trueromance

Primal Instincts by Susan Sizemore

Setting: Contemporary Los Angeles

Heroine: Francesca Reynard, Vampire female

One sentence summary: Tobias Strahan is blackmailed into seducing the woman of his dreams while trying to save the supernatural inhabitants of Los Angeles.

Scene you like most and would never cut:

The scene I like most is the scene that was the hardest for me to write, which is an airplane crash. It was a very emotionally difficult scene to write, very challenging. That makes it important to me. Also, the hero acts very heroic and brave and is hurt terribly in this scene, physically and emotionally. A good hurt the hero scene is to be treasured.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:

My heroine is a shop on Rodeo Drive, perfect hair and makeup sort of girl - uh, vampire. She’s not one for getting dirty or breaking a nail - uh, claw.

What celebrity is your hero like: Since I cast my books I know exactly who he looks like: Eric Bana.

What celebrity is your heorine like: Catherine Zeta Jones in Mask of Zorro.

What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:

One of the frustrations of her life is that she’s the heir to vampire clan and doesn’t get to have an occupation. Vampire females are rare and over-protected by their Prime males. She doesn’t find her purpose in life, or the courage to free herself from traditional roles, until she meets the hero.

What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:

Tobias is a the leader of a group of supernatural special forces operatives. He’s also the father of an adopted teenage human daughter. So he’s a pretty busy guy.

What you think readers will like best about this book:

Action, adventure, romance, humor, all that good stuff. I know that I am deeply in love with the hero. He’s an alpha male warrior out to save his world, a determined suitor determined to have the woman he desires, a fantastic lover, and a great dad.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:

The heroine of this book (Primal Instincts), Flare Reynard. Flare appeared in one scene in the first Primes book, I Burn For You, and I’ve been asked to write her story ever since. I’m delighted that it’s finally Flare’s turn.

What’s next: Next for the Vampire Primes will be a novella featuring two more members of the Dark Angels special forces unit. I’m writing a new book for my other vampire series, Laws of the Blood. I’m also writing a fantasy novel.

I’d like to know if readers are as interested in vampire heroines as they are in vampire heroes?

I’m offering a $25.00 Borders gift card to two of the readers that post comments.

Follow me at http://twitter.com/SusanSizemore

Yours for Eternity

Alexandra Ivy:

Setting: London, England
Subgenre: Historical Paranormal
Hero: Victor, Marquis DeRosa
Heroine: Juliet Lawrence

One sentence summary:

Victor is a vampire who is accustomed to getting what he wants, and what he wants is Juliet in his bed, and ruling at his side, if only he can convince the stubborn female she’s his destined mate.

Scene you like most and would never cut:

The scene where they’re battling the Jinn beneath the London docks. It reveals the depth of emotion between the two and how much they’re willing to sacrifice for one another.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:

Staring into the mirror to see how pretty she looks.

What celebrity is your hero like:

Darcy in Pride and Prejudice…only with fangs.

What celebrity is your heroine like:

Sandra Bullock

What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:

She is half-fey, half-witch with the unique ability to sense magical objects.

What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:

Clan Chief of England.

What you think readers will like best about this book:

The combination of action, horror, and humor.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:

Levet, the tiny gargoyle who makes life hell for my vampires 

What’s next:
Tane’s story in Devoured by Darkness. This is the seventh book in my Guardian of Eternity series.

If you could have any book made into a movie, which would it be?

I’ll be happy to give away a book of the winner’s choice.

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Hannah Howell:

Setting: Medieval Scotland
Subgenre:Paranormal/Vampire romance
Hero: Adeline Dunbar
Heroine: Lachann MacNachton

One sentence summary:Lahcann MacNachton is hunting for the lost members of his clan when he finds Adeline Dunbar and the child, Osgar, a MacNachton, and together they fight to get the child to the safety of Cambrun, the MacNachton fortress, as Lachann overcomes his mistrust of human women and falls for Adeline.

Scene you like most and would never cut: The prologue. It was one of those scenes that just came to me when I was struggling to come up with a better beginning than I had. The beginning was good but I felt it didn’t have the snap I wanted and then, suddenly, I wrote the prologue and it fit. It’s the satisfaction I felt that also makes me like it the best.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: She’d never say - ”You can just leave me here.” And she would never, never leave Osgar.

What celebrity is your hero like: Maybe like Clive Owen in Child of Man where he does so much to save the child and the woman. In truth, I never think of celebrities when I draw my characters, although I will give them some bits of actors or actresses that I like, such as one’s eyes, or another’s mouth.

What celebrity is your heroine like: Here comes that problem of never thinking of a celebrity when devising my characters. Maybe a little like the Sarah Connor character in the Terminator movies where she does all she can to save her son. Adeline might not be able to kick butt like that, but she has the spirit to do anything she can to save those she loves.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She’s a healer/midwife, an expert with herbal remedies. She does what her mother did and that gets her marked as a witch.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He is a soldier for his clan and one of the ones hunting down the Lost Ones, people with MacNachton blood. They are the descendents of the clans’ forefathers that the clan has only recently learned about and the ones who have survived are now being hunted so the clan is working hard to gather them all together.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I hope they like the way these two completely different people come together to save the child Osgar and both learn to trust despite pasts that have taught them not to.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
There’s a character in my late-Georgian psychic tales(If He’s Wicked, …Sinful, …Wild) that people have already said they want me to write about – Modred, the head of the Vaughn and Wherlocke families, who has telepathic powers and an empathy that’s so strong he has become a complete recluse. Unfortunately, he needs to be a lot older than he is now to get his own story but I have a few ideas. I do know that he will get his story if the series continues long enough for he just won’t stay tucked away in his castle on the border of Wales like a good little duke and constantly gets mentioned or appears in the stories of his family. So he is definitely demanding one.

What’s next: I just turned in the manuscript for the next Murray tale – HIGHLAND PROTECTOR – that is Sir Simon Innes’ story. I found the perfect Murray lass for him. And now I’m working on another tale of the Wherlockes and Vaughns. Sir Argus is in trouble and he’s going to get help from an unexpected source, a lovely young woman his ‘gift’ has no effect on. Such an arrogant fellow deserves a strong woman who can look him in the eye and say – Hah, I don’t think so, sir.

I like to write about strong women who do what’s needed in extraordinary circumstances and don’t let the hero walk all over them. Is there a strong woman in your life that you admire?

I have contests on my web page: www.hannahhowell.com where I give away signed copies of my books and other goodies. Come and try your luck at the various ways my webmistress comes up with to test you.

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YOURS FOR ETERNITY, Immortal Dreams

KAITLIN O’RILEY

Setting: Victorian London
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance/vampire novella
Hero: Lord Radcliffe
Heroine: Grace Sutton

One sentence summary: What’s more romantic than finding the man who has been in love with you for over a century?

Scene you like most and would never cut: That’s tricky to answer without spoiling the plot, but there’s a sexy dream sequence that I love. Dreams play a big part in this story.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Grace is independent and strong-willed at heart, but she would never kick-box anyone who got in her way.

What celebrity is your hero like: Lord Radcliffe is very handsome, intense, secretive, and has a dark past, so I’d say he’s a little like a Victorian version of Jon Hamm’s Don Draper character, just without all the drinking and smoking and cheating!

What celebrity is your heroine like: Grace is beautiful with auburn hair and probably physically resembles Rachel MacAdams.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Of course a Victorian lady did not work, but if she had a career, I think Grace would be a writer because she keeps a journal.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He’s a sexy vampire and has amassed a fortune over the years. He doesn’t need a job.

What you think readers will like best about this book: This was my first venture into the paranormal genre and Immortal Dreams is a very haunting and romantic story. A love that endures the physical realm is what everyone longs for.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Readers are waiting for the next in my Hamilton sisters series. Lisette’s story will be out in October 2011. And yes, the younger sisters will get their stories told too!

What’s next: I’ve a steamy novella coming out in February in An Invitation to Sin, along with Jo Beverley, Sally MacKenzie and Vanessa Kelly.

Who do you think is the sexiest vampire out there in TV or movies?

No Oridinary Cowboy, by Mary Sullivan
Hi everyone, I’m so glad to be here today. Thank you to Sue Grimshaw and Borders for this opportunity!

My reading habits went through a change this summer. I used to do the bulk of my reading in the winter. There’s nothing like sitting tucked up cozily indoors with a good book on a cold winter evening while a storm rages outside. That feeling of safety, and of delving into a book and drifting away from the cares of the world, is precious to me.

The summer usually finds me out and about, and doing much less reading; however, this summer has been unusually hot where I live, and the humidity insufferable. At the beginning of the summer, I ended up sitting in front of the television every night because it was too hot to go outside, even in the evening. I eventually grew pretty disgusted with myself, turned off the tv and picked up a book. I’ve been plowing through them ever since.

My focus has been on historicals, which I loooove. Most often that means Regencies. Lately, though, I’ve been having a blast reading Western historicals. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I signed up for a course through one of the RWA chapters about gamblers and prostitutes in the American West in the 1800s. It’s been fascinating!

I’ve been reading contemporary Westerns, too. It follows that I would like them, since I write them! So odd considering that I grew up in and currently live in the city.

When I decided to write books about cowboys and ranchers and wanted to set them in Montana, I had to do a lot of research. The Internet was invaluable, of course. Also, though, I ordered books about Montana and the ranching lifestyle—one by a reporter who left the city and went to live on a ranch for a year, immersing himself in the lifestyle and then writing about his experience. What an eye-opener. It’s a hard life and the people engaged in it, tough. Hardy.

I can’t imagine a complainer lasting long on a farm or a ranch. There is something appealing to me about the kind of people who see that a job needs to be done, say, “Right, let’s get at it,” and then do it.

As well, I bought a couple of large coffee table books full of stunning photographs of gorgeous landscapes that took my breath away. A few of the cowboys in the photos took my breath away, too

The facts about time and place and people are out there for any of us to access, whether present day or historical, but what I admire is that these same facts and figures can be used by talented authors in so many different ways to write so many original stories. I have immersed myself in those stories throughout the summer.

When do you like to do the bulk of your reading? In which season? What kinds of stories inspire you?

I have two copies of my August Superromance, THIS COWBOY’S SON, that I would love to give away to a couple of you who leave a comment.

BODY MASTER by C.J. Barry

Setting: New York City, 2011
Subgenre: Contemporary Paranormal Fantasy
Hero: Max Dempsey
Heroine: Seneca Thomas

Three sentence summary: Seneca Thomas is a talented agent with XCEL, a secret government taskforce charged with capturing the dangerous shapeshifters that have infiltrated New York City, passing for humans. When her partner is killed in the line of duty, Seneca finds herself teamed up with Max Dempsey–a shapeshifter. And when the pair discover a growing army of shifters gathering beneath the city, Seneca will have no choice but to trust the one man she shouldn’t.

Scene you like most and would never cut: The first scene where Seneca shows just how special and formidable she is. Her Native American heritage (which I share) makes her the perfect shapeshifter hunter, and this opening sequence tells readers everything they need to know about Seneca, including why she hunts shifters. Her special abilities may be a curse, but she feels bound to use them to keep her world safe.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Let’s get a mani-pedi!”

What celebrity is your hero like: Matt Damon in the Bourne movies. Max is quiet, watchful, and intense–right up until it’s time to do battle, and then he leaves nothing on the table.

What celebrity is your heroine like: Kate Beckinsale in the Underworld movies. Seneca is fearless, intelligent, and fiercely loyal. The only time you see her tough veneer falter is when the people she loves are in danger or harmed.

What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: A human agent for XCEL, NYC Division, tasked with locating and capturing criminal shapeshifters. She lives with her grandmother, a wise Iroquois woman who tries to teach Seneca what faith is. In Seneca’s world, however, faith won’t keep her alive.

What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: A shapeshifter prototype XCEL agent who is using Seneca and her organization to find the man who murdered his wife. Before that, he and his race were driven from their last planet in mass genocide. He is a man with nothing else to lose.

What you think readers will like best about this book: It’s set in one of my favorite places–New York City. I love Manhattan because it is a microcosm of humanity, all consolidated on an island. With this setting, I am able to showcase the shifter’s circumstances and how they are not very different from humans after all. I’m hoping that readers get to experience both sides of a very complex relationship beneath all the steamy attraction.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: From my original Futuristic romance series, ALL the secondary characters in UNMASKED!

What’s next: A sequel to BODY MASTER is in the works. Titled BODY THIEF, this book picks up where the last book left off and explores the changes in XCEL: New York City division.

Visit www.cjbarry.com for more information about BODY MASTER and to read the first chapter.

BODY MASTER trailer:

Discussion questions: How would you react if you discovered shapeshifters replacing your friends or family? Would their presence here cause mass hysteria or do you think we are more accepting? If you were a shapeshifter, who would you want to become most?

I’ll be drawing a winner from those who comment to receive an autographed copy of BODY MASTER.

Book: RAPTURE UNTAMED by Pamela Palmer

Setting: Northern Virginia and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Subgenre: Paranormal
Hero: Jag, the bad boy of the Feral Warriors
Heroine: Olivia, a petite Therian Guard with a deadly secret

One sentence summary: Jag finally meets his match in Olivia, but he’s the last male on Earth she could ever trust with her dark secrets, or her heart.

Scene you like most and would never cut: The scene where Jag learns Olivia’s secret and uses it against her. He’s still reeling from the fact he’d nearly forfeited his life to save her. When she hadn’t needed saving.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Help me! Help me!” Olivia’s been on her own for too many years, and is far too capable a fighter in her own right to ever ask anyone for help. In truth, she’s stronger than any male, though no one can ever know that. The strength she possesses is forbidden.

What celebrity is your hero like: Josh Holloway (Sawyer on LOST). Same bad attitude, too.

What celebrity is your heroine like: Perhaps a redheaded Kate Beckinsale.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She’s the head of a British Therian Guard unit, the elite force of immortal non-shifters who protect the enclaves from draden and Mage attacks.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Jag is a Feral Warrior, one of the nine shape shifters left in the world, the guardians of the Therian race. At present, the Ferals are fighting a Mage plot to free the Daemons and bring hell to earth.

What do you think readers will like best about this book: Watching the pain-in-the-ass Jag not only meet his match, but find the hero inside him that he’s tried so hard to ignore. Sparks and barbs fly between these two fierce and strong-willed characters.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Kougar’s winning the race at the moment, but most of my readers know his book is coming out in February. After that, the votes seem to be coming in pretty evenly for Vhyper, Hawke, and Wulfe.

What’s next: Kougar’s book, Hunger Untamed, comes out February 22, 2011. Beyond that, more Feral Warriors, but I’m not telling who’s next. You’ll have to wait and see!

Who’s your favorite bad boy in books or on television? One commenter will be chosen to win a signed copy of Desire Untamed, book 1 in the Feral Warriors series.

Today we welcome the finalists from The Readers’ Crown Contest! These talented authors were selected by readers who judged their books as the best in romance fiction.

They will be chatting with us about the stories behind their books, what’s next in their series,
and other fun things, such as what they do when they aren’t writing. The folks at RomCon (www.romconinc.com) will be giving away $10 Borders gift cards to 3 lucky commenters today!

2010 Readers’ Crown Finalists:

Short Contemporary Romance -
Unexpected Gifts by Holly Jacobs
The Sheriff of Horseshoe, Texas by Linda Warren

Her So-Called Fiance by Abby Gaines
No Ordinary Cowboy by Mary Sullivan

Short Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Adventure -

Here Today, Gone to Maui by Carol Snow
Beyond The Code Of Conduct by KM Daughters
Better Than Bulletproof by Kay Thomas
Christmas Guardian by Delores Fossen

Long Contemporary Romance -

Sunset Bay by Susan Mallery
Double Play by Jill Shalvis
Hard & Fast by Erin McCarthy
Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

Long Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Adventure

Seeing Red by Susan Crandall
Wild Heat by Bella Andre
Defender by Catherine Mann
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper

Short Historical Romance -

In the Masters Bed by Blythe Gifford
The Conqueror’s Lady by Terri Brisbin
A Storm of Passion by Terri Brisbin
The Viscount Claims His Bride by Bronwyn Scott

Long Historical Romance -

Captive of Sin by Anna Campbell
A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist
The Lone Texan by Jodi Thomas
To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

Romance Novella -

Weekend Tigress in WINTER HEAT by Jade Lee
This Wicked Gift in THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS by Courtney Milan
My Lady Below Stairs in A CHRISTMAS BALL by Emily Bryan
UNDEAD MAN’S HAND, in Out of the Light, Into the Shadows by Erin McCarthy

Paranormal Romance -

Finding the Lost by Shannon K Butcher
Burning Alive by Shannon K Butcher
My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel
Ties That Bind by Keena Kincaid

Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements -

Tainted by Julie Kenner
Witch Fury by Anya Bast
Amazon Ink by Lori Devoti
Bound by Sin by Jenna Maclaine

Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Futuristic/Time-Travel Romance -

Beyond the Rain by Jess Granger
The Hunt by Anne Marsh
A Highlander of Her Own by Melissa Mayhue
Lord of the Highlands by Veronica Wolff

Erotic Romance -

Mona Lisa Darkening by Sunny
Beloved Vampire by Joey Hill
Into the Lair by Maya Banks
Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks

Best First Book -

The Hunt by Anne Marsh
Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory
Mistress by Mistake by Susan Gee Heino
Mastering the Marquess by Vanessa Kelly

& now the Winners:

Short Contemporary Romance Winner - Abby Gaines! for The Groom Came Back

Short Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Adventure Winner - Sheri Whitefeather for Protecting Their Baby

Long Contemporary Romance Winner is Carly Phillips for Lucky Break!

Long Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Adventure Winner is Cindy Gerard for Whisper No Lies

Short Historical Romance Winner is Robyn DeHart for Seduce Me!

Long Historical Romance Winner is Jennifer Ashley & The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

Romance Novella Winner is Sophia Nash & Four Dukes and a Devil in CATCH OF THE CENTURY

Paranormal Romance Winner is Jory Strong for Ghostland

Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements Winner is SJ Day for Eve of Darkness

Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Futuristic/Time-Travel Romance Winner is Sandra Hill & Viking Heat

Erotic Romance Winner is Livia Dare for In the Flesh

Best First Book Winner is Mary Sullivan for No Ordinary Cowboy

Starting on August 15, 2010, we’ll have visits from each of the contest’s winners–so be sure to stop back by!

So, tell us know, which of these marvelous authors are you anxious to try? One random commenter will win a $10 Borders Gift Card — start now!

Happy Romance!

Leigh from bookloversmessageboard.com:

II am a fickle reader. It is not that I enjoy being one. I guess I must have the attention span of . . . .well not a gnat, let’s say a dog or at least, my dogs. I read authors for five or six years or six or so books and then I just get bored. Or their plots’ similarities jump out at me and that is the kiss of death. There are very few authors that survive once I think that they have a formula. And if they do survive then the anticipation, the need to tell everyone what a great book this is dissipates. The author’s books change into comfort reads. Books that I like okay. Books that allow me to escape from my daily grind. But not the type of books that I close thinking. . .what a perfect book.

One author that doesn’t have to worry about being a comfort read is Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I discovered her books in the early 90’s. I was working in a used book store in Atlanta, Georgia and came across Glitter Baby. Now I had never heard of this author but the book sounded interesting. So I thought why not? While reading it, I laughed, I cried, I re-read the whole thing again and then I had to tell all the customers. . . This book is wonderful. I think you will love it. . . . this is a great book. .. it is hilarious, and emotional. And from that day forward, I have read all of Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ books.

After Glitter Baby there was Fancy Pants. . . and Teddy. I ate up every word. . . from the “killing a bunch of bugs and sticking them to a board with pins”, to the ketchup on the hamburger, to the “Born to Raise Hell” sweatshirt. Teddy barreled his way into my heart. And this next year we will get Teddy’s book.

Now don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t say that I am a fan girl. There are some books that I just like and some books that I love. And since I stated that I am not a fan girl, can I be honest? I am a little worried about how Ms. Phillips is going to pull off the switch in love interest with Teddy’s book. How is she going to handle the girlfriend rule? How would I feel if I fell in love with my best friend’s fiance? But you know what, while there are some scenarios that I don’t really buy into and some that I do Susan Elizabeth Phillips has gained my trust. Anyone that can make me think a funeral is a perfect way for a hero to tell the heroine that he loves her can also convince me that night is day, and day is night.

She has gained my trust by being unpredictable. Honestly, can you think of any other author that could start a book with heroine walking down the road in a beaver suit? And with that unpredictability she makes me laugh, and and then she makes me cry and finally makes me believe in Happy Ever Afters. Her books are a journey through all the emotions that we experience with our humanity. When I read a book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips I experience the joy of reading. And there is no better complement that I can give. So while Susan Elizabeth Phillips doesn’t know it. . . her books keep me from being a completely fickle reader.

SO, what books have brought you out of your reading slump? 3 lucky random commenters below will win some of Sue’s Stash!

Leigh

Chosen, by Jeanne C Stein, available August 31

Setting: Sunny San Diego. What better place for vampires? Especially ones like mine who have adapted to sunlight.
Subgenre: Urban Fantasy
Hero: Well, none yet exactly.
Heroine: Anna Strong– it’s her story.

One sentence summary: It’s been almost a year since bounty hunter Anna Strong became a vampire, but as she’s about to discover, her greatest powers have yet to be unleashed…

Scene you like most and would never cut: That’s a tough one because usually the scenes I like most, are the ones that have little to do with the story line. For instance, introspection and Anna’s constant battle with the dual sides of her nature feature prominently in my books. Coming to understand why she is the Chosen One is an important part of that process.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: She would never be caught eating real food (can you say projectile vomiting) or taking up archery for a hobby (an accident with a wooden arrow could have dire consequences).

What celebrity is your hero like: Well, the most recent romantic interest for Anna is a male model (think Eric Northman from True Blood–the short haired Eric)

What celebrity is your heorine like: A combination of Kate Beckinsale in Underworld and Yancy Butler in Witchblade.

What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be
doing: She was a bounty hunter as a human and still has that business with a human partner who as yet does not know she’s a vampire. Since she was no wilting violet as a human, she’s certainly not one as a vampire.

What you think readers will like best about this book: Anna Strong will appeal to fans of Buffy (though she’s a vampire, not a slayer). She combines the physical attributes of a vampire with the desire to retain her connection to humanity. I like to think she has the qualities most women and girls find inspiring: loyalty, strength, a strong moral compass. Her appeal to men is honesty, sexual equality, protectiveness.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Culebra–the shapeshifter who runs the Mexican bar where vamps go to feed safely. Humans are paid to be donors. Because I thought the need for human blood is an important part of the vampire mythos, I had to come up with a way to let my protagonist get her fix without becoming a predator. Culebra has his own interesting back story which has yet to be shared. But it soon will be,

What’s next: After Chosen, the seventh book, Crossroads, is scheduled for a 2011 release. Anna hears about a Shaman who has the ability to restore a vampire’s humanity. Anna will have to make the biggest decision of her life.

If you write about vampires, immortality is a subject you give a lot of thought. It goes with the territory. Besides needing to drink blood to survive, the one constant in all vampire mythos is eternal life. In fact, it’s what distinguishes vampires from other supernatural creatures—while a werewolf, for instance, emphasizes what is mortal in us—primal urges—a vampire emphasizes what is immortal—never ending life.
As I get older, the thought of immortality sounds better and better. For the first time in my life, I may have more years behind me than ahead of me. It’s scary. I think back on all that’s happened in my lifetime. Wonders of space and technology, both for good and bad, are opening up new frontiers. Who wouldn’t want to be around for a hundred or a thousand more years to see what will be accomplished?

But at what cost?

My protagonist, Anna Strong, a newly turned vampire, has a human family. She was turned by accident and trick of fate. Now she deals with the ramifications. She knows she will have to face the loss of everyone she has ever known and loved. Can she ever regain the warmth of a family? Or will her existence be reduced to mere survival?
As a vampire, as a woman, Anna seeks satisfying relationships, sometimes with other vampires. But vampires more often seek relationships with humans and not just as a convenient food source. Perhaps vampires recognize that having a finite life span enables mortals to have deeper, more meaningful relationships than immortals with unbounded lives.

So my questions to you are: Can vampires fall in love? Can they really care for each other? Power and control are part of the makeup of a vampire. Does being forced to associate with such beings make eternal life more of a curse than a blessing?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please post a comment. One of you will be chosen at random to receive a complete set of Anna Strong books as well as a $25.00 gift card to Borders and a surprise or two as well.

The Eternal Kiss of Darkness, by Jeaniene Frost

Book Summary:
An immortal war has been brewing in the darkness…and now one woman has stumbled into the shadows.
Chicago private investigator Kira Graceling should have just kept on walking. But her sense of duty refused to let her ignore the moans of pain coming from inside a warehouse just before dawn. Suddenly she finds herself in a world she’s only imagined in her worst nightmares.
At the center is Mencheres, a breathtaking Master Vampire who thought he’d seen it all. Then Kira appears—this fearless, beautiful…human who braved death to rescue him. Though he burns for her, keeping Kira in his world means risking her life, yet sending her away is unthinkable.
But with danger closing in, Mencheres must choose between the woman he craves, or embracing the darkest magic to defeat an enemy bent on his eternal destruction.
Setting: Like most of my novels, the setting takes place over multiple areas: Chicago, Illinois; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Anaheim, California; Yucatán, Mexico and Atlanta, Georgia.

Subgenre: Paranormal romance
Hero: Mencheres
Heroine: Kira

One sentence summary: Locked in an eons-old feud with an ancient enemy, the last thing Mencheres expected was to fall for the lovely human he’s forced to hold captive in order to protect the secrecy of his race.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
I have too many favorite scenes to pick just one. Some of them would reveal too much if I described them, but here are three non-spoiler scenes that I especially loved while writing: a midnight walk in the forest with my hero and heroine, a scene with an ancient Egyptian black magic ritual, and a scene with two vampires scoring blood on the Haunted Mansion ride in Disneyland.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
“I give up” is something that would never cross Kira’s lips, and she proves that many times in this book.

What celebrity is your hero like:
This is an easy question, because I’ve always had one actor in mind when I pictured Mencheres: Oded Fehr. If you don’t recognize the name, Oded played the sexy gigolo Antoine in Deuce Bigalo: Male Gigolo, as well as the Med-jai warrior in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. Here are a couple pics of the yummy Oded: . and here:

What celebrity is your heroine like:
Kira looks a lot like Milla Jovovich in the first Resident Evil movie with her shorter, amber hair, light eyes, and feminine yet tough attitude:

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
Kira is a private investigator, trying to get promoted from things like cheating-spouse surveillance to more significant cases.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Mencheres is one of the oldest and most powerful vampires in my novels, so he’s Master of a huge line of vamps who depend on him for their safety and well-being. Vampire society operates under a form of Feudalism in my series, so in return for his protection, the other vampires under his line pay Mencheres ten percent of their incomes unless/until they strike out to become their own Masters.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
A few readers who’ve gotten an early look tell me they really like the dynamic between Mencheres and Kira, the revelation of Mencheres’s background, Kira’s strength, and, uh, some of the unexpected things that Mencheres can do with his telekinetic powers (for a milder example of what I mean, here’s a scene snippet from EKOD: http://www.frostfans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=942&p=19926#p19926 )

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
I’d have to say this would be split between Vlad and Ian. I get a lot of requests for books on both men. Out of them, the character who has the best shot of getting his own book is Vlad. I already have at least two complete stories with him in my head, and he’s at a place in his life (and the series, heh) where he’s almost ready to meet his heroine. Ian, on the other hand, is not ready at all to cease his hell-raising, promiscuous ways. Sorry, ladies. *wink* Give the naughty vampire a little more time.

What’s next:
I’ve turned my focus back to Cat and Bones with THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE, Night Huntress World, book five, which comes out February 22, 2011. For readers who can’t wait to get a hint as to what trouble Cat and Bones have gotten into this time, I’m happy to say that the entire first chapter of THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE is available at the end of ETERNAL KISS OF DARKNESS.

And now, a question for readers. As I mentioned above, one of the supernatural powers that my hero Mencheres has is telekinesis. What supernatural power do you think it would be cool for a vampire to have? Everyone who answers in the comments will be entered in a drawing to win one of three copies of ETERNAL KISS OF DARKNESS. International entries welcome. Thanks, and good luck!

-Jeaniene Frost

First chapter and more teaser scenes: http://jeanienefrost.com/night-huntress-world-books/eternal-kiss-of-darkness/

& don’t miss Friends & Family 7/16-19/10:

I KISSED AN EARL

Setting: Regency England and the high seas, including stops in the Bay of Biscay, Le Havre and Brest.
Subgenre: Regency historical
Hero: Captain Asher Flint, the Earl of Ardmay
Heroine: Violet Redmond

One sentence summary:

When wild child Violet Redmond suspects the newly styled Earl of Ardmay not only knows where her missing brother is but is determined to capture and hang him for piracy, she contrives to prevent him from doing it—and the adventure of a lifetime, not to mention a cataclysmic romance, ensues.

Scene you like most and would never cut:

I don’t want to give too much away, but there’s a scene right after Violet has just done something shocking and heroic—something that would have been unthinkable before she met the earl—and she realizes to her great consternation that she did it because she loves him.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:

“Of course! Anything you say, Mama and Papa! You know I live to obey you.”

What is your heroine’s occupation?

Star of the fantasies of the ton’s bloods, fomenter of mischief, fodder for gossip, seeker of her missing brother.

What is your hero’s occupation?

Bounty hunter, sea captain, newly styled earl, object of fascination for the ladies of the ton, and the only man on the planet who can tame Violet Redmond.

What you think readers will like best about this book:

Watching Violet Redmond meet her match. A deliciously hot earl. Incendiary romance. A very colorful cast of characters. A plot that keeps you guessing.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:

Lyon Redmond, the mysterious missing brother. But you might get an inkling of his fate in this book. Ahem.

What’s next:

WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE will be out in March ‘11, and it’s the story of what happens when the dangerous Duke of Falconbridge finds Ian Eversea in bed with his fiancée, he decides the punishment will fit the crime: he’ll seduce and abandon Genevieve Eversea, the only Eversea as yet untouched by scandal. But boy is HE in for a surprise.

Please end the post with a question or comment to ignite discussion.

Violet Redmond has always been restless and willful, and her search for her brother is the adventure of a lifetime and gives her a chance to escape Sussex for a while. If you could get away to anywhere right now, where would you go?

I’m giving away to a randomly chosen commenter the first three Pennyroyal Green books (THE PERILS OF PLEASURE, LIKE NO OTHER LOVER, SINCE THE SURRENDER) and some Special Edition I Kissed an Earl genuine gemstone earrings by Circe Designs: sterling silver and glorious shades of pink chalcedony and pearl!