy, YA and epic science fantasy novels.

You can find out more about Kim at kimfalconer.com or on The 11th House Blog. She posts here at the SuperntrlUnderg on the 16th of every month. Watch for her next release, out February 12, 2013. Supernatural Underground: Vampires Gone Wild.

Charging Your Batteries in 2013

It's a brand new year.  It's still got its shine and that New Year smell, which really isn't like that new car smell but at least it isn't like that wet dog smell.  I stared at empty page for a while, trying to figure out what profound thing I would talk about for my very first blog of 2013 and ... well... I got nothing.

That isn't true.  I could talk about the upcoming release of DEAD MAN'S DEAL, but that isn't until May and I've still got plenty of time to hammer on you about that.

So, I thought, how about writing?  Or maybe what I've been thinking about writing recently?

Let me take you on a little journey.  Earlier today, a London friend pointed out an interesting article/interview of the fabulous Joss Whedon.  Part of the article was about how he chose to switch gears creatively rather than take a vacation to help recharge his creative batteries.  (Click here to read the article.)

After reading the article, I've come to realize that I've been doing just that during the past month! 

After completing the edits on DEAD MAN'S DEAL, I have been officially out of contract (which basically means no one is paying me to write a book).  This happens from time to time for an author as you figure out whether a series will continue, what you want to work on next, and what the publishers are interested in.  That empty zone can be both freeing and terrifying.  For me, I am going with freeing, but I'm willing to open the door on terrifying at a later date.

I've handed in a proposal for another book to the Asylum Tales, but in the meantime, I've drifted away from the urban fantasy genre.  It's sort of like cleansing the palate.  When I'm playing in urban fantasy, there's lots of fighting and magic and the world tends to be in desperate need of saving.  Every once in a while, I want to work with characters that aren't trying to save the world and who are just trying to do something normal like ... find love ... or get along with their family.  It's a matter of taking the camera angle from a wide view to a close up.

Unbelievably, I've been writing urban fantasy for 8 years now.  But I'll share a secret with you.  I didn't start out writing about vampires and werewolves.  Nope.  First book I ever finished writing was a retelling of Robin Hood. Of course, I was 12 at the time and you will never ever ever see it. In high school, I finished my second book, an original fantasy novel.  It was the first in a series, in fact.  I only got about halfway done with the second book.  My dream is to circle back to that series one day.  After the fantasy novel, I spent several years writing romance stories, both contemporary and historical.  And then, somehow, I found my way to urban fantasy.

As I start 2013, I've got a list of projects that has the beginnings of 7 different novels and 1 novella.  They span four different genres.  I think the diversity will keep me glued to my keyboard with excitement for the foreseeable future while growing and honing my writing skills.  And the bonus is that if a publisher is interested in any of that work, that's represents more for you to read!

What do you do to recharge your batteries when you're running low?



Love comes in many varied forms.  There is the love of family, love of country, and love of chocolate.  But for Jocelynn Drake, one truly treasured love is the love of a good story.  This Midwestern native spends the majority of her time lost in the strong embrace of a good book.  When she’s not hammering away at her keyboard, frowning at her monitor, or curled up with a book, she can usually be found cuddling with her cat Demona, walking her dog Max, or flinging curses at the TV while playing a video game.  Outside of books, cats, and video games, she is completely enamored of Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, fast cars, and Anthony Bourdain (but only when he’s feeling really cranky). Jocelynn is the author of the Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales.

Amanda's Next Big Thing

 

Hello all,

 

First off, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wow, 2012 just slipped past me. But I’m looking forward to fresh pages and new characters to introduce you guys to this year.

 

Secondly, I know that I’ve been a little lax lately in sharing with my Supernatural Underground family. But it wasn’t for naught.

 

A few of us here have put together an anthology of stories about vampires. Yep, this shifter girl is writing vampires now.

 

Kim Falconer did a great update on her next big thing and I’m un-abashedly going to steal her idea for this post.

1) What is the title of your next project?
“First Dates are Hell” is appearing the The Supernatural Underground anthology, Vampires Gone Wild, out February 12, 2013 at all e-book retailers

The book also features stories from: Kerrelyn Sparks, Pamela Palmer, and Kim Falconer

2) Where did the idea come from for the story?
We met the hero of “First Dates” Valiance in the third installment of the Diaries of an Urban Panther series. Valiance was a warrior prince for the vampire Clade in Dallas and when our heroine and werepanther Violet Jordan needed a little more help, Valiance pledged his sword to her cause.

I wanted to know what Valiance was doing now. How did he adjust being the only Vampire left in Dallas? What would Valiance do when left to his own devices?
What Violet would expect of this warrior in a time of peace?

3) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
This is an easy one. I made a Pinterest board for each new project, so casting the characters was the first thing that I did.

Michael Fassbender as Valiance          Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Esme

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
It's been a hundred years since Valiance dated; it isn’t any easier now than it was back then.

5) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
It took me about a month to write the first draft. What was challenging about this project was that it was a short story, and even though there are fewer words, the characters still need to react and change during the story, so they needed to be the right words. Apparently, I think in epic story arcs, so I really needed to look at what I wanted to focus on, which was the one choice that Valiance would make.

6) What other projects would you compare this story to within your genre?
Hopefully it’s still in the same vein as Diaries, but I think this one is less snark and more emotions. I think that “First Dates” has elements of what has always influenced me as writer: the snappy snark of Shonda Rhimes, the emotional journeys of Alice Hoffman, and the paranormal world building of Charlaine Harris.

7) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
See the pictures of Michael Fassbender and tell me that you wouldn’t want to think about him non-stop for a month. My life is awesome.

8) What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?
Fun Story time: I’ve always preached that you should write about what you know. For, Diaries, the main character needed to shoot a gun, so I went to a gun range. In the second, I needed to know about biker bars, so I went to a few around town.

For this story, the Vampires in my universe can only be killed by having their heads cut off by an iron sword, so all my vampires carry an iron sword. So, not to drop spoilers, but there is a sword fight in the story. Being a normal person, I don’t usually wield a sword, but like a normal person, I do have foam swords and a really great husband. So my husband and I choreographed the fight scenes so I could write about it. After a few bruises, we finally worked it out and voila, fight scene.

 

I hope that you have enjoyed this little update on my next big thing.

See you next month!

 

 

 

Amanda Arista

Diaries of an Urban Panther

www.amandaarista.com

 

 

What's Your Dream for 2013?

.
There's something very special about getting to write a blog post for New Year's Day.

On the last day of the old year we look back: to what we've done that rocked during the course of the year, and to what maybe could have worked out better for us. But on the first day of the new year we start with a blank page, which is still ours to write on as we will.

A universe full of possibility; 

There's a considerable degree of excitement in that, the effervescence of the champagne cork popping and the bubbles rising in the glass—and no small degree of magic as well. The new year, after all, stretches ahead of us ahead, full of the unknown sure, but that very unknown is imbued with the magic and promise of one of the universe's great infinities: possibility.

Now we could talk resolutions, but somehow that seems to move us just a little away from effervescence and magic and possibility, into a more mundane realm of duty and—dear me!—self-improvement. (Not to be confused with home improvement and d.i.y., but close, dear readers, very close…)

I would far rather talk possibility and magic—what we would love to see written on that blank page of our new year. For the New Year is also the realm of wishes and the hope of dreams come true. And as the famous lyric from South Pacific goes: "If you don't have a dream, how're you gonna have a dream come true?"

So here we stand, on the threshold of a brand new year—and if we could each have one starshiny, rainbow-tinted dream come true in 2013, what would it be?

Here's my dream:

Recently, I was re-reading Friday's Child, one of the many delightful romantic-historical novels by Georgette Heyer. Something I learned about this novel from Miss Heyer's biography, was that a group of women who were imprisoned as political prisoners kept their spirits up by telling the story to each other. When finally released, the chief storyteller wrote the author to tell her how significantly Friday's Child had touched her and her fellow prisoners' lives. Not surprisingly, this became one of Georgette Heyer's most treasured fan letters.

As an author, my dream for 2013 is that my books may reach out to, and touch readers in as profound a way.

How about you—do you have a dream for this new year you’re willing to share here?

In any case, a very Happy New Year to each and every one of you. :)

---
.
Credit for supernova image to: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage), Richard Cool (University of Arizona) and WIYN/NOAO/AURA/NSF.

Happy Holidays!

 Congratulations to our three winners!!!  Pam from Idaho, Lori from Pennsylvania, and Lorian from Tennessee! Thank you all for leaving comments. Please come back January 25th for the next giveaway! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!!!

Wishing you all safe and happy holidays!  And a Happy New Year!  
 
I'll have three books out in 2013. February 12, the e-book anthology, Vampires Gone Wild. My novella (which will be about 1/4 of the book) is called 'V is for Vampwoman.'  The other authors are Pamela Palmer, Kim Falconer, and Amanda Arista. Then in the summer of 2013, my next historical romance goes on sale, the sequel to The Forbidden Lady. And finally, in the fall, the fourteenth full-length Love at Stake book comes out. The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo, starring Dougal! 

I'm going to mimic the Three Kings today and give away three gifts-- not any gold, sorry about that!  But I have three books for three lucky winners.  Three signed copies of Wanted: Undead or Alive, one for each winner. Just leave a comment for a chance to win. International entries welcome.  Good luck!

  

The end of the world?

If you're reading this, the world didn't end.

I'm kinda glad. I've just started my Christmas holidays and I've got a lot of writing I want to get done. I'd be bummed if I lost my first serious, solid writing time in six months.

Of course, it could be that the 21st is just the BEGINNING of the end of the world, and it is going to end but not just now...

So I guess the motto of this particular moment is - don't put things off. Don't keep thinking I'll get to that tomorrow, or next week, or next year, cause you know that moment may not come.

So the two weeks holiday that are starting right now are going to be about getting to the things I've been putting off.

While I'll be seeing friends and family, my focus will be on my writing. I have some edits to go back (I've got a contemporary romance coming out in February) and I've finally worked out the storyline for a science fiction romance that I first conceived nearly THIRTY years ago! That's a story with a looooong gestation period. But I've finally cracked it, and I'm planning on the draft being ready to go by the time I go back to work January 7.

I'm also going to stop making excuses, stop putting it off and get started on an exercise regime, and losing weight. Had a bit of a health scare last week. Turns out I'm fine, but continuing to put things off, to decide it's too hard, will one day come back and bite me HARD - and not in the sexy vampire way.

What about you? What have you been putting off, saying you'll get to it one day? Why not make today the day you start?

You know, in case the Mayans were onto something and the world really will end soon :)

***

I've been doing my own Ten Days of Christmas celebration, giving things away and here's what you can get to celebrate Christmas. My fantasy romance 'The Right Connection' is available now FOR FREE from Smashwords in the e-version of your choice!

Have a great holiday season!

Next Big Thing - Interrogation of a Banshee

First, some Festive Fun:

[See Special Holiday Discounts @ Kindle, Fishpond & Amazon! YAYYY!]

Last week, the very talented fantasy author, Rowena Cory Daniells, tagged me for "The Next Big Thing", where 5 writers tag 5 others with 5 or so questions, and so on forever all over the planet & cyberspace
until we’ve all been bagged-n-tagged and get to go around again in a few decades. So today it’s my turn to bag-n-tag a new batch of shy recruits. 

We all know how timid writers can be, and this time of year makes it all the more challenging. Moreso, if you’re stung by an urge to do it as a festive poem, as I was, but here goes;

Interrogation of a sly shy banshee  

Sooooo… What’s your Next Big Thing?
… while we’re all wallowing, dieting, caroling 
on a prayer and a wing, and we struggle to string
more than two words we can sing without seeming… unhinged?

Answer: Beats me, [blush] I’m winging it. 

But how do you cope with it? … get through it? Or even think of it?
Each little bit, as we struggle to sit and get ideas to fit 
On a page that just WON'T submit, and when others all quit 
How come you don’t split & simply admit that you’re just like us… a misfit?

Answer: Beats me, [blush] I’m just having fun with it.

Can’t you give us a hint? Or simply admit… 
will your next big thing hinge on your last big thing? 
Are they linked in a series, in a straight line or ring? 
Will there be killing? … More shootings, knifings and glassings? 
More stalking, more hawking, more hot sex and… voyeur-ing? 

Answer: [blush] … what do you think?

Now don’t suffer stage fright,& don’t be im-polite 
You can’t be contrite when it’s clear you’re forthright. 
Please accept this invite, and provide an insight… 

Do you write late at night, or maybe rise at first light?
Oh, please speak of your plight – of that one writer’s blight -
it turns ALL authors white; it’s where to find time to write… and to re-write?

Answer: [blush] By staying out of the limelight.

Phew, finally! I think we’re cracking this key!
Break out the Chablis and let’s all shout yippee!
An insight from Ms B; she answered verbally!

Answer: [Smack!... Smiling cheekily] 
Oh, my dear sweet MC, 
need some ice for that cheek? 

Crikey! Apologies! 
I had no idea you could be so…

Cranky?

Ah… [gulp]… how about gutsy? 

Please don’t pander the banshee. 
I keep her caged for my writing. 
… Let’s just settle on "esprit". 

Fine, and we’ll start again, shall we? 
Ahem… [clearing throat and shifting awkwardly] 
Time to scratch my goatee, and re-start as emcee…
‘Dear author this week… what’s your Next Big Thing?’

[Smiling shyly]
Let’s not go there, shall we?

But it's the whole point, apparently.

[Nodding knowingly]
I can see through that plea. It's called subtext, in Text World Theory.

Ahem. You've lost me.

It's really quite easy:
You didn’t come to sight-see a performing monkey.
I’m not a trustee, a draftee, adoptee or Queen Bee. 
Like you, I’m a trainee, still racing the Grand Prix.
So set up your marquee, pitch your tent by my tree,
Chill a glass for your Chablis, and spit shine your degree
But don’t ask me to fore-see how to access the party.
It’s not for invitees, wanna-bes, addressees or even cat copies.
It’s for devotees, and WILL-bes, and fans who rise from the debris.
It’s for those who look leeringly, with love and lust at a dictionary.
It’s for the crazy, the nutty, and the whole damn fruit tree. 
So don’t ask me indirectly about your OWN next big thing.
Just sit down and write it, and ride the wild ride beside me.

Psst… my next big thing? It’s really top secret.

And Bagged-n-Tagged by me so far for NEXT WEEK:








Valerie Parv :                          Goddess of Aussie Romance
Tina Marie Clark:                  Queen of Childrens Lit Fests
Valerie Stewart Lewis:         Temptress of Celtic Fables
Andrew Warrilow :                Wizard of Familiars
Andrew Drage aka Brewin: Master of Madness

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