Do you want to meet the demon next door? Back to Blog
Update: The winner of The Demon Next Door: Morteza is Kris M. and the winner of any one of my Cobblestone books is Ilona. Email Kate atkate@kateaustin.ca to claim your prize.
A demon and two humans may be unusual lovers, but they’ll do anything for forever.
What happens when a single night changes everything? Morteza can’t see Ellie and Eli no matter how badly he wants to. It’s too dangerous – the Lord of the Demons could find him at any time. So Morteza lives on his memories of that one exquisite night, he dreams of a future with the people he loves, and tries to figure out how to avoid detection. Permanently. Eli pretends his life wasn’t changed by the experience. Except for one minor glitch – he hasn’t had an orgasm since. Ellie, like Morteza, knows they belong together but there are a lot of reasons – one of them being that Morteza could find her if he wanted to. And he hasn’t. Her other concern is Eli, her best friend forever. Will he ever admit that the three of them belong together?
I didn’t start out as a fan of demons, in fact, I’m not sure I ever really thought about them until…
You know those sunny summer weekends when you’re sitting at a pub watching the ocean? A couple of beers later and you’re deep into philosophical discussions about things you never thought you’d talk about.
Well, this is the view at the pub on the Sunshine Coast – just north of Vancouver – when I first started thinking about demons.
I asked my partner whether he believed in them, mostly because I wasn’t sure I did. But he did and does. I asked a single question – you know that old writing question, what if? I asked, What could turn a demon into a good guy? Do a single good deed and my demons can become good guys – for Ali, the first demon next door, his transition was a complete accident. He loved being the meanest and nastiest lord of the demons but, now mostly human, he loves Maryalice more.
And then I couldn’t resist the idea. I, like Maryalice, loved Ali and wanted to write more about these demons – strangers in a strange land.
Morteza started out as a short story for Cobblestone’s series The Pleasure Club. Morteza’s trying hard to be human and he’s doing a pretty good job. Except for one thing – he can’t figure out (despite all his research) the whole sex thing. The Pleasure Club sets him up with Ellie and Eli and he doesn’t just have great sex, he falls in love.
That’s the thing about being a writer. You never know where your ideas are going to come from. Mine only ever show up when I’m not thinking about them. I’m not the kind of writer who plans anything, not a story, not an idea, not a character. They just happen. A piece of graffiti can set me off. A phrase I hear on the radio. A heron fishing on the beach. A single paragraph in The New Yorker. I’ve written books based on all of those things. And started with only the smallest of clues.
Writing a book is sort of like an organic detective story for me, I’ve just realized. Do you read Douglas Adams? Do you remember Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency? Well, I feel a little bit like Dirk Gently. I have absolutely no idea where I’m going or where I’m going to end up or even why I’m going there. Instead, I just do whatever feels right at the time.
So I’ve written three stories about demons and before that sunny afternoon on the patio, I’d never once thought about writing about them. Dirk Gently and I are definitely on the same wavelength.
I want to say thanks to Cynthia and thanks to all of you who read her blog – without you, I wouldn’t have figured out just how to describe the way I write. So whenever anyone asks me how I writer, I’ll just tell them: Go read Douglas Adams’ book about Dirk Gently’s detective agency.
So in thank you, one person who posts a response to this blog will win a download (on Friday) of The Demon Next Door: Morteza and one other person will win a download of any of my books with Cobblestone Press – check them out at either of my websites below.
Kate Austin w/a Josée Renard
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Wow looks like a book i should check into.I’m just getting in to Demons being in book.I’m seeing more of them all the time.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
I’m familiar with your books written as Kate Austin and will be checking out your other books.
I think demons have gotten a bad rap for years. I have been enjoying the many variations on the demons for a while now. I think I will need to pick this one up, and I have read all of Douglas Adams, but it’s been a while-may be time to revisit him.
Love the title of THE DEMON NEXT DOOR! You have got my attention! 🙂 Thanks for guest posting today.
Having read Dirk Gently I can see what you mean about the way you write. I really liked your use of him as an analogy 😀
As to The Demon Next Door, it’s now on my wishlist, as it sounds like a fun read (not to mention quite sexy too).
Your title is great – The Demon Next Door. Don’t we all have demons next door or even inside? I think it’s really unfair how demons a characterized. Every being has good in them. I look forward to reading your book.
There’s nothing like a redeemed Demon…love those kind of stories. Everyone deserves a happy ending, even a Demon.
Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
in Germany
SOunds great… It has been a while since I read a book with a demon character… 😀
Very interesting post. This sounds like a very good read, one I will put on my TBR list!!
Ah, demons and Dirk Gently – what a great combination for a blog post. 🙂
I’ll be adding this to my TBB list as well.
Your description of your writing is very intriguing. I love demons and am loooking forward to reading yours.
I just read the excerpts of The Demon and The Demon Next Door: Ali. This series sounds great and I look forward in learning more about Morteza.
Your demon series looks very interesting. I read my first demon book last year and enjoyed it.
Hey demons, I’ve met a few in Cynthia’s books.
I’m always fascinated by how authors get their ideas. It’s amazing that it just kind of comes to you. Best wishes on your books.
Hi, everybody:
Sorry I didn’t get back to all of your great comments earlier – a slight (okay, a huge) crisis at the office. But thanks for all your comments and tomorrow morning Cynthia or I will pick two names and let you know who’s won the prizes.
And really, I wouldn’t have thought of the Dirk Gently analogy except for writing this blog. So thanks – now I know just what to say.
Kate
Jane, I’m delighted you’ve read my other books (my Kate Austin ones). I’m working on a big women’s fiction book under my real name that I’m going to deliver to my agent in July. I think you’ll like that – as soon as she sells it 🙂
Kate
Nancy and Ilona and cories – I’m glad to see that I’m not the only person who loves Douglas Adams. I had the cassette tapes of him reading all the Hitchhikers books and I can’t tell you how many times I listened to them – even after reading the books many times. He wasn’t just a great writer – he was a great actor.
Kate
Viki – you’re right, I think we all have a little demon in us and sometimes it’s good that we can be tough when we have to be.
And Valerie, I’m totally with you. Everyone does deserve a happy ending.
Kate
Wow this books sounds great. I love menage books and ones with a paranormal twist are the best. I have not read Douglas Adams in quite a few years I need to read him again, but i have only read some of the Hitchhiker books, I will look into the Dirk Gently book, have not read that one. Thanks for the post and telling us about your book 🙂
Great post!!!! You have me hooked after a post like that. Love the concept of a redeemed Demon 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and telling us about your books. I’m off to your website 🙂
Kris – I’m so glad I’m convincing everyone to read Dirk Gently!
And Michele, I’m with you. I think everyone (with the possible exception of the principal of Sunnydale High) should be allowed a form of redemption.
Kate
Love demons and I think many have a reputation which was not always deserved. Looking forward to reading this book.
Thanks everyone for your comments. They were great.
The winner of The Demon Next Door: Morteza is Kris M. and the winner of any one of my Cobblestone books is Ilona.
Thanks, again, and have a fun summer of reading!
Kate
Kris M. and Ilona, can you email me at kate@kateaustin.ca and I’ll send the books out to you.
Kate
Love your title! I like demon stories, and I think they can easily be the good guys.
Yay Kate! Great to see you here 🙂 I’m guesting in early July and I’m so glad we’ve got some GVC reps here!