ABOUT THE BOOK
A thought-provoking take on the vampire mythos that makes you consider how the natural-spiritual and scientific worlds might intersect.Countess Katerina Vaduva roams Eastern Europe as a vampire for nearly six hundred years experiencing the horrors of mortal man - wars, plagues, genocide and torture. For centuries, she seeks shelter and security in the castles of counts and sultans.
When her husband the Count of Slovakia passes, she pursues a new life with a colonel in the Prussian military. While her husband quests victory at battle, Katerina desires a Naturalist scientists who seduces her with knowledge and a greater understanding of herself, for this she will risk everything for the one thing she never had - immortal love and the pursuit of progress.
INTERVIEW WITH JENNIFER OTT
Jennifer, how did you get started writing and when did you become an “author?”
I started my first novel at age twelve. In my twenties I studied screenwriting and I guess would be considered a screenwriter. I’d say I became an “author” when I published my first fiction novel Wild Horses.
What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
Being able to live in the lives of my characters. I experience and learn so much.
You have a day job . . . how do you find time to write?
My day job is in the fashion industry as a product developer. I go to a coffee shop about an hour before work and write and often times at lunchtime.
If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
The history channel.
How often do you tweet?A couple times during the day.
How do you feel about Facebook?
I like it.
For what would you like to be remembered?
For my books.
What scares you the most?
Ghosts.
YouTube is . . .
Addicting.
Who would you want to narrate a film about your life?
Emma Stone or Jennifer Lawrence.
If you had a swear jar, would it be full?
All of them would be full.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I’m an extroverted introvert. I’m social, but often I’d rather be by myself.
What's your relationship with your TV remote?
We have our differences. Sometimes, we have communication issues.
Do you spend more on clothes or food?
Food.
What's your favorite treat for movie night?
Nachos.
What is the most daring thing you've done?
Went to a professional football charity event by myself.
What is the stupidest thing you've ever done?
Went to a professional football charity event by myself.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
Went to a professional football charity event by myself.
What choices in life would you like to have a redo on?
I think all the choices I made were the right at the moment, even if they didn’t turn out as planned, because I learned from them.
What’s one of your favorite quotes?
“Unless I have something of my own to say, and a way of my own to say it in, I have no business to publish; unless I can look beyond the greatest Masters, and study Nature herself, I have no right to paint; unless I can have the courage to use the language of Truth in preference to the jargon of Conventionality, I ought to be silent.” ~ Charlotte Bronte
What would your main character say about you?
Delicious. Like a bold madeira wine.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
I wrote a book The Insurrectionist which was through the eyes of a terrorist. Hard to put yourself in those shoes, but I wanted to understand how someone could through their life away in a violent act.
Have you ever been to a fortune teller? What did she tell you?
Yes. I have several times, and I have several friends who are psychics. The one thing I can say is the future is not absolute. It changes with the choices we make.
Who would you invite to a dinner party if you could invite anyone in the world?
Justin Trudeau, the new prime minister of Canada.
How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
Eight to nine. I like sleeping.
Do you have a favorite book?
Life is Elsewhere, by Milan Kundera.
How about a favorite book that was turned into a movie? Did the movie stink?
As a screenwriter, I have to say movies and books are two different mediums. It’s not always easy taking a 400-page book and turning it into a 120-page script. It is up to the discretion of the screenwriter what is kept and what is cut. But to answer the question, I would have to say The Color Purple. Both book and movie were amazing.
Do you sweat the small stuff?
Yes, but I handle the big stuff like a pro. Go figure.
If you had to choose a cliche about life, what would it be?
Don’t worry. Be Happy.
Lightning round:
Cake or frosting? Frosting
Laptop or desktop? Laptop
Chevy Chase or Bill Murray? Bill Murray
Emailing or texting? Emailing
Indoors or outdoors? Outdoors
Tea: sweet or unsweet? Unsweet
Plane, train, or automobile? Plane
EXCERPT FROM DESPERATE MOON
Siegfried was still awake scouring over his texts when a knock sounded on his door. He checked the clock and grinned—just in time. He closed his books and strolled to the door. Upon opening it, he saw a dark face shrouded under the hood of a large cloak.
“Irena,” he said with a widening smile.
She stepped inside lowering her hood. “Here for my appointment, Doctor,” she said letting her cloak drop to the floor and exposing her nakedness to him.
He had met her during one of his house calls. She offered nanny services to one the elites who lived in the hills surrounding Prague. Siegfried always wondered why such a beautiful girl would give herself up to servitude when she could find a rich husband.
“Servitude would be marrying a rich man,” Irena once said to him, “freedom is being his servant. Mistresses gain a lot more than married women.”
Irena was greedy as such. Siegfried was only too happy to find himself tasty to her, yet he too shared her same philosophy. He offered his service in providing healing and care and once he left their front door, he was again a free man to his own mind and mission.
Not being able to resist the sight of her supple body, he pulled her close and kissed her face.
She pushed him away. “Doctor, you are still dressed.”
With haste, he removed his clothes starting with his pants that constrained him and his shirt which he struggled to remove. She laughed helping him tug the sleeves over his wrists. Once both were naked, he carried her to his bed where he rested her down on the feather mattress.
He lowered his face between the plump yet firm breasts of his nubile nightly visitor, traveled upward to the nape of her neck, and paused. Curiously, he nibbled and tasted her skin.
“That feels good,” she said with a sigh.
He lowered his body onto hers and pressed himself inside her continuing to thrust rhythmically as her head gently hit the headboard. She dug her nails into his back scratching his skin and drawing blood. He grunted pushing harder and faster.
Within a black swirl, Katerina appeared in the doorway. She watched Siegfried's blood run down the curve of his back as he made love to Irena. She moved toward him, elevating her palm just above him to feel his sexual energy.
He rolled over pulling Irena on top of him. She laughed, gyrating above. She too lowered herself nibbling on his neck. “Feel good?”
Siegfried widened his eyes suddenly seeing Katerina. He sat upright with fright. “Kat—!” Katerina disappeared instantly.
Irena rotated her head in the direction of Siegfried's gaze and saw no one. ”Kat?”
Siegfried collapsed on the bed, the moment ruined.
Irena crawled off his body. “Who is Kat?”
“No one,” he said hoping she would believe.
She threw her cloak over her shoulders. “If you have another woman, Siegfried that is fine with me. Just refrain from screaming out her name while with me.”
He pulled on his pants. “No. It is not that. It was nothing. Just an illusion.”
“Maybe you are working too hard, too much stress,” she said gathering her stuff to leave.
“It is late. Stay,” he begged.
Irena grinned and kissed his chin. “It is a short walk. I will be fine.” She blew him a kiss at the door.
Outside the wind howled and Irena held her hood tighter around her neck. She spun around and saw another cloaked shadow. “Hello!” she called and received no response. “Hello, is someone there?” She looked around fearful back-stepping to Siegfried’s door.
The shadow neared her with the force of a howling storm. Irena had no time to react when Katerina pierced her teeth into her neck. Irena’s life evaporated into Katerina. She vanished with Irena still in her embrace.
OTHER BOOKS BY JENNIFER OTT
Wild Horses
The Tourist
Saying Goodbye
The Insurrectionist
One with the Wind
A Soul to Shine
Edge of Civilization
Serendipidus
A Soul to Shine
Searching Civilization
Rays of Civilization
Time of Useful Consciousness
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author Jennifer Ott has written several satire fiction, Wild Horses, The Tourist and two non-fiction books Love and Handicapping and Ooh Baby Compound Me! She recently published, Serenidipidus and Edge of Civilization. She also is the host of the SuperJenius Internet Radio show on Artist First radio Network.
Jennifer Ott lives in Long Beach, California, enjoys the sun, the sand, the surf and lots of Mexican food.
Jennifer’s latest book is the Victorian era historical romance, Desperate Moon.
Connect with Jennifer:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter
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