Devin O'Branagan

   My name is Midnight. Of course it is...I'm a black cat. Could my captors have any less imagination?  Besides being dull and unimaginative people, they're cruel; I'm sure they were trained by the CIA - the Cat Intimidation Association.
   It is day 946 of my captivity.
   These humans castrated me. Then they imprisoned me in their home. They feed me the same thing every day; it is some form of hard kibble that tastes like flavored cardboard. They torture me by eating fresh fish and meat right in front me, but then get mad when I raid the goldfish bowl. What do they expect, for crissakes?
   My only pleasure comes from a catnip mouse that I'm certain they gave me by accident. At night, when they're asleep, I cavort with it and enjoy the buzz. This is what I'm doing when I hear a noise coming from the chimney. The sound isn't loud, but given the boring nature of my pitiful existence, it immediately captures my attention.
   Using my superpower of stealth, I pad to the far side of the room to investigate.
   That's when I see her - a beautiful platinum blond with bright blue eyes. When she sees me, she strikes a pose like those jazz dancers on TV. She flashes her jazz paws, and she's a singular Siamese sensation!
   Is it possible I'm feeling a tingle in my former tomcat parts?
   Brazenly, she struts up to me and rubs her scent all over my body. I'm too stunned to object.
   "I'm Jezebel, what's your name?"
   I've never had a cat chat, but our mental conversation seems as natural as could be. "Midnight."
   She bats her eyelashes. "I hope you don't mind me dropping in."
   I notice a smudge of black on her cheek. "Did you come down the chimney?"
   "A little trick my person taught me."
   I can't help myself; in a bold move I lick her cheek clean, my tongue rough and masculine. Purring, she presses herself into me, and I notice the smell of fresh, wonderful blood on her breath.
   Obviously, her person lets her eat real food.
   "Tell me about your person." I wonder if he might want another cat.
   "His name is Damien. He's a vampire and I'm his familiar."
   I've watched enough TV to understand, and my fur fluffs up with concern. "What do you want here?"
   "I've come for Anna."
   Little Anna?  I hiss and leap backwards. Anna is the five-year-old human my captors also hold prisoner. I can't let this vixen hurt my innocent little cellmate.
   Jezebel gives me a crazy beautiful smile. "If you help me, I'll teach you how to escape."
   My bleak existence has never had much meaning, but now I must decide whether I'm selfish or noble. I think of sweet Anna, and the decision is easy.
   I arch my back and slash out with wicked claws. "Get out of here as fast as your pretty little paws can carry you, sister."
   Her gorgeous blue eyes widen, their pupils dilate, and I think we're about to begin rolling on the floor - and not in a good way - but she surprises me by backing off. With an exaggerated wiggle in her walk, she turns away and saunters to the fireplace. Before leaping up the chimney, she looks back over her shoulder and gives me a sassy wink.
   I grin at my victory. I am a tomcat after all; my captors might have stolen my balls, but they haven't captured my spirit.
   Satisfied, I celebrate my triumph by reclaiming my mouse and inhaling some catnip fumes. Eventually, I drift into a giddy slumber and dream about what might have been with Jezebel.

*          *          *

   When my captors awaken me, I stretch, clean my face, and wonder if my encounter with Jezebel was just a drug-induced dream.  I leap from the couch and meander over to the fireplace. On the hearth, written in cleverly arranged bloody mouse tails, are the words, I'LL BE BACK.

 Copyright © 2010 by Devin O'Branagan

On October 15, 2010, a bright light passed from this world—an awesome Australian Shepherd named Spiritsong’s Madison. Maddie who lived a long fifteen years, was born in my arms and died in the arms of her family, the Coakleys. Maddie was the last surviving child of my own late dog, Kolbe, and she was her mother’s daughter…a beautiful bitch with attitude.

The main difference between Kolbe and Maddie was that Kolbe was a prissy, pampered former show dog, while Maddie was one tough cookie.

Maddie climbed mountains. She fell off mountains and survived. She took on coyotes, and loved to herd anything and everything. Maddie hated to be groomed. She was fearless, tough, and lived for adventure.

Kolbe, on the other hand, loved the life of luxury. She enjoyed being pampered, didn’t like to get her feet wet, spent countless hours on her plush outdoor bed overseeing her suburban domain, and a car ride was her favorite form of recreation.

Did I mention they were very different?

I immortalized Kolbe in the guise of the wildly popular Talisman in my comic RED HOT series of novels. Last year I promised the Coakleys that I would introduce Maddie to the world in my upcoming RED HOT LIBERTY. In RED HOT LIBERTY Maddie will play Talisman’s sister, a hardcore cowdog on a working ranch. Talisman goes to visit Maddie for a regularly scheduled play date and the two girls accidentally get switched for the day. Talisman has to cowboy up, while Maddie has to figure out how to cope with a day of pampered luxury. It is an Australian Shepherd Freaky Friday.

It turned out to be such a funny scene, that I’m also planning a spinoff from the dogs’ perspectives called SHOW DOG SINGS THE BLUES.

Kolbe and Maddie are now together, and the Coakleys and I hope the angels in charge of The Rainbow Bridge don’t get the two confused. Remember guys, Kolbe expects to rest on that fluffy cloud and be fed treats. Maddie, on the other hand, will herd you and likely fall off one of those clouds while doing so. Just have a nice, soft lake for her to fall into, like you provided that time she fell off the mountain.

Spiritsong’s Madison
July 9, 1995 – October 15, 2010



Photo of Maddie courtesy of Brian and Cindy Coakley

Copyright © 2010 by Devin O’Branagan

In 2009, I held a raffle to benefit animal rescue, and the prize was that the winner’s pet would become a character in one of my novels. The winner of the contest was a Labradoodle named Bocker.

The book I slated for Bocker was the third novel in my comic RED HOT chick-lit series, which is about the misadventures of a plucky rookie real estate agent named Molly O’Malley. The challenge was how to incorporate Bocker into my novel.

As it turns out, Bocker the Labradoodle is an actor who was in Steven Spielberg’s movie, War of the Worlds, and the Julia Roberts movie, Eat Pray Love. I must admit that I was rather taken by this aspect of Bocker’s celebrity, because if I weren’t a novelist, I would have been a movie star. (Well, that was the plan at one point in my life.) And I have been a devoted fan of Steven Spielberg ever since I learned he has Australian Shepherds. (The fact that he is an Oscar-winning director pales in comparison to the fact that he owns my favorite breed of dog. These are my priorities. What can I say?)

At the time that Bocker won, the only thing I knew about the planned third novel in the comic RED HOT series was that it was going to poke fun at all things supernatural. My vampire-themed young adult novel series, GLORY, was about to be launched, and I had spent so much time trying to save the world in the company of vampires, witches, and angels that I needed to lighten things up a bit. I came up with the title RED HOT VAMPYRE and waited for further inspiration.

Bocker the Labradoodle came to my rescue.

It occurred to me that—rather than have Bocker play a fictional character in the novel—I would have him play himself as an actor in a Steven Spielberg movie. A spooky, remote mansion that real estate agent Molly O’Malley has listed for sale is the location Spielberg chooses to shoot his new movie, RED HOT VAMPYRE. During filming, Bocker is kidnapped by “real vampires” who hold him for ransom until Spielberg agrees to use “real vampire actors” to play the “vampire characters.” (Are you following me here?) So, the novel RED HOT VAMPYRE will be real life imitating art imitating life imitating art. (Or something like that.)

Am I clever, or what?

In closing, I would like to post an open letter to Steven Spielberg:

Dear Mr. Spielberg,

My novel RED HOT VAMPYRE would make a great movie. I would be willing to write the screenplay. I could even star in it as Molly O’Malley…we look alike. (Well, except I’m a lot older, but being the brilliant director that you are, I’m sure you can figure out a way to compensate for that.) And I know Bocker would be willing to play himself. There’s also the role of Molly’s Australian Shepherd that one of your own Aussies could fill. (A little nepotism never hurts.) Please, Mr. Spielberg, consider the possibilities!

Thank you.

In my comic novel RED HOT PROPERTY, rookie Realtor® Molly O'Malley works for a real estate company named Broker's Best in the fictional town of Blackstone, Colorado. For Halloween, Molly's fabulously gay colleague, Valentino DeMitiri, comes up with the idea of a group theme costume: The Broker's Best Biker Babes. Of course, Valentino ends up the most gorgeous of all the babes and becomes "queen" of the ball. Along the way Molly pushes through her insecurities and gets into the spirit, and the most unlikely fellow brokers reveal their secret wild sides.

I was once a rookie Realtor® who worked for Coldwell Banker in a real town in Colorado. One Halloween a local title company hosted a costume party, and a group from my office went as The Coldwell Banker Biker Babes. For a respectable collection of conservative business-suit-wearing real estate professionals, we became one sexy bunch of biker babes. We were magnificent.

It was a Friday night and I remember as we parted ways that evening, one broker patted her temporary tattoo and said, "I like it. I'm leaving it on for the weekend. As a matter of fact, I think I'll hold my open houses this weekend in full costume." Amazingly, she did.

Although we didn't have a campy Queen Valentino, we did have a "Bob." He was very butch.

All of the characters in RED HOT PROPERTY are entirely fictional and not based on any of the real Coldwell Banker Biker Babes (or Bob). However, the pure hilarity of the experience is forever etched in my soul and made a damn good scene in a very funny novel.

They tell authors to write about what they know.

Autographed copies of RED HOT PROPERTY are available via my own online bookstore: Devin's Bookstore or it is often on sale at Amazon.com. It is now available in eBook format, too! 

In my chick-lit novel RED HOT PROPERTY, Talisman the Australian Shepherd belongs to Valentino DeMitri, a flamboyant homosexual whom everyone calls a “gay epiphany.” Talisman’s registered name is Spiritsong's Lucky Talisman's Epiphany of DeMitri. Campy and dazzling, Talisman vies with Val to be Queen of the DeMitri realm.

Talisman often wears a scarf that says, “Call me Ellen.”  This is because her role-model is Ellen DeGeneres. They both have blue eyes, shaggy hair, love to dance, and are all about gay rights.

For the annual Canine Costume Ball, in her guise as Xena: Warrior Princess, Talisman drives all the dogs wild—gay, lesbian, and straight—and generates her own special groupies.

Although extremely feminine, Talisman can be at times somewhat gender confused, like when she is compelled to lift her leg like a boy dog. (Val just doesn’t know from where her gender-confusion stems!)  In the end, however, it’s Talisman’s unique style that manages to conquer the novel’s biggest, baddest, bully.

If you become acquainted with only one new celebrity canine this year, make it Talisman DeMitri: www.RedHotNovel.com

Happy Birthday America!
 
In this context there are two possible meanings to that birthday wish. Of course it is Independence Day in America today, a celebration of the country's birth. Also, Glory's missing sister is named America. There are multiple meanings to a lot of things in my vampire novel GLORY.
 
I was recently asked why there are so many patriotic references in GLORY: the heroine's name, her sister's name, an intrepid demon-fighting Australian Shepherd named Hallelujah, the lyrics to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and a fearless Army National Guard helicopter pilot. The easy answer is that I was writing a patriotic novel named RED HOT LIBERTY when I conceived GLORY and was influenced by that creative effort.
 
However, there is far more to it than that. What is America's Independence Day celebrating? Freedom from tyranny; a fight that was fought with blood.  Hmmm.  Sounds like the plot of GLORY to me. Glory and her scrappy band of rebels fight the good fight against evil and are willing to die for the cause.
 
As Liberty True, my uber-patriotic character in RED HOT LIBERTY says to that novel's heroine, Molly, "You have to stand for something in life."
 
In the TWILIGHT series, readers are divided between "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob." They enthusiastically take up the cause of either the vampires or the werewolves. One morning I was thrilled when I checked my Facebook page and someone had happily posted, "Go Team Caretakers!" In GLORY, The Caretakers represent the forces of good in this world.
 
You have to stand for something in life.
 
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
 
~Devin O'Branagan

One of my writing eccentricities is that I create a music soundtrack for each of my novels. I choose songs that evoke the mood of the story and the personalities of the characters, and I listen to it only when working on the project. (I recently read somewhere that Stephenie Meyer did something similar while writing the TWILIGHT series, so I guess I’m not the only writer with odd habits.)

When I was writing my vampire novel GLORY, I chose classic rock 'n roll songs originally recorded by men and re-recorded by women. I wanted to capture the strength and power that represented. So, my choices included "Paint It Black" by Vanessa Carleton, "Sympathy for the Devil" by Natalie Merchant, "In the Air Tonight" by Holly McNarland, and "All Along the Watchtower" by The Indigo Girls. My GLORY soundtrack rocked!

I’m now working on a new novel called RED HOT LIBERTY that features a cowboy preacher, and I decided a guest appearance from Dolly Parton singing spirituals at one of his prayer meetings might be a fun addition to the plot. Since I’m a rock ‘n roll kind of gal, I zeroed in on her rendition of “Stairway to Heaven” and added it to my RED HOT LIBERTY soundtrack.

Initially, Dolly’s version of the song made me giggle, but I suffered for my art and toughed it out. Now, God help me, I've come to like it.

The life of a writer is full of surprises! 

To learn more about RED HOT LIBERTY, please visit the website: Red Hot Liberty

~Devin O'Branagan

“Nice story, Grandpa; could have used a vampire, though.” - Bart Simpson, The Simpsons©

Everyone loves a good vampire story!  But, how do you go about writing one?  Here are a few pointers to get you started:

1. Read a wide variety of vampire fiction, and then decide what type you want to write. Base your decision on what genre you most enjoy reading. Your options include romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thriller, erotica, crime, horror, chick-lit, gay, western, comedy, juvenile, young adult…even Christian.  Any genre can support a vampire theme.

2. Develop a story idea that’s fresh and outline a plot that’s dynamic. The plot encapsulates the conflict of the story. Without carefully constructed conflict, no matter how alluring your characters, the reader will be bored.

3. Create excellent characters. Without wonderful characters, no matter how interesting your plot, your reader will be bored.

4. Who is your protagonist? Which of your characters is telling the story? Will it be told in first-person or third-person? Is your protagonist sympathetic? If your reader doesn’t care about the hero, your reader won’t care about your story.

5. Is your vampire a hero or a villain? Never make your heroes too perfect or your villains too evil, otherwise they become cardboard caricatures.

6. Show, don’t tell. Make your tale of the undead come to life by having your characters tell the story via their feelings, actions, and words, rather than through your exposition.

7. Don’t make your vampire a cliché. The beauty of writing about vampires is there are no rules. Anything goes. Your vampire doesn’t have to only come out at night, be averse to garlic, sleep in a coffin, fear silver crosses, or even glitter in the sunlight. Invent your own vampire universe, but be careful that you never deviate from the myth you establish.

8. That said, the one given you can’t avoid in a vampire tale is that these types of beings survive by consuming the life-force of others, either in the form of blood or energy (as in psychic vampires). This is the age-old vampiric quality that has fascinated readers. How are you going to handle it?

Are there too many vampire novels?  No. That said, both a top-flight literary agent and a movie producer I know have told me that soon angels will be the new vampires. Perhaps. However, like vampires themselves, it is likely that human interest in vampire tales will never die.

Please check out the "Vampire Kissed" flash fiction contest and consider entering your own short vampire story: www.VampireKissed.com

The opening scene of my vampire novel GLORY received honorable mention in the Strong Scenes Contest. I admit that the beginning of GLORY was the hardest scene I've ever written in my career. I reworked it countless times. It actually made me cry. Now it's making me smile.

If you would like to read it, here is a link: Glory Excerpt

Yesterday I launched a new contest called "Vampire Kissed." It's flash fiction (less than 1,000 words) with a vampire theme. No entry fee, nice prizes, lots of fun, and great exposure for the entrants.

We've already received our first story, titled "The Vampire Kissed Me Under the Missile's Toe." It is a must-read!

Tell your friends! Vote on your favorite stories! Write and enter your own masterpiece! Spread the word!

(Exciting, isn't it?)

Here's the link to learn more: www.VampireKissed.com

As many of my readers know, the Australian shepherd Talisman in my RED HOT series of comic novels is a prissy, pampered former show dog with attitude.  A very brief scene in RED HOT LIBERTY inspired a forthcoming children's book, as yet untitled.  It is a humorous tale about a Freaky Friday event in Talisman's life where she is accidentally switched with a hardcore cowdog and has to work for the day on a ranch. I am holding a contest for the most clever title for this book. The winner will receive credit in the book and on my website for his or her creative brilliance. (With special mention, if applicable, of the winner's pet, kennel, and/or pet-friendly business.) Email your entries to me and I will choose the winner when the one comes in that feels just right for this book. (The decision will be totally biased, completely emotional, and entirely unscientific.) My address is Devin@DevinWrites.com. Good luck!

I will be signing books at the Flatiron Kennel Club Dog Show on June 5 from 11:00 to 1:00 at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont, Colorado. Look for me at the Dogwise booth.

My recently released vampire novel GLORY features intrepid demon-fighting Australian shepherd Hallelujah. My seriocomic chick-lit novel RED HOT PROPERTY features Australian shepherd Talisman, a pampered show dog with attitude. Both characters are popular among dog lovers.

I hope you and your dogs can stop by to meet me!

Oh, and Hallelujah and Talisman will be offering their pawtographs...

In the late 1990's life circumstances caused me to start completely over. New home, new career, a complete do-over. Drawing upon my creative well and my wonderful circle of friends, I began real estate marketing, which eventually led to becoming a real estate agent. The real estate gods smiled on me, and I was able to quickly rebuild my life.

I had two published novels to my credit and the next one was waiting for conception. The spark that brought it to life came in an unexpected form. One day I was in my office and turned to see another real estate professional standing in the doorway giving me the once-over. Then came the worst pick-up line in history. He said, "You're one red hot property with lots of curb appeal, and you show real well. You might be a great addition to my inventory."

My first thought was, "I'm going to use that in a novel someday." After that, everything in my real estate career became grist for the mill for my writing.

RED HOT PROPERTY is the seriocomic tale of plucky real estate agent Molly O'Malley and her adventures in the crazy world of real estate. Any resemblance between Molly O'Malley and Devin O'Branagan isn't in the least bit coincidental. However, Molly did come up with a much more witty comeback than I did.

She said, "I don't think your down payment is large enough to handle it."

My new vampire novel GLORY has sold out AGAIN at Amazon.com...3X in as many weeks. Yes! Word is spreading fast. I'm simply giddy... :-)

Okay, so tonight I met with my writers' support group and we were sharing starving artist stories. Here's mine. When my first novel, SPIRIT WARRIORS, was published I got an advance of $10,000 from Simon & Schuster. I wanted a Xerox copy of the check as a memento, but to make a copy I had to borrow a dime. Ah, those were the days!

By Jessica Benes

Loveland Reporter-Herald

May 15, 2010

Her father is dying, and Glory Templeton doesn’t know what to do about it.

She finds him in the field, delirious and reciting lines of poetry.

She can’t reach her mother, a scientist who is working to find a cure for the pandemic plague that is taking lives all over the world.

Then the virus tries to claim Glory as well.  The result of that pushes her down a new path; she suddenly has the unique ability to save mankind.

“Glory: The Legend Begins” is the first book in a new series by Longmont author Devin O’Branagan.

To find her mother’s team of hiding scientists, she must work with her own little team, each with special gifts and secrets.

“It was like a movie in my head,” O’Branagan said. “I saw it from beginning to end. I just had to write it down.”

When she asked her literary agent what she needed to do to make a bestseller, the agent said, “Put a vampire in it.”

They laughed about it…and then got serious.

She really could write a story about the paranormal.

O’Branagan wanted to do a different kind of vampire novel.  The team with which Glory works is made up of a variety of supernatural beings.

“I wanted to make Glory strong, brave, not a weak, wimpy person,” O’Branagan said. “I wanted to make her an excellent role model for teenagers.  She had to make some difficult choices and to learn that life isn’t all about her.”

The character of Glory’s dog Hallelujah (Hallie) is based on the author’s late dog, Jazz.

“She was fearless, utterly fearless,” O’Branagan said. “Every time I wanted it to work really well, I thought, ‘WWJD?’—what would Jazz do?  That was a delight for me because it immortalized her.”

Fans ask her to sign the book with her signature and Hallie’s “pawtograph,” made with a paw stamp.

O’Branagan has found that the book appeals to a wide demographic, from homemakers to professors.

“They all find something different to like.  The professors like the whole concept of the pandemic; the women like the romance,” she said.  “I’m getting wonderful feedback.”

One such comment on her website at www.GloryLegend.com is “Glory is a fun page-turner with a lot of heart that would give Twilight a run for its money if (Glory) were turned into a movie.  There’s more here than a set of fascinating characters and surprising plot twists.   Glory is a mind game into what might happen…or maybe already is happening.  Do we really know, or just think we do?”

The website has links to each set of characters in the book and their biographies.

“This is just the beginning,” O’Branagan said. “Every character introduced in the story, from the Goth Girls to the young witch Rory, will be further developed in future installments of the series.

“Relationships that weren’t fully explored, personalities, mysteries. I have a plan,” O’Branagan said.

Other books in her repertoire include “Red Hot Property” and “Witch Hunt.”  O’Branagan has lived in Longmont since 1987.

(Transcript of a newspaper article that ran on May 15, 2010 in both the Loveland Reporter-Herald and the Longmont Times-Call.)

The TwilightMOMS website now has a discussion thread about my new vampire novel GLORY. This is very exciting news! Here is link. If you are a member, please join the discussion.  TwilightMOMS

I will be appearing at a book signing event for the release of my new vampire novel GLORY at Anthology Books in Loveland, Colorado, Saturday morning, May 15, from 10:30-11:30. Follow this link for more information: ANTHOLOGY BOOKSTORE.

Delightful writer Katrina Lantz interviewed me about GLORY for her Blog. Here is a link: INTERVIEW

Due to peer pressure, I am starting a blog. My colleagues told me that if I mentioned the name of author Neil Gaiman, Google spiders will find me and lots of people would flock to read my words.

Just for good measure: Stephen King, Stephenie Meyer, Janet Evanovich, Dan Brown, Nora Roberts, John Grisham, Dean Koontz, Dave Barry, Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson, Eckhart Tolle, and Stephen Hawking...