Saturday, June 30, 2012

Short Fiction is Dead? Guest Post: Michael K. Rose


I promise I am not ignoring you my amazing readers. While I am putting the finishing touches on my next book, I am having a great time hosting some incredible guest bloggers and helping promote fellow indie authors. Today, I am very happy to have Michael K. Rose visit my blog. Michael is the author of the science fiction adventure series Sullivan’s War. Michael recently released a collection of short stories aptly named Short Stories (see links at the end of the post). I am so grateful to Michael for stopping by to share his thoughts on short fiction.


Short Fiction is Dead?
Every so often, I read a newspaper or magazine article, or some comment on a blog, about how short fiction is dead. In fact, I’ve been reading this same article for about the past ten years or so, but that’s just since I’ve been paying attention. After hours of grueling research, I’ve learned that this article has been written 236 times since 1973. (I made that up, don’t fact check it.)
So why has the final nail been driven into the coffin of short fiction so many times these past few decades? How can it be dead and yet have its obituary written again ten years later? That’s easy: it’s not true. It’s an attention-grabbing headline, though. “Oh no,” say short fiction-loving literary types (like me), “what a tragedy!” We read the article and see the statistics about how the magazines who published fiction have stopped doing so, the magazines dedicated to short fiction are dwindling and those few that are left are seeing their circulations shrink year by year. We read that readers don’t want short fiction, they want novels. I’ve always found this particular point puzzling. One faction of the “It’s the end of the world as we know it!” crowd says that our ever-shortening attention spans will lead to the downfall of Western civilization. Another says that our hunger for low-brow as opposed to literary fiction—and, let’s face it, short fiction tends to be more “literary” than the novels most people read—is the culprit. I, however, don’t think short attention spans or even content is the problem. It’s all about pacing.
When many people think of short stories, they think about those super-literary stories The New Yorker publishes, those stories in which not a whole hell of a lot happens but that are filled with esoteric, existentialistic purple prose. When they think of novels, they think of… James Patterson. To many, Patterson means fast-paced, action-packed books in which a lot happens but none of it requires any particularly deep thought. Are our attention spans shortening? Those of you who’ve made it this far into the article will probably agree with me: yes, they are. But the problem has more to do with content than with length. We (and here I mean Americans) have not only shortening but narrowing attention spans. The things that interest us are becoming fewer and fewer. There’s a reason Hollywood releases the same damned romantic comedy three times a year. They’ve found the magic formula and are going to milk it while they can.
So what does this have to do with short fiction and its possible demise? As someone who has just released a collection of short stories, I say “everything.” I am not one who grooms my fiction to appeal to trends but I do know that if I want to sell books, I have to make my stories hold readers’ interest. And I have found that I can do this through genre fiction. That speculative element—whether fantastic or scientific or horrific—provides another layer for a reader to enjoy. In “Sleep,” Jane has just murdered a man and must dispose of the body. But her unique circumstances—aboard a freighter traveling between star systems—provide some interesting problems in how she’ll go about doing that. A seemingly simple story of a marriage falling apart, such as “If I Profane with My Unworthiest Hand,” is given an extra element of interest when the reader learns that George Reed has invented a machine that may grant him immortality.
In my collection Short Stories, I have tried to balance the literary elements in my writing with the attention-grabbing circumstances provided by the genre of each piece. I don’t simply want to tell a good story or tell a profound story—I want to do both. And this is where I believe short fiction has faltered. There have always been great writers writing great short fiction but the two audiences—those who want something fun and those who want something profound—have been divided into two different camps reading two different canons. The “fun” camp has gravitated toward novel-length works because the “profound” camp took the short fiction format by storm in the ‘50s and ‘60s. When people thought of the fiction printed by The New Yorker or Harper’s, they did not think of fun. Magazines like Asimov’s and Analog Science Fiction were there but genre fiction, at that time, was a much more insular group.
But two things have changed all of this. The first is the eBook revolution. Any writer can now write a short story and put it up on Amazon for 99 cents. Any reader with an eReader or access to a computer can buy it. Our ever-frantic way of life has led to fast-paced, short novels. But it has also led to an environment for which short fiction is perfectly suited: an environment in which people want to read but don’t have a lot of time in which to do so.
The second event has been the de-stigmatization of fantasy and science fiction. Harry Potter, A Song of Ice and Fire, the great success of Marvel’s superhero movies over the past decade or so, not to mention the recent vampire craze, has sent genre fiction mainstream. Eyebrows no longer raise if you’re seen reading a book with a spaceship or an ogre on the cover. This is no longer the domain of the seedy pulp rags. Yes, there have been science fiction and fantasy films for many, many decades, but they were mostly aimed toward children and young adults. The creature features of the ‘50s and ‘60s were not for adults. Even Star Trek was not very well thought of until it was cancelled and college students starting watching it in syndication. But now genre books and films and video games are for all. And now readers are discovering that a short story can be both fun and intellectually engaging.
So as print magazines, once the only place that published short fiction, experience their slow demise, that which has replaced them is providing a forum for short fiction to make a comeback. And I do not mean just short stories. Novellas, always too long for most fiction magazines and too short to be printed on their own, can be published digitally without having to worry about the physical constrains of word count. Indeed, half of the stories in my collection Short Stories originally saw publication as eBooks only, two as stand-alone stories and three in a mini-collection called Inner Lives. And I plan on releasing many more short stories in the future. I want to create short works that tie in with my Rick Sullivan series. I want to release another short story collection. I am even toying with the idea of a serially-told story in which readers can take an active part. A whole new frontier is opening up for short fiction. Embrace it. Short fiction is not dead.



Biography

Michael K. Rose is the author of the science fiction adventure series Sullivan’s War. He grew up in Arizona, where he now resides, after spending part of his formative years overseas and in Maine. When he is not writing, Michael enjoys reading. He is a lover of classical music and regularly attends performances of the Phoenix Symphony and Arizona Opera. He also enjoys tabletop and card gaming. He is an avid and enthusiastic traveler and has visited nearly thirty countries on four continents. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Arizona State University.

To connect with Michael, please visit the following links:

Twitter  

Short Stories by Michael K. Rose



The science fiction stories of Michael K. Rose can most accurately be described as eclectic. He is best known for his science fiction adventure series Sullivan’s War and in this collection you will find stories that adhere to the strongest expectations of the genre, such as “Sergeant Riley’s Account,” “Sleep” and “A Random Selection.”


But you will also find stories that, while speculative in nature, owe more to literary fiction than anything else. Works such as “Main & Church,” “Inner Life” and “Pedro X.” explore the psyche as opposed to the outer reaches of the galaxy.

Whatever your tastes, you are bound to discover many favorites amongst these ten stories. The first five have been previously available electronically but this is their first appearance in print. The last five stories are new to this collection.

eBook Editions Available at:


All Other International Amazon Kindle Stores. Links here.

Signed print copies are available from the author here.



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Friday, June 22, 2012

The Decision to Self Publish - Guest Post: Benjamin X. Wretlind


I am a big fan of Benjamin X. Wretlind's blog, so I was absolutely thrilled when I had the opportunity to have him do a guest post here as part of his Sketches from the Spanish Mustang blog tour. Benjamin was kind enough to allow me to pick from the tour topics. I chose "The Decision to Self Publish," and he did not disappoint.  Without further ado, here are Benjamin’s thoughts on self publishing:


I want to thank Michelle for allowing me to post on her blog. As fellow Indie authors, it's important to reach out and help each other whenever possible. Michelle offered to help me on this Blog Tour, and I appreciate it most sincerely.

It's not an easy task we take on, either. Being an Indie author means not only writing, but editing (or finding editors), formatting for electronic or print, publishing, navigating the maze of marketing, following through on interviews, attempting to generate support, etc.  Being an Indie author is, at times, exhausting, and those of you who have put your foot forward and your work out there know what I mean.

It's also rewarding in more ways than one. Sure, the royalty payments are higher, but if you're not writing for money then you really don't care as much about that as some people think you do. The reward comes from doing all the work and seeing it through to fruition. At least, that's the way I feel about it.

I didn't start out with the grand notion of being an Indie author. In fact, I had every intention of getting an agent, signing contracts that were explained to me because I can't read legal mumbo-jumbo and letting someone else do all the editing, formatting, publishing and marketing.  In my fantasy world (and we all live in those, sometimes), I was going to write and someone else was going to do all the work. If my cover looked like every other cover out there, so be it. Who was I to judge the expertise of the marketing roundtable at XYZ Publishing, Inc.? I was going to sit back and rake in the money while I wrote even more.

Like so many other people, I sent out query letters and wrote synopsises...synopsi...synopsiseses...outlines that were designed to make an agent's or a publisher's job easier by limiting the amount of stuff they had to read. But those literary kings and queens were the best in the business, so if they wanted to judge my work by a single-page query or a synopsis, that was the right thing to do. They knew the business and like so many other things in corporate life, you trust the manager, sit down, shut up and color. If you couldn't follow their strict guidelines on what to present to them, if your one minute "elevator" pitch was two seconds too long, if your query letter didn't follow the format of the agent's bestselling work, then you could have a nice day.
Awesome! Corporate America here I come.

Well Corporate America can kiss my ass. It didn't take long for me to realize that the rules put in place by these agents and publishers were restrictive to the point of being laughable. You pretty much had to know someone or get lucky to land a contract, and if you were anything like me (anonymous), you weren't getting your foot in the door. That's not to say there aren't good people out there landing good contracts, and you're probably saying that I'm bitter or have sour grapes, and I don't blame you for thinking that.

It's not true, though. You see, I didn't spend years putting query letters and synopsi...syn...things together and get rejected hundreds of times. If I did that and *then* I went the Indie route, it would have certainly given me sour grapes. No, I stopped at the beginning after researching both publishing avenues. I said I wasn't going to put myself into a corporate mess despite the stigma of being an Indie author. I was in the military for 20 years, and I vowed to never live under so many rules again.

As an Indie author, I would retain creative control even though I would have to work my butt off to get anything done.

As an Indie author, I would learn if some marketing tactic worked or not--on my time, through my methods--and I wouldn't have to rely on a publisher to tell me that was none of my business.

As an Indie author, I would be able to write what I wanted without worrying about what would make the corporation money, and if a book didn't make as much money as another book, I wouldn't worry about being "cut."
As an Indie author, I could stick to writing fiction instead of genre or compartmentalized fiction, and if wanted to write a romance, then I could, even if all my other work was horror or science fiction.

As an Indie author, I could work for the reader, not for the company.

I don't like corporations, and although I'm stuck in one right now as part of that "day job" thing, I wouldn't volunteer to work for one if I had the choice.

Being an Indie author--being self-published--is the best thing that could have happened to me. There is freedom, there is responsibility, and there is a direct connection between what you write and what the reader reads.
And this writer has no intention of working for anyone else but you.


BIOGRAPHY
Benjamin X. Wretlind, the author of Castles: A FictionalMemoir of a Girl with Scissors and Sketches from the Spanish Mustang, has been called "a Pulitzer-caliber writer" with "a unique American voice." Aside from novels, he has been published in many magazines throughout the past 10 years.


SKETCHES FROM THE SPANISH MUSTANG
In Sketches from the Spanish Mustang, a haunting, heart-warming and often brutally direct exploration of the lives of seven people in the mining town of Cripple Creek, Colorado, a woman must come to grips with the failings that cost the lives of her husband and child. Bestselling author Michael K. Rose says: "Mr. Wretlind has penned a tale of such emotional and literary depth it will haunt the reader long after the last page is turned."
With a pencil, a sketchbook and a keen eye for the details of the soul, the woman's lines and smudges, curves and tone reveal the stories behind her subjects. Life emerges on the page — vengeance, salvation, love and death. The artist's subjects fight for survival, only to be saved in the sketches of a woman with a gift . . . and a curse.
International Book Award winner Gregory G. Allen calls the book a "unique journey that rips away the outer layers of people allowing us to stare into their souls where humanity is universal: no matter the genre of writing."
Sketches from the Spanish Mustang will be available at all major online retailers for $14.95 on July 1st, 2012.  It will also be presented in an electronic format (e.g. Kindle, nook) for $5.95.



Thank you so much Benjamin! Working for the reader – I love that! Please be sure to check out the other stops on his tour and enter the Sketches from the Spanish Mustang giveaways at the bottom of that blog tour preview page!

Monday, June 18, 2012

I'm in the Library! No Way!


In my search for the magic bullet to get my book noticed, I read a blog in which the author recommended thinking outside the box. She said to start local. I was sitting at our local library one morning in January with my son when I looked around at all of the books and posters for reading programs and had a light bulb moment. Why not ask if they promote local authors? I was introduced to Paul, the awesome man in charge of the adult programs for the library. He said he would love to have a local author day and asked if there were any other authors in the area. I immediately recommended my good friend and fellow author, Thomas Amo. Paul said he would set something up for June as part of the library's adult summer reading series (called "Between the Sheets" lol).
Thomas Amo, Paul, and Me!

I was absolutely shocked at all the support we received from the library. They purchased several copies of our books to put in the library and saved one to have us sign and raffle off at the event. Paul told me it would be an adult event, so Thomas Amo and I planned accordingly. We were going to talk for a few minutes about writing and then read selections from our books. His book, An Apple for Zoe, is an adult horror novel, and he was going to read a particularly scary hospital scene. I had chosen to read a section of WhereWill You Run? that included an interaction between the main characters that was steeped in sexual tension.
All relaxed before the kids arrived

We were absolutely amazed when we got to the library on Saturday. There were posters, and even refreshments in a room off the main library. I was a little overwhelmed by the publicity, and it made me even more nervous. Thankfully, Thomas and I have worked in theater together, and he always has a way of calming my stage fright. I did okay too until the room started filling up with children!! He looked at me and I panicked. I whispered "He said adults only." We both started scrambling for different sections to read. There is no part of An Apple for Zoe that is kid friendly, so he opted to read his section and edit as he went. I had to scramble for a completely different chapter. "Can you say 'sexual tension' kids?" Ugh! Thankfully, I found a rated G chapter that would work. One disaster averted. The other awkward moment came when we chose names in the raffle and kids won both of our books. Yikes! "Give this to your mom!"
I couldn't stop giggling!

Since he knew I was nervous, Thomas volunteered to go first. He assured the parents that even though we had counted on an adult event, we would keep it kid friendly. He had written an extended synopsis of his book that blew me away. I had planned to read the one on the back of my book. You know, the one everyone had already read. Sigh. When it was my turn, I started by following the notes on my index cards, but soon found that it was really easy to talk about my book and writing because it is something so close to my heart.
No,I'm not nervous at all. I always look nauseous.

Afterwards, we left time for a question and answer period. I was impressed with the thoughtful questions they asked about writing and self publishing. Thomas's amazing wife came to take pictures and asked awesome questions to fill in the gaps. Even though I had been nervous, I found it easy to relax around fellow book lovers. I had the most incredible time. The people who attended were so awesome. They rushed the table afterwards to talk to us. We were shocked when they treated us like rock stars. They wanted our autographs and asked to take pictures with us. Some even bought our books. Several people told us that all of our books had been checked out and they were on waiting lists. That was incredible!!
Caught one of mine before it got checked out :)
 
I am so glad I read that blog and tried to think outside the box. Honestly, I don't know why I didn't think of the library before. Libraries are amazing and so supportive when it comes to reading and writing for kids and adults. Paul even asked us at the end if we had any advice for the young writers in the audience. So even though we had our reservations about the kids being there, turned out most of them had been writing and were actually interested in meeting authors. One little girl even told me about a story she had written about unicorns. What a great opportunity for us to be able to encourage young writers. I didn't realize all of the programs and events that are being held at our local library throughout the year. I strongly urge you to get involved with the library in your community. You might be amazed at what you find!

Don't read this until you are 18!!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

What's On My Kindle?


I had mentioned in a recent blog that I was currently having a problem with the number of great books on my Kindle that I want to read. I did say that it was a good problem to have, but it is a problem all the same. I have limited free time, and it seems lately it has been shrinking with work and family responsibilities. Trying to finish up my second book and working on several new story ideas has cut into my reading time as well.

I really want to help support my fellow indie authors, so I have been putting my money where my mouth is and buying their books. To me, that isn't enough. I want to actually read them like I want people to read my books. If I love it, I can't wait to tell the author and share with others. I know what it's like to get an amazing review or have someone tell me how much he/she enjoyed my writing, that's priceless. So be patient my friends. I will get to you!

Here are some of the great books I have read lately in no particular order (for other books I liked see my blog My Favorite Indie BookPicks for 2011):

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4:00 AM - A Collection by Amber Jerome-Norrgard: This collection of essays and poems struck me right in the heart. Amber is incredibly honest about her life and her struggles with motherhood and infertility. Being crazy private myself, I was blown away by how fearless she was about sharing. She is an amazingly strong person.
 


James by Amber Jerome-Norrgard: This is a great erotica short story that makes you think twice about looking at that hot co-worker. Made me blush! (Of course, if you know me that's not hard to do...lol)



Being His Favorite by Charity Parkerson: As you all know, I'm a pansy when it comes to erotica. This red hot short story had me giggling and peaking through my fingers. This one puts a new spin on high-tech, long distance relationships. Yep, still blushing!



Driven to Kill by Gary C. King: Gary is a true crime writer and his other book Blood Lust: Portrait of a Serial Sex Killer made my 2011 list. I'm a big fan of true crime books and Gary's are amazing. I have to admit though, this one got to me. It's about pedophile/child killer Westley Allan Dodd, but the insight it gives parents is completely worth it.





Dagon's Blood by Virginia Lee: This is an epic romance set in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. If you love a good romance book, pick this one up.



The Childe by C.A. Kunz: I don't read a lot of Y.A. books, but I have started reading a few and have been surprised by how much I like them. I can't buy enough books to keep my daughter happy, so I am glad to see the great Y.A. books available. Loved this one and I have the next book in this series, Dark Days, on my Kindle.





Pyxis by K.C. Neal: This is another Y.A. book I loved, and I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.



Shift by M.R. Merrick: His first book Exiled, made my 2011 favorites. This is the second book in that series and is a great, action packed follow up to Exiled. Can't wait for the next book in this series.



Let's Get Lade by Thomas Amo: This short was adapted from an original play and is just good, clean fun. A short read packed with a lot of giggles.



What Happens in Vegas, Dies in Vegas by Mark Everett Stone: Mark is one of my favorite writers. This is his second book in his BSI series. The first book Things to Do In Denver When You're Un-Dead also made my 2011 best list. I anxiously await the release of his next book...(it's a secret!)




Be sure to check these books out and feel free to recommend any books you think I would like. Thanks!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Changing Minds and Leaving the Past Behind


A few years ago, my father and I were talking about taking a trip to Europe. We definitely wanted to go to London. My dad suggested visiting other countries while we were there. I thought that was a great idea and mentioned Ireland and Scotland. He then said France and Germany. I crunched up my face and said “Who would want to visit Germany?” I had no desire to visit the land of Hitler and the holocaust. That sounds mean, but I couldn’t think of any other thing in Germany besides Oktoberfest, and I’m not a big beer fan.

However, with films like Schindler’s List and Valkyrie, more and more information about the German resistance during World War II has been coming to the surface. I have seen several documentaries on the History channel lately on this exact subject. I know it’s been a long time since I was in school, but I don’t remember a huge amount of information about German’s fighting against Hitler. Not that I blamed them since it generally meant certain death. He ruled by fear, not necessarily because everyone agreed with him.

Recently, I read an article about German college students who were angry because they also felt like Germany would never crawl out from under Hitler’s shadow. That made me think, maybe they’re right. Is it fair for me to judge modern day Germany based on Hitler’s madness? It reminded me of when I was in college and working with Japanese exchange students. They never failed to ask me what I thought about the WWII bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. None of us were even born then, so why would they want to know what I thought about it? Ding. Light bulb moment. I realized I was doing the same thing by judging Germany for something that happened before many of its current residents were born.

All of this came back to me the other day when I was at Starbucks. I was standing in line behind two women. One woman ordered and went to sit down. The other lady started to order, and I could tell she had a German accent. The man behind the counter asked her where she was from. The conversation went like this:

“I’m from Germany.”

“I have always wanted to visit Germany.” Starbucks guy said.

“You should. It is very beautiful.” She said with a big smile.

“Yeah, and I could see all the holocaust sites.”

“What?” she said, smile fading.

“You know; the holocaust.”

“Yeah, but you should come for Oktoberfest. There is a lot of food and beer.” She replied smiling again.

“And Auschwitz.” Dumbass Starbucks guy said. When she just stared at him, he continued to dig his socially inept hole by saying, “Auschwitz, the concentration camp. Did I pronounce it right?”

She mumbled “Yes” before paying and going to sit with her friend. 


I approached the counter and he gave me a big smile, but I wasn’t having it. “Dude, you need to go apologize. I’m not even German, and I was offended. Auschwitz and the holocaust? Is that the best you could come up with?” He looked surprised. I don’t know if he apologized or not. He was a lot younger than I am, so the problem is still very real.


In truth Germany has one of the strongest economies in the Euro. If you ask my husband, the car fanatic, it is the home of Audi, Volkswagon, Opal, the Autobahn and Nürburg-Ring race course. It is also the home of great beer and food, beautiful sites, museums and art, and amazing architecture. There is so much more to Germany besides war. 


On a more personal note, I have something to be thankful for from Germany. My husband looks like his father with dark hair and brown eyes, but his mother is of German descent. So my honey is part German and our kids have beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair. So yeah, I need to move on. Go Germany!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Genre Bashing - Just Shut Up!


Ok guys, this is a total rant blog. I am so tired of seeing other authors bashing genres they don’t like or read saying they don’t “understand why people read that crap.” The truth is, there is something out there for everyone. I LOVE that! I love that there is so much talent, creativity, and diversity in the writing world even if it happens to be in genres I don’t read because I know other people do. To speak badly of authors who write in genres that sell well is just petty. I write about vampires, and I make no apologies for that. I love the paranormal genre; and if you don’t, that is totally ok with me. Maybe you like thrillers, romance, or classic literature - that’s great! Whatever you like to read, you will be able to find it. I think that is amazing!

You will never catch me reading a sci-fi book, but my husband loves them. I may tease him about space marines, but you will never see a public post or comment from me bashing sci-fi authors or that genre. I’m not a big fantasy fan either, but I would not say anything against those authors or the people who love to read fantasy. I will support my friends who write in both of those genres and will post their books to help readers find them.  In fact, I will post/promo any of the books my author friends write because even if I don’t read them, I know other people will. That’s the cool thing about creating a network. I don’t have to love your genre to support you. I let the readers decide what they want.

I am tired of the negative comments about the paranormal genre. If I had a dime for every time I heard “I am so sick of vampires and werewolves,” I’d be rich. The problem is, the people who make those comments are not people who write in that genre or read it. So don’t. Stick to what you like. I’m fine with that. If you don’t like the paranormal genre, don’t read my books. I’ve been especially bothered by the anti Twilight campaigns that often include other authors. There are actually Facebook groups and blogs dedicated to bashing Twilight and/or the paranormal genre in general. I wasn’t particularly fond of the sparkly thing either, but a lot of people love those books. Where’s the harm in that?

There is a lot of talk in the indie world about cyber bullies targeting authors with bad reviews and other cruel comments. But somehow it’s ok to cyber bully traditionally published authors who are successful at what they do? It really isn’t okay. I’m tired of hearing how paranormal books are a waste and have no substance. You should always strive to write the best book you can, but every book does not have to be a critically acclaimed masterpiece (not that I’m bashing those…lol). Sometimes books are just fun.

If you don’t like a particular genre, don’t read it; but don't be mean to those who do. I’m not going to read a sci-fi or fantasy book and then beat the author up in print because I don’t like sci-fi or fantasy. That’s just stupid. Also, I am not going to be pissy if a sci-fi or fantasy book is selling better than a paranormal book. I congratulate any author who is successful. I want to be successful too, but I’m not going to put other authors/genres down to do it.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Where Will You Hide? Cover Reveal!!


This summer I am proud to announce the release of Where Will You Hide? The second book in my Díon series. The first book Where WillYou Run? is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble (see links on the left).

In Where Will You Hide?, Raith, Mari, and the rest of the team continue their search for Christopher Collins. While doing research on vampire lore, I ran across many interesting blood sucking creatures including the almost invincible Viking draugr. The draugr is a combination of a vampire, a ghoul, and a ghost. They feed on flesh as well as blood. They have some really interesting powers including being able to travel underground, turning into a mist to pass through solid objects, growing in size, super strength, and shape shifting into animals including a seal. No, I don't really get the whole seal thing either. I'm guessing since they were a seafaring group that would be a scary thing knowing you couldn't escape it even on your ship. The draugr's only weakness, if you can call it that, is cold pressed steal. In my series, draugrs were used by the Vikings in the early 900s when they started to invade other countries. The use of draugrs as a weapon made the Vikings almost unstoppable, but not all Viking warriors agreed with this strategy knowing that the creatures would eventually turn on them when there was no one else to attack. The Díon are a group of paranormal creatures who put aside their differences to unite against the draugrs knowing that the humans could not stop them and the paranormals would be next. No one faction was strong enough to defeat them, but together they were able to destroy the draugrs. The Díon teams hunted them down making sure not one was allowed to live. Or at least that is what they thought...



When a blood thirsty draugr terrorized his village, Reinn Gunnarson had no choice but to gather some men and follow the creature to its lair knowing they would never return. Mortally wounded, Reinn awoke to find the gods had cursed him to the same fate as the evil he had fought so hard to destroy – a draugr. He isolated himself inside the creature’s castle away from humans. This had worked well for over 1000 years until one rainy night when Kylee Shanon, a stubborn, foul mouthed woman knocked on his door looking for help, unaware of the danger within.
After escaping Raith Macrae and his team in San Francisco, Christopher Collins set up shop in a new location in Europe. A mistake by his men led to the discovery of a legendary draugr. Collins had heard the stories of how draugrs were hunted to extinction by the Díon because it was too dangerous to allow even one to exist; but if he could control it, he could use it to kill Raith and bring Mari Lucas back to his side where she belonged.
When Reinn is forced to carry out Collins’s plan, a twist of fate gives Raith the chance to catch Collins while keeping Mari and his team safe. To do this; he will have to trust Reinn, a draugr. The type of creature Raith had been created to kill.