Guest Post by Horror Author/Blogger Jake Bannerman

I would like to welcome horror author Jake Bannerman, here to promote his short story/prose anthology THE PITCHFORK DIARIES. In the mind of this horror reader/author/fan, Bannerman's work seems to breed together the splatterpunk stylings of cult shock-author Edward Lee (BULLET THROUGH YOUR FACE) and the ultra-weird storytelling of Carlton Mellick III (author of SATAN BURGER), spawning a completely new beast. Sit back and enjoy the mayhem!

 

FIGHT, FUCK, WORSHIP SATAN!

BY JAKE BANNERMAN, AUTHOR OF THE PITCHFORK DIARIES

Oh, now that is an offensive title now, isn’t it? Fighting is so violent, fucking is pornographic and good heavens above, why on earth would you want to worship Satan?!

But think for just thirty seconds thing about that phrase!

Religious Freedom

Sexual Freedom

Fight for Freedom

Holy Hell - did we just stumble upon everything that we believe in and that we live for?

Would you fight for your family? Of course you would!

Would you fight for sex? Ever watched ‘Cops’? Yes, we fight for sex; it makes the world go around, and if you need an example of wars fought over sex, then you are not paying attention!

Satan, Buddha, Allah, or even Elvis Costello - we worship whomever we want, and we have slaughtered millions over the history of mankind (mostly in the name of Jesus, the so-called ‘Prince of Peace’, I might add!) to have this freedom!

But wait one second, here - this is an atrocity! These are the very things that we teach our children not to do! They are told that they must be peaceful, love Jesus and not have sex! And now, this is Important, with a capital I. What do kids and adults alike do when not being watched? Oh, you know the answer!

So, if you and your friends want to do something really offensive, print up a shirt or bumper sticker that says ‘Think, be original, worship no god and respect yourself!’ Now, that really will offend many people, because it threatens their power-hungry minds and convictions!

I am not trying to be a square; I say drink it, snort it, smoke it, fuck it! Just do not be ashamed of those things that you have been told are offensive. Be afraid of the truth. MANKIND IS OFFENSIVE!

So, to end this little rant - next time you see something that offends you, break it down and look for the meaning. You might actually find that you agree with it.

***

The Guts of Christ

An Excerpt by Jake Bannerman

The rumor had been flying around for a long time, gathering strength by the day until out of nowhere the Life Corporation, a previously unknown Japanese company held a three hour press conference on Japanese television. Clandestine videos of the conference had spread virally on YouTube and other media sources, but nobody knew for sure whether they were genuine. The shocking claims that were being made by this energetic young company were almost impossible to comprehend, yet alone believe.

They were purporting to have found a vitamin that would give eternal life. ‘Heaven Can Wait’ was the company’s catchphrase. At the conference they produced several people all claiming to be between two and three hundred years old and doctors from all over world verifying the authenticity of this miracle drug. It not only gave eternal life. The company assured the world that it could cure any disease known to man from cancer to AIDs.

And what was most remarkable of all was that the Life Corporation wanted no money; all they wanted was for everyone to have free access to this miracle drug, even children as young as three years old were able to take it safely, they claimed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in the church, J.S. Bannerman has taken the dangerous stance to question events that have been spoon fed to him as the truth since his childhood. He continually pushes boundaries as a purveyor of terror and often strives to find that disquietude that exists inside each one of us.

He is a nomad, calling no one place home; choosing the life of a traveler while on the mission of writing the Family of Dog series. As a result you may find him in your town, writing at your local pub, crafting tales of horror so terrifyingly depraved and heartbreakingly cruel that you would never believe that they come from a mind as normal as his. Just beware, because within each tale is a message; it’s just up to you to figure out what it means.

Early Praise for The Pitchfork Diaries:

“It’s refreshing to find a multifaceted storyteller that can tie together a multitude of different genres. J.S. Bannerman leaves no stone unturned and attacks any subject that his mind lays purchase to. He weaves a brilliant story each and every time that pulls you in and keeps you engaged.” 

Julianne Snow 

Author of Days with the Undead

Find the Author Online at: 

http://familyofdog.blogspot.com/

Purchase the Kindle edition HERE

Buy on Smashwords HERE

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO WIN A FREE E-COPY OF THE BOOK! 

Skin So Thin I Bleed...Thoughts on Bad Reviews

 "The biggest enemy of an author’s career is not bad reviews—it’s obscurity."
--Anonymous

"You're never as good as your most ardent fans proclaim, and you're never as bad as your worst critics accuse." --Anonymous

"Black Dog and Rebel Rose...is the best Urban Fantasy love story I've ever read."
--Two Lips Reviews, 5 STAR Review, Awarded BD&RR the Recommended Read Award and the Reviewer's Choice Award


"...everything in the story felt rushed; and the plot was very predictable..."
--A Reader, 2 STAR Review

Bad reviews.

 As authors, we all get them. Whether it's sooner or later, they manage to bite us in our most tender spots and leave us smarting like nothing else.

If you're me, you instantly feel like curling up in a ball, sucking your thumb, and eating french fries as you lick your wounds. Oh, and never picking up that laptop again...well, at least for a day or so...until, eventually, you get over it.

Writing, like any art, is a subjective business, and is tough as hell. I'm convinced that most could not stomach it. As my one-time tattoo teacher, the brilliantly talented Beth Emmerich, once told me: "There are days when I want to say 'Fuck it, I'm gonna go work at a gas station'." It sounds funny initially, but in the end I catch myself thinking that locking up the laptop and strolling into the local Gas n' Sip ain't such a bad idea.

Our books are like our children, at least in a vague philosophical way. They grow in the womb of the mind, nurtured as tenderly as a babe as it is cradled in its mother's belly. If we are good writers, we prune that sprouting tree with care, making sure it leaves our hands and enters the publishing world as polished as bright chrome. We offer it openly, saying, "Here world...take my offering, this piece of my spirit, and enjoy." And, again, if we are good writers, most of the world will do just that.

Most.

Since my most popular book, Black Dog and Rebel Rose, went on sale at 99 cents, sales shot up. As did bad reviews...most of them stating that the story felt "too short/rushed" and that the romance developed unrealistically "too soon" (which is really funny, since in the original final draft I had made the heat between Skrike and Rose come to the surface more slowly, and only changed things after a pro editor advised I "speed up the romance" since that's what readers of the genre "wanted"...go fig). And after my initial heartbreak and questioning as to *why* I ever thought about sitting down to create this story, I began to ponder just how bad a "bad" review really is.

Even a bad review (in my lucky case, only 2 star reviews thus far, though I know that first inevitable 1 Star is just around the corner--I can feel it in my bones, like an old man feeling a rainstorm coming on) is still a review. It mentions your work. A wise writer once said that many readers are leery about books with only 4 and 5 star reviews, since that shows that the writer's work isn't really "out there" all that much and circulating through the general public. Where would I rather be: in the magic 4 and 5 Star safety bubble, or out in the open, my heart and soul exposed a little bit more for the benefit of having it reach a larger audience? Gimme a larger audience any day...even though I will bleed more for it.

I think it's easy to feel like you let the reader down. I always feel that way...I have made it my practice to message certain writers of bad reviews to graciously THANK them for their candid opinion, since it may truly benefit me in the end to show potential readers a broader spectrum and give my work more weight. I also do it because it makes me feel better, and takes some of the crushing weight of second-guessing my work off of my shoulders. And I tell said reviewers that they have given me food for thought...because they have. In the end, they will have helped me become a better writer. I rarely hear back from them...maybe they think I'm a weirdo. But in the end, it did me good, and that's what matters.

There is always the little voice me that gets frustrated and starts to scream, "If you don't like quick reads, look at the goddamn page counts before you buy, people!!!" I think that's natural. I'm human, and that is a pretty human reaction. Will I ever become another Jacqueline Howett? Hell, no. The woman was insane, unprofessional, and quite frankly, a bitch. I understand her hurt at getting a bad review; we all feel that. But to go on such a tirade...it shows a distinct lack of respect for your readers, both current and potential, and does your work (and you) a serious disservice. And repairing such damage will most likely be impossible. But I acknowledge my feelings of frustration...and then I go and have a swig of whiskey (or, in my current pregnant state) a few spoonfuls of double chocolate ice cream, and move on. You cannot guess why someone didn't like some aspect of your work...and it is unfair of you to judge, no matter how thin and raw your skin may feel.

So I thank all of those who took the time to review my work...whether or not you found it worthy in the end. Because, at the very least, it was worthy enough for you to take the time to write about it period, and in the end, that is a gift I am more than happy to accept.

Oh, Look, An Alien Shrimp

It is so funny how one's life can change in an instant.

Let me tell you my story.

On April 8th, I met with a friend for lunch. It was quite pleasant--good raw sushi, cold Sapporo beer. In The Neon was released in electronic format that morning, and the print edition would soon follow. Sitting in a nice Japanese bistro, chatting about life in general, how my new writing and work on my new graphic novel version of Black Dog and Rebel Rose was going. How my husband was doing getting ready for the state bar.

Less than an hour later, I would find myself in a bathroom stall, clutching a home pregnancy test. Two cobalt blue lines staring up at me, glaring, announcing in no uncertain terms, "I'm here, so get used to it."

Well, good thing that Sapporo had hit the spot so nicely--it would be the last beer for quite a while. Nine months, to be exact.

Funny thing is that I didn't take the pregnancy test for any specific reason--it simply "felt right", and since I had a home pregger test in my purse for "emergencies", I thought, why not? My boobs had been tender for a few days, and I just felt wonky. Within five minutes of unwrapping that test, I was sitting on a public toilet, shaking and crying, feeling this odd tumultuous blend of extreme joy and insane trepidation. I dragged my friend into the bathroom, and she confirmed what those two little blue lines so strongly evinced: I was pregnant, expecting the first child that this tattooed artsy fart had been dreaming of since she was 12 years old.

The weeks since have been a whirlwind. Family has been called, tears of joy and worry have been shed. My parents are practically jumping for joy at the prospect of this first grandchild--in his early 60s, I think my dad was starting to wonder if he'd ever be a grandpa! There have been some very worrisome times--I have been in the emergency room twice with unexplained bleeding, where I awoke in the wee hours with red blood pouring down my legs in a torrent. Every time, the sonogram has found that precious heartbeat, throbbing with a hardcore will on the murky black and grey screen, a sure sign that my unborn child is alive and well. Bedrest has been ordered from time to time, sometimes for up to 6 days at a time, leaving me sore, cranky, and bored.

The fear remains, and praying for a healthy outcome continues.

I now face that strange state that many creative women might find themselves in at some point, be it sooner or later: Artist/Mother. As I nurture a new life due to make its entrance in December, I continue to try and nurture my creativity: keeping a stack of drawing paper and my laptop by the bed, plugging away when the creative need strikes and the muse is allowed to break through the fog of morning sickness and exhaustion.

Humor has gotten us through a few of the rough spots: my husband, Aaron, and I have come up with a list of new nicknames with every sonogram. When I first discerned the blip that was our offspring on the first sonogram picture, I thought, "Oh, look, an alien shrimp." As the weeks have passed and our lil' bub has grown to look a wee bit more human, a slew of nicknames have cropped up like moss on river stones: Shrimp/Shrimpie Smith, Krill Smith, Escargot Smith (a personal favorite), Pulpo/Pulpito (octopus/little squid). My husband lovingly hogs each new sonogram image, trying to come up with yet another nickname for what the baby looks like at that point. I'm beginning to picture a baby book detailing "how your mommy and daddy continually refered to you as an edible".

Ultimately, I have begun to look at this little miracle sprouting in my belly as the greatest artwork that I have yet brought to life--as a fellow author told me, "the act of natural creation is worth a thousand published novels."

I couldn't agree more.

Guest Author George Straatman

I am pleased to welcome guest author George Straatman, an author of fantasy/horror trilogy The Converging. George has provided his own questionnaire and answers for today's posting.
Take it away, George!





1. What are the primary themes of this final segment of your trilogy of The Converging?

As the title would imply, the novel’s plot revolves around putting a measure of closure to the story elements that have bridged the trilogy. By the conclusion of this novel, all of the primary characters who have populated the world of the Converging will have found a sense of resolution by the novel’s closing page. In addition to this, the story deals with the protagonist’s search for personal redemption and atonement for her culpability in Cynara Saravic’s twisted tapestry of evil.



2. Is there one common theme that ties the three segments of the trilogy together?



This is first and foremost, a horror trilogy and its roots are fixed deep in the dark soil of the supernatural thriller genre, but really, the story transcends the genre to become more of an intense drama about one woman’s thirty-five years search for a degree of normalcy after the foundations of her life have been eradicated by cataclysm events. Elizabeth’s painful and often tragic journey is really a metaphor for perseverance and a sustained belief in the compelling power of hope. The horror elements merely serve as a vehicle through which this story is told.



3. How long did it take to complete the full Converging cycle?



The full cycle took twenty-five years to write from the first moment I took up a pen and began the first page of the original novel until the moment I decided that I was happy with the end product of Closures in Blood. The characters of the story become constant companions of sorts…who I’ve come to care about and develop an emotional attachment to.



4. The first two novels were characterized by intense and dark horror…that could often be considered disturbing…does this atmosphere prevail in the final installment?



Most definitely…I’ve attempted to infuse the novel with a pervasive sense of desperation in which Elizabeth’s search for David Stillman is undertaken against a frenetic background of terror and incessant pursuit. The central concept of the Converging has always been about a wide array of forces coming together at one juncture in time with catastrophic results and Closures in Blood is fraught with this element. I wanted the story to unfold like an avalanche…or more correctly, a convergence of avalanches…all coming together with a brutally violent finality. Every character in this novel is much like a piece of an intricate jigsaw puzzle…the commonality of each of these pieces is Elizabeth Simpson, who serves as the lens through which they are all focused…with extremely explosive results. This novel certainly serves up the most diverse collection of characters of the series…and this diversity adds to the volatility of the plot.



5. Was there a single facet of this story that would stand out as the most difficult to write?



The segment of the story that dealt with the teenage runaway, Cassandra Jasic was perhaps one of the most difficult that I’ve ever written…the scene in which she reveals the story of the abuse she suffered as a child was difficult to write…and equally difficult to read. Ultimately, horror is an emotional response and Cassandra Jasic’s hellish ordeal goes a long way toward justifying the depth of psychosis she demonstrates in the story. The tone of segments such as this one is critical…an author has to be attuned to the need for presenting this type of material in a way that does not make it gratuitous or even worse…appears to condone the actions being depicted.



6. With the conclusion of this series, is there any one character with whom you feel most connected?



Though I’ve enjoyed all of my characters immensely and feel a strong affinity for each, I would say that Elizabeth Simpson is the individual for whom I have the most empathy…I often reflect on the things that she endured over the course of the three novels and I’m suffused by a profound sense of sadness. Cynara Saravic presented me with the most perplexing technical challenges as a character, but Elizabeth Simpson is the one who resonates emotionally through the trilogy…her closure is, for me, the most emotionally poignant.



7. Are the any specific moral concepts contained within this final novel?



It would be difficult to write a two thousand page story without inculcating some personal philosophy into the fabric of the story…The story is violent and bloody, but beneath this, there resonates a subtle judgment on the nature of this violence. The story also holds an implied statement on the nature of seduction and the way that an individual’s personal prejudices can ensnare them into accepting things that both dangerous and illogical. This subtext is most clearly demonstrated by the characters of Gregor Ingram and Contayza Prowzi, whose inherent prejudices allow them to be deceived into seeing Elizabeth Simpson as the ultimate manifestation of evil.

Elizabeth Simpson takes center stage in this novel and it is through her that I have implicitly conveyed my own personal view on violence and moral integrity…Through all of her travails and loss, Elizabeth retains an inviolable sense of dignity and grace and vehemently refuses to succumb to the more primal urges that drive many of the novel’s other characters…she comes closest to representing my own perspective on the treatment of violence in art.



8. With the conclusion of the trilogy…have we seen the last of Elizabeth and Cynara?



As mentioned earlier…this cycle had a twenty-five year creative life. In that time, I have transitioned from a horror novelist to a fantasy novelist…a genre with the broadest creative potential. Still, it would be impossible to invest so much creative and emotional energy into characters such as Cynara and Elizabeth and not have a strong bond with both. The Converging as a concept has definitely run its course, but I have tinkered with the idea of writing a novel that tells the story of the demon Cynara Saravic and her life through the years between her disappearance in 1850 to her appearance in the fictitious town where the first novel takes place in the 1970s. As for the trilogy’s primary protagonist, Elizabeth Simpson, I have developed a plot outline for a novel that would take place some years after the events chronicled in the epilogue of Closures in Blood. Both of these notions are in the formative stages and whether they will germinate into full novels, only time will tell. My primary focus over the next few years will be on development of my fantasy cycle – Journey through the Land of Shades.

Visit the author online:
http://www.georgestraatman.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3046802.George_Straatman

Purchase via Sony:
http://ebookstore.sony.com/search?keyword=george+straatman

The trilogy is also available on Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Smashwords

Facebook: George Straatman

Twitter: Geoconverge

George's Email: geolouicewind@yahoo.ca

The Gift of Art: Faust on The Rooftop

I am ecstatic that my first illustrated novel, IN THE NEON, will be released by Solstice Publishing in March 2011. This is my first fully illustrated novel, and as an artist this is beyond huge.Truly, it has been a momentous project, something that I never imagined I would be able to create. Worth every drop of blood that trickles from my forehead instead of sweat...*small pathetic chuckle*

Every illustration matters implicitly...character's emotions, actions, and thoughts laid out in a single snapshot frame. Each image may require up to 5 separate steps: rough sketch, final sketch, ink tracing, ink/graphite shading, final digital coloring. If an image must be in both color and black & white, an additional step must be taken to transfer a copy of the color art into black & white mode for printing inside the pages of the book.

It will be incredible to share this aspect of my creative self with my readers and fans; to merge my visual creations with the words that they have come to love. And I am ecstatic to say that this will not be the last illustrated book I create: even before publication, the concept of merging my artwork with the written word has recieved such raves from readers and art fans alike that most (if not all) of my books will be illustrated going forward.

In celebration of this "first" in my literary journey, I am thrilled to offer a special prize here on The Angel's Gate. A beautiful signed 8" x 12" 200-year archival photo print of the full color illustration "Faust on the Roof", used on the cover of IN THE NEON, will be given away to one lucky fan who leaves a comment on this blog post with their email included.

This is an INTERNATIONAL Giveaway, meaning that my wondeful international fans are invited to try their luck...I will ship this print anywhere in the world, so don't hesitate to throw your name in the pot. :-)

This contest is open until Midnight Pacific Time on 3/30/2011.

Guest Author Angelique Armae

I am pleased to welcome guest author Angelique Armae to The Angel's Gate.


1. What inspired you to begin writing?




I've always loved writing. I think being an avid reader as a kid made me want to write as much as I read! There's something magical about creating characters, a world for them to live, and a journey for them to take. I like the creative process, watching how a single idea can turn into a full-length novel with characters you come to love by the end of the book. I can't imagine not writing. It's part of me.







2. What was the inspiration behind the characters in your most recent release Shadows of the Soul?



My most recent release is Shadows of the Soul, a paranormal romance involving a fallen angel and a demon hunter. Angels fascinate me. I've studied angelology for several years, but have had an interest in them most of my life. Making my hero--Nicolai Valentine--a fallen angel (he's a grigori prince, heir to a principality in Hell) gave me the opportunity to create a tortured, sexy hero. Not that I don't like stories about good, white-winged angels, but I tend to write darker and needed to give my hero a darker background. My heroine--Isabel Godfroie Heart--is an immortal human trained in angelic warfare. She's one tough cookie, yet vulnerable when it comes to love. The two are a perfect match!







3. Which character did you have the most fun writing in this story?



My heroine - Isabel. She's been through a lot and watching her fight her personal demons while trying to save several souls, endeared her to me.







4. What originally drew you to the paranormal/ dark fantasy genre?



You mean there are other genres out there? Just kidding! As a kid I loved sitting on the stoop with my cousin and listening to her tell me ghost stories. So I think I've always been intrigued with the paranormal/supernatural. Plus, it's in my blood. My grandmother was a psychic and her father loved the ancient mysteries and stories about Nostradamus. There's so much a writer can create when stepping into the paranormal/fantasy world.







5. Do you have any favorite paranormal-themed films or TV shows?



As for current TV shows, I totally LOVE The Gates. I'm also a fan of the SyFy channel and am addicted to the UK series, Merlin. Yes, I'm a sucker for King Arthur stories. Anytime you can mix historical aspects (real or mythical) with the paranormal, you'll have me as a fan. As for film, one of my all time favorites is Practical Magic. And of course I was a huge fan of Bewitched and Mary Poppins as a kid.





6. What literary projects can we expect from you in the future?



I'm currently working on an historical vampire novella for my series at ImaJinn Books and the sequel to Shadows of the Soul.



Thanks for having me!



Visit Angelique online:
http://www.angeliquearmae.com

Guest Author: E.J. Stevens

I am pleased to welcome my first guest author, the lovely E.J. Stevens, who is here to discuss her latest paranormal release, She Smells the Dead.


1. What inspired you to begin writing?




I grew up in a family of eccentric storytellers. We would often sit around and tell stories, many times taking turns and picking up where the other left off. As a young child it seemed like a sort of game we played. We were always competing to tell the most frightening or most entertaining tale. Writing became a later extension of my love for storytelling.





2. What was the inspiration behind your characters in She Smells the Dead?



I live beside a small overgrown graveyard and one day while walking my dog I was overwhelmed by a strong, unexpected smell. I then wondered what it would be like to have a psychic connection with spirits of the dead that came in the form of smells, rather than sight or sound. I ended up digging through my messenger bag for pen and paper and hastily scribbled my initial ideas for Yuki and the Spirit Guide series. The two weeks that followed that graveyard walk were a blur of typing and insomnia. I was obsessed with creating these characters, though I often wonder if their creation was a paranormal event itself. ;)





3. Which character did you have the most fun writing in this story?



Oh, that is a nearly impossible question to answer! I fall in love with these characters more and more each time I read them. The Spirit Guide series is character driven and each character has their own distinct voice. The interactions between these characters often has me literally laughing out loud. In many ways Yuki, the main character, is a reflection of myself and so I enjoy writing her, however, Emma is probably my favorite character in She Smells the Dead.





4. What originally drew you to the paranormal genre?



My mom moved here from Wales and brought with her a multitude of captivating myths and Celtic folklore. I was raised on stories of faeries, selkies, goblins, and grindylow and really did believe there were bloodthirsty monsters hiding in the shadows. As I grew older I also learned of my Native American ancestry and read extensively about Native American myths. I was fascinated by the common threads between world myths and legends, though I believe the Welsh myths of my childhood were the most influential to me as an author.



5. Do you have any favorite paranormal-themed films or TV shows?



My favorite TV show is Supernatural. I'm a huge Dean fan! I don't have television though so I'm a bit behind in watching this series. I watch the show as it is released on DVD. I also love watching Moonlight, a series that was inexplicably dropped by the network after the first season, Buffy, Angel, and Being Human.



6. What literary projects can we expect from you in the future?



I am currently working on two projects.



I have two collections of poetry in print and am working on a third. From the Shadows, a haunting collection of dark poetry, released in 2009 and Shadows of Myth and Legend, a collection of paranormal poetry, released in 2010. My current paranormal poetry project Shadows of Faerie is due to release in 2011. For more information about my existing books in print, please visit my Books by E.J. Stevens website. (http://ejstevensbooks.blogspot.com/)



I am also working on Spirit Storm, book two in the Spirit Guide series. Spirit Storm is the sequel to my new release She Smells the Dead and is due to release in early 2011. For more information about the Spirit Guide series, including polls, character profiles and giveaways, visit the official Spirit Guide series website. (http://spiritguideseries.blogspot.com/)



Thank you for inviting me to join you here today!

To learn more about author E.J. Stevens please visit her blog From the Shadows. (http://www.FromTheShadows.info)

View the official She Smells the Dead book trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QethSSL54kU&hd=1

An Invitation: Angels & Demons Authors blog

Greetings, friends:

David Bridger (author of the soon-to-be-released tale Beauty and the Bastard) and I have been discussing starting up a blog focusing on writing in the specific niche of angels and demons fiction (romance or not) or non-fiction. We are seeking fellow authors who have written specifically in this genre who would be interested in participating in this blog. It is our goal to catch the interest of more readers for our niche. Also, if you are (or know) an as-yet-unpublished author who is working on an angel-and-demon themed tale, we invite you to join us and share your journey!

The tales can be angel OR demon themed; the two do not necessarily need to co-exist. We just want to be sure that we are sticking with the celestial/demonic theme ONLY (i.e. no werewolves, shifters, vampires, etc. as the main focus. Those creatures can be in the stories, but the main supernatural focus/characters need to be angels or demons). I would also love to see some folks jump in who write about the history/mythology of angels and/or demons, as well as non-romance fantasy fiction. (I, for one, have NEVER really considered Psyche's Gate to be a romance, and when it is in print it is likely that it will not be listed as such with that publisher.)



A few examples: my debut novel, Psyche's Gate, involves a warrior angel and a human girl. My upcoming novella involves a half-demon and half-angel on a vampire hunt together. David's soon-to-be released novel Beauty and the Bastard is about a fallen angel and a modern-day demon princess. That's the kind of thing we're going for. Our goal is to grab more readers for our genre. The stories do not ONLY have to be romances-- I personally would like to get some folks in there who also have interests in reading/writing about the mythology and history of angels and demons, as well as non-romantic fantasy fiction (I, for one, don't only write romance/erotica--I also write standard fantasy.) We're not looking to limit what folks write about, so long as it stays within the genre. Fiction, poetry, history, mythology, theology, romance, religious or atheist, you name it...if it involves angels and/or demons, we welcome you to jump on board.



Any authors interested in participating in this blog are welcome to email me.