Interview with a Vampire…. Author

My writing desk.

Interview with a vampire….. author

A friend sent me an e-mail after finishing Immortal Obsession in which she posed some interesting questions. I promised to answer them in a blog post.  Here you go Mary.

† I guess you did a lot of research for your book, especially about the French Revolution?  

Some of the books I read include: The Road from Versailles by Munro Price, Travels in France During 1787, 1788, 1789 by Arthur Young, Paris: The Secret History by Andrew Hussy and Vive La Revolution: A Stand-Up History of the French Revolution by Mark Steel. 

†Are you a fan of history?

Most definitely. Especially, English and French history. To say I have an affinity for the French Revolution is an understatement.  I have always loved Arthurian legend as well. 

†Have you ever been to France?

Yes, as an undergraduate student I spent one semester studying at the American University of Paris.  It was a life changing experience.  I find Paris one of the most romantic cities in Europe with incredible churches, parks and of course The Louvre.  I promised myself I would go back again, but so far it hasn't happened yet. Who knows, maybe to do research for my second book.

†How did you choose the names of your characters? 

Quite honestly, most of the names just came to me.  Gaétan was shortened from Gaetano, my father's real first name.  He then Americanized it to Thomas.  I wanted to immortalize him on paper somehow so I used a derivative of his first name.  Étienne is French for Steven, which is the name of one of my siblings who I wanted to fit into this story somehow.    

 I have always found a certain mysterious allure from the name Christian.  I have never known anyone with this first name, but his full name just came to me, just as Michel's did.  They were just in my head.   Josette is also a name I find seductive and haunting.  Amanda is in honor of someone who is such a lovely person I had to use her name!   

In my original draft, Amanda's best friend was named Jasmine and she was the exact opposite of Amanda, sort of like Christian and Michel.  Jasmine was the name of someone I knew and I used bits of her character in the novel, but then I basically rewrote Immortal Obsession, and Jasmine became Bethany Daniels, an accountant who is a bit more subdued.

 [Christian, for example, is a common name in Germany]

 †Who did you have in mind when you created Christian, Michel or Amanda? 

I won't deny Amanda has parts of me in her; a love of art, museums and history.  Her sense of loneliness and always feeling like an outsider mirrored my childhood experience as well.  As for Christian and Michel, I am not really sure but they speak to me and I feel their presence so much it's as though I am documenting their experiences, dreams and feelings.  

[Christian is my favorite]

Christian seems to be everyone's favorite.  I would be curious to know why. I know that Amanda feels safe with him and she trusts him, despite his capability for anger and destruction.  He is a powerful presence and yet there is a calmness about him which she finds appealing. 

†Where do you write? Do you have a favorite place?

My favorite place is my desk in my bedroom surrounded by candles, crystals and photos of family.  When on the beach I use a yellow, legal pad.  I love reading and writing on the beach, though I can't write as fast in longhand.

†Do you need silence for the writing process or do you listen to music while writing?

While writing Immortal Obsession I did most of my writing under headphones!  For my second book, silence seems most appealing to me.  I tend to go with my feelings on any particular day. 

†If yes, what was your personal writing soundtrack?

Some songs that spoke to me include: You're Beautiful ~ James Blunt, Collide ~ Howie Day, You and Me ~ Life House, Come Back ~ Pearl Jam, Iris ~ Goo Goo Dolls.  Generally love songs and somber ballads.  Other musical groups such as Cold Play, Alice in Chains, Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers influenced this novel, as well as Chopin and Beethoven.

 †Tell us a bit about Christian from your point of view. 

Christian is a paradox.  On one hand he is powerful, solitary and passionate about his world.  On the other hand, he is full of anger, doubt and regret over his lost love, Josette Delacore.  He does not see himself as handsome, not like Michel and he wonders about his attractiveness to women.  He is a loner by nature, yet he is someone who feels deeply and remains incredibly loyal to those he loves.  He tries to keep his emotions under control, yet falls hopelessly in love with Josette Delacore, risking his life  and Michel's as well.  More of this time period emerges through flashbacks in book two, which I hope to finish in 2011.

†The relationship between Christian and Michel, for example, is really interesting.

I agree. One of my readers suggested that Michel needs his own book, and that may come at some point.  Christian and Michel have been friends since childhood in Meudon, France.  I think it would be safe to say that opposites attract. Despite being the same sex, both men share an affinity and loyalty to one another  that is enviable and sustains them through time. 

One of the scenes I had written for Immortal Obsession but later removed gives the reader a taste of the complexity of their relationship.  Christian had gone sort of mad after the death of Josette Delacore.  As a thirty year old vampire, he is considered "young" and he loses all control, killing indiscriminately.  His behavior even frightens Michel who sees no way to help his best friend, until one dawn he is able to chain Christian in his coffin before they experience their daily "death." Michel's immediate concern is to keep Christian safe and this is the only way he knows how to contain him, despite not knowing if Christian will survive the ordeal.

 I won't give any more away except to say that obviously Christian survives and his confinement restores his sanity.   When he meets up with other vampires from his past, he is almost unrecognizable because of his waist-length hair, which is the result of his imprisonment.  I won't dare reveal how many years in lingered in a state of darkness, locked away in his coffin.