Welcome back!
Very excited to share this featured author interview with the delicious Serena Riley. It was great getting to know the author of The Vampire's Mistress and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
So, Serena, tell me about yourself.
What inspired you to start writing?
I have been telling stories since I was a little girl. Learning to write was probably the greatest thing to ever happen to me. It opened up an entirely new world that I could create on paper! The idea that I could bring things I’d only imagined to life has always been a thrill for me.
How has writing changed your life?
Writing was definitely an escape during certain times in my life. I’m incredibly introverted, but when I was in my own world, that changed. I didn’t really start to share my work until AOL became popular, but that opened up a whole new mindset for me. Online, I could share with others like me! I have found a wonderful community online over the past few years, and made many friends that I probably wouldn’t have made otherwise.
Tell me about your upcoming book
“The Vampire’s Queen” is the second in a three part series called “The Vampire’s Love”. In the first part of the series, Cordelia is sent to the castle on the mountain as a sacrifice for her village. She discovers the vampire that demanded such a sacrifice is gone, and winds up falling in love with Darius Blythe, the new Master of the Castle.
The second part continues their adventures together both in the bedroom, and in their fight against the Village Elders who mean them harm. With their friends Gabriel and Abigail, they look into the castle's secrets and discover there was more to the former owner's life than terrorizing towns. Whether or not any of this new information will help see them to victory remains to be seen.
What inspired you to write this book?
I’ve always had an interest in the paranormal, vampires and werewolves especially! When it comes to legends such as Dracula, vampires are seen as villains. I wanted to turn that on its head, and have a vampire who is not driven by his bloodlust, but by the love he has for his family and friends. Yes, he has a darker side as Cordelia discovers (and very much enjoys) but it is filled with passion and desire for the one he chooses to spend eternity with.
How do you write? (computer, dictate, long hand…?)
I do a little bit of everything. I have notebooks filled with words that still need to be typed up. I also have a portable word processor for writing on the go. I’ve been known to type up notes on my cell phone, and sometimes, just sometimes, I open the laptop and a word doc and go from there. The only thing I don’t do is dictate. I never could get a program that worked very well, and always wound up frustrated when my words were jumbled in translation!
Who are your biggest writing inspirations?
Judy Blume is hands down my biggest writing inspiration. When I was younger, the books in my elementary school library were far too easy to read. With my parents’ permission, my teacher allowed me to go to the “big kids” library, where I discovered stories like “Superfudge” and “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”. I would return every week and look for another Blume book. I’m sure I was much too young to be reading some of the stories, but they shaped my childhood and answered questions I was too afraid to ask. But even at that young age, I knew that I wanted to be as awesome a writer as I believed Judy Blume to be.
Where / when do you do your best writing?
I do my best writing after I’ve shut down the computer. Really. I’ll usually stare at a blank document, get frustrated, and shut down. Then, I’ll lie down, fully ready to go to sleep, and have to grab my cell phone to type up a paragraph that popped into my head! I also do a lot of good writing outside. When the weather is agreeable, I like to go to the park and write. A change of scenery always seems to help the creativity flow!
How do you take your coffee?
WHITE! I love the sweet, sweet rush of caffeine, but find coffee to be bitter. Even the delicious flavored coffees I enjoy are doused with a heavy dose of Splenda and dairy free creamer! (Basically, I drink liquid candy. But it’s delicious.)
If you could spend the day with someone famous (alive or dead) who would you pick and why?
Weird Al. As a kid, I just loved his funny songs. As an adult, I find him to be an extremely talented and quirky human being. Seeing him in concert was a highlight in my life. He works hard and puts his heart and soul into performances. I think spending a day with him would be fun, interesting, and maybe I’d even learn something along the way!
Vampires or Werewolves?
I love both! I really can’t choose as each has their merits. Werewolves might get a little more leverage for being able to shape shift. (Unless you’re talking about Vampires that turn into bats.) I do love a good shifter story, so we’ll give them that one!
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Depends on when you asked! As a little girl, I thought being a paleontologist would be fascinating. When I got a little older, being an astronaut sounded so cool. I’ve since settled into a nice, safe job on Earth in an air conditioned office. But sometimes… I wonder if there’s an opening for dinosaur hunters in space?
Keep in touch with Serena on Social Media
Thank you so much for letting us into your world, Serena. Congratulations on your recent book release of The Vampire’s Queen, available now on Amazon!
With Love
Regina Grimm is the author of erotic fairytales, written for the uninhibited readers 18+.
Check out her books - Snow White and the Wicked Curse: Chapter 1,Snow White and the Vicious Curse: Chapter 2 and Snow White and the Seven Thieves: Chapter 3. Stay tuned! The final chapter, Snow White and the Poisoned Apple coming October, 2021!