Bitten by Paranormal, A Guest Post+Giveaway from Lindsay J. Pryor (INT)
Huge thanks to Karina for inviting me to do a guest post here. She suggested I talk about 5-10 books that influenced me and made me write paranormal romance. I’m going to cheat and include TV too as that’s where it all started. I’ve been writing paranormal romance for over twenty years, my Blackthorn series under construction for sixteen of those. My fascination with the paranormal started when I became hooked on the imported children’s TV show, The Little Vampire, when I was about nine years old. I was instantly captivated with the possibility of an alternative world living alongside ours. I went on to love books such as The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and The Worst Witch – hardly anything comparable to what I write now, other than the merger of fantasy and reality.
By the age of seventeen, my reading tastes had matured but my fascination with vampirism remained. Paranormal romance didn’t exist back then though – at least not in my local books shops and libraries (there was no internet back then). So, having already been writing for several years, I did the only thing I could and wrote what I couldn’t find – romantic urban vampires.
I was studying classics at the time, amongst which were Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, John Milton’s Paradise Lost and works of the Metaphysical Poets. I went on to read Dracula, Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Grey, amongst others. They hardly reflect what I write now in style, but I’ve no doubt those dark, gothic books containing hints of a supernatural world only consolidated my passion for the paranormal genre.
Anti-heroes, vampires, the questionable lines between good and evil, tales of judgment and explorations into morality all shaped my thinking.
Then came The Lost Boys film.
If I was hooked on vampires before, now I was addicted. It was the closest reflection of the stories I was writing. I no longer felt peculiar for wanting my vampires out of cloaks and castles and into the mainstream. I was heavily into TV shows like the X-Files and Ultraviolet, which merged those fantasy/reality lines brilliantly. Around that time, I also devoured the only vampire romance available to me – Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, and became fascinated by the comparably human plights of these so-called ‘monsters’.
In the meantime, I’d moved out of home, hundreds of miles away to a big city. One night, I got lost on my way home. I found myself alone in a run-down, isolated part of the city and the first thoughts of Blackthorn were born. Over the forthcoming years, I worked on creating the series.
I knew I wanted to question all the traditional vampire rules and myths and create something different. I spent years researching vampire mythology and their evolution in literature, grabbing what I could from second hand bookstores such as Christopher Frayling’s Vampyres. Developing Blackthorn became my secret, guilty pleasure.
By the time paranormal romance was truly coming into its own, much of the Blackthorn series was mapped out – the world was created, the characters established and many stories written. It was too late (and too disheartening) to be influenced by what was being published in the genre. Convinced my series didn’t quite fit, I didn’t even attempt publication.
But I bit the bullet back in 2010 when I entered the opening chapters of one of my Blackthorn stories, Blood Roses, into Harlequin Mills and Boon’s New Voices online competition. Voted for by readers, it reached the final. Another of my Blackthorn stories, Blood Shadows, reached the final in 2011. The competition lead to me being discovered by my publisher and, five months ago, Blackthorn was finally out there. It’s been quite a journey.
For vengeance - would you trust a vampire?
For justice - could you betray your family?
For love - are you ready to question everything you believe in?
Gifted with the ability to read the shadows of 'third species' beings, Caitlin Parish is the Vampire Control Unit's most powerful agent. Despite that, her mission to hunt down Kane Malloy - a master vampire - comes with a death wish. Many have tried, but few have survived.
For Caitlin, tracking Kane is about more than just professional reputation. With her parents both mysteriously killed 7 years apart to the day, Caitlin knows that without Kane's help she is next.
She has four days to make a deal with the wicked, the irresistible, the treacherous Kane Malloy. The vampire who despises everything she stands for. Or die.
Blood Shadows is book one in the Blackthorn series, brought to you by Lindsay J. Pryor - a British Paranormal Romance author who writes dark, intense and passionate stories.
Lindsay's trademark powerful vampire heroes and utterly combustible sensual romances have earned Lindsay comparisons with both J.R Ward and Sherrilyn Kenyon.
“She was supposed to kill vampires, not save them. Those were the rules. That was the lore.”
A rare and powerful witch whose blood is lethal to vampires, Leila has always viewed her serryn abilities as a curse. After seeing her mother slaughtered as a child, Leila longs for a safe, quiet life.
That wish is shattered by Caleb Dehain – a vampire with a dark past and a darker heart. The most feared serryn hunter of his generation, Caleb now needs the help of one of the witches he despises to save his dying brother.
A serryn who has no reason to help him. Except that he has her sister.
Caleb and Leila are each other’s worst nightmare – but the slow-burning spark of attraction between them is undeniable. Will Leila’s blood be his damnation? Or could her kiss be his salvation?
GIVEAWAY
ONE lucky winner will win an ebook of
Blood Shadows or Blood Roses (their choice).
Open to all.
Ends May 3rd 2013.
Good luck!
I remember devouring Anne Rice books when I was a teen and not finding anything else even remotely similar for years, but I never really thought about writing something. Much Kudos to you Lindsay! Looking forward to exploring the Blackthorn world!¬ :-)
ReplyDeleteIt does sound cool and I like when they try to mix things up
ReplyDeleteThis series sounds awesome, ladies. I love all your inspirations, Lindsay. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mel! And it's terrific to know you're tempted to explore the Blackthorn world. I recommend starting with Blood Shadows though. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteHi Blodeuedd. I thought mixing up was too much of a risk at first, but I'm fortunate to be meeting new readers every day who want the same thing.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, 'Joyous Reads'. :) It was a pleasure to be here - I was thrilled Kara-Karina invited me.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't possibly name just one book that drew me into the genre. It's all the imaginative world building & characters.
ReplyDeleteLovely post and giveaway, ladies. :D It's always fun to see how people got into the genre.
ReplyDeleteA book that drew me in? Well... I've always been interested in the paranormal, ever since I was a kid we were telling ghost stories and looking for the next scare and watching Poltergeist and Are You Afraid of the Dark?
I suppose I first read Twilight.. first book I liked and I wanted more like that but BETTER. Is my honest answer!
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ReplyDeleteiv been hocked on this genre for years that im not sure where it started!
ReplyDeleteAh I don't remember which book. Because I bought a lot with the same genre and I love them all! :) And i love this genre since.
ReplyDeleteI love reign of blood by alexia purdy
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series had a lot to do with it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
mestith at gmail dot com
Thanks, Hannah! And thanks so much for coming to read and share your thoughts. :-D
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for reading and commenting, Mary, Holly, Ratri and Meghan. :-)
ReplyDeleteInterview with the Vampire did it for me,
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