Please join me in welcoming S.Roit (Sherry Roit) as my April guest on Vampire-Love-Affair.com
What was your first introduction to vampire romance literature, the one that made you choose that genre to write?
There isn’t a book that caused me to write what I write. I wrote what was in my head at the time, the characters that were knocking about. And because I was role playing these characters. I would say that THE VAMPIRE LESTAT had an effect on me when it came to the way I view vampire literature, perhaps, but I don’t read strictly romance (or strictly vampires), I read many different things. Of the vamp books I do read/have read, some have some romance in them. Movies may have most influenced me when it comes to my love of vampires. Frank Langella as Dracula was, and still is, the cat’s meow. He brought the sex appeal to the role. I know I’m not the only person he influenced.
2) Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite vampire romance book and why?
I can’t, and won’t, play the favorites game. There are too many books out there and I have read so many in my life, I can’t choose one. Do I have authors I love to return to? Yes. Poppy Z Brite is one of them. But then she’s not a “romance” author. Neither am I, actually. I add romance to my horror. Some versions of Dracula are romantic, as well.
3) Do you look to your own phobias to find subject matter? Are your stories the products of nightmares, childhood experiences, fantasies?
Yes, I have life experience that certainly works its way into stories. Emotional experience. All of the above.
4) Which of your books was the easiest/hardest to write?
So far, it was ABSOLUTIONS, the third in the series, was the most difficult. I had incredible angst going on during that one, and my characters were angsty. It was in good part also because that’s when it fully hit me, that people were actually reading these things. Therefore, the first book was the easiest; I had not idea anyone would read it, and my head was so full of story it poured out swiftly.
5) Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why?
This sounds arrogant, perhaps, but I would have dinner with any of them, even Vicont…at least from PARIS IMMORTAL. Vicont because he’d be interesting, if not the most welcome. There is a character in a book I’m writing that I don’t think I’d like to meet. One I’d likely smack after ten minutes. In a sense I have already “had dinner” with all of them, because they are of course, in my head and always with me. I have probably the softest spot for Gabriel. Michel would be fun even at a funeral. Travis would always have your back. I could do this all day…
6) Which of your characters is most/least like you, and in what way(s)?
You’re the first to ask this. I can’t decide if I want to keep this to myself…but in any case, some of me works its way into all of them, and I think that’s true of any author. As for which is MOST me; it may depend on the day.
Yes, I’m being evasive. 😉
7) What would your ideal career be, if you couldn’t be an author?
Beach bum. 😉 Perhaps whilst taking photos.
8) Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
Yes, I do. No, I try not to let it affect the writing, unless I believe there is a good, valid critique beyond merely having different taste. I write for me, first. I have to. Can’t please everyone, so I do not try.
9) Do you ever come up with anything so wild that you scare yourself and it leaves you wondering where that came from?
Actually, I can’t always judge if it’s going to scare readers, because I’ve seen and read too much. I have to ask if it’s creepy. There is something I’m writing now that might finally scare me; it’s connected to a phobia of mine. Occasionally I do sit back and think “wow, I didn’t know I could write something like that…” but not necessarily because I’m frightened of it. Really, I never though I could write one novel, let alone four. So there you have it.
10) What do you think draws people to vampire romance novels? Why do think we, as readers, like vampires?
The reasons are as varied as there are people who read them. Some reasons are; the seductive nature of the dangerous-but-sexy type. The ultimate bad boy. The taboos you are given permission to play with and, living vicariously through the story.
11) Where do you as an author draw the line on gory descriptions and/or erotic content?
If it fits, it sticks, when I write. If you are forcing it, it is obvious. I don’t mind sex, we all like sex, but do please give me some plot to go with that, okay? I can write my own porn and/or rent it, thank you.
12) Do you ever research real events, legends, or myths to get ideas?
We do not live in a vacuum. Everything I have ever seen, heard, read, contributes to everything I have done, and ever will do. Which means yes.
13) The perception of the vampire romance writer is that he/she is just a little bit weirder than most. Do you find yourself — and other vampire romance writers — to be more idiosyncratic than the average person?
I’m not familiar with this perception. My only response is “define normal.” (Yes, you’ll find that phrase in my books!)
14) What is one stereotype about vampire romance writers that is absolutely wrong? What one stereotype is dead on?
I don’t know what these are, either, to be honest. I know that some people think horror writers are sick and twisted. We might be…
15) Have you ever been surprised by a controversy among fans or reviewers – for example, you created a character without thinking too much about what people would think of him, and found some readers loved him and some hated him?
There was one person who shocked me by wishing a character dead, whom he’d adored in the book before. In fact, everyone else adores this character. Without getting into the entire gossip session of a story, let’s just say I thought the reasoning was terrible.
16) Which question are you most sick of answering in interviews?
You ask me that as if I’ve had tons of interviews…hah. I can tell you a question I tired of quite quickly from clients who know I write vampire characters:
“What do you think of Twilight?”
It’s been enough times to make me feel stabby. I get twitchy at the thought of it.
