Sunday, April 10, 2011

Writing Vampires: Guest Blog and Giveaway with Lorelei Bell


My interest in vampires came in my teens watching the old horror classics of “Dracula” on TV late at night. I never did like that Dracula (or vampires in general) was the heavy, or villain, or the one who inspired terror in all the living folk in the village, and to be hunted down like cur, beheaded, staked etc. in his own coffin. I ask myself, “Why couldn't Dracula get the girl—the woman of his desires?”

Later, in adulthood, when I took up the pen and strove to put down my own vampire stories, there was no such genre as "urban fantasy" or "paranormal romance" where vampires were hunks and women sought them as lovers. Vampires works went under the heading of "horror". Eventually, though, writer's like Chelsea Quinn Yarbro came on the scene and brought a different type of story to the vampire genre with her Saint-Germain as the vampire hero. We all began to look at vampires differently after that.

My vampires all have their own personalities; you will not find a cardboard baddie among them. They each have their own needs, wants, and desires, and do fall in love—in other words are capable of human emotions. My writing has been compared to Anne Rice's ("Interview With A Vampire").

When it came to creating my story, and my heroine in this series, I chose not to go with the kick-ass chick who hunted vampires, demons or whatnot. I did not want her to work in some sort of newly created bureau (as in Karen Chance, Keri Arthur, and Kim Harris, etc. novels), in a world where everyone knows that vampires exist. I didn't want to do a lot of back-story. I wanted to begin at the beginning with my reluctant hero, Sabrina Strong, a sometimes quirky twenty-one year old who has this unique problem where she can't really hold a job because she is a Touch Clairvoyant. Thus, when her father dies, she is forced to take a job in something she can actually do. So when she answers the add for a clairvoyant, she isn't expecting to work for vampires. However, she is quite aware that they exist—because she knows her mother was turned into a vampire when she was just a girl, and believed to have disappeared by everyone else. My story evolves around this and many other mysteries, including what Sabrina learns about herself; that she is more important to the world than she could even imagine.

Synopsis:

Sabrina Strong is a Touch Clairvoyant who knows a secret. She knows her mother was turned into a vampire when she was ten. Now that she is grown up, a powerful magnate in the Chicago business world hires her to reveal the identity of who ruthlessly murders vampires in his ultra-modern stronghold of a hotel.

Sabrina is not thrilled about the aspect of working for vampires, but she needs the money, and she wants to find the gorgeous and mysterious vampire who has been turning up in her dreams. Is he the one who bit her when she was ten, marked her for his own, and turned her mother so long ago?

Little does Sabrina know that her whole life is about to change as her best friend becomes a victim, too and Sabrina is the only one who can find her. Her friend's fate intensifies the desperate need to find the murderer and, consequently, brings her into contact with a rogue vampire, Vasyl—who looks very much like her dream-vampire. Sabrina is quickly immersed in romantic trysts and dangerous situations involving scheming vampires, shift changers, and werewolves.

From Copperhill Media:

“With Vampire Ascending, Lorelei Bell has created a unique and mesmerizing mystery blending intricately detailed fantasy and romance with a contemporary setting. Her story features strong character development and provides new insights on a vampire's life including love, passion, heartache, hope, devastation, lust and longing.

Moreover, Vampire Ascending is an action-packed plot full of surprise. Bell delivers a well written and satisfying story that will leave the reader wanting more.”

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0976511673 Publisher: Copperhill Media

Lorelei's Blog: http://loreleismuse-lorelei.blogspot.com


Want to win an ecopy of Vampire Ascending?


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Winner TBA Wednesday

21 comments:

booklover0226 said...

Hi, Lorelei.

I always liked for the vampires to win in books and movies and they never did. And like you, I discovered Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's series and the "vampire hero" was created (at least in my mind).

Vampire Ascending sounds great and I look forward in reading it.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Lorelei Bell said...

Very cool, Tracey D. I think you'll love it.

Sherry said...

I love the modern day vampire because a lot of them are the good guys and get the girl in the end. I've always loved reading vampire books and watching the movies and I'm like you I thought they should get the girl.

follower

sstrode@scrtc.com

Dora Dee said...

Hi Lorelei,

I haven't been this excited about a Vampire since Barnabas from "Dark Shadows!" I know this dates me and that Vampires have changed since then, but after reading your first chapter, which you so kindly made available to us, I am now hooked. Sabrina sounds like a great character and I can't wait to get to know the others too. Keep up the good work. I hope you find much success. You definitely deserve it.

Best,
Dora Dee

Lorelei Bell said...

Oh, I'm so glad Dora Dee and Sherry both of you found this. Good luck to the both of you.

And thank you for your kind words, Dora.

Dora Dee said...

Not a problem Lorelei! I will definitely spread the word.

fiordimare01@aol.com

Estella said...

Sounds like a great vampire world to read about.

kissinoak at frontier dot com

She said...

I like vampires. Frank Langella was the sexiest Dracula ever. I never could see why anyone would call him evil. He could sink his fangs into my neck any night ;) In books Jean-Claude from the Anita Blake series is so sexy. Sink your fangs into me, baby ;D Vampires Ascending sounds good.

smg5775@yahoo.com

Jen B. said...

Very cool. I love vampires but lately everything seems like a retread. This sounds different and interesting. I would love to read it. Thanks for the contest.
jepebATverizonDOTnet

Lorelei Bell said...

Thanks for your comments, Setella and Jen, and She--you are in the same thought frame as I am about the sexiest Dracula! Excellent!

Wish you guys the best of luck!

Amy said...

I would love to read this! I am still in my vampire crazy phase lol.

angeldream3[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

I love reading about vampires. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds very interesting. Tore923@aol.com

Danielle said...

To be compared to Ann Rice, that in itself is an honor, Vampire Ascending sounds like it will be a wonderful read, I look foward to getting my hands on a copy of this.

Danielle
drakenfyre75@msn.com

Julie S said...

Sounds like a great read!! I'm adding this to my wishlist.

juliecookies(at)gmail.com

donnas said...

I love vampire books. Thanks for introducing me to a new one. Sounds great.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Laura H. said...

I am always open to a new take on vampires. Count me in! I'd love to read this!

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Nicki J. Markus / Asta Idonea said...

I'm also a big fan of Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. In my vampire stories the vampire always wins (the good vampire anyway!)
The book sounds great - count me in!

nickijmarkus @ y7mail.com

whitewolfreads said...

This sounds very interesting! Thanks for the giveaway!

whitewolfreads AT gmail DOT com

Sharon S. said...

Love your cover! Quite creepy .

I am always looking a new vampire to wet my appetite ;)

Thanks for the chance to win!

Tanya1224 said...

I just read a book recently where she dreams of the vampire before the meeting and loved it. Yours has the same take but a whole different story line. I'd love to read your book. Please count me in and thanks for sharing.
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

lindalou said...

This book sounds great! Please enter me in your drawing.
Linda T.
lindalou@cfl.rr.com
USA

 
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