Tuesday, February 8, 2011

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.

27 comments:

The Romance Girl said...

I won't complain too much about you keeping Sven to yourself as you're only on the Island for a couple days. Let's see how I did on the quiz!

1) Under 30? Yep.
2) I live somewhere with a moderate UV index.
3) No strange disappearances to my knowledge.
4) Can't say I feel like I'm being followed, but I don't generally have a habit of wandering around at night.
5) I guess somewhat yes.

So from the sound of it I'm not a sweetblood!

JenM said...

If that picture is of Sven, I'm definitely going to lodge a complaint about you hogging his time!

Based on that quiz, I think I'm pretty safe - a vampire may be feeding on me occasionally but I'm pretty sure I'm not a sweetblood. Would love to read the book though. Enjoy your break in the sun.

jen at delux dot com

Anne said...

Congratulations on your new release and series!

Are you kidding us??? Chaste or sexy after teasing us with that picture???? Sexy.

Laurie London said...

So far so good. Looks like we don't have any sweetbloods on the island yet.

Pardon me while I dash off to a PTA meeting. On my private jet back to the mainland.

Can someone keep Sven company while I'm gone?

StacieDM said...

Over 30, low vitamin D, etc, etc. I am not a Sweetblood. I suppose that is lucky for me LOL!

Sven will have plenty of volunteers to keep him company!

user1123 AT comcast DOT net

RFTC Blog said...

I can't wait to read this book. Looks so good.

1. Under 30? yes
2. I live in Florida
3. I have not been made aware of any strange disappearances.
4. I don't think I am being followed. But then I rarely leave the house at night anymore.
5. Not too much.

So I think I'm good. No vampire biting on my front.

iqb99@yahoo.com

Kelly said...

Laurie, Laurie, Laurie.... *shaking head*
"did you thinking going to the island would save you from my stalker tendencies?"

1... nope over 30
2... nope live in the Pacific NW
3... only if you count that I only speak to them once a year.. Maybe I am the one that disappears
4... Someone following me.. Only if they want to get thier ass kicked or beyond Hot then there might not be in ass kicking
5... Nope not SAD here.. but I like the other option.. Again, only if he is beyond super hot...

Kelly M
crazybookfairy@gmail.com

PS... don't enter me into contest.. Already have the book, although I am convinced the mailman has stolen it and is reading it....

Micaela said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Micaela said...

1...under 30 for 5 more months...I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.....
2...live in an igloo...but I'm convinced.. Santa who lives 3 igloos down is getting all the midnight visits
3...I'm with Kelly my vampire status keeps me away ..so I'm deff the one MIA...
4... night crawler....most people think I'm the one following them....
5... Well I sleep all day and play all night don't get much uv rays....oh I think I need to ship myself away to the island...make sure Sven is free ...;)...sharing is caring ..

Susperia@hotmail.com

Alexis Morgan said...

I'm definitely past 30--so assuming I've just been lucky. I live where you do, so low on the D. No disappearances. Well, rats, this isn't adding up to me being a sweetblood.

Can I have one of your vamps anyway? :-)

Thought of you this morning--I saw a Hello Kitty ice pack at the store. Not sure what a vamp would do with that, but it made me laugh.

Alexis

nightsmusic said...

Oh, no you don't, Alexis! I wanna know why anything Hello Kitty would remind you of Laurie!

I'm way...way past 30, live in a dark state and though I often feel like I'm being followed, I'm not sure it's by a vamp. Maybe a Fae. Or a wolf...

I'm so proud of you! Perseverance pays.

Supru said...

Would be an island without Sven worth at all? Total no-no here...

1.Err... Can I lie here? >.<
2.Yep, Spain has too much Sun. It's a wonder how come anyone discovered them yet...
3.I don't think so.
4.I didn't realize If I was
5.Nop. I love winter

Ugh! I may be even poisonos to them lol

hecupa at gmail.com

Alexis Morgan said...

Hey, Nightmusic! Waving at you! About the Hello Kitty reference. The heroine in Laurie's book has a Hello Kitty key chain and the hero vampire actually knew what it was. The reasons behind his knowledge is a story better left to Laurie to tell.

But the image of a hot vamp like her hero treating a wound with a Hello Kitty ice pack just makes me smile.

Alexis

Karielle Stephanie said...

Hi Laurie! So happy to see you on the island:)


1. Are you under 30 years old?
Yup

2. Do you live in an area with a high UV index (like here on the island)?
Too cold.

3. Do you have a history of strange disappearances happening in your family?
Yes, if you count Mr. Markey, my pet tropical goldfish who I was informed "ran away" by my parents. On his little fishy feet, I'm assuming.

4. At night, do you ever feel as if you’re being followed, that something’s hiding in the shadows?
ALL the time. Only, not. Heh, I wish :)

5. Are you often tired, lethargic, and mildly depressed, especially in the winter months? I think the cold is sort of a downer on all of us.

Stephanie
thestephanieloves at gmail dot com

Estella said...

I am very sure I am not a sweetblood.

Congrats on your new release.

kissinoak at frontier dot com

Michelle Cunningham said...

I'm a vitimin 'D' deficient almost 30 year old, who's family only seems to be missing when seeking out tropical destinations with a higher UV indexes. Often beacause of my Season Affective Disorder at night you'll find me in my house reading, but I haven't noticed any strange lurkings in my windows. Sweetblood, I guess I am not.

Thanks for the contest!
Regards,
Michelle
cunninghamm@gmail.com

Izzy said...

Congrats on the big release! i would love to win BONDED BY BLOOD :-)

bradunwanted at yahoo dot com

booklover0226 said...

Let's see....

1 - Under 30? It's been decades since I've 30!
2 - I live in Mid-Atlantic.
3 - Whenever I asked about strange disappearances happening in my family, I'm told I was dreaming and the person never existed.
4 - I'm a hermit; I don't leave the house.
5 - Just a tad.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Laurie London said...

You guys have kept Sven way too happy in my absence. I really wanted him to be needy when I returned, if you know what I mean. ;-)

Hmmmm, after examining all your answers, I'd say that Danielle and Micaela COULD be sweetbloods. But I'm afraid the rest of us are out of luck.

LOL Kelly M. I recognize some other members of my stalkeratzi, but I mean that lovingly, of course. ;-)

*waves to Alexis and hands her a Corona* I love the image of Dom using a Hello Kitty ice pack on Mackenzie!

As I wrote Bonded, I had no idea why Dom knew her key chain was Hello Kitty. It's one of those strange writer things that "just happens." I had to figure out why he knew - my own husband would've been clueless. The reason (his friend Lily has a daughter who's obsessed with Hello Kitty) ended up seeding the story events for the next book.

Hi Nightmusic! Thanks for popping by the island with Alexis.

LOL Stephanie on your fish that "ran away."

Helena, you're from Spain? So is Dom. Their family estate was/is (not sure if it's still there) near the Cantabrian coast.

LOL Michelle, very poetic!

Thanks, Estella, Izzy and Tracey!

Jessica said...

Yay for vampires and congrats on the newest release, Laurie!

jsididia at gmail dot com

Chelsea B. said...

Hi, Laurie! Thanks for the fun post :-) Congrats on your new release!! Looking forward to the excerpt! (I vote sexy....)

Jay said...

Congrats on the release! And no i wont complain about my jealousy of not beign on that island as well, but whether im a sweetblood you ask? Well lets see; im under thirty but live under moderate UV index. No strange family disappearances that i know of.
And okay im not one to be afraid of the dark but i confess that i do see things in the shadows which i think is more then mere mind trickery.
Depressed in winter? Nope, i LOVE winter.
So im guessing not a sweetblood? i hope not >.<

Seo said...

Congrats on the release, Laurie! Can't wait to read the Sweetblood series!

sxg21 at scasd dot org

Jay said...

The island seems more inviting every time i see this page ;)
oops and i forgot to leave my email during my last rambling.

Jamad Artan
jazzy_jay673@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

Congrats on the release! Here are my answers.
1. yes haven't seen 30 in awhile
2. live in southern MS pretty high uv
3. No strange disappearances
4. no
5. yes I'm tired and lethargic
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bookwyrm369 said...

Great post! Sigh - I am not a Sweetblood but it sounds like I'll live longer because of that :-)

smaccall @ comcast.net

donnas said...

Great post. While I might not be a Sweetblood. I guess I just need to read your book to experience it.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

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