Leave a comment for a chance to get a Free Copy of this week’s featured book, Prophecies of the Mayan Undead by Fiona McGier. How did she dream her way out of writer’s block? Oh, and there are vampires!
When a character talks directly to the author, you have to listen!
by Fiona McGier
I’ve always maintained that I get my best ideas for books from my dreams. I’ve woken up with entire story arcs–the details of the story unfold as I write them. I often have characters talking in my mind, showing me scenes of their lives, or the conversations they have. They especially like to do this when I’m in the shower–or driving long-distance on a highway. I’ve even gotten used to the abuse they give me when I don’t have time to write. Sometimes they yell at me, demanding that I write their stories immediately. Sometimes they pout and go quiet on me, which isn’t a bad thing when I’m uber-busy and can’t get any time to write. But I’ve never had a character talk directly to me until my experience of a few years ago.
Remember when everyone thought that 2012 was going to be the end of the world, because the Mayan Long-count calendar ended then? It was all over the news, with breathless prognostications about what the end of the 13th tonne was going to mean for all of us. I got the idea of incorporating that fear into a book. My heroine was a Black neurobiology researcher who was trying to discover the key to intelligence, so it could be shared with everyone. The hero was going to be a Native American doctor, but I wasn’t sure how to introduce them. Then I got writer’s block. I’ve never experienced it before, so I was very frustrated. I decided to put that book aside and work on another one.
A few nights later I had a visitor in a dream. A tall, pale man with very white hair spoke directly to me. He said, “You’re having writer’s block because you’re giving her the wrong hero. It has to be me.” Then he smiled, showing me vampire fangs. “No!” I responded. “I don’t do vampires–they’re too overdone. I don’t write paranormal–only contemporary.” He smiled again and said, “Research the Mayans.” Then I woke up–kind of freaked out. But I went to my laptop and started to read about the Mayans. Seems that every public and religious ritual they had involved blood-letting. Their rulers would pierce themselves with sharp implements and bleed into containers. They would pull thorns through sensitive body parts, like tongues, and bleed for all to see. I wondered why they needed to do so much spilling of blood. Then it hit me–of course! Their real masters were vampires!
I opened the blocked book and started writing– the book wrote itself. I also wrote a shorter sequel. When my publisher closed and I got the rights back, I self-published this as one long book with two parts. There are two romances in the books, but the characters are connected. And there are lots of vampires, so there is lots of blood. The vampires range from the newly-created Keesha, to an ancient Mayan mummy thousands of years old–and many in-between.
**I’m offering a free copy of Prophecy of the Mayan Undead to one person who leaves a comment here. Tell me something about your dreams. Do you remember them? Has anyone ever broken the third wall and spoken directly to you, the sleeper, in a dream? I’ll choose a winner by random drawing on Monday, July 5th. Let’s hear some interesting dream stories. Put your email in your comment, so I can contact you if you’re the winner.
If you give me your name and email on my site–the form is near the top on the right–then I’ll send you a free short story immediately. It’s a vampire short. Then occasionally I’ll send email to let you know when I’ve got a new book coming out, or special promotions you might be interested in. But these only come out when I have something to report–and usually I’ll send a short story for your enjoyment, to thank you for reading.
Part One
Keesha is a neurobiology researcher determined to discover the secret to intelligence to save humanity from itself. What she learns leads her to realize a bigger threat comes from beyond the stars. Yuri is a Russian vampire whose long-dead feelings respond to the scientist whose brain he admires but whose curves he can’t resist. Will his love reach the places in her heart that she has ignored for so long? And can they defeat the ancient Mayan mummy who has invaded Keesha’s mind in order to stop her from discovering what the Prophecy of the Mayan Undead reveals?
Part Two
As Keesha and Yuri continue to try to eliminate the Mayan threat to humanity, they have to enlist the aid of Niu Ying, a brilliant Chinese neurobiologist. As a gifted child Niu Ying was given to the state by her Chinese parents, leading to a harsh life. Her un-dead existence has been worse. When other vampires urge her not to further the destruction of humans, they bring a blue furry alien Visitor. She never expected to discover her own humanity in the arms of an alien–he never expected to fall in love. Can their passion bridge the gap between their races? And can they join forces with the others to face the return of the Mayan aliens and save humanity?
A Tantalizing Taste of Prophecy of the Mayan Undead by Fiona McGier
Set-up–Keesha is tied up and locked in the trunk of a car. Her kidnappers ran out of gas, so they hiked to the closest station. They’ve loudly discussed raping then killing her. She met a man recently who was interested in her research–she had no way of knowing he’s a vampire. But when she doesn’t show up for their coffee date, he’s determined to find her.
Keesha was terrified to hear the men return. They opened the gas tank to refill the car.
“Maybe I should open the trunk and make sure the bitch is still in there?”
“You idiot! The trunk is still closed. I tied her up myself. Not even Houdini could get out of those knots. I learned how to make them nice and tight in the Navy.”
“Can’t I open it up and just play with her a little? She’s not going to complain with that gag in her mouth–and who’s she going to tell?”
“Fine. I’ll finish pouring the gas in. You go have a little fun with our guest. Then we gotta get outta here before someone notices the car.”
“Who? We never saw no cars on the way into or out of town. There’s no one out here to hear her scream.”
The trunk was opened. Keesha closed her eyes, hoping that if she appeared to be still unconscious, they would leave her alone. She felt the tip of a gun against her cheek, as it stroked her face.
“Aw, she’s still out cold. That’s no fun.”
“Just feel her up, then let’s get out of here. I’m getting a weird feeling that we’re being watched.”
“By who? There’s no one else out in this God-forsaken–what the fuck?”
Keesha heard a swooshing sound. She opened her eyes to see a blur of movement. She heard a snarling growl, combined with the yells of real fear coming from her two tormentors.
“Kill the bitch!”
She felt the gun stuck into her ribs and held her breath. The gun fired, the bullet pierced into her, and she found it difficult to let out the breath–or to breathe in any more air.
There was the awful sound of breaking bones–then silence. Someone leaned over into the trunk to lift her gently out, as if she was as light as a feather. She felt herself being laid on the ground, fighting to breathe. Her blood pulsed out of her through the chest wound, soaking her clothes, making them stick to her. Her rescuer tore through the knots that she had been unable to budge, and she tried to thank him with her last gasps of air.
“Tha–thanks.” She choked on her own blood. Her head was beginning to swim.
“Keesha, look at me.”
The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but very distant, as if she was moving far away from him. She tried to focus her gaze, seeing only the outline of a man’s torso, with a face barely visible, topped with white hair that shone in the dim moonlight.
“I had hoped to spare you this, but I have no other choice now. I can’t lose you. I won’t. But you must choose right now, before it’s too late. Do you want to live?”
In her mind she giggled. But all that came out of her mouth was a gargling sound. “Um, yeah. Don’t think–option anymore–“
“Yes, it is. But if I do this thing, you’ll be changed. You’ll be alive, yet not alive. Are you sure you want me to do this?”
Her head nodded up and down. Darkness began to descend, her vision clouded by the blood that was everywhere now. She felt herself drifting off. Am I going anywhere? Or will I just lose consciousness, and have no more thoughts?
Suddenly her mind was invaded by a tall, blond man with an intense look in his eyes. There was an icy fire in their blue depths.
What are you doing here? I’m busy dying. Who are you?
You are dying, but not in the way you expect. What I’m doing is ensuring that you will wake up again tomorrow night. What images would you like me to entertain you with, as your body dies?
She tried to shrug, but was unable to move any part of her body. She felt herself being held by strong arms, with the tiny hairs on her neck standing at full attention. The lips on her neck created a drowsy, drugged feeling in her mind.
His words whispered in her brain. How about something erotic?
Yes, please.
She was suddenly on a downy-soft bed, naked, with a man’s head between her thighs. His tongue was driving her mad with desire, as he alternated between licking her from front to back, then nibbling on her clit gently. When his fingers pulled the hood back and his teeth grazed her clit, she screamed with pleasure as the orgasm crashed through her with the force of a tsunami. She felt herself rise up off of the bed with the tightening of her muscles. The man loomed above her, spreading her thighs uncomfortably wide, as his hips surged forward. The pleasure she had just felt, multiplied, as his massive organ pushed its way into her, stretching her almost beyond comfort. He filled her, then withdrew–only to slam into her again and again. It was almost more than she could bear! She screamed as he came, the force of his orgasm making her spasm with an intensity to match his own. He growled like a wild animal as he pulsated inside of her, her muscles clenching around him, her orgasms like a roller coaster of pleasure, pushing her up a hill then crashing her down on the other side.
The last thing she heard was his voice. Drink. Drink deeply. Take as much as you can hold. I have emptied you. Now fill yourself with me.
I’m already filled with you. Her thoughts were her own, but inexplicably she felt his chest move as he chuckled. Everything went black, as she drifted off into nothingness.
Meet Fiona McGier
I sub in high schools during the school year. Otherwise I’m writing and blogging about my books–and reading and writing reviews. Not only do I write erotic romance, I love to read it too. I often read while camping with my long-time HEA. Our four adult kids sometimes join us. I’m an avid Jazzerciser, and I love to hike in the woods. I also enjoy sewing–mostly masks these days– crocheting afghans to keep my loved ones warm, and baking–cookies, muffins, and especially pies. I’m known for my never-fail pie crust, so I put the recipe on my website under the pies tab, along with some of my family’s favorites, that I featured in one of my books that had a heroine who baked lots of pies.
I write romances that involve strong, independent women who don’t mind casual flings, but who are not looking to fall in love. Enter the man who decides this is the woman for him. I thinks that how they ultimately both realize that they have found the one, is the most interesting part of a romance. I love the passion of new love!
4 thoughts on “Novel Magic: Mayan Vampires”
No need to pick a name for the winner of a free book, since Pat’s a close friend who already owns all of my books. But it was fun making an appearance here. Thanks for the exposure!
You know I read all your books Fiona! But I especially liked the vampire ones! They are very original!
Thanks for giving me this chance to expose myself (ahem) to your readers, Sorchia! My “take” on vampires is a bit more scientific than most–but then I did a similar thing with werewolves in 2 other books. Remember, leave a comment and you might be the one to earn a free download of Prophecy of the Mayan Vampires.
ARGH! I can’t believe I got my own title wrong! I was camping over the weekend, and have been slogging through emails for hours already! Prophecy of the Mayan Undead!