The Story Behind BLOOD FORGE with Guest Blogger Kathryn Meyer Griffith

The Story Behind BLOOD FORGE-Revised Author’s Edition

Backstory Essay

Out March 1, 2012 from Damnation Books

(Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Blood+Forge Revised+Author%27s+Edition%2BKathryn+meyer+griffith&x=15&y=16 

Damnation Books: http://damnationbooks.com/people.php?author=79 ) in E-book and print)

1985. I’d just published my second paperback novel, The Heart of the Rose, an historical bodice ripper (remember those?) about a suspected witch in 15^th century England amidst the War of the Roses political intrigues, with Leisure Books of Dorchester Publishing and my editor there asked me if I had another novel to show them yet.

It just so happened that, yes, I’d been working on a third novel; another romantic horror similar to my first book with them, Evil Stalks the Night (which will for the first time in 29 years also be out again, revised and updated, on July 1, 2012 from Damnation Books) I was tentatively calling With This Gun. The story centered around a scandalous love triangle/murder between police officers that had taken place in our small town years before and that I had firsthand knowledge of. Some of them had been my friends, as my first husband had been a police officer in town as well. The police force, their wives and families, had been a tight knit group, but the murder still came as a great shock to most of us. One of my husband’s coworkers had been seeing another coworker’s wife and the two were thinking of splitting up their respective marriages, both with children, to be with each other. The problem was, the cop being left didn’t like it and shot the other cop dead in his house one day after being told what had been going on.  It was a terrible situation.

Well, I’d let the whole matter age for over a decade and was finally writing about it, sort of, as a way to free me of all the bad memories.

Now to the horror aspect. I’d use a possessed gun as a device to explain the killings the gun would be responsible for. Now I wasn’t exactly a lover of guns, but I was married to a cop. Guns were part of our lives. Always in the back of my mind was what I’d say to people who didn’t like the idea of me writing about a gun or hated guns: It isn’t a gun that kills people…it’s the person using the gun.

In this book, I gave an even better motivation. The gun made people kill because it was evil. This theme was what made it a supernatural story. A Colt Python would be possessed by an ancient demon; that the weapon had been forged from tainted iron or metal from the bowels of the earth centuries ago connected to that ancient demon-god. So the title Leisure eventually came up with was: Blood Forge (though I begged the editor to call it With This Gun or at least, Blood Forged, which made more sense, but no the publisher was determined to call it Blood Forge and in those days the author didn’t have any say so on that or the cover).

Anyway, in the book I’d follow that gun after its creation from unfortunate human to human as it made people crazy and murderous; created havoc in everyone’s lives it touched. Until two people deeply in love have faith that they can defeat it…with the help of a mysterious priest (who may or may not be a priest at all). There are ways to get rid of a demon, no matter how strong it is.

That plot about following a gun on its deadly rampage has been used many times since in television shows and stories, but I’d began thinking about the book as early as 1983, so, perhaps, I was the first. Who knows?

Which brings me now to what happened after I turned the book in to the publisher. My editor for my first two books, Jane Thornton, read it and refused to editor it. Turned it down flat, saying she despised guns. They killed people. Guns bad. They scared her. She wouldn’t edit such a story, sorry.

I don’t remember exactly what happened after that. It was a long time ago. I think either Jane Thornton left Leisure or she gave the book to another editor, a man called John Littel.

Anyway, he liked the book, gun or no gun, and they offered me a contract on it anyway. I was thrilled. Wasn’t thrilled with the title, as I said, though, and I wasn’t impressed with the cover, embossed or not. Too dark. A snake coiling around the barrel of a menacing gun on a black background. Along with the title, I felt it didn’t portray what the book was entirely about. The novel was a love story, a survival against great odds, a parable of faith, tale. A story of a man’s fight with alcoholism and how his wife’s love helps him beat the insidious influence of the alcohol as well as the gun. It was about cops, their lives and their families. But, as with the title, I had no choice on the cover and had to take what they gave me. That’s just the way it was back then. I still feel that’s part of the reason the book never did well in its first incarnation. I was still an unknown writer and when that’s the case I’ve found that the cover and title–how compelling they are–makes a difference in the sales.

At this point, I must admit, after having just finished rewriting it…it was a very dark book written at a very dark time of my life.  The darkest, I think, of all my books. I had gone through a divorce, remarriage and was juggling a full time job and a family. Trying to write at night. It was actually difficult for me to relive most of it. I was still in that early part of my career, still young without enough life experience, where I’d embed what I’d lived through and saw around me into my stories. I didn’t have the maturity yet to write anything too layered.

Anyway, the book came out in 1989 and didn’t do as well as my first two books. I noticed that the publisher turned cool towards me after that and, seeing the way the wind was blowing, I went on to get an agent and she helped me jump up another rung of the ladder when she sold my next four books to a bigger publisher, Zebra Books (Kensington Publishing). And I left Leisure behind; and my three books there went out of print long ago.

But now, 23 years later Blood Forge-Revised Author’s Edition (wish I could change that title but it wouldn’t be fair to people that already read the original book) is coming out again in print, and in eBooks for the first time ever, from Damnation Books/Eternal Press in March 2012. I love the cover this time. My fantastic cover artist, Dawne Dominique, who did eleven of my other new covers, did this one, too. It’s stunning.

So that’s the story of Blood Forge. My third published novel. It, along with my older novels (12, plus a novella and a short story) will all soon be out again. And when the last old book from 1984, Evil Stalks the Night-Revised Author’s Edition comes out in July 2012, my forty year writing career will have come full circle. It’s amazing. I guess a book never dies, huh? I guess not.

***

A writer for over 40 years I’ve had 14 novels and 8 short stories published with Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, the Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books and Eternal Press since 1984. And my romantic end-of-the-world horror novel THE LAST VAMPIRE-Revised Author's Edition is a 2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS FINALIST NOMINEE.

My books (most out again from Damnation Books http://damnationbooks.com/people.php?author=79 and Eternal Press http://www.eternalpress.biz/people.php?author=422): Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Blood Forge, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire, Witches, The Nameless One short story, The Calling, Scraps of Paper, All Things Slip Away, Egyptian Heart, Winter's Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don't Look Back, Agnes novella, In This House short story, BEFORE THE END: A Time of Demons, The Woman in Crimson, The Guide to Writing Paranormal Fiction: Volume 1 (I did the Introduction) ***

Why Should I Go?

Go where, you ask? To conferences, that’s where.

It’s been a while since my last post here on Romance In Flight, I could say that I’ve been so busy editing my next release, or writing my next novel, but the truth is, I’ve been lazy. That’s right, LAZY. I admit it, however, that all changed Saint Patrick’s Day weekend.

There I was, sitting around a table of fellow authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers, talking about the best way for a newly published author to get their name out for the reading public. You’ve got your Twitter, Face Book, personal websites, and yes, BLOGGING. Something that I’ve already admitted I’ve been avoiding.

Where is this leading to? Not only am I here today, writing in my blog after a three month hiatus, but it wouldn’t have happened NOW—TODAY—if I hadn’t attended EPICon 2012. Some of you may have heard of them, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition. If you haven’t, I strongly suggest you stop off at their site and read all about their organization. (I’ll give you the link later) But I digress. While at this amazing conference, I sit in with Marilyn Meredith who’s giving a discussion on blogging tips. She’s a great blogger (again, I’ll give websites at the end) and has many tips that are worth listening to, and learning from. Everyone, no matter where they are in their carrier, should, in my opinion, go to as many conferences as possible. There’s always something new, something bigger, and something to take home with you at the end. Not only knowledge, and the opportunity to shake hands with other likeminded people, but you have the opportunity to make lasting friendships. Friendships that will help you down the road when you’re struggling with your next plot, when you need to kill someone off and can’t decide between pushing them off a cliff or shooting them with an AK47. Who else can you talk to about murder and mystery then a fellow writer?

So, I say to you now, go online, search for the conference that fits you, and sign up. You’ll be glad you did. Me, I’m getting ready for The Texas Two Step, a conference hosted by the North Texas RWA. I’ll be signing Dragon Lover there on the 30, so if you’re in the area, stop by and say hi.

http://www.epicorg.com/

http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com

http://www.ntrwa.org/texastwostepconference.aspx

Blog: About Writing with Guest Blogger Lee-Ann Vinson

   When I was first asked to be a part of the wonderful world of author blogging, I wondered what kind of impact a simple tale about me would have. Would anyone want to read about me? Would anyone care? But then I noticed something. It’s not about me.

   As a writer, you work alone. Period. No one can scribe the words for you. Research is typically done via email or Google search. Although you may have family and friends surrounding you, it’s not the same as having other writer’s to communicate with. Sometimes, I feel the need to talk about a particular piece I’m working on. If I happen to be speaking to someone who is not in the field of writing, the reaction I get is usually a glazed over expression with little or no comment in return.

   Author sites, especially that of my own publisher, Gypsy Shadow Publishing, have become my “loving-caring-bounce my ideas off of-get help when I ask for it or need it-here have a pat on the back just because we’ve been there and you’re going to be fine” sanctuary. Author blog sites are where I’ve met people whom I consider my friends. They care. There is no judgement. They are my guilty pleasure (along with a nice glass of Cab Sav and a pricey piece of chocolate).

   It’s a writer’s life for me. I will never stop creating. It is who I am. And darn it, I love it. So, thank you for telling me to write it better, show instead of tell, and for goodness sake, write it with active verbs! Thank you for telling me I can do it and that I am good enough. Thank you for taking the time to read my work and suggest ways to improve upon it. Thank you for the late night inspirations and early morning pushes to get back in that chair and create.

   Writing is so much more than the elusive best-seller (although I wouldn’t say no to seeing my name on one). It’s about the friendship and support you encounter along the way. I am grateful to be a part of such an extensive group of talented, caring individuals.

And now, I get to plug my latest release. See? How wonderful is that?

When Callie takes the red-eye home to surprise her husband for their anniversary, she finds the surprise is on her. She watches as a blonde tart in six-inch heels teeters out from her home and toward a cherry-red Mustang, which is parked in her spot.

Enraged, Callie does the only thing she can do. She drives to her favorite coffee house, scrolls through divorce lawyers who claim to eat cheating husbands for breakfast, and cries. Her only consolation is Christian, a Marine, whom she befriended on a chat site almost a year earlier.

While waiting for her marriage to end, Callie agrees to finally meet Christian in person. She has always been a woman in control, but the mere touch of this man has her begging for more. Christian is only too happy to oblige, leaving Callie agreeing with the motto ‘The Few and The Proud’. She has never experienced a man who could make her see stars, but Christian does his duty, and does it well.

Unhappy circumstances bring them together. A week of sexual bliss makes it impossible for them to part, leaving them to wonder how they can, once again, test the hands of fate.

Thank you so much for hosting us Authors on your blog, Jeanne. You are a great part of that wonderful support system we have all come to rely upon.

Want Callie's Fate all for your very own? go to...
http://bing.search.sympatico.ca/?q=Gypsy%20Shadow%20Publishing&mkt=en-ca&setLang=en-CA

http://bing.search.sympatico.ca/?q=Amazon.com&mkt=en-ca&setLang=en-CA

http://bing.search.sympatico.ca/?q=All%20Romance%20ebooks&mkt=en-ca&setLang=en-CA

Blog:Singer Sewing Machines - The First Home Appliance with Linda LaRoque

Linda LaRoque is a Texas girl, but the first time she got on a horse, it tossed her in the road dislocating her right shoulder. Forty years passed before she got on another, but it was older, slower, and she was wiser. Plus, her students looked on and it was important to save face.

A retired teacher who loves West Texas, its flora and fauna, and its people, Linda’s stories paint pictures of life, love, and learning set against the raw landscape of ranches and rural communities in Texas and the Midwest. She is a member of RWA, her local chapter of HOTRWA, NTRWA and Texas Mountain Trail Writers.

Singer Sewing Machines - The First Home Appliance

Consider the time consuming process of making garments for an entire family by hand, one stitch at a time. And most likely, that sewing took place in the evening when all the chores were done, supper dishes cleaned, and the children in bed. Sitting close to the fire, or possibly a coal oil lamp, she worked away, often into the wee hours.

The first sewing machine was developed by Englishman Thomas Saint in 1791 to work on leather and canvas. It was never built. In 1830 a French Tailor, Barthlemy Thimonnier built a machine and had 80 in his factory where French military uniforms were made. Tailors afraid of losing their livelihood rioted and destroyed the factory.

These early machines used the chain stitch which were not very strong.

In 1833, Walter Hunt developed a lock stitch machine which used an eye-pointed needle, a shuttle, and stitched horizontally. The lock stitch was stronger than the chain stitch. There were problems with the feed. The machine had to be stopped and reset up. Hunt sold the machine without bothering to patent it.

In 1842, John Greenough patented the first sewing machine in America.

Elias Howe patented his machine in 1845. His method was similar to Hunt's. He improved the needle and the material moved vertically. He traveled to England to promote interest in his machine and when he returned he found various people infringing on his patent. In 1854 he won the right to claim royalties from those using his patent ideas. The picture to the right is of Elias Howe's machine. Note the handle used to power the machine.

Isaac Singer, an engineer, thought the rotary sewing machine clumsy and designed the flying shuttle. The needle was mounted vertically and he added a presser foot, a fixed arm to hold the needle, and included a tensioning system. The machine combined elements of previous machines. He patented his machine in 1851. He was unable to patent the treadle as it had been used for some time.

Howe took Singer to court and won. Singer had to pay him a lump sum of $15.00 for each machine produced and Singer took out a license under Howe's patent and paid Howe $15.00 for each additional machine produced.

Before 1990, the idea of women having sewing machines to aid them with their work wasn't well accepted. The feeling was women weren't capable of operating machinery. They were too excitable and not considered to be bright enough.

When it was first suggested Singer design one, his comment was, "You want to do away with the only thing that keeps women quiet - their sewing!" But, ready to make money, he went ahead and designed one that had many features of machines today. The first treadle Singer machine was introduced in 1856. To aid in sales, he used women to demonstrate the machines.

Singer became partners with lawyer, Edward Clark, and thus began the first installment credit plan which made sewing machines available to more women, the ones who couldn't pay cash for them. The year was 1856. They cost $100.00 and for $5.00, a woman could take one home with her that day and start to use it. At that time that amount of money equaled to the price of a car today. Some families went together to buy a machine and shared it.

Women were at last able to make garments much faster than in the past. Ease in piecing quilt squares, mending, and other domestic sewing chores freed women up for other activities. Though men feared they'd spend their free time playing cards, gossiping, or gadding about town, most probably got a little more rest or took part in charitable activities.

References:http://wikipedia.org/wkie/sewing_machine
http://historyofquilts.com/sewmach.html  http://dc.about.com/od/photosofmuseums/ig/NMAHPictures/singer_sewing_machine.htm

Thanks for reading. For you ladies out there who sew, thank goodness for Singer and the other individuals who developed sewing machines.

A Marshal of Her Own – Blurb and Excerpt

Blurb:

Despite rumors of “strange doings” at a cabin in Fredericksburg, investigative reporter Dessa Wade books the cottage from which lawyer, Charity Dawson, disappeared in 2008. Dessa is intent on solving the mystery. Instead, she is caught in the mystery that surrounds the cabin and finds herself in 1890 in a shootout between the Faraday Gang and a US Marshal.

Marshal Cole Jeffers doesn’t believe Miss Wade is a time traveler. He admits she’s innocent of being an outlaw, but thinks she knows more about the gang than she’s telling. When she’s kidnapped by Zeke Faraday, Cole is determined to rescue her. He’s longed for a woman of his own, and Dessa Wade just might be the one—if she’ll commit to the past.

Excerpt:

Dessa stood still and watched as they conversed. Something stank to high heaven about this entire situation. Why were the cops chasing robbers on horseback? It’s not like Fredericksburg was that isolated. She glanced at the captured men. The boy moaned, and she made a step to go over and help him. The Marshal spun, and the expression in his eye froze her in place.

 “He needs first aid.”

 “He’s fine. The Doc will tend to him when we get to the jail.”

  “You could at least call 911 and let them patch him up for you.” She nodded to the man lying so still with his eyes closed. “Your other prisoner doesn’t look so good. He’s going to die on you if you don’t start CPR or get him some help.”

 “Lady, no one is going to hear a yell from out here. Never heard of any 911 or CPR.” He propped the hand not holding the shotgun on his hip and threw her a disgusted look. “Are you blind? That man is dead, shot through the heart.”

Her head swam for a moment, and she struggled not to give in to the sensation and faint. She drew in deep gulps of air. “Well...well..., what about the coroner and the meat wagon, not to mention the CSI folks? If you don’t get them to record the scene, how are you going to cover your butt? The authorities might say you shot him in cold blood.”

He looked at her like she’d sprouted an extra head. “I don’t know what the hell you are talking about woman. No one will question my authority. I’m the law in this county. Now, be quiet, or I’m going to gag you.”

A Marshal of Her Own will be available now at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and other online book stores. It is the sequel to A Law of Her Own available at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.com and other online book stores. I’m awaiting a release date for A Love of His Own, the third story in the Prairie, Texas series.

My release contest for A Marshal of Her Own began November 9th. I’ll be giving away this vintage rhinestone typewriter pin. To enter the drawing, go to my website or blog and sign up for my newsletter. Don’t forget to verify your email address. If you already receive it, email me at linda@lindalaroque.com with A Marshal of Her Own contest in the subject line. Contest ends December 15, 2011.

Leave me a comment or ask a question today and you’ll be entered into a drawing for an ecopy of A Law of Her Own.

Also, today’s blog post is part of 2 blog tours—this one for A Marshal of Her Own and starting December 4^th, one for Born in Ice. Follow along each day and leave a comment to be entered into the grand prize drawing and learn about my Born in Ice contest.

The Blog Tour schedule will be posted on my blog and website. It will last 25 days and the Grand Prize is a Kindle. Leave a comment each day and your name will be entered 25 times. Pretty good odds, huh?

Thank you for having me on your blog today, Jeanne!

Tomorrow, Dec. 4, begins my promotion of Born in Ice, my futuristic romantic suspense released by Champagne Books. I’ll be on Greta van der Rol’s blog at http://gretavanderrol.net/

My publisher has given me permission to share (over the next 9 days) the prologue and first chapter of Born in Ice. So, stay tuned for a new installment each day.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda LaRoque

Writing Romance With a Twist in Time

www.lindalaroque.com

http://www.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tinyman#!/linda.laroque

http://twitter.com/#!/LindaLaRoque

A Minotaur’s Guide to Dating and Finding True Love

A Minotaur’s Guide to Dating and Finding True Love

by

Stephanie Draven

I don’t think it was an accident that Anais Nin, famed erotica writer, called her book Seduction of the Minotaur. As it happens, the famed monster of ancient Greek lore has a lot to teach us about dating and finding true love. Certainly, the modern-day minotaur of my own new romance novel, Dark Sins & Desert Sands, knows how to put the moves on my heroine. So, without further ado, here are some things we can all learn from a Minotaur:

Keep the Mystery Alive. The ancient minotaur lived in a dark labyrinth. People get turned around, confused, and never made it out alive. Allegorically makes him the perfect template of the dark and sexy stranger into whose eyes we might fall and get completely lost! If you’re dating, you might want to keep a little aloof and make sure not to reveal all your secrets at once.

Be Bullish On Love. In mythology, the minotaur’s mother was a particularly lusty woman who got it on with a bull. I like to think that he inherited a little of her...shall we say...passion? My minotaur hero isn’t afraid of commitment--it’s the heroine who can’t trust in love. This leads to a very sexy scene in which my hero tells her over and over again, “You love me.” And then he proves it to her. If you go into a dating situation with a cynical attitude, it’s going to be that much harder to find what you’re looking for. So try to infuse everything you do with the confidence that you deserve to be loved and that love will come back to you.

Don’t Be Afraid to Admit That You’re Horny. I always like an alpha hero who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it. Ray Stavrakis doesn’t have any trouble accepting either his sexuality or how it tends to manifest itself against the wall, on a train, and in other inappropriate places. Eventually, our heroine finds that when it comes to the man she loves, no place is an inappropriate place. Now, I’m sure the minotaur wouldn’t recommend that you do something with your date that could get you arrested, but he doesn’t advise playing hard to get.

Stephanie Draven is currently a denizen of Baltimore, that city of ravens and purple night skies. She lives there with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books.

Stephanie has always been a storyteller. In elementary school, she channeled Scheherazade, weaving a series of stories to charm children into sitting with her each day at the lunch table. When she was a little older, Stephanie scared all the girls at her sleepovers with ghost stories.

She should have known she was born to hold an audience in her thrall, but Stephanie resisted her writerly urges and graduated from college with a B.A. in Government. Then she went to Law School, where she learned how to convincingly tell the tallest tales of all!

A longtime lover of ancient lore, Stephanie enjoys re-imagining myths for the modern age. She doesn’t believe that true love is ever simple or without struggle so her work tends to explore the sacred within the profane, the light under the loss and the virtue hidden in vice. She counts it amongst her greatest pleasures when, from her books, her readers learn something new about the world or about themselves.

Stephanie also writes historical fiction as Stephanie Dray and has a series of forthcoming novels from Berkley Books featuring Cleopatra’s daughter.
For more about the author and her writing, you can visit her web site by following the link below.
http://stephaniedraven.com/