Sneak Peek (never seen before!)
My eyes snapped open to a bright ray of sunlight as I screamed bloody murder.
Nikki and J.B. were at my side in an instant; pulling me into the shadowed surroundings of what looked like a holding cell.
I clung to the cold floor as I tried to clear my head. Think, think, think straight!
My eyes widened as I realized the stone floor and walls that connected to the rusty iron bars in front of me. “Where the hell are we?!” I nearly screeched.
J.B. turned towards me, her eyes swirled with a silver hue, “We’re in Emil’s holding cells.” She said in a hushed tone.
“What? Why?!” I asked quickly.
Nikki quickly shushed me, “Shut up! If he heard you he will be on his way!” she hissed.
What’s going on? Why are we stuck in here? And where is Sadie? I thought to J.B. and Nikki who were staring nervously at the hallway on the other side of the iron bars.
Nikki’s head turned in my direction, Emil found out about us sneaking around in his study. He knows we know.. It was him that came into our suite when we were asleep. Not Sadie.
He knows what? I thought quickly.
That we’re just like him! That we’re a product of his genes! Nikki nearly stabbed me with her stare.
Before I could begin to ask how they knew of Emil’s past, J.B. asserted herself.
You were projecting your dream, Joss. It was like a goddam horror movie that just played in our heads and we couldn’t press ‘stop’. Her forehead creased with worry. You couldn’t wake up until you were finished with what he wanted you to see.
My head began to pound as I remembered Emil drinking the life from his father, The history of… oh my gawd… we’re –
“Vampires.” Emil’s velvet voice floated around the room like a cloud of smoke.
Behind the Book
Antiserum was first created at the end of my freshman year of high school in 2009. It started with me just wanting to write in my journal, the problem was that I didn’t want anyone to stumble across it and read all my inner thoughts and secrets, so in solution, I changed everything I wrote and made it look and sound like I was writing a story based off the real events in my life.
At the time, though, Twilight had just come out on DVD and my parents bought it for my twin and I because we weren’t able to see it in theaters. And, yes, at first, I was a Twi-hard girl and went out and bought all sorts of other vampire themed books, including the original Dracula by Bram Stoker. But as I read all the other spins on the ‘typical vampire’ (can’t go into sunlight, sleeps in coffins, etc.). I became inspired to add a little more flavor into my journal. I mean, I was already writing it like it was a story, why not make it an actual story. So I had then decided I was going to turn my non-fiction story writing into a science fiction vampire story. Little did I know what I came up with was good enough to become a novel.
I wrote during any spare time I had after school and between playing hockey twice a week throughout my sophomore year. Pretty soon, after seeing how dedicated I was to writing this book, my dad suggested that maybe I become serious and think about finding a way for it to become published. After mulling the thought over in my head for a while, I decided that I was going to do it, one way or another.
Now, don’t get me wrong. This all didn’t happen over night or within a couple months. If I was going to do find a good company to publish my book, then I was going to put in as much effort in this project as I did in writing my book. And that’s exactly what I did, I contacted many different publishing companies and weighed my options carefully, reading over everything they had to make sure it was what I wanted. And finally, in the summer before my junior year, I had signed the contract with Trafford publishing. I was 16 when Antiserum was released December 27, 2010.
Since then, I have started writing the sequel to Antiserum and have finished my junior year of high school. I’m planning to keep writing in the future, it has definitely become a HUGE part of my life and I’m going to do anything I can to better myself in the future. :-F
Now an explanation as to why I donate half of my profits to The Burn Institute of San Diego as this is also “behind the book.”
When Amber (my older sister) was nine years old, she was burned all down the side of her face and body. At the hospital she and my parents found out about Camp Beyond the Scars which is a camp hosted by The Burn Institute to help re-establish the self esteem of young burn survivors. I’ve always remembered how happy Amber would be after each year she attended the winter and summer camps. Amber has attended Camp Beyond the Scars for nearly twelve years and is becoming a counselor. I’ve always wanted to give back somehow for all the wonderful help they gave my sister and to so many other people who, since I had a chance to volunteer, are now some of the coolest friends and people I have ever met.
Once I became an author, it finally dawned upon me that, now, I have some way I could give back to The Burn Institute for giving so much to my sister. And now I’m donating half of my profits to them. I volunteered at this last camp in July and am going to be attending the next year’s summer and winter camp as an L.I.T. (leader In Training). The Burn Institute has definitely become a part of my life and I’m willing to do anything to help them in any way for as long as I can.
Antiserum is available in book & ebook!
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Antiserum-Part-I-Patricia-Carrigan/dp/1426948263/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314464518&sr=1-1
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/antiserum?store=book
Borders:
http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=1426948271
My links: I love to connect!
http://www.patriciacarrigan.com
http://www.facebook.com/patriciacarrigan
http://patriciacarriganantiserum.blogspot.com/
http://patriciacarrigan.blogspot.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/patricia-carrigan/29/48a/b75
@pcarrigan1
11 comments
Duncan Long
August 29, 2011 at 2:10 pm (UTC -5)
Great insight into the writing of your book — and the sample demonstrates the quality of your writing. Nice! About my only problem is imagining how someone might have written this as a freshman. Guess I’ll have to revise my opinion of those poor souls on the low end of the totem pole in school
) Keep up the good work!
Patricia Carrigan
August 29, 2011 at 2:54 pm (UTC -5)
You are too sweet Duncan
Perhaps if I’d had you for a teacher, I may have been even more inspired..hmm? Thank you so much.
Patricia Carrigan
Author Antiserum
David Prosser
August 29, 2011 at 3:01 pm (UTC -5)
I’ve read a chapter of this book and know how chilling it is. Whenever the author thinks I step out of line she threatens to send me the rest.
Before you read it make sure your medical practitioner can deal with corkscrew neck from checking out all those sounds behind you…it might be Emil?
Patricia Carrigan
August 29, 2011 at 7:18 pm (UTC -5)
Ah, you again… are you behaving? do I need to get my minions? Just kidding, I adore you and you know it! Thank you so much for stopping by to say something so nice:-) I send long distance hugs accross the ocean!
Patricia
(Spidey to you)
Les Floyd
August 29, 2011 at 7:52 pm (UTC -5)
I had an idea about a wolf that – every full Moon – turns into an Englishman and causes havoc in his frantic search for tea and scones. I did hear back from Bloomsbury… at least, I thought I did, until I woke up and realised it was all a dream. Eerily, there were no scones left.
Wonderful double-whammy of motivation for your writing… the passion for the story-telling, and to help Burns. You’re a good soul.
x
Patricia Carrigan
August 30, 2011 at 10:21 am (UTC -5)
Les,
It was me..the scones were Amazing! I have a weakness for them you know.. by the way, check the pantry..you’re out of strawberry jam. (another weakness of mine:-)
Thank you so much for the nice things you said. It means a lot.
Patricia
Les Floyd
August 31, 2011 at 10:12 am (UTC -5)
What the heck? You built a pantry for me? Where is it?
Patricia Carrigan
September 9, 2011 at 7:04 pm (UTC -5)
cupboard… I meant cupboard! Just called it a pantry cause of the lovely goodies like jam of course!
Patricia
David Antrobus
August 29, 2011 at 7:55 pm (UTC -5)
This is definitely a fascinating insight into your process and the genesis of your book. also, your large heartedness, if you don’t mind me saying. Oh, and I’d also add that the dialogue above has really pitch perfect pace to it too! Take that from one who struggles with dialogue.
Patricia Carrigan
August 30, 2011 at 10:26 am (UTC -5)
David,
You are amazing to say such sweet things about me and my writing. Plus you are a truly gifted author. I’m lucky to call you my friend. Now, what are you doing on here when you are supposed to be writing? Hmmm?
Really, Thank you, David.
Patricia
David Antrobus
August 30, 2011 at 11:50 pm (UTC -5)
Oops, busted.