Blog with Bite Presents Monique Martin

Welcome to the Hysteria!

Blog with Bite would like to present Monique Martin, our featured author for the Halloween Hysteria.

 And without further ado...Ms. Martin...

Character is everything. For me, as a reader and a writer, it's all about the people or demons or those special few that are a little of both. I want to connect with them, to care what happens. I want to want to spend time with them and I want my readers to feel the same way about my characters.

The big three in Out of Time: A Paranormal Romance all came alive for me. They found nice empty spots in my head (there are a few for let) and took up residence. Simon, the repressed professor of Occult Studies, Elizabeth, his young adventurous assistant and King, the vampire mobster who's looking for a sign from God.

In fact, it all started with the villain, King Kashian. I was watching a documentary about 1920's Chicago. The gangsters and the mob, bootleggers and bad, bad men. And, it came to me. What if the underworld of crime was actually controlled by the underworld of demons. And, King Kashian was born, er, well, sired.

I've always loved vampires. I mean, what's not to love? Dark, brooding, powerful, and tortured.  Add a hot buttered side of handsome and you've got me. Oh, have you got me. And, when I created King, the leader of the mob in 1920s New York City, he fit the bill. He's stylish, powerful, ruthless and a bad, bad, man. Half-man. Well, you know.  I wanted him to be a counter-point to the hero. To challenge him. And, he did. In spades!

I've always thought that the villain or antagonist is just as important as the hero. If he's boring or two-dimensional, the hero's journey isn't nearly as satisfying. King became so much more than just a hot vamp. Not that there's anything wrong with that! I love his back story (I don't want to it for spoil you) and even considered giving him his own book. He's as real as Simon, the hero, and on his own journey for redemption.

King's got family issues (don’t we all?), his competition wants to see him dead (again) and he's looking for that special someone to spend eternity with (literally). He's lonely and driven and, I hope, sympathetic, despite his, well, killing and things.

Vampires are such fun characters - so powerful and seductive. They're temptation personified. And, there's no limit to the way you can use them. They can exist in any time period, have nearly limitless experience and fall anywhere from gentle to monstrous.

I know it's de rigueur to have more heroic vampires these days and I'm breaking form a bit by having King as the antagonist in Out of Time. But, I really believe that a great villain can be as compelling as a great hero.

Who are some of your favorite villains? Any vampire villains you hate to love? I'd love to hear from you. Post away and share your vampire love/hate hate/love.

Thanks again to the gang at Blog with Bite. Happy Halloween!

Answer Ms. Martin's question for a chance to win a copy of OUT OF TIME in eBook format. Two winners will be chosen.


Contest Deets:

• Two winners for this particular contest
• 18+ only
• Commenting on this post will earn entry into this contest, but please answer Ms. Martin's question to be eligible. Not following directions will result in your comment not counting.
• Winners will be chosen using Random.org
• Following BlogwithBite.com is not required
• Extra entries will be offered, separate comment for each entry please, if you leave multiple entries in one comment it will only be counted as one entry
• Contest ends October 31st, 2010 11:59 CST

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