Friday, February 25, 2011

Making Vampires Unique: by Special Guest author, Rebecca Zanetti

I met Rebecca Zanetti on twitter as a fellow paranormal romance author. I didn't realize she lived in my town until I saw her on the front page of the newspaper and read the story announcing her deal with Kensington. So I was beyond pleased to not only attend her release party on Tuesday and pick up a signed copy of FATED, but to also get to feature her on my blog. 


Since we both write vampire romance, I asked her to give her perspective on how she made hers stand out in this beloved, but crowded market.


Without further ado, here's the awesome Rebecca Zanetti! Isn't she gorgeous? 


When Brooklyn Ann asked me to blog about vampires and world building in this crowded market, I thought it was a great topic.  As a writer, it’s a lot of fun to create something new, or something with a different angle.  In doing this, I’d advise you to “remember the why.”  If your world is different than the norm, there has to be a reason for it.  Keep in mind that world-building is important, but don’t spend all your energy with that.  

What sells a book is the characters, vampire or not. 

Lately I’ve asked people who’ve read my books about their favorite scenes, assuming (incorrectly it turns out), that they’ll choose my favorite scenes.  The scenes most often chosen are those that dig deep between the characters, either in a heartwarming or downright sexy way.  The fact that the hero is a vampire usually doesn’t come into play.  (Except his vampireness makes him dark and dangerous…all the more sexy.)
Having said that, hey, if you’re writing about vamps, what does make them stand out?  Mine in FATED are a species on earth, born and not made.  You’re either a vampire or not, and there’s no turning into one.  

Incidentally, vampires in FATED’s world are only male.  Now, science comes into play in the book, so I had to go into a bit of genetics with how this happened.  Easy enough and necessary.  So it isn’t really enough just to say…hey, my vamps are only male.  You have to explain why.  Remember the why.  Readers want to know.  For me, science was the easiest way to explain and took only a few sentences through some dialogue with the heroine.  If you met a vampire and he told you they were only male, wouldn’t you ask why?
Of course, the fact that vampires are only male makes it necessary for them to mate with human females.  
How convenient!


I really appreciate Brooklyn Ann having me on her blog today!  Since my amazing editor sent me some promo copies of FATED, why don’t we give one out to a commenter?  Please leave a comment for a chance to win.  You can comment on whether or not you believe in fate…if you like romances, or whatever’s on your mind today.  Can’t wait to read!


Thanks so much for stopping by today, Rebecca! Readers: I'll draw a random winner on Monday!

32 comments:

  1. You don't have to enter me in the drawing because I already won a copy of FATED. I read it and it's AWESOME!

    I totally believe in fate. God's got a plan for us all whether we know it or not. And I say, bring it on. I'm gonna enjoy the journey the best I can. :)

    Best wishes on your writing, Rebecca.

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  2. thank you Brooklyn for sharing Rebecca with us today.. I can't wait to read this book!!

    I believe in fate to a degree... I believe that we set the wheels in motion in out life and that fate is the result of the out come. Sometimes regardless of what you do the end result will be the same...
    Thank you again.. *fingers crosses*
    Kelly M
    crazybookfairy(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  3. Hey I didn't know the whole story behind the vamps. Or, maybe I did know and I just forgot? I thought about it, and I'd want to know why. Hahaha, if only because it's different and it piqued my interest!

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  4. There are so many vampire stories these days that new stories need to add something revelatory and unique to make them stand out. I like having the scientific explanations for the existence of vampires to make the story more credible. I am curious as to why vampires have become so extraordinarily popular in recent times, not so much as brooding dark villains, but as almost heroic admirable creatures. This is a rhetorical thought on my behalf--unless anyone knows of any research that's been done on this subject.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  5. Hi Lynn! Your journey is so much fun to watch! Thanks for commenting today. :)

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  6. Hey Kelly! I agree and think that fate opens up paths...but we still need to walk down them. Thanks for dropping by today!

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  7. Hello Rebecca!
    I love your idea of vampires being only male. It creates the perfect opportunity for the two species to mingle (so to speak).

    I love romance books. I like that there will eventually be a HEA. I read other types of books too but there is a comfort with romance books in that I know the couple will make it thru together. Congratulations on your new release!

    StacieDM
    user1123 AT comcast DOT net

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  8. Attack of the Book: Cool handle! :) Vampires are intruiging...the whole immortality gig seems pretty cool to me. Thanks for popping by today!

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  9. Thanks so much for coming by today, Rebecca! I'm reading FATED now and loving it...and I definitely believe in fate.

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  10. Hi Arlee! I think it has something to do with redemption. Vamps were evil and bad...then slowly progressed to being okay to now they're heroes. We all love a redeemed hero. :)

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  11. Hi StacieDM! Yeah, the whole "we need human females to mate" added a bit of conflict and spice to the world of FATED. :) Thank you so much for dropping by today!

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  12. Hi Brooklyn Ann! Thanks so much for having me over today...I'm having a ball! :)

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  13. I think the transition shifted a little with Bram Stoker's Dracula, but Anne Rice and Chelsea Quinn Yarboro went all the way with it.

    Plus, they're just inherently sexy.

    My vamps were created by an evil would-be god and banished to earth because they weren't evil enough. :)

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  14. I just edited the post to add in that I will be picking the winner on Monday. :)

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  15. As far as fate is concerned, I don't believe so much in it. I believe more in that it's what we say and do that determines our outcome in life. I believe our actions have a lot bigger impact on our lives than anything else.

    However, The Fates can do interesting things in a good book. :)

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  16. Hi Linda! The fates can go crazy in a good book, can't they? Thanks for dropping by today! :)

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  17. Sounds like a good read. And yes, I believe in fate!

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  18. Thank you so much for stopping by! Fate is an exciting idea to me, and depending on the day and my mood I believe in it, and other days I believe we make our own paths.
    Gorgeous cover!! :)

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  19. Hi Nickie! Thanks! Have a fantastic weekend. :)

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  20. Hi Ann Cory! I love the cover, too. The art department at Kensington does a great job. I've seen a mock-up for CLAIMED...and I love it! Hope to post it on my website soon.

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  21. Rebecca, I have been dying for two years to read this book, and can't wait. I think the why's are part of the most important part of writing. If it doesn't make sense in the reader's mind, they don't want to read on.

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  22. There's a n Octavia Butler sci fi that has a separate species vampire thing -- can't remember the title, though.

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  23. Hi Teresa! So good to hear from you! I hope you like Fated. :)

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  24. Hi Madcapmaggie! Thanks for dropping by today! :)

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  25. Rebecca, thanks for checking out Lynn's blog about me today. Means so much that other authors are so supportive. I'm dying for this book and even more so now that I see we are of a like mind. I write vamps. I like my characterization more than my worlds, and I luv dark sexy vamps. Oh, did I say that already. Great post! Thanks for sharing.

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  26. Wonderful post, Rebecca. Congrats on the release of Fated. It is definitely at the top of my list. I loved building my paranormal world in Wayward Soul - it was my favorite part of writing it.

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  27. YAY! This is a lot of fun! I'm loving hearing from you all!

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  28. Rachel: You bet...the blog was really interesting--and I agree about how supportive our little writing community is. I've made some great friends. Thanks for dropping by! :)

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  29. Hi Kim! I agree about building the world being one of the best parts of writing paranormals. I like the idea of 'anything goes' -- at least when building. Of course, then we have to stick with the rules we created. :)

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  30. Yes, I believe in fate. I'm so psyched about this book. :)

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  31. The book sounds like a wonderful read! The vampire world Rebecca has created sounds very interesting. Good luck and best wishes to her for this book.
    As for fate, I believe fate and free will go hand and hand. The choices one makes leads to the fate of that person.

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  32. It's action packed and sexy, I'll tell you!

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