Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "erotic-thriller"
Bitten - Coming This Valentine's Day!
I am very excited to announce that I will be releasing my new novel, BITTEN this Valentine's Day.
I write this having written the book's final words - always such a momentous and surreal feeling; a book that I have been working on for a very long time. The idea first came to me in January 2015, while I was still working on 'The Jack O'Lantern Men', orginally planned as the third in a trio of supernaturally-themed seasonal novellas.
The more I delved into the stories of these characters, the more there was to tell. Some of the themes I explored in bitesize chunks in 'Whispers from the Dead of Night' have also woven themselves into my new tale of murder, fear and desire. I cannot wait to share this with you!
Redrafting and editing is well underway, and the book will soon be available to pre-order. Look out for the synopsis, which I shall share with you tomorrow. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @leeallenauthor and don't miss the cover reveal and teasers over the coming weeks.
It is almost time to disturb the slumber of the damned...
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
I write this having written the book's final words - always such a momentous and surreal feeling; a book that I have been working on for a very long time. The idea first came to me in January 2015, while I was still working on 'The Jack O'Lantern Men', orginally planned as the third in a trio of supernaturally-themed seasonal novellas.
The more I delved into the stories of these characters, the more there was to tell. Some of the themes I explored in bitesize chunks in 'Whispers from the Dead of Night' have also woven themselves into my new tale of murder, fear and desire. I cannot wait to share this with you!
Redrafting and editing is well underway, and the book will soon be available to pre-order. Look out for the synopsis, which I shall share with you tomorrow. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @leeallenauthor and don't miss the cover reveal and teasers over the coming weeks.
It is almost time to disturb the slumber of the damned...
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - Coming This Valentine's Day!
My new novel, BITTEN - coming this Valentine's Day! Check out the synopsis below:
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Now available to pre-order on Amazon.
Don't miss the cover reveal and teasers on Instagram and Facebook over the coming weeks - follow me @leeallenauthor, links below.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Now available to pre-order on Amazon.
Don't miss the cover reveal and teasers on Instagram and Facebook over the coming weeks - follow me @leeallenauthor, links below.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Happy St. Dywnwen's Day! Plus, an update on "Bitten"...
Happy St. Dwynwen's Day from here in Wales!
As the Welsh patron saint of lovers, St. Dwynwen's day is regarded as Wales' equivalent to Valentine's Day.
Dwynwen's tale is that she fell in love with a man whom she was not permitted to marry, another having been selected for her, and prayed to God to let her forget him. She was granted her wish by an angel visiting her with a potion to drink, while the object of her affection was frozen in a block of ice.
Subsequently, God granted her three wishes - for the love of her life to be freed from his frozen prison; for the hopes and dreams of those truly in love to be granted; and, finally, that she should never marry another. She thus devoted her life to serving God, as a nun.
Look out for the date, 25th January, marked by a pivotal scene in my new book, BITTEN.
I have been hard at work editing the final chapters this past weekend. Editing is often the part of the process filled with most anxiety, when I begin to question every word, every sentence, everything each character says, every plot point. But it is always incredibly rewarding when it's complete; the hope being to have polished the book to the best that it can be.
Look out for the cover reveal later this week on Instagram, @leeallenauthor (link below). I shall also soon share some teasers to whet your appetites...
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller, coming this Valentine's Day!
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
As the Welsh patron saint of lovers, St. Dwynwen's day is regarded as Wales' equivalent to Valentine's Day.
Dwynwen's tale is that she fell in love with a man whom she was not permitted to marry, another having been selected for her, and prayed to God to let her forget him. She was granted her wish by an angel visiting her with a potion to drink, while the object of her affection was frozen in a block of ice.
Subsequently, God granted her three wishes - for the love of her life to be freed from his frozen prison; for the hopes and dreams of those truly in love to be granted; and, finally, that she should never marry another. She thus devoted her life to serving God, as a nun.
Look out for the date, 25th January, marked by a pivotal scene in my new book, BITTEN.
I have been hard at work editing the final chapters this past weekend. Editing is often the part of the process filled with most anxiety, when I begin to question every word, every sentence, everything each character says, every plot point. But it is always incredibly rewarding when it's complete; the hope being to have polished the book to the best that it can be.
Look out for the cover reveal later this week on Instagram, @leeallenauthor (link below). I shall also soon share some teasers to whet your appetites...
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller, coming this Valentine's Day!
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - Teaser I
Here is the first teaser for my upcoming novel, BITTEN, available from this Valentine's Day!
___
For centuries, human beings have reported the phenomena of waking in the small hours of the morning for no discernible reason.
It is believed that this is the time when evil is at its most potent, while others suggest this is when the veil between the living and the dead is at its most porous.
Perhaps they have awoken from a dream they cannot remember. Some attribute the uneasy feeling of eyes upon them to animals hidden outside in the darkness.
However they interpret it, many cannot shake off that feeling of being watched, the shiver running through them even as they turn over to return to sleep.
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller, coming this Valentine's Day!
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Check out the cover reveal from earlier this week over on Instagram.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
___
For centuries, human beings have reported the phenomena of waking in the small hours of the morning for no discernible reason.
It is believed that this is the time when evil is at its most potent, while others suggest this is when the veil between the living and the dead is at its most porous.
Perhaps they have awoken from a dream they cannot remember. Some attribute the uneasy feeling of eyes upon them to animals hidden outside in the darkness.
However they interpret it, many cannot shake off that feeling of being watched, the shiver running through them even as they turn over to return to sleep.
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller, coming this Valentine's Day!
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Check out the cover reveal from earlier this week over on Instagram.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - Teaser II
Here is a second teaser for my new novel, BITTEN, coming this Valentine's Day!
___
It takes many mouths to tell a tale, many years to form a history, many minds to inform a philosophy. A tangle of events, experiences and perspectives to develop a full image of the truth. Even then, it may be seen through a darkened glass, veiled by smoke and mirrors.
Many may think they know me, but I assure them they do not. There are those who wish to consume others, to feed on them like vultures, yet they fail to see beneath the mask. For to truly know another, you must meet them within the shadows of the night.
Do you wish to know who I am? Do you dare to know me? You wish to partake of my body; of my blood. Perhaps in the darkest corner, you shall find my retreated soul, where it lies damned in eternal torment.
How to embark on such a quest, you may ask yourself? First, you must hear my confession.
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller.
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
___
It takes many mouths to tell a tale, many years to form a history, many minds to inform a philosophy. A tangle of events, experiences and perspectives to develop a full image of the truth. Even then, it may be seen through a darkened glass, veiled by smoke and mirrors.
Many may think they know me, but I assure them they do not. There are those who wish to consume others, to feed on them like vultures, yet they fail to see beneath the mask. For to truly know another, you must meet them within the shadows of the night.
Do you wish to know who I am? Do you dare to know me? You wish to partake of my body; of my blood. Perhaps in the darkest corner, you shall find my retreated soul, where it lies damned in eternal torment.
How to embark on such a quest, you may ask yourself? First, you must hear my confession.
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller.
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - Preview
Here is a preview of the opening scene from my new novel, BITTEN, coming this Valentine's Day:
___
Slivers of moonlight glittered through the slats of the blinds, which clacked together gently, rousing Holleigh from her light slumber. She turned over and rubbed her eyes, screwing them half-closed in an effort to decipher the blur of her bedside clock.
The blinds clacked again, startling her. The window was open, the wind moving the slats back and forth behind the curtains, which were half drawn, billowing slightly outwards. She hugged her goose-pimpled torso under the cotton and rose from the bed, surprised she had managed any sleep at all. She felt nauseous with nerves, anxious at the outcome of the impending operation.
Her mind drifted once again to the argument she’d had with Ethan several days earlier. It had not been pleasant. She had a job to do tonight and he did not react well to it. She recalled the rage in his eyes and his raised voice, his mockery at her faith in what her job stood for and that justice would prevail.
There is no justice, he had told her, only the means-justified end crafted by those powerful enough to pull the strings.
Recalling his expression of hatred for what she represented, the twisting feeling in her gut brought her close to tears. Years of emotional strain, both personal and professional, were to be put to the test tonight. Many, she knew, would be of the opinion she had made it far worse for herself. She had become distracted with Ethan and she should have expected his reaction and his feelings on the subject of what she had done; what she proposed to do. She had the sudden thought that she may not survive it. But the wheels were already in motion.
She reached past the blinds and slammed the window beside the door that opened on to the narrow balcony outside the apartment, hoping to shut out the cold. Love bites on her breasts and thighs glowed purple in the silver light. With the rest of her body gripped in a vice of cold, she still felt the heat in those wounds, while her vulva throbbed with warming sensitivity. She drew the curtains tight and sat back on the edge of the bed. She recalled Ethan’s blazing eyes, the twist of his mouth, the contortion of his face, his scorn and contempt.
Then he had kissed her. She still felt the force of that kiss even now, as his whole body clashed against hers. They made love with an aggression that she still felt jarring, conjuring conflicted thoughts and emotions. There was something raw and vulnerable in the aftermath of a sexual encounter. To have succumbed to animal desire and allowed another to physically experience you so intimately. It was both comforting and unsettling.
She let her body drop back on the bed and closed her eyes. She had simply to wait. She slid her black cotton shirt dress up around her waist, her fingers slipping beneath her black lace hipsters. She could withstand the burgeoning desire no longer, the thoughts of him that invaded her mind, the desperate need for him to invade her body over and over again. Her fingers felt cold as she touched herself, her fingertips circling, stroking. She closed her eyes, chewing her lip.
How many watched her curtained windows from outside? Waiting for movement. Within, she stoked secret desire. Still, days later, she could smell the sex in the room from her and Ethan’s passion. It was almost time now, the reason for Ethan’s wrath. She recalled his dominion over her, overcome now by the effect he had upon her. She let herself cry out, a soft emission piercing the night air. She sighed, allowing a smile to linger on her lips.
She pulled her dress back down her legs, getting up off the bed and walking down the corridor to the bathroom to freshen up and change into fresh underwear. Over the sound of the running tap, she heard something that may have come from outside. She switched off the tap, listening intently.
The tinkling of smashing glass came from the bedroom.
She walked on bare feet to the bathroom door, looking down the corridor to the room at the end. Quietly, she moved into the corridor and approached her bedroom. The moonlight cast a faint shadow on the floor ahead. Her curtains were parted.
Reaching the bedroom door, she peered around the architrave into the room. Seeing nothing, she edged around the doorframe and inside, looking at the shattered window visible between the gap in the curtains.
The moonlight shifted around her. Before she could react, hands gripped her wrists, fingernails that felt like claws digging into her skin. She cried out and was spun around, a long finger tilting her chin upwards. His eyes were beautiful, shining a deep crimson from the midst of the silver flooding the room. She gazed at them, breath catching in her throat.
He kissed her mouth slowly. She tasted metal. He stooped and touched her neck with his lips. She felt her orgasm rising again, feeling a sharpness piercing her skin, groaning as the man drew on the fresh wounds.
A crash invaded her senses, accompanied by shouting and activity spilling into the corridor. He was pulled away from her and she became aware of his snarling and hissing words, but could not decipher their meaning.
A hand reached out to steady her. Looking up, she saw her superior, Detective Superintendent O’Neill, beside her.
“You’re okay, PC Ryder, it’s over. We’ve got him. We finally got him.”
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller.
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Coming soon to Lulu.com, Apple Books, NOOK and Kobo.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
___
Slivers of moonlight glittered through the slats of the blinds, which clacked together gently, rousing Holleigh from her light slumber. She turned over and rubbed her eyes, screwing them half-closed in an effort to decipher the blur of her bedside clock.
The blinds clacked again, startling her. The window was open, the wind moving the slats back and forth behind the curtains, which were half drawn, billowing slightly outwards. She hugged her goose-pimpled torso under the cotton and rose from the bed, surprised she had managed any sleep at all. She felt nauseous with nerves, anxious at the outcome of the impending operation.
Her mind drifted once again to the argument she’d had with Ethan several days earlier. It had not been pleasant. She had a job to do tonight and he did not react well to it. She recalled the rage in his eyes and his raised voice, his mockery at her faith in what her job stood for and that justice would prevail.
There is no justice, he had told her, only the means-justified end crafted by those powerful enough to pull the strings.
Recalling his expression of hatred for what she represented, the twisting feeling in her gut brought her close to tears. Years of emotional strain, both personal and professional, were to be put to the test tonight. Many, she knew, would be of the opinion she had made it far worse for herself. She had become distracted with Ethan and she should have expected his reaction and his feelings on the subject of what she had done; what she proposed to do. She had the sudden thought that she may not survive it. But the wheels were already in motion.
She reached past the blinds and slammed the window beside the door that opened on to the narrow balcony outside the apartment, hoping to shut out the cold. Love bites on her breasts and thighs glowed purple in the silver light. With the rest of her body gripped in a vice of cold, she still felt the heat in those wounds, while her vulva throbbed with warming sensitivity. She drew the curtains tight and sat back on the edge of the bed. She recalled Ethan’s blazing eyes, the twist of his mouth, the contortion of his face, his scorn and contempt.
Then he had kissed her. She still felt the force of that kiss even now, as his whole body clashed against hers. They made love with an aggression that she still felt jarring, conjuring conflicted thoughts and emotions. There was something raw and vulnerable in the aftermath of a sexual encounter. To have succumbed to animal desire and allowed another to physically experience you so intimately. It was both comforting and unsettling.
She let her body drop back on the bed and closed her eyes. She had simply to wait. She slid her black cotton shirt dress up around her waist, her fingers slipping beneath her black lace hipsters. She could withstand the burgeoning desire no longer, the thoughts of him that invaded her mind, the desperate need for him to invade her body over and over again. Her fingers felt cold as she touched herself, her fingertips circling, stroking. She closed her eyes, chewing her lip.
How many watched her curtained windows from outside? Waiting for movement. Within, she stoked secret desire. Still, days later, she could smell the sex in the room from her and Ethan’s passion. It was almost time now, the reason for Ethan’s wrath. She recalled his dominion over her, overcome now by the effect he had upon her. She let herself cry out, a soft emission piercing the night air. She sighed, allowing a smile to linger on her lips.
She pulled her dress back down her legs, getting up off the bed and walking down the corridor to the bathroom to freshen up and change into fresh underwear. Over the sound of the running tap, she heard something that may have come from outside. She switched off the tap, listening intently.
The tinkling of smashing glass came from the bedroom.
She walked on bare feet to the bathroom door, looking down the corridor to the room at the end. Quietly, she moved into the corridor and approached her bedroom. The moonlight cast a faint shadow on the floor ahead. Her curtains were parted.
Reaching the bedroom door, she peered around the architrave into the room. Seeing nothing, she edged around the doorframe and inside, looking at the shattered window visible between the gap in the curtains.
The moonlight shifted around her. Before she could react, hands gripped her wrists, fingernails that felt like claws digging into her skin. She cried out and was spun around, a long finger tilting her chin upwards. His eyes were beautiful, shining a deep crimson from the midst of the silver flooding the room. She gazed at them, breath catching in her throat.
He kissed her mouth slowly. She tasted metal. He stooped and touched her neck with his lips. She felt her orgasm rising again, feeling a sharpness piercing her skin, groaning as the man drew on the fresh wounds.
A crash invaded her senses, accompanied by shouting and activity spilling into the corridor. He was pulled away from her and she became aware of his snarling and hissing words, but could not decipher their meaning.
A hand reached out to steady her. Looking up, she saw her superior, Detective Superintendent O’Neill, beside her.
“You’re okay, PC Ryder, it’s over. We’ve got him. We finally got him.”
___
BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller.
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Coming soon to Lulu.com, Apple Books, NOOK and Kobo.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - One Week to Go!
Just one week to go! My new novel, Bitten, will be released on Valentine's Day - next Sunday, 14th February.
I have spent the last fortnight undertaking a final read-through to capture any more edits, scrutinising the novel line by line - an exhausting, at times panicked, but ultimately rewarding activity. Fuelled by sugar and caffeine, I have journeyed with my characters once again. I am both excited and nervous now that publication day is almost here.
Working on Bitten was my primary focus throughout 2020, while locked down at home safe from the pandemic that still holds the world in its grip. Focussing on my writing helped me through many struggles. Without it and the unending support of family and friends, I may not have survived it. I am incredibly grateful to have a passion that I can fully explore behind closed doors - many have not had that luxury.
Thank you, too, to all my readers and followers - your feedback for Whispers from the Dead of Night has kept me going; I was determined to finish Bitten in time to share it with you this Valentine's Day! I still don't quite believe or know how I achieved it. I have been working very hard on this book. I hope you will enjoy the result.
A tale of murder, fear and desire...
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Coming soon to Lulu.com, Apple Books, NOOK and Kobo.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
I have spent the last fortnight undertaking a final read-through to capture any more edits, scrutinising the novel line by line - an exhausting, at times panicked, but ultimately rewarding activity. Fuelled by sugar and caffeine, I have journeyed with my characters once again. I am both excited and nervous now that publication day is almost here.
Working on Bitten was my primary focus throughout 2020, while locked down at home safe from the pandemic that still holds the world in its grip. Focussing on my writing helped me through many struggles. Without it and the unending support of family and friends, I may not have survived it. I am incredibly grateful to have a passion that I can fully explore behind closed doors - many have not had that luxury.
Thank you, too, to all my readers and followers - your feedback for Whispers from the Dead of Night has kept me going; I was determined to finish Bitten in time to share it with you this Valentine's Day! I still don't quite believe or know how I achieved it. I have been working very hard on this book. I hope you will enjoy the result.
A tale of murder, fear and desire...
Available to pre-order on Amazon.
Coming soon to Lulu.com, Apple Books, NOOK and Kobo.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Bitten - Out Now!
BITTEN is out now!
Release day has arrived for my fifth book, now available to download from Amazon and Lulu.com, and available at more retailers shortly.
An erotic horror vampire thriller, it tells the story of the hunt for a serial killer who strikes on Valentine's Day, leaving his victims exsanguinated. PC Holleigh Ryder wants to find justice, but at what professional and personal cost?
BITTEN is woven of many genres - it is on one level a crime thriller, a police procedural, a psychological thriller. It is also an erotic thriller, a dark love story, a gothic romance. It is a horror story, a vampire thriller. And it is also a tale about a quest for justice in our murky world where the lines often blur.
I am so thrilled to finally be sharing this story with readers. It has been with me for many years and I cannot wait for you to read it and to hear your feedback.
In the meantime, I may begin tinkering away at book 6...
Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!
___
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Release day has arrived for my fifth book, now available to download from Amazon and Lulu.com, and available at more retailers shortly.
An erotic horror vampire thriller, it tells the story of the hunt for a serial killer who strikes on Valentine's Day, leaving his victims exsanguinated. PC Holleigh Ryder wants to find justice, but at what professional and personal cost?
BITTEN is woven of many genres - it is on one level a crime thriller, a police procedural, a psychological thriller. It is also an erotic thriller, a dark love story, a gothic romance. It is a horror story, a vampire thriller. And it is also a tale about a quest for justice in our murky world where the lines often blur.
I am so thrilled to finally be sharing this story with readers. It has been with me for many years and I cannot wait for you to read it and to hear your feedback.
In the meantime, I may begin tinkering away at book 6...
Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!
___
A tale of murder, fear and desire…
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
February Story Spotlight - Bitten
"Centuries teach you patience. To wait quietly in the shadows, biding one's time."
First in the spotlight from "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection" is my erotic horror thriller novel "Bitten", which concludes the omnibus.
A criminal investigation...
an erotic obsession...
and the undead...
This Valentine's Day, join Holleigh as she comes face to face with the Valentine Vampire...
Behind the Story
I first wrote the basic plot outline for "Bitten" in 2015, shortly after completing the first draft of "The Jack O'Lantern Men". Inspired by a short story I had written in school, entitled "Clueless", about a US police detective investigating a suspected serial killer (we were tasked with writing a romance, so I wrote an erotic thriller), there were two other key themes that I added to the mix: first being the seasonal theme of Valentine's Day. I planned "Bitten" to be the third of my seasonal novellas, following the previous two exploring Christmas and Hallowe'en respectively.
The second key theme was that of vampirism. I have loved vampires from a very young age - my first encounter being an abridged version of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Since then I got to know the Count and his fellow undead creatures through novels and films, and fascinating explorations into their history and folklore.
So, "Bitten" was born. The more I worked on it, the more it expanded. In the end, it became a full-length novel - the characters having far too much to say to cram into a novella.
Another fictional love of mine is erotic thrillers. From the first time I saw "Basic Instinct" I thought it a masterpiece. Its blueprint has inspired many themes of erotic thrillers since - the twisting mystery, the passion that clouds the judgement, the dangerous cat-and-mouse game.
We've seen vampires become ever more romanticised in recent years. As we've seen erotic fiction become ever more romanticised. One of my goals with this novel was to strip both of those back, to let some of their raw darkness resurface - a horror thriller, rather than a paranormal romance; a murder investigation into suspected serial murders, each of which took place on Valentine's Day.
Of course, authentically dealing with such themes in conjunction comes with many other themes and plot points to be illustrated and explored, some of which may be triggering - misogyny, sexism, sexual violence, paraphiliae, and trauma. As difficult as these may be to explore, I think it is vitally important that we do not shy away from these issues. To allow fantasy to dominate over very real and tragically everyday experiences can sometimes aid in silencing victims and empowering offenders. In fiction, as in life, fantasy and reality both have their place. Exploring them side by side is sometimes necessary and right for the story you want to tell.
I could have never imagined how topical the issues of misogyny, sexual violence and murder, within the context of the police service, would have been in the year when I finally published "Bitten". It remains vitally important that we don't lose awareness that such crimes are happening in reality every day. Crime and horror writers have often been accused of glorifying violence and disrespecting victims. We do not do that - it is those who live in denial of these experiences that do so, relegating such offenders to monsters in the dark and forcing their victims into silence. We should never stop having these conversations and fiction is as valid a platform as any other from which to consider, discuss, debate, and, most importantly of all, remember and spread awareness.
In order to tell this story, it needed a strong central character. While she remained nameless for several months while I tried various names, PC Holleigh Ryder was always that character. Throughout "Bitten", we explore her progression in her career, her introverted but compassionate heart, her strength and vulnerability, and an insight into her desires and her pansexuality. She is perhaps one of my favourite characters whom I've created.
And what of the other characters? The mysterious Valentine Vampire? There will be no more spoilers from me. You'll just have to crawl under the covers and open the book for more nighttime exploration into this tale of murder, fear and desire...
___
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
*Note to Readers*
Contains descriptions of an explicit sexual and violent nature.
"You have the heart of a vampire. Your soul is as damned in your body as mine."
Preview the opening scene.
Available standalone ebook and paperback, or as part of the omnibus in ebook, paperback and hardcover. Grab your copy now!
Order "Bitten"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
First in the spotlight from "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection" is my erotic horror thriller novel "Bitten", which concludes the omnibus.
A criminal investigation...
an erotic obsession...
and the undead...
This Valentine's Day, join Holleigh as she comes face to face with the Valentine Vampire...
Behind the Story
I first wrote the basic plot outline for "Bitten" in 2015, shortly after completing the first draft of "The Jack O'Lantern Men". Inspired by a short story I had written in school, entitled "Clueless", about a US police detective investigating a suspected serial killer (we were tasked with writing a romance, so I wrote an erotic thriller), there were two other key themes that I added to the mix: first being the seasonal theme of Valentine's Day. I planned "Bitten" to be the third of my seasonal novellas, following the previous two exploring Christmas and Hallowe'en respectively.
The second key theme was that of vampirism. I have loved vampires from a very young age - my first encounter being an abridged version of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Since then I got to know the Count and his fellow undead creatures through novels and films, and fascinating explorations into their history and folklore.
So, "Bitten" was born. The more I worked on it, the more it expanded. In the end, it became a full-length novel - the characters having far too much to say to cram into a novella.
Another fictional love of mine is erotic thrillers. From the first time I saw "Basic Instinct" I thought it a masterpiece. Its blueprint has inspired many themes of erotic thrillers since - the twisting mystery, the passion that clouds the judgement, the dangerous cat-and-mouse game.
We've seen vampires become ever more romanticised in recent years. As we've seen erotic fiction become ever more romanticised. One of my goals with this novel was to strip both of those back, to let some of their raw darkness resurface - a horror thriller, rather than a paranormal romance; a murder investigation into suspected serial murders, each of which took place on Valentine's Day.
Of course, authentically dealing with such themes in conjunction comes with many other themes and plot points to be illustrated and explored, some of which may be triggering - misogyny, sexism, sexual violence, paraphiliae, and trauma. As difficult as these may be to explore, I think it is vitally important that we do not shy away from these issues. To allow fantasy to dominate over very real and tragically everyday experiences can sometimes aid in silencing victims and empowering offenders. In fiction, as in life, fantasy and reality both have their place. Exploring them side by side is sometimes necessary and right for the story you want to tell.
I could have never imagined how topical the issues of misogyny, sexual violence and murder, within the context of the police service, would have been in the year when I finally published "Bitten". It remains vitally important that we don't lose awareness that such crimes are happening in reality every day. Crime and horror writers have often been accused of glorifying violence and disrespecting victims. We do not do that - it is those who live in denial of these experiences that do so, relegating such offenders to monsters in the dark and forcing their victims into silence. We should never stop having these conversations and fiction is as valid a platform as any other from which to consider, discuss, debate, and, most importantly of all, remember and spread awareness.
In order to tell this story, it needed a strong central character. While she remained nameless for several months while I tried various names, PC Holleigh Ryder was always that character. Throughout "Bitten", we explore her progression in her career, her introverted but compassionate heart, her strength and vulnerability, and an insight into her desires and her pansexuality. She is perhaps one of my favourite characters whom I've created.
And what of the other characters? The mysterious Valentine Vampire? There will be no more spoilers from me. You'll just have to crawl under the covers and open the book for more nighttime exploration into this tale of murder, fear and desire...
___
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
*Note to Readers*
Contains descriptions of an explicit sexual and violent nature.
"You have the heart of a vampire. Your soul is as damned in your body as mine."
Preview the opening scene.
Available standalone ebook and paperback, or as part of the omnibus in ebook, paperback and hardcover. Grab your copy now!
Order "Bitten"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
Ira Levin's Sliver - Review
Sliver by Ira LevinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A delicious sliver of menace from a master of suspense.
Someone is always watching. Literary editor Kay Norris moves into her new high-rise apartment, unknowingly becoming the subject of someone's obsession.
Befriending some of her neighbours and soon embarking on a relationship with one of them, Kay continues about her daily life, oblivious to the scrutiny, unaware of the increasing danger she is in.
The tenants are living a real-life soap opera - the footage live, raw and unedited. Behind the scenes is a puppet-master whose fantasies must be fulfilled, and self-preservation guaranteed, at all costs.
Novelist and playwright Ira Levin wrote seven novels; 'Sliver' being the sixth, published in 1991. A short, sharp, fast-paced erotic thriller, it deftly deals with its theme of observing the lives of others, developing into obsession, drawing parallels to ways in which viewers and readers devour fiction and the culture of celebrity. Along with her stalker, we observe Kay go about her daily life. We witness the addictive and compulsive relationship that develops, the revelations of a twisted hobby, and the growing mistrust and burgeoning paranoia as Kay unravels more of the past.
Levin's satirical take on stalking and voyeurism through the apartment block's advanced clandestine visual and audio surveillance system takes on a chilling plausibility in our days of reality TV, social media and mass use of surveillance and security cameras. Much like George Orwell's '1984', albeit in a more light-hearted and non-political way, 'Sliver' was ahead of its time in exploring the extent to which we would one day be monitored and watched, either knowingly or unknowingly, voluntarily or involuntarily.
There are echoes of some of Levin's earlier novels - notably his first, 'A Kiss Before Dying'; as well as 'Rosemary's Baby' and 'The Stepford Wives' in the dynamics of the relationships. The novel once again demonstrates Levin as a master of his craft, as he builds suspense and unease in the manner of an artist, the result always as irresistible and entertaining as it may be unsettling and thought-provoking.
The novel was also adapted for the screen for the 1993 film of the same name, starring Sharon Stone, hot on the heels of the success of 'Basic Instinct' (and adapted by its screenwriter). The plot translates well to the screen, though with changed character names and an alternate ending.
A thrilling volume in Ira Levin's compelling body of work, 'Sliver' is another portrait of the way in which evil can puncture its way into our lives, watching us, biding its time, without us being conscious of its existence.
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