Joleene Naylor is the author of the glitter-less Amaranthine vampire universe, a world where vampires aren't for children. Comprised of a main series, a standalone prequel, and several short story collections, she has plans to continue expanding with a trilogy and standalone novels.
In her spare time, Joleene is a freelance book cover designer and for-fun photographer. She maintains several blogs, full of odd ramblings, and occasionally updates her website at JoleeneNaylor.com. In what little time is left, she watches anime, plays PokemonGo, and works on her crooked Victorian house in Villisca, Iowa. Between her husband, family, and pets, she is never lonely, in fact, quite the opposite. Should she disappear, one might look for her on a beach in Tahiti, sipping a tropical drink and wearing a disguise.
Hungry for vampire fiction that goes deeper than the usual maniacal laugh? In these seventeen morsels, you’ll discover a myriad of vampires: some are cruel, some are kind, and some just want a quiet evening. Among the offerings you’ll meet:
Claudius: A fresh vampire, Claude has only one thing on his mind: revenge. With the help of his new coven, he’ll make his father pay.
Kariss: When tending her mother’s death bed, even vampirism can’t heal Kariss’ broken heart.
Ashton: Looking for thrills to cope with family tragedy, Ashton falls in with a gang of vampires, but he’s about to discover the ultimate high: pure terror.
Kateesha: When Kateesha and her partner are sent to apprehend a rogue coven, things go awry and carry terrible consequences.
Benjamin: Settled in for a comfy evening, he’s surprised to discover it’s the weekly poker night, complete with some new “friends”.
And more! Enjoy seventeen short bites from the world of Amaranthine - a perfect appetizer for those new to the universe, or a dark dessert for readers familiar with the world.
In this set of short stories, some stand alone and some weave together. Each one artfully uses the fantastical to highlight a character study. Wonderfully violent, yet surprisingly grounded, without any of the over description and cheese that usually accompanies this genere. After this sample, I've already tracked down and bought this author's other works.