Scribal Love Welcomes J. S. Wayne!
What is the name of your paranormal novel?
“Espiritu Sancti”
Who is/are the main character(s)?
Isabel Roquefale is a student studying in Romania. Lilliana Jursik is a strange local woman who stirs Isabel’s imagination…and her passion.
What is it about?
Lilliana and Isabel have been lovers for nearly a year when tragedy strikes and Isabel dies. Lilliana, a vampire, blames herself for Isabel’s death and goes to the mausoleum in the family chapel to say one final goodbye to her lover before she goes to join Isabel. But, as both women are about to learn, some passions even survive the grave . . . .
Is your main character good, evil or torn in between?
Lilliana’s inherently good, even if she herself doesn’t believe it. But Isabel’s death hits her hard and makes her question her place in the world. For the first time in her life, she finds herself considering the possibility that maybe simply being a vampire makes her evil by nature.
What are some of her strengths and weaknesses?
Lilliana’s a vampire more in the “vein” (pardon the pun) of the original Dracula. She doesn’t go out during the day if she can avoid it, but she can function in daylight. She prays freely in full view of a cross and douses herself liberally with holy water.
Her greatest weakness is her own self-doubt, which escalates into fully realized loathing with Isabel’s death.
What first attracted you to writing paranormal fiction?
I’ve always loved the things that go bump in the night, since I first saw the original Dracula with Bela Lugosi! When I saw a paranormal erotica challenge on Writing.com, I saw a chance to stretch myself a little; a year ago, I’d’ve been the first person to scoff at the very idea of ME writing erotic romance. So I wrote a story that was romantic, but very dark at the same time. And the result, after some tweaking, was “Espiritu Sancti.”
Go crazy and tell us about your novel! Include excerpt or blurb if you'd like!
Espiritu Sancti by J.S. Wayne
Genre: Erotic Romance, Horror, Paranormal
When Isabel Roquefale earns a scholarship to study in Romania, she's thrilled. As a lifelong devotee of vampire legend, the opportunity is a dream come true. While she's there, she encounters the beautiful Lilliana. Something about the woman calls to Isabel, stirring her blood and her desire in ways she's never known and compelling her to offer herself completely to Lilliana.
But Lilliana has a secret; one that Isabel pays a tragic price to learn. When Isabel awakens in Lilliana's ancestral mausoleum, at first, she believes it's a hideous practical joke. She quickly learns otherwise. And both women are about to learn that some desires survive even death.
Special Content Alert: Lesbian, Gothic Horror
It was a fine night, cool but not unpleasantly so, and the stars and a sickle moon hung in the sky as if placed there specifically for their benefit. It was then, while they stood next to each other, not quite touching, that Lilliana began to speak of her loneliness.
"It has been a long time since I've had a lover. My last love affair ended badly, and ever since, I've kept people at a distance. Have you ever been wounded by love?" Lilliana turned the full force of her eyes on Isabel.
Isabel thought it over. "I . . . think so," she'd said. Her fingers clenched, belying her apparent hesitancy. "My last boyfriend was a real bastard," she said bitterly. "He was a football player and fucked his way through the entire cheerleading squad while we were together. I thought he was going to marry me," she replied, her tone changing from venomous to pensive as she thought of how foolish she'd been. She dropped her gaze to the floor as a hot flush spread across her sharp cheekbones.
"Bah!" Lilliana waved her hand dismissively. "Men will say whatever will make a woman do what they wish. There is no more truth in men's words than those of a mockingbird. Only a woman can truly speak with complete candor to a woman. May I be candid?" Her eyes bored into Isabel's.
Lilliana's eyes seemed to gather the light of moon and stars and transmute into silver. They were the most striking eyes Isabel had ever seen; Isabel's knees went weak for the second time that night, this time with desire.
Unconsciously arching her back a little, revealing her throat, and pushing her full, firm breasts outward, Isabel let out a quavered, "Y-yes."
"I want you tonight." Lilliana reached out one cool finger to trace it gently down Isabel's cheek. "I want to love you. Will you allow me?"
Isabel's eyes slid closed, and she gasped a little at the sensations stirring deep within her. She made a tiny whimper of a sound; whether it was acceptance or negation, she could not have said.
But Lilliana allowed her no chance to consider the matter further. Pressing her lips against Isabel's, she lightly flicked her tongue against the soft gates. As if she had spoken a magic word, Isabel's lips parted to permit Lilliana full access. Her tongue darted and probed. She caught Isabel up in a fierce yet tender embrace, crushing her breasts against Isabel's. Lilliana's arms ratcheted around her, as if the woman feared Isabel would fly away if the grip were loosened.
Isabel was interested in going nowhere except deeper into Lilliana's embrace. She'd experimented, certainly; who hadn't tried it on at least once with a member of their own sex? It was almost a rite of passage. But she had never been kissed like this before. The arms which held her were feminine and shapely but in no way weak. The woman's mouth touched her as light as a breeze but seething with passion the likes of which she had never known.
She moaned against Lilliana and pressed herself more fully into her mysterious lover's arms, her blood singing at the wonderful feel of another female body against her own. Lilliana deepened the kiss, as if trying to inhale Isabel's very soul.
Isabel found herself on the bed, staring in wide-eyed wonder as Lilliana released the strings of her bodice and somewhat timidly pulled it down to reveal her snowy breasts. Her nipples were taut and puckered, the exact shade of strawberry-flavored milk; large aureoles haloed them in the same rosy hue. Isabel's mouth watered. Lilliana cupped her full breasts and held them up in the glow of the candlelight for Isabel's perusal.
If the ceiling had collapsed at that instant, Isabel would surely have been crushed. She could spare no thought for anything but her desire to taste the ripe delicacies being offered. She brushed kisses over Lilliana's breast a scant instant before her mouth closed around the pink berry, teeth gently nibbling and tongue flickering at the stiff nub.
Buy Red Roses and Shattered Glass, featuring “Espiritu Sancti,” at www.nobleromance.com/books/260
Thanks J. S. for Dropping By!
Scribal Love Welcomes Mary Abshire!
Mary Abshire is an author of Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. Her newest work "Claiming the Evil Dead" is available from Noble Romance Publishing.
What is the name of your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?
Claiming the Evil Dead. How I came up with the title...I made a short list of possible titles based on what the main character is going to do in the book, thought about them, and decided. Nothing too difficult. (smile)
What is this book about? And what genre is this book in?
Paranormal Erotic Romance or Paranormal Romance. The main character, Jessie Garrett, is half-demon and she catches evil souls and sends them to Hell. She has a somewhat normal life and doesn’t trust other supernatural creatures.
A sexy vampire, Drake, finds her and offers her a job to claim the soul of an evil vamp. She accepts his offer. Needless to say, they have a few problems as they search for the evil vamp and she discovers she is attracted to Drake.
Then she bumps into a hot demon, Jeremy, who causes more problems, but also helps her. Besides dealing with evil spirits, vampires, and demons, she has plenty of her own internal conflicts to deal with.
Who is/are the main characters? And why did you choose them?
Jessie Garrett is the main character. Drake, an vampire, is the second main character. Jeremy, a full blooded demon, is another important character.
I wanted someone good, bad, and in the middle. I'm not saying which fits which. (Guess)
What is the coolest or best part about your book? (Any Favorite scenes, the world-building etc..)
There are several scenes that I like--when Drake and Jessie leave together, when Jessie meets Jeremy, when Jessie falls for Drake, when Jessie almost dies...twice. I think I might be giving away too much info here.
Do you have a favorite character in the book? If so, why?
Yes. Jeremy. He's twisted, fun, and always causing trouble.
Is this book part of a series? If so? What can we expect in future books?
Yes. The soul catcher series. The second book is Catching an Evil Tail and it involves werewolves. I'm working on finishing the third, Fighting Evil. Jessie struggles for her life, basically. I have an idea for the fourth book. There are so many evil souls in the world...
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I think I would introduce other supernatural creatures that have a connection to Drake. People connected to him would come in handy for future books that I have in mind.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I learned to have patience and not to give up. I was told numerous times from agents and editors that they loved my premise. I still got rejections over and over again.
Then I went back and made minor edits. I got a quick response from Noble and here we are today.
Do you have a publisher? And if so, why did you choose them?
Noble Romance Publishing is my publisher. I reviewed several publishers and I liked what Noble Romance had to offer. They have great books, cover art is excellent, and they are growing.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Kim Harrison and Jeanine Frost. Two completely different styles, yet both are excellent.
What books are you reading now?
Circle of Fire by Keri Arthur
What are the current writing projects that you are working on?
Besides the soul catcher series, I have an Urban Fantasy novel I plan to submit in 2011. It will be in a series.
Do you write full time? If not, do you hope to do so one day?
No, I don't write full time. I wish I did. I'd love to write full time one day. My goal is to retire at 50 and write full time.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
When I was a teenager, (computers weren't in every home) I was actively involved in the pen-pal world. I didn't write stories, but I loved writing and staying connected to people. I loved reading vampire books.
I've always had an interest in paranormal. A few years ago, I decided to take writing seriously. I wrote a piece of crap, but I kept writing. I can't seem to stop now. (smile)
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Making motivations clear are sometimes a challenge. I have to step back or put it aside for a while. When I revisit the piece, I usually see the error of my ways.
Do you have any advice for other writers seeking to get published for the first time?
Never give up submitting your work. Read and write EVERY day! Set goals, reasonable ones. In my opinion, it’s ok to go to a publisher instead of an agent. '
The market is changing so fast and there are very good publishers looking for stories. Opportunities are here for writers. As always, you have to do your homework and find out which publisher is best for your wants/needs.
Thanks Mary for Dropping by!
You can find Mary on the web at:
Scribal Love Welcomes Gay Historical Fiction Author Erastes.
Erastes is an author of gay historical fiction. Her newest work TRIBUTARY is available as part of the four novella anthology LAST GASP from Noble Romance Publishing. The other authors in the anthology are Charlie Cochrane, Jordan Taylor and Chris Smith.
What inspired you to write this book?
I had a vision of an Italian landscape a windy road, leading up and up into forested hills and a little grey sports car moving along, seen from above, until it reached the top. It started there. I wasn't sure who was driving that car, or what he'd find in the hotel he'd stopped at, but I knew I wanted to find out.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Hmm. I'm probably not the person to answer that. I'm probably more descriptive than is usual, I like to try and immerse the reader in the era, as if the book was written IN the time, rather than ABOUT the time. Only the reader will be able to say whether I've succeeded in that, though.
What is the name of your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?
Tributary is the last book released. The title came from the idea that the person has been meandering through his life for a long time, as if he was drifting down a river, and he reaches a parting of the river, a tributary—a choice to be made.
What is Tributary about?
It's about a man called Guy Mason. It's 1936 and World War One has been over for a good while, but Guy—like many other men of that era, are still suffering the after effects. In Guy's case, it's survivor guilt. He never actually fought at the Front, despite having thought that he wanted to, he had a job in the War Office and feels that he was safe while so many of his friends died or come back half-whole. He's also lost a lover and he's just drifting through Europe, unable to settle—hardly even really aware that Europe itself is rolling its inexorable way towards more war.
In a remote hotel in the middle of the Italian landscape he meets Professor James Armstrong and his secretary Louis, and he finds an instant attraction to Louis, who—he finds—is not only James' secretary, but also his lover.
It's a story of loss, and guilt, and of choices made and choices not made.
What books have most influenced your life most?
I'm a bookaholic, my house is filled with more books than I have space for and I never (or very very very rarely) dispose of books, even ones I don't think much of. So it's hard for me to pick books that have influenced me. I spent most of my life reading the Classics, so I suppose Austen and Dickens and Thackeray are my main influences, but there are probably tons of others. More recently, and in keeping with the genre I write, I find The Charioteer by Mary Renault, At Swim Two Boys by Jamie O'Neill, A Strong & Sudden Thaw by R W Day, As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McAnn, Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale and False Colors by Alex Beecroft—all these are writers who have such a tremendous "voice" and superb skill that I wish I could have a voice as distinctive.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I was lucky enough to have R W Day as a mentor during my formative years—she's a stunningly good author and much overlooked. She kept me working hard, and by exposure to her writing, it spurred me to up my game. I'm pretty lucky, actually, that I have a lot of author "internet friends" who are madly talented, and I think we all encourage and mentor each other.
What books are you reading now?
I'm reading "The Glass Minstrel" by Hayden Thorne for review on Speak Its Name (www.speakitsname.com) and "Making Money" by Terry Pratchett.
What are your current projects?
I'm currently writing something tentatively called "I Knew Him" which is set in 1921 in England. It's a little bit murder mystery, a little bit romance, a little bit this a little bit that. Gay romance of course, as usual, but it's interesting writing about the 20th century, rather then the 17th or the 19th!
I have a new book coming out in Spring, that's with Lethe Press—called Mere Mortals--and that's a gothic mystery/gay romance set in 1840 on the Norfolk Broads in England, where I live.
Do you see writing as a career?
I do. I'm not self-sufficient just yet. I'm my father's Carer—he has Alzheimer's—and so I get a little bit of money from the state to do that. My dad is a great supporter, so I write at his house in the mornings, and then we go out somewhere nice in the afternoons. It's a tough job, sometimes, both the writing and the caring, but both very rewarding.
Some professional author (and I can't remember who it was) said that to consider yourself a writer you should write 1000 words a day, and that's my goal. I don't always manage it, but that's what I am for.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
No, I don't think so. I'm pretty happy with Tributary. Some reviewers have said it's a bit sparse, and a bit remote, but that's exactly the feel I was going for, that "no man's land" between the wars when nothing really felt real. There was a generation who hadn't experienced war and longed for a fight to break out so they could have some glory, and a generation who were still suffering from the horrors of the last one. It was all very brittle.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Absolutely. I came out of fan fiction, and I'll never deny that. Although I always knew I wanted to write, I never had any original ideas or plots – and the couple of books I had started, one kid's book and one YA just foundered because I didn't know what I was going to do with them. Then in 2003 I discovered fan fiction, literally hadn't heard of it before, and also slash (again, something I hadn't heard of.) I found them fascinating and inspiring and immediately started writing a Harry Potter novella. When I finished it, I was so pumped up with adrenaline it was unbelievable, but I realised that I couldn't DO anything with the book—I wanted to SELL books I wrote, so I started to write Standish, and the rest is history!
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
The research. I live in fear of getting something wrong, and it's so easy to trip yourself up. The research involved in writing a sequel to Standish (USA specifically in the 1820s) is putting me off from getting on with that book—and I want to write about Roman Gladiators and getting THAT right is going to be a challenge.
I'm also the world's best procrastinator—the gleam off a bald head is enough to distract me from writing. Hence me doing this instead of writing this morning!! I need that mentor to be standing behind me with a big stick. Or a cattle prod. WRITE! WRITE!
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Oh, I learn something with every book I write. I often think that I know a bit (or sometimes even a lot) about the era I'm writing, and it ALWAYS turns out that actually, I don't know hardly anything at all! For example, when I was writing "Transgressions" (which is set in the English Civil War, 1642 onwards) it was quite hard to find any details online. There are pages and pages of battles and uniforms and generals and musters and ambushes and everything concerned with the war, but very very little about everyday life in the time. I had to seek it out in other places, Living History groups etc who were so informative and so helpful, that I learned far far more about the 17th century than I ever needed to know. Did you know that it took 40 different movements just to fire a gun? Well, I do!
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Believe in yourself. That's it pure and simple. Take advice, yes, listen to others, but don't try and automatically follow all these so-called RULES that you read all over the place. OK one editor says he hates descriptions of weather, or prologues or that your characters should meet in the first chapter—but if that doesn't work for YOUR book, then don't try and copy other people. Believe in your product.
Thank you Erastes for dropping by!
It was my pleasure.
You can find Erastes on the web at www.Erastes.com
