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* Skye Warren: Author Override
* Narrator Lorelei King: Interview
* Stephanie Tyler: Interview
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* J.T. Geissinger: Interview | UTC Review
* Men and Women of the Military Giveaway Hop
* Keri Arthur: Interview | UTC Reviews

Monday 8 August 2011

Interview and Giveaway with Laurie London!



Got a thing for vampires? Well, then you are in luck because author, Laurie London is here to talk about her Sweetblood series!  Ms. London has created a new and exciting world of good and bad vampires and the humans whose blood is so important and addictive to them.  If you haven't read them yet, check out our reviews of Bonded by Blood, Hidden by Blood and Embraced by Blood.

UTC: Hi Laurie! Thanks so much for stopping by today! Let's get started on this interview... When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I started writing when I was twelve. Then I tried to write again when my kids were little, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I really began writing in earnest.

UTC: It's a good thing you continued your writing as a child! Who would you like to co-write with?

I’ve never considered co-writing with anyone.

UTC: Your heroes have usually been strong characters and very alpha. Will Jackson be a little like that as well?

Yes, he is! I knew he was a bad boy, but he’s much naughtier than I had thought.

UTC: You have a short story coming out in the A Vampire for Christmas anthology. Was it difficult or actually fun to mix vampires and Christmas?

I had a lot of fun writing a Sweetblood story set during the Christmas holidays.

UTC: After we get Jackson's book, who will be next in the Sweetbloods series?

Santiago’s book will be up after Jackson’s.

UTC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Right now, I’m contracted to write four books in the series, but the conflict and the world could continue beyond that. I already know what happens in books five and six.

UTC: How did the idea for the darkblood vampires come to be?

It was actually the concept of sweetbloods that started it all. I liked the idea that both the good guys and the bad guys were vampires but with different ideologies. Darkbloods sell the rare blood, called Sweet, on the vampire black market and are constantly coming up with various schemes to get more.

UTC:  You use some spanish references in your books. Is there any part of the story based on any true myths? What kind of research is involved in the creation of a Sweetblood novel?

The Cantabria area of Spain is rich with folklore including those of immortal dragons, faeries (both good and bad) and mermaids. Ancient people of the region worshipped the sun and fire, while modern people celebrate the summer solstice on St. John’s Day with bonfires on the beaches. If humans celebrate the longest day of the year this way, then, I figured, vampires would celebrate the longest night of the year in a similar fashion. This led to the Night of Wilding, which is a big celebration in Embraced By Blood that gets out of hand. Also, ancient Cantabrians referred to the twilight hours as the Sun of the Dead, which marks the time when the sun dies and the dead come back to life. Vampires in the Sweetblood world refer to this as the time of day when they can move about freely.

UTC: Now let's do some fun questions! If one of your heroes could meet any other character in the PNR world who would it be and what would they do?

Alfonso from Embraced By Blood would probably enjoy meeting Maddox from The Darkest Night since they’re both tormented today by things that happened in the past.

UTC: Pick just one character for each statement! It can be any of your characters or any other fictional characters!

I would marry....Alfonso
I would be best friends with...Mackenzie.

UTC: What's next for Laurie London?

I’m currently working on Jackson’s story, Tempted By Blood, which will be out next February.


Thanks so much for the interview, Laurie! Maidens, stay tuned because there is a giveaway! 

 
Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, two vampire coalitions battle for supremacy—Guardian enforcers who safeguard humanity and Darkblood rogues who kill like their ancient ancestors.
Alfonso Serrano is a hunted man. For months he’s managed to elude the Darkbloods, vengeful foes who won’t rest until he’s dead. But he still craves one dangerous temptation: Lily DeGraff, the sexy Guardian agent he’ll risk anything to protect. 

Lily is a wanted woman. Her talent for tracking Sweet-a rare blood type that’s addictive to vampires-makes her a prime target for enemy capture. Her only hope is the stealthy vampire operative who stole into her bed...then left her in despair. Danger aside-Lily won’t let Alfonso near her heart again-until an irresistible hunger draws them back together...and into an assassin’s snare.
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26 comments:

Alisia said...

great giveaway!

Lolarific said...

Thank you so much for this giveaway! I've had this book on my TBR list since I first saw it!

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

Laurie,
I so enjoyed the first book in this series and glad to see we are getting even more. WooHoo!
Can't wait to read it.

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

lindsey hutchison @ United By Books said...

awesome interview...you started writing at such a young age my passion has always been reading and now im beginning to think of writing as well. thanks so much for this giveaway

babydoll82959307(at)aol(dot)com

loves to dive said...

What an interesting concept, looking forward to reading this series.
lvs2dv at gmail dot com

satins booki said...

great interview but it sucks that i cant join in the giveaway lol

Ronda Tutt said...

Nice Interview and great giveaway - I look forward to reading your books

mrsqueentutt@yahoo.com

Shera (Book Whispers) said...

"I knew he was a bad boy, but he’s much naughtier than I had thought."

Now I'm beyond excited to get my hands on the next one!

ahz1 said...

Great interview. I recently read one of Laurie London's books and enjoyed it.

Anonymous said...

Great interview! And I love this series so I sure hope book 4 and 5 get contracted soon. How awesome it is that you've already thought that far ahead and even know what you will be putting in those pages.
GFC: LadyVampire2u

LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

Darlene said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

Maloup said...

Awesome interview! Much success to Laurie London! :) thanks for the giveaway ladies! :D

Denise Z said...

Thank you for the lovely interview and giveaway opportunity. I have Bonded by Blood and would love to read Embraced by Blood.

Allison W said...

Sounds like a great series I'll have to check out!

jfort357 said...

This is an awesome interview!!! I'm intrigued to read Laurie's work!!! Thanks for the chance to win!!! :-)

In Julie's Opinion said...

Great interview! I loved the references to the Cantabria area of Spain and the history related to it! It was very interesting :)
jwitt33 at live dot com

Anonymous said...

Great giveaway!

Laurie London said...

Hi Everyone, thought I'd pop in and say a quick hello! Thank you for all the kind words about the series. So glad you're enjoying it. Now, back to Jackson. He's been keeping me verra busy lately. I have a feeling I'm going to be up late tonight. ;-)

Vanesmate said...

Great Interview! LOVE the series!!

vanesmatethebookaholic@yahoo.com

Highland Hussy said...

loved the interview! (and the books)
great giveaway!!!

And laurie, Jackson can keep me up late at night any time!

Cindy said...

Laurie...I love this series...I'm so excited that there's more to come and I hope that the series continues...you so such an awesome job of telling their stories.
An autographed book...WOW...how wonderful is that?
Cindy

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, I have not read any of your books. But I will be remeding that problem soon. Boy my tbr list is growing! Thanks for the giveaway!

kamwh1207(at)att(dot)net

Sheree said...

I'm hoping for books 5 and 6 also!

Michelle Bledsoe said...

Can't wait to read this book. I so love Vamps.

AngelaC said...

Great interview and awesome giveaway!
Thanks!

Crystal @ RBtWBC said...

Great interview, love Laurie and her Sweetbloods! Can't wait for Jackson now!