Thursday, June 26, 2008

The Amnesiac Vampire: HIS FORGOTTEN FOREVER


If you lost your past, would you want it back?

Quite a heady question. We all have our own ideas of what amnesia means. The sudden loss of memory. The absence of all that you know. Fear. Anxiety. Utter devastation. But what about freedom?

It's all about me today! I'm celebrating the release of HIS FORGOTTEN FOREVER, which is now in stores for a brief month—so get it while it's there. My hero has amnesia. Yes, I always thought I'd never have an interest in writing one of the tried, true, and much-loved staples of the romance genre, the amnesiac. But the hero came to me as a villain of the previous book, KISS ME DEADLY, and I really wanted to shake up his world.  What better way to do that than to take away all that he knows? All that he has held dear, and all that makes him safe.

So back to what we think we'd feel if we had amnesia. Why not freedom? Suddenly, you've no memory. No ties to anything. You have no worries, no angst, not even a family to wrangle you into their dramas and grief or love. You're free. Okay, you do need to anchor yourself in the world somehow, but your immediate thoughts are not "Who am I missing from my life", "Who is looking for me?", "Where do I belong?" Those aren't your thoughts because you have no memories that tie you to what could be missing.

It's a weird concept to grasp. But we, as non-amnesiac people, have our memories. We know what we would miss. But if you had not those memories? Well, then, you wouldn't miss them. Think about it for a while.

When I was researching this story, I stumbled upon a documentary, UNKNOWN WHITE MALE. Fascinating stuff! A man, who has amnesia, was filmed quite soon after developing the malady by a close filmmaker friend. He followed him in the immediate days and discovered that an amnesiac, besides trying to fit into the world and just anchor himself, has no real anxiety about family, friends or lovers. Only when prompted, does he consider what or who might be missing from his life. I really latched onto this concept, and utilized it in my story.

Some have debated whether the film is an elaborate hoax. I watched it two times consecutively, and then another time. I believe it's truth. 

So what if you did have amnesia? And what if the first thing that begins to prompt your memories is the reflection of your fangs in the mirror? Yeah, I said fangs. And suddenly blood sounds really tasty to you. Wouldn't that freak you out?

If you're into vampires or amnesia, or hopefully, just want a dark and adventurous read, check out what happens with Truvin Stone as he regains his memories and learns he wasn't such a nice guy, and is forced to face his past indiscretions and create a new life with a woman who wants to love him. Read the first chapter here!

Now tell me, have you ever thought about what you'd do if you had amnesia?  Would you like a mild case, maybe just a day or so, so it would get you out of the office picnic or baking cookies for the annual Boy Scout sale?  Are amnesia stories your thing?  What's your favorite amnesia story?

I'll give away two copies of HIS FORGOTTEN FOREVER to two random posters!  Stop back tomorrow for the winner's names.

24 comments:

Jane said...

Hi Michelle,
I wouldn't know what to do if I had amnesia. I think I would wonder where my family is and if they're out looking for me. A mild case of amnesia is probably all I can handle. I'm fascinated by real life amnesia stories although a few have been hoaxes. My favorite amnesia story is Lisa Kleypas' "Someone to Watch Over Me. My favorite amnesia movie is "Memento."

Dina said...

Wow, nice title and story, I would have never thoguht of those 2 together, but it sounds like a fun & interesting read.

Michele Hauf said...

Yes, I forgot about Memento! What a great flick. Filmed from the end to the beginning and about a man with short-term memory, so he has to tattoo pertinent info and events on his body so he doesn't forget.

dina - I figured it was high-time for a vampire with amnesia. Can't let all the mortals have all the fun. :-)

Anonymous said...

I like to read stories about amnesia but I don't think I'd want to have amnesia. LOL

Megan Hart said...

Congrats on the release! I love the concept.

I don't think I'd want to have amnesia, but I did love Memento. Fifty First Dates was a funny movie, too, though the end made me cry!

M

Debra Dixon said...

I've been enjoying SAMANTHA WHO on television. I've come late to the series. It's a half-hour comedy. Girl wakes up to find she is a wildly successful, back-stabbing bitch. She tries to change, naturally. There are some genuinely touching moments as well as the comedy.

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING was always fun. The amnesia created a way into a family for the heroine even though she didn't have the amnesia.

Anastasia. Wasn't that a least partially an amnesia story? And wasn't it finally debunked?

Cindy Gerard said...

Great cover, Michele. It should fly off the shelves with your name on it.

Great cover, Michele. It should fly off the shelves with your name on it.
Oh wait, my amnesia kicked in and I forgot I said that :o)

I did some research on it once and ended up with a secondary character who had amnesia. The real life story I based my character on was heartbreaking - such a feeling of desperation and loss of control.

CrystalGB said...

Congratulations on your new release. I love the cover. I would probably scared silly if I had amnesia.

Michele Hauf said...

Hee, I just hope people don't have amnesia when looking for the book on the shelves, Cindy. :-)

I haven't checked out Samantha Who yet, but I do like Christina Applegate. Have to try to pick that one up during summer repeats.

This is one of my favorite covers! Even if it's totally wrong, it's absolutely gorgeous. THe hero in the story has brown/blonde hair, and the heroine's hair is actually red! And no chest hair on this vamp, though the guy on the cover is too sexy to complain about. :-)

flip said...

I love amnesia stories. It is a great plot. But personally I can't imagine having amnesia. It would remove a huge part of what is me.

mslizalou said...

I love amnesia stories. I don't know that I would enjoy actually having amnesia. I worry too much already and think I would just worry more if I couldn't remember my life.

I love While You Were Sleeping. One of my favorite movies ever. I've caught a few episodes of Samantha Who and they just make me laugh. She has no idea how mean she was to everyone and still can't figure out how to make things right.

Michele Hauf said...

Flip makes an interesting comment. Amnesia removes a large part of 'what is me'.
This makes me think about some of the Eckhart Tolle stuff I've been reading lately, and also the latest best seller by Jill Bolte Taylor, who writes about how she lost her ego after a stroke. She lost her 'me'. And what is the me, but the ego?

I know this is getting too broad, but still amnesia fascinates me for the loss of the ego and all those habits and beliefs and thinking a person gains over a lifetime.

I'd never want it myself, because I don't know how a person who can't remember their life could even find shelter, money, someone to care for them, unless it happened around loved ones. Scary stuff.

Keri Ford said...

Samantha Who is a wonderful, wonderful show. I laugh my backside off during every epidsode, but call it amnesia, I guess, I forget about and only watch it if it's coming on after a show I just watched.

I wouldn't mind having some of my memories removed, like when some little jerk in the four or fifth grade dumped me off in the trash can.

Christie Ridgway said...

I also love amnesia stories. I can't imagine what it would be like, though. I recently followed an internet trail about the young couple, who had just married when the wife...I forget (snort) how, but she lost her memory. They're still together and she had to re-fall in love with him.

Linda Howard has a great amnesia story... The one where the heroine is told her ex is in the hospital after an explosion? Okay, mabye I do have some memory loss, but I can't remember the title of that classic.

Debra Dixon said...

Michelle--

I've heard Jill Bolte Taylor speak and it's fascinating how she takes you through the process of that stroke and her experiences.

--DD

Michele Hauf said...

Deb, yes! I heard JBT's conversation with Oprah. It's just a tickle to listen to her. The enthusiasm in her voice, and her way of seeing the world. She's dropped all worry about what others think of her, and is just living her life. I love it! I'd highly recommend her book, MY STROKE OF INSIGHT to everyone. It's good stuff to know if you know someone who's had a stroke.
M

Estella said...

I enjoy amnesia stories, but am sure I wouldn't want to have amnesia.

tetewa said...

I think it would be terrible to have amnesia, with not knowing who you are and your family. Love the idea of the book it has one of my favorites in it (vampires), sounds like my kind of read. Congrats on the release and I also saw the movie Memento and enjoyed it!

Nathalie said...

I have to be honest and say amnesia stories are not my thing especially when I want to shake the characters for them to remember more quickly!

Maybe it is impatience!

Michele Hauf said...

Nathalie, I have my hero remember thing rather quickly, because what would be the point of having him not through the story? It's all in the blood...

:-)

limecello said...

Hi Michelle,

I've... never thought about having amnesia. There is one period inf my life [about a week?] that I wouldn't mind forgetting. Otherwise, I'd like it to be short term.
One of my favorite amnesia stories ... fiction ... is I think by Teresa Medeiros - And Then He Kissed Her (I think?) I love real life stories with happy endings - but I don't think I've read many books with an amnesiac.
I've read a few good books where the character loses their vision (then sometimes regains it).

catslady said...

I always think of Goldie Hawn in Overboard when talking about amnesia stories. In fiction it can be hysterical (good and bad) but I don't think I'd want to have it myself. I'd worry too much.

Lori T said...

I don't think that I would want to have amnesia...I think that it would be so scary to not remember anything about your life.

There are days that I would like to forget parts of my life, but overall I would not want to have it for myself.

I do love Samantha Who and Overboard is one of my favorites.

Pat White said...

Cool! I wouldn't mind losing my history because then I'd just have to live every moment in the present and not have any baggage to refer to. A very interesting concept!
P