Day: May 19, 2022

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Excerpt:

“I never want to see you again.”  I slammed the passenger side door. Roger sped off in his red truck, his dragging muffler sounded like a tray of silverware ground in a garbage disposal.  That ended the date from hell.  He took me to a cheap restaurant, we saw the budget dollar movie, and I had to pay for my own popcorn.  I can understand being on a budget, truly, I get it. But then to get all handsy in a parking lot, right under a parking light!  He had the nerve to get upset when I said no.  I had to slap him.  When he slapped me back, I elbowed him in his jewels.  The complete jerk.

There was a sickle moon hanging lazily in the sky and a cool autumn breeze rustled the gold and russet leaves.  I walked faster to warm up.  I hadn’t brought a coat since I’d expected to be driven.  A gust whipped my hair across my eyes and I swept it back.

 I took a deep breath and wondered at the smell of autumn, the slightly sharp tang in the crisp air.  I wrapped my arms around myself.

The bright side was I stood up for myself and put an end to his assault.  Unfortunately, I’m stranded after eleven in a rougher part of town on a Sunday night with nobody around.  I wish I could strangle Roger’s pencil neck.  I can walk off my anger; we don’t have an Uber or such in the small town of Majestic.  I needed to recapture my positive vibes anyway, so a walk would do me good.  

Another positive item to the evening was I didn’t spring for a new or previously owned dress for the evening.  It would have been wasted on the moron, anyway.  I wore my deep purple sleeveless turtleneck and black pants.  It was classic and more than he deserved.  My best friend, Courtney, had assured me this blind date would be different.  Oh, it was different, all right, and not in a good way.  

I’ve never actually had a good date, not one single good memory of a date.  Tears
stung my eyes.  Enough negativity.  I recited my mantra.  I am ready for the perfect man for me.  I am working on myself to be the person who will attract my perfect partner. After yet another disheartening experience, it’s all I can do to not blame it all on myself.  Nope, the right man is coming to me.  Yeah, okay.  I may be trying to convince myself more than attracting Mr. Right into my life.  I’m okay with that at the moment.

My low-heeled strappy sandals slapped against the sidewalk, an exclamation point with every step.  There wasn’t any traffic, and I had a couple of miles to go.  Other than my footsteps, it was quiet except for a dog barking in the auto salvage yard behind me. But I felt a presence and knew I wasn’t alone.

I sped up.  I was speed walking now and my heart pounded.  This really wasn’t a good area.  Majestic was a modest-sized town, just big enough to warrant two canines on the police force.  I didn’t want to find out firsthand about the seedy side of town.

Were those footsteps behind me?  I stopped abruptly. I heard a scuff, then nothing.  My senses screamed run, and even though my sandals weren’t the best for it, at least they were strapped on.  I grabbed hold of my purse strap to keep my purse with me.  I didn’t care how it looked; I took off running for everything I was worth.  My mind continued to yell, faster, faster!

One instant, it was a clear sidewalk in front of me, and the next I ran into a man who had just appeared.  My mind reeled at his abrupt materialization.  His eyes were strange; even in the dark, his eyes bore into mine.  I took my purse and aimed for his head. He moved so fast I barely saw a blur.  Next thing I knew, the guy was behind me, had pinned my arms, and was trying to give me a hickey!  

Worst day ever!

 There just is no positive way to look at any of this night.  I struggled, scratched, and kicked but was losing my energy quickly.  I remember slumping to the ground. I think he was still attached to my neck.

I wanted to keep fighting, but I couldn’t even stay conscious.

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Author Interview:

1. Tell us a little about how this story first came to be.
I knew I wanted to write a cozy paranormal. I looked at the paranormal cozy mysteries available now and most had the main character as a witch except for Immortality Bites mystery series by Michelle Rowan. I love the witch character, but I wanted to try something a little different so I went with a female vampire lead. I wanted to make her a very unlikely vampire, so she is a positive thought person who says affirmations. I decided she would be newly turned so it is all new to her. To switch it up a little, I made the potential love interest a witch. I had just a basic idea of the murder and killer when I started writing it.

2. What, if anything, did you learn when writing the book?
I learned about the illegal trafficking of wild animals as research for the book. It is a two-way smuggling deal: animals from abroad like Africa and smuggled here while our wildlife like bears and cougars etc are smuggled to other countries. This has caused outbreaks of diseases back and forth. The Pangolin, a mild-mannered little animal is the most trafficked animal in the world, usually to kill for the scales and for exotic meals. I was deeply touched by their plight.

3. What surprised you the most in writing it?
I was surprised at how the characters really took over and asserted themselves on the page. I know it sounds crazy, but when I really tap into who the character is, they come alive on the page and the writing just flows.

4. If it’s not a spoiler, what does the title mean?
Since Misty is turned in the first few pages it references her becoming a vampire, but also how she gets bitten by the detective bug when she decides to pick up the cases when her PI boss abandons the business to save his marriage.

5. Were any of the characters inspired by real people? If so, do they know?
No, I didn’t use anybody I know for the characters in this book. But in my other series, Resort to Murder, a few characters were inspired by actual people.

6. Do you consider the book to have a lesson or moral?
Not specifically, no. I have done that before in books and I didn’t consciously do that this time. Because Misty is a positive-thought believer there are affirmations and such, but it wasn’t meant as a lesson.

7. What is your favorite part of the book?
I really enjoy Misty, she is fun to write with her always looking for a silver lining.

8. Which character was most challenging to create? Why?
The killer is always hard. To write a character, even a villain, you must get into the character. It’s somewhat like an actor getting into character for a role. This is why I don’t write serial killers!

9. What are your immediate future plans?
I am already putting together notes and ideas for the next book to continue Misty’s adventures. But I’m also writing my second in the Elizabeth Grant thriller series under the pen name C.G. Abbot. Thrillers are intense, so I write on a cozy as a break from the thriller as I go. So be looking for the next Accidental Vampire PI, “Second Chance”.

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