Available Now: The Big Bad: An Anthology of Evil

It’s no secret that I love anthologies. There’s no better way to get a taste of many different authors at once, and I’ve discovered some great talents by picking up anthologies with titles that sound great from the library or bookstore shelf.  I’m very lucky to be part of some great anthologies coming out this year, and this particular book is one that I’m very proud of.

I’ll go into more depth about my story later, but suffice it to say, you won’t look at modern vampires or vampire romance the same after reading my story, Real Wild Childe. There are a lot of amazing names in this anthology, though, names that you should definitely get well-acquainted with. For now, though, here’s the basics so far:

Kindle   Amazon Hardcover  Amazon Paperback     B&N Hardcover      B&N Paperback 

Everybody loves bad guys, and these are some of the baddest of them all. Forget the rules. There aren’t any heroes. No one is going to save you from the wickedness in the darkness. Monster hunters can easily become the hunted. Twisted perverts can find themselves on the receiving end of their own deviant desires. No matter how big and bad someone or something may be, there is always something bigger and badder just waiting. Even the classics like a dragon, werewolf, or supernatural being can fall victim to something even more evil. Take a peek, if you dare, inside the malevolent world of super-villains, monsters, demons and just plain evil folk. Be careful, what you see there might be disturbingly familiar …

Pretty cool, eh? I’m hoping to get some of the authors on here (even if I have to drag them kicking and screaming) to talk about bad guys, and I’ll try to have a post up soon about my own thoughts on my story, too. For those lucky souls who are going to ConCarolinas this weekend, the book is officially launching at the con, so you get to be a part of it!

JK Asmodeus is at it again!

I haven’t talked about In the Red for a while, so it’s always fun when I’m invited to delve into the story that I love so much. This time, my friend and amazing blogger Amy invited me to do a character post about summer plans. Of course, being the media whore that he is, JK Asmodeus reared his head and jumped at the opportunity.

So what constitutes a rock star’s summer plans? Does he actually plan to take some sort of high-end vacation or is he going to go skulking off to some of the more sundry spots in the globe?

Like I’d tell. See what JK Asmodeus is getting up to and how I deal with his unique brand of answering interview questions HERE

Pole-dancing fairies

For those that are missing my writing, I am trying to incorporate more of that back into this blog – working on my novel manuscript is taking a lot out of me at the moment, which is why there are so many guests doing there thing here, but I’m hoping to get back to form soon (or at least have more of shameless me posts scattered throughout). Anywho, in the meantime, I was back at the Mocha Memoirs Press blog this month, except this time the tables got turned. Siobhan Kinkade reminded me that she didn’t get a chance to give me a writing prompt last month, so she made up for it in spades this month. Unfortunately she forgot (or maybe counted on the fact) that I tend to run with whatever I’m given.

So if you follow the link, you’ll get a short about pole-dancing fairies. You’re welcome.

TCM Presents: Vampires Don’t Sparkle edited by Michael West

Today I’m thrilled, stoked, and elated to share with you an anthology that I know many of you will get behind. Not only that, but it’s edited by a fellow SSP author and dude that I always seem to run into at every con I ever go to, though until recently I’ve been too intimidated to actually like, y’know, talk to him. All kidding aside, Michael West is a great guy and you should check out all his fiction. But enough of singing his praise – let’s get to the bloodsuckers!

Kindle   Softcover

What would you do if you had unlimited power and eternal life?

 Would you…go back to high school? Attend the same classes year after year, going through the pomp and circumstance of one graduation after another, until you found the perfect date to take to prom? Would you…spend your days moping and brooding, finding your only joy in a game of baseball on a stormy day? Or would you…do something else? Anything else?

The authors of this collection have a few ideas; some fanciful, some humorous, and some as dark as an endless night. Join us, and discover what it truly means to be “vampyre.”
Edited by Michael West
Foreword by Michael West

“A New Life” by J. F. Gonzalez
“What Once was Flesh” by Tim Waggoner
“The Darkton Circus Mystery” by Elizabeth Massie
“Robot Vampire” by R. J. Sullivan
“Beneath a Templar Cross” by Gord Rollo
“The Weapon of Memory” by Kyle S. Johnson
“The Excavation” by Stephen Zimmer
“Skraeling” by Joel A. Sutherland
“Dreams of Winter” by Bob Freeman
“Dracula’s Winkee: Bloodsucker Blues” by Gregory L. Hall
“I Fuck Your Sunshine” by Lucy A. Snyder
“A Soldier’s Story” by Maurice Broaddus
“Rattenkönig
” by Douglas F. Warrick
“Vampire Nation” by Jerry Gordon
“Curtain Call” by Gary A. Braunbeck

Michael West is the critically-acclaimed author of The Wide Game, Cinema of Shadows, Spook House, Skull Full of Kisses, and the Legacy of the Gods series.  A member of the Horror Writers Association and Indiana Horror Writers, where he serves as President, West earned a degree in Telecommunications and Film Theory from Indiana University, and since that time, he has written a multitude of short stories, articles, and reviews for various on-line and print publications. He lives and works in the Indianapolis area with his wife, their two children, their bird, Rodan, their turtle, Gamera, and their dog, King Seesar.

His children are convinced that spirits move through the woods near their home.

***

Today I’m lucky to have a guest post by Bob Freeman, author of Dreams of Winter, which is in the anthology.

Bite Me: A Short Discourse on Vampires by Bob Freeman

“I like my creatures of the night a little nocturnal. My next big novel was going to have a vampire. Now, I’m probably not. They are everywhere, they’re like cockroaches.” — Neil Gaiman

It is no secret that vampires have been largely defanged, their mystique unceremoniously scuttled by Young Adult authors writing their angst-ridden Gothic fantasies for lovelorn teenage girls.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. It is a force to be reckoned with, to be sure. There is an audience for this vampire-lite branding, and more power to them. It’s a money making machine, and we’ve all got to eat.

That I prefer my creatures of the night to have a bit more bite should come as no surprise, but even I was first enthralled by the likes of another angst-driven bloodsucker — Barnabas Collins of Dark Shadows fame.

For all the vitriol spilled toward writers such as Stephenie Meyer and L. J. Smith, they were certainly not the first to ravage the vampire’s dark nature.

Remember when Bela Lugosi’s Dracula appeared alongside Bud and Lou in Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein? From Sesame Streets’ The Count to General Mills’ Count Chocula, or The Munsters’ Grandpa for that matter, the vampire has been used for comedic effect for the greater part of the 20th Century, much to my personal chagrin.

For every Near Dark there is a Love at First Bite. Show me ‘Salem’s Lot and I’ll point you toward Vampire’s Kiss. Drag out Let the Right One In and I’ll expose you to Dracula: Dead and Loving It.

Vampires, as much as I hate to admit it, are not sacrosanct.

And maybe that’s the best thing about these bloodsucking fiends. They’re versatile as hell. They’ll scare the crap out of you, have you rolling on the floor in laughter, or make you weak in the knees.

There’s a vampire out there for everybody — be it ghoulish revenant, campy dark jester, or star-crossed soul-mate.

So, take a deep breath. I get it. Sparkly vampires aren’t your blood type. They’re not mine either. But it’s a big graveyard we’re playing in. There’s room enough for everyone.

Let Meyer, Smith, and their ilk play over there in the well-manicured Garden of Memory, while you and I do our dark business in the overgrown boneyard.

When the sun comes up, let them prance about with their sparklers and their rings of Vervain, while we embark on a dance of death and our vamps burst into flame.

 — Bob Freeman is an author, artist, and paranormal adventurer who hails from rural Indiana. His short story, “Dreams of Winter” appears in the Seventh Star Press anthology Vampires Don’t Sparkle, edited by Michael West. He can be found online at http://occultdetective.com

***

A great post by a great author! He makes a lot of good points about the genre, doesn’t he? I know as a writer, I love the fact that vampires are so versatile (though my personal tastes seem to gravitate to The Lost Boys type rebels or American Vampire’s Skinner Sweet, who’s so completely vile but also hilarious.) What about you? What kind of vampire do you prefer?

***

You can check out info on this and other anthologies by Seventh Star Press in the following places:

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/seventhstarpress

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/7thstarpress

Website:  http://www.seventhstarpress.com

Blog:  http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com

There’s also a tour-wide giveaway going on, and you can access the Rafflecopter for that HERE

Excerpt: Writer’s Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy

 

Today I’m sharing an excerpt from Writer’s Workshop! But first, let’s remember why this book is so great for not only established writers, aspiring writers, but those also just plain interested in the art of genre writing.

 

Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy is a collection of essays and interviews by and with many of the movers-and-shakers in the industry.  Each contributor covers the specific element of craft he or she excels in.  Expect to find varying perspectives and viewpoints, which is why you many find differing opinions on any particular subject.

This is, after all, a collection of advice from professional storytellers.  And no two writers have made it to the stage via the same journey-each has made his or her own path to success.  And that’s one of the strengths of this book.  The reader is afforded the luxury of discovering various approaches and then is allowed to choose what works best for him or her.

Contributing authors are:

 

Neil Gaiman
Orson Scott Card
Ursula K. Le Guin
Alan Dean Foster
James Gunn
Tim Powers
Harry Turtledove
Larry Niven
Joe Haldeman
Kevin J. Anderson
Elizabeth Bear
Jay Lake
Nancy Kress
George Zebrowski
Pamela Sargent
Mike Resnick
Ellen Datlow
James Patrick Kelly
Jo Fletcher
Stanley Schmidt
Gordon Van Gelder
Lou Anders
Peter Crowther
Ann VanderMeer
John Joseph Adams
Nick Mamatas
Lucy A. Snyder
Alethea Kontis
Nisi Shawl
Jude-Marie Green
Nayad A. Monroe
G. Cameron Fuller
Jackie Gamber
Amanda DeBord
Max Miller
Jason Sizemore

And now, the excerpt:

“Nothing fills a page faster than dialogue,” the writer said.

 There it is, the blank page or screen, the intimidating and recurring challenge every writer must face. The temptation is to fill that page as quickly as possible, to advance the narrative however you can. Often the easiest way to do that, even for writers who are not masters of dialogue, is to get the characters talking. A few A few writers are even bold enough to begin novels or stories with a line of dialogue, something I don’t recommend unless you possess the skills of the early Robert A Heinlein, who began his story “Blowups Happen” with the suspenseful line: “Put down that wrench!” Orson Scott Card also opened his popular novel Ender’s Game with a piece of dialogue that immediately rouses the reader’s curiosity: “‘I’ve watched through his eyes, I’ve listened through his ears, and I tell you he’s the one.” Writing good and convincing dialogue is usually enough of a challenge without relying on it to hook a reader right at the beginning of one’s story. Writing dialogue, whatever the difficulties, is generally easier than, for example, crafting descriptive passages, offering insights into a character’s

psychology, creating vigorous and absorbing action scenes, or presenting necessary exposition in a graceful way.

Writers who harbor dreams of scriptwriting may be especially prone to fill pages with dialogue, but others also succumb, partly because dialogue is a shortcut and a very useful one. Sometimes a few well-chosen words of conversation can accomplish as much in a story as pages of description and exposition. There are also a fair number of readers who are more absorbed by stretches of repartee than by beautifully and poetically rendered descriptions. (Writers meet these people all the time; they’re the ones who tell you they skip all the dull parts, often meaning those carefully wrought passages that cost you so much effort.) Better just to cut to the chase, or in this case, drop in on the conversation.

The strength of dialogue—namely that it can be a useful shortcut—is also its weakness. Writers who rely too much on dialogue risk leaving too much out. The writer may hear the characters clearly and easily envision the scene, but that doesn’t mean that the reader will. (In a review of a novel some years back, Joanna Russ wrote that passages in that book seemed to be largely about names drinking cups of coffee, noticing the designs of ashtrays, or riffing on the furnishings in a room, the characters were so indistinguishable.) The beginning writer is likely to produce dialogue in which the reader will find it hard to tell one character from another. The useful shortcut can produce a story that is sketchy, in which too much has been left out

 

And don’t forget, there’s a tour-wide giveaway going on!

1- $30 Amazon Gift Card and a special hardcover copy of The Writers
Workshop of Science Fiction & Fantasy, and epub or mobi version of The
Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy (on hardcovers, only 100
made, NEVER offered for sale) (US/Canada residents only)

2 softcovers of The Writers Workshop of Science Fiction & Fantasy
(US/Canada residents only), and ePub/Mobi version of book.

4 runner up winners of ePub or Mobi versions of The Writers Workshop of
Science Fiction and Fantasy, PLUS winner’s choice of one of four new
anthologies in ePub or Mobi formats:  Southern Haunts (Paranormal) ,
Perfect Flaw (Dystopian), Vampires Don’t Sparkle! (Horror) or The End
Was Not the End: Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy Tales (Fantasy)

 To get in on these prizes, please go to the Rafflecopter Here

Jitterbug PR presents: The Writer’s Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy

 

 

You know I’ve been excited about this book for a long, long time, so I’m thrilled to be a host on this tour today! We’ve got an excellent guest post lined up, but first, let’s take a look at what this book actually is.

 

 

 

Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy is a collection of essays and interviews by and with many of the movers-and-shakers in the industry.  Each contributor covers the specific element of craft he or she excels in.  Expect to find varying perspectives and viewpoints, which is why you many find differing opinions on any particular subject.

This is, after all, a collection of advice from professional storytellers.  And no two writers have made it to the stage via the same journey-each has made his or her own path to success.  And that’s one of the strengths of this book.  The reader is afforded the luxury of discovering various approaches and then is allowed to choose what works best for him or her.

 The following is a list of all the talented people who were brought in to contribute on this excellent resource:

Neil Gaiman
Orson Scott Card
Ursula K. Le Guin
Alan Dean Foster
James Gunn
Tim Powers
Harry Turtledove
Larry Niven
Joe Haldeman
Kevin J. Anderson
Elizabeth Bear
Jay Lake
Nancy Kress
George Zebrowski
Pamela Sargent
Mike Resnick
Ellen Datlow
James Patrick Kelly
Jo Fletcher
Stanley Schmidt
Gordon Van Gelder
Lou Anders
Peter Crowther
Ann VanderMeer
John Joseph Adams
Nick Mamatas
Lucy A. Snyder
Alethea Kontis
Nisi Shawl
Jude-Marie Green
Nayad A. Monroe
G. Cameron Fuller
Jackie Gamber
Amanda DeBord
Max Miller
Jason Sizemore

Amanda Debord has written a great post for us about emotions a lot of us in the writing world feel, no matter where we’re at.

When I first started hearing the buzz about this new guide, Writers Workshop of Science Fiction & Fantasy, I was a bit skeptical.  Not like you think, though.  I knew some of the people involved and had (obviously) heard of just a few others ifyouknowwhoi’mtalkingabout.  I had no doubt the final product would be high-quality.  No, my skepticism was over my understanding of the venture.  We’re putting out a book with advice from Neil Gaiman and Orson Scott Card and … me?  Surely there must be some mistake.  Just take a minute to read the names at the top of the list.  What are these people doing, giving advice, anyway?  It’s not like they actually try at this stuff.  I’m pretty sure Neil Gaiman just wakes up each morning, and the Gods of Awesomeness have delivered his latest product tooth-fairy-style on a golden platter on his nightstand.  Right?

So, I’m only being a little silly here, but I think you know what I’m getting at.  When I first started to take seriously the thought of myself as a writer, one thing constantly frustrated me.  No matter how happy I was with a piece I’d written, no matter how close to flawless I felt I’d gotten, there was still something intangible between my stuff and their stuff.  I wasn’t a “real” writer.  I was just someone who wrote.  There was something missing there – some spark, some specialness that was the secret handshake to the club where the real writers hung out.  We are not the same people.

It wasn’t long before I found myself taking part in some critiquing circles, and found myself doing some editing, which is all just fancy forms of one of my favorite past-times: giving advice.  “You know what I’d do with this character if I were you?”  That sort of thing.  I got advice myself, too.  From writers better than me.   From writers worse than me.   And it all helped.  Still does, in fact.

That’s just the thing.  All writers are readers at heart, and we all struggle with the blank page.  Just like you.  Sometimes the stories come fast, out of nowhere, and really do feel like they’re laid like mysterious packages on our doorstep.   With others, we battle with every word.  Sometimes, we read an essay by Orson Scott Card and it inspires us to try something new.  Sometimes, we break out that dusty old Strunk & White and remind ourselves just how to use a semi-colon.  Sometimes, we read a round-table interview with Amanda DeBord and it helps us understand why that editor was being such a jerk, and why we really shouldn’t send her hate mail.  They’re all building blocks.

And, all this advice from all of these people, top of the page to bottom shows you something very important.  We are all the same people.  Forgive my hubris, and realize the hidden message in what all of these great writers are saying in their essays in this book: This is what worked for me.  I’ve struggled with what you’re struggling with, and here’s the lantern that lit my way.

And like always, we have some giveaways going on! The first is a tour-wide giveaway for the following prizes:

1- $30 Amazon Gift Card and a special hardcover copy of The Writers
Workshop of Science Fiction & Fantasy, and epub or mobi version of The
Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy (on hardcovers, only 100
made, NEVER offered for sale) (US/Canada residents only)

2 softcovers of The Writers Workshop of Science Fiction & Fantasy
(US/Canada residents only), and ePub/Mobi version of book.

4 runner up winners of ePub or Mobi versions of The Writers Workshop of
Science Fiction and Fantasy, PLUS winner’s choice of one of four new
anthologies in ePub or Mobi formats:  Southern Haunts (Paranormal) ,
Perfect Flaw (Dystopian), Vampires Don’t Sparkle! (Horror) or The End
Was Not the End: Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy Tales (Fantasy)

To put your name in for those prizes, go to the Rafflecopter HERE 

 

Aaaand, I also have an ebook copy of Writer’s Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy to give away. Simply leave a comment (with an email address)  telling me why you want it, and I’ll select a name at random at the end of the week!

 

 

Fandom Fest Update!

We’re slowly getting there! Not only have more media/celeb guests been added, but the literary guests are finally up! Hopefully the panels and lit track selections will be up soon, because we’ve got some cool stuff planned! In the meantime, be sure to check out the literary guests – you have time to get into what these awesome authors have written! Explore their links, google them, give them a like on FB or amazon, read their work – support authors! If you get a chance to come to Fandom Fest, you definitely should, because there’s not only a lot of great stuff going down, but it’s a great way to get to know new and indie authors as well as publishers!

To see the literary guest list, please go HERE! And don’t forget to spread the word!

Evil Jester Presents Needs Your Help!

Most of you probably remember that as if I’m not geeky enough, I’m also a comic book fiend. I have my preferences, but as long as there’s a good story, I’m willing to give it a chance. I really have a soft spot for horror comics, especially the anthology type that harken back to Creepy, Eerie, Tales from the Crypt, EC, etc. Seriously, the written word can be terrifying enough, but pair that with a talented artist and the opportunities are endless! Some of the best shorts I’ve read have been in anthology horror comics, and in my opinion there just aren’t enough of those around today.

So I’m extremely excited that my friend Charles Day is trying to get Evil Jester Presents off the ground. Not only does it promise to have a really intriguing selection of stories by a lot of talented authors, but I know that he has a lot more in store and up his sleeve…but only if he and the other talented folks at Evil Jester Press get your help. There’s always room for another title at the horror table, especially if it’s of the graphic novel persuasion. So please, check out the Kickstarter for this project, and if you can’t pledge then at least spread the word like mad, because time is sliding away – we only have until April 15 to make this happen!

To view the Evil Jester Presents Kickstarter, go HERE!

Finding an example after the fact – Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

You know those moments where you’ve been talking about something and suddenly things line up exactly right to prove your point? I’ve recently had a moment like that, and I love it because it reaffirms that I haven’t completely lost my mind (in regards to my genre arguments, at least).

Some of you may remember my post a while ago on sexual victimization in horror and how I felt it was mostly unnecessary and was rarely handled well. I felt a little bad that I couldn’t provide a lot of examples of where it actually makes sense and is treated respectfully in a story (I managed one or two, but it was hard to find examples for that post).

Whilst in the thick of whatever crud/cold/zombie plague I’ve fallen into, I didn’t have a lot of energy to do much except think and read. Since I’ve got a stack of titles to catch up on, I began reading Joe Hill’s Heart-Shaped Box…and suddenly found the best example ever right in my lap.

Without giving much away (though it’s been out for a few years), the title is about a metal singer who collects odd things and buys a ghost (well, haunted suit) on an online auction site. The book jacket is a little deceptive, but I get why it was phrased the way it was. You come to find out that he has a personal connection to the ghost’s family, and he and all who help him are being stalked by this ghost until he dies. The pacing is great and you’re left guessing for the longest time about how all the pieces fit together. No character is totally likable or unlikable, and the author does a great job of building suspense but also crafting a really great paranormal horror story.

In the latter portion of the book, you come to find out that the reason why he’s being haunted isn’t quite the reason he assumed, and there’s a whole other subplot about sexual abuse and incest. Now, like I said before, I really dislike those plot elements, but I have to say they were handled really, really well here. For one, you NEVER see anything up close. Not in flashback, not in present tense, not in any part of the story. It is definitely part of a character’s back story (and that of her family), but you NEVER see it. It is NEVER used to sexify the goings on – in fact, there’s a HUGE difference in tone between any time those elements are mentioned and any sort of actual sex between two of the main characters (the singer and his girlfriend). In contrast, those scenes are also subdued and fade to black, and they fit the characters, but they’re almost beautiful. You can feel the attraction between the main character and his girlfriend, despite their problems, and it’s treated as something adult but good, whereas any mention of the abuse and incest makes no bones about the fact that it is wrong, it is dark, it is not right, and nothing to be glorified or accepted.

I appreciate the fact that though the activity is mentioned, it’s done by referencing the past, the victim realizing it really happened, and by vague mention of a series of photographs. They’re never described, but by the use of tone you know it’s serious stuff. The thing is, as a reader, I don’t NEED to see any of this stuff happen. I don’t NEED to know what those photos are. The author deftly uses the victim’s reactions, the main characters’ reactions, and the reactions of the guilty parties trying to cover up their own mess to convey how heavy this subplot is. It doesn’t need to be over-emphasized and described to the nth degree. It’s almost worse when you’re forced to connect the dots on your own.

What’s also great about this title is that these elements remain a subplot. It’s not crammed into the reader’s eye sockets. It’s a development, but you don’t have to read hundreds of pages of it to get the idea that abuse is bad and the victims need to be avenged and/or freed. At the end of the day, it remains a ghost story, a horror story, with adult elements that are treated in an adult way.

And that is how it should be done across the board. I never thought at any point while reading this “Wow this isn’t horror enough” or “Why aren’t I seeing all this blow-by-blow?” There’s enough grit in other sequences of the book, enough haunting elements, and enough human darkness to keep the pages turning. It’s balanced so well, if it was over the top on those or any other elements, it would ruin the book. This is definitely a title worth checking out just because it’s incredible, but also because this SHOULD be how you include elements that could be questionable. THIS not only treats the subjects like the atrocities they are, but doesn’t need to slam it into a reader’s face. It gives the victims something to say and is partially about where can someone go with their life after being exposed to something like that. It was a refreshing discovery – a horror book that had heavy subject matter in it, but treated its readers like adults – what a bold concept!

If you haven’t read Heart-Shaped Box or anything else by Joe Hill, I heartily recommend it.

Author Interview: Amy Mah

We all know how much I love vampires, so I’m stoked to have an interview with the vibrant Amy Mah this week! She’s the author of two very unique vampire books that take a look at what it would be like to be an undead teenager. Intrigued? See what she has to say!

***

SJ: Every writer has some sort of process. Give us a glimpse into yours. Do you meticulously outline? Do you write depending on what calls are out there?

 

AM: A process? Everyone has one? Gee I wish someone had told me that before I started writing, stories just play in my mind like watching a movie all I have to do is be fast enough to write them down

 

SJ: Bonus question – Do you put on a cape and do a chant before hunkering down to work? Sacrifice anything? Along with your process, what’s your quirkiest writing habit?

AM: Well when I first started I used to put a picture of the character on the wall in front of me to remind me, but after a few days stopped looking and just took the images straight from my mind, like watching a movie.

SJ: Are you a meticulous planner or do you believe in the muse? Where do your ideas come from? Do they filter in through your dreams? Do they show up at inopportune times and whap you upside the head? Do they result in a shady deal with a dark power?

 

AM: No planning just a good memory, I have been told that reading my books is like watching an anime movie, as to where my ideas come from well mostly my own life.

OK so I don’t bite many people, you have noticed I have not said I never bite people.

Lots of things in the books have come from my own childhood, such as living with strange Aunts and doing odd things like sleeping on a roof during hot summer nights (and before you ask it was a flat roof) and I did wear a pair of pajamas with a bat on them.

And if my vampire world comes over a little different than most it is partly due to it being a slightly Asian vampire world where the Male vampires think they run the world but in the background the real power is with the females .     

SJ: bonus question – If your muse had a physical manifestation, what would he or she look like and how would she or he act? Is it a sexy superhero version of Callisto? A sharp-tongued rogue? A reptilian alien? Do they have a catch phrase?

 

AM: I have based my main character on me! Which is why I named her Amy Mah mistress of the nightmare (vampire)

As to catch phrase:

How about I don’t sparkle I bite!

SJ: What’s the book/story that’s closest to your heart? Is there a piece that you clearly feel is a piece of you? Do you play favorites?

 

AM: I have written other things but I love the vampire world as I can lay down rules of logic, I always think there should be a reason for something to happen and I always give that reason in the books, you may have to look for it but it is there.

 

SJ: If you could only write one genre ever again upon pain of being sacrificed to Cthulhu, what would it be and why?

 

AM: What ever is running through my mind at the time.

SJ: What’s your biggest frustration as a writer? What do you consider the downside, or is there one? Is there any cliché that makes you want to wring people’s necks?

AM: Well as I write and blog as a teenager lots of people think I am still a teenager …..duh

SJ: If you had to be stuck in one of your own books/stories for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? If you had to stick a loved one in one of your own books, what would it be and why? An enemy?

AM: Ho yes a vampire in my vampire world would be great, and as to relatives in my books how yes lots of them have sneaked in, the Aunts in my books are all real people.  

SJ: Do you think it’s possible to develop a sure-fire recipe/formula for success as a writer? Would you want to, or does that compromise the art or the fun of it?

AM: Sure it is easy marry, into big money or become very famous and suddenly you can be a successful writer

SJ: Everyone has words of wisdom for young writers, so I’m not going to ask you about that. With a few unknown writers becoming success stories, a lot of people seem to think it’s an easy career choice. What would your words of wisdom be to these people?

 

AM: Write for yourself and not others then you will not be so disappointed when you discover you are the only reader of your books.

 

SJ: It seems like everyone likes to gang up on certain genres as being inferior, less meaningful, or cheap entertainment (especially if it’s speculative in nature). Make a case for the genre you write.

AM: Like I don’t care what others say about genres, I write as I do, and about the subjects I do as I find it fun to do so.  

 

SJ: What do you want people to instantly think of when they hear your name or your work mentioned?

 

AM: Vampires

SJ: Please tell us about your latest/favorite work or a little bit about what you’re working on right now. It’s plug time, so go for it!

 

I’m at the moment working on my 3^rd vampire book but if its plug time then let me tell you about what I have done so far:

VAMPIRE by Amy Mah

in paperback and ebook

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiAPGb2PPnw

www.fangsrule.com/buy.htm

Amazon    Goodreads

Today’s world is difficult for everyone, especially teenagers. They face the stresses of school, deciding whom to date, and the biggie of sex, just to name a few. Imagine all of those things ten times worse, and you might get an idea of what it’s like being a living, breathing teenage vampire. At last, the world can read about the life of a girl with good teeth, her problems with strong sunlight that gave her spots, and the sunblock that made her hair go yucky and produced more spots.

Yes, sunlight was dangerous, as she could be the first teenager in history to die from terminal acne! In her everyday life, older vampires expected her to walk about at night in the traditional female uniform, a see-through, 18th-century nightdress, without undies! Well, this female vampire knew why the cold winds blowing along the corridors were called, “male winds,” so she wore her see-through nightdress over jeans and a very thick jumper. To be sure that people would still know she was a vampire, the jumper had a very large, pink bat on it. And as to guys, well, it was normal for a girl to dream about guys; she just wished the dreams could have involved chocolates and holding hands, not leaping out at someone, ripping off his shirt, and demanding to know what blood type he was (at least not on the first date).

This is not your typical vampire story where vampires are jumping in bed with humans or are entangled with werewolves for one reason or another. This is the story of a teenage vampire who is just trying to survive in her day to day existence. It is humorous and will make you laugh out loud when Amy is just being her own unique self.

 

Fangs Rule by Amy Mah

 is in paperback and ebook

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yMhjAR4nDg

www.fangsrule.com/buy1.htm

Amazon     Goodreads

A self help guide by Amy Mah (Vampire) for teenage vampire girls, the guide is fully illustrated by manga Artist Heby and is written in an easy to follow A – Z format explaining everything a teenage vampire girl would need to know about living life as a modern Vampire. What is fashionable to wear when eating out? Fang maintenance & how to keep your claws sharp.

Should you let a boy bite you on the first date? Easy to understand clear advice is given to every day problems Example: When you get an urge to bite: We all get those normal urges to bite things, and I must point out it is very normal, Claws are all well and good in a fight but a bite gives the extra advantage of getting a refreshing drink at the same time. Lots of girls worry about showing their Fangs in public believing that to show your fangs is rude, but don’t be shy they can be a girls greatest asset (ok second greatest asset) if a boy is being rude to you, don’t just snarl at him, just bite him! You are a vampire why do you think you have sharp teeth if not for sinking them into a boy that is being rude to you.

 

About the Author

The Author Amelia Mah is a 20 something snarky, sarcastic and cynical author who has a very popular blog of how she sees the world from the point of view of a modern teenage vampire Following the success of her first book “FANGS RULE A girls guide to being a vampire” she had now expanded the idea of life as a teenage vampire into a full novel Amelia has given her avatar her own name so you can see the world first hand from a very bored teenage vampire that has been forced to remain a teenager for far too long She may have very good teeth and the ability to hang from ceilings but life is far from easy. Today’s world is difficult for everyone, especially teenagers. They face the stresses of school, deciding whom to date, and the biggie of sex, just to name a few. Imagine all of those things ten times worse, and you might get an idea of what it’s like being a living, breathing teenage vampire. At last, the world can read about the life of a girl with good teeth, her problems with strong sunlight that gave her spots, and the sunblock that made her hair go yucky and produced more spots. Yes, sunlight was dangerous, as she could be the first teenager in history to die from terminal acne! In her everyday life, older vampires expected her to walk about at night in the traditional female uniform, a see-through, 18th-century nightdress, without undies! Well, this female vampire knew why the cold winds blowing along the corridors were called, “male winds,” so she wore her see-through nightdress over jeans and a very thick jumper. To be sure that people would still know she was a vampire, the jumper had a very large, pink bat on it. And as to guys, well, it was normal for a girl to dream about guys; she just wished the dreams could have involved chocolates and holding hands, not leaping out at someone, ripping off his shirt, and demanding to know what blood type he was (at least not on the first date). 

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