Welcome to my world of mystical warriors, gutsy humans, good witches and empaths. And of course, there has to be at least one creature of the night. But if you think you’ve read everything about vampires, I urge you to think again. In my paranormal world, the themes of love and redemption are full of real human emotion. The paradoxes of love are real as well.  

The Vampire’s Retribution is the story of an anomaly, a mystically enhanced vampire that many consider a champion. Michael reclaimed his soul in 1890 after two-hundred years of the drink and drain. It takes another century for him to fall madly in love with a Guardian of Souls, mystical warriors tasked with ending every demon’s existence. Mysteriously, he was able to father a child with a dark seer. So his world is quite complicated. This first novel chronicles the beginning of his unexpected journey… something even he can’t believe is really happening. It begins in 2005 when the woman he loves is an ocean away and fifteen-year-old Lukas is a truly troubled boy. A cast of characters come to his aid, the kind of people you’d want on your side when fighting evil things. But Michael’s rescue won’t be anything like the dream of survival he creates. For that story, you’ll have to read Book 2, Mystical Consequences, available November 1, 2023.

The inspiration: During a time in my life when nothing felt normal, my son told me to write. On a whim, I decided to redeem a vampire. Don’t ask why. There were too many reasons. But all that chaos cranked up the creativity and Michael’s story turned into a novel. That was 2006. And two other novels continuing Michael’s story were published with TWRP before 2011. But life happens, doesn’t it? My career change in 2010 didn’t jive with vampires, mystical warriors, or witches and empaths. My new position required my full attention. When my rights reverted back to me, I was far removed from my creative side. But I dreamed that someday, somehow, I’d return to Michael’s world.  

In the second year of retirement, I started writing again. The new novel revolved around Martine, a very minor character in the original three books. She was Lukas’s age, which now put them both in their early thirties. Some 40,000 words in, I hit a roadblock. A big one. Martine’s love interest just didn’t work. It was flat. I sat at a red light while driving when those creative wheels started turning in my head. I loved writing Michael’s troubled son. But what type of man had Lukas become? What if… Hmmm…  Oh, I couldn’t wait to get to my laptop! A month later, Book 4 in The Champion Chronicles was complete.

But wait. That meant that parts of the first three books had to be altered some. This new novel expanded my paranormal world. I opened the original manuscripts and as my gifted editor from 2007 read Night of the Crescent Moon, I ‘revamped’ the first three books from years ago and remodeled the trope to align with the new novel. After TWRP contracted Book 4 in 2022, the first three revised novels, were submitted and contracted as well. I am, once again a proud author with The Wild Rose Press working with my fantastic editor from some fifteen years ago. So yes, readers and writers, dreams do become reality.

On writing: I am a true-to-the-word pantser. The main characters show themselves, secondary characters as well. I can see and hear them in my head. The situations they get into develop like a scene out of a movie and I start writing. The major plot drives the story, but I give it a few twists and turns along the way. Research is always a must, and it often leads to sub-plots. I’ve written three more novels in the series this past year because I became, well, a bit driven (okay, obsessed) when my creative muse returned. Now having time in retirement to develop my stories, I’m an eclectic writer. Somedays, it’s morning till night. Somedays, not one word on the page. The edit process is much more intense than the story writing. I’ll edit many times, listen to it out loud, read in different fonts even after querying my editor.

My advice for anyone just starting is to hold on tight and take the ride. Learn the craft. Join writing groups and network at conferences. Believe in yourself, the ability to spin a tale or two. I didn’t expect to circle back to writing about Michael and his world again. It is a blessing that I am humbled by, and grateful to experience after so many years when writing anything creative was just not possible. I’m fortunate to take the steps back to that proverbial fork in the road and start a new journey.   

Always an avid reader, the realm of paranormal fiction is the perfect landing point for Mickey Flagg. After a successful career as a music teacher and an urban school administrator, she continues to spin stories of passion, love and redemption. She’s been a contributor in a book on urban music education and has also authored an article for Still Standing, a web-magazine about loss and healing. Named a Distinguished Music Educator at the 2010 Yale Music Symposium, Mickey is a life-long New Jersey resident, a member of Liberty States Fiction Writers, and a Professor in Residence with a local university. Author Website: http://www.mflagg-author.com

Dreams are often hidden desires… even if they are terrifying. Michael Malone, a mystically enhanced vampire, destroys three immortal sorcerers and takes on their vengeful army of hell-beasts in an unprecedented battle. Poisoned and captured, he’s guided by a heavenly entity  to spin a fantasy full of deep love and devotion to the one woman he treasures and his very troubled human son. Michael’s fading mind creates emotional twists and unexpected turns, passionate highs and very realistic lows. Is there deliverance or is this the end to his immortal existence? Each revelation offers hope. Yet Michael’s last words doggedly remain “Let me die.” His original reasons for the singular battle are noble. One is retribution. The other is love.

The Vampire’s Retribution can be purchased at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.