T is for Tribulation ***MAJOR SPOILER ALERT***

This is my most recent baby. And a baby it is indeed!! I'm still working on it. :)

But I know how it's gonna go, and you, the amazing readers, are in for a real treat. I hope you all love Daughters of Night: Tribulation as much as I love writing it!

Carmen and Gaviyn are still out to save their son, Damien, and this time, they have no leads to help them. They have their work cut out for them, too, because they don't have Gaviyn's link to Damien anymore, because he's being held captive by magical wards that block his magic, including his telepathy.

Damien lets us in on what's going on from his perspective, too. He's being held captive by Zariah, and tortured for information on Carmen and Sanctuary's location. Zariah plans to take her revenge on Carmen for killing her brother, Zachary, and takes great pleasure in hurting Damien in as many ways as possible.

Finding his only ally in a vampire who wields magic and in control of the wards surrounding his cell. With her help, he delivers a telepathic message to Gaviyn...then he delivers so much more. A new power develops, and Damien is able to project his astral body into another person, sharing with Gaviyn everything he sees and feels. Including the torture.

It becomes another race against time to find Damien before Zariah tortures him-and Gaviyn-to death. Using newcomer Seth and Damien's love, Kaiya, and their knowledge of Zariah's multiple lairs, they follow the trail of clues left behind to find Damien. When they finally catch up to him, though, it's in a place that brings far too many memories for Carmen, and it might be too late. Lives will be lost, tears will be shed, and the Daughters of Night just might end with greatest sacrifice of all. Get ready for one hell of a shock as the Daughters of Night series comes to a close. 

For now.

Watch out for Daughters of Night: Tribulation on or before June 21st, 2013, to see who lives...and who sacrifices everything.

 

Zariah of my dream cast (above)

Damien of my dream cast (left)

Carmen of my dream cast (right)

Join us tomorrow for U Day, which could mean uranium, underwear, uvula or upchuck, or anything in between. You'll never know unless you stop by!! :D

S is for Sanctuary ***MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!!***

Hello my pretties! Today is S Day of the A to Z Blogging Challenge, and I'm happy to use this day to tell you about Daughters of Night: Sanctuary!

For starters, DON: Sanctuary was my first book ever written, and was self published via CreateSpace for paperback, as well as Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Nook Press (formerly PubIt!) for eBook formats. It took me a rather lengthy time to write it, mostly because I never have time to breathe let alone do something I want, but it was worth it to finally see my name on a book, and knowing people are finally reading what I poured my heart and soul into. 

So without further ado, I'd love to introduce you to Sanctuary!

Carmen Heathers is a 17 year old girl from a small town in Kentucky, and practically her whole life has been spent fighting childhood leukemia. Then one day, her luck suddenly changes. A guy from school offers to pick her up from her trailer park home and drive her out to her doctor's appointment. It just so happens he is the incredibly sexy Gaviyn Hartford, and Carmen's biggest crush. 

She knows there's something special about him, but she can't put her finger on it. Not even when she blacks out for the whole drive, hypnotized by Gaviyn's seductive eyes.

The doctor delivers unbelievably good news, and for the first time in her life, Carmen can start dreaming about a future-one without doctors and needles, sickness and frailty. She even considers Prom, knowing that it was a long shot that she'd ever get a date. But fate sometimes has a sick, twisted sense of humor.

Still in the heart of Redneckville, Carmen is in the wrong place at the wrong time when a stray bullet steals every last happy dream as the blood pours out of her body. But Gaviyn has a secret. One that after countless centuries, he finally shares with Carmen.

Gaviyn is a vampire.

Unable to bear watching her die, he does the unthinkable and changes Carmen into a vampire as well, and has to come to terms with the curse he placed upon her.

Carmen finally sees the world through new eyes-ones that see a life with infinite possibilities. Soon, Gaviyn reveals to Carmen her lineage of witchcraft, and before long, Carmen has learned of her new powers both as a witch and as a vampire. She is living it up in Gaviyn's secret and protected castle-like home, until another bomb is dropped on her. 

Gaviyn is forced to tell Carmen of their history, revealing to her how she had lived multiple lives, and in each one, he had to watch her die before having a chance to be with her, all courtesy of The Eradicators. 

Suddenly, Carmen's life is in danger again, and with Gaviyn at her side, she has to fight for her life-and her immortal soul-against the ones who have stolen her life innumerable times. They enlist the help of an old friend of Gaviyn's, Quinn of Verona, and his coven of vampires and witches, known as Sanctuary. 

But Quinn has a secret. One that could destroy Carmen and Gaviyn once and for all. In the end, a great sacrifice will be made...but at what cost?

Come back tomorrow for T day!! :)                

R is for Ravishing Nightmare of my Inconsequential Inexistence

I was trying to distract you with big words so you wouldn't notice that I'm still playing catch-up... :)

So, I was thinking. (And this is really dangerous ground for me, because usually I am required to notify my local fire department and mental institution when I start thinking, but I didn't.) It was brought to my attention by my pal Michala from Bite my Book that there is a challenge for May for all bloggers to write a short story a day. At first I was like, no way, nuh uh, not happening, forget it, I'm already so damn busy I can't keep up with the daily blogging challenge so this just won't work. Then I wrote a flash fiction piece. Then I got an idea for another story. And now I'm getting all kinds of new story ideas in my head and nothing to do with them. 

The idea of the short story a day challenge is sounding more appealing.

Today, two words popped into my head. Beautiful Nightmare. Sure, that alone sounds cool, but I wanted to jazz it up. And what do you do when you want to find cooler words that the ones you're using? Thesaurus. Yup. So I found Ravishing Nightmare. That sounded kinda naughty and cool. But then the idea of inexistence popped in my head. It turned into The Ravishing Nightmare of My Inexistence. Then, as I was preparing to write this post, I decided hey, I like the word inconsequential, too, let's throw that in. 

And thus was born the title The Ravishing Nightmare of My Inconsequential Inexistence.

This shall be my next short story. Why? Because I can. Wanna name a short story? Give me an awesome title in the comments, and I'll make it into a short story for you. :)

Q is for Quinn...the Betrayer of Sanctuary

Every good book has to have it's bad guys. And for the first book in the Daughters of Night series, Quinn was...not. Not at first, anyway.

Born Quinn Sartori to parents Flavio Sartori, a native to Verona, Italy, and Awiti Magoro, an immigrant slave Flavio's parents had purchased. Their love was a secret one, and when Awiti gave birth to a light-skinned baby boy, she was instantly put to death. Quinn was to be killed as well, but the woman in charge of doing so was paid off by Flavio to raise him as her own. Flavio soon died from sickness, and funds for raising Quinn were soon depleted, leaving the woman no choice but to turn Quinn over to the orphanage, where he was stripped of his last name and known simply as Quinn of Verona.

Quinn was an outcast, being of mixed races, and had to learn to be tough, defending himself in a variety of situations. No parents came to adopt him, so on his eighteenth birthday, Quinn was turned out onto the streets, with no education, no family, no friends, and no allies. He became a thief, and spent a great deal of his early adulthood imprisoned.

At the age of 28, he was caught stealing from the Church at night. The guards caught him, and instead of turning him over to the authorities again, they chose to take matters into his own hands. They beat him to death and left him to rot in an abandoned building outside town. Little did they know, Quinn was still alive, and crawled his way out of the building. Just before morning, a vampire found him.

Taking pity on the dying man, he decided to give him a new life and teach him how to live. It hadn't been so long that the vampire was in the same situation as the Quinn, however he had not had a mentor to train him.

The vampire that changed Quinn's life was Gaviyn Hartford.

Gaviyn taught Quinn how to survive, how to hunt, and how to live among humans. But when Gaviyn traced down the next incarnation of his Caroline to America, Quinn decided to stay in Verona to protect his city. Gaviyn and Quinn parted ways, and for decades Quinn stayed in Verona, learning as much as he possibly could about a number of subjects. One of those subjects that particularly intrigued him, though, was the rising popularity of the voodoo practices in America. The idea of dark magic and voodoo called to him, and he followed his calling to Louisiana. 

Eventually, he recruited several witches to form a coven, and brought several vampires in as well. Many years later, he had created a coven of vampires and witches coexisting together, and offering a safe haven for supernaturals who had nowhere else to go. He called this coven Sanctuary.

Prior to Gaviyn and Carmen coming to Sanctuary, Quinn was contacted by The Eradicators' leader, Enoch, and given a dagger with instructions on how to use it. Enoch warned Quinn of events to come, and that if he wanted the grace of the Goddess Hecate, as well as power beyond his wildest dreams, he would do the unspeakable when the time came. Quinn, hungry for power and willing to kill anyone to get what he wanted, eagerly agreed. 

To find out the details of the evil deed and the outcome of his decision, check out Daughters of Night: Sanctuary. You can pick it up from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, both in eBook format or paperback.

That's about all for Quinn! Hope to see you again for R Day!!

P is for Possession... ***MAJOR SPOILER ALERT***

I know. I know. I'm late getting my posts up. Been a busy little bumblebee. However, I'm determined to get my posts up, so I present to you the P Day Post. Possession.

Daughters of Night: Possession is the second book in the Daughters of Night series. If you haven't read it yet, and plan to, let me stop you here before you read any further. MAJOR SPOILER ALERTS!!

So, in Possession, we find Carmen has become a mother to the reborn Damien. It picks up sixteen years after Sanctuary ended, which is a kind of surprise because the reader doesn't realize they are reading a story from the past in Sanctuary. Then Possession brings them up to present day (at the time of release, anyway) and now Damien is 16. And in love. And more powerful than his father or his mother could have ever imagined.

Teenage heartthrob with coveted powers, Damien is kidnapped by another coven. One led by Zariah and her brother Zachary, who are working to raise the demon Lilith from the underworld so she can enslave the vampires and humans alike, making Zariah and Zachary almost godlike. 

We are also introduced to Abby (known to Carmen and the rest of Sanctuary only as the mystery girl who could save her son), Jackson, and Connor, a teenage love triangle that goes sour when Connor is recruited by Zariah. The newly-changed vampire Connor then turns Abby, the girl he loves. The only problem, Abby loves Jackson. Connor takes care of that, though, and when she becomes a vampire she is completely loyal to Connor for saving her from death.

That leaves Jackson alone, confused, and in a drunken stupor when Carmen and her small army of witches and vampires stumble upon him and recruit him to find the girl and save Damien. 

The trick is getting it all accomplished before Lilith rises and consumes Carmen's soul while possessing her body. An epic, bloody battle ends in lives lost and a twist at the end that will make you craving the next book in the series. 

Look for Daughters of Night: Tribulation by the Summer Solstice, June 21st!

Flash Fiction: Surviving Daddy's Betrayal

It’s always midnight somewhere. My worry was when it hit midnight in Miami, would any of us see the sun again?

We raced from the car only seconds before the gas reached the open windows, silently suffocating the remaining children in the car. I ran into my father’s arms with Eric beside me, watching from behind the thick glass as the children clawed the skin off their own bodies trying to rid themselves of the burning fumes. 

The attacks had begun.

Eric and I were ushered into the sleeping area for the hundreds of bodies flying around us, snapping into action. After an hour of playing cards to kill time, we decided to seek out better entertainment.

Weaving among the throngs of soldiers, we made our way to the basement stairwell that was strictly off limits to civilians.  We raced down the steps and through the double doors at the bottom. Then we stopped dead in our tracks.

We were in an underground fallout shelter. All around us, the wealthiest and most important families were settling in as if they planned to stay in the basement of our military compound indefinitely. Eric took my hand, and I felt heat rising to my cheeks. 

Walking through the rooms, I held tight to Eric’s hand. Past the living area, we found a large round kitchen, then a dining area, followed by a sleeping area with countless beds. 

“Hey!”

We both jumped and I squealed at the sudden, harsh voice behind us.

“You aren’t supposed to be here.”

His eyes were cold and unforgiving, and he was pissed.

“Come on, you’re going back up and I’m going to find your father. You two are in some hot water. I knew one day you’d push too far.”

He grabbed the backs of our necks and roughly shoved us back upstairs. 

“Run!” Eric screamed suddenly, turning and landing a punch directly in the soldier’s face. 

Acting on impulse, I ran back to the safety of my bed and buried myself under the thin bedding. I counted the minutes waiting for Eric to come back. My mind filled with all the horrible punishments he was surely taking for us both.

“Kari?”

Overjoyed at his voice, I threw the covers back to reveal a very beaten Eric, still wearing his goofy smile. I instantly regretted leaving him alone with that hateful machine of a man. He was bruised, swelling and bleeding.

“Eric! What happened?”

I stood and threw my arms around him. He winced but laughed.

“I‘m fine, just a few bumps.”

I released him, and his face grew serious. He took my hands as he sat on my bed, pulling me down beside him. The closeness of our bodies had my cheeks flushing again.

“Listen, there’s something going on here that we‘re not being told,” Eric said, a hint of fear in his voice. “There’s another room below the basement. I have to go check it out.”

“Okay,” I nodded. “I’m coming with you.”

He smiled, knowing he‘d never win a fight with me. 

Back in the basement, we slipped down a hidden set of stairs and passed through doors labeled RESTRICTED, into what looked like a control room. 

Alone, we meandered about the machines, computers, and maps with strange arcing patters drawn between countries. I tore down one of the smaller maps and studied it close.

“Kari, come look,” Eric called, his voice monotone.

He stood before a large screen that showed similar patterns as what were on the map. A single red button stared at us ominously.

“Is that…” I trailed off in a gulp.

“It’s a nuclear weapon,” Eric said breathlessly. “Or at least the launch button.”

“Oh Jesus, Eric.”

A noise nearby startled us, and we hurried back upstairs to my bed. My mind was reeling with our discovery. 

“I hear you’ve been exploring, Karilyn.”

Eric flew to the next bed as my father lowered himself to my bed.

“Dad, what’s going on?” I asked, tears spilling over my cheeks.

“Why don’t you tell ME what you think is happening?” he asked.

“A nuclear war,” Eric said steadily. “You’ve been building and conducting inhumane tests. One of them was the car, with your own daughter in it.”

I looked to my father.

“Dad, that’s not true is it? You…set us up to die?”

He was quiet. I looked at him for the first time in a while. He had aged twenty years in mere weeks. He was suddenly old and frail.

“The bunker is for VIP people, isn’t it? The rest of us are going to die.”

“How dare you accuse me of these atrocities?” he said, his face flushing with anger. “You disobey military orders and then accuse me of murdering people?”

I lost it.

“Daddy, I’m so sorry. Please, just tell me what to do. Please daddy!” I was crying and begging.

“Look,” he sighed deeply and his shoulders sagged, defeated, “Get down to the bunker and hide. Don’t let anyone see you. At midnight, all Hell breaks loose.“ He paused. “I love you.”

He rose and left us without another word. He was no longer my father. The army had taken care of that.

Eric grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet.

“It’s 11:45, we have to go. Now.”

We flew downstairs like ninjas and found two unoccupied beds in the corner of the sleeping quarters. I pulled out my map and studied it. The shelter was in blue, and the red were nuclear weapons. I examined it closely. And then I panicked.

“Eric! Look, this bunker is huge, it connects to bunkers all around the world. And below it all over are the nuclear weapons. All around the world. If one goes off, it will set off the underground nukes.”

Eric’s eyes grew to watermelon size.

“Then the whole bunker gets blown to pieces…” he said, pulling me into his arms and holding me tight. 

Now, we sit huddled together, waiting for Hell to break loose.



Word Count: 1,000

O is for Obituary...Bear With Me, It's Pretty Cool!!

Okay, macabre topic, I know, but hear me out.

The VAST majority of us will never get to see our own obituary. We'll never know what our loved ones have to say about us, how much money they spend on our final goodbyes, on our funerals, none of it. And really that part should have you breathing easier right now. But this got the wheels in my tiny little brain spinning. Once all the dust was blown off the gears and the squeaking subsided a bit, I had a great thought.



What WOULD it be like to read your own obituary, attend your own funeral, and all that jazz? I decided that at least one of the vampires in the Daughters of Night series would have attended her own funeral.

Kaiya.

I was curious what her obituary would read, so I did some digging and I found it. Now, I'm sharing it with you.




Obituary of Kaiya Volkov of the Daughters of Night series:


Kaiya Volkov, age 15, died on the 25th of July, 2004, due to exsanguination. She was an honor student at Elkhorn County High School, and beloved only daughter of Sergei Volkov, Superintendent of Schools in Elkhorn County. Her family and friends have dedicated the following poem in her memroy.

Dancing eyes, full of life

A smile that lights the room

Heart that loves beyond compare

Has left us all in gloom

You made the world a better place

Was friends with all you knew

We hate we have to let you go

Guess God had better plans for you

We will not cry, we will not mourn

The life we lost this day

We celebrate the life you lived

You'd have it no other way

We wish you peace and light and love 

Wherever you you may be

We know you're watching over us

We'll make you proud, you'll see.

We love and miss you every day

And though the pain is great

One day we'll be together again

Till then, we pray you wait.

Dearest Kaiya, we love and miss you so much, and we can't wait to see you again.

Love Always,

Papa, Mama, Gladys, Yuri, 

Elyena, Alexei, Vasilisa, Emily, Brad

Surviving Kaiya are her parents, Sergei and Yuliya Volkov, Godmother Gladys Ivashin, Godfather Yuri Loban, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as many friends.

A memorial service will be held in Kaiya's honor on July 29th, at Morrigan Funeral Home beginning at 1pm and ending at 4pm. Due to the violent nature of Kaiya's untimely demise, the family have requested cremation of the body prior to the services.

Monetary donations may be sent to Morrigan Funeral Home, 948 W. Hammond St, Oxford, KS, 72422.

*     *     *     *     *

Well, there ya have it. Kaiya's obituary. Her family and friends were very devastated at her death, and of course, the cremation never happened. Kaiya escaped from the morgue with Zachary's help, and together they attended a beautiful and sorrowful memorial service. Seeing the pain on her parents' faces was what pushed Kaiya to leave Zachary and eventually, Zariah's coven. 

Hope you enjoyed!! Come see us tomorrow to see what P brings us. :)


**Note, the places, names, and address in the above "obituary" text is fictional, and any resemblance to any person, alive or dead, is purely coincidental and unintentional. The obituary itself is fictional and a work of fiction by Ashley Torbeck, author of the Daughters of Night series, in which one of the characters is Kaiya Volkov.

(c) 2013 Ashley Torbeck

All parts of this blog post are owned and copyrighted by Ashley Torbeck, and reproduction of any kind without express written consent of the author is prohibited. For publishing permissions, please email ash.torbeck@gmail.com

N is for Nerd Girls...Signs and Symptoms

Nerds Unite!! 

If you haven't discovered Nerd Girls yet, it is revolutionary. Nerdy girls just like you and me (if you are reading this blog by choice, you are a nerd, and if you think you're not, you're just in denial) got together and created a blog that is geared just for girls who are nerds, and listing the problems girl nerds may have. Such as this one...

But Ashley, how do I know if I'm REALLY a nerd? Great question! Here's some signs that you are, in fact, a nerd:

• You were/are in your high school marching band
• You read, not because someone told you to, but because you want to
• Some of those books you read are Star Wars
• Dungeons and Dragons...nothing more needs to be said here
• Most of the people on your friends list-especially your "closest" friends-are people you've never met in real life
• You play video games...pretty much any kind
• Everyone you know has to either email you, send you a tweet, or otherwise reach you digitally or else they'll never know if you're alive
• You can recite all fifty states in alphabetical order
• People frequently give you "The Look" that says, "Did you just hear what you said? Do you realize that was juvenile and completely inappropriate?"
• You have ever had a heated debate on which character was better in either Star Trek, Star Wars, or any book (but especially the Twilight series)
• And of course, reading this blog automatically dubs you as a nerd

No, this is most definitely NOT the most comprehensive list of signs that you're a nerd.  Chances are, though, you're at least part nerd, or a descendant of a nerd, so you have nerd blood. It's even gotten to the point where nerds isn't so much of an insult anymore!

Gone are the days of Booger and the rest of the classic nerds. No, today's nerds are cute, lovable, and becoming increasingly more popular.

Too my fellow nerds and nerd girls, we are gonna take over the planet one day. Nerd Domination!!

M is for Michelle Bellon's Interview!!

Hey everybody, welcome back! Hope you all had a great Sunday, and are pumped up for a great start to the week! Today, as part of the A to Z challenge, I have an author interview with Michelle Bllon, author of Rogue Alliance. Let's take a peek at the book first:

Trying to escape a horrific past, Shyla has immersed herself in life as a tough, sassy cop in the bustle of LA. When the case of a lifetime takes her back to her hometown of Redding , she is thrown into a world of organised crime, deceit, and bitter reminders of her childhood.

As Shyla’s path crosses that of Brennan, an unwitting and troubled sidekick to the ringleader she’s intent on taking down, she is forced to re-evaluate everything she believes about herself, her job, and what she knows about right and wrong.

Can she face the demons of her upbringing and learn to trust again? Her life will depend on it.

This Paranormal Romance sounds fantastic! Let's get to know the creative genius behind the book!

DSP: For starters, tell us a bit about you, we like to get to know our authors as a person!

Michelle: First I want to say thanks for having me. 

Six years ago I was working as a registered nurse and the last thing on my mind was writing a book. But I quit my job to home school one of my children who needed a bit more help with her academics. It’s important to me that my children succeed with their education. Anyway, during that time I started to have dreams that I knew should be written down. I’d never written before, other than college papers, and I doubted whether I could do it, but eventually I gave in to the nagging voices in my head and began writing my first novel. A few years later, that book, Embracing You, Embracing Me, won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for young adult.

DSP: Nice to meet you! So tell us, where did you find the inspiration for your most recent book? 

Michelle: This latest book, Rogue Alliance, is so different from anything I’d written before. I’ve never written about a cop and I’ve never written paranormal. But one day I was daydreaming and an entire scene popped into my head. It was very intense and showed me the two main characters. Everything about them came alive in that one scene; their love, their history, their flaws and fears. An entire book was born of that one single scene. It was cool.


DSP: So, do you have any kind of ritual for writing? Such as, you have to write with music on, or you can only write when you’re completely alone, etc

Michelle: I’d love to say that I get to sit down and write in a quiet, lovely space while sipping tea for hours at a time. But that’s not the reality. I have four children ranging in ages from four to seventeen and so my days are very busy. I wait until evening, when everyone is in bed and, if I’m not too tired, I write at night when the house is silent. 


DSP: Who is your favorite character in your book, and why? How about the character you had the most trouble with? 

Michelle: I love Shyla. She is so rough around the edges and such a bad ass. But underneath all that is a very damaged, wonderful person. Brennan and Carmen bring that out in her. 
Victor, the bad guy, was probably the hardest. I wanted him to come off as very charming at first but gradually show his evil underbelly so the reader could really learn to hate him.


DSP: Now, when you sit down to write a book, a paragraph, or whatever you‘re working on at the moment, do you just sit down in front of the computer, or do you need an outline of some sort? Is there any other prep you need in order to organize your thoughts either before you write or in the process of writing? 

Michelle: My writing is usually very organic. I often have only an idea in my head, maybe a few scenes, and then I sit down and just let the words come. 

However, with Rogue Alliance, there was so much happening that about a quarter of the way in, I realized the only way to sort it all out and organize it was to make a rough outline. That’s the only time that has worked for me.


DSP: Do you foresee any more books to continue this story? If so, do you think we can get a taste of what’s to come? 

Michelle: Yes, definitely! I’m currently about a third of the way into writing book two for Rogue Alliance. I’m very excited about it. I feel like I’ve taken it up a notch with the twists and turns. Hopefully it will be a fun read.


DSP: Other than this most recent story, do you have any ideas for different books that might be published in the future? Care to give us a teaser? 

Michelle: The next three books that I intend to publish are Restless, a women’s fiction with romance, The Fire Inside which is literary fiction, and Jaded contemporary romance. My favorite is Jaded. Here is the blurb:

What lengths will a man go to for the woman he loves? What torment will he endure?  

Reed Dartmouth will learn the answer to those questions time and time again throughout his relationship with Jade Montgomery.  

When he first meets her as a young, gentle boy the heartache from losing his mother only a year before is still fresh and painful. Jade is different from anyone else he’s ever met; tough, sassy, and even a bit cruel. But she’s also the same as he is: she knows what it’s like to lose a parent.
Their friendship begins and a bond like no other is formed. Time passes and Reed learns that not only are Jade’s parents dead, they were murdered and she’s made an oath to one day bring them justice. No matter the price. 

As they grow older their love evolves but for Jade, old habits die hard and she can’t stop hurting those she loves the most. Even in the midst of searching for her parents’ killers, passion ignites and jealously burns as Jade tests Reed’s devotion for her. Will she push him too far?

DSP: Do you have any aspirations to be similar or comparable to another author? Why? 

Michelle: I am definitely striving for great success in this industry. I know it is so tough now days but I believe that if I just keep working hard and hone the craft and overcome all adversity, then eventually I will have the success that I desire.


DSP: What has been the biggest high since becoming a published author?

Michelle: Winning my first literary award for my YA was a highlight, for sure. But I also love meeting so many other writers, agents, editors, etc in the industry. Social networking is a lot of work but it really does pay off and enrich a writer’s life. 


DSP: Have you named the computer you use for writing?

Michelle: Haha! No, but now that you mention it, I feel like I should. I’ll have to think about that. I’m terrible at naming things. 


DSP: Has becoming an author changed you, or the way you think about certain things? If so,how?

Michelle: Yeah, actually, it’s forced me to learn to be patient which has never been a strong suit of mine. In this industry nothing happens fast. It has taken me years of hard work to get even this far and I know I still have so much farther to go. It’s a long journey but so worth it.


DSP: What is your greatest fear about being an author? 

Michelle: Failing. I’m not afraid of rejection or bad reviews. I’m only afraid of not achieving the goals that I’ve set for myself. Some have said that I raise the bar too high and drive myself too hard. But that’s the only way I know how to do it. How else would I get where I want to go.


DSP: Which of the characters in your book do you feel is the most like yourself, and in what way?

Michelle: At first it was Roshell from Embracing You, Embracing Me. After all, I did base it off of some of my own experiences. But that is more like the me from my younger days. Now, I’d have to say that I’m more like Malea from Restless, which has yet to be published. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing because she struggles with a lot of personal demons, but it is what it is.


DSP: From the first word to the moment it became available for purchase, how long did it take you to write and publish this most recent novel?

Michelle: First word to publication was just over four months. 

And now, for something completely different…some slightly off-the-wall and possibly irrelevant questions to to really let inside the author's head!

DSP: Are you planning to bring sexy back?

Michelle: Jaded is nothing but heart-wrenching sexy. So yeah! 


DSP: If you could be any cartoon character for 24 hours, who would you pick and why?

Michelle: Bugs Bunny. He’s smarter than everyone around him and his witty sarcasm is unbeatable. But I kind of want to marry SpongeBob. That guy is funny and funny is sexy. J


DSP: How many ridges are there around a quarter?

Michelle: This question hurts my brain.


DSP: Do you believe in fate or destiny?

Michelle: Yes. I believe in fate and destiny but I also believe in free will and that we have the power, to at any given moment, alter our own destiny and change the course of events. 


DSP: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Michelle: Uh, I still have yet to know exactly what a woodchuck is. Maybe I should Google it. Is it a beaver-ish looking thing?


DSP: What are your thoughts on string?

Michelle: Tangled.


DSP: Boxers or briefs?

Michelle: Boxer briefs!!! I feel very strongly about this. 


DSP: Thong, g-string/v-string, or other? If other, please explain.

Michelle: I plead the fifth. 


DSP: What is your favorite song?

Michelle: Silent Lucidity by Queensryche.


DSP: Do you have any tattoos? If so, how many, what are they, and where are they on your body? (PG-13)

Michelle: Yes. As Forest Gump would say- “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”


DSP: What’s your favorite candy? Ice cream?

Michelle: Chocolate in any form is necessary. I love ice cream like a fat kid loves cake.


DSP: Would the 8-year-old version of yourself kick your ass or praise you for what you’ve done with your life?

Michelle: Definitely praise, for the most part. There would be an ass kicking for a few things though. 


DSP: If you could meet one person (real or fictional, alive or deceased), who would it be, and what one question would you ask?

Michelle: I want to meet Superman. I have a bit of an obsession with him. I wouldn’t ask questions. First I’d play the damsel in distress and let him save me then I’d jump his bones. Yep. Superman is hot!


DSP: Imagine you’re the sole survivor of a plane crash at sea, and you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but the clothes on your back. You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds coming from deep within the jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large suitcase washes up on the shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?

Michelle: Chapstick. I’m addicted. It’s a real problem. I should seek help.

Haha, love it! these were some great answers, and I think a woodchuck is much like a groundhog. At least he looks like one... 

So here's a bit more about Michelle, as well as where to find her and her book!

Michelle currently lives in the Pacific Northwest  with her husband and their four children.  

She earned her degree as a registered nurse in 2005, but found herself back in the home a few years later when she and her husband welcomed their fourth child into the world and so began her writing career.  

She writes YA, romance suspense, and women’s fiction. She has published four novels and won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award last year for her young adult novel.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.authorpage?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleBellon

Website: http://www.michellebellon.com/

Pick up Rogue Alliance on Amazon!

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Alliance-ebook/dp/B009ZJ7M12/ref=la_B004TZ0CUK_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1356446798&sr=1-5

Amazon Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Alliance-1-Michelle-Bellon/dp/1480224812/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364421972&sr=1-2&keywords=rogue+alliance

L is for...Liebster Award!

Hooray! The Drunken Space Penguin has been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award, and he accepts (demanding a celebratory bottle of tequila, of course)! So, your first question must be, "What the hell is a Liebster, and why are you getting an award for it?" Well, great question. The origins are a little foggy and have changed more times than I can count, but the basic gist of it is to help spread awareness of and promote blogs with few followers. Most recently, the cutoff for followers is 200 (DSP is well below that already) but some research I've done indicates that it was originally supposed to be around a thousand. Either way, we still fit in the category, so I was nominated by the awesome J.E. Ryder, who was nominated as well. Make sure you check out her blog!!

Now, for the rules:

• Post 11 random facts about yourself
• Answer the 11 questions from the previous blogger, J.E. Ryder
• Nominate 11 new bloggers for the award

Pretty groovy, right? I thought so too. So, let's get started!

11 Random Facts About Me (Ashley)

1. I'm afraid of trees. Now I should probably elaborate here, because I don't think the tree is going to get me or anything dumb like that. I am afraid of things falling out of trees and getting in my hair or on my skin. Like bugs. I hate bugs. Or bird poop. Or dirt.

2. I repel technology. I'm not afraid of it, but I swear, I've never met anyone who has as much bad luck with electronics than me. 

3. I'm a Twihard. I love The Twilight Saga, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But not because of the movies (though they are all amazing!) but I got addicted to the books. My favorite character? It's a tie between Edward and Alice. I love them both.

4. I'm a horror movie junkie. I freaking LOVE scary movies! Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, It, The Woman in Black, all the Paranormal Activity movies, The Devil Inside, Hostel (1, 2, & 3), Saw...all of them. Even the low-budget and B-Rated horror films. The scarier and gorier the better!

5. In high school, I was in band. I played the clarinet, which progressed to the bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet, which was a big mofo that weighed way too freaking much. During marching season, I was in the colorguard, which for those who don't know, they're the ones who are out there with the pretty flags and the most injuries. I loved it. Was I a band geek? Hell yes, and proud of it!

6. My husband and I took our honeymoon 2 years after we got married, and we went to St. Kitts, in the West Indies. It's the most culturally rich and beautiful place I've ever seen. During both trips we made, I was eaten alive by sand fleas. And boy, do those mother truckers ITCH!!! You think mosquitos are bad? Pft. You don't KNOW itching yet, friends.

7. I am of Scottish, Native American, and German descent. On my dad's side of the family I traced the male roots back to the 1600s Scotland, and the true spelling of my maiden name, Creich. (American version is Creech, pronounced roughly the same.) There's even a place in Scotland called Creich Castle, but it's in horrific ruins now!

8. Today's music is mostly lost on me, except for country and some rock. I listen to mostly music of the 90s and the early 00s, and yeah, there are a few songs that have come out since 2008 that don't suck completely, but when a song consists solely of grunts, moans, and one repetitive phrase that is completely irrelevant to anything ever, sung by an artist who counts how many chains are on his neck or who looks like a clown had had sex with a Ms. Potato Head and popped her out...I don't have time for that.

9. I get crazy air sick. I have to take Dramamine before I fly, or I'm sitting there nauseous for the whole 4 hour flight. I once had a flight attendant have to get up and get me a puke bag and ginger ale before we had even reached altitude, it was so bad. 

10. I've always been kind of awkward. I never say the right thing, people end up looking at me and thinking, "What the hell is she talking about, she's so lost..." and shaking their heads or just trying to pretend it didn't happen. I get it a lot. Like, a LOT. I don't mean to be so awkward, and believe me, I feel really stupid when I do or say something that earns me "The Look," but it's just me and my not-quite-fully-developed-or-functional-brain. 

11. I believe in being prepared for a Zombie Apocalypse. Go ahead, laugh it up. Even if the ZA doesn't happen, there's always the threat of terrorist attacks, chemical/biological/nuclear warfare, natural disasters, or invasion of the in-laws. Being prepared for a ZA is going to ensure you are as prepared as can be for any of the more likely threats. Well, except invasion of the in-laws. There is no amount of prep that can ever get you ready for that...hehe. 

Now for my answers to J.E.'s questions:

1. What is your favorite smell?

Me: I'm a sucker for vanilla, white sage, baked goods, and rain. I can't pick one, because different scents are for different reasons. 

2. Forget heroes. Which movie/novel character is your favorite bad guy/gal and why?

Me: Hands down Freddy Kruger. He was my hero growing up. 

3. I was sitting on Waterloo station the other day, studying other people's footwear while waiting for my train. Are you a fashion victim, or do you opt for comfortable feet?

Me: Haha, fashion? What's that? Hehe, I wear my sneakers with just about everything but skirts, and with skirts it's usually some neutral color of sandals. I'm all about comfort.

4. I've noticed that since I started using Twitter I've begun truncating my sentences when writing on other platforms. I tend to slip into Twitter mode without realizing it. Do you do the same?

Me: No, I don't think I use Twitter often enough. I tweet, but the writer in me just won't let me truncate things. Usually I have to edit my tweets because they're too long.

5. Has your handwriting suffered since you took to the keyboard?

Me: My handwriting suffered long before that, lol! I've worked in a few call centers, and I would have to take notes on what the callers were saying, but I couldn't type fast enough to keep up, so I started scribbling in my steno pad for my notes. It got to the point where I couldn't even read it myself.

6. It's easy to get word-blind when writing, not to notice those extra repetitive little words that creep into the manuscript when your back is turned. My enemy is of. What's yours?

Me: Omigosh, I have a handful of them. I'll overuse "then," "he," "she," "so," and "it." Since my books are written in past tense from the main character's point of view, those words just seem to pop up everywhere it seems. The worst one is "then," of course, because everything is "then this happened, then that happened, and then she said it, and he then did it, and it was then done..." It's annoying. 

7. Where do you see yourself in two years' time?

Me: Well, hopefully my hubby and I will be moved by then into a bigger house closer to the hubby's work. I'd love to have several more books available, and have mastered the art of promoting my work! I also wouldn't object to be rubbing elbows with the biggest names in the author world, namely Stephen King. Oh, what I wouldn't give to pick HIS brain!!

8. Have you always written, or did a particular event give you the impetus to start?

Me: I wouldn't say I've ALWAYS written, but it started early in life. I didn't do any kind of publishing until 2012, though. I never felt my work was good enough, and to be honest, I'm my own worst critic so I will never think it's good enough. I can only hope the readers disagree with me. 

9. If you could start life again, what single piece of advice would you give yourself?

Me: That cute little face does NOT last forever! Take care of it! Hehe, no, my biggest piece of advice I would give myself is to stop stressing over every little thing. No, your life is not going to turn out anything like you plan, because life and fate doesn't care about your plans, but you're going to have plenty of experiences and adventures along the way that make the journey worthwhile. You will turn out fine, and every experience, every failure, every success, every heartbreak, every loss, every tear, and every smile will make you into a wonderful person. So sit back and relax, and maybe you won't have those crow's feet and wrinkles on your forehead at thirty.

10. What do you enjoy most about being an Author?

Me: Knowing that someone paid to read something I wrote. Seriously, I don't really expect to get rich off being an author (not that I would mind it!) but just knowing there are people out there who want to read my books and who enjoy them...it's humbling. It's an honor. And I'm sitting here with a cheesy grin as I type this up, because it means THAT much to me to have people read my books. I love it.

11. I'm copying Terry's final question for this one. Please put a link here to any of your blog posts - tell us what it's about, and why you have chosen it! 

Me: Okay, this one was my tribute to the Mayan Apocalypse that never happened. Yes, I understand they turned the rock over and found us more time (or whatever they did), but there was so much hype for the apocalypse, I had to share my tribute. This may end up becoming the beginning to a future story! http://drunkenspacepenguin.blogspot.com/2012/12/i-survivedor-did-i.html



Now, my turn to ask questions! Mwhahahahahahahahaha!!! Okay, so it's not THAT bad...lol!


1. If you could go back in time to any era, where would you go and what would you do?

2. Imagine there are no rules, and therefore no consequences. At all. But you only have 8 hours of freedom before the rules kick in. What would you do with the ultimate freedom? What would be the first rule you break?

3. What's your biggest pet peeve?

4. We all have something that scares us, whether it's rational or irrational. What is your biggest fear?

5. What was your favorite toy from your childhood (that you can remember!) and why?

6. Are you a conspiracy theorist?

7. What is your favorite mythical creature, and what would you do if you met one?

8. If you had an infinite supply of money to spend on your dream vacation, where would you go and what would you do?

9. In your opinion, what is today's WORST pop culture trend?

10. When someone comes up to you who clearly knows you from the past, yet you can't for the life of you remember them at all, how do you behave?

11. If you could change one thing about your past without any negative consequences, what would be the one change you'd make?


Okay, now I get to nominate 11 people for the Liebster Award. Everyone go visit these folks and read their answers to my questions!!

Michala of Bite My Book
Nadia Kim of NadiaKim.com
Kande Nicho of Sapphire Kande

**Yes, I know this is less than 11, I'm working on that part...lol!**

Well, it's been a blast, and I'm super grateful to J.E. Ryder for nominating me, but the honor must now be passed on to others! Thanks for stopping by and making this part of the A to Z Challenge such a success! Come see me Monday, and we'll pick up with M Day! MMMmmmmmmm, I love brownies...Maybe I'll Make M Day Most Magnificent by Making a brownie in a Mug with Milk. Mmmmmmm...hehe.

K is for Kaiya, the Vamp Who Stole Damien's Heart!

Aaahhhhh, teenage romances. They never last. Unless, of course, the teenagers are vampires or the rare vampire witch hybrid. If you fall into one of those classifications, your chances of a long-lasting relationship at any age are much higher. Vampires are very devoted to their chosen mates, and it takes a lot to destroy their relationships. 

Damien met Kaiya when she escaped from her previous coven. They fell in love and have been together for over a year. Before coming to Sanctuary, however, Kaiya had a past. 

Kaiya had been spoiled as a human. Her family wasn't rich, but as the "miracle baby" of the family, she never wanted for anything. Her mother had been declared infertile, but Kaiya was born to Yuliya and Sergei Volkov in 1989. She lived a spoiled but average life until she was 15. That's when she went to the party that changed her life. Kaiya met Zachary, a charming young boy with hypnotic eyes. She fell hard, and she fell fast.


Zachary was the type of bad boy that couldn't be tamed, but he found the one person he wanted to spend eternity with. Kaiya couldn't say no to him, and agreed to join him as a vampire. However, once she was a vampire, she wanted Zachary to leave his sister and her cult-like coven to run away with her. Zachary was too loyal to his sister, and this drove a wedge between them. Kaiya was soon just a sheep in the coven as she watched Zachary rise to power. She still loved him, but he didn't love her enough to save her from his sister. Soon, she hatched a plan with some of the other girls in the coven, and escaped to find Sanctuary. Along the way, a group of witches attacked her, and though she won and damaged their numbers, she suffered great injuries, including a bump on the head that made her forget her sisters in the coven. She arrived at Sanctuary, but never sent help for her sisters. Eventually, she and Damien became friends, then more than friends. She found a soulmate in him. 

The journey is just beginning for Kaiya, and she will soon have to face her past to save her future.


Thanks for stopping by! Come see me tomorrow to close out the second week of the A to Z Challenge, with L, a rather important day!!


Sorry for the lack of Kahlua...K didn't bring brownies either. :(

J is for Jugular - The Vein of Life

YAY!! We didn't get whisked away to the land of Oz! The storms lost their gusto and the clouds parted, so we just got rain. And I promised you a good quality post today, so here's my go at it!

The jugular vein. The vein of life. And the vein of choice for most vampires. Why? Well, here's a short anatomy lesson for you. 

The jugular is the vein in your neck that delivers blood (that has already delivered its oxygen to the brain and face and neck) back to the heart. This way your head doesn't fill up with blood and pop. That would be messy and gross. There are two jugular veins on either side of your neck, and external and an internal. Both carry blood back to the heart, just grabbing the blood from different places. The blood that gets returned to the heart gets recycled, refilled with oxygen, and pumped back to other places. It's one of the easiest targets and one of the quickest ways to bleed a person to death.

But that's not quite what the vampires in the Daughters of Night series are going for.

Most people assume that vamps all go for the jugular because it's the main vein in the neck. And sure, They all start out going for the easy kill, because the jugular is easiest to get to, as you can see from both pictures. But these vamps have developed richer tastes. They want fresh blood, full of oxygen. They go for the carotid artery (the red one in the second pic, labeled #5. It's hidden by the jugular vein, and by some muscle tissue, so the vamps have to go in at an angle. But they don't mind the extra work. The blood in the carotid artery is much richer in flavor, very worth the effort. 

Yeah, most of the time, they'll go for the quick and easy way by hitting the jugular. It's like when we run through the drive-thru on our way home when we don't feel like cooking a nice meal. But the blood in the carotid artery to the vampires is like having a giant, well-seasoned, perfectly marbled, expertly prepared steak cooked perfectly. Or whatever your all-time favorite meal is, cooked perfectly. I know, not everyone is a huge meat-eater like me. :)

So there you have it folks. The jugular is like the drive through, and the carotid is like a perfect meal that makes your taste buds dance with delight. (Insert disturbing mental image of your taste buds dancing. Good luck trying to sleep tonight...hehe.)

Join us tomorrow for K Day. Who knows what K may bring!! :D

I is for I...Don't Like Tornadoes

So, one of my biggest pain in the ass phobias is the fear of storms, primarily tornadoes. What luck! I live in an area that can get tornadoes 12 months out of the year! Oh, JOY!! Because, you know, panic attacks are just wonderful.

I saw something very similar to the pic below when I was a little girl. Probably what spawned my fear and loathing!

So, I have been flipping out since Tuesday about the storms that are supposed to hit us tomorrow morning. And they'll be going on all day tomorrow and I'll be all alone. Great.

I know this post was supposed to be up, oh, at least twelve hours ago, and I'm sorry I'm late, but as long as I don't get zipped away to Oz tomorrow or tonight, I'll have a much better post for you tomorrow. 

H is for Healthy Food...And Why I Am Doomed to be Fat

Yes, I'm late getting the post up. I've been a little under the weather today and last night. But I'm here now!!

So, healthy food. Are you a health food nut? If so, I don't know how you do it. If not, welcome to my world! I have to admit, I tried buying healthy food. The stuff I could afford was nasty, and the stuff I liked was so far outside my budget I'd starve. And not in the way supermodels starve themselves to look healthy, but in the way that people who live on the streets and can't find food end up dying after a couple of weeks without eating. If it were the supermodel option, I'd be all over that. 

But no. I have a very picky palette, and I can't change it. And please don't say, "Just deal with it, eat the good stuff and get over it!" because I can't force myself to eat things I don't like. Celery, onions, cabbage, tofu, soy milk, beans, salmon, nuts, broccoli (uncooked or without cheese and noodles), tomatoes, oatmeal, avocado, yogurt, asparagus, squash, cauliflower, carrots, artichoke hearts, raspberries, tea, cherries, coffee, mushrooms, olives, and most other healthy type foods taste horrible to me, and will never make it to my table. And the only time I like lettuce is in my salad, I don't like lettuce on my sandwiches. Am I picky? Yes. But it's me. I can't change my taste buds. 

Which brings me to my point, why are the foods that taste good so bad for you, and why are the good tasting healthy foods so expensive? Yeah, okay, a lot of good tasting healthy food has some of those items I hate, but they're in small doses so I barely even know they're there. But when you're broke, you can afford processed foods and some cheap fruits and veggies, and let us not forget the dollar menu. It's cheap and easy to eat the worst possible foods in the world for you, with more calories and fat and cholesterol in one meal than your allotted daily amounts. 

But damn it, it's there, it's easy, and it's cheap, so we do it. We don't do it to intentionally be unhealthy, but it's available, whereas tasty healthy food at affordable prices are not. Heck, healthy food at affordable prices even though it might not taste quite as good isn't even available. 

Maybe that's my calling. I need to open a chain of restaurants that serves healthy food fast and at affordable prices. Grow stuff from my own garden, ditch the deep fry and opt for the grill, and just serve healthy, great-tasting food. Yeah, there's an idea. One that I'm sure has been tried  and failed more times than I can count, but it's a great idea in theory!! Ah, hell. One day, maybe I will develop taste buds that don't suck. Until then, I'm doomed to be fat. 

**Now, I know that there are some people who just feel inclined to comment and tell me how ridiculous I am and how stupid I am. Don't waste your breath, I've heard it, and yes, I agree, it's stupid. But could you force yourself to repeatedly rip off your fingernails and toenails on a daily basis with no end in sight? That's kind of what it's like for me eating foods that taste gross. And for those of you who really want to offer me tips and words of encouragement, I welcome your advice as long as it's not condescending or cocky or anything that might make a fat, self-conscious girl feel bad. :) Thanks!!

G is for Gaviyn...Oh, So Sexy Gaviyn!

I'm late getting my post up again!! ARGH!!!

Howdy folks! So, if you've been keeping up with the theme, I'm introducing the behind-the-scenes of many of the Daughters of Night characters. Today is no different! I am very pleased to introduce you all to Gaviyn, the sexy vampire that stole Carmen's heart. Over, and over...and over...and over...and over...

Gaviyn Hartford was last reborn in 1132. He was orphaned and lived on the streets. Some people took pity on him and gave him scraps of food when they could, but Gaviyn had no trouble stealing to stay alive. He survived on his own until he was a young man. It was then that he met a beautiful young lady by the name of Caroline Haley-another incarnation of Carmen Heathers. He was 18 and cleaning stables in exchange for a bed to sleep in and a few coins a week. She was the daughter of a wealthy family, and her father was ready to offer her up to the highest bidder. Gaviyn knew he'd never have a shot, but he had to try. Stealing his employers best horse and trading all his belongings for as much money as he could, he made his offer to Carmen's father.

Of course, his bid was nowhere near enough. The highest bidder, a handsome man in his late twenties named Alvin Imosara, won her hand. Gaviyn was devastated, but his misery had only begun. Caroline defied her father and snuck off to meet Gaviyn, intending to run off with him. But Alvin found out about their plan. Furious with her rejection, he convinced his grandmother-Dahlia Imosara-to attack the Haley family. When Caroline met with Gaivyn, Alvin intercepted. Gaviyn was beat nearly to death, then was forced to watch as Alvin ceremoniously killed Caroline, condemning her soul for all eternity to never find true happiness in love. 

As Gaviyn bled to death from his many wounds, he made a deal with whatever deity would hear him that if he could be spared, he vowed to spend his life-however long he had left on the Earth-protecting and watching over his love. It was the Goddess Hecate that heard his plea. In Her infinite wisdom, she turned Gaviyn into a vampire, immortal and powerful. His love for Caroline warmed the Goddess' heart, and she blessed him with eternal life, which he would spend tracking down the each incarnation of his Caroline. 

He first took his revenge on the Imosara family, decimating them during the great battle and taking great pleasure in drinking every last drop of Alvin's blood. He then ensured Hanna Haley survived to carry on the lineage, and protected the Haley family for countless generations, all the while tracking down each incarnation of his sweet Caroline and watching her life slip away before he could save her. When Caroline's final incarnation was that of Carmen, born once again into the Haley family tree, he knew this was his last chance to save the one he loved. When her life was slipping away, he did the one thing he swore he would never do-change her into a vampire.

It was a good thing he did, though. Otherwise, Carmen would have died, The Eradicators would have won, Sanctuary would have been destroyed, and humanity's fate would be uncertain. 

Hope you enjoyed meeting Gaviyn, and reading about his past! Join us tomorrow for H Day. Oh, what an awesome post I have in mind for H!!