Dirty Dozen Character Interviews – Dani Erikson – Bundle/Fantasy/Paranormal/Monsters

Tags

Demon Hunters, demons, Dirty Dozen Interviews, Fantasy, Here Be Monsters Bundle, monsters, Paranormal

Welcome to DANI ERICKSON

• Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m the seventh child of a seventh child, which makes me a hereditary demon hunter. I’m actually the answer to my grandpa’s dream, but he doesn’t know it. See, he set out to create a legendary seventh son of a seventh son – probably drove my grandmother to an early grave in the attempt. As far as he’s concerned, he failed. He got his seven sons, and six daughters as well, but his seventh son, my Uncle Gus, failed him. You see, Uncle Gus and Aunt Ellen weren’t able to have kids.

Grandpa had ignored Mom and Dad until it became clear that Aunt Ellen wasn’t going to give him any grandsons. After all, Dad was only son #5. But then Grandpa realized that Mom and Dad had six little boys, and there was another baby on the way! Mom wasn’t thrilled when Gramps turned his obsessive attention on her, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. Then the worst happened – at least from Grandpa’s point of view. I was born. A girl. Can anyone say, “Major disappointment”?

But the laugh’s on Grandpa, because gender doesn’t matter to a demon hunter. It’s all about the numbers. See, Dad was only the fifth son, but he was the seventh child. Making me the seventh child of a seventh child. I came into my powers on fourteenth birthday, but I’m not admitting any of this to my family. At least, not yet.

And Grandpa? Maybe I’ll tell him his plan succeeded … someday … if I’m feeling generous.

• What is your world like? How does it differ to mine?

I live in Longmont, Colorado, in the here and now. My world is exactly like yours, except I can see the demons who walk right beside us, and you can’t. That’s not necessarily a good thing. Trust me. You’re lucky you can’t see them!

• Is your world populated by different races? How do they get along?

How do demons and humans get along? Depends on who you ask. Normal people don’t believe demons exist. Demons are perfectly happy with that since they feed off of us. Since normals don’t believe in them, they’re easy prey.

Me? I don’t get along with demons at all. I hunt them, with the help of my guardian and trainer. Wick can see them too, and he can fight them, he just can’t kill them. Killing demons is reserved for the hereditary demon hunters of the world. And in this age of birth control and smaller families, there just aren’t enough of us to protect humanity.

• Tell us about your family?

Well, I already told you about Grandpa and his obsessive desire for a seventh-seventh, so let’s concentrate on my immediate family.

I’m the youngest, and only girl, of seven kids. My brothers are Mike, Pat, Evan, Seth, Brent, and Jamie. Mike is in medical school at the Unversity of Colorado, Boulder. Pat just graduated with a degree in engineering. Evan is a senior at CU, studying urban planning, while Seth is a junior, but he hasn’t declared a major yet. Can’t make up his mind. Brent and Jamie are still in high school, a senior and a junior, while I’m just starting my freshman year.

Dad’s an architect with a firm in Boulder, and Mom is a stay-at-home mom. Trust me, with six sons and one daughter, she has a full-time job!

• What is your greatest skill/asset

I have mad skills with knives and swords, and all forms of fighting (from street fighting to martial arts) come as naturally to me as walking. Wick has to teach me the basics, but I catch on faster than Jamie can inhale French fries!

• What is your greatest weakness (we won’t tell).

I am a complete failure at lady-like behaviour. Seriously. Fancy dresses, make-up and batting eyelashes? Gag!

• How would you describe yourself?

I’m okay looking, if you like athletic girls. I have long, dark blonde hair with a hint of red, and I typically wear it in a ponytail or a ponytail braid. I’m 5’10” with light brown eyes and I’m a lean, mean, fighting machine!

• How do you think others see you?

Well, my family, especially my brothers, see a helpless little girl. They all want me to act like a girl. After all, we have enough boys in the family.

• What is your greatest fear?

My greatest fear isn’t that a demon will kill or maim me, it’s that my family will figure out that I have more in common with an Amazon queen than with a fairy-tale princess – that I’m more of a Rottweiler than the pampered Pomeranian they like to think I am.

• If you could have three wishes what would they be?
• My family would recognize me and accept me for who – and what – I am!
• To rid my high school and my town of all the demons infecting them. I’ll worry about the rest of the country when I’m older.
• I wish I could find a couple more demon hunters to help me. Sometimes the job feels pretty overwhelming

• Do you believe in magic?

Well, duh! I fight demons, remember?

• Tell us about your greatest achievement

I’m a kick-ass demon hunter, and my parents even named me appropriately. I’m Dani Heleen Erickson, which makes my initials D.H.E. – Demon Hunter Extraordinaire!

For the author

Books in which this character appears:

Demon Daze

School Daze 

Family Daze

Challenging Daze

Demon Daze appears in Here Be Monsters

Short author bio:

Deb Logan writes children’s, tween, and young adult fantasy. Her stories are light-hearted tales for the younger set — or ageless folk who remain young at heart. She’s published numerous titles, including short stories, collections, and novels. Her work has been published in multiple volumes of Fiction River: An Original Anthology Magazine, as well as in The Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide series. Author of the popular “Dani Erickson” series, Deb loves dragons and faeries and all things unexplained.

 

Links:

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/l9m2v4

Website: http://debloganwrites.com

Facebook: @DebLoganWrites

 

 

 

 

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Book Spotlight – Healing Springs – Lesbian Romance/Paranormal Romance

Tags

Bookspotlight, Indie Promotion, Lesbian Romance, LGBT fiction, Paranormal Romance, Spotlight

Basic Book Spotlight

Title: Healing Springs

Author: Rhavensfyre

Genre: Lesbian Romance, Lesbian Paranormal Romance

Main character description (short).

Selene and Amy are the two main characters, and it is as much Amy’s story as it is Selene’s. Both left Healing Springs right after school and now are hovering right around 40 years old before returning home. However, there is a third, and very important character that threads its way through the story…and that is the springs itself. The Springs has a few things to say about how things are supposed to be, and where Amy and Selene are going.

Synopsis:

Falling out of love is one thing, but purposefully forgetting it is another. Selene McAlister is a successful author who had it all. Best-selling novels, a beautiful beach house, a fast car and perfect health…until one rainy night that changed her life forever.

Selene had to be cut from the wreckage of her sports car, and despite horrific injuries, she survived. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, she couldn’t decide…not when she had to deal with the aftermath of her injuries every day after that.

Broken and battered, scarred and in pain, she was a ghost of her former self, but that wasn’t the worst of it. The accident had taken something more important from her than physical health…it had robbed her of the ability to write…and taken huge chunks of memory along with it.

Now, at forty years old, she’s being forced to move back to Healing Springs and return to the small family Inn her mother owns. Returning to her childhood home was never a part of her plans. On top of everything else that happened, it only served to convince her that her life was a total failure, and that she had nothing left to look forward to other than a lifetime of pain and isolation.

Amy Fontaine is a successful businesswoman and photographer. She is also Selene’s best friend and has been since before High School. She’s not the type to let Selene retreat from life and succumb to self-pity, not if she has anything to say in that matter. Maybe that’s why Amy was the last person Selene wanted to see when she returned to Healing Springs.

Fortunately for Selene, her friends and family were having none of it. They would find a way to reach Selene and show her that she still had worth…and in Amy’s case…that she was still worthy of love.

Brief Excerpt 250 words:

“Every year, your grandmother would tell the tale while the bonfire burned, adding to the spice of the family ritual, only it wasn’t just a story. It was a warning. A warning to beware of wanting a thing so bad that you wish for something that should never be wished for. A wish made when you’re in pain and hurting so bad that your wish turns into a curse, and you pay, Selene. You pay every day after that, even if you had the best intentions. Even if you meant to curse yourself and no one else…because nothing can happen without it affecting the people around you, just like ripples travel across a disturbed pool.”

 

Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)?

This novel is dedicated to all the strong women out there that wake up every day and struggle with disabilities, both visible and invisible. Their fight is what inspired this novel, and in some small way, perhaps they can find their way to their own Healing Springs.

 

 

Links etc.

Healing Springs on Amazon

 

 

Dirty Dozen Author Interview – Charles E. Yallowitz

Tags

Author interviews, authors, Dirty Dozen Interviews, fantasy authors

Author name:  Charles E. Yallowitz

 My two biggest publications are Legends of Windemere and War of Nytefall.  The former is a 15 book adventure series that takes place in the fantasy world of Windemere.  I published the final book in December and I’ve just released the first volume of my vampire series, which takes place in the same world.  Both series have plenty of action, humour, and colourful characters.

 

What have you found the most challenging part of the process?

As strange as it sounds, I find the most challenging part to be the later editing stages.  I’m always having a blast with outlining and writing the first draft, but I’ve found that I hit an odd mentality when I’m doing my 3^rd or 4^th readthrough.  I begin making changes for the sake of making changes, which makes it difficult to do a true editing run.  So, I guess the biggest challenge is my own insecurity and doubt here.

 

 Are you a ‘pantser’ or a ‘plotter’?

 75% plotter and 25% pantser.  I used to be more of the former, but I realized that so many of my character bios and outlines didn’t survive the first draft.  So, I come up with a general idea of what I’m doing and key points that I want the plot and characters to hit.  Everything in between is up to what strikes my fancy while I’m writing.

 

 What are your views on authors offering free books? Do you believe, as some do, that it demeans an author and his or her work?

 I used to think the Perma-Free idea was a mistake.  Not that it demeaned the author or the work, but that it didn’t serve a purpose.  It wasn’t until I sat down to think of ways to help promote my own series that I realized a free Volume 1 could help get people into the rest of the books. Creating a low or no risk introduction is a great way to attract readers, especially those who might not normally read your chosen genre.

 

 How do you deal with bad reviews?

 I eat an entire cartoon of ice cream and yell at myself in the mirror.  Kidding since I can’t do that without making myself sick these days.  I read the bad reviews to see if there are any good points that I can use to improve myself.  If not then I shrug, talk to a few friends about it, and move on.  You’re not going to please everybody, especially in this business.

 

Sort these into order of importance:

Good plot

Great characters

Awesome world-building

Technically perfect

 This is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.  I’m going with Great Characters, Awesome World-Building, Good Plot, and Technically Perfect, but they’re all coming in very close.  I think the first three on the list influence each other too much to really put one above the other.  A good plot can stem from a great character while helping to forge an awesome world.  With the technically perfect part, you do need to get close to that, but I think you’ll also always get someone pointing out mistakes.  Then again, I’m a Present Tense Third Person author, so my entire style is sometimes called a typo.

 

How much research do you do for your work? What’s the wildest subject you’ve looked at?

With my fantasy books, I don’t do a lot of research beyond monsters and weapons that exist in the real world.  Most times, I find myself looking things up in the spur of the moment because a scene doesn’t feel believable.  This happens a lot when I have a character who uses poisons or I’m trying to make a monster act like a certain real world animal.  As far as the wildest subject, I’ve had to look up a lot of anatomy to see if a character will survive certain blows and to make sure a villain that enjoys torture knows what they’re doing.  With that second thing, you’d be surprised how quickly it can go from cringe-worthy evil to groan-inducing comedy.

 

How influential is storytelling to our culture?

 I think it’s more influential than people realize.  We run into stories every day that cause us to think and act in response to them.  It isn’t always a grand tale of adventure or the in-depth story of a real event.  Some stories are nothing more than a person telling you about their day.  They might not have the same impact as a fantasy adventure, but people who listen will walk away with something new in their heads.  That can lead to changes in the culture, especially if the story reveals an area of society that needs to be worked on.

 

If you could be any fantasy/mythical or legendary person/creature what would you be and why?

Rip Van Winkle because I could use a good night’s sleep.  Seriously, I think I’d like to be a griffin, but the more docile kind that will allow people to ride on their backs.  That way I won’t be seen as a threat and I can still fly around whenever I want to.  As much as I hate heights, I like the sense of freedom that I feel when I imagine flying without a plane.  Almost like you’re part of the world, but still isolated with your own thoughts until you return to the ground. Typing on my laptop might be rather difficult, so I’d have to go with a human who can transform into a griffin.

 

What is your writing space like?

 I switch between two writing areas because I don’t have a designated spot to call my own.  One is sitting on my bed with my laptop and notebooks while the other is the dining room table.  The second choice doesn’t have as much privacy as the first, but it’s easier on the back.  I’m hoping to have an office one day, but I work with what I can get for now.

 

Tell us about your latest piece?

 My latest work is called War of Nytefall: Loyalty and it’s the first volume of a new series.  It takes place in the magical world of Windemere like Legends of Windemere, but a few hundred years earlier.  The Great Cataclysm has just struck and changed the entire world, including transforming a vampire named Clyde.  Having been buried for fifty years, he has returned to discover that his people have been in an endless war against the hunters and sun priests.  It is not long before Clyde realizes that the strange events that buried him also gave him unique powers. He no longer loses his strength in the sun and physical strength that surpasses even the vampire nobles, which he fears will make him a target.  As he fights in the war alongside his old friends, he starts to uncover more changes, including one that kicks of a vampire civil war between the Old World Vampires and the newly arrived Dawn Fangs. As with my previous series, there’s a lot of action and colourful characters to drive the plot along.

 

Are indie/self published authors viewed with scepticism or wariness by readers? Why is this?

 I think there is still a stigma about indie authors being of low quality and it might never go away.  Many readers think indie authors refuse to edit or are so unskilled that no publishing company will touch them.  A lot of people also look at the indie author scene as easy money and crank out a simple book to make a few bucks, which seems to get more attention than the majority who take the trade seriously.  Those who are sceptical of the self-publishing world will always point to the lower quality works as examples of the whole too. It really comes down to the exposure one has to the indie scene and where the majority of attention goes to.  If the community is painted in a negative light then the stigma will remain, but if you have a positive reputation then it will go in the other direction.

 

How important is writing to you?

Writing has been an important part of my life for a long time.  It’s how I relax and what I love to do.  If I’m not working on a full-length book then I’m fiddling with my outlines.  Some days the only time I feel like I have any control over things is when I’m writing, so it acts as a stabilizer in a way.

Links:

Blog
Twitter
Facebook

Website

Amazon Author Page

Bio

Charles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State. When he isn’t working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day. Truthfully, his tales of adventure are much more interesting than his real life, so skip the bio and dive into the action.

Dirty Dozen Character Interview – Mab Winthrop – Vampire/Fantasy

Tags

Character Interview, Character Interviews, Characters, Dirty Dozen Interviews, Fantasy, vampires

CHARACTER NAME: Mab Winthrop

• Tell us a little about yourself.

First of all, I really don’t like my last name, so let’s pretend it doesn’t exist from this point forward.  Now, let’s get to the real information such as I’m a vampire and a highly skilled burglar.  My partner and I used to run one of the most infamous crime gangs on the continent until the Great Cataclysm hit, the idiot got sucked into the ground, and the mortals declared war on my entire species.  So, I’ve been more of an assassin and spy for one of the nobles since heists are a little too dangerous now.  I still swipe things that my targets won’t have any use for after I kill them, so I get my kicks that way.  Now that Clyde, he’s the idiot and partner, is back, I’m hoping to return to my roots.  I mean, he’s stronger and more powerful than ever with more of an interest in fighting than stealing, but I’m sure I can smack some sense into him.

 

• Do you have a moral code? If so what might it be?

You might think I don’t because I’m a thief and a vampire, but I do.  Basically, you don’t betray your friends and family.  Top predator or not, mortals still outnumber us, so we have to depend on each other to survive.  You prove to be a traitor and I’ll make sure you don’t get a chance to stab anyone else in the back.  I kind of have a soft spot for kids too, but most vampires do.  I mean, you need the little ones to grow into adults in order for there to be future meals.  Not sure if that’s morality or agriculture.

 

• Would you kill for those you love?

I would and have done that on several occasions.  Not only for those I like, but those I’m okay with too.  Not a big fan of killing on command though, but it’s the only way I can make a living these days.

 

• Would you die for those you love?

I’d prefer not to, but I won’t say it’s never an option.  Being a vampire, I can regenerate a lot of injuries, so the chance of dying isn’t as high as it is with mortals.  Still, I guess I would take a beheading for certain people if I knew they would go on to do great things.  You know, the idea isn’t really sitting well with me, so I think it would be a spur of moment decision that I’d regret with my final breath.

 

• Is your world populated by different races? How do they get along?

I come from Windemere, which is a world of magic and many races.  We have elves, dwarves, halflings, calicos, and a long menu . . . list . . . No, I’ll stick with menu of entrees for my kind.  As a whole, most of the races get along with a few forced onto the outskirts of society like the chaos elves and ogres.  Vampires don’t get along well with the rest of the world, but that might be changing with the Dawn Fangs turning up.  W . . . They can live among mortals and don’t have to kill when they feed, so maybe the hunting and hatred will chance.

 

• Tell us about your family?

Considering I’m a couple centuries old, my only blood relation is my younger brother.  Titus is a vampire too and he’s in charge of the Vengeance Hounds.  They acted as the mercenary side of the gang while Clyde and I did our thief stuff.  My baby brother is a decent swordsman and is huge, so he tends to simply overpower whatever he’s fighting.  The rest of my family would be the gang because we look out for each other.  I know I can depend on them when I’m in trouble and I return the favour whenever I’m called upon.  Not many of us are left since this war started though.  There’s my brother, his two friends, Decker who is more of a partial member, and someone who I refuse to say by name.  I guess every family has that black sheep you want to beat with their own femurs.  She knows what she did.

 

• What is your greatest skill/asset?

Definitely my ability to sneak around and breaking into things.  I know that’s rather general, but I’ve always had a natural talent for getting into places that I shouldn’t be.  That’s basically how I got turned. The gang depends on me to be the best burglar in the world, so I’ve made sure my stealth skills are honed to perfection.  In my opinion, this is a better way to be instead of using brute force.  If you can’t be seen or caught then you can get away with anything.

 

• What is your greatest weakness (we won’t tell)?

Thanks for keeping this a secret, but I have to admit that my greatest weakness might be pretty well known.  It’s not that I have a temper since I can remain calm in the face of a lot of frustration.  The problem is that once I blow, I have a lot of trouble coming back down.  I tend to hold grudges, especially towards those I feel have betrayed me.  Titus and Decker tell me that I need to learn forgiveness since eternity is too long a time to be holding onto hate and anger.  Not that they know what they’re talking about since some things can’t be undone with a simple apology.

 

• How would you describe yourself?

I’m a dedicated friend and a highly talented thief who is always willing to share her blood with a hungry ally.  Sure, you don’t want to make me an enemy because I’ll either rob you blind or gut you depending on what you did.  I’m rather easy-going though, so there’s nothing to worry about for the most part.

 

• How do you think others see you?

That entirely depends on who you ask.  Most of the gang sees me as they should, which is the second-in-command and a dependable presence.  There are a few that mistake my honesty and carefree attitude with rudeness, but I don’t deal with nobles enough to care about that.  I will admit that there are some who would call me a stubborn, impatient, angry female dog, but they earned my wrath.  I have no illusions about having enemies.  Is it illusion or allusion?  I always get those mixed up.

 

• Do you believe you will be successful in your quest?

To claim every shiny object in Windemere?  I’m going to do my best, but there are new ones being found every day.  Thank the gods I have eternity.  Although, I might need to change my hiding habits.  I misplaced a few of my stashes, which is why the others keep calling me a vampiric squirrel.  If you’re talking about winning this war with the Duragians then we’ll definitely come out on top.  Clyde is back and stronger than ever.  The two of us together never fail.

 

• Tell us about your greatest achievement

That’s a tough one.  As odd as it sounds, I’d have to say it was making my hydra-skin jacket, which is my prized possession.  It works a little like armour, but I’m very proud of how I got the pieces.  Hydras are pretty nasty even for vampires because they can spew acidic gas and spit poison.  They might not kill my kind, but it takes a long time to heal melted skin and purge those toxins.  I spent weeks sneaking into lairs and snatching scales when the hydras were distracted by other prey.  That still wasn’t as hard as learning how to make clothing without using magic.  Wasn’t easy since the seamstress I was talking to kept asking for Placid blood.  Those things are practically extinct, so I ended up mixing saltwater with elf blood by the end of our deal.  She never figured it out even after she got really sick, which she totally deserved.  Anyway, all of that hard work helped me get this one-of-a-kind jacket that I refuse to part with.

 

 

For the author

Books in which this character appears:

 

Legends of Windemere: The Mercenary Prince

War of Nytefall: Loyalty

Links, short author bio…

Blog
Twitter
Facebook

Website

Amazon Author Page

Bio:
Charles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State. When he isn’t working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day. Truthfully, his tales of adventure are much more interesting than his real life, so skip the bio and dive into the action.

 

 

Book Spotlight – War of Nytefall – Fantasy/Paranormal

Tags

Bookspotlight, Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, Spotlight, vampires

Title:  War of Nytefall: Loyalty

Author:  Charles E. Yallowitz

Genre: Action Adventure Fantasy, Vampires

Main character description (short):  Clyde was a vampiric thief, but the Great Cataclysm and fifty years of being buried alive has changed him.  He has returned with more strength, speed, and ferocity than has ever been seen among the vampires.  While fuelled by arrogance and confidence, he is aware that Windemere is not the same world he previously thrived in.  Even worse, Clyde must contend with a savage bloodlust that even his old friends might be unable to help him keep under control.

Synopsis:

In the wake of the Great Cataclysm, a new predator will emerge from within Windemere’s shadow.

For fifty years, Clyde has been trapped beneath the earth while the vampire kingdom has been gradually losing its war against the Sun God’s followers. Only Mab believes that her partner survived his holy execution and is determined to bring him back to the city of Nyte. Retrieving the vampiric thief is only the beginning as he comes out of the ground stronger, faster, and possessing abilities that their kind have never witnessed throughout their ancient history. Thrown into the war, Clyde must be careful to hide his true nature while fighting alongside his old friends. Too bad he is having so much fun being free that keeping his secret might be the furthest thing from his mind.

Will anyone be ready for the inevitable rise of the Dawn Fangs?

Brief Excerpt 250 words:

“Let me give you a hand,” Mab says while taking him by the wrist. She immediately jumps back and lets her friend fall to the ground, her eyes wide with fear. “You have a pulse! What is going on here, Clyde? You can’t be human again after what I saw you do, but vampires don’t have heartbeats.”

“This is new to me too, so let’s keep it between us,” Clyde requests as he puts his fingers against his neck. He is about to gesture a spell to cover the unexpected change, but he finds that the trick appears with the merest thought. “Okay, I have it masked and we’ll get it checked out once we can visit Gregorio. I did say that things felt really weird down there, right? Well, I’m saying it now if that counts. Anyway, we don’t want to keep Xavier waiting. He might not be expecting me, but he’ll want to know where you are. I’d rather meet him on friendly terms than running into his men. What’s say we grab a bite and head out?”

Cocking her head to the side, Mab casually reaches out with growing claws and calmly tears open up her friend’s chest in one movement. “Yeah, it’s beating. Looks tasty, which is kind of gross to think about. I mean, I’ve seen vampire hearts before and they’re usually dull red with black veins. This reminds me of the time mine was nearly torn out by that troll and you had to hold it in while fighting since I was dismembered too.”

“Do you mind, Mab?” Clyde asks, smacking her hands away.

Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)?

War of Nytefall: Loyalty is an exciting adventure full of action, magic, and colourful characters.  It is designed for pure escapism to help people leave reality and relax.  It’s also a story where all of the characters are vampires, who act both monstrous and oddly human.

 

Links etc.

War of Nytefall – Amazon

Author Blog- www.legendsofwindemere.com

 

Review – Lawyers in Hell #Sharedworld #darkfantasy #historicalfic

Tags

Book review, Book reviews 2018, dark fantasy, hell, Heroes in Hell, Historical Fantasy, historical fiction, Paranormal, Perseid Press

https://amzn.to/2pPSKtm – AMAZON UK

https://amzn.to/2GkYHWw – AMAZON

Lawyers in Hell forms part of the Heroes in Hell shared world. As usual with these anthologies, there is an eclectic mix of stories. Some I enjoyed more than others, but there was nothing I didn’t like. From Guy Fawkes trying to sue Satan (Fawkes believes he is a martyr and thus should be in heaven) to Leonides dealing with a recalcitrant Alexander, to ex-presidents, to succubi causing mayhem and Erra and his Sibbiti (an ongoing theme) there is mischief afoot in Hell.

It shows the talent of these authors that although the stories are clearly written by different people, feature a bewildering array of historical characters in all sorts of weird situations they flow smoothly in a brilliantly crafted world.

Humanity will be humanity – even in hell. And thus individuals wish to sue other individuals and the lawyers who worth and the Hall of Injustice are kept busy. Of course, being hell, nothing is simple, nothing works properly and there’s always a hidden agenda. All the characters have some form of penance to pay – be it taking cases they cannot win, representing demons, facing monsters, dealing with the unpredictable technology, and generally trying to survive Hell. The stories are sad (as I said humanity seeks to be humanity with its many faults), darkly humorous, clever, weird and enticing.

5 stars.

Swift Six Character Interview – Jesslyn

Tags

Character Interviews, Nightly Bites II, Swift Six, vampires

Character Name – Jesslynn Cotterill

Which book/world do you live in? The Amaranthine Universe (You can find me not only in my own short story, but as a side character in Shades of Gray and Brothers of Darkness)

Tell us about yourself: What is there to tell? I’m married to Oren and now that his mother has finally passed away manage our plantation in Virginia. I’m a mother of two children, Alexander and Tristan. My story takes place before the War Between the States in Virginia.

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

I may not be beautiful, but I’m clever. I believe that brains will triumph over beauty always.

Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government institutions, leaders, gods etc).

My husband Oren is important, of course. I mentioned my children. Though I have birthed many, only Alexander has grown out of babyhood, and now Tristan, not even a year old, is showing signs of the same malady that took the others. It is because of this that I should mention our neighbour, Jorick. An odd man, he is rarely home, and when he is he never walks in sunlight, only under dark skies. Neither does he seem to age or sicken. It is a secret I desperately need to discover if I want to save my sick child.

What does ‘heroism’ mean to you?

Heroism is the strength to do what must be done for the good of all, even if you, yourself, are afraid of it. Just as I am afraid of what secret Jorick carries, yet I know we need it if Tristan is to survive.

What do you think of your ‘creator’?

I assume you mean my author? I have a rather low opinion of her, I’m afraid, as she’s happily stuck me in a dark world with very little chance for light.

Give us your favourite piece of advice:

Beauty fades, leaving only your wit and resourcefulness. Cultivate those over the appearance of the flesh.

 

Links to book

Shades of Gray:

Shades of Gray (Amaranthine Book 1) Kindle Amazon.com

Shades of Gray (Amaranthine Book 1) – Kindle UK

Shades of Gray – Nook

Shades of Gray – Kobo

Smashwords

I-tunes

 

Swift Six Author Interview – Joleene Naylor – Fantasy/Paranormal

Tags

Author interviews, Fantasy, Nightly Bites II, Paranormal, Swift Six

Welcome to Joleene Naylor.

What attracts you to the genre in which you write?

Joleene Naylor: I write what most people call urban fantasy (though my vampires are rarely in an urban setting.) Fantasy has always been my favourite, and vampires are so versatile that I can find a story to fit every mood. For instance, my Patrick novel is pretty much straight horror, while the Heart of the Raven arc, in the Amaranthine series, is pure fantasy (with an evil “wizard”, a quest, and a group of adventurers). Meanwhile, my upcoming novel is a contemporary road trip, and the short story I have in Nightly Bites Volume 2 is more paranormal/historical.

What piece of writing advice do you wish you’d known when you started your writing adventures?

Jo: I did a lot of research before I jumped in, so I pretty much knew what I was in for.

If you could have dinner with any famous person or character who would you choose?

Jo: I’d like to have dinner with Edgar Allan Poe to discuss his poem “The Bells”. Every teacher I’ve had claims it is an ode to bells. I say it’s written by someone who’s sick of listening to them. I’m interested to see who’s right.

Who has been the greatest influence on your own work?

Jo: There have been a lot of influences! Recently it was CG Coppola (author of the Arrizel War series). I noticed that it was hard to put her books down, because she ended most chapters (where possible) with something exciting – so that you had to start the next chapter to find out what was going on. Since then, I’ve been trying to implement that in my own books.

Do you think the e-book revolution will do away with print?

Jo: No. At least not for a very long time. I know too many people who don’t like ebooks.

Which 3 books would you take to a desert island and why?

Jo: I’m going to cheat: 1) Lord of the Rings omnibus by JRR Tolkien,  2) Complete works of Poe and 3) The Faun and the Woodcutter’s Daughter by Barbara Leonie Picard. That should give me enough to fit every mood.

Author bio and book synopsis

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):

My name is Joleene Naylor, and I’m the author of the paranormal Amaranthine Universe. When I’m not writing I watch anime, create book covers for other authors, and work on my renovating my leaning Victorian house in Villisca, Iowa, where I’m surrounded by family, cats, and chaos.

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)

The Amaranthine Universe began when Katelina found her “special friend” dead in his locked apartment. Three months later the mysterious Jorick insists they meet, and reveals that Patrick was murdered by vampires. Nine books later, Katelina and Jorick have faced the Executioners (vampire police), ancient monsters, powerful relics, old conspiracies, and more. Along with the series is the standalone Prequel Brothers of Darkness (Patrick’s Story), as well as short story collections (including Vampire Morsels and Tales of the Executioners). Upcoming novels include a vampire road trip novel (yet to be named), a trilogy that plunges years into the future, and maybe a gothic novella, and/or a standalone Executioner mystery.

 

Links

Site – http://JoleeneNaylor.com

Blog – http://JoleeneNaylor.wordpress.com

Social media

FB author page: https://www.facebook.com/joleenenaylorbooks

twitter http://twitter.com/joleene_naylor

good reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3165393.Joleene_Naylor

facebook profile – http://facebook.com/joleene.naylor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swift Six Character Interview – Wolfgang – Vampires

Tags

Character Interviews, Nightly Bites II, Swift Six, vampires

Name? Wolfgang Feuerleiben – At least that is the name I am currently using.

Which book/world do you live in? So Many Nights, So Many Sins – part of the Nightly Bites II anthology

Tell us about yourself: I am a vampire, a ‘companion-in-darkness’ as some of my more idiotic acquaintances call us. I am a monster, a killer, a blood-drinker. I have lived for centuries – how many I am not quite sure. After a while the nights all seem much the same, history repeats itself and ennui becomes a constant companion. A human woman told me I am depressed, bored, cynical. All those things are true, but wouldn’t you be after so long?

How do you see your world? My world is long, dark and full of blood and death. Mortals die, often. Vampires die – often at my hand. I am not an avenging angel, far from it but I don’t like loose ends, or inconvenient questions. We call mortals ‘thrill-seekers’ – at least those who aren’t directly dinner. There is a class of mortal who thinks it’s ‘cool’ to hang out with the undesirables, the undead, the damned. They don’t really know what we are, or what it means to be a vampire. I’ve put enough of the poor creatures out of their misery to have lost count. Being a vampire means a constant hunger, a need for blood, and a life at the fringes. A life alone, most of the time. Vampires generally don’t like other vampires – predators tend to be solitary; except our friends the wolves, but they are largely gone. One gets to look on the human world as an outsider – it’s interesting at first, like looking at ants, but it soon becomes tiresome, then ridiculous. There is so much lost potential, and that’s the same with most vampires. Throw off the shackles of mortality and one can achieve anything given enough time. Most vampires try desperately to adhere to their long-gone human morals, rules and ideas. And every single one fails.

What part do you play in this tale? I am the bringer of death, the harbinger of doom, but you might say I get the girl.

Do you consider yourself a good person/creature? You jest? I am not sure I was ever a ‘good’ person, even as a mortal. I may have thought that was the case, long ago but I doubt it now. I have killed hundreds, waded through rivers of blood. I have murdered for food, protection, out of boredom. I have stolen, corrupted, lied, committed adultery, I have lain with man and woman. There are six hundred plus sins in the Bible and I have committed several hundred of them. The rest are either down-right silly or impossible. So formulate the answer am I a good person…

Do you follow any religion? God abandoned me long ago, and I him. I am not saying he doesn’t exist – but if he does he’d not who he says he is.

What is your favourite colour/food/music (pick one)? Well that was a change of direction in the questions. Favourite colour – orange; favourite food – the blood of vampires; favourite music – the sound of fire.

 

Links to book:

 Universal Link https://books2read.com/b/bQBDB0

Paperback http://amzn.to/2FRNBI1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nightly-bites-volume-2-barbara-gtarn/1128179846

Five characters interviews from vampires in this book.
https://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com/2018/03/23/random-friday-299/

 

 

 

Random Friday #NightlyBitesII

Tags

Anthologies, Fantasy, Nightly Bites II, Paranormal, vampires

Some great interviews with the Vampires from Nightly Bites II

creative barbwire (or the many lives of a creator)

To celebrate the release of Nightly Bites Volume 2, I present you 5 characters interviews!

Character Name: I am the Aswang, and nobody ever gave me a proper name. Heck, even the dog has a name! But not me.

Which book/world/story do you live in?
The short story “The Aswang Who Ate Stardust” is about me. Well, kind of. It’s also about the people I’m not allowed to eat anymore.

Tell us about yourself:
I was born long before the white men came to the Philippines, and I used to eat little humans still in their mother’s womb. That’s what all Aswang do – but we are solitary creatures, and we can shift our shape. Which is why nobody ever gave me a proper name, I think. Anyway, I had made a human friend long ago. He was the only one who could see me for who I…

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