I was recently asked by a young reader why I wanted to write about vampires. The words were polite, but the meaning was clear…why would an old lady (I hastily add that I’m not yet in my dotage) be interested in the paranormal world? At first, I was stumped. Why wouldn’t I write about vampires? Then I realized that she didn’t have a clue that vampires and zombies and things that go bump in the night have been around since cavemen sat around the fire to tell ghost stories.
Personally, I think that those of us who are sliding through middle age were privileged to have spent our childhood inundated with the most wonderful plethora of horror, Sci-Fi, and campy craziness. I fell in love with the paranormal when I was a very young girl. I never missed an episode of Dark Shadows and my Saturday afternoons were devoted to Sci-Fi flicks that were as cheesy as they were fun. How could you not love Night of the Lepus? Killer bunnies…always a classic. Even my Saturday morning cartoons were devoted to Scooby Doo chasing bad-guys disguised as ghosts.
And, of course, there were writers who were offering fabulous stories long before the current books were hitting the shelves. I read a tattered copy of the Hobbit when I was in sixth grade and was fascinated by the glimpse into a land of fantasy. Suddenly there were magical worlds that offered escape from reality and I became a permanent fixture in our local library, consuming the latest books as soon as they hit the shelves. And there was such a vast selection. Traditional horror from Stephen King, fantasy from David Eddings, and Sci Fi from Stephen R. Donaldson, as well as the gothic romances of Victoria Holt that made me shiver in delight.
All of these influences have impacted my taste in reading as well as my love for writing. My latest book, Darkness Returns, is number thirteen in the Guardian of Eternity! The series that started with When Darkness Comes, is a combination of my love for dark, sexy vampires who are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect those they love, along with daring adventure, and quirky fantasy.
Today writers are putting their own unique twist on the paranormal world, from steampunk to urban fantasy, but they’re building on a legacy handed down by previous authors that must be nurtured and honored and passed on to the next generation with a reminder of those who came before us.
More powerful than ever, the Guardians of Eternity are facing their greatest challenge yet: a war within their ranks. Their future is in the hands of one rebel vampire, who must choose between loyalty and love. . .
Blessed with an even more compelling allure than most vampires, Chiron has made a fortune in the human world, creating an empire of resorts and casinos. Since the betrayal and imprisonment of his master, he has existed outside the order of the Guardians, trusting no one. But now, the new vampire king has given him a peace offering: a scroll that could free his master. Following the relic’s magic leads him to a demon hotel deep in the Everglades, a lush paradise owned by a mysterious and mesmerizing woman. . .
As far as Lilah knows, she’s lived her entire life within the confines of her enchanted estate. Memories of her own past are elusive and cloaked in shadows. Even Chiron can’t figure out exactly what she is, and if her intoxicating beauty is his destiny or an illusion drawing him ever closer to his demise—or perhaps to an even more tormenting choice, between his master and his mate. .
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