Paige the Vampire Talks About Sunrise at Sunset

Here as part of the Romancing Your Dark Side tour - 

PAIGE TURNER 
from Jaz Primo's Sunset Vampire Series

Paige: Hi, everybody! I'm Paige Turner from Jaz Primo's Sunset Vampire Series. I'm introduced in the first novel of the series, Sunrise at Sunset. *smirking* I show up about mid-way through the novel, actually. It's a little later than I would have preferred, but then, there it is. I'm not the writer, after all.

*Footsteps grow louder as someone rushes into the room*

Jaz: Paige! I happen to think that you show up at just the right time in the novel.

Paige: *shrugging* Whatever. I'm just sayin'.

*Jaz sighs and shakes his head*

Paige: Any-hoo...of all the vampires in the series, I think you'll find that I'm by far the most charming and witty in the bunch.

Jaz: Oh, good grief.

Paige: Hey! *wagging her finger at Jaz* Who's blog posting is this supposed to be anyway? You practically begged me to do this, you know.

Jaz: *Holding up his hands* Yep, you're right. Okay...sorry.

*Paige frowns at Jaz*

Paige: *whispering* Listen, Mr. Creativity, don't you have somewhere else to be, or maybe some editing to do? I've got your back here. Let me handle this, okay?

Jaz: Mm-hm, sure.

Paige: Come on, beat it!

*Paige rapidly pats and slaps her palms against Jaz as she ushers him towards the exit.*

Jaz: Okay, okay, it's all yours!

*Paige smiles with satisfaction and waits for Jaz to exit*

Paige: Please pardon the interruption, folks. Jaz is kind of a hands-on author, if you know what I mean. Still, he's a talented writer and a guy with a big heart, as well as a positively tasty neckline. Let's start this blog posting again from the top. And this time, I'll do my best to curtail any unnecessary interruptions.

So, here's the scoop with Sunrise at Sunset. I know that Jaz would get all artsy with you and try spinning his heavy wordsmith skills on you, but that's not how I roll. Personally, I think people appreciate the straight scuttlebutt, am I right? There's this really nice guy named Caleb. He's a history professor at a community college in Atlanta, Georgia, and he meets up with this rather heavy-handed, red-headed vampire named Katrina.

*thoughtful pause*

Okay, so maybe I shouldn't use the term "heavy handed" for Katrina. I mean, she's my best friend after all. Aww, hell, the truth is we go way back...she's almost like a sister to me. I don't know where I'd be today if it wasn't for her. The point is, she's always been what you might call a dominant sort of person. She likes to steer the ship...rule the roost...handle instead of being handled. In the vampire world, we call her an alpha. The sea sort of parts when she walks through a crowd of vampires, even among many of the older ones of our kind. Her previous history and reputation precedes her, you see. It's not her fault, really. A lot of bad things happened along the way for her. She means well, after all. Who knows. Maybe if I'd had a hard past like she's had, perhaps I'd be like her too.

Either way, she loves Caleb like nobody I've ever seen love someone. It's pretty impressive, really. He's good for her, I think. But then, the boy has his own issues, so she's good for him, too.

*chuckling*

Although I think I have an impact on him, as well.

*Furrowed eyebrows*

Where was I?

Oh yeah.

So, Caleb and Katrina meet when she enrolls in the college history class that he's teaching. Um, well, maybe that's not entirely correct. Katrina actually met him one day when he was just eight years old. Only, he doesn't remember that because she hypnotized him to suppress the memories from that day. Boy, didn't that turn into a real hoot!

*frowning*

Oh, yeah. I'm about three more novels ahead of you folks, so you don't know about that yet. Hey, don't shoot the messenger...this stuff is just like recalling real life events for me. You don't break your life up into neat little books, do you? That's a weird thing for me to get used to.

Anyway, you'll definitely want to read the second novel, A Bloody London Sunset. I show up quite a bit in that one!

*grinning*

But let's get back to Sunrise at Sunset. So, there's a real crazy vampire bitch from Katrina's past who's trying to get back at her for some "sins of the past" kind of crap. Katrina's not afraid of anyone, but this broad tries use Caleb to get back at Katrina. It's really ugly stuff, but you'll learn all about it if you read the novel.

*Extending her fangs*

Rather, that's WHEN you read the novel, right? I'm not just standing around here talking to you to hear my own voice rattling away, got it?

*Retracting her fangs*

Anyway, I get called in to help protect our boy, Caleb.

*smiling*

Katrina really hates it when I call him our boy, by the way.                

But enough about all that. Suffice to say that it's an adventure and a love story, and you definitely want to read it.

*glancing at her watch*

Um, listen, I've got a hot date for some dancing at a local club tonight, so let's get on with this. Jaz mentioned that the blog moderator, Jennifer, also wants to know some stuff about him.

*frowning*

Hey, I wonder if he said that just so that I'll talk about him? You know, I wouldn't put it past him. These author types are so vain sometimes. But he's a good kid, and just in case it's true, here goes nothing.

*slipping an index card from the back pocket of her jeans*

"Jaz is an author, history buff, pun-master, and all-around lover of all things vampire and--"
Wait a minute, who wrote this crap?!

*slapping her forehead*

I bet he did. Geez, Jaz...we need to talk, bucko.

*ripping up the index card and casually tossing the pieces to the floor*

Forget all that bunk. Let me tell you some really interesting stuff about my creator that you won't find out in some lame press kit. Did you know that he doesn't know how to swim?

Yep, he sinks like a rock in open water!

*pausing*

Hey, his favorite snack when writing is salted cashews or almonds. He also like the chocolate covered ones, I noticed. And the little brainiac chugs down Coca-Cola and iced tea like its water!

*giggling*

Hey, wait a minute. Granted, iced tea is mostly water, but you get the point.

Jaz loves chocolate, too. Oh, and he listens to alternative rock while he writes. I have to admit, he's got some great taste in music: Muse, Land of Talk, Interpol, Gliss, The Kills, Boxer Rebellion, The National, etc. All my favorites, actually!

*whispering* 

Personally, I think it's partly due to the positive influence that I have on him...

All-in-all, I'd say Jaz is a pretty cool guy. Okay, maybe a little nerdy, but it's kind of cute.

Well, that's about it for now. Thanks for the opportunity to chat with you for a little while.

*grinning*

Hey, before I go, I have one more tidbit of awesome news to share with you. Yours truly ends up on the cover of the third novel, Summit at Sunset! You should check it out when you get the chance...

Chow, babes. I hear a dance floor calling my name.

Wait, Jaz told me to close with this...

Peace.

*wink*

*Paige speeds from the room in a blur of motion*

The teaser for Sunrise at Sunset follows.

-----------------

When is a bloodthirsty predator the best protection against a psychotic killer?

When the predator is both a vampire...and the woman you love.

“We vampires are focused and tend to shape our own realities.”

My name is Katrina Rawlings, and I am a vampire. I declare that with neither pride nor ego. I am simply nature’s most dangerous predator. On occasion, it’s a very valuable quality. It helped me protect Caleb Taylor one day when he was very young. But that single, traumatic day is behind him now; wiped from his memory, or so I hope.

Caleb has finally matured into a rather striking young man, and believe me, I like what I see. I’ll readily admit that there are issues for us to confront and overcome, though a sense of mutual commitment isn’t one of them. I’m feeling hopeful for our future together, in fact. But an adversary from my past has returned to haunt me, and she’s trying to get back at me through Caleb. That was her first...and last...mistake. I’ll protect my Caleb at all costs, and I’ll make her regret the day she was born.

So, I suppose that I’m not just a vampire. I’m about to become someone’s worst nightmare!

-----------------


Hope you enjoy that as much as we did - Paige is one of my favorite characters in the series and I'm so glad Jaz let her do this post because you can see how fun she is.  Comment below to be entered to win a Kindle in the Romancing Your Dark Side tour - and also our 1st blog-iversary contest.


Thanks again to www.vbtcafe.com and Book Reader Addicts for organizing

ROMANCING YOUR DARK SIDE TOUR Kick Off PARTY!!

We are so excited to be participating in the Romancing Your Dark Side Tour starting this Friday, August 5th.
(hosted by Book Reader Addicts and Virtual Book Tour Cafe)

7 Authors are coming together for the next 3 months to blog, giveaway, interview and promote - HOORAY!

We'll have three stops on the tour scheduled (check back to see if we get more):

Sept 1 - Jamie Magee - Guest Blog & Giveaway - Jamie is the talented author of the Insight series - Book 1 Insight and Book 2 Embody - check her website out here and click for our reviews for Book 1 and Book 2.

Sept 7 - Jaz Primo - Guest Blog & Giveaway - Fun, witty, and author of the Sunrise Vampires series - Jaz Primo will be visiting us - if you haven't found his page - click here - currently 2 books - Sunrise at Sunset (click for review) and A Bloody London Sunset.

Oct 27 - A. Jacob Sweeny - Guest Blog & Giveaway - inspiring author joining us for some fun - check out her book here - Pulse of  Heroes Book 1 in the Pulse Series. 

In addition to all the FUN - Many of the Authors are doing Giveaways not just on our site, but along the tour ride.  AND 1 LUCKY WINNER will win a NEW Kindle - the comments from the posts on each site will be entered in a random drawing. 

We'll be promoting this tour throughout the 3 months.  For the tour schedule - be sure to check at Virtual Book Tour Cafe and get to commenting starting Friday :)

Good Luck - see you back soon
Amy & Jenn

JAZ PRIMO Interview & Guest visit - Q&A

WELCOME JAZ PRIMO!! - debut author of Sunrise at Sunset

SBB: Thanks for joining us today,we know it comes on the heels of a difficult time for your family, but we are thrilled to have you with us today. So for those of our followers that have not yet heard of you, can you tell us about yourself? 

Jaz: Thanks so much for hosting an interview with me, and thank you for your compassion and kindness regarding my recent loss of a dear family member. It’s certainly an honor and a pleasure to have the opportunity to appear on Seduced by Books! 
It’s true that few people have heard of me since Sunrise at Sunset is my first published work. I’ve been an avid fan of fantasy and science fiction since childhood, and in particular I love vampires! While writing is a hobby and personal passion, my full-time career is in Higher Education, which I’m also passionate about. I can’t think of any place that I would rather work than a college campus. As for my education, I hold a Master of Liberal Studies from the University of Oklahoma, and completed my undergraduate work in information technology. It’s accurate to say that I’m a person of diverse and eclectic interests, including: teaching U.S. History classes at the college where I work, bass fishing, cooking, following college football, reading, and watching films of all types. Oh, and I also love puns! (Often, much to the chagrin of those around me…) *smiling*

SBB: Couple of silly questions for you – what’s your favorite color? What’s your favorite Holiday? From Amy (being the baker that she is) what’s your favorite dessert? Boxers or Briefs? Bitten or the Biter? (No offense, but the world’s gotta know)

Jaz: *Laughing* Those are very good questions, in my opinion. My favorite color is blue, and my favorite holiday is definitely Thanksgiving. It’s the one holiday where the “food is the focus” and you don’t have to stress over extensive decorations or gift-buying. (Can you tell that I’m someone who doesn’t put out the Christmas decorations until AFTER Thanksgiving?) Oh, and I LOVE desserts, so it’s hard to pick just one. However, I have an affinity for all things chocolate: Brownies, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cream pie, German chocolate cake (my favorite cake!), chocolate fudge, etc. So now we go from dessert to underwear? Hmmm…I wonder how many people find those to be related in some way? *chuckling* I’m a briefs guy, myself. Oh, and as for THE question of the day: I’m on Team “Bitten”! *wink*

SBB: Do you have a favorite genre of music? Anything special that’s on your playlist to inspire you to write? 

Jaz: Oh, I love these two questions! I enjoy many genres of music, but my favorite is alternative rock. Music definitely inspires and fuels my writing, and I rarely write without also playing music to set the mood. For that reason, my iPod is my constant companion. *chuckling* I have completed three novels in the Sunset series, and each one has its own unique soundtrack. In fact, I’m actively gathering my music list together for when I start writing on the fourth installment this winter. This may sound predictable, but the three Twilight movie soundtracks and symphonic scores are very good for fueling my vampire “mood”. However, I have to tip my hat to the compositions of Philip Glass, who is a master of instrumental mood music that’s great for writing vampire novels. The music of Radiohead has been instrumental during all three of the Sunset series novels, and will play an important role in the fourth installment. Some the alternative rock selections that served as the soundtrack for Sunrise at Sunset include: 
Garbage: "Temptation Awaits" and "You Look So Fine"
Gram Rabbit: "Devil's Playground"
Hole: "Malibu" and "Softer, Softest"
Jem: "24" and "Come On Over"
Massive Attack: "Angel" and "Dissolved Girl"
Mogwai: "Autorock" and "Hunted by a Freak"
Poe: "Angry Johnny"
Portishead: "Glory Box" and "Sour Times"
Radiohead - "15 Step" and "Karma Police"

SBB: You’re a very genuine person, something noticed from the first contact with you on Facebook. Have you always wanted to be an author? 

Jaz: Thank you for the compliment; that’s very kind. *shy smile* I have enjoyed creative writing since childhood, and I remember being able to read some short stories to my classmates in elementary school. My teacher, Linda Lachman, was very supportive and encouraging of my creative writing, and I’ll always be grateful to her for that. However, it wasn’t until recently that I considered being an author. It was, and still is, a scary prospect to me. I mean, I’m essentially revealing very personal and creative thoughts and feelings for the world to digest…and summarily embrace or reject. The process certainly isn’t for the faint of heart, and I have a newfound respect for authors and artists.

SBB: What are some of your favorite books and/or authors? 

Jaz: It’s funny that you would ask that, because I recently completed a list on my Facebook page at the request of a good friend regarding the fifteen most influential artists in my life. So, I have some immediate responses to offer for some of my favorite authors and their works. 
+ L.E. Modesitt, Jr’s Magic of Recluse series is perhaps my favorite of all time! Every novel reflects internalized growth and a hopeful sense of development in the main characters. He has a keen and insightful understanding of both genders, and treats them with equal dignity and respect. I would love to meet Mr. Modesitt someday.
+ Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series is one of my favorites. His characters are engaging and tangible.
+ Lorna Freeman’s Borderlands novels are a heartfelt favorite of mine. The main character, Rabbit, is both endearing and magical in his attempt to fit in while also on a mission of self-discover.
+ Simon R. Green’s Nightside series is always enjoyable to read. I find that I identify with the complexities of the main character, John Taylor.
+ Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse vampire novels are both fun and sexy.
+ And, of course, I’m a big fan of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series.

SBB: (Jenn - Love Sookie "Team Eric") We know from talking with you, vampires have been on your mind for years, did you always know you would go the paranormal genre route?

Jaz: No, not initially. I actually began writing a futuristic, sci-fi novel just prior to starting my masters program, but I never returned to it once I completed my degree. Until starting to write Sunrise at Sunset, I wasn’t sure that I would ever complete a novel-length work of fiction. I found it somewhat humorous and quite ironic that my first completed novel was paranormal and not from the fantasy/sci-fi genres. 

SBB: Well, we'll be waitin on the sci-fi, but let’s talk Sunrise at Sunset – your main character, Katrina, is a strong, sexy vampire, that has been on her own for a while. Are those characteristics that you find in most of your female friends?

Jaz: I’m proud to say that I have a number of female friends who are what I consider to be “strong women”, and Katrina does share some key characteristics. That being said, I don’t know, nor have never known, anyone quite like Katrina Rawlings. Katrina appeared in my mind like a stranger in the night; announcing herself to me in ominous, heart-seizing fashion. Her essence stalked the recesses of my imagination for a number of years, coalescing and refining into near existence, lacking only a corporeal body. Over time, her character was progressively revealed to me in a series of palpable dreams, visions, and epiphanies. Katrina is one of the few characters that I didn’t deliberately contrive, but rather appeared to me in my mind’s eye. That’s a very special event for an author, I think.

SBB: Agreed, finding that main character(s) is so key, and when it comes we can only imagine how great that feels.  We have to ask you (particularly Jenn), PAIGE, she is amazing. She steals the show. Is she representative of any one particular person in real life? 

Jaz: *Laughing* Many fans adore Paige, actually. She is definitely an endearing character to me now. Originally, I only intended for Paige to be a satellite character in the Sunset series. However, she quickly asserted her presence to me and matured into a foundational character in my series. Much like Katrina, Paige isn’t based on any real person that I have ever met or known. As a general rule, I don’t like to create characters that are based upon people I know, particularly people that are close to me. 

SBB: Can you give us any first revealed for our loyal followers? We’re hoping for a tidbit to hold us over to Book 2. 

Jaz: *Grinning* Book 2 is going to take the four main characters and further develop each of them. Each of the characters are on their own personal “journey” and they mature, change, and develop in various ways throughout the series. They’re like real people to me…just as each of us change with our life experiences and increased knowledge, so do the characters in the Sunset series. Caleb begins to come into his own in the second novel because his experiences and subsequent relationship with Katrina and Paige have contributed to his evolution. Paige experiences some strong feelings for the first time, and has to make sense of them. It is a new phase of life in her tenure as a vampire. You also get to learn more about the mysterious character, Alton, and discover that he’s a vampire with many layers to him...including at least one significant agenda. Katrina continues to reclaim feelings and behaviors that she thought were forever lost, and has to confront a key decision from her past that affects both her and Caleb. Katrina and Caleb also have to play hostess to unexpected house guests following a highly emotional development in their relationship. Oh, and many people will be happy to learn that book #2 is much more action-packed, though in meaningful ways that further develops the characters, as well as a storyline that holds global consequences. My valued and helpful beta readers are very happy with the second novel, I’m proud to say! I hope that you'll like it too! *Smiling*

You heard it here - Can't WAIT to see where Caleb goes, and Paige too!!!!  Thanks so much again for being here Jaz. It’s been a great pleasure to have you. 

For our followers or passerbys, Jaz will be visitng our blog today and checking for your questions in the comments below. Comment with a question and Jaz will answer shortly.