Please help me welcome Guy Ogan to my blog today. Guy will be giving an ecopy of Immortal Relations Love and War, a stand alone book, to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave him a comment.
Where are you from?
West Texas is where I currently reside, but I’ve lived all around the world.
Tell us your latest news?
My third novel in my “Immortal Relations” series became available in print two weeks ago. I’m still waiting on the Kindle release.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I believe they call it “flying by the seat of your paints” but I dream about my stories at night so I have it somewhat plotted out as to general storyline.
What books have most influenced your life most?
I must have read the trilogy Lord of the Rings a hundred times, all of Tom Clancy’s works, Ann Rice’s “Servant of the Bones” and yes I’m a fan of the Twilight Stories (but I think the one Stephenie Meyer didn’t release, “Midnight Sun” was her best by far, you can “Google it” to read some of it).
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I am a little shy and prefer to write my thoughts and ideas rather than saying them aloud. I wasn’t a writer in my public school days, but when I started running long distances in track and cross-country I wanted to express the joys of running so I started submitting my writing to “The Long Distance Log” and other running magazines (long before Runner’s World was even thought of). While I’m sure they weren’t the best writing, they were always published. When I became interested in cars I submitted photos and descriptions of events I attended to magazines like “Cruising Style.” I often had three or more articles in every issue. Of course in my jobs in the Air Force and later, working for the Texas Prison System as a Specialist and Psychologist I did a lot of technical writing and even wrote a book on assessment and treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder. I guess you could say writing has always been a part of my life – just not writing novels. Had it not been for finding the photograph that is on page two of my first novel, I probably wouldn’t have written my novels.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
I think all authors; especially Indie Authors (those who have their books published by what used to be called “vanity press”) will say the hardest part is getting the word out about our works. Without blogs such as this one few readers would ever hear of our books.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Yes, while a constructive review of your work can be helpful, “Don’t let the bastards get you down…write what you believe and pay no attention to the nay-sayers and critics…if they were so creative they’d be writing rather than trying to rip your stuff to shreds.”
Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?
Below are the buy links; however, I love to write back and forth with readers and you can do that on my http://immortalrelations.blogspot.com and I’m writervampire on Facebook or E-Mail me at gog6692@msn.com (the fastest way).
“Immortal Relations” is at http://amzn.com/B006ZCBT6G
“Immortal Relations, Love and War” is at http://amzn.com/B00A4IEHL6
“Immortal Relations Coming Out” is at http://www.amazon.com/dp/1481822780 (this is the print version). You’ll find all three on Kindle, just type in Immortal Relations in the search line.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Blurb This snippet is from page 69 of my third in the series, “Immortal Relations Coming Out.” It is the scene from the wedding of the vampire daughter of Magdalena and Gary whose name is Eviana (named for her aunt Eviana, who is called Evy in the book). Young Eviana is marrying Victor, a human (he knows she and the rest of her family are vampires – but GOOD VAMPIRES). This is from Gary’s point of view:
We boarded several limousines which whisked us over to where the marriage ceremony would be held and there we saw many of our old friends who had been there the day Magdalena and I had wed at the same location. Eviana had on the same dress Magdalena had worn the day she and I were married. It had a few minor alterations since Eviana was not quite as tall but had an ample bust and wanted the neckline plunging to show off one of her best features. Aside from these modifications, and the dazzling white color, it had the same haut-couture cut as the light blue, lacy, scalloped, and layered, shape-hugging dress I’d seen Magdalena in the first time I’d met her.
I guess I’d been so overwhelmed by the surprise my friends had prepared in my own wedding to Magdalena that I hadn’t really noticed all the white flowers that I now saw and which smelled so very sweet…I think they were Gardenia’s arranged hanging in twists around and down polls placed alongside as well as in the back and in front of the wedding venue. As I walked Eviana down the isle, I could hear her thoughts of overwhelming love for Victor and the beauty of it was so intense that it was all I could do to keep from crying. I also could hear Victor’s concern that he might faint due to the picture of loveliness walking toward him and prepared to be his bride. I sent him my thoughts; Steady on young man, the ceremony will be over before you know it and you’ll have a long time to enjoy your life with this wonderful lady. If you can’t read her thoughts right now, I can and I can confirm her deep love for you. I am so very proud to welcome you into the family as my son-in-law! What is it the Brits say, something about keeping a stiff upper-lip? Well, just keep SOMETHING stiff for a little bit longer. Then I smiled at him and he smiled back, or maybe he was smiling as his future bride drew nigh. Whatever it was, he seemed to take courage in the stars he saw in her eyes. At this realization I could feel tears on my own cheeks.
Once again, Vladimir had a gift of a dazzling five carat Red Ruby mounted in a Gold ring. This looked to be a twin to the one he had provided when I wed Magdalena. I was sure this was also one from the Hermitage collection for Victor, the groom, to place on the finger of Eviana, his bride.
There was a reception held afterwards; however I only got a parting glance of Victor and Eviana as food evidently wasn’t on their minds. Vladimir had arranged for them to stay in the bedroom at the Menshikov Palace which was completed in 1721 and was the most luxurious building during the time of Peter the Great.
Soon, Vladimir had corralled us and we were transported to the same palace where we entered a private suite of rooms that had been prepared for us. There we found Vlad, Grandmother and Roger and after hugs and kisses we sat down to discuss the wedding and what we had accomplished at the Canadian Coven.
As I’m sure the readers have surmised the wedding of Victor, a Police Inspector in Canada’s Ontario Provence to Eviana was taking place at the world famous Hermitage Museum at the behest of Vladimir Kolukov, President of the Russian Federation who is a close personal friend to Gary and his vampire family. There is a great deal of information about the development of their relationship throughout the three novels.
Author bio:
Having grown up on each coast (until my junior year of high school we lived across the river from Washington D.C. in Virginia). I ran track and cross-country and did many of the things slightly abnormal male teens do. When my father left government service we moved to Northern California (talk about a culture shock!) in the late 50’s and early 60’s where I continued running track and cross-country through Los Altos High School and Foothill Junior College receiving an Associate of Arts. I then transferred to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas to finish my undergraduate degree along with Air Force ROTC, being commissioned upon graduation.
I spent a little over 20 years in the Air Force having the opportunity to travel and, as they say, “see the world” I finished a graduate degree at the European Campus of Ball State University while in the service. After retiring, I did a little teaching at college level and wrote a book on assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and adults with Attention Deficit while finishing my second graduate degree at Hardin-Simmons University. I never considered myself good at speaking, especially to large groups, writing seemed like the natural thing to do to express myself. I later went to work for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (their Prison System) where I wrote treatment programs for inmates to help them get off of drugs.
I retired from TDCJ as a psychologist when notified that my father had died and I knew my mother would need my help because of her Alzheimer’s. As the only child, I took care of her in her home (as that was her wish) during the last five years of her life. In my younger years I had written many articles on running events I participated in and later did the same with car shows I visited (always being interested in vehicles).
The first two pages of “Immortal Relations” discusses the true family event that caused me to start writing the “Immortal Relations” series. (You can read that for free by clicking on the “Look Inside” button above the picture of the cover at http://amzn.com/B00A4IEHL6“>http://amzn.com/B00A4IEHL6 and the third in the series is
I’m glad you are keeping up with writing and not letting others get you down. 🙂 All the best!
The third book! That’s great. I’ll look for it on Kindle…vampires, ho!
Nice advice
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Cindy, Thanks so much for having me on your blog today (it has been one of “those” ultra-busy days for me…phone going out and other challenges)! Thanks also to Melissa – I’ll continue to try and not let the nay-saying types get to me. (-; and bn100 I’m glad my advise helps! And what an extreme honor to have Michele Drier, Author of the FIVE STAR “Kandesky Vampire Chronicles” to leave a comment! My third book is now on Kindle http://amzn.com/B00G5BQS18 and I would be overjoyed to have you read it! If you’ll E-Mail me I’ll send you FREE Kindle Copies of all three (or just #2 & #3 since you are undoubtedly pressed for time). While the first and second book are “stand-alone” the third really needs to have at least the second read before jumping into it! gog6692@msn.com
I love that your dream about your stories. I do that, too and find it really helpful. Good luck on your third book. It sounds interesting.
Thanks Beverley…the “dreams” can be intense. The first happened after finding my late father’s picture (given Gary’s POV in the first two pages of “Immortal Relations” my first book). You can read about that for FREE by clicking on the “What’s Inside” atop the cover: http://amzn.com/B006ZCBT6G reading what was on the back of the picture shocked me into remember what my mother had said all over fifty years prior and set in motion my writing of the series.