What inspired you to write your book Immortal Relations? Finding a photograph of my late father taken at the end of World War Two. He was assigned to help the Czechs form a new government, a constitutional form of government hopefully, somewhat similar to that of the United States (a lofty goal considering Soviet troops were everywhere). The photograph was of my father standing in front of an ancient building with a large clock on its wall. It wasn't the photo itself, but on the back, in a feminine hand, was "I'll always be waiting here."
When I was very young I’d heard my mother say things like, "He is over there with that woman" but didn't know of whom she spoke, nor would she say anything further when asked. However, at one point she did ask me what I’d do if she divorced my father. So finding that statement on the back of his picture, taken in Prague, brought back memories of what she had said. That night, unable to sleep, I felt compelled to go to the keyboard and that is the "back-story" of where "Immortal Relations" came from (call it "channeling," or that my Muse was guiding me, or as a psychotic-break and I’d agree). I've always been a fast typist, but I'd never typed THAT fast before or since.
Have you been a lifelong reader? What are some the first books you remember reading? Not just a lifelong reader but a writer as well. In my youth I ran marathons and wrote about them and they were published in running magazines like "The Long-Distance Log." Later, I was "into" automobiles and wrote about events attended (races and car-shows), these were published in such magazines as "Cruisin' Style" in Florida. While I wrote mostly non-fiction, I enjoyed reading both that and fiction, specifically histories of warfare (World War Two and what caused it) as well as fictional works such as the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings (I've always been a fan of stories where good triumphs over evil). I wore out paperback copies of the "Hobbit" and the "Lord of the Rings" Trilogy reading and re-reading them over and over and over again.
Now, I'm an avid (or is that rabid) fan of the vampire genre', but not the "Horror" type stories (although I’ve read Bram Stoker's Dracula and appreciate it for what it is). In my books, vampires are like humans, both good and evil. My good vampires try to safeguard humans and animals from evil be it other vampires, human criminals or evil politicians. I'm honored to have done some Beta reading for Michele Drier’s eighth novel in the Kandesky Vampire Chronicles, "SNAP: All That Jazz.” I love trying to help other authors, even if they're better known than me. I totally love her stories of good and passionate vampires "living" in the human world. While her stories are different than mine that her vamps co-exist with humans is a big plus in my eyes.
What do you do to rev your creative juices? I have an overactive imagination, "writers block" is a concept totally foreign to me. My imagination operates at 78 rpm in a 33 1/3 rpm world (an example from the old vinyl record days...young people probably won't understand). Given the chance, I can sit down at any point in-time and write (the problem is getting the time to do so).
What would be your advice to people who are considering a writing career? If you want to write short articles about a specific topic (such as I did with my running and interest in "cars") just get a good grounding in that subject. It might be "making cupcakes" if so learn to make the most sinfully delicious and unique cupcakes, then write about it and send it off to "Cupcake World" magazine. In other words, start small and learn your craft but be grounded in another type of work. As they say, "Don't quit your day-job"(even J.K. Rowling took a little while to be discovered).
If you are planning on writing "The Great American Novel" and submitting it to "Publishing Houses" prepare for disappointment - rejection is the name of their game (they just SAY they’re looking for something new and fresh). When I wrote my first novel they said I couldn't write a story violating the norms of the genre' - my vampires protect humans from evil and own funeral homes from which to obtain what little blood they require. I'm told I was the first to come up with that method of obtaining blood without attacking humans or animals, or having donors. All of my "unique" concepts were panned by the editing staff; they said they had never heard of vampires having sex, evidently never having read Twilight, Vampire Diaries or dozens of other works that had sex between vampires long before my book.
This is an overview of what my "Immortal Relations" series is about:
Are all those who are "different" than you automatically bad? Certainly the vast majority of books published about vampires paint them as "in league with the Devil" and "evil personified." Often they are shown almost like "shape-shifters," able to take on the appearance of beauty, while underneath lurks a hideous killer of unspeakable ugliness. "Immortal Relations" starts with a true-life event that occurred to the author's parents. It was finding out about this situation that spurred the author to write the series. The first book explores love and aspects of it's physical expression (sex) so it's appropriate for open-minded adults. Read Richard Rasmussen's comment for http://amzn.com/B006ZCBT6G the first book:
Being a bit of a vampire-phile, I find myself constantly searching for the next vampire series to reach out and grab, or, more appropriately, bite me. I believe I have found my holy grail of vampire novels. You see, the Vlad books are typically a bit gory for my tastes, while the Twilight series is campy, sophomoric, and I feel, is most appealing to teenage girls. Mr. Ogan has delivered a tale at breakneck speed, one that jumps out of the starting gate and never loses steam. A tale filled with life lessons, love, sex, action and adventure. Complete with new insights into the powers of the immortal vamps, and fresh takes on the complex inner workings of their existence. From page 1 until the very end, Immortal Relations promises to have you on the edge of your seat and begging for more...
This is a brief summary of the first book, “Immortal Relations”
"Immortal Relations" starts with the true story that caused the book (and later the series to be written). It contains "explicit togetherness" (sex), not meant to be salacious but to show the good vampires don't have human hang-ups about intimacy (frankly some of what Gary gets drawn into is rather humorous). Gary's military past is of great help in protecting the coven from evil vampires seeking revenge, especially when Gary’s son Adam, born as a full vampire, gains his father's knowledge and helps the Czechs as well as the British Army and Royal Marines deal with “terrorists” seeking to gain access to nuclear weapons. Later, he is one who helps the Russian Federation's defend old Soviet Era stores of Biological Weapons from some new members of the same group.
Immortal Relations cover goes here
An interview between the author and the main male character Gary Logan:
Gary Logan is here to tell us a little about why he became a vampire. Most vampires are “changed” against their will, Gary on the other hand fell in love with a lady who happened to be a vampire (she had been attacked and only two policemen happening on the scene kept her from being drained rather than changed). Gary is one of only two characters in my series who ask to be changed to stay with someone they love, but there are others who are changed to save them from death due to disease or injury.
Guy: Gary, tell us about some of the special power you have developed.
Humans would count the speed, strength and vampire immortality as special powers, but our group of vampires has developed even further. With the help of Sophie (my vampire son’s human wife) we’ve developed the ability to reach out to one another and experience the physical joy of each other during sex and communicate mentally at great distances.
Guy: Gary, when did you discover your powers?
Most of the vampire powers were taught to me very soon after being changed. You can read about that in the early parts of Immortal Relations. Only a few people realize that the entire series of books started out as notes in a three ring binder I kept as a record of my entry into the vampire world. Read about this in the middle ofhttp://amzn.com/B00A4IEHL6, the second book. My discussion with the great Vlad Dracula in book three is where I learned about “flying” http://amzn.com/B00G5BQS18 . I’d started practicing a little over thick parts of our Canadian forests when it was raining, very cloudy or at night. Of course, now that we have “come-out-of-the-coffin*” (actually we were “outed” by the Marxist government in Washington, D.C. – how they hate us!) I now fly in daylight getting “thumbs-up” when seen by our wonderful neighbors in the Cayuga area!
Guy: Gary did you have special education or training to hone your power?
Yes, Sophie helped train us in the method of enjoying being in each other’s mind during sex and then we carried that ability further to communicating with one another and reading the minds of humans in the first book,http://amzn.com/B006ZCBT6G . The latter has come in handy when our vampire children went to university or in the military. We taught it to Fred, the shape-shifting werewolf who is in love with Glenda, my half-human, half-vampire granddaughter. Both are now enrolled in Prague’s University. They “tested-out” of the more mundane classes so will attain their undergraduate as well as graduate degrees in less than three years. They’re currently taking joint MBA and Law degrees (read about them in the first half of book three).
Guy: Do you consider your power a gift or a curse? Why?
We have used all of these powers to not only enjoy each other physically, as well as to communicate, but to help safeguard mankind. From that perspective the powers must be considered as great gifts. We have stopped a potential nuclear war between Communist China and The Russian Federation, cleaned up the messes caused by terrorists and helped bring them to justice and kept two potentially Extinction Level Events on Earth from happening as well as threats from outer-space that could have destroyed the Earth.
Guy: How does having this power complicate your life?
It sometimes seems we’re cursed with the frequency we’re called upon to save mankind, often from their own stupidity, such as from the types of leaders whom they have given control over themselves…the stupidity of voters is often amazing!
Guy: Gary, If you could swap your power for another one, what would it be?
We actually have taught humans the ability to share each other’s physical joy during sex. Now if we could just teach them to do diligent research into the types of people they place in leadership positions, I’d consider that would be worth trading my “flying” for!
Guy: What do your lovers think of your abilities?
My two “owners” who both changed me so we could be together forever (they stress we are co-equals in our loving partnership) think our abilities are great! For those who prefer less explicitness in novels, book two has a summary of the major points of book one with far less explicit sex. Book two is helpful when reading book three but each book will stand alone.
The second book "Immortal Relations, Love and War"
http://amzn.com/B00A4IEHL6 carries the story forward and has a summary of important parts of the first book in the form of a conversation between two of the main characters (this makes it a good starting point for those for whom stories with sex is an issue). While I still consider this novel "adult fare" I found a way to lessen the "explicitness" of the togetherness...I think you may laugh at the way it's done. The second in the series has a lot about how power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Watch the Chinese Communists try to capture the riches in Siberia and run up against not only our guardian vampires but the love of the Russian people for their homeland. Greedy OPEC Ministers try to destroy Russian oil production in order to destroy the economy of Russia and The West - actions that could become more than just ideas in a novel.
"Immortal Relations is NOT just another vampire story! An unusual blend of vampire fantasy, world politics, and political statement in defense of human civil freedoms, this book is a quick read that takes you through the story as a voyeur of one man's extraordinary imagination. You will not predict the outcome of this story, nor do you want to, as you sit back and let the story unfold insights into human nature, vampire nature, and the unusual relationship between the two. Looking forward to reading book three as the crescendo of poetic license plays itself out on a global scale. Thanks to Guy Ogan for an enjoyable read! "
The third in the series "Immortal Relations Coming Out" http://amzn.com/B00G5BQS18 explores the dangers of the new Soviet style of Socialism taking over America and how the country is heading down the path to the loss of its Constitution and personal freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. As with most dictators, those at the head of this Marxist regime feel free to flaunt both the laws of God and man and try to kill someone they believe thwarted their "arrangement" with Communist China. Going off "half-cocked" without knowing who or what they are dealing with has gotten other dictators in trouble and does so again in this story. When threats to the future of mankind as well as to Earth show the unwillingness of the evil regime to try and help. These are all strong stories not for the faint of heart!
Here is a snippet from book three “Immortal Relations Coming Out”
Here Vlad Dracula, patriarch of the Guardian Vampires tells his story to his “young vampire” friend Gary Logan:
It was a very long time ago; we were fighting what you would call “an asymmetrical war” against Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and his Muslim invaders who outnumbered us at least three to one. I was looking for anything to slow them down. I guess you would say I used psychological warfare by building the “forest” of impaled enemy soldiers defeated in previous battles. While we had numerous successes against units of the invaders we were unable to hold off so large an invading army. It was about this time I was changed into what I am today.
I was always in the front lines of battle and routinely soaked in blood. Perhaps that is what changed me into a vampire. One of my own Generals saw me surrounded by enemies and saw blood spurting up in the air. Thinking it was my blood he sent word that I’d been killed. My dear distraught wife threw herself from the heights of my Poenari Castle into the Arges River below.
Then my second cousin, Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, from whom I had sought help in prosecuting the war, imprisoned me. Locked away, I soon became crazed with the desire for blood I would have otherwise found on the battlefield. Many fellow prisoners died because of it and after my escape I was a plague on the land. It took all too long before I regained some sense of my lost humanity and then only through the assistance of my second wife who helped me overcome my bloodlust, regain my self-control and my belief in the possibility of my salvation.
Bio:
Born in Washington D.C. during the early stages of WW-II, Guy & his mother moved to Texas while father went off to war as a member of the Office of Strategic Services later to become the C.I.A. After the war, mother and child returned to Arlington, VA to join his father now working back in Washington and on "temporary duty" in spots around the world. Guy was interested and involved in long-distance running, which he continued when the family moved to Northern California in the late 50s. He graduated from Los Altos High School, obtained an Associate of Arts from Foothill Junior College and Transferred to Texas Christian University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U.S.A.F. while in the military he obtained a Master of Arts from the European Campus of Ball State and upon his retirement from the service completed a second graduate degree, Master of Education, from Hardin-Simmons. While in this program he taught undergraduate Psychology, Sociology and Counseling at local colleges as well as writing a book on the assessment and treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder. He was then employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TX Prison System) to write treatment programs for inmates with addictions and later as an Associate Clinical Psychologist, retiring early to care for his disabled mother upon the passing of his father. He and his wife have two grown children and four grandchildren as well as three Pomeranians.
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Thanks Guy for this post, Talk back, I'm listening as always. Follow this blog for more pleasing posts.
I gave this four stars in my review. KJ tells a story from a 51 year-old detective's point of view. I found it very interesting and engaging even though the story was several bundled into one with common thread of the Homicide Detective daily life in New York city. You can imagine how busy he was there. His young female partner, he tries to protect and nurture her abilities at the same time. With a little work this could easily become a five star book but needs a little work especially on spacing. There are sudden gaps in the words or a word split apart in the ebook version on Kindle. Like I said, I enjoyed the book, still.
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