Natalie Hancock is an author of Paranormal Romance/ Erotic. Her newest work Eternal Darkness is available from eXtasy books.
What is the name of your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?
Eternal Darkness is my first and only release. I’m a new author *smiles widely*
I found it hard to name this book. When I was planning it, I named it Changed because it was a convenient because of what the book was about.
When I wrote the entire book, it didn’t sound right, so I began thinking of another name.
My vampires live in a hundred acres of land with no sunlight what-so-ever for their protection from the sun itself, and from attacks from their enemies. The name Eternal Darkness came into mind because they literally are living in eternal darkness.
What is this book about? And what genre is this book in?
My book’s genre is vampire paranormal romance/erotic.
It’s about a half vampire, half human who is sent to live in the hundred acres of land full of vampires for her own safety. The only problem is she hungers for the vampires blood, so when she has lessons with them, not only does she struggle with the hunger raging inside of her, but she has to learn to trust those around her, something she can’t do because she has a dark past, and because of it, she has trouble trusting anyone.
She knows she’s in as much danger inside the land as she was when she was outside the land, and she can’t shake off the feeling that something, or someone is watching her, waiting to attack her, despite the guards watching her every move.
When she meets one of the tutors, she feels things towards him and wants both his blood and his body, but it’s forbidden to feel the way they do and Layla must fight her feelings otherwise the secrets she desperately wants to remain a secret will get out, and put her in more danger than she already is.
Who is/are the main characters? And why did you choose them?
Layla and Shade are my main characters.
The story is based entirely around Layla. She’s a beautiful, fearless and deadly dhampir living in a world full of vampires. She has a past that haunts her, and secrets just waiting to be exposed. Though out the stories you learn more about Layla and everything she doesn’t want anyone to know.
Shade is an impossibly handsome vampire that can make Layla shiver with pleasure with just a look. Layla is the fearless and deadly dhampir, and the fact that he can make her feel things she never knew she desired, I thought this would make an interesting relationship because he’s a vampire, and she can drain him dry without a second thought.
What is the coolest or best part about your book? (Any Favorite scenes, the world-building etc..
I like my entire story, but the best part about my book, to me, is how I’ve written Layla’s life, past and present. When you read about how she lived in the past, and then read the present, you get a better understanding of why she does things the way she does, why she speaks and acts the way she does.
Do you have a favorite character in the book? If so, why?
My favourite character I’ve created would obviously be Layla, because she is my main character. She’s my favourite because she's strong, incredibly fast, beautiful and deadly. But she isn’t perfect. She’s far from it actually and she knows it. She doesn’t make out she is either. She’s just herself and would rather take a bullet to save those around her than let someone take the shot for her.
Is this book part of a series? If so? What can we expect in future books?
Yes, the Cursed in Darkness Series. There are going to be seven books in this series and you can expect more action—of both kinds—secrets to be told and unexpected twists!
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I would only change one thing, and that’s probably adding more to the story.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Yes, not being embarrassed when writing a sex scene. My partner always has the habit of ‘knowing’ when I was writing one, and I used to get so embarrassed. I think it was because Eternal Darkness was the first book I had written with detailed sex in it. I let him read what I had written, and just eventually just got used to it.
Do you have a publisher? And if so, why did you choose them?
eXtasy books. When I first found them, their website caught my attention instantly. I liked the fact that they had their releases on their home page. I also didn’t need an agent or previous published books to be accepted. So I sent my work to them and just kept my fingers crossed.
By then, I had around seven or eight emails from other publishers telling me the exact same thing, “your work is not right for us at this time.” I didn’t exactly have high hopes of being accepted by eX, so when Tina emailed me, I was shocked really. She didn’t tell me what others had. She said she saw the potential I had as a writer, and if I made the changes (first person present to first person past) then she would look at my work again.
I got straight to work, and when I emailed her, she told me she was swamped with manuscripts and new releases, but told me to send her my work anyway. Within two hours, I had a contract and joined the family.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I didn’t exactly have a mentor when I was writing my first three books, but the first writer that pops to mind is Robin Badillo. She is amazing. She’s made me feel so welcome since joining eXtasy books. She’s made me laugh and cry with laughter. I know she’s the one person I can go to if I have a question, and I know she’s the one person I can count on to be the first to comment on any posts I’ve made. No matter what they’re about. And I’m never disappointed! She’s always calms me down when I’m stressed and gives me her opinion on what I should do with some things and has always been there for me. She’s an inspiration and she’s definitely made my welcome feel more… Well… Welcome.
What books are you reading now?
I’m reading whatever I’m writing at the minute. I have so many ideas, I just have to write them all down and end up writing a book!
What are the current writing projects that you are working on?
I’m writing the sixth book in the Cursed in Darkness Series some days, and other days, I’m writing a new vampire book called Untouched.
Do you write full time? If not, do you hope to do so one day?
Yes, I write full time. Writing is my life and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Except reading maybe.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter books. I was obsessed with them, literally to the point where I was reading them over and over again. She’s such a talented writer, that I wanted to write my own books. It’s hard work! Luckily my imagination kicked in once I had calmed down (not so much) with the Harry Potter books and I wrote my first witch story within a month and nearly an entire series within a year. I do hope to have my witch series published one day. They were my first books and I would hate to see them go to waste.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
My writer’s block. When I get it, I can have all the idea’s in my head, but when it comes to writing them down, I can’t. It’s like I don’t know how. It’s so frustrating! Sometimes I would have to wait a week without writing because I can open my work and have the idea’s come to me, as though they were waiting the entire time for me to write them down.
Do you have any advice for other writers seeking to get published for the first time?
Don’t give up. If you believe your work is good enough, and have worked your butt off writing it, keep searching for the right publisher to publish your work. If they ask you to make changes, most definitely accept them because most of the time when publishers ask you to make changes, they see potential in your work.
Natalie, Thank You So Much For Stopping By!
You Can Buy Her Book Here!
Here is my website link: http://www.cursedindarkness.com
Buy links: http://www.extasybooks.com/Eternal-Darkness/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0076U1UT2/
Buy links: http://www.extasybooks.com/Eternal-Darkness/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0076U1UT2/
