Colleen Gleason is the author of the historical paranormal romance novels that make up The Gardella Vampire Chronicles. Over the past two years I have had the privilege of introducing you to Colleen through reviews of her works as well as interviews coinciding with the release of those books. February 5th marks the official release date of the third novel in the series, The Bleeding Dusk. To honor that momentous occasion, I have once again subjected Colleen Gleason to the torture of my relentless interview questions. She has graciously answered these and I have no doubt that you will enjoy them. For those of you who would like to sink your teeth into what has gone before, here are links to Part the First and Part the Second, coinciding with the releases of The Rest Falls Away and Rises the Night, respectively. But first,

A Very Important Public Service Announcement:

Like bibliophiles the world over, when I am anticipating a book’s release I have no self control. If I can be there the very second the book hits the store shelves then I am there, parting with my hard earned cash to take my newest acquisition home. Those of you who frequent bookstores in the next few days may have that “ah ha!” moment as you see the sumptuous cover of The Bleeding Dusk tempting you to pick it up and take it home. I am asking you to resist that temptation! “What?” You may ask, “Is this how you promote someone’s book? Remind me not to ask you to help my future book sales!” Never fear, there is a reason behind my madness.

The first week’s book sales are critical to an author of Colleen Gleason’s status. Although she would like to have the sales figures of say, Stephen King, the reality is that she is an author in a genre of books that has tremendous output which means many, many books are clamoring for a buyer’s attention. The official release date for The Bleeding Dusk is Tuesday, February 5th. So the sales that occur February 5th through February 11th are the ones that pack the biggest punch for our delightful storyteller. Those sales have a great deal of influence over her future books being picked up for publication. They tell the publisher that Colleen Gleason is a good investment.

So, control yourselves. Wait. No matter how tempting it is, please realize that this is one of the cases where your vote counts. One book sale does matter here. Waiting is hard, but if you stay tuned to the end of the interview, I assure you that you will find something that makes purchasing The Bleeding Dusk worth a few more days wait.

And now, on with the interview:

1. I myself, along with other reviewers, seem to have to try to find a way to express that each book in this series has gotten better than the last. The struggle in doing so is to not convey the image that anything was wrong with the previous book. Do you personally see a significant growth in yourself as a writer between each of these books and if so what has changed?

First of all, let me say that I’m thrilled that reviewers feel that each book is better than the last. To me, that’s a huge compliment, and certainly something I strive for.

I wouldn’t want it any other way.

And I don’t think that by saying the second book is better than the first it in any way detracts from the first book–it’s not often in this world that sequels, let alone “three-quels” are considered better than the original. So, again, I take it as a compliment–especially when it’s clear that the reviewer really enjoyed the first book (and the review is there for all to see).

As for why the books are getting better–or at least are perceived as better, I think that definitely part of it is a growth in my craft. My writing has gotten better, thanks to working with an editor and also having to attack the books in a different way than I did when I was first writing. Meaning, having to have more of a plan. And learning better techniques to execute that plan.

I think that getting to know the characters better–both for me and for the reader–and having a greater, deeper investment in them, helps make the later books a more compelling experience. We know them, we’re invested in them, and because we understand the world in which they live, we can also better understand how events affect them.

2. Early on you had five books planned for this series with the hope that all five would be picked up. If you can recall, describe what it was like the moment you realized you would be able to have all the five books published. Also, is five still the magic number?

Five is still the magic number in regards to Victoria Gardella. That’s not to say that there won’t be other Gardella books–I certainly hope there are–in some other time period or setting.

[Ed’s Note: Maybe Catherine Gardella…I think that was her name. She was mentioned as one of Victoria’s ancestors whose picture, if I remember correctly, described her as having red hair. 😉 ]

And for me, five is not only the magic number–it’s the perfect number. It’s been long enough to really flesh out these characters and this setting and this world, but it’s also not long enough to get boring…or to get, shall we say, like everything but the kitchen sink. What I mean is, when a series goes on long enough with the same characters, it seems like everything but the kitchen sink gets thrown at them. For me, it becomes hard to suspend disbelief that, again, this character’s world is completely torn apart, upended, their world as they know it is about to end, etc.

Sure, Victoria, by virtue of who she is and her role, is not going to have a normal life. But I feel like the fifth book should at least leave the reader satisfied that she’ll have at least as normal of a life as she CAN have.

3. Speaking of the other books, where are you at in the process of writing those books?

I finished When Twilight Burns, the fourth book, in early December. That one will be released in August, and will answer the question many people have been dying to know since the beginning: who will Victoria end up with? (Speaking of which, Carl, I don’t believe I know who your choice is for Victoria.)

[Ed Note: I’m not sure that I have ever been completely set on one of the gents yet. Every time I think I know who I want it changes. I can say that I am leaning towards Sebastian at the moment, but that is subject to change at any moment.]

I am now working on the fifth book, as yet untitled, and that should be released about a year from now.

4. During our last interview session you talked about possibly writing a contemporary female James Bond-type character. Are those plans still in the works and what, if anything else, are you planning on writing after you set aside Victoria and her adventures.

Funny you should ask…as we speak, that very book (the female James Bond) is sitting on the desk of several editors. We’ll see if any of them are interested in picking it up and running with that series. I’ve heard that that kind of book is a tough sell–apparently, for whatever reason, they just don’t do well enough (which surprises the heck out of me, knowing of the success of ALIAS and Buffy…). So we’ll see.

I also have two other projects out on submission at this time, and while one is a paranormal and the other is not, neither of them include vampires or are historically-set. Imagine that!

So right now, I’m concentrating on finishing up Gardella Five, plotting out ideas for a new Gardella mini-series, and waiting to see if any of my other projects strike the right chord with an editor. Wish me luck!

5. You are in the midst of writing a series. Do you find that several other unrelated writing ideas are constantly coming your way or are you mostly thinking about the events of these novels? If you do get many other ideas, what keeps you from getting distracted by them?

I used to be more easily influenced into “cheating” on my current project by working on something that seemed much more exciting and fresh and new…but now that I’m under deadline and contract, I find it easier to maintain my concentration on my current project. 🙂

If I do have an idea that keeps nagging at me (as one recently did), I allow myself to work on it in my spare time; that is, when I’m not supposed to be writing on my contracted book. What I mean is, I try to write a certain number of pages or words each week, and usually in the evenings or afternoons, and not usually on weekends. So if I want to work on this sexy, new idea, I only allow myself to do so after 1) writing my allotment for the day, 2) on weekends, 3) at a different time than I put aside for my current project.

7. I often find myself in bookstores wandering through the romance section simply to see if they have your books on the shelf. Do you do that? Do you do it often? I suspect I would be doing it all the time if it were me and so it made me curious.

Thank you Carl! I hope you find them, and if you do, you turn them face-out. 🙂

[Ed’s Note: Umm…I’ve been known to do that on occasion with your books and other authors I like. Shhhh…. ]

And, um, absolutely. I check any bookstore I come in contact with, every book section in any pharmacy, grocery, or other store I see, every airport store, etc. I have friends and family doing the same and love to hear reports of my book appearances–especially in non-bookstore locations.

I’m in my two local bookstores all the time–at least once a week for both of them, often more. I’m always checking on my books–as well as other authors’ books. I like to see what’s out, what’s positioned where, what the trends in covers, genres, etc. are.

8. I have heard stories of other authors randomly signing their books when they are in a store. I may have asked you this previously, but have you ever done that and if so why or why not?

We call them drive-by signings, and I definitely do that whenever I have the chance. That’s how signed books might appear in a store that I’ve never done a formal signing for.

9. You’ve done some book tours/book signings. What, if any, horror stories do you have to tell from these experiences? What are the oddest questions you’ve been asked either in person or via email. Any odd requests or suggestions regarding your books, etc? Have you been recognized by anyone outside of book signings who have read your works or seen your picture on a website, etc.?

I don’t really have any horror stories about signings–except the one where no one came, and it was just me and a bunch of books! LOL. That happens to everyone, though, and I didn’t let it bother me. I’m aware that I’m not JK Rowling or Nora Roberts or Brian Jacques or a name large enough to command a crowd (or even a trickle) at every signing. It’s part of paying the dues, and I don’t mind at all.

Oddest questions…I really can’t think of any odd questions. I must have very intelligent fans. 😀

No one’s asked me to sign their breast or butt or anything like that, or have shown me my name tattooed on them or whatever. LOL. I must admit…I am waiting for SOMEONE to show up with a vis bulla someday!

I was once working at a local restaurant, sitting there in one of my t-shirts and typing away, and a guy who’d seen my shirt through the window came in and said, “Hey! You’re that author!” and so we chatted for a bit.

And once I was talking to a waitress at a restaurant and she mentioned she liked to read, so I gave her one of my bookmarks, and she said, “Oh, my gosh…my mom is reading this book right now!”

Other than that, I haven’t been recognized by anyone. One of my fondest hopes, though, is to someday be in an airport or somewhere and to find someone reading MY book. That would be way cool.

As for suggestions about my books…I have had people ask why Victoria HAS to choose between Max and Sebastian–why can’t she have both?

10. Has writing gotten easier or more difficult now that you have a few published works to your credit?

I think it’s gotten easier. In fact, I know it has. I’ve learned how to plan better, how to make myself focus and work even if I don’t want to or don’t have an idea at the moment. It’s a big flow now, and I feel comfortable with it–and I am getting more comfortable by the day.

11. Romantic Times has given The Bleeding Dusk a ‘Top Pick’ rating. For those of us ignorant of just what this means, please enlighten us. How did you find out? What was your reaction and did you do anything to celebrate?

Romantic Times is a monthly magazine that reviews HUNDREDS of romance novels (and some suspense and mystery ones too, now). It’s pretty much The Publication in the romance industry for getting your book reviewed and also for die-hard romance readers to plan for the books they’re going to buy.

Romance readers are a large, extremely loyal market and they BUY BOOKS. The average romance reader buys 5 or more books every month, and many of them use RT to keep track of who and what they want to buy.

A Top Pick is the highest rating a book can get in RT, and they give only a few books each month that award. And I found out totally by accident that DUSK had received a Top Pick, when I was Googling the book to see if there were any early reviews out there…and voila! There it was. You could have knocked me over with a feather.

I was delighted and I made my husband take me out for dinner, of course!

12. An aspect of your novels is historical fiction. What specific research did you have to do for The Bleeding Dusk? Is there anything you were especially excited about wanting to research? What if any surprises did you discover in your research and if there were any surprises did you incorporate those into the story?

I do research as I go, but I had a great time in particular researching Dusk. I’ve never been to Rome (to my great dismay), and even though Rises The Night was set partially in that city, I didn’t need to do as much research for that portion of that book. But when I started Dusk, I had to do a better job of knowing the city, and also what it was like at that time. What was the Colosseum like? How did they celebrate Carnivale?

One of the absolute fun things that happened when I was researching an 1820s Rome was that I found out about The Door of Alchemy, which figures prominently in Dusk. Well, it is a real door. And it really was part of the Villa Palombara, and the door really was sealed and locked to protect a mysterious alchemical lab in about 1650. AND the Villa Palombara was destroyed in the mid-19th century.

Learning about all of that, how could I not build a story around it? It was just too, too cool. So I did. The description of the door, the words and symbols that I describe on it–are accurate. That door still exists in Rome today–all that’s left of Villa Palombara–although it’s no longer in its original place.

Fascinating what a little research can turn up, huh?

[Ed’s note: It is fascinating. After I sent these questions I had wished I had asked you specifically about that door as your descriptions of it in the book led me to believe that you must have had an interesting find that inspired you to include it in the book.]

13. Certainly there are people in your life who you know or run across that wouldn’t normally pick up a romance novel. What would you say to someone on the fence about reading your work because it is categorized in that genre of fiction?

I tell them that there’s an equal part of action, suspense, historical setting and romance in the books, and that pretty much every movie, book, tv show, whatever has an element of romance in it. James Bond? Check. Lord of the Rings? Check. Star Wars? Check. My books are no different, really.

14. What are your book touring or promotional plans for this book?

I’m doing a lot of blog tours/guest blogs. I’ve got some local signings, but I’m not traveling because it’s not a great time of year to be on the road for me personally–with a book deadline, kids in school, wintry weather, and a husband who’s very busy from now until Easter … unfortunately, I’ve had to stick close to home.

15. A follow up to the fan/book tour question: what kind of fans do you see
predominately at book signings or in your travels around the net? Is there any group of readers that surprises you?

I see a variety of people–some who have read the books, some who haven’t. More and more I’m seeing people who have read the first two and are ready for the third.

The group of readers that surprised me at first were the teens. Lots of high school aged girls (and some guys) and I love it. They’re very enthusiastic and lots of fun to meet.

Another group that continues to grow are male fans. Because the books are classified as romance, and many men shy away from anything in that section of the store, I feel particularly thrilled when I hear from a guy who’s read–and enjoyed–the books. That’s always a bit of a surprise to me because of the potential “Romance” avoidance.

And what I consider my die-hard fans–the ones who really, really love the characters, and who have read the books multiple times! I’ve gotten a lot of emails recently from people who are re-reading the first two, so they can be prepared for the third one. WOW. I mean, WOW. To read a book once is a great compliment…but to read it again? That just blows my mind and makes me absolutely ready to burst. There are so many books out there…It’s just WOW.

I’m humbled by that, truly.

16. What are you reading now?

I just finished reading Origin in Death by JD Robb, one of my favorite authors. (I hoard her books so I can read them in batches.) I haven’t decided what to pick up next, although I’m eyeing Poltergeist by Kat Richardson, Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann, and Cotillion by Georgette Heyer.

17. Do you have any rituals you do or celebrations on the day your books are
scheduled to hit shelves?

I go check all the bookstores within driving distance, and later make my husband take me out to dinner. (I have a thing about going out to dinner, don’t I?). I’m also usually guest-blogging on at least one blog that day, so I make my rounds on the internet in between email, etc. And that whole week, I wait to hear if/when people see the book. And where.

18. What are the two or three most rewarding things to you personally about being a writer?

Being blessed enough to do a job I’d only dreamed about. Having a flexible schedule. Being able to talk to the people in my head without anyone wanting to commit me.

Hearing from people who “get” the books, love the characters, and are so invested in them that they feel like they’re real. They talk like they are, they really understand and feel for them. That’s hugely rewarding, wonderfully humbling, and the best gift anyone could ever give me.

THANKS SO MUCH! Such a fun interview. I loved it. I always love your questions–they’re so unique and different and make me think.

Hugs,
Colleen

Thank you so much, Colleen. I am thrilled to be able to do this and have already thought of a few interview questions for the next book.

And now, I said something about rewarding you for waiting….
__________________

We did this for the release of Rises the Night and it was so much fun that I wanted to do it again. That ‘it’ is a photo contest. As it was last time, one’s skill or lack thereof makes no difference for this contest. What does make a difference is that you buy The Bleeding Dusk during the week of February 5th through February 11th. Sometime during or after that process, have someone take a snapshot of you with your copy of the book and email it to me at cvincent68@comcast.net . I will accept pictures up until midnight February 12th at which time the winner will be chosen at random.

Again, this isn’t a skills test. You can see examples of the last pictures here. While I would love to see more pictures like David J. and Jeff S. sent in (just because I am entertained by them…Jeff, are you going to dress up in a bustier this time?) all I really need is a picture of you with your book.

The winner will receive an autographed copy of their choice of one of the first three novels in this series (so those of you who haven’t gotten any of these have a chance of getting at least one free!) and an autographed copy of the next book in the series, When Twilight Burns, which is due out in August.

But remember: I don’t want any pictures prior to February 5th because I don’t want you purchasing your copy of The Bleeding Dusk before then. Got it?

On Monday I will post my review of The Bleeding Dusk, just to whet your appetite even more, and will also remind you about this contest. Get those camera batteries charged (or buy film if you are going that route) and get ready!