Huge thanks to everyone who sent in questions for my interview with Bookouture. If you follow my Facebook page, you’ll know that unfortunately I couldn’t answer them all in one go. So, as promised, I’m posting the rest here today and tomorrow…

Q) If you could choose any vampire to ‘change’ you, who would it be?

And on a similar note, so I’ll answer them both at the same time…

Q) If you had to be sired (and therefore bound) by a vampire, which one would you prefer?

A) I’m not going to pick my own vampires because, to be completely honest, I couldn’t choose between them. My instinct is to say Mitchell from Being Human just because I adore him so much – he’s such an intense, dark and complex character that I’d certainly never get bored. But then there’s something about Damon Salvatore from TVD too – he’s that perfect mix of dark and light. He makes me laugh and has got a playfulness about him that’s so addictive. So if we’re going to be bound for eternity, I’m going to go for Damon because I think we’d have more fun. I think Mitchell and I would combust from sheer intensity.

Q) To you, what is the very essence of ‘vampire’ (please don’t say ‘fangs’)? 

A) Strangely enough, I don’t instantly think fangs. To me ‘vampire’ is the epitome of the dark side of the psyche. I think that, metaphorically, ‘vampire’ is representative of the raw needs and instincts of us all, whether they be physical or emotional or just that innate drive for self-preservation. I think that’s why the myth has transcended time and cultures – it’s an innately human concept. We all understand vampirism on some level because they’re traits we recognise in ourselves even if we choose not to act upon them.

Q) If you were granted the power to change one law, what would it be and why?

A) This is really difficult because, if I thought about it for a lengthy period of time, there are probably several options I would come up with. I’m trying to answer these questions off the top of my head though so will go with my immediate response. I would say a worldwide ban on cosmetic testing on animals. It appalls me that in this day and age it is still seen as acceptable to be testing on live mammals for such trivialities as cosmetics, even more so because there are proven alternatives out there.

Q) If you were given the challenge of reworking one of the classics or a fairy tale and giving it the vampire treatment, which book and why?

A) I wanted to say Wuthering Heights – it could be so plausible with Heathcliff disappearing the way he did and coming back a changed man. But I know that’s been discussed in literary circles before so I’ll try for something different. I love so many classics and fairytales – I could turn most into a vampire story on some level (guess I’m just wired that way). I almost switched to Lady Chatterley’s Lover at the last minute, but instead of a book (hope you don’t mind!) I’ll opt for a classic play and say Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. I’ve always thought Mercutio should have made a play for Juliet. With all his talk about Queen Mab, it would have been so easy for him to have been sired by Ms Mab – so there’s even a story in that. I’d have Mercutio as a vampire and a whole angsty love triangle between him, Juliet and Romeo. I chose that one just because I’d find it fun to rewrite and could put such a different slant on the original.

Q) Do you listen to music while you write and, if so, what’s on your playlist?

A) I tend to spend my writing days in total silence, particularly if I’m writing a first draft. I listen to music mainly in the car and get a lot of inspirational thoughts during that time. I’ll have music on when I’m doing second or third drafts because that can really help add to the tone or mood of a book during all the final layering. The playlist on my computer consists of Adam Lambert, 30 Seconds to Mars, My Chemical Romance, The Rasmus, Evanescence, The Vampire Diaries Soundtrack, Kings of Leon and Lady Gaga amongst others. I did a recent blog post recently that listed some of my favourite inspirational tracks for Blood Shadows in particular if you’d like to take a look.

I’ve kept all the probing questions you asked about Blackthorn for tomorrow. I’ll also be answering the most difficult question I’ve ever been asked… still haven’t thought of a reply to that one yet!

xxx