Richelle Mead Blog Tour 2009

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4)
by Richelle Mead
Razorbill (August 25, 2009)

PVN is happy to be a part of Richelle's Vampire Academy blog tour to celebrate the publication of the most recent book Blood Promise.  Below you'll find a brief synopsis of the series as well as the book followed by a Q and A.

Vampire Academy 

"Two races of vampires walk our world. The Moroi are alive and wield elemental magical, while the Strigoi are undead and evil--feeding on the innocent to survive. Rose Hathaway--a half-vampire with poor impulse control--is training to be a bodyguard for a Moroi princess. Learning to decapitate and stake is hard enough, but Rose's real danger may lie in an illicit romance with one of her instructors..."

 Blood Promise

Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

Questions and Answers

PVN: Would you describe the characteristics of your vampires - the Moroi and the Strigoi?

Richelle: Moroi and Strigoi both come from Romanian mythology. Moroi are living, and Strigoi are dead. I've embellished their histories a little, and in my series, Moroi are good and wield elemental magic.  They don’t have to kill for their blood, whereas Strigoi are evil and prey on others.

PVN: What is your writing environment and your writing day like?

Richelle: I work at home, in an office with mauve walls.  My day is usually broken into segments of errands, working out, writing, etc.  There’s no hard schedule to it, though my writing increments are usually no more than 2-3 hours at a time.  This is both because that’s about how long it takes me to do a chapter and because my hands need the rest (according to physical therapists).  So, in a given day, I may get up and eat, write, go to the gym, answer email, write, eat lunch, etc.

PVN: Which books or authors have most influenced your writing?

Richelle: Growing up, my favorite books were the Dragonlance series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. They influenced me a lot in that I believe strong, well-developed characters are the most important part of a book (even though you ideally want all parts to be good!). Those books also taught me not to be afraid to do shocking things in the middle of a series--as shown in Shadow Kiss, the third book in the Vampire Academy series.

Another favorite book is The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. This always comes as a surprise to some readers, mostly because they’ve never heard of it. Also, there are no vampires in it at all. It’s a semi-historical novel, based on the myths of King Arthur and told through the women—who are portrayed as very strong—in those tales. It’s a massive book, and I first read it when I was fourteen. It totally opened up my eyes to the world and gave me a huge appreciation for Celtic culture, as well as insight into spirituality and religion. Every few years or so, I pick it up again and re-read it.

PVN: Thanks Richelle

To follow the tour go to the next stop -  The Bloody Bookaholic

Note:  This is the first book in the series that I have read (full disclosure, thanks to the publisher). Of course I knew about the books, even bought the first two, but never got around to reading any in the series until now. I honestly liked Blood Promise and will post a review soon.

If any reader has an opinion on this series I would love to hear from you!

Vampire Taxonomy - Contest

Vampire Taxonomy: Identifying and Interacting with the Modern-Day Bloodsucker
by Meredith Woerner
Perigee Trade (November 3, 2009)

Thanks to Perigee two US readers have a chance to win a copy of Vampire Taxonomy.  

From the publisher: Our culture today is inundated with beloved blood-thirsty creatures of the night. Referencing a wide variety of well-known bloodsuckers from film, literature, and other media, vampire expert Meredith Woerner provides detailed information about the different types of vampires now roaming the earth, classifying them by their reaction to sun exposure, physiology, attire, and preferred diet. VAMPIRE TAXONOMY will equip readers who meet vamps to answer the question: Should you hand him your heart or stake his before he makes you his next meal?

For the reader's protection, Meredith Woerner reveals the truth about:

•Sunlight sensitivity-Do vamps venture out in the day or stick solely to the evening hours?

•Physiology-When ready to feed, do they change appearance or simply lure with the seductive flash of a fang?

•Dress-Are they decked out in leather with aspirations of becoming the first vampire rock stars or do they cling to Gothic robes and ruffled collars?

•Diet-Are they waging a never-ending struggle against the temptation of human blood or do they view the world as their personal blood buffet?

 Contest

To be eligible do one or more of the following:

*Leave a comment:  Tell what you would do if you met a vampire, ie put a stake through the heart; run screaming into the night, or jump into his/her arms, etc. Use your imagination! 
* Link this contest to your own site or a social network site, and be sure to let me know the URL

If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.

This contest is open to US residents only.





Contest runs until Nov 16 at 11:59 PM Hawaii Time.

October Contest Winners on PVN

Your Favorite Vampire(s) Halloween Contest at PVN

Winners: Kathleen's Book Reviews 
1st prize  The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Haleyknitz  2nd prize   Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grang


kassilei 3rd prize The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows, Book 6) by Kim Harrison

Marie  4th prize  Personal Demon (Women of the Otherworld, Book 8)
by Kelley Armstrong

Josef13  5th prize Winter Duty: A Novel of the Vampire Earth by E. E. Knight

October 2009 Book Contest

Winner: onlyladyknight 

This month of Halloween onlyladyknight has won 2 books Dark Road Rising by P. N. Elrod and Undead and Unemployed by MaryJanice Davidson.
The winner was selected from email subscribers to Patricia's Vampire Notes

Hellbound Hearts - Contest

Winners: Indigo, tina werner, Andrea, Mary Ann DeBorde, Froggy

Day By Day Armageddon - Contest

Winners: Madwoman-doing-cartwheels and bbricke



Winners please send your mail address to me (paltner(at)verizon(dot)net so that you can receive your books. If I don't receive the information by November 15 a new winner will be drawn.

Happy Halloween!

LAST DAY FOR 4 CONTESTS ON PVN

Monthly contest for email subscribers - see right hand bar

Your Favorite Vampire(s) - Halloween Contest at PVN

Day by Day Armageddon 

Hellbound Hearts 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Sarah Jane Stratford - Interview and Contest

 [see contest info update at end of interview]

A warm PVN welcome to Sarah Jane Stratford author of The Midnight Guardian: A Millennial Novel  St. Martin's Press (October 13, 2009). For more information about the author and her novel go to this PVN post

As many of you may know the contest for copy of The Midnight Guardian has already begun. I will continue until November 4. After this interview there will be more contest information.

Sarah Jane, thanks so much for this interview!

PVN:  What attracts you to vampires? What are the characteristics of your vampires?

Sarah Jane: I am enthralled by the idea of those who were once human now living a life that is, in a way, constant play-acting – pretending to be human. Seeming to be a part of, but really only an observer of, the human world. And yet needing humans for life, literally and otherwise. There seemed no end of territory to explore there – trying to further understand humanity through these creatures. My millennial vampires are extra-powerful – after 1000 years of life, they are much harder to kill. And they have observed an awful lot of history. They're really not supposed to get involved in the doings of humans, but sometimes they are compelled. 


PVN:  Describe Brigit for us.

Sarah Jane: She's a millennial, made in the 10th century when she was seventeen. She is intelligent, loving, loyal, powerful, and brave. She's also stubborn (after all, she hails from Yorkshire!), sarcastic, and prone to temper – although she's gotten a lot of that under control. And she's got a good, sometimes cynical, sense of humor. There's nothing she won't do for those she loves. Which can make things unpleasant for anyone out to injure one of her loved ones.

PVN:  Why the WWII setting for Midnight Guardian?


Sarah Jane: I often feel it wasn't wholly my choice in that Brigit told me so much of what was afoot, but I was excited to explore the juxtapositions. Here you have a group of humans being utterly monstrous – and in relief, the perceived monstrousness of the vampires. Part of what I wanted to do was query the true definition of "humanity" under these circumstances – and in life in general. In a state of war, humans are at their most shameful – although there is that contingent that rises up and becomes bigger and better than it might otherwise – and to observe as much through non-human eyes was fascinating.



PVN:  Is this a series? How many more books do you plan?

Sarah Jane: It is a series! I'm working on the second book now. My plan so far is to see what happens with the vampires as the war progresses. After that, well…we'll see!


PVN:  What other projects are you working on?

Sarah Jane: Besides the afore-mentioned second book, I'm making revisions on a stage play that I like the look of, and two screenplays. As soon as I'm done with the second book, there are about three other books I want to dive into, so I should be nice and busy for a while.

PVN: You have a masters degree in Medieval History - any plans to write fiction or nonfiction set in that era?

Sarah Jane: I briefly touched on some of medieval York in TMG, but I'd love to do a whole book in that time. Before they moved to London, my vampires were very proud Yorkists, and I know they were active in the War of the Roses, so that seems fertile territory.


PVN:  You earned your degree in York, UK . I visited there once for 3 days and fell in love with it. What was it like for you living and studying there?

Sarah Jane: Isn't it incredible? I found it endlessly inspiring – it seemed as though there was a story around every corner. I did a lot of my work at the King's Manor, a 16th-century building that definitely got us in the mood for medievalism. Although the 1960s orange lounge chairs were a tad jarring – Mad Men and medieval don't mix (much though I love both). It was just amazing to read about an event in a particular street, and then go and walk that street! Even if it was now chock-a-block with trendy modern shops, the past didn't seem that far off. I can't wait to go back – especially if I can have a warmer bedroom. 

PVN:  Describe your writing day and your writing environment.

Sarah Jane: I like to try and get started by nine in the morning and go till I collapse, or get to a yoga class or the theatre. I'm a member of the Writers Room in New York – it's a purpose-created office space where writers in all sorts of media can have a quiet, comfortable place to work. What's great about it is that it allows for camaraderie and networking too – writing is so solitary, but here you can work and also interact when you need a break.

PVN:  What writers have inspired you?

Sarah Jane: Wow – so many, and in so many ways. Whatever the medium, I gravitate towards those who explore the human condition. Margaret Atwood, Jane Austen, Kurt Vonnegut. I love theatre, so Shakespeare, Pinter, Stoppard, Shaw, and Sondheim have all been powerful inspirations. And I'd be remiss not to cite Joss Whedon and especially Marti Noxon, from whom I was honored to get a blurb on the book jacket. These were scripts that delved the depths of emotion and humanity, with wit, flair, and above all, honesty. Powerful stuff.


PVN:  Where can readers find you on the Internet?

Sarah Jane: I have a web site – www.sarahjanestratford.com. Brigit posts outtakes from her journal there. The book has a Facebook page, as do I, and I also Twitter at stratfordsj. I love to hear from people, so please stop by!

Read a guest blog by Brigit and take another look at the book cover which features the Brandenburg Gate,

CONTEST INFORMATION

Three lucky readers will each win a copy of The Midnight Guardian: A  Millennial Novel. To be eligible do one or more of the following:

* Leave a comment

* Ask Sarah a question

* Link this contest to your own site or a social network site, and be sure to let me know the URL.

If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.

Contest update the publisher has limited winners to US and Canada

My apologies for this misunderstanding. It was my mistake!

The contest ends November 4, 2009 at 11:59 PM Hawaii Time.

Please post comments and questions here.