The Vampires are Thirsty! A Review…Robert McCammon’s ‘I Travel by Night’

Rating: (4 out of 5 quills) QuillQuillQuillQuill      “I Travel by Night”

From the first few pages the reader is catapulted  into best sellers, writers, interviews, authorsMcCammon’s 19th century New Orleans, a city of shadows, indulgences, and exotic sights and smells. The descriptions are a rich tapestry of post-civil war days in the old south.

While the undead, horrific creatures, and spine chilling story telling are not exactly my personal taste in reading, I found McCammon’s style of writing captivating. I expected ‘blood and guts’ and got, instead, an attention grabbing vampire-hero who wants to redeem himself while rescuing humans.   Like a fatal car crash I really didn’t want to look,  but I couldn’t help but read it to the last riveting page.
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(excerpt)  “…..horse-drawn carriages moved here and there in no particular hurry as if the night had no beginning nor end; piano music spilled into the puddled streets from rooms made golden by candlelight, the timeless river washed against the piers and pilings of exquisite decay, and the brick walls that had stood in the reign of the Ibervilles still stood in defiance of sun, wind, the dampness of the swamp and the hands of modern men.  It was a magic and mystical city, wild in its freedoms and sacred in its charms…..”

The new story marks  McCammon’s return to ‘the sort of flamboyant, go-for-broke horror fiction that has earned him an international reputation and a legion of devoted fans. The terrors of the Dark Society, and the tortured existence of the unforgettable vampire adventurer Trevor Lawson create a consuming atmosphere and will, once again, please McCammon’s loyal readers.’

For Lawson, the horrors that stalked the Civil War battlefield at Shiloh were more than just those of war. After being forcibly given the gift of undead by the mysterious vampire queen LaRouge, Lawson chose to cling to what remained of his humanity and fought his way free of the Dark Society’s clutches. In the decades since, he has roamed late nineteenth century America, doing what good he can as he travels by night, combating evils mundane and supernatural, and always seeking the key to regaining a mortal life.’
 

Released on May 31st.  To read my interview with Robert McCammon click here(review at the request of author/publicist)

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DON’T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS.  This SERIES, “The Writer’s Corner” presents INTERVIEWS with  best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month .  I have invited such luminaries as:  Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Mark Childress, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen,Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sue Grafton, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, Jeffrey Deaver and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers’ special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!  Mark Childress is our April author.  Caroline Leavitt is June‘s author.  July features Rhys Bowen.  Sue Grafton is August‘s author and September will feature Tasha Alexander.
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To receive my posts sign up for my blog, blogs, blogger, writer, author, playwright, books, plays,fiction Go to the home page; On the right side you’ll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”.  You need to confirm in an email from ‘Writer at Play’ .  Thanks!

Pull the Covers Up Over your Head…an Interview with author, Robert McCammon (part 2)

interviews, author quotesPart II…… an interview with Robert McCammon authors, best sellers, writers, interviews(part I)

Robert McCammon, born July 17, 1952 in Birmingham, Alabama, have written nineteen books, working on his twentieth now. Some titles are SWAN SONG, MINE, MYSTERY WALK, BOY’S LIFE, STINGER, SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD, MISTER SLAUGHTER, THE PROVIDENCE RIDER.

Q. Do you have a set time each day to write or do you write only when you are feeling creative?

A. I start work about 10 or so at night and work until 2 or 3. When I’m finishing up a book, I “double up” and work in the daytime as well.

Q. Do you ‘get lost’ in your writing and for how long?

A. “Lost” in the writing? Well…I guess it’s a matter of concentration. The harder you concentrate, the more you become “lost” in the writing, I suppose. Doesn’t happen all the time, but it does happen.

Q. When did you begin to write seriously?

A. When I was about 25 and realized my job at a newspaper was a dead-end.author interviews, best sellers, writers, interviews

Q. How long after that were you published?

A. About two years later.

Q. and the all important: What does the process of going from “no book” to “finished book” look like?

A. What does it look like? Well, it looks like extreme concentration, hard work and problem solving.  Also sticking with it until it’s done. Does that answer your question, sorta kinda, or have I misunderstood it?

Q. Where/when do you first discover your characters ?

A. In my mind. I’m doing a series right now where some of the characters are ongoing, but others have to be made up from whole cloth. Still…are any characters made up totally from “whole cloth”? Probably not. They’re probably put together by the writer’s attitude and impressions of the world, people he or she have met…many influences there in creating characters.

Q. What inspired your story/stories ?

A. I like to read. I don’t write with an outline, so it’s like I’m reading my own work as it goes along. I want to know what happens. Also, I want to create a world the reader will enjoy living in for a little while.Robert McCammon, best selling author, writing

Q. Have you? Or do you want to write in another genre`?

A. I’ve written in horror/suspense/mystery/historical. I’d like to do some “science fiction” writing, as well…whatever the definition of that might be.

Q. Anything else you’d like to share with us?

A.  I was pleased to do this, and thank you for the questions.                     http://www.robertmccammon.com/

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Come back May 23rd when I review McCammon’s newest book,  ‘I Travel the Night’

Don’t forget to sign up to receive my BLOG!  It offers advice, encouragement and support to other writers.
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Start your month off right!! DON’T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS.  The NEW SERIES, “The Writer’s Corner” INTERVIEWS with other  best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month .  I have invited such luminaries as:  Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Mark Childress, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen,Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sue Grafton, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, Amber Winckler, Jeffrey Deaver and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers’ special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!  Mark Childress is our April author.  Caroline Leavitt is June‘s author.  July features Rhys Bowen.  Sue Grafton is August‘s author and September will feature Tasha Alexander.  Slick mystery writer, Andrew Grant will join us this winter.
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To receive my posts sign up for my blog, blogs, blogger, writer, author, playwright, books, plays,fiction Go to the home page; On the right side you’ll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”.  You need to confirm in an email from ‘Writer at Play’ .  Thanks!

Scary but Who Can Resist?…Author, Robert McCammon (interview)

author interviews, best sellers, writers, interviews                Don’t miss the final segment of my Interview with Vampire author  Robert  McCammon TOMORROW!

 

Q. What inspired your story/stories ?

A. I like to read. I don’t write with an outline, so it’s like I’m reading my own work as it goes along. I want to know what happens. Also, I want to create a world the reader will enjoy living in for a little while.

Missed Part I?  click here

 

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Start your month off right!! DON’T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS.  The NEW SERIES, “The Writer’s Corner” INTERVIEWS with other  best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month .  I have invited such luminaries as:  Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Mark Childress, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen,Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Elizabeth Gilbert, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, Amber Winckler, Jeffrey Deaver and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers’ special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!  Mark Childress is our April author.  Robert McCammon is scheduled this month. Caroline Leavitt is June’s author.  July features Rhys Bowen.  Sue Grafton is August‘s author and September will feature Tasha Alexander. Slick mystery writer, Andrew Grant will join us this winter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To receive my posts sign up for my blog, blogs, blogger, writer, author, playwright, books, plays,fiction Go to the home page; On the right side you’ll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”.  You need to confirm in an email from ‘Writer at Play’ .  Thanks!

Crawl Inside the World of Vampires…Interview with author, Robert McCammon (part 1)

interviews, authors, ,best sellers, writers       Robert McCammon has a huge fan base and even though he is trying to meet a deadline, he was kind enough to contribute to The Writer’s Corner by sitting down and letting me interview him.
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Q. Where do you write? Do you have a special room, shed, barn, special space for your writing?

A. I have a regular office, my books and research materials all set up neatly…yeah, I wish! They start out neatly and somehow get all over the floor. Otherwise, it’s a pretty ordinary space. A poster of the “Night Scotsman” train on the wall, a black-and-white Escher print…that’s about it. Oh, and I keep my joystick plugged in so I can play airplane and racing games when I need a break.

Q. Do you have any special rituals when you sit down to write? (sharpened #2 pencils, legal pad, cup of tea, glass of brandy, favorite pajamas, etc.)

A. Hmmmm…I guess I do have my cup of coffee at hand. Sometimes it’s a glass of wine, just depends on the mood.  Sometimes depending upon what I’m writing,  it’s a glass of whiskey, too!

Q. What is your mode of writing? (long hand? Pencil? Computer?)

A. Computer.

best sellers, writers, interviews, authorsHis newest book to be released in May, ’13.

Don’t miss Part II of my interview with Robert McCammon May 7th

 

This is a wonderful video from Robert and he goes on to tell what writing means to him.

 

        http://www.robertmccammon.com/

A fan (Ben R.) writes:    ‘Many people mark significant events in their lives based on where they were when they heard “the news.” Where were you when Kennedy was shot? Where were you when the Twin Towers fell? Where were you when you read the latest Robert McCammon book? Yes, that fits in my timeline perfectly. I can still remember where I was the first time I read “Blue World,” or “Mine,” or even “Swan Song.” I can even tell you exactly where I was both times I sobbed during “Boys Life,” and where I was sitting the day I played hookie from school so I could read “Speaks The Night Bird.” I can even tell you what I drank the night before when I stayed home sick and read “Night Boat.” Robert McCammon has been my favorite author since I was in high school reading “Mine” while I hid behind my tuba during band practice. I never hesitate a second to recommend any of his works.  His writings are so diverse there’s always something for everyone. Whether it’s aliens, vampires, parasitic twins, or LSD crazed baby snatchers, no one will be disappointed by this fine author.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Start your month off right!! DON’T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS.  The NEW SERIES, “The Writer’s Corner” INTERVIEWS with other  best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month .  I have invited such luminaries as:  Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Mark Childress, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen, Sue Grafton, Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Elizabeth Gilbert, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, Amber Winckler,Jeffrey Deaver  and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers’ special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!  Mark Childress is our April author.  Robert McCammon is scheduled this month. Caroline Leavitt is June’s author.  July features Rhys Bowen.  Sue Grafton is August‘s author and September will feature Tasha Alexander. Slick mystery writer, Andrew Grant will join us this winter.
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To receive my posts sign up for my blog, blogs, blogger, writer, author, playwright, books, plays,fiction Go to the home page; On the right side you’ll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”.  You need to confirm in an email from ‘Writer at Play’ .  Thanks!

Interview Thursday with author, Robert McCammon

best sellers, writers, interviews, authors               Don’t Miss It!  Thursday, May 2nd we begin an interview with
spine-chilling author, Robert McCammon.

If you love vampires and particularly a hero-vampire you’ll love this visit with Robert.  And later in the month I was invited to write a review of  McCammon’s  new release, “I Travel By Night”  .

 

A fan commented:  ‘Whether it’s aliens, vampires, parasitic twins, or LSD crazed baby snatchers, no one will be disappointed by this fine author.’

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Start your month off right!! DON’T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS. INTERVIEWS with other best-selling AUTHORS!      A SERIES, “The Writer’s Corner”

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and will feature an interview once a month . I have invited such luminaries as: Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNealMark Childress, Rhys Bowen, Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Jeffrey Deaver, Elizabeth Gilbert, Amber Winckler, Robert McCammon, Sue Grafton, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers’ special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!   Robert McCammon is scheduled for May. Caroline Leavitt is June‘s author.  July features Rhys Bowen.  Sue Grafton is August’s author and September will feature Tasha Alexander.  Slick mystery writer, Andrew Grant will join us this winter.

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To receive my posts sign up for my blog, blogs, blogger, writer, author, playwright, books, plays,fiction  Go to the home page; On the right side you’ll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”. You need to confirm in an email from ‘Writer at Play’ . Thanks!