Michael Karol
Ray Abreu is a gay New Yorker who's looking for Mr. Right.
Unfortunately, he's just met Mr. Wrong -- Mr. Dead Wrong.

Nominated for the Queer Horror Award (2003)

"Gives new meaning to the concept of eternal love. 'Kiss Me, Kill Me' is a sexy, well-constructed page-turner. - Missy Beattie (Amazon)

"A fun and easy read, with a touch of history. Plenty of vampiric punch and erotic imagery." - Paul Minafri (Amazon)


Would You Choose Eternal Love If It Came with a Horrible Price?

New York writer Ray Abreu could deal with getting fired from his job. He could even accept the fact that after looking longer than he was willing to admit, he still hadn't found his Forever Guy.
          But Ray could not accept being linked to a series of gruesome murders in the Big Apple. Yet he was connected. And he was tired of bringing men home with him only to wonder, "Is he going to kiss me, or kill me?" But he persisted in going out and putting his life on the line.
          Ray knew facts about the murders that only the killer could know—the stuff they hide from the public in newspaper accounts. But Ray had no idea why the killer was using him, or how. It seemed too awfully similar to the horror movies he'd loved as a child. But this time the horror was closing in on him.
         There's a handsome detective on the case who might be playing for Ray's team. He could be Mr. Right. But will Ray live long enough to find out?
         
"Kiss Me, Kill Me" takes the reader on a fascinating journey from the slave ships of the 1600s to the plantations of colonial Virginia and finally to modern-day New York. It's a new twist on an old tale, sexy and smart, with stunning illustrations that evoke gothic mood and atmosphere, taken by veteran New York photographer Craig Hamrick (see below).

Some online reviews:
         Missy Beattie/NYC: "Michael Karol gives new meaning to the concept of eternal love. Take this book to the beach, to bed, on a plane, or read it aloud to your mate or date. It's a sexy, well constructed page-turner."
          Paul Minafri: "A fun and easy read, with a touch of history. If you are seeking your 'FOREVER GUY,' this book might give you some second thoughts about how long 'forever' really is. Plenty of vampiric punch and erotic imagery. Jake and Todd are hotties I'd like to meet. Wow!"
          Order "Kiss Me, Kill Me," just published by iUniverse, from the following sources: Barnes & Noble; iUniverse; Amazon; or order it at your local brick-and-mortar bookstore.

Picture This: Photographer Craig Hamrick

Author Michael Karol wanted his novel "Kiss Me, Kill Me" to stand out from the crowd, and when he decided to use pictures to illustrate the dark story, there was only one place to turn: New York photographer and "Dark Shadows" fan Craig Hamrick. As the picture at right attests, Craig's moody, gothic influenced work is the perfect complement to a modern-day vampire story.
   Hailing from Coffeyville, Kansas, Craig made the Big Apple his home a decade ago, and has since made a name for himself in publishing as well as photography. A fascination with the soap opera "Dark Shadows" led to "The Dark Shadows Collectible Book" and a new trivia tome, "Barnabas & Co." Craig befriended many in the cast of the groundbreaking soap, and recently published "Big Lou," a biography of Louis Edmonds [he played Roger, Joshua, and Edward Collins, among others], who passed away in 2001.
          For more on Craig's work, click here.

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Copyright 2003 by Michael Karol; photos copyright by Craig Hamrick; no text may be reprinted
nor pictures taken from this site without the express permission of the author(s).