When I began writing The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles three years ago, I thought I had a good idea of who they were and where they were going.
Boy, have I been surprised!
The basic family and their main business—SNAP, a multimedia, international celebrity gossip conglomerate that has made them among the richest in the world—is still the backbone of the story. And Maxie Gwenoch, the regular hired to take over the magazine editions of SNAP, is in love with Jean-Louis, the dishy, metrosexual art director of SNAP and second-in-command of the Kandesky vampire family.
But in the six books—about to be seven—things have changed and the characters have led me down detours I never saw coming.
Maxie’s been threatened, kidnapped, beaten up. She’s been forced to leave L.A. and now leads a life of luxury in Europe. She’s picked up some of the vampire ways and has learned to read people. She’s an occasional donor to Jean-Louis. Still a regular, though, she cannot let Jean-Louis turn her.
Jean-Louis was married, once. His wife was killed because she was a vampire. In the last hundred years or so, he’s only casually dated, not willing to have his heart exposed and broken again. Until he net Maxie.
It’s been interesting to watch where these characters lead me. In the new book I’m writing, SNAP: White Nights, two more minor characters will take center stage, fall in love and go—I’m not sure where, I’ll just have to let them tell me.
I recently saw Janet Evanovich speak and she said she lives in the world of Stephanie Plum. She can’t wait to get back to that world every morning. I understand that. I hate to have the realies (dishes, laundry, bills) interfere with my time in the world of the Kandeskys. I mean, really, Maxie doesn’t do dishes or pick up after herself—she has staff...and, oh, the demons.
Apparently, wherever the characters are taking me, readers are following. One fan, who reviewed SNAP: Happily Ever After? said, “Can't say this is her best, only because they are ALL wonderful. Her characters get under your skin and become family.”
Would you like to be part of a vampire family? One lucky commenter will receive an ebook copy of SNAP: Happily Ever After?
Excerpt
My satisfaction stayed until we were in front of Nik’s house. Jean-Louis was waiting outside. The joy of seeing him went out like a snuffed candle when I saw his expression. He was royally pissed and didn’t mind showing it in front of the demons.
He tilted his head at me, put his hand at the small of my back and steered me into the house. This wasn’t a gentle guide, he practically pushed me, hard enough that I bounced off the doorframe into the library.
“What are you doing...?” My voice raised an octave as I gathered steam for a snide comment.
“What in hell do you think you’re doing? I specifically told Taras to bring you directly to the house.” His voice was cold and his beautiful eyes were black with anger. His skin had paled so much I could see a vein throbbing above his left eyebrow and there was no hint of a glimmer. He was truly angry, which fed my own irritation.
“You told...you told! Why do you do that to me? I’m trying to gain gravitas as the Vice President for International Planning and supervisor of these bureaus! How do you think it makes me look when you give these orders to my staff?”
Oops. Jean-Louis’ lips thinned and I could almost take his pulse from the throbbing vein. “Do you forget who you are, who I am? Your staff? I think not.”
“All right. Yes, you’re my boss. You’re second in command of the Kandeskys. But you and the Baron put me in charge of this expansion and I have to have the supervision as well as the responsibility. If I give someone a task or an order, I need to know they’ll carry it out, not go running to you for permission!” My anger burned through any expectation of a happy homecoming, let alone hours of glorious sex.
“My permission? I’ve never stopped you from doing your job! I only step in when your hardheaded and reckless behavior threatens you or the family!”
Ok, the gloves were off. “The family...” I began, then something, a premonition, a memory, slowed my words so that my brain could catch up.
Jean-Louis looked at my mouth, opening and closing like a landed trout at the Baron’s river. “Yes? What about the family? I always put them first?”
He did. He did because if the family didn’t survive, we didn’t either. The family was the most important entity we all had. I couldn’t continue this.
“Please ask the house demon to bring my bags up. I’m going to bed. That is if I have a bedroom?”
He glared. “You do, for now.”
CHAPTER TWO
I didn’t pay much attention, just stomped up the stairs after the house demon, so when I finally closed the door and looked around, I saw I was stuck in a seldom-used guest room.
Was there some mistake? Or had I pissed Jean-Louis off so much that I was a step above a visiting know-nothing? I wasn’t tired, the plane trip from Budapest to Kiev was a short ride and I’d slept until three that afternoon. I was getting acclimated to the Kandesky timetable. It wasn’t enough that they owned the global empire of SNAP, were richer that most of the celebrities they covered and were doing business somewhere in the world twenty-four hours a day.
They were also vampires. Most of the upper echelons of the family, headed by Baron Kandesky, were some five-hundred-year-old Hungarian vampires, including Jean-Louis, the man I (usually) adored and Nik, the man whose house I was staying in.
Something was wrong. I hadn’t been assigned a maid, so had to unpack for myself. This never happened. First the glacial reception from Jean-Louis and the fight. Then assignment to a crummy room, topped off with no help. I’d left Budapest a few hours ago feeling on top of my world. A job I thrived on, a man I loved, living in splendor I’d not thought possible.
It was like diving off the 15 meter board into icy water...took my breath away and addled my consciousness. True, I’d pulled rank on Taras, pushed him to take me by the offices of SNAP first, caused a stir with the Huszar interns that had to be calmed down. But the demons didn’t have to shoot anyone, nobody was hurt and the Huszars were so clueless about civilized behavior that they weren’t even upset at Taras’ scolding.
No harm, no foul as far as I could see.
Meet The Author
Her mystery series with newspaper editor Amy Hobbes, includes Edited for Death, called “Riveting and much recommended” by the Midwest Book Review and Labeled for Death. Both are available in paperback and ebook format from on-line book sellers.
Her paranormal romance series, SNAP: The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles, is available in ebook, paperback and audible at ebook retailers. All have received “must read” reviews from the Paranormal Romance Guild. SNAP: The World Unfolds, SNAP: New Talent, Plague: A Love Story and Danube: A Tale of Murder are available singly and in a boxed set at Amazon, B&N and Kobo. The fifth book, SNAP: Love for Blood, rated 5 stars, and SNAP: Happily Ever After? are available. She’s writing the seventh book in the series, SNAP: White Nights.
Where to Find Michele
Before you go make sure you leave Michele a comment with your email address and be entered to win a copy of SNAP: Happily Ever After.
We just got back from Christmas with the children and I looked at my E-Mails and saw that one of my most favorite authors was doing a blog and offering her latest in the SNAP series to a commenter...what a surprise when I saw that no one had made a comment...can't believe it (except maybe because all are off or just getting back from being with family - like I was). I've followed Ms. Drier's SNAP novels since they first came out (almost the same time as my own "Immortal Relations" series started). What a GREAT READ her novels have been! If you havn't read them,you should!
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