Talk about your books: Dracula's Secret.

 

Yesterday, I was meditating about my books - what I'm going to do this year, what my goals are, what I want for my writing.

 

I heard a very clear message that said, "Talk about your books." I thought I'd start at the very beginning with Dracula's Secret. 

 

The idea of Vlad Tepes being born female came from a nightmare. In it, I dreamed that Dracula in a dress was talking to Napoleon's generals for the Peninsular campaign. They didn't listen to her, so she went outside, changed into men's clothes, and they proclaimed her genius. 

 

Other than this being a weird insight to my brain (I don't normally dream about Napoleon, I promise), this image stuck with me. The folk tales of Dracula's violent behavior made sense if someone had been born a woman and was trying to keep her people safe. 

 

  

From there, I wondered what kind of person could love someone like that. That brought me Lance Soliel, a man with his own darkness.  I based him on Daniel Craig. 

 

And two dark characters needed someone to bring them hope, and thus John Jante, one of my favorite characters, came to my vision. 

 

He's based on my Charming Man, who is very pretty and smart. But he doesn't like having his picture posted, so you will just have to take my word on it. :) 

 

If I were to jot down what tropes this story uses, I'd say:

 

Morally gray characters searching for redemption, age-gap relationship, international intrigue, fast burn, and fallen angels.

New Covers!

NEW COVERS!

Sometimes, an independent author just feels the urge to shake things up. So I got my first three books, Dracula's Secret, Dracula's Desires, and Dracula Unleashed, new covers and pretty formatting. 

Amazon.com

 

Halloween Giveaways, Dracula's Secret.

 

In keeping with the Halloween theme, let me introduce to you, Valerie Tate. She is the heroine of my Blood Wings trilogy; Dracula's Secret, Dracula's Desires, and Dracula Unleashed. This were my first three books ever published! They have been completely revised since then, with more adventure and thrills than before.

 

I created a giveaway for the first book, Dracula's Secret, just for my newsletter people.

It is HERE.
 

Again, like last week, if you don't mind a less than perfect hard copy, head on over to my website for for the scratch and dent sale. Use the coupon "Scratch and Dent" to get $3.00 off on Dracula's Secret.

 

 

SHE HUNGERS FOR HIS LIGHT

She calls herself Valerie Tate. One of the few vampires left on earth, as
beautiful as she is powerful, Valerie has resisted her craving for human blood
for years, just as she once hid her true gender. But the night she lays eyes on
the most enticing man she's ever seen, her appetite can no longer be denied.
He radiates goodness and light-and searing sexual energy. Valerie must have
him. Taste him. Consume him. For he is temptation-and he is her destiny . . .

HE BURNS FOR HER DARKNESS

Lance Soleil is a rugged war veteran who runs a homeless shelter in Portland.
At first gaze, he knows what Valerie is-and wants her even more. But when he
welcomes a pack of werewolves into his shelter, he attracts the attention of
Valerie's oldest rival-her bloodthirsty brother, Radu, who hopes to become the
first vampire President of the United States. Valerie knows Radu has a hidden
agenda, and with Lance's help she is determined to stop his unholy rise to
power. But first, she must risk their growing love by fully revealing herself-as
the one and only Dracula . . .

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Behind the Character: Valerie Tate

 

Many years ago, I had a nightmare about the Napoleonic Wars (if you have ever studied the Napoleonic Wars, you will understand. They were dreadful). One part of this nightmare was amazing, though. A dark woman, one full of secrets and violence, came into the tent where the generals were planning the Peninsular Campaign (Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Spain). She gave the best tactical advice but the men dismissed her. She left the tent, returned in men's clothing, and they thought she was a genius.

I knew this woman was Vlad Tepes, the vampire Dracula. This dream stuck with me. I was fascinated by this idea. Naturally, I did a little research. There are very few primary resources about Vlad (see here, here, and here). Most of the literature talked about the alleged atrocities she committed. If I looked at these stories through a feminist lens, I could see how these fictions could be seen as acts of a furious woman (impaling, especially. How Freudian of her!).

This began the long process of writing the Blood Wings series. Who was she? Why would her family hid her born gender? How could that be done? What motivated her? Did she have secret dreams? What were her wounds?

The series took many drafts and lots of brainstorming. I had to learn what kind of lovers she had, who she thought she was. 

I have been honored to share this journey with you. With the final revision being released on May 6, 2021, I feel like Valerie Tate has finally found a place of happiness.

At long last!!

Kensington Press and I released the first edition of Dracula Unleashed, the third book in the Blood Wings Trilogy, in early 2013. I had to write the book in less than four months, while doing promo and edits on the first two books. As a result, I wasn't terribly thrilled with the results. I got my rights back to the trilogy and released Dracula's Secret in 2016, Dracula's Desires in 2017. And then....nothing. 

My well had run completely dry. I had no idea how to strip this book down past its bare bones and completely rebuild it. 

It took several books for me to get even an inkling of an idea for Valerie Tate's final adventure. It wasn't until I finished The Cafe of Hopes and Dreams that I realized what she needed. She needed sweetness, dreams, and her own hopes. At last, the words flowed. 

And now, the book is available for pre-order at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0934FVTBS?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_2&storeType=ebooks!!

After centuries as the Dracula of legend, disguised as a male, Valerie Tate's current incarnation is the last thing she expected: mother of a precocious half-angel, half-vampire, and wife to two men. But Valerie is more familiar with battlefields than domesticity. . .

Some overwhelmed mothers relax with a glass of wine. Valerie soothes her immortal soul with a refreshing blood and coke. How else can she deal with her toddler Minerva's psychic powers--not to mention her determination to throw knives. Thank goodness for Valerie's two loves, John Jante and Lance Soleil. Without them, the trauma of her dark past and her primal, urges for violence and power would overtake her. Yet in a world where humans and paranormals uncomfortably co-exist, Valerie's peace will be short-lived. . .

Someone is killing the world's best paranormal diplomats. And Valerie's vampire brother and nemesis, Radu, is at the center of the conflict. Now Valerie finds herself as vulnerable and as weak as she had been as a human....

Location, location, location

Radu (not in picture) loves Istanbul.

 Dracula Unleashed takes place all over the world. I've been lucky enough to travel to some of the locations I write about. Here we go, across the globe!

Amsterdam is the home of Luc Breton, the European leader.

More Amsterdam. So gorgeous!

The Hagia Sophia.

Once a cathedral and a mosque, the Hagia is a museum. Can you imagine worshipping here?

The Sultan's private rooms in the Topkapi Palace.

Valerie and her boys.

Motivation!

Every book has its own rhythm and its own soundtrack. I did try to do a bunch of YouTube Links here  but that didn't work so well. Instead, here is a Spotify playlist that you can revisit over and over.

Here we are - classic heavy metal to women of rock!

Click here for the awesome sound of Valerie's world!

Coming soon!

I'll be releasing Dracula Unleashed in the fall - a perfect adventure story for the cold days.

In order to whet your appetite, here is a snippet!

Patience was a virtue Valerie Tate usually lacked. Loyalty, though, she had in abundance. Therefore she loyally, if impatiently, told Glenath Tempesta for the sixth time. “No.  I don’t know where Luc is.”

Luc Breton, the leader of the paranormal community in Europe, was obviously avoiding Glenath. On a stranger note, though, he was avoiding television and all media appearances. For as long as Valerie had known Luc, oh, a couple of centuries now, he was an attention hog. She cleared her throat in emotional discomfort. Personal honesty forced her to admit to having this particular flaw herself.

“I’ve got this damned conference in three weeks,” Glenath said for the seventh time. “I need him here, in Portland, so we can renegotiate the Treaty of Prague.” A slight slurping sound came over the phone. Glenath had taken to calling Valerie during mealtime. The woman was living on milkshakes snatched between meetings. Valerie said nothing on the Bishop’s terrible habits. Her own diet was equally limited. “This whole situation stinks,” Glenath said after swallowing. “The tensions here are rising. I’m sure there will be a war.” In the background, Glenath's vampire lover, Anthony, growled in agreement.

Valerie made a non-committal sound. Her own extensive experience of war had left her jaded. There was always going to be another war. Her friendship to Glenath kept her silent on the topic. The mortal had an aversion to such matter-of-fact thoughts.

Humans, Valerie thought kindly. Always so hopeful.

Glenath and her boyfriend, Anthony, are based off of this hot pairing.

Dracula Unleashed.

Behold! The cover for Dracula Unleashed, the last book in the Blood Wings Trilogy.

On the cover, we have our lovely and dangerous Valerie. The sleeveless one is everyone's favorite angel, Lance Soleil.

And rocking that gray tee-shirt is John Jante, the sweetest of our little menage.

Here are some other pictures that I am using to inspire my writing:

Angle Wing Chalcedony

My original vision for Lance.

Valerie loves diamonds.

The inspiration for her dragon embroidered coat.

Topkapi Palace

Lots of people visit Topkapi

Welcome to my Literary Lair.

Hi, I'm Linda Mercury and I write very sexy paranormal romances!

Dracula's Secret is my first book and the first in the Blood Wings trilogy. The second and third books, Dracula's Desires and Dracula Unleashed, are currently being re-edited and will be released in 2017.

As you may guess, it's about Dracula. :)

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 Curse of the Spider Woman is a stand-alone novel that blends Ancient Greek Mythology with the action-adventure tension of a James Bond movie.

With consensual sex, that is.

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 Vamping It Up is an erotic coming of age novel with a very special breed of vampire.

Read about Holly getting her mojo back here at

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 The Little Sexy Workbook is for all the people who want to have a joyous, uninhibited sex life. If you want to be able to communicate fearlessly with your lover, this is the book for you!

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Hello, and awesome to meet you! 

The winner and champion!

The winner of my last Dragon necklace is....(insert drum roll)...

 



Kimba Caffeinated over at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer!

The virtual book tour continues on!

Only a few more dates are left. Be sure to comment to win the very last of my sexy dragon necklaces.

 April 22:  Taylor Made Fiction
April 24:  Coffee and A Book Anytime
April 26: Racing To Read
April 30:  Today!! Shelley's Book Case
May 3:  Let's Get BOOKED!
May 7:  Long and Short Reviews
May 9:  Simply Ali
Today, today, today! May 14:  Welcome to My World of Dreams
May 15:  It's Raining Books
May 17:  Queen of the Night Reviews

And don't forget to check out my short horror story, Predator and Prey, now available at Amazon for a mere $.99.

As if living in a city called Normal, Illinois wasn't horrifying enough on its own. a serial killer is hunting the women of this Midwestern college town. And he has his next prey in sight...

Some More Virtual Book Tour. :)

Don't we all need some Nike today?

April 22:  Taylor Made Fiction
April 24:  Coffee and A Book Anytime
April 26: Racing To Read
April 30:  Today!! Shelley's Book Case
May 3:  Let's Get BOOKED!
May 7: The Most Recent! Long and Short Reviews
May 9:  Simply Ali
May 14:  Welcome to My World of Dreams
May 15:  It's Raining Books
May 17:  Queen of the Night Reviews

Virtual Book Tour, Stop Three!

My book tour for Dracula Unleashed continues!

April 22:  Taylor Made Fiction
April 24:  Coffee and A Book Anytime
April 26: Racing To Read
April 30:  Today!! Shelley's Book Case
May 3:  Let's Get BOOKED!
May 7:  Long and Short Reviews
May 9:  Simply Ali
May 14:  Welcome to My World of Dreams
May 15:  It's Raining Books
May 17:  Queen of the Night Reviews

Ok, so I ran out of cute alligator pics...

Dracula's Secret, Blood Wings #1
Dracula's Desires, Blood Wings #2
Dracula Unleashed, Blood Wings #3

Virtual Book Tour, Stop Three

Squee! Here is the review from PamM over at Racing to Read.

 ***

My Review

I love this series and this book is a great addition to it.

 

Valerie has settled in with her two men and her toddler Minerva. She thinks she is ready to have a peaceful life but she is also haunted by memories.  Her peace is soon shattered and in many ways she welcomes it. The paranormal and humans peace is about to erupt and Valerie may be the only one to stop it and keep things on track. She just may have to unleash Dracula once again.

Valerie is as awesome as she always is. Whether she is trying to figure out her place in life now, motherhood, battling evil or just being sexy as always she rocks. I love how you see inside her as she battles what she was and who she is now. She may be old but she really grows in this book emotionally wise.  John and Lance are hot as every and you can see why Valerie loves these two so much. I really loved the scenes with Minerva and John. Now Minerva is going to be a handful you can tell by how she acts now.  I love this toddler she doesn't seem afraid of anything.

This is the third book in a fantastic series. I love the other books and this one makes a nice addiction to it. I love the thought that Dracula was a woman gives it a fresh take that if that wasn't enough to get you to read the series you also get some action packed battles, amazing people and some steamy scenes that are very hot. You get several little side stories as you read this book and you get to enjoy other characters and their struggles as well. You even get to see the weak side of Lucifer. I really hope we see more of these people cause I want to see Minerva grow up and come into her own. If you love paranormal books with hottness pick this up.

4 out of 5 Stars

*** 

Thank you so very much, PamM! You just made me feel like this:

Virtual Book Tour, Stop 2!

My book tour for Dracula Unleashed continues!

April 22:  Taylor Made Fiction
April 24: Today!! Coffee and A Book Anytime
April 26:  Racing To Read
April 30:  Shelley's Book Case
May 3:  Let's Get BOOKED!
May 7:  Long and Short Reviews
May 9:  Simply Ali
May 14:  Welcome to My World of Dreams
May 15:  It's Raining Books
May 17:  Queen of the Night Reviews

When you comment, you are entered into a drawing for one of my stylish and sexy dragon necklaces.

Virtual BookTour, Stop One: Reviews of Dracula's Secret!

Today is the first day of my review book tour!

My schedule is:
TODAY: April 22:  Taylor Made Fiction
April 24:  Coffee and A Book Anytime
April 26:  Racing To Read
April 30:  Shelley's Book Case
May 3:  Let's Get BOOKED!
May 7:  Long and Short Reviews
May 9:  Simply Ali
May 14:  Welcome to My World of Dreams
May 15:  It's Raining Books
May 17:  Queen of the Night Reviews

I will be awarding a fabulous dragon necklace (since Dracul means Dragon, after all), to one random commenter (USA only please).

 ***

And here is the the review from Susan Taylor's website!

Dracula Unleashed is third in the Series Blood Wings delivers a inhumanly fast paced ride. 

A battle is about to break between immortal forces and then does, devastatingly so. 

Lance walks amidst wreckage with the Angel of Death who determines the beings which have started this war are indeed vampires.There's only one solution. A hunter must be utilized, or unleashed. Valerie Tate is called upon to against Lance's wishes. She is wife to him and John, angel and Guide, (that's right a vampire with two husbands!!), a mother, and the huntress in this tale.

The paranormal cast within Dracula Unleashed is varied and rich giving the story an unsual twist.

 

First, I must say the interplay of passion between Valerie and Lance is imaginative, delicious, salacious. YUM! And then there's some pretty hot video menage that will leave the reader breathless.

I found the sibling against sibling tension a driving force, all the way to sacred ground. The constant powerplay of good against evil mesmerizing. And let's not forget, the stunning passion between the characters. Dracula Unleashed is absolutely a dark, hot read that will captivate the reader.

***

Thank you so much, Susan!

Dracula's Secret, Blood Wings #1
Dracula's Desires, Blood Wings #2
Dracula Unleashed, Blood Wings #3, 

Celebrations!

Now that I have found a measure of health again, it is time to celebrate the release of Dracula Unleashed!

 To celebrate Dracula's final book, I am giving away a dragon necklace - after all, Dracul means dragon. And Valerie loves her dragon embroidered coat.

This is the chance to wear your very own dragon! It is suitable for both men and women, too, just like everyone else in the book.

All you have to do is comment here, at my Twitter, or on my Facebook, and you are entered into a drawing for the shiny.

A love letter to you.

I'm a big fan of Alexandra Franzen (over here).  She wrote this challenge on her website:

The premise: what if instead of writing a traditional “sales page” about your latest product, service, event, project, workshop or offering … you simply wrote your customer a Love Letter?

And this was what came out. :)

I want to live in a world where women are not shamed for what they read, what they watch, and their sexual choices.

I'm so tired of women's tastes being diminished and belittled.

I want you to have books that highlight women asking for what they want, and then being encouraged and supported by her relationships instead of struggling to be heard.

So I've created a series of sexually explicit, adventurous books filled with strong thoughtful men and powerful women.

Right now, I want to you click on the link to read a sample chapter of each book!

Dracula's Secret
Dracula's Desire
Dracula Unleashed

It all begins NOW.

With all my love,

Linda Mercury