Discussion Questions for Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn

DQ 1:

As with most books that begin a new series Night Myst had many different elements to sort through including numerous characters and a lengthy backstory. Certain areas of interest are:

a) Cecily and all her baggage- taking over for Marta, finding Heather and Peyton, the issue of evolving magic and shifting to an owl, her relationship to Grieve and their past lives/history, and her new role as leader of the 'rebellion' against the Indigo Court. Rhiannon and Kaylin fit here too.

b) the coming war between the Crimson Court and the Indigo Court, to which I'd include all the vampire characters like, Lannan, his sister Regina, Chatter, and Gregory. Plus I'd stick Leo, the boyfriend dayrunner, in this slot too. Then you have the Queen of Rivers and Rushes, Lainule, and her involvement in Cecily's life and the war. Add Cecily working for the Crimson Court and not telling Grieve. Plus you have the added intrigue of a possible virus that poisons the Vampiric Fae- seemed more science fiction and less magic to me.

What elements grabbed your interest? Which characters did you like most/least? What are your thoughts on the melding of vampires, fae, and magic?


DQ 2:

Why do you think that Cecily was so angry at Lannan after he fed from her? Was it because he was nice to her (brought her milk and cookies) when before he seemed cold and calculating? It just seemed like so much more than a 'resistance to becoming a bloodwhore' issue to me. She was angry that she had these visceral reactions to something she previously rejected and accuses him of being nonchalant. Both of them seemed to be conflicted to some degree, like they expected different outcomes. Did his explanation help or hurt? How did you interpret that scene?

Lannan raised his head, his golden hair falling forward as a perplexed look crossed his face. "Do you want it to mean something?" he asked softly. (page 247)

DQ 3:

Would you trust Ulean to guard your back after learning that she originally belonged to Lainule (a character that obviously has an agenda)and never said anything?

DQ 4:

How many secrets can you forgive before trust is severely compromised? Grieve has so many facets that it's hard to identify the real man and even harder to know if he is truly part of the Indigo Court. It's obvious that he loves Cecily and that she loves him but how much of that is from their past lives? Would you trust Grieve with not only your heart but the lives of everyone around you?

DQ 5:

Would you classify this book as a Paranormal Romance or an Urban Fantasy?

Book Club Reminders: Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn

I interrupt this Saturday morning, which I am sure is already blazing hot, to bring you this important book club reminder:

We will be discussing Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn on Thursday, August 12th and Friday, August 13th! I'd love to hear your thoughts about the book, even if you don't answer any of the discussion questions- stop by and talk!

And no, I did not realize that this was another spooky, superstitious Friday the 13th when I scheduled our event, and I'm not even sure how it fits in with the grand scheme of things, but just to be safe...avoid all crazed looking tall dudes with machetes. Good advice for any day of the week.

Interview with Yasmine Galenorn

New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy for Berkley: both the bestselling Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon Series for Berkley and the upcoming Indigo Court urban fantasy series. In the past, she wrote mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, and nonfiction metaphysical books. Her books have hit the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists numerous times.

Yasmine has been in the Craft for over 30 years, is a shamanic witch, and describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos. She lives in Bellevue WA with her husband Samwise and their cats. Yasmine can be reached via her website at www.galenorn.com

*My thanks to Yasmine for agreeing to answer the interview questions and for participating in our book club discussion. Be sure to stop by on August 12th for our discussion of Night Myst.

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 write full time, which translates—with the administration and promotion—to about 55-75 hours per week. I pretty much live my work. I’m always writing, even when I’m too tired to even look at the keyboard, my mind’s busy. As far as notes, yes, I have what I call my ‘Research Notebooks from Hell’—most of my friends who are writers know about these and, in fact, I do workshops on them. Every series I write has a notebook, which is basically a bible for the series. Notes about every character, notes about all the subplots and story arcs and the places visited in each book and the villains and the structure of, say, the Faerie-Human Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and on and on ad nauseum. My desk is covered with post-it notes, I write reverse outlines (every time I finish a chapter, I write up a bullet list of what went on in that chapter—helps because I don’t write to an outline, so this way I know what’s happened in the book). I’m very Type-A, and very organized. It keeps me sane. I’m also more than a little OCD and need to work in an uncluttered environment.

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

Each book has a playlist, and I put that playlist on both my website under the description of each book, and I’m now adding the playlists to the backs of the books, so my readers can see what I listened to. There are some songs that make it on every playlist, but it does vary. I listen to music about 70% of the time while writing. My top picks are: Gary Numan (especially his darkwave industrial goth stuff—the new work he’s been doing), Orgy, Nirvana, Thompson Twins, Oingo Boingo, NIN, Ladytron, Air, Beck, Gorillaz, Talking Heads, Bowie, Dead Can Dance, and more.

3. How do you celebrate finishing a book?

By crashing for a day or so and then recharging for about a week. Video games, movies, TV, reading—whatever I can do to play.

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

In the Otherworld Series, Menolly is one of the three main characters—she’s the vampire of the group, and she chose that herself. Let’s put it this way: my subconscious, by the time I met the Sisters, had already decided that she was a vampire. I love Anne Rice’s vampires and witches, and loved Dracula, and have always been fascinated with things that go bump in the night. Vampires are sexy and yet—totally predatory. They are terrifying, powerful symbols of a being able to conquer death and the image of the vampire imprints itself on the psyche very easily.

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

Heroine—especially if they aren’t weak, demure, or timid. My heroines are all strong willed women who can rescue themselves.

6. Favorite character that you have written?

That would be Camille—one of Menolly’s sisters. And, in the new series, Cicely Waters. Both are witches, which should tell you something. ~laughs~

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

I intermingle. Some traditional lore and then add on and subtract where I need to. Since legends are all we have to go on, I’m comfortable making up what I need to. My vampires aren’t the vampires of Anne Rice’s work, and they definitely aren’t the vampires of the Twilight world.

General Vampire Questions
1. Looking back in history, who is the one person you'd expect to find out was really a vampire? Why?

Grigori Rasputin, the Russian mystic who was damned near indestructible. His ability to bewitch people was legendary, and it took poison, a flurry of bullets, and finally, binding his still-living body and tossing him in the river to drown to actually kill him. He seemed more-than-mortal.

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

Exit, stage left. And then I’d make tracks. Fast. Vampires in my world are predators. I would not rely on the hope that the one I met was in a good mood.

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

If they revealed themselves, the vampire-hunters would be out in full force. People are always afraid of those creatures that seem more powerful than themselves. For their own good, stay hidden.

4. Would you make a good vampire?

I think I’d enjoy the power too much. ~grins~ I would miss the light, as much as I love the dark.

Speed Round
1. Vampires- fangs or no fangs?

Fangs. Long, dangerous fangs.

2. Blood- fresh, bottled, or synthetic?

Fresh and bottled.

3. Romance or Horror?

Mix the two and you’ve got my work.

4. One thing readers would be surprised to know about you?

When I was in fourth grade, I tried to sharpen my teeth by chewing foil because I wanted fangs. My mother was not amused.

5. Favorite vampire book? Movie?

Book: Dracula. Movie: Queen of the Damned.

Thanks so much for all your help and for agreeing to participate!

Thank you! I enjoyed it.

Night Myst contest winners

Music is a highly personal choice and it definitely looks like our readers enjoy many different types, from classical to hard rock, and everything in between. My thanks to everyone that came by and shared what music inspires you, and without further delay...the 3 lucky commentators that will be getting a copy of Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn are...

throuthehaze who said:

A lot of different types of music inspires me: metal, classic rock, grunge, alt-rock/metal, etc.

Ladytink who said:

I tend to listen to Secret Garden and other songs like it on Pandora when I'm writing my reviews.

van_pham who said:

alternative rock and r&b is my inspirational music

Please email me at vampchixreadbooks@gmail.com with your mailing information and I will forward it along to the appropriate people.

Night Myst contest and giveaway

Yasmine Galenorn is heavily inspired by music and she creates playlists for each book, something I find super cool because it gives an inside peek into the mind of a writer (this playlist in particular is also awesome to listen to). Night Myst has her playlist in the back of the book and she has even posted one for the next Indigo Court novel, Night Veil, on her blog. She lists Half-Light by Low as the theme song for the series.

Thanks to the lovely folks at Berkley I have 3 copies of Night Myst to giveaway to some lucky readers and to be entered into the contest all you need to do is tell me what music inspires you?

Contest Rules:

*Contest open to US and Canada only
*must leave an email if one isn't available in your profile
*contest runs until 7/21 and the winner will be posted the following day

Our next book, side read, and other news

Our next book club selection is Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn!

About the book:

Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the Dark Fae in order to harness their magic, only to create a demonic enemy more powerful than they imagined. Now Myst, the Vampiric Fae Queen of the Indigo Court, has enough power to begin a long prophesied supernatural war. And Cicely Waters, a witch who can control the wind, may be the only one who can stop her-and save her beloved Fae prince from the Queen's enslavement.


Important days to remember are:

July 15th Contest begins

August 2nd Author Spotlight

August 4th Q&A with Yasmine

August 6th reminder post

August 12th ad 13th Chat Days

We also have a special guest side read for My Love Eternal by Liz Strange beginning on July 26th. My review will be up at VampChix in the next couple of weeks- Stay tuned for details!


About the book:

Blood, sex and eternal life... What more could a girl ask for? Tall, dark, and sexy, as well as fabulously wealthy, Giovanni is everything a girl could ask for in a lover. There's only one catch. He's been undead for more than three hundred years. When Rachel is drawn into Giovanni's world, she learns that the rules of human existence mean nothing in the world of vampires. This, however, is a fair price to pay for a love that will last forever. Hunted by the Desmarais family, who carry a centuries-old vendetta, Rachel and Giovanni travel to the ends of the earth in order to stay one step ahead. Can their love survive, or will their eternity together end? Content Warning: Violence, sexual encounters with the undead.


In other news:

I will be posting the Chloe Neill contest winner tomorrow during the Saturday Shout Out post. Thanks for being patient.