A Preview

A small excerpt from What Manner of Man

Hello everyone,

I’ve gotten to the point in What Manner of Man where events start to ramp up, which also happens to be the point in the novel where things start to get quite steamy. Funny how that works! I wish I could spend this whole email telling you every detail of what I’m planning, but I hope you like to see your vampires to be powerful and sophisticated and just barely hiding their wounded hearts. What’s a priest-vampire book without a dash of hurt/comfort?

And now an excerpt to whet your appetite! This is from just after our priest and the vampire Alistair Vane meet, when they’re having their first meal together.

-

“It’s been so long since I’ve had any company I actually enjoyed,” Alistair continued, “Usually when I have guests it’s pure obligation and -” he paused, dark eyes flitting over me before continuing, “If I may be honest with you when I got in touch with the church I was expecting them to send someone old and stuffy and miserable. I hope that doesn’t offend you, Father.”

“Not at all,” I said with my most beatific smile and a wave of my hand, all holiness.

“Excellent,” he said, sitting back in his seat and folding his hands over his velvet-clad chest. He gave me another curious look, as if he were trying to work something out. Then he said, “Would you like a cigar? Or maybe some port?”

When I agreed I expected us to share a glass, but he poured me one and neglected to serve himself. My politeness kept me from inquiring about it, and soon this was forgotten as he launched into a harrowing story about a time he was nearly marooned on an island halfway between Swallow’s Rest and the mainland while attempting to sail a small boat. I think Lord Vane could have charmed his way into any house in the world, and here he was, focused on nothing but entertaining a sad little priest.

I could picture him atop the prow of a sleek little vessel, scarf whipping in the wind, then later trying valiantly to lash a rope to a wayward sail or some such thing, defiant in the face of death and doom. It was a picture straight out of the adventure novels I read as a young man. I couldn’t believe such a creature actually existed in this world.

-

-

Editing of The Sacred Sins of Father Black is going smoothly and you’ll hear more about it in the near future.

As always, I am on Tumblr, should you need me.

Your humble servant.

St John