Bleeding to death after a brutal mugging on the campus of UNLV, twenty-five-year-old Alyssa is rescued by the cold and aloof vampire, Lysander. Taking pity on her, he shares the gift--and curse--of immortality.
Katie is offering a signed copy of her novel, so be sure to check out the contest details at the end of the interview.
Katie Salidas: Exactly!!! I obsess over names endlessly until I find something that fits. It has to be perfect! While writing Immortals I kept looking into the story to find a basic thread. A theme, if you will. Something that described the book in just a few words. They are Immortals, vampires that is, and the Latin version of that is Immortalis. They live in the night. But, that is not the underlying theme. It’s a story about coming to terms and accepting it. Seizing the night, so to speak. Many people are familiar with the phrase Carpe Diem, seize the day. Well, that’s what my main character has to do … for the night and her newfound immortality. That is where it all fit together. Immortalis Carpe Noctem translates to Immortals, Seize the Night.
CK: Your main character, Alyssa, struggles with giving up her old life for an immortal one. How would you describe Alyssa and her willingness to face her new vampire existence?
KS: She’s scared and somewhat repulsed by it, to say the least. Books and movies have all made it glamorous, but it’s not. Sure it sounds all fine and good, but when you actually have to sink your teeth into someone’s neck and drink their blood, all that Hollywood sparkle and glitter goes away. Of course, she has to come to terms with it eventually, and her journey to acceptance, a bit of a rocky one, is the main thread of the story.
CK: What can you tell us about Lysander, the vampire who turns Alyssa?
KS: Lysander is an ancient hermit vampire. Aloof doesn’t even begin to describe this man. He’s resigned himself to seclusion to avoid the pain of his past. He turns Alyssa out of guilt and quickly finds he doesn’t know what to make of her. Where he is order, she is chaos. They get off to a rocky start, but you know the saying, opposites attract.
CK: Alyssa becomes a vampire in Las Vegas, a city known for its nightlife. Besides being the perfect spot for a nocturnal existence, how did the setting influence the creation of your vampires?
KS: I love Vegas. It’s my home as well. One of the things I considered with my vampires is how they can stay hidden. Vampires are not known to the rest of the world. Hiding in plain sight is often the best way to do it. Where better than a city known for having a 24-hour lifestyle? It’s nothing to have neighbors who live a nocturnal lifestyle. No one bats an eye at people out and about in the middle of the night. Lysander and the Peregrinus clan are able to live in a quiet suburban neighborhood while hunting in the city of Las Vegas, and no one is the wiser.
CK: Do you have any favorite vampire movies or books that helped fuel your enjoyment of undead tales?
KS: Oh, I have many favorites. I’m a huge fan of the old Anne Rice series, as well as many of the old 80s movies like The Lost Boys
and Fright Night
. I’ve been in love with vampires of any genre since I was a little girl. You can definitely say it has fueled my inspiration. CK: Bookshelves are overflowing with vampire novels right now. What would you like readers to know about your particular novel that sets it apart from the rest?
KS: Many stories out right now have a kick-ass heroine who can take on the world. I have nothing against that, but I wanted to show some of the path to becoming that. This first book focuses more on the struggle and acceptance. Have no fear, Alyssa does come into her own, but she doesn’t jump right into it. Sometimes stumbling, falling, and making mistakes can be a good adventure on its own.
CK: Are you currently working on the next installment of the IMMORTALIS SERIES? Has a publication date been set?
KS: I am. The sequel to Immortalis Carpe Noctem is due to be published in early 2011. No official date has been set though.
Here is the blurb: Immortalis: Hunters & Prey
When Alyssa was turned, she was told she could never again see her mortal friends. She was resigned to this fate, until a chance run-in with Santino Vitale, thought to be dead, causes her to rely on a mortal friend for protection, trusting that no hunter would attack in public.
By doing so she has broken vampire law and finds out that divulging vampire secrets harms everyone involved. Because of her actions, she's now drawn her friend into the struggle between vampires and hunters, a fact that has her clan calling for punishment.
But there are bigger dangers looming on the horizon, more pressing than a mere mortal's knowledge of vampires. The Acta Sanctorum is ready to attack again. It will take everyone working together and an unlikely truce to fight against the newest threat, the Frenzy Soldiers.
CK: Where can readers learn more about you and your books?
KS: I’m very active online. Readers can contact me at the following:
Blog
http://myimmortalstories.blogspot.com/
Facebook Author Fansite
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916
http://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie
GoodReads
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3395431.Katie_Salidas
CK: Thanks so much for joining me, Katie. Best wishes for IMMORTALIS CARPE NOCTEM and your future publications.
KS: Catherine, it has been a pleasure visiting with you and your readers today. Thank you for hosting me.
Katie has graciously offered a signed copy of IMMORTALIS CARPE NOCTEM for one Suburban Vampire visitor. To enter the contest, simply leave a comment for the author at the end of this post by midnight, Tuesday, May 4. I'll pull a winning name from all the entries.
IMMORTALIS CARPE NOCTEM trailer:
26 comments:
WOW!! This book sounds fantastic. Are you going to write additional books and make a series? Do you have any series published to date?
Hope I didn't ask ? you alread answered but my headache is making me see double so I am not sure.LOL
Thanks for stopping by to chat.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Vegas has a 24 hour lifestyle but it also has security cameras all over the place. Does this cause a problem for the vampires that live there?
sgiden AT verizon DOT net
misskallie2000 - Thank you. Yes I do plan on more books in this series. The next book should be out in early 2011.
SandyG265 - Great point about security cameras! But of course the vampires know about them. They hide their kills by avoiding the areas that are heavily watched.
Las Vegas sounds like an excellent locale for vampires. Your series sounds great. I look forward to reading it.
I like the idea of having the story begin at the beginning. I enjoy a good urban fantasy, and I think this one would fit nicely along with my Kim Harrison novels.
I do agree, I'd like to see how they all became the kick-ass heroine. The idea is super I think.
Hope to find it on the bookshelves, if I miss out on winning this one {:'
The Paranormal is my favorite genre to read and vampire reads are my favs! Looking forward to yours, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com
Thanks for stopping by to answer, Katie...and for helping to spread the word about the contest on your sites.
This book sounds awesome looking forward to reading it!
You said you were writing more in this series, will the characters be the same throughout the series?
Van
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
I have heard great things about this book! And what a perfect setting for a vampire...Vegas! I am jealous your home is Vegas:)
Thanks for the giveaway!
bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
Catherine Karp - Thank you for hosting me. I am thrilled to be here. I've been following (lurking) this blog for a very long time.
van_pham - Yes, this series follows Alyssa and the Peregrinus. There will be a few new characters introduced as it progresses though.
I do have other side projects in the works involving different characters in an alternate reality. Be on the look out for my erotic e-books this summer.
Congrats on the release! It sounds great. My favorite type of book.
What made you choose vampires? And will other paranormal creatures show up in the stories?
Thanks for sharing.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Katie: I'm thrilled that a longtime follower has turned into an interviewee. :-)
I'm a huge fan of the paranormal genre and can't get enough vampire stories. What are the myths surrounding the vamps you write? What special abilities do they have and what things harm them?
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
Great interview! I like hearing more about the story. Your trailer rocks!
donnas - I've loved vampire since I was a little girl. Crazy, I know. =p
I'll be introducing Werewolves, zombie-like creatures, and witches as the series progresses.
joder - Great question. While I do stick with some standard vampire themes, (i.e. no sunlight and need for blood) they can be killed by fire and dismemberment, their origins come from Greek Mythology. They are essentially the grandchildren of the Greek Titan Nyx.
Congrats on the release Katie !
I've been seeing this book on several blogs, some great reviews follow to it :) I'd love to have the chance to read it, please !
- I'd really like to know who's your favorite vampire ? and why ?
uniquas at ymail dot com
I can't think of a better place for vamps than Vegas. That place is all about night life or in this case not so much life. ;)
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
Oooh, me likey the cover. Glowy eyes. I like the title, very unique and fun. I so wanna read this!
patronus89013 at yahoo dot com
mariska - There are so many vamps I've loved over the years. Lestat from The Vampire Chronicles is probably still my favorite. He's arrogant, and a bit of a prick at times but there is just something about him that makes me want to say, "Take me." LoL. Of course Eric from the Sookie Stackhouse series is pretty hot too.
I'm reading Katie's novel now and you will love it. Great interview!
Hey, Katie. I'm still writing my novel. It's currently on Chapter 4 and moving along nicely. I'd like to read your book and get a taste, so to speak, of what your work is like.
Katie, as a fellow writer looking into self publishing my first book,Pure Bloods. I have to thank you. All your advice and hard work have inspired me to keep plugging along. I would love to read your book. P.S. I've always been a huge fan of vamps.. Anne Rice, Lost boys, Salems Lot and Underworld. Go girl!!
This book looks great. I would love to read it!
I have a soft spot for the hermits. : ) Especially when they're thrown together with a bit of chaos. The book sounds great!
Latin is alive and well! Seems even the characters/clans have some grounding in the language. I'll be sure to look for this book in the future.
Lestat FTW!
Congratulations to RYAN, the winner of a signed copy of Katie Salidas's Immortalis Carpe Noctem. Please send your snail mail address to catkarp at gmail dot com by Friday, May 7, to claim your prize.
Thanks so much to Katie for joining me at Suburban Vampire last week and for offering the signed copy.
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