Laurie London Visits the Island!

*Squints into the sun. Adjusts sunglasses. Applies more sunscreen.*

Hi DIK ladies! Thanks for having me on today.

*Watches with interest as a hot guy approaches with a Corona and two limes. He’s wearing low-cut swim trunks that could be slipped off with one little tug.*

Oh, sorry. Got a little distracted. This is my first time on the island and I’m having a hard time concentrating.

Okay, where was I?
*Squeezes the limes into the beer and takes a long guzzle.*

You’re probably wondering why I’m here and why Sven is rubbing sunscreen on MY shoulders, and not yours. I promise that I’m only here today and tomorrow. You can have him back after I’m gone. But for now, he’s mine.
*Oooh, a little more to the left, please.*

I’m the author of the new Sweetblood series from HQN Books. The first book, BONDED BY BLOOD, just came out and is available in print, digital, and audio formats. What a trip it is to hear someone read my story. Antoinette LaVecchia, the narrator, does a lovely job. You can listen to a sample clip here.

The Sweetblood world consists of two vampire factions: Guardians who are sworn to protect humans and keep their existence secret, and Darkbloods who sell human blood on the vampire black market. The rarest type of blood, called Sweet, is highly addictive to vampires and, as you can imagine, commands the highest price.
*Takes another sip of Corona. Tries not to burp.*

Since there’s no test that tells if you’re a sweetblood or not (other than to have a vampire tell you), I thought it’d be fun to take this little quiz.

How to Tell If You’re a Sweetblood
(Please answer truthfully. This will not be graded.)

1. Are you under 30 years old?
Statistically speaking, if you make it past the age of 30, you’re probably NOT a sweetblood. A vampire would’ve found you by now. But then, this isn’t always the case. You may just be incredibly lucky.

2. Do you live in an area with a high UV index (like here on the island)?
Vampires become more aggressive when the indigenous population has a higher level of vitamin D in their blood. Back home in Seattle, where the UV levels are relatively low, we suffer from chronic vitamin D deficiencies, therefore, the vampires there who take our blood and energies aren’t as aggressive and are better able to control their urges. Most of them, that is.

3. Do you have a history of strange disappearances happening in your family?
Some suspect that being a sweetblood may be hereditary. If that’s the case, there’d be instances of relatives disappearing in each generation.

4. At night, do you ever feel as if you’re being followed, that something’s hiding in the shadows?
This isn’t exclusive to being a sweetblood. A vampire may follow you anyway because he or she is after your blood and energies, but if you get the feeling often, it’s worth noting. There might be something special about you and they’re waiting for the perfect time to strike.

5. Are you often tired, lethargic, and mildly depressed, especially in the winter months? If so, that’s good news. You’re either suffering from Season Affective Disorder, or you’ve been bitten by a vampire recently. If you had been bitten and you were a sweetblood...well, you wouldn’t be around to read this.
*snaps fingers to get Sven’s attention. He’s been over talking to Kati way too long.*

I wish I could tell you about a surefire test that identifies you as a sweetblood so that you could take the necessary precautions. Unfortunately, there isn’t.

Thanks for having me on the island today. I’ll be back tomorrow to share an excerpt. Do you want something chaste or sexy? (Nevermind. I think I know the answer.)

On my website at www.LaurieLondonBooks.com, you’ll find photos of the cemetery which inspired the first scene in BONDED BY BLOOD, as well as book club discussion questions and even fan fiction prompts.

I can also be found on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post your answers to the Sweetblood test in the comments or you can complain about me keeping Sven all to myself.


One lucky commenter either today or tomorrow will win a signed copy of BONDED BY BLOOD.