Can you tell readers a little bit
about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
My name is
Jolene Poole, but I write as Laurencia Hoffman because that name looks better
on a book cover! I've been writing this series with my friend Sophie Smith for
about five years now. We both have a love of dark, gritty, violent vampires. I
think the main draw to writing in horror is being able to be dark and violent
without shocking people by what we come up with. For us, it's freedom.
What inspired you to write this
book?
We really
go by our muses, so mine was Winona Ryder. I thought about the roles she had
played and how none of them were really of her as a heroine, or full of action,
so I wanted to create a character who was fierce using her face as my
inspiration. That's how Melina Collins was born! I knew my writing partner
Sophie Smith from a roleplaying website (that's how all of this started, if you
can believe it). One day, I saw that she had created a vampire with the face of
Karl Urban as her inspiration. I thought our characters might hit it off, so we
threw them together and got a whole series out of it!
Please tell us about your latest
release.
Our latest
release is the third book in the Wages of Sin series, so I don't want to spoil
anything. What I will say is that new storylines and characters are introduced
in every book. And with each book, the storyline becomes more complex, as does
the lives of our poor characters.
Is there a character that you
enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
That's
really tough because I love all my characters. But my favorites (so far) are
Melina Collins and Izzy Auckley. They are both unique in their own way. They're
strong, vulnerable, feisty, and kind. Sophie's favorite character to write is
definitely Blake Auckley.
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 absolutely plan everything. I
think Sophie does to a point. What we do is cast our characters first, we
choose a face for each one before we start writing them. Then the traits of the
character come to us based on who we've chosen to portray them. We call it an
author-cast...it's like a fan-cast but we're authors. Hehe.
What is your favorite scene from the
book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
Tough
without revealing spoilers! I think my favorite scene is one that sticks out in
my mind, when Izzy reveals her identity to her father. It's the way she goes
about it, so bluntly and with a bit of attitude, yet calmness.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s
block? How do you deal with it?
I always
have writer's block. The most I get to is page fifty before it really stops me.
From that point on, the book is written at a snail's pace. It takes me years to
finish a novel by myself. The only reason Wages of Sin has turned into eleven
plus books is because of Sophie Smith. We write well together and find it so
much each easier to write with someone else than alone, the passion and
inspiration for the story never fades. The only way to deal with writer's block
is to push through it, to write around it. Even if I only write a page a day,
that would turn into a large book in a year's time. So just keep plugging away
at it, and eventually, it will be finished.
Do you write in different genres?
Yes, I do.
And I love it!
Do you find it difficult to write in
multiple genres?
Actually,
no. I go wherever my inspiration takes me. I've written in so many different
genres; fantasy, horror, paranormal, thriller, romance, contemporary, and even
western. Whatever comes into my head is what ends up on paper, doesn't matter
what it is or where it came from. I write whatever inspires me.
When did you consider yourself a
writer?
I've
always considered myself a writer, but I started taking it more seriously when
I was around sixteen and decided that this was what I wanted to do with my
life.
Other than writing, what are some of
your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I love to
sing and listen to music. I also make personal care products. And I'm very
lucky to have an occupation that allows me to be creative (I run a flower
preservation and design company with my mother). So while I'm working, I can
brainstorm storylines, listen to music, and sing all at the same time.
What can readers expect next from
you?
While I
have several unpublished novels that I hope will see the light of day
eventually, Wages of Sin is our main focus. We want to make it as successful as
possible before moving on to solo projects.
Where can readers find you on the
web?
I can be
found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Would you like to leave readers with
a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Melina knew he
wanted to help, but she wondered just how far he was willing to go. If he
really wanted to help her, he could kill her. He could end her miserable
existence, so she wouldn’t have to be alone and wouldn’t have to live with the
guilt. It would eat her alive. It was enough to drive her insane.
“Blake...as your
maker, I order you to end my life.”
Blake's brow
furrowed as he stared at her. She scrambled from the floor to kneel at his
feet, her fingers clutching at the trim of his coat.
“Please don’t
say no,” she said. “Just think of it. You’ll never have to see me again!”
He didn’t know
how to react, never mind what to say to her. What she was requesting of him
simply could not be done. In a moment of blind rage, he would have been
capable, but Blake had never been one to kill on orders.
“Get off me!” he
growled as he tugged his coat free from her clutches. “You think dying is the
answer? Then do it yourself. Don’t ask it of me.”
Growling, he
lifted her from the ground and forced her near to him. He thought it was best
to be tough with her, considering it was probably the only way to get through
to her in this state.
“You need to
stop this right now, or you’re going to drive yourself mad. And probably me
along with you.”
“You’re right,”
she whispered. “What would he say? He’d be ashamed.”
Blake released
her from his grip. Approaching the entrance, he mumbled to her, “We have to
leave. I can’t bear being in this place any longer. I need some entertainment.”
Stepping out
into the daylight, he was forced to squint. It was easy for their kind to
adjust to the darkness, but not the sunlight.
“Come out,
Melina. I’m not leaving you here alone,” he called out.
She wiped her
eyes again and straightened her composure. She was still quite ladylike, and
she didn’t want to go out in public looking like a mess.
“Fine. Have it
your way. You may regret this someday, you know.”
Melina stepped
out of the crypt, her eyes narrowing as they adjusted to the brightness of the
sun.
“There are a lot
of things I regret, Melina,” he said. “I don’t mind adding this to the list.”
Bad Blood
Wages of Sin
Book One
Laurencia Hoffman
and Sophie Smith
Genre: Horror/Paranormal
Publisher: Vamptasy Publishing
Date of Publication: 4/3/2016
ISBN: 1532872887
ASIN: B01DTIIGVY
Number of pages: 250
Word Count: 70,000
Cover Artist: Rue Volley
Tagline: Not all monsters live in dreams...some are real and they walk among us.
Book Description:
Vampire, Blake Auckley develops a wild and rebellious nature that puts him and all humans who are unlucky enough to make his acquaintance in danger. Abandoned by his maker, Melina, the night he was created, Blake is used to being on his own, but when she suddenly reappears in his life, it changes his world yet again.
Though forgiving and forgetting the past is hard, Blake and Melina attempt to put their differences aside and repair their relationship. However, with dark secrets and old wounds marking their souls, Blake's enemies not far behind, and so many obstacles still ahead they must fight to survive the danger, as well as each other.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/xPRbNbTa4hU
Excerpt:
“Why did you
turn me, Melina? Why did you take my life?”
“What are you
going to do? Kill me? And here I thought we were getting along so well,” she
said with a chuckle.
Blake considered
the idea of destroying her there and then; how satisfying it would have been,
even if that feeling would only last a moment. But, realistically, he knew that
he would still be left with unanswered questions, and the prospect of Silas
hunting him down. It would just prove to be more of a hindrance than anything
else.
His grip relaxed
and then fell from around her throat. “I don’t know why I waste so much energy
despising you. Think of what I could accomplish if you didn’t burden my mind.”
Clearly angry
that he had been aggressive, her slender fingers clutched his neck and threw
him to the floor.
“You’re stronger
than I thought you would be, but do not forget your place. It would not matter
if I were merely a year older than you; every year counts. Your elders are
stronger than you, even if it’s only by a sliver. If you forget that, you may
become vulnerable. And in a fight between you and them, you would lose.”
“You’re attractive when you’re angry,” he said
with a smirk.
With a roll of
her eyes, Melina released him, got back to her feet, and then composed herself.
However
disrespectful he was toward her, he had asked her a question, and it was only
polite for Melina to respond.
“I was
desperate, lonely, and hungry when I turned you. There was something about your
eyes...something that indicated that immortality would suit you.” Her answer
was simple. Blake could tell by her answer that she hadn’t put much thought
into turning him. “Any other questions?”
“Have I become
just what you imagined, your perfect progeny?” That, most of all, was what
irked him. She had been so thoughtless, so careless with his life.
“I’m not sure. I
don’t really know you, so I can’t make any assumptions. You could use a lesson
in manners, though.”
About the Authors:
Laurencia Hoffman is the author of Casting Stones, Bittersweet, A Wish for Remembrance, Life and Death, No Love Lost, and co-author of The Wages of Sin series.
When she's not writing, she also enjoys making her own line of natural products, satisfying her sweet tooth, and watching films.
Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/cWbMlD
Sophie Smith is the co-author of the Wages of Sin series. When she's not writing, she enjoys gaming, blogging, and watching her favorite shows.
Tour Giveaway
Sign up for the newsletter for a chance to win books 1-3 in the Wages of Sin series! http://eepurl.com/cWbMlD
Three winners will be chosen to receive all three ebooks in PDF format.
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