Blog with Bite would like to extend a warm Halloween welcome to author Erika Knudsen. Ms. Knudsen is the author of Beyond the Threshold of Death, Resurrected and her up coming third novel Awakened, which is scheduled for release in November. Get to know Ms. Knudsen in this exclusive BWB interview!
Giveaway: Ms. Knudsen will be giving away a SIGNED copy of Beyond the Threshold of Death to one lucky commenter.
Erika: The vampire genre has always been a love of mine and the deep interest in the topic is what led me to write my first book fourteen years ago. Having always possessed a great imagination I never found it difficult to submerse myself into my characters and bring them to life. Not only does the vampire genre interest me but the theme of ghosts, witches and all things supernatural capture my intrigue as well. I find the writing process in whole a way to release my thoughts and emotions on humanity, morality and my own intrigue with the paranormal. I live in a hamlet north-west of Edmonton with my husband and dog. Writing is my over-all passion in life.BWB: Can you tell us about Beyond the Threshold of Death in your own words.
Erika: Beyond the Threshold of Death begins in Old World Ireland, 1795. Deirdra O’Dea, who is ailing from an unknown fatal illness, her father fearing for his daughter's health, unknowingly hires a vampire named Mylana to care for her. Instantly, a friendship blossoms between the two women. Seeing the pain Deirdra is in, Mylana offers her immortality, of which she accepts... Almost two centuries later, Deirdra finds herself in the middle of an unearthly upheaval. Events waged over a millennia beforehand have reawakened the fury of an ancient Blood God, whose objectives involve the complete obliteration of the vampire race.
BWB: There is a follow-up book to Beyond the Threshold of Death
called Resurrected. Would you recommend reading the first book to fully understand the second, or are they stand alone?Erika: It’s not a necessity to have read the first installment before picking up Resurrected
. It is a separate story, yet connected. It takes place four years after the end of Beyond the Threshold of Death You’ll just get the fuller, bigger picture if you read BTTOD then Resurrected.
BWB: How did you decide on a vampire as one of your main paranormal 
characters?Erika: They say, write what you know. Well, I don’t know any vampires per say, but, I love the genre, so I write about what I love. Vampires have always been alluring to me, even as a kid. I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t thinking about the things that ‘go bump in the night’. It was only natural that I’d work in that genre when I started writing.
BWB: What led you in the direction of the paranormal genre?
Erika: Again, it’s just a natural extension of my curiosity for everything supernatural. It’s a genre that can take your imagination in so many directions and has such a rich and deep history, from folklore to mythology. There is so much to choose from and work with, and also, to intermix with already well-known genre’s such as vampires.
BWB: Any favourite Halloween memories you would like to share with BWB readers?
Erika: When I was seven, we had just moved from Kitchener, Ontario to St. Albert, Edmonton. (Canadian cities) Only a few weeks later it was Halloween and I was so excited to wear my costume and go-trick-or-treating. However, the weather went from balmy to absolutely stupid cold {minus 30 degrees Celsius} in just a matter of a few days. It rarely got that cold in southern Ontario. When I went to go out with dad trick-or-treating, that’s when the battle with mom began. Suffice to say mom won and I had to wear my snow suite under my costume. I was so upset. You couldn’t tell that I was a cowgirl at all! Barely five houses later, I didn’t care and I wanted to go back home, it was just too bloody cold! The joys of Halloween in Canada!
BWB: Is there anything you would like to share with us, other appearances, or news?
Erika: My third book, Awakened, is going to be launched November 20th. There will be an official launch party as well as contests which will be held at my blog: http://www.erispublishing.com/blog and at Eris Publishing’s website: http://www.erispublishing.
For our readers: What is a great Halloween memory from when you were a kid that you would like to share?
Contest Deets:
- One winner for this particular contest {Signed copy of Beyond the Threshold of Death}
- 18+ only
- Commenting on this post will earn entry into this contest, but please answer the FOR OUR READERS 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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