Vampire Babylon by author Chris Marie Green

FAQs/Media Press Kit

	How many books are in the Vampire Babylon series?

	Three, at the moment. The first release is called NIGHT RISING. It's under the Ace fantasy imprint with Penguin-Puntnam/Berkley, and it hit the shelves in trade paperback format February 6, 2007. MIDNIGHT REIGN, book 2, will be released in February 2008. Luckily, BREAK OF DAWN, book 3, will come out in early fall 2008-a much shorter wait!. Also, between the releases of MIDNIGHT REIGN and BREAK OF DAWN, Berkley Sensation will be putting out a "First Blood" anthology in June, 2008. I'll be writing a noir novella that's tied to Vampire Babylon. (You'll find out about what happened to Sorin's vampire "daughters.") Also, I've been contracted to do a second Vampire Babylon trilogy, so hold on for another three-book story arc.

	How did the series come about?

	I wanted to write a longer vampire book (My first was The Huntress, January, 2005, Bombshell), and I had an idea about a stuntwoman on the career skids who finds out that her estranged father has gone missing in L.A. During her search for him, she comes across a strange paranormal investigative agency and this eventually leads to an erotically charged vamp underground. My Berkley editor is calling it “noir fantasy-mystery,” and that gets my motor revved, LOL. I love the “noir” part, especially.

	Why was the series name changed from Vampire Underground (the work in progress title) to Vampire Babylon?

	It was a publishing house marketing decision. They wanted to play off of the “Hollywood Babylon” mystique.

	Will you read my manuscript if I send it to you?

	As much as I’d like to, I can’t. It’s not wise for a published author to take the chance on being sued by someone who can say that the author read their work and stole an idea. By the same token, as an unpublished author, you probably don’t want to take the risk of having someone use your premises, either, especially with everything that’s happening with plagiarism at the moment. I’d suggest using a trusted group of critique partners instead—it’s worked incredibly well for me.

	How did you get into writing professionally?

	I've been writing since I could hold a crayon. In my early days, I loved being read to, loved hearing the flow of words. My favorite first book was Little Mommy. I memorized that sucker from opening to closing. I guess I enjoyed the sound of the rhyming narrative. Much, much later, when I decided I could get serious about publishing, I attended the San Diego State University Conference. That, in turn, led to my meeting Judy Duarte, then Sheri WhiteFeather, then joining Romance Writers of America. The organization taught me the business of writing; I don't think I'd be a romance author without their support.

	Do you write anything else besides these vampire books?

	Yup—luckily, for a few years now, I’ve been able to write books full time. I write as “Crystal Green” for the Harlequin/Silhouette company: Bombshells (action-adventure), Blazes (steamy women’s fiction), and Special Edition (more traditional women’s fiction).

	I want to write a book. How should I go about it?

	Just do it. Make writing a priority and don't make excuses for your lack of time. If you feel your pages are terrible (and you probably will), rework them. Nothing is written in stone. Then send out your material; if no one reads it, you won't get it published. Also, attend conferences and writers' meetings in order to network.

	Do you recommend any books about writing?

	Debra Dixon's Goal, Motivation, and Conflict contains excellent advice about setting up a character's core situation. The exercises will strengthen your plot as well as your characters. Also, Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey (based on Joseph Campbell's The Hero's Journey) is great. After getting down the idea, you'll be able to write a synopsis easily.

	Who do you read for inspiration?

	I follow authors like Stephen King because he really stretches the limits of language and descriptions. Larry McMurty writes quirky characters whose inner and spoken dialogues reveal a lot about them. And I like Donna Tartt's themes and how they tie into plot and characterization. Lately, I’ve been reading some of Poppy Z. Brite’s older work, and it’s awesome—graphic but poetic.

A noir-mystery-fantasy series by Chris Marie Green