http://ddrreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/acquitas-i-betrayal-by-ac-mason.html

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

Here is the blurb:

Can a thousand-year-old zombie teach a grieving woman why love is worth the risk?

When Vaihan Zelkos Ancient zombie, Special Advisor to the President is asked to pursue Leera Waltz to find out if she and her brother are helping an anti-zombie militant fund his terrorist activities, he doesn’t intend to fall in love. But the widow sees him as no other has. She lures his heart.

Leera meets a mysterious undead. Vaihan’s appetite for life brings her back to the world of the living. As she discovers the woman he brings out in her, her heart opens up to the possibility of love once more. Passion ignites heat between them and she is swept into his bed. 

Vaihan will do anything to protect his adored. But will Leera trust him when she uncovers the truth behind his original pursuit?

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill zombies. Ancient zombies are cultured and influential in circles of power. In exchange for their integrated into society they are helping the government cover up a secret but you’ll have to read the book to find out what.

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

I went to a Lawrence Hill reading of his award winning, national bestseller The Book Of Negroes.

I’d never read Mr. Hill, though I had heard about his work, which begs the questions why? One of the reasons is Mr. Hill’s experience in Canada is similar to my own and the subject matter is emotionally charged on a personal level. Though, I haven’t read his work I have a deep admiration for what he has accomplished. I can’t help but appreciate someone who brings history to life beyond the dates and facts. History is the stories of those that came before us.

Since I noted to people that I was going to the reading, countless individuals of all ethnic backgrounds told me about how profound reading The Book Of Negroes was for them.

From the perspective of a writer, I enjoyed the passages he chose to read and his reasons. Mr. Hill’s narrative weaves a smooth tone.

Mr. Hill took questions and spoke to his journey as a writer, which incited laugher from audience.

I am reading The Book Of Negroes.

Learn more here: http://www.lawrencehill.com/

One other thing that came from last night was I learned about Project Bookmark Canada.
 
Learn more here: http://projectbookmarkcanada.ca/

Mason
a.c.Mason

http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=18180

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

Oh my, I think, I might just do that. Lol. All jokes aside I enjoy showcasing some fellow writers I know and the work they are doing.

As the title suggests I’m going to strip down my writing process to the bare flesh.

Idea: a realization of a possible way of doing something or of something to be done

Example: NIGHT REINS. Ancient immortals fighting to keep us safe from Vampires. The immortal race lives one image out in the open and a secret society.

Issue: a source of conflict, misgiving, or emotional distress

Example: DEAD AND ADORED. I don’t like Zombies. I’m stunned at my own prejudice against beings that have done nothing to me. It’s not their fault they want to eat people. What kind of world could I create where Zobies are “ok”. What kind of zombie would be a hero of sorts.

Once I have something in my head it ferments or masticates in my brain.

Ferment: to cause, develop, or evolve something, or be developed or evolved 

Masticate: pulverize food inside the mouth, using the teeth and jaws

I prefer to say masticate, which is a Masonism, my brain chews over the idea/issue until scenes and dialogue start to take place. My characters take form in my mind and I have them rehearse the scenes playing them out a number of ways before I write. I think my camera operator background and floor directing experience help. Is this a wide-angle scene or a close up? I play out way more material in my mind then I’ll ever need for the book. Often I add in scenes after feedback from a first read from a critique partner as what they point tells me they need more of the contents in my head. I know information the reader will never know but I draw on the content and context to add the layers to the story.

Oh, I should note that usually I have multiple plots going on at once because I was blessed with three muses, affectionately known as Dark, Darker and So-Not-Funny. Darker has a really disturbed sense of humor. Warning my next comment may disturb some people. Read at own risk.

Example: DEAD AND ADORED. Vaihan doesn’t like eating human brains because they taste like cheap pâté. Plus he doesn’t much enjoy the texture.

I do a lot of planning in my head before I put one word to paper. I write synopsis or scene outlines. Those are my road map. I’m still working on the planning part of writing not happening so much in my head.

That’s the velvet rope tour of how my writing process works. I hope you enjoyed.

Mason

She has had some really wonderful things happening with her writing over the last few months.

She recently blogged for SFWA about Paranormal romance please take a moment to read here: http://www.sfwa.org/2009/12/how-i-fell-in-love-with-paranormal-romance/.

Keep an eye out, as I will be interviewing Susan again soon.

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

Blurb.

Georgia doesn’t know she’s a Harmony. Jobless and about to be homeless, her heart sinks when a hand snatches the coat of her dreams from the storefront window. Then she sees him staring at her reflection . . . the stalker.  

Trevor Stenwood, a vampire and Arnhem Knight, is handsome, sophisticated, and tongue-tied every time he sees her. Sworn to protect the supernaturals of the city, he’s fallen for a woman marked for death by demons. How can he save her when she’s afraid of him?

At Christmas time in New York City, will love bloom in the snow? 

It just went up on All Romance Ebooks.  So do you want to melt your snow and keep warm then go to 

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-avampireforchristmas-387184-139.html

Excerpt:

             When the waiter arrived with menus, Georgia was dizzy with expectation.  She looked at her menu.  There were no prices and it was hard to choose from so many delicious sounding meals.

            “What are you having?”  She leaned toward Trevor.

            “I was going to start with the lobster bisque and move on to the shrimp scampi.”

            “That sounds good.  I’ll have the same.” 

            When the waiter returned, Trevor gave him the orders.  He waited until the man was out of hearing range.

            “Georgia, you know you could have ordered anything.”

            “I know.”  She gazed out the window.  Snow danced over the waves.  Then snowflake and wave would touch as in a kiss and the snow would be gone forever, absorbed into the water. 

            “May I move my seat so I can sit next to you?”

            She thought about saying no, but the truth was she was ready for him to be closer.  “Okay.”

            He moved the chair so he was exactly next to her and they could see the same thing out the window.  “It’s sad, isn’t it?”

            “What?”

            “The snowflake is so exquisite, but its life is so short.  The ocean is eternal.  It loves the snowflake and when they meet.  .  .”

            “The snowflake dies.”  Georgia sighed.

            “No, not at all.  The snowflake changes into water and becomes immortal.”

            Georgia turned to face him.  They were so very close, his mouth above her lips, his eyes gazing deeply into hers.  She could feel him searching for some answer.  Then his lips possessed her mouth so gently, sweetly, as if to caress.  Georgia felt herself melting like the snowflake touching the ocean wave.  She kissed him back.  Every kiss led to another.  She felt his arm steady her.  Her eyes were closed, as his finger brushed her cheek.

I’m excited to be here.

The readers don’t know but this book is the first work of yours I ever had the privilege of seeing in the writing stage.

That’s very true, and through the critiquing process you were also the last person to see the entire manuscript before I found my publisher, Tease Publishing LLC.

Tell me about the process you’ve been through with this novel? Where did the idea come from for this book?

Actually I dreamed of Laura and David, and since I was a science fiction and fantasy author at the time I didn’t think that their story would work out for me.  I wasn’t yet a romance author. Still the characters persistently inhabited my dreams until I had no choice but to write their story. When I was done, I sent it to my critique group which was made up of science fiction and fantasy authors. They were very good technically but told me they didn’t know about writing romance and that’s what it evidently was. One person told me I had too much sex in it.  They were very honest though about the whole thing.
I ended up looking for a romance critique group.  I began reading everything about romance writing and romance books.  Then I found my current romance critique group and met you, a.c. Mason! 

We were so young back then.

I really enjoy the journey these two take. Haven’t we encountered David Hilliard before?

You have. After writing THE STORMY LOVE LIFE OF LAURA CORDELAIS, I had this most amazing dream about two supernatural rescue workers, Gregor and Regina, at the World Trade Center site on Sept. 11^th.  Gregor has this vampire friend, David, who is also a rescue worker. That story became WHEN LOVE SURVIVES. It kind of backs up the series a bit and introduces David and what he’s like before he met Laura. WHEN LOVE SURVIVES, which is a paranormal/sf/fantasy romance novella, was published last month by Tease Publishing LLC.

Tell us a little about the different creature some of the readers may not have come across before? 

LOL.  That would be Laura Cordelais.  I do a tremendous amount of research. In Greek mythology, there was a very early group of people called Telkhines that lived on the isle of Rhodes.  According to the myths, Telkhines were talented metal smiths able to fashion incredible weapons and wonderful jewelry. They could also control the weather.  The God Zeus was angered by their talents to manipulate the weather to their will and their arrogance about it.  Arrogance was a sure fire way to anger a Greek God, so he and Apollo paid them a visit.  When he visited the home of Dexithea and her sisters, he and Apollo were welcomed, fed, and entertained.  So when Zeus punished the Telkhines by making them dog-faced sea demons, he left Dexithea, her mother, and her sisters out of it. He even blessed Dexithea by giving her the further gift of controlling lightning. 

In the story, Laura Cordelais is a direct descendent of Dexithea.   

Blub:

Being descended from an ancient race blessed by Zeus doesn’t help Telkhine Laura Cordelais. For Vampire David Hilliard to save her, he must kill her, and by loving her, he could lose her forever. When plunged into a dark underworld of voodoo and sorcery, will they escape? Together?

A taste:

Laura struggled through the dark and burst through a great light.  She gasped for breath and it filled her.  Warmth spread through her every part, then a surge of energy she didn’t understand.  Her heart beat.  Differently.  Odd.  Different from any feeling she’d ever had.  Her eyelashes fluttered and then in the dim light of a strange windowless room, she saw a man’s face. 

His dark, curly hair framed his chiseled features.  What struck her most were his dark, fathomless eyes.  I can get lost in those eyes and never want to leave.           

He smiled.                              

She flushed.  I hope he can’t hear what I’m thinking.           

I can.

She sat up, smiling with embarrassment.  “You pulled me out of the river?”           

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”  Laura trembled.  “I don’t understand.  I was dying.”

            “You were very badly injured in the fall.  I was going to take you to the hospital, but you said, ‘No hospital.’  That you’d keep trying to kill yourself.”  His jaw tightened.  “I couldn’t bear the idea of your death.  Please, forgive me, but I couldn’t let you die.”  He gazed deeply into her eyes. 

Laura moved her tongue inside her mouth and came across the fangs.        

“Oh, my God!”  She tried to sit up, but he pushed her gently down.           

“Don’t get up just yet.  You’re still healing.”

“You made me a vampire?”  Every tale she’d heard as a child in New Orleans rushed back to her.  Vampires were monsters.  “Now I’m a monster!”  Anger flushed through her.  How dare he make her this!  He had no right.  She seethed. 

“No.  You are not a monster.  Neither am I.  I gave you a life.  It’s your choice how you live it.”

Then another emotion unexpectedly filled her, when she gazed up into his eyes.  I couldn’t bear the idea of your death.   His tender words echoed in her entire being and soothed her broken heart, as if he’d kissed her lips without touching her.  She looked at him with wonder, reached up and caressed the young beard on his chin.  He smiled and she could see his fangs now.  Strangely, she wasn’t frightened.

“We must do the last part.”   He bit into his arm just inside the elbow and put it against her mouth.

“No.”  She pushed his arm away.

“You need it to stop the hunger from possessing you.  Just close your eyes and drink.” 

The blood oozed into her mouth, as he pressed his arm against her lips.  At first, she choked and sputtered but then finally accepted it.  Laura tried not to think about what it really was.  The warmth reminded her of ginger tea with a citrus tang.  

“Since I am your sire, my blood will give you a balanced mind.  You will not need to feed again until tonight.” 

After a few more minutes, she pushed him away.  The wound on his arm healed before her eyes.  Wide-eyed, she smiled.  “I feel so strong and well.  I don’t ache or hurt anywhere.”  Then his reference to being her sire struck her.  “So you own me now!”  Her anger flared again along with her strength.  She slapped him.

“What was that for?”  He held his hand to his cheek.

“Oh, I don’t know.  You made me a vampire and now you own me.  Take your pick.” 

David gazed upward.  “This isn’t going well.”

“Who are you talking to?”

“God.”

Laura scoffed.  “A vampire talks to God?  Does God answer you?”

David frowned at her and sighed.  ”God apparently has one hell of a sense of humor.”

“What does that mean?”

“Never mind.  Let’s get back to the subject at hand.  No, I do not own you.  I have no claim on you whatsoever.  You are free to decide where you want to be and with whom.  I’ll help you get started, that’s all.”  With every word, he seemed more uncomfortable.  “We do have a blood tie though, so if you ever need my help, just think of me and I’ll come.  I’ll find you.”

Her anger dissipated.  Laura enjoyed seeing him vulnerable.  And he didn’t hit her back.  She smiled.  “I don’t know your name.”

“I’m David Hilliard.”

This time she gently touched his face.  “I’m Laura Cordelais.”

He held her hand to his cheek and closed his eyes.

Laura gasped as she realized her surroundings.  “Do you live here?”

“No.”  He chuckled.  “I just needed to get you out of the sun.  I have an apartment.”

“Well, that’s a relief.  I thought I’d have to live in a cemetery.” 
           They both laughed.

Laura looked around at the grim tomb.  A spider crawled up the stone wall nearest her, and she trembled.  “I’m afraid of small, closed spaces.  And bugs.”

He enclosed her in his arms.  “Don’t be afraid.  As soon as it’s dark, we’ll leave.” 

Her mouth was so close to his, she could almost taste him.  Then he pressed his firm lips against hers.  

Hmm.  He tastes of honey.  I love honey.

Their fangs knocked together.  Laura giggled nervously.

“Shall we try that again?” he suggested.

She nodded. 

David gently took her chin and tilted her head slightly.  Then his lips possessed hers again.  Laura tingled from head to toe and wondered if a vampire was capable of love.  She hoped David was. 

When their lips parted, Laura frowned.   

“I’m still angry with you.”

“Really?  You don’t sound that angry.”

“I’m furious with you.  I mean you made me a vampire.”

“Are you furious?”  He carefully pushed a hair off her face and kissed her forehead.

“Now that’s not fair.  Are you using your hypnotic powers on me?”

“No.  I want everything between us to be real.”  He kissed her left temple and moved down her jaw line.  His mouth caressed her lips.  His tongue rubbed her fangs.

“Whoa.”  Rubbing her fangs stirred a passion so hot, it was hard to ignore.  Still.  He had just made her a vampire.  All his distractions were making her forget that.  She should be angry with him, but his kiss stirred up a frenzy of desire. 
                                                                       #
The excerpt is based on David’s earlier request to God to take pity on his loneliness.  Of course, keeping her is a whole different issue.  The two are torn apart by supernatural forces that refuse to see a vampire together with a Telkhine, and it’s here that Laura truly discovers the enormity of her powers. Will she be able to stay with David?

Where can the readers find THE STORMY LOVE LIFE OF LAURA CORDELAIS?

It just went on sale at All Romance Ebooks http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thestormylovelifeoflauracordelais-374695-139.html

What other work can the readers find of yours floating around?

WHEN LOVE SURVIVES is also at All Romance Ebooks http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-whenlovesurvives-362921-143.html  I love that story because of Regina O’Malley’s character. If you love the Irish, you’ll love Regina.  The story itself speaks of courage and heroism, not only of the character but of all the rescue workers.

What’s your next project?

A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS is a special romance novella and it introduces the Arnhem Knights. Who are they? You’ll have to wait and find out. David and Laura are also in it, as it’s also part of my Vampires of Manhattan series.

If readers are looking for you, where can they find you?

I’m on Twitter as onlyladyknight.  I’m on Facebook as Susan Hanniford Crowley.  They might want to Facebook friend me as all my friends get the announcements from the interviews and contests on the Nights of Passion blog, which is at http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com

I share the blog with yours truly, a.c. Mason, and B.B. Roberts.  My personal website is http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com  

Susan as always it’s been a pleasure. I hope to have you back when A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS comes out. I wish you many sales on THE STORMY LOVE LIFE OF LAURA CORDELAIS.

Thanks so much for having me. It’s been fun.

Susan’s books can be found at All Romance Ebooks

Links. http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thestormylovelifeoflauracordelais-374695-139.html

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-whenlovesurvives-362921-143.html

I had my teeth cleaned and some X-rays. I do have a cavity. I don’t know what I did in a pass life to be tormented with such weak teeth.

No, you aren’t in the twilight zone yet this blog post is about me disliking dental work. Who cares right? Doesn’t anyone actually like going there? No.

True. I’m not the only one who doesn’t freeze properly. Other people have the same issue where half their face is frozen and could get facelift but can still feel the drill working its way through the layers of their teeth.

I wish I could sound more rational about the entire thing but I’m not.

Remember the movie, The Dentist, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116075/ to help refresh your memory.

I have to go back now. This won’t be the last you here of this.

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

1 eBook copy of . Aequitas I Betrayal by a.c.Mason

Open to readers worldwide.

See website for details on how to enter.

http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=12446

Good luck,

Mason