The Vampire's Reflection Playlist

Buy The Vampire's Reflection HERE

By Shayne Leighton

Hi again, fellow Decadent peeps! I’m back again today to pimp my personal playlist for the second installment in my Of Light and Darkness Series, The Vampire’sReflection!

Yesterday’s release was a HUGE success! A lot of people participated in the live UStream book release party! It was such a pleasure to connect with readers who loved the first book and were eagerly anticipating the release of the second! So I’m back today with a cool list of music to keep the party going! This array of songs accompanied my most intimate moments alone, writing this story. I think after taking a listen to a few of my most favorite selections, you’ll understand why!

One of my most-replayed songs on the list was “Heavy In Your Arms” by Florence and the Machine. And while it was pure coincidence that this song is also on the official soundtrack for the Twilight Saga’s Eclipse, it was the perfect fit for my own Vampire romance! Charlotte becomes such a heavy cross to bare for Valek in this story, that they way Florence Welch croons in this highly dramatic ballad is the perfect expression of they both Valek and Charlotte feel.

Another favorite on my playlist was “Uninvited” by Alanis Morisette. This song expresses very well Charlotte’s growing rage and contempt with several characters in the story. I don’t want to give anything away, so you’ll have to read it to understand why I chose this particular song to represent some of the major plot points in this story…

I have an incredibly dark and angsty list of songs this time around. For the complete playlist in order of chapters in the book, skip on over to the official Of Light and Darkness blog!

http://oflightanddarknessnovel.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/music-playlist-for-book-2/

A Long Awaited Release Day!

Available in digital and paperback!
Buy The Vampire's Reflection HERE

By Shayne Leighton

“…in time, she was able to see the large face of the moon. Silver, fading against the light of the sun, about to disappear under the horizon. But it would always come up again, she reminded herself. It always did.”

-         TheVampire’s Daughter (Of Light and Darkness – Book 1)

It has been about two years since the completion of my last and only book, my debut, The Vampire’s Daughter (Decadent Publishing 2011). I remember being on a ten-hour flight to Prague for the first time in my life; my vampiric husband next me, on the day of my release. I was not home to celebrate with friends and family (not that I’m complaining about the trip to Europe), but just knowing that the story so close to my heart – one that I’d been working on for about 5 years – was on it’s way to be seen by the world.

I did not expect, once Frantisek and I arrived to his city of Novy Jicin and I was able to look at a computer, the fantastic reaction I would receive from my friends online about the story. Within the first week of the book’s release, it landed on several bestselling lists on Amazon and dozens of positive reviews from bloggers across the web.

They say your sophomore novel is the most difficult to complete. I didn’t believe that until I sat down to begin writing The Vampire’s Reflection. Day after day, I dealt with the blank page syndrome! It was slow moving, but finally, Decadent editors and I have something to be proud of. And today is the official release day of both the eBook editions and paperback editions of the second installment in the Of Light and Darkness Series!

Within the past two years, a lot of excitement has circled this series. Stories about it appeared several times in news papers across the country. Two different concept trailers were shot along with some exciting members of young-Hollywood (including Michael Welch from the Twilight Saga.) The film project in development has caught the eye of professional screenwriters, cinematographers, special effects designers, actors, and more, and I’m not planning to slow this train any time soon!

So, what does the second installment have in store for readers?

Months after their brutal victory over Aiden and his hierarchy of Wizards, Charlotte and Valek have returned from Prague to their home in the Bohemian Occult City. However, this time, they are joined by their new band of misfit, magical friends. In the light of day, all seems to be at peace now that the Regime has been toppled, and the coven of rogue monsters has finally found their freedom. But Charlotte soon discovers that much like her adopted Vampire family, she has developed a strange addiction of her own. Her new disease is destroying her from the inside out, and Valek finds himself at a loss as he defies all odds to save her life. Danger continues to lurk around every corner and they realize that their happily-ever-after has not ended so happily after all, in this highly anticipated sequel of the Of Light and Darkness series.

I hope fellow authors and readers alike will have the chance to dive in to The Vampire’s Reflection and leave an honest review! I could not be more excited for this day and am thrilled to share it with the people who have been supporters of myself and the series since the beginning. All I can say is, thank you! 

Of Light and Darkness
The Vampire's Daughter Book 1

First Crushes

Buy The Keeper HERE

 By Natalie Star

Walking through the stores these days you can’t help but notice all of the Valentines decorations and items for purchase. When I see the little boxed sets I used to buy as a child, I think of the boys who I would give them too. I used to write something that I considered a secret message. Or so I thought. I’m sure they never knew.

The valentines for my friends would be signed, “Love”. The ones to the guys I liked usually said, “Love ya” or I would make a smiley face or a heart, those were my secret messages.

These memories bring back thoughts of my first crush. I was five. Getting on the bus to go to Kindergarten was always nerve wracking and exciting, because the next stop was when little red-headed Joey would get on, and he would sit with me. My mother says I would talk about Joey a lot and get all giddy.

But I don’t consider Joey my first real crush. That honor goes to Greg. There was something about that boy with his dark hair, and his bright blue eyes, and a smile that would light up his face. But Greg was a couple of years older than me, and I knew that “we” would never happen.

It didn’t prevent me from ogling him at school or busting out my telescope to check him out from my bedroom to his. His apartment complex sat higher than mine and was a few blocks away. There were trees in between our apartments, but I had a clear shot and I could still see him from the waist up when he was walking around his room. On the rare occasion he would have his shirt off, and I would blush as if he could see me.

One day I confided in some friends that I did this, and they came over to see. I should’ve known better. About a week later, a group of us was boarding the school bus at the end of the day, and a friend told on me. I didn’t know it was coming.

Someone said, “Hey, Greg. I know someone who looks at you in your bedroom through a telescope.” He got mad and said something along the lines of, “What the hell do they do, stand out in the parking lot?” I think he thought people were making fun of him, because looking around you could tell something was up. Everyone in the group was smiling and laughing, which made him angrier. I froze, felt my face flame up, and I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to die.

Eventually someone said that I was the one who spied on him. When his eyes settled on me I saw his face soften, and he smiled. I melted. I didn’t expect that kind of reaction. I thought he’d be mad at me and figured things would be awkward, but he sat next to me that day, and he told me I was cute. I was in heaven. He never did look at me quite the same again; it was always with a grin and a little spark of humor in his eyes. And that was okay, because he never made me feel stupid, or teased me about it.

I was affectionately and annoyingly called “Little Natalie” in that group of friends, but after that day, the guys referred to me as “Sweet Little Natalie” or “Cute Little Natalie.” I hated it, but I loved it at the same time. Hated it because it reminded me that I was in fact younger than I wanted to be, and I loved it because they paid attention to me. That made me feel good in a time where I was so unsure of myself.

What is a crush? Unrequited love perhaps, but not as strong as being in-love. Maybe you could call it a “temporary love”, but most definitely I say it’s a short term infatuation. Some call it “puppy love”, and according to Dictionary.com, a crush is an informal term for the “temporary love of an adolescent.” I think that sums it up perfectly.

What do you think? Do you remember your first crush?

*****

I never saw Greg again after high school, but the curiosity got the better of me, and I found him on Facebook last year. I friended him and of course I perused through his photos. He’s a handsome guy, and he looks happy. I won’t lie I smiled ear to ear when I found him.

*****

Natalie Star is the author of the young adult paranormal romance, The Keeper -available for your eReaders at most eBook retailers for $2.99, and in paperback at Amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Keeper-Natalie-Star/dp/1613332645

You can find out more about Natalie on the web at:

http://authornataliestar.blogspot.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5424878.Natalie_Star

https://twitter.com/iamjustnatalie

https://www.facebook.com/iamjustnatalie

The Dance

Buy Senior Year Bites HERE

By J.A. Campbell

I’ve been asked a few times, what happened at the dance? Well, now you get to find out. This is a scene I deleted (and slightly modified to conform to the published versions of the stories) from the original MS. Stick around at the end for a giveaway.

The Dance

“You look wonderful,” Tad said, perhaps to break the uncomfortable silence.

“I didn’t have a dress to wear.” I plucked at the black velvet. “Thank you.” I was pretty sure I was blushing.

Tad grinned. “It looks like you found one.”

“Yeah, it was my mom’s.”

“Well, it’s perfect. Very elegant.”

I smiled. “Tad, I don’t actually know how to dance.”

He laughed. “It’s not to hard, but I don’t really know how either.” He pulled into the school parking lot. The dance was always held in the gym and this year the theme was ‘under the starry night.’ I thought it was somehow appropriate and couldn’t wait to see the decorations.

“I think Steph and Gary are here. Alexander and Ann aren’t.” I refused to think about how I knew. Tonight I was normal. Tonight I was just a teenager on a date. Nothing else.

Tad nodded and parked the car. He came around to my side and took my hand, tucking it under his arm so that we walked arm in arm. I felt very special as he led me to the entrance. The teacher chaperone took our tickets and we went inside. The school was transformed and I stopped and stared for a moment. Stars twinkled from the ceiling and black cloth covered all the walls, making it look like we did walk though a starry night.

“Pretty,” Tad said.

“Yeah.” I tugged him forward and we went the rest of the way into the hallway outside of the gym. “Let’s find Steph and Gary.”

“Lead the way.”

It didn’t take long to find our friends, and Alexander and Ann showed up while we made small talk with Gary and Steph. It wasn’t like we didn’t see each other all the time but it seemed like we were all a little nervous.

After a while Tad put his arm around me. “Want to dance?” He whispered in my ear.

I shivered as his breath tickled my neck. “Yeah, sure.” I tried to sound excited, but I was nervous.

“Relax. I’m not good at this either.”

I forced a laugh.

Tad put his arm around me and squeezed, leading me into the gym. The music was uncomfortably loud, but I managed to ignore it. It was hard to recognize the gym under all the black cloth, stars, glitter and lights, and the transformation made everything feel a little unreal. Tad picked a spot near the edge of the crowd, close to an exit door. I was certain he’d done that on purpose and I grinned at him. Butterflies danced in my stomach and I shivered when he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.

“And now we just pretend like we’re moving to the music.”

“You make it sound easy.”

He winked.

I stepped on Tad’s feet more than once, but he didn’t complain, and after a while we had the hang of moving together and I started to relax and have fun. It seemed like it was the first time I’d really had fun since Steph’s birthday half a year ago. Tad was grinning and a happy light shone in his eyes.

The DJ played a slow song and Tad pulled me close to him, almost as if he was hugging me instead of holding me to dance.  It was comforting.  I rested my cheek against his shoulder and listened to his heart beating while the music filled the gym, drowning out the other conversations. 

“You ok?” he whispered into my ear – breath tickling my neck.

It took me a minute to find my voice.  “Yes,” I said a little hoarsely.

“Good,” he rested his cheek against my head and held me tightly, moving slowly to the music.

The music faded out and Tad stopped moving.  I looked up at him when he didn't release me as I had expected.  He stared down at me, taking one hand and brushing a few stray hairs out of my face.

Everything faded to the background until there was just me and him.  I looked into his eyes and almost asked him what, but he smiled slightly.

“Will you hit me if I kiss you,” he whispered.

I felt my jaw drop, but I couldn't answer, frozen, eyes wide and almost ready to run.

Amusement danced in his eyes, but before I could be annoyed he leaned over.  “I'll take that as a no,” he said, his lips brushing mine as he spoke.

A small, almost terrified sound escaped my lips and he smiled before he kissed me firmly.  It was chaste, we were still in a school, but it filled me with pleasure, sent desire rushing through me. My arms trembled and my legs felt weak, but Tad held me close.

Maybe I could have a normal life after all.