Saturday Spotlight is a weekly feature hosted by me and is all about Author Love. This week I have the pleasure of introducing readers to:
JAMES GARCIA JR.
The Road to Vampires
by James Garcia Jr.
Hello. First I would like to thank Tina and all of the readers of TinasBookReviews for providing me this opportunity to take a few minutes of your time. With so many novels and so many writers out there vying for our attention, I really appreciate this.
Inevitably, upon hearing that I have written a book, I get asked what the book is about. I find myself pausing with the question. Why, you ask? Is it because I am uncomfortable with public speaking? Certainly not! I have had to step out into a spotlight of sorts since this past February when my debut was published as an e-book. My blogging caught the eye of other blogs, so I have been writing with others as well. A positive local magazine review caught the attention of a local on-line magazine, Kings River Life. The next thing I knew I was writing articles, too, which entailed my interviewing of various people. It has been an amazing year.
The reason why I find myself pausing is due to the fact that my novel involves vampires. The world needs another series on vampires like I need a hole in my head, right? Not only this, but there are Christian undertones in my novels. That’s a double-whammy!
Later, after marriage, I had begun going to church and suddenly felt like an R-rated horror novel might not be what I should be doing. That lasted for a while until I came to the conclusion that I liked edge of your seat stories so much that I was going back to them. The difference was that I would keep the thrilling aspects, but would shy away from the graphic splatter-porn language and violence. There is some slight nudity, but I think that often less is more. There is blood and guts; however, I just am not interested in sitting there, wondering whether the poor guy is going to saw his own arm off or someone else’s. Finally, there is some language. After all, if someone is being chased by a crazed killer, they are not going to yell: “Shoot” and “Darn it”.
After marriage, came children and careers for both my wife and I, so my dreams of becoming a writer just ended up getting pushed onto the back burner, as they say. I attempted to jump start the mothballed project to no avail. It wasn’t until a few years ago, when I turned 38, that I really began to sense the profound regret that I was going to ultimately feel if I didn’t give it one last try. I then set my mind upon completing the novel
When Dance on Fire was as polished as I thought it could be, I set out to locate either an agent or a publisher. I will not bore you with the details, other than to tell you what many of you have already discovered. The process is long and it is difficult. The first query I submitted came back with a contract. The publishing house wanted it and I signed it. A day later I realized that it was all a fraud. I am so thankful that I was able to get out from beneath it the very next day. The high and devastating low of that ordeal was soon followed by a year and a half of wishing, praying and waiting. The good thing was I had immediately set about writing the sequel. I wrote the first two drafts of Dance on Fire: Flashpoint in a mere eight months.
Soon thereafter, I found Vamplit Publishing. By then I had realized that my crossover novel was not making it easy on me to locate a home for it. Vamplit, however, was not scared off. If the novel was about vampires, and it was a quality work, they wanted it. So there we stand. The e-book has been available for nearly a year, the paperback version has just been released as a Christmas present that I was not expecting but I happily accept, and sometime early next year should bring the release of the sequel in all formats.
That brings me to the end of this post. Before I leave you with the blurb about my novel; however, I would like to leave you with the following thought. As much as I would love you all to purchase a copy of my book and to find me on the web; for those of you who endeavor to be writers, I want to encourage you to do just that. If the most that happens is I end up being a minor celebrity in my hometown of which the novel is based, I will have no regrets. I tried. I wrote two books and spent all of 2010 attempting to get people to notice. If nothing else, I am content. I’ve been happily married for over twenty years and my two boys are healthy and as talented as hell!
For those of you who simply love to read, and I am one of you, Happy Reading. Thank you for taking the time.
About James: Born in Hanford, Ca. in 1969. Raised and still make my home in Kingsburg, Ca. Began writing in grade school, but ultimately had to put it away for a time. Have been employed at Sun Maid Raisin Growers of Calif. since 1989 and have been admin. since 2003. Started writing again and saw debut published February of 2010. Book two and sequel coming 2011. Find out more at http://www.jamesgarciajr.blogspot.com/
About James: Born in Hanford, Ca. in 1969. Raised and still make my home in Kingsburg, Ca. Began writing in grade school, but ultimately had to put it away for a time. Have been employed at Sun Maid Raisin Growers of Calif. since 1989 and have been admin. since 2003. Started writing again and saw debut published February of 2010. Book two and sequel coming 2011. Find out more at http://www.jamesgarciajr.blogspot.com/
**Wow that was some great info about your novel, thanks for sharing and I wish you the best of luck with your novel and future works.....I know Im excited to dive in and check out the vampires in your novel.
GIVEAWAY
James has graciously offered a copy of his book Dance on Fire to one of my readers.....please note this is an e-book copy. To enter just leave a comment and a link to email or a way to get a hold of you. Winner will be drawn on Jan 27, 2011. This is open to everyone including international.
Dance On Fire: Each May, the Central California town of Kingsburg celebrates its Swedish heritage with the annual Swedish Festival: a weekend event where the town puts on its traditional dress, culminating with a dance around a Maypole on Friday, and a Swedish pancake breakfast and parade on Saturday. The town with a population of over 11,000 residents draws thousands more to the event. This year, two uninvited guests also converged upon the unsuspecting town.
Nathaniel is a vampire. He wandered into town, bothering no one; feeding upon stray cats and other vermin, wanting nothing more than to have a place to rest his head. Vincent is a second vampire, and the one responsible for making Nathaniel. He has been searching for his long lost “son” for well over two centuries. Vincent’s goal is to take Nathaniel home or kill him. Nathaniel has often wished for death, wondering why God ever allowed this punishment: to walk the earth undead and unable to be redeemed. Does God remember the little boy from Romania who watched his parents die, was raised by the murdering vampire, only to become one himself? What does God think of Nathaniel and could there yet be redemption for one outside of heaven?
Ten days before the start of the Swedish Festival the most tumultuous week in the history of Kingsburg has begun with two vampires leaving death and destruction in their wake. Kingsburg Police Detectives Mark Jackson and Michael Lopez, Barbara and the entire Lopez family find themselves drawn into something that threatens to destroy them all or leave them scarred forever. In a marriage of the classic horror story and the Christian themes of good conquering evil and redemption, Dance on Fire is the account of characters being drawn into the fire and the supernatural forces around them watching as they burn.
Tweet
Yay for giveaways! :-) I'd like to enter...please! ([email protected])
ReplyDeleteHello, Jessica. It is nice to meet you. I thank you for your interest in my novel, and for taking the time to check out this guy from Central California who is suddenly a writer after so many years.
ReplyDeleteThanks once again to Tina as well.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
-James
I'd love to read this! I love reading books from other countries, and with this one centered around a cultural festival, even if fictional, would be interesting to me!
ReplyDeletemeredithfl at gmail dot com
Hello, Meredith. Thanks for the comment. The festival is real. I have been going to them nearly all of my life because I live in the town where they take place. I will actually be signing books there this May. Funny how that has worked out.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your interest,
-James
Neat blurb. Your city sounds very similar to Solvang, CA (of which I have visited many times).
ReplyDeleteI still have to get around to buying the paperback (I don't do the e-book thing). And I promise I will!!!
Hi, Stacy. Always good to talk to you. Thanks for the note.
ReplyDeleteI've been to Solvang, but can't recall how big it is. Kingsburg is small, but they are strict about the design and architecture, wanting to maintain that Swedish Village identity.
Talk to you later.
-Jimmy
Sounds good. Looking forward to getting to read it. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletebacchus76 at myself dot com
Hello, Donna. Thanks for the interest.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
-James
James, what an excellent interview this was.
ReplyDeleteI learned a great deal about you and your writing.
I did want to know especially after having read Dance on Fire because it is a great read!
Thank you, Carole.
ReplyDeleteI really meant what I said on Twitter this morning. If my novel was going to be bumped by another, there could be none better than yours.
Congrats on your success,
-Jimmy
The Road to Vampire does indeed sound bloody.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comforting words of encouragement Mr. Garcia. Of course it is wonderful that you have come this far, but it is also great to have perspective on how you got there and matters most.
Thank you for your kind comment, Missie. However, Mr. Garcia would be my father, if anything. After you've gotten to know me, you'll call me Jimmy. ;)
ReplyDeleteTake care and thanks again.
I really enjoyed this interview. I also enjoyed that he reached out to us in a more personal level. I could see myself reading this.
ReplyDeleteThanks, C.I., that was very nice of you. I appreciate you taking the time. Have a great week.
ReplyDelete-Jimmy