Showing posts with label horror. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horror. Show all posts

Monday, August 24, 2015

THE CRIMSON CORSET

Horror author Alistair Cross has a new book, The Crimson Corset, just released. He's agreed to take a break from his many book signings to answer a few questions for us.


1.       How did you start your writing career? Describe your very first creation.
Though I've written my entire life, it wasn't until about ten years ago that I began to consider it as a career. I didn't know where to start, and had no knowledge of what it took to write a novel. So I began reading about writing. I read everything I could get my hands on that might educate me about the craft. I began my first novel in 2007. That original creation had quite a lot of problems and it wasn't until 2012 that I published a different novel. The road to publication can be a long discouraging one, but I believe that if you keep at it, commit yourself to honing your craft, have the talent, and make writing a priority, the right doors will open and you will get to where you want to be.

 2.       Sounds like you've prepared well for the task, and it's paid off. Tell us about a favorite character from a book.

 Madame Defarge in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities is one of my all-time favorite fictional characters. Though she seems to be nothing but an innocuous and well-behaved wife, Madame Defarge is one deadly dame. As she sat knitting, seemingly unaware of the wine shop customers, I was first struck by the way she communicated her thoughts to her husband - with a quick flick of eyebrow and a barely perceptible nod of the head. This let me know there was more to her than met the eye … but it wasn't until later in the book that we learn more about her backstory, and how utterly consumed by revenge she is. Madame Defarge’s knitting is more than a way to pass the time. It’s a woolen hit-list in which she uses her needles to encode the names and crimes of the people that should eventually be beheaded. I was young enough when I read this that it left a permanent impression on me and when I'm writing villains, I often think of her.

 3.       An unexpected evil does impress. Tell us about your current release.

 It’s called The Crimson Corset, the first in a series titled The Vampires of Crimson Cove. The Crimson Corset is about a seemingly ordinary young man named Cade Colter who moves to the tourist-centric little village of Crimson Cove where he discovers he’s not so ordinary after all. Unbeknownst to him, Cade has a genetic rarity that makes him very extraordinary … and very valuable, particularly to Gretchen VanTreese, the undead proprietor of the Crimson Corset - a nightclub of ill-repute that looms at the edge of town.
As Cade becomes the object of Gretchen’s obsession, the peaceful vampires on the other side of Crimson Cove must call off the ancient and uneasy truce between their Loyals and Gretchen’s in order to protect Cade Colter. But Gretchen has already begun laying an elaborate trap that will put Cade, and everyone around him, in mortal danger.

The Crimson Corset is a tale of terror and seduction, good and evil; it’s a demonstration of the corruption of power, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity.  

 4.     That's a truly awesome tribute by Jay Bonansinga for your writing, congratulations. Tell us about your next release.

 My collaborator, Tamara Thorne, and I are working on releasing The Ghosts of Ravencrest as a full-length novel. It’s a serialization and with the completion of this particular story arc, we are compiling it into the first book of The Ravencrest Saga.

The Ghosts of Ravencrest is a balls-to-the-wall full-force Gothic that is born of our mutual love for the genre. In the vein of Dark Shadows and Turn of the Screw, The Ghosts of Ravencrest is a rollicking good time with lots of chills, plenty of sex appeal, and more ghosts than you can shake a flask of holy water at.
New governess Belinda Moorland is learning that beneath Ravencrest’s stately exterior, there lurks darkness and danger, murder, mystery, and mayhem. The inhabitants of the manor - both the living and the dead - have taken special interest in her, and as she tries to uncover the mysteries of the mansion, her employer, the handsome millionaire Eric Manning, is proving to be a great distraction … of the sexiest kind.

Ravencrest is a serialization, with new installments coming out about every six weeks. It’s ongoing, like a soap opera, and we intend to keep at it until we’ve exposed every secret and unearthed every mystery of Ravencrest Manor. And that’s a lot of secrets and mysteries.

5.   Serializations are very popular, but that sounds like a huge job. I have no doubts though, if anyone can pull it off it's you. When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

 I write 8 - 10 hours per day, six days a week, and take Sundays off to do whatever sounds like fun - which means I usually don’t do a damn thing. Except maybe read or have a Supernatural marathon.

6.   That kind of writing schedule is envious, wow, congratulations. You are a full time writer. What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing your books?

 That writer’s block doesn’t exist. For years, I’ve expected it to show up, and it never has. I’ve hit speed bumps, and even crashed into a few brick walls … but you just write it off, like you walk off a Charley horse. You work through it. You do this by reading something, watching something, or - most effectively - writing something. If there is a more severe form of writer’s block, I haven’t experienced it.  

7.   I totally agree, it really doesn't exist. I think most people use it as an excuse or simply the reason for not putting their ass in that chair. Tell me, as I'm a curious person, what would we find under your bed?

 Panties. Not mine. Ouzo and absinthe bottles. All mine. Maybe some cat toys. And quite possibly, the cat.

8.  Sounds quite sexy, and . . . . Okay, back to the interview, what book are you reading now? What genre is a guilty pleasure?

 Midnight Voices by John Saul. And I have a lot of guilty pleasures when it comes to reading. I have read - and loved - everything from romance to children’s books.

9.   That isn't a surprise, the best writers have an eclectic taste, so do I, I mean, just say'n. Next question, how do you react to a bad review of your book?

 I don’t react because I don’t read them. By the time my novel goes through my first readers, the publisher, and a series of editors, I’m all critiqued out and am more interested in starting the next book. You can’t please everyone - you have to write for yourself. To read bad reviews, get mad, and argue in front of God and everyone else online about the right way to write a book is about the most juvenile thing a professional writer can do. Write your stories to your own satisfaction and make no apologies.

10.   Love that answer, so true! What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

My favorite color is pink. I like to knit sweaters and often encrypt the names of my enemies into the sleeves. Then I give them out for Christmas. Oh, and I have absolutely no tattoos and unless forcibly given one by a madman wielding an inked-up needle, I never will. And I don’t wear underwear. Ever. It’s part of my creative process. Swing free to think free and all that. 


 Really, hot pink, that is a surprise. 
Thanks, Alistair, for submitting to my questioning. It was fun and I'm sure all your fans have learned something new. Good luck with The Crimson Corset!

Book Description:
 Presented in the form of contemporary vampire literature, The Crimson Corset is a representation of human descent, the power of influence, the corruption of greed, and the lust for domination. It is an illustration of the human will and a testament to the strength of family ties.


Welcome to Crimson Cove
 Sheltered by ancient redwoods, overlooking the California coast, the cozy village of Crimson Cove has it all: sophisticated retreats, fine dining, and a notorious nightclub, The Crimson Corset. It seems like a perfect place to relax and get close to nature. But not everything in Crimson Cove is natural.
 When Cade Colter moves to town, he expects it to be peaceful to the point of boredom. But he quickly learns that after the sun sets and the fog rolls in, the little tourist town takes on a whole new kind of life – and death.
Darkness at the Edge of Town
 Renowned for its wild parties and history of debauchery, The Crimson Corset looms on the edge of town, inviting patrons to sate their most depraved desires and slake their darkest thirsts. Proprietor Gretchen VanTreese has waited centuries to annihilate the Old World vampires on the other side of town and create a new race – a race that she alone will rule. When she realizes Cade Colter has the key that will unlock her plan, she begins laying an elaborate trap that will put everyone around him in mortal danger.

 Blood Wars
 The streets are running red with blood, and as violence and murder ravage the night, Cade must face the darkest forces inside himself, perhaps even abandon his own humanity, in order to protect what he loves.


Author Links:
Twitter: @crossalistair


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The WEP Spectacular Settings Challenge is still open
for entries and for your enjoyment. Please take a few moments to read these wonderful submissions, you'll be blown away by the talent!

Just Click HERE!

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

SPIDERLIGHTS


 
The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Where does it take you? Tell your story in a hundred words or less.
It seems a small thing to ask, but when posting your story, even if you’re using more than one prompt, please post all prompts to give the reader a sense of connection.
 
SPIDERLIGHTS
The farming of the planet earth is proving quite simple. Morphing into light fixtures in elaborate, ostentatious buildings gave the troop's ample access and a varied population for consumption. Our greatest success came in buildings known as museums.
Of course, leaving the bodies outside nearby fast food restaurants kept the populace apathetic, as the nourishment this stock consume is far more harmful than we are.
 
Thank goodness, our need is only the DMT (Dimethyltryptamine, a psychedelic drug) found in the pineal gland.
This mystic drug is what keeps our species light-years ahead of mere humans.
95 words
Yolanda Renée © 2015
 
 
 
To participate in Friday Fictioneers - Just click the link.
 
 
 

Friday, November 1, 2013

MAGNA'S PLEA




 I'm very excited today to have  
as my guest. 
She's answered a few questions in regards to her  release of  
a free download
and her upcoming debut novel Reborn book one of the Fate Challenges

You're an editor, writer, Vice President of Valley Writer's and a member of several writing groups, was this always your goal? Please tell us a little about your writing journey and current goals.

I never thought I would do anything with books beyond read them. In high school and my first two years of college, my goal was to be an opera singer until I changed majors to Classics (Ancient Greeks/Romans). When I got my library job, I considered getting a Masters in Library Science, but then I started writing (beyond online roleplaying and fanfiction) because I had ideas and time at the new full-time day job. I'd love to eventually make enough money with my writing to supplement my library pay or even be a full-time writer, but that could take awhile.

What is speculative fiction, what made you choose it, and what are your goals for this or other genre's. 

Speculative fiction is an umbrella term for fantastical genres such as science fiction, fantasy, horror, and alternate history. Speculative fiction focuses on the question: what if. I have a tendency to jump between writing horror, fantasy, and science fiction, so it made sense that I was more of a speculative fiction author than just a fantasy author, etc. I have quite a few stories planned that involve speculative fiction, although I'd eventually like to branch out and write a few contemporaries and even mysteries.

You're offering your short story, Magna's Plea, as a free download. Is this part of a marketing plan for your book coming out in 2014 – Reborn, book one of the Fate Challenges. Is there a plan behind your 'madness'?

Yes, having Magna's Plea for free is part of my marketing plan for Reborn. In Magna's Plea, the reader will get a sense for the world in The Fate Challenges as well as be able to read a sneak peek of Reborn, which is the prologue. If the reader likes what she sees, then she'll be more likely to add Reborn on Goodreads or sign up for my newsletter. At least that's the plan. Plus, Magna's Plea is only 5500 words, so I feel a bit weird making people pay $0.99 for it, so free is an additional bonus. Right now, it's all about spreading the word, making connections, and gaining a few new fans here and there.


Tell us about Reborn and The Fate Challenges.

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

On the day of Yssa's death and rebirth, the god Apenth selected her as the Phoenix Prophetess.

Sea serpents and gods endanger the seventeen-year-old prophetess's journey and sour the omens. Yssa is cursed instead of blessed, and her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove it. She spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget the boy she left at home. The ferryman's son won't leave Yssa alone for two grains of sand either and is a distraction she can't predict.

When visions of her parents' murders consume her, Yssa races across an ocean to stop the future. If she can't change Fate, then she'll refuse to be the Phoenix Prophetess any longer. Fate, however, has other plans for her and the kingdom.
Reborn is a 90,000+ word YA Epic Fantasy novel and the first book in The Fate Challenges. It was also my first novel I wrote back in 2009. The idea for Reborn came from a roleplaying character I had in a Harry Potter RPG. She was stillborn, but her father revived her. From then on, she had the gift of prophecy. I liked the idea, but I wanted to take a character with that premise and create my own world; thus, Yssa and the Kingdom of Amora was born. I knew from day one that The Fate Challenges would be a trilogy because of Yssa's character growth evolves well to fit three novels, and it's my goal to have at least the first drafts completed of Reforged (Book Two) and Redestined (Book Three) finished by May when Reborn releases.


MAGNA'S PLEA by CHERIE REICH
An Excerpt:
Amora
12-13 Days of Luquiry
Year 1717 AUC

Tendrils of smoke swirled heavenward. The smoldering stench reached Princess Magna at the top of the palace’s northern tower. She wrinkled her nose at the unpleasant odor, yet it still smelled better than the filth plaguing the besieged seven-hilled city.

She’d vowed to protect Amora. Her heart shattered a little more each day at the devastation afflicting her kingdom.

The once grassy and flower-filled plain sprouted dust plumes from the trampling feet. As the sun neared the western horizon, a bloody hue washed over the battlefield. Tiny, metallic dins and men’s shouts rang out. Magical bursts flashed in the sky like Thean’s lightning, beautiful and deadly. A wooden catapult hurled a human-sized stone slab into the city’s wall. Magna jerked away from the opened window she stood before, as if the object had struck her instead. Rock crumbled from the impact, but the barrier held.

When the reddish orb sank lower, the fighting ceased. War’s chaos parted into two orderly sides, and soldiers crossed the field to gather their dead.

She brushed a shaky hand over her cheeks. Tears dampened her face, and she struggled to turn away from the battle before her. Almost two months had passed since the Apenthans had begun their attack Amora. How much longer could the Amorans—she—stay safe behind their impenetrable wall?


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To download this short story for free: Amazon / Nook / iTunes / Kobo / Smashwords / Goodreads
Read online at Wattpad
Add to Goodreads
 



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About the Author: A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the horror series Nightmare, a space fantasy novella trilogy titled Gravity, and the fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms.


Her debut YA Epic Fantasy novel Reborn, book one in The Fate Challenges, will be released on May 23, 2014.





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This Friday, the first day of November 
I am thankful for early Christmas presents,
for the NANO challenge that is all about focus and WRITING!
and for the beginning of a holiday season that's all about family!

Wishing you all a great, great beginning to the 
WRITING SEASON!