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NEW RELEASE BLOG TOUR – Blood Renegades Blog Tour Starts Today!

The first half of Blood Renegades’ month long Blog Tour kicks off today! The second half is a week long Release Blitz from the 13th – 20th June, when Blood Renegades is on sale at 0.99.

Find me each day at these blinding blogs. Follow the tour, comment, ask me whatever you like and join in the giveaways!

June 2- The Silver Dagger Scriptorium

June 2- The Cheshire Cat’s Looking Glass

June 3- Indie Wish List

June 3- Mythical Books

June 4- Nicole’s Book Musings

June 4- Mello & June

June 5- Anna Del C Dye

June 5- Blog of Author Jacey Holbrand

June 6- SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews

june 6,- Pick A Genre Already

June 7- The Kronicles of Korthlundia

June 7- Susan Heim on Writing

June 8- Rainnes Ramblings

June 8- Bound 2 Escape

June 9- The Book Town

June 9- Laurie’s Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews

June 10- The Pen and Muse Book Reviews

June 10- GypsyBelle

June 12- U.S. – Brazil Book Review

June 12- The Blackwood Blog

June 13-Tales of A Wanna-Be SuperHero Mom

June 13-Teatime and Books

June 14- Deep In the Crease – REVIEW

June 14-Queen of All She Reads

June 15- The Authors Blog

June 15- A Mama’s Corner of the World

June 16- The Avid Reader

June 16- Julayn Adams Books and Reviews

June 17- Casey’s Corner

June 17- 6 Feet Under Books

June 19- Lisa-Queen of Random

June 19- Yah gotta read this

June 20- A Bluestocking’s Place

June 20-Jazzy Book Reviews

June 21- Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

June 21- Turning Another Page

June 22- Sylv.net

June 22-Just a Little R&R

June 23-The Bookworm Chronicles

June 23-Triquetra Reviews

June 24- The Literary Apothecary

June 24- Land of Oyr

June 26- fundinmental

June 26-The Reading Spot

June 27-Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

June 27-Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’

June 28- Shh, I Am Reading

June 28-Angels With Attitude Book Reviews

June 29-Traci Hayden

June 29-The Bewitched Reader

June 30-Wonderful World of Books

June 30-Indie Wish List

July 1- CelticLady’s Reviews

July 2- Paranormal Romance and Beyond

See you during the tour! Blood Renegades is out now on paperback and live for e-book pre-order.

Blood Renegades releases on the 13th June.

June 2, 2017 0

THREE OF THE MOST EXCITING FANTASY TRILOGIES…EVER!

Trilogies. There’s something about the structure of three books connected with the same characters, heroes and villains, world and theme, building to a thrilling climax that’s more satisfying than any other structure.

Each book can be standalone, so they can be read without the others. And the series can continue into further arcs of trilogies – each one building and building, like a volcano, with suspense…

Tolkien’s famous trilogy was meant to be one – whopping – book. If he’d had his way.

My series Rebel Vampires is a trilogy – the third book Blood Renegades is out June 13th.

Unlike Tolkien Rebel Vampires was planned as the first arc trilogy in a longer series. The structure is built around this.

Three is itself a magical number to Light – the savant vampire and lead character.

Blood Dragons is about Light’s discovery of love. Blood Shackles builds to Light’s battle for family and the third..? Like the best trilogies, Blood Renegades is the climax. The dark before the light: the war, revelation and battle for home.

I love fantasy trilogies. Here are Three of the Most Exciting Fantasy Trilogies…Ever!

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman: An epic trilogy that spans Oxford to parallel universes and is a coming of age tale for two children: Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry. Perfect world building: both strange and familiar at the same time. Intelligent…but never forgetting the witches.
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin: Beautiful and fascinating. Yeine, a young woman from a matriarchal warrior culture is called to the city of Sky, the ruling capital of the world, where she must fight to become heir in a society of humans and shackled gods.
Rebel Vampires by Rosemary A Johns. A must-read for lovers of unique paranormal suspense, vampires and urban fantasy. The story of Light: the British vampire who is a lover, rebel and anti-hero. In a world where the humans act like the monsters, vampires are both predator and prey. Light must save the women he loves, his family, species and maybe even the world…

So what are your favourite fantasy trilogies?

May 22, 2017 0

SPECIAL EDITION VAMPIRE THEME SONG – Forevermore London Bound

A new special edition Euromix has been released by Dark A.C.E. Records of Rebel Vampires‘ Theme Song.

This is a goth rock and London punk explosion by band Off the Realm: Forevermore.

Described by listeners as: ‘gothic sound with an urban, mechanical edge and dark, emotional lyrics that grab you and don’t let go. It’s beautiful in a goose bumps way. This is my new favorite band. Highly recommend. It’s rare to fall in love with a band the first time you hear their music.’ 5*

Buy now for $0.89 or £0.79: Amazon

iTunes

The video contains all the dark and glory of the novels: Light’s journey through World War One, 1960s London and the side the tourists never see. It’s beautiful and frightening all at once: a love song for London, yet holds the pain of a humanity lost and fought for.

Light the vampire from Rebel Vampires series - Rosemary A Johns

In lightning flashes – or the light shows of the First World War (or the headlights of Light’s motorcycle) – the lyrics blind you. Each one speaks to the heart of Light: ‘Your redemption, your slave/ I submit to you/But never these laws of man…’

Rosemary A Johns - Fantasy Writer

Plus there’s one shot of me…except starring in red as Ruby – Light’s Author and the ‘gemstone’ of the song.

As a music fanatic, it was going to take one blinding band and one awesome song to get my blessing. Somewhere between Linkin Park, Kings of Leon and Nothing But Thieves..? Yeah, Off the Realm is my new favourite band too.

Dive into the latest rock release here.

Start your escape into Blood Life:

Blood Dragons

Blood Shackles

Blood Renegades

May 7, 2017 0

Mechanical Butterflies and Clockwork Hearts – the New Rebel Vampires Jewelry Range

I love handmade unique pieces of jewelry – especially if there’s a story behind them. Writer here – I find emotion in everything: music, books and the clothes and jewelry I wear. It makes it special. Plus – add a goth or punk spin and I’m sold.

Rebel Vampires Jewelry Collections - Light's SLAVE ring — BUY NOW

A jewelry designer (also a fan of Rebel Vampires) was inspired by my books to create a Rebel Vampires Collection in her shop. See it online here.

It’s everything I love, with the added bonus she understands Light and the books so well that each piece has it’s own deep meaning – there’s even Light’s S.L.A.V.E ring from Blood Shackles.

Our aim? To also make them affordable for everyone. Sorted.

She’s added a new range this spring. So here are my three favourite pieces:

Rebel Vampires Mechanical Butterfly

Who is the predator and who is the prey? In a world where even the butterflies are mechanical – let alone the humans’ mechanical hearts – Light will be burnt at the stake if he can’t judge between hunter and hunted. ‘Forest baroque, like a world had sprung alive amidst twenty-first century tech. Steel, iron and titanium, but swarming with butterflies, moths and flowers. A breathing animal, which could swallow you.’ (Blood Renegades)

Rebel Vampires Es Meus

Es Meus: in Latin means ‘you are mine’. Light isn’t the only one to love obsessively; Blood Lifers and humans crave to own him. It’s only Grayse, however, who loves him enough to free him too: ‘ ‘He’s mine,’ you clutched my wrist so tightly I could feel blood rushing into bruises. ‘I’ll train him.’ (Blood Shackles)

Rebel Vampires Clockwork Heart

Blood Lifers are the apex predator; their venom stops humans’ hearts, as if they were clocks. Like humans aren’t truly alive. Until Light realises the divide between the species isn’t so great, humans aren’t simply prey and maybe their hearts aren’t clockwork if they can love… ‘It’s the natural order. We would not have these,’ as Ruby’s two thin canines extended, Grace squirmed frantically, ‘or our venom, which paralyzes and stops their weak hearts, as if they were clocks.’ (Blood Dragons)

Only a limited number of each piece has been made. So discover the new Rebel Vampires Range and pick up something special.

What piece is your favourite?

May 5, 2017 0

FANTASY SHORT STORIES – New Magazine

I love short stories. They’re the quiet gems of the writing world – done right? They catch your imagination, worm under your skin and squeeze your heart…

The great ones..? You never forget.

A short story is harder to write than a novel. Flash fiction is the hardest of all. I’ve been a traditionally published short story writer since I was fourteen (of course the editor didn’t know I was a kid…)

I write science fiction, fantasy and dark fiction. What I really write? Emotion. That extra something, which will grab you and not let go.

My most recent short story is being featured in the very first edition of a new literary magazine Scaffolding. It’s passionate about the same things I am: inclusion, gender and mental health. The magazine itself pairs the very best writers with the most stunning artists.

The story “How to Scalp a Doll” is dark fiction about a human trafficker who makes the mistake of opening the truck door…then his whole world is turned on its head.

It’s about siblings, fear, loneliness, freedom…and what it means to be alive.

Danny had always hated geese…

Rebel Vampires will also be part of the magazine long-term, offering rewards to readers who subscribe. Click here to find out more.

Start the Rebel Vampires adventure today here.

What’s your favourite short story – and why have you always remembered it?

April 26, 2017 0

REBEL VAMPIRES THEME SONG – Release of New Single by Off The Realm

Off the Realm- Forevermore rock single - Rebel Vampires Theme Song

So you all know I’m a music fanatic..? It’s why I wrote my lead vampire – Light – to be one too. It’s why music is at the heart of Rebel Vampires, and Light falls in love with Kathy in the wild 1960’s London music scene.

Off the Realm – a phenomenal rock band with an edgy, gothic sound and serious head banging guitar – have been inspired by Rebel Vampires to write the song: Forevermore. It’s released this week. And it’s BLINDING!

This is a song about Light: ‘I am the Shadow/ That follows you/ Your redemption, your slave…‘

It ends with a Latin phrase, which means ‘forbidden love’. That’s the heart of the series, but the song catches me every time because it gets to the heart of Light: ‘Enslaved to remember/Afraid of the dark/Afraid of the light…‘

Light - Rebel Vampires This is what Tim Black from Off the Realm says: “Growing up, I was always intrigued by the city of London, (unbeknownst to me, my future wife resided there as well). And I’ve always been a fan of The Beatles, and Hammer Horror Movies, and many other things from British Pop Culture. To this day, London continues to inspire; I mean, twist my arm to write a song about London and vampires?!”

Their sound is unique but it reminds me of Linkin Park, Kings of Leon and Nothing But Thieves.

Light is ‘forevermore London bound…’ This is an inspired theme song for the series.

Grab your copy of this new single on iTunes here.

Want to listen on Amazon? Click here.

What are the best theme songs for vampire books or movies?

April 21, 2017 1

WOMEN IN FANTASY – A Storytime Reading About a Red-haired Devil

Gender in fantasy – and women’s evolving role – is a tricky but interesting subject. Things have come a long way from heroes in epic fantasies rescuing the princess.

Except, have they..?

In urban fantasy, there’s a divide between the human woman being controlled and ultimately sacrificing everything – even her life – for the paranormal male.

This was explored in my most recent panel on Twilight. There’s a reason my human woman chooses to grow old, rather than be elected into Blood Life in Rebel Vampires.

I’ve always wondered why stories focused on vampire males’ obsessions with teenagers…and never followed their lifelong – adult – loves.

It may be partly because an increasing number of paranormal books are Young Adult, so must have young protagonists.

The other side to urban fantasy..? The kick-ass heroine (look at the covers of the top 20 urban fantasy books). This in itself is a stereotype, especially when they don’t have equality but dominance over men.

In Rebel Vampires I write from the British male vampire’s perspective. This meant I could write powerful women into the book but avoid the ‘kick-ass’…

Kathy is human but she’s never controlled by Light. She’s his equal and although he saves the world, she saves him. Blood Dragons (Rebel Vampires Volume One) Award-winning fantasy

Ruby is Light’s ‘red-haired devil, Author, muse, liberator, guide: my gorgeous nightmare.’ His Elizabethan Author, she’s savage, powerful and offers an all-consuming love.

This reading by K Kantis is taken from Blood Dragons. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability, when Ruby for the first time tells Light about her human life: the fear she has of being ‘caged‘ again, ironically means she cages all men, even though she’s desperate to set Light free.

Escape into Blood Life here…

What do you think about women in fantasy? What books have the most interesting female characters?

April 12, 2017 0

VAMPIRES DON’T SPARKLE – Live Fantasy Panel Tonight 7 p.m. EDT

Join me tonight at 7 p.m. LIVE here as I take part in a panel of other vampire authors. The discussion? Vampires don’t sparkle…

Vampires have been with us – through myth, legend and fireside tale – for hundreds of years.

The idea of the immortal – given life through blood – never goes away. It evolves. Clever authors? We reinvent.

In my books, Light has this role.

Vampires can be creatures of horror, fantasy or science fiction. These lines are increasingly blurred: vampires as real creatures alongside humans.

In Rebel Vampires Blood Lifers are a second species, camouflaged predators that are evolved alongside humans. Like G. R. R. Martin’s Fevre Dream, this pushes it into science fiction, as much as dark fantasy/urban fantasy and paranormal suspense.

In Twilight by Stephenie Meyer the vampires sparkle in sunlight because their skin is marble-like. It’s become one of the most quoted phrases…

Blood Dragons Rosemary A Johns Fantasy Vampire Book Rebel Vampires Yet it’s only one of the many faces of the modern-day vampire. Mine? Are dark, adult and in the words of a recent review?

“Take what you know about vampire romance and throw it away. Rosemary A Johns is not only a refreshing new voice in this genre, she excels it. Her vampires are edgy and enticing” – Rockchick Addiction Reviews

There’s room for both types because vampires – like zombies, shifters or angels – represent what each society needs, wants and desires.

I will always love, read, and write them.

So, do vampires sparkle – and should they?

LISTEN IN LIVE TO THE DEBATE HERE.

Blood Dragons

Blood Shackles

Blood Renegades

Blood Renegades - Rebel Vampires 3 - Rosemary A Johns - Vampire Series

April 9, 2017 0

ANNOUNCING WINNERS OF BOOK AWARD – Blood Dragons by Rosemary A Johns

Today the winners of the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2016 were announced. Blood Dragons was on the list of Finalists.

Blood Dragons Rebel Vampires Rosemary A Johns Vampire Book It was a blinding surprise to discover Blood Dragons had won the Silver Award.

To celebrate I wanted to explain why it’s such an important novel to me.

The spark of inspiration for the entire series came from my son who is an autistic savant: everything he sees he remembers.

Light – the lead character – is a savant. I wondered what it would be like for a vampire to live over the centuries and to remember all the wonders and horrors with the clarity of a photograph. Would it be a blessing – or a curse..?

The theme of memory is at its core: identity. As well as what it means to be an individual: the book is for everyone who has ever felt different or alone.

And that? Is everyone on the planet…

Blood Dragons is set in a divided, paranormal London. My dad’s a Londoner, and I wanted my first series to show the ‘dark and glory‘ of London.

I love complex anti-heroes, struggling on thrilling redemptive journeys: cue Light. British male vampires played the role of villain, love interest or sidekick; my British vampire would be the anti-hero telling his own story, in his own words.

Dark, intelligent and subversive. These are the books I love to read and the series I set out to write.

Blood Dragons is close to my heart for so many reasons: it’s an intensely personal novel.

Why is it important to you?

Rosemary A Johns Author Blood Dragons Vampire Novel

April 2, 2017 2

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