I finally got the book trailer for BLOOD DIVIDED done. It's actually hard coming up with a short recap of a novel for these things. Obviously a whole lot more goes on in the novel than what is revealed here, but you have to keep them short and sweet.
I liked the music. I like the "heartbeat" sounding beat in the background. And the fact that "Darkness is coming" is sung over and over. The Darkness Matthew carries inside is real and very important to the plot of this book.
Enjoy.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
BLOOD DIVIDED
Here's the history of this gem.
Blood Divided was written in 1990. It passed through most all the NY Publishing houses, and through the hands of two agents. I got a lot of wonderful feedback from editor's concerning it. But the disheartening thing was, nobody could pigeon-hole it into a "slot" and so it was passed up time and time again. One of the recurring comments was "It is too historical for our horror line." I couldn't understand their reasoning. What are vampires, if not historical? But the information editors shared with my agents at the time was enough inspiration for me to keep this manuscript hidden away in my closet.
I dug it out recently and cleaned it up and submitted it to Evening Post Books as they were looking for local authors, and I also worked there. They accepted it and paid me 1/2 the advance, signed a contract, and then sat on it. Up until last January 10 (2011) I heard nothing but wonderful things from the publisher and editor that were working on it. I was even asked to start thinking of cover designs for it, and promotional info. And then something happened and suddenly out of the blue they deemed it to be "unpublishable". I'm still at a loss as to what happened. I suspect they didn't want to spend the money on the project as the newspaper business is in the toilet right now (Evening Post Books is a subsidary of Evening Post Publisher, the Charleston South Carolina newspaper.). I was forced to seek legal council, which really hit my wallet hard. But I was glad I did as my lawyer told me that if at all possible to get out of the contract because it was horrible (all one-sided to the publisher's advantage). When I met with the publisher I let him tell me that he didn't want to publish it, and I was fine with that. He broke the contract, but I still had to pay the advance back (and that REALLY sank my bank account, I'm broke as hell now). But I walked away feeling good because I was going to be true to my book and get it out there my way, come hell or high water.
So here we are today. The book has been edited once and is now being proof-read and will have one more copy-edit and then it will be released as Book Two of my Charleston Vampire Chronicles.
The title reveals basically what's going on in this book. I don't want to give too much away, but the main character has a lot of learning to do and a lot of self discovery to undergo. The book begins in 1674 and ends present day. This isn't a teenaged angst-ridden vampire story, it's one that is character driven and full of memorable characters and wonderful history. It's been a long time coming and I can't wait to get it out there for readers like you to enjoy.
Blood Divided was written in 1990. It passed through most all the NY Publishing houses, and through the hands of two agents. I got a lot of wonderful feedback from editor's concerning it. But the disheartening thing was, nobody could pigeon-hole it into a "slot" and so it was passed up time and time again. One of the recurring comments was "It is too historical for our horror line." I couldn't understand their reasoning. What are vampires, if not historical? But the information editors shared with my agents at the time was enough inspiration for me to keep this manuscript hidden away in my closet.
I dug it out recently and cleaned it up and submitted it to Evening Post Books as they were looking for local authors, and I also worked there. They accepted it and paid me 1/2 the advance, signed a contract, and then sat on it. Up until last January 10 (2011) I heard nothing but wonderful things from the publisher and editor that were working on it. I was even asked to start thinking of cover designs for it, and promotional info. And then something happened and suddenly out of the blue they deemed it to be "unpublishable". I'm still at a loss as to what happened. I suspect they didn't want to spend the money on the project as the newspaper business is in the toilet right now (Evening Post Books is a subsidary of Evening Post Publisher, the Charleston South Carolina newspaper.). I was forced to seek legal council, which really hit my wallet hard. But I was glad I did as my lawyer told me that if at all possible to get out of the contract because it was horrible (all one-sided to the publisher's advantage). When I met with the publisher I let him tell me that he didn't want to publish it, and I was fine with that. He broke the contract, but I still had to pay the advance back (and that REALLY sank my bank account, I'm broke as hell now). But I walked away feeling good because I was going to be true to my book and get it out there my way, come hell or high water.
So here we are today. The book has been edited once and is now being proof-read and will have one more copy-edit and then it will be released as Book Two of my Charleston Vampire Chronicles.
The title reveals basically what's going on in this book. I don't want to give too much away, but the main character has a lot of learning to do and a lot of self discovery to undergo. The book begins in 1674 and ends present day. This isn't a teenaged angst-ridden vampire story, it's one that is character driven and full of memorable characters and wonderful history. It's been a long time coming and I can't wait to get it out there for readers like you to enjoy.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Why I Wrote Blood Thirst
Someone asked me why I wrote Blood Thirst. My immediate answer was, "because I'm a writer" but really its much more than that. You see, sometimes there is no option. I HAVE to write. A story, a character, a situation builds and builds in my head until it has to come out. It's that simple.
Blood Thirst was my answer to a dream I had about an old black guy tooling around Charleston in a beautifully refurbished 1957 Chevy, candy apple red and white and those big fins. Don't as me the model, I don't know, but it was a cool car, and that's what started the story. I had no idea who this old black guy was and as I let him invade my mind he told me his name and his backstory and then he became a vampire.
From there the story grew to include Ainjul and Matthew, but honestly Elijah was the original character of Blood Thirst.
When I wrote him, I painstakingly researched the Gullah language. I wrote it very precisely and it was the first thing my editor had me change. She said, "the average reader will not take the time to read this." And I had to admit, she was correct. So using the examples she sent me, Elijah's Gullah dialect became instead plain ole "Southern".
An exciting fact about Blood Thirst is that I had sent a copy to Anne Rice. Her vampire stories inspired me, (and I'm sure she inspired a LOT of vampire authors) and I DID mention her books in my book, my character, Ainjul, actual reads The Vampire Lestat. Anyway, my agent at the time was representing Katherine Ramsland (She wrote the biography of Anne Rice. ) My agent had made a trip to New Orleans and had stayed at Anne Rice's home. She called to tell me that my book, Blood Thirst, was on the nightstand in the guest bedroom. Boy, that was such a thrill to know that not only had Anne Rice received the book, she had it on the nightstand! I have to laugh today... she probably didn't read it, LOL. But one never knows.
Blood Thirst was my answer to a dream I had about an old black guy tooling around Charleston in a beautifully refurbished 1957 Chevy, candy apple red and white and those big fins. Don't as me the model, I don't know, but it was a cool car, and that's what started the story. I had no idea who this old black guy was and as I let him invade my mind he told me his name and his backstory and then he became a vampire.
From there the story grew to include Ainjul and Matthew, but honestly Elijah was the original character of Blood Thirst.
When I wrote him, I painstakingly researched the Gullah language. I wrote it very precisely and it was the first thing my editor had me change. She said, "the average reader will not take the time to read this." And I had to admit, she was correct. So using the examples she sent me, Elijah's Gullah dialect became instead plain ole "Southern".
An exciting fact about Blood Thirst is that I had sent a copy to Anne Rice. Her vampire stories inspired me, (and I'm sure she inspired a LOT of vampire authors) and I DID mention her books in my book, my character, Ainjul, actual reads The Vampire Lestat. Anyway, my agent at the time was representing Katherine Ramsland (She wrote the biography of Anne Rice. ) My agent had made a trip to New Orleans and had stayed at Anne Rice's home. She called to tell me that my book, Blood Thirst, was on the nightstand in the guest bedroom. Boy, that was such a thrill to know that not only had Anne Rice received the book, she had it on the nightstand! I have to laugh today... she probably didn't read it, LOL. But one never knows.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Ainjul, revisited
Ainjul is the main character of my first book, BLOOD THIRST.
She has a reprised role in the 2nd book, BLOOD THIRST, but something happens to her that leaves her incapacitated for over a year. I've decided that she needs to tell what's going on with her during that time, because even though her body can't move, her brain is very active and she's one unhappy camper.
I am going to write a short story for Ainjul to explain what's going on with her. Hopefully I'll have it ready to go by the time the trilogy is published. I'm thinking of offering it as an ebook only, maybe even free. Haven't decided yet. It will depend on how much time I have to put into it. With writing you just never know. Sometimes the character's spew their stories so quickly I can hardly keep pace with them. Other times I have to work hard to get their stories on paper. I think Ainjul is ready to spew :) She's pretty pi$$ed off.
So that's what's happening with The Charleston Vampire Chronicles today. Stay tuned to learn more...
She has a reprised role in the 2nd book, BLOOD THIRST, but something happens to her that leaves her incapacitated for over a year. I've decided that she needs to tell what's going on with her during that time, because even though her body can't move, her brain is very active and she's one unhappy camper.
I am going to write a short story for Ainjul to explain what's going on with her. Hopefully I'll have it ready to go by the time the trilogy is published. I'm thinking of offering it as an ebook only, maybe even free. Haven't decided yet. It will depend on how much time I have to put into it. With writing you just never know. Sometimes the character's spew their stories so quickly I can hardly keep pace with them. Other times I have to work hard to get their stories on paper. I think Ainjul is ready to spew :) She's pretty pi$$ed off.
So that's what's happening with The Charleston Vampire Chronicles today. Stay tuned to learn more...
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
So Much To Learn About Publishing
I've been doing a lot of research on publishing. There is a lot to learn, from creating PDF files to coming up with cover designs, using new software and figuring out how various sites work.
I've not decided yet which company I will use to print the books. Publishing as an ebook doesn't seem that difficult, but the print books... that's another story.
Live and learn. Onward and upward. I am determined to figure out how it all works and to publish a professional book(s).
In the meantime, I've revamped my website. Check it out. www.lafingdog.com I really have to thank my wonderful boy, Ruger, for posing with the reading glasses and the book under his paw. He's the best guy.
He's promised to help me sell books. I think he makes a perfect "pitch" man, don't you. And of course my black lab, Remington, tries hard to be like his brother, but he always falls a bit short. I still love him.
So, back to researching. The day can't get her soon enough to get these books published!!!
I've not decided yet which company I will use to print the books. Publishing as an ebook doesn't seem that difficult, but the print books... that's another story.
Live and learn. Onward and upward. I am determined to figure out how it all works and to publish a professional book(s).
In the meantime, I've revamped my website. Check it out. www.lafingdog.com I really have to thank my wonderful boy, Ruger, for posing with the reading glasses and the book under his paw. He's the best guy.
He's promised to help me sell books. I think he makes a perfect "pitch" man, don't you. And of course my black lab, Remington, tries hard to be like his brother, but he always falls a bit short. I still love him.
So, back to researching. The day can't get her soon enough to get these books published!!!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Synopsis
It's a daunting task before me. I need to come up with a synopsis for the entire trilogy. I'm not sure how I'm going to manage it. I want it short and to the point but then again I have three novels to cover, so short may be asking way too much. I dunno.
Also need to come up with cover "blurbs" describing each novel so the reader will want to open the cover and actually read the story. I've been putting off doing this because I'm just not good at this type of writing. But I do need to buckle down and get on with it.
And there's the website, or lack thereof. My current website might have to be transformed into a place to sell the books. That's a solution, and one I'm thinking of. I'd be working on it right now except my little book with all my passwords is at home, and I'm at work, and I don't know the freakin' password to get into my site to work on it. Too many passwords, don't'cha know!
So this post has absolutely nothing to do with vampires and a lot to do with nothing :)
Also need to come up with cover "blurbs" describing each novel so the reader will want to open the cover and actually read the story. I've been putting off doing this because I'm just not good at this type of writing. But I do need to buckle down and get on with it.
And there's the website, or lack thereof. My current website might have to be transformed into a place to sell the books. That's a solution, and one I'm thinking of. I'd be working on it right now except my little book with all my passwords is at home, and I'm at work, and I don't know the freakin' password to get into my site to work on it. Too many passwords, don't'cha know!
So this post has absolutely nothing to do with vampires and a lot to do with nothing :)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Finished Editing Book Three
It was a bittersweet moment when I read the last sentence of the last book. BLOOD FEUD will now be passed on to my proofreader and copy editor. But the good thing is, it shouldn't be long now until I start the actual publishing process. Yeah!
And, as much as I hate doing it, I will also have to start being my own PR person and set up book signings and tv spots locally. I'm going in with the attitude of HAVING FUN. Hopefully I'll sell books along the way.
Will post progress reports as I begin publishing the Charleston Vampire Chronicles!
And, as much as I hate doing it, I will also have to start being my own PR person and set up book signings and tv spots locally. I'm going in with the attitude of HAVING FUN. Hopefully I'll sell books along the way.
Will post progress reports as I begin publishing the Charleston Vampire Chronicles!
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