Title:
Shape-shifters &
Succubae:
Book I The Witches and
Demons of Clay Mountain
(Also Available in E-book format - Titled: Blood Majik)
Authored/Created/Designed:
Dino P Simonetti
Genre:
Fiction / Thrillers
Release Date:
January 1 2012
Paperback List
Price:
$10.99
ISBN-13:
978-1461109105
ISBN-10:
1461109108
Purchase At:
createspace.com/3599541
(E-book purchasable at:)
Author
Websites/Contacts:
Twitter:
@BY_NOBLE_HANDS
Email:
by_noble_hands@yahoo.com
Facebook:
Blog:
Free Sample
Reading:
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR:
Dino Simonetti hails from
Winthrop Massachusetts, a small town east of Boston. Simonetti lived
his first 28 years in this historical town and can recall stories
told by Edward Roe Snow, a neighbor at the time. He also took a
liking to Poe's works as well. He credits much of his influence to
King, Koontz and Barkers works. He stated some of the light, breezy
prose is influenced by Janet Evanovich as well.
Mr. Simonetti has a sense
of humor that lends to his charismatic demeanor and you will find him
quite easy to talk to. One thing I did notice is he listens intently
and takes a great interest in you and he will ask you questions about
you and not speak of himself unless asked. He is always quick with a
joke and quite witty.
Mr. Simonetti stated he
was a pharmacist for over twenty-years and has just recently embarked
on a career in massage therapy. He is a father to four-children, all
fully grown and living in Salem MA. He himself resides in Utah for
the time being.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What
made you decide to write this book?
I have been writing all
my life in one form or another; most often in the fiction/fantasy
genre. I’d call myself a horror thriller erotica sort of a writer
because I can write all those styles well-and even mix them in one
story.
I started writing on
Labor Day 2008 and finished the draft for what will be books 1 and 2
by Halloween 2009. It went through tons of editing and as I said,
was released a few times from 2010 until 2011. I pulled it late 2011.
I released the new version January 1 2012 in physical copy. It can
be found on Amazon by title or under my name. I prefer folks go to my
personal Createspace web site as I plan to take 50% of the royalties
to donate to Autism research-my son is afflicted with this poorly
understood disorder. Amazon pays dirt for royalties so I chose the
personal web page.
I don’t really have a
favorite author any more. Evanovich tickles my funny bone with her
Stephanie Plum series. If you like fun but danger in a story-she’s
your gal.
I am influenced heavily
by the works of King, Barker, Koontz, and most recently by the
twilight books, Harry Potter and Tolkien. I'm a comic book
buff(neurotically) and would spend hours and hours reading them-all
sorts. I entered the world of the fantasy as a way to escape the
crappy life I grew up in-too much to write about here. I recall
times when my father would flip out about all the comic reading so I
was relegated to reading them in the hallway coat closet sitting on
the vacuum cleaner hidden behind the coats using a spelunking
light-yes I got caught once in a while. Dad said they would ruin my
mind and I should be reading things about World War II or animals or
other boring stuff that I now watch on television-who knew!
I think its important for
writers/publishers/marketers or anyone involved in the literary world
to air their opinions, insights and vision. I hope to ventilate my
mind and share some of the millions of ideas that run through my head
on any given day
The most difficult part
of writing a book to me is revisions-revisions-revisions and did I
mention revisions! I have revised no less than 5 times-each time
making it more exciting, more visceral and just outright great! Do I
sound biased?
Another challenge is
keeping it all in the same voice, having smooth prose, and being
consistent.
I researched some of the
content in my book calling on all the witches, magical folk, demon
experts and Wiccans. i know I also spent a great deal of time
learning some Latin and Cherokee phrases. Wikipedia served me well
too at times. I researched some old Chinese folklore and tattoo art.
All the characters in the story are real people and in fact, the two
major players lived upstairs from me in Salem Massachusetts. I had
to use my imagination on one of the girls as she had a fight with her
partner and returned to Louisiana.
I released the book then
retired it when I decided a title change would serve me better. The
name of my book, book -1 in a series, is called Shape-shifters and
Succubae. It was originally Ba’Gatz’s Succubus but I thought
from a marketing perspective it would sell better with the present
title.
What
is the genre?
Well I’d call myself a
horror thriller erotica sort of a writer because I can write all
those styles well-and even mix them in one story.
Did it start as a
hobby or a passion – planned or unplanned?
To me this is a passion
and i want it to be my full time job ASAP. the planning-well i had
planned for a LONG time to write it and it wasn't until i was
separated that i was in the right 'space' to get it done.
Would you have
changed anything about your story?
The story is written just
as its supposed to be-it's in a state of evolution; it has a plan and
a course but there's so mant paths i can take it and it won't be
until i reach that point will i decide where to steer it. .
What i learned along the
way-the book can consume you, strain relationships and you just have
to immerse your self into the task or it won't get done i had lots of
encouragement by friends(mostly ladies because they love what I'm
doing and loved when i read to them in bed .
Who would you
consider to be your hero?
If your question is about
a fictitious hero-its Wolverine. in real life-heck I can't think of
one right off hand.
What would you tell
other aspiring authors?
Well since I’m still an
aspiring author I can’t really comment save for telling them don’t
give up. Case in point-it took me 23 yrs to finally get to it and
its gone from a short story based on a gross joke I shared with an
anesthesiologist back in 1987 to what will end up being a series of
about 3000+ pages under the series name of The Witches and Demons of
Clay Mountain
Did you find the
journey to be a difficult one?
The journey is difficult
yes; if i were able to just write it wouldn't be as difficult. life
happens.
What was the
happiest point; when the manuscript was completed or when the book
was put in print?
The happiest point is
when it's in print because the manuscript is always done in my mind.
the gratification comes when i see the book.
A synopsis of the
book:
The great demon Ba’al,
leader of 76 legions of demons from hell was trapped under a mountain
and imbedded in clay many years ago. He wants to escape and cast the
world into darkness. Its taken many years for the coven named CAOS
(pronounced chaos) to locate him. The ‘elders’ of the coven are
actually demons in disguise-they have an ulterior motive obviously.
Well CAOS is a demon that has the ability to make something from
nothing and will attempt to help free him. She just wants him to be
freed and thinks she’ll be able to calm him down so he wont destroy
the world. The girl Hillarea I mentioned earlier has a special
ability as she was borne from Cherokee ancestry. She’s recruited by
the coven to be their new leader. Mean while, a few good witches
figure out what’s going on and want to put a stop to it. A
detective Simon has been called in to investigate all the strange
deaths and disappearances. He gets sucked into the whirlwind of the
covens activity. He’s skeptical when the good witches tell him
they have it all figured out. Of course there’s a nosy reporter,
lots of blood, lots of terrible deaths and a key ingredient is a
special blood type called O-negative Bombay-quite rare. There’s
many sub plots, much convolution, much treachery and lots of
interesting characters-all people I know that I fashioned for the
story.
Also Look for Book 2,
"The Order of Caso":
