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I’ve made no secret of my love for Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress novels. It has a strong woman, an alpha male and vampires — so, it’s no surprise it’s up my alley. But it’s more than that. Jeaniene is one of those authors who makes the fantastic real, makes the impossible plausible. Not only do you get great paranormal romance, urban fantasy and bit of mystery in her novels, but she makes you believe it. (For the uninitiated, the first book is Halfway to the Grave.)
I was very excited when she agreed to answer a few questions. Read on for her thoughts on what’s off-limits in Night Huntress, ghosts, Vlad and even Mencheres and the BDB hanging out. And, following the Q&A, VBC will be offering up a copy of One Grave at a Time (review coming later this week).
Vampire Book Club: You’ve covered vampires, ghouls, the walking dead and, with One Grave at a Time, ghosts. Are there any preternatural beings you’d consider off-limits for the Night Huntress novels?
Jeaniene Frost: I wouldn’t add werewolves because if they existed, by now someone should have mentioned it. The closest I came to touching the “were” mythology was having a demon in First Drop of Crimson be able to shapeshift into anything it wanted. I’d introduced demons into the series by default when I based my vampire origins off a fictional variation of the Biblical reference to the “mark” of Cain (many references to demons in the Bible) so demons and demonic shapeshifting didn’t break previously-established worldbuilding rules. However, if I all of a sudden claimed that X species existed alongside vampires, yet the millennia-old vampires in my series didn’t know about them…well, I wouldn’t buy that, so I wouldn’t expect readers to, either.
Vampire Book Club: Are any more interesting to write than the others (vampires excluded, for obvious reasons)?
Jeaniene Frost: No, I’ve had fun writing all the creatures in the Night Huntress universe. Each represents their own challenges, too. After all, if humans can be so different, yet we’re all the same species, how could I write paranormal species as very similar without making it seem too far-fetched? Also, since not all humans get along, it didn’t make sense to me that separate paranormal species in my world automatically would. Even though I’m writing fiction –and supernatural fiction at that – I want readers to feel a touch of realism. That’s why ghosts are considered second-class citizens in my paranormal hierarchy, ghouls and vampires argue over which species came first, demons stir the pot from the sidelines, and occasionally black magic will cause more trouble than all the other species combined.
Vampire Book Club: I’ve read your explanations as to how you devised the rules for the vampires in your novels — having wood kill them is impractical as its too readily available, etc. What helped you define the rules for your ghosts?
Jeaniene Frost: One of the first things I ask myself when creating a paranormal creature is, why doesn’t everyone know this species exists? For ghosts, the answer was because only psychics or other paranormal creatures can see them – normally. But with every rule, there has to be an exception. Some ghosts in my series are so strong that they can manifest themselves. It’s a rarity, but every species has some unusual members in it, right?
Once the “how” of a creature’s existence is worked out in my mind, I move onto strengths and weaknesses. With ghosts, their main weakness is pretty easy to guess – they’re made of air. That takes them out of the game most of the time. However, could this weakness also be a strength? Yes. Ghosts are the world’s best spies since they can flit in and out of places because they’re made of air. Also, as mentioned, some rare ghosts can fully manifest themselves. This is the crux of the problem in One Grave at a Time: Cat and Bones are trying to kill a creature that, 99% of the time, is made of air. Yet when that ghost wields his power, he can manifest flesh long enough to do some serious damage to my heroine, hero, and everyone around them.
Vampire Book Club: In One Grave at a Time, Cat discovers the horrors of the Malleus Maleficarum (a how-to guide for witch hunters, including torture techniques). Though Bones warns her not to read it, she’s aghast. Did you read the book? And, if so, did it give you nightmares about living before the modern era?
Jeaniene Frost: Yes, I read it. It’s chilling because it’s at turns melodramatic (talking about the evils of witches) and utterly dispassionate (talking about the best ways to hunt, torture, and kill them). I first heard of this book and its repercussions many years ago while watching a History or Discovery channel documentary on old European witch hunts. It horrified me then how easily someone could be condemned as a witch, and how often those “witches” were women whose only discernible crime – aside from their gender – was being unconventional. We, rightly, value strong women today in most cultures, but back then it could literally be a death sentence. Some people bemoan about how they were born in the wrong era. I’ve never felt that way. I’ve always been grateful to be born during a time where being a strong, opinionated woman might offend a few people, but it won’t result in me losing my life or my freedom.
Vampire Book Club: Bones made quite a showing in our Alpha Showdown a few months ago. Despite his protective nature, he gets along well with other fierce men. (Well, he endures Ian and Vlad.) Do you think he’d play well with any other alpha contenders such as Curran (Kate Daniels), Raphael (Guild Hunter), Barrons (Fever) or the Black Dagger Brotherhood guys?
Jeaniene Frost: Bones and Curran could go out for drinks and lament about how the women they love keep throwing themselves into danger, lol. I love Raphael from the Guild Hunter series, but he might look down on Bones because in that world, vampires are a byproduct of angels and not necessarily their own dominant species (can’t wait to read Dmitri’s story and be proven wrong, though!). Barrons…don’t hate me, but I haven’t read the Fever series yet. It’s been on my shelf, waiting for me to get caught up on my deadlines. I wanted extra time for that because I’m sure once I read the first book, I’ll glom through the rest. BDB boys – the character from my books I’d most want to see interact them wouldn’t be Bones, but Mencheres. He’s normally so formal, but I crack up picturing Mencheres talking “street” with the BDB males. You feelin’ me? *wink*
Vampire Book Club: Will Marie Laveau make another appearance? The power and creep factors alone make me want to see her and Cat interact again.
Jeaniene Frost: I’m not sure. I love Marie’s character because she’s so scary and strong, but she also has a sly sense of humor that occasionally pops up. Even if I couldn’t work her into Cat and Bones’s story again, I’d do something else with Marie. She has so much potential for making things interesting.
Vampire Book Club: And because the readers will kill me if I don’t ask: What can you tell us about Vlad’s spin-off series, Night Prince?
Jeaniene Frost: The title of the first book in the new Night Prince series is ONCE BURNED, and it’s set to release at the end of March. I’m in the process of finishing it as we speak. Vlad is the hero, as everyone knows, and I’m introducing a new character named Leila as the heroine. Leila is human, but she’s got her own unusual abilities, and those end up throwing her and Vlad together. Look for the back cover description to go up on my website soon, and there will be at least one sneak peek at ONCE BURNED in the next month or so. Vlad and Leila will have at least two books – more if I find that, as with Cat and Bones, I’m not done with their storyline at the end of book two. We’ll have to see if they have more adventures in store once I’m at that point.
Vampire Book Club: Readers, I highly suggest you pick up One Grave at a Time,
Jeaniene, being the kind author she is, has offered up one copy of the latest Night Huntress novel One Grave at a Time to Vampire Book Club readers. Use the form below to enter, then leave a comment telling VBC which alpha hero you’d like to see Bones hang out with.
What I wouldn’t give to be in the same room with Bones and Barrons. They are both pretty bad ass…bring Cat and Mac and WOW…WATCH OUT!
Enjoyed the interview – looking forward to tomorrow!!
I would love to see Bones and Ethan Sullivan from the Chicagoland Vampire series(Ethan is so urbane compared to the rough edged Bones) or He could try to have a drink with Raphael from the Vampires in America series….now THAT would be very interesting. 😉
Would love to win the book. 🙂
So many people I would want Bones to hang with including all of the Black Dagger Brotherhood crew and Barrons and Rhyodan!!
I love Bones and Barrons..a book where the two of them, Cat and Mac had to kick ass as a group would be awesome..the banter that could be put into the book would be great.
I would say two of my favorite who are Bones and Ethan! I love them both and can’t wait to read more of both of them! Thank you for the great interview and great giveaway!
I would love to see Bones chat up with Adam Hauptman of the Mercedes Thompson Series. These two would be a treat to listen in on. Also from the same series would be Stefan Uccello, a vamp like no other. =)
Bones and Thomas from the Dresden books should meet, since they’re the hottest incubuses around.
I havent read this series yet, even tho i have all the books other than this one coming out. I vote he meets Wraith from Demonica series. Hes witty and a great fighter. He has a wild side, but family is most important to him.
I would like to see Bone hang with any of BDB
I love this series! What a great giveaway. 🙂
Thank you for this awesome interview! I’d love to see BDB Butch & Bones hang out!
I would so love to see Bones hang out with Wrath or any other Black Dagger Brotherhood guys for that matter 🙂
Thanks for the interview and giveaway! Jeaniene Frost is one of my all-time favourite authors!
Beyond, beyond, beyond excited for this book, it is on its way!!! I may put my life on hold to read it!!!
Plus, I would LOVE to see Bones hang out with one of those guys, errr, supernatural hunks???… It would be amazing. (: (: (:
Thanks for the great post and (I wish) giveaway!!! Living in Australia can have its down-falls. (:
Nat
I would like to see how Bones and Terrible would get along…maybe kick back with a couple of beers and bemoan their woman!?! lol
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
HA Bones and the BDB boys together would be to hot for words more like a sauna *can’t breathe* in a good way.
I would love to see how Bones and Ethan from the Chicagoland Vampires series would work out together.
I so love all of Jeanine’s books. I seriously think that Ethan and bones are cut from the same cloth (sort of).
i think i’d like to see Adam Hauptman from the Mercy Thompson series( by Patricia Briggs) with Bones…
Loved hearing more about the Night Huntress World and Ms. Frost’s vision for it! I cannot wait to read Vlad’s story!
Oh! and I’d love to see what Barrons and Bones would make of each other! Both are sarcastic Alpha males… I think Barrons would lose patience with him pretty fast 🙂
I would love to see a comparison of wits between Bones and Wrath (BDB), as well as Cat and Beth!
bones & wrath would be a good one.
I just finished reading Kelly Gay, The Charlie Madigan series. I think that Charlie and her partner Hank would get along with Bones and Cat.
I would have to say Bones & Acheron Parthenopaeus.
totally love this series and would love to have a free copy of the next one. I hope this series continues on and on.
Jeaniene brings up a very good point. I would love to see Mencheres talk ‘street’ with the BDB. I also agree with Jessica: Bones and Acheron Parthenopaeus, or even Mencheres and Acheron!
Lots of people have said that Bones should hang with Ethan Sullivan and I’ve gotta say those two would definitely make for an interesting duo. They both exude hotness, arrogance, and are BAMFs. SO, there you have it…
I think Bones should be hanging out with all four of the Seminus brothers from Larissa Ione’s Demonica series. All of them could commiserate about having head-strong wives who refuse to just sit on the sidelines playing damsel in distress. If the ladies think their man is in danger they will be right there in the thick of things with him.
Bones and Barrons would be quite interesting to see!!
I think Bones and Curran should get together. They would have lots to discuss including all of their ” experience”. Lol
Kate could tell Cat all about his royal furriness and show off her sword. Cat could share her knife throwing and mind reading skills. 🙂
I’d like Bones and Barrons-absolutely! Bones and Acheron would be a good mix. And I’ve got a soft spot for Hunter from Vicki Petterson’s Signs of the Zodiac UF series and I think he’d be a good bud for Bones too.
mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com
I would LOVE to see Bones hang out with my BDB boys!!! Couldn’t you just see Bones at the pit with Butch and V or in the mansion with Wrath and in the Gym with Rhage and Z? I think it would be awesome…actually lets get the Night Huntress World in with the BDB world and see what happens! 🙂
I think I would like to see him hang out with Barrons.
ok, I say Barrons..lol…There’s not to many I remember. Bones and Barrons standout!
I like Bones to hang out with Vishous from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Or any of the brothers would work!
edwardsgrrl@gmail.com
Bones and Eric Northman should sit at the same bar and order a drink snarking on the old days.
Oh that Bones should meet Barrons! these ladies have the right ideas on this post.
kasuranna at yahoo dot com
I would actually love to see Bones hang out with Jane Yellowrock from the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter. Shes a woman but also a mountain lion and she kicks paranormal ass, you dont get much more alpha than that.
i would sooo love to see Bones hang with any of the BDB boys!! They are so freaking amazing!!
The Black Dagger Brotherhood
More with Wrath i mean come on TWO hot guys hanging out
I wanted to comment, but please don’t enter me in the contest.
I would like to see Bones have a leisurely dinner with George Doolittle. Dr. Doolittle is a gentleman who has seen so much. Ilona has been a bit cagey on how old he is. She only admits to how old he “looks.” I would like to hear the conversation between he and Bones in a relaxed setting.
Sevastian Maksimi (Wicked in Your Arms)
i just read this book and i love him and i would totally love Bones and Sevastian getting together 🙂
i think that Bones should hang out with Eric from the Sookie Stackhouse books. it would be so hilarious to see if they would get along or fight immediately.
I am currently reading this series and LOVE IT! Just on book two so winning the newest would be awesome! thanks for the chance!
As always, I enjoy the author interviews – seeing their perspective on their books is always informative. Please enter me in the contest.
I love Jeaniene Frost!!! Bones and Barrons..a book where the two of them, Cat and Mac had to kick ass as a group would be awesome!
I’d love to see Bones hang out with Dimitri from Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series. They’re both so badass!
really good interview 😉
I’d like to see Bones hanging out with Barrons… I guess Barrons would kick Bones’ ass immediatly, because Bones is so “i’m in love with Cat, i LOVE her” and Barrons would never say that word (It’s our actions that define us… )
Thanks for this contest !
How did I not already know about this series? I will definitely be checking it out. I really enjoyed the interview and have written down author/series name to check out in the future!
Thanks 🙂
Bones and Barrons would be pretty cool to read. Their characters are so different from each would be kinda fun
Curran or Adam from Mercy Thompson. There would be some serious energy in the room with any of these combinations. 🙂
Jennifer