Tag: Tammy Dennings Maggy

#WickedAfterDark with the Wiccan Priestess from The Island

I’d like to welcome everyone here today. It’s the first day of the Wicked After Dark Halloween Blog Hop. Over 220 authors and bloggers are participating in this hop giving you many opportunities to visit with authors you already know and discover new ones…maybe even try out a new genre or two. Who knows? 

On each blog you will have a change to enter a contest to win prizes ranging from ebooks and gift cards to something wicked or naughty to go along with the Halloween theme. Here on Behind Closed Doors, I’ll be offering a fun prize package that includes some adult toys for a fun night of role playing and maybe a little BDSM with the one you love…or just the one you lust over! 😉

I‘ll be putting up posts during the entire week of the hop starting tomorrow when Wiccan Priestess Brigid Moon takes over the blog. She’s one of the characters from the second novel in my Now and Forever series. The Island is to be released on November 15th and I couldn’t be more excited! Even though it’s the second book in the series, it’s actually a prequel of sorts explaining how it is Quinn and Jacob have been destined to be together through every lifetime. 

Before I go any further, I’d like to give you a peek at the prize package I put together for one lucky visitor. All you have to do to win it is make sure you leave a comment on any of the days of the hop. You can do it every day if you wish to get more entries. The Rafflecopter link will be posted at the bottom of each day so you can check it to be sure you’ve collected every entry possible. Some are worth more entries than others so for your best chances, collect all entries available.   Here’s a picture of the items in the package…

There is a feather boa, mask and of course a tickler/whip to play with. There is a battery operated “friend” in there along with a package of lubes and oils to make your play time special. As you can see, this is definitely and ADULTS ONLY prize. This is an ADULTS ONLY blog too. So if you are under 18 years of age, you should leave now. 

On to today’s post…

I decided to give a basic overview of what to expect this week. Tomorrow will be Brigid giving us her insights and maybe even a guest appearance by two of the Gods I call The Three. Since Brigid can see them, she should be able to interview them, right? 😉  Since these two siblings tend to be at odds frequently, I’m sure Brigid will have her hands full keeping the interview on course. Just in case, I’ve given her two days at the helm. I’m sure she will handle it all with ease. Not much phases her!

After Brigid, we’ll get another special treat. Steve Eischer has agreed to stop in and fill us in on the stuff that went on behind the scenes in Las Vegas. Besides The Three, Steve knows the most about Quinn and Jacob and their journey to be together. Hell, he even took matters into his own hands when it looked like things were going awry in For the Love of Quinn.  Not too much goes on without Steve knowing about it. Ahhh..the perks of being a billionaire!

My sister blog Sassy Vixen Publishing is also participating. Over there you will be able to see Quinn and Jacob’s story through the eyes of their Guardian Angels Michael and Daniel. Make sure you stop in and see what they have to say. You will be seeing a lot more of these two in the future books of this series!

Okay, so now you have a basic idea of how I’m going to run my part of the blog hop and contest. Make sure you come back tomorrow for the start of Brigid’s posts, start gathering your entries through the Rafflecopter link below, and make sure you take the time each day to check out the rest of the participants in the hop. All you have to do is click on the graphic at the start of the post and you will be taken to the list of the other blogs.   Or you can click on the little Linky Icon below the Rafflecopter link to take you to your next stop. Have fun!

~Tammy

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Video Trailer for The Island (Now and Forever 2)

I’m in the planning stages for a virtual book tour to promote The Island, coming up with a variety of posts, a media kit with all my links, bio, covers and of course the video trailer. Recently I did a blog post for Writer’s Words of Wisdom about creating video trailers. I used the techniques described in it to create my latest video. Even though it took me a while to put it all together the way I wanted it, it really wasn’t hard to do.

Once I collected and purchased all the photos I wanted to use, I listened to the variety of royalty free music I had on my computer from iTunes and from Incompetech.com. The latter is a site put together by Kevin MacLeod. He has hundreds of pieces all for free to use in projects. All you have to do is give him credit somewhere in your work and you are all set. If you can’t or don’t want to give the attribution, you can purchase the music as well. Kevin also offers a service where he will create an original composition for you if you desire.

Well, being on a very tight budget, I of course went for the free music for now. One day I may have to hire Mr. MacLeod to compose something for me, but for now I’ll just enjoy the beautiful pieces he has on his site.  The budget this time around was used to purchase a few more pictures from Shutterstock.com. I found several that just caught my eye immediately. The photos of the Goddess Fate, Michael Hartley, and Daniel Quartermarsh were the most striking. They captured my vision of these characters perfectly! I couldn’t be happier.

For my hero and heroine, I had to try to not get photos that were steamy, but not too risque. I also wanted to give an idea of how I pictured Quinn and Jacob, but didn’t want to make those the only images in the reader’s mind. The fun part is coming up with your own interpretation of the characters as you read their story, and maybe even put yourself in as one of them. During the upcoming Wicked After Dark Blog Hop, I’ll be doing character interviews and posting pictures of the actors who I used as inspiration. There is no right or wrong answer to how someone pictures my characters. I hope the posts generate a lot of discussion. It will be fun for me to see what folks think of my vision versus how they see the characters.

Enough chit chat! Here’s the video you all came here to see. Let me know what you think, and if you have a few moments, please stop by YouTube and view the trailer from there so the view count will go up. And if you can give it a like, I would really appreciate it!

Cover Reveal for The Island (Now and Forever 2)

I’m so excited! While at work today at my evil day job as a veterinarian, I received an email notification on my cell. Imagine my excitement to see an email from Siren today with copies of my new cover. Whoohoo!

The cover artist, Christine Kirchoff, captured what I had in mind for the island at sunset. Even though the model on the cover has blonde hair and I picture Quinn as a brunette, I think the couple looks perfect! I asked a question on Facebook the other day. “Who did you picture in your mind as Quinn when you read For the Love of Quinn? I got a variety of answers and you know what? All of them were correct. Who I picture in my mind doesn’t have to be the exact version you picture. That’s the whole point of reading books isn’t it? Letting your imagination run wild is more than half the fun, and picturing yourself as one of the characters is the rest of it!

So with that being said, here is my new cover!

 

It’s scheduled for release on November 15th. If that changes, you better believe I’ll let you know. 😉

~Tammy

By the Light of the Moon (#vampire #poetry)

By The Light of the Moon

As the sun sets I awaken from my dream state.
My deep slumber filled with thoughts of you.
My soul yearns for the one promised by Lady Fate.
Two thousand years of searching the entire Earth
Has left me lost and alone by the light of the last Blue Moon.

Tonight something is different;
I can feel it in my ancient bones.
My faithful servants hurry about,
Preparing for the guests who will be arriving soon.
Each wishing to celebrate the anniversary of my birth as Vampire,
Never thinking I would want to spend this night alone.
My only wish, my only desire is to see you,
Waiting to celebrate with me.
Your beauty made all the more bright
By the light of the Harvest Moon.

Surrounded by immortals throughout the centuries
And yet I’m consumed by this melancholy ache.
My heart burns night and day
For the only one who can quench my thirst.
At each dawn I say a silent prayer.
Please let this be the last night alone.
Let me see her face the moment I awake.
But once again I greet Mother Moon,
As I did after being turned by The First.

Descended from the First Man and Woman was he,
Given the sacred task to protect mankind.
Within his blood lies the Essence of Immortality.
Through him and his descendants
All Guardians must be aligned.
There are those who beg to have this immortal life.
But the Guardians are of the Chosen Few.
Each must claim a fae as husband or wife,
In order to ensure the Tree of Life begins anew.

On this night I pledge as I make a wish upon my birthday cake.
This will be the last year I roam this world as Vampire.
Two thousand years is more than enough heartache.
One year from today if you are not by my side,
I wish to be allowed to walk into the sun
and become a ball of fire.

Alas, I know in my heart I must hold on
To the only hope I have found in my fairy dreams of you.
While your voice still calls for me, I will continue to wait.
With each night that passes I will look for you
Dancing by the light of the Blood Moon.
Because of you I will go on until you are in my arms
As my lover, my life, and my Fated Mate.

©Tammy Dennings Maggy
10/13/12
10pm

Shadow Bride (new #vampire poetry)

Shadow Bride

Awakening before the rising sun,
I eagerly await the flash of the colors across the sky.
For this will be my final dawn
And the birth of my life as your Shadow Bride.

The hours go by too slowly.
Visitors and well-wishers continue to come and go.
Many smile at me knowingly,
For soon you will make your appearance
From the family crypts below.

At long last all preparations are complete.
The candlelit banquet hall is now filled to capacity.
Peeking through the heavy blood-red velvet curtains,
I hold my breath as you rise from your seat.
At your signal, the musicians begin to play
The opening notes of the ballad you wrote only for me.

No one and nothing else matters now
Except my walk down the aisle toward you.
With each note and every beat of our song,
My heart quickens and flutters in my chest.
Your smoldering amber eyes plead with me one more time
To be sure I wish to bid my human life adieu.
I take your cool hands and hold them tight,
Never more sure of the answer to your silent request.

You hold me close as your fangs pierce my skin.
I hear your voice in my head telling me all will be over soon.
My limbs grow heavy and the room begins to spin.
A brief moment of panic touches my soul
As my life transfers to you by the light of Mother Moon.

Our guests hold their breaths as you slash your wrist.
A few drops are all it takes and my eyes suddenly open wide.
My mouth seals over your wound as I begin feeding from you.
When at last I’ve had my fill, I see your face full of bliss.
For now we can stand together as one…
The Vampire and his Shadow Bride.

©Tammy Dennings Maggy
10/12/12
10pm

Cursed of the First Born…new poetry

I’ve been working on a collection of vampire inspired poetry so I decided to write one to act as a teaser for one of my other works in progress, The Kayne Legacy. The poem here today helps to tell the tale of how Cain came to be  known as the Guardian in my series. He is chosen by The Three (Yeshua, Fate, and Lucius) to protect the Essense of the Tree of Life. Since Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden it was left hidden from all humanity.  Now as a chance to atone for accidentally causing the death of his brother Abel, Cain is given the opportunity to turn tragedy into triumph.

I have an entire series planned for the Kayne Family. They are a group of immortals and other paranormal beings. The first born of each generation is given the choice to be a Guardian of the Tree or to live a “normal” mortal life. Some members of the family are powerful witches and warlocks and others are at least part fairy. From the beginning, Lilith and Cain’s offspring were to be wed to their soul mates in the fae realm. Because of these matches, the Kayne Family are powerful and involved in every aspect of life on Earth. They take their  duty to protect the Tree of Life very seriously and part of that is to help mortals survive.

Curse of the First Born

Once destined for greatness and riches
Beyond your wildest dreams,
Now lost and alone,
Your family torn apart at the seams.
The spilled blood of your brother cries out for justice
Because in a rage, you struck out
Wishing only for his taunts to end.
Now you await your punishment
With hands covered in his blood and dust.
The Gods should be angry.
For even this unintentional loss of life will offend.

Vengeance is Ours and Ours alone.
You played a role in your brother’s death,
This much is true.
There is only one way for you to atone.
It’s not your death We seek,
But service that can only be assigned
To a chosen few.

Forever your life you must pledge
Even though you feel you are unworthy.
Upon your brow a mark will be made.
No one will dare harm one chosen by The Three.
For with this Curse your debt will be paid.

Within your blood now lies
The Essence of the Tree of Life.
No mere mortal can be trusted
With such a task.
Leave this place and your family
In search of Lilith to be your wife.
Together you will create a clan who will walk the Night,
Whose influence and power will grow to be vast.

The choice will be yours and yours alone
To continue to shield yourself from the Sun.
Once you take this path
You cannot go back into the Light.
For the very Essence of Immortal Life itself
Will course within your veins,
And you will be marked as our Chosen One.
But only through the First Born of every generation
Shall the Essence pass unspoiled as is their birthright.

Some will call you cursed and cringe
Whenever they hear your name.
But they know not the ways of The Three.
You are chosen on this day
To guard the Secrets of the immortal soul.
You are no longer First Born of Adam and Eve,
But now the Guardian forever known as Cain.

©Tammy Dennings Maggy
10/3/12 1:10pm

Tentative Release Date for The Island

It looks like November 15th is the release date for The Island. That may change since everything so far is going ahead of schedule. I’ll keep you posted!

 

Thank you all for your support through all of this. It’s been a wild ride so far and I’m looking forward to many more to come!

 

Brightest Blessings!

Tammy

First Round of Edits for The Island…

I was really looking forward to the first round of edits for The Island.  Not only did I run through that manuscript multiple times with a critical eye, I wanted to be sure the lessons I learned from editing For the Love of Quinn came through. I didn’t want to see anymore of those little comment balloons pointing out the ever dreaded head hopping. Oh and don’t get me started with my overuse of the ellipses…

See what I mean?

So imagine my surprise when I opened up the file sent back from my publisher and editor to find very few corrections done to the entire thing! Not only that, but the editor gave me such wonderful words of encouragement stating that I handled the shifts between the characters points of view and also the flashbacks “deftly.” She said my story was “seamless.” Yep. SEAMLESS! I can tell you there was a lot of celebrating around our household that evening.

Today I made the few corrections needed and chose and adult and story excerpt to send back to my publisher. The last time they ended up going with a different adult excerpt, but it’s all good. I had trouble picking the story excerpt this time. I wanted to give a teaser without giving too much away right off the bat. Hopefully it will be the one they like too. I’ll let you know when they put the excerpts up on my Siren author page.

There should be one more round of edits, cover art approval and then the final copy approval all within the next few weeks. November is just around the corner!

I’ve been busy working on The Surrender of Julia throughout all of this too. Since that one has scenes that are also in The Island I have to be sure they flow well and that I don’t change anything other than it’s all going to be through Julia’s eyes now.

Watch for updates and teasers from both books over the next few weeks. Once I get the cover, I’ll get started on the video trailer. I have a rough idea of what I want to have in the video, but it has to go along with the cover. I’ve chosen the music. Now to find the “perfect” images to tell Jake and Quinn’s story.

Until next time, my friends. Brightest Blessings!

 

The Island has been accepted for publication!

Yesterday I received wonderful news. My publisher has accepted The Island (Now and Forever 2). They’ve set a tentative November release for the ebook version and April 2013 for the print version. As most of you know, this book started off as a short story “A Christmas Miracle for Jake.” I posted it here on this blog during a blog hop at the end of last year. It was in three parts.

Here are the links to those posts so you can get a little sneak peek at the story.

Part One  Part Two  Part Three

Of course it’s evolved a lot since then and I’ve developed Julia’s story into her own book too.  If I can get that one done and submitted, I may have two new books released before the end of the year. I’m not going to force it. If Julia’s story flows well then so be it. I want to be happy with it before sending it in for consideration. As you know, characters want their story told and they don’t give a rip about deadlines! 😉

To celebrate, I’d like to share the song that I heard in my head when I wrote the love scenes between Quinn and Jacob for The Island.

Enjoy!

 

Update on the Now and Forever Series

Since the last entry here, I actually finished the first “draft” of The Island to my publisher. I got a request to revise it and basically split it into two books. Not that it was too long for one book, I just had too much going on. I needed to focus on one couple at a time so to speak.

Well, I took that advice to heart and now have The Island and The Surrender of Julia as book two and three respectively. I’m so glad I did that! Not only did I get to delve deeper into the world of the wickedly beautiful Julia Santos, I got to spend more time with Jake and Quinn building on their full love story and with both books, I got to bring in more of the paranormal element.

As a Wiccan, I believe in more than just one God or Goddess. I wove that into the story having characters who are also Wiccan, and introducing The Three as basically my version of the Trinity. There is Yeshua the Elder God/brother who is the Creator. The Goddess Fate or Lady Fate as I call her in in charge of Destiny. Then there is the “youngest” Sibling, the God of Trials and Tribulations, better known as Lucius. Without The Three working together there would be Chaos.  At times it would seem that Lucius works against his Siblings in order to prove that humans aren’t worthy of the blessings Yeshua has bestowed upon them. In actuality, Lucius puts the humans through the tests in order to be sure they are worthy. It’s up to them to choose the right paths in each life time to get the blessings. If they don’t, then they keep trying life time after life time until they get it right.

Quinn and Jacob are true soul mates. Through each and every life time, they search for each other, but through their own choices, are pulled apart repeatedly. Their hearts cry out to Lady Fate every time and finally she’s had enough. She wants to intervene by way of the Island. She hopes if they get to be together in that paradise, both will finally be able to choose the one path leading them back into each other’s arms. She enlists the help of two guardian angels to help gently nudge and guide them down the right direction.

These same angels will have their hands full. Not only do they have to convince Quinn and Jacob to go back to the Earthly realm to find each other again, they have to watch over several other people. Some have already crossed the path of our fated lovers, and others they have yet to meet.

I believe we are not alone and that other beings are there to help us get through life’s challenges if only we ask.  Why should we go through life thinking it’s all just random and chance? Why should my characters? That’s why I wanted to bring in the Gods and the Goddess into Quinn’s story. That’s why I made their guardian angels people they knew: Quinn’s brother Danny and Jacob’s father Michael. Being able to see, hear, and touch their loved ones again, helps to build up their faith in the promise given to them by The Three. This time was in fact their time to be together. Nothing and no one would ever tear them apart again.

In that light, here’s the music that often runs through my head when I think of Jacob and Quinn’s love story. In the first book we got to see just about everything through Quinn’s perspective, but in The Island we get to see a broken man finally find his way back to the one person who could complete him heart and soul.