Posted in Creekside Cafe, interview

Welcome Sirus to my Midnight Cafe

Happy Halloween

Author Bio:

Sirius is a lover of glory, gore, and monsters. They are a queer, nonbinary artist living in the hot and bothered South; currently residing in a little spot that has been dubbed ‘Halloweentown’, North Carolina. They are the writer of The Draonir Saga, the first book of which is Uncrowned (The Laughing Man House), and The Gentleman Demon Series, the first book of which is Swallow you Whole (Curious Corvid Publishing).

Sirius began writing at a young age and started exploring the publishing industry when they were thirteen. With many bumps along the way, they have learned a lot and grown in the craft that they would consider their one true love. Queer characters, gothic aesthetics, and royal drama (fantasy of manners) form the foundation of their storytelling.

When they are not writing, they work as a professional drag performer, weaving the characters from their stories into visual art for the stage.

Sherri: Welcome Sirius to my virtual café. It is such a pleasure to welcome you and introduce you to my audience.

Sirius: Thank you for having me! It is an absolute pleasure to be here.

Sherri: My Creekside Café, while virtual has become a haven where I can chat with fellow creatives. It is such a pleasure to meet a variety of writers from all over the world and from every genre. While horror isn’t my favorite genre, I have found that there are techniques used by horror writers that translate into suspense and mystery. I love to listen to Steven King and Brandon McNulty on YouTube. While McNulty is more of a thriller writer, King has explored several subgenres of horror. What subgenres do you write?

Sirius: I am an avid lover of King and his diversity! When it comes to horror, I definitely write a lot of dark and gothic fantasy. I prefer fantasy worlds and paranormal themes placed in alternate dimensions that have flavors of our world. I have written my share of more classic horror as well – clowns, ghouls, ghosts, and serial killers. If it is atmospheric, dramatic, or gory – I am a fan.

Sherri: Tell us a little about your work. I can’t believe you started publishing at thirteen, successful or not. I wished I’d started sooner. Did you always write horror and dark fantasy?

Sirius: I was definitely an ambitious teenager! I started writing more epic fantasy, but vampires, demons, and angels took over as a major interest. Eventually, the two blended together for me.

Sherri: Your characters are queer, what is it you hope the reader will discover when they read your books whether gay or straight?

Sirius: I want my books to be a treat, a needlessly decadent queer narrative. All my beloved characters straddle that morally grey line, and I want readers – whether they are queer or not – to be able to enjoy reading queer characters whose queerness is not their defining trait. They love, mourn, plot, and yes – commit horrible war crimes –  as people first and foremost.

Sherri: People first, I think that’s all any of us want. I know in my own stories, I want my characters, as well as myself to be accepted on our own merits, not as a label.

What is it you like about the monsters? I remember Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Monster wasn’t as frightening as the scientist who created him.

Sirius: One thing I love about writing the monsters is that they are unpredictable. They are capable of anything. Their reasoning is not always sound, if it ever was to begin with. Monsters are diverse and colorful and there is a lot of freedom in being able to dig into the chest of what makes something inhuman tick.

Sherri: Who are some of your favorite authors? Did their work influence or inspire your own?

Sirius: There are far too many to list, but I am heavily inspired by Anne Rice, Stephen King, Richard Lee Byers, and Ellen Kushner. Anything that gives a decadent, lush narrative or lively characters is instantly up my alley.

Sherri: You mentioned in your bio that you do Drag, and it’s influenced by your characters. I’d love to know more. Is this a hobby or do you have an income from your entertainment?

Sirius: Drag is absolutely part of my income – it is feast or famine just as any other part of the art world. It has become an enormous part of my life and being able to incorporate my characters into it has helped, tremendously, with getting to know them all over again – even the ones I have known a long time. I have had several new characters come to me that way, also. I am part of the Underground Presents troupe based in Greenville, NC – it is an incredible family and community that I am really grateful for.

Sherri: Are you indie-published? What would you tell a young writer attempting to publish their first book? Share the Pros, Cons, things you wished you’d known, or where you’ve found your best information.

Sirius: I am both indie published and I am signed with the Curious Corvid Publishing house. Again, a wonderful community that I am very grateful for. If I were to give any advice to a young writer attempting to publish – it would be to not give up. Make your budget, crunch the numbers, and then don’t compromise. Do not underestimate the power of a good editor and a professional cover. I made a lot of my mistakes early on in my career, and one thing I wish I had known was how much work it is even after the actual book is finished. It is a lot of work, a lot of marketing – and your first book won’t sell a lot, so don’t give up! Keep writing, write the next one! Be genuine online and in person, always, people love when you are yourself, and use resources like Writers Beware to keep yourself safe and not fall for predatory vanity press practices. Above all, remember that bad reviews, low sales, and low traction does NOT mean your work is bad. Your story needs to be told by YOU and there are readers out there who will love it. So much of making it in this industry is luck, so keep doing what you are doing, and you will make it – just keep writing.

Sherri: Just keep writing! Or whatever you love, keep doing it until you make it. Success is just picking yourself up one more time than you fall down.

If you enjoyed this interview with Sirius, come out to the New Bern Farmers Market November 20th, 2022 1-4pm for our Author Event. Books make wonderful gifts.

Social media:

WEBSITE: www.uncrownednovel.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/palestarsirius

Tik Tok Handle: @palestarsirius

Facebook: www.facebook.com/draonirsaga

More Buy Links: https://linktr.ee/palestarsirius

Publications:

UNCROWNED

The Draonir Saga, Book 1

May 13th, 2022

PARTITIONED

The Draonir Saga, Book 2

November 4th, 2022

SWALLOW YOU WHOLE

The Gentleman Demon Series, Book 1

TBA 2023

BIRDEATER

A Novella

February 14th, 2023

HUNTER GODDESS MOON

Short Story: The Spectre Review

October, 2022 

THE DEVIL’S NIGHT GRIND SHOW or GRIND SHOW OF FEAR

Short Story: Magpie Messenger (Circus Edition)

October, 2022

Posted in audio books, Book Review

Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh, read by Justine Eyre

Chirp Audiobook

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is the best at what she does but she’s not prepared for the Archangel Raphael or the mission he has for her.

In a world where the monsters are real, and vampires and angels are interdependent upon each other, a human has little chance of survival. Thankfully, Elena is a little more than human. A born hunter, she heals faster and has a greater ability to hunt, smell, and decipher clues than a regular human.

The sexual chemistry between Elena and Raphael threatens to set the city of New York against itself. He is the most powerful being in New York city and she is the estranged daughter of one of its wealthiest families, both are haunted by nightmares.

Raphael is in danger of becoming one of the monsters. Falling in love with Elena could mean the loss of his mortality. Could one’s weakness bring greater strength? As their romance heats up so does the case that brought them together. The two risk everything, including their own lives to stop a true monster and rescue a city endangered by darkness.

The twist of fate that Nalini Singh creates at the end of this story is truly a stunning feat of fictional writing. I loved it. This is an action adventure paranormal, with tough, strong, dynamic characters. I am in awe of Nalini, her craft, style and fictional world.

Justine Eyre is a fabulous narrator, I’ve enjoyed her reading of several different books. Her reading of Angels’ Blood was fantastic. She brought the characters to life and made it seem as if I were inside the book. I could see, hear and feel the world around me. Justine was a great choice for this work and added another layer to the entertainment.

Posted in backstory, my books, Thoughts

Criminals and Monsters

Not all Criminals are Monsters

In my Leeward Files novels, I have truly horrendous monsters: murderers, pedophiles, rapists, sex and drug traffickers, and extreme racists, but not all bad guys are truly monstrous. Sometimes, a good guy can be pushed into doing bad things, other times, a good person will do bad in the hope of something good coming from it. The old adage, “The end justifies the means.” In fiction, as in real life, we know that someone committing a crime, even for the “right” reason, is still guilty. Murdering the men who raped your daughter or wife might be justified but it’s still against the law.

What would cause you to commit murder? We are often quick to say I would kill for this or I would never kill for any reason, but I don’t believe we truly know what we are capable of until we are faced with it.

As I am finishing up the Leeward Files series and moving into the next series, The Heroes of Leeward, I am delving into why Todd, Devin and Phil were so evil. It has been documented that too often, children of abuse become abusers. These men were emotionally tortured and sexually molested as children. Todd went from a sadistic little boy to a serial rapist and murderer. Devin is more of a manipulator. He preys on those he sees as weaker but runs from confrontation. Phil believes he is a hero and wants to rid the world of the monsters, but he doesn’t have the honor and guidance to aid him. He believes the ends justifies the means, and it is more important to stop the bad guys that preserve the good.

Not all criminals are monsters, some are coerced into a life of crime, like Dana’s cousin in White Gold. Family is everything but what if you come from a family of monsters, does that make you a monster too? After his father dies, Robbie JR is raised by his angry, racist grandfather who blames him,( sins of the fathers and so on), for the disappearance of his rebellious daughter and her biracial daughter. The grandfather feels it is his duty to rid the world of the abomination who shares blood with him. His sadism and anger drive him to attempt murder.

In the real world we see crimes committed in the name of religion and morality. People too often hate and fear what they do not know, they lash out and try to conform it, or erase it. Centuries of wars fought in the name of religion or country has seen whole tribes wiped out. We may have evolved in some aspects but we have devolved in others. People still hate, are still consumed by vice and greed, no matter how much we preach love and compassion, there will always be those who refuse to live in peace. But thankfully there are those who overcome prejudices, fight the battle for equality, heroes who keep the world safe, and give us hope for the future. I believe in hope and happy endings. Wishing you all your own happy ever after.

Posted in poetry

Laughter is my Night Light

Do not judge me because I laugh too much or too loud
Do not think I know not pain
You do not know the tears I hide
My jokes & jests are just so much camouflage.
I CHOOSE to be the happy clown
For one caustic tear like acid waste will erode this dammed wall—
And teardrops shored will then flood my soul.
You know not my fear, my guilt, my shame
The mistakes I’ve made the choices that blame
The monsters hiding beneath my bed
Those who call my name
The demons whose taunts linger in my head
screaming, clawing, accusing, condemning my soul.
The laughter chases back the night
Shoves my tormentors back into our shadowy corner of Hell—
They wait…straining at the edge of the light
Biding their time
Seeking the moment when they can sink their steely fangs into my fragile flesh
and devour my Peace.
They will not consume me.
I choose to be happy
I choose to be free
They will not enslave me
I will NOT give the monster succor!
They will not reign over me…Master supreme.
For I am the Captain of my destiny
Mistress of my soul
I shall not go quietly into the darkness
I will sing, I will dance, I shall give my words wings
For Laughter is the Night Light that keeps the darkness at bay.

Posted in Book Review

To Catch a Vampire By: Jennifer Harlow

Harlow manages to make her stories both comical and emotional, funny and frightening. This adventure of FREAKS agent Beatrice Alexander takes us on a journey to Texas. On special assignment with the dreamy un-dead Oliver Montrose we see the evolution of their friendship and Agent Alexander’s talent as they battle psychotic vamps and bad guys with guns. Bea suffers abuse from Oliver’s jealous ex-lovers, kidnapped and tortured, she has to fight her own fear and her selfish desire to survive in order to rescue herself and those she loves.
It is amazing how this fun paranormal with all its fantastic characters can be so well written. It makes the unbelievable feel almost mundane. We take Harlow’s account as fact. She weaves her story of the monster control agents with what we believe about the FBI. She shows a very real account of detection as Agent Alexander goes through the motions to uncover the killers targeting Dallas.
This is another fun, fast paced, action filled adventure in the life of the FREAK Squad but don’t write it off as just another romantic comedy. Jennifer Harlow fills this novel with layers of personality, fear, passion, love, friendship and vengeance. The theme of friendship is woven throughout the story. What would you do for a friend? Would you risk your life to save your friend’s life? This novel will leave you feeling hopeful and happy. Since I jumped to the next in the series I know what comes next but I think I might have to reread it just to get ready for whatever comes next.