Monday, October 3, 2016

Tour Launch - Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth by Colette L. Saucier





Disappointment as Inspiration


When I began writing Pulse and Prejudice: The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire, I had no intention of writing a sequel. By the end, however, I had no choice. Toni Morrison once said, “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” Essentially, my daughter said the same thing to me when I complained that I could not find a true vampire adaptation of my beloved Pride and Prejudice, although Miss Austen’s work had been reworked into dozens of variations, some even involving vampires. I found them all so…disappointing. I wasn’t looking for a “mash-up” as in that zombie atrocity, or a sequel that reveals Mr. Darcy as a vampire after he and Elizabeth had married, or some mistitled variation that veers off on its own vampire plot before revealing that Darcy is not a vampire at all, has little desire, and shares no characteristics with Miss Austen’s character but the name! I wanted to read a paranormal adaptation that remained faithful to Austen, to Darcy and Elizabeth, and to Pride and Prejudice.  Oh, and I wanted a few naughty bits as well—a peek at the passion, lust, and desire that simmers just under the surface in the original. (I suppose I should mention that she is an adult and lives in Manhattan lest you think I am discussing scenes of a sensual nature with a fifth grader!)

Therefore, I took my daughter’s—and Ms. Morrison’s—advice and wrote a stand-alone adaptation of the original but primarily from Mr. Darcy’s point of view as if Jane Austen had always conceived his character as a vampire and had simply not revealed it to the reader. Because Miss Austen had written so little of Mr. Darcy other than hints about his character (and where she did, I included those in my narrative so no one would need to be familiar with the original in order to enjoy my adaptation), I had plenty of room to create the world of Mr. Darcy, vampire.

By the time I typed “The End,” however, I knew I had to write Book II: Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth. Why? Because my daughter insisted! I will not spoil it for you, but there is one detail of my adaptation that my daughter found…disappointing. Thus, I wrote out a detailed plot for a sequel, submitted it for her approval, and then began researching and writing the book SHE wanted to read.


With Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth, as I was not adapting another author’s work, I possessed complete creative freedom. Hence, it is much darker, bloodier, and sexier than its predecessor. I still maintain complete historical accuracy as the vampire Darcy and his new bride Elizabeth travel to New Orleans immediately after the War of 1812, except of course the paranormal elements. 

Yet who’s to say? Perhaps vampires do roam through the streets and alleys of the French Quarter.

Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth
The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire
Book II
Colette L. Saucier

Genre:  Historical paranormal romance

Publisher: Southern Girl Press

Date of Publication: eBook August 8, 2016;
Date of Publication: print October, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-9969974-0-9
ISBN: 978-0-9863718-8-2
ASIN:  B01K3DP652

Word Count: 80,000

Cover Artist: Dawné Dominique

Book Description:

The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy - elegant, dark, brooding...vampire. In Pulse and Prejudice, the definitive vampire adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic, the Master of Pemberley reveals his haunting tale of unquenchable desire and forbidden love.

His story continues in Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth, the lurid, lusty sequel to Pulse and Prejudice, as death shadows the newlywed Darcys from Pemberley to the parlors of Regency London to the courtyards of Antebellum New Orleans.  As Elizabeth discovers the trials and travails of marriage to a vampire, can Darcy ever believe that she loves him as he is?  Or will his jealousy tear them apart?

Note:  Pulse and Prejudice is not “fan fiction” but a complete stand-alone adaptation. No prior knowledge of Pride and Prejudice is required for full enjoyment of this remarkable novel.

On Sale Throughout October for $2.99

Kindle     Nook       Kobo      iBooks


 Also Available Book I

PULSE AND PREJUDICE

Amazon     BN      Kobo     iBooks  

 



Excerpt:

Crimson drops fell onto the white snow, staining it pink.
Darcy had not intended this—to drink from his wife—when he claimed his prize of a kiss after catching her as they raced through the hedge maze at Pemberley. Elizabeth had actually done surprisingly well in evading him, considering his intuitive abilities; but, of course, he caught her—laughing in his arms, eyes ablaze, cheeks chafed from the cold.
“And now my prize!” As had so often occurred in the span of their brief marriage, his tender kiss had escalated quickly into fervent ardour. The laughter then in her eyes, his wife had taken hold of the lapels of his greatcoat and, falling back onto the snow, pulled him down with her. As their kisses deepened, so, too, had his hunger and desire. He pulled off his gloves and trailed his cold fingers down her face. Untying her bonnet and unfastening her cape, he exposed her neck for his lips and his teeth.
She moaned softly as he drew the blood from her throat, sharing her warmth and her pulse, savouring the rich, metallic taste. He pulled back to watch her, only then noticing that a few precious drops of lifeblood had escaped his embrace and fallen onto the snow.
“William,” she whispered in a half-plea, her hand running over the front of his trousers to convey her intent.
He gazed into her eyes. “Should we not go in? Are not you cold?”
“Cover me to keep me warm.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth onto hers, sharing the taste of her blood as their tongues intertwined.

Darcy pulled at her skirts and brought the hem to her knees. He reached his hand up between her cold thighs to the hot core that drew him in. She gasped against his mouth as he touched her there, but he wasted little time in freeing himself from his trousers and thrusting deep within her.

About the Author:

Colette Saucier began writing poems, short stories, and novellas in grade school. Her interest in literature led her to marry her college English professor, but eventually a love of history encouraged her to trade up to a British historian.

Technical writing dominated her career for twenty years, but finding little room for creativity in that genre, she is now a full-time author of fiction.

Pulse and Prejudice was named “A Most Inventive Adaptation” by Elle Magazine (April, 2016). It was the 1st Place Winner in its category in the 2013 Chatelaine Awards Romantic Fiction Contest and is listed in Chanticleer’s 2013 Best Book Listing. Colette dedicated 15 months traveling to Europe and Britain, researching Regency England and vampire lore and literature, to complete for historical accuracy. It remains faithful to nineteenth century literary conventions and Jane Austen’s narrative to create a compelling, thrilling paranormal adaptation.

Colette was selected a “2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award” Semi-finalist and named “Debut Author of the Year” by Austenprose for All My Tomorrows—now expanded and republished as The Proud and the Prejudiced—which was also chosen Austenesque Reviews “Favorite Modern Adaptation” 2013.
Colette’s romantic thriller Alicia’s Possession was the publisher’s #1 Bestselling Romantic Suspense for 4 straight weeks following its debut in June of 2013 and then again in January, 2014, after being voted a “Top Ten Romance Novel of 2013” (P&E Reader’s Poll). Colette is also the author of the controversial and erotic noir romantic suspense The Widow, an Amazon bestselling new release and Kobo bestseller.

Colette’s latest novel—Book II: The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire—entitled Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth, follows the newlywed Vampire Darcy and his bride Elizabeth from Britain to Antebellum New Orleans. Due to her devotion to historical accuracy, she spent two years researching Creole Society and Nouvelle Orleans in the years following the War of 1812.

A bestselling and award-winning author under multiple pseudonyms, she is currently working on multiple projects including a parody of Wuthering Heights and a children’s book based on the inspiration for the dog Amadeus from Pulse and Prejudice and Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth.

Colette lives in a lakeside community in South Louisiana with her historian husband and their two dogs.




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6 comments:

Vesper said...

I am going to have to read the first one again now

Colette said...

Hi Vesper!
For readers of the sequel, many are saying they have to go back and read PULSE & PREJUDICE again!
Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!
Colette

Pam Hunter said...

Loved the first one, and I know the sequel will be even better! Thanks for a chance to win a copy!

MonicaP said...

Oh yay! I didn't know this one was finished. I'm glad! I'm gonna have to do a re-read of Pulse & Prej and then jump into DBE. :)

Colette said...

Good luck to both of you in the Giveaway!

I'm so pleased that you both enjoyed Pulse and Prejudice! I hope you will enjoy the sequel, although it is much darker, sexier, and bloodier!

darcybennett said...

Thanks for the excerpt, the book sounds great and I can't wait to read.

 
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