An Interview with R.E. Mullins author of VAMPIRE IN THE SCRYING GLASS

Blautsaugers of Amber Heights series, book #2. Vampire in the Scrying Glass set to release Halloween 2014. 

Available at:

Amazon

Wild Rose Press   

Enter to win an advance copy of 
Vampire in the Scrying Glass
at Goodreads
 

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As we approach Halloween, I’m excited to have R.E. Mullins on my blog to tell us about her Blautsaugers of Amber Heights series. Let’s start with the interrogation… I mean questions.


What are you working on?  The 2nd book in the Blautsaugers of Amber Heights will be released on Halloween 10/31/14. It’s called Vampire in the Scrying Glass and is Morgan and Rafe’s story. I’m currently about half way done with the 3rd book in the series: Metta and Luke’s story. Working title is A Vampire to be Reckoned With

How does your work differ from others of its genre?  My vampires are very human-like. Their anatomy and physiology is almost identical to humans but with a couple of extra chromosomes. Therefore they can do anything a human can do with a little extra oomph. They are able to go out into the sun (using sunscreen and sunglasses). They can stay up all day just as humans can stay up all night. They have a strong moral code and laws yet they are just as fallible as any human. Since they live longer, they mature extra slowly and aren’t even considered adults until they’ve reached 100 years of age.

Why do you write what you do?  I want to write the things I enjoy reading. However, I must admit this series was inspired by my job in phlebotomy. Dealing with blood all day…it only made sense to write about a phlebotomist who gets turned into a vampire. I started It’s a Wonderful Undead Life over a decade ago but didn’t take it seriously. After I got my act together, it was published Christmastime 2012.

How does your writing process work?  I seem to write better in the morning with a big carafe of coffee by my side. When I hit a snag, I take my dog for a walk. The fresh air clears my head and often whatever problem I’m having resolves itself.

What keeps you motivated while writing? The voices in my head never shut up.

How much real life goes into your fiction writing? Quite a bit, actually. Amber Heights, my city in the series, is made up though it’s set in my old stomping grounds of southwest Missouri. You might consider it a mishmash of several places I’ve lived. Though heavily edited (names changed to protect the innocent) I’ve also alluded to several events from my life. The disastrous blind date where Morgan gets her hand bitten in A Vampire In The Scrying Glass is one example.

Your favorite food? Pasta, baby. One of my favorite dishes is a variation of pasta puttanesca. The literal translation is ‘whore’s pasta’, which, I believe, comes from the idea you, can throw any combination of meat you want into the dish. I generally use pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, black olives, edamame, fresh garlic, pasta (I like rigatoni over spaghetti for this), and a couple of cans of Italian seasoned diced tomatoes. Cook the meats, boil the pasta, and then toss everything except the bacon together. Heat through. Crumble bacon on top.

Which of your work has been published so far? Would you like to share a synopsis of your work? What are your forthcoming writings?

I was fortunate enough to have the very first novel I ever wrote published: It’s A Wonderful Undead Life. I’ve turned it into a series. The second book: Vampire In The Scrying Glass will be released Halloween 2014. The third book under the working title: A Vampire To Be Reckoned With is about halfway finished.

 

Blurb:

Rafe Blautsauger, vampire and enforcer, must put his feelings for the mortal Morgan Maguire aside. The Nosferatu council who employs Rafe strictly forbids their love. But he can't stay away from the beautiful woman who causes his blood to beat with new life. Yet, she hides a secret, one he must expose in order to protect her.
                            
Morgan keeps her unique gift of magic under wraps due to a spell gone horribly wrong when she was young.  She is haunted by a nightmare where two malevolent glowing red eyes stalk her. Can she trust the arrogant but oh-so-handsome Rafe with her secret as well as her heart? Can he help her regain her power in time to save the world of the living and the undead?


Excerpt

         Morgan quickly lunged forward, and pressed the stake firmly over his heart. “You are despicable.”

         “Necessary. Especially for someone as puny as you.” With ease Rafe flipped the piece of sharpened wood out of her fingers, twirled it around a couple of times, and then handed it back with a small flourish.

         This time reprisal came more quickly as a spell came to her. She hoped that one day it would come automatically. “Let this man feel my slap. Not to harm, just a tap. Let him feel a touch of fear, to know he cannot domineer.”

         For a second the words hung in the air and then Rafe’s eyes widened as his head jerked to the side. The faint lines of a palm print reddened his left cheek.

         “You little devil,” he rubbed the side of his face before pushing her on the shoulder with the flat of his hand. He shoved hard enough to force her back a step. “If you’re going to slap at me, by god, you better have the balls to come at me personally.”

         “Oh, yeah?” Morgan thrust both hands against his chest and shoved with all her might. It shook her when he didn’t budge an inch, but she managed to keep up her air of bravado. “What’s the matter? Don’t you like the fact I’m not weak and powerless?” Tossing back her head, she challenged, “I don’t need magic to take you on, but it would be wise for you to remember it’s always there.”

         He thwarted any chance of escape or the ability to get in the last word by twisting his hand into her hair.

         He pulled hard enough, she gasped. 
         “So take me on,” he dared.

Bio
Born and raised in Joplin, Missouri R.E. Mullins has also resided in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, Springfield, Missouri and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Though she has loved each area, the Ozarks hold a special place in her heart. 
 
R.E. Mullins in social media


Blog: http://remullins.blogspot.com/

Twitter handle: #REMullins

Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/REMullinsauthor

Goodreads author page:  https://www.goodreads.com/REMullins