This week I asked Wynne Channing the same questions I asked Rebecca Hamilton last week. Wynne's YA Paranormal Romance What Kills Me is available now! Grab it on Amazon US or Amazon UK and take a look at what vampires are like in What Kills Me:
How are the vampires in your world different from others?
My heroine Axelia is a very different vampire. She is impervious to sunlight, super strong and very special. "Most unholy," as the vampire general says upon learning of her existence. But more on her later.
The vamps in What Kills Me are pretty traditional bloodsuckers. They fight, they burn and they die. However, the vampire society is a special place — a world governed by duty and ancient tradition. Though they worship Gods, a single empress has total control. She governs what they eat and who can become vampires. Immortals are "selected" and transformed by a strict ritual. Then Axelia enters the picture, the first vampire ever to be turned without permission — born out of a well of blood.
Do the vampires in your world possess any of the traditional vampire traits? No reflection? Burning in the sun? Being immortal? Aversion to crosses, holy water and/or garlic? Turning into a bat? Killed by a wooden stake? Fangs? Other?
My vampires burn in the sun. They consume nothing but blood (human food makes them extremely sick — cake and garlic will have the same effect). If you're trying to kill one, a good beheading should do the trick. However, they don't turn into bats and they can see their reflection (how else would you ever do your own hair if you didn't have a reflection?).
Why did you choose to write about vampires?
I've always been fascinated by these lonely monsters. I think you can't live hundreds of years without being seriously messed up — which makes for interesting stories. I recently interviewed Neil Jordan who directed Interview With A Vampire and he said that vampire stories are often emblematic of a number of themes: sexuality, death, etc. There's so much you can say through these pale creatures.
Do you remember the first vampire story you read in a book or watched on a movie or television show?
The first vampire story that I saw was a Chinese horror movie. Chinese vampires or zombies jump around and you have to slap a piece of paper to their foreheads to keep them from attacking you. Sounds super weird but when you're a little girl, it scares the crap out of you.
What makes vampire stories appealing in today’s pop culture?
In a society so obsessed with youth and beauty, the immortality aspect is mega attractive. Of course, no one remembers the part where you crave blood and watch all of your friends and family grow old and die. For lack of a better word, that sucks.
If someone were to see one of your vampires on the street, what would their reaction be? Fear? Attraction? No unique reaction from that of seeing a human?
I think if someone were to see Axelia, they would simply think she is magnificent. Beautiful. Full of life. (But she was all of those things when she was human.) If someone were to see the general of the vampire army or its soldiers, well, they'd better run. Not that you'd get very far.
And now, my review of What Kills Me
Loved this book!
The writing is well thought out and carries a wonderful style that really goes with the story and genre.
The characters are well written and interesting. I definitely cared about Zee and her journey to becoming who she was meant to be. The relationships are complicated and have meaning.
The story is paced just right, I really enjoyed the flow of it. The action and adventure were amazing and I enjoyed the way Wynne ended it. The ending is seriously the best ending ever.
I can't wait to read the next installment! I recommend this to anyone who likes vampires, action and paranormal with a splash of romance.
Here are some links where you can find Wynne and What Kills Me:
For more info on Wynne Channing and other awesome authors visit the Fiction Bookshelf.
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