Atlanta Maurel Hart

Every book has its leading lady and this is mine. We will start the character list/descriptions with her...so here is the first Character Info of many to come. -Tamsin :)

Atlanta is a 24 year old woman living just outside of Boston proper and going to University to get her Masters in Literature when she and her two best friends, Alex and Jensine, run into members of the Clandestine World at the main Goth/Industrial club (The Barn) in the area. They do this because, as usual, Jensine picks up the "wrong kinda man"; Devon.


(L to R) Jensine, Grayson, and Atlanta
Atlanta has always known she was different; prophetic dreams and visions. But this unlikely dinner she and her two friends attend at Devon's mansion brings her face to face with others with similar gifts to her own. Recognizing her abilities for what they really are, Roman tells her she's a lost witch...and Air Witch, to be precise. A faction that's been extinct for over 200 years since the goddess Diana stripped them of their powers for unlawful contuct and misuse of power during the witch scares of Salem.

Atlanta learns that her existance in the world means Diana has forgiven the Air Witch line but it also means a war is coming between the two factions of the Clandestine World; The Great Order and The Superior Order. Atlanta must learn to use her powers while balancing her suddenly complicated love life, her old friends and the new.

To make things more difficult, Sean Cameron, legendary vampire hunter turned vampire, appears on the scene and Atlanta is torn between him and Roman. Who will she chose? What side is the right side? Who's telling her the truth and who is trying to use her?

Sean with Atlanta













Roman with Atlanta

There's so much to learn and not a lot of time to learn it. Decisions must be made. Who will Atlanta choose to trust? Who will she choose to love? What will happen when her world comes crashing in on her?

Nothing is as it seems...lies...deceit...and betrayal...Atlanta must try to push through the mask of them to see the truth beneath...

Can she?

Find out. Read WINDFIRE...the first book of the WINDFIRE Series!
Now Available through Amazon for Kindle and in Print...and on Smashwords in EVERY e-format you can think of!

Grayson Alex Stoltz

Grayson was previously blogged about, in honor of NY Marriage Equality, but as he's a primary character I felt he deserved an entry on his own. Also...because His Fabulousness happens to be many people's favorite character of the series.

As a theatre gal I've had many LGBT friends through the years and my life wouldn't be as rich or complete without them. Because of this, I wasn't suprised when I started writing Gray and the first thing he did was queen-out at Atlanta's late arrival home. I hadn't said to myself, "her best friend is a gay man" and then set out to wite Gray. I started writing the character and he just was gay...cause he is...no other reason.

Gray's original name was "Alex" and I'd named him after a loverly gay man I knew at the time who worked with me at Olive Garden in MI. Well, actually, I used his middle name...but it was still in his honor. Now with the name change, "Alex" is back to the middle name. Looks wise the character changed a slight bit on my second full revision of the book to who he is today, which is a based on a straight friend of mine actually. LOL! Here's who he's based on:

His name is David Holt and he's an amazing actor and martial artist who has since moved from NYC to LA (hence why he didn't play the role himself in the photo-shoot).

Gray is probably my most sarcastic and open person of the story. He never hides; be it his feelings, opinions or his sexuality. At the top of the book we learn this right off the bat by the reason Gray gives to why he can't date this guy he picked up at a bar: "He's still in the closet," he says. That would never work for Gray. He's loud and proud to be who he is and could never date someone who would want to hide their relashionship inside/away from the world. This partially stems from his family's adverse reaction to his sexual orientation and his rebelious nature to that.

Coming from a strict Christian household myself (like Gray does) I feel I pull Gray from a part of myself that reached its limit. Once at the age of 14 and then again at the age of 19. At 14 I finally decided to stand up for myself (Jr. High sucks for everyone, yes?) and stop taking verbal abuse and physical threats from those in my school. Basically I discovered my spine and was begining to feel I had the right to one. At 19 I finally got tired of trying to be different people with different groups (ie: one person w/family, one person w/friends, one person at church, etc.) and finally said, "Screw it! I am who I am!" And from that moment on I didn't apologize for anything and I didn't try to be who people wanted me to be. You either accepted me for who I was or you didn't. THAT is who Gray is. He would die before he changed who he was to "fit it" with others.

Gray's arc in the story revolves around how Atlanta comes out to him first that she's a witch...much like she was the first person he came out to that he was gay. And unlike Jensine, Gray gets pulled into the new world Atlanta's a part of sooner because he A) Lives with her...B) He's more open to her situation of being "different"...and C)He ends up dating Stephan (who is part of the new world Atlanta finds she belongs to).

His relationship to Stephan is a side plot, a prominent one, but a side plot none-the-less. But much like Jensine's side story, Gray's will come more into focus as we reach Book Three (Metamorphosis). His story expands because by the end of Book Two as Gray is pulled deeper into the Clandestine World and those events unfortunately have repercussions.













What's great about Gray in my mind is that he's Atlanta's Samwise Gamgee (oh yes, I'm pulling out a Lord of the Rings reference there for all you fantasy geeks like me). He's the best friend who's there for you without question. He loves you no matter what and even though he sees your faults, he knows you'd not be who you are without them...and since he loves who you are, he loves your flaws just like he loves your positive attributes. The only thing he never will stand for is wishy-washy behavior. At the end of Book Two (Living Dead Girl) it's this type of behavior that pushes him over the edge. Make a stand...choose your side...you're either with him or you're not and if you're not...well, god help you. But if you're on his side...or he's on yours...your chances of winning are much much higher.














I like to think of Alex as the courageous side of me. The side of me that doesn't stand for bullshit but who will stand with you or for you if you deserve it.

David Mavricos, the model for Gray, has a martial arts background like Gray does and funny enough, is the exact same body type and height as David Holt...the young man Gray is physically based on (yeah, and they have the same name...*snicker*). David Holt holds black belts himself so I hope both he and you all will be happy when you see the final video we did of a bo-staff fight between Gray and Jensine.

I sincerely hope that if this book ever becomes wickedly well known that there are T-shirts that simply say, "I <3 atlanta.="atlanta." cause="cause" character.="character." don="don" fave="fave" grayson.="grayson." he="he" my="my" probably="probably" s="s" t="t" tell="tell">
xo

Tamsin :)

For fun...here are a few pics of David and Kara practicing on Saturday for Sunday's fight scene that we video'd in the park:

Jensine Blackensdale

Seeing as I already showed you the three looks of this loverly lady (Model: Kara Addington), this blog entry will be more about the character.

Simply put...

If it wasn't for Jensine's bad luck when it comes to men, the events in this story may never have happened.

You're laughing but everything in your life that's monumental DOES come down to something. Think about it. I'll give you an example of my own.

I used to teach high school Theater in a school in SC. It broke my heart to leave but the powers that be felt I shouldn't be there. I remember sitting in my car, full of the last load of things from my classroom, listening to the radio and thinking, "Why?" I remember asking God why He'd bring me to this point and let things fall apart. I knew He had a plan I just wasn't privy to it...as per the usual...and so I was sad, depressed and hurt.

That summer I did some Shakespeare in the Park. I was cast as Hermia in Midsummer Night's Dream (which was funny cause I played Helena just two years previous my senior year in college) and the guy who was cast as Lysander had a blow up with the director and quit. His replacement was a guy (who's name escapes me but not his bad breath...oiy) who was friends with a man by the name of Don Nance.

Don put groups of people together to go to NYC to compete in the Grassroots Play Festival. I never would've done it if I was still teaching. Plus I'd not have had the people to cast if I'd not taught there at all (many of the cast of the shows I took to NYC were the kids who'd graduated my last year teaching and still were in town).

When we were in NYC not only did we take 5 awards, but I felt God tell me I would be moving there. I remember I sat down on the curb at some intersection here in the city and tears came to my eyes. No one is great with change...I had a lot of friends in SC but...I knew w/o a doubt I'd be moving. And I did. Almost 3 years later when all the ducks fell into a row.

So, I'd not be living here now if I'd received a continuing contract at that high school. Simple as that. And THIS is where I was meant to be. Maybe not forever...but for the time I'm here, it's where I'm supposed to be.

Back to Jensine...(pronounced Jen-seen)...

Jensine's based on me, as I've stated before. Not everything about her is...but she's the most like me. I too seem to have made sad choices in the men I've dated...LOL! Because of these things I decided that it'd be fun if the whole series rested on this.

You see, Jensine spots a hot guy at the bar (who's trouble, of course) and even though Atlanta warns her against him, Jensine can't see it. She makes sure she meets him and invites him to play pool with them and he invites them to dinner and that's where Atlanta meets Roman and Stephan......and now our story takes off.

It all comes down to a defining moment. Can you think of any in your life? One of my favorites is my best female friend in NYC. If I'd sat in a different car on the train...if Robbie hadn't fallen and hurt himself and sat near me on that train...I'd not know her and it'd be my loss.

Things like that happen here in NYC...choices equal events and so on. If you have one you'd like to share with me...I'd LOVE to hear it! Add a comment below!!!!

Jensine is scared of magic. She's noticed something is different with her best gal pal since high school and has made it clear she's not comfortable with it so Atlanta hides that part of her from Jensine once she discovers she's a witch. But, guilt weighs on her mind and she decides to write a letter telling Jensine everything before she's sworn into the Coven. This is another one of those choices that changes fate...both for Atlanta's future and more precisely, for Jensine...as the Great Order will go to any lengths to make sure Jensine never reads that letter.

I like to think of Jensine as the catalyst for events. If she'd not done this or if she'd not gone there or if she'd not said this...things never would've happened. Mind you, her character is a reporter so her nosy nature is justified there, but it gets her in trouble and it unearths things. Her story line carries much of the weight and drama and she's probably, not counting our leading lady, Atlanta, the one who changes the most. Her courage is huge even if she is scared of it. When push comes to shove she can shove, but she has to learn to be that way. Just like I did.

I hope when you read the book(s) you'll see her mistakes as triumphs because even though we all make mistakes...we learn and we grow and its that growth that makes all the difference.

Tamsin :)

P.S. This picture below is with two of the men who become her best friends (outside of Gray and Atlanta) in the series, (L to R) Hunter Thale, Jensine, & Joshua Brooks.

Sean Cameron

To say I'm in love with the character of Sean Cameron (Not the Model: Brian Cluney...though he is a darling and I luv him dearly) would be an understatement. :) And I never meant for it to happen. It was an accident. Pure and simple.

Years ago, when I got this idea for a great kick-ass-chick fantasy book I was in my 20's and in college and everything I read were fantasy stuff but there was this love story...so that's what this book (I had no idea it'd be a series at that point) was originally about; a witch girl falls in love with a vampire and from there...we'll see where it goes.

LOL! Oh how characters change our minds!

For you see, originally the book was to be about Atlanta and Roman...her sexy 6 foot 3 vampire with the tossled hair, full lips and brooding stare. Yeah...uh...that didn't happen. You see, Sean showed up and changed my mind. Let me tell you, that bastard he made me fall in love with him and in doing so made my main character fall in love with him and changed the entire world of The WINDFIRE Series. How dare he? Right? It's MY book...MY choices...LOL...yeah, and if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.

As writers we give birth to characters but those characters, if flushed out well enough both in your mind and on paper, will take on a life of their own sometimes. Hell, maybe I'm the only one who's crazy like this, who knows (but I doubt it), but it's a real problem when they make decisions for you. Sean decided he and Atlanta were destined to be together and hence became my love triangle.

Do I know which guy she ends up with? Well...to be honest...I've written the end of the 5th book so yeah, I know. Am I going to tell you? No way in hell, folks...no way in hell. Why? Cause who knows...maybe the characters will change my mind between now and then (though, I'll confess, I'm in the middle of writing book 4 of 5 so if they're going to change their minds, they better do it soon).

Anyhoo...let's talk about Sean's character. Yes?

Full name is actually Sean Patrick Valentine.

Say WHAT?!

Ah yes...the back story of him will explain all that. What back story? Well, if you've been to my website you've seen there is a book series called The Cameron Chronicles. Yep...it's a prequel series about Sean. It starts in the late 1980's and takes you up until just before Living Dead Girl's first book.

What I can tell you is this...Sean is a made vampire (in my series there are vampires who are made and vampires who are born that way; Living Vampires). He was turned as punishment. He'd been one of the East Coast's most feared vampire hunters when he was human. He killed many an evil vampire before he was captured and turned, tossed in a dungeon and left to rot. Eventually he escapes his imprisonment to warn the Prince of The Great Order about a weapon Valencia (our primary evil lady of the series and leader of The Superior Order) has created. In doing so he meets Atlanta and our love triangle begins.Now, the best way I can explain Sean is "damaged but repairable." Something happens to tear his world to pieces when he's 16 years old. Again, we see here that "defining moment" concept I love so much here. This sorrow he endures both compells and defines who he is. It also creates his level of patience, his determination of spirit and his vast ability to forive, understand and love completely and without hesitation. Deep down Sean is a tortured soul who has risen above the pain to take what's been given to him and make the best of it. He cares nothing for himself...he's possibly my one truly selfless character. Mind you, some of that is derived from the fact that the pain he carries deep inside makes him feel he's not worthy to live, but as his story grows so will he...and he'll begin to see how important he is...even if in the end he sacrifices everything, selfless to the end.

As you learn in the story, Sean learns multiple forms of fighting; bo-staff, long bow, sword, etc. I greatly wish I'd had a long bow to do pics with on Sunday for the shoot for him, but alas, it's hard to transport one of those w/o a car (Subway NYPD seem to frown on weapons on trains...hmmm).

In the prequel series you learn how he gets these skills and why he's faster and stronger than most human's...making him a faster and strong vampire later on. In the prequel series he works with Elizabeth Pierce, Roman's older sister. In The WINDFIRE Series she's dead...a spirit guide for Atlanta. But in the prequel series you get to really know her when she's living...well, a living vampire, that is.

I hope others grow to love Sean like I do...mind you, I'm sure we'll have people who are "team Roman" as well...which is good cause darlin', you never know who a woman is going to choose. Or in my case, who the characters tell me they choose.

xo

Tamsin :)

I leave you with a pic of Elizabeth and Sean (Elizabeth Modeled by Melissa Silver. No, no relation to me.).

Hunter and Josh

I love how this pic of my boys looks like they're headin' off to kick some ass. L to R: Joshua Brooks and Hunter Thale. (Models: Josh Price and Hunter Thore)

Let's go back in time...to when I was planning out this book during my re-do. I base the book in reality, mixing real events from history, real places, and real bands/music with fantasy (ie: fake places, magick/magickal creatures, and fitting my make-believe people into real events OR making them the root of a cause, like a volcano eruption from history).

My original plan for this book was to have it come with a CD of music. Stuff you could listen to while you read. For example, in one of the club scenes I mention what song is playing and in parenthesis it'd tell you "CD 1, Track #3". My 1st editor squashed this idea...said it wouldn't work. So we dumped it. BUT...I'd already written the whole book so some things stayed...and Hunter/Josh are a result of that.

You see, as music is a big part of my life and my writing I decided that like the first books the later books would mention music. Seeing as I base my books in reality AND I have friends that are talented musicians in real life, I thought it'd be cool to mix the two together. For example, my friend Amanda has a band (Tattermask) and I wanted to use their music...base a character IN the book on her and have her in the band. I asked permission, she said yes, and so I introduced her character. I then decided that I wanted some diversity in the music (as most is goth/industrial/EBM). Two of my best friends were/are rappers and I decided I wanted to showcase their music in the books too. (Note: Obviously now that we've pulled the "CD sold with book" idea I'm just going to hopefully find a way to put their stuff on my website.)

So my dynamic duo of Hunter/Josh was born and they end up becoming vital to our storyline by Book Three, Metamorphosis. In fact, you (the reader) will be able to tell as you get closer to the end of Book 1 that these two guys are going to be more involved in Book Two. (I actually end up using them to help lay the groundwork for the "big reveal" of the series.)

I pair them up with a girl named Pip at Valencia's estate in Canada called Asmarahald. It gives the reader another perspective of our "bad guys," other than just through Valencia's eyes. Which is important seeing as by the end of Book Two (Living Dead Girl) the reader starts to really ask themselves "Who are the good guys again? Who are the bad guys?" I'm hoping I've written it in such a way that the reader honestly questions this fact, because as the books move foward, Atlanta does too.

Anyway, lets talk about their characters a bit, shall we?

HUNTER THALE
(Classification: Werewolf...or is he more?)
Hunter is a guy's guy. A fighter (be it a bar fight or a warrior's battle), a knight in shining armor, and a bit of a womanizer...our "bad boy," so to speak. He was suppose to go to Grad School but took the money his parents gave him and ran off. Mainly because he had no desire to run the family business. So, since his best pal from college, Josh, got a job doing computers for Valencia up in Canada, he goes up to join the infantry...so to speak. It's a job, it's away from his parents and it's away from the life they are trying to force him into. But throughout the story Hunter begins to figure out what's really going on and must decide if he stays to help his friends, or runs again. There's a lot more to him than you know in Book Two...but by Book Three I'll let you in on his secrets.





JOSHUA BROOKS
(Classification: Shape Shifter - Red Shouldered Hawk)
Josh is more of a woman's guy...but not in a feminine way. Simply put, he's a romantic who isn't as apt to jump into a fight just for the hell of it, like Hunter will(unless he's backing Hunter up), but is without a doubt a knight in shining armor as well.Mainly Josh's character prefers life to be uncomplicated. His only bit of real stress before the shit hits the fan is that his girlfriend is a mole, working for Valencia in the "enemy's camp." However, through her, he and Hunter will learn things about Valencia in Book Three and will have to come to terms with the fact that she's a bit shady. Josh, just like Hunter, will then also have to decide to stay or leave. Though, his reasons are quite different.

These two are best friends and good men. Without them, I don't believe my stories would be as rich. It's also fun to write characters based on two of your best friends. :) Both of them, in real life, are amazing people and actors/performers. No one has my back faster than them. I love them with all my heart.

What's funny is that this whole WINDFIRE photoshoot happened because Josh and his fiance were going to be in NYC for a week. I decided it was a sign to do the shoot since he'd be here. So I thought I'd not get to do the shoot...cause no one was going to play Josh, but Josh. Luckily, it worked out.

Now, in the later books of the WINDFIRE Series, Hunter and Josh will meet up with a character from Moon Over Manhattan (the sequel series)...she's just WAY younger in the WINDFIRE Series...can you tell who she is:



That's right...a younger Denika (Model: Lauren Steinmeyer) has cameos in the WINDFIRE Series. They'll meet her in Book 7 when she's 16 then work with her in the last book where we'll see her at 18 and up. And of course, Josh and Hunter show up at the end of Moon Over Manhattan with cameos in HER story. Fitting, yes? Lauren is also one of those amazing people in my life, like Josh and Hunter. If you come to the NYC Comic Con this year you'll get to see her dressed as Denika as we hand out postcards for the book. Somehow the girl has "let" me rope her into being my assistant on all things book related. I appreciate her more than words can proclaim. :)

Anyhoo...I will tell you that Hunter and Josh are probably my favorite male characters to write after Sean and Grayson. And you will get things from Hunter's POV...for he's one of the "seven".

The Seven?

I will explain.

The series is in third person, single perspective, but as its an ensemble of a team...you hear this saga from these 7 points of view:

Atlanta
Valencia
Sean
Gray
Jensine
Roman
Hunter

I hope you enjoy them in the book as much as I enjoy writing them...or maybe I should say, as much as I love them in real life.



xo

Tamsin :)

Valencia

Every good story needs a (sexy) villian and Valencia (Model: Amanda Magyar) is mine, especially in the first book. By the second book you start to see her point of view and by the third book you may think you had it all wrong to begin with...that she's got the right idea. But, well, that's how life is, right? Things change as we learn and the lines between good and evil are sometimes blurred.

Unfortunately I cannot give too much away about her background or I give away HUGE plot points and spoilers for the book so I'll give you what I can.

Valencia was a witch who was made into a vampire...forever trapped in her 25 year old body. She made the mistake of falling for the wrong man and he was a vampire, bound and determined to make her like him and when she refused he made her one anyways...by force. But, seeing as she was already a bit unstable to begin with, it follows her into her new life. She can love and she can hate but there seem to be no middle ground on either of those. If she hates you she hates you more than the devil himself and if she loves you, she loves you with all her heart, to the point of internal pain.

Due to her late "change" her soul was also damanged. Made vampires in this world I've created go through a something called Vampire Sickness after the change where its a internal battle to regain their soul...hence proving they are worthy of eternal existance on the earth. She didn't totally get hers back.Not that it was a good one to begin with so you mix the two together and she's a piece of work. She is almost devoid of empathy, except for possibly herself and one or three other people she truly cares for, but that's it. In life and in unlife she's always been a violent girl. She can hold her temper at bay just long enough to be cold, calculating and deadly. (Pictures are of Valencia in an argument with Carmone Keziah; Model: Rodney Ladino)

But, in contract to her interior, her exterior is very different. Valencia is very much a girl...but without the pink and lace. She likes skirts and flowy tops with low cut fronts and backless dresses with slits up the leg. Insted of pinks she dives toward vibrant colors (especially emerald green, like her eyes) and she wears a lot of leather, heels, corsets...anything to expose her volumous cleavage. She uses sex as a weapon as much as for pleasure and sees nothing wrong with that.

The fact that she is a made hybrid of two factions makes her existance illegal and so she couldn't work with The Great Order so she took over the Superior Order and now runs it. They have an enormous castle that includes just as many rooms underground as it does above. This estate is called Asmarahald and it is the dungeons there that hold Sean Cameron as the book starts. Valencia is the reason he's been turned into a vampire and left to rot in a cell.

But, because he's a strong creature she's decided to use him for her experiment. She and her lover and right hand man, Jonathan, have a plan to take over The Great Order and they plan to use Sean to help them do that. But that, like many things for Valencia, doesn't go as planned.

Picture of (L to R) Devon Worthy, Carmone Keziah & Valencia on Asmarahald grounds discussing plans. (Models: Jon Corry, Rodney Ladino, and Amanda Magyar)

During the story you learn many things from her POV as well as other characters. But most importantly, it's through her and others on her side of the story where you'll learn many of the truths that are going on behind closed doors. Things Atlanta can not seem to learn from The Great Order.

Is Valencia just misunderstood or a royal bitch with no one she cares for but herself and power?

Hmmm...you'll know soon enough I suppose. Why spoil by telling you?

Until our next profile(s)...
Tamsin :)

Stephan Throneburg

Stephan Throneburg ---pronounced Stef-ah-n---(Model: Thomas Daniels) has both been seen and mentioned on this blog previously in accordance with both Gray and Roman; as Gray is his love interest and Roman is his best friend and boss, so to speak. And seeing as you've heard a bunch about him already, I thought maybe this'd be a good/fun time to tell you the story of BEFORE the books a bit...since they are how Stephan's life gets woven into Roman's. Sound like a good idea? Great...let's begin...

Many years ago, before the Great Order came to be, there were just the Royal families and much free rein for those falling into one of the four factions of the Clandestine World: Vampire, Werewolf, Shape Shifter and Witch. But much like how human society began to become more violent and more evil, so did the Clandestine society. The Throneburg family, though not of royal blood, became alined with the one royal household; Keziah. They worked closely to create something their world would one day call The Great Order; laws for the Clandestine World. But, much like in human society, change for them was hard to come by...rules were balked and people retaliated, create opposing sides. War broke out and the first seperation of members of the Clandestine World began.

During a raid attack one night Stephan's family was killed. The only reason he was spared was because he was too young to be at any activist events. So, at the age of almost two Stephan came to live with the Keziah family. But they were in their own turmoil. Harrison and Joelle Keziah were getting a divorce. Joelle took Stephan with her and left her two sons, Phoenix and Harmon with their father as they were older and were needed to work at building The Great Order with their father and his younger brother, Savion, and his two boys, Javin and Carmon.

Joelle soon met a man, Nathaniel Pierce, a very tall and handsome scholar/teacher with a fondness for books and his daughter, Elizabeth, from a previous marriage. When Joelle and he wed, Stephan moved into the home with her and when he was three she bore a son; Roman. Of course Joelle's son's from her previous marriage would visit and though Harmon was more aloof, Phoenix became fast friends with both Roman and Stephan.

(L to R) Roman Pierce, Phoenix Keziah and Stephan Throneburg. (Models: Greg Lucas, Peter Gosik and Thomas Daniels)

Soon into his adolescence Stephan noticed he was different, and not just in one way. And both of the things discovered could and would have made him an outcast at the time if his family wasn't who they were. Firstly, he came to the full understanding that he was gay. The Clandestine World may have always far ahead of the human world in technology, medicine, architecture and socieal issues...but homosexuality still wasn't widely accepted. Secondly, his gift was something normal Living Vampires couldn't do. Not unless there was a Witch in his family line somewhere, but as such things (mixing of the races) was frowned upon, Stephan's talent to relay events to others by a mere touch was hidden.

But, as you know from my previous entries...he didn't have to hide his sexuality forever. By the time our story takes place, 1997, his sexuality was much more widely accepted (but not his gift) and when he meets Grayson Stoltz (a human), there is a true passion between them that eventually helps blur the lines of race even more.

Stephan is a proper gentleman of old England in many ways, in both posture and presence. Though he comes from nothing he was raised with royalty and thus behaves and dresses as such. Though older than Roman by three years they are closer than most blood siblings and when he became appointed Roman's Aid for The Great Order he felt no shame in it. Roman is half royal blood and to him, working with/for Roman is an honor and makes him a good wage without leaving his friend's side.

Honor. I think that's a great word for Stephan. He has this in abundance. His allegience to the Keziah/Pierce families and to The Great Order are strong in him...but so is love and unlike Roman, when the two collide, he's not so slow or thick headed to see the importance of both and yet, make a choice. He loves Alex very much. But the question stands, will he turn the once happy "boy-toy" into his partner...forsaking all others?

Ah yes...you'll have to read and see if Gray throws away his playfull...and as Atlanta says, "whorish ways," for Stephan. It's one thing to date, it's another to make a commitment to a vampire, wouldn't you say?

Though, if someone deserves the happiness...its Stephan. Though he's a cool headed, stoic loner sitting in the corner of the bar sipping a cozmo as he watches the crowd, one leg crossed over the other, back straight in his chair, with his tailored outfit just "so" and his blonde ponytail tied neatly behind the nape of his neck...he's the rock that can either hold Roman together or break him apart.


-------------

And that's the end of today's tale and info on Stephan...I hope you found it interesting. The names you heard (Phoenix, Harmon, Javin, and Carmone) are all characters you'll meet soon enough. This was just meant to give you a taste of the political side of the novels.

Side Note: I had a friend named Charlie at Western Michigan University (Theatre Department) who had long blonde hair and golden brown eyes who OBVIOUSLY Stephan's look is based on. Mind you, he was NOT stoic or a loner but he had this way of watching people as he sat in a coffee shop, leg crossed over the other as he smoked a cig that is still part of Stephan's character. Charlie was (and still is) a vibrant soul who I cherished from my time at WMU. I'd tried to find him on the net to no avail...until this year. SO happy I finally found him...and of all things, he lives near my mom! LOL! Ya gotta love Facebook!
xoxo

Tamsin :)