Day 30: BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING
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Day 30 of #scrypthalloween takes a look at my #vampire #novel BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING. Here are some facts: 1) it was published on September 28, 2011. 2) Cain’s House of Twelve vampires was created as an antithesis to Jesus’ Twelve Apostles. Cain is seen as the vampire lord and savior. 3) In the book there is a scene that describes what would happen if a vampire drank the blood of someone who had a blood borne disease, like HIV or AIDS. Even the blood suckers are not immune. 4) King Arthur, Vlad Tepee, The Great Sphinx, Elizabeth Bathory, and The fountain of Youth are all crucial elements to the plot. 5) the characters in the book were loved by readers so much that I went back eight books later and gave them prequel adventures in “The Thirst of Cain”. What are your favorite vampire stories? #halloween #authorsofinstagram
Day 10 LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE
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Day 10 of #scrypthalloween goes way back to my spinoff book LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE. Some facts: 1) It was originally published as a graphic novel on February 2, 2012 and later in 2016 converted to text. 2) a day before our final submission was due one of the artists backed out with no warning. We were left scrambling because those pages were an important element. So we ended up using storyboards in the missing pages stead. 3) the story of Sampson and Delilah as well as the reason and how the Great Sphinx of Giza was built get a vampiric twist in the story. 4) for the cover @dpipito took a photo of a friend of ours as if she’s been bitten while sipping wine. Then we passed it through an oil canvas filter to give it a rustic feel. 5) the character of Cory Wright is the only character I’ve created to date where his fate is left unaddressed. I left it up to the reader to ponder and discuss. #book #shortstory #vampire #vampires #wine #dracula #authorsofinstagram #graphicnovel
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Day 7: THE THIRST OF CAIN
Day 7 of #scrypthalloween focuses on my #novel THE THIRST OF CAIN. Some facts: 1) it was published on May 15, 2018. 2) I was awarded the “Best opening lines of a novel” for it. 3) after a lot of feedback and reader love for the characters of Cain and Lilith I decided to delve back into their history for one final outing in this book. 4) the plot originally didn’t revolve around time travel, but was going to feature finding out that the Garden of Eden was actually another planet. 5) @dpipito @pintsizedpages did the art for the cover and it was decided to use Stonehenge as the backdrop since it is integral to the plot.
Interview about THE THIRST OF CAIN
With every new release I get a handful of questions from readers and during promotions. Here’s some of the ones I’ve gathered so far for “THE THIRST OF CAIN”. Feel free to ask any that you have in the comments below or send me a message.
Q: Tell me about your new novel.
Rick: Francis Murphy wakes from a night’s sleep to discover a horror. His blood-stained hands reveal his darkest fears. With each passing minute the submerged half of his personality comes one step closer to total control. Realizing he has only days to find a cure, he must search throughout history to discover the origins of his curse. From the beginning of humanity to modern times, the mark of Cain has influenced many. What is that mark? How far will one man go in order to piece together clues to the puzzle? At what lengths will he go to save himself, and at what cost?
Q: Cain was a primary character in your earlier novels. What made you bring him back?
Rick: Reader feedback was my ultimate driving force. So many people loved the character and he slowly faded into the background as my novels progressed. I felt it was time to bring him back to the heart of the story, and see the side of him that the novels prior to this didn’t fully address.
Q: Does this go against your “I’m not going to write the same type of novel twice,” or do you feel it is a different approach?
Rick: This is a much different approach. It’s true I didn’t want to do another book involving vampires, or time travel. Both of those things sort of take a back seat in this even though they are there. It’s less a book about either of those, and more a book about discovering history in reverse. Cain is in his prime in this novel, so he’s more villain than before… he just happens to be a vampire. Murphy’s journey through time is more about solving the mystery of where his curse came from than the sci-fi element. He just uses time travel to trace the lineage back. So, this is a much different novel than BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING or A COURSE FOR HUMANITY.
Q: There are a lot of historical refences and tie ins in this book. How much research did you have to do?
Rick: When it came to overall research it wasn’t too extensive, but I wanted each time period in the story to have actual historical significance. I didn’t really know when specifically each chapter would take place until I found some dates with events that would fit the narrative. Finding those pieces of information did consume a few weeks of my time in order to get the story right. The research actually had me rewrite my outline four or five times to better fit where I wanted the book to go.
Q: You and your family were recently featured as a cover story in your local newspaper. How does that feel and factor into what you do?
Rick: It was really a moment that made me so proud. To be called, “the Dynamic Duo” was a surprise. People have said that we are a power couple and inspiration for those who want to prove that hard work will help you reach your dreams. I’ve always been flattered by that. The interview was a lot of fun, but I didn’t expect us to be the cover story. Needless to say we framed the article and have it hanging in my office. Things like that just make me want to go above and beyond my goals even more, and it helps me to push myself harder to attain those goals.
Q: How long did it take you to write THE THIRST OF CAIN?
Rick: The concept has been in my mind for about eight years. Every few months I’d come up with ideas of where to take it, but it was shelved for my other works. Once I finally started to sit down and write it, it took about eight months from outline to draft, then to edits and final copy.
Q: Do you have a team of early reviewers? If so how did they respond to the new book?
Rick: I had 20 beta readers for this book. Of those, a dozen gave their feedback which I value immensely. The response was all very positive with one reader claiming that they wanted another few pages in the epilogue to explain what happens next. To those readers I just have to say, it will be worth the wait to find out, but the hints are there.
Q: You do a decent job of writing each novel as a standalone, but also tying into the whole series. How hard is it to do this and keep the continuity?
Rick: It becomes tedious at times. I have to explain some things in back story, which makes me go back and reread previous plot points over and over to preserve continuity. I really like the idea of having a series that gets better with each installment since the beginning, but can also be a starting point for any new reader to my works. The balance is sometimes tricky, but not an overall difficult task.
Q: I’ve read the book, and have one question… That ending was totally unexpected. What? How? Where is this going?
Rick: You’ll find out in the next novel CONSUMED BY WAR. The reset button has technically been hit, so where THE THIRST OF CAIN finds the character going backwards in time to different periods, the next installment will be the opposite, except without the time travel element. There won’t be any more vampires, just two immortal beings “The Destroyer” and “The Redeemer.” There will also be a short story spinoff that will reference the events in THIRST called THE LOST DAY, which will also come out later this year.
Q: Tell us about the cover idea. Who did the art and design?
Rick: My brother Dan, did the art and design for it. My concept was to have Stonehenge as the center of the cover. It plays a significant role in the plot as far as what its true purpose was. Having a river of blood coming from it was an idea I pitched to my brother, and he immediately went to work with a few pictures in photo editing software. When I received his final copy for approval I was blown away. I think it’s my favorite cover to date.
Q: Where can one purchase a copy of THE THIRST OF CAIN?
Rick: It’s available at Lulu.com in print for $7.99 and on Amazon.com in digital format for $3.99.
The Thirst Of Cain
Francis Murphy wakes from a night’s sleep to discover a horror. His blood stained hands reveal his darkest fears. With each passing minute the submerged half of his personality comes one step closer to total control. Realizing he has only days to find a cure, he must search throughout history to discover the origins of his curse. From the beginning of humanity to modern times, the mark of Cain has influenced many. What is that mark? How far will one man go in order to piece together clues to the puzzle? At what lengths will he go to save himself, and at what cost? From the award winning author of BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING and A COURSE FOR HUMANITY comes THE THIRST OF CAIN. This heart pounding adventure unlocks the secrets of Stonehenge and more.
Novel is available for $7.99 in print at http://www.lulu.com/shop/rick-pipito/the-thirst-of-cain/paperback/product-23645538.html
and in digital format for $3.99 at https://www.amazon.com/Thirst-Cain-Rick-Pipito-ebook/dp/B07D42WJHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526988936&sr=8-1&keywords=the+thirst+of+cain
Trailer – The Thirst of Cain
My novel THE THIRST OF CAIN has arrived. Here’s a trailer to go along with it. Book is available at lulu.com in print and on amazon in digital.
On the 2nd Day of Christmas…
ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME, 2 VAMPIRES…
…and zombies in a story.
Cain and Lilith are just the beginning of the vampire lineage in BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING. This novel and its spinoff LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE are the perfect gift for any fan of the lore and historical events. Artwork shown at the right was done by Dan Pipito for the graphic novel version of the spinoff.
There’s still time to order a copy of one of my books for yourself or a friend for the holidays. If you want personalized copies then shoot me an email (Rickpipito@hotmail.com), otherwise they can be purchased in print or digital at Lulu.com or on Amazon.
Day 21 – Eden’s Order Trilogy
Day 21 of #scrypthalloween shows the cover of my EDEN’S ORDER TRILOGY sans text. @dpipito did the art which depicts a tree that represents the tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, but has hints of skin, blood, and bones to signify each novel within. This collection consists of the novels: FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, BLOOD THE SECOND HELPING, and BONES AT BREAKFAST. It also contains the spinoff short stories: ZOMBIE INCIDENTS, LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE, and IN CASE OF WEREWOLF, as well as a timeline of events.
It is available in print at lulu.com and Barnes and Noble sites, as well as in digital at Amazon…
Official description: In FLESH AND LEFTOVERS Gordon Lightcap and Moira Donatelli recruit survivors of #zombie incidents in preparation for something much more sinister.
BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING takes the two on separate paths. Gordon seeks answers, assisted by an old flame. As they scour the globe in search of #vampire legends, Moira has aligned herself with Cain, but her goals are in question. BONES AT BREAKFAST places Gordon and Moira reluctantly working for the Russian military. Cases of #werewolf activity become obstacles in stopping Cain from finding the Garden of Eden.
Day 19 – A Course For Humanity
Day 19 of #scrypthalloween spotlights my novel A COURSE FOR HUMANITY. While most books take me six to eight months to write, this one took sixteen years. It was something I contrived back in 2001 and after writing it sat on my shelf. It wasn’t until late last year when I decided to update it and make a story that could connect with the audiences to kick off a new trilogy…
official description: The future has been set in stone… or has it? When a group of military scientists discover a ripple in reality, they must face their ultimate challenge. Someone has travelled into the past and changed history, causing the timeline to shift. The result? Human extinction. Now humanity’s only hope lies with the Continuum group. They must break their own law against time travel, and prevent the temporal ripple from ever occurring. They will need a secret weapon to do so, but that weapon is a threat to them all… Meet Francis Murphy. He’s the last living vampire, and he’s out for revenge against those who’ve experimented on him. Will he help the Continuum group put humanity on the right course, or will he side with a traitor in their midst? Only time will tell.
Available in print and digital at lulu.com and Amazon.
Day 4 – Legends of Vampire
Day 4 of #scrypthalloween takes a look at LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE. This is a short story spinoff of yesterday’s post. It was originally in graphic novel form with nine artists involved including my brother @dpipito who headed art direction and helped create the cover from my vision. I wanted something that looked like an old oil painting but actually taken from photograph and wanted to emphasize the vampire connection; as well as wine, since the latter is good for the blood. Now also available in text form It serves as an expansion to the historical events mentioned in the novel. It can be purchased in print at lulu.com or as part of the Eden’s Order trilogy at Amazon and Barnes & Noble….
official description: You are alone with someone you just met. You hit it off and lean in to kiss that person, only to realize that their teeth are now two inch fangs. Your “friend” is a vampire thirsting for your blood. This short story contains events mentioned in the novel upon which it was based, “Blood, The Second Helping”. #vampire #vampire #shortstory #eternalhungersaga
Day 3 – Blood, The Second Helping
Day 3 of #scrypthalloween takes a look at my #novel BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING. The cover art here (sans text) by @dpipito hides some of the plot in its colors. This was originally planned as a sequel to another book idea, but after the success of F&L it made more sense to do a #vampire #book. My villain Cain is a many fan favorite, as well as how I incorporated real historical events into the narrative. It’s available in print and digital forms at Lulu.com and Amazon, as well… as part of the Eden’s Order trilogy at those markets and Barnes and Noble. …….
official description: Gordon Lightcap and his group of unique specialists race against time to stop the coming apocalypse. Cain, the world’s first vampire, and his House of Twelve, have waited an eternity to put this world changing plan into motion. At the center of these two sides is one woman with two identities. Her human persona of Moira Donatelli, has left clues to assist Gordon in his quest, while her vampire identity, Lilith the Deceiver, has helped Cain back to power. Both men must fight for their survival as well as the woman they love.
Day 13: Ancient Antagonist vs Modern Good Guy – Cain vs Gordon
FLESH AND LEFTOVERS was a zombie novel, but the zombies weren’t the build up for what was to come. By the end of the book I had set up Cain to be the antagonist of the first trilogy. The great thing about this character is that he is in essence completely immortal. I wanted a man who was downright evil and bad with a small part of his humanity that made you sometimes cheer for him.
Imagine being the first person ever to have committed a major crime, and then not being forgiven for it. Cain murdered Abel, but there were no
Depiction of Cain in the comic spinoff LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE. Artwork by JC Spence
ground rules per se. He was punished by a higher power and had the “mark of God” placed upon him. As the vampire lord his immortality stayed with him even in death. Even his remorse for killing his brother did not rid him of this plague. He had to watch his friends and loved ones die before completely switching over and giving in to his demonic nature.
If he couldn’t have freedom of humanity, then he would rid he world of humanity, and punish God in turn by taking away his precious creatures. Their God would no longer control them, and instead they’d be Cain’s sheep like minions. Through his journey we see Cain take on different characteristics and traits and despite apparent death, he is always there some how. Perhaps he is given a second chance at some point, but was he misunderstood? Was this all just a punishment set in place with predetermined results?
Bring in Gordon Lightcap. He was a man whose family was torn from him at a young age. Not once did he blame any higher power. Instead he used this as a cause to prevent anyone else from suffering the same fate. His experiences sent him on a borderline alcoholic binge, but he continued on. Even when haunted by his memories of the past, he came through strong.
Battling against Cain is something that is built towards and their common love interest throws a whole other aspect into it. You can see what happens as the books progress, but the bottom line is that you have two very similar people who took their experiences in opposite directions. In other words Gordon is in a way a complete opposite version of Cain. This rivalry is the focus of the first trilogy but not limited to there.
Follow the adventures of Cain and Gordon in the entire series or in individual installments: FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, BLOOD THE SECOND HELPING, BONES AT BREAKFAST, SOULS 4 SUPPER, DEVIL’S DESSERT, TECHNO FEAST and the comic spinoffs.
sCrypt Publishing 