Lady Snow Gwyn is tired of playing "mother" to her seven Vampire Slaying brothers. For the past two years, she's yearned to be out there fighting at their side as they hunt for bloodsuckers in the black of night. Snow is as good a fighter as any man, but she wasn't called to be a Slayer. A mere formality in her book.
Prince Sageren, Son of Lothar has spent the last fifty years in exile, awaiting the day when he can finally avenge his family and take back his throne. Barely existing, he's forced to face his inner demons and the monster he once was, compelling him to vow to never drink from humans again. A simple enough task--until he crosses paths with a human who makes his fangs ache to drain her.
When Snow runs into Prince Sage on a late night trip to the woods, she's torn between the urge to kill him and the desire to succumb to the feeling he stirs within her. And when Snow's life is threatened by the same evil that murdered his family, Prince Sage must enlist the aid of Snow's brothers to not only help him save her life, but to also regain his rightful place as King of the Vampires.
If Sage can keep the Slayers from killing him first.
Why do you think there is this fascination about vampires?
MB's INTERVIEW
Thank you, Mrs.Ganiere
What made you retell a classic story? How free is an author to change the classic story and is there some element that must remain unchanged?
I have always loved the classics. From Hans Christian Andersen to Grimm Brothers to Shakespeare. Poe, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Carroll, Baum, you name it. They are my favorite books I could read over and over again. So I knew that I wanted to do some twisted tales that were reminiscent of those earlier works.
I think in the twisting of fairytales you need to put in at least some pieces of the fairytale itself. It’s up to you to decide which ones you want in there, but every fairytale has items that are unique to them and you need to incorporate them if you want readers to identify what the story is.
Why do you think there is this fascination about vampires?
I think people have been fascinated with dangerous monsters since time began. The Greeks invented the Greek Gods and monsters that went along with them. Horror movies are so prevalent today because of peoples fascination with danger and death. Vampires in particular have become the latest craze of monster to be humanized and prettied up. They are now sexy monsters that try to fight their evil nature and fall in love with young girls who make them better for it. I personally have been drawn to vampires since the 80’s when I first saw the movie The Lost Boys. And then Brahm Stokers Dracula with Gary Oldman. So I love vampires before they became the craze.
How vulnerable should a fantasy/paranormal character be?
Characters should always be vulnerable. They should always have an inner conflict that people can identify with. I think that females tend to be more vulnerable in stories than men, because we still like our Alpha Males tough. But even with men there needs to be a certain vulnerability. It shows that they have something to lose. That they aren’t all powerful. I think it’s a fine line though so that you don’t make them seem weak,
Let’s leave aside the zombies and talk about vampires and werewolves: how do you see them, what are their most important features and what are the top differences (aside from the food :P)? Tell us ALL (and where/how Disneyland fits here)!
Well, first, I don’t think Disneyland does fit in with Paranormal creatures. LOL! Disneyland is one of my favorite places, but it is nowhere in the same realm as the dark werewolves and vampires that I write. As far as Disney itself pertains to fairytales, they, just like I, took the original tales and twisted them. They made them cute and sweet for children. I didn’t do that.
Vampires and werewolves can be different in so many ways, depending on who is telling the story. Werewolves for instance can change into full wolves, or wolf men. They can change at the full moon, or whenever they want, or just at certain times of the year. They can be fully aware while changed, or mindless killing beasts. It all depends on what they writer wants them to be. I’ve have three different wolf series. The only common thread between them is that my werewolves turn into full wolves. I don’t do the hairy wolfman thing. Not sexy!
Vampires like werewolves can have a dozen different mythos behind them. They can have evolved, been bitten by a bat, been created by a virus, come from another planet. I’ve seen all of those. They can be born, bitten, infected, you name it.
I think vampires and werewolves are alike in their power and speed, but depending on their mythos can have fundamental differences. If vampires are blood thirty monsters, you can have werewolves who hate what they are because they were bitten by a beast and they turn at the full moon, not knowing what happens to them. Likewise you can have werewolves that are born and have a great sense of family and pack life, whereas you have a vampire who was bitten and is alone and trying hard not to be what he is. It all depends on the spin you give them.
What are the pluses and minuses of the fantasy/paranormal stories in today’s literature? Give us advice: what should readers look for in a fantasy/paranormal story, how to choose what to read?
The biggest thing you want to look for is good world building. Fantasies take place in a different world and Paranormal is on Earth. Either way, you need good world building and good mythos for your characters. You can’t just say, They’re here, that’s all you need to know. It doesn’t work like that. You have to tell us how they came to be.
In my Fairelle Series there is a one page prologue in the front of every book that tells you how the different races came to be. If you don’t have a good world that has rules, government, factions, laws, etc. then it’s too easy for the writer to just write whatever they want without consequences and the story will fall flat and become unbelievable.
EXCERPT
Run away. Run now. Sage wanted to scream. But he couldn't. Drink her dry. Make her your own and you'll never be alone again. He pounded on his skull. His gaze met hers and he suddenly lost all reserve.
One moment he was inches away, the next he grabbed her braid and forced her body against his, crushing her lips with his own. His tongue plunged deep into her mouth. She stiffened at his touch initially, but then relaxed against him. He needed this.
Her supple body pressed against his, her curves sparking every inch of his skin to wake up and pay attention. Out of sheer will, he forced his fangs at bay. He wanted her all to himself at that moment. Just her. The feel of her lips on his lips. Her tongue danced and licked his with a palpable need. Her apparent lack of experience made Sage savor her all the more.
He was dangerously close to losing control. She pushed against him roughly and he let go. Her eyes widened before hardening. Quick as light she swung to slap him, but he caught her wrist.
"You don't want to do that, love. You'll split your palm open again."
"You had no right to kiss me."
Need pounded through him, making his body quake. He let go of her wrist. "I didn't see you protesting too much."
"I…I…" Her mouth opened and closed several times, but no words formed.
His gaze locked on her throat. The pulsing vein and the thundering of her heartbeat called to him. He licked his lips.
He stepped forward, gripped her arms and locked his gaze on hers. Her pupils contracted and then flooded open.
"You will go straight to the cabin. You will get your things and you will run. Run ‘til you get safe in your bed. And when you wake up in the morning, you will remember nothing."
Her eyes glazed over and he eased his grasp on her. She picked up her sword and ran. A minute later, the light in the cabin flickered out and the door slammed. Sage didn’t dare let himself even breathe until he knew she'd gone, for fear that he would chase her down and ravish her.
When he no longer heard her footsteps, he fell to his knees and clutched the bloodied gauze she'd left behind. So long he had been in exile, underground. So long he'd denied himself the companionship of a woman. And here, in the middle of a glade, he'd found her. His heart's desire was a human. What the hell was he going to do now?
********
Snow's anger flared and she was nose-to-nose with him in a step. "You left," she said. "I was trying to protect you from my brothers."
"I told you I wouldn't be there. It's best for you if you aren’t with me," he said. “It’s safer.”
"Fine. Then I'll go." Snow unlocked the door and stepped into the hall. Sage grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back to his room, slamming the door and pressing her against it.
He stared at her hard and leaned in closer, setting the palms of his hands onto the wood on either side of her head. His eyes glowed with a beautiful light from somewhere deep within, but they were full of sadness. His arousal pressed into her.
"Don't go," he whispered.
Warmth rushed through her body, flushing her cheeks and pooling in her belly. The sensation tingled and excited her. His fingers skimmed along her collarbone. He drew her face close and pressed his lips lightly to hers. Fire bloomed inside. Her body betraying what her mind told her not to want.
Snow's lips parted and she lapped at his mouth with her tongue. He moaned low in his chest making her shiver. Sage wrapped his hands in her hair and crushed her into him.
Breaking his mouth away from hers, he kissed down her neck. She tensed as he reached her torn, but healing throat. His tongue slid tenderly over the still sensitive area. Her breathing hitched. The mixture of pain and pleasure blurred her senses. Her legs trembled and she pressed against the wood for support.
She wanted this. Even after what Sonya had done, somehow she still wanted this. Snow grabbed at his chest and he winced.
"What is it?"
"Nothing." He averted his gaze.
She studied his face. "You're lying." A spot of blood blossomed on his shirt where she had touched him. "Sage, you're bleeding," she said.
"It's nothing." He plucked the tunic from his chest and his face twisted into a brief grimace.
Something pricked in her mind and she ran her fingers under the edge of his tunic, trying to lift it. He planted his hands firmly on her wrists, pulling her fingers free.
"Don't," he said through gritted teeth.
Snow's expression hardened. "Take off your tunic."
"No," he said.
“Let me see.” When he didn’t move, Snow shook her hands free of his grasp, grabbed the V of his tunic, and ripped it down the middle.
"Snow," he said with an exasperated sigh. "That was a good tunic."
She stared in disbelief. "Those scratches, those are…" She met his eye. "You should be healed. Vampires heal quicker than normal."
He stared at her.
"What's going on? Why aren’t you healing?" she asked. "You've fed, haven’t you?"
Sage pressed his lips together forcefully and crossed his arms over his chest.
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About the author:
Rebekah is an award winning author. Her novel Dead Awakenings, debuted in January 2014. Red the Were Hunter, the first in her Farielle Series, released in May. The second book Snow the Vampire Slayer will be releasing in September 22, 2014. And her trilogy The Society will be released Nov. 17th 2014 by Kensington's Lyrical Press.
Rebekah is the VP of Communications of the RWA FFP Chapter as well as a member of her local Los Angeles and Orange County chapters. In her spare time when she isn't writing you can find her moderating on SavvyAuthors.com or hanging out with her husband, four children and her English Bulldog, rabbit, two bearded dragons, and two tortoises. The escaped snake has yet to be found.
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1 comment:
Thanx so much for having me today!
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