Review of Blood Feud Book 3 in The Charleston Vampire Chronicles
Blood Feud is the third book in The Charleston Vampire Chronicles
by author L.A. Freed. This newest
addition to the series picks up the story of Matthew and Ainjul Trenton,
vampires that have evolved to something else.
They have powers that are not seen in a “normal” vampire. I don’t want to spend too much time rehashing
what happened in the first two novels, as I believe you need to read the entire
series and get “bitten” by these books like I did.
The first two were awesome, and if you want a more
thorough review of them then make sure to check back with us during L.A. Freed’s
blog tour in November.
But I digress! Book
three introduces us to another character, Kate Delwen, and woman in her fifties
who is hired to look after Ainjul so that Matthew can step out for a
meeting. One thing leads to another and
Kate is turned into a vampire. She joins
Matthew in his search to find his precious Ainjul as she has been essentially kidnapped.
Just as I thoroughly enjoyed the first two novels, I was
drawn again into this one. I spent most
of my time whirling from page to page, drawn into the action and drama that unfolds. There is more at play than what you would
expect from a typical vampire novel, and I love the fact that it is set in
Charleston, SC which in not far from where I live. I have visited the city many times, and love
to see such a historic city featured in a novel. The book is off the charts in my estimation,
and I am anxious to sit down and reread it.
It really is that good to me. I
would recommend that you read it and you too just might be bitten by the
Charleston Vampires.
R&M’s Interview with Author L.A. Freed
R&M: Can you tell us
an interesting fact about you, your writing, or anything at all? Or, is there anything in particular you want
the readers to know about you?
L.A.: There is always a
little bit of me in my characters. Some
have more of my personality than others.
Even my male characters have traits that are mine. The closest character to what I’m like so far
is Kate Delwen in Blood Feud. She’s
probably a wee bit tougher than I am, but we are a lot alike, right down to the
photography and watercolor painting.
R&M: When did you
first know that writing was what you wanted to do as a career?
L.A.: Well, technically
writing is not my career. I’ve always
loved writing and have hoped to sell, but realized quickly that very few
authors can live off their work. I work
a full-time job in the I.T. department of our local newspaper. I also teach dog obedience and agility on the
side and paint watercolor pet portraits as well as do crafts (quilting, sewing,
t-shirts) that I sell to earn extra income.
R&M: When you are
working on a book, do you plan ahead, or do you let the story flow as you
write?
L.A.: I let it flow. It never works out to plan ahead. There is ALWAYS a character that takes the
reins and runs away with the plot.
Usually this is a good thing and I love the creative process when this
happens.
R&M: Is there a
special place in your home that you work at?
L.A.: Shh, don’t tell
anyone but I write at work. My job has a
lot of down time (waiting on those frantic phone calls on deadline when the
computers and servers fail). So, I get
to do a lot of web-surfing and writing and reading at work.
R&M: Do you have an
interesting writing quirk? Maybe something that you have to do while writing or something that you have to do before you start writing?
L.A.: Not really a quirk,
but I tend to eat junk when I write. I guess that’s better than smoking. But I’ve put away a ton of sugar while
writing. I like really crap candy… like
gummy bears, candy corn, spree, skittles.
R&M: What is your
opinion on Indie publishing versus mainstream publishing?
L.A.: I think it’s
wonderful. I love that so many people
are able to get their stuff out there now.
I’m reading books that never would have been picked up by traditional
publishers, their loss ;) I’m not
anti-traditional. My first book, BLOOD
THIRST, was done traditionally, but I think it’s just the wave of the future
and it’s wonderful to have so many opportunities available to authors and
readers as well.
R&M: Do you hear from
your fans a lot? If so, what are some of the best & worst things that you
have heard?
L.A.: I hear from them on
Facebook mostly. For the most part they
like my work and are very supportive.
R&M: What does your
family think of your writing?
L.A.: Can’t really say
they think much of it. I’ve been doing
it a long time, so I guess they’re just used to it. They all know I’m a jack-of-all-trades, so
nothing I do surprises them.
R&M: How has being
published changed your life, if any way?
L.A.: I don’t really
think it has. I still have to work a job
and I still have to pay bills and scrape by on a budget like so many starving artists. If it’s changed at all, it’s enabled me to
realize that I can do anything that I put my mind to.
R&M: What are you
currently working on? We would love to
know what is coming next from you.
L.A.: Currently I am
publishing for other authors. SECOND
SIGHT by T.C. Hart is the first release I’ve done and I have another story in
the works that is a wonderful dog story.
I really like helping new authors realize their dreams.
R&M: What advice
would you give to someone who wants to be a writer?
L.A.: Keep reading and
writing. Edit. Edit.
Edit. And get someone to edit and
proof read for you.
R&M: What was the
hardest part of writing your book?
L.A.: The first sentence. It takes me forever to start a book. That first sentence just kills me. I don’t know why, but it does. None of my first sentences are memorable or
remarkable, but it still takes me forever to get that one sentence done.
R&M: What hardships
have you encountered while writing your books?
L.A.: Usually keeping
plot points straight, especially when my characters run away with their own
plot lines. But I love it when that
happens. The twists and turns they put
in the story surprise the hell out of me.
In BLOOD FEUD the character Marcus was particularly fond of grabbing the
story and taking command. He started off
as a bit of an incidental character, but I fell in love with him and his
ability to yank creative control right out of my head. Undoubtedly, he will have his own story told
in the future J
R&M: What books (or
authors) have influenced you the most during your career?
L.A.: Without a doubt,
Anne Rice. I loved her original vampire
trilogy. After that, she lost me, but I
loved those first books so much, I knew I had to write my own. And of course Stephen King because I grew up
reading his works. And Dean Koontz. And Robert McCammon.
Fun Questions:
1.
Favorite
flavor of ice cream: Any flavor, love
them all!
2.
Favorite
color: autumn colors, oranges, reds, golds.
3.Favorite animal: dogs and horses, I own
several of both.
4.Favorite season of the year: autumn.
5.Favorite Author: Robert McCammon
6.
Favorite
drink: Coke
7.Favorite food: I really love a good
bowl of homemade soup, any kind.
8.
Favorite
Halloween Candy: Candy Corn, it truly is the official vegetable of autumn.
Excerpt from Blood Thirst-Book
1 in The Charleston Vampire Chronicles
My heart slammed inside my
chest as I fought him. My fear became anger; I knew I would die before I'd let
him violate me. I squirmed beneath him and bucked violently, nearly knocking
him off. He retaliated by driving his weight harder against me and shoving his
knee into my belly. Vomit rose in my throat.
Cold pain pierced my neck, and
I drew in a strangled gasp as I realized he must have a knife. Wet warmth slid
across my throat. He pressed his face against me and locked his mouth over the
source of my pain.
Warmth spread through me and
grew into the heat of need. I found myself pushing into him as my fear
dissolved. My heart slowed and matched each pull as he drew the very life out
of me. Pounding. Pounding. Pounding. It was ecstasy, and I wanted it to go on
forever. Then the sound of my heart grew faint, and he pulled away from me.
He lifted his head and turned
to look at me. Blood colored his lips like the grease paint smile of a clown,
and ran in a jagged line from the corner of his mouth to the tip of his chin
where it hung in a small, clotted drip. He smiled. The sight of the small,
sharp fangs shocked me back into fear. THIS IS DEATH.
Blurb from Blood Divided- Book 2 in The Charleston
Vampire Chronicles
Overwhelmed with guilt at the sin that was his undoing and
the monster he's become, the vampire, Matthew Trenton, stows away on a ship
bound for the New World in an attempt to start over.
Through sheer perseverance, he survives the hardships and
savagery of the untamed shores of Charles Town. Then, vampires begin to come to
him to die, and he realizes what an enigma he is among them, but why? What
makes him so different?
He needs mortals for blood, but also depends on them for
companionship and verification that his existence has reason. He has an overwhelming need to guide them,
protect them, and sway them with his ideas for the future of his new country.
As his mortal companions die, and his country begins to
tear itself apart in war, he faces despair so deep that he contemplates his own
end … until he sees his sister's child on the docks.
Filled with a new reason to exist, he watches his family
grow. Time comes full circle when Angela
Trenton is born. She not only carries his family name, but is the very image of
his beloved sister. He falls hopelessly in love with her. And he knows in order
to keep her with him forever he will need to discover why his blood is divided.
The Charleston Vampire Chronicles Trailer
L.A. Freed, author of The Charleston Vampire Chronicles,
is a true renaissance woman and lives, works, and plays in Charleston, SC. She
is employed full time and works nights at The Post and Courier. It's
highly unlikely that she sleeps in a coffin during the day because she's too
busy training dogs to compete in AKC, USDAA and CPE agility and obedience. She
also dabbles in photography and art, and has won numerous awards for her work.
In a past life she trained, showed and boarded horses. She is a life member of
the AQHA and owns two Quarter Horse mares.
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