Thursday, March 22, 2012

Guest Post by Author, Donna Galanti

I've been screaming through the blogosphere for some time now: "Dark is coming!" Well, minions it's here! Donna Galanti's debut novel, A HUMAN ELEMENT released last week on March 15th! Woot! (Note: If you want to know more about this unique paranormal thriller, check out my book review here.)
This week I'm happy to participate in her dark tour and host Donna as she guest posts on my blog and interviews her unearthly villain, X-10. Please welcome Donna!

Thanks, Mina! I thought it would be fun to give all your blog followers exclusive insight into the sick mind of one of my characters. Are you ready? Dare to meet X-10, the villain of A HUMAN ELEMENT...


Did you have a happy childhood? 
What’s happiness? A word you people use when you have nothing else to say. An empty word representing your pitiful emotions. I didn’t have a childhood. I grew up in a room, alone except for pathetic doctors who made me take tests over and over. And then I killed them all. That was a day I felt happy. Killing takes away the loneliness.

Who are you opposing and why? 

Laura. She gets to live a life I never had. A life with a name. I want a name. Charlie. It’s a nice name, right? But I’m the freak while Laura looks normal. I hate her for that.

Do you think maybe medication could help you? This vengeance thing isn’t healthy.
Medication? Yeah, I’ve had medication. That decrepit doctor pumps me full of drugs to dull my powers. I feel powerless and weak. Like you humans. Like Laura will feel someday, and her stupid lover. You’re annoying me. I don’t like to be annoyed. I don’t need to be near you to kill you, you know.

Okay, okay. So what is it you plan to do once you reach your goal? 

When I escape for this pit I’ll kill that bitch, Laura. But I’ll never kill her from my mind’s eye. This one has to be done in the flesh. Soon her time will come. And she will know what I am. She will watch her lover die and then I will watch her die. I’ll squeeze her perfect limbs between my hands and hear her cry out in pain. Lovely.

What would your mother think of all this? 

I didn’t grow up with a mother, you idiot. I never needed a mother. Mothers are something you humans whine to. I killed my mother before she could have a chance to raise me as a human. Ripped her apart when I was born. I was more powerful then, as a child, than she would ever be. Serves her right.

Nice. So how would you describe yourself? 

Tall and handsome (laughs). More powerful than any one on Earth, with amazing powers of telepathy, telekinesis, and strength. I am the ultimate puppet master of you people. I’m invincible. You can’t kill me. I have the power to heal myself. I hate wearing your human clothes too. I enjoy being naked and admire my bulging muscles. See?

Hmmm, yes. So who are your closest allies? 

The people I kill. That fat guard whose neck cracked so easily. He was an ally. His truck got me far down the road until it ran out of gas. And the scientist who imprisoned me. He was an ally. When I ripped out his throat he left me his stash of food to gorge on for energy. He served his purpose. The doctor who delivered me and sold me to the government. He was my ally when he led me to Laura. But then he had to die for that.

And now...enjoy and EXCERPT WITH X-10:

X-10 hovered over the doctor’s body. His anger drained away and he felt relief. He returned his mind to his body in the car. He needed to rest before continuing north. Travelling with his powers expended such energy it left him weak. But he needed to leave the car and hide out. He walked into the woods, breathing deep of all the life around him. After heading half a mile into the woods away from the dirt road, he found a hollow and lay down on the ground covering himself in a mound of leaves.

Within a few minutes his body heat warmed him inside his cocoon and X-10 slept. It was his turn to dream of the girl. He chased her as he always did, toying with her before he shredded her throat. But this time she stopped running and turned to walk back towards him. He stopped in his tracks, amazed she would do that when she knew he would kill her.

"Charlie, come with me. I know what you are. We are the same.”

He shook his head, wanting to hate her. How did she know he wanted to be called Charlie? His mission had been to kill her. It had always been so. If it changed now what would he do? What would he become?
“Don’t give into hate.”

“What do you know about hate?” 

“I know hate. And it’s short lived. Love lives forever." She held out her hand. “Come.”

“No!" He rushed towards her but she disappeared and he was left alone, as he had always been.


About A HUMAN ELEMENT:

One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next.

Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite–her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a mad man, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together. But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test.

With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his and she has two choices–redeem him or kill him.
Readers who devour paranormal books with a smidge of horror and steam will enjoy A HUMAN ELEMENT, the new novel about loss, redemption, and love.


Reviewers are saying…

“A HUMAN ELEMENT is an elegant and haunting first novel. Unrelenting, devious but full of heart. Highly recommended.” –Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of ASSASSIN’S CODE and DEAD OF NIGHT

“A HUMAN ELEMENT is a haunting look at what it means to be human. It’s a suspenseful ride through life and love…and death, with a killer so evil you can’t help but be afraid. An excellent read.” –Janice Gable Bashman, author of WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE, nominated for a Bram Stoker Award.



BIO:
Donna Galanti is the author of the dark novel A Human Element (Echelon Press). She won first place for Words on the Wall Fiction at the 2011 Philadelphia Writer’s Conference. Donna has a B.A. in English and a background in marketing. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, The Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group and Pennwriters. She lives with her family in an old farmhouse in PA with lots of nooks, fireplaces, and stinkbugs. Visit her at: www.donnagalanti.com

LIKE Donna’s Author Facebook page for news and updates! Her tour runs through April 11thh with book giveaways, more guest posts, and interview fun, and a chance to win the big prize giveaway! So pop over to her blog to see the full tour schedule.

Connect with Donna here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/DonnaGalanti
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnaGalantiAuthor
Blog: http://blog.donnagalanti.com/wp/

Purchase A HUMAN ELEMENT via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords

8 comments:

DonnaGalanti said...

Mina, this was fun! Thanks for having me on and sharing the thoughts of X-10...Dark is here!

Kathryn Craft said...

What a fun interview! Kinda hard to believe Donna is actually quite nice...

Lisa Green said...

Wow! What a great interview!! I hung on every word - that X-10, oh sorry...I mean Charlie, is such a but I love him in all his evil glory!!

mshatch said...

ah, nothing like a good villain :)

Passing Pages said...

That...was so...horrifyingly fascinating. I will have to pick this up if I get a chance! Sounds....ummm, scary good lol.

Thanks for sharing. I adore character insights! Even ones who are a little crazy, maybe more then actually.

Mina Burrows said...

Man, something was up with my blogger yesterday. I finally was able to log in an comment.

Anyway, I loved doing this and wish more authors would do character interviews. X-10 is just as creepy as he sounds. Thanks for the post, Donna!

Sarah Tokeley said...

Oh my goodness, this sounds awesome!

DonnaGalanti said...

Mina, tanks again for having me on and yes X-10 is definitely a bit more than a little crazy - but really, he cant help it - LOL!