Where Dreams Come From…
Do you close your eyes at night and have visions pass before
your eyes, your heart races, your body sweats. Your deepest and wildest
adventures become reality. Of course, we all experience dreams and the many
sensations that brings to us. But what inspires those dreams? Where do we come
up with the material to keep dreaming about?
My dreams come from my escapes. What escapes do you have?
Mine come from books, movies, friends and my imagination.
The earliest dreams I remember having were flying on the
broomstick with the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz. She was the
start of my obsession with an amazing antagonist. I require no less than the
best. My world, the Algula world, has
these amazing men and women who are horrible beings. They take what nightmares
are made of and spew onto the pages. But they also leave you wanting more,
wanting to know why, wanting to know how they came to be.
The Wicked Witch of the West gave me the ideas that even the
bad guy needs to be loved. All she wanted were the slippers that her sister
had. Is that so bad? Sure, she wanted to rule the munchkins and make them her
slaves, but what antagonist doesn’t like that. What I was lacking from that movie/books is
the why, why is she the way she is, why is she green why is she so hateful. I
NEED TO KNOW!
Because of my incisive need to know WHY I made sure that my
villains in The Blood Series had their voices heard too. What’s better than
knowing the inner workings of evil and what makes them tick.
Take Dominic for example. He is one cruel and demented
vampire. But those of you who have read the book know that he’s the way he is
because of his father Haydar. Haydar resented him for his wife dying in
childbirth up to the point of saying he was the actual cause of death. Never
mind the fact that the Algula have a low birthrate and survival rate. That it
is just part of their make-up to have fertility issues. No Haydar took it to an
extreme. My readers feel sorry for Dominic. The want him to get help, feel
loved, have that approval he sought out for hundreds of years.
I think being able to identify with all of the characters is
important, even if they are the ‘bad guys.’ I think that is how a reader can
really become vested in the author and the series. Especially if the bad guys
are a constant figure in the books.
Example: Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Stryker. One Silent Night is not
only an excellent book but it is there to help us the reader dive deeper into
Stryker’s Psyche. He’s leader of the Daimons and they are a revolving evil in
her world. To me, it’s great knowing WHY they do what they do. Don’t you feel
bad for them; don’t you want him to seek revenge on Apollo and what he had done
to his own people? I know I do.
So this is my two cents on why I love making bad guys the
way I do and why I LOVE a good book bad guy.
And…for a future FYI, Author Stacy Moran is working on her
debut novel Blood Myth and there is a bad guy in there that will make you
shiver, your core wet and your heart go pitter patter. Stay tuned for Tanerk
Rau.
"In a world we think
we know, live other races entirely hidden from the mortal perspective.
Creatures of legend, of fable and myth, their very history and nature have
allowed them to walk side by side with humans since time immemorial. They are
warriors, they are hunters, and they are Algula Vampire. And in their own
midst, a battle is brewing for supremacy, for dominance, that can and will
affect all around them. Old hatred never dies and vengeance is a fiery sword
that cuts a bloody swath."
About the Author:
Ashley is married and lives in
Houston with her husband Tony. They have two dogs named Toto and Doogie. They
have been together for almost 8 years and he brings her more joy than she could
ever imagine as a child. She loves to read and has been hooked on the romance
genre ever since her lifelong best friend Laura gave her "Ashes to Ashes'
by Tami Hoag to read when they were younger.
Ashley finds her strength through her
family, especially her parents. They always support her in life and they push
her to strive for greatness. There once was a motto that Ashley heard in her
youth through her Taekwondo life 'Reach for the Stars' and that is what Ashley
has always done. It was through her upbringing that the values Ashley has and
display's came from. With her Parents always cheering her on in life she was
able to grow up having faith in herself and her ability to conquer the world.
Ashley Nemer is giving away one ebook copy of Blood Purple to one random commenter!!
