Okay there are 42 winners for the Trick or Tweet Giveaway! I've already sent out e-mails to the winning contestants, so if you see your name on the widget HERE and have not recieved an email, check your junk box. If it's not there, that means something went wrong and your email address didn't work! So contact me on twitter (@KaylaCurry1) and we'll get intouch!
Also, most of the signed copies are taken, I think I only have two left so make sure you pick out some e-books when you email me back with your choices! If you send me all print choices, and I don't hear from you soon after letting you know they are taken they will default to the e-book of your first choice, and so on.
Happy Halloween and thanks for entering the Giveaway!
A place for all things paranormal. Reviews, ideas, and more!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Character of the Week! Tom from Obsidian: Mystic Stones Series #1
Character
of the Week
Tom Walker
Books Tom appears in:
Obsidian: Mystic Stones Series #1
by Kayla Curry
Male
225 (at the beginning of Obsidian)
Vampire
Short
description of Tom:
Dark hair, dark eyes, usually wears a suit. He has a sly smile that usually crosses his face when he's thinking something evil.
Five
words that describe Tom's personality:
Two-faced, cold-hearted, professional, manipulative, calculating.
A quote from Tom:
"I suppose I should be glad your eyes looked at the ring on the night stand and not the dagger on the dresser."
Links to Obsidian:
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Obsidian and the Mystic Stones Series facts and fun!
Today I'm going to tell you a bit about the Mystic Stones Series world.
In this world, vampires run a corporation that advances in technology. Before the virus, it is unknown that vampires exist, let alone run a world wide company. The corporation is called Psytech and eventually, they take away the technology that they have provided over the years by shutting down the satellites orbiting the earth. This takes away all cell phones, computers, planes, trains and some newer cars. Anything that can connect to a satellite is infected. They plan to let humans sweat it out a bit, then they will unleash their plan to control humans by making them give blood in return for a virus blocker.
There are also witches in this world. They aren't seen much in Obsidian. Well, they aren't seen at all--only mentioned. But I promise Moonstone (Book 2) and especially Amethyst (Book 3) will have lots of witch action along with Bloodstone (Book 5). Emerald (Book 4) will also mention witches and you'll even get to meet one, but they will not be a main focus. The witches in the Mystic Stones Series have quite the arsenal of powers, however, most witches specialize in a certain area of magic. You'll learn more about this in Amethyst and a little in Moonstone. Some witches, known as half-witches do not have as much power as full-blooded witches. Witches must study the craft in order to obtain powers.
Other beings? Well, those are secrets. I don't want to give away any spoilers do I? But, if you don't care much about spoilers, you can visit the Official Mystic Stones Site. There are options on there to click on links with spoilers and links without spoilers, so feel free to explore that site. I will be updating it with new material monthly or possibly more often.
Okay, we got some facts out, now for some fun!
First I'd like to reveal the new trailer I made for Obsidian:
In Obsidian, you will meet Hiu. A native Hawaiian with a yacht he uses to give mini-cruises around the Big Island. This becomes the groups' temporary home-base as they fight the vampires.
Explore Hiu's boat!
In Moonstone, the main characters go to the Science Museum of Virginia. If you are a science nerd like me, then you will enjoy looking through some of the exhibits the characters would have seen on their trip by exploring the Science Museum of Virginia website!
Okay, now the really fun part. I'll be writing Amethyst for Nanowrimo. I've decided that YOU get to decide how it starts!
Option 1: Chase Scene. Disa, the main character is working to decode an ancient artifact with her friends, but if the government finds out they uncovered the artifact on government land without permission, they could be in big trouble and have the artifact taken away. Suddenly, their safe house is compromised and invaded. Disa runs, but is caught by a man claiming to be a government agent. She soon finds out he's not exactly being honest.
Option 2: Bank Heist. Disa is working at a bank when suddenly men come bursting through the doors with guns. It turns into a hostage situation as they try to find out what safe-deposit box the ancient artifact is in. Disa is forced to help track down the object. With her help they find it, but it turns out they may need her for more than just finding the object, they need her to unlock the magic inside it.
Okay, so if you want to help decide how the beginning of Amethyst will go, put your opinion in the comments field below! I'll tally up the votes when I start to write!
In this world, vampires run a corporation that advances in technology. Before the virus, it is unknown that vampires exist, let alone run a world wide company. The corporation is called Psytech and eventually, they take away the technology that they have provided over the years by shutting down the satellites orbiting the earth. This takes away all cell phones, computers, planes, trains and some newer cars. Anything that can connect to a satellite is infected. They plan to let humans sweat it out a bit, then they will unleash their plan to control humans by making them give blood in return for a virus blocker.
There are also witches in this world. They aren't seen much in Obsidian. Well, they aren't seen at all--only mentioned. But I promise Moonstone (Book 2) and especially Amethyst (Book 3) will have lots of witch action along with Bloodstone (Book 5). Emerald (Book 4) will also mention witches and you'll even get to meet one, but they will not be a main focus. The witches in the Mystic Stones Series have quite the arsenal of powers, however, most witches specialize in a certain area of magic. You'll learn more about this in Amethyst and a little in Moonstone. Some witches, known as half-witches do not have as much power as full-blooded witches. Witches must study the craft in order to obtain powers.
Other beings? Well, those are secrets. I don't want to give away any spoilers do I? But, if you don't care much about spoilers, you can visit the Official Mystic Stones Site. There are options on there to click on links with spoilers and links without spoilers, so feel free to explore that site. I will be updating it with new material monthly or possibly more often.
Okay, we got some facts out, now for some fun!
First I'd like to reveal the new trailer I made for Obsidian:
In Obsidian, you will meet Hiu. A native Hawaiian with a yacht he uses to give mini-cruises around the Big Island. This becomes the groups' temporary home-base as they fight the vampires.
Explore Hiu's boat!
In Moonstone, the main characters go to the Science Museum of Virginia. If you are a science nerd like me, then you will enjoy looking through some of the exhibits the characters would have seen on their trip by exploring the Science Museum of Virginia website!
Okay, now the really fun part. I'll be writing Amethyst for Nanowrimo. I've decided that YOU get to decide how it starts!
Option 1: Chase Scene. Disa, the main character is working to decode an ancient artifact with her friends, but if the government finds out they uncovered the artifact on government land without permission, they could be in big trouble and have the artifact taken away. Suddenly, their safe house is compromised and invaded. Disa runs, but is caught by a man claiming to be a government agent. She soon finds out he's not exactly being honest.
Option 2: Bank Heist. Disa is working at a bank when suddenly men come bursting through the doors with guns. It turns into a hostage situation as they try to find out what safe-deposit box the ancient artifact is in. Disa is forced to help track down the object. With her help they find it, but it turns out they may need her for more than just finding the object, they need her to unlock the magic inside it.
Okay, so if you want to help decide how the beginning of Amethyst will go, put your opinion in the comments field below! I'll tally up the votes when I start to write!
Monday, October 29, 2012
Vampire Month! Featuring Obsidian: Mystic Stones Series #1
Okay. I admit it. I interviewed myself. I am doing some self-promotion this week. I feel like I deserve it everyonce in a while, so that is what I'm doing. Today, you get to find out about the vampires in Obsidian. Tomorrow, there will be another post about Obsidian and the series in general. Then, on Wednesday, you get to meet Tom Walker for Character of the Week!
I asked myself the same questions I asked Rebecca Hamilton, Wynne Channing, Beck Sherman and Thomas Winship. You see, Obsidian and the upcoming books in the Mystic Stones Series are like these other books I've featured because they are all different takes on vampires. The aforementioned authors all have a unique view on the way vampires should be. That is the beauty of fiction--you can make anything you want! So, here are the vampire specs of Obsidian and the Mystic Stones Series.
How are the vampires in your world
different from others?
The vampires in Obsidian can only be
killed by obsidian piercing their heart. Obsidian anywhere else will
only wound them temporarily. They are also unable to harm a human
wearing a protective ring carved from a seashell with an obsidian
dagger that has killed a vampire. Vampires are in a sort of training
stage for the first two years of their vampire life. During this time
their eyes are bright green. Once the vampire is about two years old, their eyes change to either blue or brown.
As vampires get older they develop more powers. I can only reveal two of those powers right now, because I don't want to spoil Moonstone for you. First comes the ability to drink animal blood--no sooner then 75 years old. Then the ability to see through walls--no sooner than 100 years old. Seeing through walls, or x-ray vision, works somewhat like bat-sonar. The vampire uses reverberating sounds to get a picture of what is going on in the next room.
Do the vampires in your world possess
any of the traditional vampire traits? No reflection? Burning in the
sun? Being immortal? Aversion to crosses, holy water and/or garlic?
Turning into a bat? Killed by a wooden stake? Fangs? Other?
My vampires are immortal, they have
fangs, but other than that, they are pretty non-traditional. They are
pale-skinned. Their skin gets more and more pale as they age. This is
because the sun does not effect them as it did when they were alive. Along with developing powers, all vampires come equipped with super strength, hearing, eyesight, speed, taste and smell. In return they lose they are not as alert to changes of temperature, which could be good or bad.
Why did you choose to write about
vampires?
I like writing about vampires and other
beings who hold something magical about them. I think it's fun to
write about characters who not only have human emotions, but also
have the added stress of dealing with being different in some way.
Do you remember the first vampire story
you read in a book or watched on a movie or television show?
I don't remember the very first one. It
must have been a book I read in my early childhood, because I've
always been drawn to the dark and unknown. Vampires, witches, and
ghosts have always been interesting to me.
What makes vampire stories appealing in
today’s pop culture?
I think the vampires in today's
literature and media are part of a phenomenon that takes us to
another world. By watching or reading about these creatures, we leave
are mundane life for a more exciting world, even if it's only for a
short period of time.
If someone were
to see one of your vampires on the street, what would their reaction
be? Fear? Attraction? No unique reaction from that of seeing a human?
That is the beauty of my vampires. They
have already incorporated (quite literally) themselves into society.
You might notice that they are exceptionally good looking, or that
the new vampires have the brightest green eyes you've ever seen, but
you won't know they are vampires until they show their fangs. The
fact that they have a very large and well-known corporation that has
a staff consisting only of vampires, will tell you just how easily
they can blend in to society. This corporation—Psytech--ends up
being the very company that people of the modern world look to for
the latest technology. Once the satellites are down, they look again
to Psytech for guidance, but it doesn't come. Instead, society will
be presented with a most daunting proposition from Psytech.
Some links to Obsidian:
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Oomph! is free on Kindle!
My short story is free on kindle from today through Halloween! This quiet horror is perfect for a short, disturbing Halloween read! So pick it up while it's free!
Rosetta just wanted to feel alive.
Her eating disorder left her feeling weak and lifeless, so she goes out to find something that will make her feel alive again.
What she finds is a drug that lasts a whole year, but will give her the energy she craves.
Unfortunately, it has some strange side effects.
Her eating disorder left her feeling weak and lifeless, so she goes out to find something that will make her feel alive again.
What she finds is a drug that lasts a whole year, but will give her the energy she craves.
Unfortunately, it has some strange side effects.
New Release! Treason (Grimoire Trilogy #2) by S. M. Boyce!
Exciting
news! Today, Treason (Grimoire
Trilogy #2) releases. Treason,
the sequel to Lichgates,
is part of the Grimoire Trilogy by S. M. Boyce. The series is a
paranormal fantasy with a bit of romance and a lot of action, all of
which takes place in Ourea: a beautiful world full of terrifying
things. Check out Lichgates
today and get hooked on this trilogy.
Boyce
is also starting a blog tour today. She’s kicking it off with a
day-long tweetchat party, so head over there if you want some
freebies and want to meet the author. You can also check out her blog
tour calendar to join in the fun (it lasts until Dec 31—can you
believe that?), as well as the grand prize giveaway. You can enter
the giveaway daily, so make sure you bookmark it to get extra
entries.
Here’s a
bit more about Boyce and her series. Enjoy!
Lichgates
Grimoire Trilogy #1
The
Grimoire turns its own pages and can answer any question asked of
it...and Kara Magari is its next target.
Kara
has no idea what she's getting herself into when she stumbles across
the old book while hiking along a hidden trail. Once she opens it,
she's thrown into Ourea: a beautiful world full of terrifying beings
that all want the Grimoire's secrets. Everyone in this new world is
trying to find her, but most just want to control the new-found power
the Grimoire bestows upon her.
Braeden
Drakonin grew up in Ourea, and all he’s ever known in life is
lying. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in
his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. He has one question to
ask the book—one question that can fix everything in his broken
world—and he’s not letting Kara out of his sight until he gets an
answer.
There’s
no escaping Ourea.
Grab Your Copy
Bonus Features
The Grimoire Store
Treason
Grimoire Trilogy #2
Ourea has
always been a deadly place. The lichgates tying the hidden world to
Earth keep its creatures at bay—for now.
Kara Magari
ignited a war when she stumbled into Ourea and found the Grimoire: a
powerful artifact filled with secrets. To protect the one person she
has left, she strikes a deal that goes against everything she
believes in. But things don’t go as planned.
Braeden
Drakonin can no longer run from who—and what—he is. He has to
face the facts. He’s a prince. He’s a murderer. He’s a wanted
man. And after a betrayal that leaves him heartbroken, he’s out for
blood.
To
survive, both Kara and Braeden must become the evil each has grown to
hate.
Grab Your Copy:
Bonus Features
The Grimoire Store
About S. M. Boyce
Boyce
writes fantasy and paranormal fiction with a splash of humor. She’s
a sarcastic twit, but she still has friends because some people seem
to like that. Her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you
french fries. Feel free to connect with her online or check out more
about writing on her blog.
Connect with Boyce
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Character of the Week! Cassie from Vaempires!
Character
of the Week
Princess Cassandra Rich’rds
Books
this character appears in:
Vaempires:
Revolution, Vaempires:
White Christmas and Vaempires:
Zombie Rising by Thomas Winship
Female
15
Vampire
Short
description of Cassandra:
Vampire Princess of Tarados
Tall,
with long, curly, auburn hair, high cheekbones, bright blue eyes,
dewdrop nose, porcelain skin, and pink lips.
Five
words that describe Cassandra's personality:
Strong,
intelligent, brave, compassionate, fierce.
A quote from Cassandra:
We
will fight you to every last woman, man, and child among us.Monday, October 22, 2012
Vampire Month! Featuring Thomas Winship's Vaempires Series!
This week we are featuring Thomas WInship and his books, Vaempires: Revolution, Vaempires: White Christmas and (releasing TODAY) Vaempires: Zombie Rising!All three are totally awesome, so after you read the interview below, you will see my reviews of each book.
How are the vampires in your world different from others?
My world has two races of vampires—vampires and væmpires. Neither completely conforms to the usual stereotypes, because I chose not to follow any particular vampire mythology or mode of thought in creating my world.
Certainly, my vampires have some similarities to “traditional” vampires in that they are undead creatures with enhanced abilities and senses, they require human blood for sustenance, and that sunlight kills them.
However, they differ from traditional vampires in that they were created from the radioactive fallout from WWIII, new vampires are born (not made), and they age naturally (although they are immortal). Additionally, the creation of synthetic human blood frees them from the need to feed on humans and provides protection from the sun. This slightly diminishes their abilities and senses. This isn’t an issue when dealing with humans, but becomes significant when facing the might of væmpires.
On the other side of the conflict are the væmpires. Væmpires are mutated vampires. No one knows why the mutations occur or how to stop them. Each væmpire is a bigger, stronger, faster version of its former self, with a second thumb on each hand and an altered physical appearance, to boot.
While this may sound advantageous, it is not without a price—those who mutate end up as warm-blooded beings who must feed on vampire blood to survive. Attempts to create a synth-blood variant have been unsuccessful.
A percentage of væmpires also have special powers. Some don’t simply feed on vampire blood; they are able to pull memories from the person they are feeding upon. There aren’t many of these “Readers,” and the majority of the world’s population writes their reported existence off as urban legend or fearful conjecture. However, when the væmpires rise up in revolution they reveal a darker truth—not only do “Readers” exist, but there are also væmpires who can teleport, walk through walls, create a wall of flames, etc.
Do the vampires in your world possess any of the traditional vampire traits? No reflection? Burning in the sun? Being immortal? Aversion to crosses, holy water and/or garlic? Turning into a bat? Killed by a wooden stake? Fangs? Other?
As I said earlier, in my world, vampires have some similarities to “traditional” vampires: they are undead creatures with enhanced abilities and senses; they feed on human blood to survive; exposure to the sun kills them.
My vampires may be immortal, but that doesn’t mean they are invulnerable. Decapitation, stopping the heart, bleeding them dry, or even causing injuries that overwhelm their healing abilities can kill them, of course.
They don’t sleep in coffins or dark basements. They don’t turn humans into vampires. They aren’t susceptible to garlic, crosses, or holy water, although they don’t have much use for any of them, either—with the exception of garlic, perhaps. It’s an essential ingredient in so many recipes that it’s hard to swear off entirely.
Of course, both races have fangs. How else can I write scenes about penetration and other barely disguised sexual references without fangs?
And, they can certainly see their reflections in the mirror—how else can they ever be humanized, if they can’t wrestle with self-doubt and self-loathing?
You could say that the dynamic between væmpires and vampires parallels the traditional dynamic between vampires and humans. After all, if the literary world is going to insist on humanizing vampires, then I believe vampires should discover what it means to be human.
In other words, to be prey.
Why did you choose to write about vampires?
As a writer, there are few subjects or topics that don’t interest me in at least some small way. I can read a news article, overhear a conversation, or even see another book, and it will trigger a creative “hot flash” that burns for a few minutes. So, if I hear about werewolves, then I think about werewolves and a few idea bubbles float around my head—or someone mentions fairies and the same thing happens … you get the picture.
Most of the time, however, such an idea cools off because there isn’t really enough fuel to sustain it beyond that initial burn. Occasionally, something lingers in my mind—a creative branding, if you will—forcing me to give it more attention. I’ll make some notes, jot a few ideas down, perhaps sketch a few things—but the gravitational pull of my current project (or the realistic pull of a deadline) will inevitably pull me away.
I didn’t make a conscious choice to write about vampires, so it wasn’t a matter of selecting vampires and rejecting other subjects. The idea for Væmpires came to me and, over time, demanded my attention, so I ran with it.
Do you remember the first vampire story you read in a book or watched on a movie or television show?
While at a cousin’s house for a barbeque, I stumbled across a copy of ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. I don’t know why I started reading it when I should’ve been outside playing ball or swimming, but I did. I couldn’t put it down. I spent the whole day inside, eschewing food, activity, and anything else besides the book. I finished it before we went home and haven’t looked back ever since. Stephen King changed my life.
I’m not going to wax philosophical about that, though.
As best as I can recall, ‘Salem’s Lot was my introduction to the world of vampires. I’m sure I must’ve watched on old movie or two along the way, but nothing that made an impression. King’s vampires weren’t old and stuffy and black and white (although, technically, they were black words on white paper), they were realistic, they seemed possible, and they were awesome.
In the interest of full disclosure, however, I must admit that I didn’t find them frightening as much as I found them unsettling. Frankly, they creeped me out. The thought of vampires hiding beneath floorboards or lurking in darkened spaces played tricks with my mind. The fact that vampires could multiply—and didn’t discriminate—turned those tricks into mean, dirty tricks. A ten-year-old’s imagination can run rampant with the idea of an undead horde of women and babies after his blood.
What makes vampire stories appealing in today’s pop culture?
Let’s face it—most people want to live forever. The only drag about that dream coming true would be dealing with the infirmaries of old age. Vampirism takes care of both. Live forever and be sexy as hell the whole time? Who wouldn’t want that?
Live forever. Look good. That’s the appeal of vampires in a nutshell.
Anything else is pop psychology at its worst. Oh, wait … so is what I said. LOL
Live Forever. Look Good. No one cares about personality or brains.
If someone were to see one of your vampires on the street, what would their reaction be? Fear? Attraction? No unique reaction from that of seeing a human?
Mindless, shameless attraction. Loss of all self-control. Behavior akin to what you see at the typical all-you-can-eat buffet.
As I’ve said in earlier interviews, the vampires of Væmpires are inhumanly attractive, on average, although they tend not to flaunt it. In fact, the models used for the covers of all the paranormal romance novels are either: a) humans pretending to be vampires; b) teenage vampires determined to shame their parents c) adult vampires determined to shame their children; or d) the cryogenically-preserved remains of a certain Mr. Pattinson (proving that he did, in fact, “live” forever. Ms. Stewart, alas, faded from the public eye after an ill-advised cameo in 2032’s “Twinlight,” the first of an intended series of movies based upon the misadventures of Jacob and Renesmee’s conjoined fraternal twins. One twin is a dhampir/wolf hybrid with amazing abilities, affectionately named “Dampy” because her fur is always, well, damp. The other twin, Kenny, is a normal human afflicted with debilitating cases of aquagenic urticaria and an allergy to pet dander. When the movie flopped, Kristen supposedly sought refuge in a “Team Jacob” commune in upstate New York and was never seen again.).
But, seriously, here’s a related excerpt from Væmpires: White Christmas:
Daniel had the greatest parents in the world, and he knew it. His mother, a famed author of adventure novels, was the single greatest influence in shaping Daniel’s life. She was everything a boy wanted his mother to be and then some.
She looked radiant that evening. Her lustrous black mane was swept back in a jeweled headband that glittered with the room’s decorative lights. A pair of simple diamond earrings dangled from her earlobes, and a multifaceted diamond pendant adorned her neck. Red lipstick and a black dress made her white skin appear even whiter. She was a classic beauty.
Of course, most vampires possessed inhuman good looks. It posed one of the biggest ongoing problems for vampire-human relations. Simply put, humans were far too susceptible to vampire appearances for their own good. For the average vampire, it was rather embarrassing. For his mother, who was even more of a public figure than his father, it was a perpetual headache. At any moment of the day, a love-struck human—male or female, it didn’t matter—was likely to profess undying love for her.
Forget the fact that she had found her one true love decades earlier. Forget even the insurmountable differences in life expectancy or physiology. Humans cornered the market on irrational impulses.
Of course, a human would run upon encountering a væmpire. Not because the væmpire is any less attractive than a vampire, but because væmpires advocate ending the existence of humans. That makes it a little tough to become BFFs.
My Review of the Vaempires Series:
Vaempires: Revolution
Vaempires is a truely original novel with characters that will hold you attention and a plot that takes you on a ride.
I've shelved this as new adult because the characters, aged 15 and 16, are forced to grow up during the beginning of this war and act more like they are 18-22. They are now the rulers of this changed world.
The action scenes in this book are second to none. If you are a fan of action, you need to read Vaempires. The hand-to-hand combat is described expertly by Winship.
The world of Vaempires has similarities to our own, yet quite a few differences. The futuristic society of humans, vampires and vaempires all struggling to coexist is the perfect backdrop for the other smaller issues the characters face.
I can't wait to read Vaempires: White Christmas and Vaempires: Zombie Rising.
I've shelved this as new adult because the characters, aged 15 and 16, are forced to grow up during the beginning of this war and act more like they are 18-22. They are now the rulers of this changed world.
The action scenes in this book are second to none. If you are a fan of action, you need to read Vaempires. The hand-to-hand combat is described expertly by Winship.
The world of Vaempires has similarities to our own, yet quite a few differences. The futuristic society of humans, vampires and vaempires all struggling to coexist is the perfect backdrop for the other smaller issues the characters face.
I can't wait to read Vaempires: White Christmas and Vaempires: Zombie Rising.
Vaempires: White Christmas
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Pepper Press Flash Fiction Challenge
There is a flash fiction challenge up on Pepper Press. The challenge this month is a "Bad Writing" challenge. Check it out and come up with the most cliche story that's under 500 words.
Some times you just have to write badly before you can get to the good stuff. This challenge is just in time for NaNoWriMo, so take advantage of it and use it as a warm up for NaNoWriMo, or just for fun! Get the bad writing out of your system and move on to the good stuff! The challenge is due by October 31st at 11:59pm so hurry!
http://thepepperpress.blogspot.com/
By the way, I'll be doing NaNoWriMo this year. my screen name is lil87blue so add me as a buddy if you'd like and we can cheer eachother on. I'll also be posting NaNo posts on Paranormal Lounge on Day one, each monday after and the last day of NaNo, so come back for that!
Some times you just have to write badly before you can get to the good stuff. This challenge is just in time for NaNoWriMo, so take advantage of it and use it as a warm up for NaNoWriMo, or just for fun! Get the bad writing out of your system and move on to the good stuff! The challenge is due by October 31st at 11:59pm so hurry!
http://thepepperpress.blogspot.com/
By the way, I'll be doing NaNoWriMo this year. my screen name is lil87blue so add me as a buddy if you'd like and we can cheer eachother on. I'll also be posting NaNo posts on Paranormal Lounge on Day one, each monday after and the last day of NaNo, so come back for that!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Character of the Week! Vigilare from the Vigilare Series!
Character of the Week
Vigilare
Books Vigilare appears in:
Vigilare and Vigilare: Hell Hound by Brooklyn James
Female
Mid-30s
Vigilare is half-human/half-Vigilare with paranormal abilities, linked to her having Rh-negative blood factor.
Short description of Vigilare:
I am 5' 10", athletic, and have sparkling emerald green eyes when engaged by evil. Guess you could say, I have super powers. Kind of like Wonder Woman, only I am no superhero, I assure you. I dress in black from head to toe so as to blend in with the night. I believe in justice, an eye for an eye. My assignment is autonomic. I do not choose my role, it chooses me. I have visions of a man and a boy, yet I don't understand them. Maybe if I could understand them and my past, I would know why I am the Vigilare.
Vigilare and Vigilare: Hell Hound by Brooklyn James
Female
Mid-30s
Vigilare is half-human/half-Vigilare with paranormal abilities, linked to her having Rh-negative blood factor.
Short description of Vigilare:
I am 5' 10", athletic, and have sparkling emerald green eyes when engaged by evil. Guess you could say, I have super powers. Kind of like Wonder Woman, only I am no superhero, I assure you. I dress in black from head to toe so as to blend in with the night. I believe in justice, an eye for an eye. My assignment is autonomic. I do not choose my role, it chooses me. I have visions of a man and a boy, yet I don't understand them. Maybe if I could understand them and my past, I would know why I am the Vigilare.
Five words that describe Vigilare's personality:
Vigilant, Anti-hero, Jaded, Conflicted, Sharp
A quote from Vigilare:
“This is what I do,
Vigilant, Anti-hero, Jaded, Conflicted, Sharp
A quote from Vigilare:
“This is what I do,
I sit. I watch. I wait. But, I don't know why.
As autonomic as taking a breath, a divine assignment,
Too compelling to defy.”
Tips on how to write realistic characters from Brooklyn James:
As autonomic as taking a breath, a divine assignment,
Too compelling to defy.”
Tips on how to write realistic characters from Brooklyn James:
Live a diverse life. As writers, I believe we write what we know. What we're inspired by. Essentially, I think we write largely based on our experiences. We then take those experiences and people we've met along the way, and insert our imagination, and voila...our characters are born. If you want to write realistic characters, I would suggest living a diverse life so you compile a nice arsenal of 'real life' characters to pull from and expand on.
Twitter @BrooklynJames7
http://BrooklynJamesBlog.blogspot.com
http://BrooklynJamesBlog.blogspot.com
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Oomph! A new horror short story by Kayla Curry
I just released a horror story in time for Halloween! It's called Oomph! It's about a girl who goes looking for something that will give her more energy. She has been anorexic for years and the disorder leaves her feeling weak. The pill she buys lasts a year, but has some strange side effects.
It's available for $.99 HERE
Here is the cover I designed myself:
It's available for $.99 HERE
Here is the cover I designed myself:
If you like the cover and will be needing one yourself, check out Pepper Press to find out how to get an affordable cover made for short stories or books!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Vampire Month! Featuring Beck Sherman's Revamp!
This week I'm featuring Beck Sherman's Revamp! You can pick it up on Amazon for only $.99!
The same questions asked of my last two guests, Rebecca Hamilton and Wynne Channing, were asked of Beck Sherman, so here we go! A look into the vampire world of Revamp:
How are the vampires in your world different from others?
I guess you could say that you wouldn’t go to bed with a vampire from Revamp. Unless you wanted to wake up (not wake up?) without a head, your blood a Jackson Pollock on the wall.
They bite, they plunge, they tear, they rip, they drink, they are to be feared.
The hermits are the worst offenders. Vampires that “missed a step” while changing from human to undead. My heroine, Emma, refers to them as “special needs” vampires, but limb-less, thought-less, your blood is the only thing that drives them. And what they’re lacking in body parts and smarts, they make up for in insatiable thirst. That’s how they’ll get you.
Do the vampires in your world possess any of the traditional vampire traits? No reflection? Burning in the sun? Being immortal? Aversion to crosses, holy water and/or garlic? Turning into a bat? Killed by a wooden stake? Fangs? Other?
I wanted to model the main Revamp vampires after the archetypical vampire. When I say that, everyone probably automatically thinks of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, though, funny enough, Dracula and his fanged consorts could go out in daylight without bursting into flames. However, Revamp vampires must avoid the sun, are immortal, have a distaste for crosses and holy water, a piercing of the heart kills them, whether by stake or hollow-point bullets or something more creative. Revamp vampires are also shrouded in a bit of mystery. The reader learns with the characters what these monsters are capable of, and just when you think you got them pegged, they surprise you.
Why did you choose to write about vampires?
Well, I had a dream. A vampire floating in cobwebs of mist. And when I woke up, there was a bit of blood on my lip. I had bitten it while asleep. I got a tissue and wiped the blood away and that’s when I knew. Then and there I knew that the world just had to meet Emma and Cooper. Kidding. The whole “I dreamed about this book” really did take off with authors, though, didn’t it? As an avid horror fan, vampires have always intrigued me. In my opinion, vampires are the #1 monster, and then serial killers, the real monsters, which is what my second book is about.
Do you remember the first vampire story you read in a book or watched on a movie or television show?
The Lost Boys was my portal into the world of vampires. After I saw that movie, I needed to get my hands on anything and everything vampire. Of course, back then there wasn’t as much out there starring the undead. You had to really dig for it. But maybe that made it more worth it in the end, when you found something really good. Like Salem’s Lot by Stephen King or They Thirst by Robert McCammon.
What makes vampire stories appealing in today’s pop culture?
People are fascinated by death and the mystery surrounding it. In the same way, they’re fascinated by life. To have this being that’s kind-of dead but lives forever, and, in essence, is cheating death, there’s mass appeal there. Throw in a bit of eternal love with a pale, angsty bad boy vamp and women swoon. Revamp isn’t that type of vampire book, though.
If someone were to see one of your vampires on the street, what would their reaction be? Fear? Attraction? No unique reaction from that of seeing a human?
If you see a Revamp vampire on the street, you’d better have a weapon or human reinforcement. If not, you better run. Run fast. And don’t look back. Because it’s likely, and highly unfortunate, that that one vampire has just turned into fifty.
And Now My review of Revamp!
Revamp was a great read.
Beck Sherman has well-developed characters, an action-packed story with great plot pacing and it's also well-written.
Now, the length might scare you a bit, but let me tell you that it shouldn't. The story is artfully broken up with flashbacks from some of the main characters. Each flashback could potentially be a stand-alone, well-written short story.
By breaking up the story with these flashbacks, Beck Sherman has successfully written a long book that keeps you interested til the very end. The insight into the lives of each character and how they had to deal with the what was going on around them was brilliant.
Oh, and the horror element is so awesome. This isn't just horror this is HORROR. This book is not for the faint of heart.
There are few things that make me cringe, and some of those things are in this book. Beck has set up a few triggers throughout Revamp that will appeal to your deepest fears.
There are some true horror scenes in this book and it's definitely not "soft" horror either. If you love horror, pick this book up now!!!!
Here are some Links to Beck Sherman and Revamp!
Goodreads Author Page | Amazon Authors Page
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
Goodreads | Lulu
For even more info on Beck and other great authors, visit The Fiction Bookshelf!
Goodreads | Lulu
For even more info on Beck and other great authors, visit The Fiction Bookshelf!
Trick-or-Tweet!
Alright! It's almost Halloween and that means it's time for treats! I don't have any candy for you. Well, maybe I will, but you have to enter the Trick-or-Tweet Giveaway for your chance to get it! Other than candy there are over 40 prizes donated by eleven authors on this giveaway blog-hop. Prizes include signed print editions possibly with some swag and free e-books.
There will be Halloween posts on the blogs so make sure to hop around and read them. Speaking of Halloween posts, I found a news story for you all to read from about 20 years ago. (Okay, it's actually from like eight years ago when I was in Beginning Journalism, but the real event happened about 20 years ago. There wasn't actually a news story.)
A Late Scare
Halloween ended two weeks ago, or so most people thought. Apparently, it's not over for a local family on the 600's block of Elm Street.
Laura Magnuson, 27, went to take out the trash with her 4-year-old daughter, Kayla. When she turned around, Kayla was nowhere to be seen. After a few frantic moments, Magnuson saw exactly where she had gone.
"It was our first year Trick-or-Treating," Magnuson said, "I guess she thought she needed some candy." Little Kayla was at the neighbors' house, trying to Trick-or-Treat.
Marci Jones was sitting in her living room watching television when she heard a quiet knock on her door. "I almost didn't even see her," Jones said, "Imagine my surprise when I looked down to see a little face saying 'Trick-or-Treat!"
Jones happened to have some left-over candy from two-weeks prior. She decided to give it to Kayla for being so nice and saying, "please."
In case any of you were wondering what I was wearing that Halloween, it was this:
Apparently, as a youngster, I thought pretty highly of myself and dressed like a princess, not once . . .
Not twice . . .
But three times. That's my sister as a Bumble-bee. I was the only one of my mothers' children who escaped the Bumble-bee costume. That doesn't mean she didn't have her share of fun on my behalf though:
I liked this one for a little while. After all, cats are my favorite animal.
Then I realized I had to go out in public dressed like this. It's not like I didn't pick some ridiculous costumes for myself.
Apparently, the blue lipstick means I'm a dead cheerleader? IDK. That's my sister in her only princess costume and my brother as a frog. Yes, that is a Bumble-bee on his hat, but don't worry, he was a Bumble-bee once too, as was my youngest brother.
It's time to Trick-or-Tweet! Make sure you don't make my mistake and go too late! Entries run from today through midnight on the 31st with winners announced at noon on the 31st! Enter to win one of 40 prizes donated by ten awesome authors! Trick-or-Tweet your way to a signed print book or e-book! Some mail-out prizes even include candy and swag! Winners are chosen on Halloween with the announcement made at noon, right here on Paranormal Lounge. E-mails will be sent to the winners and prizes will be given on a first come-first-serve basis. Remember to tweet every day to up your chances of winning! In the meantime, go door-to-door and ring the bells on these blogs to read fun Halloween posts.
S. M. Boyce
Wynne Channing
Riley J. Ford
Rebecca Hamilton
Nikki Jefford
Rachel McClellan
Jen McConnel
Christie Rich
A. D. Trosper
Thomas Winship
Nikki Jefford
Rachel McClellan
Jen McConnel
Christie Rich
A. D. Trosper
Thomas Winship
Friday, October 12, 2012
Cover Reveal! After the Fear by Roseanne Rivers
It's another awesome cover reveal! Today we reveal the cover of After the Fear by Roseanne Rivers! It's due out in December and you can sign up to recieved notification of it's release HERE!
Now, before we get to the cover, let's read the blurb:
You have not attended a Demonstration this month.
In Sola’s city, everyone obeys the rules. Stay away from the trigger cameras and regularly update your Debtbook, and you just might survive. But having to watch the way criminals are dealt with—murdered by Demonstrators in the Stadium—is a law Sola tries to avoid. When a charming Demonstrator kisses her at a party, however, she’s thrust into the Stadium and forced into the very role she despises.
Armed with only natural resourcefulness and a caring nature, Sola narrowly survives her first bout. Her small success means she’s whisked off to a training camp, where she discovers a world beyond the trigger cameras and monitoring—a world where falling in love with a killer doesn’t seem so terrible.
Yet life as a Demonstrator has no peace. Sola must train her way through twenty-five more Demonstrations before she can return home to her father. At the end of each battle, only one survivor remains.
Sola could face anyone in the Stadium . . . even a loved one.
Now, before we get to the cover, let's read the blurb:
You have not attended a Demonstration this month.
In Sola’s city, everyone obeys the rules. Stay away from the trigger cameras and regularly update your Debtbook, and you just might survive. But having to watch the way criminals are dealt with—murdered by Demonstrators in the Stadium—is a law Sola tries to avoid. When a charming Demonstrator kisses her at a party, however, she’s thrust into the Stadium and forced into the very role she despises.
Armed with only natural resourcefulness and a caring nature, Sola narrowly survives her first bout. Her small success means she’s whisked off to a training camp, where she discovers a world beyond the trigger cameras and monitoring—a world where falling in love with a killer doesn’t seem so terrible.
Yet life as a Demonstrator has no peace. Sola must train her way through twenty-five more Demonstrations before she can return home to her father. At the end of each battle, only one survivor remains.
Sola could face anyone in the Stadium . . . even a loved one.
That is an awesome cover!
More info on the author HERE!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
New Short StoryOut!
Hey everyone! I just published my first short story. Well, it's not the first short story I've ever written, but it's the first one I've published all by myself. It's not super fancy, but I figure I'll learn as I go.
It's not exactly paranormal. Well, it kind of is, just not in the way you'd expect.
It's pretty short. Well, it is a short story. Duh.
Ha ha, check it out HERE for only $.99!
Oh, and here is the awesome cover I designed for it. Don't get it? Well, you will after you read the short story!
It's not exactly paranormal. Well, it kind of is, just not in the way you'd expect.
It's pretty short. Well, it is a short story. Duh.
Ha ha, check it out HERE for only $.99!
Oh, and here is the awesome cover I designed for it. Don't get it? Well, you will after you read the short story!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Cover Reveal! Light of the Moon by David James
Hey everyone! Today, we are helping with the cover reveal for Light of the Moon by David James! The book is due out on November 6th and is the first one of the Legend of the Dreamer Series!
Here is the OFFICIAL BLURB from Goodreads: "One night long ago, a constellation disappeared and fell from the sky in the form of a boy.
Secrets are being kept in the sleepy town of Lakewood Hollow, Colorado. Nothing but pools of blood and dripping words are left where bodies once were, and no one but Calum Wade seems to be worried. Life unfolds in shades of red for Calum, until a mysterious girl named Kate Black enrolls at his school and everything changes. Suddenly a dangerous world of dream demons, elemental enchanters, and blood witches unfurls before Calum. He learns that the stars have forever held his destiny, and that the constellations above are much more than what they seem. As Kate and Calum sink deep into a paranormal war, they realize that an ancient prophecy might hold the answers they seek. But life is not so easy for Calum, and he can feel his heart beat faster whenever Kate is close. Worse, Kate's blood holds a dark secret even more dangerous than the war between the demons and enchanters. Soon the two find that there are worse things than loving someone you shouldn't. For Calum and Kate, even love and the fiery power of stars may not be enough to break a curse as dark as the blood that binds their destiny.
A romantic story of true love and dark curses, LIGHT OF THE MOON will leave you breathless."
COVER DESIGNER: KEARY TAYLOR (http://www.kearytaylor.com/)
DAVID'S BLOG: http://djamesauthor.blogspot.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DJamesAuthor
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/davidjamesauthor
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16058646-light-of-the-moon
Here is the OFFICIAL BLURB from Goodreads: "One night long ago, a constellation disappeared and fell from the sky in the form of a boy.
Secrets are being kept in the sleepy town of Lakewood Hollow, Colorado. Nothing but pools of blood and dripping words are left where bodies once were, and no one but Calum Wade seems to be worried. Life unfolds in shades of red for Calum, until a mysterious girl named Kate Black enrolls at his school and everything changes. Suddenly a dangerous world of dream demons, elemental enchanters, and blood witches unfurls before Calum. He learns that the stars have forever held his destiny, and that the constellations above are much more than what they seem. As Kate and Calum sink deep into a paranormal war, they realize that an ancient prophecy might hold the answers they seek. But life is not so easy for Calum, and he can feel his heart beat faster whenever Kate is close. Worse, Kate's blood holds a dark secret even more dangerous than the war between the demons and enchanters. Soon the two find that there are worse things than loving someone you shouldn't. For Calum and Kate, even love and the fiery power of stars may not be enough to break a curse as dark as the blood that binds their destiny.
A romantic story of true love and dark curses, LIGHT OF THE MOON will leave you breathless."
(What a beautiful cover right?)
COVER DESIGNER: KEARY TAYLOR (http://www.kearytaylor.com/)
DAVID'S BLOG: http://djamesauthor.blogspot.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DJamesAuthor
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/davidjamesauthor
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16058646-light-of-the-moon
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