Saturday, October 1, 2011

Interview/Giveaway w/ Katie Salidas

Hey Book Lovers,

We have a special treat today. I was lucky enough for author Katie Salidas to answer a few of my questions. Also I recieved a copy of her book Immortalis Carpe Noctem for review, so keep an eye out for that coming soon. Sit back, relax and enjoy!


What inspired you to write you first book?


The inspiration for my first novel, Immortalis Carpe Noctem, came from a desire to explore what it would actually be like to turn into a vampire. I think most authors gloss over that aspect and focus on the after excitement. But really, that transformation is huge. Think about it. You’re a normal human being, a good person for all intents and purposes, and in one night you become part monster. You have to kill others to survive. You have to say goodbye to your human existence. Your family and friends can never know what happened to you. That’s a really traumatic thing, losing everything so suddenly. Learning to cope isn’t just something that happens overnight, and that’s where the focus of Immortalis Carpe Noctem is.



What books have influenced your life the most?


I started with Anne Rice, and that’s where my love of the gothic, deeply emotional and self-loathing vampire begun. Beyond that there were so many other authors who colored my image of what a vampire should be. I’ve enjoyed a wide variety of authors: Tanya Huff, L.J. Smith, Laurel K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, etc… The list could go on forever. I try to read any vampire book I can get my hands on.



Who is your favourite author & what is it that really strikes you about their work?


For me, it’s too hard to pick one specific favorite. Each author has their own flavor and style. Their perception too of the vampire world can be so vastly different. I find each time I pick up a new book or series, I want to say “this one is my favorite,” but really, every book and every author who wrote them has a special spot in my heart.


What was the most surprising things you learned in writing your books?


For me, it was that following the rules meant my muse would go on strike. I’m not talking about grammar and punctuation rules, I’m talking about all the rules we are taught in school about plotting things out and making outlines. The more I tried to plot and pre-plan the more I found myself writing my characters into the corner with no way of escape. Once I learned to let the story flow organically, I found my characters were pretty smart and could escape the traps I put in their place. Then the words would flow and it was like the story was writing itself.


As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?


If you asked an 8 year old Katie what she wanted to be, she would have said a veterinarian. I’ve always loved animals. But as I got older, I learned that wasn’t the job for me. Sometimes the vet has to put an animal down and I could never do that. Thank goodness for writing, right? That’s really where my passion lies.


How did you come up with the main characters?


Some of the characters are based on close friends and one is based on my own husband. He hates his character. He thinks I made him out to be a jerk. Oddly enough, most of my readers have loved his character. What I try to do, is take personality traits I see in others and embellish them. My husband, for example, is not a jerk, but he’s got a quick wit. He’s always got a comeback. So I made that a strong character trait. His character sharp, quick witted, and sharp tongued. He’s not a man you want to go toe to toe with, but ultimately he’s on the side of good so if you can deal with his arrogant attitude he’s an excellent ally.


What do you like to do when your not writing?

When not writing… hmmm. Good question. Sleeping? Between writing and my wonderful family, I don’t have much free time. And we’ve got another little munchkin on the way. My days and nights are about to get even more packed. I do sneak off sometimes and draw a hot bubble bath and sink down into the water with a steamy vampire book to read. It’s my one guilty pleasure.


Which of your books is your favourite and why?

That’s an unfair question. My books are like my kids. You wouldn’t ask a mom to pick a favorite child, would you? LoL. The best way I could put it, is my current favorite is always the one I am working on at the moment. Writing is fun so that naturally makes the current WIP my most enjoyable for the moment.


Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Always have a WIP. Never stop writing. Seriously, that’s the best advice I can give. Some people focus on one story and that’s it. But to make a career of writing you have to have more on the back burner. Always have something else to work on.


Do you have anything you'd like to say to your readers/fans?


Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. When I see that someone has read and enjoyed one of my works it truly makes my day. It spurs me on to keep going. Writing is hard work. In many cases thankless work. But just a simple thing, like seeing a good review, or seeing someone stop by my facebook page to say hello and tell me they read one of my stories makes it all worthwhile!


Light or Dark chocolate?


Ooooh Dark!! I love it.


Tea or coffee?


Tea please! With a little lemon and sugar. Yummy!


What's your favourite colour?


Teal. I just love the richness of the green and blue put together. Such a beautiful color.


Sunrise or sunset?

Sunset! Sunrise is just too early in the morning. LoL.


George Clooney, Brad Pitt or my fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman?

Tough choice. They all have their charms. I am partial to the Aussie men though, so I’ll go with Hugh Jackman. If I could add one to the list. Eric Bana… Yummy!!!




                                                         *****


Oooo Hugh Jackman & Eric Bana. Yes, great choices!


Thank you so much for joining us Katie and thank you for answering my questions.

Here's more info about Katie's amazing books...



                         Book One in the Immortalis Series

Becoming a vampire is easy. Living with the condition... that's the hard part.
Bleeding to death after brutal mugging, twenty-five year old Alyssa is rescued by the most unlikely hero: the handsome and aloof vampire, Lysander.
His gift of immortal blood initiates Alyssa into a frightening, eternally dark world filled with: bloodlust, religious fanaticism, and thousand-year old vendettas.
With Lysander as her guide, Alyssa will have to learn what it takes to survive in the immortal world. She'll have to find the strength to accept her new reality and carpe noctem; or give in, and submit to final death.



Book Two in the Immortalis Series
Click Here to Read the Sample Chapter

Amazon USA
Amazon UK Amazon DE (Germany) B&N Nook Smashwords



Becoming a vampire saved Alyssa from death, but the price was high: the loss of everything and everyone attached to her mortal life. She’s still learning to cope when a surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum’s most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the friend she’s missed more than anything.

Alyssa breaks vampire law by revealing her new, true self to her old friend, a fact which causes strong division in the group that should support her most: her clan.






Book Three in the Immortalis Series
Click Here to Read the Sample Chapter

Amazon USA Amazon UK Amazon DE (Germany) Smashwords



After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she’d learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package – a Pandora’s Box.
Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it?
When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.
Powerless against the ancient evil, the clan flees Las Vegas for Boston, with only a slim hope for salvation. Could Lysander’s old journals hold the key? And what if they don’t?
And how welcome will they be in a city run by a whole different kind of supernatural being?
Werewolves…

All three novels are also available in an omnibus edition.
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Smashwords.com




 






ABOUT THE AUTHOR




KATIE SALIDAS



Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.
And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…
Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916
LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=58814031&trk=tab_pro
Twitter - http://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie


On with the giveaway! Katie has donated a signed copy of Immortalis Carpe Noctem and also some great swag for a couple of runner up prizes.

To enter to win these amazing prizes please share this post so we can get more people onto these great books. On the front cover of Immortalis Carpe Noctem the quote reads : "Becoming a vampire is easy. Living with the condition, that's the hard part."

Answer this question..

How would YOU handle living as a vampire?   (leave answer in your comments.)

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and ends 9th October.

We hope your all having a fun and safe weekend.

Happy Reading!

31 comments:

  1. i think i could handle living as a vampire if i did what alyssa does and only hunts those that deserve it, if not then i would drink freely given blood from donars :) i wouldnt like not being able to see the sunshine, even tho right now i dont like being in the sun, hey maybe i already am a vamp and just dont have the blood lust :P
    thanks for the amazing giveaway katie and interview. love your work and am eagerly awaiting book 4!!!!!

    danielsangel101@yahoo.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  2. i tweeted

    http://twitter.com/#!/bindisgirl/status/120342227401715712


    and facebooked

    http://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=109038729204596&id=1514527340

    ReplyDelete
  3. How could I handle living as a vamp? Well it would be hard at first but I hope to have someone to help me through it and deal with it the best I can!!!!

    Awesome giveaway and I shared on Twitter and FB!!

    Bella:)

    Coastiecolellas@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. :) Id love to be a vampire if my family could have the choice at a age to join me !!! Im a night owl so I think being a vampire would suit me down to a tee !! ;) as far as the blood im not so sure !! but all the extras would be a bonus ** waggles eyesbrows lol **

    Thanks to Katie for the giveaway !!! Love the covers .. and Its always nice to read an interview and get an insight into a author !!

    kat

    kittee_cat@bigpond.com

    http://www.facebook.com/#!/Nightwalker74/posts/130630857037443

    http://twitter.com/#!/run_with_wolves/status/120345589232844800

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm a fan, but I'm not joining the competition - Australia is too far away and I don't want anyone to be weighed down with postal charges. I don't think vampires could survive in the bright sunlight out here anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would handle it pretty good I think. I am a night person and I would live to rid the world of evil people. I would bring my kids over when they were older. I would be a little mean and pay some people back who did me wrong.
    Kydirtgirl68 AT gmail DOT com

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  8. Seriously I don't know if I could- blood kinda grosses me out! I would like to think I would be an avenger type and only use my skills to rid the world of rubbish!!

    ceciliajansink@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I Google + FB and Twittered it. These books sound fabulous. They HAVE to be read. And Katie - Eric Bana - Oh yeah baby! ;D

    Re qu. I would adjust to that the same way as I'd adjust to anything in life. Step by step (bite by bite). I definitely wouldn't kill though. I'd feed but leave them alive, with an ambulance of on the way, or I'd give them iron injections or something ;D

    I couldn't live with killing - if there were no choice in that, then I'd walk into the sun. If I didn't have to kill, I think I'd be fine as long as there I had good company to share eternity with.

    Oh, and I'd want to be a beautiful vampire - not an ugly, evil one. Ew. Is that vanity or reason? Mmm?

    Shah. X

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oops! My email is shahwharton@gmail.com :D Shah X

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  11. I'd handle it badly ... seeing how I'm a vegetarian and all ;-) !

    Shared on G+ https://plus.google.com/115422995930624156557

    danaan at gmx dot at

    ReplyDelete
  12. Honestly, I think I would be terrible, i can´t imagine that I would live forever. Like it´s too long xD I think I would be bored after couple of centuries...
    tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/JanaRathouska/status/120456833902182401
    Thank you so much for the chance to win♥
    Rathouska(dot)jana(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm not sure how I would handle it. Third shift was always my favorite and the sun is not my best friend so I could deal with that. To me that would be the least of my worries. The drinking blood part would be the hard thing to deal with, but to survive I could overcome that. Watching my family die is another matter.....

    iarvd@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. It's interesting to see who would and would not be able to handle it.
    Me, personally, I'd have a really hard time with it. As I said above, I couldn't be a vet because I could never deal with the thought of having to put an animal down. Humans would be even harder to deal with. To have to live off of blood for the rest of your life would not be all that great either. Imagine it like being forced to drink only water for the rest of your life. No more soda, no more juice, just water. That would be pretty hard.
    But, if forced into the life like Alyssa was, you'd just have to roll with the punches.

    Keep those comments coming. I love to hear what you have to say!

    And good luck to all with the contest!

    Katie Salidas

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think that I could handle being a vampire pretty good. It might be hard staying out of the sun all the time, though.
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think I could handle it alright, I already prefer to stay awake at night and sleep in the day thanks to working 3rd shift for years. I tend to stay out of the sun cause I burn easily and have some issues with the sun. Losing my family would be very hard though.
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I don't know if I'd be able to handle it. I think if so I'd have to drink blood from donors and I don't think I could never go out during the day. Way too much to do!

    ~Mera

    mirrormera92 at aol dot com

    I +1'd the gway! =)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would probably turn my husband into a vampire just so I wouldn't have to be alone or give him up. I would have to wait for a while for my son though...
    tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/kainshottie/status/120915492331454464
    Google+'d it to
    phaedracamille@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. how would i know now???bcoz i am still human.....but i will let you know when i become a vampire :-)

    sweety225@rocketmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I think I could deal with it fair well after the entire "waking" and complete blood lust thing. Once I got that under control and down the rest would be okay. I could deal with feeding from the people that deserved it or if it was in the open then willing donors. Draining would not be on the top of my to do list tho... That's about as much as I can figure out without actually becoming one;)

    Tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/#!/Tiff_Mahaffy/status/121037589175209984

    Thanks for the giveaway!!

    t.mahaffy25@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. How would I handle being a vampire... well it would depend on the blood supply. Maybe work at a hospital? Now that would make things easier.
    If the need for blood is too strong I hope I'd be able to switch off my emotions. Guilt would be a pain in the butt.
    Great giveaway!
    _yay_
    sk_86(at)gmx(dot)de
    Have one on my blog, too.
    Ebook giveaway + interview: Post Oct. 3rd (E L James)
    BookthatThing!

    ReplyDelete
  22. My tweet:
    http://twitter.com/#!/_yay_/status/121360700835762176
    _yay_

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have to agree with the ones who say they'd turn their hubbies/family. I too would want them to come with me into immortality.

    Great responses you guys, keep them coming!!


    Katie Salidas

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great giveaway
    I could live as a vampire I would miss my family but getting old and illnes is so not what I want Vampires don't get sick So I would have to worry about it!!
    posted on my Twitter
    mdjmom
    http://twitter.com/#!/mdjmom/status/121436871812333568
    posted on fb
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916?sk=wall#!/conniebookreviews/posts/257654550938406
    Goodluck everyone
    vampgrl74@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would love to a vampire, with a hunky vampire husband as well. Lestat I think, or Edward, or Michael from the Morganville series. No definatly Gabriel from Guardian. Lol. shared on twitter and fb.

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  27. i think i will living as like edward and family from twilight series because i think it's not fun to bite people in their neck =D

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  28. I'm not sure how I'd handle it. I guess it would depend on if I was alone or if I was able to find someone to help me through it.

    Twitter:
    http://twitter.com/#!/TwinDragonsKnow/status/121652613027594240

    Facebook:
    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.186430534768113.43965.147130198698147&type=3&saved#!/cmmadison/posts/201110569961941

    Thanks for the contest and chance to win!

    Christina
    shadowhunters_jace_clary@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I think I'd handle it pretty well, other than the actual blood consumption :) Okay, mostly I'm just saying that because I like nighttime and sleeping in!

    I shared the giveaway here: http://twitter.com/#!/NTFancy/status/121860498793828352

    kate1485 at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great interview! The books sound great! :)I shared on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=212814162118318&id=187604031305998&ref=notif&notif_t=feed_comment_reply#!/profile.php?id=1509079967

    I think if I turned into a Vampire, I'd be shocked at first, but would gradually get used to it.

    Kristina
    kristinaleigh1@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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