HELLO EVERYONE! Please give Gabrielle Bisset a warm welcome.
RONDA: Hi Gabrielle, I am so excited you are here, it is such an honor to be able to interview you.
GABRIELLE: Thanks so much, Ronda, for having me here today. I always love stopping by your blog, especially because it’s such a gorgeous design and your ratings
are just yummy to look at. 
RONDA: Please tell our viewers a little about yourself.
GABRIELLE: I’m a college history prof and erotic romance writer. I live in Pennsylvania with my fifteen year old son and a herd of pets.
RONDA: First let me say that I love your work and have read many of your books. I just read your new release “Blood Avenged” and absolutely loved it. Can you give our viewers a peek into what it is about.
GABRIELLE: Blood Avenged is the story of Vasilije, a vampire sire who is on the hunt for the murderer of one of his vampires named Teagan. He travels to New Orleans to begin his search and meets Sasa, a human with a very unique talent–she’s an empath. The chemistry between them is instantaneous, and as she joins him in the search for Teagan’s killer, Vasilije finds out more about Sasa but also more about the vampire world.
RONDA: I loved the drama in this story and loved the fact that your world is built around what goes on in the vampires own world outside the human world. Was there something or someone that made you think about writing about revenge against the vampires own kind?
GABRIELLE: As a history buff in addition to someone who teaches it, I know the root of conflict is often who has the power. Many vampire stories are about humans hunting vampires, but because I see situations through the prism of the power struggle, I wanted to stay immersed in the vampire world. To do that, I needed to construct a world where there are those in control who want more and those that fight to keep those in power from hoarding even more power.
RONDA: I loved all the characters personalities, Tatiana was the wicked vampire, Vasiliji was the perfect good sexy vampire, and of course we have to add the human in there, “Sasa” who had empathy powers. Do you have a favorite character within the story?
GABRIELLE: My favorite would have to be Vasilije. When I first introduced him in Vampire Dreams, he nearly leapt off the page. Some characters are like that. Then when readers began asking when he’d get his own story, I knew he’d affected them as he had me. I love men who make no excuses for their sometimes questionable behavior, and that’s Vasilije to a T. I also love hedonistic characters, whether they be male or female, and he’s quite the man for pleasure.
RONDA: I thought it was interesting that you showed more detailed insight into how vampires hunt and feed, how the sire takes care of their new vampire, and their inner feelings when it came to passion and love. What inspired you to write in the detailed manner? Was it to give a more gruesome insight to what being a vampire is really like?
GABRIELLE: For me, the devil is always in the details. While readers won’t get a ton of description from my stories, there are always special details that stand out. I like creating those details because they add so much to a story. I’m the kind of person who asks, “Why would someone do something? Is it required or is it a personal thing?” so my writing reflects that. And I always love showing readers the inner workings of characters. I like exploring what makes others tick, so I guess it’s natural that I would do that with my characters too.
RONDA: Can you give us an idea of what you are working on next?
GABRIELLE: Right now, I’m working on the next book in the Sons of Navarus, Blood Betrayed. The main character, Declan, is a vampire and he’s very much a loner because of his past. He’s been targeted by the Archons, and now his past is coming back to haunt him in more ways than one. Nicknamed “Saint” because he refuses to sleep with any of the females he’s sired, Declan is unique among his fellow vampires. Since the physical facet of turning a human into a vampire is one of the most sublime parts of the act, it’s considered odd not to want to share that experience with a female. He has sex, but he’ll only have sex with human females, which to some vampires is virtually blasphemy and a crime against his kind. Declan will have to overcome his past or the Archons will succeed in eliminating one of the eight Sons and be one step closer to taking over the vampire world.
RONDA: If our viewers wanted to find out more about your work where can they find it?
GABRIELLE: Readers can find me all over the place.
Website: Gabrielle Bisset
Blog: Gabrielle Bisset: A Writer’s Blog
Facebook Twitter Amazon Author Page
RONDA: Thank you so much Gabrielle for being here and taking the time to chat with us.
GABRIELLE: Thank you so much, Ronda!
FUN QUESTIONS
RONDA – GABRIELLE
Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite paranormal character – Other than the ones that live in my head, I love Vishous more than any other character.
Favorite power you would love to yield – the ability to manipulate time
Favorite movie – Oh Brother Where Art Thou
Favorite Actor/Actress – Robert Downey Jr.
Favorite Genre to Read – paranormal romance
GIVEAWAY
Gabrielle will be giving away a copy of Blood Avenged to one lucky commentator. Follow the Rafflecopter for entry into giveaway. Entry for giveaway will end at midnight on Jan 13th.
I find it interesting that you’re a History professor that writes erotica. Do you find that your history background comes through in your story lines? Especially where you have vampires.
lareynolds0316@gmail.com
Gabrielle, I haven’t read any of your books yet, but Blood Avenged sounds great. I love paranormal romances, especially vampire stories. Blood Avenged is definitely going on my TBR list.
I love Robert Downey, Jr. too.
Lori
knitrix29 at gmail dot com
I loved Oh Brother Where Art Thou! That is the only movie I’ll watch George Clooney in, well that and From Dusk to Dawn. Great interview and I love the fact it’s a dark vamp and not one of the cutesy ones.
Thank you, Ronda and Gabrielle, for the giveaway!
Gabrielle, I’d like to know what first inspired you to be a writer and why did you choose this genre?
Blood Avenged sounds like an awesome book!
I love Gabrielle’s Books!!!!!! She is an amazing author!
*hugs*
Thanks for the great questions, everyone!
Hi Lynn! The history always comes through in all my stories because I love history. And with vampires, since they live so much longer than humans, they can see a lot of it. The second book in the series, Blood Betrayed, has the main H/h as vampires who were turned around the First World War, so that will probably show up in the story. And the next book after that in the series, Blood Spirit, has the main character as a vampire who was turned just before the Black Death in the 1340s. The history is never the focus but always the flavor.
Hi Lori! Thanks! And that Robert Downey Jr. always gets me with those eyes. I melt every time I see them. LOL
Hi Blue Shedevil! My vamps are definitely not cutesy. I tend toward the darker, steamier side, and Vasilije is definitely that. I don’t think I’ve ever written a more hedonistic character.
Hi Roxanne! I was inspired to write as a child, but as I grew older I moved away from it to focus on school. When I had my career in place, I found I wanted something more and writing was what I turned to. Many people are surprised I don’t write more historical romance since I teach history. I love historicals, and in fact, that’s where Vasilije came from–the first historical novella in the Victorian Erotic Romance Trilogy (he was the villain in Vampire Dreams). But I love the freedom to create new and different things with paranormal. In my Destined Ones series, I created a whole new race of people–Aeveren. So the paranormal genre gives me a little more open space to let my imagination go wild.
Hi Kristen! Thanks so much! It’s always nice to hear from someone who enjoys your stories.
I think this sounds great. I need some more vampire reads. I’m glad for more paranormal reads than historical. You can always add in your historical knowledge into the paranormal ones
I don’t know what I’d do if writers started writing less paranormal. It’s my only escape. Thanks for the giveaway.
Hi Tanya! Thanks for commenting.
Traditional publishing is convinced readers don’t want vampire romances, erotic or otherwise. Authors know there are millions of readers like you out there, regardless of what NY says, though. I’m doing my part with the Sons of Navarus series, so there will be a whole lot more delicious vampires to come after Vasilije and Blood Avenged. I’m with you. They’re a great escape!
I adore Vishous and Robert Downey Jr. as well. This sounds like another great Bisset story. I love the darker vampire stories too. (And I am probably one of few who don’t need a Happily-Ever-After with my romance – and sex {wink}.) I too saw a couple of posts recently where some publishers were nay-saying the paranormal romance genre but on the other side of the coin the smaller publishers (especially e-pubs) seem to be publishing a lot of it. I think we as readers need to start telling the big traditional publishers this is the genre (and the sexier the better) we want. This and urban fantasy, another favorite of mine.
Another V fan! Mmmm….I can just think about him all day. LOL The idea of a romance without an HEA is intriguing. According to the powers-that-be, romance has to have it or it can’t be romance. This issue came up with my editor the other day because I was (and still am) toying with a no HEA ending for one of the Sons books later on. She loved the idea, but she’s very non- traditional when it comes to her ideas for romance. And I love the sexier the better idea.
I love history — This was a great interview – i would love to have a copy
Robert Downey JR is awesome as Sherlock Holmes
Great interview, and I so love the premise of the story. I have added it to my gotta have list and looking forward to reading this…*S*
Thank you for the giveaway, and wishing you all the best in your success!
Darcy
pommawolf @hotmail.com
Thanks Audra and Darcy for stopping over!
I haven’t read any of Gabrielle’s work but I’ve heard so much good things about this book that I really want to give it a try.
Hi guys! Looks like I’m late to the party! Just stopping by to show some love!