Author Spotlight: Kristin D. Van Risseghem

I'm always happy and honored to support fellow authors, and today I'd like to give a shout out to Kristin D. Van Risseghem, an author friend, over at Fantasy Works Publishing.

Her new book, The Guardian, a Sword, and Stilettos, book one of the Enlighten Series, is available now at $2.99 for an e-book or $9.99 for the paperback. Check out it here on Amazon!

Take a few minutes please to read below, where you'll find a synopsis, excerpt, unique facts, Kristin's bio, and more!

The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos

The Enlighten Series (Book 1)

 Synopsis:

Zoe Jabril could be just another 17-year-old girl attending parties with her friends and checking out cute guys—except her best friend is a Guardian Angel, and the boy she crushes on is a Nephilim, half-Angel, both sent to Earth to protect her. A high school classmate happens to be a trendsetting shopaholic Fairy. And now there’s a new Werewolf in town. 

Now Zoe has to deal with her feelings toward Shay, who spreads a strange electrical current through her body every time he touches her. She is under constant attack from Demons, trying to kill and stop her from fulfilling the Prophecy: a girl will be born who will unite the Enlightens to battle evil. Then on top of that, between boring homework and drama with girls at school, she has to control new found talents if she’s to prevent the Devil from escaping Hell. 

In order to do so, Zoe must devise a kick-ass plan ASAP or watch everyone die, because she’s running out of time. She turns eighteen in two months—the date Armageddon kicks off. 

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Five facts about Zoe:

1. She’s 17-yo, but a junior in high school.
2. She has dark brown hair, brown eyes, is about 5’6 tall.
3. Her BFF is a boy, Kieran, who lives down the street from her.
4. Favorites: Color is purple, flower is orchid, food is chicken parmesan
5. Career: Wants to be a vet. 

Five facts about Shay:

1. He stands at 6’2, has blond hair, aqua eyes, athletic build.
2. Drives a black 1957 Bel-Air.
3. Prefers wearing black clothes.
4. Favorite movie: Star Wars (the original trilogy).
5. Is a Nephilim (half angel and half human). 

Five facts about Kieran:

1. He stands at 6’, has wavy blond hair, blue eyes, model build.
2. Drives a golden Cadillac CTS-V.
3. Prefers neutral-colored clothes.
4. Is a Guardian angel to Zoe.
5. Comes across as bossy and controlling. 

Five facts about Sidelle:

1. Is a Summer Fairy.
2. She’s dresses trendy, has green eyes, pixie black hair, and model build.
3. Glamour powers: Can read minds, manipulates the weather.
4. Attitude: Snarky with a capital S.
5. Drives a green Mini Cooper convertible (Turbo).

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 Excerpt:

I stumbled into Kieran as a tremor moved through me, the hairs on my arms stood at attention like tiny lightning rods. “Do you feel that?” my voice sounded breathless, even to me.

He glanced sideways, “Feel what?”

“Look.” I held out my arms to him, “I feel strange. Like someone…” I rubbed my slightly numb hands over my forearms and sucked in a breath, as he hooked his head around. I fell into step beside him. “Never mind. It’s probably nothing.”

This happens when lightning’s about to strike, right?

The heat from the sun radiated off the few cars parked along Boutique Row, their owners engaged in mid-afternoon shopping. Store fronts displayed the new and trendy ‘must-have’ dresses, shorts, and shoes for the spring season. I paused to see my reflection. Not a hair was out of place. Thank God.

The Coffee Grind’s signature cinnamon dessert scent wafted through the air and my teeth hurt with the memory of sinking them into it time and again. What I wouldn’t give to be able to park my back end on one of their leather wing-back chairs and crack open a book, while the fire crackled next to me in the original stone hearth.

“Earth to Zoe,” Kieran’s gentle voice broke my trance. He poked my shoulder. “Are you going to order or what?”

My face flamed. “You could’ve ordered for me.” I rummaged through my purple backpack. “You know I get the same thing every time.”

Kieran watched me rub my arms, as he told the cashier, “She’ll also have an ice water.” He tilted his head toward the menu board. “Anything else?”

“Did you order me a chai?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Cause you know I can’t function without a good cup of—”

“You can’t function with it, either.”

Then I turned my attention toward the clerk, unsure if I recognized him or not. I hope he doesn’t know me. “Nothing else. Thanks.” I handed him some bills.

“How’s track going, Zoe?” the clerk asked.

Damn.

“Think you’ll make it to State?”

I realized he was a sophomore on the team. Our paths crossed during several meets. He looked thin in his black polo shirt, and I knew a mirror would reflect a similar physique in me, though my lavender sundress tried to disguise it.

I shrugged. “I have fast times, but we’ll see. If I don’t make it this year, there’s always senior year.”

My fingertips skimmed the glass display of mammoth muffins and assorted pastries as we moved down the aisle to the ‘Pick-up Here’ sign. A heavy coffee aroma hung in the air.

A figure in dark clothing with yellow-tipped, spiked hair stared at me from outside the glass entrance door. His eyes narrowed on contact with mine.

Chills rushed through my body.

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PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon           Smashwords                Kobo

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Author Bio:

Kristin D. Van Risseghem grew up in a small river town in Minnesota with her parents and older sister. And after receiving a double Bachelor of Science degree from Winona State University in Paralegal and Corrections, she worked as a Paralegal for various law firms around the Twin Cities for 14 years. Then she left the legal field and is now a Senior Buyer for a technology company.

Currently, Kristin lives in Eagan with her husband and two Calico cats. She also loves attending book clubs, going shopping, and hanging out with friends. She has come to realize that she absolutely has an addiction to purses and shoes. They are her weakness and probably has way too many of both.

In the summer months, Kristin can usually be found lounging on her boat, drinking an ice cold something. Being an avid reader of YA and Women’s Literature stories, she still finds time to read a ton of books in-between writing. And in the winter months, her main goal is to stay warm from the Minnesota cold!

Kristin’s first book, The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos, is published by Kasian Publishing. 

Kristin’s Website        Twitter                        Facebook         Goodreads

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Interview:

What drew you to writing?

I took a lit course in high school and a reading one in college. Didn’t think anything of it but enjoyed writing and reading back then. I started reading as something to do before I met my husband. Then when Twilight came out, a group of friends created a book club and it’s been downhill ever since. I read a ton. My cousin started writing and she asked me to (beta) read for her. I did but didn’t really know what I was doing. One of her friends asked me to read one of hers too so I did b/c my cousin said that my comments were spot on.

Then in January 2013 I dreamed of the warehouse scene. Didn’t think anything of it until the next night I had the same dream in the warehouse. Woke my husband up and told him about it. He said I should write it down. Of course I didn’t. The 3rd night, I dreamed of the tattoo and knew I had to start getting it down on paper so to speak. I started writing when I got home from work and wrote until the wee hours of the morning, so 7-8 hours at a time. Go to sleep a few hours and get up for work. Did that for 3 weeks.

Do you have a degree in writing?

Nope

Do you believe that matters?

Nope

Why/Why not?

I don’t think you need to have one to write.

How long did it take you to create your first book?

3 weeks for the first draft to be completed.

How long did it take you to create the last?

4 weeks.

What have you learned in between?

The sentence structure and grammar

What are you currently learning to further develop your craft?

Right now, anything marketing.

Do you prefer creating short stories, or novels?

novellas

What Genre do you write and why?

YA. I’m not really sure exactly but I think its fun. Gets me to think about my own experiences and compare it to how it’s changed these days

Can you pick a favorite line from your latest work (or the work being highlighted) and tell us why this is your favorite?

It’s not a line but a scene: This close, my rescuer—Shay Curator, apparently—had long, powerful legs which fit nicely in his black jeans. He wore black biker boots, and a black T-shirt hugged his upper torso, the sleeves barely contained a set of rippling biceps. I imagined he was trying unsuccessfully to hide what would no doubt be an impressive six pack. In sharp contrast to his dark clothes, he had fair skin. Even though he was over six feet tall, he had moved with catlike grace.

I think this captures exactly what I see Shay like and I hope I’ve conveyed it well enough to the reader.

What about your life influenced your drive to create?

I got all out in everything I do. Never half do stuff. It’s an all or nothing attitude.

Tell us something personal you’ve enjoyed due to being an author.

I love being able to hand out business cards with my name on it and being proud I’ve made a name for myself.

What is next on your current writing agenda?

I need to finish the series but have been thinking about a YA Dystopian from a male perspective.

This series sounds incredible! Good luck, Kristin! And thank you to all of the readers out there who support. Please feel free to share this blog!

Vachtor Finds a Home by SC Hallen and Sharron Henderson

New from Distinguished Press: Vachtor Finds a Home (Guardian of the Heart Book One). 

Meet Vachtor, a little lost puppy who learns what it means to become part of a family and be a brave dog. This book tells how he found his home and his friends. Start your adventures with Vachtor today!

Vachtor, Guardian of the Heart, is a children’s book series created by SC Hallen. Her incredible talents and love for family have filled this series with adventure, love, and emotion. Vachtor is a German Shortair Pointer puppy that is rescued by what becomes his new family. He learns what it means to grow into a proud, bold young dog wrapped in love.

SC Hallen works with Sharron Henderson to bring life to the incredible puppy that is Vachtor, the Guardian of the Heart. With vivid images and exciting stories, this series will follow him through life’s adventures. This well-crafted and planned series starts with Vachtor Finds a Home.

The first book of the series, Vachtor Finds a Home follows our pup from his rescue by some furry friends and their family to adoption and choosing his name.

Our official release party is on Friday May 8, but you can get your copy now over at Amazon today! 

Share the story with young readers and parents who will fall in love with Vachtor! 

Three fun facts from this great children’s book series:

1.   SC Hallen wanted this to be for any family, no matter where they are from or what they look like. That is why there are  almost no humans in the illustrations.

2.   The Vachtor stories are based on SC Hallen’s real, live dog that she found near a ditch when he was a puppy. There are parts of each story that really happened.

3.   Look closely at the pictures, Ms. Henderson has hidden something in every drawing. Can you find the heart?

The Paradox of Horror: Pleasure and Pain

I've got a question for you: If you enjoy horror stories, do you take pleasure in the fear, the pain, and/or the gore? Why or why not?

If you don't enjoy horror stories, what don't you like about those feelings of fear and suffering?

I have my own answers of course, but I want to know what YOU think. I'm excited to be working on my first horror themed presentation. It's not until October, but I like planning out all of my thoughts well in advance. I'm timing my first horror talk with the most popular month for horror stories, and it will take place just a couple of weeks after the release of my horror adventure, Rabbit in Red.

When I think of watching a horror movie or reading a scary story, I evaluate it based on my physical reactions. If I grimace, turn away, close my eyes, jump, have nightmares: that's the story I, perhaps ironically, love and recommend to others! Isn't that crazy? Or is it just the joy of horror? :) That's the paradox of horror I'm exploring. If I'm not scared or don't react in a physical manner to the story, then eh, the story probably gets a bad review.

I think some people consider the pain, the gore, the fear you experience in horror as A) something you must endure to reap other benefits, such as seeing our hero survive or the mystery unfold, or B) something that produces a physical reaction-- the adrenaline rush-- as something actually pleasurable, similar to the rush one gets on a roller coaster. 

So what do you think? Do you take pleasure in horror? Why or why not?

I've also updated my author website, which includes adding my first horror talk to the list of upcoming events. Check out my that site if you have a chance. It includes all the links to my other social media sites, and I hope you'll follow me on my journey of horror! I have quite a few other questions and themes I'm exploring for not only my upcoming talk but other stories I'm currently writing. 

Thanks for reading. Looking forward to your comments!

The Newfoundland Vampire by Charles O'Keefe

Distinguished Press is celebrating the release of The Newfoundland Vampire by author Charles O’Keefe. Grab your copy on Amazon right now for only $3.99!

Here’s a teaser for the story:

Like many geeks, Joseph O’Reily has always fantasized about being a vampire. Then one night Cassandra Snow walks into his life and he learns that not all dreams should come true. Cassandra has plans for him – plans for eternity.
As his world begins to turn upside down, Josephs wrestles with the changes to his everyday life. Eternal youth and amazing power come at a price that might be higher than he can afford. Vampires may not be human, but Joseph is determined to hold on to what he values most — his humanity.

You can join us this Saturday April 25 all day long for fun games and prizes to celebrate O'Keefe's release and other great works from Distinguished Press. Plus, there will be a surprise announcement! Visit us at this Facebook link to join the party. 

And check out this excerpt from the novel!

“As Joseph walked away, heading in the general direction of his parents’ house, he looked down at his bloody, torn shirt. The pain in his side had already started to fade. He probed gently with his fingers and found the wound had closed up. He glanced at his watch and noticed he could see the dial without pressing the light button. It was 10:35, and he recalled that he’d told Cassandra he would return to her room around midnight.

When he thought of Cassandra, he immediately knew the truth about what she’d done to him. Tuesday night she’d bitten him and drank his blood. Two nights later, he was drinking the blood of a moose out of some uncontrollable, instinctive need. What has happened to me? Is any of this real, or am I dreaming? Have I lost my mind?

He knew what had happened. He knew what Cassandra had done. He knew what he had become. The notion that he might no longer even be human hit him like an imaginary punch in stomach, and he leaned against a nearby tree to stop from falling over. His vision swam, and his mind churned as he tried to come to grips with the realization. As crazy and hard to believe as it was, he could come up with no other explanation.

He recalled a principle by William of Ockham, Other things being equal, a simpler explanation is better than a more complex one. He shook his head. Ockham’s razor. But was it even possible, let alone the simplest explanation? He admitted he’d harbored a deep, dark wish from the time he was thirteen of becoming a vampire, but he never imagined that it would ever come true. It was impossible. Vampires didn’t exist. So, then, what is this? What am I doing out here, drinking the blood of a moose and healing wounds? Am I having some elaborate delusion?

He tried to grasp the reality of his situation by reviewing what he knew. Cassandra slept all day. That first night they had spent together, she had bitten his neck. He’d fallen asleep next to her, dreaming she’d had blood on her mouth. She had expressed her desire to taste his blood several times. And she’d introduced him to the perversion of sharing their blood during sex. Her mannerisms and certain patterns of speech seemed oddly old fashioned.

In the last few days, he’d felt extremely weak during daylight and extremely powerful at night. He could hear and see better than he ever imagined possible. And there was the insatiable hunger he’d suddenly developed that could only be satisfied by blood. Could it be true? Instead of a made-up myth, vampires were real, and Cassandra was one – and now, so was he?”

You can follow Charles on Twitter, and be sure to get a copy of the novel here!

You can also visit his author webpage and the Distinguished Press homepage for more info.

Bill's Nightmare by Artist Tracie VerKuilen

When I first signed a book contract, I had a hundred ideas for fun things I wanted to do to help pass on the excitement I have for the story. One such idea was to connect with interested artists, and give them a brief scene or character from Rabbit in Red and see what they (no restrictions) visualized.

It's also a chance to give credit to hard-working and talented artists.

The first such artist who volunteered for this is a current college student of mine, Tracie VerKuilen. Tracie is a talented young woman with ambitions of being a published author too. She graduated from Peoria Notre Dame High School (me too!) and is attending Illinois Central College, focusing on English and Psychology (I was an English major and also attended ICC!). We clearly had a lot in common as students, and I have full confidence that she will see all of her dreams come true.

Thank you, Tracie, for this contribution. It's the first piece of art I have received for my writing. I plan on framing it, and always letting it be a reminder of one of my biggest philosophies: artists support one another and cheer one another on. Success comes from those who champion others. That's why I know you'll be successful in all of your future ambitions.

I love this scene for many reasons. In my very first drafts, this was the opening to the story. Bill Wise, one Rabbit in Red main character, woke from a nightmare. Of course, he's a horror enthusiast and his bedroom is full of terrifying items that may trigger dark thoughts.

As of now, we first meet Bill in the middle of action, and we don't see his bedroom or get to know the nightmares that plague him until later in the story. But the things that haunt him at night and the passions that get him through his days are incredibly important parts of the story.

I gave Tracie just a page or two of this section, and above is what she invented in her imagination.

Isn't it just freaking' AMAZING?

Again, thank you, Tracie. I love it.

Look for Rabbit in Red, my horror adventure, in September of this year.

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Thanks to everyone for your support with my projects. If you'd like to contribute art, you can e-mail me at joechianakas@gmail.com and we will discuss that.

You can also find me on a variety of social media. Just click the link below to be redirected to those sites and feel free to follow me there too.

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