Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Guest Blogger: Eve Silver

I "met" today's guest blogger online at Michelle Buonfiglio's blog and thought she was a wonderfully cool person. Then I met her in person in Dallas this summer and wow!. Not only is she gorgeous, she's sooooo nice, she write in multiple genres, and -- get this -- she's an instructor of microbiology and human anatomy. The foot bone's connected to the ankle bone, and the ankle bone's connected to the... Please welcome Eve Silver to the Playground!

Dark and Spooky…


“Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.”

—Macbeth (4.1.5-37)

What a great Halloween quote, all dark and spooky and creepy. I love Halloween. Not just for the creepiness—although that little spine-tingling chill is great—but for the fun. Kids,
teens, adults…everyone can dress up and just enjoy.

When my sons were small, Halloween was always a huge deal. One year, younger son wanted to be a dinosaur and older son wanted to be a terrifying pumpkin. Only, they each had a vision in their heads of what their costumes should be, and they couldn’t find exactly what
they wanted in the stores. So we went to the fabric store and picked out the material, and hubby and I sat in our bed every night for a week, side-by-side, hand sewing costumes for our little monsters. Yes, you read that right. Hand sewing. ‘Cause we didn’t have a sewing machine, and wouldn’t have had a clue how to use one if we did. And every stitch was worth it when their faces lit up and they put on their costumes, so happy and proud. So sweet and cute.

Halloween’s still a big deal around here, even though the boys aren’t exactly little any more. Their costumes have changed…last year, they used some sort of plumber’s foam to create, um… fecal matter replicas, painted them brown, bought toilet seats to wear on their chests and hung rolls of toilet paper from their arms. I think you get the picture. But even though they’ve gotten older, they’re still little kids at heart, and so am I. We still decorate the whole house inside and out. We hand carve pumpkins together, trying to outdo our designs from the previous year (the pumpkin pictured here is older son’s masterpiece from last year). The kids invite a whole houseful of other kids, and we order tons of pizza. And I buy tons of candy.

So it isn’t Halloween’s dark side that calls to me, but the light, the laughter, the fun. Or maybe it’s the perfect mix of both.

That mix of light and dark always seems to creep into my writing. Just like Macbeth’s witches, I stir a brew in some deep cauldron in my psyche that simmers and hisses and finally pours forth a dark tale. No matter what subgenre I write, the thread of darkness always weaves through my stories along with the bright sliver of hope.





My current releases all have that dual nature. DARK PRINCE is a moody, twisted historical gothic about vengeance and redemption. DEMON’S KISS is a dark, sexy
contemporary paranormal about an immortal sorcerer, a human with special powers, and a demon hell-bent on their destruction. And DRIVEN (under the pseudonym Eve Kenin) is a post-apocalyptic, trans-Siberian trucker tale. And a romance. ‘Nuff said.

So, yeah, I admit it. Whether we’re talkin’ holidays or books, I do have a soft spot for the dark side. :-)

Happy Halloween!
Eve
--
http://www.evesilver.net
http://www.evekenin.com






P.S. One lucky commenter today will win a copy of Eve's DEMON'S KISS!

P.P.S. I'm off to sunny Cozumel today with my sister. Y'all behave while I'm gone.


28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Eve, nice to "meet" you here. And I do think Halloween's that great mix of spooky and fun. And that is one really impressive pumpkin!!

Kammie said...

Welcome, Eve and Happy Halloween to everyone! I'm looking forward to answering the door and seeing what the kids are wearing. Great fun! I like the light side of the holiday, too. Not the spooky because I tend to be a big chicken. Oh, and the candy. It's nice to have a good excuse to bring some home.

Stacy S said...

Happy Halloween!! My son doesn't want to go trick or treating this year. So, we're just gonna pass out the candy. And I haven't eat it all!

I read Driven. That was such a great book. Looking forward to the next one.

Problem Child said...

Hi Eve! Welcome to the Playground.

I'm very impressed with that pumpkin. We were hollowing out ours and carving last night after dinner. Nothing too fancy when you wait until the last minute!

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

Welcome, Eve! I am a self proclaimed pumpkin carving fanatic. I do crazy stuff, usually. It started in 9th grade when I did the genie from Aladdin. The next year it was the logo from Jurassic Park. Since then, I've had Harry Potter, Stargate, Winnie the Pooh, Spiderman, gypsies, mummies, grim reapers, headless horsemen, haunted houses, witches, skeleton pirates, the FSU Seminole, Tweety Bird, a freaky black widow spider, Scooby Doo and even Gary, Spongebob's pet snail. A few years ago I switched to foam pumpkins which are harder to carve, but less messy and they don't rot. Now I can save my artwork. (I've had an Ariel and Flounder pumpkin in the works for years that I just haven't finished yet - really complicated pattern and my dremel battery keeps wearing out.)

Tonight, I'll set out my collection without a single strand of pumpkin goo crusted to my arm. :)

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jen, KimW, Stacy S, and Problem Child. Thanks for the kind comments about DRIVEN, Stacy S.

Ah, the pumpkin. Older son was working on one yesterday...it turned out fabulously spooky. And he's going to do a second one when he gets home from school today. I'm heading outside now to put up all our spooky decorations....a skeleton, gravestones, skulls, a stuffed witch...

Eve

Anonymous said...

Hi Smarty Pants. Sounds like you and my older son ought to get together for a pumpkin-fest, LOL!

Eve

Lynn Raye Harris said...

Why am I not surprised, the more I know SP, that she carves perfect pumpkins? Is there nothing she does that isn't perfect?!

I've been trying to get my hubby to carve a pumpkin with me for YEARS. Every year, it's an excuse. This year, again, we have no pumpkin.

Hi, Eve! Nice to see you here. The books look fascinating!!

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

Ah...I knew I liked Lynn. :) Alas, you only say that because you haven't seen my housekeeping skills. There was a time, yes, it was lovely. Sigh...

If only my writing were perfect!

Unknown said...

Happy Halloween everyone! Books sound great!

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

I must admit that I'm a chicken when it comes to scary so it's a good thing I have girls (that are 6 and 3). There isn't much they can do as a mermaid and a cheerleader :-)

I LOVE the pumpkin, Eve! Your son is very talented. I'm the carve from a pattern variety but I do tend to pick the most difficult one in the book. Although this year we cheated and just let the girls paint their pumpkins.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Instigator

Amy C said...

Hi Eve :)
Happy Halloween!

Just wanted to drop by and say I LOVE your books...Dark Prince, Driven and Demon's Kiss, which I just recently read! I have His Dark Desire that I just got in the mail the other day. :)I'll be reading that one soon!

Lynn Raye Harris said...

SP, I understand about men invading the house and leaching away our will to clean. :) I'm sure your house would be perfect without a man to mess it up. ;) I know mine would. (Don't tell him I said that, rofl.)

Katherine Bone said...

Welcome, Eve! I'd really like to read Dark Prince. I love historicals and gothics are one of my favorites.

I think that's the best carved pumpkin I've ever seen! Kudos to your son. We've carved pumpkins annually but now that my kids are so involved at school, we don't take the time to do it anymore. I've got some resin pumpkins that light up when we plug them in on the porch. I know. I know. I really should dig down and reclaim my artistic side.

What advice do you have for unpublished authors trying to fit writing time into their lives?

Where do you get your ideas for your books and characters?

How long have you been writing?

How has writing in several genres affected your writing process?

Happy Halloween everyone!
Kathy

Unknown said...

Happy Halloween, have a great trip with your sister enjoy

tetewa said...

Happy Halloween Eve, glad to see you here today! Just wanted to let you know that I loved Dark Prince and Driven received them from you both signed. Looking forward to reading Demon's Kiss. Well got to go getting ready for trick or treaters.

Cathy M said...

Hi Eve, your stories sound great to me. Enjoyed the excerpt for Demon's Kiss, since I am always looking for a new paranormal story to read.

Anonymous said...

Hi Lynn, AmyS, Instigator (glad you like the pumpkin), AmyC (thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed my books), Kathy ( see my answers to your Q's below), Bethre, Tetewa (I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the signed copies), and Cathy.

OK. Kathy...answers to your questions:

What advice do you have for unpublished authors trying to fit writing time into their lives?

Write every day no matter what. A sentence. A paragraph. A page. Whatever you can write. Even one sentence on the page is one sentence closer to finishing your manuscript. I know how tyou feel. I wrote as an unpub for many years, holding down two jobs (writing was my third job), having two kids, a dog, etc. Hang in there. Write a little every day. kepp your eye on your goal.

Where do you get your ideas for your books and characters?

My ideas just bop me on the head. I open a blank document. I start to write (I'm definitely a pantser), and out it comes. i think you need to trust yourself. Don't be afraid to write something bad. You can always fix it. just write something.

How long have you been writing?

I wrote my first book (the story of an unwanted teddy bear that found a new and loving home) when i was nine, and i got my first rejection from a publisher when I was nine. That means I've been writing for about a million years, LOL!

How has writing in several genres affected your writing process?

Not at all. Butt in chair. Hands on keyboard. it's the only process I know, whether I'm working on one project or a half-dozen. I just need to stay focused every.

Thanks for asking. these were great questions!

Eve

diane said...

Welcome Eve. Halloween appeals to young and old and the kids are sweet with their inventive costumes. Your books are unique and esceptional.

Cherie J said...

Welcome Eve! Happy Halloween to everyone! Just wanted to post a quick note. Got to dress up the kids in their Halloween costumes shortly and take them trick or treating. It is alot of fun. Not so into the spooky part though since I am a big chicken.

ellie said...

Hi, Eve. Your books are always something spectacular to read. Getting ready for tonite with the goodies and fun.

Shari C said...

Wow! All three books sound fantastic.

Wishing you a safe and spooky Halloween!

Anonymous said...

love the cover for demon kiss.

Katherine Bone said...

Thanks for answering my questions, Eve! Putting butt in chair seems to be my problem. I'm always making excuses, real or imagined.

It's true, we've got to trust ourselves and it struck me that I don't most of the time. How do you manage to turn your internal editor off and listen to your instincts?

Happy Halloween!
Kathy

Michelle Buonfiglio said...

Buona sera, Eve! I feel very fortunate to have made so many friends both online and through writing; I'm honored to call Eve one of them. (sheesh, hope she'll back me up on that one). You have a remarkably creative family, and I can imagine what that brings to every holiday you celebrate, especially this funest of the fun ones.

I feel lucky, to, to have e-met, then spent time with Marilyn at RWA last summer. I look forward to a very nice continuing relationship with all the Playfriends (unless they kick me out of the sandbox).

Ciao!

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

You're always welcome in the sandbox, Michelle!

Instigator

Sue A. said...

Happy Halloween! Great post!

Anonymous said...

Hi CherieJ, Diane, Ellie, ShariC, SueA !

Thanks for all the kind comments. I hope everyone had fun trick or treating.

Kathy, my internal editor is always there, whispering at me, trying to make me doubt myself. I push on anyway. I want to write books. Over the years, I collected hundreds of rejection letters, and still, I wanted to write books. So I write them. Even when I wonder why I ever thought I could do this, I write anyway. Because I want to. Because I'm driven to. Just forge on Kathy. There are many steps on the road to getting published, but the only way to take that journey is by finishing the book.

Michelle!!! Great to see you here. Yes, I'll definitely back you up on that one. Thanks for popping by to visit.

Thanks so much to everyone at the Writing Playground for having me as a guest blogger :)

Eve