Not really though they are outgrowths of the same universe. I played with some amateur stories that became DANCING IN THE DARK and IN THE LONELY DEAD OF MIDNIGHT. While re-writing the stories with the intent of seeking a publisher, I realized some alterations to the core universe needed to be made for the stories to work for a more general audience. For VAMPIRE ENCOUNTERS; SECOND CHANCES I made some different choices on how I wanted that world to operate because I wanted the hero to be more human. There are some substantial differences in the vampires in all three stories, so I have say all three are set in different universes.
How did you come up with the idea of writing a vampire police procedural novel?
My basic plots often come to me in a flash. Seriously, I'll get the story line instantly. And vampires are a long time love. I had been playing with a vampire series for about a year and was wondering what sort of man would really appeal to Baby Roxton. And *pop* there was Jack. Then it was just a matter of filling in the breaks - what would make a profiler want to be involved with a vampire? What kind of guy would he be? How would all the characters interact?
I love mysteries and always have. I'd been watching some forensics shows and wanted to play with that. After I finished the 1st draft, I started looking into how real FBI profilers operate and discovered John Douglas, author of MINDHUNTER and several others on his life as the premiere profiler of his generation. I still can't believe that he not only read DANCING IN THE DARK but likes it and has become one of my biggest supporters. I'll admit I get all smooshie when he tells me he's proud of my literary ccomplishments.
Jack and Baby's relationship isn''t particularly romantic. It is all about lust and the freedom from all inhibitions. He is her boytoy. That is certainly a different approach from most romances. Why did you take that approach?
Well, for one thing, I never thought I was writing a romance and am in fact rather surprised and very pleased at the warm response the romance community has given DANCING IN THE DARK. I was writing about crime and vampires. I was playing with profilers and doing a bit of an exploration into the fear of aging and the nature of addiction.
