Blood Betrayal by Alison Beightol
Genre: Paranormal
Romance/Dark fantasy
Publisher: Charles
River Press/ Cambridge Press US
EBook ISBN 13: 978-1-936185-83-2
Paperback ISBN 13: 978-1-936185-82-5
Number of pages:
384
Word Count: 98,000
Cover Artist:
Laurie Mc Adams
Book Description:
Being the world’s
oldest vampire, Eamon Rutherford has enjoyed women throughout the ages as
beautiful meals and one night stands. That is until Eamon decides to find a
mate and settle down. His less-than-perfect choice is temperamental ballerina
Lauryl Mellis. When Lauryl escapes from him in London, Eamon discovers that
true commitment requires him to love another more than himself. As he struggles
with his inner awakening and Lauryl’s rejection, Lauryl is busy planning her
own special event, which might include the death of Eamon Rutherford.
Interview:
Thanks
for having me on your blog! I’m excited to spend time with you!
- Where did you get the idea for the
novel?
I’ve
always loved vampire stories. I used to watch the old Christopher Lee Hammer
Films Dracula movies when I was a kid and was just mesmerized so that love grew
and merged with my love of writing. The specific idea came oddly enough in a
theatre class while listening to a lecture about dance costume designs. Instead
of listening to the lecture, I scribbled my ideas down like a madwoman. My
instructor probably thought I was soaking in her lecture but in reality, I was
sketching characters and a plotline.
- Your title. Who came up with it?
Did you ever change your title?
The
publisher came up with my title. And it did get changed from my original title,
which was Life in Moonlight. I’ve learned not to get too attached to titles
because they aren’t carved in stone.
- Why did you pick this genre? What
do you like about it?
Like
I said before, I have ALWAYS loved vampire stories. And I love the freedom that
paranormal romance and urban fantasy gives me with my characters and my
storylines. I like paranormal characters who are multi dimensional. Just
because they are a vampire or shifter or whatever doesn’t mean they don’t have
quirks or issues. I feel extremely comfortable writing in this genre. It feels
quite natural. I’m working on a manuscript where there is absolutely nothing
paranormal and I sometimes feel like there is a huge hole in the story.
- Since becoming a writer, what’s
the most exciting thing to ever happen to you?
Ooh
picking just one is hard. So I’ll give you a quick list. 1) Getting my book
deal. 2) I got a very personalized, in depth, lengthy rejection from a very
well known New York editor. I printed it and kept it close to where I write, it
was so good. 3) Hearing author RL Stine discuss his writing process and
experiences. It was so cool to hear a well-known author talk about some things
that have happened to me as well. It was validating!
- What book are you currently
reading or what was the last book you read?
I
am getting ready to start I Kissed a Dog by Carol Van Atta who is an author
with the same imprint I am with. It’s a paranormal romance. I just
finished Black Moon by Jessica Mc Quay,
a faerie YA story also released from Cambridge Press.
- What is your writing process?
I
am not an outliner. I wish I was but I am a pantser. I just wing it. I wait for
my characters to talk to me. Sometimes they give me the silent treatment for
LONG periods of time and others, they won’t leave me alone. Since I don’t have
an area to write in, I write in bed with my MacBook Air. Usually I have animal
crackers handy(I love them) and Fanta Orange drink near by as well.
- At a book signing, do you just
sign your name or do you write a note? How do you come up with stuff to
say?
I’ve
never had a signing but I would definitely write some little note to them.
After all, they took their hard earned money and bought my book. I like to
interact with fans of the genre! I don’t think I’ll have a hard time coming up
with stuff to say because I am rarely speechless!
- What is something people would be
surprised to know about you?
Most
people would be surprised that I have terrible stage fright and bouts of self-
doubt. I overcome it and people can’t tell but right before I have to do
something important I am dying inside.
- How do you react to a bad review?
Bad reviews are a fact of life. Not everyone is going to like my
work. Heck, there are days I don’t like my work. So I respect their opinion. It
is just that though. Their opinion. It doesn’t hurt me physically or diminish
anything I’ve done. They just didn’t like my book. As long as the criticism is
not personal or slanderous, I’m cool with getting slammed in a review.
- How did you celebrate the sale of
your first book?
Sadly, I didn’t do anything to celebrate it. Isn’t that dumb? I
just told everyone and patted myself on the back and went right back to work on
my work in progress. However, every now and then, I treat myself to something
nice and say, ‘this is for selling your book. You deserve it’ I’m like that.
Thanks for having me on your blog! It’s such a great thing to
meet everyone and chat. It’s like a non-stop block party!
About the Author:
Alison Beightol works
as a registered nurse but also studied history and theatre at the University of
Florida. For as long as she can remember, she has had an affinity for vampire
stories, romance, and gothic tales that keep her up at night. Blood Betrayal: Book One of the Primigenio
Tales is her first novel. Alison lives in a haunted house in rural north
Florida where she is putting the final touches on book two of the Primigenio
Tales: Blood of New Beginnings.Giveaway:
Excerpt:
Prologue
The Silly Thing
Didn’t Realize She Was Going To Be Late Night Meal
Who to eat, Eamon thought as he studied the capacity crowd of the
Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. The marker of another vampire, a much younger
vampire, in the audience caught his attention. The mystery vampire’s energy had
a quiet dignity intertwined in it. The marker intrigued him and he scanned the
audience with greater intensity. His Blackberry vibrated in his pocket,
distracting him before he could identify him or her. He looked down at his
phone.
Irina.
That dancer,
what do you see in her? There are plenty like her here, the text message read.
Eamon put the phone back in his pocket without responding. “That dancer” was
the
reason he delayed his return to New York .There were not any others like her.
Lauryl
Mellis had been the pride and problem of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
of
Dance at the American Ballet Theatre. Once at a cocktail benefit, the student
dancers were selling signed dance shoes of some of the school’s notable
graduates. Lauryl asked
one
patron in her Georgia twang, why he wanted a smelly shoe and did he plan on
“jizzing”
in it when he got home? Her dismissive attitude and scorn of the patrons
amused
Eamon but not the elite school. The powers that be often bent the rules for
her,
giving
her chance after chance because of her talent.
Her talent and what he had seen of her stormy personality
was magnetic. She
would
back up whatever insult or harangue with a lovely smile or a toss of her auburn
hair.
He enjoyed her from a distance, though. He’d never missed a performance or
fundraiser,
but never approached her or introduced himself. She was young, still in her
teens,
so he waited. Then he had lost track of her. But to his good fortune, here she
was on tour in Seattle.
Eamon studied the crowd a few more minutes and then flipped
through the stage
bill.
He passed ads, the story synopsis for the ballet, and then found what he was
looking for, Lauryl’s picture. Gone was the teen he remembered. Instead, he saw
a radiant, young
woman
with a dazzling smile and bright eyes. Eamon’s interest increased sharply.
The phone in his pocket vibrated again. It was Irina but he
saw no need to
acknowledge
his former companion. He looked back at the picture of Lauryl. The change
was
remarkable. She was stunning. The idea of a dancer for a companion intrigued
him.
All
of that beauty and grace amplified as a vampire. It was a perfect combination.
The
image
lingered in his mind for a moment and then the framework of a plan
materialized.
How much of her adolescent, edgy personality remained after
dancing professionally for the past six years? Had she outgrown that or had she
at least learned to temper it? After the performance, he’d find out.
The house lights dimmed and Eamon closed his stage bill. He
tossed it onto the empty seat next to him in the box and waited as the orchestra
tuned up. The cacophony of instruments merged together into a more harmonic air
but the familiar sensation of a woman studying him turned his gaze back to the
audience.
A young woman with light brown hair watched him. She rubbed
her hand over
her
thigh and crossed her legs. The slit in her skirt revealed a tantalizing
preview of her
legs.
Eamon followed the line of her legs back up to her ample breasts. Her body
reinforced
the silent invitation in her expression. He nodded acceptance of her naive
request.
The silly thing didn’t realize she was going to be a late night meal.
******
It took more time than Eamon expected to work his way
through the backstage crowd. He stopped twice to speak with business
acquaintances but soon found himself outside of Lauryl’s dressing room or as
close as he could get. A throng of her admirers blocked the entry. The ones that
couldn’t fit in her dressing room hovered around the doorway, waiting for their
opportunity to enter. He stood for a moment with the crowd but became bored after
few minutes. He looked at the mass of people and focused on their collective
thoughts.
Leave, he told them silently. One by one, they filed away and he
entered the dressing room. Other dancers, all drinking champagne and
chattering, surrounded Lauryl.
She was seated in a chair with a blanket over her shoulders
and a champagne bottle tucked between her thighs. Eamon could smell blood and
his eyes tracked down to a bucket of ice water that her feet were soaking in. He
looked at the bucket a moment longer and then at her face. She was lovely, even
lovelier than in the program picture by far.
Her pale skin was flushed pink and her green eyes sparkled
with excitement. Her full lips turned in a smile for one of the dancers before
she waved at them. The mass of curly, red hair he remembered was scraped back
in a tight bun. She laughed at something a dancer whispered to her and she
pulled the pins holding her hair back out. Auburn curls dropped down and framed
her face. Eamon smiled inwardly and took a few steps toward her.
“Lauryl Mellis,” he said as he extended his hand to her.
“It’s such an honor to meet you.”
Lauryl turned to him and her expression changed. Her smile
withered and her eyes narrowed as the happiness disappeared from them. She took
his hand like it was covered in filth and shook it. “Thanks.”
Her boredom with him was apparent but he continued on,
intrigued. “I’ve followed you since you were a student at ABT. Your talent has
certainly blossomed, as well as your beauty.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, thanks again.”
“You’re welcome.”
Suddenly he sensed that he was just like the school patrons
that she scorned back in New York. He bristled slightly but his expression
didn’t change. As he looked into her eyes, the irritation he felt faded into
amusement. He’d play along with her. Besides, the delicious aroma of her blood continued
to drift up from the bucket of ice in front of him. Lauryl pulled her hand away
and continued to look at him with the same disinterested expression. She even intensified
her dismissive stare. He knew that she wanted him to leave, which fascinated
him. It also excited him because this was a first for him. Never had a woman reacted
that way to him. He concentrated on her thoughts for a moment. She thought he
was a rich asshole looking to get laid.
A dancer kissed Lauryl’s cheeks and hugged her. Then Lauryl
shifted in the chair. She looked at him and then looked at the door.
Eamon almost laughed. A not so subtle hint, he thought. He’d
comply. After all, he had the young woman from the audience waiting for him. “I
just wanted to tell you how talented and beautiful you are. Thank you for the engaging
conversation.” Eamon bowed his head some and smiled.
Lauryl’s green eyes blazed angry. “I’ll remember it always.”
“So will I,” Eamon said before he walked out.
I really enjoyed this book. Loved her fun and unique chapter headings.
ReplyDeleteVery nice excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for the interview! Loved the questions!!
ReplyDeletethank you Carol! I loved loved loved your book!
ReplyDeletethank you bn100!
ReplyDeleteVery nice excerpt.
ReplyDelete