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"Long Black Veil"
Anthology: The Devil Who Loves Me
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Preorders: Paperback | Kindle
About the Author: January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and full blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create a series that features strong women who don’t take life too seriously, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope the stories of her beloved Brass Ringers will capture your imagination as you follow their exploits as much as they did when she wrote them.
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Preorders: Paperback | Kindle
About the Author: January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and full blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create a series that features strong women who don’t take life too seriously, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope the stories of her beloved Brass Ringers will capture your imagination as you follow their exploits as much as they did when she wrote them.
Q & A
How does it feel to have this story published for the first time?
Lovely! I become a child filled with wonder every time someone wants to read my words! This is a special story for me and I am truly grateful to Grendel Press for choosing to publish it.
What inspired the idea for your story?
I so enjoy reading gothic stories wrapped in mythology that I attempted to do just that with Long Black Veil, marrying a Celtic swan myth with images of windswept beaches and shipwrecks. I loved the idea for this anthology and it called to me to write a story for The Devil Who Loves Me.
We know that writing can be a tumultuous journey with a lot of obstacles, what is your kryptonite as a writer?
Aw, good question! I'm always inundated with new story ideas and characters that come calling, often in the dead of night, and I just want to start writing a new journey before finishing the one I'm on. I've had to learn the discipline to finish everything I start before working on another story. I have too many ideas to ever get them all down in one lifetime. Which is one of the things I adore about the short story form. I get to write more stories!
Clearly, you’ve succeeded at writing a captivating story for GrendelPress, but we all start somewhere. What advice would you give yourself as a young writer?
That's an easy one! Read, read, read, in all kinds of genres to discover what brings you joy and keeps your attention. Then write, research, and write some more. It takes about 10,000 hours to learn a new skill. I'm thinking that learning to write to the best of your ability takes at least that amount of time. But if it's a labor of love, time flies by.
We’d like to argue that every good story makes both the author and the readers feel something. What perspectives or beliefs have you challenged with your story?
I agree with that perspective. Everything we come into contact with changes not only us but whatever or whoever it is that touches us. I came to Long Black Veil believing in love at first sight, that one can come back from the other side with a new face and body to find their lost true love, and I believe the heroine helped me to fulfill that desire and to share it with others.
What do you love most about your story’s genre?
The richness of the sensual details it enables. I love language and how words work together to create something brand-new.
Tell us about your favorite author. What about their book(s) call to you and how do they inspire your own writing?
Oh my! I have so many favorite authors! I just love reading and writing so much. I learn something new with every book I read. Every bit of research I do. A good story is a good story and I read just as many known authors as unknown (yet!)
What are some other genres you’d like to break into and why?
I actually already write in a number of genres. I would definitely like to try as many as possible while I can. Changing it up keeps the work fresh and allows for new insights. I do believe I'm here on earth to learn!
If you had to pick another story of yours to share with your readers, what would it be?
Maybe the gothic tale I wrote titled, Hellfire, not to be confused with a modern story released last year of the same title: Condemned to die as a witch, Ayleth is saved from the flames with scant seconds to spare. An initiate of the Temple of the Goddess, she’s quick to embrace the lust she feels rightly due her savior, the tall, broad-shouldered Alexander of Leagues. But no more can come of it: The hellfire that threatened Ayleth’s life ended her younger sister’s and Ayleth is hell-bent on revenge against the corrupt village leaders.
Alexander, Commander of the Guards at Dragonstone Castle, is charged with the safety of his liege and his men, which also means concealing from the world that they’re werewolves. Turning Ayleth into one of their twice-born kind would keep her safe, but would change her nature. Faced with Ayleth’s unswerving dedication to her cause and a new threat to the clan from above Hadrian’s Wall, the Dywalkers, Alexander finds his loyalties fatally divided.
Alexander, Commander of the Guards at Dragonstone Castle, is charged with the safety of his liege and his men, which also means concealing from the world that they’re werewolves. Turning Ayleth into one of their twice-born kind would keep her safe, but would change her nature. Faced with Ayleth’s unswerving dedication to her cause and a new threat to the clan from above Hadrian’s Wall, the Dywalkers, Alexander finds his loyalties fatally divided.
(1) Comment for this blog
Thanks for having me visit!!! If anyone wants to contact me, I’m on social media using my own name: January Bain. I love to talk books!