Nerves were wracked on all sides. The Board, the employees, the suppliers and, to some extent, the public (as they were the buyers) all waited anxiously for the word, any word. The word finally came down. It was not good.
Arthur Heuer was dying.
The battle his body was waging with illness had taken a heavy toll and the illness now had the favor. Though Arthur was receiving the highest quality of care from noted specialists, it was an undeniable fact that he was not long for this world.
The fate of Heuer Corporation balanced on a tenuous fulcrum. Arthur had been an industrious entrepreneur in his youth and had built up an international conglomerate of businesses. His net worth was in the multi-millions, perhaps nearing a billion dollars, considering all of his holdings. He had devoted his life to Heuer Corporation…and one other thing.
"Come on, Uncle Art, you're not going to let this kick you around," Danica maintained. She had been sitting stoically with her uncle when the doctor delivered the grim prognosis. She harbored no illusions about how ill her uncle really was but deep inside she held hope that he would still fight back from it. Her uncle had always been such a strong, vivacious man. It broke her heart to see him lying in a hospital bed, so frail and defeated. She put on her brave face for him. It would do him no good to see her moping. Despite what she felt, she would keep up her strong front, for his sake at least. Perhaps for her own, too.
Arthur looked over at his niece and gave a wan smile. Danica, sweet Danica had been his other driving force. Arthur had never married nor had any children of his own. Danica was the daughter of Arthur's younger sister, Gretchen. After Gretchen's sudden heart attack and unexpected passing when Danica was fifteen, Arthur became sole guardian of his niece. Losing Gretchen was a difficult blow for Arthur. The siblings had always been close. After her passing, he doted more heavily on Danica. She reminded him so much of his sister.
"Let me call that specialist in from Stockholm," Danica continued. "You know, the one we discussed last week, Dr. Ambjorn."
"No," Arthur placed his hand upon hers. He stared into her dark brown eyes, so full of passion. "I am tired of so many doctors, so many tests. What more is there for me in this life, Danica?"
"What are you talking about? There is plenty more. You have a gazillion people looking up to you, Uncle Art. The Board calls every day."
"They call because they want me to kick off so they can split up my holdings amongst themselves. You know how they are, vultures. The whole lot of them is nothing but a pack of vultures. I should have fired them long ago but despite it all, they do know how to make a lot of money for the corporation. What a damn shame."
Danica snickered. "Especially Jim Winston. That man could spy a penny on the ground from a mile away and run for it. I never met such a money-grubbing person in my life." Danica had never made her disdain for the Board's Vice-Chairman a secret. "There are other things, though. You're a great man, Uncle Art. You've done great things with your life. You came here to America with nothing but a hope, a dream and the dirt on the bottom of your shoes. Look at you now. You're one of the most influential CEOs in the world. I respect you above anybody else. I love you, Uncle Art. You've always been there for me. I could always count on you. Do you think I'm going to let my favorite person in the world give up so easily?"
"You do not make this easy for me, Danica. All I ever wanted for you was the best. I did not want for you to have to break your back every day like I did when I first moved here."
"You gave me the best of everything. I never wanted anything more. The only thing I want now is more time with you."
"No, Danica. That is not how it should be. You are young and beautiful, so beautiful. You are just like your mother. You need to forget about this tired old fart of an uncle and find yourself a handsome young husband who will love you and treat you like a princess."
"More likely will try to get me drunk, try to have his way with me and then try to weasel me into getting you to fund him somehow." Danica tried to bite back the bitterness that crept into her voice. While she'd had a few boyfriends in her life, she hadn't felt that any of them were akin to a modern Prince Charming, except one. She had met a very special someone a few years ago, Roger Mackie. When he found out that she was Arthur Heuer's niece, he turned on the charm even more. Danica had been crushed when she discovered Roger knew who she was all along. The relationship had been a ploy to try to get closer to her uncle. Roger never truly cared for her, only her family fortune. She vowed never again would she fall for a handsome face and flowery words. She felt doomed to be the old spinster instead of the princess.
"I have faith that it will happen for you someday, Danica."
"Our family doesn't seem to have much luck in the 'happily ever after' department." She gave a half-chuckle.
"Do not disregard the notion only because it did not happen for me or for your mother. Our parents and grandparents were all married until they died. Despite everything, they had love."
"Well, I hope that Prince Charming isn't in the corporate world. I'd hate to preface the wedding by having to add a non-competition clause to our pre-nup."
Arthur started laughing heartily until the laughter threw him into a raspy coughing fit. Danica quickly poured him a glass of water to clear his throat and put the head of the hospital bed up higher so he could breathe more easily. Once the episode had passed, she sat back down in the chair next to the bed. Her worried expression remained.
"I have spoken to the legal team and finalized my Will. Adrian will read it formally since he has been designated the executor. I will tell you now, though, what I have said. I am leaving everything to you, Danica. You will take my place."
"Uncle Art, I thought we discussed this. I'm not cut out to be a CEO."
"Yes, you are. You are brighter than you give yourself credit for. Everything of mine will be yours. The Board will report to you."
"If you want to leave me something in your Will, can we make it something easy like a pony?"
Arthur laughed again until the spasms wracked his chest. Danica offered him tissues to cough up the mucous from his lungs into. "Danica, you are going to make me laugh myself to death." He paused only a brief moment. "However, I cannot think of a better way to die."
"Well, keep thinking, Uncle Art." She adjusted the oxygen cannula on his nose. "If you want something funny, you should get better, walk in to the next Board meeting, stand on the table and moon the entire room."
He held back the laugh this time, though his eyes twinkled with mirth. "Take some time away. Leave the corporation in their hands. You will be in control, but it does not mean you have to personally make every decision, Danica. That is why I hired those clowns in the first place. You will have a lot of money to do whatever you want with it. Take a long trip somewhere. Buy a new house."
"Vacation sounds nice," she nodded. "Where to, though? You and I have trekked almost everywhere in the Free World. Hell, you even took me to Antarctica. How many people can say they've gone joyriding amongst penguins in their natural habitat? Not many."
"You love Europe."
"You've got me there. I never need an excuse to go back to Europe," Danica admitted. "I'll tell you what, Uncle Art. In the future, when this Will of yours finally does need to go in to effect, I'll buy myself a castle. I'll be the princess you always say I am." The idea had popped into her head so quickly that her mouth reacted before her brain could hold the words back.
"I want you to keep your word to me on that, Danica. I will trust that you will do this without drawing up paperwork to enforce it."
"No contract? Why, Uncle Art, I'm positively shocked that you'd suggest making a bargain with no contract! You must be more ill than I thought!" Danica feigned surprise.
"Sometimes you have to trust your instinct, Danica. Things are not always as they seem. There are good people left in the world. Sometimes you just have to dig much deeper to find them." He reached over and placed his hand upon hers, squeezing gently.
"I suppose you're right. There is that one guy from the mail room, Thomas. He's always pleasant when he's bringing up the daily mail to the offices." Plus he has a nice ass, she thought to herself. "He feeds my chocolate habit."
"You see? Even in our fast-paced world, somebody takes the time to go out of their way for you."
"He could be ass-kissing too."
"It is possible, but wouldn't you prefer to think that he is just a nice person?"
"True enough. It's all moot anyway because you're getting better and coming back to work soon." Danica nodded defiantly.
"Not this time, Princess. You were right when you spoke of my accomplishments earlier. I am proud of the life I led. I built something from nothing and I gave much back to my peers and my community. I like to think that I did my part to better this world and now I can leave it content that my actions will speak for me long after I am gone."
"Uncle Art, that's a pigeon on the windowsill, not a buzzard. You're not dying yet."
Arthur laughed once more. As his body jolted from the force of the laugh, he gasped for breath. His eyes met Danica's in a dead-set look. "I…love…you. Don't…forget…your… word." He gasped again, then let it out with a rattling wheeze. His body slumped back against the pillow and the monitors hooked up to him blared a loud alert.
The color drained from Danica's face as she saw the spark of life extinguish from her uncle's eyes. A nurse and a doctor came running in and assessed the man.
"Can't you do something?" Danica shouted as she backed away from the bed, giving them room to work. "Get the paddles, maybe?"
"These were his wishes, stated in his advance directives," the doctor explained quietly. "He asked not to be resuscitated."
Danica knew that. She gazed back at the shell of a man who had once been her pillar of strength. "O.K.," she whispered shakily. Tears filled her eyes and she placed a hand against the wall to steady herself. She turned her head sharply as the sound of the monitor ceased and realized that the doctor had turned it off. The nurse helped her gently into the chair so she would not fall.
"I'm sorry for your loss," the doctor offered. "Take what time you need."
Danica just gave an absent nod and sat there blankly while the nurse and doctor left her alone to say goodbye. She mustered strength for her legs to support her and walked over to stand next to the bed. Smoothing his white hair, she bit her lip to keep from crying harder. "You laughed yourself to death. It was the perfect way to die." She leaned over and placed a kiss on his head, then exited.
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Thursday, 11 December 2008
The Chronicles of Alcinia Book 2: Heart of the Earth by Miriam Newman
I thought my bones had melded to my chair. A good stout chair it was—oak—and it rocked, but I was done with rocking. They had taken my children away and so I sat, immobile in the half-winter cold of early April, feeling close to my mother who had died in that chamber. I had not eaten and barely taken water or wine for a fortnight. The drapes were drawn, a small fire rustled on the hearth, and I think I would have gone to Mother presently except for a resounding crash at my door. It was so loud that I was recalled, much against my will.
Light flooded through the opening. Hilgi's tread was heavy upon the stone floor; he was a big man. He looked just as I had seen him some months earlier. He still wore the circlet of a Northern prince, the gold armbands of a Chieftain's son, and his Havacian battle axe strapped to his chest. His furious expression was the same, as well. So he had looked the day he clove our mutual enemy King Edred of Tumagia in twain with that axe or its twin.
"What have they done to you?" he asked in Omani. It was the only language we had in common. But I did not care to speak on that day and I was the Queen and could do as I liked, so I kept silence.
"What have they not done to you?" he demanded again, wrenching open the drapes. I flinched as he sank into a knee-bend beside my chair, taking my chin firmly in
his big hand and looking into my face. "When did you last eat, Tia? You look like death!"
I made no reply and he backhanded me. I blinked.
"That's the first one," he said. "Every time you ignore me, you'll get another." I was more shocked than hurt and the hot seep of rage began to fill me like water soaking through a sponge. "Bad enough I was beaten by King Edred and a slave dealer in Omana…but you?"
"That's better." Tipping me forward to wrap the quilt from my bed around me, he lifted me, effortlessly. The world spun when he changed my position and I clutched him in panic as he bore me from that chamber, pausing only to kick my chair across the room so hard I could hear the solid oak splinter like kindling.
"That was a perfectly good chair," I objected.
"I'll make you another."
In the hallway, Alcinic guards were deep in conversation with some of Hilgi's Ancient Order fighters--men feared throughout the world for their habit of cutting out their enemies' hearts still beating.
"No crying, little Tia," Hilgi said softly. "If you want your men to live, be silent."
I was weak from starvation, grief and near-madness and it took me a few moments to realize that Hilgi and his men had not come from the last fighting in Tumagia to pay honor to my dead husband. They had come for me.
"Andun is not going to let you take me," I hissed, not too dazed to protect my men. Those guards at Landsfel would not stand a chance against Hilgi's fighters. Havacians followed no rules except their own, despite loudly demanding justice in whatever courts there were, but our men viewed them as allies. Some of them had fought alongside Havacians in the recent war. But the Ancient Order fighters were Hilgi's, body and soul, and would knife my unsuspecting men without a second's hesitation.
"You have three children by a man your cousin hated," Hilgi said softly. "Two of them stand between him and the throne. Your precious Andun may have killed Sergius, he will certainly kill his daughters and he would be glad to see the last of you."
I was shocked speechless because Andun had told me Tumagis had killed Sergius and his men. I had seen the fatal arrows. Of course, those would have been easy enough to get. We had fought the enemy for several years. The place was littered with their weapons and their bones.
"You have my children?" I asked weakly.
"Agnar does." Well, at least he had put his most trusted captain to that task. "Make no disturbance. I do not want them troubled by what they would see." I knew what that was and kept my mouth shut as he bore me quickly past some uneasy guards.
"My Lady?" one called. I roused.
"Keep to your post!" I responded firmly.
Hilgi was a personal friend and ally, I was holding onto him for dear life and they had received no orders from Andun. My guards also knew--as I did not--that some of the Omani troops remaining in my country were disloyal to my husband. If they had killed him, they would come after me and my children next. Omanis were accomplished assassins.
All I did know was that the light hurt my eyes, my heart was skipping beats and Hilgi was making good speed to the beach. I turned my face to his chest.
"I promised Sergius as my brother to protect you if he was killed," he said. "And you must be gotten out of Alcinia."
It had the ring of truth to it. I knew his father King Maruk had already been old when Hilgi was born. When the Empirate of Omana sent my husband to Havacia on his first command, I supposed it was natural that Hilgi took to a dashing young officer. And when Sergius compounded matters by marrying Arianya, Hilgi's sister, the die was cast. They had indeed become close as brothers and though I knew Hilgi could lie as nimbly as a mountain goat jumps, Sergius had warned me repeatedly that I could never trust Andun but could rely upon Hilgi.
That is why the Prince of Havacia carried me like a doll into pounding surf to one of the oiled leather skiffs Havacians used for passengers. Other craft would not attempt to come past the offshore island called Lady's Weeping for its habit of causing wrecks, but the red and white striped sails of King Maruk's fleet bobbed there on a fierce undertow and men took me speedily to Hilgi's ship, the Boar's Head. Ships of the Ancient Order--their macabre prows carved in the shape of gods and demons--surrounded it, but only skeleton crews were aboard. The other men who had sailed with Hilgi held my soldiers at swords' point while their Prince absconded with me.
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Light flooded through the opening. Hilgi's tread was heavy upon the stone floor; he was a big man. He looked just as I had seen him some months earlier. He still wore the circlet of a Northern prince, the gold armbands of a Chieftain's son, and his Havacian battle axe strapped to his chest. His furious expression was the same, as well. So he had looked the day he clove our mutual enemy King Edred of Tumagia in twain with that axe or its twin.
"What have they done to you?" he asked in Omani. It was the only language we had in common. But I did not care to speak on that day and I was the Queen and could do as I liked, so I kept silence.
"What have they not done to you?" he demanded again, wrenching open the drapes. I flinched as he sank into a knee-bend beside my chair, taking my chin firmly in
his big hand and looking into my face. "When did you last eat, Tia? You look like death!"
I made no reply and he backhanded me. I blinked.
"That's the first one," he said. "Every time you ignore me, you'll get another." I was more shocked than hurt and the hot seep of rage began to fill me like water soaking through a sponge. "Bad enough I was beaten by King Edred and a slave dealer in Omana…but you?"
"That's better." Tipping me forward to wrap the quilt from my bed around me, he lifted me, effortlessly. The world spun when he changed my position and I clutched him in panic as he bore me from that chamber, pausing only to kick my chair across the room so hard I could hear the solid oak splinter like kindling.
"That was a perfectly good chair," I objected.
"I'll make you another."
In the hallway, Alcinic guards were deep in conversation with some of Hilgi's Ancient Order fighters--men feared throughout the world for their habit of cutting out their enemies' hearts still beating.
"No crying, little Tia," Hilgi said softly. "If you want your men to live, be silent."
I was weak from starvation, grief and near-madness and it took me a few moments to realize that Hilgi and his men had not come from the last fighting in Tumagia to pay honor to my dead husband. They had come for me.
"Andun is not going to let you take me," I hissed, not too dazed to protect my men. Those guards at Landsfel would not stand a chance against Hilgi's fighters. Havacians followed no rules except their own, despite loudly demanding justice in whatever courts there were, but our men viewed them as allies. Some of them had fought alongside Havacians in the recent war. But the Ancient Order fighters were Hilgi's, body and soul, and would knife my unsuspecting men without a second's hesitation.
"You have three children by a man your cousin hated," Hilgi said softly. "Two of them stand between him and the throne. Your precious Andun may have killed Sergius, he will certainly kill his daughters and he would be glad to see the last of you."
I was shocked speechless because Andun had told me Tumagis had killed Sergius and his men. I had seen the fatal arrows. Of course, those would have been easy enough to get. We had fought the enemy for several years. The place was littered with their weapons and their bones.
"You have my children?" I asked weakly.
"Agnar does." Well, at least he had put his most trusted captain to that task. "Make no disturbance. I do not want them troubled by what they would see." I knew what that was and kept my mouth shut as he bore me quickly past some uneasy guards.
"My Lady?" one called. I roused.
"Keep to your post!" I responded firmly.
Hilgi was a personal friend and ally, I was holding onto him for dear life and they had received no orders from Andun. My guards also knew--as I did not--that some of the Omani troops remaining in my country were disloyal to my husband. If they had killed him, they would come after me and my children next. Omanis were accomplished assassins.
All I did know was that the light hurt my eyes, my heart was skipping beats and Hilgi was making good speed to the beach. I turned my face to his chest.
"I promised Sergius as my brother to protect you if he was killed," he said. "And you must be gotten out of Alcinia."
It had the ring of truth to it. I knew his father King Maruk had already been old when Hilgi was born. When the Empirate of Omana sent my husband to Havacia on his first command, I supposed it was natural that Hilgi took to a dashing young officer. And when Sergius compounded matters by marrying Arianya, Hilgi's sister, the die was cast. They had indeed become close as brothers and though I knew Hilgi could lie as nimbly as a mountain goat jumps, Sergius had warned me repeatedly that I could never trust Andun but could rely upon Hilgi.
That is why the Prince of Havacia carried me like a doll into pounding surf to one of the oiled leather skiffs Havacians used for passengers. Other craft would not attempt to come past the offshore island called Lady's Weeping for its habit of causing wrecks, but the red and white striped sails of King Maruk's fleet bobbed there on a fierce undertow and men took me speedily to Hilgi's ship, the Boar's Head. Ships of the Ancient Order--their macabre prows carved in the shape of gods and demons--surrounded it, but only skeleton crews were aboard. The other men who had sailed with Hilgi held my soldiers at swords' point while their Prince absconded with me.
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Tuesday, 2 December 2008
DCL Author Susan Blexrud at Carolina Day School!
Susan Blexrud's presentation on December 1 to Carolina Day School's senior English class (Mr. Jolly), talked to the group of aspiring writers about the publishing process and the importance of character development in fiction writing.
Thank you Susan for encouraging our youth to read and write!
www.thedarkcastlelo rds.com
Thank you Susan for encouraging our youth to read and write!
www.thedarkcastlelo rds.com
Monday, 1 December 2008
ONLY IN SPIRIT-A Coffee Time Romance Review!
ONLY IN SPIRITKATE HOFMAN, BILL HAWORTH, GWYN LACYISBN# 9781921347740October 2008The Dark Castle Lords Publicationswww.thedarkcastlelo rds.comE Book122 pages$4.50Anthology Rating: 3 cups
Only in Spirit
Bianca Saint-Antoine- -Bibi--is on her way to a Halloween party when she is accosted by four men. As the men are attempting to rape her, a stranger appears from out of nowhere to save her.
Armande de Lavigne convinces Bibi to skip the Halloween party. Instead, he takes her to his home where he is hosting a recital for a young pianist. Life takes a weird turn for Bibi when she discovers the man she is falling in love with is a spirit.
This story is one that stretches the imagination to its limits. Ms. Hofman uses the paranormal to take the reader on an adventure that is unbelievable, yet interesting.
Valentino’s Ghost
Camilla is being held captive in rural Colorado. Her captors are using her to make internet pornography. When a fifteen year old boy is captured, Camilla is convinced she needs to save him.
The ghost of Rudolf Valentino appears to Camilla after she is found hiding in his rusted out car at a local dump. Taken to the hospital, Camilla is near death and slips into a coma.
This is an interesting look at death. I enjoyed the way that Valentino behaves with Camilla. He finds her desirable, but knows that when she wakes, her future will be waiting for her.
Castle on the Moor
A young American couple, Peter and Faye, arrive at the castle to begin renovations for the new owners, The Rappist Monks. They find the castle in perfect condition and inhabited by a man named Percival.
Percival believes he has sold the castle to the Trappist Monks of old days, not a rock band of the current time. Chaos erupts, and Percival shows that he is not a living man, but a spirit.
Magic and mayhem are the things that Mr. Haworth gives the reader with his delightful story. With a dash of humor and a bit of history, this tale comes to life.
This is a great anthology. The history and paranormal collide in these stories, keeping the reader wanting more. All three authors made my imagination go wild with their individual tales of spirits and the afterlife. Each author gives a different take on the spirit world, offering refreshing viewpoints. This is a book full of magic and imagination.
KimberlyReviewer for Coffee Time RomanceReviewer for Karen Find Out About N
Only in Spirit
Bianca Saint-Antoine- -Bibi--is on her way to a Halloween party when she is accosted by four men. As the men are attempting to rape her, a stranger appears from out of nowhere to save her.
Armande de Lavigne convinces Bibi to skip the Halloween party. Instead, he takes her to his home where he is hosting a recital for a young pianist. Life takes a weird turn for Bibi when she discovers the man she is falling in love with is a spirit.
This story is one that stretches the imagination to its limits. Ms. Hofman uses the paranormal to take the reader on an adventure that is unbelievable, yet interesting.
Valentino’s Ghost
Camilla is being held captive in rural Colorado. Her captors are using her to make internet pornography. When a fifteen year old boy is captured, Camilla is convinced she needs to save him.
The ghost of Rudolf Valentino appears to Camilla after she is found hiding in his rusted out car at a local dump. Taken to the hospital, Camilla is near death and slips into a coma.
This is an interesting look at death. I enjoyed the way that Valentino behaves with Camilla. He finds her desirable, but knows that when she wakes, her future will be waiting for her.
Castle on the Moor
A young American couple, Peter and Faye, arrive at the castle to begin renovations for the new owners, The Rappist Monks. They find the castle in perfect condition and inhabited by a man named Percival.
Percival believes he has sold the castle to the Trappist Monks of old days, not a rock band of the current time. Chaos erupts, and Percival shows that he is not a living man, but a spirit.
Magic and mayhem are the things that Mr. Haworth gives the reader with his delightful story. With a dash of humor and a bit of history, this tale comes to life.
This is a great anthology. The history and paranormal collide in these stories, keeping the reader wanting more. All three authors made my imagination go wild with their individual tales of spirits and the afterlife. Each author gives a different take on the spirit world, offering refreshing viewpoints. This is a book full of magic and imagination.
KimberlyReviewer for Coffee Time RomanceReviewer for Karen Find Out About N
Friday, 28 November 2008
Free read and contest
The Weekly Write is up on my blog! Comment on the blog for a chance to win a prize!
Carpe Noctem,Des
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Carpe Noctem,Des
http://blog. myspace.com/ authordesireelee
New Release! The Aphrodite Affairs:Odyssey of Love by Kate Hofman
When Gregory arrived home close to eleven o’clock, he found Nicole by her daughter’s empty crib, sobbing her heart out. She whispered a broken-hearted, “Greg—”
Petra saw her chance. Speaking Greek, her voice sounding deeply saddened, she said, “Ye mou – my son, I wish I could’ve spared you this. Admittedly I never liked your wife; I thought she wasn’t good enough for you, and how right I was. I was worried the moment I saw Marissa, but your wife said she was fine, and went to her computer to write that filth.
“I sat beside my granddaughter’ s bed for hours and then became seriously concerned about her. I had to drag your wife away from her desk, made her realize how ill Marissa was. Forced her to call the doctor. By time he came, it was too late. The ambulance he called only served to take your daughter’s lifeless body away. That wicked, evil slut let your daughter die. I tried my best. Oh, my son—I am so desperately sorry about this.”
His face ashen, Gregory turned to Nicole. “Nini – is that true?” he whispered. Nicole, still clinging to her daughter’s crib, barely glanced up at him.
“Is what true?” she asked, her voice shaking. “Oh, Greg – I tried to call you on your cell-phone, but it was turned off. Philip came quickly. He tried everything—”
“Did you wait too long, as my mother said?”
“No, I called right away, but—”
“You were too busy writing to notice Marissa was dying?” In spite of his grief, Gregory’s voice was accusing, condemning.
“No, no, I wasn’t writing—” Nicole looked up from the crib. “Greg? Please—”
Petra positioned herself between Gregory and Nicole. In Greek, she said, her voice dripping compassionate concern, “My son, how my heart bleeds for what you’re forced to suffer now, because your selfish wife was too busy with her filthy book to care about your child. Surely you can’t trust her to be in your life any longer? Do the right thing and send her away now. A woman who will let her child die—”
Puzzled, Nicole tried to reach past Petra to Gregory, but the old woman was too strong and shoved Nicole roughly aside. She stumbled and fell. “Aha!” Petra screeched triumphantly. “While your daughter was dying, she was overdoing the wine. Calls herself a mother—”
Nicole got up and said, her voice shaking, “Greg, I haven’t had a single drop of wine. Of course not. I fell because your mother shoved me. Why would she—?” Gregory interrupted her coldly.
“My mother told me how my daughter came to die. You were too busy with your book to notice that she was seriously ill, and only called the doctor when my mother insisted. Please, go away. Out of my house. I can’t bear to look at you.”
Aghast, Nicole said, “Greg – that isn’t what happened. I wasn’t writing. You know I’m taking a sabbatical from writing. Your mother told me I was panicking and incompetent—”
“Incompetent. Yes. You let my daughter die. Leave me, Nicole.”
“Leave? No… Greg, I want us to go to Marissa – Philip told me where she is— Please?”
“Your concern comes a little late, Nicole. I know my mother doesn’t like you – but perhaps she had good reason for that. You let my daughter die.”
“Greg, I didn’t—Please, call Philip. He’ll tell you the facts.”
“Since you waited too long to call him, what could he tell me that my mother didn’t already tell me? For the last time, Nicole. Leave now.”
His handsome face ashen and expressionless, his eyes cold as an Arctic night, Gregory got to his feet and stared Nicole down.
Petra grabbed Nicole’s arm and dragged her from the room. “Get out, you poutana, and get out now. Here’s your purse. I’m sure it’s loaded with my son’s money and credit cards. You money-grabbing slut, that’s all women like you want – to marry a man for his money. Well, you won’t be married to my son for much longer, now that his eyes have at last been opened and shown him the lying bitch you are. Get out.” Petra dragged Nicole to the front door, gave her a rough shove and slammed the door behind her.
Desolate, Nicole walked on unsteady feet to the elevator. And I didn’t even get a chance to tell Greg that I’m pregnant with our second child.
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Darkest Blessings,
www.thedarkcastlelo rds.com
Petra saw her chance. Speaking Greek, her voice sounding deeply saddened, she said, “Ye mou – my son, I wish I could’ve spared you this. Admittedly I never liked your wife; I thought she wasn’t good enough for you, and how right I was. I was worried the moment I saw Marissa, but your wife said she was fine, and went to her computer to write that filth.
“I sat beside my granddaughter’ s bed for hours and then became seriously concerned about her. I had to drag your wife away from her desk, made her realize how ill Marissa was. Forced her to call the doctor. By time he came, it was too late. The ambulance he called only served to take your daughter’s lifeless body away. That wicked, evil slut let your daughter die. I tried my best. Oh, my son—I am so desperately sorry about this.”
His face ashen, Gregory turned to Nicole. “Nini – is that true?” he whispered. Nicole, still clinging to her daughter’s crib, barely glanced up at him.
“Is what true?” she asked, her voice shaking. “Oh, Greg – I tried to call you on your cell-phone, but it was turned off. Philip came quickly. He tried everything—”
“Did you wait too long, as my mother said?”
“No, I called right away, but—”
“You were too busy writing to notice Marissa was dying?” In spite of his grief, Gregory’s voice was accusing, condemning.
“No, no, I wasn’t writing—” Nicole looked up from the crib. “Greg? Please—”
Petra positioned herself between Gregory and Nicole. In Greek, she said, her voice dripping compassionate concern, “My son, how my heart bleeds for what you’re forced to suffer now, because your selfish wife was too busy with her filthy book to care about your child. Surely you can’t trust her to be in your life any longer? Do the right thing and send her away now. A woman who will let her child die—”
Puzzled, Nicole tried to reach past Petra to Gregory, but the old woman was too strong and shoved Nicole roughly aside. She stumbled and fell. “Aha!” Petra screeched triumphantly. “While your daughter was dying, she was overdoing the wine. Calls herself a mother—”
Nicole got up and said, her voice shaking, “Greg, I haven’t had a single drop of wine. Of course not. I fell because your mother shoved me. Why would she—?” Gregory interrupted her coldly.
“My mother told me how my daughter came to die. You were too busy with your book to notice that she was seriously ill, and only called the doctor when my mother insisted. Please, go away. Out of my house. I can’t bear to look at you.”
Aghast, Nicole said, “Greg – that isn’t what happened. I wasn’t writing. You know I’m taking a sabbatical from writing. Your mother told me I was panicking and incompetent—”
“Incompetent. Yes. You let my daughter die. Leave me, Nicole.”
“Leave? No… Greg, I want us to go to Marissa – Philip told me where she is— Please?”
“Your concern comes a little late, Nicole. I know my mother doesn’t like you – but perhaps she had good reason for that. You let my daughter die.”
“Greg, I didn’t—Please, call Philip. He’ll tell you the facts.”
“Since you waited too long to call him, what could he tell me that my mother didn’t already tell me? For the last time, Nicole. Leave now.”
His handsome face ashen and expressionless, his eyes cold as an Arctic night, Gregory got to his feet and stared Nicole down.
Petra grabbed Nicole’s arm and dragged her from the room. “Get out, you poutana, and get out now. Here’s your purse. I’m sure it’s loaded with my son’s money and credit cards. You money-grabbing slut, that’s all women like you want – to marry a man for his money. Well, you won’t be married to my son for much longer, now that his eyes have at last been opened and shown him the lying bitch you are. Get out.” Petra dragged Nicole to the front door, gave her a rough shove and slammed the door behind her.
Desolate, Nicole walked on unsteady feet to the elevator. And I didn’t even get a chance to tell Greg that I’m pregnant with our second child.
Want To Read More? Buy it NOW! And Get Your Copy In The Next 2 Minutes... Price: $4.50
Darkest Blessings,
www.thedarkcastlelo rds.com
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Love Fang by DCL Author Susan Blexrud Coverage
Congrats Susan!
Dark Caste Lords & Ladies please stop by and leave her a comment!
Blexrud premieres 'Love Fang'Orlando Sentinel - Orlando,FL,USASet in Orlando and Winter Park, it's "the humorous tale of a sexy vampire with an infected fang who falls in love with his dentist. ...
Dark Caste Lords & Ladies please stop by and leave her a comment!
Blexrud premieres 'Love Fang'Orlando Sentinel - Orlando,FL,USASet in Orlando and Winter Park, it's "the humorous tale of a sexy vampire with an infected fang who falls in love with his dentist. ...
Join the Fang Club!
DCL predicts that LOVE FANG by Susan Blexrud will soon be the latest vampire novel rage!
Stop by and see her featured here:
http://www.davidper eda.com/awe. html.
Stop by and see her featured here:
http://www.davidper eda.com/awe. html.
An award from Coffee Time Romance for DCL Author Miriam Newman
Congrats to DCL Author Miriam Newman for getting the top award at Coffee Time Romance for The Chronicles of Alcinia
Book 1: The King's Daughter
“Per my recommendation, your book has received a CTRR (Coffee Time Reviewer's Recommend Award) from Coffee Time Romance & More. This award recognizes outstanding writing styles in all book types and genres. Your book has received this award because I feel it is above and beyond a 5 Cup Rating.
You can see this here:
http://coffeetimero mance.com/ CoffeeThoughts/
We have announced this in our weekly newsletter, on our blog, and put the CTRR Award on your actual review on our site. It will stay there permanently.
Congratulations it is a lovely book and I'm looking forward to reading book 2 when it becomes available in December “
Hollie
Coffee Crew Member
www.coffeetimeroman ce.com
www.myspace. com/hollie_ 06_04
coffeewrite@ coffeetimeromanc e.com
Book 1: The King's Daughter
“Per my recommendation, your book has received a CTRR (Coffee Time Reviewer's Recommend Award) from Coffee Time Romance & More. This award recognizes outstanding writing styles in all book types and genres. Your book has received this award because I feel it is above and beyond a 5 Cup Rating.
You can see this here:
http://coffeetimero mance.com/ CoffeeThoughts/
We have announced this in our weekly newsletter, on our blog, and put the CTRR Award on your actual review on our site. It will stay there permanently.
Congratulations it is a lovely book and I'm looking forward to reading book 2 when it becomes available in December “
Hollie
Coffee Crew Member
www.coffeetimeroman ce.com
www.myspace. com/hollie_ 06_04
coffeewrite@ coffeetimeromanc e.com
Monday, 17 November 2008
Friday, 14 November 2008
LR Cafe Chat, 11/14/2008, 12:00 am
Come chat with DCL Authors, Readers, and Dark Castle Lords today at:LoveRomancesCafe@yahoogroups.com
Love Fang available TODAY!
Friends,Today's the day. My novella, Love Fang, is available through DCL Publishing. You may purchase it online and read it at your leisure. It's funny, sexy, and loaded with scenes from Orlando/Winter Park. (I modeled my vampire's house after the Comstock residence on Bonita Drive.)The model is Julian Fantechi, a Playgirl "Model of the Year." Cute, huh?I've received a very favorable review from Coffee Time Romance. The reviewer said, "I love the light, easy-going feeling of this story, as well as the intense emotions between the characters." And, Love Fang was a finalist in the "Girl Power, Ghouls, and Gorgeous Guys" original fiction contest sponsored by www.twilighted.net. Candace Havens, contest judge and author of the "charmed" books that became the popular TV series, said of Love Fang, "That was a hoot of a story."Just download Love Fang @ www.thedarkcastlelords.com, and escape with a very noble vampire. Two more novellas will follow in my "fang" series, Fang Shui and Real Men Have Fangs. Many thanks,Susanhttp://www.myspace.com/susanblexrud
Thursday, 13 November 2008
New Release! Love Fang by Susan Blexrud
In her Tudor cottage, Dr. Lauren Marsh was assembling her specialty salad, loaded with almonds and artichoke hearts, and topped with her homemade raspberry vinaigrette. She could splurge on the salad with Lean Cuisine as the main course. Just ten pounds to go before she’d squeeze back into her favorite jeans and possibly get up the courage to join Match.com.
She’d been a runner in college, but once she hit dental school, the books took precedence. Now that she had her own practice, work accounted for her lack of exercise, as well as for her messy house. And getting home to her little Chihuahua was more important than stopping at the gym. Smokey would be waiting patiently for her, legs crossed in rapt anticipation.
After dinner and their nightly walk, Lauren soaked in her tub, brushed and flossed her teeth, and then spent more time than she should have searching for her retainer. She found it in the middle of Smokey’s stash of dog biscuits on the bathroom floor. She really did need to get organized.
As she crawled under the covers of her queen-sized bed, she bent over to turn off the bedside lamp and kiss Smokey on the head. She had high hopes for sharing her big bed with someone besides her dog. “I’m making this promise, here and now,” she said to Smokey. “The next guy I date is going to be sexy and exciting. I want to experience that ‘weak in the knees’ feeling, whatever that is.”
Night person that she was, she tossed and turned for an hour before getting up to pop some microwave popcorn, settle into her living room couch, and dig between the overstuffed cushions for the romance novel hidden there. Even farther under the cushions lurked her state-of-the- art vibrator, capable of thrusting, spinning, and tickling with one flick of the switch. Lauren pulled it out and stared at it for a few minutes.
“Hello, friend. I guess it’s just you and me.”
* * * *
John had morphed into bat form for his nightly rounds. He liked to wait until the real bats ended their initial feeding frenzy because he’d gotten pummeled one night by a particularly large female who wanted more than her share of mosquitoes.
With his gum throbbing, he knew it wouldn’t be a long night, but he needed a decent pint of blood to endure the dental procedure tomorrow. He wouldn’t kill his victim, so any respectable drunk would do. He chose a vagrant who was curled up in a gutter, sleeping it off, empty bottle at his side. Swooping in silently, he targeted the jugular, and the guy never knew what bit him, even when John issued a loud “Ouch!” Unfortunately, feeding on a drunk meant the blood alcohol level was high, and when John fluttered off, he crashed into a wall.
Morning was a welcome relief as he eased himself into his coffin. Before Doreen closed the lid, he asked, “What does one wear to a dental appointment?”
“Well, definitely not your cape. I’ll go to the mall today and pick up something casual. Everything in black, of course.” She rubbed her hands together. “One more thing.” She looked at his very long, razor-sharp fingernails. “You’ll need to cut your nails before your appointment, so I’d better wake you just a bit early.”
“Any other traits I should disguise?”
“Hmm,” she said, tapping her finger to her lips. “Well, you could use a good dousing with Old Spice because that musky odor you exude is a real sex magnet. You need your dentist to be concentrating on the work at hand, not thinking about how much she’d like to mate with you. So please be liberal with the after shave.”
“Anything else?”
“You have a tendency to slip into the King’s English. Remember this is the 21st Century. And please be careful with your eyes. She’s bound to be suspicious if they start glowing red.”
“That only happens when I’m aroused,” John said. “And I’m in too much pain for that.”
“Okay, one last question before nighty-night,” Doreen said. “Why is it that you have the strength of a locomotive and are nearly impossible to kill, yet you can’t fix your own tooth?”
“I have no idea. It’s my only weakness, unless you count my allergies and a stake in the heart,” he said, hands crossing chest in his sleep position.
“Right. And beautiful women,” Doreen said as she lowered the lid to his coffin. Speaking to the closed lid, she added, “I have a feeling temptation is just a dental chair away.”
Want To Read More? Buy it NOW! And Get Your Copy In The Next 2 Minutes...
Price: $2.50
Darkest Blessings,
www.thedarkcastlelo rds.com
She’d been a runner in college, but once she hit dental school, the books took precedence. Now that she had her own practice, work accounted for her lack of exercise, as well as for her messy house. And getting home to her little Chihuahua was more important than stopping at the gym. Smokey would be waiting patiently for her, legs crossed in rapt anticipation.
After dinner and their nightly walk, Lauren soaked in her tub, brushed and flossed her teeth, and then spent more time than she should have searching for her retainer. She found it in the middle of Smokey’s stash of dog biscuits on the bathroom floor. She really did need to get organized.
As she crawled under the covers of her queen-sized bed, she bent over to turn off the bedside lamp and kiss Smokey on the head. She had high hopes for sharing her big bed with someone besides her dog. “I’m making this promise, here and now,” she said to Smokey. “The next guy I date is going to be sexy and exciting. I want to experience that ‘weak in the knees’ feeling, whatever that is.”
Night person that she was, she tossed and turned for an hour before getting up to pop some microwave popcorn, settle into her living room couch, and dig between the overstuffed cushions for the romance novel hidden there. Even farther under the cushions lurked her state-of-the- art vibrator, capable of thrusting, spinning, and tickling with one flick of the switch. Lauren pulled it out and stared at it for a few minutes.
“Hello, friend. I guess it’s just you and me.”
* * * *
John had morphed into bat form for his nightly rounds. He liked to wait until the real bats ended their initial feeding frenzy because he’d gotten pummeled one night by a particularly large female who wanted more than her share of mosquitoes.
With his gum throbbing, he knew it wouldn’t be a long night, but he needed a decent pint of blood to endure the dental procedure tomorrow. He wouldn’t kill his victim, so any respectable drunk would do. He chose a vagrant who was curled up in a gutter, sleeping it off, empty bottle at his side. Swooping in silently, he targeted the jugular, and the guy never knew what bit him, even when John issued a loud “Ouch!” Unfortunately, feeding on a drunk meant the blood alcohol level was high, and when John fluttered off, he crashed into a wall.
Morning was a welcome relief as he eased himself into his coffin. Before Doreen closed the lid, he asked, “What does one wear to a dental appointment?”
“Well, definitely not your cape. I’ll go to the mall today and pick up something casual. Everything in black, of course.” She rubbed her hands together. “One more thing.” She looked at his very long, razor-sharp fingernails. “You’ll need to cut your nails before your appointment, so I’d better wake you just a bit early.”
“Any other traits I should disguise?”
“Hmm,” she said, tapping her finger to her lips. “Well, you could use a good dousing with Old Spice because that musky odor you exude is a real sex magnet. You need your dentist to be concentrating on the work at hand, not thinking about how much she’d like to mate with you. So please be liberal with the after shave.”
“Anything else?”
“You have a tendency to slip into the King’s English. Remember this is the 21st Century. And please be careful with your eyes. She’s bound to be suspicious if they start glowing red.”
“That only happens when I’m aroused,” John said. “And I’m in too much pain for that.”
“Okay, one last question before nighty-night,” Doreen said. “Why is it that you have the strength of a locomotive and are nearly impossible to kill, yet you can’t fix your own tooth?”
“I have no idea. It’s my only weakness, unless you count my allergies and a stake in the heart,” he said, hands crossing chest in his sleep position.
“Right. And beautiful women,” Doreen said as she lowered the lid to his coffin. Speaking to the closed lid, she added, “I have a feeling temptation is just a dental chair away.”
Want To Read More? Buy it NOW! And Get Your Copy In The Next 2 Minutes...
Price: $2.50
Darkest Blessings,
www.thedarkcastlelo rds.com
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Annie Marshall chat at the Haunt!, 11/11/2008,
Title:
Annie Marshall chat at the Haunt!
Date:
Tuesday November 11, 2008
Time:
All Day
Location:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Haunt_at_PNR/
Notes:
You must subscribe to take part in this chat!
Annie Marshall chat at the Haunt!
Date:
Tuesday November 11, 2008
Time:
All Day
Location:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Haunt_at_PNR/
Notes:
You must subscribe to take part in this chat!
Monday, 10 November 2008
Dark Diva Review of All Hallow’s Haunting by Desirée Lee
I'm stoked that this book has been so well received by reviewers! I'm hoping the readers feel the same way! I also came across another review of AHH today too. This one is from Dark Diva Reviews.Four and a half divas! http://darkdivarevi ews. webs. com/paranormal.htm
Carpe Noctem,Des
Carpe Noctem,Des
Sunday, 9 November 2008
A tribute blog post by DCL Author Miriam Newman
I've posted a tribute to the friend I just lost on the blog I share with two other friends. If anyone would like to see it, the addy is http://www.thepenmu se.blogspot. com/Miriam
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Former Orlando Communications Director Finds Muse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Susan Blexrud
321/277-2767
Former Orlando Communications Director Finds Muse
Susan Blexrud Pens Romance Novel with Orlando Setting
Asheville, NC…November 13, 2008…Susan Blexrud, former director of communications for the City of Orlando , has reinvented herself in Asheville , North Carolina . Her first book, Love Fang, the humorous tale of a sexy vampire with an infected fang who falls in love with his dentist, was released by DCL Publishing today.
“The mountains in Asheville are inspiring,” said Blexrud. “Add to that the support of a community of creative people, a top-notch library system, and terrific independent booksellers, and it’s a writer’s paradise.”
Raised and schooled in Orlando/Winter Park, Blexrud used her long-time home as the backdrop for her novel. Familiar scenes, such as Winter Park ’s Park Avenue, crop up frequently, and our inimitable vampire’s Victorian home was inspired by the Comstock residence on Bonita Drive in Winter Park .
“Having my vampire assist Central Florida police departments was especially fun, and I envisioned my dentist’s office on Morse Boulevard in Winter Park as the location where my vampire first meets his love interest, Dr. Lauren Marsh,” Blexrud said.
Love Fang is the first in a series of three novels. The second, Fang Shui, presents challenges as the Italian mob and an evil vampire threaten to thwart the good deeds of our Orlando “Vampire Vigilantes” (an Orlando Sentinel-provided moniker).
Love Fang is available online through DCL Publishing, www.thedarkcastlelords.com.
# # #
10 Questions for Romance Writer Susan Blexrud
Regarding Love Fang
Question: Where did you come up with the idea of a vampire with an infected fang?
Answer: I was in the process of writing my time-travel novel, Delora’s Necklace, and I needed a break from all the research. I needed something that was quirky, sexy, funny, and dark. Why not a vampire with a toothache?
Question: Why did you choose Orlando as the backdrop for your novel?
Answer: One of the cardinal rules of writing fiction it to write what you don’t know about what you know. Having lived in Orlando most of my life, I was so familiar with the environs that I had no trouble plunking a vampire on the city streets.
Question: Will Orlando residents recognize their city?
Answer: Absolutely. My heroine’s dental office is actually modeled after my own dentist’s office in Winter Park , and John Wright’s home was inspired by the historic Comstock residence on Bonita Drive . Park Avenue and Central Park figure prominently, too.
Question: Unlike many other vampire tales, yours is funny. What do you find funny about a creature that sucks blood?
Answer: You might say I have a sick sense of humor, but truly, I find humor in just about everything. The Alpha males of romance novels are notoriously serious, and I’m out to change that.
Question: Why are vampires so in vogue?
Answer: For me, the notion of sexy vampires began with Anne Rice, but even Bela Lugosi’s creepy version had that mesmerizing element of appeal. What Anne Rice brought to the mix was the idea that vampires are not all bad. I find the moral dilemma fascinating. To make a dark, sexy creature noble…aye, there’s the rub.
Question: What’s next for your noble vampire and his lovely dentist?
Answer: In Fang Shui, the sequel to Love Fang, I focus on Lauren’s transformation to vampire and the interesting learning curve she goes through. Fang Shui signifies the balancing act of vampires functioning with humans.
Question: Vampire writers each seem to bring their own interpretation to the undead. Why so many differences?
Answer: When you’re dealing with characters that are purely fictional, like vampires, you have the luxury of choosing their attributes and foibles; within of course the basic context of what makes them undead. My vampires can morph to bat form, stop computers and appliances with their energy, levitate, vaporize, and travel short distances with incredible speed. They have no reflections in mirrors, and they are all inhumanly beautiful. They can function in the daytime as long as they’re not exposed to direct sunlight. So, on a cloudy day, with sunscreen and good sunglasses, they can be out and about. Unlike Stephanie Meyer’s and Charlaine Harris’s vampires, my vampires can make baby vampires.
Question: Do you think there’s an end to the vampire craze?
Answer: Everything’s cyclical, but with HBO’s TrueBlood series and the first Twilight movie debuting in November, it’s unlikely to die out (pardon the dead reference) any time soon.
Question: Will you ever tire of writing about the undead?
Answer: There will be three books in my fang series, and then we’ll see. I have an idea for an historical novel set in 1850s New Orleans , replete with intrigue and voodoo. Who knows, a vampire might crop up in the French Quarter. I have a book coming out next year, entitled Delora’s Necklace, which is a time travel set in the Mayan civilization. There will be a sequel, Miami Mayan, which I’m currently writing. So, lots in the works…lots to come.
Question: What’s your writing process?
Answer: I want my characters to leap off the page, so I put together extensive character studies before I begin to weave the tale. If my readers don’t fall in love with my characters, they won’t care what happens to them. You can have a great storyline and an intriguing plot, but without sympathetic characters, you won’t have a good read.
321/277-2767
Former Orlando Communications Director Finds Muse
Susan Blexrud Pens Romance Novel with Orlando Setting
Asheville, NC…November 13, 2008…Susan Blexrud, former director of communications for the City of Orlando , has reinvented herself in Asheville , North Carolina . Her first book, Love Fang, the humorous tale of a sexy vampire with an infected fang who falls in love with his dentist, was released by DCL Publishing today.
“The mountains in Asheville are inspiring,” said Blexrud. “Add to that the support of a community of creative people, a top-notch library system, and terrific independent booksellers, and it’s a writer’s paradise.”
Raised and schooled in Orlando/Winter Park, Blexrud used her long-time home as the backdrop for her novel. Familiar scenes, such as Winter Park ’s Park Avenue, crop up frequently, and our inimitable vampire’s Victorian home was inspired by the Comstock residence on Bonita Drive in Winter Park .
“Having my vampire assist Central Florida police departments was especially fun, and I envisioned my dentist’s office on Morse Boulevard in Winter Park as the location where my vampire first meets his love interest, Dr. Lauren Marsh,” Blexrud said.
Love Fang is the first in a series of three novels. The second, Fang Shui, presents challenges as the Italian mob and an evil vampire threaten to thwart the good deeds of our Orlando “Vampire Vigilantes” (an Orlando Sentinel-provided moniker).
Love Fang is available online through DCL Publishing, www.thedarkcastlelords.com.
# # #
10 Questions for Romance Writer Susan Blexrud
Regarding Love Fang
Question: Where did you come up with the idea of a vampire with an infected fang?
Answer: I was in the process of writing my time-travel novel, Delora’s Necklace, and I needed a break from all the research. I needed something that was quirky, sexy, funny, and dark. Why not a vampire with a toothache?
Question: Why did you choose Orlando as the backdrop for your novel?
Answer: One of the cardinal rules of writing fiction it to write what you don’t know about what you know. Having lived in Orlando most of my life, I was so familiar with the environs that I had no trouble plunking a vampire on the city streets.
Question: Will Orlando residents recognize their city?
Answer: Absolutely. My heroine’s dental office is actually modeled after my own dentist’s office in Winter Park , and John Wright’s home was inspired by the historic Comstock residence on Bonita Drive . Park Avenue and Central Park figure prominently, too.
Question: Unlike many other vampire tales, yours is funny. What do you find funny about a creature that sucks blood?
Answer: You might say I have a sick sense of humor, but truly, I find humor in just about everything. The Alpha males of romance novels are notoriously serious, and I’m out to change that.
Question: Why are vampires so in vogue?
Answer: For me, the notion of sexy vampires began with Anne Rice, but even Bela Lugosi’s creepy version had that mesmerizing element of appeal. What Anne Rice brought to the mix was the idea that vampires are not all bad. I find the moral dilemma fascinating. To make a dark, sexy creature noble…aye, there’s the rub.
Question: What’s next for your noble vampire and his lovely dentist?
Answer: In Fang Shui, the sequel to Love Fang, I focus on Lauren’s transformation to vampire and the interesting learning curve she goes through. Fang Shui signifies the balancing act of vampires functioning with humans.
Question: Vampire writers each seem to bring their own interpretation to the undead. Why so many differences?
Answer: When you’re dealing with characters that are purely fictional, like vampires, you have the luxury of choosing their attributes and foibles; within of course the basic context of what makes them undead. My vampires can morph to bat form, stop computers and appliances with their energy, levitate, vaporize, and travel short distances with incredible speed. They have no reflections in mirrors, and they are all inhumanly beautiful. They can function in the daytime as long as they’re not exposed to direct sunlight. So, on a cloudy day, with sunscreen and good sunglasses, they can be out and about. Unlike Stephanie Meyer’s and Charlaine Harris’s vampires, my vampires can make baby vampires.
Question: Do you think there’s an end to the vampire craze?
Answer: Everything’s cyclical, but with HBO’s TrueBlood series and the first Twilight movie debuting in November, it’s unlikely to die out (pardon the dead reference) any time soon.
Question: Will you ever tire of writing about the undead?
Answer: There will be three books in my fang series, and then we’ll see. I have an idea for an historical novel set in 1850s New Orleans , replete with intrigue and voodoo. Who knows, a vampire might crop up in the French Quarter. I have a book coming out next year, entitled Delora’s Necklace, which is a time travel set in the Mayan civilization. There will be a sequel, Miami Mayan, which I’m currently writing. So, lots in the works…lots to come.
Question: What’s your writing process?
Answer: I want my characters to leap off the page, so I put together extensive character studies before I begin to weave the tale. If my readers don’t fall in love with my characters, they won’t care what happens to them. You can have a great storyline and an intriguing plot, but without sympathetic characters, you won’t have a good read.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
New review for All Hallow’s Haunting
Coffee Time Romance reviewer Lototy says this about All Hallow's Haunting: "Ms. Lee does a great job of setting the scene for her readers. The spook factor is fantastic, her characters distinctive and interesting. The perfect read on a blustery cold night."See the whole review here! http://coffeetimero mance.com/ BookReviews/ Allhallowshaunti ng.htmlCarpe Noctem,Des
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Courting Caressa’s 1st Review!
By Dawnie with Fallen Angel Reviews
"I found Courting Caressa to be a refreshing change from the usual historical. Caressa blossoms into a strong woman determined to show her husband she is what he needs. An intricate web of love is woven around the reader and I found myself hoping for a great outcome. Kirkland is frustrating, he thinks he knows what he wants and he couldn't be more off the mark. I was pleasantly surprised with the twists and turns the story took. I will be reading more by S.J. Ronayne."
4 angels
www.thedarkcastlelords.com
"I found Courting Caressa to be a refreshing change from the usual historical. Caressa blossoms into a strong woman determined to show her husband she is what he needs. An intricate web of love is woven around the reader and I found myself hoping for a great outcome. Kirkland is frustrating, he thinks he knows what he wants and he couldn't be more off the mark. I was pleasantly surprised with the twists and turns the story took. I will be reading more by S.J. Ronayne."
4 angels
www.thedarkcastlelords.com
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