Can you tell readers a little bit about
yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
Well, I grew up in the
southern United States and am a scientist by training. I was inspired to write this book during the
time between my first professional job and before starting my second professional
job. I decided to write this novel
because I have always enjoyed the vampire genre and felt like there was room to
start a new twist in the classic tale.
My story makes every effort to protect the basic history of vampirism
while introducing scientific explanations for the mysterious powers and
limitations of the vampire.
What is it about the paranormal, in
particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
I think what fascinates me
so much is that the legend and stories about vampire-like creatures permeate
throughout so many cultures. There are
so many similar stories that have independently developed in various countries
and in some way the similarities seem way too coincidental. The
line between the reality and fantasy of vampires is blurred and creates a great
deal of suspense and intrigue without an author ever writing down a word. There is built in drama from the start, it’s
been passed down in our culture over generations, it’s in our psyche, and that
fascinates me.
What inspired you to write this
book?
Well, as I said I have
been fascinated with the vampire genre for a long time and when I was in
between jobs I actually entertained the idea of becoming an author. While, I studied the opportunity more I
realized it might be better to keep a day job than to become a full time
author.
Please tell us about your latest
release.
The novel is entitled the
“Vampire Revelation: Demon Gene” and it is the first book in a series which I
believe will end with three separate novels.
The novel details the science behind the origins of vampirism in a
suspense thriller style. There are a lot
of twists and turns and several separate story lines that will keep the reader
guessing.
Do you have a special formula for
creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning
to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain
time periods or regions?
It really depends. Some names I pick just because I like
them. Others I pick based on visualizing
what the character looks like and thinking if I saw that person what would I
think their name would be. So really it
depends.
Was one of your characters more
challenging to write than another?
Yes, Ethan Baxter was
probably the hardest character for me to write even though there are some small
similarities between him and myself.
Trapped under the thumb of sinister people, how far will we bend? How much will our motives and ethics change
with changing circumstances? Ethan meets
some unusual obstacles and expounding on his reactions to these obstacles was a
bit unnerving at times. I went from
pitying to hating him and back again.
Is there a character that you
enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
Yes, Harley Mason was
probably my favorite character to develop.
She is so beautiful, intelligent, and courageous even though she has
dealt with so much loss. People deal
with loss differently. Many shutdown and
put up walls changing their interactions with others forever. I wanted Harley to personify how I think many
of us would deal with loss.
Do you
have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch
or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character
develop as you write?
I started out writing 5 or 6 facts about each main character before
I started writing the book, but as the story unfolded and new characters
entered the storyline I generally stopped this type of character
sketching. As the story becomes alive I
find that characters naturally appear in the storyline, they just make sense to
include them given the situation.
What is your favorite scene from the
book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
My favorite scene of the
story involves the vampire hunters, their interactions and their business
dealings. After writing this chapter I
really started to believe that I had something here worth keeping. These characters and their development made
me excited to actually finish the story.
Did you find anything really
interesting while researching this or another book?
Yes, that there truly
could be a scientific explanation for the legendary attributes of
vampires. This book tries to help the
reader understand the science behind the vampire’s origins. I wanted the reader to understand the science
behind vampirism and then think about what value would there for these traits
in our society. To what lengths would
people go to manipulate these powers for their own purposes?
With the book being part of a
series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere
other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as
stand alones?
Well the other books are
not finished even though the scope of the book is known. I wanted to see if this book would find an
audience before I finished the series.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s
block? How do you deal with it?
I am a hobby writer, so I
only write on vacations or weekends. So basically I have so little time to write
between my real job and family time that I do not have time to have writer’s
block. When I write it is planned time
and precious to me.
Do you have any weird writing quirks
or rituals?
I put on movies in the background while I write. Usually they are fantasy or science fiction
movies. I think when I finished the last
part of the book I watched the whole Harry Potter series back to back to back.
Do you write in different genres?
I have outlined a few
stories in other genres, but have not written the stories yet.
When did you consider yourself a
writer?
Finally, felt like a
writer when I saw the book proof.
What are your guilty pleasures in
life?
80’s hair band music, and
mint chocolate chip ice cream
Other than writing, what are some of
your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
Anything related to NFL
football and scientific research
Where is your favorite place to
read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
Actually listen to books
on CD in the car on my commute to work.
Great way for me to get through some books.
What can readers expect next from
you?
I expect it will be the
next installment of “The Vampire Revelation” although I have a few short story
ideas I would like to finish.
Where can readers find you on the
web?
Working on a website, but
right now anyone can find me on Goodreads.
Would you like to leave readers with
a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Would not know which part to choose, but what I can say is that you
will enjoy the story. It will make you
think and keep you wanting to read the next chapter.
The Vampire Revelation: Demon Gene
Volume 1
by Sam Stafford
Series: The Vampire Revelation
Paperback: 394 pages
ISBN-10: 1499520042
ISBN-13: 978-1499520040
What would you do to protect your family?
Ethan Baxter must decide whether to forfeit his life to save his loved ones or to die fighting those who wish to enslave him.
A corrupt corporation, whose scientists have unlocked the genetic code of the vampire, holds the key to Ethan's fate. Many in the organization, like molecular biologist Harley Mason, see vampire DNA as cure to many of the world's medical and social problems, but quickly she realizes the sinister motives behind discovering the secret origin of vampirism.
Harley's world soon collides with the world of the vampire and she must race against time and her employer in order to save her loved ones.
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1 comment:
Good interview; interesting concept. Best of luck with the book.
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