Blog Tour Guest Blog and Giveaway: Blood Before Sunrise by Amanda Bonilla
This One Time, at Walmart…
Thanks so much to the Paperback Dolls for hosting me today!! You guys are awesome! :)
Most writers will tell you that they’re hardcore people watchers. We’re inspired by the people and places we see every day and interesting potential book characters can be found everywhere. I’m convinced that our brains are a little wonky, too. Or at the very least, occasionally short circuit. There’s always this little piece of our brain that’s operating in writing mode even when we’re doing something like grocery shopping, attending a wedding, sitting through a parent/teacher conference. It’s hard to explain and impossible to turn off. It’s like we’re here, in the moment, but not. That little part of our brain is always tucked away in daydream land. Every situation is a potential scene, every person we meet, a new character. And when I’m fascinated by a potential “character” I’ll admit to behaving a little overzealous sometimes.
So, this one time, at Walmart, I was walking through the store, totally minding my own business, when I spotted this guy. And let me tell you, he was hard to miss. He had to have been at least six foot-five. And to put this in perspective, I’m only a little over five feet tall, so everyone looks tall to me. But this guy was huge! He was wearing all black, with a long black trench coat and big, thick soled combat boots. His head was shaved to show off the tattoo on the back of his head that read Mayhem in this crazy looking script. His ears were gauged and he walked around the store as though he were totally oblivious to all of the people doing double-takes as he passed. He ducked down an isle and of course, I had to try and follow him. 
I thought about what I’d say when I found him. “Hi! This is going to sound crazy, but I’m a writer and you’re just fascinating. Can I take your picture?” I then imagined his teeth elongating as he prepared to bite into my neck and silence me for good. Oookkaay, maybe that wouldn’t be the right approach. Could I just snap off a pic with my cell phone? I’d never taken any covert pics that way, but it couldn’t be too hard. I frantically dug through my purse to find my cell while at the same time totally pulling off nonchalant. And when I finally managed to launch the camera function and looked up, he was gone.
Noooo! I thought, because, you know, this was a completely rational response. How will I go on without a stealthily snapped shot of this vampire/assassin/demon/beserker/prince of the underworld? My sister was somewhere in the store, so I dialed her up. “Have you seen this reeeaaallly tall guy anywhere? Black trench, big boots, tattoos, scary mofo?” Dead silence for a couple of seconds followed by, “Uh…what?”
By this point, I couldn’t even remember what I’d come to Walmart for. Instead, I walked from one end of the store to the other, looking for trench coat guy. And after about a half hour, I gave up the hunt. I’ve decided that he must have known I was on to him, and cloaked himself in some sort of invisibility spell. Because, you know, that’s exactly what vampires/assassins/demons/berserkers/princes of the night do when they’re in Walmart.
And then, there was this other time, when I was on a flight to Washington D.C., well, maybe I should save that story for another time. ;)
Do you like to people watch? Have you ever noticed someone and found yourself imagining what their story might be?
Amanda Bonilla lives in rural Idaho with her husband and two kids. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshipper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves the outdoors, black clothes, pink appliances and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock.
Find Amanda: Website | | |
I (Kitt) would like to say that I’m super-awesome enough to giveaway my ARC of Blood Before Sunrise, buuuuuut I JUST CAN’T! It’s my preeeccciiuuuussss! However, I do absolutely love this series (you can read my reviews of Shaedes of Gray here or Blood Before Sunrise here) so I’m givingaway ONE finished copy of either Shaede Assassin to ONE lucky commenter as long as Book Depository ships to you!
“She needed a bargaining chip and this was it. Raif’s daughter’s life for hers. And he knew damn good and well I was right. Just like he’d assured me the night I’d killed Azriel, this was far from over. His daughter was alive, I knew it. And I was going to find her.”
For months Darian and her Shaede guardian Raif have searched for the Oracle who attempted to overthrow the Shaede Nation—and kill Darian in the bargain. But now that they’ve finally found the half-crazed Oracle, for their efforts they are granted a possibility too painful for Raif to imagine, and too enticing for Darian to ignore.
Darian is determined to reunite Raif and the daughter he thought was dead, but her mission quickly proves dangerous when her lover Tyler is almost killed. And when a brooding and mysterious Fae warrior offers his guidance—at an extraordinary price—Darian finds herself willing to risk everything. As her single-minded hunt turns into an obsession, and she and Tyler grow further apart, Darian finds herself caught between the man she loves like a brother, and the man whose love she can’t live without…
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Hi Amanda! To answer your question, sometimes I do see people and imagine what his/her story will tell me. Or she/he can inspired some characters at my story. I always have some ideas to write, but then sometimes I stop in the middle of writing, lol!
People watching can be dangerous, as it inspires project OCD! ;)
I do like to people watch, but mostly it’s because I’m amused or concerned.
I have definitely seen people who have given me cause for concern!
Sometimes, but not often.
I think introverted people tend to people watch more often because we’re shy. ;)
OMG! I do the same thing. A couple years ago while my DH and I were on the return leg of a road trip, we stopped in El Paso to eat and I saw the most amazing Latino guy. We’d already gotten our food and I was checking out the other patrons when the door opened and this awesome hunk walked in.
He stood about six-two or three, dressed in low slung, snug, black jeans and a snug black tee shirt. His short hair and square jaw gave him a dangerous look that went with the huge biceps and pecs.
I told my husband the guy would make an awesome character, but he didn’t seem too impressed. I almost went over and asked if I could take a picture, but since El Paso has drug, immigration, and other issues, I figured that might not be a smart idea. My brain definitely went to work, though.
Loved your situation! My WalMart never has good stuff like that.
Checking out other men in front of your husband, Mona? Scandalous! :p
I would have had a hard time keeping the staring to a minimum! LOL
Me and my DB Deist shamelessly people watch every time we leave the house. At dinner, the store, or work. When I took him to Busch Gardens a couple of years ago, he forgot to tell me he didn’t ride roller-coasters and we spent a good part of the day not only checking out the animals, but the people. They’re so interesting when they think no one is looking. lol
I’d much rather people watch than ride a roller coaster. Those things are scary!
I sooooo wish I had the nerve to just outright ask someone if I could take their pic! Can you imagine what my storyboards would look like, though? White boards all over my house with pics of real people tacked to them with crazy scribbling below each pic. OMG. If anyone saw it, they’d call the FBI on me! LOL. Thanks again, Dolls, for having me as a guest today!! <3
Hey Amanda, Thanks for visiting! Do you know how many books will be in the Shaede Assassin series?
She said via : “Shaedes is contracted for 3 books so far. Fingers crossed for seven! ;)”
Oh, I totally like to people watch. The airport, amusement parks, the local fair, just about anywhere.
Oh, the local fairs are great for people watching!
No, I’m not a people watcher. I will pick up on things in passing but I don’t go out of my way to check people out.
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I probably wouldn’t trip on my own feet as much if I wasn’t such a people watcher! LOL
I work in a retail job and sadly as anyone working retail would tell you, you have to keep your eyes open and watching all the time. I find myself doing the same thing any time I go shopping, wondering if this one or that one…you know what I mean. So yes I do tend to follow people but with my eyes only.
I used to work in retail too, years ago. You meet the most interesting people!
Hi Amanda! This is where I have to admit that for a long time I was usually the one they were watchin’. hahahaha
These days I’m gettin’ better at blendin’ in, but I didn’t worry too much about that for a very long time. hahahahaha Seriously.
Suz, I think people who stand out are great! There’s nothing wrong with being interesting. I’d much rather stand out than blend in. :)
I used to be a people watcher, now I work from home and am basically a hermit :P
LOL! I know what you mean! That could be why I’m so fascinated. I don’t get out to see people very often.
Yes, I like to people watch. I’ve watched people before that I was dying to know their story, unfortunately I’ll never know it. Then the only thing to do is make something up. :D
Sometimes the made up stories are better! :)
I love to peoples and imagine myself as them. Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
Thanks for stopping by! :)
Once in a while, but not really.
Sometimes it depends on what I’m doing. If I’m really involved in something, I tend to people watch less.
I love to watch people and create stories in my mind. I usually do it when I am in a coffe shop or when I am at work in the bookstore…
I like to observe people in coffee shops. Different places bring in different types of customers, too!
I love to people watch! Thinking of imagining and constructing their stories is actually something I’ve always done since I was a kid. It’s definitely an amusing way to pass time when you’re in public somewhere.
People watching is a great way to pass the time!
CONGRATS Amanda on the release!!! Can’t wait to read this one since I absolutely loved the first:)
I actually do like to people watch… I’ve done it at the mall several times while waiting for someone. It is interesting to watch people interact with each other and to wonder what their life is like. Glad to know I’m not the only one who does it:)
Thanks, Yadira! :) I could totally spend an entire day people watching and making up stories about their lives!
[...] Monday, Blood Before Sunrise author Amanda Bonilla visited! Read her Guest Blog Here [...]
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as
though you relied on the video to make your point.
You clearly know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on
just posting videos to your site when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?