Haven's Realm - Introduction

Haven's Realm, an introduction by Tamara Monteau

Greetings, devoted readers and curious visitors! My name is Tamara Monteau, and I have authored a series of stories I believe will hook you from the start. Those who have read earlier versions of my work told me they couldn't put them down, and are anxiously awaiting the new releases.

I first started writing in 1992, inspired, in part, by the Dan Curtis 1991 revival of Dark Shadows. As a life-long fan of that series, I found myself once again feeling sorry for Barnabus Collins, and wishing for a way to help my own vampire. Since, at the time, I'd never read about a vampire regaining his mortality, I thought it would be a cool trick. Between that time and now, I've read two and seen one on television, which just goes to show you that ideas can be similar and not be the same. I finished the manuscript and called it "Lost Hopes", but never got around to registering it. I had it reviewed by a published author and learned I had a long way to go in perfecting my craft. The story still survives in its basic form, but the subplot and details have been severly rewritten to bring Haven more prominantly to the fore. You'll understand when you read The Darker Path.

In 1993, the first concept for Twilight Destiny was born. At the time, I thought to develop a series of short stories for a romance magazine. As the story progressed, I learned of Haven and the Council of Elders, though the details were a bit sketchy. I was still too new to the Community, and Joshua wasn't in the mood to share. It was during this time that the basics of the Community were conceived, and Catherine's roll in Haven's future was secured in the conception of her child. I had planned quite an adventure for her in Haven, but had to put the story down in 1995 to focus on resettling my family in Georgia while my husband was stationed in Korea.

Things finally settled down for me in again 2002, and I resumed work on Joshua's as yet unfinished and untitled story. When I finished in 2003, I sent a copy of the manuscript to the Library of Congress under the title Dark Destiny. I played around with the story, primarily strengthening Catherine's character and making her less transparent. In 2008 a friend of mine found an on-line self-publisher, and launched the next step in my career. Because another vampire romance novel had been published under my chosen title in the interim, I chose Twilight Destiny after researching other alternatives and discovering, to my relief, this particular Twilight title varient had not been used, though there are several in Maggie Shayne's series, most of which I have read. At the time I published Twilight Destiny, my chief concern was in gaining confusion with Ms. Shayne's work. Boy, was I wrong!

It wasn't until that winter at a book signing that I learned of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga. I'm saddened that some critics believe my title choice to be a marketing ploy—most assuredly, that was the farthest thing from my mind. I believe in my work, and don't feel the need for such cheap tricks. The appearance of my work at the same time Ms. Meyer's first movie was released was purly coincidental. I might add that Twilight was published in 2005, and I registered Dark Destiny with the LOC in 2003. Most of the storyline is the same now as then, so anyone who wants to do the research will discover that I could not have "borrowed" ideas from Ms. Meyer. She just had better connections or better luck than I did back then. I saw Twilight for the first time on DVD some time in 2009 after I published my second novel. I like the storyline for what it is, but I don't read Young America fiction anymore. My stories are written for a more mature audience with romance as the central theme of a much bigger picture. My apologies to Ms. Meyer for any misunderstandings, and I sincerely hope the addition of the subtitle, “Haven's Realm 1,” will make the distinction more clear . With that having been said, please let's move on, shall we?

My good friends of the Community are willing to share their lore with you. You will understand, of course, that their names have been changed to protect their security, and all locations visited, unless well known such as Atlanta, are fictional. I promised them you'll receive no confidential information from me, and believe me, I wouldn't want to cross them!

So come on in and look around! My books will become available for sale starting in August, 2011, from Secret Cravings Publishing!

~ Tamara Monteau

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