Contest & Conversation with ONCE BURNED's New York Times Bestselling Author Jeanine Frost

Please give a warm welcome to New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost.  She has dropped by today to talk about her first installment in her fabulous new A Night Prince Novel Series.  ONCE BURNED is a take no prisoner read with incredible characters that will keep you o the edge while cheering to the very last page.  So sit back ,kick off your shoes, grab a cup of your favorite libation and tuck in and enjoy yourself.  I know I am.

 ONCE BURNED

A NIGHT PRINCE NOVEL

INTERVIEW WITH

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY'S 

BESTSELLING 

AUTHOR

JEANIENE FROST

Jeaniene a few months back I was chowing down on my favorite veggie lover’s pizza. I was flipping through one of several of my RT Book Reviews magazines. I came across the an article by Liz French, Stephanie Klose, Faygie Levy and Elissa Petruzzi titled “Legacy of Love”, and was floored.  In short, the article explained about how the market might be changing but romance, which I agree whole heartedly, is forever.  My curious readers and I would love to know your thoughts on what you believe are the “Legacy of Love.”

I haven’t read the article but I also agree that romance is forever. I’d add that I don’t think the romance is over as soon as two people say, “I do,” either, which is why I have more than one series featuring the same couple. Relationships are dynamic and they change with time, but that doesn’t make them less romantic or loving. In many cases (my own marriage included) I’m far happier now than I was at the beginning. How sad it would be if everyone’s first bloom of love was the best it ever got instead of getting better with time, as can happen.

You’re in the thick of A NIGHT PRINCE NOVEL series; can you tell us more about it?

The Night Prince series is a spinoff from my Night Huntress universe. It features Vlad (yes, that Vlad, but don’t let him hear you call him Dracula!) who is a pyrokinetic vampire, and Leila, a human with psychic and electric abilities.

Jeaniene I do not know how you do it but you always hook me with your brilliant story telling and delicious characters! =)   Now, with ONCE BURNED, the first in your brand new dynamical titillating Night Prince series you once again give fans a powerful emotional high-octane charge love story.  I admit Leila and Vlad are two of the most engaging protagonists that I have read.  These two characters will rip readers hearts out, all the while making them root for them to achieve a happily ever after.  Can you tell us more about it?

First, thank you! At the start of Once Burned, Leila is thrown together with Vlad after his enemies attempt to use her powers against him. While Vlad and Leila try to find out who’s behind the plot, a strong attraction grows between them that will end up changing their lives. 

Is there any part of your personality that bleeds into your characters while you write?

My sense of humor probably bleeds into my characters here and there, but they certainly aren’t an extension of my personality. I live a pretty normal life. My characters’ lives are tumultuous, to say the least, and I don’t envy them that. I’m quite happy not to have people out to kill me all the time J.  

Did you have Vlad’s full character arc in mind when you started the Night Huntress/Night Huntress World series?  Did you know what would happen to him in the end?

I never intended to write about Dracula when I started the Night Huntress series. Then halfway through my third book, Vlad popped into my mind with several of his personality traits intact. That’s only happened a few times before, so despite my “No Dracula” vow, Vlad stayed in the third book. At the time, I didn’t have any intention of writing him again, but then he turned up in the fourth book. And then the fifth book. By then I knew he was getting his own series. So much for never writing about Dracula.

What inspired you to start the Night Prince series?

The more I thought about Vlad’s character, the more I wanted to know about him. Then Leila’s character formed in my head. Soon I had plots and ideas featuring both of them. When I can’t get certain characters and stories out of my head, I want to write about them. With Vlad and Leila, it turned out that I had more than one story to tell, which had only happened before with Cat and Bones.

This is tough.  I usually can pull one scene that captivated me.  In ONCE BURNED I was captivated from the moment I flipped the covers.  Every moment was an intense emotional experience that kept me on the edge of my seat.  Since I cannot pinpoint a particular scene I’m going to go a different route.  I would like to chat about the first time Vlad and Leila meet. Leila has been kidnapped by three vampires, held prisoner in a hotel room and made to use her “gift” to communicate with Vlad.  Eventually, Vlad storms the room and let’s just say hell on earth erupts.  What goes into creating such a scene?

Each character’s actions have to make sense for their personality. Vlad isn’t the type to knock in such a situation, and Leila wasn’t going to sit around and wait to see who came out on top. So first I have to know my characters and how they’d react. Then I see those reactions in my head - hey, daydreaming is part of my job now! – and finally I try to write those actions/reactions as accurately as I can. If only there was a handy “download” button in my brain that I could press instead! *wink* It would save me so much time.

I noticed that Bones and his vampire wife, Cat,(Night Huntress) and Mencheres and his mate, Kira (Night Huntress World/Eternal Kiss of Darkness) made an appearance in ONCE BURNED.  Thank you, Jeaniene! =) Will they be dropping in and out throughout the Night Prince series?

It depends. In Once Burned, it made sense to have Cat and Bones pop into a scene because they were with Mencheres, who Vlad had summoned to his house. Kira, as Mencheres’s wife, would obviously be there, too. But if I can’t justify a reason for certain characters to show up, much as I might like them, I won’t add them to a story. Ian is always fun to write, but there was no reason for him and Vlad to hang out, so you won’t see him in Once Burned, for example. As for whether certain characters will keep popping up, some will and some won’t. Mencheres and Kira have already made an appearance in Twice Tempted (Night Prince book two) since Mencheres is one of Vlad’s closest friends. Cat and Bones may be around, but might not get a specific scene (I’m not done with the book so I can’t say for sure yet). However, I’ve been surprised by character showing up unplanned before, as Vlad himself is a perfect example of.

One of my favorite characters in ONCE BURNED was the scrappy vampire, Marty, who is like a father to Leila. I’m curious to know if we will learn more about him as the series grows.  Does he play a pivotal roll as the series continues?  Or was this character a one time deal?

Marty is Leila’s best friend, so readers will see him again in Twice Tempted. I also loved his character and I’m so glad many readers have warmed up to him. He’s proof that toughness comes in all sizes.

Okay, I want to give a warm welcome to, Leila and Vlad (Waving franticly, trying to get the besotted couple’s attention). I know you two have gone through a lot so I will try to be brief. (Blushes scarlet as she catches the intimate glance between them, clears her throat).

Okay, Leila, I have to ask, with absolute wicked evil and destruction going on around you what kept you motivated?   How did you keep the faith when everyone around you didn’t believe you?

Survival is a great motivator and my choices were lay down and die or keep fighting. I chose to fight. I might have died anyway, but at least I wouldn’t have made it easy on the bad guys.

Sorry, but my readers are desperate to know what your very first thought of Vlad was, Leila? 

My first thought? That he had a charming smile. Then I realized Vlad smiled that way right before he killed someone. 

Vlad, jump right in because my readers have been chomping at the bit to know what you first thought of Leila.

My first thought was I needed to kill whoever had found a way inside my head. Don’t give me that look, it was before I knew Leila was forced to psychically spy on me.

Leila did you find yourself fighting your growing affection for Vlad? 

Of course! He can read minds, burn anyone to death that he touches, has a nasty impalement habit, and I haven’t even started to talk about his arrogance.  I’d have to be crazy to jump into a relationship with him without any hesitation.

What about you Vlad, did you fight your feelings?  Or a better question, how long did you fight your feelings for Leila?

I knew she’d be my lover within a day of meeting her. I might be selective, but I’m not indecisive.

Leila was there a moment you knew that Vlad was for you?

I can’t pinpoint a particular moment. One day I was reminding myself not to fall too deeply for Vlad; the next day, it was already too late.

I have become addicted lately with books about time travel.  This got me to thinking.  If I handed you my time traveling piece would you use it to go back in time to change anything. Don’t get me wrong, Vlad and Leila I absolutely adored getting to know more about you two, just chuck this question up to the curiosity of an interviewer.

Leila: I wouldn’t have touched that downed power line when I was thirteen. Then my mother wouldn’t have been killed trying to revive me and I wouldn’t give off voltage like an electric eel, among other things.

Vlad: I’d smash your device. The past isn’t a toy to be played with, not to mention the harm you could cause the future by meddling in such a way.

Leila what would you consider very misleading about Vlad that people over the centuries have misconstrued?

That he randomly kills people for fun. SO far from the truth. When Vlad kills someone, it’s damn deliberate, not random.

Vlad what do you believe drew you to Leila? Also, what is one thing that you believe her family and friends never really understood about Leila?

Her resilience despite her constant exposure to darkness and her refusal to lie to herself were very intriguing. It’s rare for someone so young have either trait. What her family doesn’t understand is that Leila’s abilities are a gift. The fools would see her rid of them if they could.

Now back to Jeaniene.

How did you mark the occasion of finally finishing ONCE BURNED?

By going on a twelve-hour drive. We had previous plans to visit my family several states away and I worked right up until the night before we had to leave.

What do you hope readers walk away with after reading ONCE BURNED?

I hope readers that enjoy the story, which is the same hope I have with each of my books.

You’re clearly very busy.  What do you do in your limited spare time?  Are you reading anything right now?  Any reading recommendations while we wait until your next release in the NIGHT PRINCE series hits the bookshelves?

I’m not reading anything right now because it’s crunch time with my deadline. After I’m done writing, I intend to bury myself in a slew of new reads. It’s my reward for finishing. As for authors I recommend, I have a list of them here: http://jeanienefrost.com/links/

Jeaniene, please share with desperate readers where they can connect with you in cyber world. =)

My website is here: http://jeanienefrost.com/ . Readers can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, YouTube, and my fan site: https://twitter.com/Jeaniene_Frost , http://www.facebook.com/JeanieneFrost , http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/669810.Jeaniene_Frost , http://www.youtube.com/user/JeanieneFrost , and http://www.frostfans.com/forums/ .

Jeaniene, you rocked RCJR eZine blog and its readers.  Thank you so much for stopping by to dish about Leila and Vlad from your new Avon Romance paranormal romance release ONCE BURNED.

Thank you so much for having me and for the great questions!

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9780061783203
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 6/26/2012
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 384
• Sales rank: 474
• Series: Night Prince Series , #1

Overview

She's a mortal cursed with dark power...

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: a terrifying ability to channel electricity and to see a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

He's the Prince of Night...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites, threatening to consume them. It will take everything they have to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

CONTEST 

THE PRIZE: Two (2) lucky readers will win a copy of ONCE BURNED by Jeaniene Frost. 

 

TO ENTER: Leave a comment for Jeaniene Frost including your email address (Email address are required for ALL entries.) 

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*Connect with RCJR eZine at:

 

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Contest is open to ALL

It will runs until July 14,2012

I will contact the winners directly on July 15, 2012

HAPPY READING! =)