When did you realize that you wanted to become a writer? What was the very first thing you ever wrote?
My mom had always encouraged to write so I don’t really remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer. The first thing I wrote was a short story about an evil scarecrow when I was 6 years old. My classmates loved it but my teacher took me aside and asked if I had any problems I’d like to share with him!
Who is your literary hero?
Oh, I have so many and to be honest the answer to this question will change depending on what mood I’m in. I love the Charlaine Harris books, Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires, Carrie Vaughan's Kitty Books, and Keri Arthur (anything she writes) To be honest its hard not to hold any writer in esteem that takes the time to write an amazing story, create a wonderful world and is tenacious enough to get it published.
How much of your characters are based on your traits or someone you know personally?
There's quite a bit of me in Britannia (the main character in Bad Blood) as I tend to write first person. Although there are quite a few traits and strengths that she has that I certainly don't. I'm not sure how resourcefully I'd be if a hungry zombie horde was baring down on me - I think I'm more likely to panic and run, than stand my ground.
Describe your main character in six words.
Britannia is: Strong. Stubborn. Loyal. Funny. Resourceful. Naïve.
Describe the world you’ve created in six words.
Ravaged. Un-forgiving. Smelly. Dangerous. Scary. Bloody.
What scene was your favorite to write?
I really liked the end scene, although it would ruin it to go into too much detail. The whole thing sums up the main character, Britannia’s journey. The reader finally gets to see her as she really should be.
What scene was the hardest for you to write?
There’s one particular scene where Britannia needs to make a hard choice, to break a promise that she made to herself centuries ago. I actually had no idea as to whether she would or not – I wrote it without really knowing the full outcome myself. As a character Britannia became a little more in control of the story line than me (at one point she even gets a little threat in directed at me her creator!) In this very emotional scene, she was the one with the real control over the outcome – I just, as the writer, went along with her.
What makes your vampires different from other vampire novels?
My vampires are born of magic, they're probably the last magical creature still left in the modern world. Rather than being able to infect others with vamperism, they have to wait till their 100th birthday when they are given a symbol in a dream that is used in a blood ritual to create another vampire. They are very fast and very strong but do not have any extra abilities that set them apart. The only way to kill a Bad Blood vampire is decapitation; no fire, no stake through the heart, no sunlight.
So where did the zombies come from?
In most zombie books, the origins of the outbreak tends to be overlooked - characters are more bothered about surviving than figuring out what happened. In the series it will come to light as to who was responsible for the zombie outbreak. Britannia is not the type of character to let something like that lie, especially when she looks at all the evidence as to how it happened so quickly.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the sequel to Bad Blood and also another series but perhaps aimed more at the New Adult market. If any readers would like to be kept informed of my work they can follow me on Twitter, my blog or go to my Face Book page – links below.
What's your favorite thing to do when you're not writing?
LOL – I’m kind of always writing! I do run a writers’ group and love meeting up down the local pub (English bar) to talk about what everyone is working on. It’s so motivating to have contact with like-minded individuals and I’d recommend any writer out there either to join one, or create one yourself.
