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FANTASY SHORT STORY – First Edition New Magazine

Look what just arrived in my hot little hands…the first ever edition of SCAFFOLDING MAGAZINE!

How to Scalp a Doll - Rosemary A JohnsMy short story – HOW TO SCALP A DOLL – was commissioned for this special first edition.

Danny, a lonely long distance driver, is trapped in a world of human trafficking. He saw the slaves as no more than dolls. Until one day, he broke his boss’ rule, opened the back of the truck and looked inside…

The sea was a smudge of blue against the horizon; the salt was sharp on the dead air. Danny stiffened. For a moment, when he stared out across the beach, he saw rows of scalps, no longer miniature but life-size – brunette, blond, and bald. Danny blinked. And then they were gone.

The magazine also includes an interview with me.

Rosemary A Johns - fantasy author

 

I discuss the short story…

The girls are invisible because they’re viewed as less than human.

…why I write fantasy…

…it allows me to give a voice to the forgotten. Or the deliberately hidden.

…and freedom.

The free have choices. But that’s often hard to face. Ourselves.

The Editor reviews BLOOD DRAGONS:

‘The kind of book you’re likely to pick up a second time, finding new dimensions…an empowering book…about true love. It is a book with formidable literary ambition. Rebel to the core, Rosemary trailblazers through stigma… Highly recommended. 5*

Click here to read more.

Scaffolding Magazine

 

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REBEL VAMPIRES OFFICIAL FAN PAGE

As REBEL VAMPIRES has its first birthday, it now has its own Official Fan Page!

I’ll be posting directly to Rebels there: excerpts, events, and exclusives.

Plus links to an closed readers group – Rosemary’s Rebels – as well.

Here is the last post:

Light discovers the horrifying truth…
‘There’s always something worse than dying, and there’s always someone in First or Blood Life who’ll find a way to inflict it. When I flicked my lighter, the flame jumped. For a moment, I was mesmerised. Then I bent down and lit the boiling flood…’

Come and follow the adventure into Blood Life on its Official Page!

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ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY – Light’s Birthday!

‘What’s this, then?’ Light swaggers to the table, swiping his finger through the cream.

I smile. ‘It’s your birthday cake. Do you like the fangs?’

Light raises his eyebrow, as he slowly sucks the cream from his finger. ‘Couldn’t find any with cute vampires and bat wings?’

‘That’s sarcasm, right?’ I push him down into a chair.

‘Oi, mind the leathers.’ Light tilts his nut. ‘What’s all this in aid of then, luv?’

‘One year ago Blood Dragons was published. Rebel Vampires has been all around the world for a year: Blood Shackles and Blood Renegades too. Books, rock anthems, Rebel Gear clothes and accessories, and jewelry… It’s been a whirlwind.’

‘Whirlwind? We’re celebrating my election to Blood Life? Near death? Enslavement? Trial as a traitor..?’

‘Love. Heroic battles. Rebel Age!’

‘Enough said,’ Light grins, his fangs shooting out, as he bounces up, ‘let’s kick off this party. Where’s the Guinness?’

I grab a cold bottle of Guinness from underneath the table and pass it to Light; his eyes gleam. ‘Happy birthday, Light!’

~ Rosemary

 

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AN INTERVIEW WITH LIGHT – Rebel Here, Yeah?

This week Light – the Rocker rebel main character in my Rebel Vampires series – was interviewed on the Mary R Woldering Blog.

Here are the 5 of the highlights! 

1.Tell us where and when were you born.

Tricky one that because I was both born and reborn. My first birth was in Victorian London as a First Lifer. My second was into the glorious darkness of Blood Life when my red-haired gorgeous nightmare of an Author – Ruby – elected me.

2. How would you describe yourself?

I’ll never be human again – always on the outside, looking in. I’m a caged predator, battling the dark, as bit by bit it consumes me. Of course, I’m also a bad boy Rocker rebel with a cracking leather coat. What more do you want – blood?

3. Tell us about where you grew up.

Just outside the bustle of London – always craving for something more because the world never seemed big enough. But it was Ruby who shook the boyhood from me. Then it was my Moon Girl in the 1960s who opened my eyes to the truth: there’s no divide between our species. That was the moment I grew up.

4. Past/ present relationships? How did they affect you?

I thought Blood Life meant freedom: from society’s rules, family and control. I was wrong. For over a century Ruby and I carved out a path of crimson carnage aflame with our love alone. But I was a daft berk to ever believe that. It took a human to show me love could be free. Yet I’d reckoned myself the predator and humans the prey? I was wrong about that too. I may battle for redemption but the battle for my species’ freedom – for the right to love, family and home – that one I’m still fighting.

5. How do your beliefs make life better for yourself and the people you care about?

My family need me to be the leader. Christ in heaven is that hard. I was always trying to save the world, even in my First Life – even though the cost is usually too high. Because there’s always a price. Yet someone has to take a stand when the system becomes so corrupt. Someone has to light the match to the rebellion…sodding frightening that it’s me… Welcome to the Rebel Age!

Read Light’s full interview here.

Start your escape into Blood Life today. Click here. 

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5 OF THE BEST FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION REBELS

Rebel Vampires fantasy series

Rebel here, yeah?

Rebel Vampires fantasy series Rosemary A JohnsThat’s the rallying cry – or the misfit call to individuality at the heart of my series Rebel Vampires. In fact, it’s the core of every book I write: there’s a reason they’re called ‘Fantasy for Rebels‘.

Yet rebellion – against corrupt societies, conformity, kings or patriarchs has been one side of both fantasy and science fiction’s coin.

On the other?

A style of fantasy that conforms to safe patterns: yearns back to a time when men were men, women were women and peasants knew their place…even if they were all elves.

So to celebrate the rebel in fantasy, here are Five of the Best Fantasy and Science Fiction Rebels:

 

5. V for Vandetta: Alan Moore. V is an anarchist: violent and vengeful. His porcelain Guy Fawkes mask is also the influence for Anonymous and activist groups in the real world. How’s that for subversive fiction?

4. The Handmaid’s Tale: Margaret Atwood. All right, so who’s not watching this right now? Interesting thing about the book? EVERY main character in it is a rebel, even though this is a nightmare world. Each one disobeys Gilead’s Laws, either with active resistance or rebellion within their family. No rule can be absolute.

3. The Dispossessed: Ursula K. Le. Guin. The unlikely rebel here is a physicist. How he rebels? By questioning: neither the anarchy of one world not the pacifism of the other is perfect. There’s no such place as Utopia? Yeah, got it.

2. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress: Robert A. Heinlein. This is a true novel of rebellion: a moon colony – an underground penal colony that’s like the Old West – rebels against Earth. The term ‘Rational Anarchist‘ is invented.

1. A Song of Ice and Fire: George R. R. Martin. Where to start? The whole series is a sequence of political machinations, military campaigns, and rebellions. The obvious is Robert’s Rebellion but the one that sums up the spirit..? It’s the Mother of Dragons’ attempts to give the control back to the slaves, so they’ll free themselves in Slavers Bay. Daenerys is the ultimate rebel: against her place in life, her gender, her role and for freedom. What’s not to love?

Like Daenerys, in Rebel Vampires Light rebels against his role and for freedom. He finds himself in both a human and Blood Lifer world, which is corrupt and controlling.

Sometimes rebellion is less dangerous than hiding in the shadows…

So who’s your favourite rebel in fantasy?

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EMPOWERING FANTASY – How Books Can Break Down Walls

Blood Dragons was featured in the first edition of the literary magazine Scaffolding:

5* “The kind of book you are likely to pick up for a second time…an empowering book” – Scaffolding Magazine

From my days as a teenager spellbound by the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer every week (dangerous thrills wrapped in snarky comedy…learn from the best), I’ve loved the idea that fantasy can be empowering…and fun.

I only write what I’m passionate about – a writer’s voice should be in their works.

As a playwright I loved to challenge audiences: make them laugh one minute, cry the next. Always? Question one little lie society teaches us, as Light would say, ‘cradle to the grave’: money makes you happy, disabled people can’t succeed, old people are boring or democracy can’t fail.

Trick of it is to create a world, characters and plot so exciting that readers are pulled into these questions.

“A book that stands behind causes, that advocates inclusion, that denounces walls and barriers.”

Light is a Blood Lifer and Kathy is a human. Their love is forbidden. In the wild 1960s Light realises that not as much divides the species as he’s always been taught. That maybe Blood Life isn’t about freedom but control.

That love can be free…

“Trailblazes through the stigma of mental health and disability in some of the most authentic ways we’ve ever read.”

My son is an autistic savant: everything he sees he remembers. My main character’s chief talent is his photographic memory: living as a vampire and witnessing all the glories and horrors, this becomes both a blessing and a curse.

His first true friend is an autistic vampire. Both elected because of their exceptional talents.

“A book with a formidable literary ambition… Highly recommended.” 

In Rebel Vampires Light battles for love, family or home. Always he fights for freedom. Those walls and barriers? Light won’t rest until they’re tumbled down, smashed at his feet.  Welcome to the Rebel Age!

Start your rebel adventure into Blood Dragons here!

Blood Dragons Rebel Vampires Volume 1 - Rosemary A Johns
BUY NOW

 

 

 

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QUIZ- ARE YOU A REBEL BLOOD LIFER?

Rebel Gear Range Blood Lifer Men's T-shirt
Buy Now

Happy Father’s Day! 

I hope all the dads are being pampered! To celebrate in BLOOD LIFE style – I’m featuring the NEW Men’s T-SHIRT in the Rebel Gear Range, which we’ve brought out so guys can be like Light – Rebels to the core!

Shhhh… I bought it for my son to give to my husband; my husband has to work…so he’ll get it when he comes home… Yes, he’s MY Light…

Do you have your OWN Rebel Light…or are YOU that Blood Lifer..?

Here’s a quick QUIZ I posted at my Release Party. Why not take it and see if you’re a Blood Lifer and proud of it?

 

Are You a True Rebel Like Light?

If someone annoys you WOULD YOU..?

  1. Give them the two finger salute?
  2. Do nothing – but there’s always a way to get someone behind their back.
  3. Feel sorry for them – after all, they must have low self-esteem.

You’re hunted and turned into a slave. What do you do?

  1. Battle to save my species – no one sodding enslaves me!
  2. I don’t do slavery…it doesn’t go with my suits.
  3. Hide

What’s your most powerful weapon?

  1. Fangs and fists – but words are bleeding powerful too.
  2. Failing that? Torture.
  3. My salmon en croute – goes down a treat at dinner parties.

If you’ve answered mainly ‘3’? You’re not even the sidekick, more like the guy who makes an appearance for one scene, before Light rescues you. Sounds cushy.

If you’ve answered mainly ‘2’? Now I’m scared. You’re not Light, you’re the villain: more like Captain in Blood Renegades. Are you certain you’re not a Blood Lifer?

If you’ve answered mainly ‘1’? Light? Is that you? Rebel here, yeah? Welcome to Blood Life…

What did you get?

REBEL VAMPIRES is the AMAZON NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING series. Blood Renegades is on sale at 0.99 now.

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I LOVE VAMPIRE BOOKS BECAUSE… Five of the Best Reasons

I’ve always been passionate about the paranormal: vampires, werewolves, angels, demons and fae…

Vampire books are not only the first books I decided to write in the genre, however, they’re the first books I READ in it too: BRAM STOKER’S Dracula (1897), ANNE RICE’S The Vampire Lestat (1985) and POPPY Z BRITE’S Lost Souls (1992).

But why do you love vampire books?

BLOOD RENEGADES‘ Release Party this week was EPIC.

As Blood Renegades is about a British vampire anti-hero battling towards redemption, one of the contests asked my blinding guests to complete the line: ‘I love vampire books because…’

Here are Five of the Best Reasons To Love Vampire Books!

  1. Marsha:  I love vampire books because the main character has so much to their personality and you can mold them how you want them.
  2. Sarah: Romance, fighting, the thrill, the excitement…I love vampire books because it’s the first thing that has saved me when I needed to be saved the most.
  3. Samantha: Because they keep me on the edge of my seat, and they are totally AWESOMETASTICAL.
  4. Michelle: I love to escape with an awesome supernatural character!!
  5. Jennifer: They are magical and sexy. The mystery and allure. Their immortality and strength are exciting.

And CONGRATULATIONS to the winner ERIN!

‘I love vampire books because they let me escape reality and enjoy a world of total fantasy and nonstop excitement!! The intensity of the characters goes unrivaled by any other books I’ve read! Its like combining action with mystery, magic, paranormal, fantasy and suspense all into one category!! Its a completely thrilling ride when you get submerged in a story like these!’

Blood Renegades is out now at the release price of 0.99.

 

 

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NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER – Blood Renegades Release

Yesterday Blood Renegades – the third book in the award-winning Rebel Vampires series – was released by Fantasy Rebel. By the end of the day it had hit Number One Bestseller in its Category and broken top 10 in a number of others.

I’ve been working on Blood Renegades since before Christmas. But the core idea has been there since the very start of the series.

Some of the mysteries? The powerful Long-liveds, villains, twists and turns, big picture that suddenly falls into place..? I’ve been bouncing on the balls of my feet – like Light – with excitement to let people in on for a year now… So this week? It’s a great feeling!

My Blog Tour continues until the 20th June. Find where I’ll be on the Events page.

My Release Party was EPIC – thanks to everyone who rocked it!

I’ve loved love fantasy, as well as vampires, ever since I was a kid reading through my mum’s collection and losing myself in their world… then as a teenager watching them on TV and falling in love all over again.

But with Rebel Vampires I wanted to reinvent things with a twist. A new British myth, with a rebel anti-hero that I was as passionate about, as the books I read.

When you get to Release Weeks, it’s all about finally opening out to readers the world and characters you’ve been building in your own head. Letting them in your own secret world.

And then holding your breath…

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