writing

END OF SUMMER 0.99 SALE AND BOOK REVIEW – ‘A Paranormal Version of The Notebook’

Blood Dragons - Rosemary A Johns

As we come to the end of summer – a wet but humid one where I live – BLOOD DRAGONS is on 0.99 sale to celebrate before the return to school rush.

This week BLOOD DRAGONS was reviewed by the prestigious YA BOOK CENTRAL.

Totally pulls off different. The reader falls in love with Light. A paranormal version of The Notebook. You will feel a bit heartbroken throughout, you will have emotional stakes in the action scenes, and you will feel uplifted by the end.

Like novels, every review, newspaper, magazine or blog has its own review style.

Light is an edgy and outspoken vampire with a wry sense of humor.

YA Book Central grades in a range of categories (which it then discusses), including character, plot and world building. BLOOD DRAGONS scored 5* in each category.

There are many intricacies in the paranormal world-building; Vampire powers, history, culture, and biochemistry.

Blood Dragons - Rebel Vampires series by Rosemary A Johns

What I love about the review, however, is the in depth way it discusses the book: insightful and passionate. There’s enough mystery and debate for a book club to run with – or to excite a reader without giving away spoilers.

This is not your typical paranormal story.

Dive into Blood Life for only 0.99 until September 1st HERE.

rebel vampires vampire series - Blood Dragons

August 23, 2017 0

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

August 10, 2017 0

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.

June 28, 2017 0

5 OF THE BEST FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION REBELS

Rebel Vampires fantasy series

Rebel here, yeah?

Rebel Vampires fantasy series Rosemary A Johns That’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?

June 26, 2017 0

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

June 21, 2017 0

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…

June 14, 2017 0

REBEL READERS – My Name Is Light…

Two days to go until the release of Blood Renegades and this has been an exciting few weeks. Rebel Vampires has been seen on:

This last year has been quite a journey. I’ve written about love, family, and home. I’ve followed my passion for freedom and the individual. Now I’m not just one Rebel: we’re all Rebel Readers challenging this new modern-day world.

Now it’s almost time for Light to tell his story in Blood Renegades:

My name is Light. In 14 nights I’ll go up in flames. In 14 nights I’ll die for my family. In 14 nights I’ll save the world…

The terrorist Renegades sacrificial betrayed me. The ambitious Blood Life Council craves to burn me. My interrogator is trying to break me – one secret at a time.

And me?

I’m bleeding tickety-boo, mate.

My name is Light. Predator. Slave. Freedom fighter.

And I’m the bloody hero.

Blood Renegades releases on Tuesday 13th June. Buy it on pre-order here for 0.99.

Vampire Book - Blood Renegades - Rosemary A Johns — BUY NOW

June 11, 2017 0

0.99 PRE-ORDER OF BLOOD RENEGADES… One Week until Release…

What would you do if your government accused you of being the leader of a terrorist cult known as the Renegades? If you had only 14 days to give your witness to an Inquiry, before you were tried in court and then burnt at the stake?

What if your interrogator had been trained to hate you, but if you couldn’t convince them there were conspiracies, secrets and enemies risking the entire world…then you wouldn’t be the only one facing death?

Would you risk everything to free the world..?

Rebel Vampires series - Rosemary A Johns Dive into the perfect escape: a sizzling supernatural world that will leave your heart pounding and your pulse racing. The REBEL VAMPIRES series is a must-read for lovers of vampires, paranormal suspense and fantasy.

Dare to venture into the thrilling pages of BLOOD RENEGADES and lose yourself in the story of Light: the British vampire who is a lover, rebel and anti-hero.

Light lives for his vampire family. Now he may die for it.

Betrayal. Death. Hope. Isn’t that how all truly great stories start?

Blood Renegades (Rebel Vampires Volume 3) By Rosemary A Johns ‘Red flames dragon-like flew up into the silence of the night. There was the shatter of windows imploding. The smash of centuries-old walls falling in on themselves. The roar of panelled walls and that posh staircase turned to crackling, as ash billowed into the stormy sky. I’d seen it before on Mann. I’d been the cause. I’ve never been frightened of the flames. Yet this time..? The slavers hadn’t a scooby what they’d unleashed from the shadows – in all of us. Now I knew what this was more like – what we were – and it wasn’t freedom fighters. It was terrorists.’

Blood Renegades

***** “A thrilling fantasy animated by a huge conflict…compelling. Light is courageous, free, and a great lover. A great read – gripping and entertaining.”
– Christian Sia, Readers’ Favorite 5*

Would you hide in the shadows…or walk out into the light..?

Pre-order here now for the reduced price of only 0.99.

June 7, 2017 0

REBEL GEAR – New Fantasy Rebel Merchandise Revealed

Fantasy Rebel has announced a new range of quality exclusive mugs, t-shirts and accessories in the Rebel Gear Range.

FANTASY REBEL is here to put the rebel back into books. The individual. Not the conformer. So every reader can escape into a spellbinding world. And fall in love with the rebels fighting their way off the page.