Author Elisabeth Staab Interview and Giveaway
Hello Everyone, today paranormal romance author Elisabeth Staab is here with a fabulous interview and giveaway of her new book: King Of Darkness. King of Darkness is book 1 in Elisabeth’s new Chronicles of Yavn series. (Read my Review) Stay tuned after the interview for giveaway info!
BSB: Elisabeth, thanks so much for this interview! To start interview off, do you want to tell us a little bit about your book, King of Darkness?
ES: Thank you so much for interviewing me! King of Darkness is about a reluctant heir to the throne of a modern-day vampire kingdom, his would-be mate, and their struggle to survive. Thad Morgan is the newly ascended vampire king, and he has to find his prophesied mate before their race is destroyed. But when he finds Isabel, she isn’t what he expects, and she wants nothing to do with him. In fact, she goes running in the other direction!
BSB: I always ask this question: out of all the paranormal beings being spotlighted in books now, why did you choose to write about Vampires?
ES: You know, it’s fascinating the way media portrayal of vampires and other creatures has shifted over the past several decades from something that’s a monster to something more complex that has emotions, humanity, and even sensuality. In the context of a romance, vampires are special because the fact that they need blood to survive. Think about it: drinking blood gives them a literal connection to their love interest. That’s really cool and primitive. It’s more than just falling in love; they’re literally getting under each other’s skin.
BSB: So, I was reading through your blog, and I saw that you make music playlists for the book you are writing. If you could pick 1 song, what song would be the theme song to King of Darkness?
ES: When Thad and Isabel first make love, they’re listening to a live set of DJ Anthony Pappa in her bedroom. There’s this YouTube video of him performing live at The End night club in Bogota, Columbia and I listened to it over, and over (and over!) when I wrote that scene. Very tribal, progressive techno music, which is the music Isabel loves to listen to. And I could really feel the frenzy and the chemistry between them. That’s the music I think of when I think of King of Darkness. Even though life settles down for Thad and Isabel at the end of the book, that was the music that first connected them.
BSB: Thad is the King of the Vampires, and in King of Darkness he is in the process of ascending to the throne, but we get to meet so many characters. Whose story is coming next and will it have to do with the mysterious disappearance of some main characters?
ES: Yes! One of the characters who goes missing is the king’s half-sister, Tyra. You’ll also meet Anton, who has defected from his clan of vampire-killing evil wizards because he just isn’t eeevil enough! Their story will be in book two.
BSB: Do you have a writing routine (a certain place you write, music you must have while writing, certain time to write, etc)?
ES: Well my “day job” is being an at-home parent, so I usually squeeze in my writing at unholy hours of the early morning while the rest of the house is dark and quiet. My routine, such as it is, involves stumbling out of bed, feeding the cat (who always swears I forgot to feed her the night before) while I brew my coffee, and then hugging my mug of caffeine while I murmur sweet nothings to it. No, I really do that. I take my coffee very seriously. You should see me at Starbucks! Then I sit down at the kitchen counter and work furiously until the first kid starts screaming.
BSB: According to your bio, you have been a “jack of many trades” type of person. What is the craziest job you have had? Care to tell us a crazy work story?
ES: When I was working as a telemarketer (be nice to telemarketers folks—it’s a soul-sucking job, they have no control over what time they call you, and the pay is better than burger-flipping!) and I was trying to sell an insurance supplement to an elderly woman who was sort of lonely. She started telling me her life’s story, and then she started giving me personal safety tips! She was going on and on about how if a guy ever tried to grab me in the parking lot I should grab his *ahem* equipment and pull on it as hard as I could. My supervisor was listening in on the call, and the poor guy couldn’t say a word. His face was turning deeper and darker red with each passing minute. The whole time, I’m trying to close the sale, because my supervisor wanted me to get off the phone. “Uh, huh. I’ll be sure to yank as hard as I can, thank you so much for sharing that with me, ma’am. Now if you have any questions regarding this call, please dial 1-800…” I think I was nineteen at the time.
BSB: When you decided to add “author” to your bio, how did you go about it? Did you already have a story or did you have to begin from scratch? Along those lines how long did it take you to write King of Darkness?
ES: It was actually sort of an impulsive thing: I was rocking my youngest son to sleep shortly after he was born and a sort of blurry likeness of what would become the opening scene for King of Darkness broke through. At the time it seemed perfect, because my husband had admonished me that I needed to slow down my book buying habit. I figured I could write my own series, and then I wouldn’t have to wait to find out what happened. Turns out that’s not exactly true! And King of Darkness actually took almost two years to write because I started it when my youngest was about 2 weeks old, and I wrote it in fits and starts while my kids were napping and stuff. I also had to stop to take some writing classes because there was a lot about the craft I didn’t know. The sequel has been much harder, not just because sequels are harder to write, but because kids sleep less when they’re older!
Just for fun, I always like to play a little game of would you rather on my interviews. Have fun with the questions, and please explain your answers!
Would You Rather: fly all over the world with your favorite celebrity OR be marooned on an island with your significant other?
ES: Ooh. That’s tough. I love to travel. If I could, I’d fly around the world and then have the plane drop me off! But if I had to choose, I’d go with the island. My husband really is my best friend.
Would You Rather: be a guest speaker at a Star Trek convention or a model in a Barbie Convention?
ES: Star Trek, hands down! I’ve dated a lot of Trekkies. I don’t speak Klingon or anything, but I can hold my own.
Would You Rather: Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
ES: No contest, I’d definitely rather be busy with stuff I enjoy! Between writing and parenting, I feel like I have too much to do and not enough time most days. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Elisabeth, thank you so much for stopping by, this has been a wonderful interview!
Author Bio
Elisabeth Staab lives in Northern Virginia with her hero and soul mate. She has been a telemarketer, a web page editor, a software developer, a reader for the blind, a technical trainer, a coffee shop barista, a tutor, a homemaker, a government project manager, a graphic designer, and a professional ebayer. Finally, she’s landed on being a writer – which is what her high school guidance counselor originally suggested anyway.
Elisabeth believes that all kinds of safe, sane, and consensual love should be celebrated–but she loves the fantasy-filled realm of paranormal romance the best. Her first novel, King of Darkness, is available now from Sourcebooks Casablanca. Find out more at ElisabethStaab.com.
About the Book:
ETERNAL COMMITMENT IS NOT ON HER AGENDA…
Scorned by the vampire community for her lack of power, Isabel Anthony lives a carefree existence masquerading as human—although, drifting among the debauched human nightlife, she prefers the patrons’ blood to other indulgences. But when she meets the king of vampires this party girl’s life turns dark and dangerous.
BUT TIME’S RUNNING OUT FOR THE KING OF VAMPIRES…
Dead-set on finding the prophesied mate who will unlock his fiery powers, Thad Morgan must find his queen before their race is destroyed. Their enemies are gaining ground, and Thad needs his powers to unite his subjects. But when his search leads him to the defiant Isabel, he wonders if fate has gotten it seriously wrong…
Sourcebooks has provided a print copy of King of Darkness for a giveaway today! The contest will be open to US/Can entrants. Contest will run for 1 week, from today February 6 through midnight Sunday the 12th. Entering is easy, just leave a meaningful comment on the post and fill out the rafflecopter form. (You do NOT have to be a follower to enter, and the only mandatory entry is a comment). Good luck and happy reading!
February 6, 2012 at 7:35 am
I love when an author gives us a playlist of the music that inspired parts of the book OR that they were listening to while writing. It really helps me get into the scene and characters more ♥
Great interview!
February 6, 2012 at 7:49 am
Great interview and your book sounds great. I’m definitely interested now. I have to agree with you and say I would rather be stuck on a island with my honey. lol
February 6, 2012 at 8:39 am
Thanks for stopping by, guys! Alyssa, you’ve reminded me, I’ll have to post the rest of my playlist for King of Darkness.
February 6, 2012 at 9:58 am
I cant wait to read this book. It sounds so interesting to me. Great interview.
February 6, 2012 at 10:07 am
awesome interview! I’ve read such great buzz about this book! Congrats on the release!
I’d have to say that I’d pick being on an island w/ my bf too, but only if we were assured of being rescued in a few days cuz I’d think we’d drive each other crazy lol
February 6, 2012 at 10:21 am
I rather fly all over the world with a celebrity. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com
February 6, 2012 at 10:35 am
I too would rather speak at a Start Trek convention! I’m not into Star Trek but it’s so interesting to see the people there:)
February 6, 2012 at 10:42 am
The interview was great! I like the idea of a playlist with the book- music always pulls everything to gether for me. Thanks for th chance!
February 6, 2012 at 11:15 am
Definitely a need to read! Playlists are fabulous, and so are giveaways!
February 6, 2012 at 11:22 am
I too would rather be on a deserted island with the hubby, but only for about a week, because by then he would be complaining that there is NO TV, and I’d have to hurt him. LOL
Loved the interview and blurb for the book. Definitely going on my wishlist.
Thanks for the chance to win.
February 6, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Can’t wait to dive into the Chronicles of Yavn series! I’ll have to check out this DJ Anthony Pappa so I can listen to what you were listening to when you wrote the story… author playlists are always helpful to me:) Thanks for the great giveaway!
yadkny@hotmail.com
February 6, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Great interview ladies.
I haven’t read any of your work Elisabeth but it looks like something I would love. The cover is smokin hot too!!
February 6, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out King of Darkness, everybody!
February 6, 2012 at 3:13 pm
I love vampires! Kings looking for their mates. Sooo good.
February 6, 2012 at 3:58 pm
thanks for the interview and giveaway opportunity. Love the playlist idea. Kinda helps us get into the same frame of mind the author is in while writing!!!
February 6, 2012 at 5:08 pm
This book sounds great and I would love to win a copy.
As for “Would your rather” questions, I would rather be stranded on an island too. As long as I have my kindle, a battery that will always be fully charged, Wi-Fi access to get more books, and of course all the basic necessities (food, water, shelter). Of course, I would need a sexy hubby to go with it (don’t have one, lol).
February 6, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Great interview. Im really looking forward to reading the book. I think I would take the island too once I find my soul mate.
February 6, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Hi Elisabeth. How did you come up with the idea for King of Darkness? By the way, the cover is awesome.
March 1, 2012 at 7:38 pm
It sort of popped into my head one night, and took off from there!
February 7, 2012 at 6:59 am
Hi Elizabeth I agree totally with your comment for having more work that you enjoy doing versus less. I would rather be busy than just lazying around. This book sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway.
February 7, 2012 at 8:53 am
Great interview! The crazy work story, too funny LOL!
February 7, 2012 at 4:14 pm
I would rather be marooned on a island with my other half. I would also rather have more work then less. Something about not having anything to do would drive me nuts. Great interview!
Mary
February 7, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Looking forward to reading this book it sounds great and I love the cover .Im a huge vampire fan and I realy liked the way you answered the question about why vampires.Thank you for sharing with us today I realy enjoyed reading this interview.Have a great week
flanagan@mebtel.net
February 7, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Great interview! The series sounds very good. I’m looking forward to reading the book.
February 8, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Oh. Love getting a playlist for the books I’m reading. Always fun to check out.
Definitely agree. Would rather be busier and have more work and enjoy it than less work.
February 8, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Elisabeth, I love that you just decided to write your own series one day, that is very admirable that you decided and wanted to and then actually followed through! I can’t tell you how many times my family and friends tell me I need to stop buying so many books, I usually just scoff at them and explain to them that reading makes me happy, why quit something that makes me happy? Now I get to add your book ( and hopefully bookS) to my to be read list that everyone criticizes me about
Can’t wait to read this book and hear more about the series!
February 9, 2012 at 6:40 am
GREAT interview! I can totally relate to your telemarketer experience. I used to do some customer service work where folks would called in to order musical equipment, etc. Some of these folks were a HOOT! One guy thought he was Sinatra…and while my supervisor was listening in…he sang ‘Fly Me To The Moon’…wasn’t really to bad either…if you could ignore the sound of his dentures clicking, LOL! Thx for this giveaway opportunity!
barbbattaglia @ yahoo.com
February 9, 2012 at 11:40 am
Hi Elisabeth,
I love the behind the scenes peek at a new author, especially one writing in my favorite genre.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
February 9, 2012 at 8:45 pm
I love knowing music was a huge impact in the authors journey in writing his/or her story. I am a huge music buff as well as reader. I will sometimes go back and re-read a book and listen to music that the author has listed in their playlist. It can sometimes take a story to a whole new place. Thank you for the lovely interview, as well as a chance at a giveaway. Your book seems so interesting, Can’t wait to get a chance to read!
February 19, 2012 at 12:59 pm
[...] King of Darkness by Elisabeth Staab. Winner is: [...]
February 19, 2012 at 8:07 pm
[...] 2/6/12-Book Savvy Babe–I’m being interviewed for this one. [...]