Why Writing a Book Is Where I Belong: Guest Author Janiera Eldridge

I've got another author guest blogger today. Welcome, Janiera Eldridge! She's blogging today about her bold move to quit college and become an author. I'm always up for stories about people who take big risks and go after their dreams....

Her novel Soul Sisters is available as an ebook at Amazon, currently FREE to AmazonPrime members ($2.99 regular).

Every day I’m able to get up and write is a blessing for me. Since I suffer from Fibromyalgia, a day of good health is nothing to take for granted. About a year ago, I made the decision I was not going to return to college, I was ill and college life just wasn’t what I wanted.  For me college was not worth the hassle and writing was what I really wanted to do. I was terrified of what my parents thought, but believe it or not, they were extremely supportive.
 

I achieved graduating at the top 10% of my class in high-school but I had so many books that I started writing, but never finished. Soul Sisters was the first book I started on since leaving college and it felt right from the moment I started writing it. Every character (especially Ani and Dana) spoke loud and clear in my head, even when I wish they wouldn’t.  Freelance writing can be a fun and rewarding gig but, some days I couldn’t wait to pop open the laptop and return to visit my characters. I wanted to know what they had been up to, what they were feeling and thinking.
 

Sometimes they chat when they’re not supposed to and they want me to give them love and attention. Most of the time I’m forced (and happy) to oblige. The feeling I get from writing and creating my own world is peaceful exhilaration. There is so much in life you can’t control but in my book I control almost everything! There is no better feeling than seeing a story evolve and come to life right under the tapping of your fingers. Every time, I go to start a writing session I know that writing a book is where I belong. One day I hope to be able to make a living out of being an author. If you know writing books is where you belong, don’t be afraid to take steps to make that dream a reality. Nothing is impossible to achieve with some hard work and a dream.

About Soul Sisters:

Soul Sisters is an urban fantasy novel about African-American twin sisters Ani and Dana who have a rather unique secret: one sister is human while the other is a vampire. While the sisters have lived peacefully with each other for many years one fateful night will change both their lives forever. When a drunken man tries to attack Dana (the human sister) Ani (the vampire sister) protects her sister with all of her ferocious power.

However, when the vampire’s leader Donovan finds out about the public display he calls for the sisters to be assassinated for disobedience. Ani and Dana now are in for the fight of their lives to protect each other as well as the lives of their dedicated friends who have joined them on their mission for survival. If Dana and Ani can make it through this time of uncertainty, Ani can take her new place as vampire queen. Soul Sisters is expected to be a trilogy; The book also features a multicultural cast of characters that brings a new edge of chic to the vampire world.

About the Author:

Janiera enjoys feeding her book addiction when she not writing. She is also a book blogger at Beauty and Books where she mixes being a book nerd with keeping things chic. When not reading or writing she is freelance writing in the entertainment industry. Soul Sisters is her debut novel.

Connect with Janiera...

Blog: Beauty and Books: http://janieraeldridge.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lazenbeauty
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/janiera.eldridge.1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jaeldridge18/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13640540-soul-sisters

Book Review: The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

The Hunt (The Hunt, #1)

by Andrew Fukuda 

Genre: Post-Apocalypse/Dystopia/Vampires

Reading Grade: Young Adult

Publication Date: May 8, 2012

Source: ARC from publisher

Age Rating: 16+ (for violence)

| Buy from Amazon |

Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity? 

 

 

My Review

I won this from the publisher through a LibraryThing's Early Reviewers giveaway. The Hunt has a lot of hype behind it, so I wanted to see if it would live up to it...

• Plot: Dark and riveting, with plenty of heart-pounding action. There are long stretches of slow scenes, but they provide useful information about the world-building and the characters, or whatever you need to know as the reader. The main character, Gene, is living a pretend existence as a vampiric creature, but he's exactly what those creatures live to hunt and eat. They are so dangerous and troublesome I just hate them for being so beast-like and wanting nothing but to eat 'hepers' (what they call humans). Although, I feel like I'm hating lions, tigers and bears for being beasts, and that's not fair. There must be good vampires, but we never find any in this book. The ones Gene deals with become vengeful and sadistic, so I hate—HATE them so much.
• Characters: Gene lives all alone because his family is dead, but he still goes to school with the vampire people and tries his darnedest not to get caught doing anything heper-like. Even sweating would give him away. Can't show emotion. Can't be caught out in the sun. He's never seen another heper other than his family, so I don't know what he plans on doing with his future. He's been in survival mode all his life, and even though he's nearly done with high school, that's all he can think of to do. He does like Ashley June, although going out with her would be bad because she'd figure out what he truly is, and eat him. As would all the others. They would all EAT him in a heartbeat, even those who've known him since childhood. Frickin' beasts....
• Writing: I really like the quick-paced writing that doesn't skimp out on fluid prose. Nor does it inundate you with purple prose, because Gene is narrating this and he wouldn't realistically use flowery words. The writing style is perfectly suited for this type of adrenaline-pumping, terrifying story.
• Story: Irony abounds here. The vampires all believe they are highly evolved compared to the hepers—hepers are the beasts who can't even talk and are just dumb animals. Gene discovers when he meets the hepers that will be hunted down by the vampires (after he has been selected to participate in The Hunt) that they can talk, think, reason and even sing. They can do things he has always felt like doing, but couldn't understand why he wanted to do them. The vampires have no names and they freakin' drool all the time. It's a wonder they can stand up straight! Thus, the irony abounds when they affirm so fiercely that they are the evolved beings and the hepers are the lowly animals.
• Overall Quality: It's high, although when I started to read it, I thought I stumbled upon plot hole after plot hole and a ton of illogical-nesses. I still don't know how Gene survived without water for so many days, but he does get some, eventually. And, how is it that the vampires don't figure out that he, specifically, stinks like a heper? They all just think the odor is coming from somewhere else. Maybe they are all that dumb. It's not perfect, but it builds into a very impressive narrative filled with frightening scenes that make you feel like how you do when you dream you're being chased, and all you want is to get away for your life. It's just like that, seriously!
• Favorite Moment: Maybe it's a bit SPOILERY (don't read on if you don't want even a little spoiler), but I love when Gene gets his chance to shove all that rhetoric and nonsense from the vampires right back in their faces, especially at the vampire Director of The Hunt. He shouts, “You guys are the beasts—you're the mindless, stupid, un-evolved creatures!” Something to that effect. I loved it, especially after hating with a passion those cocky, blood-thirsty, drooling “people.”
• My Score: 4 stars out of 5. (There is some graphic violence, just so you know.)
  
  

*I have provided my honest review in exchange for receiving an early edition from the publisher.

| Buy this title from Amazon |

Book Review: Dark Passages by Kathyrn Leigh Scott

Dark Passages

by Kathyrn Leigh Scott 

Genre: Period/Urban Fantasy

Reading Grade: Adult

Publication Date: August 9, 2011

Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers

Age Rating: 16+

| Buy from AMAZON |

Dark Passages is a coming-of-age story encapsulating the romance and innocence of JFK’s Camelot era and the tumultuous "dark passages" of Meg Harrison, a vampire raised by her mother to resist the temptation of human blood. Meg arrives in New York determined not to use her vampiric gifts to fulfill her dream of becoming an actress. She joins the cast of the cult hit Dark Passages, only to face her nemesis, a beautiful 300-year-old witch bent on destroying her. Their rivalry leads to a final confrontation as the telekinetic vampire and spell-weaving sorceress engage in a spectacular battle for supremacy. It takes all of Meg’s wit and tenacity to defeat the witch and win the affections of a handsome young mortal with a secret life of his own. In the end, Meg realizes that the powers she always denied within herself are not a curse, but a blessing.

My Review

• Plot: First of all, the author of this novel was on a TV soap opera that ran from 1966 – 1971 called Dark Shadows, so she writes this novel largely from experience. It's about a girl named Meg who leaves 1960's Minnesota to work in New York City as a Playboy Bunny waitress, until she can get an acting job. She gets hired for a small role on a daytime soap opera, which eventually writes in a male vampire character into the script. Meg happens to be a real vampire and nobody knows about their existence, so she keeps her true identity a secret from everyone she knows. This is rather anti-climactic. It would have been better if even Ian, the soap opera vampire, had discovered her secret, but he doesn't. Halfway through, a witch named Camilla is thrown into the story, out of nowhere, to be the main villain character out to make Meg miserable, but I didn't understand Camilla's motivation. She has no reason for her vendetta against Meg and her family.
• Characters: Meg isn't really a problematic character until she tries to hide her pregnancy from everyone. She constantly lies to everyone that she is fine when she should be saying something. But, I don't understand the point of her pregnancy at all. It means nothing to the plot. Ian, a sort of love-interest, is a nice character, but doesn't really do much to further the plot, either. I was thinking he'd get mixed up in Meg and Camilla's big boss fight at the end, maybe be held hostage by Camilla, but that never happens. Tons of characters are completely pointless. Haddie is a ghost that helps Meg with Camilla, but it's never explained how a dead guy's ghost can do anything supernatural. He just can.
• Technical Writing: First, I'll have to narrow it down to mentioning sentence structure because that is good. But, the overall writing is not good because most of it is very “telly,” meaning it's like listening to someone blather on about their experience rather than feeling immersed in it. Not a single scene break can be found, other than normal chapter breaks, so it follows Meg every place she goes, no matter how pointless. There are some “showing” scenes, but not nearly enough. I never felt plunged into the story and it made this an arduously slow read for me.
• Storytelling: My problem is with the world-building. This is fantasy, yet there is hardly any effort to develop it. Vampires are never explained and Meg never questions her mother about anything, which I find strange. Witches are never mentioned outright, and then suddenly one shows up halfway through to be the villain. I never bought it because it isn't set up properly. Also, Meg being a vampire seems moot. Because no one she works with ever finds out about her being a vampire, and it never helps her do anything significant regarding the Club or the TV show, I wonder why the author bothered to make Meg a vampire at all.
• Overall Quality: Below average for me. I like the premise with the 1960's setting, the Bunny Club, even the soap opera, but 30% of the story could have been cut due to being unimportant. I wanted it to be an escape into a rare time in history that is fascinating, but it felt more like reading autobiographical nonfiction (except for the fantasy elements). I realize this author has an incredibly rare history that begged to be fictionalized, but I have to judge this book based on the standards all fiction is subjected to, and it doesn't hold up well.
• Favorite Moment/Scene: I don't have one.
• My Score: 2 out of 5 stars.
  
  
  
  
  

*I received this title from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

Buy this title from | AMAZON |

Look here for another possible savings on Dark Passages.

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Books I'm Thankful I Read This Year (2011)...

Since it was American Thanksgiving yesterday, I thought I'd blog about the books I'm thankful I read this year, whether published in 2011, or not. Somehow, I almost feel like waiting until the very end of the year to post something like this, because I could end up adding to the list between now and then, but I won't. 

By the way, I'm very grateful for the book blogging friends I've made in the past six months, despite me not being the most social person in the world, on the internet nor in real life. BJ (Dark Side of the Covers), Lan (The Write Obsession), and Andrea (The Bookish Babes), all of you are THE BEST!!! I adore you ladies, and I hope life treats you well forever because you deserve it....

The entire Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa! These books have become my favorites in not only the YA reading grade, but probably of all books. I just love this exciting world Kagawa has created. Because I have an extensive love of anime and manga (even some video games), I was right at home with these books, as Julie drew so much inspiration from those familiar-to-me sources. She'll take something everyone is familiar with (faeries) and spice them up with anime-like action and lovable characters. She's so brilliant!

This Dark Endeavor, the first book in The Dark Endeavor Chronicles series by Kenneth Oppel. This book made me cry my eyeballs out! I can't even really explain why it did that, and I'm probably the world's biggest freak because of it, but it got to me. What a magical read this was for me. 

I've had issues with Mary Shelley's Victor Frankenstein character since I first read about him back in college--age 19. Oppel managed to make me LIKE him. Whoa. That was a feat of epic proportions. That's 15 or 16 years of having issues with the guy. I'm totally hooked on this series and it's amazing characters. I just adore mad scientists--yes, I'm weird. 

I really loved The Greyfriar by Clay and Susan Griffith, which is an adult vampire political adventure novel. I still haven't read The Rift Walker, book 2, but I'm saving it for the perfect time, sometime before book 3 comes out in 2012. 

Although, I took issue with some of the technical writing in this book, I otherwise completely fell in love with the story and the characters. The romance was so sweet and amazingly well-done between Adele and The Greyfriar. Best part was that they grew as characters together, and BECAUSE of each other. These two make a fabulous, ideal couple that makes me believe even the tiniest more in transformative love. 

And, the Greyfriar is my book boyfriend! Swashbuckling, heroic, super handsome, blue-eyed... the list goes on. He's not perfect, but he's just awesome!

And, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare works its way into here because, there, I found another book boyfriend in Jem! Okay, he may be a teenager, but he was born long before I ever was. I'd just have to make sure he's not my ancestor, or something. I definitely have no Chinese ancestors, but I do have English ones, so.... Oh, right. He's fictional! Dodged a bullet.

This is a great series, but I mostly like the book because of Jem. I'm strangely obsessed with the name 'James' already, have been for years now (I do NOT know why). I love silver-haired men, and I love the sickly ones because I just want to make them all better. I have a gift for taking care of the ill--it's true. Not to mention, he's the sweetest, most gentlemanly character ever created besides Mr. Bingley from Pride and Prejudice...

Shiver from The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy by Maggie Steifvater. I loved this one from the first sentence, as it transported me directly into the story, time, place, sight, smell, everything. The prose is rich and delicious and who doesn't love these characters when you read this? 

Sam, you are just an awesome character. I'm not even into werewolves, but he's not the typical werewolf guy. Sweet and romantic. Wonderful book, and I need to read more from the trilogy.



Other than these, I loved Across the Universe by Beth Revis, but it's a sci-fi, which I don't blog about. Love Elder and Amy. They are my favorite YA couple. Elder is total LOVE.... 

Review: "Turned at Dark" by C.C. Hunter

"Turned at Dark" (Shadow Falls, #0.5) 

by C.C. Hunter 

Genre: Paranormal/Vampires

Reading Grade: Young Adult (short story)

Publication Date: March 15, 2011

Source: Kindle store (freebie)

Age Rating: 15+

| Amazon |

Independent and strong-willed Della Tsang hadn’t believed in ghosts until she saw her dead cousin darting into the shadows of an alley. She hadn’t believed in vampires until in the dark of that same night she is turned into one. Introduced to a strange world of supernaturals, she struggles to accept this new reality. Unfortunately, the boy she loves senses something different about her and can’t accept her. Should she follow her vampire cousin’s lead–walk away from everything she’s knows and loves—and fake her own death? Or should she set her pride aside and ask for help from the camp leader of Shadow Falls—a camp where supernaturals go to learn how to cope with their powers. Either way, her life as she knows it, will never be the same.

My Review

This is a prequel short story to the Shadow Falls novel series, starring Della Tsang, who is the roommate of the title character in the series, Kylie Galen. This is the story of how this friend was changed from a normal half-Chinese-half-Caucasian teenager into a vampire. As far as these prequels go, I thought it was pretty good. It's a decent length, and most of my Kindle file was the actual short story, not the preview for Born at Midnight.

I haven't read Born at Midnight, so reading this free prequel was meant for me to see if I liked it enough to give it a try. The characters were interesting, although I wonder how much they appear in the first novel. Della is probably in it enough, but what about her cousin, Chan? He was the other important character in this story, but I get the feeling he doesn't appear much in the novel. I have no idea what to think of Kylie because she's not even a blip on Della's radar screen at this point.

At any rate, based on this story, I can at least say that I think the first book might be worth borrowing from the library and giving it an good read-through.

My score: 3.5 out of 5 stars. (I liked it.)

Review: Blood Calling by Joshua Grover-David Patterson

Blood Calling 

by Joshua Grover-David Patterson 

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Vampires

Reading Grade: Young Adult

Publication Date: September 10, 2011

Source: review copy from author (ebook)

Age Rating: 13+

| Amazon | 

 

When Lucy Leary turned eighteen, her life fell apart. She crashed her car, her best friend abandoned her, her parents divorced, and her grandfather passed away, leaving her a single possession: A vampire slaying kit with a note that said, “THEY’RE REAL. FIGHT THEM.”

Now Lucy must stop the oldest, most dangerous vampire in history, before it can kill her family. 

 

My Review

I hate to have to do it, but sometimes I must. This novel just warrants a negative review because it's riddled with what I perceive to be a lot of problems. If anything, it wasn't for me.

Now, this first issue isn't necessarily a problem, but that depends on the reader's preferred narrative style. This is a fictional autobiographical novel, so it reads like someone telling you their life story way back when it happened. Don't expect to be transported through time and space, feeling as though you're right there with the characters like a fly on the wall. I'm not against this style, but if every book were written this way, I know I'd get annoyed, eventually.

Story and characterization difficulties abound. There's no semblance of a plot. The characters just do one thing, then move on the next thing, kind of like real life. That can work in some fiction, like Interview with the Vampire, to name another vampire novel. But, not here. At least Louis regales an actual character in the novel with his life history. Here, we get Lucy rambling for 65,000 words to whatever reader will listen to her. And, of course, there's no depth of character, no inspired thematic elements to rescue it.

There are misplaced digressions that just don't seem to matter. The story of how Emma became a vampire is good, I'll admit. But, other than it being how she met the villain character, a bad old vampire, I didn't see any point to it. Then there's Wash's story of how he met the bad old vampire, told by Emma right before Lucy needed to go fight the guy in a one-on-one battle. Lucy even asks Emma to give her some fighting pointers before she goes to fight him, but Emma claims there's no time for that. But, there's time for a pointless story on how Wash met the bad old vampire? It makes no sense.

I also have a problem with every character sounding exactly the same. Many times they go on and on about something, for several paragraphs, which is not good, sounding exactly like the main character narrator. And, we get way too many details of every mundane thing Lucy does. She steps into the bathroom and she brushes her teeth, and then she gets into the shower, and she lathers up the shampoo—then, later she checks her phone for messages, etc., etc. This is commonplace, and doesn't add anything meaningful to the story.

I will never advise against buying a book because if you want to read something, despite my opinion of it, then you should. It's your life. Some people might find this story charming. I can see that. None of the characters are annoying, and at least Lucy's not some selfish, spoiled brat who sits around and lets everyone do everything for her. The story is not completely awful, but not particularly good. And, that's all I really can say about that.

* I received this from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

My score: 2 out of 5 stars. (Did not like.)

On My Wishlist #2 (10/22/2011)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where you list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. Want to know more? Click here.

So, here's my OMW post for this week's meme. I've already purchased two of the books on my list from last week! (But, I need to ban myself. I'm going broke.)

MY BLOODY WISHLIST

Blood Will Tell (Warriors of Ankh, #1) 

by Samantha Young

Hello, handsome fellow gracing the cover! But, seriously, this is a self-published title that sounds fantastic, and everybody's raving about it. I've read just a little of the beginning and it's making me feel inadequate as a writer, as I head into NaNoWriMo next month. That must mean it's quite impressively written. It's only $0.99 as an ebook, but I've banned myself from buying anymore books for the time being.

Blood (Mercian Trilogy, #1)

by K. J. Wignall

 

Well, if it isn't another handsome fellow gracing the cover! This is a vampire book about a broody, old guy who looks perpetually sixteen. That could be enough to brood over, but I'd rather be stuck at sixteen than sixty for the rest of my immortal life. 

Bloodspell (Bloodspell, #1) 

by Amalie Howard

This one's about a witch and a old journal. It sounds interesting and there's good talk of this one. I love the cover, too. I love these sepia-toned covers for some reason.

That's my On My Wishlist wishlist. What's on yours? 

Review: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladmir Tod, #1)
by Heather Brewer

Genre: Paranormal/Vampires

Reading Grade: Middle Grade

Publishing Type: traditional

Publication Date: March 13, 2008

Source: local library (paperback)

Age Rating: 12+

Amazon |

Vlad has to keep his vampire urges under control while dealing with the pressures of middle school.

Thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod really hates junior high. Bullies harass him, the principal is dogging him, and the girl he likes prefers his best friend. Oh, and Vlad has a secret: His mother was human, but his father was a vampire. With no idea of the extent of his powers, Vlad struggles daily with his blood cravings and his enlarged fangs. When a substitute teacher begins to question him a little too closely, Vlad worries that his cover is about to be blown. But then he faces a much bigger problem: He's being hunted by a vampire killer.

My Review

For some reason, I had high expectations about this book and I assumed I'd love it. But, that really wasn't the case after reading it. (I need to stop having high expectations!) It is a well-written story, and I think perfectly targeted for its intended Middle Grade audience. It's plenty safe reading material for children, but, isn't particularly original.

I figured I'd love a story about an adolescent teen vampire who has to learn to hide his true identity from most everyone in his small hometown, but I suppose I just didn't find Vladimir as endearing as I had hoped I would. Not that there's anything bothersome about him, but there isn't much making him stand out above the crowd of male teen vamps that has him shouting, “Hey! Check ME out! I'm totally different from those other emo boys.”

For the record, Vladimir isn't “emo.” Just a very normal thirteen-year-old boy, excluding the fangs, of course. He has to deal with bullies in school and has some triumphant moments over them, using his unique vampire abilities. He has a crush on a certain girl at school, but suffers from the typical shyness and insecurities found in most human teen boys. But, he has to hide the capsules of blood in his lunch that his aunt packs for him everyday.

This is a good story—just nothing new. Vampires live amongst the unknowing humans in their world, the humans only knowing of them via cultural superstition. The vamps have their own secret organization which is something akin to a cult, and they seek to punish members of their own organization who break the rules by execution. It's intriguing stuff and a young audience unfamiliar with this trope may suck it up like a vampire dying from his thirst for blood. If that's you or some youngster you know, then you should give this series a try. It's fun for kids.

My score: 3 out of 5 stars.

Future Reads #10: Kiss of Night by Debbie Viguié

Current Giveaway! Enter the giveaway for Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning. 

Follow this link... [click]

...In which I blog about a yet-to-be published novel that I'm anticipating reading... This book is about to be officially released in a few days time, so I needed to act fast!

Kiss of Night  (Kiss of Night, #1)

by Debbie Viguié

Publication Date: October 7, 2011

Centuries ago, Raphael was a blasphemous knight who fought in the Crusades purely for his own mercenary benefit, and to satisfy his taste for killing. Now, condemned for his evil passions and hypocrisy, he wanders the earth a vampire, cursed with first-hand knowledge of the supernatural world he once denied existed. The powerful relic he still possesses from his days as a Crusader has been stolen by a rival vampire who has recruited an army of soulless underlings to aid him in spreading evil. At the time he learns this, Raphael has been hunting this vampire for nearly a century, and it seems the final battle is destined to take place in Prague. For help in this quest, Raphael must enlist the aid of two humans, David and Susan, who suddenly find themselves immersed in a world they never imagined, entangled with supernatural forces they can't control. Susan, in particular, finds herself conflicted as she struggles with her inexplicable attraction to Raphael. In the end, both Susan and Raphael will be called upon to exercise courage and faith, and in the process, the question, "What would happen if a vampire truly accepted God?" is answered.

Why do I want to read this? Because I've got a weird fetish with lonely centuries-old broody vampires. It's true--I love those guys for some reason. Plus, this book has a really interesting premise and sounds like it deals with vampires in the Vampire Chronicles sort of way. That's the kind of vampire fiction I like, and usually my favorite vamp fiction uses the vampire as a symbol of the human that is ineligible for God's redemption. They're not meant to be sparkly vegetarian Disney characters, after all.  

This may be Christian fiction, but I'm not daunted by that, so long as it's not preachy. (I've read that it's not.) I'm Christian, anyway, but not necessarily of the author's specific faith. Still, it sounds like a read that will be up my alley.

P.S. The cover is amazing...!! Looks like the lower-half of Johnny Depp's face!

Teaser Tuesday #7: Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons

Current Giveaway! Enter the giveaway for Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning. 

Follow this link... [click] 

"Teaser Tuesdays" is a book blogger meme hosted by

Should Be Reading.

Today, my teaser comes from my favorite Japanese light novel series, Trinity Blood... So good, I have to reread it.

"I'm almost done here, pussycat," he said over his shoulder to Jessica. "After this, I'm gonna kill ya 'til you love me."

- from Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons (Volume 1: From the Empire), page 40.

*****

Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons (Volume 1: From the Empire)

by Sunao Yoshida

Political turmoil, terrorist plots, and the relentless desire for personal revenge threaten to escalate the conflict between humans and vampires into a full-blown war. Special Ops Team AX will use every brutal weapon on hand--including a Crusnik, a vampire that preys upon other vampires--to save mankind. Packed with action, emotion, and artistry, this first volume of Rage Against the Moons contains tales of heroism, sacrifice, and retribution, as the AX agents strive to protect the innocent and keep the peace.

Author Interview + Giveaway! Featured: Taryn Browning

Today, I have the delightful Taryn Browning, author of the Dark Seeker novel series here doing an interview for the blog! She was kind enough to answer some questions about her vampire hunter series, short story "Dark Beauty," and its following novel series, Dark Seeker. The questions are about the prequel story, "Dark Beauty," since that's all I've read, so far, but they are both part of the same fictional universe.

At the end of the interview, find out how ONE lucky reader can win a free Kindle ebook copy of Taryn's novel, Dark Seeker, which is now available for sale. UPDATE (10/18/2011): THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW EXPIRED...

1. Is “Dark Beauty” your first published work? Tell us a little about your history and experience as an author.

Yes. I’ve written three independent novels ranging from YA paranormal romance to urban fantasy, and a short story (Dark Beauty). I also have a bunch of partials and a novella floating around that I hope to get back to sometime in the not-so-distant future. Although, I’m not counting on it since I already have ideas for book #2 in the Seeker series.

2. I've seen you mention that you are represented by a literary agent. Your vampire-hunter short story, “Dark Beauty,” seems to be self-published. Why did you decide to self-publish this title?

Even though I’m represented by an agent, I am self-publishing a short story and the first novel in a series of books to come. I think many authors are starting to dip their feet into both the traditional and self-publishing worlds. For me, self-publishing allows me to share my stories with readers while also pursuing my traditional publishing dreams. Plus, I’m having a great time getting to know readers and I enjoy discussing YA. I absolutely love the diverse characters in Dark Seeker—and I also happen to have a crush on Kai! :) Each character—good, bad, or both (sometimes it’s hard to determine)—has a unique personality and background. They definitely make the book fun to write, and read.

3. Will you be writing more “Dark Beauty”?

Yes. I’ve actually started writing the second story in the prequel series. I’ve had lots of people ask for more of Isabelle and Abram during their Seeker years, so, I’m writing more. Plus, I feel like they still have more to share. Their relationship is touched upon in Dark Seeker. I’d love to fill in more of their back story by continuing Dark Beauty. More of their relationship will also be revealed in the next Seeker novel.

4. What inspired you to write “Dark Beauty”? Did anything from your life or the media influence you?

I am a huge Buffy fan, so I guess you could say it was influenced by my love of the show. I love strong female characters. Like Buffy, Isabelle and Janie can definitely hold their own.

5. Your main character, Isabelle, is from Cherokee descent. What made you decide to give her that particular cultural heritage?

I wanted Isabelle to have a unique background and there are a lot of really cool Native American legends about vampires and demons to further explore in the series.

6. In the world of “Dark Beauty,” the vampire-hunters are called Seekers and they live all over the United States. Can you explain a little about their origin, without spoiling any possible future installments?

Seekers have been around for as long as vampires have existed. They are overseen by the Apotheosis, who place Chapters made up of mentors and past Seekers in each city to supervise Seeker duties. Being a Seeker runs in the family. The offspring of Seekers grow up to be Seekers themselves once they turn 15, or enter high school. From there, they do four-year rotations, starting over again in a different city once they complete their senior year. This continues until they make the decision to leave the Seeker life. During their time as a Seeker they don’t age.

As for Isabelle, Abram and Janie, you’ll just have to wait to find out more about their lives as Seekers and when/if they decide to leave it—and what roles they play within the Seeker “world” in the future. One thing that’s certain is their primary enemy isn’t vampires anymore. There is a new, more deadly hybrid with plans to create more of their kind.

7. I love the snarky friction between Isabelle and Abram. Is there a chance it will lead to some romance between them?

There is definitely a spark between Isabelle and Abram. Since they are much older in Dark Seeker, they have a relationship and history, but I’m not going to tell you what type. You’ll have to read Dark Seeker and the next story in the prequel series to find out. Sorry! :)

8. My final question for you, Taryn, is about your writing process, something I can't help but be curious about with authors... Planner or Pantser?
   
   I’m a panster. I come up with an idea and run with it. I’ve jumped up from the dinner table, rushed out of the shower, and woken up in the middle of the night with a thought in my head. I have to immediately jot it down or I will forget (story of my life). I don’t know if it’s just a glitch in my brain, but stories just seem to roll out of my head. I’ve always had an over-active imagination. I thought it was normal to think up stuff—until my husband told me it wasn’t, lol! :) That’s okay—I embrace it.  

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Enter the giveaway for a chance to win ONE free Kindle ebook copy of Taryn's latest novel, Dark Seeker! All you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post with your name and email address so I can contact you if you win. All entrants who follow this blog will get an extra entry (+1), so be sure to leave me your Google Friend Connect name in the comment below, too!

This giveaway will stay open for entries from Tuesday, October 4, 2011 through Monday, October 17, 2011. That's TWO weeks!