Monday, July 26, 2010

Contest and Q&A with Liz Strange

*My thanks to Liz for being so generous with her time and for hosting the contest.


Q&A with the author

The Craft


1. What is your writing process like? Do you keep organized notes? Do you designate a set time for writing each day?

I do not have a set schedule per say. I write whenever the opportunity presents itself. I work by day as a secretary at a hospital, and I am a single mother to four children (ages 6-15) so my “free time” is precious. So I write at night, on weekends (if its quiet enough), on lunch breaks, waiting at dance practice, etc. I do have a couple of notebooks where I jot things down as I think of them – images, words, song lyrics- then I follow up on them when I have more time.


2. Do you have music that you listen to for inspiration? If so, what do you listen to? If not, what inspires you?

I do like to listen to music when I write. I’ll listen to just about anything, except for country. I also find inspiration from books, TV, movies, art, mythology. I’m a big history buff, and as you read the series you’ll find I have incorporated eras and cultures that really interest me into my books, like ancient Egypt and the indigenous peoples of South America.


3. How do you celebrate finishing a book?

I don’t celebrate in a big way, usually it’s just a sense of self-satisfaction. I do talk about with close friends and family.


4. Why did you choose the vampire as a character for your book?

I have always been fascinated with vampires. I grew up in a family that read a lot, and I always read above my age or grade level. I started on Stephen King and Dean Koontz when I was about 10-11. I remember reading ‘Salem’s Lot for the first time, and that just sparked something in me. After that I read anything I could get my hands on – Anne Rice, Tanya Huff, Whitley Strieber, all the classics like Bram Stoker and Richard Matheson. I still love horror stories, fantasy, crime/forensic novels, anything with monsters, imaginary or human.


5. What is easier to write- the hero, the heroine, or the villain?

Oh, that’s a hard one. To be honest I enjoy all three, but if I had to pick one I guess I’d say the villain. It’s fun to write about people who would do and say things you’d never dare to!


6. Favorite character that you have written?

I’m going to have to say Rachel, who is the main character in The Dark Kiss Trilogy. She is the “fantasy” me. I have given her some of my characteristics, and life experiences, and then added to that to make her her own unique person. I wanted to make her strong, sexy, smart, and I think I’ve accomplished that.


7. Do you prefer to use the traditional vampire mythology or do you prefer to create your own myths?

I prefer the traditional vampire mythology, and I have stuck very close to that throughout my series. My vamps don’t go out in the sun, are unnaturally strong and fast, don’t age, and they drink blood to live. On many occasions I’ve had this series described as a “dark” paranormal, and I agree with that whole-heartedly. My vampires are monsters, and they know and accept that. That’s not to say they don’t have any redeeming qualities, because they do, they just isn’t any angst, or whining or complaining about what they are.

General Vampire Questions


1. Looking back in history, who is the one person you'd expect to find out was really a vampire? Why? Cleopatra. She seemed to have a way of making anyone bend to her way, and I have to wonder if she didn’t have some supernatural influence assisting her.


2. What would you want to say if you met a real vampire?

I’d want to know all about the different times and places they’d lived in. Like I said, I’m a history freak.


3. If vampires existed should they stay hidden, or reveal themselves?

They should definitely stay hidden.


4. Would you make a good vampire?

Absolutely!

Speed Round


1. Vampires- fangs or no fangs? Fangs.


2. Blood- fresh, bottled, or synthetic? Fresh.


3. Romance or Horror? Horror.


4. One thing readers would be surprised to know about you? I love musical theatre.


5. Favorite vampire book? Movie?

I can’t pick just one book, but I’ll give you my top three favourite series : the Vampire Chronicles- Anne Rice, Victoria Nelson series -Tanya Huff, and Anita Blake – Vampire Hunter series– Laurell K. Hamilton.

As for movies I liked Near Dark, 30 Days of Night, and Let the Right One In.


Contest:

I have a copy of My Love Eternal to giveaway to one lucky commenter and all you have to do is tell me what historical figure you'd like to see as a vampire. Liz thinks Cleopatra would be a likely vampire, using her supernatural wiles to bend others to her will. What about you?

contest rules:
*contest will remain open until 8/9/2010 and the winner will be announced the next day
*please leave an email unless one is in your profile so that I have a way to reach you
*must leave a comment telling me what historical figure you'd like to see as a vampire
*contest open to US and Canada

22 comments:

Stacey Smith said...

jack the ripper?The short french dude whats his name?ok Alexander the great.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

SandyG265 said...

I'd like to see what else Einstein would have come up with if he was a vampire.

sgiden AT verizon.net

Zita said...

I think Machiavelli was a vamp. He certainly had the personality down LOL! I'd like to read about an astronaut vamp. They could colonize the dark side of the moon with vamps! And if vamps don't breath except to talk they would make ideal astronauts. Instead of drinking Tang, it would be Fang, the powdered blood substitute.

jeanette8042 said...

Loved the interview and post. It would be interesting to see Queen Victoria as a vamp.

Jackie said...

First I have to say thanks to Liz and Anna for this very, very wonderful look not only into the craft of the writing process but all the more intimate details on books and movies liked and the love of musical theatre! It was interesting to read and learn a little more about Liz this way.
The one Historical Figure that would like to see as a vampire would be one that my DH goes on and on about all the time and that is Leonardo Da Vinci, we could use a man like him to help with coming up with new and ingenious inventions! Now that we have anti-depressants he might even be a little less morose and melancholy! Of course being the dark moody type he would make a perfectly "natural" vampire....

jackie b ^_^

jacabur2008(at)gmail(dot)com

Jackie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rain Maiden said...

Henry the 8th..now I could see him being a vampire. Henry was one scary king.

jnmt3@hotmail.com

Vickie said...

Lucretia Borgia....I think she had the 'tude.

George Washington would make an intriguing vampire....

VWinship at aol dot com

Jenn said...

Lady Godiva - vampires seem to like being naked in many of the books I read, and (thinking of the chocolate company), she already has a "dark" name.
malleybean at gmail

cait045 said...

Umm I think Shakespeare would be a cool vampire. I wonder what he would have wrote then.

usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

jay said...

I'd like to see Marie Antoinette would be a great historical figure to see as a vampire.

Not sure those that plotted to cut her head off would have lived to see it actually happen had she been a vampire.
jayntim91@gmail.com

Aimee said...

I would have to go with William the Conqueror or Elizabeth I. Either would be an interesting story.

gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com

Alicia0385 said...

I would love to see Cassanova as a vamp. Think about it, Sexy plus Fangs!!!! oh yeah!!

Stephanie said...

Helen of Troy would make a great vampire.

Skk25@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I would say that Marque De Sade would be a fantastic vampire.

Reading said...

I think Queen Elizabeth would make a good vampire.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Meredith said...

How about Abraham Lincoln? Give him a little bit of a fighting chance in that theater!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Misusedinnocence said...

Lizzie Borden would rock!

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Cathie said...

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain because he was shot 6 times during the Civil War and lived!

lovemybabysquid at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I am a follower. I would say Marilyn Monroe would be a vampire. She really seemed to have a hold on men. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Shell said...

I would love to see Napoleon as a vampire. Maybe then he would have won the FR and we'd all speak a cooler language.

Shell said...

OOPS! e-mail address

oreo_93@hotmail.com