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Light Outside of the Darkness
The Neighbors follows a maternity nurse working nights who, after being disturbed by her new neighbors, asks them to keep it down and finds herself drawn to them. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Zoe, a maternity nurse, was a side character in All I See Are Dark Clouds that I thought was appropriate to give her her own story. I worked alongside some nurses who were just kindhearted and passionate with the work they do so The Neighbors was a way for me to give back to them and other nurses I met along the way. Although I don’t personally know a maternity nurse, I tried my best to capture a day to day life and the type of personality nurses generally have with a little fantasy twist.
What are some things that you find interesting about vampires that you think make for great fiction?
The vampires I write about are just lost souls that are trying to find their light outside of the darkness. Symbolic and a representation of the dark side of humankind.
What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
When I started writing The Neighbors, it started out as a way for me to take a strong female character to the next level in the second-person narrative. It was vital Zoe was a maternity nurse since she was a side character that tied-in with All I See Are Dark Clouds. I let Zoe take the lead and incorporated stigmas that an actual maternity nurse may go through, like people assuming they get to play with babies all day. Little did I know the depth of her character and why she pursued a career as a maternity nurse to begin with until it all became full circle.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
The next two books in The Dark series, The Darkened Enchantment and Infinity Tales (A Dark short tie-in) can be anticipated sometime in 2024.
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The Neighbors
In this evocative tale, we’re introduced to Zoe, a dedicated maternity nurse who finds solace in structure and a meticulously curated routine. Her cautious demeanor hints at a shadowy past that has made trust a scarce commodity in her life. Yet, as she forges an unexpected bond with her enigmatic neighbors, Jensen and Terrence, we witness her gradual embrace of love’s transformative might.
This paranormal novel intriguingly juxtaposes the familiar trope of vampires with a fresh lens. Jensen and Terrence, despite their supernatural lineage, are neither overwhelmingly menacing nor dripping with charisma. Instead, the author paints them with strokes of vulnerability and human nuances. Such an interpretation not only lends depth to these characters but also leaves readers with tantalizing, unanswered questions, stirring curiosity rather than exasperation.
In this world, reality gracefully bows to the wondrous, encouraging readers to relinquish their skepticism and wholly immerse in its imaginative embrace. Certain plot points, like Zoe’s peculiar potato consumption or Jensen’s journey to self-acceptance, may appear offbeat, but they accentuate the distinctiveness of the relationships they forge. These moments underscore the message that healing from trauma is profoundly individual, defying comparison.
There are moments of high drama, epitomized by the relentless pursuit of Anthony. To elevate the narrative’s coherence, I think a touch more foreshadowing and nuanced character arcs culminating in the climactic scene in Zoe’s chamber would have been welcome.
In a genre brimming with tales of the undead, this novel distinguishes itself from the mundane. It eschews overt clichés, delving deep into the intricate webs of trust, love, and change. It’s a departure from the archetypal vampire narrative, offering a refreshing and heartening angle that establishes it as a mesmerizing read.
Pages: 180 | ASIN : B0CBX4GG7Y
