Pulp Fiction

Nonlinear narrative has been around forever, but it has been considered  inferior, erroneous, complicated – and not in a good way – when compared to linear narrative. Of course, now we might see it as quite special, we might welcome the challenge and unpredictability of a non-linear narrative.

In Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino made us follow three stories at once, each one belting forward, stomping backward, side tracking and generally crisscrossing (I love this movie, btw). The possibilities for nonlinear narrative are endless. I wanted to find out some way of doing this without driving myself crazy and well, when

Non-Linear Storytelling
Non-Linear Model of Storytelling

by Adam Brackin

So, what do you think of non-linear storytelling? Do you use it in your writing? Do you enjoy reading/watching it? What do you think of this fab model?

I recently heard about a ROW80 author buddy of ours who has run into hard times. The original post is here. Please go read it. Basically, her husband is very unwell and could be for some time. Two blood-clots are the sickness, for which he’s receiving treatment.

This means no wages for an indeterminate amount of time for Lauralynn and her family. So, I wanted to join everyone else in trying to raise awareness. To help in some way. But how?

Kait Nolan (RWO80 creator and author) has set up a donations campaign (with yummy incentives to donate, should you need one) HERE!

Kait suggested we help like this:

 Here’s what you can do (pick one or all–your choice!)

1. First and foremost, if you are interested and able, go buy one (or more) of Lauralynn’s books.  That’s direct support of her as an author and will additionally help with her rankings on various and sundry sales platforms, which will increase her visibility.  They are available across all major ebook platforms, and several are available in paperback.
2. Tell your friends.  If you aren’t able to purchase (and even if you are), take the time to tell your friends about her books.  Post a tweet or a FB status update.  Use those social media platforms to get the word out.  If you’ve got a friend who likes ghost stories, tell them about See Me.  Know a reader who love vamps?  Well Guardian Vampire is just for them.  This costs you nothing but a little bit of time and could make a big difference in her visibility.
3. If you are a published author and you have an ebook or paperback you can donate to the cause, email me at kaitnolanwriter (at) gmail (dot) com.  I’m working on putting together some prize packs for another scheme.  More details to come when I know what I’m working with.
4. There is a Fundrazr campaign for direct donations.  People, there are over 6,000 of you on the #ROW80 mailing list.  If everybody donated just $1, ONE, we could help out tremendously with two months of living expenses.  This bad boy comes equipped with every social media button imaginable so GO make your donation, whatever you can afford, and tweet, Facebook, Pin, Google+, email, whatever everybody to GET THE WORD OUT.
5. And above all, drop by Lauralynn’s blog and let her know that we’re thinking about her and she and her hubby are in our prayers and thoughts

Do you have events for me to shout-out about? Get in touch.

Also, this is a ROW80 update – if you’re here for that alone and do not want to check out these amazing links, dart to the bottom (I’d add a bookmark link right about here if I knew how to!).

But first, I have a collection of great posts and resources to share. Remember, if you’s like to share anything with my readers, here on my blog, get in touch using the contact page of my email address.

These guys got in touch to share an enormous resource list, compiled for higher education students. I plucked the following resources from it, because although there were many specifically for students studying for their thesis, these seemed interesting and useful to all writers. So that means – You!

Click the link to see the full list, especially if you’re at university!

Click For Full Resources List

 Writers Resources

WriteCheck Blog

WriteCheck Blog is a comprehensive site for writing papers and includes plagiarism checks, grammar checks, along with professional training and other useful services.

Compelling Feature: Writing Tip #27: Using Essay Structure for More Than Just Essays

A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices

A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices kind of summarizes its function in its name, but they also include quotes and examples of the various devices.

Compelling Feature: Self Test

iPad Project Blog

iPad Project Blog increases the awareness of the effectiveness of iPads in classroom settings through teaching impact, classroom awareness, and other areas that are detailed on the page. They break down great educational apps each week and have a forum for discussing education-related iPad topics.

Compelling Feature: Project Team

Missed Periods and Other Scares

Missing Periods examines different grammatical errors in each post and offers assistance to those struggling through email help.

Compelling Feature: Grammar Madness

The Elements of Style

The Elements of Style analyzes different usages of literary devices and elaborates on them. They also have search tools for fiction, nonfiction, verses, and a reference search.

Compelling Feature: Titles

Modern English Grammar

Modern English Grammar is supplemental content for Daniel Kies, English Professor at College of DuPage, and his Modern English Grammar class. Content varies from grammar structure, to common usage errors, as well as linguistic stylistics, text analysis, and student examples.

Compelling Feature: Grammar: Words and Their Arrangement

Advice on Research and Writing

Advice on Research and Writing compiles tips from numerous authors on subjects such as writing and publishing, research skills, speaking, career development, and more.

Compelling Feature: How to Organize Your Thesis

The Plagiarism Checker

The Plagiarism Checker has an extremely straightforward format that simply features a window to paste a student’s paper or homework to see if it connects to any other papers.

Compelling Feature: Subscribe

bibme

Bibme is a resource for making bibliographies and citations, along with tips on various formats, such as APA and MPA.

Compelling Feature: Citation Guide

Presentation Zen

Presentation Zen blogs on professional presentation design and gives advice that forms supplementary content to his array of published books.

Compelling Feature: Storytelling, & the Power of First-Person Narrative

International Writing Centers Association

The International Writing Centers Association is the governing body for a network of writing centers across the world and provides a plethora of resources, links, and journals to better compile content for students.

Compelling Feature: Resources

Publetariat

Publetariat is focused on the independent author. Due to the rising tide of technology, self-publishing is an increasingly popular method for the output of literature and associated works.

Compelling Feature: Why I Chose An Assisted Self-Publishing Service

Research Guides

Research Guides provides research sources, strategies, discussions, and guides on a variety of sources for writing your paper.

Compelling Feature: All Guides

Research Buzz

Research Buzz compiles information and commentary on search engines, databases, digitization projects, and online information collections.

Compelling Feature: Google, Amazon, Delicious, More

Institute for Writing and Rhetoric

The Institute for Writing and Rhetoric is run from Dartmouth University and emphasizes the values or the Dartmouth writing program. The site gives users access to writing courses, workshops, citation assistance, and opportunities to put their skills to work through English as a Second Language and Teaching Assistantships.

Compelling Feature: Writing Courses

Write to Done

Write to Done is a forum for writers to discuss techniques that have proven effective and offer tips and insight to other writers. The blog is composed of passionate authors who truly enjoy writing.

Compelling Feature: Guest Post Guidelines

Organizing Creativity

Organizing Creativity guides users through a series of helpful tips to better implementing ideas for creative projects. The book is available as a PDF and there is a supplementary blog as well.

Compelling Feature: Portfolio

These are a few of my EVERNOTE’s:

1. The Business Rusch: Shifting Sands « Kristine Kathryn Rush
2. HELP YOUR FRIENDS TO HELP YOUR BOOK GO VIRAL - BETSY GRAZIANI
3. HOW TO PUSH PAST THE BULLSHIT AND WRITE THAT GODDAMN NOVEL: A VERY SIMPLE NO-FUCKERY WRITING PLAN TO GET SHIT DONE - Terrible Minds
4. Stepping into POV - Hugs and Chcolate
5. Huge list of resources from Susan Kaye.
6. The first, second, and third drafts Jade Kerrion
7. 12 Ideas for Email Updates (You’ll Actually Enjoy Writing) - Self Publishing Team
8. 50 redundant phrases to avoid in writing - Mark Nichol
9. How to Create a Viral Book Trailer (or Get 1,000,000 Views for Almost Anything)
10. Wendy Webb: A Dark and Stormy Night: 10 Tips for Writing a Paranormal Mystery

ROW80

Now, this is also my first ROW80 post in a week or so because I’ve been busy with May Monster Madness Meme (which I loved) where I met some great peeps who all love horror and of course, monsters!

My ROW80 updates

Shah the Willing Writer

I wrote LOTS of blog posts” for a meme:

• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 7: ‘THE DEAD PARTY’ EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY!
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 6: BLOOD FAMILY BY MARK KNIGHT: EXCERPT / INFO.
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 5: THE BEST EVER VAMPIRES (AND THEIR HUNTERS) – 2 QUICK POLLS
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 4: MY FAVOURITE MONSTER & TEN REASONS WHY.
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 3: BLOOD RUSH: REVIEW & PRE-RELEASE TOUR
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 2: TWO STAGES OF FEAR & WHY DO WE LOVE MONSTERS?
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 1: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR & WHY WE LOVE MONSTERS

And please go click on your Favourite Vampires, and your Favourite Vampire Hunter polls, so I can gather up those votes and write a post about the chart-toppers! I’ll be writing that post in the next few days, and it will be a bonus post for this meme, 21st May:  Yey! It was a great meme and I’m just so chuffed to have met some many fab horror lovers. Including, but not restricted to…

Lexa Cain

Ben Ellis

Carmen

Toni @ My Book Addiction

Ms Misantropia

Little Gothic Horrors

Sophie Duncan

joylene

Maynard Morrissey

Cathy Keaton

Real Queen of Horror

Magaly Guerrero

Thanks everyone; you wrote some great posts and I have learned a LOT and have a LOAD of TV shows, movies, and books to watch, re-watch or read.  And of course, I will not forget the monster playlist, Ben

Apart from blog posts, I’ve also wrote on my WIP! Hurrah!

Shah the Marketing Wizz

Set up another book tour for June. Received a review from Readers Favourite. A rogue vowel made it seem she’d not read (or understood it), but when I bought it up they were brilliant and she explained she’d mistakenly written ‘her family,’ instead of ‘a family.’ I accepted the explanation and now I can simply love the review, which was always a good review. I await the link to post on Amazon Professional review (if I can find it, any ideas?) .

Errm. Anything else here… probably, oh yes. I have been designing book covers again. No doubt you’ve seen some floating around FB with requests for feedback.

No? You haven’t? Oh well, here they are, only one has had an edit

Why? Because I cannot afford my designers new prices (not even in my dreams)! I’ve therefore been trying to master a few self-taught design skills. I needed a yummy font catalogue to go with those few skills, and I found a great place for free fonts, so downloaded a few beauties! Which is great, because what with editing costs, cover artists and what-not, it’s an expensive game; this publishing lark.

The first image in the following gallery is the cover of the first book in The Supes Series. The designer of which now charges around $400 for ebook covers, just like this. He is brilliant (and offer lots of other incredible services) but his popularity and talents meant he stepped out my reach. I’m just chuffed to have gotten at least one of his covers, though His button is in the right hand side of this blog.

FINDING LUNA IDEA 1: With the first cover I designed for Finding Luna, I wanted something different. I’d found a few images which ‘spoke to me’ (yes, they can do that!) and wanted to see them in action. I  do like it (apart from the fonts), but it doesn’t match the first in the series (at all!) and it doesn’t match the genre – urban fantasy, either. Which is why I then had idea number 2.

FINDING LUNA IDEA 2: I love this, but the fonts are too plain and the colours a bit wishy-washy. I searched everywhere for the same fonts Derek used on Finding Esta, but can’t find them. I’ve even asked designers and they don’t know. I’ve sent him a message, but I’m yet to hear from him. He’s a busy guy. I purchased the image I’ve used (of the same model used for Finding Esta) quite cheaply and the other decoration was obtained from a mixture of Pic Monkey and Smart Photo Editor. I use both of these a LOT!

FINDING LUNA IDEA 3: After I found those great fonts, I replaced the others previously used, then played around with a few other things, like lighting, and I wanted to make the moon and the title  stand out a lot more, as in the first cover. Do you think I managed it?

Question: Is this too young adult? It’s for a new adult, urban fantasy novel. Is that what this cover says to you? Be honest.

Shah the Imperfect Publisher

See above. I’m having issues with the cover and those pesky live elements! *Groan!

Shah the Pro Blogger.

BLOGGING:

As above, plus…

I posted on both my other blogs about these covers.

Shah the Ready Reader

I still need to review Katie Salidas Immortalis Carpe Noctem (Immortalis Vampire Series #1). I’m also still trying to read the Forbidden Trilogy by Kimberly Kinrade for I.O Book Tours. I’m also reading about Digital publishing and well, so many blog post and articles its baffling!

Shah the Fitness Superhero (or not!)

Walking, trying to cut back on food (not easy at those times it it girls? Sorry boys ) I’m also drinking lots of green tea, popping lots of vitamins, and taking my meds on time – mostly! Hubs was away for five days with work up till Thursday evening, which means I hardly slept for that time. My circadian rhythms seem to throw a paddy when he’s away. Most annoying.

Interested in upping your fitness/health levels? Click HERE to sign up form to participate. Join my here on that date to see more information about my fitness/health regime. If you don’t pick up anything from me, I bet you’ll pick up something from any number of other participants. And if not, you’ll be all fired up to improve your own regime anyway. You could share your secrets – we all love a secret

Please click the link to find fabulous #Row80 participants HERE

GUEST POST REQUEST!

I have a guest post for you, today. It’s interesting for me because I am not (or I was not) sure of what exactly a ghost writer does. Are they the walking dead who like to write? Are spooks haunting us with their ghostly words?

Well, if you’re anything like me, sit back and learn all about ghost-writing from our guest blogger! You’re welcome.

Right then. Take it away, Teena!

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST!

Ghost-writing: What Is It And How Does It Work?

Ghost-writing is where an individual is hired, usually on a freelance basis, to write for and in the name of another person.  It is very common and widely used in public relations, social media, and other industries that produce a great number of articles and written content.

So what type of projects do ghost-writers work on?

Social media content

Social media and online content is a huge part of everyday life, with most brands, organisations and celebrities operating social media accounts across numerous platforms.  Typically company CEO’s, celebrities and the like often don’t have the time to manage and update their social media profiles, therefore many employ a ghost writer to work on their behalf, updating their content.

Books

Not all those with a story to tell are naturally gifted writers, therefore throughout the history of publishing celebrities, politicians, historical figures  and business leaders have employed a ghost writer to help turn their ideas and visions into reality.  More recently, with the increase of self-publishing an even wider range of individuals are calling in a ghost writer to help them to write books on a wide range of topics from cook books to how to guides.

Speech-writing

Throughout history public speakers have been given assistance with their speech writing, with some employing a ghost writer to complete the entire speech.  Ghost writers have been used in speech writing for presidents, CEOs, members of Congress and big brands.  With the growing popularity of TED style conferences, more and more individuals who wish to position themselves as business leaders are using ghost writers to stand out amongst the crowd of “experts”.

So if a ghost-writer is employed to work on these types of jobs, do they take any credit?

One of the most common uses for a ghost writer is producing books, and a ghost writer will rarely receive any recognition for their work asides from a small acknowledgement within the writing.  They are often asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement to keep it quiet that a ghost writer has been used, and this is often the case with high profile projects.  This is not always the case however, and some ghost writers will be given the title of “co-author”.  When it comes to speeches and all other types of content discussed above, ghost writers are completely invisible and never acknowledged.

Is hiring a ghost writer expensive?

The cost of a ghost writer will vary for a number of reasons.  The two main indicators of cost will be the level of experience the ghost writer has, and the size of the project you are asking them to work on.  In the example of having a book written, you would be looking at anything from £20,000 to £200,000 depending on the ghost writer you select and the complexity of the project.

How long does it take?

As with the cost, this will vary from project to project depending on the time frame expected to deliver the work within.  It isn’t a simple process of simply sitting down and putting pen to paper, there will need to be a number of drafts and revisions made before the final piece is complete, and this can take an indefinite amount of time depending on how you are as a client.

So I am thinking about hiring a ghost writer, what should I look out for?

There are a number of different things you will need to take into account when employing a ghost writer.  The key things you should be looking for are value for money, experience/ credentials, and likability.

You need to ensure when selecting a ghost writer that they are firstly going to be able to work within your budget, then you will need to ensure that they have the experience to work on the project and that they will be able to fulfil your needs.  Finally you should interview you ghost writer first to ensure that you actually like them.  It is likely that you will spend a lot of time with this person, and they need to be able to understand your vision to produce the final piece you require.

Hi my name is Teena and I am a professional ghost writer.  I offer a variety of ghost writing services, and have much experience in a writing about a wide range of topics.

Thanks Teena!

Let’s Celebrate The Small Things!

Welcome to my 7th (and final) May Monster Madness post. (and for those who are celebrating the small things, I’ve been celebrating Monsters all week, so dive right in and check out the posts!

• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 6: BLOOD FAMILY BY MARK KNIGHT: EXCERPT / INFO.
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 5: THE BEST EVER VAMPIRES (AND THEIR HUNTERS) – 2 POLLS
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 4: MY FAVOURITE MONSTER & TEN REASONS WHY.
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 3: BLOOD RUSH PRE-RELEASE TOUR
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 2: TWO STAGES OF FEAR & WHY DO WE LOVE MONSTERS?
• May Monster Madness 1: The Psychology of Fear (The Five Basic Fears)

All seven of them, if you’re feeling so inclined. Today is the last one, so I’m offering a giveaway! Read on…

May Monster Madness

Please see the previous posts (linked in Previous Posts the side bar) for the psychology of fear, why I love vampires best of all, and many more. And please go click on your favourite vampires, and your favourite vampires hunter polls, so I can gather up those votes and write a post about the chart toppers! I’ll be writing that post in the next few days, and it will be a bonus post for this meme, 21st May:  Yey!

I’m also offering my short story – The Dead Party: A Dark Yet Humorous Tale - to four of your lucky monster lovers. It’s a political satire (set in UK) with zombies

 

 GIVEAWAY!

It’s giveaway time! So, do you love zombies? Great, because I wrote this short story (available from Amazon) and thought I’d offer it as the finale giveaway!  I have PDF or Mobi copies available.

RULES: Tell me your favourite zombie movie and why, and don’t forget to leave your contact details and file preference.

BLURB

Imagine the United Kingdom, after an election, where the party of choice – the party in charge of the people – are The Dead Party.

This is a short story length (5k), political satire, exploring an island ruled by zombies, a massive recruitment initiative, a whole lot of rot… oh, and one incredibly sly cat!

EXCERPT

I made this cover!

Hugged by a cloak of darkness, I could still see for miles. The night sky lit up by a golden glow of fires blazing across the country, beneath clouds of toxic smoke. Where fires had died, mounds of a blackened tar-like substance sat cooling. It had become eerily quiet of late, though it used to be so vibrant. It was all such an awful waste; cars burned out, houses deserted – the smell of rotting or cooking flesh and piss, everywhere. It made me miserable, nauseous and livid.

Sitting on the roof-top of the former Mrs Whelms – a consultant of some sort, no less, I searched out the vile Dead, who in their armies swiftly took control of our district one month ago. Everything’s changed. They now have complete control over our whole island, but not me. Not yet. Not ever.

Strange to concede that 90% of my previously living comrades supposedly voted for the Dead Party to govern what is now called, District 6. Even the Green Party would have seemed like a better option in the absence of our Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour Councillor, who all bizarrely disappeared only one week before voting began. Still haven’t turned up. No doubt they found out what was to become of us and fled. Or they were supper, and still adhere to The Dead’s Party’s rotting stomach lining.

“The democratic process has proved a positive one,” the Dead Party had said. Of course, the living demanded a re-count, but it wasn’t allowed as with all investigations into their dubious habits: “It’s Political Correctness’ gone mad,” people cried. Others looked down on them, trained to do so. Besides, there was never enough proof of fixing the vote to use against them, and without evidence there was nothing to investigate.

With power came numbers. They popped up everywhere, or should I say slithered and shuffled? Their pong began to loiter generally, even in cafes and restaurants. How rude? We could no longer enjoy a bag of chips without their death hanging around, polluting our noses. I lost my appetite right around then.

Their yellow eyes – encircled with red rims – are the worst. Man they’re ugly, especially when they weep a pus-like substance, like septic tears down rotting cheeks. I noticed this delight occurred more when they became hungry. And the Dead were usually either angry or hungry, so there’s a lot of pus. I felt sickened just thinking of it… seeping out. And yet the Dead seem oblivious to their putrid condition, as though they had forgotten all about vanity along with breathing and the sanctity of life.

Take a shower – used soap – brush what’s left of those browning teeth, for Heaven’s sake. Hello?

How did it come to this? I have no clue, quite simply. I fell asleep one evening after a movie I cannot now recall – as one does – and when I woke up it was all over the news: “The Dead rise again!” I had to ask myself, ‘When did they rise the first time?’ I thought it to be some stunt by a flagging media mogul, or a clever ruse by some bored saddo, sitting alone on his computer with a techie brain and too much time on his hands. Ah, in fact my very first thoughts were that it must be the residue of a nightmare, not fully shaken off.

I read about the election in a discarded tabloid. But who believes anything in them anymore?

Sadly, as the day moved on and more news came in, it became clear that The Dead were indeed walking around my country, my town, and pretty soon after that, in my street.

 

Hey, who says monster stories can’t come along with a little humour? So, do you like it? Want to win one of five copies? Get your comments in and I’ll get in touch! So what are you celebrating this week?

Welcome to my 6th May Monster Madness post.

May Monster Madness

LINK

Please see the previous posts (linked in Previous Posts on the side bar) for the psychology of fear, why I love vampires best of all, and many more. And please go click on your Favourite Vampires, and your Favourite Vampire Hunter polls, so I can gather up those votes and write a post about the chart toppers! I’ll be writing that post in the next few days, and it will be a bonus post for this meme, 21st May:  Yey!

Join me today, and discover a new YA paranormal novel written by Mark Knight. I provide an excerpt, a review and the book blurb, plus a little information about Mark and of course, those all important buy links. Pull up a chair, get comfy and grab a drink. You may have just found your next read! There will be monsters!

Blood Family

Blurb:

Life as part of a debt-free, middle-class family in the New England suburbs should have been heaven.

But when your father is a Man of God and you’re a vampire, it sure can be hell.

Until the age of seventeen, Daniel Dark had no idea of his true origins. Something was ulcerating deep inside him, striving to claw its way free. Pastor Nathan Dark and his wife, Annie, had adopted him and brought him up as their own. But Daniel always felt that there was a secret they feared tell him…

Everything changes the day a mysterious package arrives at his home. It contains blood – human blood. It is a message from his true father – a vampire named Dominus. Daniel’s vampire half awakens and takes its first step out of the shadows. Vampires, Daniel learns, are not like in the movies. They’re worse, much worse, and cannot be killed by sunlight or stakes.

The once lazy, goalless youth transforms into sharp-sensed killer. Now, there is no turning back. On his trail is Pastor Nathan Dark, obsessed with destroying the boy he’d adopted as his own…

Armed with ever-evolving powers, Daniel sets off to find and free his birth mother, imprisoned by Dominus since the day of his birth.

It is a journey that takes Daniel to Mexico and the mysterious Mayan shaman woman, Xochil, guardian of Vampire secrets. From there the trail leads to misty moors of southern England, where he joins forces with Logan DuPris, a vampire hunter as attractive as she is deadly. Together they piece together the weird clues that lead to…

The Vampire Key

Excerpt: CHAPTER 13

As evening painted the sky a deep purple, Daniel stepped through his front door and looked around. As his life had changed, so too had all that surrounded him. He was sensing something. Daniel had never been one for deep thinking, but now his perceptions stretched themselves out over the landscape, over time, feeling out new possibilities and new horizons. He exhaled a big, purging breath, scratching the back of his head. Was he really going to do it? Leave home?

The ‘incident’ with Daelin had left him confused. Part of him had wanted to take advantage of her in the most gruesome and bloodiest of ways. Part of him wanted to protect her forever. Would it be best for her—and for him—to stay, or to leave? This wasn’t exactly something he could talk over with the town’s youth counselor. For the first time in his life, he had no one to fall back on. Future decisions would be down to him and him alone.

No more of this soul-searching crap. I want my bed.

Entering, he kicked off his sneakers and thudded up the stairs. As he grabbed the door handle to his room he halted. Mom stood there, down the hall, looking…defenseless.

“Daniel…”

“Just a minute, Mom.” He wanted to change his shirt a.s.a.p.—his unbidden hallucination had made him very sweaty, not to mention the sex play with Daelin.

He entered his room.

That was his first mistake.

Dad was waiting for him—he and six other pastors. Not one appeared to be in a forgiving mood.

It was a shock to Daniel—he hadn’t even seen any cars parked out front, not even Dad’s.

He then made his second mistake. He didn’t move quickly enough.

Another pastor, who had been waiting next to the door, kicked it shut. Then, the tallest of the ministers facing him shot him with what looked to be a crossbow. The arrow tore into the boy’s left shoulder, pinning him to his bedroom door. He roared in pain. Before the roar was over, an arrow pierced his other shoulder.

“I know you hate me for this, Daniel,” said Nathan Dark. “But I’m doing this to help you.”

“Help me?” spat Daniel. “You want to kill me!”

“It’s taken me years to put together this Deliverance Team, Daniel,” Pastor Dark told him. “And unlike even my own church denomination, our newly founded division knows about the existence of creatures like you.”

“Creatures like me?”

“Yes,” said Nathan coldly. “Demons—like you.”

The pastors rushed at Daniel as he grasped the arrow shafts, trying to pull himself free. The seven men began shouting out religious passages at him, fear knocking their phrases out of unison. Five of them restrained Daniel while two others (including his father) performed the laying on of hands, placing palms on his head and chest. Enraged, Daniel bellowed back at them, irises turning blood red as his would-be deliverers watched in increasing terror.

And something else was happening: the arrows that impaled Daniel were dissolving, actually turning to ash and smoke before their eyes. Through the tears in his son’s shirt Nathan Dark could see the arrow wounds healing before his eyes—flesh growing and knitting, liberated blood retreating back inside the boy’s body before the holes closed.

Revivified, Daniel flung his arms outward in a mighty push, hurling the men to the floor. The deliverers howled in pain.

Nathan Dark regained his senses. His son was nowhere in sight. Then, hearing a sound like the panting of a wounded wolf, he looked up. Daniel clung there, defying gravity, hugging the ceiling like a bat.  Nathan barked through gritted teeth to the crossbow-wielder, who hastily reloaded his weapon of choice. He was good—very good—and had no trouble in unleashing another duo of deadly carbon shafts into the boy’s body—one in the leg, and the other in his shoulder. The idea was to get so many of them stuck in the youth that he would weaken long enough for the team to overpower him.  In this case, ‘overpower’ would mean one of two things—either to free him of his curse, or to free him of his life.

Detaching from the ceiling, Daniel landed in the center of the pastors, now on their feet in a rough circle. He spun, elongated nails gashing each face in rapid succession. Blood sprayed in all directions. The deliverers reeled back in pain. But Nathan avoided injury, stepping back just long enough to retrieve from his jacket the object that he had secreted there as a last resort.

There had been accounts of wooden stakes actually working against demonics and undead entities, but Nathan had never verified any of these accounts. Sure, maybe it was just movie nonsense. But this, right here, right now, was real. He was going to put right this terrible wrong—this boy’s abominable existence—in God’s name. He would succeed no matter what, even if -

Daniel had locked his gaze on to his father. The stake dropped from his hand. Pastor Nathan Dark grabbed his head as though trying to keep it from falling off. The look of sheer terror in his face was proof enough that the hypnotic assault was working.  The other members of the deliverance team watched, transfixed.

“No!” Nathan was screaming. “Don’t leave me in this place! Get me out! Take me out of here!” He was no longer in this world, not consciously. Daniel had succeeded in making this devout Christian man believe that he was in Hell.

It had not been difficult for Daniel to target his father’s greatest fear. But he didn’t know how long he could keep up the illusion. This ability was new to him, powered by raw instinct.

Sensing the approach of the other ministers, Daniel whirled to confront them.

“Keep back!” he warned. “Unless you want me to invade your little minds as well!” His own words frightened him. Never before had he spoken words like that, nor with such rage. What had he become?

Pastor Nathan Dark screamed even louder. Even Daniel had no idea as to what his Dad was seeing within his mind’s eye.

“Daniel! Stop it, now!”

Mom!

Daniel was shocked to see that she’d entered. He released his father.

Jerking his head toward the window across the room, he barked at it as though giving an order. The windowpane shot up with a bang.

Daniel’s exit was a blur—a dark streak that could have been the boy taking flight. No one in the room would ever know.

He was gone.

Book Review

(Not mine (I have yet to read it). This was provided by the publicist)

Blood Family: Quest for the Vampire Key is an awesome, awesome, awesome book. Did I say awesome? I read a lot and believe me, I’ve not read anything like this since I read Anne Rice novels back in the 90’s. I originally read just the sample of this story on the Author’s website. I was so intrigued that I bugged and bugged him for the full novel. It far exceeded my expectations and I had already had high hopes for it after the sample.

Young Daniel finds out from his family that he is a Dhampir and the blood package he received in the mail further confirmed what he feared. He was adopted from his ‘mom’s’ sister, Celeste and his father was Dominus, Lord of the Shadow World. Daniel leaves his home and everyone he knows in search of his biological mother. After visiting Xochil, a shaman, he learns much of what he’s going to need to know to battle to keep himself from succumbing to his fathers’ twisted world. He meets a young paranormal investigator whose father was killed by Dominus and takes her along on his journey reluctantly. Read the story to follow his journey. Will he find his mother? Will he keep himself from the snares of his father? There’s so much to this story that it will keep you guessing.

The Author, Mark Knight, takes you on a twisting and turning journey with his main character. Just when you think you have things figured out and how much more could possibly happen, he adds another aspect to the story that sucks you in. He’s created a world where you really feel like you are going through this journey with Daniel yourself and envelopes you in a world of insane, cunning and manipulative characters. He is an excellent storyteller and paints the picture so well for you that you can actually see it in your mind. His attention to detail and creativity is leaps and bounds beyond anything I’ve ever read. The story is simply creative, well thought out and just crazy good! It is a must read for anyone who loves paranormal, mind blowing, dark fantasy. I just can’t say enough to give this book its proper justice. If this were a movie, which it would be awesome if taken on, it would break all the blockbuster records out there and win all the Oscars if the right people were cast. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest, it is a 100! If there was a grade above an A+, it would be used for this book! You will not be disappointed with this book. It was worth every minute I spent reading it and I’m already looking forward to a sequel. “Behind every door, and down every alleyway, we will be watching.”

Author Bio:

Mark Knight grew up in Massachusetts, USA. Settling in the UK, Mark continued to write novels of differing genres, including horror and television scripts. Mark has worked on scripts for Hollywood’s Little Slices of Death production company and one for Illusion Studios, for which he has recently signed an Option Acquisition Agreement. He also won several short story competitions, and has had his work featured in published anthologies. Mark concentrates now on Young Adult urban fantasy novels.

Mark Knight

Mark Knight: (website)

I fell in love with books and movies very early on. Roald Dahl, Planet of the Apes, Tolkien, Star Wars…they were all part of my journey. From age sixteen I was compelled to write my own.  I have always been fascinated by amazingly ‘out there’ type stories – be it fantasy, horror, or science fiction – that have an element of reality in them. You know, where you can say ‘Oh yeah, I can relate to that’ or ‘I know someone who has that problem’. To me, the more real your characters, their emotions, problems, etc, then the more thrilling it becomes when the fantastic comes knocking at their door.

For instance, Daniel Dark, the seventeen-year-old protagonist of Blood Family, has family problems that have led him to smoke weed and chug beer with his equally indolent friend. But then he discovers that he is a half-vampire with incredible powers. Finally, his dull going-nowhere life is supercharged.

Fifteen-year-old Solomon, hero of Solomon Grimm and the Well of Souls, comes from a broken home and suffers from hypoglycaemic attacks his diabetes. It screws up his life—until a gypsy curse renders him undead. Diabetes is the least of his problems now.

Dealing with the death of a parent was bad enough for Gunner Robinson. He has a sixth-sense, the ability to know when evil is near. Other powers are manifesting themselves as well, and they are getting him into trouble, at home and at school. Which is why he wound up in therapy. Telling the doc that he is a warrior angel reborn would definitely make things worse…

BUY THE BOOK

AMAZON.COM & AMAZON.CO.UK

 So what do you think? Will you be reading this next? Have you read it already? What did you think of it? Do you like VAMPIRES! :-E

Hi, this is my fifth post for this meme. These are the others:

• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 4: MY FAVOURITE MONSTER & TEN REASONS WHY.
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 3: BLOOD RUSH PRE-RELEASE TOUR
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 2: TWO STAGES OF FEAR & WHY DO WE LOVE MONSTERS?
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 1: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR (THE FIVE BASIC FEARS)

Click this image for more information and for the linky of other participants.

Visit me between 11th and 17th May for interesting posts about monsters.

Today is all about…

‘The Best Ever Vampires (and their hunters).’

Obviously, for me to go on and on about my favourites, means you get pissed because they’re not yours, and it could get messy. So instead on my subjective ramblings – i.e.: strictly my opinion, I’d like to know yours. Then I’ll compile them and do a post on the two chart-toppers!

So, I’ve added two polls. Hurrah!

(Should have done this for my first post, but as I found the meme the day before it started, I didn’t have to time to think our the week ahead and I’ve kind of gone by the seat of my pants). So I need you all to click on your Favourite Vampires, and your Favourite Vampire Hunter polls, so I can gather up those votes and write a post about the chart toppers! I’ll be writing that post in the next few days, and it will be a bonus post for this meme, 21st May:  Yey!

Anywhoo… These polls are made up of the best of both camps, our there (according to research, so don’t shoot the messenger!), but like I said, this is all about you guys.

Who is YOUR number 1 ?

I imagine most of you will say Buffy tops the slayers, but which fanged devil will you chose as best vampire ever? If I’ve missed your favourite (how very dare I?) by all means add them to the list in the comments. There are so many, I had to scale it down to those who figured highest on my scale, but also on Google search.

Right, now go vote!

polls

 

online surveys

Don’t forget to elaborate your choices/or add them if I’ve missed them, in your comment

Hi, this is my fourth post for this meme. These are the first three:

• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 3: BLOOD RUSH PRE-RELEASE TOUR
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 2: TWO STAGES OF FEAR & WHY DO WE LOVE MONSTERS?
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 1: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR (THE FIVE BASIC FEARS)

Click this image for more information and for the linky of other participants.

Visit me between 11th and 17th May for interesting posts about monsters.

Today I’m talking about one of my favourite monsters and the mediums it has blessed.

If you are unaware *and therefore do not frequent this blog) my all time favourite monster is …

The Vampire

Since I don’t know when I have adored vampires. I know, I know, you may be groaning because we’ve all become saturated in these blood-thirsty devils for decades now, but doesn’t that also tell of this legends longevity, of it’s complete intrigue and wonder?

But why?

Well, for what it’s worth, here’s what I think.

They are extensions of ourselves. They are so much more (and less) than us, and that fascinates us. Simple? Not quite. Here are several other reasons why – psychologically – we (I) just keep on loving them.

1. Vampires are loners, but not lonely.

We all long to belong, have faced or feared facing isolation or loneliness, or feared losing a loved one, or a lack of connection in the world. We can therefore relate to this element. Not just with those smouldering hot vamps we love (and many loathe), but even the evil, ugly fangsters are essentially alienated from the world they inhabit. Aww! Bless.

One hot smouldering, yet misunderstood and oh-so-lonely vampire. You’re welcome!

2. Vampires are independent of life’s confinements.

To live, we need stuff. We need money to buy that stuff. Stuff like a home, clothes, food, transport. Oh and then, we need our MAC and our iPhone, and all those others unnecessary things which seem crucial these days. But, you see vampires don’t need these things. They may need to play at eating, at working, at playing, to merge into society. But they don’t need to work for cash. They either became wealthy over thousands of years, or inherited (or thieved) their wealth.

Would you run screaming from this face? The beautiful Damon Salvator of The Vampire Diaries. I am a tiny bit obsessed!

The Salvator’s in The Vampire Diaries seem to have an inexhaustible wealth, as do the Cullen’s in Twilight. Although, to be fair to the latter, one of them works as a doctor. But still… they are free from the confines of modern life. And we envy that. We want that. We all dream of being financially free enough not to worry about anything, even if our desire is not to be rich, we wouldn’t turn down that kind of freedom.

Of course, not all vampires live like this. The vampires in From Dust Till Dawn worked as truck drivers. And they were seriously ugly! So, swings and roundabouts.

I love this movie!

Yep, there are those other kinds of vampire; those scary, ugly, ravenous beasts from hell who care little for anything other than blood. These need little other than your blood! They have lost all humanity (if they ever had it) and they laugh at morality and doing the right thing. The only right thing to them is feeding – on you!

These ladies and gentlemen wouldn’t care if they lost their jobs. I do wonder where they got their clothes and where they sleep?

I love 30 Days of Night :)

3. Vampires are HOT, unless they’re really NOT!

I think I’ve already covered this above (Damon Salvator anyone?), to some extent, but there are strict camps of vampire lovers. The handsome, sparkly vampires camp, or the brutal, hungry vampires camp. I however, spend time in both camps (coz I can, and coz I love ALL vampires). Quite simply, I enjoy being terrified and horrified, so bring on I Am Legend, but I also love the simmering hunks, those who are dark, but yearn for love. It’s a different rush, but both are as relevant to me.

4. Vampires have fangs.

Since Freud, our oral tendencies have been explained. The oral stage can capture some, and they’re said to become addicts, or overeaters. Others might swear or curse or shout a lot. Psychologists say that sharp teeth suggest to us an angry person shouting biting comments.

We might bite in a fight, in a primitive display of aggression, but our mouths and even our teeth are so often sensual. Kisses, nipping, slurrp! Fangs are therefore fascinating, even beautiful. And what’s interesting is that mostly, vampires hide theirs. They only reveal them at the pivotal moment. Yummy!

5. Vampires know what you’re thinking… and other cool stuff.

According to Anne Rice‘s description of vampires, “A vampire of sufficient power or age may also unwillingly ‘hear’ the thoughts of all the humans within range of this power, leading to an old vampire saying: ‘If you do not learn to silence the voices, they will drive you mad.’” And who can argue with Ms Rice? Not me.

They might also be able to fly, become shadow, shape-shift – you name it. Some can even wear a special ring and walk in the sun.

6. Vampires are powerful.

Because of, and on top of all the other attributes, vampires are powerful. Super powerful. And that is both scary AND sexy. They don’t need huge muscles, or guns, or tanks or battleships, either. They command the floor by their mere existence. The once wore cloaks – like super hero’s  - but rarely anymore. And they never needed a cloak, like a uniform to transform them from normal to extraordinary. Vampires also have immense healing powers, which means that any injury is short-lived. To many, they are physical perfection. Unless they’re the ugly ferocious variety – yeah I know.

I Am Legend: The ugly ferocious variety

7. Vampires have little to fear.

Unlike us mere mortals, they are… immortal. Whatever you think of them, they do not come face to face with our primal fear of extinction, and that in it self is alluring. They survive, and we want to survive.

8. Vampires care, but mostly about themselves.

This self preservation holds a peculiar fascination. They can also fall in love, although rarely enough to make it spectacular and epic in proportions. Who doesn’t want epic love?

9. Vampires are sensitive.

Blame Rice for this, as her vampires are all terribly emotional, even sensual. Our romantic notions of vampires originated post Rice; Twilight, for example.

10. Vampires are bad boys, and all girls love a bad boy.

You might choose a werewolf or a zombie as your favourite monster. Perhaps King Kong, fey, witch, an alien. But for me (and million more) see the original and best ever bad boy, who reeks of danger, is very naughty, and very sexy, is the best monster of all.

Remember this guy?

Which is your favourite monster? What did you think of The Freaks, The Night of the Living Dead? Are you participating in this meme?

Hello and welcome to another May Monster Madness post. More vampires, but this post is a review of a great book of the supernatural community. Love monsters? Check it out. It’s not horror, but there are fangs!

Here’s the other two:

• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 2: TWO STAGES OF FEAR & WHY DO WE LOVE MONSTERS?
• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 1: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR (THE FIVE BASIC FEARS)

May Monster Madness

LINK

“If there is any book that you have to read this year, this book is it! Full of suspense, action, mystery, and the undercurrents of romance, the unique paranormal world that Ms. Krafton has created will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last sentence!” — Place of Reads

Check also “Bleeding Hearts”, the first instalment in the Demimonde series.

Blood Rush

Blood Rush (Demimonde #2)

Sophie doesn’t believe in happily ever after. These days, she’d settle for alive after sunrise.

Advice columnist and newly-appointed oracle to the demivampire, Sophie Galen has more issues than a Cosmo collection: a new mentor with a mean streak, a werewolf stalker she can’t shake, and a relationship with her ex’s family that redefines the term complicated. And then there’s her ex himself, who is more interested in playing leader of the vampire pack than in his own salvation.

Becoming a better oracle is tough enough, but when Sophie encounters a deadly enemy – one she never dreamed of facing – it will take everything she’s ever learned in order to survive.

Add Blood Rush to your Goodreads list!

REVIEW:

I’d give this 4/5 stars

This is a page-turner.  On a side note, I love the cover designs. A refreshing change from the usual  supernatural covers: beautiful women or men’s six-pacs. I should also point out that I received a copy of this for review from the authors tour organiser, and have not read the first in the series. I may have to remedy that now, of course.

Sophie is a sensitive character and she has a lot going on. She is an advice columnist and newly appointed oracle to the demivampire, but despite her many issues (loved one’s turning into vampires, she needs to seriously sort out her new mentor and hey, werewolves stalking you can never be a good thing. Can it?), she copes admirably.

Sophie struggles with the loss of her soul mate, Marek, so has to help him from changing into a full vampire for ever. His  younger brother, Rodrian asks for help in finding his daughter, in return for a place to stay. It’s against the clock before she changes from a demivampire to a real vampire. She copes with all this, on top of dodging the vampires already hunting her down.

I liked how Sophie was both vulnerable and strong. I dislike intensely those heroines who are either all pathetic or all kick-ass. Sophie was much more believable. I also loved the werewolf. He was protective and cute and he’d suffered. Who doesn’t love a survivor?

I enjoyed Blood Rush, it maintained my (often wavering) interest, I enjoyed the characters, the plot was alive and kicking and overall, I’d recommend it to lovers of spec-fic everywhere. I do wish I’d read them in order, but I still managed to enjoy it. X

Bleeding Hearts (Book #1)

Sophie Galen is an advice columnist who is saving the world – one damned person at a time. Shy and sensitive Sophie has all but given up on love until she meets Marek, a mysterious stranger who seduces her with his striking good looks and his take-charge attitude. Yet the darkness she senses within him may be more than she is prepared to handle when Marek draws her into a world of vampires, werewolves, and treachery.

Forced to leave behind the comfortable routines and certainties of her past, Sophie makes unbearable sacrifices and uncovers hidden truths about herself and the world around her.

Amazon – Barnes & Noble

Ash Krafton

Ash Krafton writes from the heart…of the Pennsylvania coal region, that is. She is the author of the Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press).

BLEEDING HEARTS (Demimonde #1) is a six-time RWA finalist and was voted “Reviewer Top Pick” by Gravetells.com. Ash continues the story of Sophie and her Demivampires in her latest release BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2).

She’s hard at work (when she isn’t watching Doctor Who) writing the third book, WOLF’S BANE. Fans of paranormal love stories can also look forward to STRANGER AT THE HELL GATE, which is forthcoming with the renown romance ebook publisher The Wild Rose Press.

Ash Krafton’s poetry and short fiction has appeared in several journals, including Niteblade, Bete Noire, Abandoned Towers, and Silver Blade. She’s a member of Pennwriters, RWA, and Maryland Writers Association. She lurks near her blog and contributes to the QueryTracker blog.

Ash lives with her family and their German Shepherd dog deep in the Pennsylvania wilds, awaiting the day the TARDIS appears in the driveway (the dog most likely keeps the Doctor away. What a beast.) Until then, she writes.

Website – Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads

TOUR PAGE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So, have you read book 1? Will you win book 2? What did you think of the covers? And hey, look. She has a German Shepherd too! All the best people do, you know

Hi, this is my second post for this meme. I’m not exactly sure if I’m supposed to post every day of this meme, but I’m going to because I can, and because I enjoy the subject.

Here’s the first:

• MAY MONSTER MADNESS 1: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR (THE FIVE BASIC FEARS)

Click this image for more information and for the linky of other participants.

Visit me between 11th and 17th May for interesting posts about monsters.

Yesterday I talked about the five basic fears from which all other fears manifest. Today I’m talking about the two kinds of reactions or stages of fear and ask,  ’Why do we love monsters?”

The two stages of fear

Fear is a dominant and primeval human emotion. Its primary function is to alert us to danger, and was once crucial to our ancestor’s survival.

It can be split into two phases; biochemical and emotional. The biochemical response is general, whereas the emotional response is highly personal.

1 ) Biochemical Reaction

When we sense danger, our bodies react. Fear makes us all sweat, our hearts beat faster, and our adrenaline levels spike. This is universally known as the “fight or flight” response, where the body prepares to either fight the rabid dog, or run away from it (personally, I’d run!) screaming.

This biochemical effect is an automatic response to danger and is crucial to the survival of all species.

Imagine standing without this physical reaction, while a stranger runs toward you wielding a 6 inch knife. Sure, he may run past you after the screaming blonde, dressed in very little, but the chances are you’ll be his next victim. We need our biochemical reaction to propel our decision-making, and to fire up our limbs in preparation for escape or defence.

2 ) Emotional Response

Naturally, our emotional responses to fear are highly individual. Adrenaline junkies, for example, thrive on fear-inducing experiences. Horror lovers enjoy being scared out of our wits, as long as we know WE are not in danger. Then, we have others who hate the feeling of fear, and evade fear-inducing situations completely.

Although our biochemical reactions are the same, fear is experienced quite differently.

Ignoring those who hate and avoid all kinds of fear, and those who throw themselves out of aeroplanes for fun, let’s look at yummy horror lovers. Specifically, those among us who, for some bizarre reason,  love monsters!

Why do we love monsters?

Olga Baclanovaas Cleopatrain Tod Browning’s Freaks (1932). (Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.)

There has always existed a fascination with the weird, the bizarre, the freaks, the monsters.  The Freaks, genuinely freaked me out years ago, when I first saw it. I had already watched Romero’s zombies by then, and I have to say, they had nothing on the Freaks in that movie. The weird, the grotesque, all came stumbling or slithering or shuffling straight out of my nightmares. Perhaps because I have a womb and cringed at the idea of creating something so utterly imperfect (there is shame in that fear, but it’s genuine and not unusual). What truly horrified me was finding out that those ‘actors,’ who wore little make up had been hired to entertain, not only in this movie, but in real life circuses. Their only income came from actually being thought of as a monster! Awful.

Night of the Living Dead.

Upon its release in 1968, George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (Millennium Edition)
redefined not only the idea of “zombies” but the entire horror genre.  A completely new category of horror arrived and transformed the way in which people were scared by movies, and their monsters.

Patricia Donovan said:

“Monsters that scare us—vampires, zombies, witches—help us cope with what we dread most in life. Fear of the monstrous has brought communities and cultures together over the centuries and serves us as well today as it did in the Dark Ages.”

This makes sense, fear of Hell keeps people praying (yeah, and faith and God and all that), fear of the apocalypse keeps people building shelters, etc. But let’s face it, there are many forms of cultural monstrosity, including vampirism, incest, child sexual molestation, cold-blooded and /or multiple murder, and cannibalism; all disgusting behaviours that horrify people. All characteristics/behaviour we find in various monsters.

John Edgar Browning is the author of many ‘monster’ books, including Speaking of Monsters: A Teratological Anthology, and  said:

“Vampires and monsters—they’re just us. They’re what we aspire to be, what we’re told to hate most about ourselves, what we secretly yearn for, but shouldn’t.”

We love them, perhaps because all have dark sides? Tomorrow I’ll talk about a few of my fave monster movies.

Which is your favourite monster? What did you think of The Freaks, The Night of the Living Dead? Are you participating in this meme?

 PS: I seem to have random strike-through appear on links, ignore them.