Please help me welcome today’s guest, Tony-Paul de Vissage with an author interview and a spooky sounding new release that’s right up my alley! 🙂
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I’m from a little Southern town that has recently received the ignominious nickname of the “most Dangerous Town in Georgia.” Since I haven’t been back there in 40 years, I can say whether that’s true or not. It was pretty mild when I lived there!
My “official” bio says I write vampire novels because I was frighten by the movie Dracula’s Daughter as a child. Partially true. It also says I met a group of vampires playing tourist near Savannah and they offered to may my way through college if I’d write positive things about them. Not true.
I’m afraid I’m prettyh dull. NO family. No pets. Just li’L ol’ Moi.
Where did you get the idea for Absinthe Forever?
I had already written two Absinthe stories but felt the tale needed to be rounded out and finished off. Since the previous stories took place in different eras, I decided to bring the final one into the present and have Absinthe’s story be completed in a contemporary setting.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?
I just like ghost stories.
Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
Not really. I tried not to use many clichés but I found that when you’re writing a ghost story, you have to rely on clichés or it’d be pretty dull, so there are creaking doors opening, bumps in the dark and quite a few ghoulies. It’s the way they’re put together that makes I scary or not.
What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?
Keeping people away so I can write. Some people think that because I’m not in an office somewhere, I’m not really working, so it’s OK to call and have long telephone conversations, or to drop by unannounced and stay until all hours.
What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?
Not making it into a satire or an Abbott and Costello in a Haunted House. There were so many places where I wanted to go all slapstick, but I managed to resist the temptation.
What book have you read that you wish you had written?
Dracula. That’s one that almost everyone who’s literate recognizes whether they’ve read it or not.
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
Not any more…and is that ever a relief!
What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
Fried tripe. That was before I found out what it is. Afterward? I still like it though since I no longer live in the South, I don’t get it much now.
What was your first job?
Candy salesman. They used to have boxes filled with candy near the cashier’s counter. You’d “donate” boney and get a candy bar. I used to go around and fill those boxes, collect the money, and deposit it.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read Absinthe Eternal?
A shiver or two and the statement. “Hey, that’s make a great movie!”
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
Cameron Cuffe as David, and Shaun Sipos as Redd. Both currently star in Krypton.
What do you want your tombstone to say?
“Here lies the World Best Undiscovered Author.”
If you could be a character in any of your books, who would you be?
My characters are so weird, I don’t know that I’d want to be any of them!
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I’m struggling with a sequel to The Last Vampire Standing, called A Single Shade of Red. I’ve been working on it for two years now and it’s slow going.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
One or two were but not enough that they might recognize themselves.
What do your friends and family think of your writing?
Not much, apparently. None of my family has ever bought one of my books.
What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?
Since most of them are vampires, I’d probably not get along with any of them!
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
George RR Martin. I was at a party he was at one night.
How did you come up with the title?
In this story, Absinthe is brought back to life and this time, he finds a way to live forever, so he’s now Absinthe Eternal.
Your favorite…
Movie – Phantom of the Paradise, a rock/horror movie.
Music – the allegretto from Beethoven’s Sympony #4
Place you’d like to visit – St. Simon’s Island off the Georgia coast
TV show from childhood – Tom Corbett, Space Cadet
TV show from adulthood – Lucifer
Food – barbeque and Brunswick stew with a Coca-Cola
Blurb:
David Varine, star of Ghost Search International, a highly-rated supernaturally-themed reality show, is on assignment. At the request of the New Orléans Historical Society, he’s come to the Big Easy to prove the stately old mansion called Nouvel Espoir is haunted.
It’s said the spirit of Absinthe, accursed son of the original owner, haunts the mansion, with his lover, but David’s a skeptic. He doesn’t believe in ghosts, curses, and any of that ‘supernatural hogwash.’ He’s only in the ghost-hunting business for the money.
Once inside Nouvel Espoir, however, David’s skepticism rapidly disappears. There are too many odd things happening, things he can’t ignore. When his cameraman arrives, the two will be forced to face whatever walks the mansion by night.
Absinthe wants something from them…but what…?
EXCERPT:
As I arrived at the top of the stairs, however, I saw that the door to what I’d already begun to think of as my bedroom was ajar.
Hadn’t Kathy pulled it shut as she followed the others out? I remembered…every room they went into, she entered first but was always the last to leave, shutting any doors behind her.
“Maybe it didn’t close properly.” I spoke aloud, one of my defenses against latent creepiness. Some people whistled in the dark; I talked to myself. Loudly.
Crossing to the door, I stopped, then looked back.
“Something’s different. What…?” It took me a moment to realize I’d walked through the cold spot on the landing, only now, it wasn’t cold. Hurrying back, I stood where I’d experienced that frosty breath and icy shiver. I exhaled, blowing out loudly.
Nothing. Not even a wisp of vapor.
An episodic cold spot. Never seen that before. I didn’t like that.
Abruptly, I got that someone’s-watching-me feeling, that little prickle of the skin. I spun, pushed the door wider and hurried inside…and skidded to a halt, staring at the figure sitting in the chair.
The Absinthe mannequin reclined in the hearthside chair, exactly as it had before.
“Well, now.” To my own ears, my voice sounded forced, too loud. “How did you get back in here?”
I was certain Kathy had been with the group as we went downstairs. Did she linger behind, going back into Étienne’s bedroom and retrieving the figure, replacing it in the chair before she joined the others?
Possibly. I couldn’t say definitely she was with them every minute. All I remembered was watching her guide everyone to the front door.
Maybe she had orders that the mannequins had to stay in their assigned room, and she’d removed it only to placate that one uneasy tourist, and then had to put it back.
“Unh-uh.” I held up a finger, waggling it back and forth as if the mannequin were about to offer some excuse for its return. “None of that.”
It remained silent, of course, staring at me out of those remarkable green eyes.
I asked myself what I would’ve done if there had been a sound just then, even the creak of a beam…
What the hell’s the matter with me? I never get spooked like this. Anger rose at that. I’m David Varine, GSI’s chief investigator, and scary stories don’t frighten me. Besides, I don’t believe in this stuff.
Stooping, I wrapped an arm around the figure’s waist and lifted it as Kathy had. It was remarkably light. Carrying it across the hall, I opened the door to the other bedroom, and with the barest hesitation, stamped inside.
I dropped the figure unceremoniously into the chair, Damned if it doesn’t resemble the portrait. The face was framed by black, shoulder-length hair. It had the thickness and texture of real hair. I wondered if it was. Had some human’s flowing locks been purchased for this artificial being?
Thinking back to what Kathy had said about Absinthe, I realized if he’d actually looked like this. If so…oh, the boy must’ve been a beauty…the killer handsome kind.
I rummaged mentally for my college French. “Bon nuit.” With a jerky bow—and why did I do that?—I hurried to the door and went out, slamming it behind me.
I was stepping across the threshold into my own room when I heard the faint creak. I glanced back.
The door to Étienne’s room slowly and gracefully swung open.
Buy Links:
Paperback exclusively from the publisher’s website: http://www.classactbooks.com/component/virtuemart/horror/absinthe-eternal-8702018-02-11-21-39-34-detail?Itemid=0
About the Author:
A writer of French Huguenot extraction, one of Tony-Paul de Vissage’s first movie memories is of being six years old, viewing the old Universal horror flick, Dracula’s Daughter on television, and being scared sleepless—and he’s now paying back his very permissive parents by writing about the Undead.
TP currently has 22 novels published with Class Act Books. His novel The Night Man Cometh was voted one of the Top Ten horror novels of 2011 by the Preditors & editors Readers Poll for that year, and in 2013, the first entry in his Second Species series, Shadow Lord, was awarded the same honor. The Last Vampire Standing placed second as Best Paranormal Romance of 2012 by the Paranormal Romance Guild.
Learn More about Tony-Paul at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonypaul.devissage
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tpvissage/?etslf=7278&eq=Tony-Paul%20de%20Vissage
Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.pinterest.com/tpvissage/?etslf=7278&eq=Tony-Paul%20de%20Vissage
Twitter: @tpvissage
Author Alicia Dean 
Good interview. I am disappointed with all the typos,though. The book sounds interesting. Best wishes.
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I’m disappointed about those typos, too, Diane. My only excuse is that I have poor eyesight. As you can see by the picture, I wear glasses and occasionally though I proof everything and let Spell Check help out, I miss errors. My sincere apologies. Je suis desole!
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