Can you
tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this
particular genre?
I come from a very diverse cultural background. My mother is
French and Guadeloupian and my father is Haitian. I am the proud mother of
three boys who my entire family calls the wolf pack. My boys are loving,
adventurous, intelligent, and live to make me laugh. I have been married for 12
years and spend my free time harassing my husband.
What is it
about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
The paranormal world is all about the power of secrets. You
don’t know you are being hunted unless someone tells you. Vampires and other
paranormal creatures are powerful but can be weakened by the right man or
woman. The Beacons are not vampires, but
they come very close.
What
inspired you to write this book?
My cultural background and hometown inspired this story.
Immokalee Florida is a small migrant community that is full of diverse
cultures, good food, and hidden adventures.
Please tell
us about your latest release.
Beacon of Sound is a story that reveals how people can avoid
the truth even if it is wrapped in bright green paper. Marie DeLou has spent
years living behind the illusion of a perfect life. She is so convinced that
her world is perfect that she ignores the truth until it is too late. The story is complicated, romantic, erotic,
and funny.
Is there a
character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I loved writing Marie’s character. She is sarcastic,
stubborn, and sexy. She is my idea of a perfect woman.
What is
your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without
spoilers of course?
My favorite scene is when Marie is given the opportunity to
play a Stradivarius cello. When it comes to cellos, Marie is worse than a man
sitting in a fully nude strip club. She is greedy and will even avoid using
good sense just to get her hands on a cello. Basically, she sets herself up for
failure in the scene with the cello.
Marie can play the cello as long as she sits on someone’s lap. In her
mind, she is a professional and can play sitting on a man’s lap. Yeah, right
Marie.
With the
book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that
readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of?
Can these books be read as stand alones?
Beacon of
Sound is the first book in a five-book series. Each book can be read alone as
long as the reader reads the character names and definitions at the end of the
book. There will be recaps about each character in the next books. Readers who
plan on following the series, keep an eye on the guardian Ethera aka the great
Ether. She has a lot of dangerous secrets.
Do any of
your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are
they?
Marie is an extreme version of me and my best friend
combined. I mixed both of our insane personalities and came up with Marie
DeLou. I am stubborn, sarcastic, and sometimes impulsive. My best friend is the
same plus loves food.
Do you ever
suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
I usually read the section I am working on to my husband or
email it to my book club. Their feedback helps me move past my writer's block.
If all else fails, I eat chocolate and drink plum wine.
Do you have
any weird writing quirks or rituals?
How do you define weird? I have jumped out of bed a 3 a.m.
to write something down so I won’t forget to put it in my story. Is that weird?
(RR- I think that's normal for an author LOL I do it all the time)
Do you
write in different genres?
I am currently sticking to paranormal, romance, and fantasy.
I may tackle different genres in the future. Currently, I don’t have the
patience required to write a mystery or historical. I am always eager to give
my readers all the answers.
Do you find
it difficult to write in multiple genres?
I just follow my stories. Sometimes, the stories lead to different genres and I respect my work enough to just let it happen.
When did
you consider yourself a writer?
I have been writing since childhood but did not consider
myself a writer until I published Beacon of Sound. I didn’t give into the
stories until I ignored my fears and decided to give my work to the world.
What are
your guilty pleasures in life?
Takara Plum wine must always be present in my house. It is a
guilty pleasure I refuse to give up. I love dark chocolate and will do anything
to get it. My husband takes full advantage of my weakness for wine and
chocolates. Honestly, I would trade the best chocolate in the world for a good
massage. I love massages.
Other than
writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I am
currently finishing my Masters in mental health counseling. I also make jewelry
when I am not writing. My family is my primary passion in life.
Where is
your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
I love to read on my couch with a cup of Earl Grey Moonlight
tea and a thick comforter across my legs.
What can
readers expect next from you?
I am currently working on Hearts Unbound. It is a
contemporary romance with a small paranormal element. Ramon lost his wife tragically and refuses to
move on. He tries to hold on to her memory while his mind and body want to love
Sophia. It is a story full of laughs and tears, but they eventually figure it
out.
Beacon Holiday is the first novella in the Noir Dera Series.
The story gives you more info about Marie and the rest of the Beacons. True to
form, Marie causes all kinds of chaos in this novella.
Beacon of Sound
The Noir Dera
Book 1
R.M. Garry
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9781310047725
ASIN: B00LSSP92C
Number of pages: 247
Word Count: 86,260
Cover Artist: Brandi Doane McCann
Book Description:
There is no way to fight desire and destiny. Marie is going to learn that the only way to win is to give in.
Marie DeLou has everything a successful counselor could ever want. Her mental health practice is thriving and she can help most clients without trying. In addition to a great career, she’s married to a sexy, doting neurologist. Marie has convinced herself that her perfect life is quiet and nothing will change it. Little does she know that a freight train of a man named Patrick Alvang is about to tear right through her quiet existence and turn the world as she knows it upside down.
Prince Patrick Alvang of the Noir Dera has one job to do. His mission is to reveal the truth to Marie and save her from the danger lurking within her walls. The plan is simple that is, until he gets to know the damsel in distress and decides he wants to devour her instead. Saying that Marie is stubborn would be an understatement, so he’ll have to play dirty if he wants to save the damsel and claim Marie as his Na-Ou. Saving a reluctant woman is hard work, but Patrick is sure to enjoy every last erotic second of his undertaking.
Prologue
Ahmose
Sept Anno held her daughter’s hand close. They were completing a nightly
ritual. Her young daughter Marie loved to take long walks and they always
walked in the park or open field behind the aquatic complex. The scent of
freshly cut grass and nature always left them feeling peaceful, and her young
daughter needed to walk in order to remain calm. At the age of 12 the child had
already shown amazing power through music.
Marie could recreate any sound she had ever heard on any instrument.
While she clung to the cello as if it was her very breath, she took every
opportunity to touch all instruments. Ahmose took her to Naples once a week to
play the piano at a studio. From the small, migrant community of Immokalee in
which they called home, the journey usually took about an hour. It was worth
the long drive because the joy and light in Marie's eyes filled Ahmose with
love.
She had been raising Marie alone since she fled her homeland with her
mother and house sisters. They had all since split in hopes of hiding from the
darkness that was out for their blood and power. Ahmose’s mother spent hours
weaving spells from the wind in order to preempt any strikes against them. They
had both decided that Marie would be encouraged to pursue her passion for music
but would never be allowed to learn about the significance of her power. As long as Marie did not open herself to the Ether,
no one would know of her existence. Every time Marie asked about her abilities,
they just told her she was special and loved by all Gods.
No matter how much she masked her powers, Ahmose knew danger was only a
heartbeat away. She and her mother both felt it, and every day they felt the
dark powers in Immokalee growing. Something had finally caught up with them.
They worked even harder to protect Marie. Ahmose was not afraid of dying; she
was afraid that both her and Gran would be killed leaving Marie at the mercy of
the Dera, and she could never allow that to happen. Once this
walk was over, she would double her efforts and pull more power from the new
God they now served.
After hiding in Haiti, their powers had been recognized by the Haitian
Vodou Loa Loko. He was the only God that could make an individual a
Hougan or Mambo. He had borne witness to their past and had blessed them with
power, protection, and safe passage to the United States. They could never
reveal their power to others or attempt to reconnect with their former God the Ether.
If they chose to break that vow, they would be left open to danger and never
allowed back into the fold of power.
For many reasons, Marie's powers had to be suppressed. They would have
to willingly sacrifice themselves in order to help Marie gain her full powers.
They would have to return to the Ether and leave Marie behind, and they
were not willing to do that. As long as they both lived, the young, powerful
musician that she had given birth to would be safe and remain alive.
"Mommy, did you hear me?” Marie's soft voice floated to her ears.
"Yes, dearest, I heard you. What instrument do you want to play
now?” Ahmose replied.
"I had a dream about an Erhu. The music was so beautiful
and sad, and the woman playing it had glowing eyes. She looked as though she
wanted to cry but had to hold it in. The Erhu was crying for her and
telling the world of her sadness.”
Ahmose drew in a sharp breath.
The instruments were starting to call Marie, she thought. They were showing her
the future. The Erhu is a Chinese violin. It had been used for centuries
by different ethnic groups in China and throughout the world to convey emotions
through music. Their neighbor Lan Yi had only played the instrument once in
Marie’s presence but Marie was able to recognize it in a dream.
Before she could speak, she heard the sound of walking thunder.
The thunder was not coming from the sky; it was more of a thundering
vibration that was coming towards them. Her heart began to race. They were
here, and they were going to take Marie away. She had to protect Marie.
"Run
daughter! Do not question me, just run!”
Ahmose cried out.
They began to run and Ahmose
called to the Vodou Loa Loko and began to draw on her
powers as a mambo. She called for a spell of protection which descended
upon her as she began to run faster.
Ahmose had a moment of relief that was immediately shattered as she
realized that Marie was not covered by her protection. Loko would only
protect the Hougans and Mambos, and Marie had not yet been inducted into that
life. She would be protected while the life of her daughter was drained.
"Manman, what is that?” asked Marie. “I hear dark music. It
is so scary.”
"Hush my daughter. I will protect you.”
Without warning, Ahmose and Marie were frozen still. Dark hands wrapped
around Ahmose’s throat and she began to wheeze. The hands squeezed tighter and
tighter. Marie saw the hands and began to cry.
"Rete w ap toufe l'! Stop, you’re choking her! Mommy, mommy!” screamed
Marie as Ahmose called more power.
The hands around her throat began to ease. A second pair of hands began
to close around Marie's throat. Ahmose did not think or hesitate.
"Do not cry daughter. Let the Erhu cry for you!”
Ahmose called forward her power
of Earth. “I call on the power of Earth.
Bind and protect my daughter, Marie Sept Anno.
I open myself to the Ether. May its blessing be upon my daughter,
the Beacon.”
There was a sound of fibers ripping as dark brown waves poured from the
Sky and into Ahmose. She immediately shot her hands forward and ripped through
the dark body strangling Marie. Marie started to wheeze, then caught her
breath. The dark powers began to
disappear except for one. She heard a familiar voice say, "What shall be
our payment, Loko? Your mambo has broken her vow. You must pay the cost
of her treason.” The figure then began to laugh.
Ahmose was prepared and knew what was coming. In an instant, her
protective shields vanished and the dark hands returned to her throat. "I
shall finally have your power, Beacon of Earth.” Ahmose would never let her
powers be drained; she made her final sacrifice for her daughter. "Thank
you, Loko, for your protection. My family will never be able to repay
you. I take my punishment freely for breaking my vow.”
She looked at Marie and whispered, "I love you, Marie, daughter of
my land.”
"Mommy, what are you saying? Let her go, please let her go!”
Ahmose looked to the sky as her throat began to close. "I call to
the Ether, return me to your peace. Take Marie, the beacon of my womb,
as my gift and sacrifice. Send my power to your first daughter, my mother. May
it be there when she’s ready to receive your blessings? Oh great Ether,
return me home.”
A flash of light hit the sky and blue power poured into Marie. Ahmose
took one last breath and died. The dark power left her body in
a heap on the ground as the figure of a woman shrouded by darkness moved
towards Marie with malevolent intent. As
she got close, a strong wind blew her away. The wind wrapped itself around
Marie who was lying on top of her mother's body. "Manman, please
wake up! It’s okay, you can breathe now. The mean lady is gone.” The wind blew
in Marie's ears and whispered "Don't cry daughter; let the Erhu cry
for you.”
Marie began to shiver as waves of blue light began to flow from her
body. A sad melody filled the air,itair,
it was the music of an Erhu. Jia
Peng Fang's “Cherry Blossoms” could be heard
throughout the field and down the block. Marie shook and shivered but she never
cried. She felt the wind return and her body was lifted off of her mother.
Ahmose’s body rose up into the air and began to turn into brown waves and wind.
The waves mixed with the wind and started floating away as the music grew
louder. The brown waves wound themselves around Marie and lifted her up. After
a few minutes, she was place on the ground and the waves disappeared into the
sky. Marie laid down and did not get up. She waited in that very spot, hoping
to wake up from this nightmare.
Femi Sept Anno felt the moment her daughter left the mortal plain. She
felt her heart breaking. She put her fist to her mouth and held back her tears.
She called out to the winds, "Find my granddaughter!” The winds obeyed and
took her to Marie. She found Marie lying on the ground. Ahmose was gone.
"Marie! Come to me! Let me take you home.”
It was then that Marie opened her eyes as Femi saw something that she
had prayed to never see in her granddaughter's eyes. The innocent girl she loved was gone.
Sadness, fear, and hopelessness were the only things left in her brown, almost
mortal eyes. She lifted her granddaughter into her arms and went home. This was
only the beginning. One day she would have to give up the mortal world in order
to protect Marie. Until that time, they would go home.
R.M. Garry lives with her three male children a.k.a the wolf pack and her husband of 12 years.
Writing allows her to maintain her sanity while juggling her world.
When she isn’t writing, R.M. is reading and keeping up with her favorite authors.
For updates and book information readers can visit
Twitter: @authorrmgarry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rmgarry
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/RMGarry
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1 comment:
Thank you for hosting Fangtastic Books. I had a lot of fun doing the interview.
R.M. Garry
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