Sure. But before I begin, I just want to thank Anna for interviewing me, and all the readers who continue to support emerging authors. You guys are the best! About me: I was born and raised in California, where I still reside, and I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. My first books were short horror stories that I penned when I was in grammar school; an odd hobby for a child, I know!I grew up on a farm in a tiny country town; my brother was a bit of an Atari hog, and we only had three television stations, so I had plenty of time and space to let my imagination go wild.
Mercy's Debt is your newest release, can you tells us a little about it and the series?
The Montgomery’s Vampires series follows Mercy Montgomery, a girl who finds herself deep in debt after graduating college. In order to get herself out of the red, she begins working for vampires in an underground organization, and all sorts of lovely drama ensues: romance, murder, treachery. There are three books in the series. Mercy’s Debt is the first, and it’s particularly special to me, as it’s my debut novel. The second book, Mercy’s Doubt, which I’m currently writing, begins with a huge
bombshell. I think readers are going to like what I have in store. I hope they do, anyway
What is your writing day like?
My writing “day” is more like a writing morning/day/night all sort of wrapped into one! Some days, I’ll sit down in front of my computer at 9am and only stop once I realize that the sun has gone down and I’ve had nothing to eat or drink all day except for popcorn and espresso. I like to strike while the iron is hot, so if the creative juices flow until 3am, I’ll keep going. It’s not a wonder that I vampires; I definitely keep hours like one.
When you’re not writing what kind of books do you like to read?
I read anything and everything I can get my hands on. It helps keep my writing fresh, I think, to explore other genres. I like horror, chick lit, romance, thrillers, contemporary faction, biographies, cookbooks, science fiction... I enjoy so many writers, but I Irvine Welsh, Stephen King, Marian Keyes, Michael Crichton, and John Updike are some of my favorites.
What are 3 things that are "must haves" for you when you sit down to write a book?
Coffee, isolation, Post-it notes; all are equally important to me. I need to have a buzz, it has to be quiet, and I have to be able to take my notes. I use the Post-its when I have an idea that I want to add in the story later. At any given time I’ll have fifty yellow squares on the wall in front of me!
How did you come up with your idea for Mercy's Debt? Anything particular inspire you while writing?
One day I was driving and flipping through the radio stations, and the song “Fancy” by Reba McEntire came onto the radio. I thought, “I should write a book like this.” I always loved the song, which is essentially about a poor but beautiful girl who is “turned out” to aristocrats by her mother, and moves herself “uptown.” I took the concept behind the song and twisted it around, making Mercy use her brains to get out of poverty instead of her beauty. I also removed the sexual element from her occupation, making her a “chaperone” instead of an escort. I added the vampires, too, just because I love them.
Has Vampire Romance/Paranormal Romance always been a favorite? What do you like best about the genre?
I’ve always loved vampires. Bad, good, sexy, scary- I love them all. I’ll just as eagerly read Salem's Lot as I well Dead Until Dark. The best thing about the paranormal genre is that a very basic subject- like a vampire- is completely reinvented based on the individual author’s imagination. They may have new weaknesses, cravings, appearances… They may be terrifying or gorgeous. It’s something new every time!
If you could give your lead characters one piece of advice, what would it be?
I’d tell Mercy that it’s okay to accept a little help from time to time. Sometimes, she has just a little too much pride for her own good. I’d tell Robert to lighten up and to stop being so damn proper. Mercy has needs!Ha-ha.
What's next for you?
I’m working on the Montgomery’s Vampires series, and another novel called Lilac Coma.
Lilac Coma is about two very opposite strangers, Clare and Lauren, whose lives are forever
changed after one is inadvertently hospitalized by the other. I’m also penning my first
horror book, The Frightened, which is a collection of short stories written under my pen
name, V.L. Barz. I try to stay busy!
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Mercy's Debt
Montgomery's Vampires #1
By Sloan Archer
After graduating from the prestigious Dewhurst University, Mercy Montgomery finds herself in a bit of financial trouble: over $108,000 worth of financial trouble, in fact. She can’t find a job to
save her life, and with bill collectors constantly at her heels, she has no idea how she will ever come up with the money needed in order to keep her head above water.
Mercy’s monetary worries seem to be over after a chance meeting with mystifyingly pale Michael Graves, who offers her a high-paying job at his company, Dignitary. But there’s a catch; the seemingly harmless Dignitary is an underground organization that offers human chaperones to wealthy bloodsucking clients.
As if congregating with the undead doesn’t make life complicated enough for Mercy, there’s a savage killer on the loose who appears to have a craving for her blood. Soon Mercy is torn between a dark and dangerous underworld of supernatural desire and a simple life of practicality, and business magnate Robert Bramson is the man she blames for her confusion. If he just wasn’t so damn sexy… And dangerous. As the killer closes in, Mercy realizes that she must make a decision. But will she make her choice too late?
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Mercy's Debt can be purchase at these stores:
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Wow, sounds like a read I can't pass up.
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