Monday, September 01, 2008

Guest Blogger: Sara Reinke


The winner of Sara's book is Dina! Congratulations, Dina. If you'd like to give me your snail mail info, I'll pass it along to Sara! Thanks to everyone for participating. Stay tuned . . .


I'm frequently asked why I think vampire fiction is so popular these days, and as someone who writes it, I have to say in all honesty that I haven't the foggest idea. It's easy to say that it's because human beings have always had a dark and sensual fascination with those of the vampiric persuasion. There's just something inherently sexy about a creature that draws blood by placing its mouth on the neck -- one of the body's most powerful erogenous areas.

Some might suggest that it's the idea of absolute surrender that makes vampires so appealing. They can control our minds, manipulate our emotions, make us give in to their every whim and desire without protest or struggle. They're dominating but not necessarily demanding; when they feed, it is often presented as an unforced and intimate act rather than something violent or invasive -- almost like lovemaking.

You could also argue that the idea of transcending death -- the greatest unknown of them all -- and being able to live forever, as vampires often are portrayed, is a basic, long-standing desire of the human race. We're intimidated by our own mortality and from our very earliest recorded civilizations have developed elaborate mythos to try and explain away its mysteries, to find a way to escape its inevitability. Is our love affair with vampires merely an extension of this primitive and deep-seeded wish?

Or maybe it boils down to nothing more complicated than the fact that we love a bad boy and vampires -- with their smouldering good looks, mesmerizing stares and penchants for neck-nibbling -- are the all-time ultimate examples.

Whatever the reason, no matter the appeal, it's clear that people today love vampires. From the teen angst of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight books to the erotic angst of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, readers of all ages have embraced these legendary bloodsuckers with open, eager arms. Part of the fun comes from discovering all of the ways that an author can interpret the tried and true legends synonymous with traditional vampire lore. Or perhaps it comes from finding all of the new and exciting twists that an individual author can give his or her vampire species to completely distinguish them from any other.

So while I don't know why vampire fiction is popular today, I'm sure glad that it is. In my own experience writing it, I've dreamed up some pretty fascinating characters, and in sharing with them with others, I've had the pleasure of meeting some new and wonderful friends through my readers. And given that vampire stories have entertained, frightened and fascinated us for countless centuries, I for one don't think their popularity is going to fade anytime soon; that, like these legendary creatures themselves, vampire stories will be around eternally.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hailed by Romantic Times magazine as "definitely an author to watch," Sara Reinke has interpreted vampire legends and lore in her own unique way in The Brethren Series. The first book, Dark Thirst, called "a fascinating and unique romance" by Romantic Times is available now in mass-market paperback from Zebra Books for only $3.99. The sequel, Dark Hunger, which NY Times best-selling author Lara Adrian calls "a paranormal treat to be savored," will hit bookstores on September 2 for only $4.99. Find out more about Sara and The Brethren Series at
www.sarareinke.com.




**********

Sara will give away a signed copy of her first book to one person who asks her a question here. Winner will be posted Tuesday evening.

19 Comments:

Blogger Lynda Hilburn said...

Welcome, Sara! I'm happy to have you here at Paranormality today. Thanks so much for guest blogging!
Hugs, Lynda

9:08 AM  
Blogger Michelle Miles said...

SARA! Congrats on all your success and here's to MUCH more. I haven't been in touch in a while but it's good to "see" you. :) HUGS!

9:46 AM  
Blogger broomgirl said...

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask the contest question, but here goes: During your writing process, how do you get past the idea that a story has already been done? For example the vampire genre? it's really popular right now.

10:07 AM  
Blogger tetewa said...

Good luck on your latest release! A couple of questions for you, do you have a favorite author who is an auto buy for you? If your book was made into a movie and ideas who you would want for the parts of your characters? And last but not least do you listen to music while writing and if so what? Glad you could be here today!

10:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Lynda! Hi, Michelle! It's good to see you guys! *HUGS*

Lynda, thank you so much again for the invitation. It's my absolute pleasure to be here!

11:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Broomgirl,

I think one of the best things about writing a genre like vampire fiction is that there's such a broad reader base for it that's already established and continuously growing. In truth, the idea for "Dark Thirst" sat on the back burner of my mind for years since it originally came to me, because at that time, Anne Rice dominated the vampire market, and I didn't figure anyone would buy my story. That we've come to a place where so many different authors offering so many different, wonderful interpretations of the vampire legends are so popular with readers is amazing to me. Hopefully, it's a popularity that will only keep on building! I don't think you should write anything based on the potential popularity or marketability of it, however. You have to write the genre you enjoy, the story you feel passionate about, no matter what. You never know which trends are coming or going, and if you write to try and keep up with them, you'll never be happy.

11:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Duh. That last anonymous post was me. heh heh

11:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Tetewa!

Great questions!

Do you have a favorite author who is an auto buy for you? Anymore, no. It used to be Stephen King, Patricia Cornwell and Sue Grafton, but it seems like lately I don't have much time for reading outside of Dr. Seuss with my kids, LOL.

If your book was made into a movie and ideas who you would want for the parts of your characters?
Hmmm...I think Natalie Portman would be great as Tessa. Definitely Josh Holloway for Rene. Either Orlando Bloom (yum) or James McAvoy for Brandon, maybe Benjamin Barnes from Prince Caspian.

And last but not least do you listen to music while writing and if so what? Not usually, but then again, I don't like a lot of distractions when I'm "in the zone," so to speak. I'll sometimes use specific songs to help spark my muse and come up with scene ideas, but never while I'm writing.

11:41 AM  
Blogger Dina said...

Hi Sara,

I'd love to see James McAvoy as one of your characters. :)

What do you do when you get to stuck in your zone and need to move forward?

12:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Dina!

Usually if I get stuck in a story, it's at a crossroads in my plot, when the course of action could go in any number of different directions, all to different results. Whenever this happens, I try to take a step back and analyze each possibility logically, to see which fits most reasonably, naturally and logically into the existing story. I ask myself if an idea moves my story forward or if it hinders the flow. By thinking about it in a logical sense like this, I'm usually able to decide on the best solution. :)

1:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good luck with the book, Sara. Everybody loves a vampire.

Elaine Cantrell
www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com

2:09 PM  
Blogger Ellory said...

Do you read other vampire books? Or stay away from them so they don't influence yours?

For fun... Milk or dark chocolate?

Got to love Dr. Seuss. :)

Following your blogging around.

4:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Elaine! Hi, Ann M.! Thanks for joining us!

I actually don't read many vampire books, no. But then again, I don't read a lot as a general rule. I've read some of Lara Adrian's books and enjoy her. Lynda has a fantastic little short called "Diary of a Narcissistic Bloodsucker" that I thought was a hoot. But as far as the Stephanie Meyers Twilight books, the BDB series and that sort, no, just because I like to try and keep my ideas fresh, my storytelling my own, free of external influence if at all possible.

Thanks to everyone who came out and joined me today! I really had fun! If you'd like a signed cover flat for "Dark Hunger," just shoot me an email at sara@sarareinke.com with your mailing address and I'll get one out to you as soon as possible!

:) Sara

8:04 PM  
Blogger Lynda Hilburn said...

Sara: Thanks for the kind words about "Diary." It's a quirky little thing. I read "Dark Thirst" and really enjoyed it. Your post will be up all day tomorrow, too, so if you feel like dropping by again once or twice tomorrow, that would be excellent. It's been great having you here. I just noticed that we both have similiar titles coming out in October! Yours is "Dark Hunger" and mine is "Dark Harvest." Let's hear it for "dark"!
Hugs, Lynda

8:38 PM  
Blogger tetewa said...

My auto buys now are Sherrilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan, love both of their vampire series! I also read Stephen King and Patricia Cornwell and Sue Grafton, enjoy her alphabet series. Thnaks for your replies.

11:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

love the interview!
vrey nice sounding book too!


tasha t

gypsywitch36@yahoo.com

3:38 PM  
Blogger Cherie J said...

Hi Sara,

Thanks for guestblogging. I was curious as to what kind of research did you do for this book?

8:04 AM  
Blogger Dina said...

This is great, I'm so happy I won it. :)

I'll send email ASAP. ;)

3:59 PM  
Blogger Dina said...

Lynda,

I hope I sent my email to the right addy. I couldn't find it, so I sent it to the addy listed on your business card on your blog.

Thank you,
Dina
dlsmilad(at)yahoo(dot)com

4:21 PM  

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