What makes you interested in a vampire book?

[Jevron]

Reason I ask is I recently had quite an indepth conversation with my publisher about my year old book Swan Song and the future.

Reviews have flown in and been very positive but I'm eager to reach a whole new readership, one that isn't afraid to 'embrace' (see what I did there?!) the darker night creatures, the vampires that will love you AND kill you.

I'm curious about what makes the general public, or the sweetest general public that groove on vampires, choose one vampire book over another.

My vampire book, Swan Song, is rather distinct for a number of reasons but I'd love to hear thoughts/feelings about what makes you search a tale out? And how to find dark readers whom I could bond with?

[Jevron]

Lol! Does it NEED to have mystery? Does it need to have romance? It's a given, it should have action.

I'm learning all the time.

Please tell me it doesn't need the narrator to go on about how dreamy the main man is, again and again and again and again and again and again......

....and again.....
....anad again, snooze......

.....snoring........

[Melissa, Queen of the Night]

No it doesn't have to go on and on that part drives me crazy but I like to be kept on my toes while I'm reading and not know what will happen next. That's what keeps me reading. And the cover has to help catch the eye.

[Jevron]

Keeping a girl on her toes is always important!

I flipped it in my book, Swan Song. I had a beautiful girl vampire, like Winona Ryder, be attracted to a total scumbag, a guy that does like her but would be damned to admit it. It's far more interesting.

It's so appealing to hear this stuff though. As a writer, sometimes we are too close to the material to truly see it.

What else? Like, great description of a time and place, a heartfelt moment that doesn't belong? An action that causes pain and love?

Inspire me people, especially girls, you feel stronger for your romantic leads and loves!

[Catherine]

I think there's enough vampire books out there that spends too much time going on about how dreamy the man is, and how much the hero and heroine wants to jump each other's bones...it's getting a little annoying and predictable to be honest!

I prefer reading action to romance so for me, I'd say to make your vampires different from other vampire characters. Which is not to say completely change them, I still like my vampires to have fangs, drink blood, burn in the sun etc etc. But maybe give them a few unique qualities or special powers to make them more interesting.

But a little romance is good too, it makes the characters more likable and real to know he can love, just don't over do it with the sex scenes. That's what I think anyway!

[Jevron]

That's pretty interesting stuff, thanks Catherine. I couldn't believe how many times Myer went on about Edward's looks in Twilight. Talk about overkill!

Have to retain the fangs and blood drinking! Naturally!

[Rosy]

I personally like when the characters are smart and witty, there is good chemistry among the characters specially the main ones. Great examples (Sookie Stackhouse and eric)(Chicagoland vampires...Merrit & sullivan)I dislike when the characters are submissive or when the author is too vague "the horrors that he had lived were unspeakable" May I remind you that I did pay for the book so that you could 'speak' of them! Or “She had balls of steel” to show the girls courage…and then repeat it over and over and over and over! The story line should also be interesting.

[Rosy]

Jevron wrote: "That's pretty interesting stuff, thanks Catherine. I couldn't believe how many times Myer went on about Edward's looks in Twilight. Talk about overkill!

Have to retain the fangs and blood drinki..."

I agree! Give us a good description of the characters and then let us use our imagination. If its a good book we will not forget what they look like...if the book sucks we won’t even finish it so either way no need to keep repeating it.

[Jevron]

Lol! Now, I'm dying to know what you think of my novella, Swan Song!