Interview with Kristen Painter

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Kristen Painter. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called Blood Rights. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Blood Rights is a gothic urban fantasy filled with vampires, shapeshifters, fae and a new breed of creatures of my own making, the comarré.

Blood Rights is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

The comarré’s blood rights are a big catalyst for what happens, so it seemed to fit.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I didn’t actually decide to write in this genre, I just wrote Blood Rights and that’s where it fit. Blood Rights was really only written to entertain myself.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

I’ve had the idea for Chrysabelle since college, this mysterious woman in white with the gold tattoo. The rest of the story just developed from there.

What are your favorite paranormal research books or sites, and why?

I can’t say as I have any. I rely heavily on my imagination. Although I do find some inspiration in movies and graphic novels.

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

That’s like asking me which of my four cats I love the most. I really enjoy writing all my characters. Some are tougher than others, but there’s something about all of them that gets the words flowing.

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing?

I write and my characters come from the story. I don’t do any kind of character exercises. I’ve tried that in the past and none of it ever got used so I figured what was the point? I don’t work that way. For me, the writing is the discovery.

How do you go about building your world if you use one? Do you use maps, charts or drawings?

I do a whole workshop on worldbuilding, so trying to explain it in a few sentences isn’t going to happen. Basically, I create the world I see in my head, following a few constructs to keep things balanced and believable. I do have a bible of sorts that I use to keep track of characters, places, relationships, things like that, but otherwise, the generalities are kept in my head.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Any author who writes a great book inspires me because great writing pushes me to rise to the level.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

I’d have to say besides social media, getting out to cons to meet people who are truly interested in books.

What do we have to look forward next?

The next two books in the series release pretty quickly with FLESH AND BLOOD November 1st and BAD BLOOD December 1st. Two more books follow in 2012 to close out the series.

Thanks, Kristen

She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio:
When the characters in Kristen Painter’s head started to take over, she decided to exorcise them onto paper and share them with the world. Blood Rights, the first book in her gothic fantasy vampire series, House of Comarré, launched this October from Orbit Books. The former college English teacher can often be found on twitter at Kristen_Painter talking about her feline assistants, the last pair of shoes she bought or bemoaning the lack of chocolate delivery in her neighborhood.

Check out author’s website at www.kristenpainter.com and www.houseofcomarre.com

Buy:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Rights-Comarr%C3%A9-Kristen-Painter/dp/0316084778/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317148081&sr=8-1
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-rights-kristen-painter/1100083751?ean=9780316084772&itm=1&usri=blood%2brights