Shelley Munro Blog

Vampires are hot in the paranormal world at the moment. Readers can’t get enough of them. Debut author, Selena Illyria has set her book, A Fling in Vampiropolis in the vampire world, so of course, I had to ask…

1. How would you define a vampire?

Selena: Hmmm, well let’s see, first thing that comes to mind creature of the night. Who needs to drink blood to live but can also eat and go out into the sun. They are hard to kill and considered immortal but can be killed by either a beheading or having their heart destroyed. Also, they can be a detached, jaded and at times mistrustful of mortals.

2. Why do you think vampires are so popular amongst readers?

Selena: I think it’s the immortality aspect that appeals the most. The idea of never growing old, living forever, etc.. But also there the question of what have they seen? What do they know? Aspect of it all, but that ties into the immortality thing doesn’t it? LOL.

3. Tell us a little about A Fling in Vampiropolis—an elevator pitch, if you like.

Selena: The story is about a woman, Nevada Justice, who has a stressful job and she just wants to get away from it all. Go someplace exotic and foreign. Despite Vampiropolis being in the U.S. it is very exotic to her and foreign, as it was founded by vampires and it is one of the few all Vampire cities in the U.S.. There are other things there but we won’t get into that. *smile*
She meets a local vampire, Lucian Sandros and decides to have a fling with him. She starts to develop a bond with him, only for them to get into an argument on the last night she is to stay in town. Hurt, she goes back to Normalville (a term that is used to describe places where the paranormal and other populous are outnumbered by the mortal population) and back to her life and her stressful job. She doesn’t think she’ll see him again. So, what will she do when he does go after her? LOL. I’ll leave it at that.

4. What powers do your vampires have?

Selena: All the senses are increased and they have great strength. Also, they can appear and disappear at will. And they are excellent lovers. LOL

5. Where did the idea for your book come from?

Selena: I had been racking my brain for an idea for a short paranormal story. I wanted something that was in my mind different. The idea for the city came first and after that the idea for the characters and story came next. Then it was a matter of writing it. LOL.

6. Do you have any rituals you perform before you start writing?

Selena: I must have music. Sometimes a song is playing in my head when I get up in the morning. If I can identify it, that’s the music or song I listen to first. I mentally put together a sound track while getting breakfast together and letting the computer boot up. Once I’ve gone through email and I’ve made a mental outline of what I’m going to work on, I sit down and write. Sometimes I take breaks and watch TV or surf the web or exercise if I feel myself getting distracted or too energetic. I write until I’m either too tired or the muse as left me.

Selena’s book, A Fling in Vampiropolis is out on 28 March 2008 at Changeling Press. You can visit her website here.

What do you think about vampires? Like them or hate them? If you’re a fan, what powers do you like them to have? How would you define a vampire?