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Why Am I So Selfish?

2/24/2015

In a recent interview, Debbie McClure asked me what my weaknesses are. One of them is that I'm selfish with my time. The good part of that is that being selfish with my time means that I get more done as a writer.Unfortunately, it doesn't help me to be a better person.

Since doing that interview, I've done a lot of soul searching about what makes me basically selfish. Part of it is perceiving that I have much to accomplish and wanting to get it done. But, it goes much deeper. In my heart of hearts, I know that I'm only selfish when it comes to time with other people. I will give a horse or dog any amount of time, because I love being with them and what they represent. To me, they are perfect specimens of pure love. With people, not so much. I want to give my time to people with good hearts. To say that I've been disappointed in various people throughout my life is an understatement. I've been bitten a lot by people with bad hearts.

What do I mean by that? Simply put, people with bad hearts are dishonest, not only with others but with themselves. They are manipulative and are only about themselves. They only want to make a difference in their own lives and not those of others. And, they aren't always easily detected. People with good hearts are the exact opposite, and, they're out there but not easily found. It takes a lot of time and energy to weed through the good and bad hearts.

But with animals, it is fairly simple. You always know where you stand with them. There's no deception. If they don't like you, they'll let you know immediately. They won't smile and pretend to be your friend only to stab you when your back is turned. If they do like you, no words will speak louder than the actions they convey to let you know how they feel.

So, am I wary of people and their motives? Probably too much. But, I've spent a lot of time with my animals and have learned, like they, to quickly analyze the hearts of people I meet. That's why I'm always looking for good hearts and appear to be selfish with my time.

Let me know if you have a good heart.
Til next time,
Carol

Shut Up and Read Interview with Carol McKibben

2/18/2015

Yeah, I know. I'm going bonkers posting all these interviews, but they were so much fun to do. So just one more, all right? This one is nicely light-hearted. Hope you enjoy.

Tell us a little bit about your main characters.

My main characters are Snow Blood, Brogio, Selene and Kane.

Snow Blood is a beautiful white husky turned vampire by the original, the first vampire, Brogio. Resistant at first, Snow Blood become the loyal companion and best friend to his master. He is the embodiment of unconditional love. Snow Blood is the narrator of his story, and we see the other characters through his eyes.

Brogio is the very first vampire. Powerful and closed-off, Brogio isn’t the monster he appears to be at first. Snow Blood uncovers Brogio’s tragic story as a series of events are unleashed that reveal a sinister plot against the father of all vampires. Life and true death experiences bond the master to his newly transformed vampire canine. Together they unravel the conspiracy that when resolved may return Selene, the love of Brogio’s life, back to him and set him free from the lonely existence that has plagued him for thousands of years.

Selene is the love of Brogio’s life. Once his human wife, Selene has been ripped away from Brogio by Artemis, a jealous god, and then inexplicably returned to him. Is she part of the sinister plot to destroy Brogio?

Kane is Brogio’s first vampire progeny. Handsome, witty, a flirt and a wanderer, he is the opposite of Brogio in appearance and dress. Flamboyant and a lover of history and detail, Kane was Brogio’s best friend and confidante after Brogio returned to Italy as a vampire. Longing for immortality, Kane convinced Brogio to make him kindred and thus becomes the first son of the vampire race.

Who designed the covers for your book and what was that process like for you as the author?

I am so in love with my covers.

Troll River Publications is my publisher. Stephanie at Troll River designed the cover for Luke’s Tale – A Story of Unconditional Love. She was very collaborative with me. She asked me for my vision, and I told her I wanted to play on the title Luke’s Tale and focus somewhat on a Labrador retriever’s tail. Every pun intended. Then, we had volunteers vote on a variety of covers. We actually came up with two different covers, one for the Kindle version and another for the paperback.

Troll River hired Truenotdreams Design to create the cover for Snow Blood Season 1. Again, I was asked for my vision. I wanted Snow Blood’s face and emphasis on his blue eyes. They came back to me with the art, and I was immediately in love. Then, they gave me about 8 versions of the different graphics. We all wanted the fonts to drip with blood and to have a winter background scene. We picked the “blood” font with the most of that! It was a great experience.

What is the best advice you have been given?

Love what you write. Believe in your abilities. Write every day – the more you write, the better you will become.

How do you keep busy when you're not writing?

Laughing at that one. I run a writing/editing business. I’m always writing. I work with other authors to complete their dreams. I work with businesses to produce all their written products … so that, plus my own writing. And then … I compete in classical dressage with my horse. I’ve been at that since 2002. By the way, he’s a 1,600-pound. Black Friesian. His name is Aramis.

If you could have any superhuman ability, what would you choose and why?

Psychic abilities so I would know if people are going to love what I write before I write it!!!! I hate to disappoint people.

Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?

Paperbacks. They’re easy to take with me, and I still love to hold a book in my hands when I’m reading.

What are you reading now?
Miracle Dogs: Rescue Stories by Liz Stavrinides.

See! Short and sweet!
Til Next time!
Carol

Eclipse Interview with Brogio of Snow Blood Season 1

2/10/2015

The following is a character interview with Brogio, the original vampire, from Snow Blood Season 1.

Please tell us about yourself.

Brogio: I am Brogio, the first, the original vampire. I was cursed by the gods, Apollo, Artemis and Hades, in particular. All because I fell in love with Selene. You see, I was an Italian adventurer thousands of years ago. I traveled to the Oracle of Delphi to get my fortune read and fell in love with a handmaiden in Apollo’s Temple. It was love at first sight for both of us. I had no idea that Apollo had coveted this virgin for himself. When he discovered we planned to return to Italy and be married, he cursed me by taking daylight away from me. I could only go out at night. I left Selene notes written with the blood of a swan I killed. Selene was afraid to anger Apollo further and kept working at his Temple. This went on for 44 days – love letters written in blood left for Selene at night. Then I begged Artemis, Apollo’s sister goddess, and Hades for help. But, I angered them, and Artemis cursed me by causing silver to burn my skin and make me suffer. And Hades took my soul. I begged Artemis’ forgiveness and pledged allegiance to her, and she took pity by turning me into a great hunter, almost as great as she, with the speed and strength of a god and fangs with which to drain the blood of beasts so I could use their blood to write letters to Selene. In exchange for this immortality, I had to agree that Selene and I would escape Apollo’s temple and worship only her forever. We managed to escape on a ship. Selene transported me in a coffin that she could only open after sunset. Artemis let us be together as man and wife, but a virgin goddess expects her followers to be chaste. Years passed, and I stayed young but Selene aged as a mortal. When she fell ill and was dying, I knew I couldn’t join her in the afterlife because my soul was in hell. I made offerings to Artemis, begging her to make Selene immortal so we could be together forever. She allowed me to touch Selene just once, to drink her blood. This killed her mortal body, but our blood mixed together would create eternal life for any who drank it. Artemis said we would stay together forever. But, she lied. Artemis took Selene from me to become a goddess of the moon and left me alone. I have spent thousands of years creating others like myself to end my loneliness, but nothing has helped. Until Selene returned to me today …

Describe yourself what is your worst and best quality?

My worst quality: I have a temper, and I am very controlling. My best quality: my capacity to love Selene and my progeny.

What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?

I wish others could understand that I held back from creating other vampires for a very long time until my best friend, Kane, begged me to make him immortal. I was only driven by my loneliness and need to be with others like myself.

What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?

Only Kane, Selene, Snow Blood and the gods know my real story. And now, you do.

What are you most afraid of?

Losing those I love.

What do you want more than anything?

Selene as my consummated wife.

What is your relationship status?

I have always been and will always be married to Selene.

How would you describe your sense of fashion?

I only wear black. Black pants, shoes, socks and turtleneck sweaters. Everything I own is black. My hair is blonde, so I wear it mostly long. It is shorter than usual in the photograph I gave you.

How much of a rebel are you?

I have been defying the gods for thousands of years, so I’m willing to bet I am more rebellious than most.

What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?

Surviving for so long under impossible circumstances.

What is your idea of happiness?

Selene, Snow Blood and Kane by my side.

What is your current state of mind?

I will be a tortured monster until I can finally have Selene back with me.

What is your most treasured possession?

I have many possessions. I am wealthy beyond belief. Having thousands of years to build a wine empire all over the world has left me quite comfortable. I no longer possess what I treasure most – Selene. I am comforted by my kindred companion and dog, Snow Blood.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I am the original. I am the most powerful of all vampires. Only I can defy the gods.

What is it that you most dislike?

The gods.

Which living person do you, most despise?

Most living people are food to me. I do not despise them. I love them, for they sustain me.

What is your greatest regret?

Losing Selene, and having to turn Snow to save him as my companion.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Healthy blood. (Laughing.) I admire strength; no matter in what form it comes.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Bravery. Selene is the bravest woman I’ve ever met.

Who is your favorite hero in fiction?

Well, I’ve been fictionalized in books, movies and television. They mostly have gotten it wrong, never giving the true back story. But it amuses me, particularly Dracula. So I am my favorite hero, or, at least Dracula comes in as an interesting second.

Which living person do you most admire?

My Selene. Have you figured out that Selene is everything to me?

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Laughing … why, I’d become mortal, with a soul.

What is your motto?

Carpe diem. Cease the day (or the night in my case) because tomorrow may never come.

Eclipse Reviews thanks Brogio for this interview.

Fang-tastic Book Interview with Carol McKibben

2/3/2015

What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?

Who wouldn’t want to be eternally young and strong? So many versions exist in literature about their capabilities; their potential weaknesses. I find them hypnotic.

What inspired you to write this book?

I write through the eyes of a dog. I had just published Luke’s Tale, and my publisher was hanging out with me. I’m big into dog rescue and had just placed a white husky with blue eyes named Snow in a “forever home.” My publisher was teasing me with the “What’s next?” question. Then, she smiled and said, “How about a vampire dog?” And, I said, “Named Snow … Snow Blood.” Next, I wanted to research the legends of how the first vampire was created. So, I went to the Vampire Bible for it.

Please tell us about your latest release.

Snow Blood Season 1, the first in a series, is my latest book. When Brogio, the original or first vampire, turns Snow, a beautiful white husky, in order to save the dog, a series of events are unleashed that reveal a sinister plot against the father of all vampires. Life and true death experiences bond the master vampire and his newly transformed vampire canine together as they unravel a conspiracy. When resolved, this conspiracy may return Selene, the love of Brogio’s life, back to him and set him free from the lonely existence that has plagued him for thousands of years.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?

Honestly, no. Well, let me correct that. Sometimes it is by chance. Sometimes it just clicks for me. For instance, Luke in Luke’s Tale was patterned after my real dog, Luke. So, the name was inherited. But, I named a character Sara because that’s my second favorite name. I debated on naming my daughter Stephanie or Sara. I went with Stephanie, so now I have a Sara too! Oh, and you’ll love this. I named a character Ashlundt after a name I saw on a truck!

To get a little more specific, I named the wolves in Snow Blood’s pack to reflect their characteristics. Gaspar is a total guard. Chase is a hunter. Scrawny is, well, scrawny. Fergus is the wise one. You get the picture. All those names are related to their main characteristic. Brogio is short for Ambrogio, the original vampire from the Vampire Bible. Selene is related to the moon. If you read the story, you’ll know why.

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?

I found Brogio to be somewhat of a challenge. I wanted him to be strong, stoic, stubborn, handsome, yet full of loneliness and hiding a tender heart. I wanted him to reflect the utter loneliness of a man who has lived thousands of years without the fulfillment of the woman he loves.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?

Oh, I love writing the dog narrators of my stories the very best. I’ve worked with dogs for years, so it’s fun for me to incorporate what I have learned about them into my stories.

Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?

I always start with character sketches. But for me, it is like what William Faulkner said, “It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.” And, that has been the way it has been for me. I have an idea, but the character usually takes over and writes himself/herself!

Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?

Definitely. While reading the Vampire Bible, I found an origin to vampires that had never been pursued before. I used the mythology with the gods and expanded it throughout the book.

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?

The book is set in winter. It’s cold, but vampires don’t feel heat or cold. However, they utilize the fireplace as a gathering place. They can’t feel it, but it reinvents the memory of it in their minds. I made Brogio a wine maker with a vast wine empire around the world so that I could move him and his coven anywhere I wanted to that has wine making! It’s set in modern times but I’ve tried to keep a little of the old world flair to it by always making the surroundings somewhat isolated.

With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?

In Season 1, Selene is beautiful but dependent upon Brogio, Snow Blood and Kane. Her personality doesn’t begin to shine until Season 2. In Season 2, she becomes an incredibly strong, fast, head-strong creature. The books can be read as stand-alones, but why? I wouldn’t think of reading a book series without reading them all! That’s the fun of it!

Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?

Maybe Snow Blood has my independence and loyalty to those he loves in the direst of circumstances. Other than that, not really. After all, my mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives! (If you know where that quote derives, you’re my kind of person!)

Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?

I have a favorite font I like to use when I’m writing. I like the way it looks on the page. I always need my dogs in the room with me.

Do you write in different genres?

Yes, I wrote a memoir entitled, Riding Through It. That one is actually free on my Web site. And Luke’s Tale is a family drama with a bit of a twist. Of course, I’m doing the totally paranormal thing now, but I want to write a quirky tragedy-comedy at some point.

What are your guilty pleasures in life?

I love horses and chocolate, not necessarily together.

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?

I’m passionate about my horse. We compete in classical dressage together. He’s a 16.2 hand, black Friesian (like the horse Antonio Banderas rode in Zorro.) I’ve been doing this for about 14 years.

What was the last amazing book you read?

I finally got around to reading Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. I enjoyed it. But, in the amazing category, The Art of Racing in the Rain. I’m reading A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz right now. (A fellow dog lover.) I’m in love with it. AND BTW, I've been so busy it is taking me forever to get this book read. I'm savoring it!

When will Snow Blood Season 2 be available?

I was aiming for this month, but that's not going to happen. So, I've re-adjusted and am hoping for this spring or summer.

Til Next Time!
Carol

Riding Through It

Why Am I So Selfish?

Shut Up and Read Interview with Carol McKibben

Eclipse Interview with Brogio of Snow Blood Season 1

Fang-tastic Book Interview with Carol McKibben

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