J. F. Lewis - Author at Large - STAKED

Check out the awesome cover for Staked,
with art by the fantastic Chris McGrath!

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Murder is a fact of life for the vampire Eric, owner of the DemonHeart strip club in Void City, but when he kills a werewolf in self-defense, things get wildly out of hand. Though the local Alpha and his pack of born-again lycanthropes are out for holy retribution, they're the least of Eric's worries when he finds himself caught between his girlfriend Tabitha, who has always wanted to be a vampire, and her sexy little sister Rachel, a tantric witch with a hidden agenda.

Why can't unlife be easy? All Eric wants to do is run his club, drink a little blood and be left alone. In his quest to discover who is trying to end him and why, he must survive car crashes, embalming, sunlight, tantric magic, and werewolves on ice as well as his own nasty temper, forgetfulness, and mistakes. More diamond in the sewer than diamond in the rough, Eric is willing to take on the world in Staked, a book where love just might conquer all, even if it is twisted, evil, and undead.

REVIEWS

“[Staked is] serious yet funny, gory yet tender, magical and still down-to-earth; a proper study in contrasts, if you will.
In other words, a must-read!” - A Book Worm’s Diary

"[Staked is] a gritty, violent and totally believable take on what being a vampire could be like... " - Sidhe Vicious

“Once you get caught up in the world of Staked, you’re stuck in its thrall. There’s enough violence and death to keep the novel going, but not so much that you can’t read it before bed. Staked walks a great balance with the suspense and gore… it’s a balance one rarely sees in first novels.” - Our Gaggle of Girls

“From the start I could tell this book would be something special. By page 8, I was proclaiming it a winner to my friends. I’m happy to report that I was correct.” - BestFantasyStories.com

"[Staked is] a fast paced rollercoaster ride of fun. Eric is not like any vampire I have ever met before and it was a joy to read about him. The story unfolds with twists and turns that kept me hooked till the end and I loved the way the story was told by both Eric and Tabitha." - Amberkatze

"From the moment you step into Eric's world, you are rocketing from one high-tension situation to another... The exciting conclusion will definitely leave you breathless and wanting more." - RomanceJunkies.com

“Staked will probably appeal to most readers who like Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden but wish that Harry would stop being so damn nice all the time.” - LoveVampires.com

"This is the first Vamp book that I really enjoyed for its logical storyline and decent belief-suspension qualities... Read the Scalzi feature and get the book. It doesn’t disappoint." -Frank Hagen

“Certainly impressive for a debut. The plot is reminiscent of the early, and best, of the Anita Blake novels.” - Don D’Ammassa

"This is a fast-paced story with a heady mixture of humor, violence, and sex." - Library Journal

"A pedal-to-the-metal demolition derby of sex and violence. Werewolves and vampires were never so much fun."
- Mario Acevedo

THE INSIDE STORY

The ideas behind STAKED have been with the author for the better part of a decade, but the novel itself was begun in 2005. After the first draft was complete, the author's patient family and friends began an editing process that took the manuscript through several drafts. During this time, Jeremy was actively seeking an agent for his work. He saved his rejection letters, considering each one to be a badge of honor, some kind of proof that he was becoming a "real" writer.

The real proof came when agent Shawna McCarthy responded, requesting first three chapters and later a complete manuscript. Her suggestions for improving the work for publication were both many and major, but the author has always been willing to chop up his little darlings. After another few rounds of editing and revising, the author founded his own writers' group, entitled Write the Fantastic (WTF for short). Members and other friends of the author have provided invaluable editing assistance. Look for members of this elite group in their Welcome to the Void T-shirts at MobiCon and ConCarolinas.

As the manuscript was submitted to various publishers, Jeremy added a few more rejection letters to his collection before receiving a favorable response from Pocket Books editor Jennifer Heddle with Simon and Schuster. Staked is the book's third title, having been formerly known as Welcome to the Void and then Bite Me.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

Check Jeremy's blog often for updates on the publication schedule for ReVamped (the sequel to Staked), book signings, opportunities to meet the author, and quirky anecdotes. You can also sign up for alerts on SimonSays, the website of publishers Simon & Schuster. Jeremy's press page is also worth a look.

(Please note that the cover image is copyrighted, posted here with permission, blah, blah, blah.)