I got the pleasure of interviewing Norm Applegate thanks to Pump Up Your Book Promotion virtual book tours this month. Blood Bar is Norm Applegate’s third book in his Kim Bennett series. You can visit his website at www.normanapplegate.com to check out all kinds of links to horror sites, authors, actors, and other good stuff.
Title: Blood Bar
Author: Norman Applegate
Paperback: 324 pages
Publisher: BLACK BED SHEETS BOOKS (January 31, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 098225301X
ISBN-13: 978-0982253014
Available: Amazon.com and on the Kindle
When and why did you begin writing?
Started writing in the 90’s while traveling to sharing my experiences with my wife. But began my first novel, Into the Basement in the mid 90’s. It took me a couple of years to get into the daily habit of writing, and reading everything I could about developing a story, it took awhile to find the zone
Always wanted to write a book, didn’t know how, thought it was beyond my capabilities, but while working in New Zealand it began. The hypnosis career changed my life, and realizing nothing is impossible, began writing short notes, tales, and just life experiences to my wife back in the States.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
That moment was when a few readers, strangers actually, people I had never met, sent me emails, or talked to me about something I wrote. The book was Into the Basement, abduction, torture, murder, the usual romantic stuff that makes you squeeze your thighs tight, warms your face, and blush sinfully. It surprised me, thrilled me to know people liked what I liked…I wasn’t alone from that point forward, my dark side had an outlet, freedom.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes, I have found my voice. I weave factual information into the plot. For instance, in Blood Bar, a vampire tale, the references, and murder descriptions to Jack the Ripper are all real, as are the unknown facts about the Brooklyn Bridge, did you know John Roebling the builder, died before the bridge was complete, tetanus, cut on something they believe, I think he was bit by a vampire. Let me show you what I mean, here’s an excerpt from Blood Bar
How did you come up with the title?
Blood Bar, A Vampire Tale…what the hell is a blood bar? Sounds creepy, but intriguing. The premise for Blood Bar, was what would happen if you found out you were turning into a vampire. Where else to be initiated but a bar. So I built the plot around my murder mystery sleuth and heroine Kim Bennett, she’s in my first two novels, murder at a bar for vamps, gothic dressed men and woman, and your basic role playing vampires, however it’s fertile ground for picking up fresh meat…if you like that sort of thing. Are you going ask if blood bar exists, I can’t disclose that here for fear of being arrested…blushing sinfully.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I’m lucky, I have a mentor, USA Today’s best selling author David Hagberg. My writing has improved because of his influence, if you haven’t read his works, do it now. He writes realistic CIA terrorist novels.
What are your current projects?
Just finished re-editing Into the Basement, was never happy with what my previous publisher did to it. Next is the screenplay to Basement, written by Nicholas Grabowsky and myself, we have a producer/distributer interested, and the movie is cast with Courtney Gains, then my next novel in the Kim Bennett series that I’m tentatively calling Black Sun Rising, is another vampire tale. You can go to www.intothebasementthemovie.com to read more about the cast, director J.L. Botelho, and see his trailer for Into the Basement…it’s wicked, prepare yourself, you don’t want little kids watching this, seriously don’t let your kids see this.
EXCERPT FROM BLOOD BAR…
The Grand Central book store of Manhattan was a seven day a week operation with study rooms along the outer wall for scholars and students researching the one of a kind gems that couldn’t be found anywhere else in the city.
It was eleven-fifteen in the morning as Kim followed the owner to the back of the building, and with Cheyenne staring at volumes of documents, sensed he was way out of his league in this world of academia.
“You should have called before showing up here,” Professor Albert T. Mortimer told Cheyenne. They walked down a narrow hallway out of sight from everyone and Kim felt her strength coming back.
Mortimer opened a door for Kim. “You look like you’ve been through hell. You might have considered dressing a little more appropriate, we take this place very serious.”
Not as serious as what I’ve been through,” Kim said and realized she did look like shit, bloody clothes, drained face, and barely smiling it’s not surprising she was getting the look from everyone.
Cheyenne immediately laid the document out on the table, switched on the overhead lamp, and turned to Mortimer. The large rectangular desk in the middle of the room now held something that few people had seen before.
Albert T. Mortimer eyed both of them and then backed away. “This is real or you both wouldn’t be here I take it.”
Kim nodded, he had her full attention.
Leaning over the Testament, Mortimer adjusted his glasses, securing their fit against his nose and raised his chin. “Have you seen the news in the past half hour?” Mortimer asked.
“Are we mentioned?” Kim said.
“You tell me, an Indian and a brunette are wanted for questioning about leaving the scene of an accident.”
“It was no accident. Are you going to help us or not?” Kim said.
Mortimer had read more about the vampire community than any other mortal before him. He had interviewed hundreds of people in search for the truth behind the folklore. Politicians, religious leaders, law enforcement and historians, if any one knew about the Black Testament it was Mortimer.
As Professor of Chemistry at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, Mortimer had spent the last 18 years researching ancient alchemy, related physics and their relationship to life after death, which explained his interest in vampires.
“What’s this seal at the top?” Kim pointed to a round imprint in the document.
Picking up a large jeweler’s loupe, Mortimer adjusted it to his right eye.
“It’s the Roman Emperor Domitian.”
“So, does it mean anything?” Kim asked.
“He is mentioned in the Apocalypse and is called The Beast.”
Kim studied the letters, and with her penchant for numbers and memorization, realized in the Greek Gematria A.KAI.DOMET.SEB.GE totals 666.
“You said the beast?”
Mortimer peered over his glasses, looked at Kim, nodded, and wasn’t quite sure where she was going with the question.
“Domitian was an interesting leader, infamous in his sexual exploits and he had a wife that participated.”
Kim smiled, “The Roman orgy, what year was that?”
Mortimer paused, “He ruled the Roman Empire between 69 and 96 AD,” and thought Kim was very quick to pick up on the sexual thing.
“It’s speculated that the Book of Revelation was written during his reign before he was murdered in a conspiracy. Interestingly, he believed in an astrological prediction that he would die around noon, and was always restless when the sun was at its fullest.
“The vampire fear of the sun,” Kim whispered. “Doesn’t the Book of Revelation suggest that 666 is the number of the beast?”
“And the Devil,” Mortimer said.
Kim couldn’t help herself, “It’s the sum of the squares of the first seven prime numbers, 22 + 32 +52 + 72 + 112 +132 +172 = 666.”
Mortimer shot a glance at Cheyenne, she was right, “It’s also a palindromic number.”
“True, pure symmetry the number remains the same when you reverse it.” Kim said.
Mortimer was having a newfound respect for Kim. “You’re a lot smarter than you appear,” he said
“Oh really, did you know if you sum all the numbers on a roulette wheel it totals 666, how about the first Apple computer sold was priced at $666.66?” Kim’s voice had a bite to it and Mortimer understood the shot she took at him was well deserved.
Cheyenne was silent. This number game was beyond his capabilities and he was surprised with Kim’s knowledge.
“Are we finished playing games?” Kim said.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Mortimer went back to studying the document. “It’s real, the Black Testament. I never thought I would see it.”
“What can you tell us, any idea where the rest of it would be?” Kim asked.
Mortimer was doing something obvious to Kim, he was hesitating. He had seen a clue and wasn’t sure if it had meaning or not.
“What is it?” Kim pushed.
“Look here,” Mortimer pointed to the last date where the Testament was ripped. “Maybe it’s just a coincidence but there was a time capsule put in a supply chamber in the Brooklyn Bridge on that date.
“The Brooklyn Bridge?”
“Yes, inside the bridge are cathedral-like chambers. You could call them a vault or catacombs. The bridge engineer…”
“John Roebling,” Kim interrupted.
Again, Mortimer was taken by her knowledge. “Yes, he designed the space to be used as a vault for the national treasure.”
“Like London Bridge,” Kim said.
“Exactly, and today you can tour the towers.”
“How do we get there?” Kim turned to Cheyenne. “Subway or car?”
“Car, we drive over the Brooklyn Bridge, take the first exit which is Cadman Plaza West, and the entrance is under the overpass.
Mortimer looked at Kim, “I wish I could join you.”
“Sorry, this is serious work and you’re not dressed appropriately.”
Blood Bar – Amazon.com
You can read The Book Faery’s review here.
