This story actually started out in a very strange way. My family had just bought a vacation home and one of the first nights I slept in my new room there, I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling like someone was watching me. It totally freaked me out! There was an old, antique chair in my bedroom that I had placed there as a style thing. I removed it the very next day because I seriously felt like some phantom was sitting there in it, at my bedside, watching me. Jeepers!

I decided to write the scene a few weeks later as a way to work through it in my mind, I guess. I didn’t really intend to do anything with it, but it turned out so well, it gave me the germ of the idea for this story. I dug it out and wrote this story in a couple of days. It just flowed once I got going and it turned that rather frightening experience around for me so that it turned out to be something mysterious and sort of romantic. At least in my little mind.

This story was also originally published by a now-defunct small press publisher. It came out with Samhain in an expanded form with a new cover. I like these new ”red” covers that all three stories got the second time around. The original cover contained elements from the story – a night time view of the old farmhouse where a lot of the action takes place. We look over the shoulders of Dmitri and Carly as they face the farmhouse. I thought it was a good cover at the time, but the red cover really conveys the power and mastery of Dmitri.

Dmitri is an ancient one who likes his life the way it is. He’s built his lair beneath an old farmhouse and when the new owner shows up to take possession, he isn’t sure what to make of her. He could kill her – and before first seeing her, he’d been leaning in that direciton – or he could look for a way to make their cohabitation of the farm work on every level.

Today’s you’re last chance to enter by commenting on the blog for a chance to win a copy of one of these first three Brotherhood of Blood stories (winner’s choice). You have until midnight Pacific time tonight to comment and I’ll be drawing a winner at random tomorrow morning and posting the name on the blog. Good luck!

And if you don’t want to wait, you can get a copy of PHANTOM DESIRES at: Amazon, B&N or Samhain. All three of the novellas we’ve talked about so far are also available in a single print volume called, oddly enough, BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD. Links to that are on my website.

I like how Marc loses his cool around her. I like the way he teases her and the way she tries to resist his undeniable charm. It’s only when he has to show his barbaric side and wild nature in a challenge for supremacy against a foul opponent, that their real feelings come out. Marc’s suave exterior hides a ravening beast that can be tamed by only one woman.

I enjoyed writing this story because it allwed me to take a polished, sophisticated man and break him down to his essential elements. Marc shows one face to the world, reserving his true self for the woman who shares his life. Even when all is lost and his sanity is in doubt, only she can pull him back from the edge of oblivion, and she’s willing to give her own life for his. Their committement to each other is the stuff of legend and it really works in this particular world, in this particular story.

Marc was a pleasure to write. His oddball sense of humor and the way he teases Kelly in the beginning of the story makes me smile every time.

A sort of little, different thing about my vampires is that they can still drink wine. In fact, wine has healing properties for them and is their last link to the sunlit world. When they ferment the fruit of the vine, it distills sunshine into a form they can take in and use. It’s their last link with the sun and it heals them. I sort of liked that litlte twist and it helped me write these first two stories in the series.

This story also came out with a now-defunct publisher before being lengthened and republished by Samhain. The original cover highlights the somewhat debonnaire flavor of the hero, I think. The current cover smolders. Whew! Shows off Marc’s lean, muscular torso with the blood red tint that characterizes all three of the first novellas in the series.

Remember, everyone who comments on the blog this week is entered in a drawing for a free ebook copy of one of the first three books in the Brotherhood of Blood series (winner’s choice!). Enter now, or if you can’t wait, you can get a copy of RARE VINTAGE at: Amazon, B&N, or Samhain.

So without further ado… let’s talk about Atticus Maxwell of the novella ONE & ONLY. First, some backstory: This novella started life as a super short story that won a contest from a now-defunct publisher who was looking for vampire romance short stories. The story first came out in 2006, then the publisher went out of business and it was lengthened and re-published by Samhain a few years later.

I honestly don’t know where I got the name Atticus from and to this day, I’m always a little concerned that people will wonder what kind of weird-assed name it is. LOL! But it worked for this character so well. It’s sort of old world, classy and rare, just like the man who wears it. Atticus makes his living as a wine maker in California’s Napa Valley.

I took the location of his vineyard out of my memories of what it was like to drive through Napa, which I did on a business trip in the late 1990′s. In fact, a bit of the plot and setting comes from my own treacherous drive in a giant rental car (they’d upgraded me to a Caddy) on a rain-slick, leaf-strewn road that switched back on itself as it wound up into the mountains.

When we first meet Atticus, he’s given up. He doesn’t believe he will ever find the One woman meant for him and without her, he no longer wants to go on. He’s a noble character. He chooses to die with honor rather than allow himself to become a ravening beast. But just at the last minute… well… you’ll have to read the story to find out.

What I’ve always liked most about Atticus is his honor. His nobility. His quiet patience and class. The original cover for the story caught a bit of the feel of his character. The current cover for the extended story catches his passion and smoldering steadfastness.

While not the Master Vampire of the area, Atticus is a close associate of the Master, Marc LaTour, who we will discuss in more detail tomorrow. I’ll be drawing a winner on Friday from all the commenters on the blog this week for a free ebook copy of one of the first three Brotherhood of Blood novellas (winner’s choice). Of course, if you don’t want to wait, you can get a copy of ONE & ONLY at: Amazon, B&N, or Samhain.

We’re starting tomorrow with the first of the novellas that started this whole ball rolling, Atticus Maxwell from One & Only. Just so you know what’s in store, here’s the tentative schedule:

1. Atticus Maxwell - One & Only

2. Marc LaTour - Rare Vintage

3. Dmitri Belakov - Phantom Desires

4. Sebastian – Sweeter Than Wine

5. Matt Redstone – Sweeter Than Wine

6. Ian Sinclair – Forever Valentine

7. Jason Moore – Wolf Hills

If this works out, I’ll probably expand it a bit to some of my other series. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments and let me know what you think of this idea!

I’m also considering how best to run a contest through all these posts. Stay tuned for details on that, probably tomorrow. Enjoy!

I also feel sad, because it’s a day that reminds me how much I miss my Mom. Not that I need any reminders. I miss her each and every day. But Mother’s Days were special. We used to go to the big, expensive, somewhat exclusive plant nursery near here and go on a huge shopping spree for the garden. Then we’d spend the day planting and then I’d either cook a special dinner or lunch or, more likely, we’d go out somewhere for something fancier. Those were good times.

The thing is, I feel like Mother’s Day should really be a day to celebrate all women – not just those who procreate. As should Father’s Day be for all guys. *shrug* Maybe I’m just too egalitarian.

As it stands, please let me wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all those Moms out there. I’d also like to say “Cheers!” to all the others out there like me, who don’t fit in the category. Happy Day to us as well!

Oh, and stay tuned to the blog next week. I’m hatching plans again and hope to have some great new content for you all over the next few months. It’s going to be fun!