MARGARET WEST.: Welcome Kane

The Virtual Book Tour today kicks off on my lovely rooftop garden.

Kane and I are sitting here sipping a morning cupper.

While I butter the toast, here is a bit about him.

Kane A. has followed the genre of fantastical creatures for as long as he could remember. Though a typical child and diligent student, his imagination never ceased to paint a surrealistic vision that could force many to question their own reality. Early on, Kane expressed his creativity by means of drawing, writing short stories ranging from science fiction to horror, as well as through poetry expressing love, hurt, and betrayal.
His fascination with the undead grew when he studied the history of the witch, werewolf, warlock, and sinking his teeth finally into the world of the vampire. Kane began his first of five novels detailing the lives and challenges of being immortal.
He now resides in Atlanta, GA where he spends the majority of his time writing.

Good morning and thanks for having me. It’s absolutely wonderful up here and the breeze...oh the breeze! About me, huh. Let’s see, what shall I tell that won’t bore you to tears, or prompt you to press that secret panic button? Everything in my life was very typical until I met Aleron, or more correctly put, he made himself known to me. Before that point, I worked 9-5. I called my mother every week, took care of my family, and paid my taxes. Occasionally I wrote poetry about love and pain. And of course, the occasional horror short story would crawl out of my imagination. Now, everything has changed. You see, it’s very hard to tell one as persuasive as my new friend “no”. Once he chose me, there was no turning back. He hasn’t shared his dark gift, however I am still somewhat hopeful.

Just a few questions before we get to your fascinating article. Who do you think inspires you to write?

I believe I began writing as a result of the insistent silent voices that seem to accompany me everywhere I went, especially when I was asleep. They whispered to me, secrets. Some were good. Some not so good. Some were frightening! But I found release in writing about it. That’s probably why I was afraid of the dark as a young child. Now Aleron dictates and I write. It’s the perfect arrangement. I couldn’t make this stuff up.

I don’t know about you, but I only ever have one writing project on the go. I tried two on the go once and the characters morphed into each others books somehow lol So what’s next on your writing agenda?

-Of course I can’t leave fans hanging for long, so I am diving deeper into Mynea and Vlad’s tale which will be revealed in Book 2 of the Strigoi Series. I am also working on The Nephilim Project which is a fantastical tale about the beauty and evil when God’s True Sons (Angles) embrace the sensuality of the daughters of humankind as well as the division that occurred in Heaven through Satan’s challenge. Nephilim is guaranteed to quench that romantic and supernatural thirst of yours. And in the not so distant future, you can expect to see our hero Aleron on the BIG Screen!

Wow, remember me when your famous kane! Mines a brandy and coke!! Just for fun, can you pick your favorite character from your new release and tell us about them.

-If I had a favorite it would be the main, Aleron. I simply admire his ability to adapt to any situation and even though he is a powerful immortal, he has never really lost his humanity. A demon with morals! Go figure.

Now that’s interesting. A demon with morals, is he handsome too?

Aleron was very handsome as a human, however, when he became more than human, he also became more than handsome. Imagine the best looking man you have ever seen. Now imagine him frozen on Michelangelo’s canvas, where he chisels away every human imperfection and ads the perfect countenance and build of a ravishing angel. Aleron would embody that angelic canvas. He personifies it. It was Aleron’s charm, wit, and great looks that made him desirable for Mynea before she gave him the dark gift. After which, he became perfection.

How about some advice for all the new writers out there. Got any tips?

-Yes. Keep writing. And on that occasional break, don’t be afraid to quench your thirst with that favorite cocktail or whatever guilty pleasure you care to keep secret from all others.

Yum, but I prefer chocolate. A universal remedy lol. So where can your followers find you?

-Whoever told you I had a chocolate martini before I came up here was wrong! I had two. Can’t believe you can smell that. Well, anyway, my followers can find me at kane@aleron.co or http://www.aleron.co/. They can also “Ask Aleron” anything they want when they click on the Ask Aleron tab on the site www. aleron.co . We are also on twitter Aleron11, and Facebook as Aleron Kane. Just understand, when you post questions before dusk, Aleron will answer them before you awake.

Sorry, can you explain that please. What tab..show me..I want to speak to Aleron lol

When you visit Aleron, and after you read the “see inside”, you can click a tab that says “Ask Aleron” and you can comment or ask any question you wish. He will answer. I was against this, however, he says he rather enjoys getting to know the thoughts of others through their questions instead of their blood. Of course, given this explanation, I obliged! I really didn’t have much of a choice anyway.

I know this article is going to get you all thinking. It did for me. I'm going to dash and get one of those chocolate martini's kane likes. I swear I saw a pre made bottle in his rucksack.

Where and when.
How many senses are tickled when one reads? Can you smell a sentence? Can you hear an unspoken paragraph? Is it possible to touch a thought? Absolutely. A writer must use the pen to provide a gateway into a person’s perception. How do you accomplish this? This can be achieved by carefully researching the setting and environment of the world or time you are creating or revisiting. For example, everyone knows that Manhattan NY does not sound nor smell like Miami Florida. Likewise, Paris is very different from Athens. Each place has its own distinct feel, smell, taste, as well as look that combine to create its personality. A writer must capture as much uniqueness the setting has to offer then by means of descriptive writing, creates accurate sensory perception in the reader. Of course an apple will differ in taste between individuals, however there remains a commonality.
In addition to place, time is also important. For the earth and everything in it is ever changing as time progresses. Dialect, customs, fashion, structures, and even entire environments evolve with the passage of sand trapped within the glass. A writer must be learned in the era of which the story lives. For the ancient Mycenaeans have very little in common with the current civilization in Greece.
A writer must totally submerge himself in every aspect of the settings place and time to be able to write in such a way as to convey proper inputs for perception. Visiting the location if it still stands, or attaining extensive knowledge if it doesn’t is often required to successfully tickle all the senses. And so when I ask you to meet me, you undoubtedly want to know where and when.