Welcome to the promotional event for the Audible release
of Because the Night (The Night Songs Collection #1) by Kristen
Strassel, hosted by Wordsmith Publicity.
Title: Because the Night (The Night Songs Collection #1)
Author: Kristen Strassel
Age: NA
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: November 5th 2013 by Foreword Literary
ASIN: B00GFCRJRO
ISBN: 1495310124
Author: Kristen Strassel
Age: NA
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: November 5th 2013 by Foreword Literary
ASIN: B00GFCRJRO
ISBN: 1495310124
Book
Description
Sex,
Blood, and Rock n' Roll.
Immortal Dilemma is the hottest band in the
Las Vegas vampire rock scene. They draw insatiable fans from around the globe,
thanks to a supernatural attraction called Bloodlust. Tristan craved such an
opportunity to fill his empty mortal life, and now he has eternity to earn his
place along the legends of rock n roll debauchery.
Callie always feared that Tristan’s excesses
would get him into trouble, but she never thought they’d lead him to
immortality. To reconnect with him, she must weave her way through a world not
only she had no idea existed, but does not welcome her.
Blade turned down a spot in Immortal Dilemma
after learning what he must sacrifice for that lifestyle. He finds Callie a
refreshing change from the girls in the vampire rock scene. When Callie drags
Blade back into the world of Immortal Dilemma, his resistance drives her into
the waiting arms of Tristan, who shows her the true meaning of Bloodlust.
But the very things that Callie fights so hard
to save are the very things that fight to destroy her.
Links:
Goodreads | Audible | Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Smashwords
Excerpt:
Again I found myself alone with Tristan.
He lounged on a leather couch. He looked about as comfortable and relaxed as he could possibly be, but far too still and definitely not quite human. He had changed out of his stage attire; his face scrubbed clean, wearing jeans, but still the same black T shirt.
“Come sit with me.”
I moved across the room slowly. For so long I had dreamed of crawling back into his arms. I tried not to visibly shudder at the memory of his cold finger against my neck, or the coolness radiating from his body. Now, instead of craving his touch, I dreaded it. I picked a spot as far to the other side of the couch as I could and perched myself on the edge of the cushion stiffly. I folded my hands in my lap. I couldn’t look at him.
“I’d say I don’t bite,” he grinned. “I won’t bite you.” His tone had softened.
I scooted back on the cushion, but I didn’t move closer to him and I certainly didn’t relax. I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be funny or terrifying.
“How did you find me?” The answer scared me.
He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his thighs. “I can sense you. I didn’t know what it was until I saw you. You smell like the ocean.”
“Are you saying I smell like low tide? Eeww.”
Tristan burst out laughing. “No! It’s like fresh air. Sunshine. You know that first time you step on the beach for the summer and just for that moment, everything is right in the world? God, I miss that.” He closed his eyes, as if he was trying to capture the moment in his mind.
I knew exactly what he meant. I couldn’t imagine never being able to go to the beach again, not being able to feel the sand between my toes, feel the cool crash of the waves against my legs, hear the gulls play along the shore, or taste the salty air. I couldn’t imagine never being able to feel the sun shine against my face again. As much as I wanted to stay here, I couldn’t imagine never being able to go home again. My heart ached for him.
I didn’t know what to say. He watched me and waited for my answer. I mourned for him, even though he sat right in front of me. Tears welled up in my eyes.
“How did you like the show?” He moved a bit closer, breaking the awkward silence he’d created.
It took a minute for me to compose myself and collect my thoughts. “I liked it a lot. It wasn’t like the TV show at all.”
“What don’t you like about the TV show?” He seemed genuinely surprised that could even be a possibility.
“Well,” this was kind of awkward. “The concert was a lot more artistic and the TV show is more, I don’t know, about the partying, I guess.”
“We’re just having a good time.”
“I noticed.”
“Don’t you like having a good time?” He slid closer, reaching out to wrap a lock of my hair around his finger.
I met his gaze, trying my hardest to ignore the fact his hand was in my hair. “I guess my idea of fun is just different.”
“Fair enough.” He put his hand back on his knee.
He lounged on a leather couch. He looked about as comfortable and relaxed as he could possibly be, but far too still and definitely not quite human. He had changed out of his stage attire; his face scrubbed clean, wearing jeans, but still the same black T shirt.
“Come sit with me.”
I moved across the room slowly. For so long I had dreamed of crawling back into his arms. I tried not to visibly shudder at the memory of his cold finger against my neck, or the coolness radiating from his body. Now, instead of craving his touch, I dreaded it. I picked a spot as far to the other side of the couch as I could and perched myself on the edge of the cushion stiffly. I folded my hands in my lap. I couldn’t look at him.
“I’d say I don’t bite,” he grinned. “I won’t bite you.” His tone had softened.
I scooted back on the cushion, but I didn’t move closer to him and I certainly didn’t relax. I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be funny or terrifying.
“How did you find me?” The answer scared me.
He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his thighs. “I can sense you. I didn’t know what it was until I saw you. You smell like the ocean.”
“Are you saying I smell like low tide? Eeww.”
Tristan burst out laughing. “No! It’s like fresh air. Sunshine. You know that first time you step on the beach for the summer and just for that moment, everything is right in the world? God, I miss that.” He closed his eyes, as if he was trying to capture the moment in his mind.
I knew exactly what he meant. I couldn’t imagine never being able to go to the beach again, not being able to feel the sand between my toes, feel the cool crash of the waves against my legs, hear the gulls play along the shore, or taste the salty air. I couldn’t imagine never being able to feel the sun shine against my face again. As much as I wanted to stay here, I couldn’t imagine never being able to go home again. My heart ached for him.
I didn’t know what to say. He watched me and waited for my answer. I mourned for him, even though he sat right in front of me. Tears welled up in my eyes.
“How did you like the show?” He moved a bit closer, breaking the awkward silence he’d created.
It took a minute for me to compose myself and collect my thoughts. “I liked it a lot. It wasn’t like the TV show at all.”
“What don’t you like about the TV show?” He seemed genuinely surprised that could even be a possibility.
“Well,” this was kind of awkward. “The concert was a lot more artistic and the TV show is more, I don’t know, about the partying, I guess.”
“We’re just having a good time.”
“I noticed.”
“Don’t you like having a good time?” He slid closer, reaching out to wrap a lock of my hair around his finger.
I met his gaze, trying my hardest to ignore the fact his hand was in my hair. “I guess my idea of fun is just different.”
“Fair enough.” He put his hand back on his knee.
Character Profiles, Tristan and Callie
Tristan.
Tristan is the guitar player and star of Immortal Dilemma, the vampire rock band in residence on the Las Vegas Strip. Immortal Dilemma is the band that revitalized the Strip after the recession. They also star in their own “reality” show, Immortal Forever. The band draws fans from all over the globe by an inexplicable pull known as Bloodlust. But Bloodlust is actual a bond experienced through sexual connection with a vampire, which heightens all senses and if a human has enough of it, they may pick up some vampire traits.
Tristan was born ready for this role, even before he became an immortal. He’s the son of Trevor George, movie star, director, producer. Think George Clooney for Trevor. Tristan grew up in the spotlight. Everything was always at his fingertips, and he’s not used to the word no. He thrived on negative attention because that was the only attention he got, so he dove in head first to all the trouble he could find. Vices? Yes. He has them all. Sex, blood, and rock n’ roll.
It was that behavior that got him shipped off to his aunt’s house in Martha’s Vineyard a few years before because no one knew what to do with him anymore, leading him to meet Callie. It was also that behavior more recently that led him to vampire clan leader Talis de Rancourt, who took advantage of his alcohol and drug induced oblivion and turned him into a vampire. A spoiled, beautiful rich boy was the perfect bait to bribe Trevor George into funding her half-finished resort. It was that behavior that led him to the two women who would change his life.
Tristan is amazing at playing the role of bad boy rock star, but it’s exactly that. A façade. He’s been used for money, status, or sex for so long he doesn’t let a lot of people in. He wants people to take him seriously, but he doesn’t think anyone actually will. That’s why he takes to Callie the way he does. She doesn’t care about any of that, she cares about him. Sometimes, he doesn’t know how to handle it. When she comes to Las Vegas, looking for him, he pushes her away at first because he doesn’t want her to see him this way. At his worst, even though he’s technically on top of the world. He’s scared of letting people in to see the real him.
You might have to dig a little to find Tristan’s virtues, but they’re there. He’s loyal to the people he loves, and he wants the best for them. He can be surprisingly thoughtful and gentle.
If one of my characters looks like a celebrity, it’s pure coincidence. Think Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue or Ashley Purdy from Black Veil Brides, but with not such choppy hair and only a sleeve of tattoos.
Tristan.
Tristan is the guitar player and star of Immortal Dilemma, the vampire rock band in residence on the Las Vegas Strip. Immortal Dilemma is the band that revitalized the Strip after the recession. They also star in their own “reality” show, Immortal Forever. The band draws fans from all over the globe by an inexplicable pull known as Bloodlust. But Bloodlust is actual a bond experienced through sexual connection with a vampire, which heightens all senses and if a human has enough of it, they may pick up some vampire traits.
Tristan was born ready for this role, even before he became an immortal. He’s the son of Trevor George, movie star, director, producer. Think George Clooney for Trevor. Tristan grew up in the spotlight. Everything was always at his fingertips, and he’s not used to the word no. He thrived on negative attention because that was the only attention he got, so he dove in head first to all the trouble he could find. Vices? Yes. He has them all. Sex, blood, and rock n’ roll.
It was that behavior that got him shipped off to his aunt’s house in Martha’s Vineyard a few years before because no one knew what to do with him anymore, leading him to meet Callie. It was also that behavior more recently that led him to vampire clan leader Talis de Rancourt, who took advantage of his alcohol and drug induced oblivion and turned him into a vampire. A spoiled, beautiful rich boy was the perfect bait to bribe Trevor George into funding her half-finished resort. It was that behavior that led him to the two women who would change his life.
Tristan is amazing at playing the role of bad boy rock star, but it’s exactly that. A façade. He’s been used for money, status, or sex for so long he doesn’t let a lot of people in. He wants people to take him seriously, but he doesn’t think anyone actually will. That’s why he takes to Callie the way he does. She doesn’t care about any of that, she cares about him. Sometimes, he doesn’t know how to handle it. When she comes to Las Vegas, looking for him, he pushes her away at first because he doesn’t want her to see him this way. At his worst, even though he’s technically on top of the world. He’s scared of letting people in to see the real him.
You might have to dig a little to find Tristan’s virtues, but they’re there. He’s loyal to the people he loves, and he wants the best for them. He can be surprisingly thoughtful and gentle.
If one of my characters looks like a celebrity, it’s pure coincidence. Think Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue or Ashley Purdy from Black Veil Brides, but with not such choppy hair and only a sleeve of tattoos.
Callie
Callie is used to not exactly fitting in,
being half Jamaican and half Irish. She’s overprotected and home schooled. Her
hippie parents own a café and she works with them, until she goes on vacation
to Las Vegas to find out what the hell is going on with her first love,
Tristan, and decides to not go home. Callie is extremely close with her family,
since her circle was small before she went to Vegas, so turning her back on all
she knew was a giant risk in every way possible. Callie thinks with her heart
first and then her head is left to try to clean up the mess. Callie doesn’t
have a lot of real world experience, and everyone in Las Vegas is more than
willing to take care advantage of that.
She doesn’t let that discourage her from trying to get what she wants.
She makes the decisions that seem to be best for her at the time, and she always
means well, even though she might have a funny way of showing it.
Callie’s used to making things: food,
clothes, and decorations. She’s not interested in status or fancy stuff, she
just likes what she likes. She dresses very bohemian, with babydoll dresses and
cloth shoes. She’d wanted to fashion design school but her mother wouldn’t sign
the financial aid paperwork. She hopes to pursue that in Las Vegas.
Callie is courageous and loyal, even when
it gets her in trouble she can’t handle. Her vice is Tristan. She’s sees what’s
good about him through the wall he puts up. He makes her step out of her
comfort zone, and even though she knows he’s not good for her, she can’t walk
away.
These photos are exactly how I picture
Callie:
Kristen shares a birthday with Steven Tyler and Diana Ross. She spends each day striving to be half as fabulous as they are. She’s worn many hats, none as flattering as her cowboy hat: banker, retail manager, fledgling web designer, world’s worst cocktail waitress, panty slinger, now makeup artist and author. She loves sunshine, live music, the middle of nowhere, and finding new things to put in her house. Kristen is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg of Foreword Literary.
Because the Night, belongs to lovers! Because the night, belongs to us! *rock on Hootie!!!!*
ReplyDeleteThank you, babe!
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