Hungry

This blog isn't about writing, it isn't about books, it isn't about authors or publishing or anything remotely close.  It  is about a young man I've recently taken the time to know.  I've actually known this child for the last eight years, but I never gave him the time of day.  I never took the time to know him.  He has been a weekend guest at our house, more so recently.  I've known he doesn't come from money and I will admit he is the darkest skinned boy I've ever met.  I don't have any issues with black people, and was proud when my daughter couldn't tell the difference of skin color.  My son has always been best friends with African American boys.  I've never thought much about it.  The boys come over on weekends and mix music and record.  Everyone calls me 'Ma'am' and have amazing respect for us and our home.  The boys aren't out drinking (they are all seniors in high school) or doing drugs - it is Friday night and they are at my house, laughing and eating and having a good time.  When I hear a cuss word I remind them where they are, and they all apologize profusely.  Where am I going with this story?  Good question.

My son was talking to me and he said how much his friend likes coming over.  I couldn't imagine why it is any fun, I figure we are boring.  My son told me he likes it because he gets to eat.  Huh?  What?  He isn't petite by any means.  I ask what that means.  He told me he lives with his dad and they can only afford Ramen Noodles and that is what they eat.  Now let me back up two days ago.  I told my son... "No one over tonight, I'm not feeding anyone, I want silence."  Now I feel horrible.  It isn't about how I feel though.  I turned my back on a child, he is 17 but he is still a child and I turned him away for dinner.  I turned around and told him that his friend is welcome over to eat with us ANY time.

It is a shame that in our own backyard a boy should only be able to have noodles for dinner.  I don't know the father, I don't know where they live, well I know it isn't in the best neighborhood.  I know nothing at all.  A boy I've known for 8 years and this is the first time I took the chance to know him - for 8 years he could have eaten at my table.  I didn't know.  Why would I write this out?  Actually, I don't know.  I guess I want everyone to take the time to get to know that kid you might not know very well.  Don't judge a person by the color of their skin.  Trust me, I know plenty of white trashy kids and plenty that have been disrespectful in my house.

I don't have anything funny to say - but the holiday season is coming up, maybe someone could use some help.

Guest Interview & Giveaway from Georgia Cates

I was tantalized by mystery of her. The leech inside me came out to find prey, but found none in this enigmatic girl. The close proximity of her essence didn't entice the monster within, so what did that make her? I had more questions than answers, but one thing was unmistakable; although she released me from her embrace, her hold on me remained. 

Cruel circumstances turned Curry Brennan into the wretched monster he hates and refuses to accept, but when an expected turn of events releases him from the bond of his obsessive maker, he returns to the home he knew 161 years earlier and finds the return of happiness and joy in something he didn’t know existed. Puzzled by his growing attraction to Chansey Leclaire, a human, he is unable to resist the captivating relationship that threatens to reveal his existence as a vampire. He eventually discovers the reason he was destined to find what he didn’t know he searched for and is faced with the cruel realization that the living and the immortal undead will always be separated by one thing. Eternity.

Recently I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful up and coming author Georgia Cates.  You will absolutely D I E over her gorgeous cover.  Her first book Blood of Anteros is sexy and has a new vampire twist, you’ll find yourself up all night with this page turner in hand.

1.  Where did you come up with the idea for Blood of Anteros?

I pulled it out of my....imagination. I knew I wanted to do a vampire romance, which is certainly overdone, but not always done well. This is the book I searched to find, as a reader, and it didn’t exist. I wanted the reader to experience the story from the male point of view, seeing his emotions and internal thoughts about Chansey, the enigmatic woman he can not understand.

2.  What character was your favorite to write?  Why?

Curry is my favorite character. (And I do have a crush on him, but don’t tell my husband.) Again, this story is told in first person, from his point of view, and his personality shines. Because the reader hears his thoughts and feelings, she can’t help but fall in love with him.

3.  Do you have a certain process you do to get the creative juices flowing?

I absolutely have a ritual. I am a huge music head and there is rarely a time when I don’t listen to music. I listen to music to brainstorm and I have a huge playlist that plays the entire time I write. When I hear an inspiring song, I listen to it over and over as I see the scene of the book playing out in my head, like a movie.

4.  How long did it take you to write Blood of Anteros?

I “toyed” with the idea of writing Blood of Anteros for about 2 years before I finally sat down and became serious about it. It is my first book and I kept thinking, “I’ll do it one day.” It evolved several times during those 2 years before it solidified into what it is today, but it really took about 3 months to write and edit once I actually got started. 

5.  What is one thing about you that your fans don’t know about you?

Besides being a nurse and writer, I am also a part time graphic designer, so I have a leg up when it comes to graphics. I designed my own book cover, which a lot of writers do, but not very well. I am married to the world’s best graphic designer, so I was taught by the best.

6.  If you had one super power what would it be?

I would want to grant wishes, like a genie. People’s desires reveal who they really are and it would make it easy to see who was a real friend.

7.  Would you prefer going to the park for a relaxing picnic or are you an amusement park roller coaster person?

I’m a total adrenaline junkie and worse than any child I know about loving rides. The faster, the better and I’ll go to the park and picnic when I have a condition listed on the “Don’t Ride This Ride If” sign.

8.  What are the last five books you’ve read?

            Craved by Stephanie Nelson

            Blood Rites by Quinn Loftis (To be released on Nov. 30 to the public)

            Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis

            Laney by Joann I Martin Sowles

            The Dark Lands Series by Autumn Dawn

9.  What author has inspired you the most on your journey?

Autumn Dawn has inspired me more than any other author. Her very candid and honest blog about her journey as a self publishing author has encouraged me to reach for the stars instead of the cookie jar. I really don’t think I would have ever left that place called “I’ll do it one day” if I hadn’t discovered her.

Thanks, Autumn, for being so real about your journey and how you made it to where you are today.

10.  What is the story behind your title and cover?

I didn’t give my book a title until it was completely finished because I didn’t want to feel like I was locked into something that would influence the story. I toyed with ideas, but it was the mystery behind what Chansey is that influenced the title and to explain it further, would be a total spoiler. 

My cover is how I envisioned Chansey through Curry’s eyes. I altered her eyes to the description Curry gives us the first time he makes eye contact with her. It took months to find “the look” I wanted because her character is beautiful, yet I didn’t see her as a super model. She is naturally pretty without the work. I really dig hair accessories, so she had to have one.

11.  What do your order at your favorite coffee shop?

Without doubt, it would be a White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks. I love to try new things in all aspects of my life, but when it comes to my drink, I am a ritualistic.

12.     Is Blood of Anteros a series or a stand alone book?

It is the first book in The Vampire Agápe Series. I am currently working on the second and it is completed in my mind, I just have to get it down. I currently see this as a 3 book series, but we’ll see where it goes. If it takes a different avenue, I’m cool with that.

13.     Do you have a book trailer?

I currently do not have a book trailer, but I am married to the world’s greatest computer ninja, so when I’m ready to tackle it, he is at my disposal.

14.     There are some pretty spicy scenes in the book without getting too graphic, what can your adult readers expect?

The relationship between Curry and Chansey is complex, but their feelings for one another are not. The reader experiences the evolvement of their relationship, told from Curry’s point of view, which is highly sensual. As a vampire with heightened senses, his description of intimate moments brings the reader something they won’t find in any ordinary romance novel.

15.     Final question!  If your book were made into a movie, who would be your dream cast?

Ooooh....That’s a toughy. I totally see Curry being Oliver Goodwill. You probably don’t know who he is. Oliver was that totally yummy guy in Evanescence’s music video “Call Me When You’re Sober.” I still dig him, 5 years later.

My perfect Chansey would be Kristin Kreuk. I love her naturally exotic, wholesome beauty and her hazel eyes are perfect.

Solomon would definitely be Jonathan Rhys Myers, from The Tudors, because that’s who I pictured when I wrote about him.

LINKS:

Georgia Cates Blog

Georgia Cates on Facebook

georgiacates on Twitter

Blood of Anteros on Goodreads

Links to Purchase Blood of Anteros:

Amazon

Barnes&Noble

Smashwords

Also available in the iBook store

I thank you for taking the time to find out a little bit about me and the books I write. If you read my book, it is my sincere wish that it brings you the type of entertainment and joy you expect from it. I would love to hear your thoughts, or just a word of encouragement, and would be thrilled if you contacted me through my blog, Facebook, Twitter or by email at authorgeorgiacates@gmail.com .

The Legacy of Kilkenny - The Seduction - Malevolence

SPOOKTACULAR BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY

There are 400 blogs participating with giveaways - Our host is I am a Reader not a Writer

This is a fabulous opportunity to find some new interesting blogs!  

The Legacy of Kilkenny - Book One - The Legacy Series
The legend has been confirmed, the Great Wolf has been born. Pru was sure she had it right, his name is Abel Casey and he is in Oklahoma. She had only been having visions for a short amount of time, but who knows for sure since she was only three years old. The secret of his existence must be hidden, in the wrong hands and the wrong alpha, his life could end or his powers could be misused.

Oakley and his sexy southern charm was the only other guy that Pru could think about, and now that she is old enough to train Abel Casey for his destiny, Oakley has been assigned as her bodyguard. Living away from the pack just to be closer to Abel was going to be a challenge for the pack, but Pru had been training for this assignment almost all of her life. Sure they could have sent in someone else, someone that wasn’t the alpha’s daughter, someone that wasn’t a shaman, someone that couldn’t dream walk, but he deserves the best and Pru is one of the best. She isn’t cocky, just confident. Can she disobey a direct order and not get involved with Oakley? Or will this teenager find that Oakley has feeling for her too?

She takes a deep breath, rehearses everything she thought of to say and now is the time to show Abel that she is a werewolf and break it to him that he is one too. She takes his hand into hers and shares with him a vision; one that he can step into with her. It wasn’t logical, not to a human, one that has no idea that the supernatural are living all around him. He feels the vibrations as they travel into her thoughts and he looks around to see a farm house, not realizing that the wolves that start to walk closer aren’t only giant but they are shifters and would soon be his pack, and he their leader. What about his life? What about his sister Allie? She was away at college and trouble seems to find her wherever she is. Only problem with her being so far away was the fact that she started dating a vampire and it might be too late for the pack to help her. Will Allie contract the Human Vampiric Virus (HVV) and become a vampire? Is there really an antidote? Will they get to her in time to save her from a life as an immortal?

The journey will weave into an intricate storyline, from rogue werewolves and vampires with agenda’s (don’t they always have an agenda?) to first love and heartbreak. This isn’t your mama’s werewolf story, this story will take you into an urban modern teenager’s life so be prepared to keep up the pace. This is a story of growth, and how young adults can make grown-up decisions too. Someone won’t survive this tale of hope and destiny.


The Seduction - A Legacy of Kilkenny Novelette - Available Oct 31, 2011


Allie Casey has left Oklahoma and has left behind her journal.  Take a look inside the college student that was seduced by a vampire and her journey into the secret vampire world.  This quick read will open your eyes to the life of a teenage girl and her feelings of love, lust and family.


Malevolence - Book Two - The Legacy Series - Available Dec, 2011


Living the life of a werewolf has aged our friend Abel Casey into an adult lifestyle.  A rogue wolf is biting humans and turning them into werewolves, Abel and Oakley are bringing them to the Phelan farm to train them for their new life as a werewolf.  A stranger comes looking for the Phelan family after suffering a werewolf bite and suffers from amnesia.  Without knowing who she is and where she came from puts her in danger of losing her grip on her humanity.  


Pru has flown to Paris to spend some time with her mom.  Her new bodyguard Gus may lack the southern charm of Oakley, but he will protect her with his life.  They go out looking for answers regarding the vampires that have moved to Oklahoma, they find out more about the seedy world of supernaturals living in France.  They will stumble into demons and witches that are blocking them from the truth.  When they get a obscure message that Dolly is in danger, Oakley and Abel fly to Paris to unite as a pack.  Tempers flair between Oakley and Gus, is Oakley jealous that another man is protecting the one he loves?


You'll find this gripping story a page turning suspense filled young adult book.  The teens are older and the adult situations may be too much for our young Great Wolf.  Someone will become a parent before the story is over, and four will be dead.


Note from the author - Thank you so much for all of the support and outpouring of love for my favorite pack of wolves.  I hope you enjoy the entire series.  


Be sure to check my website for upcoming events www.devyndawson.com
and I vlog once a week http://www.youtube.com/user/devyndawson?feature=mhee


GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!


1st Place = The Vampire Diaries board game (don't you just love Damon!) and an E-copy of The Legacy of Kilkenny & The Seduction Novelette
2nd Place = E-copy of The Legacy of Kilkenny & The Seduction Novelette


Good luck!  Happy Halloween!