PNR Inklings

Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine is the New York Times bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series, the Weather Warden series, and the Outcast Season series, as well as many other books. And she’s grateful to be with you today!

PNR: Welcome back, Rachel! When we last spoke with you in March 2007 DEAD GIRLS’ DANCE, book two in the Morganville Vampires series, was ready to release, and you have been very busy since then; could you tell us what you’ve been up to?

Rachel C.: Putting in a lot of hours at the keyboard, apparently! I’m stunned when I look over my shoulder and see the trail of pages I’m leaving behind me. Between 2007 and now, I’ve written 10 novels, plus a fair number of short stories. I also redesigned my website, started up Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, and … failed to leave my day job, somehow. Don’t ask.

PNR: The Morganville Vampires series has been described as “one of the best young adult series out there” and two of the titles in the series have earned PNR Reviewer Top Pick; for readers who are not familiar with the series, could you give us a brief overview?

Rachel C.: Claire Danvers wants to take off for thrilling matriculation at MIT, but her parents aren’t so sure; she’s only 16, and they’d like her to stay close to home for a year. The compromise is that they send her to Texas Prairie University, an obscure college hidden away in lonely Morganville, Texas. All well and good until Claire runs afoul of the local Mean Girls and has to move out of the dorm … only to discover that beyond the borders of the university, the town has all kinds of dark secrets. Principally, it’s run by vampires, for vampires. Human residents pay blood taxes, and in return, (maybe) get some protection out of it - but they have to sign their lives away. Sometimes literally.

Moving off-campus has exposed Claire to all the dangers, and now she’s caught up in the politics of Morganville - and the door only works one way. She’s trapped in town, and must, along with her friends Michael Glass, Eve Rosser, and Shane Collins, make the best of a bad situation, and try to have some fun along the way.

Even if it kills them.

PNR: Congratulations! Readers are excited about the June 2nd release of CARPE CORPUS, the sixth book in the Morganville Vampires series from Signet; what are Claire and her friends up against this time around? Can you tell us about the challenges of keeping a series and its characters fresh for readers?

Rachel C.: I’m just thrilled that there’s so much enthusiasm about the series and the upcoming release! I think the readers are keeping it fresh for me, actually. They’re just so supportive and full of excitement.

In book 6, Claire’s facing a life of dreary servitude to the new master of Morganville, the odious vampire Mr. Bishop. But don’t count the local vamps out quite yet … Amelie still has a plan, even if there’s dissent within her own ranks of followers about how to carry it out. All Claire has to do is deal with parental anxiety, a boyfriend in prison who’s hostage for her good behavior, a crazy vampire boss, and a blood-drinking computer. Plus, of course, keep her grades up. And stay alive. Easy!

CARPE CORPUS really brings the entire story back full circle, I think, moving the entire town - vampires and humans alike - into a new era of cooperation.

Or not, knowing Morganville!

PNR: You have been complimented on your masterful world building. Tell us about the challenges you face in world building with paranormal elements in a contemporary setting and making it work with the ideas you have in mind for the progression of your characters and the series?

Rachel C.: Funny, I never feel masterful about my world building; I’m always worrying about it! But I think in the case of Morganville it was relatively easy … I knew the basics of how I wanted the whole town to work, and why, so the paranormal elements were sort of straightforward. It’s a bit of a closed society.

It’s less easy in the Weather Warden series, where the real life wildly collides with my paranormal universe on a regular basis. Mostly, though, I try to find ways to emphasize the stark contrasts of the paranormal against the normal … one minute you’re trying on a wedding dress, and the next you’re dealing with antimatter or murderous Djinn. But you still have to worry about the dress. That’s the trick.

I’ll steal a quote from the fabulous Jim Butcher, who said that paranormal elements need to be equally balanced with real life, or neither of them work as well. I have to agree. It’s the contrasts that make it all hang together.

PNR: Claire Danvers, is a strong and feisty heroine that is very popular with readers; could you tell us about the development of her character? How does writing a heroine for a young adult series differ from the traditional adult heroine?

Rachel C.: When she started out, Claire was very much as I remembered being when I moved out of my childhood home - shy, quiet, nervous, and never quite fitting in. The kickoff event for Claire is finding that someone’s stolen her laundry out of the machine at her dorm. That actually happened to me, only mine never showed up again. In Claire’s case, it was the latest in an ongoing campaign of abuse by the evil Monica and her friends, and it had gone down the trash chute.

So the path for Claire was fairly clear to me … she had to learn how to be independent and strong, but also bond with others. She was a loner, and now she has to be part of a group, and learn to protect her friends. And she’s doing those things we all have to discover in life - how to cook (or NOT to cook), how to get along with housemates, how to handle fear, how to fall in love. I think she’s come quite a distance in six books from where she was in the beginning.

As to how she’s different from a traditional adult heroine - there’s one critical area in which young adult characters vary from adults, and that is in experience. It’s not only okay for YA characters to make mistakes, it’s really wise - this is the time of your life when you learn and grow, after all. If Claire didn’t make mistakes, she wouldn’t feel right or credible. At the same time, if she made the same choices as an adult, it would legitimately feel naïve and short-sighted.

I believe in allowing YA characters the room to build their characters, rather than come into it full blown.

PNR: There has been an explosion in the popularity of young adult paranormals and readers have had the opportunity to discover some amazing new series. What do you feel accounts for the sudden surge in popularity? What is it about this genre that captured your attention as a writer?

Rachel C.: It’s such an exciting area now. In the YA section you can transcend the boundaries of genre and still attract - and retain! - readers who haven’t yet had their “genre limits” set - they’ll gladly go from fantasy to relationship drama to hard-hitting issue books, and it’s all grouped happily together under one banner. I recently read a very wise comment - YA is an age group, it’s not a genre. So there are few preconceptions involved. You can just tell the story you want to tell.

I think the surge in popularity really is owed to the great, groundbreaking series that have built such huge followings … the Goosebumps books. The Harry Potter books. The Twilight saga. It’s given young adults a real love of reading.

PNR: FADE OUT, the seventh book in the Morganville Vampires series, will be released in November 2009; can you give us a sneak peek at Claire’s upcoming adventures? What are your plans for the series?

Rachel C.: FADE OUT is really the first self-contained Morganville book, in that while it follows the events of CARPE CORPUS, it’s branching out in a different direction. The political struggle is - well, not over, but certainly on the back burner. Now it’s the four friends learning to cope with normal life again.

That starts with Eve landing a part in the big town play, and also becoming fast friends with a like-minded Goth girl named Kim, who hits the status quo like a speeding locomotive. Claire can’t stand her; Shane may have dated her; Eve adores her; Michael just wants for her to go away. As they struggle to adapt to all these new feelings, there’s more going on with Kim, and Morganville, than meets the eye, and there could be deadly consequences all around.

There will be at least two more Morganville books coming in 2010!

PNR: Could you tell us about your current projects, what can readers expect to see in the coming months? Do you have any additional series in the works? Single titles?

Rachel C.: The release schedule is a little crazy, but I’ll give it a whirl. CARPE CORPUS - out June 2. The audiobook of GLASS HOUSES (Book 1 of Morganville) is out June 8. On July 7 there’s a new anthology, STRANGE BREW, which is edited by P.N. Elrod, and contains one of my non-series-related short stories. Another anthology, ETERNAL KISS, comes out July 27 and features a Morganville short story. CAPE STORM, the 8th Weather Warden novel, comes out on August 4, followed by FADE OUT (Morganville 7) on November 3.

There are also additional audiobook titles being released in the Morganville series, one a month through October, I believe.

Right now, I’m working on the second novel of the new Outcast Season series, UNKNOWN, and a short story for the upcoming anthology DARK AND STORMY KNIGHTS. I’ll be editing an anthology of my own soon, and I’ve got one more Weather Warden novel this year, as well as two more Morganvilles to go (at least). I know there’s more, but my brain refuses to consider it.

When I come up for air, I do have a couple of OTHER ideas for series, but as you can see, the schedule is pretty full!

PNR: Thank you Rachel, for taking time out to talk to us. Where can readers find out what’s new and how can they contact you?

Rachel C.: Thank YOU! It’s always a delight to talk to you guys.

I’m networked all over the place, so I’m easy to locate. My website is www.rachelcaine.com, and from the ABOUT ME page you’ll find links to my Myspace, Twitter, Livejournal and Facebook pages. You can also sign up for mailing lists on my site, which entitles you to early entry into the contests I run, and occasionally special prizes, hidden content, etc.

Or you can always drop me an email at Rachel@rachelcaine.com!

Again - thank you. It’s been a pleasure!

Carpe Corpus
(Morganville Vampires: Book 6)
by Rachel Caine

Signet
June 2, 2009
ISBN #0451227190
EAN #9780451227195
256 pages
Paperback

BUY THE BOOK

They never covered this in biology…

In the small college town of Morganville, vampires and humans lived in (relative) peace-until all the rules got rewritten when the evil vampire Bishop arrived, looking for the lost book of vampire secrets. He’s kept a death grip on the town ever since. Now an underground resistance is brewing, and in order to contain it, Bishop must go to even greater lengths. He vows to obliterate the town and all its inhabitants-the living and the undead. Claire Danvers and her friends are the only ones who stand in his way. But even if they defeat Bishop, will the vampires ever be content to go back to the old rules, after having such a taste of power?

Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Vampire

Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Carpe Corpus!

** 2  Winners will be chosen at random

Sèphera Girón

Hi, I’m delighted to be here today. Some of you may recognize me from the horror world where I’ve had several novels published, four with Leisure books. I’ve written several erotic novels under various names. HUNGARIAN RHAPSODY came out from Orion/Neon books last year and is the tale of a young lady in 18^th Century England who is taken from her hellish battered wife life to live in a mansion with a mysterious stranger and his very accommodating servants. HUNGARIAN RHAPSODY has finally made it to North America, so be certain to check it out on Amazon.

When my agent told me about Ravenous Romance, I knew that I enjoy writing erotica and this time, there’s clearly romance involved. I’m still able to add a bit of goosebumps and thrills to my stories so my fans from my horror works can follow me over to my erotic occult romance books.

As well as writing the Sexstrology series, which follows a lady under a specific sign of the zodiac each month, I edited the SEXSTROLOGY ANTHOLOGY and am editing BEACH BOYS: HOT SUMMER FLINGS. My next book for Ravenous will be taking a break from my six astrology books and it’s a gay erotic romance called Lord of the Thighs.

I write the daily horoscopes for Ravenous Romance so be certain to book mark the site to check your forecast each day. Also, let me know how they work or don’t work for you. I always appreciate feedback.

And now for the question of the day:

Why do you think there are so many crossover genres in Romance?

Sèphera Girón: I think people have a lot of different interests and it’s exciting for a writer to explore his or her favourite genre while writing a romance story. Different genres allow for different types of romances to occur. You can have supernatural romances such as with ghosts or vampires or romances with extra-terrestrial creatures. Some authors like to time travel and explore romance with historical figures, real or imaginary such as pirates, Vikings, royalty or even prehistoric man. Other writers like to peer into the future and imagine worlds that don’t yet exist and the types of people and romances that might occur in them. Writers have huge imaginations and sometimes we like to explore possibilities that just can’t happen in real life.

Isabel Roman: Because it is consumer driven. It is no longer what the writer writes - it is what the consumer demands. Moreover, whether people admit it or not - most really enjoy romance with their adventure, sci-fi, horror etc..

Lisa Lane: Romance is a genre that spans a wide audience, and within that audience are fans of every genre imaginable.  Because of that, I see mixed genre romance as not an incongruity, but a necessity.

EM Lynley: As a reader, just a love story where two people find each other isn’t enough to keep my interest. I want an outside influence on the two, and that usually comes in the form of danger, which might add suspense. Or one of them has a magical power, and you have paranormal. There has to be more to the story for me than simply romance.

Jamaica Layne: I think there are just so many great possibilities for good storytelling.  And there are plenty of fans of the various subgenres to make genre crossovers sellable.

Neve Black: Art imitates life.

Inara LaVey: Romance transcends genre.  You can set a story in any genre and still have a romantic relationship at its core.

C. Margery Kempe: Romance comes in all forms-so many stories have some element of romance in them.

Savannah Chase: I think there are so many cross genres because there are endless stories that writers create and they might not fit that one category or genre. Writers are creative and mixing it up to bring to life new stories and ideas that might not have ever been done. They are different and unique.

Angela Cameron: I think it’s because romance readers don’t want just one thing. We’re eclectic. We want the romance, suspense, and the action all rolled into one. Life doesn’t fit into one genre.

Elle Amery: No matter what situation a writer can place characters, love can always prevail. Whether the characters are in the middle of a war-torn country, on a distant planet, or are shifting into the shape of a vampire, love can always find its way into the storyline. Love gives us hope.

Pisces: Teacher’s Pet is the story of Adele, a Pisces aura reader, art teacher, and lingerie store owner who has just turned forty. Her new student, Devin, is twenty-five and an immensely talented artist. In this excerpt, Adele has gone over to Devin’s apartment to look at his paintings and they end up sharing their first kiss, among other things.

Excerpt from Teacher’s Pet:

“You’re a very beautiful woman, Adele,” Devin said as he edged a bit closer to her. “From the first moment I saw you…” The words hung in the air. He took her hand and pressed it against his chest.

“Yes?” Adele asked.

“The first time I saw you, I sensed something about you. Something strong and vibrant, a powerful woman with great talent.”

“You see that?” Adele asked.

“Everyone can see that about you. It’s very exciting, meeting someone like you. Running a store, teaching classes, taking time to help people.”

“I try to keep busy. I like being busy,” Adele said.

Devin squeezed her hand.

“Is it too forward to ask if you’re seeing someone?” he asked.

Adele laughed as she blushed.

“Me? No. I haven’t seen anyone in quite a long time. What about you?”

“No. I don’t often meet women I find intriguing enough to take time away from my art for.”

They sat in silence, his hand holding hers tighter. His eyes stared intently into hers and she almost gasped as he leaned forward. When his lips touched hers, Adele realized she was trembling. His lips were soft and light as they pressed against hers gently. When he finished his kiss, he sat back and looked at her.

“Oh, my,” Adele said.

“Was I too forward?” he asked. Adele shook her head as she leaned into him again for another kiss. This time the kisses were hungrier and firmer. They wrapped their arms around each other, and his heart beat into hers. She trembled as he held her tightly, and she ran her hands along the muscular ripples of his back.

He pushed her back on the couch, hungrily tasting her lips, his hands roaming, nervously at first, touching her hair, her arms and finally her breasts.

“Mmm,” she sighed as he squeezed her large fleshy bosom. She arched her back to his touch, her mouth exploring his mouth. She touched his cheek, the fur of his partially grown beard soft under her fingers. She held his face to kiss him better, while his hands explored her body.

“That’s so good,” she said as he slid his hand between her legs. She spread her legs wider for him, enjoying the firm pressure of his palm against her groin. As she kissed him some more, she looked over at the mural. It glowed, the colors more rich and vibrant than they had been before and she thought she could sense some kind of vibration spilling out of the wall.

She closed her eyes again, enjoying Devin’s sweet kisses and tentative touches.

He nuzzled his face into her neck and then sat back to look at her.

“You are so beautiful,” he said, touching her mouth with his finger. “I want to make love to you.”

Adele smiled as she unbuttoned her shirt.

“Make love to me, Devin,” she said as she slipped off her shirt. She stared at his face as she unhooked her bra and tossed it to the floor. She slid off the couch and stood up to undo her pants. She held one arm over her stomach, hoping that the sight of her naked wouldn’t kill his mood.

He stared at her as she leaned back down on the couch, totally naked, ready to give herself to him. Without looking away, he pulled off his own t-shirt and slid off his pants. She studied his body, as toned and youthfully enticing as she had imagined it would be. His penis was firm and rather large.

She held her arms up to him.

“Come to me, baby,” she cooed and he lay against her once more. His warm smooth skin against hers made her heart race faster. She savoured the feel of his nakedness as his lips sought hers out once more. She held him in her arms and he held her. It was surprising how much she had missed the arms of a man around her, and she was ready to give in to him anything he wanted.

Remember to leave a comment; it automatically enters you to win a copy of Teacher’s Pet.  We’ll also be giving away three $5.00 gift certificates for Ravenous on three random stops.  You won’t know which ones until the tour is over, so visit as many as you can!  And if you leave a comment on every stop in the RR Ornery Eleven BBT, you’re eligible to win a $25 gift certificate from Ravenous Romance!

Thanks so much for stopping by and thank you, PNR Inklings Blog at ParaNormal Romance, for hosting us!  Please visit Wicked Thorn and Roses tomorrow, April 25^th, for another question of the day and our featured author Isabel Roman!