Welcome back to yet another Monday mention. Today
we will be meeting the wonderful Ashley Torbeck. A very talented author
who is not only sweet but also has a great mind for writing.
Remember to stay tuned at the end for a teaser of what this amazing author is bringing you in the future.
Interview:
1.) Tell us what a day in the life of Ashley is like.
A day in the life of Ashley? Honestly, it’s a little boring, hehe!
I’m a stay-at-home housewife and I’m on a second shift schedule to match my
husband’s. I get up when he leaves for work, and tackle the magnificent task of
catching up my social media. Throughout the day, my ADD doesn’t let me focus on
one thing for too long, so I’ll bounce around between writing, editing, goofing
off on Facebook (I really spend far too much time there), cleaning my house,
tending to my dog and 2 cats, checking/responding to emails…really whatever
arises. I keep myself busy until my husband leaves work, then I put on dinner
and we eat when he gets home. Then it’s a movie and some conversation before
bed. On days I spend out of the house, I’m addicted to consignment shopping and
visiting with family.
2.) What made you want to start writing?
Honestly, I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been expressing
myself in some form of writing. I obsessed with writing letters to random
people when I was a little kid, I would write my own stories as I started
getting older, during those terrible teenage years I dabbled in some poetry,
and when I became an adult, I’d write to calm myself and make sense of my own
emotions. What prompted me to let people read it was the realization that I’d
just written a full length novel, and I realized that distant dream of being a
writer was an actual possibility.
3.) When writing, do you prefer silence or some kind of background
noise?
Oh, goodness, I simply have to have background noise! I go crazy
when the only sound is the tapping of the keys and my own thoughts. I need
something to drown out the mess, and I have several playlists I listen to on
Spotify as well as on my phone. Sometimes I’ll turn the TV on low just to have
something else going on, though that one can be distracting.
4.) Morning person or night owl?
Night owl. I despise mornings.
5.) Do you prefer to have a schedule or wing it?
Wing it. I’ve attempted writing to a schedule but sometimes there
are days-even weeks-when I can barely write my own name, let alone work on a
manuscript. On the flip side, there are days when I’ll sit down and crank out
6K words a day for several days in a row. The one thing I know for certain is
that if I try to force it, what ends up on the paper is usually boring,
depressing, or filled with random swear words that make exactly zero sense as I
start to grow weary and frustrated. No schedule for me, thanks.
6.) When you have downtime from writing, what do you like to do?
I love to sit down and have a scary movie marathon. Any horror or
B-rated horror flicks are welcome, provided it’s a real plot. I also love
crafts, like crocheting and making decorative soaps. I’ll be crafting my own
Halloween costume this year (wish me luck!) and possibly a couple others for
friends. Reading is one of my favorite pastimes, and one that I don’t get to do
nearly often enough.
7.) Do you make an outline or just write?
I tried an outline once too. Broke it in the first page. Just like
the schedule, I can’t adhere to the outline because it’s too restricting. I
tend to let the characters tell me the story rather than me trying to create
something, because as a lot of other writers will agree, when you start telling
the wrong story, it suddenly becomes a tedious chore to write, and you’re never
happy with it. Sure, there’s wiggle room in an outline, but for me, I just
listen and type what I hear. Yes, I do realize that sounds quite insane. I’m
okay with that.
8.) What advice would you give aspiring writers?
You will never know what you CAN do until you eliminate all the
ways that you CAN’T. You want to be a writer? You have to work for it. Try
something new. Try something else. Make mistakes. Without those mistakes and
experiences, you’ll never improve. Graciously accept feedback. There will be
people out there who love your work. There will be people who hate it. But
without feedback on both sides, you’ll never improve. Oh, and NETWORKING is a
great friend. Meet people who know people. Befriend bloggers and book
reviewers. Like pages on Facebook and follow people on Twitter. Tweet a LOT.
Update your status a lot. Get your name out there before you even get your book
in the hands of a publisher (or uploaded to whatever platform you’re using to
self-publish) and meet people who can help you with things like reviews,
editing, promotions, blog tours and blog hops. Had I not been working on
building my network, I would never have learned about Tiger Dynasty Publishing,
and never would have signed a contract with them. I wouldn’t have people promoting
me without me even asking. These things are vital and will be a great asset
regardless of whether you self-publish or follow the traditional route.
9.) How do you come up with your ideas?
Well, with my series, Daughters of Night, it was a single mental
image and a line. “He pulled up to the curb in a candy apple red Ferrari.” It
annoyed me until I sat down at my laptop and typed it in. It was followed by
another line, then another, and by the time I stopped for a break, I had
several pages of the first book in the series, Sanctuary. I do, however, have a
few WIP’s that are the result of nightmares. I know, it’s cliché, but it’s the
truth! I even self-published a book called Confessions from an Unstable Mind
that’s a collection of short stories which are actual dreams I’ve had. I have
two dream catchers hanging in my room and I still wake up screaming some
nights…
10.) Do you like to base your characters on pure fiction or is
there a little of real friends in them?
Oh, there’s a lot of friends and even myself in each of my
characters! I relate most closely to the main character, Carmen, and Carmen’s
best friend is Aliena. My own best friend is Aly, who is just as close to me as
Aliena is to Carmen. Gaviyn is Carmen’s mate, and my husband Andy is very much
like him. In fact, I modeled Gaviyn to all the best qualities of Andy. Sure,
there’s plenty of fiction in the characters, but each one contains a piece of
me and a piece of someone close to me.
11.) Do you have a favorite author and why?
Hands down, my favorite author would be Stephen King. Despite the
fact that he’s one of the most well-known authors in the US ever, he has a way
of describing events, situations, and objects that is so in-depth and finite
that I might just saw off my left arm for half of his talent. The subjects of
his stories are his dreams as well, and I’d love to work with him on a
compilation of short stories. Oh, that would be a dream come true! I’ve been
reading his works since I was in grade school, and I have no intention of stopping-he
truly is a master of his craft and picking his brain would be the ultimate
experience, not to mention honor.
Bio:
An avid reader and sarcasm specialist, Ashley's
quirky and bubbly personality stems from the vast amount of information she
crammed into her head as a child. No genre was off limits, but she developed a
fondness for Stephen King books early on. Of course, growing up in Eastern
Kentucky, life moved a little slower, so books became her closest friends.
Fast forward a few years, and the vast insanity
that surrounded Ashley became her life. In January 2009, she married the only
person on Earth as insane as herself, and they now reside in Louisville,
Kentucky, patiently awaiting the zombie apocalypse while she taps away at the
laptop with a plethora of stories to keep you entertained.
Links:
Blurb:
After all that Carmen
has been through, there is nothing she won’t do for her family. Nothing.
Time
is running out for Carmen to find and save Damien, and she’s barely clinging to
sanity, especially when she learns Damien is being tortured by the vampire who
tried to raise Lilith. Her patience is really pushed to the edge when she
watches helplessly as her husband’s mind is invaded by her son, and she gets to
witness the agony both Gaviyn and Damien experience. With the help of a few
voices from the-past not to mention the vampires and witches of
Sanctuary-Carmen wages war on the vampires keeping her son, and she’s not
willing to let anything stand in her way. Not even death.
Books by Ashley Torbeck:
Daughters
of Night Trilogy:
Daughters of Night:
Sanctuary (August 2012)
Daughters of Night:
Possession (December 2012)
Daughters of Night:
Tribulation (Anticipated 2014)
Other Publications:
Confessions from an
Unstable Mind (June 2013)
Orphan House
(June 2013)
Keep your eyes open for these upcoming
Works:
Apartment 4C
Fractured
Stronger
Dreamwalker
Devil’s Playground
The Fall
Please
enjoy this excerpt from her already released books. Run out and get
them so when her new book is released, you will be caught up and not out
in the cold, while everyone else is raving about them.....lol
Excerpt – Daughters of Night: Sanctuary:
After a couple
of weeks of grueling training and learning to control my thirst, I was pretty
pleased with myself, but I really missed my dad and all my friends back home.
Kaitlyn, my best friend, was probably overcome with depression, and I couldn’t
wait to show her I was still alive to ease the pain.
Then
it happened.
Gaviyn
had gone off to get supplies one evening. I knew he would be gone for a couple
of hours, so I let myself go out and enjoy the night air. It was such a clear,
beautiful night, and the air was so crisp, I just started meandering around the
grounds. I found myself at the southern part of the grounds opposite of the
beach, past the gardens and near the edge of the woods. Suddenly, the most
mouth-watering smell hit me like a ton of bricks. It was so sweet, and heavy
with flavor, that I could almost taste it. I started sniffing deeply to absorb
as much of it as I could. I couldn’t get enough of it! I started hurrying in
the direction of that delectable scent, eager to see what the source was. My
mind went crazy, and I lost all control. All I could think about was getting to
that smell and devouring whatever animal gave off such a scent.
I
neared a small clearing about a mile into the woods, and up in a deer stand
were two men, one about 50-ish and the other in his early 20’s. They sat
motionless, backs toward me, with rifles poised to shoot the next wild animal
that entered their line of sight. They didn’t hear me approach, I could move
soundlessly through even the thickest underbrush. I became a predator, and I
had found my new prey.
The
scent grew so overwhelmingly intense, it made my mouth water. Instinct took
over and I had no logical thought. I crouched low and eased myself closer to
the deer stand quickly and noiselessly. I could feel my fangs growing in, and
it felt good. It felt natural, and animalistic. As soon as I was close enough,
I launched myself up in the air, my powerful legs propelling me upward
effortlessly, and I landed softly behind the two men in the deer stand, perfectly
on balance.
Unfortunately,
I didn’t take into consideration that the additional sudden weight change would
shift the wooden platform, and the younger man turned to look directly into my
eyes. I no longer had the element of surprise, so I pounced. The younger man
fell backward, screaming and firing a wayward shot in the air. I landed on the
older man, and I pulled him close. The smell was driving me wild, and I smiled
as I sank my teeth into his tender skin.
The
taste was overwhelming! The smell paled in comparison, and lost myself in the
whirlwind of desire. I drank and drank from the older man, paying no attention
to the futile screams coming from both him and the younger man still laying on
the ground. I could hear the older man’s heartbeat slowing as I drank away his
life. Just as his heart stopped, I pulled back. My mouth and chin were covered
in thick crimson. I dropped the limp, lifeless body to the platform and closed
my eyes in satisfaction. I licked my lips greedily, enjoying the last of the hunter’s
blood.
Then
I heard the screams that were still coming from below me. My eyes popped open
and I leaned over the edge of the platform to where the younger hunter had
fallen. He laid there, writing in terror-filled pain with two broken legs, and
when he saw me covered in the older hunter’s blood, he panicked. He started
trying to crawl away, dragging his lower body with his elbows. I laughed. I
actually laughed at his feeble attempt to escape, as though he had any chance
of surviving.
I
stepped off the platform and dropped down to the ground with ease. I slowly
walked toward him, smiling so my fangs would show, with the intention of
driving the fear. The foolish man started begging for his life, pleading for me
to let him live, and swearing he would tell no one that it was me that killed
his father. He promised to say it was a bear or some other animal, or that he
wasn’t even around when it happened. I just kept smiling as I sauntered toward
him, casually closing the distance between us. His pleading gave way to
uncontrolled sobbing, mixed with incoherent begging and screams.
I
slowly moved into a crouched position straddling him, then reached down with
one hand and caressed the side of his face. No more crying. No more
screaming, or begging, I thought. The young man stopped crying, begging,
and screaming instantly, as if there was a toggle switch for his emotions. I
pulled my hand back and leaned in close to him. Sit up straight, and stay
silent. He sat up straight and stared ahead at me like a zombie. My smile
widened, and I leaned forward toward the man’s neck.
Before
I could even touch my teeth to his neck, I was hit from the side and knocked to
the ground on my back. Gaviyn was laying over me, pinning me to the ground. I
instantly got pissed-he was interrupting my meal and my twisted idea of
entertainment. I gathered my strength and pushed hard against the ground with
my legs, arcing my body up and forcing Gaviyn off of me. I pushed toward the
left and he lost his balance, falling off to the left side of me, and I jumped
up in an instant and started to attack. Gaviyn and I fought for nearly 10 full
minutes, biting, scratching, and trying to kill one another. I wanted to kill
him. Every fiber of my existence wanted to rip his throat out, but he put up
one hell of a fight. Finally, after we had pushed each other away and there was
a gap between us, Gaviyn spoke.
“Carmen,
listen to me!” he screamed, pleadingly. “You have to stop, you can’t do this!
Look at him, he’s an innocent person-a HUMAN!”
I
stopped in mid attack. Rational thought flooded my head in an instant, my
animal instincts withdrawing to a corner of my mind. I looked down at the man,
who was still sitting straight up and waiting for me to take his life. I looked
up at the platform that held the body of the older hunter whose life I had
stolen from him. All of a sudden, I felt my legs turn to jelly again and this
time Gaviyn didn’t catch me. I hit the ground hard, but I didn’t even feel it.
I realized what had happened, and I started crying. Not those cute little girly
cries, either. I was full on bawling my eyes out, bloody tears practically
spurting from my eyes. I covered my face with my hands and pulled my knees up
to my chest.
“Wh-what
have I done?” I cried out. “How could I? I didn’t mean it! I’m so SORRY!”
Gaviyn
let me cry for a minute, and then came over and crouched next to me. He ran a
hand through my hair.
“This
is my fault. I shouldn’t have left you alone so long.”
I
raised my head up and looked at him through the tears.
“Don’t
be ridiculous, you left me alone before and I didn’t go on a massive…killing
spree.”
“I
still should have made sure nobody was in the area.”
“You
can’t take the blame for my mistakes, Gaviyn, I did this, I killed that man and
I would have killed another if you hadn’t stopped me.”
Gaviyn
looked at me and I knew he still blamed himself.
“Gaviyn,
you can control it, so I should be able to control it, too. But I didn’t. I
lost control and I only have myself to blame.”
He
halfway smiled at me.
“You
had never smelled human blood either, Carmen. I’ve been around it for a really,
really long time.”
He
was right on that account, but it did not excuse what I did. However, rational
thought kicked in, and I remembered the younger man. He had watched me kill his
father, drink the life right out of him, and I had come after him for seconds.
“Oh,
God, Gaviyn, what about him?” I asked, nodding toward the younger man as I
starting to panic a little.
Excerpt – Daughters of Night: Possession:
About
ten feet away from me, toward the grassy hills, was a white wrought iron table
with a glass inlaid top. Sitting on opposite sides of the table were two
identical overstuffed armchairs.
Imagine
my surprise when I realized there was a man seated in one of those chairs.
I
stood quickly, throwing up my guard and calling on my magic in case the man was
threatening.
IDIOT!
I chastised myself quietly. Stupid stupid stupid! How could you let yourself
be drawn into such a dangerous situation?
The
man didn't move. For a moment I wondered if the man was even a real person.
“Who
are you?” I shouted to the man, making my voice bigger than I really was,
hoping he would guess that I was far more dangerous than I looked.
He
didn't respond.
“Tell
me who you are, now!” I commanded, growing angry.
When
he responded his voice was soft, calm, and familiar.
“Would
you really threaten your own son, mother?”
Son?
Mother? What the hell?
Surprised,
I let my arms fall limply at my sides.
“Come.
Sit. We have much to discuss.”
Without
my consent, my feet carried me over to the figure. When I was close enough to
see him, I looked into his eyes. His beautiful gray-blue eyes, swirling with
silver and purple.
“Damien?”
I asked when I finally reached the table.
He
smiled at me. It was a smile I'd only seen on two people in my life-Gaviyn, and
my son.
“You
look shocked.”
I
was. Because aside from the obvious facial features and height, this man shared
no other similarities with my Damien. His face was gaunt, with a grayish-white
pallor. He appeared to be in his twenties, but with vampires, age is nearly
impossible to guess. He wore a custom-tailored suit, black jacket and pants,
gray tie and undershirt, shiny leather shoes that you'd find on a human businessman.
His
hair was cut short, and though I always yelled at Damien about keeping his hair
so long, I realized quickly that I preferred the length over the awkward short
hair this Damien had.
On
the table in front of him was a tall glass filled with a dark red liquid that
looked remarkably like blood. I sniffed the air discreetly.
Definitely
blood. Fresh, too.
“You're
right, it is blood,” he said, reading my thoughts. “Please sit, you look as
though your legs won't hold up much longer.”
He
was right. I gripped the arm of the chair and guided myself into the seat, and
as my knees finally gave out I crashed down hard on the seat. He smirked.
“You
look a little shocked, Mother. Something wrong?”
I
looked at him a moment longer, really taking in this snake-like appearance of
my son.
“You're
not Damien. You're not my son.”
He
laughed.
“Oh,
I assure you, I am. You see,” he said, leaning forward, “I'm one possible
outcome. There are many of us, and in the end, it will be a direct result of
your actions and your decisions that picks which of us will be the one your
version of Damien will become.”
I
swallowed hard. That was a lot to take in.
“How?”
“What
a stupid question,” he said, wrinkling his face up and shaking his head before
looking away.
“Tell
me how any of this is even real. Am I hallucinating?”
It
took him several seconds to answer.
“Not
exactly. This is more of a vision. A peek into the future, if you will, so you
can see what you have to work with.”
“So
which one are you? What action or decision causes you to become my son?”
His
eyes danced, and he smiled. Somehow, that smile had lost its charm.
“Why?
Do you like what you see?” he sneered.
I
glared at him.
“Just
because this is a vision doesn't make me any less your mother. Tell me.”
His
smile faded, and he looked injured. I continued glaring at him.
“Fine,
if you must know,” he finally said, indignantly, “I come about if you die.”
I
gasped, and my hands flew to my mouth to cover my gaping jaw.
“Yeah,
not exactly a happy ending, is it? Well, it's not all rainbows and butterflies
for me, either, thanks for asking.”
I
couldn't speak. I couldn't even breathe.
“Oh,
stop gawking, you're not invincible,” he said, wrinkling his face up again.
“You left me. Dad left me. Everything fell apart. I was left to fend for
myself, and yeah, I made some poor choices. Now, your baby boy is on the lam,
running from some very unscrupulous characters out for my blood. Actually, I'm
probably dead by now anyway.”
“But...you're
so strong. So powerful. So smart,” I said, not bothering to hide my shock and
pain anymore.
“Look,
I lost my parents, and I freaked. I'm not perfect. And thanks to you, I don't
have any magic anymore. The only gifts I have left are the vampire gifts.
Thanks a lot for that, too, by the way. You could have killed me, what were you
thinking?”
I
shook my head.
“I
would never...”
“Well,
you did.”
He
leaned back in the armchair, still miffed and glowering at me like I was a
horrible person. He glanced at a shiny silver watch on his wrist, then bolted
up with inhuman speed. I followed suit.
“Aw,
jeez, I gotta go or I really am dead,” he said, running a hand over his short
hair.
“Don't
go! I want to help!”
“It's
too late for me, but for the Goddess' sake, don't let the bad one win!”
He
took off before I could react.
“How
do I get back?” I yelled after him, but it was too late; he was long gone.
I
leaned back in my chair, suddenly exhausted. I yawned, then everything went
dark.
As Promised, here is a teaser from her WIP:
Teaser – Daughters of Night: Tribulation:
A twig
snapped directly behind me, but I’d heard it a half a heartbeat too late.
Before I could react, a thick black fabric covered by head, obstructing my view
and throwing me off balance. With a hard shove from my captors, I fell to the
ground, sprawling in the dirt and pine needles.
“Ow! Hey,
what the-“
“Quiet,
bloodsucker!”
The
command was followed by a kick to my side that would have had me reeling with
pain when I was a human. At the moment, however, it was nothing more than an
irritation.
Hands held
me down on the ground, which was pretty useless. I lifted my arm effortlessly
and shook it hard enough to knock away the hands holding me, then reached up
and yanked the fabric sack off of my head.
With
angered yelps, my captors tried once again to restrain me and shove the bag
back over my head. But I was getting restless and tired of the new game. I
wasn’t used to being the helpless victim anymore, and I had no intentions of
starting it up again.
I looked
between the faces above me, each one twisted in anger and disgust. There were
two women and four men trying to hold me down, two of which were the men I had
led into he wooded area.
How ironic, I led myself into their trap.
And I thought I was the hunter here.
My
frustration grew to contempt at being tricked and at their attempts to hold me
down. I figured whatever had blocked my seduction earlier was still blocking it
so I decided on another strategy. I smiled as I felt the exhilarating sensation
of my fangs growing in, and moving too quickly for their human eyes to even
comprehend, I snatched the one closest to me.
It tuned
out to be a strong, feisty man who wanted to put up a fight. I smiled even
wider at his tenacity, knowing it would make little to no difference in his
fate, but it would give me such gratification taking the scumbag down.
I leaped
off the ground, and the faces of the group turned upward as I sailed up over
their heads, still holding tightly to the man I had claimed as my first victim.
When I landed easily on my feet, my prey flailing to the ground hard, I ripped
his head to the side and, in true theatrical vampire fashion, sank my fangs
deep into his jugular artery. Fresh, warm blood splashed onto my tongue, and I
lost myself for a few seconds in ecstasy, excitement pulsing through my own
veins.
Before I
drained him completely, I pulled back, making sure some of his blood spilled
down my chin as a warning. I listened closely to his heartbeat as I dropped him
to the ground. Fast, a little erratic,
but not in danger of dying. He’ll live. Maybe even be a little smarter for the
experience.
Satisfied
that he would be fine, I turned my attention to the crowd rushing toward me.
After the day I’d had, I was looking forward to a scuffle.
A woman reached
me first, a stake in hand. Stereotypical
vampire hunter. And so naïve! I
jerked to the left to avoid her attack, grabbed her wrist, bent it up at a
painfully unnatural angle until I heard the bones snap. Still holding her
wrist, I twirled her around so her arm was crossing her chest and her back was
to me. Her free hand was flailing haphazardly, trying to grab onto something. I
grabbed her flailing arm at the elbow and yanked it backward, dislocating her
shoulder. Finally registering the pain, she let out a high-pitched wail. Losing
myself in the thrill of battle, I silenced her screams by ripping out her
throat with my teeth.
By then,
hands were on me again, pulling me to the right as the other woman and a man
took the bleeding woman from my grasp. Laughing, I twisted around quickly and
stared into the dark brown eyes of a young man-about twenty. Still just a kid.
A kid who has made a terrible mistake coming
out here tonight.
Without
any further thought about the kid, I snapped my fangs at his face, scaring him
as I’d meant to. He let go and jumped back. I used his sudden reaction to break
free of the rest of the hands and charged him, knocking him down. I pinned him
there with my knee on his chest, and smiling, I grabbed his wrist and bit.
Hard. I felt the veins sever completely as I bit through them, ripping flesh,
tendon, and muscle apart in one swift movement. His eyes filled with regret and
fear.
More hands
on me suddenly, pulling me off of him. I shrugged, knocking the hands loose,
and turned to face them. I was getting tired of playing. Before their clumsy
hands could stop me, I decided to try the magic I’d been practicing with Blair.
I took a
deep breath, and silently called out to the Goddess Hecate to lend me her
power. I instantly felt my body start tingling with magic, and I focused it all
within me, letting it fill me with an intense power. Concentrating resolutely,
I willed it to build and build with pressure. Hands grabbed at me, but I stood
firm and unmoving. The pressure inside me was so great I felt like my head was
about to explode, and when I felt I couldn’t hold it in me any longer, I knew
it was time to release it.
With a
wide gesture of my arms to direct the energy, I exhaled hard and pushed the
energy out of me like an explosion. I felt and watched the energy leave my body
in a wave, similar to a nuclear blast, and the remaining men and woman flew
backward several feet, some hitting trees, some falling to the ground. I
laughed, watching them drop like flies.
Satisfied
that the game was finally over, I started walking away, back toward home. I was
still high from the fight, and I licked the blood off my lips as my teeth
returned to normal. Then I heard the boy’s voice.
“D-Damien.”
I stopped
walking and whipped my head around to see him. He was barely alive, his
heartbeat was weak and failing. I flitted over to him and dropped to my knees.
“What did
you say?” I asked, my voice laced with danger.
“He-he
lives. Sanctuary. I beg Sanctuary.”
I grabbed
him by his unbuttoned shirt and pulled him close to my face.
“What do
you know about Sanctuary and my son?”
“I’m… a…
witch,” he said, his breath gurgling with blood.
The truth
dawned on me, and I realized what I had done.
I just killed my own kind. I killed witches!
Oh, Goddess, no! Why didn’t they say something? Fools! And at least this one
knows something about Damien, so the rest must know as well. Why, then would
they want to kill me? I need answers, and this kid is the only one willing to
talk. He better hope he changes.
Fuming
with anger, I stood and lifted him with me.
“If you
want to live and you want to claim Sanctuary, listen close. You’re going to
die. I’m going to make sure of that. But when you’re in the darkness and the
light comes for you, turn away and choose the darkness, or you’ll cross over.
And if you do THAT, you’d better be ready for me to come yank you back and kill
you all over again. Choose the darkness. Understand?”
He nodded,
and I snatched his wrist with a snarl, draining him to his death. After he
exhaled his last breath, I flung him over my shoulder and took off running back
home.
Ah, crap. How the hell am I going to explain
THIS to Gaviyn? I thought as I raced back to our home in the Colorado
mountains.
Wow......wait there's more!!!!
Ashley
was kind enough to go even further with us.......We were lucky enough
to get an added interview with one of her characters aswell as
herself...Well aren't you lucky kids to get such a treat today....lol
Character Interview: Gaviyn Hartford:
TDP: Hi Gaviyn, thanks for, um...I mean, I
just...whew, is it hot in here or is it just me?
Gaviyn: It's just you.
TDP: (GULP) Well, thanks for talking with
me, I um...
Gaviyn: Yes?
TDP: Oh, um, so, you're a vampire, right?
Gaviyn: Yes, I haven't been human since the twelfth
century.
TDP: Oh my, that's a long time! Er, not saying that
you're old or anything, but, um, well, that's just impressive.
Gaviyn: It seems like a long time because it really
is. Time has a way of passing quickly when you're the closest thing to immortal
as a being can be.
TDP: I see. Well, so tell us how it all happened?
Gaviyn: You mean how I became a vampire?
TDP: (nods dumbly, trying not to be too obvious
that I'm staring and constantly swallowing the buildup of saliva)
Gaviyn: Very well. The woman I loved had been taken
from me-murdered while I stood helplessly watching. She was cursed for an
eternity of lifetimes, and the pain was unbearable. I begged to any deity who
would hear me to grant me the strength to avenge her. It was the Goddess Hecate
who answered my call, and She made me what I am; a Son of Night created in Her
image.
TDP: Wow. This girl must have been really special.
Gaviyn: Indeed she is.
TDP: Wait...IS? I thought she was murdered?
Gaviyn: Correct. She was murdered. I sought out my
revenge, and she was reborn. Over and over again, in more lifetimes than I care
to recall, and in each lifetime, her time was cut short before we could be
together. At first it appeared to be caused by some unseen force, but then
after a...slight altercation with the incarnation of evil, her lives were
stolen away even sooner by their hands. In fact, one could say the cause of the
altercation was due to yet another untimely demise of my love.
TDP: (Staring in total idiotic silence)
Gaviyn: It was a very long, dark part of my life. But
those days are over now. My Caroline was reborn as Carmen, and she is back at
my side where she belongs.
TDP: That's got to be one of the most tragically
romantic stories ever told.
Gaviyn: (laughing) Tragic at times, yes, though
I'm not sure how romantic a story it is.
TDP: Oh, it's romantic, and I'm completely jealous
right now!
Gaviyn: Ah, that's nonsense. A stunning woman like
yourself is certain to have more suitors and romance than the world can handle.
TDP: (Giggling like a schoolgirl) You're a
charmer, Mr. Hartford.
Gaviyn: (A hypnotic, lazy grin on his face) I
speak only the truth.
TDP: Well...thank you. Um, so, what's new at
Sanctuary?
Gaviyn: There's always something new at Sanctuary.
Most recently it's been the hustle and bustle of the upcoming shift of power as
a new High Priestess is named.
TDP: OH! What's going on with Carmen and you?
Gaviyn: (Smiling mischievously) Let's just say
we have other obligations to tend to.
TDP: Come on, not even a hint?
Gaviyn: Ah, well...Carmen has been...promoted.
TDP: How exactly does a vampire witch High
Priestess get promoted?
Gaviyn: For that, you'll have to just wait and see in
Tribulation.
TDP: Damn! Well, I really appreciate you stopping
by for an interview today. This is really awesome.
Gaviyn: Anything for you, m'lady.
TDP: (Giggling and blushing several shades of
red) You're too kind. Good luck with the upcoming power shift.
Gaviyn: Thank you.
TDP: (whispering) I love you...
Gaviyn: I'm sorry, did you say something?
TDP: Oh, no, I was just reminding myself to pick up
milk on my way home. Bye!! *runs away embarrassed*
We really hoped you enjoyed all the special treats we had
for you today. Who knows what awaits in next weeks Monday Mention,
guess you will have to be here to find out....lol Thank you all for
spending this time with us, and we hope the rest of your week is a
wonderful one.
