Pictures
of Dorianna
of Dorianna
Catherine
Stine
Stine
Genre: Urban Fantasy, YA
paranormal romance
paranormal romance
Publisher: Konjur Road Press
Date of Publication: October 23,
2019
2019
ISBN: 978-1-7333901-0-1
eBook: 978-1-7333901-1-8
ASIN: B07WGB5HQ6
Number of pages: 327
Word Count: 90k
Cover Artist: Najla Qamber
Tagline: Internet followers,
beauty, power. It all sounded good. Until it transformed into a terrifying
reality Dorianna couldn’t stop. New twist on Dorian Gray with the first-ever
female lead!
beauty, power. It all sounded good. Until it transformed into a terrifying
reality Dorianna couldn’t stop. New twist on Dorian Gray with the first-ever
female lead!
Book Description:
Internet followers, beauty,
power. It all sounded good.
power. It all sounded good.
Until it transformed into a
terrifying reality she couldn’t stop.
terrifying reality she couldn’t stop.
When her father is jailed, her
mother ships lonely, plain Dorianna to her aunt’s in Brooklyn, NY. There,
Dorianna yearns to build a new identity, but the popular Lacey bullies
her—mostly for getting attention from her ex, Ander.
mother ships lonely, plain Dorianna to her aunt’s in Brooklyn, NY. There,
Dorianna yearns to build a new identity, but the popular Lacey bullies
her—mostly for getting attention from her ex, Ander.
Ander takes Dorianna to Coney
Island where Wilson, a videographer, creates a stunning compilation of her. She
dreams of being an online sensation, as she’s never even had a birthday party,
and vows she’d give anything to go viral. Wilson claims he’s the Prince of
Darkness and offers her the beauty and fame, even love she’s dreamed of—warning
her that a pledge has its downsides. Dorianna has no idea of how dire those
consequences might be.
Island where Wilson, a videographer, creates a stunning compilation of her. She
dreams of being an online sensation, as she’s never even had a birthday party,
and vows she’d give anything to go viral. Wilson claims he’s the Prince of
Darkness and offers her the beauty and fame, even love she’s dreamed of—warning
her that a pledge has its downsides. Dorianna has no idea of how dire those
consequences might be.
She’s thrust into the spotlight,
and an incomprehensible nightmare. Not only is she prettier, she’s gaining
harmful powers of manipulation. When her dark forces grow beyond anything she
can control, she’s desperate but clueless as to how to stop them.
and an incomprehensible nightmare. Not only is she prettier, she’s gaining
harmful powers of manipulation. When her dark forces grow beyond anything she
can control, she’s desperate but clueless as to how to stop them.
Excerpt:
Wilson taps impatiently on the
keypad. “You want beauty and youth forever, Dorianna? I can give you that.
Power over those mean girls; over a lot of people? It’s yours for a price. Just
say it.” His eyes are golden and black and red all at once, like unearthly
spears, piercing through me. I’m dizzy. I need fresh air now. But I want this
promise more than anything. Ever.
keypad. “You want beauty and youth forever, Dorianna? I can give you that.
Power over those mean girls; over a lot of people? It’s yours for a price. Just
say it.” His eyes are golden and black and red all at once, like unearthly
spears, piercing through me. I’m dizzy. I need fresh air now. But I want this
promise more than anything. Ever.
“What’s
the price?” I rasp.
the price?” I rasp.
Wilson’s
stare burns into me. “Can’t say exactly. But there always is.” His words are
ice and fire. Flutters of snowflakes pattering silently under my skin that melt
into scorching sparks.
stare burns into me. “Can’t say exactly. But there always is.” His words are
ice and fire. Flutters of snowflakes pattering silently under my skin that melt
into scorching sparks.
I
follow an irrepressible urge to stand up, and look down on Wilson with his
narrow, feral face and piercings. I need Ander to look at me with that passion.
I need those hater girls put in their place. I need a friend, and for people to
want to be with me all of the time, to never be bored. Only to love me.
follow an irrepressible urge to stand up, and look down on Wilson with his
narrow, feral face and piercings. I need Ander to look at me with that passion.
I need those hater girls put in their place. I need a friend, and for people to
want to be with me all of the time, to never be bored. Only to love me.
It’s
worth any price.
worth any price.
A
powerful force in me breaks loose, as if a flu bug is racing rampant down my
spine.
powerful force in me breaks loose, as if a flu bug is racing rampant down my
spine.
“Would
you… give your soul?” Wilson’s whisper invades my gut, my brain.
you… give your soul?” Wilson’s whisper invades my gut, my brain.
Ander’s
aching gaze from our time at the beach shimmers in front of me. Enticing. I can
almost feel his kiss. Like water. Drink it in. I’ve never wanted anything as
much as I want this. “I’d give anything for power, easy youth and beauty.” My
voice comes from all around me, spreading, gluey on my skin. “Yes, I’d even give
my… soul.”
aching gaze from our time at the beach shimmers in front of me. Enticing. I can
almost feel his kiss. Like water. Drink it in. I’ve never wanted anything as
much as I want this. “I’d give anything for power, easy youth and beauty.” My
voice comes from all around me, spreading, gluey on my skin. “Yes, I’d even give
my… soul.”
The
air spirals into a funnel, draining all oxygen from the room with a hiss.
air spirals into a funnel, draining all oxygen from the room with a hiss.
So,
so, soul.
so, soul.
In
an instant, new air swoops in, suffused with rich, delicious minerals. I gulp
it in, openmouthed, so very thirsty. “To be seen and accepted,” I murmur.
an instant, new air swoops in, suffused with rich, delicious minerals. I gulp
it in, openmouthed, so very thirsty. “To be seen and accepted,” I murmur.
Wilson
goes head to head with me. “Forget about just being accepted. How about having
a following of millions, going viral?”
goes head to head with me. “Forget about just being accepted. How about having
a following of millions, going viral?”
“Really?”
I’m whirling. “Going viral.” Wilson’s promises are golden brands, anointing me,
conferring an otherworldly legitimacy I’ve never, ever felt. How does he manage
to do this?
I’m whirling. “Going viral.” Wilson’s promises are golden brands, anointing me,
conferring an otherworldly legitimacy I’ve never, ever felt. How does he manage
to do this?
Ander
returns with the brownies. I luxuriate in the sexy new glint he’s giving me.
“Something feels different in here,” he notes. “It’s colder.” He puts the
brownies down. Who needs sweets when he’s looking at me like this? Is this vow
a real thing? Is it already working?
returns with the brownies. I luxuriate in the sexy new glint he’s giving me.
“Something feels different in here,” he notes. “It’s colder.” He puts the
brownies down. Who needs sweets when he’s looking at me like this? Is this vow
a real thing? Is it already working?
An
unfamiliar power in me swells with precarious danger and weight as I study
Ander and Wilson. Abruptly, I’m flung out of my body, inexplicably looking down
on them as pitiful peons who will someday worship at my feet.
unfamiliar power in me swells with precarious danger and weight as I study
Ander and Wilson. Abruptly, I’m flung out of my body, inexplicably looking down
on them as pitiful peons who will someday worship at my feet.
As
two of the very, very many.
two of the very, very many.
Then,
I’m back inside myself stunned by how I was seeing them. The room seems to rush
with the force of souls washing through, and I flinch when I hear them moaning.
I tell myself it’s only the whir, whir of the hard drives.
I’m back inside myself stunned by how I was seeing them. The room seems to rush
with the force of souls washing through, and I flinch when I hear them moaning.
I tell myself it’s only the whir, whir of the hard drives.
About
the Author:
the Author:
Catherine Stine is a USA Today
bestselling author of historical fantasy, sci-fi thrillers, paranormal romance
and young adult fiction. Her novels have earned Indie Notable awards and New
York Public Library Best Books for Teens. She lives in Manhattan and loves
spending time with her beagle, writing about witches and other fabulous
creatures, gardening on her deck, and meeting readers at book fests.
bestselling author of historical fantasy, sci-fi thrillers, paranormal romance
and young adult fiction. Her novels have earned Indie Notable awards and New
York Public Library Best Books for Teens. She lives in Manhattan and loves
spending time with her beagle, writing about witches and other fabulous
creatures, gardening on her deck, and meeting readers at book fests.
Website: http://catherinestine.com/wp/
Subscribe to her newsletter: http://bit.ly/2nUWU6u
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitsy84557
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kitsy84557/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Stine/e/B001H9TXJC
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crossoverwriter
Interview with by Catherine Stine
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns?
My characters are feisty, stubborn and brave. They definitely speak and act for themselves. In my novel Ruby’s Fire, I wanted Ruby to get together with one specific boy, but she was not having it! She ended up with the unlikeliest guy, but I had to admit, it made a lot of sense. In Pictures of Dorianna, I swear that she helped me write the twist at the end. I had no clue how to wrap things up until she spelled it out in shocking, outrageous terms. Even the villain, Wilson Warren had a mesmerizing influence over me. He lured me to see that he needed to fall in love with Dorianna and then deny it.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
Okay! Challenge accepted. Pictures of Dorianna is a new twist on the old German Faust myths from the 1680s, which then got written as Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus and Goethe’s Faust, and Wilde’s A Picture of Dorian Gray. But no one ever, ever thought to write the main character as a woman! After 439 years, don’t you think it’s time for a badass, bold female Dorian?!?
Thus, my Dorianna was born in all of her supernatural glory and terror as an out of control social media star for these wild times of ours.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Oh, sure. I wrote a novel about an artist who lived in a giant shoe factory, which was, in many ways a memoir of my real time in art school (before I became a writer). I did fictionalize it in service of the drama, but I guess it’s too personal for me to let loose into the world. For instance, it features some of my wild romances back in the day. Go ahead! Try to convince me why I should put it out in the world. LOL.
Pen, old-fashioned typewriter or computer?
Sometimes when a project is new I brainstorm and outline with pen and paper, especially if I’m traveling and in a hotel or waiting in an airport. (Yes, I like these types of places to write for some reason) But I write the actual novel on my laptop.
Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
I love you all, and it is a keen pleasure to meet you in person at the various book fests I go to. I care deeply about what stories inspire, disturb and delight you, and which characters make you really wonder and worry about them after you close the book (or the ereading device – hehe). Drop me a comment here or via my website email as to what you’d love to read more of or what you don’t see around as a theme or character that you want to! I especially like writing witch books, so let me know what kind of witch and what type of witch dilemma you’d relate to.
Your book sounds great and I'm glad I got to learn about it. Thank you!
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