Dellani's Quote for the Week

This is something I started on Facebook a couple of months ago. I was doing them daily, but that gets to be outrageously difficult. This is from a work in progress that hasn't got a title yet. It's currently named "Chase" after the main character.

Tracey was very subdued the rest of the drive. Standing in front of my house, she collapsed in my arms.

"Why does Ted keep doing things to me? Why can't he leave me alone?" She wailed.

"Because assholes like Ted want to win at any cost. The more vulnerable their target, the better they like it. Comes from having low self-esteem and a tiny winky," I said that with the straightest face I could.

Tracey stopped crying, staring at me incredulously. "You're not serious?"

"Compensating." I held my fingers about three inches apart.

She giggled, tossing her long, red hair over her shoulder. "And you wouldn't know anything about compensating?" She patted my car's sleek fender.

"Me? Nope. That's advertising."

I leaned back, stretching so she got a good, long look at my pants. I ran my hand up under my shirt so the washboard abs showed. Tracey laughed, kissing my cheek.

"How can you do that?"

"Do what?" I opened the door to the house.

"Make me quit focusing on how miserable I am."

"Completely selfish, I assure you." I pulled her to me as if we were dancing. "When you're focused on your problems, you can't focus on me."

The Lone Wolf Gives Exclusive Interview!

Wil VanLipsig, also known as the Lone Wolf, gives an exclusive interview at Second Wind's blog.

Pierre Roustan Is My Guest Blogger

Today, I am delighted to have Pierre Roustan, author of "The Cain Letters", as my guest blogger. Recently, he was fortunate enough to cross paths with Alexandra Glade. Below an exclusive interview.

Only in the author’s private world can an audience really see the fantasy become a reality. Here, you have that opportunity to see my fantasy become your reality—
I took a step into her world, my heroine’s world. I sat down at the table and across from me was her, my main character. A woman named Alexandra Glade. Here, you will read her story. A story she has told me many times. But let me tell you—it was worth it to hear her story that many times or else I wouldn’t have been able to pay homage to her with my first novel THE CAIN LETTERS. Enjoy.

Pierre: So…Miss…Glade?
Alexandra: Alexandra Glade. Yes.

Pierre: It’s a pleasure having you here on such short notice and in such a, uhh…dark part of town here.
Alexandra: The location is necessary. Trust me. At least for the likes of me. I prefer darkness.

Pierre: Fair enough. Okay. Well. Let’s start then. I feel like I have a slammin’ story coming my way.
Alexandra: I should hope so, friend.

Pierre: All right, first question—if you can please our readers with this answer, where are you from?
Alexandra: London, England.

Pierre: Where do you live currently?
Alexandra: Everywhere.

Pierre: ..... Everywhere? Ooooor nowhere? Maybe?
Alexandra: I mean what I said—everywhere. I’ve lived in London, Paris, Mexico, Australia, Africa, all over your United States. Russia. Poland.

Pierre: W…wow. How the hell do you get mail?
Alexandra: I don’t. Usually. I do have an apartment, but I’m rarely there. Typically maybe one week a year I reside there.

Pierre: And what do you do for a living then that allows you to live in so many places around the world?
Alexandra: I am a hunter.

Pierre: A hunter? Just a hunter? What do you hunt?
Alexandra: Vampires mostly.

Pierre: What?? Come again??
Alexandra: Mostly. Evil creatures that mean us harm, that defy and stand against God.

Pierre: So a vampire hunter. For God?
Alexandra: In a manner of speaking, yes. I work for the Vatican, specifically. Although many other churches, sects and organizations have hired me to handle issues of a somewhat demonic nature.

Pierre: Oh, so, like, exorcisms or ‘ghostbusting’ and stuff like that?
Alexandra: Never had to do any ‘ghostbusting’ or even exorcisms. But I have had a conversation with the possessed before. One I care not to remember.

Pierre: Forgive me. All right. Next question: what are your qualifications as a hunter? Sounds like a pretty high-profile position. Not something you’d find in the Grand Rapids Press, you know what I mean?
Alexandra: I was trained by an ancient organization of warriors known as the Berith Lochem. We are Warriors of the Three Trinity Lines. Our founder was Nimrod himself. From the Book of Genesis?

Pierre: Wow! Book of Genesis.... Wow. My Scripture knowledge is a little shaky—
Alexandra: He was a great hunter for the Lord. He began the Berith Lochem to fight evil.

Pierre: And what does ‘Berith Lochem’ mean? Sounds like a language I’ve never heard.
Alexandra: It means ‘Divine Covenant’. Hebrew.

Pierre: Interesting. Okay. And what kind of training are we talking about?
Alexandra: These days really do call for a more extensive regimen: weapons and tactics, martial arts, vampiric theory and culture as well. Our training is the equivalent of a United States Navy S.E.A.L. or Marine or K.G.B. operative. We are trained to kill.

Pierre: …. Okay. All righty.
Alexandra: Do you have any more questions for me?

Pierre: Umm.... Sure. I suppose.
Alexandra: Then fire away.

Pierre: ( laughs nervously) I’ll do my best there, Miss Glade—although you probably have more experience than I do at ‘firing away’.
Alexandra: (she smiles) Well, I do love a firearm. But my weapon of choice does tend to be a blade.

Pierre: (laughs nervously again) So…Miss Glade.... Do you have many friends?
Alexandra: Some. My friends, though, tend to also be comrades, other hunters that stand by me.

Pierre: And how do they see you?
Alexandra: I would hope a woman they can trust.

Pierre: And your enemies? How do they see you?
Alexandra: Someone they cannot trust. At all.

Pierre: Because you hunt them down and kill ‘em, right?
Alexandra: If they break the Code, yes.

Pierre: The Code. What is…the ‘Code’?
Alexandra: Dear Mr. Roustan. Dear Mr. Roustan…so sheltered from the truth. You must know…vampires exist. And they are a community. A nation. And they have their laws. Regardless of what Hollywood has to say about vampires, it is true that even the darkest of shadows have their morality. Even demons have decrees they must follow. It just so happens that vampires, these days, have a Code that respects humankind. And hunters, we must respect it, too.

Pierre: You’re saying vampires are not allowed to kill? Right? I thought they had to in order to drink blood.
Alexandra: Some vampires, ‘rogues’ we call them, feel they need to. But the truth is…they don’t. To feed is not to kill. In fact, in this day and age, moral vampires feed on ‘consenting adults’. They do not break any laws. Therefore, we must refrain from killing them. The ‘rogues’, or even lesser breeds without self-control, we hunt down and kill because they violate their own Code and take away human life.

Pierre: Wow…and how can you tell you’re facing a ‘rogue’?
Alexandra: Usually…they try to kill me. Before it would come to that, though, I receive intel from ‘reliable’ sources about my targets. Usually, I never initiate a hunt on a noble vampire. Usually.

Pierre: So I take it hunting vampires is what makes you happy?
Alexandra: In the name of God…most definitely, yes.

Pierre: (clears throat) And…what makes you sad?
Alexandra: (pauses) …. Many things. Friends I’ve lost....

Pierre: Any regrets?
Alexandra: More than I can count with my fingers.

Pierre: Sorry to touch on a fragile subject there.... Don’t mean to—
Alexandra: Nothing to be ashamed of. This is an interview after all.

Pierre: It most certainly is, Miss Glade. It most certainly is…. One more question then….
Alexandra: Fire away.

Pierre: …. How do you see your future?
Alexandra: Look around you. I picked this location for a reason….

A Little Bit About "The Cain Letters"

All legends have beginnings— some are worth remembering -- others are better left to darkness.

When college student, Marcus Brennan, discovers an ancient book revealing the origin of vampirism, all hell breaks loose not just in his life but for the world around him. He is holding the ultimate weapon two master vampires desire more than blood. The weapon that will give them the power to rule the Vampire Nation and all mankind alike.
It is up to Alexandra Glade, fierce and radiant vampire hunter, and her team, the Berith Lochem, to find and protect Marcus in order to prevent the unthinkable…

… The awakening of Cain.

Link to Oscar Friedman

http://secondwindpub.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/oscar-friendmans-freakish-occurence-part-1/

http://secondwindpub.wordpress.com/

Check it out!

Please have a look at my story, "Oscar Friedman's Freakish Occurence" featured now at Secondwind Publishing. Dellani

Guest Blogger - Ann Stanmore

Iam pleased to host Ann Stanmore, one of the delightful writers from Red River Writers Blog Tour. I’ll let Ann tell you a little bit about herself, because she can tell it so much better than I.

I retired from my job as a buyer for smart cards two years ago after staying an extra two years. I am now 69. I am a fun loving person and my book reflects that. It was written with the hope of brightening someone’s day. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing my first book and have in fact started on a second.

I am a firm believer that every cloud may not have a silver lining but certainly has a funny side.

I have always loved books and stories and used to make up my own stories to tell my children at bedtime, something my parents did for me and that inspired my love of reading and now writing.

I lead a busy life as apart from my writing, I am a Tree Warden for the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, I am also secretary of the Social Club where I live, and also help at a teenage group for youngsters who would otherwise be roaming the streets.

Ann's book is "Well It Was Fun" available at: http://www.booksbyann.co.uk/

Ann Stanmore

My Dad he was a lovely man, he always made me smile
He would take me on his bike, and for a little while

I’d sit upon his crossbar and keep my legs out wide
We’d look out for the policeman, is he coming up the side

The policeman played a great big drum in the village band
He’d bang it really hard, the drumstick in his hand

If you went out Sunday morn, he always could be seen
Banging on his big old drum on the village green

Read on and you will not fail
To hear about this little tale…………….

If the weather was fine, Dad would take me out on his pushbike. This was a real delight for me, and I would be so excited when I knew we were going out. At first we didn’t have a seat for me, so I sat on the crossbar with instructions from Dad to stick my legs out so they were away from the spokes. I understood that we were being naughty because we really should have had a seat for me, but Dad explained that there were varying degrees of naughtiness and this wasn’t one of the bad ones. However, he did tell me he would get a seat for me as soon as they had enough money for one.

It wasn’t until I was grown up that I realised the importance of these bike rides. Mum and Dad tried to take me out as much as possible because the living conditions where we were at that time were pretty appalling. We had a back yard area that was used by all the houses in the terrace and had toilets (or privvies as we called them) in a row at the end of the yard. Each house had their own but they were horrible places and had to be emptied because there was no flush toilets there then. Some people had flush toilets. My Grandma Bramley did, and it was lovely when we went to her house to go to a nice, light and clean place where you pulled a chain and it all went away! My Grandma Ratcliffe didn’t have this luxury unfortunately, we had to go down the garden there but it was nicer than the one we had in that yard, where although each family had their own, some people would use any one.

Dad also used to take me when I was a little older, to watch Loughborough playing football on a Saturday afternoon. I loved this and sometimes, if it was crowded and I couldn’t see, Dad would lift me up on his shoulders. I didn’t really understand the rules of the game then, just knew our side had to score goals, but it was being out with my Dad that was great. The fact that we were watching Loughborough Brush was secondary!

Anyway, back to this tale. We would go out into the countryside and find a nice green area and play ball. I loved sitting there as we whizzed along the road. Dad would show me the little wild flowers and we would listen to the birds singing. It was a magical time for me and I loved every minute. Being out with my Dad was really the best thing ever. Dad always made things funny and we used to laugh a lot. He was still doing this when he was an old man in a nursing home. All the nurses used to be in stitches.

However, back to the story……Well, in the meantime, I had instructions to keep my eyes open for the village bobby. As mentioned earlier, this gentleman played in the village band in his spare time and could be seen on Sundays in the bandstand on the park playing his drum. Once he was playing in the band with his big drum out in the street. I think it was a march for something and the band was going down the high street. Anyway, he spotted Dad with me on his bike and put down his drum and chased us down the road waving his drumstick at us!! Dad would be laughing and I started to giggle. Oh my naughty Dad, how I loved you.

Actually, I found out later that Dad and the policeman were friends, but he couldn’t let Dad off without making it known he disapproved of his actions. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before I was sitting on a proper bike seat but secretly, I was a bit disappointed! Nothing like being naughty with your Dad’s approval.

It really isn’t surprising that one of my favourite things even when I was fully grown up, married and had children of my own, was riding my bike. In fact, it was only arthritis that made me stop when I was in my forties. Something I miss. I would bike for miles and miles. There is a special kind of freedom cycling along the country roads, I never tired of it. Sometimes when I see a dad with a son or daughter cycling down the road, I remember those magical times.

See what you started Dad!!

Lots of fun was had when I learnt to ride my first bike but that’s another story in another part of this book…..

Dellani's Quote for the Week

The following is a scene from one of my crime/ romance novels. It hasn't got a proper name yet, I just called it "Chase" after the main character. I liked this exchange and wanted to share it as a sample of dialog pacing.

Tracey was very subdued the rest of the drive. Standing in front of my house, she collapsed in my arms.

"Chase, why does Ted keep doing things to me? Why can't he leave me alone?" She wailed.

"Because assholes like Ted want to win at any cost. The more vulnerable their target, the better they like it. Comes from having low self-esteem and a tiny winky." I said that with the straightest face I could.

Tracey stopped crying, staring at me incredulously. "You're not serious?"

"Compensating." I held my fingers about three inches apart.

She giggled, tossing her long, red hair over her shoulder. "And you wouldn't know anything about compensating?" She patted the Jag's sleek fender.

"Me? Nope. That's advertising."