Meet My Characters: Dacey Sinnett & Marcus von Rottal

Joining in again with the weekly blog linkup hosted by WhimsyAndNoir!  This week's characters are ones that I've written about before here.  However, I know I have some new readers, so I'd like to reintroduce them!

(vibes // Dacey Sinnett & Marcus von Rottal)

Dacey Sinnett & Marcus von Rottal

Dacey Sinnett and Marcus von Rottal are my leading vampires.  Well, one is much more than that but I'll leave it to the books to give you that story.  They are featured in the ROAM series and helm their own story as antihero protagonists in the prequel, The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett.  They're also perpetually entwined in, an admittedly, unhealthy and deeply passionate relationship.  I tend to refer to them as my "problematic favorites" for a reason.

The invention of Dacey's character was rather serendipitous for me.  At the time of writing the first ROAM book, I had a vague plan in mind for Ethan Roam's journey.  I won't post spoilers but those that have been reading along with the newest book, HUNTER, will probably know what I'm referring to here.  It was an "idea" but the roles hadn't really been cast, so to speak.

Enter a chapter where I have to tackle a definite issue in Dr. Grady Hunter's life.  He was always meant to have a literal tryst with Death (*wink*) in the form of a vampire.  It was a solid life event for his character that I wasn't going to back down from.  In order to move the story forward, I had to create a vampire that I felt would have been compelling enough to entice someone as guarded, jaded, and sharp-witted as Grady.  And thus, Dacey was born.

I definitely looked to the works of my favorite writer, Oscar Wilde, for inspiration.  In many ways, Dacey is my take on a vampiric iteration of a mixture of Oscar himself and his most famous character, Dorian Gray.  Then, I sprinkled a bit of 80's neo-romantic goth vibe on top and ended up with a character that I absolutely adore writing.  And definitely one that would keep Grady, and pretty much everyone else, on their toes.

Dacey is a natural telepath and insatiable flirt.  Wouldn't you be too, if you could easily read the minds of everyone that was attracted to you?  He was born in 19th century France and worked as a cabaret pianist and street illusionist until he became a vampire.  From there, he joins forces with his sire, Marcus, as the second half of a deadly duo of dandies bent on commanding an existence based solely in pleasure and luxury.  That is, until everything begins to go wrong. 

(vibes // Marcus von Rottal)

Once I had made the big decision about Dacey's ultimate destiny, it became quite clear that I needed to map out his backstory and share it with readers as well.  I felt the best way to do this was to ease the audience in with a moment that would link both the prequel and segue this "idea" into the sequel.  Marcus' appearance at the Halloween party in ROAM was precisely for this purpose.  At that time, he's simply introduced as Dacey's sire and former lover.  The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett tells that story in full and establishes the setup for the events that will transpire in HUNTER.

 ("The Picture of Dorian Gray" ~ Oscar Wilde)

Marcus is an Austrian aristocrat that took up procuring and dealing occult antiques (Usually "black market" as they're almost always stolen.) in order to maintain his preferred lifestyle.  Circumstances lead him to meet Dacey and, for both, it's love at first sight.  He finds himself spending the rest of his existence with a chaotically possessive obsession for keeping Dacey at his side.  He's clever, manipulative, and not the least bit afraid to leave a situation with blood on his hands or his dinner jacket.

Whereas Dacey wants to explore everything and everyone that the world has to offer, Marcus has a sharp singular focus -- and that's Dacey.

Where do they go from here?

Currently, you can read more about them in HUNTER, which is available chapter by chapter, bi-weekly on Wattpad.  I'll be releasing the Kindle and paperback editions later this Spring.  They will also be returning for more action in the forthcoming novel DREAM WEAVER.

Don't be afraid to leave comments letting me know which characters you'd like to see featured here.  I'd love to hear your suggestions or thoughts on the ones I've already posted!  Also, please feel free to play along with the blog linkup.  I can't wait to meet your characters as well!

As always, thanks for reading! ♥

~Dez~

Book Release - The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett (Paperback)

I'm happy to announce that you can now get your hands on the paperback edition of The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett through Amazon!

I absolutely love this book cover and I'm so excited to finally have it on my bookshelf in a real, tangible, form.  There's a unique sentimental feeling that you get when you can actually hold the story that you've put so much of your own heart into.  

I've gotten a lot of great feedback and reviews from readers on this story and I just want to take a moment to say thank you!  I try to entertain but, most of all, I try to share the deepest parts of myself through my characters.  It truly means a lot to me any time I receive a message or comment about how much they are loved or how relatable someone finds them.  So thank you for all of your kind words and all of your continued support!

As always - Thanks for reading!

~Dez~

Vibes and a Q&A

I have a few thoughts to share today.  Before I get into that, though, I want to give a HUGE "Thank You" to everyone that purchased a copy of The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett on Kindle!  Also, much love and appreciation to everyone that has read it, either through there or Wattpad.  It made it to 1K Reads which is wonderful for a prequel story!  That means nearly everyone that read ROAM took the time to check out Dacey's origin story as well and I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

For those that have asked, I'm still working on getting print editions made.  I'll let you know the moment they're available.  I'll probably host a giveaway, so be on the look out for that.

I've started a fun little image series called "vibes" on my social media (I've included the first few here.).  Pretty straightforward and I love making them.  A mix of the "fan casting" idea and Pinterest-inspiration in collage form.

I'm about halfway through writing HUNTER!  Which brings me to the Q & A portion of today's post.  I've had a few inquiries flow in and so I'm going to go ahead and address them here so that everyone gets the information and not just the people that DMed.  Here goes!

• How many books will be in the ROAM series?

A:  This is a tricky question.  The base response would be 4 books total.  ROAM, The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett, HUNTER, and the final novel- DREAM WEAVER (also - There's your next title announcement!  haha).  However, that answer would be slightly misleading.  You see, I do plan to write at least two "spin-off" novels that will incorporate characters from the ROAM series in their own stories but with brand new lead characters.  I'm also not opposed to writing more "spin-off"'s in the future.  But, as for Ethan Roam and Dr. Grady Hunter, the four main books will cover their story arc to completion.

• Is Dacey dead or not?

A:  LOL, I get this question more than any other.  He would kill me if I told you.

• You've mentioned DůO is your next book.  Any details?  Is it part of ROAM or something else?

A:  DůO is one of the "spin-off" books.  It is a loose tie-in to ROAM but you won't have had to have read ROAM to read it.  Although, there will be a couple of character cameos that you'll enjoy if you have.  As for details, I don't want to get into it too much because it involves spoilers from HUNTER.  I will say, though, that the decision to write it before writing the final ROAM book is due to the timeline of events.  That's all you get for now.  :)

And now I get to turn the tables on you all!  I have my own question to ask.  You can feel free to answer in the comments or shoot me a message on social media at your leisure.  Here's the deal:  I've been "secretly" working on a YA Paranormal Fiction novella series.  It's completely separate from ROAM and, as novellas, the stories will be shorter.  So here's my question to you readers.  Would you prefer for me to only work on one series at a time OR do both simultaneously and just rotate?  Honestly, either way works for me, so I just want to know from a reader standpoint what you all would like best for your reading experience.

Thanks in advance for your input and please feel free to shoot me questions any time!  Now, I'd better get back to writing.  ;)

~Dez~
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"vibes" credits: Lyrics: Lana Del Rey, GUNSHIP // art: Len-Yan, Art of Animation/Tumblr

COVER ART REVEAL - The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett

I'm excited to share the new cover art for 'The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett' with you all!  This will be for the upcoming print & Kindle editions!  I'm finishing up edits and last minute formatting and shooting for a release in the next few weeks.  I'll keep you posted on my progress through social media.

Getting this book release prepped has taken up most of my time but I'll be posting a new chapter of 'HUNTER' on Wattpad soon.  I also had a great time meeting readers at West Texas Table Top Con a few weeks ago!  It was awesome to get to meet some of you in person and hear your thoughts on 'ROAM'.  I hope to have a book signing soon so we can all meet up again!

Thanks for reading!
~Dez~

The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett - COMPLETED

'The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett' is now complete!  You can read the book in full on Wattpad.  Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading!

In answer to a few questions I've received from non-Wattpaders:  Yes, I do plan on releasing this novel through Amazon eventually.  However, there is no official ETA on when that will be.  I will need to proof the whole thing, format it for Kindle, etc.  Plus, over the next few weeks I will be prepping for WT3C and beginning work on new projects.  Once it's closer to being ready for a Print/Kindle release I will post an update.

Again, thank you for reading and letting these characters into your heart!  I'm happy to have been able to share Dacey's story with you.

Next up, I will be releasing a short story on Wattpad and then will head into writing 'HUNTER' (the sequel to 'ROAM').

I appreciate all of your support and look forward to sharing these new stories with you soon.  Until then, I hope you enjoy the conclusion to 'Dacey Sinnett'!

BTS Writing: Dacey & Decisions

A little update on the progress of 'The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett'.  I'm now 3K words away from reaching the length of 'ROAM'!  When I'd outlined the story originally, I hadn't realized that it would end up being longer in the end but as I'm just beginning the last third of the book it is quite obvious that will be the case.  I'm not sure how many prequels are longer than the original but there was a lot of ground to cover.  Over a hundred years worth of material to be precise.  Vampires.  :)

I'm excited to enter the last act of the book because everything will now start tieing in more directly with the events in 'ROAM'.  Some characters will even have cameos which I'm very much looking forward to writing.

As I come closer to finishing this book, I've begun to work on the beginning process of executive decisions and outlining for my next book (which is the sequel to 'ROAM').  After a lot of thought, I'm leaning toward taking a different approach with the release of it.

First of all, I should say that, yes, I do plan on releasing 'The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett' for Kindle as I did with 'ROAM'.  A lot of people don't use Wattpad and prefer to just download the story to their devices. (Also, the versions on Wattpad are the first drafts.  I edit, refine, and finalize them before placing on Kindle.)  Plus, as an author it makes sense for me to do that as purchases allow me to continue progressing forward with my writing goals.

I don't want to change things too drastically for readers with this series.  I appreciate all of the support and enthusiasm that you've had.  So, as long as I write 'ROAM' stories (and self-publish), I will publish them on Wattpad.  The difference that I'm considering is this:  Instead of releasing the sequel chapter-by-chapter as I write them, I will instead write the entire book and then put it up on Wattpad and Kindle at the same time.  On Wattpad I will release two chapters a week or you can just download it in full on Kindle.  I think this process works out better for everyone.  Chapter releases will be on a consistent schedule that way and those who prefer to get the whole story at once will have that option instead of having to wait and read a chapter at a time over the course of many months.

Let me know what you think, though.  I will definitely consider any advice on the subject but I belive this is the best direction to go with the next book in the series.

Thanks again for all of your support!  And if you're a 'Dacey' reader, be ready, someone very close to Ethan Roam will be making an appearance soon.  :)

Your Dapper Friend,
-Dez Schwartz-

Interview With A Vampire: Dacey Sinnett

Dacey Sinnett was the winning character when I polled readers about whom they would like a chance to interview.  First of all, thank you to everyone that voted and sent in questions!  I had a lot more come in than expected so I selected a nice crop of the ones that weren't too spoilery. ;)  So, without further ado, please enjoy Dacey sitting down with us today to answer your questions!

Who are your favorite composers of modern times?

D: Music took a fascinating turn this past century. I fell in love with so many things. But you know, it's rather funny, I think I grew most partial to rock music and theatrical scores. Don't tell the other vampires because they would find it very cliche' indeed, but I truly have to say that I enjoy the work of Queen and Danny Elfman most. More recently, I've also enjoyed the budding work of Abel Korzeniowski and the alternative band Marquis of Vaudeville.

You've spent a lot of time with all sorts of different creatures. Why did you grow so fond of a human like Grady and how did you meet?

D: [laughs] You've obviously never met him or else this wouldn't even be a question. Simply put, Grady was the most enigmatic and remarkable person I'd met since Marcus. There are not many people that I can read with my powers who can still keep me guessing. Grady is one of them. As far as how we met, I'm told that will be revealed at the end of 'The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett'.

You seem very fashionable. What time period had the best fashion so far?

D: Obvious bias but I'll forever be most fond of the Victorian era. Although, there was something to be said for the gothic fashion of the 1990s. I'm not entirely certain what that something is though.

Be honest. Aren't you at least a little bit jealous of Ethan?

D: I'm insanely jealous of Ethan! In all the best ways. He doesn't know it yet but he's going to turn out to be quite enviable. I'm privy to insight and I can guarantee you that boy will surprise everyone, most of all himself. Well, I suppose that all sounds more like pride than jealously doesn't it? I'm proud of him.

What is the coolest artifact you’ve come across?

D: I'm told that I am both allowed and not allowed to answer this question directly. So, you will find out but it will be through the books.

I read 'ROAM' and have been reading along as 'The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett' comes out. I'm very curious to know, what are your current feelings toward Marcus?

D: Marcus has my heart eternally. It's debatable as to whether or not that's a good thing. And trust me, it has been widely debated by everyone I've ever known for as long as I've been around.

What’s your favorite book?

D: This may surprise you but I've never really been one for reading. I know, I know. I'm in books but I'm not into them. [laughs] However, Marcus loved books and through him I did experience a few and I have to say that 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde was the only one that ever really spoke to me. Besides the Kama Sutra, of course. You know what I do like, though? Comic strips. They were always the best part of newspapers.

You were my favorite character so will you be in the next book in some capacity?

D: Thank you, darling heart! And, yes.

Do cats stare intensely at you?

D: Everyone stares intensely at me. Have you seen me?

Who's better in bed, Marcus or Grady?

D: Finally, an important question! [laughs] Really, you can't compare the two and I'm not just saying that to be a gentleman. Perhaps I need a refresher? I wonder how they'd feel about a threesome so that I may determine properly? I'm kidding, of course. Not on my part, I would definitely do it. But I know them both too well. They'd kill each other. [smiles]

Is there a creature that you haven't met but would like to?

D: Yes, many. And as you'll find out, I may very well get a chance to meet them all eventually.

In 'ROAM' you mention that there is a reason you no longer live with Marcus. What is that reason?

D: [sighs] Marcus and I had to part ways. Neither of us were happy about it but it was inevitable. The reason will be revealed in 'The Revelation of Dacey Sinnett'.

Why do you keep track of the other vampires?

D: Why do you keep track of anyone? For gossip, information, and out of boredom.

Who is your OTP from 'ROAM'?

D: I had to ask for help with this question. I try to evolve with times as best as I can but, really, the popularity of modern acronyms as slang is one of my least favorite things about this era. It's as if everyone is talking to each other in some form of crude Morse Code. Let me key you in on something: Language is sexy. Words can be an aphrodisiac. Learn them, love them, use them. Bend and tailor them to your will. Do not continue to castrate them, please.

As for the answer to the question, I'm actually rather fond of Grady and Ethan together. There's promise for something extraordinary there and I hope that I'm right.

Any hints or insights into the next 'ROAM' book that you're allowed to give??

D: Expect the unexpected. Old faces and new friends. Sexy times. Monkey wrenches. Multiverses. Deaths. And, of course, a lot of dapper sass.

Coming Soon - Character Interview

A few weeks back I ran a poll for readers to vote on which of my original characters they would like to have interviewed here on the blog.  It was a pretty close race between Dr. Grady Hunter and Dacey Sinnett but in the end (and as I suspected might be the case), Dacey won!

So, now is the time.  It is literally an interview with a vampire!  Send in your questions!  He's up for answering anything.  ANYTHING.  Silly, serious, spoiler-y, risqué - it's all up to you!

You can either comment your questions here or shoot them to me on social media (I check Twitter most often).

Don't worry.  The questions will be posted anonymously so feel free to get creative & don't be shy (Dacey certainly isn't.)!

Thanks for reading & keep an eye out for when Dacey meets the hot seat!

The Beginning Is, After All, The Best Place To Start

Welcome!

I decided to create this space to serve as a supplement to my books.  Here you will find news, illustrations, and behind-the-scenes features of my work.  One feature that I'm really excited about (but will be a continuous work in progress) is a Character Compendium.  I will attempt to organize the massive collection of characters from my stories with background information, etc.  So, if you'd ever like a quick reference (or even a sneak peek at newer characters) then you'll have an easy place to access information on them quickly.

Feel free to click around for now while I work on getting everything set up!  I think it's all pretty straightforward and I look forward to sharing some of my creative processes with you soon!  I'm also thinking it might be fun to have a post written by one of my characters from time to time.  Maybe even interview style where readers can ask them questions?  We'll see how that goes.  ;)

Thank you for stopping by!

~ Dez