The Crimson Crimes by Patricia K. McCarthy
Launch date: 11 October (event details to follow; will take place in Ottawa)
Format: Paperback, Ebook, 308 pages
Book Description:
It’s the dead of night in the dead of winter, and bodies have been found, stacked ceiling-high, in a hillside cave in Ottawa’s Strathcona Park; necks pierced, blood drained – the usual. The city is gripped by a dusk-till-dawn curfew. The press, police and public have whipped each other into a glorious panic over someone or something called the “Vampire Undertaker.” Well, when did a silly curfew ever shut down the kitchen party at the Crimson house? Bring beer, bring smokes, but please bring yourself to meet The Vampires (there are at least four of them) and their quirky human pals. We can take turns feeding the baby vampire, stalling the cops when they come knocking, and tripping out on that time-dream machine up in the bedroom. You’ve got to love people who know how to make their own fun!
Character Interview:
We are thrilled to spend time with
the fearless and outspoken Auntie Aileen, who is understandably troubled by her
niece Magdalene, the One and Only Vampire on Earth. It’s fortunate for us that Auntie
makes another appearance in The Crimson
Crimes: A Vampire Revenge by author Patricia K McCarthy. This is a rare opportunity
to experience first-hand her wisdom and sense of humour.
1. Describe yourself to me. Good
gracious but that’s a stupid question… it’s not even a question, child! But if
you must know, child, I haven’t got the time or patience for fooling around.
Now for sure I’ve been known to imbibe the odd nip or twenty… seems to me you
might as well enjoy life. Soon enough you’ll be pushing up the daisies and no
one will bother to wink one false eye if you raised your skirt to show off your
knickers. That’s been my philosophy. I never planned on living with the likes of
vampires, for the love of all Creation. But I’m Magdalene’s aunt and I love her
to smithereens. She’s got a heart of gold, even if her loins are devilishly wicked.
2. How do you fall in love? At
first sight? Over a long period? My love life is none of your business, child. Is this
the kind of cockamamie example you set? But if you must know, child, my niece Magdalene
is love sick mad over that hybrid vampire husband of hers, Samuel. I swear the
two of them would follow each other into the bowels of hell. To be sure,
there’s going to be trouble at the end of their vampire story, I just know it.
You can’t love a vampire without sacrificing your soul. And for the love of
God, why would anyone ask such a stupid question? Love goes according to its
own course, child. It’s like that baritone crooner Leonard Cohen says, “Love seizes
you.” That’s about the size of it.
3. How do you decide if you can
trust someone? I usually give them a good cuff on the back of the head and tell them
to smarten up. People are weak, child, and they haven’t a clue how to behave
like decent, church-raised human beings. They all want everything for nothing
and don’t want to be told what to do or why to do it and they especially don’t
want to explain themselves to no one. Trust comes with age, I suppose, when all
you’ve got left is your false teeth and some misguided notions. You might as
well give trust one last chance. Money goes and love fades but at least trust
endures if the spirit is willing.
4. What really moves you, or
touches you to the soul? A good laugh that reaches down my throat when I least
expect it and a dollop of rum in my cup of tea, any time of day, you see… many a
time I fretted over the whereabouts of my husband Quinn when he was off
gallivanting on the boat. The rum eased my nerves and dulled my thinking.
People think too much, child. It’s a recipe for trouble, that’s for sure. Now
reading is a worthwhile pastime. You don’t have to listen to some idiot jabbering
in your ear the whole day long… it’s just you and the pages. I love it when a
book kicks me in the… oops.
5. What do you consider your
special talent? Or, what do you wish your special talent was? Well now
that’s a question worth asking and answering. I used to play piano for the silent
pictures, those were the days. We could smoke indoors ‘til our fingers turned
yellow and didn’t have to worry about the evils of marketing. I loved puffing all
night long and not so much as one ball of mucus would be brought up. Gave up all
that stuff, you know. My fingers are crooked now so there’s no more piano
playing and my lungs are about ready to collapse. But at least my lips still
work and my pouring arm is strong. Suppose that’s better than nothing.
6. How do you want to die? I’m about to
lose the last of my patience with questions as silly as these but if you must
know, child, I’d prefer to go in my sleep with my husband Quinn chasing me down
the street. You see, child, women love the chase and that’s what happens in the
Crimson vampire novels – Samuel and Magdalene chase this foolish illusion that
they’ll be able to lead normal lives as vampires with their wee tot Finn. And
those clunk-head idiot Irish brothers, the Coffey boys, and that photo boy
David Three Rats will either end up in prison or on the six o’clock news. We
haven’t heard from Samuel and I fear the worst for him and for my girl,
Magdalene. He’s stuck in that old prison in Ottawa and I can’t for the life of
me figure out how the Coffey boys and Mister Three Rats are going to stage an
escape. Suppose I spilled the beans, eh?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author Bio:
Patricia K. McCarthy lives and writes in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Her Crimson vampires series has received extensive media coverage in national and local newspapers, as well as on radio and television. For details, visit her website.
Giveaway:
Giveaway:
No comments:
Post a Comment