Interview - #PNR #Author Allie Ritch (@AllieRitch) chats about her new #Vampire #Romance
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After being a frequent participant in Allie’s multi-author posts, the most recent of which was about Wintertime Redefined Texts, I was delighted when she asked to stop by my place for an interview. A happy dance followed once I discovered she’s here to promote a vampire romance. As a devout Christine Feehan fan, I suffer from vampire withdrawal between releases of the Dark series, which usually leads to a frantic search for alternatives.
Let’s find out more about Drinking Partners (which comes out … *drum roll* … tomorrow!).
1. Hi Allie, and welcome. I’m more acquainted with your (smoking hot) science fiction works. What made you opt for a paranormal this time? What are some similarities (or differences) between the two subgenres?
Hi, Tara. Thanks for having me here! Like you, I’m a huge fan of Christine Feehan’s Dark series, as well as several other PNR series by today’s authors. When I was first getting started as a writer, though, it was Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles that got me hooked on sexy men with fangs. The first novel I ever wrote was a vampire romance. While my writing technique has come a long way since then, I’ve still held on to my love for the paranormal. For me, there are a lot of similarities between PNR and my other favorite subgenre, sci-fi romance. Both allow for superhuman powers, fantasy worlds, and plots with elements that are usually impossible in the real world. My favorite part of both subgenres is the freedom they give my imagination. In Drinking Partners, this means I could give my heroine extra strength and speed and could create an alternate history to explain the world she lives in.
2. How cool! So what, in your opinion, makes vampires so sexy?
Ever think to yourself, “That guy is so hot, I could sink my teeth into him”? Vampires take love bites to a whole new level. They’re also powerful, attractive, and mysterious, not to mention a guy is going to pick up some serious skills in the bedroom over the centuries.
3. You had me at 'love bites,' to be honest. Okay, In your world, are vampires “out of the closet” (à la True Blood), or is their existence still a secret?
The vampires in my series are not only out of the closet; they’re in charge. Each master vampire rules his or her own territory. In my hero’s case, that’s the Mid-Atlantic United States, which happens to abut the heroine’s domain. While the humans in the area can go about their daily lives pretty much as usual during the day, the nights are a different story. Think more à la Anita Blake series as far as some of the vampires being scary. Hardly any humans dare venture out after dark, and their weaponry and transportation are restricted so that they can’t turn against the vampires or try to flee the area. There are actually some vampire-free states, which have given rise to the Human Rebellion—a group dedicated to the overthrow and extermination of all bloodsuckers. One of the main characters in Drinking Partners has an interesting relationship with the Rebels, but I won’t spoil the surprise.
4. *Sigh* I've got a weakness for powerful supernaturals, so now I’m dying to learn more about your master vampire, Lucas. Would you mind sharing a snippet to get my very active imagination going?
I’d be happy to. I’m as in love with Lucas as my heroine is, and I hope readers will fall for him, too. He’s cunning and ruthless, and Alex has to stay on her toes with him, but he’s also fiercely passionate and protects those he loves.
Here’s an excerpt:
“We need to get these bloody clothes off you and stanch your wounds until they have time to heal. Since you fed tonight, they should close up quickly, as long as you don’t move around too much.”
She jerked her head up to glare at him nose to nose. “I’m not taking my clothes off in front of you. And how do you know I fed?”
Lucas was tempted to lie, but he’d pay for it later if she learned the truth. “Zander and I followed you to the blood bar tonight. I was curious what errand you intended to run.”
“It sounds like you were stalking me.”
“Nobody stalks better than a vampire,” he teased her. “You should be glad. If I hadn’t followed you, I wouldn’t have arrived in time to rescue you.”
“You didn’t rescue me. I would have killed them all eventually.”
Her confidence acted as an aphrodisiac on him. He’d always liked and respected fierce women, and this woman in particular drew him. The blood coating her skin also excited his vampire nature, though pain had never turned him on. At the moment, the knowledge that she was hurting was the only thing that kept his cock from growing fully erect.
“I expedited, then.”
She growled low in her throat but returned a shallow nod. “Yes, you did. Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome.” Without thought, he planted a light kiss on her forehead.
Alex didn’t jerk back like he thought she would. Instead, she gave him a look so vulnerable he tightened his hold on her out of reflex.
“Now, let’s see about getting you out of these dirty clothes and patched up.”
The vulnerable look evaporated. “No.”
“You’d rather get blood on your couch, then? Because I plan to sit down with you.”
She may have been the most unique woman he’d ever met, but she was still a woman. He knew stains drove females crazy.
5. Before I let you go, I have to ask: Will this book be the first of many vampire romances? How many are we talking? And since I’m acquainted with your other works, I can’t help but inquire over the possibility of a ménage vampire romance by Allie Ritch.
Drinking Partners is the first book in my new Vampire Territory series. As of right now, it’s looking like there will be six books in total. I just finished the rough draft of book four, so there’s still a lot of work for me to do. LOL, it’s funny that you should mention a ménage. I’m tentatively planning to have a ménage in book five, but I’ll have to see if the characters cooperate. Even if I do go with a ménage, all the books in the series will take after Drinking Partners in that they’ll be more story-driven than sex-driven. That doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of hot love scenes, but readers will also get lots of action, intrigue, and dark humor, as well.
Since Allie’s book comes out tomorrow (let me bold and repeat—Tomorrow, January 13) she’s got lots of things to do and people to see. [You have no idea how hard I resisted switching the do and see around].
Continue reading to learn more about the book and author!
Drinking Partners by Allie Ritch
Being the master vampire for the Mid-Atlantic Territory is a tough job. Between the Human Rebellion trying to kill him with poisonous suicide donors and snobby born vampires bucking his authority, Lucas Thane has his hands full. What he needs is a regular drinking partner to feed from and a bigger power block. He finds both in the form of Alexandra Gage, the master of the territory south of his.
Alex could use a little help herself, but she has no intention of letting Lucas take over. Turned into a vampire against her will, she has had enough control taken from her. She’ll never let Lucas usurp her right to rule, but will she let him steal her heart? Passion ignites between them, and it’s amazing what vampire bodies can do.
Buy Links: Loose ID
About Allie Ritch
Allie Ritch is a multipublished author of sizzling scifi and paranormal romance. She has an active imagination and enjoys entertaining others through storytelling. Allie lives in her own little world in the Southeastern United States, where she spends time appreciating the ocean and sunshine.
