Introducing Aiden James

I began writing stories roughly fourteen years ago, after pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter in Denver and later in Nashville. My writing career could've been a brief one, as it started one night when it was my turn to read a bedtime story to my two young sons. Rather than read the 'Mouse birthday book' for the umpteenth time, I began a ramble about a mystical world parallel to our own, a world where sinister creatures sought to take a little boy into their hidden lair…forever.

My first critical reviews from my young audience were mixed. My youngest child, Tyler, was enthralled about the magical place I created, and eagerly awaited more. However, my oldest, Christopher, thought it was the dumbest tale he had ever heard! Luckily, my wife, Fiona, listened nearby. She thought the idea had potential, although she kept that fact a secret until the following spring, 1997. When she suggested I create a fuller blown version of this story, it marked the beginning of my love affair with writing stories.

I wish I could tell you that the experience has always been a glorious progression, where crafting characters, incredible landscapes with captivating plots, and surprising twists was easy. Far from it. It took nearly three years for me to complete my first novel--based on the bedtime story to my boys who by then were young teenagers—and another two years to decide if I liked it enough to show it to anyone else. Signed to a small independent publisher in 2004, "The Forgotten Eden" in a previous version was released to small critical acclaim in 2006. But the book found only a very limited audience, so the search for that elusive 'bigger' audience continued.

While pursuing a bigger book deal for my paranormal adventure series, The Talisman Chronicles, of which "The Forgotten Eden" and "The Devil's Paradise" are the first two of five installments, an itch to dabble in something a little different hit me. A ghost story, and one dealing with a murdered teenage girl who waited nearly a century to enact her revenge became my next creation. Completed in 2007, "Cades Cove" was my second release on Kindle, last August. The sequel to this ghost story soon followed in September, entitled "The Raven Mocker". But, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, so allow me to fast-forward to July 2010, when my good friend J.R. Rain talked me into leaving the elusive NY book deal treadmill, and try something new: ebooks. Specifically, ebooks on Kindle, Nook, and eventually other outlets such as Sony and the Apple IBook store.

I just mentioned the releases for both "Cades Cove" and "The Raven Mocker". But before those books were released on Kindle, there was another—my very first ebook: "Deadly Night". Released in July 2010, it is the first installment of what promises to be a unique and exciting ghost hunting series. Based on a fictional exaggeration of Fiona, and me "Deadly Night" is a mixture of 'now' and where we were 20 years ago as ghost hunters (and in my hard-hitting' days as a Nashville rock n' roller).

"The Vampires' Last Lover" was my first release specifically written for the Kindle and Nook audience. One that pushed the personal envelope for me, the story was written from a female perspective. Like Stephen King, when he wrote "Carrie" so many years ago, my wife provided precious insights into how women view the world around them, and in particular, their true perspectives on males—something I'm sure would surprise most of us guys. Anyway, as the first installment for my new "The Dying of the Dark" series, the story brings a fresh perspective to the vampire genre, focused on what it means to be unique and alone, both for the living and the undead, and how self sacrifice for the good of others remains the most noble aspiration for all creatures—above and below our beloved earth.

"The Vampires' Last Lover" was released in December 2010, and it's sequel, "The Vampires' Birthright" is set for release in mid-August, 2011—next month. In the meantime, perhaps the most unique story I have ever had the pleasure to work on was recently released to my highest fanfare to date: "Plague of Coins". Based on the incredible story-idea of J.R. Rain, "Plague of Coins" is the story of Judas Iscariot and his quest for forgiveness. Only in this story, Judas is over 2000 years old and lives in modern-day society as William Barrow. The book is part one of a promising nine book series, "The Judas Chronicles".

So what's next?

In addition to "The Vampires' Birthright", the third "Dying of the Dark" book, entitled "Blood Princesses of the Vampires" will be released in October, followed by the sequel to "Deadly Night", entitled "The Ungrateful Dead". That one comes out between Thanksgiving and Christmas. After that, 2012 and 2013 promise to be extremely busy with many more books, including the next "Cades Cove" novel, the next Talisman Chronicles installment, and further books from "The Judas Chronicles", the "Dying of the Dark" series, and my ghost hunting series. Perhaps there will be a few additional surprises as well.

After that, who knows?

Something dark and creepy… Or, perhaps something light and fun?

Definitely I intend for it to be something well worth your time to check out—Just wait n' see!

Cheers,

Aiden