Today, guest author Killion Slade is here to promote new release, Exsanguinate. The novel is an innovative work that combines the written word with the online world, Second Life. The e-book version, just released, has optional, interactive links to the World of Blood website that allow readers to navigate the world from a phone, tablet, or PC and read the extras, check out the pictures, and learn more from each character’s dossier. The printed book has a QR code is embedded in the text inviting the reader to experience more if they so choose to explore.
Each version of the book stands alone on its own. A reader need not use the website to enjoy the story, but because it contains extra little goodies such as cut scenes, it will enhance the reading experience.
Killion, thanks so much for sharing about your intriguing new release!
Each version of the book stands alone on its own. A reader need not use the website to enjoy the story, but because it contains extra little goodies such as cut scenes, it will enhance the reading experience.
Killion, thanks so much for sharing about your intriguing new release!
Killion: It’s funny, Leigh. I once read a popular vampire series and thought to myself how much fun it would be to write a paranormal story. From there a rough draft outline formed in my mind about technology, social media, survival, and serial killers. What Exsanguinate morphed in to was an entirely differently beast.
In preparing research for this book, I personally have learned how to prepare for many different types of apocalyptic situations – including zombies. When the outline of this book series was drafted, I had no conceivable notion that I would learn how to melt down and cast my own bullets from lead tire weights, hunt for my own food, prepare my own canned meals, or even learn how to organic garden in a sixty day growing cycle. Living in Montana has become an every day adventure as to what new challenges we might need to face. As I write this post, it is negative fourteen degrees today. Would we be prepared to keep warm if the power went out? Do we have enough firewood? What other alternate forms of energy do we have in order to maintain survival? We often ask ourselves, are we prepared for what might be thrown at us?
Without getting preachy or weird, we wanted to find a way to introduce a bit if disaster preparedness in our stories. Most people hardly blink an eye at having enough water or food if something goes wrong. It takes a disaster to prompt action and that can cost lives. Our heroine, Cheyenne, begins her journey not far from this station in life. She has taken a conscious leap in setting up her own backyard chicken coop to have fresh, cage-free eggs and lives an alternate virtual life. Throughout the World of Blood series, the Earth increasingly tips out of balance, and Cheyenne learns how her preparedness, or lack thereof, impacts not only herself, but her family. She also learns how other supernatural beings are closely watching the humans destroy the planet, and they don’t like it. What happens when intervention steps in and the two realities merge?
In preparing research for this book, I personally have learned how to prepare for many different types of apocalyptic situations – including zombies. When the outline of this book series was drafted, I had no conceivable notion that I would learn how to melt down and cast my own bullets from lead tire weights, hunt for my own food, prepare my own canned meals, or even learn how to organic garden in a sixty day growing cycle. Living in Montana has become an every day adventure as to what new challenges we might need to face. As I write this post, it is negative fourteen degrees today. Would we be prepared to keep warm if the power went out? Do we have enough firewood? What other alternate forms of energy do we have in order to maintain survival? We often ask ourselves, are we prepared for what might be thrown at us?
Without getting preachy or weird, we wanted to find a way to introduce a bit if disaster preparedness in our stories. Most people hardly blink an eye at having enough water or food if something goes wrong. It takes a disaster to prompt action and that can cost lives. Our heroine, Cheyenne, begins her journey not far from this station in life. She has taken a conscious leap in setting up her own backyard chicken coop to have fresh, cage-free eggs and lives an alternate virtual life. Throughout the World of Blood series, the Earth increasingly tips out of balance, and Cheyenne learns how her preparedness, or lack thereof, impacts not only herself, but her family. She also learns how other supernatural beings are closely watching the humans destroy the planet, and they don’t like it. What happens when intervention steps in and the two realities merge?
We had a lot of fun writing this particular book. It gave us an opportunity to truly get to know the characters of the series and storyboard their tales inside Second Life. We build their avatars and allow the story to evolve. Having a dimension image for the character helps us to truly look at a scene, read over their dossier, and determine if the words or actions are true to them. When it feels off, we re-read the dossier, ask more questions from them, go deeper, and discover something hidden to help justify the words. Often times, they shock us - but that might also be determined from the amount of whiskey I consumed before writing. ;)
Overall this book series has been more than words on pages for us. It has been a journey which has changed the way we view our lives. We have actively begun purchasing one or two extra items every time we go to the grocery store and tuck it away in case of an emergency. In watching the television series, The Walking Dead, viewers constantly ask themselves – what would I do if I were in that situation. We realistically think about the “what would you do” type of survival questions and ask ourselves to answer those hard questions. Our answers manifest through our characters story in the World of Blood series. Some of them aren’t pretty. We hope you’ll join us on our journey!
Excerpt:
“Feck it!” I decided it was time to lose the race. My right foot let off the accelerator.
I grinned at him. “Do you wanna blow off some steam, or do you want me to win the race?”
He looked at me for a moment and then planted a slow, sweet kiss on my cheek. That was all the answer I needed.
The door handle above the window completely broke off in his hand with a clang. Accompanying a sheepish, questioning grimace he said, “I guess I’ll need to get that fixed.”
I smiled, relaxing my face. I loved this man. What the hell was I waiting for? Instantly, color flooded back into his face and his grip on my leg relaxed. I slammed on the brakes, shifted down into second, and pulled the car off into the orange grove where there was an opening in the fence line. I drove about a half mile in between the trees and shut down the engine. I was ready.
I grabbed a blanket out from behind the seat and met his gaze. Without another word, Khaldon jumped out of the car and in a flash, had me out of the car and in his arms.
He kissed me with quiet whispers. His mouth still tasted of the tangy bloodwine we had drunk at dinner. I reached my arms up around his shoulders and felt for the steely frame under his silken skin. Never in all my dreams had I envisioned him this vivid, this complete. I nestled my head into his shoulder as he kissed me deeply and thoroughly. This time there was no holding back, no niggling of guilty feelings. Here was the man of my dreams who had been in my dreams for so long, literally. His hair was soft as it tangled in my fingertips. He had hair I could kill for. Long, black, thick waves. I couldn’t wait to see it falling around his shoulders.
Our song came on the radio as if by magic. “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel. I had visions of an actor holding up his boom box serenading me outside my bedroom window. But instead Khaldon began to dance us in the headlights. It was wonderful to get lost in his breath, to get lost in his kisses, to simply just get lost hoping he would find me.
Back Cover Copy:
A Halloween scream night theme park adventure for software gaming developer Cheyenne O'Cuinn reveals a hidden supernatural reality she never dreamed existed. Recovering from a vicious attack and her sisters’ abductions, Cheyenne must rescue her sisters from vampiric kidnappers before they’re used to breed warmongering dhampirs.
Betrayal lurks in every corner. Cheyenne must evade attackers by unconventional means through her online role-play game. She must navigate through virtual, tortuous clues and mailed body parts, which cross over from her virtuality into reality. Can a team of dragons, vampires, and werewolves come together to help her? Who can she trust? Will the help from her virtual lover become compromised when he learns of her new immortal existence and crush the fragile love they share?
Amidst an impending vampire apocalypse, Cheyenne finds herself both in conflict for survival and for her heart. Will her immortal self derail any hope of solving the multiplying puzzles before time runs out to save her sisters, herself and her humanity?
Overall this book series has been more than words on pages for us. It has been a journey which has changed the way we view our lives. We have actively begun purchasing one or two extra items every time we go to the grocery store and tuck it away in case of an emergency. In watching the television series, The Walking Dead, viewers constantly ask themselves – what would I do if I were in that situation. We realistically think about the “what would you do” type of survival questions and ask ourselves to answer those hard questions. Our answers manifest through our characters story in the World of Blood series. Some of them aren’t pretty. We hope you’ll join us on our journey!
Excerpt:
“Feck it!” I decided it was time to lose the race. My right foot let off the accelerator.
I grinned at him. “Do you wanna blow off some steam, or do you want me to win the race?”
He looked at me for a moment and then planted a slow, sweet kiss on my cheek. That was all the answer I needed.
The door handle above the window completely broke off in his hand with a clang. Accompanying a sheepish, questioning grimace he said, “I guess I’ll need to get that fixed.”
I smiled, relaxing my face. I loved this man. What the hell was I waiting for? Instantly, color flooded back into his face and his grip on my leg relaxed. I slammed on the brakes, shifted down into second, and pulled the car off into the orange grove where there was an opening in the fence line. I drove about a half mile in between the trees and shut down the engine. I was ready.
I grabbed a blanket out from behind the seat and met his gaze. Without another word, Khaldon jumped out of the car and in a flash, had me out of the car and in his arms.
He kissed me with quiet whispers. His mouth still tasted of the tangy bloodwine we had drunk at dinner. I reached my arms up around his shoulders and felt for the steely frame under his silken skin. Never in all my dreams had I envisioned him this vivid, this complete. I nestled my head into his shoulder as he kissed me deeply and thoroughly. This time there was no holding back, no niggling of guilty feelings. Here was the man of my dreams who had been in my dreams for so long, literally. His hair was soft as it tangled in my fingertips. He had hair I could kill for. Long, black, thick waves. I couldn’t wait to see it falling around his shoulders.
Our song came on the radio as if by magic. “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel. I had visions of an actor holding up his boom box serenading me outside my bedroom window. But instead Khaldon began to dance us in the headlights. It was wonderful to get lost in his breath, to get lost in his kisses, to simply just get lost hoping he would find me.
Back Cover Copy:
A Halloween scream night theme park adventure for software gaming developer Cheyenne O'Cuinn reveals a hidden supernatural reality she never dreamed existed. Recovering from a vicious attack and her sisters’ abductions, Cheyenne must rescue her sisters from vampiric kidnappers before they’re used to breed warmongering dhampirs.
Betrayal lurks in every corner. Cheyenne must evade attackers by unconventional means through her online role-play game. She must navigate through virtual, tortuous clues and mailed body parts, which cross over from her virtuality into reality. Can a team of dragons, vampires, and werewolves come together to help her? Who can she trust? Will the help from her virtual lover become compromised when he learns of her new immortal existence and crush the fragile love they share?
Amidst an impending vampire apocalypse, Cheyenne finds herself both in conflict for survival and for her heart. Will her immortal self derail any hope of solving the multiplying puzzles before time runs out to save her sisters, herself and her humanity?
About the Author(s):
Killion Slade is a married writing team who met in the virtual realms of Second Life, and virtually enjoy everything. Members of the Horror Writers Association and the Paranormal Romance Guild, they storyboard their characters inside Second Life as their avatars reveal their stories. Tucked away in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Northern Montana, they stay busy chasing kids, corralling horses and cats, and enjoying the harvest from their garden.
Exsanguinate, published through Draconian Publishing's Spirit Imprint, is available on Amazon Kindle and will be released in paperback later this month. Enhance your reading experience by visiting the Interactive Second Screen Website.
To learn more about Killion Slade, check out their website or follow them on Facebook. Thanks for stopping by!
Killion Slade is a married writing team who met in the virtual realms of Second Life, and virtually enjoy everything. Members of the Horror Writers Association and the Paranormal Romance Guild, they storyboard their characters inside Second Life as their avatars reveal their stories. Tucked away in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Northern Montana, they stay busy chasing kids, corralling horses and cats, and enjoying the harvest from their garden.
Exsanguinate, published through Draconian Publishing's Spirit Imprint, is available on Amazon Kindle and will be released in paperback later this month. Enhance your reading experience by visiting the Interactive Second Screen Website.
To learn more about Killion Slade, check out their website or follow them on Facebook. Thanks for stopping by!
RSS Feed
