Another lovely literary creation is born

Whenever I sit down to write a blog post, a film review, or even a simple tirade on the trivialites of my life, I thank my lucky stars that I was blessed with the ability to write. It's a gift that has gotten me extremely far in my young life. But this gift didn't just fall out of the sky. It was given to me by my mother who happens to be one of the most talented writers I have ever known.

So why do I speak of this now? Well it just so happens that my mother, esteemed romance author Diana Laurence, recently published her eighth book (ninth, if you include an e-book she wrote about, what else, publishing!) The novel is called Bloodchained and it is very unique in that Diana consulted a wide variety of people whom she gathered through a Yahoo! Group to write the story. From choosing characters' names to deciding between several possible plot synopses, all of the Bloodchained contributors helped Diana create what is sure to be her most riveting and complex creation yet.

In order to shed some light on my mother's recent brainchild, I am providing a very interesting little interview with the talented lady herself.



Q: So, what kind of people will enjoy reading Bloodchained?

A: The book is a paranormal suspense novel, set in a fantasy world with a Renaissance feel. It features an original, romantic twist on vampires, a new race of blood-drinkers called “Roicans.” So it will appeal to people who enjoy Renaissance faires, historical romances, fantasies, and mysteries. I’d say check out the book if you like Robin Hobb, Anne Rice, “Lord of the Rings,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” even “Harry Potter.” Anyone who enjoys fantasy, horror or science fiction and has a romantic bent could really like Bloodchained. It’s a great love story but also a page-turner that male fantasy fans can get into.

Q: What’s the story about?

A: Grace and Sebastian Gilder are 20-something orphaned siblings, whose parents left them a thriving inn and tavern on the edge of the bustling city of Audicacia. They’re right on the road taken by pilgrims coming to visit the Temple of Love, a mysterious edifice reputed to answer the prayers of the lovelorn. One day three strangers, two men and a woman, arrive at the inn, and Grace and Sebastian quickly find themselves attracted to all three. So attracted, in fact, that they are rather concerned. As the story unfolds, bits of the puzzle are revealed, and clearly the three travelers are somehow mixed up in the business of the Roicans, a legendary race of blood-drinking immortals. But just how they are connected to the Roicans is unclear, and it’s hard to tell bad guys from good. By the time you do, the stakes are life and death. And the romance is in trouble too.

Q: So what’s the deal with these “Roicans”? Why not go with standard vampires?

A: The problem with conventional vampires is that they are attractive, but soulless and damned. It’s hard to write a romance or happy-ending book about vampires...after all, Dracula is a horror story. “Buffy” and the Anne Rice books are quite dark and tortured. I wanted to write a love story as well as a suspense novel, so I felt I had to solve this quandary. But my assignment was to write a book about blood-drinkers, and there’s no denying people adore vampires. The whole domination/submission thing is very powerful, as is the idea of creatures that can mesmerize you and do this bad thing to you that at the same time so pleasurable.

So I took those elements of the vampire archetype that work well with romance, and devised a different origin for the Roicans, a different set of rules. They are the offspring of one original pair, Ireogot and Heroica, who loved so perfectly that by drinking each other’s blood they became both totally one, and also immortal. So the basis of the race is very romantic and positive. Unfortunately, the race eventually fell, as any humans with supernatural powers will, and now we have Roicans as diverse as there are mortals. Some are good, noble, and heroic. Others are selfish megalomaniacs. Most are just regular folks who happen to drink blood and live forever. It all makes Roican/mortal relations rather tricky. And it’s very fun for me, the author, because I get to work with charismatic characters that you love to love, and love to hate.

Q: You said “my assignment was to write a book about blood-drinkers” ...what “assignment”?

A: Bloodchained is a totally unique book in that it was written, in a sense, by 64 people. Back in January 2007 I was thinking about my next book project and wanted to find a way to use technology to get readers and fans involved in the writing. I recruited 63 people, most of them strangers, to take part. I used online polls, email, my website, and a blog to keep the group connected. My partners chose the genre, point of view, and sensuality level of the book, and they also picked the plot from three synopses. They named the characters based on sketches I prepared. They were involved in critiquing throughout the writing process, and then six volunteers read and edited the entire manuscript before it went to my professional editor.

Q: How did that process affect the writing?

A: Honestly, I was amazed at how much having my partners involved helped me. Their insights were fantastic: they constantly thought of things that didn’t occur to me at all. It resulted in this being a much better conceived and written book than I’ve ever written before (and I’ve written a lot of books!). It was also great fun to have a “cheering section”--these people were so enthusiastic and supportive.

Q: What else have you written and published?

A: I’ve been freelancing for over thirty years. My first published piece was a short story that appeared in ‘Teen magazine when I was thirteen, back in the days of hippies! I’ve sold various short works over the years, and also published a book of devotions, a self-help book on Jungian psychology, two novels (a contemporary and a fantasy romance), and four collections of short tasteful erotic stories. I’m best known for those, the “Soulful Sex” books, which are erotic romance for people who enjoy reading about sex but don’t get into the more raw stuff in typical erotica.

Q: You publish your own books. Why not use a “real” publisher? Shouldn’t readers worry that that’s an indication your books might be amateurish?

A: First of all, in the past I’ve had books published by four different publishers. My last publisher was quite good to work with and I was their bestselling author; unfortunately, as so often happens in the small press, they went out of business. I had a couple new publishers ask after my work, but I decided at that time to start publishing all my books myself. It gave me so much more control over everything, and I am able to produce better quality books, at a faster pace, for lower prices. There’s no downside at all!

Most laypeople don’t realize how tough the publishing business is. It’s almost impossible nowadays for new authors to sign with the big New York houses, and even if they are, it’s no picnic. Most often your title is out for a few months and then falls forever into obscurity, never being seen in bookstores again. And the time it takes to release a book this way is ridiculous in today’s fast-paced climate. From conception to online bookstores, Bloodchained took six months. Meanwhile, a writer friend of mine working with a small print publisher is going to be waiting a year for a book he finished in 2006 to be released…and I’d be very surprised if it comes out looking as nice as Bloodchained! You just care more about quality when it’s your own work.

Q: And why do you like Bloodchained in particular so much?

A: I was so pleased with what my partners chose for me to write. It has all the elements I enjoy personally: a spunky, sympathetic heroine; a hero who is one of those off-putting but irresistible types like Mr. Rochester or Mr. Darcy; seductive paranormal elements; hot and romantic love scenes; a cozy Renaissance-y setting; a hot, nasty villain in sort of Cillian Murphy-style; tons of page-turning suspense; and, thanks to all my editors, writing that I think is very rich and vibrant. The world of Audicacia and the Roicans has so many possibilities--I’m desperately hoping the book will catch on and I can write a sequel.

Q: How can people find out more, and buy the book?

A: Just visit the official website at www.bloodchained.com for everything you need to know. The book is available in trade paperback, lit, pdf and Mobipocket formats, from the publisher or from online retailers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. People interested in finding out more about me and my other work, please visit www.dianalaurence.com, and check out my blog at www.eroticawithsoul.blogspot.com. My publishing house site is www.livingbeyondreality.com, and for anyone interested in downloading free sample ebooks to experience my writing, visit the LBR Press READ FREE page at www.livingbeyondreality.com/readfree.html