Today I’d like to one of my favorite authors Ms Nancy Haddock. Not only is she a wonderful writer but a lovely lady and this blog will always have room for her.
Its wonderful to have her drop by to promote the latest installment of Cesca’s world in :
Always The Vampire
It’s not easy being a dutiful maid of honor when you’re a vampire in the Sunshine State…
Cesca Marinelli has been slacking on her duties as a vampire princess, but she will be the best maid of honor ever for Maggie’s Victorian wedding. However, when her mostly-human honey, Saber, falls ill due to a magical construct called the Void, she knows she’ll have to go beyond the call of bridesmaid duty…
The Void is affecting every supernatural being in Cesca’s afterlife, including her shapeshifter ex, Triton. To counter the Void’s reign of terror, Cesca must fully summon her vampire powers-which may lead to her own doom.
What a Character!
I’m SO thrilled to be here in Australia with Bek for the launch of my new book, Always The Vampire! Okay, so I’m not physically in Australia enjoying fall weather, but I’m there in spirit!
Here’s something you might not know about me. I never intended to write a vampire book. Why not? Simply because there were so many marvelous authors writing amazing vampire books! Nope, I was happily working on the first book in a cozy mystery series … until the fateful day I saw a certain Jif Peanut Butter commercial. That’s when the vampire bug bit me.
The TV commercial entitled Sleepover (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ErnE93sNU for a short clip) features two 5 to 6 year-old girls. The little sleepover hostess attempts to put her guest at ease by suggesting things they can do. At one point, the hostess says something like, “We can play Crazy Eights or we can watch this Princess Vampire tape.”
Folks, I about snorted coffee out of my nose! I knew I hadn’t heard the line correctly. I knew vampire anything wouldn’t be in such a commercial. But that’s what I heard and I couldn’t stop laughing!
Then I started thinking. If there were a real Princess Vampire video for six-year-olds, what kind of character would the princess be? A Disney-pretty princess with tiny fangs who rides a unicorn to do battle with an evil witch? A Romanian princess who, abducted as a baby, grows up a waif until she saves her natural parents from a carriage accident and the family is reunited? Or, hmmm. What if the Princess Vampire was a grown-up and a character in a romance?
Though I set the Princess Vampire concept firmly on the back burner of my brain and returned to my cozy mystery, the emerging character wouldn’t go away. She resurfaced in quiet moments to show me snippets of her life, both vampire and pre-vampire, and I jotted notes on every scrap of paper handy. Eventually, she took over my dreams, and I had no choice but to put the vampire character front and center.
Most authors I know say that writing characters is like getting to know new friends, and they are right! During the early stages of developing Francesca “Cesca” Marinelli, I’d walk the streets of historic downtownSt. Augustine,FLto see the city – past and present – through Cesca’s eyes. I took Cesca shopping to discover her tastes, and to dip into her memories of shopping inSt. Augustineof the 1700s. Soon she took on a life – or afterlife – of her own. So much so, that Cesca has her own treasures.
This retro shaped clock is the first item Cesca bought (with my credit card). 
And here is the statue that reminds Cesca of her wizard pal, Cosmil. (Okay, it’s a stretch, but Cesca’s into “ocean” anything.)
Cesca loves dolphins, and her human-dolphin shifter friend, Triton.
This is round wall piece is a stepping stone relief made by a local St. Augustine artist, and is one of Cesca’s most recent prizes. (Still not a likeness of Cosmil, but it’s so unique!)
Thank you so much for joining Bek and me for launch day of Always The Vampire! It’s an honor to have you visit, and please drop by one of my cyber locations page any ‘ole time.
Website: www.nancyhaddock.com
Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Nancy_Haddock_Books/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Haddock/86984510891
Twitter ID: http://twitter.com/#!/nancyhaddock
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/nancyhaddock
I wish you a marvelous, merry month of May!
Oh, oh, and that Jif commercial? The real princess line is “Princess Moon Fire.” If you watch the YouTube clip and pause it at just the right time, you’ll be able to read the title on the video label.
Now to celebrate Nancy dropping by, its your turn to join in. To celebrate the release of Always the Vampire, let us know what inspires you and the winner(s), one from the US and one from Australia will receive a copy of Living La Vida Vampire, Last Vampire Standing and Always the Vampire.
theaussiebookworm 
Hi Nancy,
First off, congratulations on your new release. This sounds like a wonderful story, so different from what I thought a vampire story would be like. Looking forward to the book.
Stella MacLean
Yes, congratulations on your new release, Nancy! I don’t usually read this genre, but this one sounds like one I need to pick up. 🙂 Wishing you all the best!
Hi Stella and Melissa! Y’all beat me to the punch today!
Thank you for your kind words, and I hope you’ll enjoy my books if you decide to read them!
Thanks, too, to Bek for inviting me to blog on my Release Day! You are a lovely lady, and I look forward to meeting you in Australia one day soon!
Light,
Nancy
Hugs and kisses to you, Nancy. Wonderful blog post about how you developed your character. I think it is very interesting what makes our head go cha-ching!
oxoxo
Hi, Vicki!
Yep, we writers have some weird stuff running through our heads, don’t we? But, hey, we’re easily entertained. That can’t be a bad thing!
Thank you so much for stopping by, and have a fantastic rest of your week!
Light,
Nancy
I adore Nancy and I adore Cesca. I am inspired by houses. I see one and the story of who lived there pops into my mind and won’t go away. I guess you could really say buildings inspire me because hotels also inspire me and old shops and restaurants. ;o)
Lyn! How great to see you!
I love buildings, too. The older, the better. Do buildings figure into your screenwriting?
Thanks so much for coming by to visit!
Light,
Nancy
Nancy,
Love, love, love the concept… I have always known that you were a vampire Princess in many worlds!
(still snorting…LOL) not very princess like
Keep writing, my friend,
Neringa
I’m snorting, too, Neringa! Guess neither of us make princess status today.
Oh, and squirrel~!
Thank you for visiting Bek’s blog. This lady is awesome – definitely one of your “fabulous females!”
Light,
Nancy
Congratulations Nancy, so glad you decided to write a vampire story. This is such a great series and I am really looking forward to Cesca’s latest adventure.
As for what inspires me, since I’ve retired, that would be my family. Their love, friendship and support inspire me everyday.
US
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Cathy, what a beautiful answer as to what inspires you! Thank you for sharing your bliss!
Thanks, too, for coming to visit, and for your kind words about the Cesca series. I hope you’ll enjoy Always The Vampire!
Light,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Congratulations on your new release 🙂 Enjoyed the post, I kept imagining kids watching a vampire princess cartoon. …to answer your question, seeing other people achieve their goals inspires me to keep trying to reach my own.
Hugs, Danette
Danette, I love it that you’re also imagining kids watching a cartoon princess vampire. That’s exactly what kept cracking me up!
I also love what inspires you, and I trust – not merely hope – that you reach new goals each day! Keep on keepin’ on, and know I’m rooting for you!
Many thanks for taking the time to stop by today, and have a stellar week!
Light,
Nancy
Hey, Nancy. Been waiting for this book to release and now it’s here.
Anybody who hasn’t read this series yet, dive in feet first, it’s really terrific. Again, Nancy, congratulations on the release. Still miss you her in Big “D”.
Awww, Kathy, I miss you, too! The Dallas Area Romance Authors is an absolutely outstanding organization powered by the most amazing people! What a treat to have met you and so many friends in Big D!
Thanks so much for coming by, and for your kind words about my work. We authors do have fun, don’t we? And writing even keeps some of us off the streets. 🙂
Light,
Nancy
Congrats on the new release. I read the first book in this series with in a week of it coming out. As far as the question I’m not sure anything inspires me. My imagination is out there in a crazy way and needs to help to be there. I just do everything by the seat of my pants
Us Reader
Hi, Carmen! Nothing wrong with being out there in your imagination. We should all have rich fantasy lives!
Thank you for taking time to pop in, and thank you twice for your support of my work! I’m honored by each and every reader!
Happy Week!
Light,
Nancy
Hi Nancy and Bec
These books sound really good congrats on the release
What inspires me lots of things honesty my family they all keep me going LOL
Have Fun
Helen
Helen, thank you for taking time to come by! I love it that you draw your inspiration from your family – and that you mentioned honesty. I’m with you. Honesty builds trust.
I appreciate your congrats on my release, and if you try my books, I hope you’ll have fun with them! I’m all about the fun in reading! 🙂
Light,
Nancy
Congrats on the release Nancy 🙂
“We can play Crazy Eights or we can watch this Princess Vampire tape” LOL who knows maybe they were watching anime, the Japanese start making cartoons of more mature subject matters for children of all ages.
As for inspiration, aside from my family I take it from little things. Like seeing a random butterfly on the first sunny day in a week- something like that ^_^
Hi, Camille! I thought about anime for a brief moment, but that didn’t seem Jif’s speed.
I love that you find inspiration in little things – that something like seeing a butterfly can give you a moment. Family can be a constant source of inspiration, too, but sometimes we overlook moments. Or I have. I’m more aware now than I was, so it’s a step.
Thank you for much for visiting, Camille, and for your release day congrats! Have a marvelous rest of your week!
Light,
Nancy
Nancy,
Woot! I’ve SO been waiting for the release of book three, “Always The Vampire!” I love this series and am a huge fan! I had to laugh at your peanut butter mishear. *G* But, I’m glad you heard vampire. I’m thrilled for you as you continue your vampire journey. Take care and I wish you continued success! *Hugs*
Love you!
Diana
Hey, Diana! You’re so kind to take time to stop by. I’m so tickled you like my books, because you know I love yours, too!
Thank you, thank you for all your good wishes, and have a stellar rest of your week!
Light,
Nancy
It’s after midnight my time, and I’m winding down. I’ll be back tomorrow to finish responding to any more notes.
Thank you all again for stopping in to celebrate with me, and huge thanks to Bek for having me!
Light and Good night,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Thank you so much for visiting my Blog on the release day of Always The Vampire. It was such a pleasure. You are a wonderful lady and such a great writer. Everyone, give Nancy a HUGE CLAP and send light and love her way. We’ll work out who the winners are in the next day and then let you all know.
For all the commenters, thank you so much for being part of the release day of this fabulous book
Hugs
Bek
Congratulations on your book, Nancy. Sounds really good …will have to look out for it.
Barbara
I can’t seem to look at this site from my smartphone!!!!