Thursday, May 14, 2009

Guest Blogger Jennifer St. Giles: Full Moons, Eerie Places, and Ghostly Orbs

UPDATE: LuAnn and Pam P are the two lucky winners today!! You have both won a copy of KISS OF DARKNESS and BRIDE OF THE WOLF. Please email your physical addys to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces). Thanks to everyone who commented!!
I am often asked where do I get my ideas for my stories and the question always amazes me because for me story is everywhere. In every little snippet of life that strings together the minutes of each day there is a thread of story which can be woven into an unforgettable rich tale by asking one simple question. What If?

I see story in the stars at night. I feel story in a song on the radio. If you’re lucky enough to travel, then there are places so steeped with story that your mind can’t absorb them all. Were I to write continuously until my one hundredth birthday, I don’t think I’d be able to write down all of the stories in my heart. All because I simply cannot stop myself from wondering, What if?

Do you ever have what if moments?
Have you ever been to a place where you knew there is more there than you can actually see?
Ever wandered upon a battlefield and felt the courageous hearts of those who fought?
Have you ever stood before an ancient ruin and felt the spirits of those who lived so very long ago?
Have you ever been to a place or experienced a moment when the spirits near you were just a breath beyond your ability to touch?
Have you ever stood still beneath a full moon and felt its magnetic power?

As I write my stories, I find myself examining little moments of life and asking myself what if? Especially in my paranormal contemporaries. My Shadowmen were born from the notion that good and evil battle around me in the spirit world, where princes and principalities exist and fight either for or against the darkness in the world. Then I asked the what if question. What if these pure spirit warriors were suddenly thrust to earth and had to deal with a darkness within themselves as they fought the evil in the world? Then I asked what if they were to find and discover for the first time what love was? And LOL my questioning doesn’t stop there. What if rain was the iridescent blood of warriors fighting in the spirit world? What if storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes were the fierce battles the fought? What if spontaneous combustion was real and caused by spirits that crossed too many times across the spirit barrier in a short period of time—as if they’d fried their circuits. And what if….sigh you get the idea. I could go on forever with the what if scenario.

In KISS OF DARKNESS, 3/31, Book 3 of the Shadowmen series my hero and heroine face some very tough what if questions. What if the man she loved was vampire bitten and damned? What if she were part angel and if she couldn't save her man, she would have to kill him before his hunger for angel blood became stronger than his need to protect her from himself? In BRIDE OF THE WOLF, 4/28, Book 4 of the Shadowmen Series, I wondered what if a blind warrior had to rescue the woman of his dreams? What if there were really vampires behind a corrupt medical corporation that used free health screening to prey upon humans?
Anyway, I would love to hear about your encounters with the spirit world or your what if question. So leave a comment and two lucky people will win a copy of KISS OF DARKNESS and BRIDE OF THE WOLF!

Happy Reading and What iffing?

USA Today Bestselling Author, Jennifer is a former nurse and homeschooling mother of three. She has won a number of awards for writing excellence including, two National Reader’s Choice Awards, two time Maggie Award Winner, Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Romance Writers’ of America’s Golden Heart Award, along with RT Book Club’s Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Historical Gothic/Mystery. Website: jenniferstgiles.com Blog jenniferstgiles.blogspot.com. Books: The Mistress of Trevelyan 8/04, His Dark Desires 11/05, Midnight Secrets 5/06, Touch A Dark Wolf 9/06, Darkest Dreams 12/06, The Lure of the Wolf 7/07, Silken Shadows 12/07, Kiss of Darkness 4/09, Bride of the Wolf 5/09. Point of No Return: Mammoth Book of Vampire Romances Book 2 9/09. Romance’s first graphic e-book through betweenyoursheets.com. Jennifer St. Giles writing as Jennifer Saints in Wild Irish 5/20/09 and Smooth Irish 5/20/09.

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22 Comments:

Blogger Lisa F. said...

I've thought about what if we had a day of the kids not bickering? I would think one of them was sick!

Or what if I had done something a different way? Nothing so grand as your what ifs! That's the difference in you being a great storyteller and me enjoying the story!

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 9:11:00 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great post. What if moments...oh yeah. Have them often. It's so fun, isn't it?

Thanks for the post, very nice. And I love that moon picture!

Have a great day.

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 9:16:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Louisa Edwards said...

Cool post! I love those covers, too.

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 10:29:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Jennifer St. Giles said...

LOL Lisa! I have those what if's too with my kids. And thank you for the honor of enjoying my stories! Lynn, I am glad you enjoyed the post.
and yes Jia out did herself with the pictures for the blog. thank you Jia
hugs to all
jenni

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 10:30:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Jennifer St. Giles said...

thank you Louisa! Can't wait for your book to come out.
Jennifer

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 10:31:00 AM EDT  
Anonymous Brindle said...

Great thoughts Jennifer. I have often wondered some of those things. I think we all do at some point. I hope, anyway. I've never encountered anything supernatural... not that I was aware of, but a few times, I imagine it.

I loved your comment about standing on a battlefield and perceiving what the soldiers who fought and died that day must have experienced.

Thanks for the thoughts and I'm gonna have to add your books to my overflowing 'must read' pile. *lol*

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 12:37:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Jennifer St. Giles said...

Brindle Thank you LOL would love to join your TBR pile. Email me when you have the chance to read my Shadowmen!

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 12:55:00 PM EDT  
Blogger azteclady said...

I love what iffing? but sadly, I am not creative enough to weave consistent and logical answers (logical within their own context, that is). That is why I love reading. A good writer will not only ask the same questions, but give me her/his own take on them--and on the many different possible answers for each one.

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 1:01:00 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I 'what if' all the time. Usually in the bathroom lol. Life's greatest thinking takes place in the bathroom. I know what you're thinking! I didn't say 'toilet' did I? I just said 'bathroom' lol.

I was so happy when I visited here today, because I have both your books on my TBR list, Jennifer!

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 1:08:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Phoenix Sullivan said...

Funny how asking "What if?" about your own life usually leads to great regret, but asking it about someone else's life leads to interesting and highly entertaining stories. ;o)

I've read Lure of the Wolf so far -- hope to read more of your work, Jennifer!

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 2:45:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Cybercliper said...

Hi Jennifer...no need to enter me for your books. I already have all your books including Kiss of Darkness and Bride of the Wolf and they are MOST EXCELLENT! Looking forward to more....

What if this plane of existence is a testing field for other planes - those planets or dimensions that are peopled by beings that have moved past violence, hatred, etc. and live for learning and loving while those who fail the test move backwards through time to eras of violence and hatred until they learn to transcend or redeem their spirits?

Yeah, I know, I have entirely too much time on my hands but I always like to think of the endless possibilities...the universe, our past and future is magical and I know so little about it...

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 2:51:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Kara said...

I always wanted to read a book about a blind hero!! The books sound exceptional and I love your what if questions.

After discovering the wonderful paranormal world - I find myself asking what if a lot. Whenever I am into a good book - I always ask myself what if it were real? What would I do if I discovered the man I loved was a vampire? There are so many what if questions that pop up when reading paranormal.

Great post!!!

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 3:31:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Pam P said...

Interesting poset, Jennifer. I've never experienced any ghostly encounters, though I've always wondered about time travel and parallel dimensions after reading some sci fi and now all the paranormals out there.

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 4:39:00 PM EDT  
Blogger LuAnn said...

I love the covers on these books!
What if ... I had the time to just sit and write without the phone ringing, anyone knocking at the door, hubby not poking his head around the corner to tell me about something he just heard on TV, etc., etc.?

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 6:43:00 PM EDT  
Anonymous Brindle said...

"Brindle Thank you LOL would love to join your TBR pile. Email me when you have the chance to read my Shadowmen!"

I will indeed! =)

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 7:12:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Jennifer St. Giles said...

Wow You all were busy this afternoon! Yes, that what if i had some peace and quiet does occur me and I wonder what all I could accomplish then! LOL
Waving hello to cyberclipper! Glad you love the Shadowmen and I must say you're everywhere on the net so it is great to see a friendly face.
Azteclady and Nightdweller your thoughts about what iffing are so very true. Thanks for adding them. The same to you phoenix, good observation on how much more fun it is to what if someone else's life. I glad you were able to read Aragon and Annette's story and hope that you can read Sam and Emerald in Kiss of Darkness.
Thank you kara and pam I love thought provoking posts. Something to get the creative juices flowing after a rough day
Great to hear from all of you and will check back later!
Happy reading
jennifer

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 7:13:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

Congrats on the new release! Sounds good!

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 9:47:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Caffey said...

Oh would love to be for these. I remember clearly when I read these when they came out! I read them back to back! Great on these being out back to back too!

Beautiful on having your heart filled with so much Jennifer. I have visited a castle in 1ooo Islands in Alexandra Bay NY (Bodt's Castle) and there's a story behind it that he never finished the castle because she died before he finished it. I remember touring it when it was left as he left it and so often I'd go into the rooms and like feel like I was being guided through it. I wasn't afraid at all. It was really so different for me because I get easily scared but didn't with here!

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 9:52:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

I would love it if there were real vampires! As long as they were like the Cullens or Ivy from the Hollows series.

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 10:58:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Lori T said...

Hi Jennifer~

Great post! I ask myself what if questions all the time...they are usually ridiculous what ifs...like what if I did not have to wait in line at Wal-Mart everytime I go or what if my little darling children actually listened the first time I told them something.

I love the covers for your books and am looking forward to reading them.

Friday, May 15, 2009 at 12:13:00 AM EDT  
Blogger donnas said...

Sounds like great books. I ask myself what if questions all the time. And I often wish I could expeience something ancient and mystical. I firmly believe though.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Friday, May 15, 2009 at 1:38:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Pam P said...

Thanks, and congrats to LuAnn!

Friday, May 15, 2009 at 5:00:00 PM EDT  

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