Jess Haines Interview and Contest

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. To celebrate this special day we have an interview with author Jess Haines author of the urban fantasy series about the Others - werewolves, vampires and mages. Book one is Hunted By the Others. Book two, just published in January is Taken By the Others. One lucky reader will win a copy of both books.

[see contest details of contest at the end of the post.]

Welcome Jess!

PVN: Tell us about Shiarra and the world she lives in.

Jess: Shiarra Waynest is a human woman who lives in an alternate, present-day New York.  She hasn’t been affected much by the “coming out” of supernaturals after the fall of the Twin Towers on 9/11, roughly ten years ago.  She doesn’t deal with anything that isn’t human.  As far as she’s concerned, their business is Other business—it has nothing to do with her.

Sadly, her story wouldn’t be very interesting if she wasn’t thrust into supernatural events.  As much as she’d like to stay away from them, her private investigations firm is failing, and when a mage coven offers her a lucrative job that just might save her firm, she goes against her instincts and accepts the offer.  All she has to do is confront New York ’s oldest, most powerful vampire to find out where he’s hiding a magic artifact.  Simple, right?

Yeeeeah.  Being phobic of vampires doesn’t help her much.  Added to her troubles is her mother trying to set her back up with her ex-boyfriend (who happens to be a werewolf), a group of vigilante supernatural hunters threatening her to join them or die, and a snarky, sentient hunter’s belt making fun of her lack of vampire hunting skills.  Oh, and it appears that any supernaturals who come in contact with the artifact she’s searching for wind up dead soon thereafter.

She’s really not having a good day.

PVN: What are the characteristics of your vampires?

Jess: My vampires aren’t the sparkly, cuddly type.  While they retain their memories and personality when they are turned, they have new needs, new powers, and new demands thrust on them that make their unlife difficult.  Older vampires are more likely to be cold, ruthless, and keep to themselves simply because that is the only way they could survive.  They’re relatively newly introduced to our society, so there are still some “growing pains” associated with having them around.   However, some—like Alec Royce, New York’s master vampire—push for acceptance, and boldly stepped into the public eye, thereby attaining a form of instant celebrity.

New laws were enacted requiring any human who wants to become “intimate” to sign a contract that negates any rights for them or their loved ones to seek recriminations for damages or death caused by the Other.  Since most of the vampires are striving very hard to achieve equal rights and become mainstream, they police their own, and come down hard on anyone who gets too violent with or kills too many of their contracted donors.  Their desire to fit in doesn’t make them any less dangerous.  Behind the glamour and the publicity, they are predators.

Not to mention the protesters and hunters who think the vamps shouldn’t be allowed to live and prey upon humankind.  Being a donor to a vampire doesn’t just put you in danger of losing life and limb to your host—you might find yourself lumped in with the Others when the hunters come calling.


PVN: What's next for Shiarra and company?

Jess: In my first book, HUNTED BY THE OTHERS (released May, 2010), Shiarra got to know a few Others, save her business, and get her priorities straight.  In the second book, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS (released January, 2011), she got to face her fear of vampires in a very big way.  Here’s the info on book three, DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS, coming July 5, 2011:

They’re here, and they’re real…werewolves, vampires, mages, and other creatures of the night. For New York P.I. Shiarra Waynest, taking care of Others business started out as a way to stay solvent. But now business is getting very, very complicated…

Shiarra’s relationship with sexy werewolf Chaz may be somewhat unconventional. Still, after a few bumps, Shia is finally ready to get serious. That means meeting family–or in this case, bringing Chaz’s entire werewolf pack along for a rollicking full-moon weekend in the Catskills.

Soon after they arrive, threatening notes appear, warning Chaz to go home. Then their cabin is ransacked. Shia starts digging to find out whether it’s the work of upstart teenaged werewolves or something more sinister. Yet as rumors about her vampire connections arouse the pack’s hostility, Shia has to contend with other dangers. Not just from an adversary about to make his fatal intentions known, but from a threat that’s even closer than she knows…

There are six books contracted in the H and W series, but I won’t go spoiling what’s coming just yet.  *g*

PVN: What other projects are you working on?

Jess: Aside from books four, five, and six, I am working on a standalone paranormal romance novel.  It ties into the world of H and W Investigations, but it is meant to be a story that can be read on its own.  It may be a while before this one is ready to be shopped around for a home, so don’t count on seeing this on the shelves in stores anytime soon.

I also have a novella coming out in an anthology called THE REAL WEREWIVES OF VAMPIRE COUNTY later this year.  Ever see or hear of those reality TV shows, “The Real Housewives of _______” (New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Beverly Hills, etc)?  Yeah.  Give it a supernatural twist, some extra bitchy werewolves, and a prima donna supernatural hunter, and you’ve got the idea of what my story will be like.  *g*


PVN: What attracts you to the paranormal?

Jess: Everything!  I love the potential behind magic and supernatural creatures.  I love how you can make, shape, or break worlds when it comes to the paranormal.  When I was a kid, I devoured everything, from the tales of the Brothers Grimm to Greek myths and legends.  I’ve always been, and probably always will be, attracted to the fantastic.



PVN: What kinds of books do you like to read?

Jess: My reading tastes are very catholic.  I’ll read almost anything.  Above other genres, I enjoy fantasy, science fiction, romance, and horror, but I also occasionally like to read non-fiction, books on philosophy, books on certain types of animals (mostly birds, reptiles, and killer whales), and study about faraway lands I intend to visit some day.  When I get an idea involving a character who is supposed to be an expert or have something to do with a subject I’m unfamiliar with, I’ll happily devour every text in sight that has to do with what I’m studying.


PVN: Which authors have inspired you?

Jess: I’m a huge fan of Stephen King, whose work encouraged me to think outside societal norms.  Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) taught me that imagination coupled with humor knows no bounds.  Janet Evanovich taught me that sometimes the hero doesn’t start out special or strong or talented, but becomes that way over time. Laurrell K. Hamilton introduced me to urban fantasy and first planted the idea that I could get something published in the genre, too. Jim Butcher, and Kim Harrison taught me that a sense of humor in fantasy was not only okay, but something to strive for.  Lastly, but certainly not least, Greg Costikyan taught me that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel in fantasy to create a worthwhile and engaging story.

There are many other books and authors that have touched me in some way, but I think those cover a lot of the bases.


PVN: Describe your writing day and your writing environment.

Jess: Honestly, it’s more my writing night, lol.  As much as I would love to be a full-time author, it doesn’t pay the bills for me just yet.  Monday through Friday, I work from 9AM until roughly 10:30 or 11PM.  When I get home, I spend a few minutes answering emails and writing.  Saturday is the day I set aside to work on nothing but writing.  From the moment I wake up (and I sleep in—the glory of sleeping in!) until the end of the day, I’m busy doing something related to writing.  Whether it’s one of my novels, a guest post, answering interview questions, updating my blog, etc, I get the bulk of my “work” done on Saturday.  Sundays, I’m at work again, from 9AM until 6PM, and after I get home from shopping, etc, I usually get a little more work done while watching movies and hanging out with my friends.  It’s rough, but I get the job done!


PVN: Do you listed to music as you write or for inspirations?

Jess: Not as often as I used to.  Sometimes when I’m listening to the radio in the car, I’ll get an idea that I jot down for myself later.  More often I have the TV going and/or my friends chattering in the background while I write.  It is rarely quiet around me, so I’ve gotten used to tuning things out around me so I can concentrate on my work.


PVN: How can readers contact you?

Jess: I’m all over the place.  You can come visit me on…

My website: www.jesshaines.com

My blog: www.jesshaines.com/blog

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Jess_Haines

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jesshaines

The H and W fan page on Facebook

PVN: Anything else you would like to add?

Jess: I love—lovelovelove—hearing from my fans!  Feel free to come chat me up on Twitter or chill with me on my blog anytime!

Thanks again for having me over, Patricia!

 CONTEST

*Jess is offering a copy of Hunted By the Others and Taken By the Others to one lucky reader.

*Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win. 


*Contest is international.

*Contest ends Feb. 28, 2011 at 11:59pm EST

Dark Haven - Vampire Book Review

Dark Haven (Chronicles of the Necromancer3)
by Gail Z Martin
Solaris (February 2, 2009)

[reviewed by Amy Weidenaar]

I found this to be a little confusing at first. It’s the third installment of an epic series. I think what confused me the most was keeping the names (and nicknames) of some of the characters straight. As I read though, I found myself drawn into this magnificently written world. Each chapter brings you further into these characters’ lives, and it doesn’t take too long until you are fairly caught up and breathlessly waiting to see what is going to happen next. The book is 606 pages, and to begin with I thought it was going to be too long. By the end, I thought it was far too short and I am anxious to get my hands on the rest of the series.

Jonmarc Vahanian is now Lord of Dark Haven, a place where humans, ghosts, vayash moru (vampires), and shifters live together in harmony...mostly. Historically, the vayash moru have had a mortal as Lord of Dark Haven because when the vayash moru have been in charge, there has been conflict between them and the mortals. So while Jonmarc is juggling his new role in leadership, in a new land, as well as entering into marriage with the love of his life, he has the added pressure of “securing an heir” before heading off to engage in battle against.

This book has so much political intrigue going on, she was not only able to interact all of her lands but various species as well, making for incredible battles and subterfuge that is unparalleled in any recent book I’ve read. It’s no wonder that joining these characters when I did had my head spinning a little at first.

If you’re already a fan of this series, this book is one you should not miss. If you haven’t read any of them yet, I encourage you to start at the beginning of the series and give it a chance. If you’re a fan of Terry Goodkind’s “Sword of Truth” series or Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of Time” series, I think you owe it to yourself to try this series as well. The world is vividly described, the character development is supreme, the pace doesn’t drag down at all, in summary…a very incredible read.

Reviewed by Amy Weidenaar for Patricia's Vampire Notes.

Phantasm - Review

Phantasm (Zoe Martinique, Book 3)
by Phaedra Weldon
Ace Trade (June 2, 2009)

[reviewed by Patricia]

Zoe is such an interesting person and lives such a complicated life. Even though this is her third adventure, but the first I had read, I was so completely engrossed in the story that I could not stop reading. Eventually I was able to make sense of the intricate plot and multiple characters.

As the story begins Zoe can no longer speak. Although she is mute there are a few individuals who can read her thoughts.

Her mother lies in a long-term care facility, technically alive but with her soul missing. Zoe desperately wants to find mom's soul. The problem is someone stole it. Even when that individual, a powerful being named Archer, is found, he claims to no longer posses it. In desperation Zoe tries using magic (for which she has zero ability) to enter the Abysmal realm hoping to physically retrieve her mother's life force. This stunt almost costs Zoe her life. At the last minute her friend Dags rushes in and saves her.

Her troubles don't end there. Zoe is a Wraith who uses her special ability to travel the astral plane, out of body, or OOB as she refers to it. Unfortunately, that ability, one that practically defines her, has disappeared. And this is only the beginning when listing Zoe's problems. Her best friend lied to her and betrayed her; the cop Daniel Frasier, with whom she fell in love, has abandoned her; and the evil entity Phantasm wants her destroyed.

As Zoe searches for ways to help her mother and to recover her own lost powers she finds herself pulled relentlessly into a paranormal universe with complicated, often unfathomable rules, that must be followed exactly. Weldon's imaginative, complex plot and brilliant characterization adds up to a compulsive page turner. And there will be more to come in this series.

Although I enjoyed this book tremendously, it's probably best to read the books in order of publication.

Wraith (Zoe Martinique, Book 1)

Spectre (Zoe Martinique, Book 2)

Phantasm (Zoe Martinique, Book 3)

The Trouble with Demons - Review

The Trouble with Demons (Raine Benares, Book 3)
By Lisa Shearin
Ace, April 28, 2009

[Reviewed by Melissa A. Palmer]

Unbeknownst to me, The Trouble with Demons is the third book in a series that I have never read. However, that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. The author gives enough background so this book stands well on its own.

Raine is an elf and is the keeper of this magic stone, called the Saghred. The Saghred has given Raine magical powers and sort of uses her to be an outlet for its power. This stone is something that a lot of supernatural powerhouses want—both good and bad magical beings are after it and the key to open it.

Early on in the book, a Hellgate opens and demons come swarming through, leaving carnage everywhere. Raine has to figure out how to close the Hellgate. Helping her is Tam, a dark mage, and Michael, a white knight. The three of them form a preternatural bond that is very strong and very illegal, combining dark and light magic in a way that has never been done before. Of course, Raine also has romantic feelings for Tam and Michael so they are a triangle in many ways.

This book had good action in it. There were multiple battles between good and evil forces. There is the romantic element to the book as well—nothing over the top but it adds a layer to make this not just an action book. The author has created good, strong characters—Raine has a temper but a good heart; Michael is good and strong and does the right thing; Tam has a touch of the dark side but Raine is his weak spot and that keeps him from being totally bad. There are also excellent supporting characters in this book, especially Raine’s father, cousin and uncle.

I enjoyed this book and would continue to read more (since the ending seems to be heading into the next book) and would even go back and read the first two in the series to fill in the gaps. I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal literature.


This review was written for Patricia's Vampire Notes by Melissa A. Palmer


Magic Lost, Trouble Found (Raine Benares, Book 1) Ace (May 29, 2007)


Armed & Magical (Raine Benares, Book 2) Ace (April 29, 2008)

Blue Diablo - Review

Blue Diablo: A Corine Solomon Novel by Ann Aguirre. Roc, April 7, 2009.

[Reviewed by Patricia]

Corine Solomon has found a quiet secluded neighborhood of Mexico City. She has lived there a year and runs a small pawn shop. This is a good place to hide. No one can find her or so she hopes. But someone did track her down. A person who had been very special in her life until the day she decided for her own safety and sanity she had to leave him.

Chance, the man she ran from, her former partner and lover, finds Corine. He needs her help, he says, because his mother, Min, has disappeared in Laredo, Texas. Only one clue has been left behind, a small Buddha. Chance wants Corrine to use her gift to touch the small statue and tell him what she sees. Corine is a handler, and this psychic gift has given her much pain.

Reluctantly Corine agrees to hold the Buddha. She has a brief glimpse of a white truck before the pain forces her to let go. Corine's gift comes with a price. The objects that tell their story emit heat. Metal is especially bad. She has scars on the palms of her hands to prove it. Her gift came from her mother who died in a fire deliberately set.

Eventually Corine and Chance come to an agreement. She will help him find his mother, and he will help her locate those responsible for her own mother's death.

Corine, who narrates the events of the story, is fragile and tough, and has suffered many hurts throughout her life beginning with witnessing her mother's horrifying death. She is also a keen observer of people and happenings around her. Her wounded spirit often causes her to have unwarranted suspicions, but this antenna has also saved her life on occasion.

Aguirre has created a likable, believable heroine. In fact all of the characters are well realized. At the center of the story is a complex, paranormal mystery. Corrine, Chance, the psychically gifted police detective Jesse, and other "talented" friends must use all of their resources to solve it. I should add that unexpected help comes from a cute, prescient chihuahua named Butch.

Blue Diablo is an excellent beginning to a new urban fantasy series. A series I will definitely follow!

[Reviewed by Patricia]





Book 2 Hell Fire coming late ‘09 from Roc.

Book 3 Shady Lady. No pub. information yet.

Curse of the Dawn - Review

Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, Book ). Karen Chance. Onyx, April 2009.

The story opens with Cassie time traveling, trying to catch up to the previous Pythia whose demise occurred before she could train the current Pythia, Cassie that is, in how to manipulate the tremendous power which comes with the position.

So what is a Pythia? As Cassie explains this is the supernatural community's chief seer, and also the person charged with maintaining the intergrity of the time line. That's quite a bit of responsibility for someone not sure of what she's doing and has a number of paranormals not wanting her in the job. Cassie is not one to go quitely into the night or day for that matter. She's been given a job to do and by golly she will find a way to get it done.

Fortunately she has allies. Two of the most important are John Pritkin a warrior mage who is much more than he seems, and the hunky master vampire, and alpha male, Mircea Basarab. Protecting Cassie falls into the hands of Mircea. He loves his job when Cassie isn't acting too independently and causing herself trouble. He and Cassie have very strong sexual feelings for each other, but Cassie doesn't want to get too emotionally close to anyone because, she believes, these things never last.

The Cassie Palmer stories are filled with nonstop action, and Curse of the Dawn is no exception. Danger follows Cassie everywhere she goes. At one point Cassie is abducted by a war mage who drags her through a ley line that suddenly explodes killing the mage and almost doing the same to our heroine. Then the big guns come out when war is declared by the god Apollo against earth's supernaturals. The Pythia who owes her powers to this god is the main target.

Mages and vampires don't always get along, but when the primary headquarters for all supernaturals is attacked and destroyed, a truce of some kind is the only way to keep the old deities, led by Apollo, from coming back and taking control once again. Naturally peace does not reign for more than a short time. War mages, dark mages, vampires, demons, and gods populate Chance's complex, intriguing, and captivating world.

Once Bitten by Kalayna Price - Review

Once Bitten by Kalayna Price. Bell Bridge Books (January 9, 2009)

On the run from the hunters of her father's world which lies beyond the portal, Kita almost losses her life in the town of Haven. When she regains consciousness she realize that she can no longer summon the power that allows her to shift into her other form - that of a kitten. It seems the vampire Nathanial had found her in trouble and saved her. However, in order to do that, he had to give her some of his own blood. So now she has joined the ranks of the undead which has, at least temporarily, affected her shifter abilities.

As if that weren't enough a man magically appears, declares himself a judge come to sentence her to death for having created the rogue shifter guilty of several killings in the human world. Kita protests her innocence to no avail. Fortunately Nathanial convinces the judge to give Kita 2 days to find the rogue. If she doesn't complete her task, then her life is forfeit. Kita's time in Haven has gone from one horror to another.

Two others help her in the search for the rogue - Bobby, also a shifter and Kita's childhood friend; and Gil a rotund lady who is a mage and a scholar. The four turn out to be quite a formidable team, when not squabbling with one another that is.

Each urban fantasy writer brings a twist of their own. Kalayna creates a dark world peopled by characters with quirky charm. Kita, a runaway from the land of Firth, has problems with her father and his future plans for her. She barely survives in the human world and must always be alert for the shifter/hunters. She's a young gal burdened with a lot of baggage, and her problems aren't helped by having to learn the vagaries of being a vampire plus facing judgment day for a crime she did not commit. Still the smart, resilient Kita is fun to watch as are Nathanial, Bobby, and most certainly Gil, a rather eccentric lady whose actions lend humor to the story. Once Bitten is imaginative, thoroughly entertaining, and easily keeps a reader's attention.