Self Published Authors

A Great Way for Newbies to Start Out (Originally written July 11, 2002)
By J. Hollowell "Freelance Writer" - See all my reviews

This book was recommended to me by the author, himself, and I must say I'm glad he did. This is my first experience with this type of genre, so I was a bit hesitant. My first reaction when reading the first twenty pages was, "I can't put this down!" It was much to my disappointment when the book did eventually end, as all books do.
I wrote the following review for the author, Dan Shaurette's website:

Though classified as a novel, this is actually a very quick reading novella. This work of fiction fits both in the Science Fiction and Romance genre, as the plot is thick with both definitions. Individuals seeking a getaway from their day-to-day routines will benefit from this read, which is filled with innocent romance and the challenges of being a vampire.

For those who are not familiar with or have ever read vampire romance, you needn't shy away from this work. Not only does author, Dan Shaurette, cater to those who aren't accustomed to the ways and "lifestyles" of these individuals, he does it in an unobvious fashion. His descriptions answered all the questions this newbie reader had and prompted me to want to learn more.

I admit, when I learned this book made vampires its focal point I was a bit leery about the read. I was worried I would find gruesome and gore, but I found quite the contrary. While it was necessary to the plot to add feeding and fight scenes, it was done so with tact and an air of eroticism in most situations.

While in the midst of this story, it is difficult not to feel personally connected to the characters and what their various struggles. I found myself unable to put the book down, as I was eager to learn more about what would happen next and how events would eventually turn out. Shaurette's ability to take you "into the heads" of each character is evident right from the beginning of the book, when one of the main characters, Don, is introduced.

What caught my attention the most, however, was the use of history to add meat to the plot. Shaurette describes what happened to turn Lilith into a vampire, for example, in great detail, right down to specific phases of the moon. While I am uncertain if this is actual research, it sparked my interest and acted as a probe for me to want to learn more.

Another very useful feature was the use of a computerized journal, the McJournal as they referred to it. Being able to read Don's thoughts of what was happening in his life from time to time gave a greater appreciation to what the reader later learns about him and, ultimately, his relationship with Lilith.

There were a couple of instances where the author caught me off-guard with twists in the plot. I found myself proclaiming, "What?" at several points of the plot and wondered if anyone heard me. Though some would look upon this as a frustrating aspect, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everything unfold and come to understanding.

I won't lie; I wish this book were longer. I was able to devour it in three short sittings and now I find myself hungry for more. What will happen to each character? How does everything turn out? Will the new "destinies" the characters found be just that, their true destiny? Only the author knows the answers to these questions and will hopefully answer them with a sequel someday.