The book featured today is something a little different. This historical paranormal story sounds fascinating. Plus there’s a giveaway.
Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Brad Vance, author of “Werewolves of Brooklyn.”
Blurb
Darien Mackey wasn’t looking for an adventure. For ten years, he’d been happy living in Brooklyn, working as a butcher in the same job, living in the same apartment, dating some “nothing-special” guys. Until one night his buddy Jacob talked him into taking ayahuasca, the soul-changing drug. And Darien had a vision…of a wolf, its all-too-human eyes on him, its paws on his chest, its enquiring mind in his own…
Darien Mackey is changing. He’s more confident, more assertive, hungrier, hornier. And his world is changing around him – his job, his home, his beloved Mechanic’s Library all falling victim to the predations of unscrupulous developers, bent on demolishing the old Brooklyn he loves and replacing it with a forest of condos. But he’s no longer a passive observer of his own life, and as this thing, this power, grows inside of him, he resolves to fight back, to preserve the way of life he loves.
And he’s not alone in the fight. The Lipsius Preservation Society of Brooklyn stands ready to assist in the battle, even though it seems like a bit of a joke to Darien, with its King and its Duke, Marquess, Earl and Viscount.
But there’s nothing funny about his growing attraction to Albeus Finley, King of this mysterious Court. And when slumlords and condo-mongers start to die mysterious, violent deaths at the hands of savage animals, Darien begins to realize that something is afoot in Brooklyn – something supernatural.
And it’s afoot in him, too…
Excerpt
The wolf’s eyes were lava-yellow with hate. His growl and his snarl were meant to terrify Darien, to freeze him in his tracks, prepare him for his death.
Then something rose up in Darien, rage, frustration, primal energy. And his own lips curled, his own growl met the enemy’s.
The Duke retreated a pace, taken aback. Darien felt sharp pains in his palms and looked down. Where he’d had fingernails, he had claws, long and sharp, and the fists he was making were digging them into his flesh.
He smiled, exhilarated, wild. He lunged and snapped at his enemy, knowing that his canines had become…literally that, elongated spikes ready to tear out a neck.
Darien’s ears were ringing, something surging in him beyond mortal feeling – like testosterone but stronger, more powerful, the smell of victory, immortality.
“The King is mine,” Darien declared. “And I am his.”
He knew he’d taken a step from which there was no turning back. He was the King’s man, the King’s consort. He would open to Albeus and take him, and be taken by him, and he would be alone no more.
He was one of the pack.
And it curdled the blood of men for miles around when he raised his face to the full moon, and howled.
Hi Brad, thank you for agreeing to this interview.
What is the biggest thing people think they know about your subject/genre that isn’t so?
That there’s nothing new to be done with shifter stories, that the mine is tapped out. That you can substitute a bear for a wolf or whatever but it’s still going to be the same old thing. I resisted writing a shifter book for *years* even though I knew that there was good money in it. I waited until I could come up with a new mythology, a new way of telling the story.
What are some references you used while writing this book?
I really relied on Luc Sante’s Low Life for my portrait of life in post-Civil War Manhattan, and E. A. “Bud” Livingston’s Brooklyn and the Civil War for background on antebellum Brooklyn.
For the battle scenes, I consulted Harry W. Pfanz’s Gettysburg: The First Day, James McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom, and Allen Guelzo’s Gettysburg: The Last Invasion.
For the butcher’s trade, I read Bill Buford’s Heat and one of Adam Danforth’s Butchering books (poultry/rabbit/lamb/goat/pork).
For information on wolves, I used Jim and Jamie Dutcher’s The Hidden Life of Wolves and James C. Halfpenny’s Yellowstone Wolves in the Wild.
And a ton of websites on all this, plus lots on the historic mansions of Brooklyn and their occupants, New York landmark preservation, rent control and gentrification/development issues, ayahuasca, and more.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I really can’t say. From the time I could write the alphabet, I was writing stories. It was just my destiny I suppose. I never had any compelling desire other than being a writer when I grew up.
What do your plans for future projects include?
Right now I’m finishing up a science fiction novel by “Adam Vance,” the second in his FJ One series. Then it’s back to Marc and Jesse for the sequel to “Would I Lie to You?” This winter I want to close out my Colum/Viking and Rob/Sol paranormal series. And I’m going to branch out as “Derek Vance” into the historical mystery/thriller genre. I’ve learned a lot writing romance, but I haven’t reached the levels of success I know I can reach as a writer, if I find the right genre.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you for being part of #TeamVance! I literally could not do it without the support I get, especially when I’m down and despairing, which is every time I publish a book and I’m so sure it’s all for nothing, doomed, doomed LOL. They buck me right up and keep me going.
Buy Link
Giveaway
Rafflecopter Prize: One of three e-book copies of ‘Werewolves of Brooklyn’ by Brad Vance
Click here or on the image to enter the Rafflecopter
About the author
Brad Vance writes gay romance, erotica and paranormal stories and novels, including the breakout hits “A Little Too Broken” and “Given the Circumstances.” Keep up with Brad at BradVanceErotica.wordpress.com, email him at BradVanceErotica@gmail.com, and friend him on Facebook at facebook.com/brad.vance.10.
Where to find the author:
http://bradvanceerotica.wordpress.com
http://facebook.com/brad.vance.10
BradVanceErotica on Google+
@BradVanceAuthor on Twitter
https://www.pinterest.com/bradvanceerotic/
Tour Dates & Stops
24-Aug Jessie G. Books
25-Aug Foxylutely Book Reviews
26-Aug MM Good Book Reviews
27-Aug Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance
27-Aug Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews
28-Aug Velvet Panic
31-Aug Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
1-Sep Happily Ever Chapter, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves
2-Sep Bayou Book Junkie, V’s Reads
3-Sep The Jena Wade, Hearts on Fire
4-Sep Molly Lolly
7-Sep Love Bytes
8-Sep Prism Book Alliance
9-Sep Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
10-Sep Wake Up Your Wild Side
11-Sep Nic Starr, Carly’s Book Reviews, Up All Night, Read All Day, My Fiction Nook
14-Sep Kimi-Chan
15-Sep Iyana Jenna
16-Sep Inked Rainbow Reads
17-Sep The Novel Approach
18-Sep BFD Book Blog
19-Sep Rainbow Gold Reviews
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