Guest Blog: Suz deMello: Why Vamps in Kilts?

People often want to know where we writers get our ideas. I usually say, “I get them at Sears. They sell them by the dozen downstairs between the exercise bikes and the barbecues.”

But seriously—why Desire in Tartan? Why eighteenth century vampires in kilts, especially since I started writing my series while I lived in China? (A whole ‘nother story, detailed in my blog, http://susanoverseas.weebly.com)

The real answer is that my imagination is a disobedient beast, wandering everywhere and anywhere, rarely connecting with where I may happen to live.

When I started writing the first story in The Highland Vampires series, “Highland Vampire,” I wanted to tune into the popularity of vampires but twist the meme around a little bit. I did that by placing the vamp in Scotland. I really had to use my imagination since I had not visited Scotland since 1972.

I sold that story to Spice Briefs, and decided to write a related tale, maybe something longer and more interesting. Because “Highland Vampire” is a contemporary, I could write a sequel or a prequel. My love of historical fiction led me to write a prequel—indeed, to plan a series.

I finally returned to Scotland in October 2011 and was delighted to find that my imagination, memories and the internet had allowed me to produce stories which were faithful to the land and the people. Temptation in Tartan was the first book and reached #1 on the All Romance Ebooks bestseller list for historical (other) romance and spent a full week in the top five.

Its sequel, Desire in Tartan, was recently released by Ellora’s Cave. Here’s what it’s about:
BLURB:
Dugald Kilburn is sure that he’ll never find love. And why should he?

‘Tis rare for vampires and their mates to reproduce successfully and Dugald kens that. He’s certain his lust caused his first wife’s death in childbed.

Innocent Alice Derwent presents Dugald with a dilemma. She’s different than any woman he’s known, different and altogether alluring. And while the lady is innocent, her feelings are anything but.

Will he bed and wed the lady, risking her life? Or remain celibate, sparing her?

But when threatened with death, Alice decides she doesn’t want to die without knowing Dugald’s love.

Can he resist her charms?

Like what you read? Buy it here:
Ellora's Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/desire-in-tartan.html
Amazon: http://bit.ly/DesireInTartan
ARe: http://bit.ly/DesireVamp

BIO:
Best-selling, award-winning author Suz deMello, a.k.a Sue Swift, has written over sixteen romance novels in several subgenres, including erotica, comedy, historical, paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and non-fiction articles on writing. A freelance editor, she’s worked for Total-E-Bound, Liquid Silver Books and Ai Press, where she is currently Managing Editor. She also takes private clients.

Her books have been favorably reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist, won a contest or two, attained the finals of the RITA and hit several bestseller lists.

A former trial attorney, her passion is world travel. She’s left the US over a dozen times, including lengthy stints working overseas. She’s now writing a vampire tale and planning her next trip.

Find her books at http://www.suzdemello.com
https://www.amazon.com/author/suzdemello

For editing services, email her at suzswift@yahoo.com
Befriend her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sueswift
Visit her group at http://www.facebook.com/HotWriters

She tweets her reading picks @ReadThis4fun
Blog is http://www.fearlessfastpacedfiction.com
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Suz+DeMello