<— SHE’S HALF VAMPIRE!! Karolina Dalca, Dark Eyes (The Dark Eyes) IS LIVE!!!! And to celebrate the author M.R. Noble is Friday’s newsletter sponsor and she’s sent over an excerpt and some fun “author details” about herself (fun fact: She’s my fellow Canadian 😊). Oh and her answer for her “writing kryptonite” made me giggle!!! Oh and!! She included the actual songs that inspired her.
She describes her story this way:
Though the book is bloody, it’s a paranormal romance crime fiction cocktail.
Let’s get to know it better, shall we? 😉
“This book grabs you by the throat and does not let go! A fast paced, enthralling journey through a hidden underworld of vampires, werewolves, and other beings of the night who wield a fascinating array of powers to devastating effect. Compared to the more stay-at-home-type of vampires and werewolves I know, these protagonists are pushed beyond the human limit. I Highly recommend you acquire this book and hole up somewhere safe for the ride.”
—Stuart Rutherford, actor from WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS
About the book:
Blindsided by an attack that destroys her home and blamed for murder, Karolina Dalca, a half-vampire, escapes, only to plunge into the magical societies from which she was sheltered.
Betrayed by those around her, she abandons her dreams of becoming an investigator and flees, trusting only herself. Her police internship would never prove more useful. Hoofing it through the wilderness, she makes it to her university dorm, disheveled but delightfully deflowered.
Enter a full vampire: one wielding dark magic and a ride out of Canada. A fugitive from the law, Karo complies with his demands to escape, unsure whether his requests are bewitched. She vows to clear her name and avenge her mother’s death, but Karo’s family secrets aren’t so easily left behind.
Excerpt:
“Who are you anyway?” I asked.
“Andre,” he said. “Private Investigator, but I’ll do anything for money.” He winked.
“You’re not human,” I said. “What are you?” I stretched out my Charmed senses and felt magic within him.
“I’m a vampire, princess. Same as you, but with a little extra dark superpower. I’m a full vamp though, and from what I can tell from your dismal amount of speed out there, you’re half.”
He dragged a chair from the wall and sat across from me.
“You have the Dark Charm?” I asked. “I should have figured; you ooze sleaze bag.”
“And you have a little something special up your sleeve too, don’t you, princess? I bet you get a little hot now and then, don’t you?”
I narrowed my eyes.
“And with a name like Karolina Dalca . . . I bet you’ve got enough training to back up that look you’re giving me.”
He knew my name, my powers, and where to find me. My eyes fell over his body, sizing him up as he sat across from me. Strong jaw, tall, six feet and maybe four inches, and muscular broad shoulders. I could take him—if I took him by surprise.
INTERVIEW WITH M. R. Noble
Q.) What is the first book that made you cry?
A.) George Orwell’s 1984. It’s still the most resonating book I’ve ever read.
Q.) Does writing energize or exhaust you?
A.) Energize. I have a 6:00am wake up time, where writing is as much a ritual as my morning coffee.
Q.) What are common traps for aspiring writers?
A.) Giving up. Don’t. Rewrite, butcher your work, let others butcher it, but do not give up. If you’ve chosen to write in your free time, it’s because you love it. So, dig deep—if you’ve hit bedrock you’re almost there—and make your writing stronger.
Q.) What is your writing Kryptonite?
A.) Book boyfriends from past book flings. They’ll show up in my work, uninvited, and I’ll have to add another character to my graveyard of darlings murdered.
Q.) What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
A.) Kirsten Koza. She has a fantastic way of inspiring me, while slapping my grammar silly. Loni Cameron. She keeps me grounded and reminds me of where I started in the process.
Q.) If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
A.) In March 2020 you will accidently spill champagne on your laptop.
Q.) How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
A.) My writing style has changed. With each book I write, I cultivate my voice as an author. A friend once told me: “writing and publishing a book is like obtaining another degree.” She was right. My craft is constantly evolving, and that means I am on the right page.
Q.) What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
A.) Vivian Vande Velde’s Companions of the Night. This short book, meant for a younger audience, had me bawling during the finial pages. It plucked a cord within me, one that was attached to a series of lessons I learned in my teenage years. It was all the context that was never discussed in plot or dialog that impacted me the most. Plus, vampires.
Q.) How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
A.) Karo is the first of my three leading ladies. Excluding the The Dark Eyes Series, I have two remaining series, which all cross over into one another. I told my agent when she signed me: “You realize you just signed the ‘Best-of-the-Good-Bad girls, right?” It’s been our inside joke ever since. Joking aside, giving the world Karo’s story has been the most thrilling experience of my carrier thus far.
Music:
Music did inspire my writing. I’m a huge fan of EMD music, and though my character’s theme songs vary, I’m a huge fan of Romanian EMD music.
- Karo’s song: Monoir & Osaka Feat. Brianna-The Violin Song
- Roman’s song: TV on the Radio-Wolf like me
- Andre’s song: Claptone-Anything ft. Jaw (Doorly remix)
- Karo and Roman’s song: Carla’s Dreams-Sub Pielea Mea
- Karo and Andre’s song: Plastic Toy and DJ snake -Try me
Author Bio:
M. R. Noble has played a tug of war between science and art her whole life, but the rope broke when she wrote the first line of The Dark Eyes Series. Immersed up to her keyboard in paranormal romance and urban fantasy, she enjoys blending the real with the surreal. The only drawback is she misplaces her mug while dreaming up her next scene, and soon finds herself six cups overpoured.
Keeping to her Lake Simcoe roots, she is a member of the Writers Community of York Region (WCYR), where her muse is made not found . . . over a hefty cup of coffee.
Social Media:
- Twitter, @M_R_Noble https://twitter.com/M_R_Noble
- Instagram, M. R. Noble https://www.instagram.com/m.r.noble/
- Facebook, @M.R.Noblefiction https://www.facebook.com/M.R.Noblefiction
Order links:
- Amazon https://amzn.to/2Fu1bXg
- Barnes & Noble https://bit.ly/33YYsib
- iBooks https://apple.co/2GRO3fv
- Goodreads https://bit.ly/318P2hZ
- BookBub https://bit.ly/3jYpbAY