To celebrate the release of the fourth book in The Maker’s Song saga, Etched in Bone, I convinced the story’s badass and beautiful Dante Baptiste—Cajun, sexy frontman for Inferno, not to mention nightkind AND Fallen (provided I can get him to stop rolling his eyes and pretending to gag) to join y’all and discuss a few subjects close to his heart. And now I turn the blog over to Dante.
Merci beaucoup, but a simple “it’s all yours, asshole” woulda done for an intro. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Dante Baptiste, I live in New Orleans, and I’m the frontman for Inferno—among other things.
Very cool to meet y’all . . . well, in a non-visual kinda way. Since Adrian gave me carte blanche to do what I wanted (mistake), I decided to touch on three subjects: sex, pet peeves, and motherfucking lies. And no, that ain’t the name of a band, but it should be. It should be. <grins>
Sex and love. Do they hafta go together? Someone once warned me that a lotta people – mortals and nightkind alike – think the two go together. Pourquoi? I don’t see it.
Sex is fun, definitely friendly (though it doesn’t have to be), a satisfying way to blow off steam and one of the best ways to get to know someone. Sex is all laissez les bons temps rouler.
But I’ve never tied sex to love or expected the person(s) I played with under the sheets to love me. Hell, they don’t even hafta be my friend(s) if they don’t wanna. Yeah, I’ll admit that if I feel something all warm and tender for my under-the-sheets partner, the sex is even hotter, but . . .
Sometimes sex is the farthest thing from love on this fucking planet. And, I found out the hard way, for some sex *is* love. So there’s my question: Do sex and love hafta go together?
I gotta admit though, since I met Heather Wallace, my woman of heart and steel, some of my views have changed a bit. Sex is definitely better, more intense, with her—even that first time up in my bedroom in the candlelit dark. I have a feeling a tumble between the sheets with someone other than her would feel good, yeah, but the intensity, the hunger, the trust would be missing.
But do I feel like because I love her—cuz I do, ain’t no denying that—that I can only have sex with her? Is sex a promise? What does fidelity mean? My heart is hers. Ain’t that fidelity? No mistakes here, I ain’t trying to justify a wandering eye or a casual tumble, I’m trying to understand. In all honesty, I don’t want to be with anyone but Heather.
I know that sexual, physical fidelity is important to Heather, so that’s all that should matter. I’d never do anything to hurt her. And if I slept with someone else, it would. Maybe that’s all I need to know. I think about her with someone else, and I get knotted up and that’s totally fucking new, for true. Yeah, I’m learning as I go. Still, I’m curious about the ties between sex and love.
Which brings me to pet peeves. Pet peeve numero un is this question: What’s it like being vampire? (Oh, btw, I’m born nightkind, but Adrian mentioned that, yeah?)
Merde. Beaucoup merde. Dunno. It’s all I know, so it feels normal. It’s who I am. I don’t analyze it. Do y’all analyze being human? What’s it like being human? Being mortal? Care to wrap that up in a sweet one paragraph answer? After all, what do you have to compare it with?
Another question that rates high on the pet peeve o’meter is: “Will you turn me?” In truth, that question’s no different than asking, “Wanna have a baby? One that you’ll have to raise alone? Forever?” Yeah. D’accord. Sign me up for that one.
But my pet peeves ain’t aimed at just mortals. Hell, no. Nightkind are often the biggest, loudest assholes of all. My personal fave? This one: “Lady Nose-in-the-Air/Lord Kiss-My-Boots requests a personal audience with you before/after the show.”
Just because they’re nightkind, they believe they should get special treatment – especially from other nightkind. Like me. <snorts> Yeeeaaaahhhhh . . . like that’s gonna happen. They can get in line for the meet and greet after the show like everyone else.
Do they? Nope. They usually stalk away, faces looking like they just sucked down a mouthful of cold blood, muttering promises regarding my future comeuppance(s). <yawns> So what’s new, yeah?
But the grand pooh-bah of all pet peeves are the assholes who prey on others by using their hopes and dreams, their aching hearts. Assholes who eat up their trust. Twist them. Scar them. Strip them of everything. For money. Out of envy. Or just because they can.
Hell, I guess that ain’t just a pet peeve. It’s a soulless something that edges right up against evil. Fuckers who shapeshift a person’s dreams into delusions and suck them dry of all hope. And it usually starts with a lie.
Mortals and nightkind alike are guilty. Mortals and nightkind alike are also victims.
“A little white lie doesn’t hurt anyone. Sometimes it’s better than a painful truth.” Or how about this popular tune: “People lie. It’s just human (insert species here) nature.”
I’ve heard those words or variations of them over and over. And it’s pure top of the charts bullshit.
A lie is a lie is a lie. Hiding the truth is a kind of lie – a lie of omission, and just as harmful.
Sure, I expect someone who doesn’t like me or is fucking with me or whatever to lie to me. That’s all part of the you-suck-and-I-hate-your-guts routine.
But a friend? No. With people you like and trust, everything they say becomes a part of your foundation, a part of your reality. Because you believe them. And you build on it – your friendship, your love, your every-night life.
A lie is a termite in that foundation, devouring its integrity. It doesn’t matter why that termite’s in there chomping happily away – Oh, I didn’t want to hurt you or I was worried you’d get jealous or I thought you wouldn’t understand or even the classic, I had your best interests at heart – the fact remains that the termite is in there. And it ain’t coming out on its own and it ain’t coming out without doing damage.
There’s so much of my life that I don’t remember, even things that I’ve done, because my memory’s been tampered with big-time (so I’ve learned). But I’m gonna find out and learn my own truth. So night by night, friend by friend, I'm building a foundation, a solid one I hope. A foundation to live my life by. And I’ll never lie – not to spare a friend's feelings, not to ease a lover’s jealousy, and I’ll never believe a lie is in anyone’s best interest. Not even the teller’s.
I expect the same – no lies. No matter how painful it is, no matter how ugly, if I ask, give me the truth. The truth will never come between us, but a lie will.
I believe deep down, we all crave the truth – mortals and nightkind, yeah even assholes. I think sometimes we’re scared to ask for it. But we gotta, if we’re ever going to move ahead.
Wow. Pet peeves spiraled into a rant enorme. <laughs> So let me know what y’all think. About sex. About your pet peeves. About trust and lies. Now, I’ll turn this back over to Adrian so she can tell you more about the books. Here ya go, chère!
Thanks, Dante! Um . . . there’s a bottle of absinthe waiting for you in Club Hell. <winks>
You can read a chapter from the book that started it all. Here’s a link to a sample chapter of A Rush of Wings.
With Book Four, Etched in Bone, Dante faces his destiny and searches for a way to accept it on his own terms. To make his life, his own, at long last, and with Heather at his side. The former FBI agent is more than his partner and lover, she is also his anchor, his beacon, guiding him back from the edge of madness when his shattered past rises up and swallows him. But in Heather’s human family awaits an unexpected enemy. One who could force Dante to choose his darkest destiny—as the Great Destroyer.
Here’s a link to the first two chapters of Etched in Bone.
Etched in Bone is also a featured read for March on BN.com’s Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Book Club – which I’m very excited about.
Book five, On Midnight Wings, is my current project and should be out the end of this year, the start of 2012.
Here’s a link for the first chapter of Black Dust Mambo. (The first book in my second urban fantasy series from Pocket. The second, Black Heart Loa, will be released June 28.)
Thanks so much for having me and Dante! It’s been a blast—well, for me, anyway. Dante’s busy playing his guitar and drinking of the green fairy. LOL.
From April 6-10th, I’ll be in Los Angeles attending and signing at the RT Booklover’s Convention.
You can also find me at:
Website My blog Facebook Facebook Fan Page Twitter MySpace GoodreadsDante's Club Hell Forum
Dante's Club Hell Yahoo Group
Pocket After Dark
Click here to go to my Amazon page with buy links to each of my novels.
Click here to go to my BN.com page with buy links to each of my novels.
One winner gets a signed set of all four Maker's Song books.
Three more winners each get to choose one of my books to date, including Black Dust Mambo, winner's choice. They will also be signed copies.
Rule for entry:
1.) Must be a follower and be the age of 18 or older.
2.) Leave a comment for the author along with your email address (For shipping purposes).
3.) This contest is open internationally.
Contest is closes at 11:59 p.m. PST On the day of (today).
The winners will be selected using Random.org. Then they will be contacted via email and given 48 hours to claim their prizes. If we do not hear from the winner(s) within that time, a new winner will be selected.
Please review our privacy policy, if you have any questions as to how Were Vamps Romance uses your information.
Pretty simple.
69 comments:
Brilliant interview !!!The books sounds amazing we want more please !!
And those covers are simply stunning ! Thank you so much for allowing the contest open for international readers as well!
I am a follower and over the age of 18
desere_steenberg@yahoo.com
WHOA!!! Fantastic post! Without a doubt makes me want to read the books. On my to-do list.
eagletoncoven@gmail.com
I love Dante. Beautiful and he can sing. If I was going to go for a much younger man I would want one like him.
Shari
dragonlady@dragonsunltd.com
I love your Maker's Song series! I wish Dante were a real person. Now that would be interesting.
I'm a follower and over 18.
lacus_freedom19@hotmail.com
Thanks for the Interview and Giveaway (yay to make it international ^_^)
I never read your Maker Song series before, Adrian, but I'm looking forward to read it, since the heroine is a FBI agent, and the hero is vampire. Both is my favorite type of H/h
Would love to win the book :D
I'm a follower (Ren) and over 18
sawamura_foxman@yahoo.com
Desere, thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed Dante's guest blog. I hope you'll give the books a try. ;)
Sammie, Thanks for stopping by! I'm glad you enjoyed Dante's post.
Shari, Dante's Sleeping at the moment, but I'm sure he'd appreciate your words about his singing. (And he's mature for his years.) ;)
Christina, thanks so much! Dante feels very real to me and I like to think of him walking the streets of the French Quarter in a dimension just parallel to our own.
Ren, thanks! Good luck in the contest!
What a fun interview, now you've got me totally jazzed about this series. Can't believe I haven't started it yet, so big thanks for the chance to win one of these stories.
a follower
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Great interview! I love the way you sink into the character. Of course, that's what makes the books so damn good, too!! LOL
Don't enter me in the contest, I already have every one of Adrian's books on my favorites shelf!
CathyM, Thanks! I hope you enjoy the books when you have a chance to get to them. Best of luck in the giveaway!
DB, thanks so much for dropping by! I appreciate it! And I'm looking forward to buying you a drink at RT next week. <3
I am glad I stopped by today. Thank you for your interview!
Amazing interview! I already have all four books. Just stopping by to see what Dante got to say this time..
Hi Adrian,
Fun interview ladies...
How come I didn't know about these books set in New Orleans? Hmm. Must go check them out. They look great.
Dawn Chartier
www.dawnchartier.com
Hi Adrian!
How can Dante drink absinthe straight from the bottle? Even after you add water poured over a sugar cube, it still tastes like gasoline (with a hell of a kick.)
I understand Dante's comments about lying. He is so pure, nothing else would make sense for him. Is this something you practice for yourself as well? I used to think speaking truth to your friends was the ultimate act of intimacy. Now I'm inclined to think speaking truth to yourself a necessity, speaking kindness to your friends an act of grace. Most people inflict truth on each other rather than gifting it.
There must be a great freedom that comes from having a soul as pure as Dante's. One thing is for certain, in a world full of interesting characters, he is unique. Devastatingly unique.
More please!
Lisa Subia
lsubia@aol.com
Loved reading his thoughts.
Will there be other characters giving their thoughts?
wade 2121 at gmail dot com
Dante you know I love you and you did an amazing job *blowing you a kiss* You need to come back to my house for another sit down.
Adrian as usual you rock!! Thank you for such brilliant writing that makes us feel as if we are a part of the story.
Love and hugs
Please do not enter me in the contest I have all of Adrian's books.
I loved reading Dante's thoughts!
Personally, I do think sex and love go together. I would not have one without the other.
angeldream3[at]gmail[dot]com
Awesome blog Dante. You rock and so do you Adrian! One of the many (and I do mean MANY things*winks*) I love about you Dante is that you always tell it like it is.
Love the books (my personal favorites)and if you haven't read them you really should, you will be glad that you did. Can't wait for the next one!
Love both Dante and Adrian!
Again great blog! And don't enter me as I,too have all of Adrian's books.
Great interview...love it!
Denise, Glad you enjoyed the post! Thanks so much for dropping by.
Kim, I really appreciate your support!
Dawn, I'm glad you've now discovered The Maker's Song books! I hope you enjoy them. ;)
Lisa,
Dante loves absinthe straight from the bottle, no sugar cube, (go figure) but Von shares your opinion of absinthe (which I think he mentions in Etched in Bone).
You know, I don't hold to Dante's standards, when it comes to the truth. I've told white lies and have been guilty of practically everything he mentions in his blog.
I totally agree that it's important to be truthful with yourself!
Thanks so much for your comments! I know Dante would never consider himself pure and would snort (or double over laughing) to hear it said. But we know better, right? ;)
Wade, Not here, no, but I'd like to do a guest blog from Von and/or Lucien and/or Heather at some point.
Annette, thanks so much! I'll make sure Dante gets your kiss when he awakens.
Hugs and kisses!
Amy, Thanks so much for dropping by and for your comments. Personally, I agree with you. I have a feeling that Dante's relationship with Heather is eventually going to put that question to rest in Dante's mind.
Angie, I'm glad you enjoyed Dante's post and I'll make sure he reads everyone's comments when he awakens.
I really appreciate your support. You ROCK!
Abigail, Thanks!
What a fun post! Hey Adrian! Thanks for letting Dante out to play ;)
HighlandHussy(at)demonloversbooksandmore(dot)com
Hi Adrian!
I love the excerpt, love the book covers. This is my first introduction to you and your work, and as a recent addition to the Urban Fantasy crowd, I look forward to reading your books.
Thanks for the invitation to join you, I've enjoyed the reading and the responses. You have such wonderful responders.
All my best,
Allure Van Sanz
Great interview. I love Dante. I liked reading about his opinions. The Markers Song series is incredible.
tytysmommy21(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hey HH, glad you enjoyed it!
Allure, thanks so much for your comments! I'm glad you've enjoyed the excerpts and post and hope you enjoy the books even more.
Welcome to urban fantasy!
Best of luck in the contest!
Thanks, Gidget!
Dante' is a very interesting Character. I love it. Totally adding the series to my TBR
Great interview! Thanks Dante (and Adrian!) If you haven't checked out this series you definitely need to! It's extremely addictive, lol! Can't wait for the next book Adrian!
Dante, all I can say is...if the bar's a mess right now, it ain't my fault!!! Loved hearing from you and thanks, Adrian, for letting him out for a spell! Fun fun for all!!
This is an awesome series. I love both Dante and Heather. They're damn intense and loyal to each other. I love that.
Dante's interview was great, it just confirmed what I already thought of him.
Thanks for Sharing.
I meet the contest requirements.
Thanks Adrian...
Cindy
ctrim@wi.rr.com
Love both your series. Dante how ever has to be one of the best Characters iv ever had to pleasure of reading about.
Im over 18.. Sadly way over..
Email Simmyxi@yahoo.com
Bri, I'm so glad Dante intrigued you enough to make you add the series to your TBR pile! Thanks!
Dana, Thanks tons for the support. On Midnight Wings will be out (hopefully) by the end of the year.
Conn: Oh, I totally blame Dante (and Von because he's always involved) for the messy bar.
Good interview! I haven't read any of your books yet but if Dante's any indication of what the books are like I can't wait to read them!
I'm over eighteen and I'm a follower!
kakuchouakisame_19@yahoo.com
Cindy, Thanks so much! I'm glad you've enjoyed the series and Dante and Heather's relationship. Merci beaucoup for your support!
Simmyxi, Thanks so much for comments and your support!
Gabby, thanks and yes, Dante's blog is a good indication. I appreciate you dropping by and wish you all the best in the contest!
Love Love Love when Dante does these kinds of things! Hearing his insight and thoughts are refreshing! Maybe next time he will bring Von along! I would love to hear his thoughts too!
gracioushoneybee@gmail.com
Amazing guest post! Really love Dante, I especially love his take on lies and I love that Dante doesn't use his powers against people. One of the many reasons why he is a favorite for me. So incredible. Thank you all for this great post again and the giveaway. Can't wait for Black Heart Loa and On Midnight Wings (YAY!) I may have these, but oh well, wouldn't hurt to get signed copies. Sign me up!
*Over 18
*New follower (WOOHOO!)
*Email:
drharleyquinn87 (at) gmail (dot) com
Debbie, thanks! Yes, I plan to either have Von blog with Dante or do a guest blog of his own. ;)
Diana, I'm so glad you enjoyed Dante's post! Thanks so much for spreading the word and for your support! Hugs!
It's been a pleasure seeing Dante evolve as a person, or nightkind, whatever. He has the right amount of edge balanced out with a true sense of morality and desire to do the right thing that I respect out of real people.
Brand new follower!
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
I haven't read any of her books get but really want to!
time4mommy@gmail.com
What a great interview with Dante.
I'd love to read Etched in Bone.
Your books are great, Adrian!! Love 'em. My in-laws are from Cajun country so I'm quite familiar with the language and you write it very well!
I wish you great success!
mary.abshire@gmail.com
Great interview Adrian - I love when you let Dante out to play! Of course, I love it even more when you let Von out too. :)
Really enjoyed EIB and can't wait for the next one - please don't make us wait too long.
Carol
Awesome interview and great set of books. I've enjoyed each of them.
JC Coy/Nickie Asher
Bethany, thanks! I appreciate your comment and your support. Even though he's nightkind (and Fallen), I think "person" still applies. LOL.
And Dante snorted, but he blew you a kiss. ;)
Time4mommy, Thanks so much for dropping by! I hope you enjoy the books.
Mary, thanks! That's means so much coming from someone who has people in Cajun country! As always, thanks TONS for your support!
Carol, thanks! Yup, Von needs to come out to play too!
Nickie, Thanks so much!!
I follow the blog, I am over 18 and I am madly in LOVE with Dante!!!
I am amazed at the way Adrian gets so far into her characters minds.
I love getting these little snippets into all of the characters minds through blogs.
It's like seeing behind the curtain. I get to know things about the characters that I didn't know just from reading the books.
Adrian is one of the best writers I have read, and I have read a lot.
The thing I love the most is how real the characters become on the pages.
If only Dante really was real!!!
Maybe he is!!!
Maybe Adrian has him locked away in her basement!!!
Is he?!!!
Hehe, I want!!! *drools*
jesyka_james@live.com.au
Great interview with Dante! Thanks Adrian!!
Etched in Bone was great, I can't wait until the next book!
linda_keeran at hotmail dot com
I loved Dante's post.
I completely agree about the lying. For me trust is something that takes quite a while to earn. Before you get to know the inside secrets, I have to feel like a person will always be there to support me. I'm a private gal, so its uber important.
For sex & love, you can definitely have one without the other. Dante is right, it is better with someone you love, because you know exactly what gives them the most pleasure & they know the same for you. Its an emotional & physical connection.
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
It makes me wonder, Dante loves the bad-arse image, promotes that image, and seems to like or at least not mind it.
But deep inside, no, actually not deep at all, he is so very square (and I say that with all love, admiration, and no bad connotation at all)- loyal at all cost, doesn't brake rules, especially not his own,and not the rules of the ones he loves. He loves with his soul and his heart, only one condition: no lies.
I think the bad-arse is was he was made to be, the square guy is who he really is!!!
Interesting, very interesting... *getting lost in thoughts*
Kerstin ^o^
yula_jad@yahoo.com
Hi loved the post! Please do not enter me in the giveaway , I just wanted to stop by and support Adrian and see what my Dante had to say :)
Thank you great post !
Athenna
Wow.That is a very great post. I found about the books recently and this is actually awesome.
I'm a new follower
darlyn225 at gmail dot com
Thanks!
Already own all of the books including black dust mambo but would love to win Dante's Book Thong if possible
forgot to add I am over 18 and email berrylicious_cutie@hotmail.com
Dante gave a lot of information! Adrian if there was to be a movie who would be right for Dante' s part! Cannot wait for the new book
OMG....I thing I'm in love!!!!
I've found my new 'dream' guy, hell-ohhh!!!!!
You can be my bad ass love interest anytime ♥
cbcowley@gmail.com
Great interview ;) Dante seems like a real hoot and hawttty !! Ihave not yet had the pleasure of reading this series have had in my tbr pile ;) buy pile ;) thanks for the great interview and for mkaing the comp international ;)
kat
kittee_cat@bigpond.com
Dear Adrian,
Thanks you so much for the Invite! I loved Dante's Blog! So much fun to hear his enter most thoughts..I can think of a few questions that I would ask and boy they would be revealing! I already own all of your books, so no contest for me, but I would love to have you guest post sometime!
And a word to everyone here, Adrian is a wonderful story teller that can take you so deep into her world that you can see, feel, hear and taste her characters with a passion that will surprise you!
Congrats on a very successful launch! Best wishes!
Cindy Bailey
badasschicksthatbite.blogspot.com
oldbookwormcb(at)yahoo(dot)com
I so love this series and I love getting to hear a character's POV. As if they aren't real enough, this gives an insight to them that isn't always as obvious when you read the book. And more story, more info, is always better.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/
Adrian,
I love the passionate and edgy nature of your writings! I find the Fallen aspect a unique and interesting twist to an engaging story.
I enjoyed The Maker's Song series and Black Dust Mambo. Looking forward to Etched in Bone!
follower over 18
klsprouse42@gmail.com
Hi, Adrian, just stopping by to say hi! I love this post, it's great to hear from Dante again.
I agree with Dante's pet peeves, he's totally right. As for me? I HATE when people try to force me to do something. Even if it's something I want to do, I'll do it on my own terms, when I want. I don't like being manipulated.
Hope the writing is going well, I'll see you on Twitter and around CH! Oh, and give Von a kiss for me please!
-Rachel S/Rachel498
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