Guest Blog Q&A with Tessa Dawn, Author of Blood Shadows - the latest installment in the Blood Curse series!!

Author Bio:

Tessa Dawn grew up in Colorado where she developed a deep affinity for the Rocky Mountains. After graduating with a degree in psychology, she worked for several years in criminal justice and mental health before returning to get her Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management.

Tessa began writing as a child and composed her first full-length novel at the age of eleven. By the time she graduated high-school, she had a banker’s box full of short-stories and books. Since then, she has published works as diverse as poetry, greeting cards, workbooks for kids with autism, and academic curricula. The Blood Curse Series marks her long-desired return to her creative-writing roots and her first foray into the Dark Fantasy world of vampire fiction.

Tessa currently splits her time between the Colorado suburbs and mountains with her husband, two children, and “one very crazy cat.” She hopes to one day move to the country where she can own horses and what she considers “the most beautiful creature ever created” -- a German Shepherd.

Writing is her bliss.

Blood Shadows:
Nachari Silivasi is a bright light in a Dark World. As the youngest vampire in a family of warriors, he has studied Magick for four-hundred years and acquired a rare mastery of the universe around him. He is beloved by his family; legendary for his good-looks; and known for his uncommon valor. Unfortunately, he has just made the ultimate sacrifice – he has traded his immortal life for the life of the Vampyr King.

Deanna Dubois is as talented as she is independent, but she has developed a strange and terrifying habit: Night after night, day after day, she sketches one horrifying scene after another -- the body of a gorgeous male being tortured in hell by demons. Disturbed by her ever growing obsession, she sets out to Dark Moon Vale to uncover the truth. Only, what she finds is a web of danger, destruction, and deceit.

Separated by space and time, yet drawn together by fate, Nachari and Deanna find themselves in an epic battle against evil: Nachari is forced to forge a path in a world of shadows, where torture and lust rule the night; while Deanna struggles to decide between two polar opposites – to flee from the truth or trade her mortal soul for the possibility
of a stranger’s salvation.

The stakes could not be higher.
The enemy could not be more lethal.
And the only way to reach the light
is to, first, enter the Blood Shadows.

And now for the interview!!

Hi Chad,

Thanks for having me on your blog. I’m looking forward to the interview!

Questions:

·         How did you come up with the very creative foundation for your series, the Blood curse? Did the specifics evolve as you wrote Blood Destiny or did you have everything pretty much nailed down up front?

Many years ago, when I was still a teenager, I watched a documentary about an ancient civilization that went extinct after sacrificing all of their females to “male” gods (don’t remember the name). Needless to say, it left an impact (I was glad they all died, and I was appalled that they could’ve been so calloused and power-hungry). When I began the Blood Curse Series, I knew that I wanted to do two things: First, reinvent the mythology and origin of vampires (explain the what, how, and why of vampirism); and second, utilize the history I saw in that documentary. The Blood Curse allowed me to both.

·         Your compelling series formula – with the shifting central character, primary romantic plot, and good vs. evil ongoing subplot (with some Vamps on the side of good) – shares some similarities with the Dark Hunter and Black Dagger brotherhood series (which I also love). Have you had an opportunity to read either series? If so, did you enjoy them?

I have not read the Dark Hunter series; I have, however, read BDB by JR Ward. And just like you, I love it!

·         I read that you penned your first full length novel at the incredibly young age of 11. What was the story about? Do you still have it with you?

I have no idea what it was about… lol. I wrote SO MUCH…so often. I think that was just the age when I finally finished something full length. Luckily, those “books” never saw the light of day (I hope they still exist in a box somewhere, but trust me, they were pretty darn bad!) LOL

·         I’m thinking with your background in criminal justice, there’s more than a little of yourself in Jocelyn Levi. What else do you have in common with the heroine from the first book in the series (Blood Destiny)?

Hmm, let me see: maybe her heart and some of her analytical qualities. Otherwise, not a whole lot. **Spoiler Alert** I would have felt great sympathy for Braden, too; and I would have made the same calculation in the shed about the Dark One (the enemy of my enemy is my friend – go for it). But I would not have tried to jump over the rail on the balcony; I would not have run out to help Nathaniel in the clearing (I would’ve hidden in a closet somewhere, under blankets, in a box…dialing 911…and praying); and it’s doubtful I would’ve been in that first cave to begin with…that depends. J

·         In Blood Awakening , which happens to be my favorite book in the series so far, we are treated to a surprising twist, with the immergence of the daughters of King Sakarias (who was ruler of the Celestial Beings before the Blood Curse). Was this a part of the original series story arc in your mind or an ingenious addition? 

This was not part of the original series. To develop the series, I created the history and mythology; I went into great detail about who the vampires would be (dark v. light) and why. Then, I fleshed them out into 3D color so to speak, breathed life into them, and gave them the reigns. From that moment forward, I’ve followed their characters and the story – most of the time, I have no idea what’s going to happen next. Except for in the epilogue of book four (which will be the main story in book five); I saw that happening early on – just didn’t know when or how.

·         Your diverse publishing history (poetry, greeting cards, academic texts, workbooks for Autistic children and novels) is extremely unique. Which of these did you do first? Which types of media do you still work in?

I wrote poetry (for many years) and greeting cards first, and I think that background is evident in my writing style. I have to really concentrate on not going too far into the nuance and rhythm of the words: remind myself, “this is fiction!”

·         While I’m eagerly (and impatiently) awaiting Nachari and Deanna’s story in Blood Shadows (2/28 release), I’m also curious about the fifth installment. By process of elimination, I assume book #5 will feature the Ancient Master Healer Kagen. Do you know who his female interest will be yet? Have you started working on the manuscript?

Well, let’s see: All I can say is your “assumption” is…not happening. LOL (However, if it’s any consolation, that’s what most of my reader’s assume). Book five is a surprise. It is something I saw happening before I finished book one, but I just didn’t know when or how I would write it.

And yes, as Kagen steps forward just a little bit more in each book, I’m beginning to get a deeper feel for him and where his character may need to go. While envisioning book five, I saw his destiny emerge in my imagination (for the FIRST time). As always, there will be a slight twist – but it won’t be in book five. Smiles.

·         Will the series wrap up with Braden’s story (the apprentice) or will additional characters be introduced?

Again, I have no idea. I do know that a lot of readers are really interested in Braden and would like to see his character mature…and his story unfold. There is a lot of possibility with Braden because he’s so multi-layered. Right now, I don’t have any specific plans…

·         Do you have your own favorite book in the series so far? If so, which is it and why is it your favorite?

Favorite book so far (and it was a total surprise) is Blood Possession. Favorite character: Nachari (so his book runs a close second).

·         Who is your favorite author all-time? Why? Who are some of your current favorites?

I would have to take a month to think about my all-time favorite author, lol. However, I will say that Robert Masello (Blood and Ice) is the best “writer” I have ever seen. I don’t know if his books are great or not because I just get lost in his craft and sentence structure – the flow of his words and the easy perfection with which he wields them. It’s like staring at the Sistine chapel and wondering, how does anyone do that??? Ever? Really!

Some current favorites are Kim Harrison and Anne Bishop.

·         How long did it take you to write Blood Destiny? What was the hardest part for you? Do you start out with a detailed outline or use more of a free flowing style?

I start out with a not-so-detailed outline (like a skeleton), and then I fill in the “flesh and bones” in layers. However, it always changes as I write – sometimes significantly. Have you ever seen someone try to move a donkey that doesn’t want to budge? That’s what my characters do to me when I try to take them somewhere they don’t want to go – or that isn’t entirely authentic for them. They dig in and refuse to go. Surprisingly, even if it’s a “bad” or painful scene, if that’s where they’re going -- that’s where they’re going.

·         Do you track online reviews, rankings and sales figures closely? How do you handle less than complimentary reviews? Are you able to dismiss them and move on or do they get under your skin?

During the first two weeks of a release, I will look at many (but not all) of the early reviews to see how the book is doing as a whole. After that, and as surprising as this sounds, I don’t read them! Really, I don’t. If I (or my publisher) have requested a specific review, then of course, I read every word. And many of my readers will contact me directly to share their reactions, reviews, or questions & concerns (if they have them) – I always read EVERY word my readers write to me, even if it takes me a while to respond.

With respect to negative reviews, every author approaches this differently, so there’s more than one way to go about it. Personally, I think it’s a mistake to single-out and read negative reviews (just as it would be a mistake to single out and read positive reviews). Maybe it’s because I studied so much statistics in college, but for me, I see reviews as a snapshot of the whole, where overall patterns and trends tell us much more than individual postings. Don’t get me wrong, I pay close attention to my editor’s notes; I use a BETA reading group for feedback, and if I noticed a negative theme, trend, or problem from readers (on a bell curve, that would be over 10%), I would definitely take a look to see what’s going on.

Release Date: February 28, 2013

Title: BLOOD SHADOWS by Tessa Dawn (Blood Curse Series, #4)

Availability: Paperback and eBook

Links:

Website: www.tessadawn.com

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Shadows-Tessa-Dawn/dp/193722306X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1360098633&sr=8-5&keywords=tessa+dawn+shadows
Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-shadows-tessa-dawn/1114319770?ean=9781937223069

Dangerous Waters book trailer update!!

Great news!!

The cast has been finalized for the upcoming March 23rd Dangerous Waters book trailer shoot on the campus of MSU!

And I've got a company lined up to take the raw footage we shoot and transform it into a professional trailer :)

A big, heartfelt thank you goes out to the cast below:

• Emily / Brooke - Jocelyn Elyssa Cutean
• Sandy - Zachera Wollenberg
• Ruby - Maryrose Jakeway
• Raven - Britney Brown
• Sienna - Sara Anne Ostrowski
• Daniel - Chris Coy
• Travis - Mike Burr
• Teresa - Kat Orwig (still being confirmed)
• Alexander - Hunter Lee Eagle
• Wendy Taylor - Jenn Campbell

We've put together a list of 14 potential scenes we are thinking of shooting. The cast will be working together to iron out the details for each over the coming weeks. Once we finalize the scene selection I'll share the details here :)

While the big screen debut may still be a ways off (Doesn't hurt to dream :) ), it is so exciting to see some of my favorite scenes brought to life!!

Guest Blog Post with Kenzie Michaels, Author of Class Reunion

Meet Kenzie:

Kenzie Michaels resides in the Midwest with her husband, three children, and various household pets. Her fifth-grade teacher showed this avid reader how to write the stories swirling in her head, successfully unleashing her imagination upon the written word.

Kenzie is the 'wild child' of author Molly Daniels. They cohabitate nicely inside the brain of a woman in Indiana who's the mother of three and 'Aunt Molly' to the entire neighborhood. A devout chocoholic, her hubby has learned to watch out when the characters in her head take over and not get too upset when the words are flowing and all concept of time is lost. (LOL)

Class Reunion:

After being burned pretty badly by two different women in his past, Brian Vellinger has sworn off romance. Commitment-shy for the past fifteen years, he is stunned by his sudden attraction to a woman he's not seen since the last day of their senior year.

Natalie Collier thinks she's successfully put Brian Vellinger out of her mind. After harboring a secret crush all through high school and into college, she is both alarmed and thrilled when Brian makes his intentions known at their 25th class reunion. But will she succeed in softening his casual, 'sex only' policy, or will she end up just another notch on his belt?

Your exclusive Class Reunion sneak peak !

He tried to be casual about where he was headed; he stopped and joked with others, but his mind and his eyes kept returning to the honey-blonde mass of hair.  Nat had twisted it up in a knot on top of her head, but Brian felt himself growing hard, remembering how it had framed her face as she’d bent over him that morning.

Fuck it…if they talk, they talk.  She’s going back tomorrow anyway; what’s a little gossip going to hurt?  As long as she understands this isn’t going anywhere.  Brian switched tactics and intercepted her, motioning her over behind the enclosed shelter house a few yards away.

He made sure no one was looking and swung her into his arms for a thorough kiss, pressing his pelvis against hers.  He felt her soften as her arms crept around his neck.

“Wow Bri…what was that for?”  She smiled after they came up for air.

“Can’t a man kiss a beautiful woman for no reason?  Besides…your tits are driving me crazy.”  Brian unbuttoned her sleeveless shirt and placed kisses on the gentle curves above her bra cups.  He wasn’t satisfied, and pulled one taut nipple free to drink of her sweetness.  Suddenly he stopped and tugged both her bra and shirt back into place, gathering her close.  “Christ, Natalie…what the hell have you done to me?”

“What do you mean?”  Her words were muffled against his neck.

“I haven’t dragged a female behind a building since the time I kissed Beth Lewis behind the bleachers in the seventh grade.”  He kissed her again and stepped back to rebutton her shirt.  He took a deep breath.  “How much longer do we have to be here, anyway?”

A look of surprise crossed her face.  “People can leave at any time, but I thought you were supposed to stick around until everyone left.  Unless you put Sandy in charge today…she’s the one who pulled all the tables together and made sure this area was reserved.”

“Shit.  I forgot to thank her.”  Brian ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed.  “You’re right.  Will you hang around with me, or do you and Lisa have plans for tonight?”

“No; no plans.  I saw my parents yesterday afternoon, and left the evening wide open for any suggestions.”  Natalie bit her lip and clasped her hands together.

Brian lifted her chin with one finger so she looked him in the eye.  “Good.  How about room service at your hotel?” 

Pre-order Class Reunion here:

http://www.freyasbower.com/contemporary-c-7/class-reunion-p-283.html

Kenzie's Social Links:
Website: www.mollydaniels.wordpress.com
Romance Books 4 Us:  http://romancebooks4us.com/Romance%20Author%20Molly%20Daniels-Kenzie%20Michaels.html 

Blog: http://kenziemichaels.blogspot.com 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Kenzie-Michaels/248105468603737 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kenziemichaels 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kenzie-Michaels/e/B004TYM7FE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/kenzie-michaels?keyword=kenzie+michaels&store=ebook 

ARE: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html

Sneek peek #3 - Dangerous Waters prologue!!

As promised, here is the entire Dangerous Waters prologue! This is set a few years in the future, and gives you a glimpse of what is to come further into the series. As always, keep in mind this is taken from my draft version :)

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!!

Prologue

The ornately carved golden doors of the global court swung open, and the raucous crowd settled into their seats. Soldiers outfitted in full battle gear streamed in, marching down the long marble aisle to the raised gallery that formed a half circle behind the five vampire containment chairs. They each carried a knockout stick and a shoulder-fired laser rifle capable of delivering three second bursts of one quadrillion watts. The electromagnetic waves generated by the RF frequency systems in their helmets shielded their thoughts and ensured that not even the strongest of their enemy could hijack their mind.

Once they were positioned, the bailiff typed a code into the touchpad on the wall, and a steel panel slid open. Four hooded figures emerged, surrounded by several more guards who forcefully escorted them to their chairs. Their shackled ankles and wrists were smeared with conductive jelly then attached to electrical leads. As soon as they were seated, metal bands extended around their shins, thighs, chests, biceps and forearms, leaving them unable to move.

None of the prisoners made a sound, knowing that even a whimper would be met with another punishing jolt of current from the collars that adorned their necks, but that did little to lessen the deafening noise in the room. Every seat of the three story grand hall was occupied for this momentous event, with another 750,000 people crammed into Central Park outside. Reporters from around the globe were scrambling to get their last pre-trial clips recorded before the court was called to order.

“Some are questioning the tactics of the global court this morning,” an Austria reporter stated in her native German. “Using vampires and humans as bait in an effort to lure what most people consider to be the Vampire Queen out of hiding. So far their plan doesn’t seem to have worked, as there have been no sensor reports of vampire activity in or around New York, but with the executions moving forward today, things are expected to intensify.”

“All rise!” the bailiff bellowed out through the hall. “This court is now in session. The honorable global court inquisitor O’Callaghan presiding.”

An imposing figure with short, golden locks entered from behind the bailiff, motioning with his hands for people to take their seats. He gathered his floor-length white and purple robes in his left hand, made his way over to the furthest prisoner and yanked the hood from her head.

“So this is the all-powerful Sienna,” the inquisitor mocked, squeezing the bound woman’s cheeks with his hand. “How disappointing.”

Her once beautiful face was disfigured by several charred-black electrical burns, blood and pus oozing out of the open wounds. The pungent salve packed into her broken nose made her eyes tear up, and prevented her from smelling anything.

“Do you have anything you wish to say in your defense before I render my verdict?” the inquisitor asked, deactivating the device around her throat so she could speak.

“This will never work—she knows her life is far more important than mine.”

“It’s possible she’d let you die,” he acknowledged. “But both of her parents, her mate and her best friend? No, I think that’s far too much to expect her to endure. Sooner or later she’ll come, and the world will celebrate her execution.”

Sienna snapped to attention at the news of who accompanied her. “You have no idea what you’ve done—everyone in this building’s going to die.”

The crowd erupted at her outburst, and the inquisitor held up his hand to silence them. “And how exactly is your precious Queen going to manage that? She’ll be welcomed to our fair city by twenty thousand volts from the first alarm she trips. Not enough to kill your kind, but plenty to leave her unconscious until—”

“Sir, a perimeter alarm’s been triggered just outside the north gate,” a soldier interrupted from the gallery.

He wheeled on the man in a fit of anger. “Interrupt me again, and I’ll disembowel you! People have been jumping the fence all day—contact the guards at the gate and have them check it out.”

“We tried sir. Calls have been placed to the guard desk, the three closest perimeter sweep teams and the north tactical unit—they’re not responding.”

“Who’s not responding, you imbecile!”

“Any of them.”

“It’s too late,” Sienna said, gazing at his panic-stricken face. “She’s here.”

“Clear the courtroom and take the prisoners back into custody!” he commanded.

Before anyone could move a massive explosion rocked the third floor balcony, raining debris and body parts down on the crowd below, and filling the auditorium with a choking white smoke. The crowd flooded for the exits, which were soon hopelessly jammed. They started to push and trample each other in a desperate attempt to escape.

The lone set of stairs to the balcony was located outside the courtroom, so the soldiers had no choice but to yield the high ground to their unseen enemy. Feeling trapped, several of them started to fire blindly into the smoke, only adding to the chaos. The commanding officer who’d been talking with the inquisitor raised his rifle—against his will—and sent a chest high laser beam though the entire gallery, cutting several of his fellow soldiers in half. The ones that survived were turned to dust by an energy burst that blew out the entire back of the building.

Moments later a woman dressed in skin-tight black leather swooped down onto the marble floor, drawing two broadswords from the sheaths on her back. The inquisitor took three running steps and dove for a knockout stick that had come to rest a few feet in front of him. His body was suspended mid leap, as if he’d struck an invisible barrier of some kind, then catapulted sideways into the solid steel outer wall of the holding cells.

The vampire advanced but had to break off her attack when a laser tore through the floor inches in front of her black leather boots. In a move too fast to be seen, she coiled and launched herself across the courtroom, landing amongst the small group of soldiers that had fought their way through the crowd. A bright red mist filled the air as she executed her elegant dance of death, moving with the grace and agility of a jungle cat.

By the time she returned the inquisitor had managed to pull his body up into a sitting position and was taking short, labored breaths. She raised his chin with the tip of her blood-covered blade, wanting him to see who it was that was delivering him to hell.

He let out something between a choking sound and a chuckle, spitting blood from his mouth. “Releasing the locks requires an order from me, and the code can only be entered remotely by central command. They’re all going to burn.”

“Don’t flatter yourself—there’s nothing I need from you.” She fixed her gaze on the restraints binding Sienna to the chair. Within seconds they started to rattle, shaking more and more violently until they broke free and dropped to the floor.

His eyes widened with fear. “Wh—what are you?”

“The last thing your wife and three kids are ever going to see.” She flicked her wrist, and his severed head fell into his lap.

Fire was rapidly engulfing the courtroom, sending waves of torrid heat washing over her face. She scanned the entire hall in search of any additional threats. Most of the remaining people had succumbed to the noxious gas that was making her gag. Those that were left were sprawled out on the floor, clinging to the last threads of life. Assured that they weren’t in any imminent danger, she sheathed her weapons and turned toward Sienna. “Hi Mom.”

“I told you not to come.”

She laughed, wiping some of the blood from her face. “You can ground me when we get home. Can you walk?”

“Not far. Your father’s in worse shape though. Brooke, his heart—”

“I know—I can hear it.” Brooke reached behind her back, pulled a sports bottle out of the top of her pants and tossed it to Sienna. “You’ll need your strength.”

“Thanks.” Using both hands, she reset the bones in her nose, then popped the top, poured about a quarter of the bottle over her face and chugged down the rest. Within a few seconds the wounds healed over. They both jumped when one of the rafters crashed to the floor behind them. “I think that’s our cue. Let’s get out of here.”

Brooke concentrated on her hunched-over father’s restraints. As soon as they broke free his body pitched forward into Sienna’s waiting arms, and she eased him onto his back. “Hang in there, David,” she whispered, removing his hood. “We’ll get you to a hospital soon.”

The whirling noise from dozens of approaching helicopters sent them scrambling to free the others. Countless soldiers—an entire brigade at least—charged into the mouth of the blown-out opening just as the last of the restraints fell.

“My God,” Sienna gasped. “There’s too many sweetheart, even for you.”

“I’m what they want,” Brooke said with a resigned nod. “Take my father and head north. Stick to the rooftops until you get outside the city, so you don’t trip any alarms.”

Sienna was appalled. “We’re not leaving you here to die.”

“No fucking way!” the vampire next to her exclaimed. “You’re my wife—I’m not going anywhere without you.”

“Neither am I,” her Goddess of a best friend added, still looking runway-ready in spite of her ordeal. “Like it or not, we’re in this together.”

Seeing her loved ones demand to stand by her brought tears to her eyes. Part of her wanted to say yes, to have them all fight together to the end, but she knew how selfish that was. Three vampires with too weak of a trance ability to penetrate the RF jamming would be all but useless against an army this size, and if she fled with them it would eliminate any chance they had of escaping. She’d resisted the stupid “Queen” title from the moment it’d been forced upon her—the first and only order she’d ever given her family was that they never bow to her—but invoking that authority was the only way she’d get them to leave. Using her telekinetic ability, Brooke pushed them away, knocking her mate to the floor. “As your Queen I command it! Move!”

They all shot her stunned looks laced with an edge of betrayal. Without another word Sienna hoisted David into her arms and disappeared into what remained of the third floor balcony, the other two vampires close behind.

Brooke arched her hands out in front of her, and a glimmering light began to radiate between them. Once it had fully materialized she thrust her arms forward, hurling a ball of plasma into the advancing troops that obliterated the entire first wave. The hundreds behind them closed in, driving her back toward the flames. There was no escape. She defiantly drew her swords before the first blow from a knockout stick sent her tumbling to her knees. The second incapacitated her completely.

When she came to she was in the back of a helicopter, and a soldier was fitting a voice restraint collar around her neck. Her boots had been removed, and her wrists and ankles were bound together with the latest alloy composite, stronger than even she could break with sheer force alone.

“Sir? We’ve got her,” the commanding officer called over his satellite phone. He listened for a few moments then handed the phone back to his first Lieutenant. “Bring me the laser shears.”

“Yes Colonel.” The First Lieutenant relayed the order and soon had them in his hand. “Here you go, sir.”

“Prop her up.”

Two soldiers stepped forward and raised Brooke into a sitting position. The Colonel flipped on the shears, took hold of her chin and shaved off all of her milk chocolate colored hair.

“This cap is packed with Lorazepam,” he said, sliding a black swim cap onto her now bald head. “It’s a potent tranquilizer that’s absorbed through your skin. In a couple minutes you won’t be able to remember your name, let alone trance anyone.”

He started to walk away then stopped and turned back toward her. “And this is a gift from me, for killing over three hundred of my men.” The Colonel removed the guard from the shears and stuck the tip of his combat knife into the beam, heating it to a molten red. The other soldiers moved aside as he bent down over her and burned a large V deep into her forehead. Brooke screamed in agony, causing 5,000 volts to fire into her throat. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and her jaw fell slack.

Dangerous Waters sneek peek #2 - Meet Travis and Teresa

This week I thought I'd introduce you to the seriously demented brother and sister antagonists :) 

There is some swearing in the below so be forewarned. And keep in mind this is taken from my unedited draft copy.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!!

Fight or flight

“Would you stop already?” Teresa grumbled, glaring at her ever-pacing brother. “No one’s following us. Relax.”

Travis finished scanning Beacon Street then ducked back into the alleyway. “God damn it! Do you ever listen? I told you we had to cool it for a while. What the hell were you thinking?”

“The bitch spilled her drink on me.”

He sighed and tiredly rubbed his eyes. Arguing with her was like trying to reason with a bratty three year old grabbing candy in a grocery check-out line. “So we’re homeless because someone accidentally got diet coke on your shirt?”

“Quit being such a Queen,” Teresa said with a huff. “You know Stefan thinks of us as his kids, which is totally weird by the way. All he’ll do is make us listen to his rules again. If you wouldn’t have talked me into running we’d probably be watching TV by now.”

“If they just wanted to talk they would’ve waited until we got back, not raided the building like a two man S.W.A.T. team. This is serious, Terr. If they find us, they’re going to kill us.”

For the first time in as long as he could remember his snarky, narcissistic sister looked vulnerable. She crossed her arms to conceal her jittery hands and captured his eyes. “So what do we do? I’m not living on the street again, or in the skuzzy-ass hotels we used to stay in.”

Travis placed a comforting hand on his baby sister’s shoulder. “Things aren’t like they used to be, sis. Even you have to admit that Stefan taught us a hell of a lot. Once we get out of town we can trance a bank manager and get all the money we need. I thought we’d head south—you always wanted to see Orlando.”

“And what about the skank who started all this? We just leave her to her fairy-tale life, sipping wine in her mansion? No fucking way.”

“Wake up!” Travis screamed, shaking her shoulders so violently that her teeth rattled. “You think you can take her? You don’t know jack shit. Raven’s been training for almost two hundred years, Einstein. She’d tear your ass apart like a piñata.”

Teresa just rolled her eyes. “Not Raven, you douche.  I’m talking about Emily.”

“Emily? What the hell did she do?”

“If she wouldn’t have wandered up to us like a lost puppy we would never have fed with Alexander there, and Stefan would still be clueless. The bitch led Raven right to our door.”

“Oh come on. That’s a reach, even for you. Raven lied to her about our scent. You’re really going to blame her for that?”

“I knew making her strip was a bad idea. All it takes is a flash of boobs and you turn to mush. Are you ever going to grow a pair? You’d still be Keri’s lapdog if it wasn’t for me.”

“Don’t.”

“Oooh, don’t talk about my precious Keri,” Teresa mocked. “God you’re a pussy. She was never going to turn you, and you know it.”

“That doesn’t mean I wanted her to die. I loved her. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“Love shmove. You wanted to become immortal. I did you a favor.”

“A favor? Are you serious? I asked her to marry me that night!” Travis caught just a hint of a smile on Teresa’s lips and froze. “You knew—that’s why you did it, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, ri—“

Like a stroke of lightning Travis smashed his fist into the brick wall just to the right of her head, opening up a gaping hole into the vacant building behind her. “Don’t you fucking lie to me! I swear to God I’ll kill you!”

Teresa calmly ducked out from under his arm and dusted the debris off her shirt. “So what if I did? Did you forget your promise to our parents, dear brother? Ten years is a long time. Remember the ambulance ride? Mom was coughing up blood, and dad was, well, dad wasn’t doing much of anything come to think of it. Hard to blame the guy, since he had a piece of metal stuck in his head. You promised them that you’d always look out for me—swore on your life actually. Where did I fit in your little family? You really think Keri would’ve let me keep living with you? She hated me.”

Travis collapsed to the ground and clutched his knees to his chest, tears stinging at his eyes. “How can you say that? She paid for you to go back to school. She even decked out your room with all the shit on your insane ‘must-have’ list. She was going to ask you to be her maid of honor.”

“And when was she going to make me her sister? That’s right. Never. All she had to do was say yes.”

“Yes? Yes to what?” He stared at her in total confusion until it suddenly dawned on him. “Our walk in the park—you followed us.”

“Of course. I’d only been pushing you to ask her for like three years.”

“So when she said she’d marry me, but she would never change me—”

“I knew I had to take matters into my own hands,” Teresa finished. “I figured she’d never be more distracted than that night. Boy was I right. She didn’t even wake up until the gas splashed her face. Once I lit the match all she could do is run around screaming. I’m glad you were at class. It was kinda gross watching her face melt away.”

“You are seriously messed up,” he muttered without meeting her ice cold eyes. “You know that, right?”

Teresa wrapped a strand of her curly blonde hair around her finger. “Whatever. We’re immortal now—that’s all that matters.”

They both slipped back into the shadows when two figures emerged at the end of the alley, continuing on without even a glance in their direction. “It’s too dangerous for us to stay here. Will you at least come with me to Florida?”

“Once I choke the last breath out of that little whore you can take me wherever you want.”

Travis slicked back his long, brown hair. “Fine. But if we’re doing this, we do it my way. Agreed?”

“As long as she dies, I’m good with whatever.”

“Their house is only a few miles from here. It’s surrounded by woods, so there are plenty of spots where we’ll be able to hear what’s going on inside without risking being seen. As soon as she’s left alone you can have your fun, but we’re waiting as long as it takes for that to happen. Even Sandy has had decades of training, and I’m not dying for your stupid vendetta.”

“Hi ho, hi ho, off to kill a bitch we go!” Teresa sang out, dancing down the alley ahead of him like a giddy schoolgirl.

Your first Dangerous Waters sneak peek!!

Choosing one scene from an entire novel is tough!

Thanks Christy for your awesome suggestion to share the rather unique circumstances under which Daniel and Brooke meet :)

Here it goes... please let me know what you think!

As I continued sweeping the crowd I saw the waitress who had served us drinks earlier handing beers to three guys a few tables down. The guy closest to the waitress was hitting on her, and she was clearly enjoying it. He seemed pretty full of himself which instantly turned me off. The friend to his right was acting like the typical side kick, laughing at his innuendos with the waitress and slapping hands as they talked about girls walking by. Then I noticed the guy sitting with them. He wasn’t chiming in with any of their crude jokes and looked like he couldn’t wait to get out of here.

What can you tell me about the guy sitting on the end of the table over there? To my horror everyone turned toward him at once, catching the waitress’s attention. She took a seat in macho man’s lap to stake her claim. Real subtle, people. Jesus! You’re killing me here!

After a quick round of muffled giggles Ruby spoke up. “He’s a virgin—as far as I can tell he’s never had a girlfriend.”

“He’s a junior and lives off campus with his family,” Sandy added. “He’s majoring in chemical engineering. The one flirting with the waitress is his older cousin.”

“And your thoughts were right, sis,” Raven said. “He dreads going out with them. He’s wishing he would’ve taken his younger brother’s offer to watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy tonight.”

Do his friends give him as much shit as I think they do about being a virgin and not having a girlfriend?

“Yes,” Sienna replied flatly. “His cousin thinks he’s gay. They only invited him along so they could make fun of him.”

Are you picking up anything I should be worried about?

They all concentrated on him for a couple minutes. Finally Ruby spoke. “Only that he’s really lonely. If you choose him you should make sure he doesn’t expect a relationship with you.”

I can do that. Do you think he’d sleep with me tonight?

“He’s not thinking about taking anyone home right now,” Raven said. “Once you introduce yourself we’ll be able to tell.”

What’s his name?

“Daniel. And he actually goes by Daniel, not Dan.”

Good enough for me. If tonight can’t be special for me it can sure as hell be special for someone. Wish me luck.

Everyone cheered me on as I stood up and walked toward his table. When I got within a few feet the jackass cousin started staring at my breasts with a disgusting smirk on his face. I turned and walked behind the sidekick then leaned in toward Daniel. “You’re Daniel right? I’ve seen you around campus. Would you like to dance?”

Only his friends looked more shocked than he did. I smiled and waited for him to recover.

“What’s your name?” he finally managed.

“Brooke,” I replied, dancing a little in front of him. After an awkward silence, it became apparent that I was going to have to force the issue if I wanted this to go anywhere. I grabbed his hand and pulled him out of his chair. “Let’s go!”

As soon as we started to dance I could tell he’d never done this before in his life. All he did was step from side to side, his arms glued at his waist the entire time. I glared at his friends, who were now bent over the table in laughter, then slid in behind him and leaned up to his ear. “Do you mind if I show you a few things?”

“Sure,” he mumbled, flinching slightly from the close proximity of my voice.

Man this was going to be hard. I seriously thought about searching for someone who wasn’t such an introvert, but I couldn’t give his friends the satisfaction of seeing him get rejected. Placing my hands on his waist, I cradled my body up against his. “Let yourself feel the rhythm of the music then move your hips with it—like this.”

I started to swing my hips to the beat and used my hands to keep him with me, relaxing my grip only after he began to move on his own. His timing was off, since he was waiting for me to move rather than going off the music, but at least he was trying. “Much better. Now, instead of waiting to feel my hips move, listen to the music and see if you can pick up on the rhythm I’m following. Even though this stuff sounds fast, it still follows a regular beat.”

Before the end of the song his entire face lit up with a childlike smile. “I think I got it!”

“Only one way to find out.” Removing my hands from his hips, I backed off a couple of steps and watched—he was right. “Perfect! Now let’s get your arms moving. There are no hard and fast rules for what to do, just keep your arms up and let them bounce with the music. Turn around and watch me for a minute.”

I closed my eyes and let myself fall into the music. Once I was moving to the tempo with my usual ease I peeked at him. He was trying to mimic my arm movements, and looked kinda awkward, but not embarrassingly dorky like he had before. “Look at you!” I called out with a smile.

Daniel laughed and shook his head. “Like it’s not obvious that I’m copying you.” 

“You just need to work on changing it up a bit.” I motioned toward two girls dancing nearby. “Their movements seem random don’t they? But if you watch long enough, you’ll notice that they’re repeating the same moves over and over again. They’re just disguising it well.”

We continued to dance as we watched. He finally turned back toward me. “The blonde does four different sets of moves and changes the order. The brunette is a lot simpler—she only has seven moves.”

For someone who’d never danced before, it was amazing how rapidly he caught on. “Damn! You nailed it! Now see if you can pick up what I do.” I settled back into the music and drowned out the fact that he was watching me. About half way through the next song I heard him speaking.

“God, you’re tough. I’ve seen you repeat a couple sets of moves, but I also continue to see new moves all the time. What are you doing?”

“I don’t know ahead of time,” I yelled over the music. “I have a lot of individual moves that I use, but I let them come out in whatever order feels right with the music. The less you think about it the better you’ll dance. Just let the beat take over your body. Enough teaching—let’s just have fun!”

I quit watching him and let myself enjoy the feeling that dancing always gave me. A couple of songs had passed before we were close together again. I couldn’t believe it was the same guy. He blended in perfectly with everyone else on the floor and looked like he’d been club dancing for years. He had a wide grin on his face and was really getting into it. When the song ended we made our way over to an empty table.

“I can’t believe how much fun that was!” he shouted.

“I’ve never seen someone pick it up so fast. You’re a natural!”

“Yeah, right—more like you’re a hell of a teacher.”

“Thanks Daniel.” The affectionate, almost star struck look in his eyes reminded me of what Ruby had said. If I didn’t want to hurt him I couldn’t afford to wait any longer. But like the true blue coward I was, rather than taking the plunge I chose to study a particularly interesting piece of lint on the floor.

“What’s wrong?”

“I need to ask you something that is going to sound really bizarre.”

“Okay…” Fear of where this might be headed had him gathering his legs underneath himself like a coiled up house cat preparing to leap out of danger.

After a long pause I met his gaze. “You can sleep with me tonight if you want to.”

“Jesus Brooke, we—”

“Please let me finish,” I interrupted.  “I’m a virgin, which I can’t exactly fake, so I’ve obviously never done anything like this before. If you say yes I’ll expect you to make love to me, and all I can offer you is tonight—it’s your choice.”

“Why only tonight?” The disappointment and sadness in his words was palpable.

“I wish I could explain Daniel, but I’m afraid it’s extremely complicated. Part of saying yes is agreeing not to ask questions I can’t answer.”

We sat in silence for a few uncomfortable seconds before he reached out and took my hand, gripping it like he could make my question disappear if he only squeezed hard enough. “I’m a virgin too. I get my ass ridden constantly for it but I’m not ashamed—I sure as hell didn’t come here expecting to go home with someone tonight. I get the feeling that you did, and I just happened to be the guy you picked."

Daniel pressed his forehead against the palm of his free hand and closed his eyes. "Damn it! I really like you, Brooke, but I gotta know why you’re so desperate to lose your virginity tonight, and why you can’t have a relationship with the person you give it to. If you can’t or won’t answer those questions then I’ll have to say no.”

The stinging pain of rejection filled my chest as I pulled my hand away. How could it hurt this bad to be turned down by someone I just met? Did I really like him that much already? Trying to salvage what little pride I had left, I stood up and turned to leave, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Before I’d even taken a step Raven sat down next to Daniel and glared at him with an anger I’d never seen in her. “You horse’s ass. My beautiful, innocent, loving sister offers you a chance to share a wonderful moment together, one that you’d remember for the rest of your life, and you say no! You want answers to your fucking questions! Fine! I’m taking her to the Mayo clinic tomorrow to start chemotherapy. The doctors only give her a five percent chance of seeing her nineteenth birthday, and she didn’t want to die a virgin. That’s why it has to be tonight, and why she isn’t looking to get involved with anyone.”

She paused. Her intense, fuming stare made Daniel lean away and glance down at the table. “She teaches you to dance and you make her cry—you worthless piece of shit!”

In one quick motion Raven had her arm around my shoulders and was rushing me off to the bathroom. I almost had to break into a jog to keep up with her. 

“You were awesome Raven!” I said once we were safely inside. “You should totally be an actress! You had me believing I had cancer for God sakes. I think Daniel might have wet himself though…easy on the death stare, sis.”

She acknowledged my compliment with a smile. “Now, when we go back out there we’ll head to our table, and you’ll look all sad while we console you. Daniel feels terrible about forcing us to tell him what I did. It won’t be long at all before he comes to our table to apologize. He seems like a pretty good guy. I was really impressed that he didn’t jump on your offer, in spite of how badly he wants to sleep with you.”

Seeing my expression, Raven cupped my chin with her hand. “I can tell that you’re into him to. It’s nice that your first time can be with someone you like, but be careful not to get too attached—this really does have to be a one-time thing.”

“I know,” I whispered. “I thought I was going to have to block out memories of sleeping with some disgusting pig tonight. I wasn’t ready for this.”

Dangerous Waters teaser Promo!

Help spread the word by sharing my FB Author page (below) and receive your first Dangerous Waters teaser!

I'll share the first teaser when my page reaches 500 likes (at 471 right now) and another when it reaches 550. If we can get it to 600, I'll share the entire prologue!!

 

http://www.facebook.com/UFAuthorCMMichaels