CnB: Where did the idea for Scanguards Vampires come from?
TF: It really all started with Samson and the idea of a vampire with erectile dysfunction. Once I had that scene in my head, I started working outwards from that and wondered what his environment would be like, who his friends were, how he made his money. I liked the idea of juxtaposing a vampire with a bodyguard - on one hand vampires represent a danger to humans, on the other hand Samson's company protects humans. I liked that inherent conflict and the idea that Samson and his friends have held onto their humanity by protecting humans.
CnB: Why San Francisco for the back drop?
TF: Ever since "Streets of San Francisco" in the 1970s, I liked books and movies that were set in San Francisco. It's such a great city with lots of interesting settings and characters, that I figured my vampires would really fit into this eclectic mix. I've been living in San Francisco for over ten years now and still love seeing the city used as a backdrop in books and movies. I never get tired of it. The city becomes its own character in the book and I try to use events and locations that many people know to bring them closer to the story and help them identify with the location.
CnB: What kind of research do you do for each book?
TF: Well, since I write paranormal, my research is really minimal. If I introduce a character with a certain profession, I research that profession. For example, for Maya's character, a doctor, I used my experience having worked in a University hospital for many years. But that’s where my research ends. Since vampires don't exist (unfortunately!), there's nothing much to research about them. I know all the common lore of course, but I take a different spin on some of that and take what I like, leave out what I don't like.
CnB: Favorite character of the series, so far?
TF: I have to preface that I love all my babies, however, I can't help but have two favorites: Amaury and Zane. I love my men bad, and those two are probably the two real bad boys in my series so far. Of course, now that they both got tamed, they are not quite as bad as they used to be. I like Amaury's rough exterior, his uncompromising nature. In Zane I really love his loyalty. And since I'm a sucker for a sob story, I can't but feel for him. He had to go through so much that most women won't be able to resist trying to soothe his pain - and neither can I.
CnB: What's next for the series?
TF: Quinn will get his story next, and I'm working on some ideas for his book. I'm expecting to release the book this summer. I get lots of fan mail about Thomas and Eddie, so there will definitely be a story for the two of them. However, I haven't decided yet when their book will be published. There are lots of other characters I still want to explore too: Oliver, the new vampire Cain, and maybe I'll even bring back Luther from book 2. There are still plenty of possibilities, and as long as my fans want to read Scanguards Vampires books, I'll keep writing them and introducing new characters.
Great interview Tina. It was nice to see where you got some of your ideas and inspirations from. Love this series.
ReplyDelete