Local Author Wednesday: James Garcia, Jr.

Throughout the month of May I will be highlighting a local author once a week here on the blog. This highlight will include information on the author's most recent book/s, a giveaway (in which the authors are being so gracious as to donate), and something cool about at least one of their books to give you a feel of their writing. I'm hoping this feature will bring awareness to new local and international readers. Plus, I like giveaways!!! (To check out this month's guests, click on my original announcement, here. To enter last week's giveaway, click here.)

This week, I'd like to introduce you to James Garcia Jr., author of the Dance on Fire paranormal series. 

Dance on Fire blurb:

Two Kingsburg police officers have been butchered in an attack as ferocious as it is mystifying. Now two detectives and their families are being drawn into a battle that threatens to destroy them and those around them. In a marriage of horror and Christian themes of good conquering evil and redemption, Dance on Fire is the fictional account of characters drawn into the fire by supernatural forces.

This book centers around Kingsburg, California! Which is like a twenty minute's drive from here! So cool! 

In Pity Isn't An Option, Jonas, the male main character, writes a few meaningful words on a particular item and ends up giving it to someone. I thought this would be a fun theme to carry on in the Local Author Wednesdays, so I asked Jimmy about words that would describe Dance on Fire best, along what item his character would share those words on. And Jimmy wrote a brand spankin' new scene for you guys! Check it out: 

Barbara Lopez watched helplessly as Vincent climbed through the nursery window. He smiled as his hunt for a meal had apparently ended in the bedroom of her twin toddlers, with her powerless to do anything about it. They cried and she finally screamed as the vampire reached inside the nearest crib and lifted out a struggling baby. His touch was icy cold, she knew, because she had felt it herself once.

Barbara jumped in her bed and mercifully woke herself up. It didn’t awaken Michael because he wasn’t home. He was in San Francisco for training. He was the Chief of Police now and that was what chiefs did - even on the one year anniversary of vampires invading their town.

She sat up while she regained her composure. When her heart rate had returned to normal and she felt able, she climbed out of bed, put on her robe and went to check on her children. She didn’t dare turn on a light of any kind, nor to venture too far into the room, for fear of waking them. Both were that good at knowing when someone was present. Instead, she simply poked her head in the room and listened for their breathing. Unlike one year before she found the nursery window securely locked. She did the same in Jerod’s room and found him safely asleep as well.

She found herself walking through her house. She didn’t double check any windows or touch any doors, but just casually walked about the rooms. She doubted she would get any further sleep this morning and wished her husband were home to at least snuggle up against. Michael had fought to blow off the conference and stay home, but she had been adamant that life was back to normal and there was no reason for him to miss it – black anniversary or not. The family was safe. Nathaniel had seen to that.

Thinking of him caused her to pause in the dining room. He had been gone one year as well and she wondered how he might be. They had received e-mail from him. He claimed he was doing well, but she wondered how true that was. Their last discussion had been in the front yard, sitting upon her bench. She went to the front window, pushed aside the curtains and peered out at it only to find someone sitting there.

Barbara gasped, but quickly composed herself.

She tapped the window. When the shape turned her direction, she closed her robe tightly, unlocked the door and went outside.

“Why are you awake?”

“I’m up the same as you,” Barbara replied, quickly taking a seat beside him.

“I see you still have your sense of humor, but you are not a vampire.”

“No,” Barbara grinned at him. “Why are you here, Nathaniel? And more importantly, why didn’t you tell us you would be in town?”

“I won’t be here long, my friend,” the vampire said. “Yet, it is an anniversary for us all, so where else would I be? I only came to deliver a message.”

“Oh”, she asked. “What is it?”

Nathaniel shook his head. She couldn’t see much in the dark, but she could see that.

“It is a secret that I will share with you tomorrow.”

“But, Nathaniel,” she begged. “I don’t do well with surprises.”

“Tomorrow. Come out here tomorrow with your morning coffee. I, of course, will not be here…”

“I see your sense of humor is coming along nicely,” Barbara quickly interjected.

“Yes. So I’m told. One monk in particular at the monastery sees to that. In any event, I am well and just wished to deliver you a message you will discover tomorrow. Now, before I go, tell me of Jerod and the twins. Michael only e-mails me so much. I want the mother’s description…” 

***

Jimmy chose this bench as the object on which Nathaniel would share his words.

And those words would be: Thank you for believing in me.

***

Thanks so much for sharing, Jimmy! And now for the Dance on Fire giveaway (feel free to come back daily to enter)...

a Rafflecopter giveaway



About James



James Garcia Jr. was born in the Central California town of Hanford. He moved up the road to Kingsburg with his family as a child. After graduating KHS, he attended Reedley College where he met his wife. They, along with their teenage sons, still make their home in Kingsburg which is also the setting of James’ vampire series. Dance on Fire was published in 2010 and its sequel Flash Point was published Halloween 2012. His third book entitled, Seeing Ghosts, a stand-alone paranormal romance, is set for a June 2013 release.

James is an Administrative Supervisor for Sun-Maid Growers of California. 

Buy Dance on Fire at Amazon (link)

Find James on
Goodreads (link)  Facebook  (link)  Twitter (link)

Connect with James at his blog (and read recent posts featuring excerpts
from Dance on Fire and Dance on Fire: Flashpoint, plus info on his newest book, Seeing Ghosts) (link)