Carol F. McKibben
  • Home
  • About Carol
    • Services >
      • Clients
      • Testimonials
    • Contact
  • Books
    • Luke's Tale
    • Snow Blood: Season 1
    • Snow Blood: A Vampire Mystery Thriller - Season 2
    • Snow Blood: A Vampire Mystery Thriller - Season 3
    • Snow Blood: Season 4 (A Vampire Mystery Thriller)
    • Snow Blood: Season 5 (A Vampire Mystery Thriller)
    • Kane: The First Blood Son
    • Moon Blood: Book 1
    • Moon Blood Book 2
    • Moon Blood Book 3
    • Moon Blood Book 4
    • Moon Blood Book 5
    • Reign - The Assault of Lucifer Morningstar - Book 1 Silver Blood Knight Series
    • Riding Through It
    • Media Kits
  • Free eBook
  • Blog

Riding Through It

There's an expression that horse trainers use whenever a client's ride becomes difficult - "Keep riding through it." I've heard it at least a hundred times while riding my horse. It's a function of good horsemanship. If you give up or get off in the midst of difficulties, you might win the battle that day but lose the war in the long run. Learning to be really good at something takes persistence and time. Such it is with life; so it is with writing.

My Books

Deal Sharing Aunt Interview with Carol McKibben

1/27/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture

Where are you from?


Originally? Born in Savannah, Georgia, I grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. After attending the University of Georgia and graduating from the University of Kentucky, I lived all over the East Coast until we moved to Los Angeles in 1981.

Tell us your latest news?

Hmmm … I have lots of news. My horse and I ranked third in the Southern California Championships at Third Level Dressage and 4th in all of Southern California (I ride competitively). I’m working on Season 2 of my Snow Blood Series and I just celebrated my 40th wedding anniversary with the same man! Now that’s a feat these days!

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing when I was a kid. Was on the newspaper staff in high school and college. Majored in English and Journalism. Taught writing in high school and then became an editor and publisher of magazines. So, pretty much always!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I was 14, my Daddy started reading my articles. He looked at me one day and said, “You’re a writer.” And, I’ve believed it since then.

What inspired you to write your first book?

Let me clarify. As a journalist and editor, I was always writing. I edited a number of books for others. But, I didn’t slow down long enough to really write my first book until 2005. I published it in 2007. It’s a memoir, but I don’t consider it my first “book.” It was a way to leave my past behind and start fresh. I consider my first real work of fiction Luke’s Tale. It’s the story of a couple’s search to find unconditional love as told through the eyes of their blind dog. Honestly, I dreamed about it. The little voices in my head (no, I’m not a nutcase!) kept pushing me to write it. Then, I went to two different psychics who told me that I was being divinely guided to write it. All my books are driven by the theme of unconditional love, even my Snow Blood series about vampires.

  Do you have a specific writing style?

I prefer narratives written though the eyes and hearts of dogs. I feel it gives me a more one-on-one personalized ability to speak to my reader directly. I want to make my readers laugh and cry in the same story, because I’m laughing or crying as I write it. It allows me to flesh out the characters clearly to my readers.

How did you come up with the title?

As you might have guessed, I’m totally into dogs. They play a prominent part in everything that I write currently. Luke’s Tale had just been published, and my publisher was hanging around the barn with me. She looked at me and asked me what I was going to write next.

I gave her a sideways look and flippantly said, “What do you want me to write?”

She smiled and said, “Why not a vampire book?”

I replied, “A vampire dog?”

She laughed and said, “why not?”

I work with a lot of rescue groups and had just fostered a snow white husky for which we had found a home. The dog’s name was “Snow.” I said, “I’ll call the dog “Snow,”

She said, “Why not Snow Blood?” And there it was. We both instantly loved it.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Oh, heck yes! All my books are about unconditional love. That love is always illustrated by the actions of the dog/narrator in the story. Dogs are the only beings that love us unconditionally. My question has always been why can’t we love each other (human to human) in the same way – without conditions. We often put “strings” on each other – If you behave in a certain way, be who I want you to be, do what I want you to do – then I will love you. Think about it. People today don’t stick together during tough times. Why not? Because they don’t love each other unconditionally. Snow Blood takes an unlikely scenario where the reader wouldn’t necessarily expect love, loyalty, etc. and illustrates it.

How much of the book is realistic?

It’s pure, paranormal fantasy. If you don’t like vampire stories, hate dogs and can’t suspend disbelief, then it’s not for you. On the other hand, if you’d love to read the story of how the first vampire was created (from the Vampire Bible) as told through the eyes of his kindred dog and how love can help you overcome anything, you’ll love it.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

No, not in Snow Blood. This story is my pure imagination. Except of course, Snow Blood is modeled after a foster dog named Snow. In Luke’s Tale, definitely. But, that’s another story.

What books have most influenced your life most?

The books of John Irving because he writes about quirky characters and his stories make you laugh and cry at the same time. I like his plot twists, and I enjoy books that take readers where they don’t expect to go. I want to be “touched” by what I read. Don’t you?

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Definitely John Irving. I’ve never met him, but he has taught me much with his writing.

What book are you reading now?

A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz and A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny.  I never have time to read one book at a time, so I usually read two at a time and switch back and forth, picking up whichever one strikes me at the moment.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

No one at the moment. I do want to read Richard Stephenson’s Collapse.

What are your current projects?

I am working on Snow Blood Season 2. In Season 1, I purposely made Selene a rather weak-willed character. In Season 2, she transforms into this very strong character. I love doing that. In addition, I’m adding more flavor to all the characters, more depth. And, I’m giving Snow a love interest.

Multiple reviewers said this is a vampire story … love story … mystery with lots of twists and turns. That’s still all there, but I want the characters to be even richer.

What would you like my readers to know?

This is a story about vampires. But, it’s also a commentary on how to unconditionally love another. I never put in anything just for the sake of a shock value. It’s all a part of what would happen in that world. But the overriding theme is unselfish love. It always is in all of my books. Give me a try and see what you think!

Til Next Time,
Carol

0 Comments

Diane Lynch Book Reviews: An Interview with Carol McKibben

1/20/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
Diane: What is your favorite part of the story, Snow Blood Season 1?   

Carol: Snow Blood Season 1
is the first in a series that I am writing. What I love best about the entire book is having the dog turned vampire tell the story. I’ve been a long-time lover of dogs, work with various dog rescues and have studied the behavior of these beloved canines for decades. I wanted to show that dogs are such examples for us to follow. They truly love us unconditionally, no matter who or what we are. In this case, here is a dog ripped from his life and made to become the eternal companion of the original vampire. Because dogs are so adaptable, Snow Blood does exactly that. He focuses his love and loyalty on his new master. All my books are currently being written through the eyes of a dog. And, I’m loving the ability to look at life through their eyes and tell my stories. Yes, readers have to suspend disbelief. But isn’t that part of the fun of it all?

Diane:  How long did it take you to write Snow Blood Season 1?

Carol: I started on it in February of 2013, and it was published February 14, 2014. I’m not into slam/bam. I want my writing to be quality. That includes an outline, multiple drafts, editing, re-editing, working with a quality editor and really listening to his advice on how to make it better.

Diane: If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who would it be?

Carol: Oh, definitely Snow Blood. Kane would be a close second. In fact, many of my readers have said that besides the dog, Kane is their favorite. Just to fill in the gaps, Kane is the first human that Brogio (original vampire) “turned.”

  Diane: What inspired you to write your first book?

Carol:  I don’t really count my first book. It’s called Riding Through It and is a memoir. I used it as a means to leave my past behind. I see Luke’s Tale, A Story of Unconditional Love as my first “real” book. I dreamed about it before I wrote it. I received several psychic readings as birthday presents, and they all said that I was supposed to write the book about “unconditional love.” I think it was divine inspiration. What the world needs right now is for us to love each other without conditions. Don’t you think?

  Diane: Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
 
Carol:  My Daddy. Absoutely. I started writing when I was in junior high school. After he read some of the things I had written, he told me, “You are a writer.” I believed him! I’ve been writing non-fiction since I was 14. But didn’t venture into writing fiction until seven years ago.

 
Diane: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their world?
 
Carol: I love John Irving. I love his play on words, his quirky characters and how he makes me laugh out loud and cry almost simultaneously. I was so proud when some of Luke’s Tale’s 88 reviewers said it made them laugh and cry at the same time!

  Diane: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Carol:  I am working on Snow Blood Season 2. In Season 1, I purposely made Selene a rather weak-willed character. In Season 2, she transforms into this very strong character. I love doing that. In addition, I’m adding more flavor to all the characters, more depth. And, I’m giving Snow a love interest.

Multiple reviewers said this is a vampire story … love story … mystery with lots of twists and turns. That’s still all there, but I want the characters to be even richer.

Diane: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Carol: This is a story about vampires. But, it’s also a commentary on how to unconditionally love another. If you don’t like vampire stories, you shouldn’t read it, unless you happen to be a dog lover. That should soften everything. I never put in anything just for the sake of a shock value. It’s all a part of what would happen in that world. But the overriding theme is unselfish love. It always is in all of my books.

Look for more interviews, character descriptions and detail in the coming weeks!
Til Then,
Carol
0 Comments

What Is It About Dogs?

1/13/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Think about it. Humans have had a fascination with dogs throughout time. Why do you think? Is it their good looks, adorability, the cuddle factor? Probably all of that. But it goes deeper, doesn't it?

What other creature on Earth gives us undivided devotion, loyalty and love without boundaries? Do  you know a person who will leap for joy at the sight of you? Do your family and friends run to the door to greet you every time you come home? Do you have friends that will just sit with you silently, sometimes lean against you to offer comfort, when you most need it? Do you have people in your lives ready to go with you for a ride in the car or out for a walk on the spur of the moment, with no prior planning?

Is there anyone who looks at you longingly, ready to do anything and everything that you ask the moment you ask it? Do you have people who just want to be where you are all the time? When you feel badly and take it out on your family and friends, do they forgive you instantly, kiss your hand and make you feel better?

Probably not. But, your dog embodies those traits. Is there any wonder that we love our dogs? They are the image of unconditional love.

Now, just think. If we could just give each other a fraction of that kind of love, what a wonderful world this could be.

Til Next Time,
Carol
0 Comments

The 10 Best Vampire Books

1/5/2015

12 Comments

 
Picture
Because I'm writing vampire books, I often get asked what my favorites are. So, here goes. Let's see if you agree with me!

1.    ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

I read this years ago, and I was terrified throughout the entire book. If I heard a noise in the house while I was reading it, I’d have to go investigate it! I’ve never had a book terrify me as much since. Ben Mears returns to his home town to write about the Marsten House, where he witnessed something terrible as a child. His arrival coincides with the new owner taking possession of the Marsten House, and darkness quickly spreads. Salem’s Lot is steeped in Gothic tradition. But it uses King’s natural gift and love for writing small towns being torn apart. The evil that seeps out of the Marsten House turns everyone against each other, resulting in a fantastically chilling novel. For me, it is quite possibly the greatest vampire book ever written.

2.    Dracula by Bram Stoker

This story has been told over and over in film and television. So, it’s easy to forget how powerful the original is. Harker’s trip to Transylvania is terrifying. This masterpiece has often been imitated but rarely outdone.

3.    Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

Anne Rice’s has had the most influential interpretation of vampire novels since Bram Stoker. Her vampires are elegant, disaffected, beautiful, tragic creations. While her later novels focus on Lestat, it’s Claudia, Louis and Lestat at the center of this first novel that makes it so memorable.

4.    Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (and the entire Twilight Series)

Okay, I admit it. I loved the Twilight series, particularly the first book. Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen make for an alluring couple. A human and a vampire couple who find themselves balancing their razor-sharp desire for each other and the danger that surrounds them. I loved it because it was so romantic and suspenseful at the same time. It’s a great love story with lots of spunk. The entire series captivated me.

5.    Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse #1) by Charlaine Harris (and the True Blood Series)

How could I resist the combination of a mind-reading heroine, newly legal vampires, a serial killer, a shape-shifter? The plot is tightly woven, and the psychological effects are fascinating and disturbing at the same time! It’s a real gripper! I loved the entire series!

   6.    Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

This is an interesting concept that is flawlessly executed! The author went the distance to create a plausible melding of vampire mayhem and history. It was well-researched, and the history was on target. It’s an unexpected surprise and a wonderful, fun read!

7.    The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice

This is amazingly different from the first two books (Interview with a Vampire and The Vampire Lestat) of The Vampire Chronicles. Several new characters are introduced, a number of truly old vampires we have only heard of up until now become part of the action, and the story is woven together into a mosaic much more wide in scope from what has come before. It’s Lestat’s book, but he isn’t the focus. He narrates his own role in events, but much of the book is written in the third person. The action is spread out over six thousand years from one end of the world to the other, with a lot of mythology taking the place of the energetic action of the earlier novels.

8.    I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel is one of the greatest vampire stories ever written. Robert Neville is the sole survivor of a vampire plague. He lives in a boarded up house which he only leaves during the daytime to hunt. At night, the monsters return the favor, taunting him through the boarded-up windows. The power of his isolation and the powerful moral twist of the book’s finale make it a must-read.

9.    The Shepherd by Travis Luedke

I have to include my friend Travis Luedke’s book, The Shepherd. It totally took me by surprise. From the uncensored male teen dialogue to the games girls will play, I totally returned to high school. Travis captured the entire clique strata. The story is about Mike, who has had visions that he doesn’t discuss. His life is depressing with an unemployed, emotionally absent, alcoholic father. Then, we meet Nadia, a young girl Mike nearly hits with his car. She is quirky and mysterious, and she totally connects to Mike. We don’t know who she is, where she’s from or why she acts as if she’s always known Mike. Strange and awful things begin to happen, and Nadia is the key. Travis keeps this tale going in high gear with twists and revelations and will captivate you all the way to the end.

10.   The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas

Stephen King said he couldn’t put this book down. I think he called it “unputdownable.” I agree. Even though the New York Times Book Review called it one of the genre’s few modern classics, it hasn’t gotten much notice. Try it. You’ll like it!

Whaddayathink?

Til Next Time!
Carol
12 Comments

    Author

    Carol McKibben

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Belief In Self
    How To Get What You Want
    How To Love Unconditionally
    Inspiration
    Just For Fun
    Moon Blood
    On Writing
    Snow Blood
    Things You Should Know About Luke's Tale
    Virtual Book Tour
    Words Of Wisdom
    Writing For A Living

    RSS Feed

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.