Carol F. McKibben
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    • Reign - The Rise of the Lich
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  • Reign - The Assault of Lucifer Morningstar - Book 1 Silver Blood Knight Series

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

An Interview with a Vampire Named Snow Blood

11/28/2018

 
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Snow Blood slipped out from behind a cluster of frozen red spruces. The snow crunched under his feather-like, husky paws. The moonlight made his white, shaggy coat appear silver as he padded toward me.
    I felt lucky that he had agreed for me to interview him. I guess he felt some sense of obligation for my bringing him to life on the pages of the series of books I had written with him as the narrator and ultimate hero.
      I shivered a bit in the Canadian cold, which I knew had no effect on him. I glanced around expecting to see his mate, Nova, lurking nearby.
      She’s otherwise occupied hunting prey. His words slithered through my mind and took me by surprise. I had momentarily overlooked that he could read my mind, and anyone’s thoughts.
     I sat on a nearby stump so that I could be eye-level with his beautiful blue eyes that looked like a makeup artist had drawn black eyeliner around his lids.
      He moved closer and sniffed the air around us. You are curious about my perspective on my adventures with my sire Brogio, are you not?
        “I am obsessed with any and all things about you.” A pathetic answer but true enough.
        He padded closer and sat next to me. Ask away then.
      “After Brogio turned you to save your life, were you angry about your plight as a vampire?” I leaned closer as if I might miss his words.
      More confused and sad than angry. I didn’t understand at first. I wanted to go home to Tommy and his parents. I couldn’t have known then the love, friendship, and loyalty that I have now with my kindred family. People think that vampires are pure evil. Yet, the very first vampire, my sire Brogio, has taught all his children to do no harm unless protecting themselves. He taught us to live off the creatures of the forest and to stay out of the way of humans.
     Before I could ask another question, the great white husky bolted to his feet. His panicked thoughts prickled my brain. Nova! She’s under attack. And, with his vampire speed, he was gone.
      I summoned my imagination, just as I do when I’m writing, and ran after him at a speed I didn’t realize I had in me. I skidded to a stop to see Snow Blood and Nova surrounded by four werewolves – one black, another gray, another multi-colored, and the last a reddish brown. I wiped my eyes hoping they were part of Snow Blood’s coven. Unfortunately, they weren’t.
     The shifters, saliva dripping from their extended fangs,  circled the two mates. Their eyes glowed blood red. The brown shifter reached out with sharp claws to take a swipe at Snow Blood only to have the wolf vampire bite off half its paw. It screamed in agony and began to foam at the mouth and go into seizure. It died before hitting the ground. 
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     The other three backed away snarling but afraid. Snow Blood made his thoughts heard to all. If you want to die from my venom, try me. If you don’t, leave now or I will eviscerate all of you.
     The three turned and ran.
     The vampire dog whirled and sniffed his mate who licked his face with her rough tongue.
    Nova stepped back and shook her heavy black, grey, and white coat. Her beautiful blue eyes cast a curious glance at me and then turned back to her mate.
     Go home to safety now, my love. I will be there soon.
    Rather than being obedient, Nova grew tall. I could have handled them, you know! Why did you interfere?
    Because you are precious to me, and I wouldn’t want to be without you. I take no chances where those I love are concerned.

     Nova shook her head, turned, and ran toward Brogio’s wine estate.
   Turning back to me, Snow Blood snorted and trotted over to me. Shall we continue the interview?
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     I rubbed his head, and he closed his eyes enjoying my long acrylic nails scratching his ears.
    “How have you become such an accomplished fighter? I mean, I know you’ve had to learn quickly since you and your family are constantly attacked by monsters that the mythological gods send after you.”
     Snow Blood sat next to me. Much of it just comes from being kindred. As a vampire, I have superior strength and speed. And one of my gifts, as you know, is my deadly bite. It only takes being bitten once to die instantly. My family – Brogio, Selene, Kane, Nova, and my wolf coven - battle as a team. We all can shape shift into anything we want, so that helps as well. Let’s just say we have the team-court advantage with the gifts we all share.
      "What do you care most about in this life you now live?”
    My family and our friends. Perhaps you would consider them not worthy of love and loyalty, but any one of us would die for the other. I place loyalty to them above all else. It is my dog nature. They in turn have learned what love and loyalty mean. The evil that plagues us will never kill that in any of us.  We have all evolved into something that I know your readers can love. 
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     Snow Blood turned his head as if listening to something in the distance. I must go now, Carol. Brogio calls me. We are once again under attack.
       With that, he stood and gave me a last look. He licked my hand as if to say, thank you for giving life to us all. He opened his mouth in a wide grin, turned, and disappeared into the trees.
       I thought how lucky I am to have found this extraordinary creature in my imagination.
     
To witness the love, loyalty, struggles, battles, and challenges of Snow Blood and his kindred, click HERE to begin Snow Blood, Season 1 by Carol McKibben.

How Snow Blood Came to Life

11/26/2018

 
PictureSnow Blood

​​
​My first novel, Luke’s Tale, is a story of a young couple’s struggle to find unconditional love as told through the eyes of their blind dog. So, why did I jump from this to writing, Snow Blood,  a vampire mystery series?

It's a different genre. It's not about unconditional love, or is it? Can vampires have unconditional love for one another? Can they unselfishly love a human being?

​These questions popped up as I struggled daily to bring my characters - Brogio, Selene, Kane and ultimately Snow Blood - to life.
​



PictureBROGIO
​​


​So, how did I make the jump? Let me share with you how the idea was born. I was with my publisher telling her all about my latest foster dog, Snow. She was a white husky with the bluest of blue eyes. ​Stephanie (my publisher) and I both love vampire stories. She looked at me and said, "I want you to write a vampire book next." My reply: ""Yes, and I'll again narrate it through the eyes of a dog - a vampire dog. We both simultaneously locked eyes and said, "Call it Snow Blood!"
​
​It's amazing how the seed for a story idea springs to life. I latched onto it with the force of a vampire looking for his next meal! But it's so different from Luke's Tale! 

​Not really.
 

​


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SELENE
Again, it is a story told through the eyes of a dog - a vampire dog! And even as a blood demon, Snow Blood develops loyalty to the ones he loves. But why? Sure, it goes without saying that vampires are bound to their makers. But, is it as inherent in the undead to want to love and be loved as it is for living creatures? But with such flawed creatures? Aren't human beings flawed creatures? Aren't my creatures just parables? After all, vampires don't really exist. Do they? ​
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BROGIO
​They certainly exist in my mind, and after you read this five-book series, I hope those questions will be answered and that my Snow Blood characters will come to life for you!

​Til Next Time,
​Carol


Start Snow Blood Season 1 Today!

To Celebrate Thanksgiving, Moon Blood Book 1 FREE! Grab it between November 22-26 at Amazon Kindle!

11/21/2018

 
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CLICK HERE NOW

Called an "excellent vampire mystery thriller," Moon Blood Book 1 is the first in
The First Blood Son Series. Here's a bit about it:

Kane de Medici, the first blood son of Brogio, the original vampire, saves Moon, a hybrid wolf pup from certain death.

 The kindred two are soon immersed in a world of corporate espionage, murder, and intrigue and forced to fight for their lives.
Escaping capture and torture when human predators discover their vampire nature,
hey exact deadly revenge.

While Moon Blood Is loyal to Kane, her sire, she is a strong-willed female
with a mind of her own. Readers will enjoy the unique perspective of this tale
told through her mind’s eye.

The vampire mystery thriller that began with Snow Blood continues with the first blood son series.
​

GRAB YOUR FREE COPY TODAY!
 
Have a great Thanksgiving!

Carol

Horrific Days More Terrifying than Fiction

11/9/2018

 
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Photo Courtesy of Peter DaSilva's Facebook Page.
I carry a heavy heart today. I moved from Southern California to Texas in February of this year. In the past two days, I've awakened to horrifying events that have brought terror in the hearts of my friends in my old community.

First the shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill. Many of my friends have been personally touched. Then, if that wasn't bad enough, the horrendous fires in both Northern and Southern California that have forced many of my friends to flee for their lives, while others wait, stressed but prepared to evacuate. Beloved horses and pets are foremost in their minds, in addition to all their loved ones. 

Happily, so far, many have already safely evacuated and have taken refuge in hotels, victim centers, and with friends who have opened their homes. Their animals have been taken to safety as well. 

I feel so helpless not being able to be there to open my home to as many as possible. All I can do is keep them in my thoughts and pray that everyone in danger be kept safe. I am grateful to those who have marked themselves "safe" on Facebook so that those of us who can do nothing but wait and pray will know they have made it out or are not in danger.

In a world filled with contention, anger, and unhappiness, let's remember what is truly important - our love for each other. All I can do is repost this story by Peter DaSilva, a person who cared more about helping another than he did himself. 

​Peter DaSilva's Story. 
 
God Bless Peter DaSilva and the three law enforcement officers from Redding CA. 

It is in times like this that we can find the very best in all of us.

Til Next Time,
​Carol

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