Absinthe Eternal
Absinthe Trilogy Book 3
By Tony-Paul de Vissage
Interview with
Crystal: Today I have the pleasure of hosting Tony-Paul de Vissage. Welcome Tony-Paul! I'm so excited to have you here today. Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?
Tony-Paul: First let me say, “Merci,” for inviting me for this interview. Now, then…my bio? How about I use my “official” bio that Class Act Books puts out? It’s much more interesting than the real thing:
A writer of French Huguenot extraction, Tony-Paul de Vissage’s first movie memories is of being six years old, viewing the old Universal horror flick, Dracula’s Daughter on television, and being scared sleepless--and that may explain a lifelong interest in vampires.
This was further inspired when the author was kidnapped by a band of transplanted Romanian vampires sightseeing in the South. Having never seen a human who wasn’t frightened of them, they offered to pay the youngster’s way through college if he would become an author and write about vampires in a positive manner. He agreed, was returned to his parents (who were also grateful for the tuition offer since it let them off the hook) and continued to keep in touch with his supernatural mentors.
A voracious reader whose personal library has been shipped more than 3,000 miles, Tony-Paul has read hundreds of vampire tales and viewed more than as many movies.
Crystal: Do you have a favorite scene you would like to share with us?
Tony-Paul: If I may, I’ll let that be my “excerpt” for this interview.
Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for your latest release?
Tony-Paul: Absinthe Eternal is the third story in the Absinthe Trilogy. I set the first story in the 18tgh century, the second in the 19th century, and decided to found it off by placing the final story in the present. My idea was to show how evil doesn’t always die simply because it doesn’t show itself, but can simply be lying dormant, waiting for the proper moment—for the right people and the right circumstances to come together--to bring it to life again..
Tony-Paul: At the moment, I’m currently what is called “on hiatus,” which means I’m taking a mini-vacation from writing. When I get back to the keyboard, I hope to start on the second entry following The Last Vampire Standing, tentatively titles A Single Shade of Red.
Tony-Paul: Nope. I just sit in front of the computer and pound the keyboard until I run out of words for the day.
Crystal: Do you have a favorite snack that like to munch on while writing? If so would you mind sharing what it is with us?
Tony-Paul: Being a Southerner, I love peanuts. I like to keep a bowl of dry-roasted, un-salted peanuts and raisins on hand to snack on. I also like sesame-oat bran sticks. Trés délicieux! Both are addictive as well as fattening, so I have to watch nibbling on those.
Generally, I use those as a reward for finishing a difficult chapter. Otherwise, it’s an endless cup of coffee.
Crystal: Did you have to do a lot of research for this book or any other? If so do you have a fascinating fact that you have learned you would like to share with us?
Tony-Paul: For the Absinthe novels, I tried to find out as much about historical New Orleans as possible, from the late 1700;s to the early 1800’s, as well as what was going on in the rest of what was then the US at that time. That included not only events but also clothing and customs for that particular part of the country. I learned some interesting fact about what (and how) people ate in that time (seven to eight courses, bowls on the table and passed around), as well as the dances and music played at their balls. One of the dances that was most popular was the contradanse, what we would call a “square dance,” where the butler or some servant called out the steps to the dancers.
It was also important to learn about the superstitions of the time, too, because the curse placed on Absinthe is the main theme running through all three novels.
Crystal: Who are some of your favorite authors that you like to read?
Tony-Paul: I like JD Robb (love the Eve Dallas-Roarke mysteries), Jim Butcher (yay, Wizard!), and new author Michael McBride. He spins a pretty good ancient alien menacing modern world story in his Unit 52 stories.
Crystal: Is there a genre you haven't written that you would like to try?
Tony-Paul: I haven’t written a mystery. I don’t think I’m devious enough to write one. My villain would be caught on the second page.
Crystal: When you are not busy writing wonderful stories to keep us lucky readers entertained, what do you like to do? Do you have a hobby?
Tony-Paul: Believe it or now, when I’m not writing, I’m reading! I have so many books I’m currently giving them away!
Crystal: Thanks for visiting. It has been a pleasure having you visit today. Can you think of anything else you would like to share with us today?
Blurb:
David Varine, star of Ghost Search International, a highly-rated supernaturally-themed reality show, is on assignment. At the request of the New Orléans Historical Society, he’s come to the Big Easy to prove the stately old mansion called Nouvel Espoir is haunted.It’s said the spirit of Absinthe, accursed son of the original owner, haunts the mansion, with his lover, but David’s a skeptic. He doesn’t believe in ghosts, curses, and any of that ‘supernatural hogwash.’ He’s only in the ghost-hunting business for the money.
Once inside Nouvel Espoir, however, David’s skepticism rapidly disappears. There are too many odd things happening, things he can’t ignore. When his cameraman arrives, the two will be forced to face whatever walks the mansion by night.
Absinthe wants something from them…but what…?
Buy Links:
Paperback exclusively from the publisher’s website: http://www.classactbooks.com/component/virtuemart/horror/absinthe-eternal-8702018-02-11-21-39-34-detail?Itemid=0
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IkiVE4
~*~*~*~*~*~
EXCERPT:
As I arrived at the top of the stairs, however, I saw that the door to what I’d already begun to think of as my bedroom was ajar.
Hadn’t Kathy pulled it shut as she followed the others out? I remembered…every room they went into, she entered first but was always the last to leave, shutting any doors behind her.
“Maybe it didn’t close properly.” I spoke aloud, one of my defenses against latent creepiness. Some people whistled in the dark; I talked to myself. Loudly.
Crossing to the door, I stopped, then looked back.
“Something’s different. What…?” It took me a moment to realize I’d walked through the cold spot on the landing, only now, it wasn’t cold. Hurrying back, I stood where I’d experienced that frosty breath and icy shiver. I exhaled, blowing out loudly.
Nothing. Not even a wisp of vapor.
An episodic cold spot. Never seen that before. I didn’t like that.
Abruptly, I got that someone’s-watching-me feeling, that little prickle of the skin. I spun, pushed the door wider and hurried inside…and skidded to a halt, staring at the figure sitting in the chair.
The Absinthe mannequin reclined in the hearthside chair, exactly as it had before.
“Well, now.” To my own ears, my voice sounded forced, too loud. “How did you get back in here?”
I was certain Kathy had been with the group as we went downstairs. Did she linger behind, going back into Étienne’s bedroom and retrieving the figure, replacing it in the chair before she joined the others?
Possibly. I couldn’t say definitely she was with them every minute. All I remembered was watching her guide everyone to the front door.
Maybe she had orders that the mannequins had to stay in their assigned room, and she’d removed it only to placate that one uneasy tourist, and then had to put it back.
“Unh-uh.” I held up a finger, waggling it back and forth as if the mannequin were about to offer some excuse for its return. “None of that.”
It remained silent, of course, staring at me out of those remarkable green eyes.
I asked myself what I would’ve done if there had been a sound just then, even the creak of a beam…
What the hell’s the matter with me? I never get spooked like this. Anger rose at that. I’m David Varine, GSI’s chief investigator, and scary stories don’t frighten me. Besides, I don’t believe in this stuff.
Stooping, I wrapped an arm around the figure’s waist and lifted it as Kathy had. It was remarkably light. Carrying it across the hall, I opened the door to the other bedroom, and with the barest hesitation, stamped inside.
I dropped the figure unceremoniously into the chair, Damned if it doesn’t resemble the portrait. The face was framed by black, shoulder-length hair. It had the thickness and texture of real hair. I wondered if it was. Had some human’s flowing locks been purchased for this artificial being?
Thinking back to what Kathy had said about Absinthe, I realized if he’d actually looked like this. If so…oh, the boy must’ve been a beauty…the killer handsome kind.
I rummaged mentally for my college French. “Bon nuit.” With a jerky bow—and why did I do that?—I hurried to the door and went out, slamming it behind me.
I was stepping across the threshold into my own room when I heard the faint creak. I glanced back.
The door to Étienne’s room slowly and gracefully swung open.
About the Author:
A writer of French Huguenot extraction, one of Tony-Paul de Vissage's first movie memories is of being six years old, viewing the old Universal horror flick, Dracula's Daughter on television, and being scared sleepless—and he’s now paying back his very permissive parents by writing about the Undead.
TP currently has 22 novels published with Class Act Books. His novel The Night Man Cometh was voted one of the Top Ten horror novels of 2011 by the Preditors & editors Readers Poll for that year, and in 2013, the first entry in his Second Species series, Shadow Lord, was awarded the same honor. The Last Vampire Standing placed second as Best Paranormal Romance of 2012 by the Paranormal Romance Guild.
Learn More about Tony-Paul at:
Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.pinterest.com/tpvissage/?etslf=7278&eq=Tony-Paul%20de%20Vissage
Twitter: @tpvissage
No comments:
Post a Comment