Interview & Book Giveaway with K. Celeste Bryan

My guest today is K. Celeste Bryan, aka Kat, author of Where The Rain Is Made, a time-traveling historical. She's answered my questions about the book, and she's very generously giving away TWO COPIES in a contest.

Patricia Altner of Patricia's Vampire Notes reviewed the novel and says:

"While the novel Where The Rain Is Made has a lot of passion, it also has a gripping, original plot not to mention well wrought characters. Ethan Gray is a time wanderer chosen by the Sacred Council of the modern world to take the knowledge he has gained in his studies of the Cheyenne and return to the mid 1800s when his people faced so much danger from the whites and had suffered so much at their hands."

The publisher's summary uses the word "savage" like it's on sale two-for-one at the racial stereotypes store -- authors have no control over these things -- so I'll summarize the story myself. Ethan Gray, a museum curator, is also a time-traveler. In the persona of Meko, a Cheyenne warrior, he leads the fierce Dog Soldiers. When Meko falls in love with a captive, Francesca Duvall, he's faced with multiple problems. Does he abandon his life in the present, or does he abandon the woman he loves? Francesca loves Meko, but how will she feel about the academic Ethan?

To enter the contest for one of two copies of the book leave a comment telling us what time period and place you find interesting for a time-travel book. I know I've been thinking about San Francisco's racuous and dangerous Barbary Coast for a story. The contest runs through Sunday night and winners will be chosen in a random drawing.

--------------------------------------------------------

MARTA: Hi, Kat, and congratulations on the release of Where the Rain is Made. Can you tell us a little about the story?

KAT: I’d love to and thank you for having me today. Where The Rain Is Made really turned out to be a book of my heart. For some reason my youngest son became very fascinated with the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers when he was 12. We spent countless hours in the library reading everything we could about them. Several years later, my head was filled with information about their way of life, their customs and beliefs. What better way to put it to use than to write a book about their tumultuous, violent era. Thus, Where The Rain Is Made was spawned.

Many people have commented about the fascinating history, which I think is wonderful. If readers can walk away with new knowledge about a topic, I think the author has fulfilled a purpose. And, of course, many have asked about the title and where it came from. The Native Americans didn’t have a word for heaven, but at times called it the place where the rain is made. I thought it was particularly fitting since time-travel is also incorporated into the novel . . . and shapeshifting.

Where The Rain Is Made has received numerous five-star reviews, so I’m very pleased about that. You can read all of them on my blog or at my Author Home.

MARTA: Why do you think readers find time travel stories so appealing?

KAT: Because it’s something we’re not supposed to be able to obtain, and I think readers have an innate curiosity about distant realms and intriguing pasts. The fascinating thing about books is that we can travel anywhere by merely turning the pages. To be able to travel into the past or into the future adds another element, an escape scenario if you will. And again, they’re introduced to foreign worlds, whether it’s Scotland or a sci-fi futuristic.

MARTA: What’s the most interesting thing you found out in your historical research for the novel?

KAT: How very tragic the life of the plains tribes was. I remember reading a true life account from a journalist who was present when all the tribes came together to sign the last treaty. The Native American really had no choice; it was either sign or be wiped out by the Government. According to the newspaper, the Dog Soldiers rode in dressed in all their finery. Their bodies were painted in the colors of war, as were their horses. Snake rattles and war shields glistened beneath the hot sun. They weren’t there to cause trouble, but rather to make a statement that they would fight to the death, until the last Dog Soldier was wiped from the earth. This, of course, is what ultimately happened. I found that admirable if not beyond courageous.

MARTA: Answer quick – dogs or cats, margaritas or wine spritzers, bank robbery or illegal gambling, Gerard Butler in “P.S. I Love You,” or Gerard Butler in “Dracula 2000”?

KAT: Dogs and cats – one of my weaknesses. Wine spritzers and illegal gambling. Gerard Butler in “P.S. I Love You.” I’m a romantic at heart, although I love romance with the element of paranormal.

MARTA: What’s next for you and where can readers find out more about you and your writing?

KAT: I would love to write a sequel to Where The Rain Is Made, and many reviewers/readers have asked me to. Now if I can just find the time. I also write for New Concepts Publishing and under another name for Phaze Books, Noble Romance, Ravenous Romance and the Dark Roast Press. Now you know what I do with the majority of my time.

You can find me on the web under K. Celeste Bryan and Kat's Kwips & Rants, my author blog. Please stop by and enter my contest to win free books or follow me on my blog to find out what I have coming out next.

MARTA: Thanks for being a guest at Vampire Wire!

KAT: Thank you for having me. I love your blog, the design, layout and content.

---------------------------------------------------------


Watch a trailer for Where The Rain Is Made:



If you'd like to enter the contest for two copies, leave a comment telling us what historical time/place you'd like to see in a novel.

Weiner Alert!

I waited for over two weeks and sent out multiple announcements to the weiner of the Ultimate Hawtest Vampire Poll & Contest. However, I got no response, so I decided to randomly pull another winner's name from the entries.

Congratulations, VERONICA_CURE! You've won the terrific Kitty Norville werewolf series by Carrie Vaughn. This great prize is being very generously donated by Hachette Books.

Please send me an email, marta AT martaacosta DOT com, with your mailing address so your prize can be sent to you.

A Very Special It's Raining Men Edition

Enter my contest for two "Blood Ties: Season One" DVDs and two Tanya Huff novels!

Okay, let me kvetch for a moment. I was trying to post info about upcoming releases and I cannot for the life of me understand 1) why the authors don't have websites, and 2) why the ones who have websites don' t have any info about books that are being released next month. Also, no, I don't want to listen to a bunch of thunder and see flash graphics before entering your website. If I want to see a storm, I'll watch the Weather Channel. I don't want to wait a long time for your flash graphics to load just so I can click enter.

If I can't find an author online, you know fans can't find the author either.

Example of how to do it right: I google "Anya Bast," and the first result is her website. On her home page, she has the cover, summary, and how to order her new book, Witch Fury. A click takes me to a longer description and another click takes me to an excerpt: "Sarafina might’ve been named for the angels, but she’d always known one day she’d end up in hell. Her mother had told that a hundred times while she’d been growing up. She just never figured it would be while she was still breathing. But here she was—broke, dumped, and grief-stricken. It couldn’t get any worse."

Another click on a header tab takes me to a contest for an autographed copy of Witch Fury.

Good example II: I google "Vicki Pettersson." Okay, I misspell it and get taken to a website for a member of the Bangles, but I like the Bangles, so I don't mind. Walk like an Egyptian, baby. I try again and her website is the first result. Her cover art and summary of her upcoming novel, City of Souls, is on the home page:

"Joanna Archer, Agent of Light, has survived a violent initiation into the paranormal world lurking behind the seedy seams of Las Vegas. She's found a home, friends, and even t he chance for a new life and love."

Yes, I will be rethinking my website in terms of these user-friendly examples. What do you like and/or dislike in an author blog?

Fang-Tastic has a guest blog by Norm Applegate about his new novel, Blood Bar. "The premise for Blood Bar, was what would happen if you found out you were turning into a vampire. Where else to be initiated but a bar."

Chris at I Heart Vampires has info and a link to a new Israeli vampire series. "It’s called 'Split' and it’s about a 15-year-old girl who’s half-vampire, half-human. One of her classmates reveals her true identity and, you know, complications ensue."

Dottie at MyBlog2.0 has lots of links to contests, so if you're looking for summer reads make sure to visit.

The delightful Alan Tudyk, who was all piratical in "Dodgeball" and all psycho in "Dollhouse," talks about working with Joss Whedon. "I would love to play Buffy. I’ve always felt that Sarah Michelle Gellar did a great job, but there was stuff she missed. " (Blast)

Would you go to a "Twilight" theme park? "In the Twilight series, like with the Harry Potter series, the locales are quite visually dynamic. Ranging anywhere from Forks, Washington to Volterra, Italy, with fictional locations such as Isle Esme, Edward and Bella's meadow, Edward and Bella's cottage, and the Cullen Mansion, there are quite a few places that a Twilight fan would really like to step foot in." (Examiner)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

There are some dreams that all humans share, no matter what era or culture: the dream of flying, the dream of dying... They say something about our very essence as a species. And the most beloved of these shared dreams is that someday it will rain men. Video from Tolkripoedon.



Jenz1011 shares the dream!



The dream is ancient and eternal. From Suburbania.



DreamyViper dreams of men in cravats raining down.

Kiss & Hell, Tanya Huff, and Missing Buffy

Enter my contest for two "Blood Ties: Season One" DVDs and two Tanya Huff novels!

Now this is perfect timing! The "Blood Ties" television show is based on Tanya Huff's Blood Books series, and Doug Knipe, SciFi Guy somehow scored an interview with her. "As for empowered female protagonists, I'm all for it. I've always said my base line needs for reading are a kick-ass heroine and witty repartee." I was thrilled to find out that her writing process also includes a lot of Spider Solitaire.

Interview with acclaimed director Guillermo Del Toro about his new novel, The Strain, co-written with Chuck Hogan. "The idea behind The Strain was to try and marry old Eastern European folklore with an urban procedural feel. Which is very much the way, back in the day, Dracula must have read to contemporary readers. It was a very now, in the moment, modern novel. And I wanted to recapture that a little bit." (Time) I'll be having a contest for this book next week!

HBO's "True Blood," based on Charlaine Harris's beloved Southern Vampire books, will venture even farther from the novels in season two and Alan Ball, who claims he never watched even an episode of "Buffy," disses "Twilight." "I can't really talk that much about 'Twilight' because I haven't read any of the books or seen the movie, but I personally don't really understand why you would have vampires in something that's basically about abstinence."

I'm not the only on who think's Alan Ball's "True Blood" series doesn't compare with Charlaine Harris's novels. Karen Knotts writes: "I didn't anticipate enjoying Charlaine Harris' books as much as I do. After hearing great reviews of HBO's 'True Blood,' I watched the first episode -- and hated it. It was too campy, a too Disneyfied version of Louisiana for me." (Knoxnews)

Read Kimberly Swan's review of Kiss & Hell by Dakota Cassidy. "Delaney Markham is a medium plagued by requests from the dead, day and night. Having little choice but to acknowledge the spirits when they show up makes having a relationship nearly impossible, and causes most to believe she’s crazy." (Darque Reviews)

Read a review of Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill. "Some Girls Bite is the first novel of the Chicagoland Vampires, a new urban fantasy series based around the experiences of Merit, an unwilling recruit to the vampire population of America’s Windy City." (Love Vampires)

Watch a video with Paul Wesley, who plays Stefan in the upcoming "The Vampire Diaries" series, discuss comparisons with "Twilight."

MTV caught up with Ian Somerhalder, who plays Damon in "The Vampire Diaries." Video clip, too. "Somerhalder isn't about to complain about getting to play a guy who uses his dark vampire ways to make girls fall in love with him, because he thinks that his character's motives aren't necessarily all bad."

Anthony Head, who played Giles in "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer," isn't looking forward to the new "Buffy" movie by Fran Kuzui, who directed the original "Buffy" movie. "It was [Joss Whedon's] script at the age of 19, but they changed a lot of it. They said, 'Look, we know best and we know how to make this movie', and it became quite schlocky and high camp."


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

I'm in a "Buffy" mood. I'm not going to watch the show for a few years and hope that I'll forget it enough so when I watch it again, it'll be like new. Check in with me in 2012 to see how this works out. Video by DesieDilema.



This one is by ColdSideofthePillow.

Enchantment Emporium & Sea Cruise with Twilight Stars

Enter my contest for TWO COPIES of "Blood Ties: Season One" on DVD and two of the Tanya Huff's Blood Bank novels.

This show got lost on Lifetime TV and its audience wouldn't find it there because many never go to that station. Lifetime didn't advertise sufficiently outside their station and the show suffered in ratings. It's as if someone gave Lifetime a fantastic black truffle and they said, "Ew, this potato is rotten," and threw it away.

Read an interview with Kyle Schmid about his role as ultimate hawtest vampire winner, Henry Fitzroy, in "Blood Ties." "I had the opportunity to work with two amazing actors. I learn something everyday from Christina and Dylan. We became good friends. It's an incredible feeling to wake up every morning with a smile, and know you're going to work to have fun." (Newsblaze)

Tanya Huff's new novel, The Enchantment Emporium, was released yesterday. Here's a summary: "Alysha Gale is a member of a family capable of changing the world with the charms they cast. Then she receives word that she’s inherited her grandmother’s junk shop in Calgary, only to discover upon arriving that she’ll be serving the fey community. And when Alysha learns just how much trouble is brewing in Calgary, even calling in the family to help may not be enough to save the day."

Read a Blogcritics review of The Enchantment Emporium: "[Tanya Huff's] not only capable of delivering well crafted stories and plots in every genre she attempts, but she also consistently creates memorable characters whom her readers can identify with whether they're the bastard vampire son of Henry VIII of England or a Marine Staff Sergeant fighting in deep space."

Read an interview with Marjorie M. Liu, author of the Dirk & Steele series. "Tiger Eye is about a female tourist in Beijing who goes to the Pan Jia Yuan dirt market, where an old woman forces upon her a magic puzzle box. The heroine is an artisan blacksmith with a psychic affinity for metal, and when she opens the box a shapeshifter appears who has been imprisoned for two thousand years. He's compelled to serve anyone who opens the box, and becomes bound to them for the remainder of their lives." (Locus Online)

Cynthia Eden is celebrating her upcoming release, Midnight's Master, with a 30-Day-of-Demons Contest. "For the next month, come here to get your demon hook-up. I’ll have some fabulous guest authors blogging about demon characters, excerpts from demon books, demon quizzes, demon lore, and, oh, yes, I’ll have a load of prizes up for grabs."

Phoebe Jordon interviews J.K. Coi about Immortal, the new book in her Forever Immortal series. "Being the fourth, I wanted this book to be more. More emotional. More explosive. More conflicted. More dangerous. And I think it’s got all of that in spades, while at the same time it also leads in to the next phase of this series." (Talk About My Favorite Books)

It's a stalker's dream come true. Take an ocean cruise with "Twilight" and "New Moon" cast members. "Actually, I don't know that even Robert Pattinson sitting on the veranda of my ocean view suite with his guitar in one hand and a mango margarita for me in the other would get me on this ship -- unless EW let me expense it. (Damn economy.) " (Entertainment Weekly)

MTV has interviews with celebrities who are "Twilight" fans, including Will Farrell. "It's a gimme. You look at me, you're like Twiiii-liiight...I'm kinda Team Edward, I'm kinda Team Jim, I'm kinda Team ... Stanley."


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

I plow through a lot of videos for GVDs and not all of them are good. In fact, most aren't worth 30 seconds of my time, or yours, which is infinitely more valuable. Anyway, it's always so lovely when I come across a video that's well edited and has put some thought into the lyrics/music, like this "Supernatural" tribute from Cherryvamp.




The GVD toes out to Evil Sammy (Jared Paladecki) of "Supernatural." Vid from LSketch42.

"Blood Ties: Season One" DVD & Books Contest of Hawtness!

Those who have not tragically lost all their long-term memory may know (hey, it happens), I had hoped for a "Blood Ties: Season One" DVD to give away during Vampire Wire's Ultimate Hawt Vampire Poll & Contest, especially since Henry Fitzroy (as played by Kyle Schmid in the series) was trouncing the competition.

And now, ta da, I have TWO COPIES OF THE "BLOOD TIES" DVD and TWO OF TANYA HUFF'S NOVELS, courtesy of fabulous Heather Suomi at Eagle Entertainment.

To enter the contest: leave a comment telling me your favorite secondary character in a show or book. For example, I love crazy vampire Elvis in Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries. I loved Armand (Antonio Banderas) in "Interview with the Vampire." The contest runs through Saturday night, June 13.

The 4 DVD set includes: a behind-the-scenes documentary and trailer.

Here's a description of the series from the distributor*:

The story revolves around private investigator Vicki Nelson (played by Christina Cox), who witnesses a violent murder one night in the streets of Toronto. This is no ordinary murder, and as she searches for the truth, more and more evidence suggests demonic involvement. The investigation leads to an encounter with the suave and alluringly HAWT Henry Fitzroy (played by quintessentially HAWT Kyle Schmid), who just happens to be a totally HAWT 470-year-old vampire with a vested interest in the case. The two collaborate, and their relationship starts to bloom into something much more than the mission at hand, which interferes with Nelson’s current relationship with ex-partner Detective Mike Celluci (played by Dylan Neal). As the season progresses, Nelson and her cohorts are pulled into an unpredictable swirl of romance, action, and supernatural activity.

*The items in red were added to the text as required by membership in the Official Henry Fitzroy Assoc.


You can learn more about the series at the official "Blood Ties" website. The website has videos that I haven't seen on YouTube.


GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The GVDs go out to "Blood Ties," because I'm all about being thematic. Kudos to videomaker Edenslily for picking great songs to go with her videos. No, that doesn't mean I'll stop posting GVDs set to bad Eurodisco.

Wherein I Return, as Inane as Ever; New Moon & Vampire Diaries Clips

BOOK STUFF

I just sent my agent my rewrite of my young adult gothic. I kept thinking of things to change even as I was composing my email to her. Thanks to all those who gave me feedback on the sample chapters! It really helped me rethink the characters and tone of the book.

I haven't had a day off in weeks, so I'll be taking a few days to kick back and then I'll be working on Casa Dracula Book 4, which will be published next year.

Anna of Anna's Book Blog has a kick-ass contest to celebrate her two-year anniversary with her review blog. Congratulations, Anna! "36 Authors donated signed books, bookmarks, cover flats an the like. So the original one box of goodies got turned into six." Just leave a comment on Anna's blog for a chance to win your summer reading.

She's got tons of book giveaways, including a signed copy of my first novel, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula.

Kimberly Swan reviews The Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland. "Kara Gillian is a police detective in Beaulac, Louisiana. She’s also a Summoner, able to conjure demons and bind them to her will." (Darque Reviews)

Doug Knipe, our favorite SciFi Guy, has covers and descriptions of new paranormal/urban fantasy June releases, including the Huntress anthology, with stories by Christine Warren, Marjorie M. Liu, Caitlin Kittredge, and Jenna MacLaine. "Supernatural bounty hunter Lilli Corbin made a pact with the Prince of Hell: She agreed to recover a book of prophecies."


MOVIE & TV STUFF

"Twilight" fans must be delighted that the movie won several awards at last night's MTV Movie Awards. "'Twilight,' the popular vampire drama starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, sucked up golden popcorn trophies for best movie, best fight, best kiss, breakthrough male performance and female performance during Sunday's freewheeling and often-bleeped ceremony at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif.

Here's the new "New Moon" trailer. I like it because it seems to be a movie about the HORROR of paper cuts. In my career as an author, I've suffered many a debilitating paper cut, so I'm going to promote any anti-paper cut movie.

The werewolf is very "Werewolf of London"-ish, but, of course, not as terrifying as a paper cut. If I were writing a scary movie, I'd be sure to have lots of paper around to crank up the danger and tension.



Critics haven't been keen on the CGI-heavy "New Moon" trailer and by critics I mean guys. Of course, Catherine Hardwicke who directed the amazingly successful "Twilight," was dumped for the sequel because she wasn't into the CGI action that the boys love. And by boys, I don't mean the huge audiences for this movie, but the studio boys who produce:

"Instead, Summit, fearing fans of the first film would lose interest in the interim, charged Chris Weitz (who made the 2007 adaptation of Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass) with bringing the second film to the screen within a year of Twilight's release." (Guardian)

BuddyTV has an article about the upcoming CW series "The Vampire Diaries" and clips. Here's one. It's yet another reason 1) not to use the word "journal" as a verb, and 2) to burn your banal, egomanical teenage diaires. Oh, right, the dude is 200 years old. He should be writing like frickin Shakespeare by now, instead of like a teenage hottie.


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

I feel very guilty that Vampire Wire readers had to do without their daily fix of GVDs while I worked on my manuscript. I hope that these will make up for my negligence.

Here are some hawt guys, some of which have played vampires or should play vampires.



I've been going through Guy of Ghisborne withdrawal. Geez, you think I'd watch the "Robin Hood" series.



I've actually been watching "Lost" again. I've grown to appreciate the way the writers just throw that script together and pretend everything's planned and intentional. Josh Holloway is always a delight as Sawyer.