What is it about the paranormal, in
particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
I enjoy the
paranormal simply because it is different, but I can still envision the stories
taking place in our own world. My fascination with vampires is probably a bit
different than your average person. I feel they are overdone. For that reason,
when looking for books to write, or stories to create, I am always searching
for a new angle, something original.
What inspired you to write this
book?
This is book three
in the Moon Virus series, and I have been developing the storylines for my Moon
virus survivors for more than a year. In the beginning, I had no intention of
writing a story for Ian because he seemed beyond redemption to me. As I moved
forward in the series, I got to know him better and I realized that I had to do
something for him.
Please tell us about your latest
release.
Seducing Death is book 3 in the Moon Virus series,
and it’s one I never expected to write. When I wrote the first book, I had a
hard time believing Ian was redeemable. Then I developed a soft spot for him,
and started thinking of ways he could move forward after the loss of his wife
and daughter.
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?
Naming characters
is always a big challenge for me. I find myself on baby websites, searching for
the right name. Some names are easy to come by and don’t really have any
particular meaning. Others I spend hours or even days trying to find the
perfect name. There are characters who need names to match personality traits,
or meanings, and those are the hardest for me.
Was one of your characters more
challenging to write than another?
Writing Ian as a
romantic love interest for anyone was difficult. I had to create a way to mute his natural
tendency toward acting like a complete ass. Ian is a man who has suffered
greatly and has a lot of bitterness. He is also very guarded, so I had to find
a situation so extreme that he would go against his own instincts and allow
someone to get close to him.
Is there a character that you
enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I really enjoy writing about the shifter brothers. They
always amuse me, and I am sure they will each have their own stories in this
series.
Can you tell readers a little bit
about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from
our normal world?
The Moon Virus
series is set in a dystopian society around 100 years in the future. Everything
happens in the San Francisco Bay Area, mostly Oakland, Alameda, and Emeryville,
but it is a much different world. The series begins with some huge time leaps
as the stage is set for this world. In this world, a manmade virus resulted in
the creation of two types of vampires, turned and born. To contain the virus,
the United States was closed off from the rest of the world. In this time, the
born vampires are in charge. Since the story had such strong sci-fi themes, I
needed to add something to level it out. This series also has wood nymphs,
shapeshifters, and Fae.
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?
All of the books
in the series can be read as standalone novels, but there are references to
stories in the previous books. There is not as much background into the
creation of the born vampires in Seducing
Death, as there was in the first two books.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s
block? How do you deal with it?
I have had times
when I was not sure where to go next with a story. When that happens, I either
work on another book for a little while or I start rewriting the current book.
Either way, I find that I’m ready to move forward within a couple of days.
When did you consider yourself a
writer?
To be totally
honest, I have days where I still don’t consider myself a writer. It seems a
little unreal when I think about the fact that people pay to read my books.
What are your guilty pleasures in
life?
Mexican food and tea. I know that’s a strange combination.
Other than writing, what are some of
your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I am a
homeschooling mom, which takes up most of my time. I am the main organizer for
one of the local homeschool groups, and I love spending time with the families
in my group. I also enjoy cooking and reading when I get some spare time.
What can readers expect next from
you?
I am currently
working on the fifth book in the Psy-Vamp series, and the fourth book in the
Moon Virus series.
Seducing Death
Moon Virus
Book 3
Cassandra Lawson
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: 4/29/2015
ISBN: 978-1508860143
ASIN: B00UPPH8OG
Number of pages: 314
Word Count: 91,818
Book Description:
In the decade following the brutal murder of his wife and daughter, Ian has existed in a world built on grief and hatred. Just when Ian has finally begun to claw his way through the shadows of his past, a knife to the heart ends it all . . . . or is it the beginning?
After waking up in a strange home, Ian’s only companion is the woman who saved him. Undeniably drawn to her, Ian finds himself wondering if it really is possible to love again.
Trapped in a world where she is little more than a pawn for the Fae, Kyleigh long ago accepted the reality of her existence. She is no one’s savior and no one’s guardian angel; she is death. That is until she breaks all the rules to save a vampire many believe beyond salvation. Ian sparks a passion she never believed possible and reawakens emotions she thought long buried.
While secluded in a realm between life and death, Ian and Kyleigh are free to explore their feelings for each other. When enemies past and present join forces to destroy those Ian loves they are forced to leave the safety of Kyleigh’s realm. Can their fragile bond survive when they are faced with the demons of Ian’s past?
This is part of a series, however Seducing Death is a standalone novel,
and can be read without the first two books.
Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.
Excerpt:
Kyleigh stopped
listening to their conversation as the cold breeze of the shadows grew nearer.
Time was almost up, and she still didn’t have a plan to save Ian’s life. The
smart thing to do was to walk away knowing she’d done her best, but she’d
watched Ian too long. No, she would not give up when Ian’s soul was so close to
redemption.
“Maybe we should
head back in. I’ll message Connor and see what he thinks,” Ian’s friend said,
but it was too late. Both vampires heard the danger approaching. His friend
pulled out the handheld crossbow and a knife while Ian drew two knives.
“Well, isn’t
this a stroke of luck,” called out a human as he emerged from the woods
followed by six others.
“Are you having
some trouble, human?” Ian asked casually. His hands had dropped to his sides,
but he still held the knives. This came as no surprise. She’d seen him in
action enough to know this vampire rarely let his guard down.
“I think you
already have,” the human said.
Kyleigh saw the
inner struggle in both vampires. They obviously suspected the humans were up to
no good, but both were too noble to kill them without provocation. That was new
for Ian. No longer shrouded in darkness, Ian wouldn’t kill unless he had to.
Several other
vampires stepped out of the trees, surrounding Ian and his friend. Kyleigh was
all too familiar with this type of vampire. These creatures kept her busy many
days. Quickly scanning the group, she found that all the innocent souls had
been freed. With this newer virus they were sometimes trapped in the undead
body, which was a form of torture she wouldn’t wish on the most evil person.
She had yet to figure out how that was even possible, or why one of her kind
wasn’t summoned to free the poor soul.
Ian and his
friend reacted immediately. The knives in Ian’s hands found their marks in the
hearts of two vampires, and Ian’s friend shot the crossbow at another vampire.
Kyleigh watched the battle before her with a sense of helplessness. They were
too outnumbered and there was no way to win. Even now, the shadows moved in,
hungry for death and sin. Rubbing her arms against the cold breeze that
preceded the shadows, she watched in horror as Ian was surrounded.
A scream no one
would hear escaped her lips when the knife sliced through Ian’s chest. He
collapsed to the ground, blood soaking the leaves. Her form wavered in and out
with her rage. Despair began to settle around her, but she refused to let it
control her. Ian was too close to being saved to lose him now. Whatever it
took, the shadows would not claim his soul.
“Take the blond
alive!” shouted one of the humans, obviously referring to Ian’s friend.
“Damaged is fine, but he has to survive with no damage to his face!”
Determination
flashed in Ian’s eyes, and his soul brightened as he worked hard to conceal his
phone while sending a message. Then he buried the phone. Soon the blond vampire
was unconscious, and Ian was struggling for life.
“Should we
finish off the other one?” asked one of the humans. “Looks like he’s still
alive.”
Kyleigh held her
breath, praying to a god who’d long ago abandoned her that they would just
leave.
The leader
laughed. “Looks like he’s in a lot of pain,” he said with a vicious sneer.
The urge to use
violence against the human who obviously enjoyed the pain of others came as a
surprise to Kyleigh. It was a relief when they left the area so she could make
her way toward Ian. His weakened state meant she had only seconds to save his
life. Her decision made, she emerged from the trees, becoming visible to Ian.
Ian’s beautiful
green eyes opened and focused on her as she approached him.
“Kate.” His
voice was barely a whisper.
“Don’t worry,”
she said in a soft reassuring voice, trying to hide her fear as the shadows
closed in around them. “You’re going to be okay, but we need to get you out of
here.”
Wrapping them in
her power, she bound Ian’s soul to his body. Thankfully he picked that moment
to lose consciousness, so she didn’t have to explain what was about to happen.
About the Author:
Cassandra Lawson is a paranormal romance author and homeschooling mom from the San Francisco Bay area. She has always had a very active imagination and loves making up stories. When she is not writing she enjoys baking, spending time with her family, listening to music, or curling up with a good book.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Author_C_Lawson
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Thank you for hosting this stop on the Seducing Death blog tour!
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