in
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Guest Post with Author Nina Croft and Giveaway

Hi everyone. Today I would like to welcome to the blog author Nina Croft. Nina is currently on tour promoting the release of her book Deadly Pursuit. So if you would all please give Nina a nice warm welcome.

The Lure of the Vampire…

I love writing about anything speculative—you can let your imagination run wild and as long as you stick to the rules of your particular world, absolutely anything can happen. But while I write about all nature of supernatural beings, I have to admit that vampires are my all time favorite.

So what is the lure of the vampire? Why do I go back to them time after time as both a reader and a writer?

Here are a few things that come to my mind. Then I’ll concentrate on the one that really speaks to me.
  • Anne Rice—I think my love affair with vampires began with Anne Rice’s Lestat.
  • For me, vampires are the ultimate bad boys—and I love a bad-boy hero.
  • They’re dark and they’re dangerous
  • The Lost Boys—Keifer Sutherland was just sooo bad.
  • Big teeth—I like the whole teeth and biting thing, though I’m not sure why, and it’s probably best not to look too closely.
  • They tend to be loners—and being a bit of a loner myself, I find this rather attractive.
  • They’re always inhumanely gorgeous. I mean always (well maybe I just don’t notice the ugly ones).
  • They don’t age—how cool is that—no wrinkles and sagging bits. Ever.
  • I love bats—my professor at university was one of the world’s experts in all things batty, and he passed along a lot of his enthusiasm to his students—they are fabulous animals.
  • And finally, vampires get to live forever.

The subject of immortality has always intrigued me and is in fact the underlying theme running through my current sci-fi/paranormal Blood Hunter series, which looks at man’s fear of death, and his search for immortality.

The truth is, I don’t want to die (ask me again in a few thousand years and I might change my mind), and I’m sure many people feel the same. So, the thing that fascinates me the most about vampires is their immortality. Of course, some people might argue that vampires aren’t actually immortal, because they’re dead. But I reckon dead is a state of mind. And Rico, the vampire hero of BREAK OUT, book one in the series is about as alive as they come. He also incorporates all those traits I find so appealing in vampires.

Born in the Middle Ages on Earth, Rico has embraced the whole idea of immortality, though he’s had to accept a few hard truths along the way. Mainly, that getting close to mortals can break you, and that boredom is the worst danger an immortal can face. But why should Rico get bored? After all, there’s a whole universe out there just waiting to be explored.

The series follows the adventures of the crew of the space ship El Cazador, and although each story follows the romance of a different member of the crew, Rico, as owner and pilot, plays a big part in all the books (and has a tendency to try and take over).

Book two, DEADLY PURSUIT, follows on from Break Out, and is the story of Al, the cabin ‘boy’ and Jon the newest member of the crew, who also happens to be a werewolf. Rico’s not too happy about sharing his ship with a ‘dog’ and makes his displeasure very clear.

So does immortality appeal to you? Or is there something else which draws you to a vampire hero? Or are you one of those strange people who don’t like vampires—maybe you find werewolves more attractive? And if so—why? Let me know for a chance to win an ecopy of Deadly Pursuit.


Breaking assassin Jonathon Decker out of a maximum security prison on Trakis One seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, pursued across space by the two most powerful factions in the universe, the crew of El Cazador are having second thoughts. They’d like to give him back. Unfortunately, that no longer seems an option.

Jon is used to working alone. Now, he’s stuck on the space cruiser El Cazador until he can work out just what he’s supposed to know that puts him on everybody’s most-wanted-dead list. He’s not happy that the crew includes a runaway priestess with designs on his virtue—such as it is. Jon likes women, but he gave up the role of protector a long time ago, and Alexia, High Priestess of the Church of Everlasting Life, is an accident waiting to happen.

After twenty-four excruciatingly boring years of doing her duty, Alex is finally having some fun. She never meant to run away—it was a rash impulse—and she means to go back—eventually. But first, she’s going to squeeze enough excitement out of the situation to last her a lifetime. And what could be more exciting than a stunningly gorgeous werewolf?

Meanwhile, the Church are chasing their missing priestess, and the Collective are pursuing their escaped assassin. Being hunted has never been more deadly…or more fun.
Places to purchase:

**Author Info**

Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain.

Nina’s writing mixes romance with elements of the paranormal and science fiction.

Places to find Nina:

**Giveaway**

As Nina stated above, one lucky commenter will win a eBook copy of Deadly Pursuit. So make sure to leave a comment and to fill out the Rafflecopter form.



17 comments :

  1. Yes, immortality appeals to me, especially as I get older and older. :D I love vampires, there are many things that draw me to them besides their immortality - like their strength, power, ability to heal, and the rest of their differences from mortal humans.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Barbara - there really is so much to love about them!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Vampires are my absolute favourite of supernatural beings. They always dress well, are very sexy,the older ones must be good lovers as they should have picked up a trick or two in their long life. They also are very scary. Give me a vamp any day over anything else.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Claire - my favorite as well! And yes, Rico my vampire hero, has definitely picked up a trick or two!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Vampires are definitely my favorite and there is a lot about them that appeals to me, not just the immortal part. I like the thought of immortality to some extent. I would not want to be immortal and not have love though. It's hard enough being mortal and unloved. I can't imagine spending eternity that way.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Both Vampires and werewolves appeal to me and both for different reasons.

    Vampires are fascinating because of what they might have seen and what they might have had to do in order to survive for so long undetected. There's also that bit about being dangerous and potentially bad for your continued well being and health. ;)

    Werewolves are interesting because they are a mutation on the "normal" human. I find them attractive and interesting in that animalistic, raw sexuality and emotions way.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Werewolves are my absolute favorite, followed closely by vampires. They both have the sex appeal, hot bods, are always dominant alphas and have super senses. Though vamps live forever(barring any accidents), werewolves also live a very long time. It's something about the animalistic nature of the werewolf thatputs them a notch above the vamp,for me anyway. Oh, and werewolves also bite!!

    Your newest book sounds like a winner!!

    mnjcarter@charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  8. immortality does appeal to me to a certain degree. who doesn't want to live for a really long time - seeing more than just one century - perhaps being able to fly to other planets when it's a normal thing in the future ;)
    80+ years are just a bit short to see everything there is to life. i could try out more things even.
    but then i would hate it to see my friends and family die.
    i like vampires, but i like shapeshifters too. to change into something else would be pretty cool.

    witchvela at web dot de

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think that if I had the right person immortality would definately be something to have! i love vampires..I guess it is their sensual ways, and the images of glowing eyes and six-pack abs....ahhh.....sorry..i drifted off for a moment! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    kristinaparmenter51(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don't know about the immortality thing. It sounds good on paper, but in reality...eh. That's a really long time. I think I'd rather be with a werewolf...they still live a very long time and they are much warmer, cuddlier, have that bad boy alpha hotness factor going on...and you can still enjoy the daytime together.

    barbbattaglia@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Vampires have and will always be my one true love. There is something highly appealing to me about immortality and living forever (or until I meet the sun).

    I could never be a werewolf, the transformation process would kill me and disgust me at the same time. (I see it as painful).

    ReplyDelete
  12. I do love vampires, but I think that immortality could be a curse! Think about having to lose your loved ones. It would be a lonely existence, unless of course your mate and children were immortal as well!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Immortality with my loved one?
    Of course!
    Immortality alone?
    I'll pass, thank you very much!
    Attractive things about vampires?
    I don't know, because they just appear to be so drop dead sexy and powerful and strong and did I mention sexy? xD
    x Forever Team Vampire.

    Thanks for this giveaway!
    Deadly Pursuit looks great ^^

    ReplyDelete
  14. Immortality appeals to me but I don't know if I want to live forever while everyone I love grows old and dies. I like vampires but I also like werewolves as well. Werewolves are still warm and living compared to vampires being cold and dead at sunrise. It is hard to determine which is better because they both have things that are considered negative.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    jcalvert719(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Like some of the others have commented, I don't know if I would want to live forever while many around me grew old & died. I'm pretty sure most of my family & friends would decline if I offered to gift them with immortality. Also, I don't think I could do the whole blood drinking thing. However, I am very attracted to the knowledge someone who has lived for centuries would posses.

    drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Vampires were my first supernaturals to read about. They are still my favorite. Immortality is appealing , but not alone.

    ainfinger(AT)Comcast(DOT)net

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for the giveaway! Immortality would appeal to me if I didn't have a family but I have no desire to watch my loved ones die before me. I love vampires because they're dark, mysterious and have a tough exterior but are uncommonly sensitive and vulnerable on the inside.

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

    ReplyDelete