About Your Books:
1) Which book, of your own, is your favorite?

I like all my books for different reasons, but usually my favorite is whatever I'm working on at the moment.

2) What are you currently working on now?

Between edits and writing new books, I have a few projects going right now.   BLOOD SWORD - sequel to The Protectorate, 2 novellas under M.A. duBarry - a Selkie vampire tale and a contemporary paranormal set in a mythical Scottish village. Plus a new Urban Fantasy series (w/a Angelique Armae) featuring angels and nephillim/Grigori.

3) What do your friends and family think about you writing stories involving vampires?

My friends and family have been very supportive of my writing, despite the fact I write paranormals with vampires and other dark characters.  But I will say that every once in awhile I will meet someone (maybe an acquaintance I haven't seen in a bit or a friend of a friend) who'll raise an eyebrow the second I say vampire or some other 'nasty' word along that line :-)  Now, when I meet people I don't know well, I just say I'm writing Urban Fantasy.  Most people can figure out fantasy, so they usually don't ask any questions :-)

About Writing:
1) What book do you suggest for aspiring authors to craft their own vampire novels?

Oh, gosh, that's a tough one.  I use so many books for research.  I have a library of writing books I believe every author should have and they include:  The Gregg Reference Manual, a synonym finder, thesaurus, and of course a dictionary. 

Online I use dictionary.com

For research on specific subjects such as vampires, ancient Celts, etc. I use tons of books.  I used to work for Llewellyn Publishers, so I tend to check out their books quite a bit.  And I do a lot of online research. 

Over the years I've also taken numerous workshops for crafting stories as well as for specific topics.  Some of them have included seminars taught by other authors/TV personalities like The Plot Doctor by Carolyn Green and a workshop on hauntings and various entities by the guys from Ghost Hunters (sci-fi channel).

2) What advice would you like to have known before you became a published author?

I've learned a lot since I joined my first professional writing organization back in 1999.  Some of those things are:

Never give up - perseverance pays off.

There's always something else/something new to learn.  Polishing your craft is very important.

Publishing is a very subjective business.  What one editor/agent doesn't like, another will love.

3) How do you write your books? Do you storyboard your book ahead of time or just write and let inspiration guide you?

I do a combination of things.  I love Carolyn Green's plot doctor paradigm worksheet.  Once I fill out the form outlining the basic plot, I let inspiration take over.  By the end of the book a lot of things have changed from my original outline, but usually I have a hard time writing unless I know the main points such as characters, hook, middle, crisis and resolution. This can be as simple as one-line sentences for each point.  From there characters take over and pretty much dictate their own book.  For a writer (this might sound a bit strange for non-writers, btw), the worse scenario is when your characters go away or shut up.  Your main characters are so important to you writing your book. 


About Your Book:
1) How many changes, if any, did you have to make from your original storyline to the finished product after the publisher, editor, etc got involved?

The Protectorate was originally supposed to be the first book in a series written together with another author but I ended up writing the series myself.  So, there were changes that had to be made due to copyright issues over my work and the other author's work.  I never had any plot holes or major re-writes, but I did have to go back and make adjustments where I had to omit the other author's ideas/characters/links, etc.  

2) How did you come up with the Double Fang Bite?

Can't really say except that it just hit me.  Most of my 'twists' happen that way.  I'll be writing or thinking about my book and then - bam - the idea is there.

3) How has the vampire fan community taken your unique spin on the tale with the quasis?

I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from readers.  I think most people like to read a new spin to an old tale.

From Boomer: Hi Angelique, thanks for taking time out to answer questions. I'm always curious to know what authors people enjoy. You've created your own unique universe, but I was wondering which author(s), if anyone, influenced your writing and/or style?

Well, I never set out to write like anyone else because I feel each author has his/her own unique style and voice.

But I am a huge fan of the Romantic authors and poets and a few other greats such as:

Jane Austen
Mary Shelley
Lord Byron
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Bram Stoker
Laura Ingalls Wilder
John Keats

From Freg: HI there. Thanks so much for playing with us!! What has been your favorite fan reaction to your books or event you have been able to attend because of your writing?

I've been on several author panels at DragonCon over a two-year period and that's been thrilling. I also get really excited when I receive fan mail from readers across the globe. I'm always in awe of the fact that people around the world are reading books I've written.  I don't think you ever get used to things like that.  It's such a thrill and I'm very grateful to all my fans for allowing me to do the job I've dreamed of doing my whole life. 

From DreamVision: Hello Angelique, My question is this: What's the best part about writing a vampire genre novel?

I get to create the ultimate bad boy :-) I LOVE to read and write the dark, brooding hero. 

From airportgirl: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. I just couldn't put this book down when I started reading it--it just sucked me in! My question: Do you plan any follow up books to this one?

Yes, I do plan on at least two more historical novels in this series, followed by a few contemporary novels.

The next one up is BLOOD SWORD and should be in my editor's hands shortly  I'm just putting the finishing touches on the book now. It's Sir Conor Ashwood's story.

So glad you loved the book!

From Kitty: Hello Angelique!! Thanks for taking the time to answer out questions!  My question is: How did you come up with all the names/characters in the book? (people, etc.) They're definetly unique and amazing!


When I start to outline my books, I do a lot of research. Sometimes I go to Celtic/Irish name sites (if I'm working on a book related to Ireland or Irish myths) and sometimes I pick names based on the meanings of the names.

I try, in most cases, to link the names to the overall book setting. But that doesn't work out 100% of the time  In some cases, it's just a name I like!

As for titles and place names, those I do based on real names with a slight variation. I avoid using real title names of contemporary peers. Place names are sometimes real towns or real names spelled a bit differently.

As far as things like Quasi vampire and the names of the types of characters, I invent those myself or draw from legends and myths.

Thanks for asking the question.


From calypso: hey Angelique! thanks fo taking the time to answer the questions  my question is: will there be a kind of prequel book really going in to detail on how each character reached the point they are at now?

Hmmm...I hadn't thought about a prequel with how the characters came to be. But maybe that will have to be a new project  I'll talk to my editor and see what she thinks of a compendium type of book or something along those lines. Or maybe something with a few short stories. Thanks for the suggestion!

From MarieWP: Can you tell us about your experiences in the publishing process? (For instance, how long did it take to get your book published? and did it take awhile to get noticed? Thanks for answering our questions

My very first vampire novel was sold on proposal  But I've been writing my whole life LOL!

I started out as an ebook author and then was picked up by ImaJinn Books. I submitted a novella. ImaJinn responded asking me to make the novella into a full length novel and to turn the novel into a series. Hence, The Dead Walker vampire novels were born. When I first wrote about Donovan, I never intended his story to turn into a series.

Most recently, I signed with Holly Root of the Waxman Agency. I now have a New York agent who will be shopping my Urban Fantasy series. I will continue to write for ImaJinn - I have numerous contracts with them, including for more vampire novels and a gargoyle novel. My Urban Fantasy series, which my agent has, deals with Heaven and Hell, angels, fallen angels and even a vampire.  Hopefully I will have some good news on those books soon.

My spicer books are written under M.A. duBarry and at this point are published by ImaJinn Books and Samhain Publishing.

From Sylvie: Hi Angelique! Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions! I'm very curious about Vastos. I love that he's not a one-dimensional, moustache-twisting, hand-together-rubbing, maniacally-laughing villain. Instead, he's a complex character with complex emotions and motivations. Will Vastos be back in the next novel, and will we find out
more about his relationship with Upyra? Thanks again!

Yes, Vastos will be back! At this point, I think he'll make an appearance in all the sequels. I created him to be a complex character specifically because I didn't want to kill him off in the first book. I've always envisioned Vastos as a villain who was a bad guy but had reasons behind the things he does, rather than just being a nasty soul. So glad you enjoyed reading about Vastos.

From MrsHenryFitzroy: Thank you so much Angelique for taking time to answer our questions. My question is, is there going to be a Luther book?? I think there's more to the character then what we've read about him in this book. I would like to know what happened in Prussia.


Actually, I am planning more for Luther but at this point I was thinking of telling his story in a contemporary book. My idea was to write a few historicals and then bring in some of the characters into contemporary times. Luther was one of those characters.