Guest Post and Giveaway: Dance on Fire ~ by James Garcia Jr.

James Garcia Jr., author of ~ Dance on Fire, is here for a guest post and giveaway. Two international ebooks and one signed copy for a US address.

This post is about “dreams”. I like that. What is special about James and his book is, as you will see, it took him a long time to complete this first novel. Which says something to all those would-be published authors out there. Also unusual is that James’s first novel has a unique combination of themes. It is definitely horror, and has a good splattering of police procedural, but here is the clincher: it has a Christian thread.

Welcome James!

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Dreams

It took me twenty years to complete my first novel, Dance on Fire. Shocking, isn’t it? I have no problem revealing that particular tidbit for two reasons: first, because it’s true; and secondly, because it enables me to encourage others - especially young people. I particularly enjoy signing a book for them, looking them in the eye, grabbing their attention and promising them that dreams still come true if they put in the effort. They certainly did for me.

I developed an affinity for horror novels while in my formative teenage years. I enjoyed the thrill of the chase, the mystery surrounding the whodunit or whatdunnit, and perhaps the darkness of the evil as it did battle with the good. Eventually, I tried my hand at crafting scary stories. My first attempts were brilliant! I recall writing part of a slasher story during summer vacation one year and being very satisfied. A year later, during the next summer vacation, I whipped out that great American novel, dusted it off, gave it a quick look and then exclaimed, “Who wrote this garbage?” *grins*

Of course, writing is a process. It takes many skills, much practice and, perhaps equally important, a well-read knowledge of not only who is writing today, but those who came before.

That’s a bit of an oversimplification on my part, but I want to focus this post on other things. You see, I can’t blame the fact that my writing got pushed to the back-burner because of family, career, etc., etc, etc. That process that I mentioned also took a maturity that I did not have in my youth. I recall needing two hours or more or I wasn’t even going to attempt to sit and write. Eventually, you come to a place where you proclaim, “I’ve got 30 minutes!” and you quickly start writing.

My novel went through a maturation process of its own. I had never set out to write a crossover vampire story. Originally, I was writing a horrific crime novel. How blood-thirsty creatures of the night ended up attacking people in the body of my prose, I’ll never know, but I am grateful, because many reviewers have liked the work. Another thing that transpired was my R-Rated novel filled with gore, sex and rough language soon morphed into something more PG-13. Going to church had much to do with that, but did not remove the thrill that I get from reading about such things. I draw the line at splatter-porn and the like, or whatever they call it now. I’m firmly on record as being a Silence of the Lambs kind of guy. The edge of my seat is where I like to be; walking out of the theater is not.

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About: Dance on Fire

Each May, the Central California town of Kingsburg celebrates its Swedish heritage with the annual Swedish Festival: a weekend event where the town puts on its traditional dress, culminating with a dance around a Maypole on Friday, and a Swedish pancake breakfast and parade on Saturday. The town with a population of over 11,000 residents draws thousands more to the event. This year, two uninvited guests also converged upon the unsuspecting town.

Nathaniel is a vampire. He wandered into town, bothering no one; feeding upon stray cats and other vermin, wanting nothing more than to have a place to rest his head. Vincent is a second vampire, and the one responsible for making Nathaniel. He has been searching for his long lost “son” for well over two centuries. Vincent’s goal is to take Nathaniel home or kill him. Nathaniel has often wished for death, wondering why God ever allowed this punishment: to walk the earth undead and unable to be redeemed. Does God remember the little boy from Romania who watched his parents die, was raised by the murdering vampire, only to become one himself? What does God think of Nathaniel and could there yet be redemption for one outside of heaven?

Ten days before the start of the Swedish Festival the most tumultuous week in the history of Kingsburg has begun with two vampires leaving death and destruction in their wake. Kingsburg Police Detectives Mark Jackson and Michael Lopez, Barbara and the entire Lopez family find themselves drawn into something that threatens to destroy them all or leave them scarred forever.

In a marriage of the classic horror story and the Christian themes of good conquering evil and redemption, Dance on Fire is the account of characters being drawn into the fire and the supernatural forces around them watching as they burn.

Now the Giveaway:

To enter this giveaway you do not need to do anything (no need to be a follower) but enter the Google form below.

Since 2 copies are ebooks they can be sent anywhere!  Best yet is we have a 3rd paperback copy for one US address which will be signed.

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James Garcia Jr. is the author of the vampire novel, Dance on Fire, (Smashwords purchase link – it’s only $2.99) and a writer for Kings River Life Magazine. You can find out more about him at the links below:

• Blog: http://jamesgarciajr.blogspot.com/
• Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Official-James-Garcia-Jr-Authors-Page/203211881591
• Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3483458.James_Garcia_Jr

Good luck!