Friday, April 28, 2017
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
#1LineWed - 1 Line Wednesday #Zombie Books
Today for #1LineWed - 1 Line Wednesday - lines from my two zombie books:
First, came my young adult novel, GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie.
What happens if you're 16 - and turning part-zombie?
1 Line:
My latest: Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders... Now find out what really happened that hot August day in 1892. The events in the book are based on, and follow along with, the actual murder trial and trial transcripts.
1 Line: (This takes place during the trial where Lizzie Borden awaits a jury verdict deciding whether she is guilty or not guilty of the murders of her father, Andrew Borden and stepmother, Abby Durfee Borden.)
** About Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter: (new 2nd edition & new cover!)
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
First, came my young adult novel, GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie.
What happens if you're 16 - and turning part-zombie?
1 Line:
One word came to mind... horrible. If this is what happened when you came into contact with them... I shivered.Becca's life changes forever when her cousin Spence comes back to their small Wisconsin town carrying a deadly secret— he's becoming a zombie, a fate he shares with her through an accidental scratch. Now she must cope with weird physical changes and habits no girl wants to be noticed for. But time is running out . . . She needs to find something, anything, to stop this terrible transformation... before it's too late.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders... Now find out what really happened that hot August day in 1892. The events in the book are based on, and follow along with, the actual murder trial and trial transcripts.
1 Line: (This takes place during the trial where Lizzie Borden awaits a jury verdict deciding whether she is guilty or not guilty of the murders of her father, Andrew Borden and stepmother, Abby Durfee Borden.)
Her fears came to light early when she saw the tissue paper covering the mounds on the table.
** About Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter: (new 2nd edition & new cover!)
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Monday, April 24, 2017
Lizzie Borden Writing News: #Horror #Zombies
An update on what's happening on the writing end of things:
* Dr. Bowen Novella Update:
The Dr. Bowen novella, a supernatural-flavored mystery featuring the Borden family's neighbor and doctor is done! Well, almost. I'm editing now. Then I'll figure out what to do on the formatting and cover end of things. This is a short, 27,000 word book so I'm thinking of having it come out as a mini book size. I love the size of James Patterson's BookShots. Neat little books!
* Working on the back blurb (harder than the whole story!). And... have to figure out the title... I have something in mind to test out with my writing group.
* Writing - Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2:
Once I finish editing, it's back to writing Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2. I took a look at it again after setting it aside, and the good thing is I still like what I wrote. ha! So, I'll be getting back to that with the goal of finishing it in the next few months I hope!
* Audio Book Update:
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter is in the audio book production stage. The hunt is on for a narrator and it'll go from there. Hope it goes fast!
* Other Potential News: Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:
There may be other news concerning the book, but I can't say yet until/when I get some confirmation on this. I don't want to say anything until I get word on whether it works out or not. So, you'll have to wait with me to find out! :)
* Coming Soon: A new Lizzie Borden zombie story!
* * Yay! I also have a new short zombie story with Lizzie Borden almost done! Just tying up a few ends on it... Fun story and the neat thing is it has a little surprise twist in it. Stay tuned for details!!
Seeing all this written as one list makes me pretty excited that some good things are going on and will be coming soon! Sometimes you feel like nothing is going on or you're not getting anything done, but this makes me feel that I am moving forward! That's why lists are so great!! If you subscribe to my monthly newsletter (sign up here at my website!) this will all likely be repeated there, but good news is worth sharing more than once, don't you agree?
** About Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
* Dr. Bowen Novella Update:
* Working on the back blurb (harder than the whole story!). And... have to figure out the title... I have something in mind to test out with my writing group.
* Writing - Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2:
Once I finish editing, it's back to writing Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2. I took a look at it again after setting it aside, and the good thing is I still like what I wrote. ha! So, I'll be getting back to that with the goal of finishing it in the next few months I hope!
* Audio Book Update:
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter is in the audio book production stage. The hunt is on for a narrator and it'll go from there. Hope it goes fast!
* Other Potential News: Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:
There may be other news concerning the book, but I can't say yet until/when I get some confirmation on this. I don't want to say anything until I get word on whether it works out or not. So, you'll have to wait with me to find out! :)
* Coming Soon: A new Lizzie Borden zombie story!
Seeing all this written as one list makes me pretty excited that some good things are going on and will be coming soon! Sometimes you feel like nothing is going on or you're not getting anything done, but this makes me feel that I am moving forward! That's why lists are so great!! If you subscribe to my monthly newsletter (sign up here at my website!) this will all likely be repeated there, but good news is worth sharing more than once, don't you agree?
** About Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Friday, April 21, 2017
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Borden Murders and Dr. Bowen: 125th Anniversary
Yes, it's a grisly anniversary, but this year marks 125 years since Lizzie Borden was accused of killing her father and stepmother on August 4, 1892.
I'll be getting back soon to working on the sequel to Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, my take on the murders. In the meantime, I've been working on - and getting near to completing - a shorter, supernatural-flavored novella featuring the Bordens' doctor and neighbor, Dr. Seabury Bowen.
Interesting man, Dr. Bowen. There are hints in the trial transcripts that maybe he burned a note - the note that Lizzie might have written that was supposedly given to her stepmother before her death? Except the note might have said something else...? ** Read more about that and about him here. Read Bowen's trial testimony (PDF) here.
Also, it almost sounds in the second round of questioning that the doctor seems to be unsure, or changes his mind, on what color that dress was that Lizzie had on the morning of the murders.
An interesting thing about reading the trial transcripts is that since you get a lot of repeating, and have no indication of facial nuances, and can't hear vocal tones or how things are being said, you can read into the answers in a lot of ways.
Some people sound guilty, or like they are hiding something.... did Dr. Bowen? Did anyone else?
If anything, it is fictional fodder. Make no mistake - the Borden murders were a horrific, gruesome event. It must have been shocking, even to the doctor and police officials. As Dr. Bowen was one of the first people Lizzie contacted and who came on the murder scene, you wonder how it affected him?
Professional that he was, he, of course, checked the bodies and lent his professional experience. But he also did what may sound like questionable practices, like prescribing morphine to Lizzie before - and during - the trial.
Was he haunted by the murders? Did he ever look back on that day at all?
And, it turns out that in the same time period there was another axe murder... Was Fall River itself haunted or maybe touched by evil? Or maybe Bowen himself was haunted-- but by what?
Those are some of the questions I'm addressing in this next story I'm working on.... I must say it's been fun digging into the past.
Stay tuned for more details!
About Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
I'll be getting back soon to working on the sequel to Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, my take on the murders. In the meantime, I've been working on - and getting near to completing - a shorter, supernatural-flavored novella featuring the Bordens' doctor and neighbor, Dr. Seabury Bowen.
Also, it almost sounds in the second round of questioning that the doctor seems to be unsure, or changes his mind, on what color that dress was that Lizzie had on the morning of the murders.
An interesting thing about reading the trial transcripts is that since you get a lot of repeating, and have no indication of facial nuances, and can't hear vocal tones or how things are being said, you can read into the answers in a lot of ways.
Some people sound guilty, or like they are hiding something.... did Dr. Bowen? Did anyone else?
If anything, it is fictional fodder. Make no mistake - the Borden murders were a horrific, gruesome event. It must have been shocking, even to the doctor and police officials. As Dr. Bowen was one of the first people Lizzie contacted and who came on the murder scene, you wonder how it affected him?
Professional that he was, he, of course, checked the bodies and lent his professional experience. But he also did what may sound like questionable practices, like prescribing morphine to Lizzie before - and during - the trial.
Was he haunted by the murders? Did he ever look back on that day at all?
And, it turns out that in the same time period there was another axe murder... Was Fall River itself haunted or maybe touched by evil? Or maybe Bowen himself was haunted-- but by what?
Those are some of the questions I'm addressing in this next story I'm working on.... I must say it's been fun digging into the past.
Stay tuned for more details!
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Monday, April 17, 2017
April's Hot Reads! #Zombie #Horror #Mystery
No April Fooling here! Pick up some great new and new-to-you books. Fill that Kindle!
Tales of Horror on Halloween Night, compiled by Samie Sands - Who doesn't like spooky stories? Short Halloween tales by over 20 authors.
MYSTERY:
"Identity (An Adventure of Shirley Holmes and Jack Watson)" by Keith R. A. DeCandido
"The Scent of Truth" by Jody Lynn Nye
"The Adventure of the Reluctant Detective" by Ryk Spoor
"A Scandal in the Bloodline" by Hildy Silverman
"The Fabulous Marble" by David Gerrold
"The Scarlet Study" by Jim Avelli
"Delta Phi" by Heidi McLaughlin
"Beethoven’s Baton" by Austin Farmer
"The Adventure of the Melted Saint" by Gail Z. Martin
"Automatic Sherlock" by Martin Rose
"The Hammer of God" by Jonathan Maberry
"Code Cracker" by Beth W. Patterson
The Dead of Winter, (Piper Blackwell Mystery Book 1), Jean Rabe
Sci-Fi - Adventure:
ZOMBIE:
Hell on Earth - Life of the Dead Book 1, Tony Urban - When civilization ends, when hundreds of the dead return to eat the living, how will the remaining humans survive?
New! Journey Across Zombie Texas (Living Dead Boy Book 3), Rhiannon Frater
- Twelve-year-old Josh wants only two things in life: to guide his friends, both old and new, across the zombie-infested Texas countryside to the airlift in San Angelo, Texas using his knowledge of zombie lore, and to be reunited with his dad and baby brother at the FEMA camp.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders...
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, C.A. Verstraete
* Also, see the Women in Horror Month List and the March Reading List.
HORROR:
Author Steve Sullivan (award-winning author of the Manos: Hands of Fate original book based on the movie!) has a cool monster serial going, Dr. Cushing's Chamber of Horrors! And he's planning a possible Dracula vs. Frankenstein book sequel!
Check out his patreon page for details!
Tales of Horror on Halloween Night, compiled by Samie Sands - Who doesn't like spooky stories? Short Halloween tales by over 20 authors.
MYSTERY:
Baker Street Irregulars: Thirteen Authors with New Takes on Sherlock Holmes, Jonathan Maberry - The iconic detective is re-imagined in new ways and places, from appearing as a parrot? and a vampire? Or going to Russia in the near-future, to a reality show, and more. Stories:
"Locked!" by Mike Strauss"Identity (An Adventure of Shirley Holmes and Jack Watson)" by Keith R. A. DeCandido
"The Scent of Truth" by Jody Lynn Nye
"The Adventure of the Reluctant Detective" by Ryk Spoor
"A Scandal in the Bloodline" by Hildy Silverman
"The Fabulous Marble" by David Gerrold
"The Scarlet Study" by Jim Avelli
"Delta Phi" by Heidi McLaughlin
"Beethoven’s Baton" by Austin Farmer
"The Adventure of the Melted Saint" by Gail Z. Martin
"Automatic Sherlock" by Martin Rose
"The Hammer of God" by Jonathan Maberry
"Code Cracker" by Beth W. Patterson
Cat Got Your Cash: Kitty Couture Mystery #2, Julie Chase - NEW! Pre-order, releases April 11.
Lacy Marie Crocker’s whimsical pet couture has gained a
following in New Orleans’s cozy Garden District, and word of mouth has traveled
all the way to her favorite fashion designer, Annie Lane. Lacy’s thrilled when
Annie schedules a private session at her home to discuss a companion line for
her evening wear, but when Lacy arrives for the appointment, she enters the
kitchen to two mewling Siamese cats--and one very dead Annie.
The Dead of Winter, (Piper Blackwell Mystery Book 1), Jean Rabe
In a deceptively peaceful county, a murderer hides in plain
sight…
Fifty-eight
minutes into her first day on the job, twenty-three-year-old Sheriff Piper
Blackwell is faced with a grisly murder—the victim artfully posed amid
decorations on his lawn. Drawing on former military training, Piper must prove
herself worthy of the sheriff’s badge, and that won’t be easy. Facing personal and
professional threats, Piper has to weather a raging storm, keep the sheriff’s
department from crumbling around her, and reel in a killer during the most
brutal winter sleepy Spencer County, Indiana, has experienced. * Book 2, The Dead of Night, will be coming soon!
Pulsating Liver and Other Stories (Pulsating Liver Trilogy Book 1), Bobby Hassall - Alien landscapes, a grumpy rock and roll crew, and a hapless alcoholic hurtle through time and space, and get sucked up in a wormhole... and have to save the universe from complete annihilation. ( I just had to include this as it has to be one of the wildest titles I've seen, and the cover pic is great!)
ZOMBIE:
Hell on Earth - Life of the Dead Book 1, Tony Urban - When civilization ends, when hundreds of the dead return to eat the living, how will the remaining humans survive?
- Twelve-year-old Josh wants only two things in life: to guide his friends, both old and new, across the zombie-infested Texas countryside to the airlift in San Angelo, Texas using his knowledge of zombie lore, and to be reunited with his dad and baby brother at the FEMA camp.
Josh
and the Zombie Hunters survived some of the worst situations the zombie
apocalypse has to offer in The Living Dead Boy and Lost in Texas. Now
they’ll have to make hard choices and risk their very lives to Journey Across Zombie Texas.
(Start the series with The Living Dead Boy, free.)
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders...
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Top Female Authors Award!
A nice surprise, via The Authors Show.com . We'll see what happens next l it's more of an author award, but still nice. -- C.A. Verstraete, author of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Friday, April 14, 2017
Life After the Undead Takes Home a Bronze
At the beginning of the month, I found out that my young adult zombie novel Life After the Undead had won bronze in the 2016 Wishing Shelf Books Awards. I was excited beyond belief.
Heck, I was excited when I found out it was a finalist in the competition.
Receiving this award is validating. It lets me know that what I’m doing is appreciated. It encourages me to continue to write—especially in the zombie genre. Writing about teens and zombies is something that truly makes me happy, and it’s nice to know that others enjoy it too.
Heck, I was excited when I found out it was a finalist in the competition.
I am elated and honored to be among the other winners of the award. I think the best part about the whole process was knowing that teens were the ones who read and judged my book. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s fantastic when adults read my books also, and I would be happy if they gave me an award too, but it’s extra special when it comes from the intended audience.
Receiving this award is validating. It lets me know that what I’m doing is appreciated. It encourages me to continue to write—especially in the zombie genre. Writing about teens and zombies is something that truly makes me happy, and it’s nice to know that others enjoy it too.
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Like Audio Books? #Zombie Book NEWS!
EXCITING NEWS!!!
Like audio books?
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter will be coming out in audio book!!
The process has just begun with Auspicious Apparatus Press, so I don't have a date yet, but stay tuned.
This will be my first audio book, so I'm pretty thrilled about it!!
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Like audio books?
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter will be coming out in audio book!!
The process has just begun with Auspicious Apparatus Press, so I don't have a date yet, but stay tuned.
This will be my first audio book, so I'm pretty thrilled about it!!
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
#1LineWed - Lizzie Borden & #Zombies! #Horror
While I'm working on the monthly book-reading list, figured I'd share another #1LineWed - 1 Line Wednesday post...
Did you know? This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders...
The Borden Family
Lizzie, father Andrew, stepmother Abby
Fitting that Lizzie asks...What-what if they find me guilty? Would they-could they-hang me?
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies?
Thrust into a horrific
world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not
only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to
protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil
forces controlling them.
Friday, April 7, 2017
Brain to Books: Magical Fantasy Tour!
Welcome to the Fantasy "Behind The Scenes" Tour - Stop #3
Meet Rosemary Johns, author of the Rebel Vampires series - see below!
** See the B2Bcy events page for all events!
* I'll be in the Horror and Fantasy Genre Tours. See all here.
* I'll be in the Horror and Fantasy Blog Hops - get all links here.
* View all the books at the Book Expo!
Fantasy Tour #1 – starts here
featuring: Aaron-Michael Hall, Alexandra Carey, Alexis Kennedy, Amanda Mabry, Andy Peloquin, Angel M., Angela B. Chrysler
Fantasy Tour #2 – starts here
featuring: Angela J. Ford, Assaph Mehr, C.T. Callahan, D.Thourson Palmer, Ilana Maletz, Jack Massa, Jodie Pierce
Fantasy Tour #3 – starts here
featuring: LoganMiehl, Mackenzie Flohr, Sarah Kennedy, Stephen Morris, Toi Thomas, Zachary Chopchinski, Mary R. Woldering
Fantasy Genre Tour
Book expos, articles, and giveaways inside: (See list below.)
Tour #1 – “Showcase & Giveaways”
A showcase of books, series, and giveaways. Follow it all the way through for a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card
featuring: Aaron-Michael Hall, Alexandra Carey, Alexis Kennedy, Amanda Mabry, Andy Peloquin, Angel M., Angela B. Chrysler
Fantasy Tour #2 – starts here
featuring: Angela J. Ford, Assaph Mehr, C.T. Callahan, D.Thourson Palmer, Ilana Maletz, Jack Massa, Jodie Pierce
Fantasy Tour #3 – starts here
featuring: LoganMiehl, Mackenzie Flohr, Sarah Kennedy, Stephen Morris, Toi Thomas, Zachary Chopchinski, Mary R. Woldering
Fantasy Genre Tour
Book expos, articles, and giveaways inside: (See list below.)
Tour #1 – “Showcase & Giveaways”
A showcase of books, series, and giveaways. Follow it all the way through for a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card
Tour #2 – “Behind The Scenes”
See what goes on in the
minds of fantasy authors
* Dark Side of Crime - Lizzie Borden
************************************
Urban Fantasy, Vampires and Creating an Anti-hero
by Rosemary Johns
I’m a rebel. Who’d have guessed when my new urban fantasy series is called Rebel Vampires?But Light? The British Rocker with a Triton motorcycle and a photographic memory? He’s even the rebel of the vampire world.
Rebel Vampires is set in a hidden paranormal London, where vampires are both predator – and prey. Where death drives desire. There are vampires, romance and rebels, along with a whole new twist on the vampire myth. And in the midst of it all? Light. The anti-hero vampire.
‘‘Stop playing the rebel,’ you’d said.
Know what? I’m not playing, love. I tried conforming once, didn’t fit.’
Blood Dragons - Rebel Vampires Book 1
I love anti-heroes: Dark, complex and struggling on redemptive journeys against terrible odds. There’s something far more passionate about a love story, which shows an adult love: obsessive, destructive, agonizing – but true to the end. And capable of changing everything.
In urban fantasy, the journey is the heart. Light has his demons: inside and out.
‘ ‘You don’t look Victorian.’
‘Didn’t exactly stay dead.’ I pushed away from the fireplace, jumping up to sit on the arm of the leather sofa. I scrutinized your serious features and those intent grey peepers. ‘You really don’t know anything about us Blood Lifers, do you? How we evolved or--’
‘I know enough.’
Surprised, I drew back. ‘As in, only good Blood Lifer’s a dead Blood Lifer?’
You shot me a sharp look. ‘You wouldn’t be here, if that’s what I thought.’
‘Alright then, as in, only good Blood Lifer’s one in shackles?’
Your mouth tightened into a thin line. ‘And what about humans? Do we come in small, medium or large?’
‘In America you can supersize.’ I grinned, but you didn’t return it. ‘Look, that’s not who I am now. I’ve been on blood abstention for fifty years.’
Blood Shackles - Rebel Vampires Book 2
The challenge when writing an anti-hero is to create a true individual. The bad along with the good. Light fails, makes bad choices and suffers. Yet he still fights on. He’s loyal, persistent and keeps his promises. And you allow the reader to fall as deeply in love with the character as you are.
‘I might never be a bleeding hero but I could keep my promises.’
Blood Dragons - Rebel Vampires Book 1
In Rebel Vampires, the world is divided between First Lifer (human) and Blood Lifer (vampire). The Blood Lifers hide in the shadows from the First. Both hunter and hunted. Light comes to realize that just as there’s no clear divide between the species, there are predators on both sides, too.
For 100 years in Blood Dragons Light danced in the carnage and the flames with Ruby – a savage Elizabethan Blood Lifer. Before his forbidden love for a human singer (Kathy) forced him to question Blood Lifer beliefs. To blood abstain. And to fight to save his love, both species and ultimately the world.
** Blood Dragons is out now (e-book and paperback). Click here: http://viewbook.at/BloodDragons
Afterwards comes Light’s redemptive path. But as Light says:
‘Crawling out of the black, Kathy once told me, would be my redemption. I never thought redemption would be this much of a bitch.’
Blood Shackles - Rebel Vampires Book 2
http://viewbook.at/BloodShackles
An anti-hero needs a love. Abducted, defanged and enslaved by a secret human Blood Club in Blood Shackles (like Taken but with vampires…), Light finds it with the unlikely slaver’s daughter Grayse. She picks him, like a kid choosing a puppy.
‘You glanced at me. ‘Cold?’
‘Yeah, it is rather parky, darlin’.’
You gaped at me, as if you’d been expecting me to speak some strange Blood Lifer tongue and not the Queen’s English. Like you hadn’t assumed I’d sound…human. ‘Here,’ you led the way to a sheltered trio of arches. ‘Better?’
‘Almost like I wasn’t starkers.’
I leant against a column, as I had a gander back at the silhouette of the great house, its steep terrace, and the drive sweeping down to it, between the dark sentinels of oaks.
In some screwed up world, this was the worst Jane Austen scene ever.
Well, maybe not ever…’
The thing about anti-heroes? Their love is never smooth. It’s unexpected. Unpredictable. But it’s fierce.
As Light would say: ‘it’s no namby-pamby fairy-tale’. It’s real love. He’s a dark hero. But who else would you want to save the world?
** Blood Shackles is out now. Click here: http://viewbook.at/BloodShackles
** Want to read Blood Dragons first? Click here: http://viewbook.at/BloodDragons
COMING UP:
The Renegades are the terrorists of the Blood Lifer world. They’re dedicated to hunting down the human slavers. They risk both worlds colliding: except the ruthless Blood Life Council have declared ‘war’ on the Renegades, starting with their leader, who they believe to be…Light.
‘Betrayal. Death. Hope. Isn’t that how all truly great stories start?’
Watch my latest interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Iab2a0mJ68&t=414s
Find Out More
Thursday, April 6, 2017
#Horror Best Believable WJ Howard #B2BCyCon2017
Welcome to another view of horror during the B2BCyCon!
* Stalk the Monsters Horror Scavenger Hunt: Go to my website and look for the mini horror badge. Find what the miniature Mr. Skellie likes to read. Submit your answer HERE ONLY on the Horror blog hop page.
What is it about the horror genre that makes us want to transform the questionable into the believable?
Man has been telling scary stories for thousands of years, and scaring each other around the campfire continues to be a tradition. Today, technology has advanced our means of spreading fear. Google ‘real’ or ‘believable’ horror stories, and the results could traumatize you for the rest of your life. Search using a plethora of horrific hashtags on social media for an endless feed of the macabre.
Horrific stories become more believable as they’re repeated. Urban legends have survived the test of time through word of mouth, while more recently Creepypasta has spread across the Internet. It’s like brainwashing. Despite the most bizarre circumstances, we cling to the believable aspects and perpetuate the myths.
There are no limits to the outrageous things we’re
willing to do to validate a horrific tale. Consider the Bloody Mary legend recited at slumber
parties. Say her name - (I believe in Mary Worth...) - three times and she’ll appear in the mirror. How many
times has this story been told among giddy teenage girls? And how many girls
have been willing to go into the bathroom alone to recite her name, only to
exit with self-inflicted scratch marks?
Our fears have evolved throughout history, especially as our understanding of the universe has come to light. Those things we now understand through scientific discoveries have eased our minds, but man’s creativity has led us into a new age of fears about things like weaponry and artificial intelligence. Fear of an unknown future has us believing the worst scenarios like the possibility of a zombie apocalypse.
We are forever remaking horror, man’s inhumanity to man and the bad things that happen to good people being among of our greatest influences. Each fantastic character, be it a vampire, zombie, or the next ghastly creation, must have a level of the believable for it to have the lasting dread we desire.
**See all the Horror Genre links & info HERE.
Today author W.J. Howard shares some of her views on horror.... * Check out her books at the B2BCyCon Book Expo, Author Showcase, Blog Hop and Character Tournaments!
Brain to Books Cyber Convention Site Link: http://b2bcycon.com/
Hashtag: #B2BCyCon2017* I'm also at WJ Howar's blog talking about #Zombies and Real Life Crime (and Lizzie Borden!)
* Stalk the Monsters Horror Scavenger Hunt: Go to my website and look for the mini horror badge. Find what the miniature Mr. Skellie likes to read. Submit your answer HERE ONLY on the Horror blog hop page.
Horror Best
Believable with a Daub of Blood
by W. J. Howard
What is it about the horror genre that makes us want to transform the questionable into the believable?
Man has been telling scary stories for thousands of years, and scaring each other around the campfire continues to be a tradition. Today, technology has advanced our means of spreading fear. Google ‘real’ or ‘believable’ horror stories, and the results could traumatize you for the rest of your life. Search using a plethora of horrific hashtags on social media for an endless feed of the macabre.
Horrific stories become more believable as they’re repeated. Urban legends have survived the test of time through word of mouth, while more recently Creepypasta has spread across the Internet. It’s like brainwashing. Despite the most bizarre circumstances, we cling to the believable aspects and perpetuate the myths.
Our fears have evolved throughout history, especially as our understanding of the universe has come to light. Those things we now understand through scientific discoveries have eased our minds, but man’s creativity has led us into a new age of fears about things like weaponry and artificial intelligence. Fear of an unknown future has us believing the worst scenarios like the possibility of a zombie apocalypse.
We are forever remaking horror, man’s inhumanity to man and the bad things that happen to good people being among of our greatest influences. Each fantastic character, be it a vampire, zombie, or the next ghastly creation, must have a level of the believable for it to have the lasting dread we desire.
What horrific realities haunt you?
Where do you
see our fears taking our beliefs in the future?
W.
J. Howard writes dark stories
mixed with comedy for all ages. Her main focus is creating action-packed
stories for young people who are looking for books as fast paces as video
games. She is also appearing this weekend in the B2BCyCon Book Expo, Author Showcase, Blog Hop
and Character Tournaments