Cowabunga!

UPDATE: The winner of a signed copy of Nancy's LA VIDA VAMPIRE is Ruth!! Ruth, email me with your address and we'll get your prize out to you ASAP. gemmahalliday (at) gmail (dot) com. Congrats!!


I am so excited about Nancy Haddock’s new book, La Vida Vampire. Not only is this her debut book (I just love debuts!!), it’s all about a too cool vampire surfer chick named, Cesca, who teams up with a sexy ex-slayer to solve a murder mystery. How is that not a good time? And, because Nancy is just that cool, she’s giving away a signed copy to one lucky commenter today! So, let’s give a killer welcome to Nancy…


What an honor to be blogging at Killer Fiction today! Killer Fiction authors are awesome, and they’re wonderful women, too. Thank you, Gemma, for inviting me, and waves to all of you!

Uh, excuse me a moment while I nudge my cohort and the star of La Vida Vampire, Cesca Marinelli, to join me.

I edge down the hall. You hear a whispered exchange.

“Cesca, we’re on. It’s time to talk about the book,” I say.

But Cesca can sure dig in her, uh, heels.

“You must be on something stronger than triple shot Starbucks if you think you’re getting me out there,” she replies.

“Why? Our hostesses are nice people. What’s the problem?”

Cesca peers out at Maddie Springer’s shoes and bites her lip - sans fangs – before she turns back to me.

“We can’t wear shorts and flip flops to this party. These ladies are fashionable right down to their killer heels, and so are their characters. I do read over your shoulder, you know.”

“Yeah, I figured that wasn’t Adrian Paul breathing down my neck, but why is high fashion suddenly a hang up? St. Augustine is one of the Casual Capitals of the entire world. You like casual.”

“I like,” she sniffs, “being properly dressed for the occasion. After all, it’s simple good manners.”

“Okay, then, change, but make it snappy. Wear the red number Saber likes.”

Cesca blushes, but through the miracle of technology - and a touch of vamp speed - she’s now wearing her power red skirt outfit and even sporting –

“Where did you get stilettos?” I cry now that she’s four inches taller and really towering over me.

Cesca smirks. “They’re on loan from Maddie. Sexy, huh?”

I eye her wobbling ankles and give thanks she’s a vampire. I have the feeling she’s hooked, and deadlines just don’t wait for broken bones to heal.

“Now what do you want me to talk about?” she asks, still eyeing the shoes with something akin to worship.

“You can start by telling people how we met and began our collaboration on La Vida Vampire.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And move on to your training as a ghost tour guide and how you learned to surf.”

“Um-hmm.”

“Then you can brag on what a fabulous writer and champion surfer I am, and how Saber wanted me but settled for you.”

“In your dreams,” she says, and I know I have her attention again. “You’re a champion faller.”

Can’t argue with that.

“Tell you what, Nance. You go talk about the book. I’m gonna see what Saber thinks of these shoes.”

“Wait a minute. What happened to simple good manners?”

“Oh, I think these ladies will understand if I duck out to show Saber these babies. I’ve read the blogs.”

Grrrr. “Fine, and if Saber likes the stilettos?”

“Then you get to take me shopping.”

I sigh. “Go, but when you come up for air, return Maddie’s shoes and get ready for revisions. We have a second book to deliver.”


Characters. A writer can’t live without ‘em, but it’s ever so much easier when they cooperate.

How about your characters? Do they promptly come out to play when you call? Do you have special coaxing – or coping – mechanisms when they don’t? Do you take your characters shopping, or is it just me? Inquiring minds want to turn the tables on Cesca, so sing out!


Nancy Haddock
http://www.nancyhaddock.com
http://www.myspace.com/nancyhaddock
http://www.shelfari.com/nancyhaddock