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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.

Monday, November 11, 2019

the allure of forbidden love... A Violet Fire (Vampires in Avignon #1) by Kelsey Quick

"A vampire tale with a heady mix of defiance and doubt, rebellion and romance." — Kirkus Reviews 
"There is not a single dull moment in this book... A Violet Fire has all the ingredients to become the next Hollywood movie about vampires." — Readers' Favorite 

Description:

Release Date: December 9th, 2019


In the Vampire Stratocracy of Cain, human blood is scarce. For centuries, councils have sought to assuage the blood shortage by enslaving and breeding humans, turning them into profitable supply units for the rich and the abled. 

Today, eighteen-year-old Wavorly Sterling is officially a supply unit, bound to serve her blood willingly to her master for the rest of her life. One of only few humans that was not bred in Cain, Wavorly knows freedom better than anyone, and she is determined to escape the clutches of her oppressors—despite the allure of forbidden love.

GUEST POST
Why Vampire Stories Never Die

Much like the creatures that inhabit them, vampire stories are evidently exempt from dying. From the horrific encounters of Dracula and Nosferatu, to their romanticized and somewhat sparkly counterparts—vampires are very much alive and thriving (to the chagrin of immortal scholars everywhere). But why do we mortals consistently find blood-lusting creatures of the night to be so interesting, vexing, and darkly attractive enough to continue to write and read about them? 

Well for one, they have a deeply fascinating lore. The original tales of the humanoid monsters that lurk in the night for the blood of their once-brethren are spooky to be sure, but drip in the dark details such as death by wooden stakes, aversion to crosses, holy water, garlic, and—of course—the unfortunate burning in the sunlight bit, and there becomes a sense of believability—much like the existence of sasquatch, or “Big Foot.” When you have a believable creature by way of impertinent attention to detail and timelessness, you then get curiosity. 

And that brings me to reason number two for why vampire stories never die. Sexual tension is always accompanied by curiosity. 

Oof.

And this is how we went from the terrifying vamps of the 1800s to the sexy and sparkly vamps of the early 2000s in just one, horrifying sentence!

Stay with me here… you take a powerfully ugly creature, give it abs and oddly-colored eyes, and suddenly that grotesque habit of eating the very stuff that keeps you alive is… sexy. Their conflicted desire to both kill you and love you is tragically romantic (and everyone loves a bad romance). It also helps that most romantics like the idea of fixing or saving someone, and vampires are the epitome of tortured souls in need of saving (just look at those cavernous eye sockets). And for some reason, people like me (let’s be real, people like us) just really like the idea of being able to un-torture a dark and sexy soul. For example, taking the main vampire character from my debut, A Violet Fire:

“Oh, poor super-powerful Zein who is both horribly cruel and lacking in discipline, happens to have a soft spot for dear, sweet sarcastic Wavorly unlike anything he has ever felt before, and so he just really needs someone to love him the way he clearly needs!” 

And yet, does he really need it? Or do I just want the idea of forbidden love to be the elixir to his tortured soul? I ponder while drinking a glass of Franzia wine. Either way, I like it. 

The third and final reason is pretty simple. So long people keep reading about vampires and making up their own rules and worlds involving vampires, then the excitement surrounding them will never die. It’s a perpetual cycle of fearsome fascination and captivating curiosity. 

About the author:
Kelsey Quick is a novelist, artist, and businesswoman who loves her husband, huskies, and video games. Since the age of two, Kelsey has been bound and determined to create. From traditional impressionist paintings, to digital comic creation; from fanfiction to full-length novels… her desire for crisp and prime escapism is never-ending. A Violet Fire is her debut novel, harboring the idea she’s had and held dear to her heart for over a decade. 

Author's Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

29 comments:

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thanks for hosting!

Bea LaRocca said...

Thank you for sharing your guest post and book details. I LOVE the cover. And Vampires! Looking forward to release day!

Sara Ruby Woolley said...

I was so lucky to get an early copy and loved the stories and characters. I want to know if anything will be different in the finished copies?

Anonymous said...

Hi Everyone!

First I want to thank Mythical Books for hosting! Writing about this topic is very on brand and I probably divulged a little more than what I wanted in terms of what goes on in my head regarding it. I'll be on and off all day checking comments and answering any questions (or just fangirling with you) so come and go as you please!

To Bea, thanks so much! I hold this cover dear to my heart because it was the first cover I made that I thought, "Yes. This is the one," without hesitation.

To Sara, HEY GIRL! Thank youuuu. Actually, yes! I made two revisions between July and September via feedback I received on NetGalley. You will get two additional scenes. A short flashback of the early Nightingale School years, and [spoiler?] an attempt for Wavorly to flee after receiving the Laisse chain. :) [end spoiler]

Much love,
Kelsey

Lottie said...

Love this post. What a way to kick off the tour! Some very good points made too! Love it.

Anonymous said...

Lottie! haha, thanks! I had fun with this one. Time passed so fast while I was writing it. I was also making sure my husband wasn't looking over my shoulder at my computer because he would give me so much crap about it!

Much love,
Kelsey

Sara Ruby Woolley said...

I also really love how you write the emotions. I can feel everything they feel. It would be a good idea to draw Castrel too. (I think that's his name Wavorly only childhood friend)

Bernie Wallace said...

Where do you do most of your writing?

CCAM said...

@Mrs. K.Quick
We are happy to host your event book and for your GP. During the years I found that a GP could be a good example of what you'll get from the book itself. After reading it, I think that I will like "A Violet Fire".
I wonder now what is the meaning of the Violet Fire as the purple flame has quite different, even if related, significances (fire of Archangel Michael, Egyptian texts Sakara... a.s.o.)

In what regards vampires, our folklore (we are from Romania) says that they actually are not all bad. Often they are playful. But they could become bad or vindictive in certain situations. They have a great respect for promises and, usually, the broken promises are the trigger of their evilness... of course, that's when they do not have to revenge... avenge... for something happen to them or those close to them during their mortal life...

Anonymous said...

Sara, I would LOVE IF YOU DREW CASTREL OH WOW PLEASE. haha! I have yet to try drawing him in any normal form because I can't really post him for awhile since {spoilers} lol. But I definitely plan on it, and if you want to, please do! And thank you. :D I try to make my emotions physical, "showing rather than telling." It's more immersive that way and I get bothered if something reads too shallow. :)

Hi Bernie!
I do most of my writing at a variety of local coffee shops or quaint wine bars. But I spend a majority of my writing time at my dining room table. However, I can't stay in any one place too long; I have to switch it up or it feels to monotonous and then the muse refuses surface. Great question, thank you! :)

Hi CCAM!
Oh thanks so much! My GP is a little self-deprecating, but I'm glad you liked it. :) Actually, believe it or not, I had no idea what the violet flame was until after I was far into the publication process. I didn't know it was such a prevalent part of certain spiritual sects. There is actually no relation whatsoever, but the title does tie into the book. I can give you a hint: "Violet" plays off of "Ultra-violet" as in the dangerous parts of the sun's rays. While, "Fire" is representative of an ever-burning spark of rage, revenge, or sheer motivation.

Ooh! Your description of playful vampires in Romanian folklore actually lines up with my character, Gemini, quite well! He's a very playful, if not a bit hard-to-read. I had no idea about this section of lore! Thanks for chiming in. :)

Anonymous said...

Also apologies for any grammatical errors in my comments. I'm posting while at work so naturally... the proofreading process is a bit rushed. Definitely not indicative of my author potential, I assure you!

James Robert said...

Thanks so much for sharing your terrific book. I sure enjoyed reading about it and appreciate you taking the time to share it with us.

Dale Wilken said...

Sounds really great.

Rita Wray said...

Sounds like a good read.

Anonymous said...

Thank you James, Dale, and Rita! I hope you guys check it out!

katieoscarlet said...

I like the cover and how it shows off those fang marks.

Tashia Jennings said...

Love vampire reads. Thank you for sharing. Love discovering new books to add to my TBR.

Celaena Renee said...

Love the post! You really divulge into the truth of vampires: they will never die out! The love for these supernatural beings is just unending. The worlds authors can create that are similar yet different are amazing! Also, Kelsey has seriously created an incredible dystopian vampire world <3

Anonymous said...

Thanks Katie, Victoria, and Tashia! Super proud of that cover and the ominous fang marks ;)

Celaena! Hey girl! Thanks for reading my snarky guest post haha. Also thanks for the shout out, you're amazing and I hope your Monday went decent enough for a Monday!

Cali W. said...

Thanks for the giveaway; I like the excerpt. :)

Amber smego said...

This is super exciting. Can not wait to read more! It was such a good book!

Tashia Jennings said...

Thank you for this fabulous chance.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Cali, Amber, and Tashia! :)

Nancy P said...

Sounds intriguing

New Jersey girl said...

I love vampire stories and this sounds like an interesting take on them.

Maria Katie said...

WOW this looks amazing, love the cover and the title.

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much!

Amy Woolard said...

I really enjoyed reading about your book. I am very much looking forward to reading more!

Debra Branigan said...

I enjoyed the blog and I am always looking for a great "vampire" read. Thanks for sharing.