Happy Valentines Day!
Today we welcome back author O.M. Grey!
O. M. Grey: Revisited, Revitalized, and Revamped
I’m so very thrilled to be back here with the Lovely Lolitas of STEAMED! They have always been so supportive of my work, as has their readers, so thank you all for welcoming me back. I first visited STEAMED! in 2010, after the initial release of Avalon Revisited, which went on to become an Amazon Gothic Romance Bestselling novel. Then, life threw me a curve ball or two (or three), rendering it impossible for me to finish another novel after I had written The Zombies of Mesmer in the summer of 2010. Throughout 2011, the only thing I could write was short stories and blog posts, so that’s what I did. Due to personal challenges, my focus was just not what it was; still, I wrote what I can, and now so many of those short stories I wrote between 2010 and 2012 are coming to fruition! I’ve had short stories and poetry published all over cyberspace as well as in several eZines, journals, and anthologies.On the other side of darkness, as I come back into the light, I finished another novel, a sequel of sorts, to Avalon Revisited called Avalon Revamped. I started the first draft at the beginning of 2013, and even with another personal tragedy, my husband suffering a serious accident and the untimely death of my dog due to trusting the wrong people to care for him while I was at the hospital with my husband for a week, I finished the 85,000 word first draft on my self-imposed deadline of 1/31/13. I will be doing revisions in March, after it gets back from some Beta Readers, but until then, I have plenty to keep me busy! After all, I have three years worth of books to write.
Through all of life’s downs, it is bearable because it is also sprinkled with the ups. And, despite the accident, which I’m thrilled to say my husband will make a full recovery, and the loss of my buddy boy, 2013 has already had a lot of ups! Avalon Revisited has been revitalized through RIverdale Ave Books! They loved the story and voice so much, that they re-released it both in eBook and paperback formats in January, complete with a teaser chapter for Avalon Revamped at the end. My publisher calls Avalon Revisited the “best vampire Steampunk EVER” and recalls when my agent, Louise Fury, ran into her office “breathless and told [her] she had found a masterpiece.” She, as so many, was hooked after the first chapter and says she read it straight through the night. So many NY Publisher’s loved it, but they said they couldn’t sell it with the Male 1st POV. For those of you who have read Avalon Revisited, you know that Arthur’s voice is what makes the book. As my publisher says, “Arthur Tudor is as memorable a vampire son-of-a-bitch at the Vampire Lestat.” If you haven’t yet read Avalon Revisited, now is the time! It contains 20,000 more words than the original 2010 release plus a teaser chapter for Avalon Revamped.
Now, Arthur and Avalon have new life, and Riverdale Ave Books hopes to make it the best-seller it should be. My agent called it Fifty Shades of Grey with vampires and murder in Steampunk London. Avalon Revamped is every darker and edgier than Revisited, with a ruthless anti-antagonist who will make you cheer for her brand of punishment the way you do for Dexter. Constance dishes out what those Lotharios deserve.
Additionally, several short stories have also been released in January, and more are planned in the coming months. My fabulous new publisher, Lori Perkins of Riverdale Ave Books, loved “A Kiss in the Rain” so much she released that as well for only $0.99.About “A Kiss in the Rain“
A gothic erotic ghost story from another era, A Kiss in the Rain is the tale of Eliot, a professor and inventor, and his unbearable grief over the loss of his dead wife. Though an expert in the new invention of electricity, it seems that even modern science cannot bring her back, but maybe there is a force even more powerful?
Here’s what one reviewer said about “A Kiss in the Rain”:
“If you’re looking for a compelling short read that combines eroticism and the gothic, “A Kiss in the Rain” is an excellent choice. The author provides a tantalizing and mysterious context of a Victorian scientist’s heartbreak distracting him during his work. What happens next in the macabre setting of a nighttime graveyard blurs genre lines of horror, romance, and fantasy. A perfect lunch break read for those with a love of the sinister.”
The inspiration behind “A Kiss in the Rain” came from the same source as my horror short story “Twenty Minutes” and award-winning, hall-of-fame poem “New York Rain,” both published several times over the past year. Currently, “Twenty Minutes,” as well as my dark poem “Look Into My Eyes,” both first seen in SNM Horror Mag, will be a part of The Sirens Call “Women in Horror Month” eZine. “New York Rain,” my most popular poem, has been a part of the Bar None Group’s Hall of Fame since it first appeared there in 2011. It has since won a library award and is currently featured at The Rusty Nail along with another short story “Final Word.”
For a complete list of my published works and where you can read them, often for free, please visit my blog Caught in the Cogs at http://omgrey.wordpress.com, also a place to keep up with my fiction writing and nonfiction discussions on the dark side of love and romance. Subscribe today!
Thank you all so much for your support over the years. Now that I’m back in that proverbial saddle, I hope to be contributing to STEAMED! as a visiting Lolita more often, perhaps book reviews as I had once done years ago. In the mean time, please read some of my work, as there is much available for free, and if you like it, leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads, then consider supporting my work by purchasing “A Kiss in the Rain” and Avalon Revisited. Stay in touch by commenting on my blog, as I answer every single one, or just follow along silently, and you’ll be the first to know when a new dark treat from the cobwebbed corners of my mind is available to be devoured.
For now, leave me a comment here and ask a question to win your very own copy of “A Kiss in the Rain” PDF. Comments accepted through 11:59pm CST Saturday, February 16th. I’ll chose a winner on February 17th. Be sure to leave your email address so that I might notify you of your good fortune.
May you all find peace.
~O. M. Grey
“A Kiss in the Rain” http://goo.gl/1wGqw
Avalon Revisited:
eBook: http://t.co/96ECerwM
Paperback: http://goo.gl/YSSKa
About AVALON REVISITED
Arthur Tudor has made his existence as a vampire bearable for over three hundred years by immersing himself in blood and debauchery. Aboard an airship gala, he meets Avalon, an aspiring vampire slayer who sparks fire into Arthur’s shriveled heart. Together they try to solve the mystery of several horrendous murders on the dark streets of London. Cultures clash and pressures rise in this sexy Steampunk Romance.
How much say do you have in the design of the cover? Avalon Revisited seems influenced by the Parasol Protectorate, which is not a bad series to be associated with. Best of luck with everything!
Actually, the book was inspired, in part, by Soulless. Brilliant book.
The cover was designed by the very talented Catherine Somerlot, and I don’t think she ever read that series. The updated cover through Riverdale’s re-release added the text on the front. I didn’t have any say over that, but I love what they did with it!
Thanks for the good wishes!
Pick me, PICK ME!
I never win anything!
Thanks for commenting, Jenni! I’m choosing the winner via Random.org in a few minutes! Stay tuned!
Very cool. I like the premise.
Thanks, Clarence! And thank you for commenting!
I’m always up for a good read. Count me in.
Excellent, Steven! Thanks for participating!
I’m always excited to hear about a new story from Ms. Grey. :)
You are such a sweetie, Matt.
I look forward to exploring your work!
Wonderful, Bek! I look forward to your thoughts!
Sounds like a great book… I am facinated with Steampunk… very unique.
Thanks so much, Debbie. Steampunk is quite fun.
I shall leave this comment here, perhaps just in the very nick of time. And so, as you take in the morning morrow with a cup of something steeped or percolated, you might just happen to choose … me.
Cheers.
As soon as I finish answering all these comments that for some reason didn’t load last night (I though no one else came!), I’ll be choosing the winner! Stay tuned, my dear. xo
Hmm. A question. What led to the Steampunk romance genre, and where to from here?
Wow. That’s a long answer. The brief answer is while looking for an agent in 2009, everyone wanted “Steampunk” — never heard of it before, so I did research and fell in love. The persona O. M. Grey was an experiment, and I had always wanted to write Arthur Tudor into a story. After reading SOULLESS, I had the idea to combine paranormal romance with this new thing called Steampunk…and break all the rules as O. M. Grey.
Worked quite well.
Where to now? —- more stories, more stories, more stories. I’ve been writing rather dark stories, some romance — some not. My published said she feels like she’s publishing a female Poe, and I couldn’t be more honored to have that description.
Come into the darkness with me.
Love your work! Was so sorry to hear about your husband’s accident but I am happy he is ok. I have read Zombies and I am looking forward to Revisited. I had to put reading on hold due to grad school. I am excited about a sequel to Revisited. I have read many good things. I will definitely have to check out more of your short stories.
He’s doing quite well, actually. Thank you!
So pleased you’ve read The Zombies of Mesmer, Michelle. I’m writing that sequel in April. Long overdue. As for Avalon Revisited, I hope you enjoy that one. It’s very different than Zombies. Revamped even more so.
Please do check out more short stories! You can find a lot of them for free at http://omgrey.wordpress.com/published-works/
Looking forward to your thoughts!
I don’t need to win Kiss in the Rain as I’ve already purchased and I love it, but wanted to put my 2 cents in for an awesome writer. My next purchase will be Avalon Revisited, can’t wait.
Oooh! I can’t wait for your thoughts on AR, Donna! Thanks!
Please consider writing a short review for “A Kiss in the Rain” on Amazon. Just a sentence or two would be so helpful!
http://goo.gl/1wGqw
That I will do though I don’t write reviews well. I always start and think I’m either being repetative or not expressing what I really want to get across. That’s why appreciative creative authors so much, it’s something I’m not.
No worries!! It doesn’t have to be clever or witty or anything, really. Just speak from the heart. Even a simple “I really enjoyed this story. It grabbed me and kept me hooked” is a HUGE help!
I have to say you have overcome so much. You amaze me. You have accomplished so much while dealing with everything. How do you focus on writing while so much is going on around you? You posted how you rocked the Revamped rough draft. Does the writing help you deal with everyday stress? Keep going strong you are awsome and an inspiration!
Thank you, Cyndi! How wonderful for you to say! :)
Well, I didn’t focus on writing when I was in the thick of it. I couldn’t, with the exception of a short story here and there, which is why I have so many now.
I did totally rock the Revamped rough draft, even with the accident and loss of Oreo, which I’m very proud of. Avalon Revamped was very cathartic for me, as you can imagine by reading about the plot. Very cathartic, indeed. Once I was able to function again and focus, and with the support and encouragement of my husband sat down to write this sequel, of sorts, which I’m afraid no one will read because of the darkness, I finally gave in and wrote the book I needed to write, whether or not it will be marketable. Even with the accident and loss, it became a sort of solace for me, the sequel draft.
Once I knew my husband would first, live, and second, walk again, nothing else mattered. He would be okay. Then, finding my dog in such a state was another set back, but my newly strengthened boundaries and rage from my attacks last year got me through that and back to writing, where I could pour such anger and find the justice that is so desperately lacking in this world.
xo
Have you ever thought of having a dash of b/w illustrations in your books, such as Zombies of Mesmer? Which I absolutely loved by the way!
I’m so thrilled your loved Zombies! It’s a fun little book, and I’m looking forward to tackling the sequel.
Having a dash of illustrations in my books would be AWESOME! I would love that so much, and we inquired about it for one of the books, Zombies, I think, actually, but it would’ve cost much more than we could afford, I’m afraid.
One day, no doubt. :)
A rerelease with illustrations, a special edition”, would be awesome.
That would, indeed! I was considering a re-release with a new cover, maybe expanded prose, too.
But that’s a lot of work!
congratulations on reaching your goal for your first draft, can’t wait to read the sequel to Avalon Revisited
Excellent! I’m anxious about how it will be received, but if you like dark fantasy with a hint of crime/mystery, you should like it just fine.
I don’t have any questions for you, honestly.
I’m so happy to know that your husband will heal fully and that you are doing well. As well as can be expected anyway. Your new buddy boy is a beautiful friend. I was sad to see the circumstances of your buddy before. It’s a sucky situation to think you have people you can count on and find out the hard way that they really are not worthy.
I wish the best for both you and Ethan……….I really enjoy your writing and am happy to have the interaction with you. You both take care and heal well and quickly.
Hello Lanae!
I’m so pleased you enjoy my writing and interactions. I really enjoy connecting with you as well!!
I was rather devastated by the loss of my buddy boy, but, yes, Buster is a doll. He’s a very good boy. Although he’s still very new and I’ll have that feeling every so often of –who are you and where is Oreo? Bronte? Star? — but Buster is such a good dog and we’re becoming a family again. If we could only get Shadow, the cat, to come out of hiding! It’s been 2 weeks…I’m resorting to Rescue Remedy now. Something’s gotta give! ;-)
It’s a surprise that you had gone through a lot and still be able to write stories for us to read. How many short stories do you still have to work on?
My goal this year is to write one a month, at least, while catching up with the novels I’ve neglected for the past three. So far, I’m on schedule. The story I wrote last month, “For the Love of a Book,” was published in the WE LOVE NY anthology to benefit the Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts.
http://goo.gl/bkTWk
In fact, if you head over to my blog and comment there, you could win a copy of that!
http://omgrey.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/we-love-ny-a-hurricane-sandy-benefit-anthology/
This month, just a few days ago, in fact, I wrote a story called “Come To Me” for Penumbra. Penumbra is a professional market that’s on my goal list, mid-level. Hopefully they love it! If not, I’ll try again next month and submit “Come To Me” somewhere else.
Since 2010, I’ve written 22 short stories, and I hope to have at least 10 more by the end of the year. :)
Considering what the author has overcome;not just in the past year, but throughout the years, I must say I am exceptionally proud of and happy for O.M. Grey
I love you so much, my dear friend. xo
Olivia: A “Kiss in the Rain” sounds so cool! I hope I can get a copy! Sorry I missed your deadline to get a free copy! You are on a roll! I’ll be at NTIF again. My best to you!
We’re in CA now, Rickey, so we won’t be at NTIF this year, but I hope you have a very successful show!
Thank you so much for participating even if you missed the deadline. Interested in beta reading sometime? Shoot me an email!
xo
And the winner is…. Michelle Holloway! — thanks to Random.org —
Michelle! Email me steampunkgrey (at) gmail (dot) com, and I’ll send you your free PDF! Thank you everyone for entering to win!!!