IMPORTANT NOTE: All contest winners will be drawn the weekend following the end of the contest. So if you didn’t hear about the contest right away, don’t despair—you can still go back to previous blog posts and enter.
Today we have a special guest, Kate Pearce, who is giving away a copy of her book Blood of the Rose to one lucky commenter. So, take it away, Stephanie…
Why write Vampires?
by
Kate Pearce
I often get asked why I decided to write Vampires, especially Tudor Vampires, and the answer has nothing to do with my hopes of earning bazillions of dollars, ( I think several other authors have already got there before me.) :) Well, the bazillions would be nice, but there were other reasons why I enjoy writing paranormal.
I have three teenage boys.
And no, I didn’t write them for my boys. They abhor all things romantic and vampiric, and the thought that their own mother knows about sex, let alone writes about it is high on their horror factor. It’s more that my kids drive me crazy and apparently I’m not allowed to kill my own children. I find killing vampires in my books a safe outlet for those days when I just look at my boys and wonder what the hell I was thinking.
Imaginary fighting is so much better to deal with and I can control the outcome. I also get to raise my inner geek-historian and write about Tudor history along with the vampire and druid lore. And I get to kill people, horrifically and I find I’m enjoying that far more than I probably should. (see above).
"Blood of the Rose" was particularly fun to write because the real life drama of Anne Boleyn lends itself so beautifully to a Vampire plot and I enjoyed every minute of it. Even in her own time period, Anne was accused of being a witch who had bespelled the king and consorted with her own brother. It’s nice when history collides with paranormal fiction in such a satisfying manner.
I’m giving away a copy of “Blood of the Rose” to one commenter and my question is: what do you escape from when you write or read fiction?
Best
Kate Pearce x
http://www.katepearce.com/
When I read I escape from my own life and share a fake reality for awhile.
ReplyDeleteI read to escape from work pressures.
ReplyDeleteI read to escape all of my own problems. Nothing thrills me more than being taken into someone else's world and escaping anything that is currently bothering me.
ReplyDeletejoannereynolds@sbcglobal.net
I use reading as entertainment and to escape the realities of life just for a bit!!
ReplyDeleteThe reason I read/write says it all in the title of ones of my old mss: 101 Ways to Kill Your Boss. The sequel will be 101 Ways to Kill Your Client.
ReplyDeleteI spend a lot of time with my autistic son at doctor appointments and therapies. I read to escape the boredom of sitting in waiting rooms for hours while he has therapy, etc.
ReplyDeletecoolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
When I'm reading I'm in a different place for awhile. It makes me forget the every day stress.
ReplyDeleteI escape from my computer desk, around which my entire life -- work and leisure -- revolves.
ReplyDeleteI read to excape the real world and life. If only our life is like our books the world would be a better place I think, but maybe not. We all have issues and books take those issues away for a while.
ReplyDeleteI escape from my life and my problems. I can escape a house that needs cleaning, a husband who's less than romantic and all of that wonderful stuff
ReplyDeleteI've always read to escape life. I started as a child to get away from it all and it's still the best way to forget anything and everything - at least for a little while!! It's how I get to sleep every night - stops the voices in the head!
ReplyDeleteI just love to read!! It relaxes and soothes my brain!! I think, if I didn't read, I would probably sit in front of the TV watching all the problems in the world:( I love vampires and Tudor, this sounds like a book I would enjoy. I have already put it on my list.
ReplyDeleteI read to escape the hell that is my children. lol I have 3 girls, one going through puberty that I want to punch in the face on a daily basis. If I couldn't escape into a book I'd probably have run away by now.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the quiet time and relaxation that reading a book brings.
ReplyDeleteI read to escape my problems and be taken into another place and time that isn't mine. I find very realixing to read a book.
ReplyDeleteI love to read to escape my house and travel the country and the world without ever really leaving mu living room. I enjoy the geography of a book as much as the main plot.
ReplyDeleteI read to escape from the day to day grind. It is nice to escape to a different reality and time.
ReplyDeleteI just love to escape my everyday life, and let my brain relax. After a somewhat stressful day at the donut factory, or with Ms Squacky Baby, its nice to let my mind ferret out a solution to a different type of problem.
ReplyDeleteGreat question - I think I escape from the everyday reality where I don't know any vampires, solve horrific crimes, or live in a different time period. It's a great way to stop being me and be in someone else's reality.
ReplyDeleteI escape from the daily grind of work and everything that needs to be done at home.
ReplyDeleteI read to escape the usual day to day drama (Work, family, health, etc...) just like everyone else. But other times I read while exercising so it's not so boring.
ReplyDeleteWow! thanks for all the great responses! It's interesting how much we all value that opportunity to get away from it all, even for a little while. The thing that always annoys me is the suggestion that we 'silly women' are unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality-um no-we're perfectly capable of knowing and appreciating the difference.
ReplyDeleteI have loved reading since I was a child. Not only it is a pleasure to read, but you can also learn quite a deal about vampire, spies,Seals, airplanes, life....
ReplyDeleteI read to relax. thanks for the contest
ReplyDeleteI just escape from everyday life when I read. I can go anywhere and do anything with a book which I can't do in my normal world.
ReplyDeleteKate did a great job on this book. I read it and have writen a review on it that will post on MyShelf.com. I can't wait to read Kiss of the Rose and her upcoming one as well. Great job, Kate!!
ReplyDeleteI escape from the worries and stress of my normal life by going to places I've never been, experiencing new things and meeting people (or creatures) different than anyone I've ever known - all while sitting in a comfy chair.
ReplyDeleteReally just from the juggle of everyday life. I read to relax and visit another world where I dont have to worry for a little while.
ReplyDeleteI use reading as my Calgon.
ReplyDeleteReading truly is my escape. A great deal of my adult life has been hard. Thanks to all you wonderful authors out there, I'm still somewhat sane. ;-) LOL
ReplyDeleteI've been able to travel to places I only dream of, learn all sorts of new & different thoughts & skills, and meet all sorts of interesting characters. All thanks to books.
I escape from doing housework! But mostly I just love reading. It relaxes me :)
ReplyDeletei read to escape from my tiredness. with 2 months old baby, i do really need Good books to read !
ReplyDeleteAhhhh...let me count the ways now - I am getting away from wanting a cigarette while I'm quitting smoking, getting away from starting a new job and wondering if I can hack it, getting away from a house that needs cleaning...oh, and the cat box needs scooping.
ReplyDeleteNeed I say more?
kk
Kate, I'm so happy to have you here since your vampy Tudor books sound amazing!
ReplyDeleteAs for what I'm escaping from....I'm a quadriplegic and have certain days that are a lot more pain-filled than others, so reading helps get my mind off how bad my body feels. Thinking of Qhuinn from JR Ward's BDB certainly does this body good! Then of course there's the same financial hardships others have been having. Being able to travel to an exotic country, buy new clothes, or have the latest in electronic gadgets are just a few pages away.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
from the pressures of everyday life
ReplyDeleteyourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
I escape from decision-making. Often helps to stop thinking about a subject and then the answers come.
ReplyDeleteLife can get to be flat and monotonous, so I read to escape into emotions that can be found in books.
ReplyDelete"There’s nothing better than a contest to kick off the year!"
ReplyDeleteHmmm, Tudors and Vampires, sure sounds like a worthy read and I love the reason Kate writes this book.
great blog and I read to escape from the pressures of my three children and they are my mini vacations. lol
ReplyDeleteReality & my imagination.
ReplyDeletethinknap(at)gmail(dot)com
I renewed my interest in reading about 10 years ago to escape involuntary confinement. I tore my gastroc muscle and couldn't walk for 6 weeks. We have a very short summer (3 months if we're lucky) and I was missing most of it. Stephen King saved my sanity. I'll be forever grateful.
ReplyDeleteWriting or reading lets you escape the monotony of ones everyday life.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read, I usually try to escape whatever problems are on my mind, or whatever pressures I might be having that day. Being a caretaker where I live, you can imagine what problems can crop up in the course of a day, and I need my share of escapes!!
ReplyDeleteI realy don't enjoy vampire stories, enough is enough already.
ReplyDeleteI escape from boredom. If I'm not talking, watching tv or doing something I have to read. I read at the breakfast table (even if it's the cereal box, over and over), in line, waiting for the bus, on the bus, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read, I escape from the mundane tasks involved in everyday life.
ReplyDeleteReading is a relief or escape from normal life for me. The best books teach me a few things as the plot develops. My escape is typically just ignoring the never ending chores from emptying the dishwasher to loading the next load of clothes to be washed.
ReplyDeleteall the stress and problems of life and work
ReplyDeletetiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
Most of my time to read in is the car, waiting to pick up my daughter, waiting rooms (car mechanic or doctor's office), or the bathroom so I don't read so much to escape as just whenever I can fit it in. I love to read and wish I had more time for it.
ReplyDeleteYour stories sound great--I love the combination of paranormal and factual history. I definitely read to escape, and I escape the whole world. But I get to explore a new whole world, go places and do things (like killing vampires :) or becoming the mistress of a werewolf) that I would never get to do in real life. It's a win-win.
ReplyDeleteReading keeps me sane since I live in an all male household. Ack!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI love vampires and your books sounds really interesting.Reading takes me away and lets me travel anywhere at all while in my comfy chair and escaping everyday life for awhile. Happy Reading,Janean
ReplyDeleteI read to escape my own problems. I started reading when I was a child. Loved reading! I've had asthma my whole life and I really couldn't play like my sister and brother could so I read a lot. It's helped me live through the characters whether they are going to a different country or running away from something.
ReplyDeleteKate, you got a rocking cover again for this one! Love your historicals and vamp ones too!
ReplyDeleteFor me, I deal with alot of pain, physically, so its not only the escape of doing something to get away from it but putting some excitement in my head and heart on what I'm reading and it takes me away. Its does wonders!!
cathiecaffey @ gmail.com