Behind Locked Doors: The Caged Bird

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Nina Soden

He walked into the club pushing past the bouncer… sliding his way through the crowd to the bar. Bodies rubbing together… the music so loud, you couldn’t hear your own voice, pounded throughout his body. Women threw themselves at him almost begging for his attention.

Once at the bar he called to the tender. B positive is his drink of choice. Behind the bar he looks over the assorted selection of humans on display. Glass rooms line the back bar, and inside each are men and woman eagerly waiting to be selected…

Taking his drink, poured from the tap, he turns to scan the room. Dancing… Jumping… Grinding… Feeding… There was action and movement all around him. “I’m here!” he heard her voice clearly as if she was whispering right into his ear, but no one was there. “I’m here!” he heard it again.

Looking around he couldn’t find her. “I’m here… Please… Up here.” the voice was in his head… She called to him… This had never happened before and he couldn’t understand it now. He looked up to find, hanging from the ceiling, large cages… one prize in each. As he scanned the cages his eyes crossed those young and old… But there in the center hung a woman… More beautiful than any he had ever know… Trapped like a caged bird.

Their eyes met… “Yes… I’m here… Help me please. I don’t belong here…” a surge of emotion flooded threw him. He knew he had to get to her… Had to have her… Had to help her! Without thinking he pushed his way into the middle of the floor… Leap up with more force than he had ever used before. Clinging to the bottom of the cage he pulled himself up…

The crowd still hypnotized by the music didn’t even seem to notice. Eye to eye they stared at each other, her inside the cage and him clinging to the outside. Never before had either of them felt such a connection. He tore the cage door open as he grabbed her into his arms. The door flew through the air landing on the crowd below.

Screams… Panic… Anger… Filled the room as everyone’s attention was pulled in their direction. “Are you ready?” he asked her. She responded without saying a word. With her in his arms he took a step. Seconds later they were on the ground… Back to back… Surrounded by the angry crowd.

The fight began. It felt like a dance the way their bodies moved together kicking… pushing… punching… scratching. She got her hands on a bar stool and spinning it over her head she managed to break it’s legs into perfect stakes! She took out 5 vamps for every 15 of his… Not bad for a human!

They finally made their way to the back of the bar as the fighting continued on the floor… No one really knowing why they were fighting but loving the trill of the game. Out the back door and into the night deep in her eyes he fell. Passion took over and in moments they were together… Locked in a passionate embrace.

He knew she was different… Knew he would never be able to have her… But longingly he would always love her. She thanked him with a look, and kissed him once again… Then into the night she disappeared never to be seen again.

Why I Write!

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Nina Soden

It is no secret that becoming a successful author, one who can quit their day job and fully support their lifestyle through their writing, is about as likely as stumbling across a big pot of gold on Saint Patrick’s Day. Okay, maybe it’s not quiet that rare, it does happen… but not very often.

So, why do I write?

Believe me, it isn’t about the fame and fortune! The fame… hasn’t come. The fortune… sure, I have sold a few books. Actually, I have sold more than a few, but nowhere near the number I would need to sell in order to quit my day job. I’ve sold enough to make back the money I spent on developing and publishing my first two books… So, breaking even, is that the reason I write? NO!

No one wants to put their heart and soul into something they are passionate about just to “break even”. But, like I said for me it isn’t about the fame and fortune. For me it is about the story!

I write because I have stories that fill my head and are itching to come out. I have characters that my imagination has made up… that feel so real to me that they need to have a voice. Okay, maybe you’re thinking that right about now I sound a little crazy… maybe I do, maybe all authors are a bit crazy, but I’m not really saying that I have imaginary friends that talk to me or anything. So, don’t take it the wrong way. I’m just saying that I have, and I think many authors do, an active imagination that presents itself to me through stories. I could keep them all bottled up in my head, but how fun would that be? No much. For me the fun is putting them on paper and seeing if anyone else, no matter how many or how few, thinks they are as cool as I do. If authors didn’t write we wouldn’t have books, plays, movies, TV shows…

Have I had success? That is a hard question – first you have to understand what success really is!

suc·cess [suh k-ses] Show IPA

noun

the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one’s goals.
the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
a performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by the attainment of honors: The play was an instant success.
a person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment of goals, wealth, etc.: She was agreat success on the talk show.

Okay, so I may not have success in the financial sense, but YES I feel I have had success, and let me tell you why… (1) I have accomplished a goal of mine – PUBLISHING A BOOK… Not only one, but two – and I’m getting ready to publish number 3!!! (2) I have a few “fans” that ask me on a pretty regular basis, “when is the next book coming out?” WHAT A GREAT FEELING!!! I love the fact that there are actually people out there… not many but some… that are eagerly waiting for my next book. I’ve only published two books (I did publish a book of poetry before the two novels… but I’m not counting that) but those two books have been read and enjoyed!!! Success!!! (3) Another reason I believe I have had success… There is a girl… in Michigan… who actually wrote a BOOK REPORT for SCHOOL on Awaken, the first book in my Blood Angel Series! SUCH A COOL FEELING!!! Yup, an official school book report about my book was written, turned in, and graded! She sent me a photo (see below) and everything. It was one of my proudest moments as an author. The idea that she enjoyed it that much.

So yeah, I might not have financial success from being a self-published author… but I still feel successful, and even if I only have a couple dozen avid readers… I will continue to write for them, and for me!

So, you know my passion and why I do it! What is your passion and why do you do it?

Behind Locked Doors: Beauty of the Night

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Nina Soden

The streets were crowded. Elbow to elbow people pushed past each other as they tried to get a glimpse of what was up ahead. Standing high above the crowd a beauty like no other was atop the distant building wall. Long dark hair glistening in the sunlight. Her silky white skin sparkled as the rain started to fall.

Looking up into the sky then down at the onlookers she gracefully stepped off the edge. As if moving in slow motion she floated to the ground. Without a sound she landed and was instantly gone. Confusion filled the crowd, but within seconds people were talking of the beauty, power, and magic that they had just witnessed.

No one noticed the young couple that had fallen victim to this deadly beauty, or the young man who disappeared now standing by her side in the shadows of the night.

Together they will rule the night, together they can’t be stopped. But boys don’t you worry he won’t last long for her temper is hot and she is bound to be looking for a new love soon. Just watch what you say and watch what you do! For she is sharp around the edges and she’s not afraid to cut you!

Progress!

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Nina Soden

Progress means different things to different people.

The dictionary defines progress in the following way:

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prog·ress [n. prog-res, -ruhs or, esp. British, proh-gres; v. pruh-gres] Show IPA

noun

a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage: the progress of a student toward a degree.
developmental activity in science, technology, etc., especially with reference to the commercial opportunities created thereby or to the promotion of the material well-being of the public through the goods, techniques, or facilities created.
advancement in general.
growth or development; continuous improvement: He shows progress in his muscular coordination.
the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level.

*******************************************************

For the purpose of this post I am going to talk about progress as referenced in #1 above.

In my post titled 2014 – New Year’s Resolutions!!! I stated that one of my new year’s resolutions was to publish my third book; Revenge – the 3rd book in the Blood Angel Series. Well, today I got one step further in that process.

Let me explain.

What steps do I take when writing a book, well… since I am only on book 3 I haven’t really figured all of that out, but here is my basic process:

Decide on a topic
Map out a basic outline (I don’t write this down – I just want to know where I think the story will go)
Start writing… This is when I find out that my characters were laughing at me when I was thinking through the story line, and that they actually have a much different story in store for me.
Once the first draft has been finished I send it off to editor #1
Re-writes
Send it off to editor #2
Re-writes
Send it off to editor #3
Re-writes
Reread (I normally go through the book cover to cover two or three more times to see if I catch any more edits that need to be made or to make final rewrite changes that I feel are important).
Publish

Okay… where am I in the process now? The answer is PROGRESS!!! I just did the re-writes after receiving my edits from editor #2. Now I am just waiting for the edits from editor #3 so that I can do the final re-writes, read through two or three times, and then publish.

I know it doesn’t seem like I’m almost done, but trust me I am. That makes me a very happy girl… BUT…

After getting the edits back from Editor #2 I am seeing a trend… so far 2 out of 3 editors have told me that there now needs to be a BOOK 4 in the Blood Angel Series. When I started this series the plan was to write a trilogy… it looks like, unless some major changes happen, the trilogy isn’t going to be a trilogy any more. I guess I have some thinking to do before I get the book back from Editor #3.

What do you think? Have you read books 1 and 2? If you have I would love to know your thoughts… Where would you like to see the story go? Do you want it to continue or do you like the idea of a trilogy?

Either way… progress is progress and I have made movement toward my goal – I AM A HAPPY GIRL!

Behind Locked Doors: The Southern Girl

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Nina Soden

It’s been a year – no, not a year – one year two months three days and six hours since she saw him last. It was a special ops top-secret mission that took him away. 3 months his commander had said, but still no word – not a call, not a letter, not even an email.

Not a day goes by that she doesn’t cry, scream, pray, curse, ache, hope, long, need, want…

Counting the days he feels his life slipping out of reach as each day passes. He has no idea how long it’s been and can’t grasp the concept of time with the tortures he has survived over the past year. He escapes into his mind dreaming of the beautiful southern girl waiting back home for him. Praying she’ll still be there if ever he returns!!!

Two years five months and ten days have past when he walks in the front door a different man. Rushing into his arms fear, love, horror, lust, anger, need, sadness, pain and hatred hit her all at once. He feels it too. Knows what being gone has done to her, to them, but he can’t explain. How could he?

He takes her in his arms, holding her tight. With a loving touch and a gentle hold he asks her, “do you trust me?”

“Always.”

He tilts her head back. With teeth as sharp as blades he drains her softly, smoothly! She drifts to sleep until awakened by the sweet taste of his own blood flowing into her mouth. She couldn’t get enough – lust, wanting, needing, feeding, craving!

One hundred and twenty years have past and they are still in love and fighting for love with the night all around them!

LENT 2014 – What will you do?

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Nina Soden

What is Lent?

Lent is a time for those of Christian belief to prepare for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and continues until Easter Sunday. The purpose of lent is to set aside some time for religious reflection. Time to think about Jesus’ suffering, his sacrifice, his life, his death, his burial and of course his resurrection. Many people do this through fasting, repentance, abstaining from things, and through spiritual discipline. Although depriving yourself of the things you love isn’t the only way to observe lent. You don’t have to suffer yourself in order to experience religious reflection.

For many people, even those that don’t attend church on a regular basis, or even at all, lent is still a wonderful time to reflect on life and what we want our lives to be like and mean.

How I plan to celebrate lent? With inspiration. I am going to post via Facebook and Twitter a daily inspirational quote. Something that means something to me or has touched my heart. Maybe I can touch someone else’s heart too. Then at the end of lent I will post all of the daily quotes here on my blog for everyone to see.

Here are a just a few ways you can celebrate the season of lent, and it doesn’t matter if you are religious or just seeking to reflect on the meaning of life in general.

Write a letter (not email – a real letter with paper and pen) to a different person in your life, each day during lent, and tell them what they mean to you and how they have been a blessing in your life.
Parents, write in a journal, one for each of your children, each day. Use the journal to tell your kids what they mean to you, how they encourage and inspire you, and all the ways they improve your life. On Easter give the completed journal to your kids to treasure.
Add more prayer to your life.
Give… each day or once a week find someone in need and share what you have in an effort to help improve their life.
Listen more… devote a portion of your day to just listening to others around you; your spouse, your child(ren), your parents, your siblings, etc.
Focus on your body… devote time each day to exercise, meditate, relax…

If you are one of those people who wants to experience suffering, by giving up something you hold dear, here are a few suggestions:

Give up your bed for lent and sleep on the couch or even the floor.
Give up your pillow, if the bed is not an option.
Fasting, eating only one meal a day.
Give up all drinks except water.
Have a sweet tooth? Give up candy, cakes, ice cream… whatever your taste buds desire.

There are so many ways to celebrate Lent. What will you do?

EPIC FAIL… or ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS?

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Nina Soden

Okay, so at the start of the new year I set myself up for either an EPIC FAIL or a huge success. What road have I started down? Not sure yet.

I laid out 6 New Year’s Resolutions for 2014 that I was hoping to stick with. Its March 3rd… lets see how I’m doing so far:

2014 – New Year’s Resolutions:

Run a 5K – SUCCESS!!! I ran my first 5k on February 8th and finished with a time of 28:31. I was so proud of myself and so excited that I have continued to run. I haven’t done another organized 5k again, YET, but I run just about every other day (outside, treadmill, or elliptical depending on the weather and how my knees are holding up) and never less than 5.1 miles (5k). My time keeps getting better, and just the other day I ran it in 28 minutes flat. I will register for another organized 5k again this year… maybe when the weather gets a little better.
Run a 10K – IN PROGRESS!!! I still have time… just not there yet. 🙂
Publish my 3rd book… IN PROGRESS!!! Okay, well the third book is still going through the editing process, so this isn’t done yet, but I do see it coming out in the next couple of months. I have already been told I need to start on book 4, but I’m not really sure if that is in the cards for this series yet. I have to see how book three ends after all the edits/rewrites first.
6 Week Ab Workout – SUCCESS!!! Yes, I completed it AGAIN… But, I’m only doing it the once this year, or at least this time. I might do it again later, but with all the running I’m doing right now – my abs are looking better than ever. I think the 6 Week Ab Workout is great for those people just beginning to push themselves into a regular workout routine but for me… the running is doing what I need. I’m back down to my pre-baby weight, as in before both kids… before marriage… Heck, I’m back to my college weight. Very proud of that fact, and as I said before my abs haven’t looked better. Gotta keep running!
Join a gym – SUCCESS!!! So, I decided to add going to the gym to my list of New Year’s Resolutions not to keep losing weight, but to tone, feel better about myself, and gain a little extra energy. They say a healthy body makes for a healthier person… I wanted to see if that is true! Well, I haven’t been lifting weights or anything, but I do visit the gym on a regular basis… as in I run every other day… and most of the time it is at the gym. I do want to start doing a bit of the weights, but that will come with time. For now, I am just happy to be on a regular schedule and feeling good about the exercising I’m doing and even better about the body I see in the mirror now.
Blog a little more – FAIL!!! Okay, so this is the one area I have pretty much failed. I first published my New Year’s Resolutions on January 2, 2014 – Since that blog I have only blogged 4 times (not including this one). I think I can do better. I guess this isn’t really a FAIL yet, because there are 12 months in a year, and we are only at the beginning of March. I will continue to try harder to post more regularly… I promise that, to myself!

All in all, I have to say I’m doing pretty good on my 2014 New Year’s Resolutions. I still have work to do… but having a SUCCESS rating in 3 out of 6 areas, an IN PROGRESS rating in 2 out of 6 areas, and only 1 FAIL so far… yeah, I’m proud of myself.

What about you? How have you been doing on your New Year’s Resolutions? Have you kept them or thrown them to the curb?

Get your copy of The Blood Angel Series HERE!

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Nina Soden

The Blood Angel Series is now available in paperback!

Awaken (Book 1)

Awaken is set in a world very much like our own, yet Atlanta isn’t just an ordinary city and Alee Moyer isn’t just an ordinary girl. Having barely survived her childhood it will take the death of her father for the truth of her true bloodline to come out. Even if it means losing her life, or at least her identity she won’t be able to escape her true destiny as the first surviving Dhampir in history. Surrounded by a new world where the horror films she grew up watching have become reality and the most unlikely characters have become her lifeline, Alee will struggle to find herself and her purpose.

Part horror thriller – part tender romance, Awaken will leave readers wanting more!

Beginnings (Book 2)

Having lost her family Alee has been thrown into a new life and new world. Camouflaged by the mundane happenings of a high school existence she would never have guessed what was happening below the surface in, “The Underground”. She’s a Dhampir, the first in history, but with that power also comes danger. Will Alee be able to survive her destiny or will it prove more powerful than she?

Filled with magic and paranormal delights, Beginnings will leave readers wanting more!

Interviewed by Marie Lavendar: Who is Nina Soden

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Nina Soden

Read the interview I had with Marie Lavendar on her blog ‘Writing in the Modern Age’:

http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-nina-soden.html

Find out a little about me, what inspires me to write, and of course my latest book Beginnings!

Beginnings ~ a Blood Angel novel (BOOK 2) by Nina Soden NOW AVAILABLE on e-readers everywhere and in paperback via www.amazon.com!

Beginnings ~ a Blood Angel novel (BOOK 2) by Nina Soden
NOW AVAILABLE on e-readers everywhere and in paperback via http://www.amazon.com!

Author Interview – Wendy VanHatten

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Nina Soden

Author Wendy VanHatten

What is your name and where do you call home? Wendy VanHatten; Vacaville, CA

Do you have a pen name? no

What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? Champagne Lies; From dead bodies to stolen jewels…can it get any worse?

Is the above book part of a series? No

What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? I started writing travel journals at a young age. That morphed into becoming an internationally published travel writer for magazines…then books. My dad always encouraged me to write.

How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? This was a collaboration between my interior designer for the book and me; Ginger Marks did the cover

Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? Not really

How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? Again, a collaboration between my editor, someone who reviewed my manuscript, Ginger, and me

Do you have a book trailer? If so where can we watch it? No but I do have a blog book tour. The link is http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/10/09/virtual-book-tour-pump-up-your-book-presents-champagne-lies-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? I still prefer paperbacks

Are you a self-published/Indie author? I have a few books including a series of children’s books that are self-published

If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I believe it was easier for the books I wanted to publish

Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? I read many books more than once. Some are fiction and some are non-fiction.

What is your opinion of novellas? They definitely have their place and I encourage people to write them

Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? Yes

What is your favorite film based on a book? Gone With the Wind

What is your favorite book genre at the moment? Mystery

What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? Mostly travel and cookbooks lately! Relish by Daphne Oz, The Chew cookbook, Speaking Italian

What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts in hardback (it was loaned to me!)

If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? John Wayne…just because; Mario Batali…I love his cooking; Julia Childs…love everything about her; Brad Pitt…just because

What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Keep writing and never give up on myself

Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing? Traveling, cooking, wine tasting and learning more about wines

Where can your readers follow you?

www.wendyvanhatten.com; www.travelsandescapes.blogspot.com; www.crazygirlscookies.com; www.forkscorksandbrews.com;

Blog: www.travelsandescapes.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wendyvanhatten

Goodreads author page: www.goodreads.com/wendyvanhatten

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WendyVH

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/wendy-vanhatten/3/25b/297

Amazon: http://astore.amazon.com/wenvan-20

I would like to thank Wendy for giving us her time and for sharing her thoughts on being a writer and a reader.

If you enjoyed this interview, please check out Wendy’s links above.

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suc·cess [suh k-ses] Show IPA

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Progress means different things to different people.

For the purpose of this post I am going to talk about progress as referenced in #1 above.

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