Today on The Avid Reader I am featuring Michelle Cornwell-Jordan author of Night School. Thanks Michelle for visiting The Avid Reader today. I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Night School in May. If you would like you can read my review here.
Title: Night School Vampire Hunter
Author: Michelle Cornwell-Jordan
Genre: Paranormal YA
Rating: PG13
Book Description:
Fifteen year old Dasheen Bellamy’s world is turned upside down, when she is accused of killing her father and godmother. Dasheen cannot remember the events of the night her world is destroyed, but she feels inside that she is innocent; due to lack of evidence against her and with no other family; Dasheen and her younger brother Jordan, are sent to the elusive and mysterious Ame’ Academy ; a residential school where all is not what it appears. There all goes well, until Jordan, begins to become distant and behave strangely as if he is afraid of something or someone. Jordan is transferred to Ame’ Academy’s Night School track, which is usually only open to special cases. In order to discover what is happening with her brother, Dasheen is finally allowed to also transfer, attending classes in the evening while the rest of the world sleeps. Soon Dasheen’s world changes again as she discovers that things out of fairytales and horror stories exist, that she has ancient powers and is the major player in a mystical prophecy; and then she falls in love with a boy, whose mission is to see that she is destroyed before her destiny is fulfilled.
Excerpt
Prologue
He smelled her before he saw her, that sweet, spicy aroma that appealed to those of his kind. His tongue tingled at the thought of the warm blood flowing down his throat. He moved as the anticipation of his next meal caused him to draw near. The uncontrollable thirst beat at him as he watched the girl, alone, walk towards her car in the empty parking lot. He chuckled to himself. He had heard many of the Day Walkers’ stories speaking of how unsettling and creepy, he believed their exact words were, Ame Academy’s parking lot was after dark. This was especially true of the Day Walkers’ lot, which was the furthest one from the school, made so to prohibit after hour attendance, unless of course you attended night school. But they came, those foolish Day Walkers who wanted the thrill, the rush, to say that they had dared to break the rule.
He chuckled again as he moved closer. So they came and usually there were no occurrences. But every once in a while, the school would have to report a disappearance, sadly, a tragedy where one of Kincaid, Texas’s most hallowed young ones would meet with an unexpected and violent end.
He watched the girl as she walked towards a silver/black PT Cruiser convertible. She swiftly pulled from her jeans pocket a set of keys, and he saw what looked to be a small charm decorated with a skull emblem. The skull had a large pink bow. He smiled; this one had backbone, and he liked a little fire in his meal. Hunger drove him, made him a little more reckless than usual, and he forgot to notice small details such as the set of the girl’s shoulders, which were determined and ready. Even as she opened the door, placing her bag into the back seat, she showed no fear. But he didn’t see these insignificant details. It had been too long since he had hunted. Having to exist off that vile concoction of Phoenix blood, which supposedly had all the nutrients of the real thing for his kind to exist! Ha! It couldn’t take the place of the heady feeling he got from the hunt, the sinking of teeth into tender skin and drinking that life force that couldn’t be replaced; that was what they, his kind, were really meant to be, predators.
It was time. He moved closer as the girl stood with her back to him, leaning half-way in the car. He moved up with preternatural speed.
He said, “Hello, didn’t anyone ever tell you a lovely girl like yourself shouldn’t walk out here alone?” He laughed as he grabbed her, twisting her to face him, looking forward to the fear in her eyes. “There are scary things in the night!” But he stopped and his red eyes widened. No! he thought to himself, not her! Not the slayer!
The girl, facing him fully now, smiled with her dark eyes shining.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to play with your food?” she said, a wicked smile crossing her angelic face. So lost in her eyes, the vampire didn’t see the stake coming towards his heart.
Mind Speak
(A blog dealing with the crap that is my life)
Blog post#1
Okay, so this is the first post in my diary. Ms. Griffin says that this will help me to own all the negative emotions I have been suppressing since the incident. That’s what she calls the event that changed my life. First, I probably need to introduce myself, Ms. Griffin says (yeah, she says a lot of things…) that speaking formally as if I am talking to strangers, introducing them to myself, my life, and eventually the events surrounding my “problem” will help me have the distance to deal with all the details without the emotional baggage… (Whatever), anyway, here goes...
My name is Dasheen Bellamy, but everyone always calls me Angel. I am 15 years old, have one brother, Jordan, who’s 12 years old and we are both students and residents of Ame Academy. Actually, I’m staging a mini-rebellion. Ms. Griffin was opposed to the blog format, believing the old fashioned method of pen, pencil, and leather-bound journal would be better for me…keep me in reality, I suppose. I will do what she says to a point, for my sake and that of my little brother Jordan. I will do whatever is needed to keep us together.
That’s why I see Ms. Griffin three days out of the week for 50 minutes each time since coming to Ame Academy, but I will still have to hold on to a part of the old me, even if it’s as silly as how I journal. I was a blogger back at my old school, and that’s who I am now. So bite me, Griffin! Oh, well (now I feel a small twinge of guilt…Dad and Jocelyn would be disappointed with me for speaking that way). But I guess it doesn’t really matter, does it? Dad and Jocelyn aren’t here, are they? Well, not since I killed them…
Post #2
Guess, I left that last post a little dramatic, didn’t I? I didn’t actually kill Jocelyn and Dad; at least I don’t think I did. It all began a year ago, the night of my 15th birthday, October 31st (yep, I know, there are just TONS of implications that can be suggested with my being born on that day! Trust me, I have heard them all: devil, spawn, witch etc.). Especially after I began having the visions, like I said; the first came on my birthday. We were all finishing up Jocelyn’s to-die-for Black Forest cake, a sinful concoction of cherries, kirsch( cherry water) and devil deep chocolate! Hey Squirrel... (That’s my way of saying I have a little back history to add); Jocelyn Hernandez, is or was like a mother to me and Jordan.
I never knew my mother growing up, and well, Jocelyn had been there forever. She was a friend of my mom and dad’s from when they were in college, and my dad says that when my mom left, he was alone with small children and a broken heart and he asked Jocelyn for help. She had just gotten out of a bad marriage (I know, too much information right?). Anyway, she also was heartbroken about her husband and about my mom disappearing, and apparently nothing else was going on, so she stepped right in to help. She eventually moved in and took care of me and Jordan because Dad had a private security company and he traveled a lot for clients. Okay, I know that sounds REALLY convenient, but it isn’t like that. For as long as I can remember, my dad and Jocelyn always acted like best friends; in fact it seemed until Jocelyn and Dad disappeared, that he still missed my mother…Wow, I’m all over the place, good thing this blog is really for my eyes only…
So-o-o…like I said, we had just finished the cake for my birthday and tricksters wanting treats started blowing up the doorbell. Jordan was jumping around like worms were in his pants; as he got older, it became harder and harder for him to deal with the rule…this is Angel’s birthday first; we celebrate THEN go out trick or treating. So he shot up out of his seat saying, “I’ll get it…I’ll get it,” running down the short hallway that led to the front door, with Jocelyn’s “no, running in the house!” at his back. We still lived in North Carolina then, Winston Salem to be exact; and I loved our house, all the gleaming wood edgings, and hardwood floors that I sock-skated across on rainy days. The large back yard that I loved seeing filled with burnt orange and bruised banana yellow leaves in the fall, that was home, not Kincaid, Texas. This is prison.
Anyway, I yelled, “You’re still helping with the dishes, twerp!” As I watched his lanky form disappear down the hall, I gave him a hard time but I really don’t believe there is anyone in this world I love as much as Jordan. He’s as tall as I am; really he’s about to sprout taller than me soon at 12 years old! He’s handsome with skin the color of coffee with tons of cream in it; he has short, springy curls that he wears cut short, and he’s slender.
We’re basically opposites. I am more the color of warm cocoa, almost shorter than Jordan, but I guess normal for a girl, and I wear my hair in braids, because well, then I won’t have to deal with my unruly hair. Anyway, wow, this post is SUPER long! I guess, I just like thinking about when we were happy and normal; it changed when Jordan opened that door that night. I remember I was helping Jocelyn pick up dessert plates with left over smudges of chocolate crumbs and cherries.
Dad had received a call and was in his office, and Jocelyn was running back and forth between the dining room and the kitchen, taking dishes to load the dishwasher. I was picking up the last plate when suddenly extreme nausea hit me. It seemed like my stomach was literally turning inside out. I sorta stumbled, instinctively lunging towards the dining room table, in order to give the dessert plates a safe landing. I began feeling hot and cold, and when I looked around it was as if I had double vision; two tables, two ugly as sin paintings that my next door neighbor Mrs. Partridge had made for us one Christmas, hung on the wall directly in front of me. I wanted to cry out, but it was as if my tongue had grown two sizes too large for my mouth. I felt as if I would choke on my own tongue.
Then things really started getting strange. I could see the door that stood open, where Jordan was standing, digging through the candy bowl, picking the choice pieces for himself, one or two candy bits went in a trickster’s bucket; the other three or four in his pocket. My attention suddenly went to a little girl who stood in the doorway.
She was the height of an eight or nine-year-old; she seemed separate from the childish hum of energy that surrounded her, standing there, staring directly at me. She was bundled in the long sleeves and jacket required in October in North Carolina, the frilly pink plastic skirt of the Halloween costume peeking out from under her furry brown jacket. She also wore a princess mask, the kind with the holes that looked like blank, dead eyes. The blonde curls that framed the white pale mask looked like engorged worms that began moving and squirming, inching their way into the eye holes of the mask. Down…down the worms slithered while the girl stood still, seeming completely oblivious that worms were going to gnaw her eyes out. Soon the stark white mask was streaked with red with rivulets of blood running down it. That’s when I cried out and the world went black.
Night School Vampire Hunter by Michelle Cornwell-Jordan
Interview
1. What inspired you to write Night School Vampire Hunter?
MCJ: To be honest, the idea came about due to the town where I live. It isn’t really considered a small city but it is quiet…normal really. But one day while driving, I began to imagine what if in this all American city; Vampires were actually the ruling class????Well, that started my thoughts swirling, and one day I saw the Pythian Children’s Home which is located locally. It is designed as a medieval castle… which I thought somewhat unique, since we’re dead smack in a Southwestern town? So, that is where I limited the story…instead of a ruling class of Vampires, I made a class full of them?;so, within this murky clay of thought is where the idea originated?
2. When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
MCJ: That’s a difficult question…because I cannot remember an age when I didn’t wish to write! But I will say 4th grade, this was the grade where I would try to impress my teachers with my poetic ability…, lol
3. What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?
MCJ: 3 or 4 years old
4. What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
MCJ: My favorite even now is YA…the novels in this genre tend to be full of magic and possibility? But whether YA or Adult reads I enjoy paranormal/fantasy the most!
5. What is your favorite book?
MCJ: I truly enjoyed the Twilight series. It satisfied my very romantic soul? But really I tend not to have ONE fav…I like many different books.
6. You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
MCJ: Hmmm. That’s difficult, because really in my personal reading I am ALL over the place at times…genres…yes, I have favorite genres…but specific authors? I enjoy all I have read…but let’s see I would have to say…I guess I would have to say…Stephanie Meyers...because my favorite play was Romeo&Juliet when I was younger, and I have ALWAYS been a romantic…and she with her Twilight series…just touched and satisfied that part of me...
7. If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?
MCJ: I actually think I would remain in this time, but would like to travel to the Mountains (Redwoods) enjoy the beauty and solitude, for awhile at least, then I would need to be back in the mix of things!:)
8. When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?
MCJ: Well, that is a tricky question for me? it is difficult at times for me to sit down and write! I do many other things; have multiple items to check off before I feel I can get to the perfect point of writing…well, this is an incorrect way to think. So I am adjusting this and tweaking priorities… But when I do sit still, hook up to my music…I fall into the character and basically “tell” what I am seeing, dictating the events, then it feels easy?
9. "Dark Angel", the second book in Night School Vampire Hunter Trilogy, tentative release date October 2012. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
MCJ: Dark Angel, the second novella in the series, I hope answers many of the questions left in the first novella…answers regarding Angel’s heritage, what happened to her parents?, what happened to her brother?…who Rafael really is? And what does he mean to Angel? More details regarding the other girls, Angel’s new friends at Ame Academy and their real agenda for being at the school? Also, the story will take a twist at the end…
10. What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?
MCJ: This will sound very strange…but I enjoy breakfast foods…such as eggs, bacon, and grits (okay, I am from the South:)…pancakes etc. I can eat this type of food anytime of the day! I also enjoy comfort foods…chicken, biscuits etc…yep, real down home gal!:)
11. Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?
MCJ: Pray a lot… believe in yourself….step out and take a chance…and try! There are some really great people in this community(Indie writers), who are willing to lend a helping hand, to help show you the ropes…and always be willing to learn…and use the lessons to better what you love, why you are doing what you are doing…to tell a good story?
BOOK TRAILER: Youtube
Goodreads: Night School
Smashwords: Night School
About the Author:
Michelle Cornwell-Jordan is a book lover, with YA paranormal adventures as her favorite genre,although she can be a glutton for any young adult title. Michelle’s other love is writing, Michelle has been writing about as long as she has been a bibliophile! Losing herself in a fantasy world that she, or others have created is how she loves spending her spare time...
One last thing about Michelle, she believes that she has her own secret powers:)
Next Night School Vampire Hunter (Bk#2) "Dark Angel" tentative release date October 2012
LINKS
Blog: Indiewritersreview
Goodreads: Michelle Cornwell-Jordan
Twitter: @mcjordan37
FaceBook: Indiewritersreview
Blog Talk Radio: IndieReview Behind The Scenes (Indiewritersreview's radio segment):
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