Darlene's Book Nook: Guest Post with Dawné Dominique, author of The First Series

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Guest Post with Dawné Dominique, author of The First Series

Hi, everyone!

I am pleased to participate in Dawné Dominique's Virtual Book Tour for The First Series hosted by Bewitching Book Tours.

About Dawné:

Dawné Dominique is a multi-published author of paranormal romance and fantasy. Weaving tales of intrigue that include riveting characters and spellbinding plots, she takes great pleasure in immersing an unsuspecting reader into the worlds she created, refusing to let them go until that last page is read.

She embraces life with one simple rule:

“Everything in life happens for a reason, be it good or bad, and it’s because of this we learn to never take anything for granted.”

CONNECT WITH DAWNÉ ONLINE:

Website | DusktilDawn Designs | Facebook

Welcome to Darlene's Book Nook, Dawné !

Dawné has written a guest post, so I will now turn the floor over to her.

Hi, everyone. My name is Dawné Dominique. I’m a multi-published author, a retired managing editor, and a professional cover artist.

In creating my newest vampire release, Eden’s Hell (the first novel to The First series), one important facet remained constant: my characters needed to be different; vampiric in nature, yes, but with their own unique traits and idiosyncrasies. And although Dark Diary had initially started the series almost ten years ago, I had already completed Kindred Blood and Crimson Cries (books II and III). The project was shelved due to some difficulties with a past publisher. I was halfway finished writing Eden’s Hell when the epiphany struck. Eden’s Hell had to begin this series. It answers the questions of how, why and who created the vampire race. I make no apologies to the religious undertones used in these novels, as my intention was to make readers pause and think, “OMG! This could be true.”

Dark Diary began as a short story contest entry in my writing forum. It was merely chapter sized and written in a diary format in first person from a seven centuries' old female vampire. I won the writing contest, but it was the reviews from other writers who had read the contest entries that made me take it a step further. The many comments I received back all suggested one thing: Make this into a novel.” Thus, The First was born. (N.B. only the first and last chapters are diary entry-like).

I knew there would be sexual undertones to these novels. For me, vampires are very sensual, dark and extremely sexy. From the hype that this genre has raised through recent movies and television shows, my view isn't singular. By introducing “erotica” into the creation of my novels, I'd initially panicked thinking that perhaps it would take away from the main premise of the story. However, that didn’t happen. I've never ventured into the erotica genre before. I was a straight-up fantasy author (like Lord of Rings type of stuff, but with kick-ass female heroines) but as I continued writing this series, it was inevitable that the “sex” was needed to add further dimensions to my characters, especially Daniella Rolfe.

So how does one create a novel with a gripping plot, mixed with multiple subplots where the sex doesn’t become the main focus? You need to write strong characters, create underlying questions for your readers to ask themselves, and include scenery and events that places readers right in the action and, of course, good writing. But more importantly, I needed to create complex characters that you know should not be together.

Many erotica novels have crossed my desk as a managing editor. There is always the distinction made of what is considered “porn” as opposed to “erotica”. For me, the two are quite simple to differentiate:

"Erotica" is based on the premise of romance between complex characters that when you read them they are not destined to be together, which inevitably creates a compelling plot. As well, there should be a lot of sexual tension, and not just the act.

“Porn” centralizes on characters where the sex is the main premise of the novel. It is a fine line to some, and a huge crater to others. For me, I write who I am, and as I don’t sugarcoat my life, my writing is also a reflection of my personality. The romance/love aspects in my novels are strong, the sex straightforward (no purple prose for this gal), but it’s the intricate plot(s) and sexual tension leading up to the main act(s) that I hope make my stories truly come alive and become memorable.

Eden’s Hell, I: The First delves into the beginning of time with Adam and Lillith, his first wife. Satrina Vacher despises the way her ex-husband, Addison Eden, has lived alone, brooding and unhappy over what had happened to them on the shores of the Blood Seas. He loathes everything about his ex-wife, but he despises himself more. It puts a whole new spin on ugly divorces that do last for eternity. Addison has failed at love not once, but twice, and he is more than content to live out his days sequestered from the world, doomed and shackled by his penance of blood and guilt; that is until a mortal woman turns both his and the entire Vampire Creed's world upside down.

Without giving anything away, I’m told the ending of this novel has rendered a few readers to tears, but I promise it doesn’t end on an unhappy note.

Dark Diary, II: The First centralizes on Daniella Rolfe, a vampire born instead of veiled into the darkness, and Aiden Blackmore, a City of Winnipeg detective. There's a sicko serial killer loose on Aiden's streets. Those victims are what brings Daniella into the mayhem, but there's far more to it than either of them know.

Kindred Blood, III: The First introduces Spencer Dalton, an American private investigator living in England, and Sanehet, an Egyptian demigod, who is also Daniella’s father. There’s a torrid past between Sanehet and Daniella. You'll also meet some rather demented vampires.

Crimson Cries, IX: The First goes into more detail about Palladin Sandalio's past. He's a First, but not a vamp. The evil herein is The Nuasiar Nine, a fanatical group initially created during the Crusades that hunted and destroyed creatures of the night. They've been resurrected, but why?

Surrender: Sins of the Father, X: The First introduces Zane Black, a Vietnam vet. He's rather a young vamp with strong powers, but he’s reduced to a mere mortal in comparison to Darian Duncan, a pediatric cardiac surgeon who doesn’t know she's dead.

How will all their paths meet, but more importantly...why?

Along The First journey, you'll meet Damien Ranier, one insane and easily hate-able bloodsucker, plus Connor Talbot and certain members of his family who have helped Daniella move from century to century. There's also Kon, Teanna and Kiernan, evil vamps at their finest. Surrender will bring all my vampire characters together, including with four others from previously released novellas.

If you’re looking for a unique take on the vampire lore that includes fictional, mythological and biblical facts together, erotic interludes, love lost and gained, blood, adventure, and some pretty nasty villains, I urge you to take a journey into The First worlds.

Thanks so much for joining us today, Dawné!

More About The First Series:

*These books are erotic romance novels with strong sexual content*

Eden's Hell, I: The First

In the beginning…

God created man and called him Adam, a fine specimen replicated in his own image. He then created woman to ease Adam’s loneliness and named her Lillith. Unfortunately, God realized his mistake too late in giving woman free will, for she would rule her domain—not man.

When Lillith left Adam, God created another for his first-born son and gave her the name Eve and a kingdom called Eden, but by then it was too late, for he’d unleashed Hell into the world of man.

Publisher | Print | Kindle

Dark Diary, II: The First

Daniella Rolfe, a seven-century old First vampire is unwittingly drawn together with a City of Winnipeg detective, who happens to be investigating a string of some rather bizarre serial murders. It doesn’t take long for her to discover that this mere mortal man holds more power over her than any she's ever known.

And Aiden…he's only dreamed about women like Daniella.

Blood battles and broken vows are just the beginning of Daniella Rolfe’s woes.

Publisher | Print | Kindle

Kindred Blood, III: The First

There is nothing thicker—or stronger—than kindred blood.

Being married in Scotland sounds like the perfect romantic getaway, doesn't it? For Daniella Rolfe and Aiden Blackmore, the nightmare they'd left behind was just the beginning. When Aiden is kidnapped, Daniella will go to any lengths to ensure he's brought safely back to her, no matter the amount of blood to be shed. Together with Spencer Dalton, a private investigator she hired to help find Aiden, they begin to unravel more than they bargained for.

Broken vows are the least of Daniella's worries now.

Publisher | Print | Kindle

Coming Soon