Meljean Brook Interview

Publication Date: June 1, 2007

Meljean Brook

Meljean Brook is author of The Guardians series, which features vampires, demons and other supernatural creatures.
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Upcoming Title or Latest Release

Demon Moon
Release Date: June 5, 2007
Publisher: Berkley Sensation

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The Questions

Give us an update on yourself. What's your latest news?
I'm currently writing the third full-length book in the Guardian series. It's been an exciting ride, this latest story, and jumps off nicely from Demon Moon, the current release.

What's your upcoming or latest book/story about?
Demon Moon is about Colin Ames-Beaumont, a two-hundred-year old vampire who has never met a woman he couldn't leave, and Savitri Murray, a human who has never encountered a problem she couldn't solve. But when deadly creatures from the Chaos realm throw them together for their protection, and a demon endangers both their lives, Colin and Savi must form a bond – but any love they have is threatened by a curse that can't be broken by beauty or brains…
For Colin must bed and drink from other women to survive – and he may be forced to leave the one woman he can't bear to give up.

How did you come up with the title?
The first book in the series was titled Demon Angel, and the publisher wanted to continue in the same vein to connect the books. So although I originally just titled it Colin, we eventually chose Demon Moon, due to a demon's threat to Colin and Savi that they would be dead before the next full moon – so a month would be all they had together.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, and what inspired you to start writing?
I can't really remember what inspired me to start, or exactly when – I'm one of those authors who's just always been writing down various stories. I do know that it started with a love of reading. I read all of the time … and I remember thinking, “This is what I want to do. This is what I want my life to be.” I'm really blessed that it is.

When did you write your first book?
Demon Angel was my first full-length book, and that was written in 2005.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I don't think there was anything that I didn't want to be at some point: a jockey, a lawyer, a dancer, a doctor, a teacher, an astronaut, a comic book writer … I wanted to be everything. That's probably the best thing about writing – I get to explore many, many different occupations (albeit vicariously) with my characters.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Not writing? What's that? *grin*
Lately, my time has been so limited that I'll do my best to grab a book (when the deadline crunch is on, what I miss most – aside from time spent with my daughter – is the time I used to have for reading.) I love movies, particularly action and sci-fi.

What does your family think of your writing?
My husband used to think that it was just silly to write about a) romance and b) vampires and other paranormal creatures. But I've slowly made him come around. My parents and sisters all love my work – but we all read romance, so it was an easy occupation for them to accept.

How long does it take you to write a book?
It takes me about six months to write.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
When I'm not on deadline, I'll get up and check my e-mails, and finish up any business I have in the morning. Then I'll spend time with my daughter before she goes to pre-school. Then I'll write when she's at pre-school, then some more during the afternoon.
During deadline, it's just writing writing writing.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Mostly from reading – but the ideas and little bits of information and references pull in from everywhere. For example, I might see something on TV that will spark an idea … not necessarily for a whole book, but maybe for a scene, or even just a sentence. And the research that I have to do for each novel often carries me on interesting tangents that I can include in the novel.
For example, in Demon Moon I have many references to Polidori and Byron – so reading back through those old letters and the authors' works gave me ideas of how to twist a few historical details, and make them fit into Colin's story … making his history all the richer.

What do you think makes a good story?
Telling the truth. In a vampire novel, I know that sounds odd – but what I really mean is telling the truth about emotions, and the way that people act. Not trying to force characters to fit a plot, and not letting them do things that maybe aren't “heroic”, but really reflect the decisions that we have to make on a daily basis (although the stakes aren't so high as they might be in fiction) … and recognizing that we don't always make the right decisions, but at least try to make the best ones. If I see that in characters, I'm hooked.
Also, a lot of blood, sex, and action never hurts. *grin*

What was one of the most surprising things you've learned in creating your books?
That even when the book is dark and violent, it's really easy (and good for the reader and the writer) to slip humor in there. And that as long as the humor isn't over-the-top and silly, it can actually make the suspense even better, because there are more ups-and-downs.

Do you have a specific writing style?
I don't think so – I know I'm detailed and on the verbose side, but I don't think of it as a style. I think my voice is distinct … but I don't know exactly what I would call it.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
It depends on the day. There are some times when it just flows – action, dialogue, everything. And then others when I'm struggling to find the perfect word, and I'll get stuck on one tiny little thing for days. I find that I can't move forward very well unless I'm happy with what I've got … and so that is challenging (and frustrating) when something goes wrong with the story, and I've got to figure out what it is before moving on.

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
I currently have two full-length novels and two novellas available: Demon Angel and Demon
Moon, and Hot Spell and Wild Thing (the anthologies.) Right now, Demon Moon is my favorite. I love Demon Angel, and the characters Hugh and Lilith and their story will always be at the center of this series, but there is something about Colin and Savi that just got into me. It actually took me a long time after finishing Demon Moon to stop writing in their voices, and to stop imagining extra scenes for them. They just really, really got into me. All of my characters get into me … but wow, these guys wouldn't let go.

Who or what has influenced your writing?
Everything. I know that's not a really great answer, but it's the truth. Influences, particularly on The Guardians series, include Milton and Wilde, Maggie Shayne and Anne Bishop and Anne Rice, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, tons of vampire literature and classic horror like Frankenstein – but also modern horror. Then there are movies – when I'm writing, I tend to think very visually, and so movies with really stark and interesting visuals help me imagine my own when I'm setting up a scene, or blocking out movement.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I learn a little bit from every book I read – it's very hard to turn off the writer when I'm reading – and so I'd say just about everyone that I've read, I could consider a mentor. There hasn't been any one single author that has influenced me more than others, or that I've learned from more than others.
Although – in terms of just sheer helpfulness in writing, I think the book that resonated best with me was Stephen King's On Writing. There's simply some wonderful insight and advice, particularly in the second half of the memoir.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Oh, tons! Marjorie Liu, Jaci Burton, Shiloh Walker, Jennifer Estep, Elizabeth Hoyt, J.R. Ward, Gena Showalter, Alyssa Day … okay, I can go on forever. I have a mountain of a to-be-read pile, just waiting for me after this current deadline, and I can't wait to dive in.

Who designs the covers of your books?
The Berkley art and marketing departments.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I do hear from my readers! There's an exclamation point there, because it still surprises me when I open an e-mail from a reader. There really isn't a much better feeling than reading that someone really enjoyed my books, and that I was able to entertain them for a couple of hours.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Just that if they want to contact me and leave feedback, please feel free to do so – I always appreciate it.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Just to keep at it, and to do the best to make your characters as vibrant and alive (or undead) as possible. To tell the truth about relationships and emotions, even when your characters are beyond belief and fantastical – to really dig into that human core.

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