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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Sunday, July 30, 2017

an insidious bloodlust - The Sanguinarian Id by L.M. Labat


"When you open the book, you are under the curse of any good book. Especially a good book of horror. L.M. has me hooked and I must finish this book if I wish to sleep at night in peace. [...]
It will cure all your cravings of dark stories while making you question the shadows in your home at night." - KisaAmora, Goodreads


Description:

She’s been beaten, stabbed, poisoned, and shot, but Hael refuses to die. In her pursuit for vengeance and her origin, the Dhampir Hael hunts down the madman responsible for her fateful transformation. As this half-vampire juggernauts her way through a world at war, Hael battles hordes of Nazi soldiers as she struggles to maintain her sanity. However, while Hael gathers knowledge on how to trap and kill her target, her adversary’s network is expanding at an exponential rate, as his sick obsession with Hael grows deeper.

Will she have her revenge?

Will she find her origin?
Or, will she crumble beneath her own insidious bloodlust? 

GUEST POST
Historical Fiction: Research, Write, and Research Again

In preserved records, artwork, books, photographs, and other documentations, the world learns about itself through history. Therefore, with all of the natural disasters, accomplishments, wars, medical atrocities, and innovations, history’s inspirational goldmine grows with each generation of authors and illustrators. In acquiring information for a story, authors create new worlds alongside eras of admired and infamous events. Writer’s fusing their imagination with history develops depth and wonder for their readers. However, if the material in the story is gathered via careful research, an author deepens that depth into their own Marianas Trench, as they weave a seamless masterpiece, sparking curiosity. History is told in only so many ways. Hundreds upon thousands of delightful and gruesome events could’ve happened behind each story that’s recorded. What could’ve happened in the shadows behind the backdrop of WWII? What creatures lived amidst the scrolls of a long gone dynasty? The more research a person delves into, the more material they gain. Like hosting a fine banquet, the more substance they have, the author manifests a slew of treats for their readers to savor and digest. However, like a chef preparing this feast, the author must research, write, and research again, in order to enrich their historical fiction. 

When writing historical fiction, don’t be afraid to plunge into the dirt. History’s a mix of feelings, mindsets, action, and emotions. Other genres can merge with historical fiction, such as horror, comedy, action, etc., but each genre that’s added deserves the same attention to research as the last genre. When researching additional genres, previous books, magazines, articles, and photographs tend to circulate over and over again. Dig deep. For instance, when researching horror, look up favorite authors and discover others, but stir it up. Instead of just reading more and more writings, search up graphic visuals, audio clips, or feel something gross. Look up dissections from anatomy books, listen to audios of screaming rodents, look at photographs of animal attack wounds, and, though it’s disgusting, try experiencing some foul smells. It’s amazing at what one writes, after smelling spoiled milk or rotten meat. 

Research isn’t just documents. It’s the writer’s own personal experience when encountering new things. Have caution when gathering material, but don’t forget to explore. Writers and artists manifest works, in untangling or carving out something that gnaws at the mind and yanks the soul. We owe it to ourselves and our audience to tear into a piece that’s full-bodied and savory. Remember, we are the chefs. As time passes, with practice, we refine our grammar, formatting, and style in our work. We must never let our guests waste their time dining on something we wouldn’t enjoy devouring, especially in a vast genre like historical fiction. Research, write, and research again.

About the author:
Born in 1993, L. M. Labat stems from New Orleans, Louisiana. From the struggles of a broken family and surviving life-threatening events, Labat found refuge within the arts while delving into the fields of medicine, psychology, and the occult. While combining illustration and literature, L. M. Labat was able to cope with endless nightmares as well as hone in on artistic techniques. From confronting the past to facing new shadows, this author gladly invites audiences into the horror of The Sanguinarian Id. 

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