Meet Nila Brown, author of The Cold Darkness of Night
You know someone is a good story teller when you follow them around the Internet hoping today is the day she tells a story about her crazy coworker. That's how I was introduced to new author, Nila N. Brown, many years ago.
Today, she's released her first novel, The Cold Darkness of Night.
Allow me to introduce you to Nila N.Brown.
Today, she's released her first novel, The Cold Darkness of Night.
Allow me to introduce you to Nila N.Brown.
1.
Congratulation
on your first novel. When did you decided you wanted to be a writer?
I was an avid reader growing up. When other kids
were out playing, I’d rather curl up with a good book. I recall reading the Encyclopedia Britannica
when I was 11 but the writing bug didn’t hit me until high school, when I wrote
a play called “High School Beat” during the rash of break dancing movies. I
chuckle when I think back on it because it wasn’t very good and never went past
the development stage. Then I joined the school newspaper, writing several
articles, and then I wrote a short story for the upcoming Halloween
edition. It was universally panned as
atrocious and I became discouraged.
After my father passed a few years later, real life called and I never
picked up a pen in that capacity again.
I rediscovered writing in 2007 when I discovered
Inuyasha fan fiction. I read a story
that I enjoyed very much, but then I read one that was horrible. The writer sort of had an attitude and told
the readers, “if you don’t like it, write your own story!” I thought that was a great idea so I wrote my
very first fan fiction story called, “The 800 Year Old Virgin.” I was inspired by a writer named
Trouble_In_Shangri-La to write for an alternate pairing in the Inu fandom and I
never looked back. My writings allowed
me explore my fantasy, the paranormal and action adventure and I write in all
of these genres, as well as let me explore my Trek geekiness. “800YOV” was still not grammatically fabulous
but it was better than my earliest writings but I was inspired. The greatest things I learned from it were
character development, editing and storytelling so that I’m able to take my
readers on an adventure as if they're living it right next to me. I wrote what was considered Alternate
Universe stories, which is defined as using the characters of the manga but
creating a new storyline and world different from the manga. Because of this, my stories can be stand
alone from fan fiction and with encouragement from others, I decided to leave
fan fiction and try my luck at non-fiction writing. I feel like I’ve come full circle.
2.
Tell
the readers what your book is about.
My current short story, The Cold Darkness of
Night, centers on Takeru Okada, a self-absorbed demon businessman who is on
his way to Tokyo Airport during a very dangerous blizzard. He decides to take a shortcut, which leads to
a horrific accident. Blinded by the
shattered glass and body broken by the impact of the crash, he finds himself
near death and suffering from hypothermia when a young woman and her half-demon
charge discovers him and brings him to a safe place. She nurses him back to health and along the
way, Takeru finds himself attracted to her but his full blood demon pride
nearly gets in the way of his progress, in part because he’s not used to having
to depend on others to take care of him, and in part because he’s offended by a
human and half-demon taking care of him.
Slowly, he finds himself attracted to his female caretaker and they
become intimate. When the weather
breaks, she contacts his business associate who rescues him, but he discovers
that she’s a priestess who seems to want nothing more to do with him and the
resulting rage and depression sends him on a downward spiral that nearly
destroys him.
I want to make something clear to the readers
about the types of demons that I write about.
These are not the “heaven versus hell” variety demons that you see in
Christian theology. The demons that I
write about are the manifestation of animal spirits in humanoid form. Some of my demons are evil, as you will learn
with some of my future endeavors, but no more than any other man, woman or
child. They have telltale signs of their
demon lineage, such as elfin ears, body/face paintings or markings, long
nails/claws and different colored hair that reflects their heritage, while an
elemental demon can take the form of earth, water, fire and air. You do have former fan fiction writers who
venture into the nonfiction world tend to change the fact that the characters
are demons and make them all human. I’m
not going to do that – my demons are sensuous, enigmatic and filed with needs, desires
and fiery passion. I want you to see my
world through my eyes and with it I hope to create an entirely new writing
style geared towards them.
3.
Why
did you decided to write this genre?
I was a Trekkie before it became popular to be
called a Trekkie. I would rather watch Dr. Who, Dark Shadows, Twilight Zone and Star Trek when I was younger
than Saturday morning cartoons; not that I didn’t watch those as well, but I
was fascinated by the worlds that writers like Jules Verne, Maurice Sendak, and
JRR Tolkien created and was completely caught up in the intricate plot lines and
storytelling. I was initially nervous
about writing in this genre because it takes a great deal of imagination to
create an entire world that’s not only believable but holds the readers’
interest from the first sentence.
4.
Where
do you get your inspiration?
I find inspiration in everything around me. A phrase, a sunflower, or the direction that
the wind is blowing can ignite the spark in me and find their way into my
writing, but my biggest inspiration comes from my daughter, Charlene. My life has had the ups and downs that come
with normal everyday living but it’s all a part of growing and learning. I want
her to look at me and see that no matter where you are in life, it’s never too
late to follow your dream.
5.
How
can reader purchase the book and follow you online?
The Cold Darkness of Night as well as my first
short story, The Mirror’s Edge are currently located at:
Barnes and Noble’s Nook at www.barnesandnoble.com/c/nila-brown
I can be followed on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/NilaNBrown, and on
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NilaNBrown.
My next endeavor, Serpentine Fire and Other
Interludes for the Consummate Demon will be published by year’s end. It’s a collection of stories that range from
the very PG-rated to the sultry NC17.
I’m very excited about it and can’t wait to show you my range of
characters and far away destinations. I
have an upcoming trilogy that’s currently being edited and I hope to have it
published, either with a publishing house or I’ll self publish it. The trilogy is called, “Kurai Utopia” and is
set at the beginning of Japan’s history and by the mid 1800’s humans have
nearly destroyed the demons from the face of the earth. The survivors hide in caves and eventually in
plain sight with the use of magic spell and spend the next two centuries
learning human weakness and plotting their destruction. By the mid 22nd Century, the demons
eventually take over the earth and the colonized space, relegating humanity to
third class citizenship. The story picks
up in the 25th century and Takeru Takumashii is the Demon Lord of
the Western Japanese Protectorate. He
uncovers a plot to usurp his rule by the mainland Chinese demons, who are upset
that he was appointed as their ruler. He
involves a waitress and sometimes go-go dancer at his half-brother’s demon club
named Hikari to act as a spy and help him flush out his enemies. I won’t speak further on the storyline but I
actually had a really great time writing these characters and this fabulous
world that they live in.
My demons will exist across the spectrum of
nonfiction. I even have a supernatural demonic western coming.
6.
What’s
the most rewarding thing about being published?
It’s the satisfaction of knowing that I have a
second chance to do something that eluded me so many years ago. The possibility of a writing career is
something that I would have never thought possible at this stage in my
life. I won’t let the fear of the
unknown hold me back. Being at the edge
of this new precipice is a little scary but sometimes you have to take a deep
breath and dive right in and I’m very humbled and grateful for this new
opportunity, no matter where it takes me.
I invite everyone to take a chance on the new old kid and join me on an
adventure as I show you a fantastical world of action, adventure, romance,
suspense and excitement in the supernatural world of demons.
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