**Author Interview/Giveaway: Laurie London**

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Today we have author, Laurie London here discussing her debut novel Bonded by Blood, which hit the shelves January 18, 2011. Check out my review HERE. Just a side note, if you are a vampire lover like me, this book is a Must Read! To celebrate her release, Laurie has offered to give away a “signed” copy of Bonded by Blood to one lucky reader. Keep reading for more....

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Thanks so much, Kristin, for having me on Nocturnal Bites today!

1.) First off, what would you like readers to know about Bonded by Blood?

Here’s the back cover copy: ↓

Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, two vampire coalitions battle for supremacy—Guardian enforcers who safeguard humanity and Darkbloods, rogues who kill like their ancient ancestors.

Movie location scout Mackenzie Foster-Shaw has always known that she’s cursed to die young. No one can protect her from the evil that has stalked her family for generations—vampires who crave her rare blood type. Until one afternoon in a wooded cemetery, she encounters an impossibly sexy stranger, a man she must trust with her life.

For Dominic, a man haunted by loss, Mackenzie satisfies a primal hunger that torments him—and the bond they share goes beyond heat, beyond love. She alone can supply the strength he needs to claim his revenge. But in doing so, he could destroy her…

2.) Since this is your debut novel, what was it like the first time you walked into a book store and saw Bonded by Blood on the shelf?

It was almost two weeks after the release of Bonded that I actually saw it sitting on a book shelf. Every time I visited my local Barnes and Noble, they were sold out because my friends got to the books before I did. My closest Borders wasn’t getting new releases for awhile, so they didn’t have it either.

When I finally did see it, I was in a Barnes and Noble store about thirty minutes from my home.  Sure enough, there it was—Dom stared out at me from the book shelf like he wanted me to touch him. My face got hot, my heart started racing, and I felt as if I had this aura-like beacon that radiated, “Author-Author.” Then my daughter began laughing and I became the normal me again.

3.)  Everyone seems to be talking about vampires today. What do you think the appeal is with vampires and why did you decide to write about them?

Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved reading and watching films about vampires, so I suppose, it was only natural that I started writing about them. Maybe I was “glamoured” as an infant. :)

To me, the appeal of vampire romance is the dichotomy between life and love, a dangerous conflict you won’t necessarily find in other romances.

In a conversation Dom has with his co-worker Lily, he sums up the problem of a relationship with a human woman by saying, “Ha. ‘Excuse me, but you’re my soul mate. Pardon me while I kill you.’ Riiiight.”

Vampires need humans in order to survive, so what happens when they fall in love?
Disaster. Conflict. Temptation. Passion. And not just your typical roll-in-the-sack passion. I’m talking about the kind of fatalistic, this-might-be-the-only-chance-we’ll-be-together-like-this passion. It makes for some intense love scenes!

More than any other paranormal character, vampires have a mystique about them that’s very compelling to me. They’re powerful, sensual, mesmerizing.

In a clip from Embraced By Blood, the second book in the Sweetblood series which comes out in June, an older human character reflects about Alfonso, ‘A bad boy who knows he’s not good for you? Oh, to be young again.’

Yeah, now that’s what I’m talking about!

4.) I am a huge fan of Paranormal Romance books and some of my favorite authors include J.R. Ward, Kresley Cole, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Jeaniene Frost. (I should probably be banned from their websites for stalking!!) With that said, is there an author(s) or series out there that you absolutely love?

LOL Those are some of my favorites as well! I also love books by Lara Adrian, Charlaine Harris, Gena Showalter, Nalini Singh, Cherry Adair, and Alexis Morgan.  And I recently discovered new authors Jessa Slade and Erin Kellison. Give me a dark, tortured hero and I’m totally in love.

5.) If you could be a character in a book for a day, (any book you have read) who would it be and why?

Although I love nurturing characters—women who don’t think it makes you weak because you have a large capacity to love and take care of others— but since we’re talking fantasy for one day, I’d lean toward being one of the stronger, urban-fantasy like characters. Women who may not have realized how powerful they are but who end up kicking some serious booty. Like Cat from Jeaniene Frost’s books. Heck, I’d love to be her with those high-heeled boots, the motorcycle, the silver stakes, the sharp wit, and *gasp* Bones!

6.) Book #2 in the Sweetblood series, Embraced by Blood is coming out in July of 2011, featuring Alfonso and Lily. Myself personally, I can’t wait to read Alfonso’s side of the story. Can you tell us anything about this book?  Maybe a hint or two or what readers should expect?

Oh, I’m so glad you’re looking forward to reading about Alfonso. Because he’s been undercover and lived a lie for so long, he kept his true emotion locked up behind iron bars. I had to really torture him to get him to break. Poor guy.
 
He and Lily shared a passionate relationship in the past. So when they see each other again, both are flooded with a range of emotions—anger, desire, longing, betrayal, a renewed sense of loss. They remember vividly how things used to be, yet they can never be together again. It makes for a lot of sexual tension...or at least, I think it does. :) And when they get their happily ever after, it makes it all the more sweeter.

7.) Do you have any advice for newbie authors/writers out there?

Read a lot. While there are many great how-to books out there (I have a list of my favorites in the FAQ section on my website), in my opinion, there’s no substitute for reading the kinds of books you want to write. Not old classics, but recently published books. You’ll absorb how successful stories are paced and structured and what today’s readers and publishers of that genre expect. If there’s a book you don’t like, try to determine why it didn’t work for you (being in a book club or active on book blogs/forums can really help), then avoid doing the same thing in your own writing.

And write something EVERY day

8.) Thanks so much for stopping by. Is there anything else you would like to share?

I love hearing from readers! You can find me on...

♦ Facebook ♦ Twitter ♦ Email ♦ Website ♦
I’ve also put a few goodies on my website (www.LaurieLondonBooks.com) on the For Readers tab that people might find interesting. Photos from the actual cemetery that inspired the first scene in Bonded. Book club discussion questions. Fan fiction prompts. I have friends who write fan fiction, so if you do too, check out my “assignments.”

Thank you so much for having me on! This has been a lot of fun. 

Now it’s your turn—I’d like to give away a signed copy of Bonded By Blood to one commenter who can tell me what book character you’d like to be for a day and why.

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Thanks so much for stopping by Laurie!! Oh, and before I forget check out my review of Bonded By Blood HERE. To win a signed copy of Bonded By Blood, just leave a comment stating who you'd like to be for a day and why! Also, make sure you include your email address.  Winner TBA 3/5/11.

 

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