Friday Freebits with Diane Scott Lewis #frifreebits #halloween

Throwing in Vampires with Napoleon on the remote island of St. Helena, by Diane Scott Lewis

Years ago I spent untold hours researching a remote island and the history that happened there during a famous man’s exile. Napoleon’s last six years of life (1815-1821) fascinated me, as well as the strange flora and fauna of his final island, St. Helena.

Back in the days of no internet, I pored over rare books at the Library of Congress for my research. I published a book, with an alternate twist to the story with a publisher I won’t name. They put the book up for sale at an expensive price (the book was quite large) and my precious novel sold little. The publisher refuses to give me back my rights, even though neither of us is making money from it.

So, I decided to use all that wonderful research with a new story. I added even more research on the island, a place I wish I could visit, but it’s thousands of miles from civilization—especially in those days of sailing ships for transportation.

On a whim I put vampires (which were so popular at the time, and I hope will be again) on this island near the bottom of the world. I tried to make my vampires as real (even if many don’t believe in them) as possible, did more research, read some terrible vampire books, and produced my adventure with romantic elements: A Savage Exile.

Here’s the blurb: Isabelle, a young French maid, follows her notorious mistress to the island of St. Helena after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo. She discovers quickly that a “beast” roams this remote island, and people are vanishing or found drained of blood. She falls in love with Saint-Denis, Napoleon’s valet, but this enigmatic young man hides a deadly secret. Hudson Lowe, the island’s governor—a vampire himself—plans to destroy the French. Isabelle rushes with her lover to stop the vicious outcome, and save her own life.

It took two and a half months for Napoleon’s entourage to reach St. Helena, a volcanic fist spewed from the edge of the ocean, and his followers fell in despair at where they were forced to live. Imagine the complication of creatures that creep and fly through the night in search of prey.

There’s humor, drama, murder, sex, and of course, vampires. Some are loving and sexy, others are vicious and driven, haunted by their curse and thirst for blood.  A spooky story for a Halloween night 

Click here to purchase A Savage Exile

http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Exile-Vampires-Napoleon-Helena-ebook/dp/B00O2U96FE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414438663&sr=1-1&keywords=diane+scott+lewis

For more on my historical novels, check out my website:

http://www.dianescottlewis.org

Welcome Tony-Paul de Vissage

The Aventurieri:  More than Human, More than Vampire

At last, I’ve got a series…about vampires…and I’m going to give you the facts…just the fact, ma’am…

The Premise:  Humans call them vampires; they call themselves aventurieri.  They have their own feudal-based government and laws more stringent than their human brothers, based on a much harsher religion.  They do not kill humans for their blood but have a retinue of servants who supply them in exchange for their protection and care.  Faithful retainers are rewarded with enthrallment which bestows upon them an elongated life span.  Their religion has given them a Prince --the Domnitor--to rule over them, and the myth of a one-eyed king who will deliver his people from the tyranny of their ruler while betraying them to the world of humans.  They fear humans and even those who live in the outside world do so in disguise and caution.  They also have their feuds, romances, insecurities, and secrets.

The Settings:  Carpathius in the Decebral Valley, within the crags of the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania, Romania; Europe: Vienna, Austria and Paris, France

The Time:  1794-1810

The Story:  The Shadow Lord focuses on one family--the Strigoi--and its leader, the Prince's assassin--the taietor--sent to execute those who break the Principiu, laws handed down from the gods.  This act will result in the murder of the Taietor and his retinue, and send his eldest son on a journey of revenge and self-discovery.  With his younger brothers and sister, Marek Strigoi is banished from Carpathiusm traveling to Vienna and on to Paris, seeking his father's murderer.  He will discover love and a long-hidden family secret, and eventually the strength to accept the fate the gods have chosen for him.

In the midst of this turmoil, a romance blossoms for the still-naïve Marek, his first true love which will stay with him through the centuries,

EXCERPT:

Commanding them to partake of all that was offered, he climbed the dais to his own seat.

The girl was sitting on a stool at the head table.  As Marek slid into his chair, she stiffened and turned to face him.

Gods, she looks terrified.  Must be her first outing.

He smiled to put her at ease, "Good evening, Nurliu," using that little affectionate because she was the prettiest female he'd seen in a very long time.  He placed his forefinger under her chin, tilting her head slightly.

She relaxed just a little, smiling timidly.  "Good evening, Your Lordship."

Marek leaned forward to kiss her.  She started to pull away, then forced herself to be still.  

The next moment, he nearly recoiled as her fresh, unsullied scent flowed over him.  What the Hell--?  Taking her in his arms, he pressed a kiss against her bared shoulder, inhaling deeply the delicate female fragrance of her skin.

"You're human," he whispered the words into her ear so no one else could hear.   "How'd you get here?"

Releasing her, he leaned back to look into her eyes.  He was startled to see that they were a blue, so pale as to be almost colorless.  How could those fool soldiers see those and her red hair and think her one of us? No aventurieri had eyes that color.

"I-I'm the kitchen maid for Madame Lubos." She avoided his gaze.  "I heard her girls talking about what they would be paid for tonight, and I-I wanted the money!"

"You'll have to earn it," he told her solemnly, already envisioning her naked in his bed and surprising himself with the thought.

Her chin went up, though it trembled slightly.  "I'm quite prepared to do that, my Lord!"

"Good!"  Marek turned away, seizing the leg of a roasted bird on the platter before him and wrenching it free of the carcase.   "You'll get your chance soon enough!"

He bit into the drumstick, hearing a slight gasp behind him.  

He swallowed and looked at her, asking sardonically, "You didn't know we ate food, also?  Did you think the meals you prepared were just for Madame Lubos' human customers?"

Pulling a silver of meat from the bone, he offered it to her, and after the slightest hesitation, she opened her mouth, allowing him to place it on her tongue.

Chewing daintily, she swallowed and ate the second piece he held out also.  She selected a pitted cherry from a bowl of fruit next to the fowl, but as she started to eat it, Marek caught her wrist, bringing it toward his mouth.

"I have a particular weakness for cherries."  He bit the little fruit off the stem and released her hand, wondering why she blushed so.

In spite of that, she smiled a little easier and picked up another cherry, rubbing it across his lips and smearing them with juice.  He ate that one, too, and for several minutes, was content to sit there and eat the fruit from her hand.  Her fingers became stained and he licked the juice off them, his tongue lingering against her fingertips.

When he kissed her again, he could taste her own sweetness under the flavor of the cherry juice.

The Shadow Lord is the first in the Second Species series, published by Double Dragon Publishing (Canada).

Youtube: http://youtu.be/oB9flkJu6P0

                   http://youtu.be/7aXa6nYenbY

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Second-Species/267805643283799

Buy at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Lord-Tony-Paul-Vissage-ebook/dp/B00GH0YJP4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383749411&sr=1-1&keywords=Shadow+Lord+by+Tony-Paul+de+Vissage

Buy at Double Dragon Publishing: http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.php?ISBN=Shadow%20Lord

Welcome Lisabet Sarai to Dishin' It Out

 Warning:  This may be considered a little spicier than most are used to.  After all, Lisabet is the queen of sexy writings, but she does it with such class.

Helping Vampires to Save the World

Let's face it. Vampires are sexy. Something about the undead stirs up our juices. Perhaps it's their irresistible power. Even when we know the danger, we're so very tempted to surrender to their all-consuming lust. Maybe we want to comfort them, to save them a lonely, bloody eternity. Maybe we secretly crave immortality ourselves.

Vampires are frequently portrayed as evil or at least amoral, viewing humanity from the jaded perspective of centuries. Now, though, vampires are doing their part to save the world.

Coming Together: In Vein is a brand new collection of vampire-themed erotica and erotic romance edited by Lisabet Sarai. All sales of this novel-length volume support Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières). MSF works in nearly 70 countries providing medical aid to those most in need regardless of their race, religion, or political affiliation. Right now, despite being barred from the country, MSF doctors and nurses are in Syria, working with patients from both sides of the civil war. They're performing surgery in caves and sneaking into refugee camps to distribute desperately needed medications.

You can help MSF in its life-saving mission, simply by indulging your passion for vampires. Buy a copy of Coming Together: In Vein in ebook, Kindle format, or print. Enjoy! Then help spread the word! Every copy we sell has the potential to save someone's life.

The list of contributors includes many names you'll recognize. Every one of these authors has provided his or her work free of charge, to support the charitable aims of the project. Furthermore, the editor is giving away a free copy of her short story collection Body Electric  to everyone who buys a copy of Coming Together: In Vein. (For details of this offer, click here.)

You'll find an excerpt below – just to whet your appetite.

Sink your teeth into Coming Together: In Vein. Help our vampires save the world. 

Tell me about Barbara,” she asked finally. “The woman in the photos.” As soon as she saw his ravaged face, she was sorry for the question.

“I was stupid, inexperienced. And we were so much in love. When I realized what I had become, I crawled to her on my hands and knees and begged her forgiveness. I was so terribly sorry to have ruined our plans for a life together. Barbara, though, had other ideas. She pointed out that, according to all information, we could now share eternity. All I had to do was turn her, make her into a vampire too.

“I was reluctant, but she convinced me. She was so beautiful, I couldn’t bear the notion that she would eventually age and die while I’d live forever.

“We planned the ritual carefully, almost as if it were our wedding ceremony...”

“The photos–” Lara interrupted.

“Right.” Jim laughed bitterly. “I set up the camera to record it all. The initiation of my beloved into the realm of the undead. But it all went terribly wrong.” He choked back a sob. Lara felt a sympathetic lump in her throat.

“What happened?”

“Everybody knows how you make a new vampire. First you drain the victim’s blood, bringing her close to death. Then you allow her to drink your blood. That’s what we planned. That’s what we did. It was incredible, terrifying and ecstatic.”

“But?”

“But she died. I couldn’t save her. I couldn’t turn her. Since then I’ve learned the truth.”

Lara was silent, waiting.

“To create a new vampire, you must suck the victim’s blood while you’re physically connected. While you’re having sex.”

“You’re joking!”

“No, it’s no joke. That’s why I ended up this way. That girl at the party—all she really wanted was my blood. But one thing led to another, and eventually we were fucking. I don’t think she really understood either.”

No wonder his little demonstration had produced such an intense effect. For him, blood lust and sexual desire were inextricably entwined. The instinctive drive to reproduce, to bring more souls over the boundary of death into the shadowy world that he inhabited, this was something he could not deny, and could only imperfectly control.

Lara knew she should be frightened. She should get out his seductive presence before she made a final, incorrigible mistake. The risk, the pure reality of it, only made her want him more.

 He was watching her. She could feel his eyes on her lips, on her throat, on the rise and fall of her breasts as her breath quickened.

She glanced around the bar, filling up now that it was after five. Donnie’s was not known as a “blood” bar, but still, she noticed half a dozen men wearing capes and pale make up, plus two or three women in slinky black dresses and wigs. It was pathetic, the way they all craved a fleeting taste of inhuman power, a brush with immortality. And here she sat, thigh to thigh with the genuine article.

“I don’t fully understand it,” Jim said, obviously catching  her thoughts once again. “Why would they want to be me? Power’s nice, but overall, I live a pretty lonely and miserable existence.”

“Maybe—maybe I can make you feel less lonely. For a little while.” Lara cradled his cheek for an instant, then pulled his mouth to hers. His lips were soft as any flesh, warm and muscular as they met and molded to her own lips. She tasted the wine he had been drinking, with background flavors of iron and salt. His tongue, too, felt human, jousting against hers, exploring, questioning.

Her rigid nipples pressed rudely through the stretchy fabric of her top, pleading for his attention. Of course he knew what she wanted. Without breaking the kiss, he cupped both breasts, tracing symmetrical circles around the tips. Her pussy clenched. Her thighs opened involuntarily. She rocked back and forth on the bench, rubbing her clit against the hard wood.

“Please,” she moaned against his open mouth, and then was silent, realizing that she did not have to say anything. He broke the kiss to throw a twenty pound note on the table, then pulled her to his chest.

“Imagine your apartment,” he said, close to her ear. “Think about your bedroom. And hold on tight.”


To get your own copy:  http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Together-Vein-Lisabet-Sarai/dp/1479125555

OMG...It's Madeline Baker/Amanda Ashley

When people ask me who inspired me to write western historical, I always say, Madeline Baker.  She’s been a favorite author of mine for a long time.  I’m pretty sure I’ve read everything historical she’s written, and now today, she’s agreed to be my guest here at Dishin’ It Out.  If you felt the ground tremble, it was only me doing a happy dance.  

1. Mandy, since I’ve admitted you’ve been a major inspiration to me, who was your inspiration to write western historical romance?

I guess I’d have to say Rosemary Rogers, since Sweet Savage Love was the first romance I ever read………..well, wait a minute, I think Ramona was probably the first romance I ever read,  but that was years earlier.

2. What was your first published novel and how long did it take you to complete it?

The first book I wrote was Comanche Flame. I don’t remember how long it took me to write it. I didn’t intend to publish it, so I wrote it in secret, whenever I had a few minutes, thought about it constantly, lived every scene, and, just like Joan Wilder in “Romancing the Stone”, I cried when I finished it and thought, “Damn, that’s good!”

3.  Remember the very first contract?  How much time passed before your first submission was accepted?

Well, it took me six years and 32 rejections before Dorchester bought Reckless Heart. It took me several rewrites before they published Comanche Flame. Once I signed a contract, the book was out in less than a year, as I recall. The first time I saw Reckless Heart in a store was July 3, 1985.

4.   I see your upcoming release is a vampire romance which seems to be very popular at the moment.  What made you branch out into the genres Amanda Ashley writes?

I’d written a bunch of historicals and I was getting a little burned out. My agent asked if I thought I could write a short paranormal story for an anthology, and I said I’d try. I wrote Masquerade, which was published in Secrets of the Heart by Topaz, and published later in After Twilight by Dorchester, and is about to be published again in Blood and Moonlight, also by Dorchester. Anyway, after that first taste, I fell in love with vampires and I’ve been writing them ever since.

5.  Do you find Amanda’s novels easier or harder to write than Madeline’s?  What major  difference to you note between them?

I don’t really notice any difference in difficulty, although I do notice a slight difference in tone.

6.  The “word on the loops” is that western romance is a declining genre.  Do you agree?

   Well, it is for me, at least in print, as I no longer have a publisher for my westerns. However, I’ve had three ebooks published – Passion’s Promise is a straight historical, Catch the Lightning and Capture the Lightning are very short stories that are time travel books, and are a spin off of Chase the Lightning. 

I also have another ebook coming out this year, In the Shadow of the Hills. And I just finished a short story – Reckless Destiny - the 5^th in my Reckless series – which I hope will also be out this year as an ebook. I’m giving serious consideration to having several of these shorter stories published in print for those who don’t have eReaders. Check my website for updates.  
 

7.   How do you feel about the increase in popularity of e-books?  Do you own an e-book reader?

    Well, I have mixed feelings about it. As an author, I want people to buy my books any way they can. As a reader, who reads in the bathtub, I prefer paperbacks, plus I like to see them on the shelf. However, I do own a Kindle. I have my Bible on it – easier to carry to church. I also downloaded Outlander, and it’s a lot easier to read on a Kindle! I hope books will always be available in print, no matter how popular eReaders become. As I said, I read in the tub, and I don’t want to read my Kindle there, as I occasionally fall asleep. I don’t mind ruining a book that cost $7 or $8, but I’d hate to ruin my Kindle! Most of my print books, old and new, are now available as eBooks.

8.  What one piece of advice would you give to someone trying to get their book noticed by an agent or publisher?

The only thing you can really do is write an amazing book and a good query letter. Everything else is a crap shoot. Perseverance does pay off, though. As I mentioned earlier, it took me six years and many rejections to find a publisher.

9. You’ve achieved publication of a staggering amount of titles.  Have you ever considered retiring or is writing in your blood?

Retiring? Are you insane? *smile* I love writing!!! I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s given me a wonderful sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and I’ve met some terrific people that I never would have met otherwise. Some of them have become good friends.

10. Who are your favorite authors?

I love Charlaine Harris’ Sookie books and Grave books, Maggie Shayne, Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, C.S. Harris, Kathleen Eagle, and Rachel Lee’s Conard County series.

11. Have you ever had a bad review, and if so, how did you handle it?

A bad review? Go check my pages on Amazon. Most of the reviews are bad. However, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a really bad review from an actual reviewer. The bad ones on Amazon hurt, but the nice emails and letters I receive complimenting my books more than make up for the nasty ones on Amazon. 

12.  And last but not least…when you find time to read the work of others, what sort of things bug you to the point of wanting to toss the book across the room.

The “F” word. It’s becoming more and more common and I’m buying fewer and fewer authors who used to be “auto-buys” for me because their books have become liberally sprinkled with the “F” word. And worse. I don’t believe there’s any place in a romance for that kind of profanity. Spare me arguments about “reality”.  Everyone I know reads romance to escape reality. I’m sorry that so many of my favorite authors have gone down that path.

Mandy, thank you for being my guest, and agreeing to let me pick your brain.  Again, as corny as it sounds, you’re my “role model.”  I always wanted to be Madeline Baker when I grew up, but I’m probably older than you are.  I’m very proud of my achievements as an author, and very happy to boast that Madeline Baker is my friend.

Thank you for asking me!  I enjoyed it.  Bound by Night will be out in September.  The sequel, Bound by Blood, will be out in October.  Thanks, again!

 Want more about Madeline Baker/Amanda Ashley?  Visit her website and drool.

Kayden McLeod Presents: Deadly Fetishes

** This is erotica, rated: XXX/R

Dear Reader,

There are some of you out there that are already familiar with two of my favourite characters, appearing first in Sara’s Story; Marcus and Kelly.

Deadly Fetishes started life as a 32k short story, but I’d always felt it unfinished, and took the completed manuscript and months worth of careful thought, and tripled it, building on two incredibly dynamic people who always kept me enthused during drafting. Each attribute that emerged, brought out a perfectionist I didn’t know I had in me.

Marcus and Kelly are on two separate sides of the spectrum, different in every conceivable way. If it weren’t for times of strenuous circumstances, I doubt there would be much chance of these two people ever coming together, creating an unbreakable bond, in more ways than one. A series of unexpected events send these two, along with their friends on a journey that changes both of them for all time.

Marcus detests not who he is, but who he is forced to be, constantly feeling confined, but still finding ways to revel in his life. He works for a fetish-club, and indulges in the benefits the only way he knows how to do anything; all the way.

Kelly is a small-town girl, who does everything that is expected of her...nearing the point of being spineless. She became a vampire quite by accident, turned by her best friend and only family, Sara. Together they face a huge and scary world alone and unguarded, forced to flee for the ‘big city’, and in turn finding both the people who want to save them, and those who’d rather see them dead.

Yet they come together with mesmeric force, gravitating towards a single focal point, ignoring their vast differences.

Deadly Fetishes, Erotic Paranormal comes out in E-Book format February 7th 2010, by Eternal Press, and print a few weeks afterwards on Amazon.

Happy Reading...

Kayden McLeod

http://kaydenmcleod.com/

http://www.kaydenmcleod.blogspot.com/

http://www.kaydenmcleodparanormal.blogspot.com/

Deadly Fetishes

Genre: Erotic Paranormal

Length (word-count): 92k

Rating: R/ Four Flames/ Erotica

BUY LINK FOR E-BOOK: http://www.eternalpress.ca/deadlyfetishes.html

Tagline:

A woman finds a soul mate she could never live without, even if it kills her.Summary:
Kelly needs to get herself a fetish. A newly-converted vampire, she’s quiet, conservative, and prone to panic attacks. When her friend drags her to a vampire fetish club, she meets Marcus, a walking manual on sexual pleasure. Marcus is captivating and dangerous and knows exactly what he wants. With a single-minded purpose, he scoops Kelly up from her abnormal, disillusioned life and shows her the pleasures of immortality. His obsession with her body knows no limits, and her desire only burns hotter every time he touches her. She drives him insane with the blinding need to hear her scream his name with absolute abandon. Marcus shows her the true world of vampires, which is more magical than Kelly had ever dreamed.

Excerpt:

“My name is Marcus, what’s yours?” He smiled encouragingly at me as his eyes raked my body and made my cheeks burn again.

He seemed so predatory, so dangerous. The thought made me laugh in my head, where he couldn’t question it or wonder why I had. If one of us were a hunter, it wasn’t him.

“Kelly,” I said.

He held my hand still, bringing it to his lips with an aching slowness.

My body warmed at the sight of him bent over me. He was almost possessive in the way he looked at me. And I was shocked when he completely ignored a particularly fabulous brunette dancing beside us. She eyed him right in front of me, not attempting in the least to hide it.

“A pleasure to meet you,” he said, just before his lips touched my knuckles, eyes rolling up to meet mine.

“Same,” I whispered, looking at Sara for guidance.

This was a specimen I had never encountered before. Was there precedence for how you dealt with such boldness? Sara would know that, but she just shook her head, and threw me into the deep end yet again.

Kayden McLeod's Deep Water Legends, Character Interview

Genre: Paranormal Science Fiction (Vampires)

Length (word-count): 18k

For Excerpt and Blurb:

http://kaydenmcleod.com/paranormalsciencefiction/deepwateregends

Buy Link For Kindle-Format E-Book:

http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Water-Legends-ebook/dp/B00336F2M4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263157258&sr=8-2



Character Interview:




When there is a high-profile case, such as the betrayal of one of their own, the Council has laws set in place to see it ‘properly documented’, and one of those rules is to situate a series of spells about the premises, to record exactly what is said by whom, their ‘movements’, and on the occasion their emotional impact to what is said, to keep a more accurate text-record, in case it’s needed in the future. This document encompasses exactly what was predetermined to happen in that basement room of the headquarters of the Vancouver vampire Council.

There are some things out there not in vampirekind’s best interest to know...such as when other races really did exist out there. As Canada’s most powerful vampire in more ways than one, it’s Manuel’s final decision to leave out very important parts of the real story, to perhaps salvage something of the waste lain by one single Rogue, whom stole Council property, along with a human, all in a single bid to prove he wasn’t the lunatic he was named.

This document, even as scarce as it is to what actually happened that night on Mount Robson, was mysteriously lost to the Council after the proper personnel filed it away, leaving a log as to its ‘whereabouts’….until now. This is the first time it has been opened since that fateful night.


Official Documentation of the Interview of the Foxworth Council Hunters

CONFIDENTIAL, TO BE SEALED AND FILED IN THE ARCHIVES IMMEDIATELY UPON COMPLETETION


Interview with:

Ceanna Foxworth, Council Hunter

Arcadia Foxworth, Council Hunter


Interviewer: Dwayne Kilmarco, assistant to Manuel Martinez, Councilman

Official Witness: Manuel Martinez, Head of Canada, Councilman


* * * * *


Dwayne: This is an official record, where only truth will be told...the only place any of the truth will be.

Manuel: *Barks out a laugh* Don’t be a smartass, just get on with the legal crap.

Arcadia: I don’t understand why the vampire Council even needs ‘legal crap’.

Manuel: Because you’re not the one who gets to make the rules...and then make the others follow them.

Ceanna: Or, so you try.

Dwayne: Do I really have to read the entire write-up for this to be official? Everyone is just going to lie anyways...

Manuel: No, not really, just the motions to appease the little beings that plague me day and night with their constant bickering.

Dwayne: But I get to know what actually happened right?

Arcadia: Sorry boss, your boss said no one. One more secret I get to keep from you.

Ceanna: Don’t worry Dwayne, it really isn’t that interesting.

Dwayne: Right...that’s why we’re having this huge game of charades right? Manuel doesn’t seal up cases like this, ever. Something happened out there, something that made the both of you want to leave the Council for good. I’ve known you your entire lives, and I know the hard you’ve had it.

Arcadia: And that has what to do with anything?

Manuel: That is takes a lot to scare you off.

Arcadia: So? Have you people met my wife? Do you know what she is capable of doing to me, if I continue to endanger myself for a corporation I can no longer believe in? No offence, Manny.

Manuel: *Sigh* As usual, none taken. I do not much like the corruption either...it just isn’t like the old days at all, nor what my brothers and I envisioned.

Ceanna: *Smiles coldly* When the councilmen disobey you and decide to abuse their power like they did in Fernando’s case, you could just kill them all...you are powerful enough.

Manuel: I can’t...

Arcadia: *Sits up sharply in his chair* Why the hell not?

Dwayne: Because the first rules, the ones that the Original Cursed Ones follow to this dat, stays his hand. All three of us know how Manuel is about upholding what they believe is right.

*Arcadia snorts, while Ceanna rolls her eyes*

Ceanna: Yea. Right. Manuel always obeys all the laws. *Snickers*

Manuel: *Sly grin* I never break the rules. Ever.

Dwayne: Bullshit! For the first time in British Columbia’s history, you’re letting a councilman and woman go. Do any of you doubt that hasn’t resonated throughout our community...wondering what makes them special?

Manuel: Of course I am. I know better than to go against who stands behind them. They have the forces of nature on their side, plus a Mother who would beat six dozen different ways, if I did not relinquish them back completely within her care. Or that is what I’m allowing others to believe.

Dwayne: But what happened to the human that the Rogue, Fernando stole?

Ceanna: Daphne? Those details are classified, but it was taken care of.

Dwayne: So what can you tell me then?

Arcadia: I think we already covered that.

Dwayne: Then why the hell am I even here? Do you people have any clue how much work this man makes me do? Waste of my time, if you ask me.

Manuel: You’re on my time, little man. I’ll waste it however I please. Let’s wrap this up. There are far better things for us to be doing; reset the spells, and have personnel file it away. I’ll make sure it goes missing after they’ve done it.

Arcadia: *Laughs* There really was no point to this, was there?

Manuel: *Shoots Arcadia a level glare* There is very reason to do this. In order to let you leave unscathed, I have to move mountains, but I’m willing to do it. To minimize the backlash of going against everything they believe in, I have to not outright break as many laws as possible.

*Dwayne recites the incantation backwards, releasing the energy powering the spells back into the atmosphere, the words and actions magically appearing as it happened freezing, but not before he slips the record into the folder and seals it.*


http://kaydenmcleod.com/

http://kaydenmcleod.blogspot.com/

http://www.kaydenmcleodparanormal.blogspot.com/

Thursday Tourist - Tabitha Shay

A Small View of Tabitha Shay’s Vampire World

Hi Readers,
When I first began writing the Winslow witches of Salem series, I had no plans to write a series. Certainly, I had no idea of bringing vampires into the brand new world I was creating. I’m sure as with most authors, once I sat down and began to have a bit of a vision quest, the ideas went totally berserk. I couldn’t get a handle on them. First, the witch world of Ru-Noc grew. But then, I knew I had to have an antagonist.

Where were these characters going to come from? And why? What did they want? And again…why did they want it? Okay. I was on a roll. I had my witch characters…the good, the bad, the ugly.

Aha! As my world of magic grew and grew, I had to stop and think a bit more. Was this battle between good and evil only going to involve this one single realm? Then…Why should it? Why shouldn’t they have neighboring realms other than humans? If I have a witch world, then why not include all the other species we’re familiar with? Vampires. Werewolves. Demons. The plot thickened.

Slowly, my other realms began to take shape, but I didn’t want to overwhelm my readers with so many worlds and characters all at once. So I stuck to the original idea and developed my witch world. Then as each book progressed, I began to filter in the other realms and with these other realms, also came the good, the bad, the ugly.

It wasn’t just Ru-Noc that was in trouble and on the brink of war, on the brink of becoming extinct. It was all my worlds.

Like Ru-Noc, each of my realms have their great leaders…their heroes and heroines who fight just to keep their way of life alive, but as the battles start to take shape, as these wars begin to overlap into the numerous realms, each hero and heroine find themselves pulled into the other worlds when they really want no part of them.

As the heroes and heroines meet and fall in love, they discover they can no longer live in a vacuum and ignore what is happening in their neighboring worlds. Thus, the witch world spills over into the vampire realm, but more than this, the male witches suddenly discover their numbers are few. Their females are breeding with their one major enemy, the Demons. Their species is being eradicated at warp speed.

In my vampire realm, they have their own war going on and choose to leave the witches to their fate. The vampires I create are mostly the typical vampires we’re all used to reading about. They can’t go out in the sunlight, but some have learned to tolerate a few minutes of early morning sun. They have to have blood to survive and they certainly aren’t ashamed of this fact. The males are sensual, sexual beings who have no problem ‘sexing’ any female from any race, be they witches, werewolves, humans…well, you get the idea.

Some sleep in coffins. Some don’t.


Their world is made up of laws and rules that have worked perfectly well for them for many centuries…but that is all about to change. After all, they no longer live in medieval times.

My vampires are an ancient race, even more ancient than my witches, but they didn’t begin life in the human realm they now co-exist in. They come from the realm known as Pi-Ram. They choose to live in Romania/Transylvania and have broken their bonds with their home realm…they think. Again, things are about to change.
Of course, they arrived in Romania long before Vlad the Impaler made his debut. My vampires can read minds without sharing their blood. They have several rulers and each Prince of Darkness has a small principality where they will eventually become the ruling king, but they still answer to the ONE KING…Dracula, at least in the mortal realm.

You know I couldn’t leave out the Father of Vampires…right?

Dracula, of course, is ancient. He’s a bit on the testy side, a total womanizer, but he loves his clans and will do whatever it takes to see that their way of life continues.

When the vampires first enter the witch series, Valerian, one of the ruling princes is on the verge of becoming king of his domain. But you just know there’s a fly in the ointment. He has a twin brother, Brasov who challenges his right to be king and since so many centuries have passed and no one can recall which of the brothers was born first, a decision must be reached.

A race for the throne begins in a most unusual way. Who becomes the ruling king will be decided by the Ancients, based on which brother takes a First Bride and breeds an heir first.

Sounds easy?

Not so.

Finding and acquiring a First Bride and even managing to keep her once obtained suddenly turns into a major challenge for our sexy vamps. The Brides come from different species, but the one thing they all agree on: First Bride…Only Bride.
They aren’t willing to share their new mates…only, the Prince’s of Darkness have laws they must live by. Three Brides is the law and there’s no changing it.

Our hunky vamps are caught up in their private battle to win a Bride when out of the blue they’re attacked by the same race that is slowly wiping out the witch realm...Demons.

Suddenly, the battles taking place in Ru-Noc is at their own front door and the vamps find if they want to survive, they’ll have to join forces with the witches…easier said than done when the witches aren’t too keen to become the vamps next meals.

Now dear reader, we have all kinds of wars taking shape and everyone is losing, except of course….the Demons.

So readers, you can read all about these characters and their battles in Witch’s Magic, book four in the Winslow witches of Salem series. Scope out my website at http://www.tabithashay.com for some wonderful artwork of these hot, sexy vampires. Remember my books are available in E-format at http://www.eternalpress.ca or if you prefer print, at Amazon.

For every guest today who leaves a comment, I’ll drop your name in the witch’s hat and about 6pm, I’ll hold a drawing. The winner will receive an e-copy of one of my books. Your choice…be sure and leave a way for me to contact you or check back about 7pm CST for the winner’s name.

Until next time…happy reading.

Tabitha Shay

Who Needs Spring When You Have The Vampire Family?

I'm sure some of naughty little fiends (!) are familiar with Eternal Press and my novel with them, The Vampire Family. We came out last year in ebook formats and last month, we became available in paperback! Hip, Hip! So, I'll just get right to the good stuff. I know that's what you want. Horror, dark fantasy, historical, urban, paranormal, romance, these greedy little vampires do it all!

Here's Our blurb from our Eternal Press Page:

Sadistic? Check. Domination? Check. Happiness? Not for all.

Antonio Welshire accepts the mysterious Mestiphles' offer for vampiric power, but fails to consider that not all in his family desires evil. Daughter Victoria revels in the debauchery, but eldest daughter Samantha loathes the darkness. Enemies are in no short supply when the family turns to darkness. Charismatic rebel Gaston turns up to rival for Antonio's power; the vampire lover Jean can destroy them once and for all, and henchwoman Lilith seeks to supplant Antonio as Mestiphles' favorite. Who will be declared the victor? And in the end, though they've survived coven wars and persecutions since the 12th century, can The Vampire Family survive each other? Killing his abusive parents isn't enough for Antonio Welshire. Rape and death follow him through his youth in the 12th Century-until a stranger named Mestiphles give Antonio unimaginable vampire powers. Fearful yet captivated by his allure, Antonio's adopted sisters Ann and Elizabeth share this gift with him and their children-Victoria, James, Samantha, and Stephen. Antonio is a cruel ruler , and after his defeat of the young rebel Gaston, Antonio struggles with Lilith-another magical pet also created by Mestiphles. Antonio's vampire family grows over the centuries, each vampire loving and losing vampire fledglings over time. Wars, persecutions come adn go, but the family's troubles always stem from within. Elizabeth may be his wife, but Ann supplants her as Antonio's mistress. By the 20th century, Elizabeth has found love again-unfortunately her fledgling Jean share's Samantha's disdain for the vampire life. Will The Vampire Family self destruct before the 21st Century?

We're also available at Fictionwise/Barnes and Noble-at a discount if you're a member!


The Vampire Family is meant to be a parallel examination into the high and lows, loves and losses, darkness and light of one twisted group of immortals through the centuries. Here's a more detailed breakdown of our storylines and characters. For more infor, you can check out my official website For Flying Servants Only.......

Book 1: Conflict

Antonio Welshire’s downfall begins as a young man in the British Isles almost 1,000 years ago. Caught between abuse and poverty, Antonio's ambition leads him to power, and a unique stranger named Mestiphles. Antonio's tyranny, however, is contested by Gaston-Antonio’s shrewd and charismatic young rival. Will Antonio be victorious against the unruly Gaston and gain Mestiphles’ favor? Or will the battle destroy Antonio and his family?

Book 2: Pinnacle

Elizabeth’s new fledgling Jean romances the weary Samantha, and the lovers plan to upset the already shaky 1,000 years of Antonio’s reign. Mestiphles wants The Masquerade-an annual party held by Antonio to attract unsuspecting guests-to go off smoothly, but Ann and Elizabeth’s escalating tensions also threatened to destroy the family's decadent lifestyle. Will Samantha finally be free of her father's rule? Can Antonio keep his vampire coven on top or will Mestiphles take it all away?


Book 3: Hunted

Victoria returns to upset Samantha’s not so perfect life. The remaining Welshire vampires must form an uneasy alliance to defeat Lilith, an avenger sent by Mestiphles to finish the dysfunctioning Welshire coven once and for all. Lilith failed Mestiphles in the past and is determined to hunt down the fallen coven one by one to impress him. Will the Welshires prevail? Can Lilith complete Mestiphles’ plans and destroy the Welshires? Which coven will gain Mestiphles’ favor?


Now, now, you probably want an excerpt for those juicy little appetites! I've got a short one ready here-I can't hog up all of Ginger's Space, now, can I? ;0) For a lengthy dash of free samples, Check our our Vampfam Blog.

http://vampfam.blogspot.com

You can also read more about The Vampire Family and keep up to date with our appearances by subscribing to our blog or friending and following us. If you prefer groups, you can come on over and hang out at the Kristin Battestella Yahoo Group. We're due for a Summer contest in a few months!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kristinbattestella/

And of course, you can get all the latest information about our paperback edition by visiting our page on Amazon. The look inside feature is now available!


Alright so here's the naughty little excerpt!



“Catherine?” Antonio’s shadowy figure stood at her door. The tiny flame shortened in a clump of wax as the maid looked up.
“Yes, sir?” She set down her quill. “You sound different, sir. Are you ill?”
“Yes.” He stepped toward her. “I need your help.”
The dim light shined in his face. He couldn’t see. His eyes felt bloodshot, and his hands seemed pale as the candle flickered. He put his hands on Catherine’s arms. She felt warm to his cold touch. Sharp teeth cut the inside of his lips.
Antonio’s voice trembled. His hands shook. “I need your help.”
“Of course, sir.” She put her arms on his, but Antonio shook and felt the muscles of his forearm clench. “What can I do? Here, sit down.”
His arms came around her waist. Antonio heard her blood rush and saw her face flush. He put his head down on her chest. She trembled, but held Antonio’s head.
“Such overwhelming!” He spoke more to himself than Catherine. His words and hot breath were muffled against her. “Now I know what Mestiphles meant. I know what to do. I need to do it. I have to have it!”
“I’ll get some water.” Catherine was about to get up, but Antonio clenched his hands tighter around her.
“No,” he said hoarsely. His nails dug into her sides, and she winced. Antonio relaxed his grip, and she allowed his hands to roam. He unlaced her dressing gown. His hands stopped shaking, and bewitched, Catherine gave him total control. He pulled the loosened gown off her shoulders and swept Catherine to her feet in one swift motion. Yes, he knew she was captivated and paralyzed. He could be so frightening, yet masculine and desirable. Antonio put his head to her neck and bit the pumping jugular.
She flinched, but her blood flowed into Antonio’s mouth. The short life drain was ecstatic, but soon grew empty. Her life was now in him.
Antonio let Catherine’s limp body fall to the bed. He had her, and now he wanted more.


Bless Ginger's little heart for having us today! You can catch me, Ginger, and the rest of the Eternal Press Gang next when we hang out with the Talking Two Lips Group Saturday April 18. I'll also be chatting live 9 p.m. Tuesday April 21 at Coffee Time Romance. If you've got a few moments that night, stop on by!

Previously, I've taken The Vampire Family out for some live fun with Fallen Angels Reviews and Night Owl Romance. We've had several reviews and interviews as well, most recently with Raine Delight's Spotlight:

http://authorrainedelight.com/2009/03/author-blog-spotlight-is-on-kristin-battestella/

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/Interviews/2007/Nov07-LindaL-KristinBattestella.htm

http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/interviews/kristinbattestella.asp

http://redrosesforauthors.blogspot.com/2008/10/interview-with-kristin-battestella.html

http://eternalpressauthors.blogspot.com/2008/05/interview-with-kristin-battestella.html

Whew! There's plently more Vampy press at my home page, jsnouff.com/kristin. You can read up on severl of my horror short stories as well or taste a bit of my non fiction and reviews at I Think, Therefore I Review.

Up next writing wise is a horror short story I've been going back and forth on called The Haberdasher. Samples of this and other short stories are available at Yahoo Group. I've also done some editing work on my pal Leigh Wood's sf erotica On The Way To New Isosceles, which I am happy to say was recently contracted with Eternal Press! For seriously naughty samples of that one, check out Leigh's blog:

http://leighwood.blogspot.com

On a final note, I have to mention that one of the first questions I'm always asked is, "Is there a sequel to The Vampire Family?" My answer? Maybe...

Meet Antonio, Vampire Family Patriarch

An Interview with Antonio Welshire, patriarch of The Vampire Family

By Leigh Wood

Antonio Welshire sits down on this cold winter day for a rare interview with author Leigh Wood.

Leigh Wood: Mister Welshire, you murdered your mother and father-

Antonio Welshire: I was abused.

LW: That being said, you were 16 years old.

AW: 16 years is a long time to be abused, but please, call me Antonio.

LW: Antonio, isn’t there an alternative to patricide?

AW: If patricide is necessary, than no, there’s no alternative. A child should be disciplined, risen to take control, carpe diem.

LW: You have five children. How do you keep them in line, then? Is it not true that at least two of your children have tried to kill you?

AW: Those are vicious rumors brought forth from my enemies. If you cannot trust your family, what is there?

LW: These enemies, would that be The Lilithan?

AW: Do not speak that name to me. We’re having such a lovely debate, Leigh, there’s no need to bring bitter business into it, is there?

LW: You business is built upon the bitter, is it not?

AW: Only for the victim.

LW: What about your recruits? Is your extended family ever displeased with the vampire lifestyle?

AW: Some have a period of…adjustment…but that is uncommon. A few years of melancholy before the immortal experience is fully appreciated.

LW: And your wives?

AW: I’ve been married only once. Elizabeth has been my one and only for ten centuries.

LW: There’s no need to lie, Mister Welshire.

AW: Well, of course, there is many a pretty face under my roof, but many handsome men are found in my family as well.

LW: Including your two sons, Stephen and James?

AW: Very handsome men, warriors. They keep a few steady ladies, but marriage isn’t set in stone for a vampire.

LW: Is it true you favor your daughter Victoria the most?

AW: Favoritism! How can a father choose? Victoria is however, the natural leader among all my children. I suspect she will rule my clan long after I’ve gone.

LW: Do you not expect to live forever?

AW: I’ve been alive for 1,000 years. It would be unrealistic to assume infinite immortality. I’ve seen turbulent times before-times ripe for a vampire to step up and reign. There have also been dark times, underground times.

LW: You are not afraid to speak of being a vampire now?

AW: No.

LW: You don’t care if humanity knows what you are?

AW: Humanity knows what I am. I respect people, I really do. It is not us who don’t take care, but them. What does humanity believe in today? Not themselves, not this planet? They do not fear us, and they should. A vampire has emotion, desire, power. Humans are full of their frailty.

LW: Do you really believe that? I don’t.

AW: I could prove it too you…