Thank you so much for joining me here at Books and Things today! And thank you, Melissa, for helping me celebrate the release of my Immortal Guardians novella PHANTOM EMBRACE. (If you’re new to the series, don’t worry. The novels and novellas can all be read as stand alones. You’ll just be more familiar with the secondary characters if you read them in order.)
1. Do you have a favorite amongst the Immortals?
I actually have several favorite characters in the series. Sheldon and Chris are tied for my favorite human. Darnell is my favorite gifted one. Cliff is my favorite vampire. (When I began the series, I never even thought I would have a favorite vampire, since they all become psychotic killers.) And my favorite immortal . . .
If I absolutely had to choose, it would be Seth. He gives so much of himself to protecting the other Immortal Guardians and providing them with a family environment full of laughter and teasing in which they can decompress after long nights of hunting. And he’s also been with me the longest, since I created his character for A SORCERESS OF HIS OWN, several years before I began my Immortal Guardians series
If I absolutely had to choose, it would be Seth. He gives so much of himself to protecting the other Immortal Guardians and providing them with a family environment full of laughter and teasing in which they can decompress after long nights of hunting. And he’s also been with me the longest, since I created his character for A SORCERESS OF HIS OWN, several years before I began my Immortal Guardians series
2. What makes a great villain?
For me it varies. Realism is always important. The more real the character feels, the stronger the chord he or she will strike with readers. I thought Bastien was a great villain in DARKNESS DAWNS, in part because he wasn’t all bad. Yes, he hated the Immortal Guardians and wanted to do everything he could to bring them all down. But he clearly loved his sister, too, and tried to do everything he could to help the vampires who followed him.
On the other hand, I really liked Dennis, the villain in NIGHT REIGNS, too. That vamp was totally psychotic. One never knew when he might have a break, what horrific thing he might do, or who he would turn on next . . . including members his own vampire army. He was a very fun character to write.
3. Of those that you haven't written, which Immortal story is begging to come out?
Seth’s. And his has been the most requested story by far. So I’m very happy to say his story is not far away now. I’ve found his heroine, and scenes have been dancing through my mind. (One will be a real jaw-dropper.) I can’t wait to get started on it.
4. Who would you cast if the series was made into a movie?
I do the independent filmmaking thing when I’m not writing, so I’ve been working on a dream cast ever since the first book in the series was published, updating and expanding it with each release. ☺ Here are some of my latest choices:
Yuri (hero of Phantom Embrace) — Stephen Amell
Catherine (heroine of Phantom Embrace) — Daisy Ridley
Seth (leader of the Immortal Guardians) — Alexander Skarsgård
David (2nd in Command of the Immortal Guardians) — Idris Elba
Roland Warbrook (hero of Darkness Dawns)— Hugh Jackman
Sarah Bingham (heroine of Darkness Dawns)— Michelle Monaghan
Marcus Grayden (hero of Night Reigns) — Johnny Depp
Ami (heroine of Night Reigns) — Milla Jovovitch
Bastien (villain in Darkness Dawns, and hero of Phantom Shadows) — Jake Gyllenhaal
Melanie (heroine of Phantom Shadows) — Evengeline Lilly
Richart d’Alençcon (hero of In Still Darkness) — Sam Worthington
Jenna McBride (heroine of In Still Darkness) — Jennifer Garner
Étienne d’Alençcon (hero of Darkness Rises) — Sam Worthington
Krysta Linz (heroine of Darkness Rises) — Cobie Smulders
Zach (hero of Night Unbound) — Chris Hemsworth
Lisette d’Alençcon (heroine of Night Unbound)— Eva Green
Ethan (hero of Shadows Strike) — Chris Evans
Heather (heroine of Shadows Strike) — Scarlett Johansson
5. Do you have a playlist when you write? What is it?
I prefer to write in quiet. No distractions that way. I come from a musical background. So if I play music, I’m more likely to sing the lyrics in my head than write the next scene. ☺ There are occasional exceptions, though. Sometimes I’ll listen to Disturbed while writing action scenes. Droppin’ Plates and Down With the Sickness are among my favorite tunes. And in Shadows Strike, Ethan and Heather had a “date night” that included dancing. Since Ethan is a little over a century old, he’s partial to oldies. So when I wrote that scene . . . and every time I read through it and edited it afterward . . . I listened to Sing, Sing, Sing.
About the book:
Phantom Embrace (Immortal Guardians #5.5)
by Dianne Duvall
ebook, 112 pages
ISBN 1420143530
Across dimensions . . .
Born with the ability to see spirits, immortal Yuri Sokolov avoids making contact with them, because such has always yielded negative results...until lovely Cat Seddon begins haunting his home and his dreams. As a new threat rises against the Immortal Guardians, Yuri disregards all the rules so he can be with Cat, even though the consequences are substantial.
For centuries, Catherine Seddon has been alone. When her brother is forced to join the Immortal Guardians’ ranks, she haunts the primary home of the powerful warriors to keep an eye on him, and soon finds herself captivated by Yuri. The handsome Russian immortal swiftly banishes her loneliness as friendship grows between them and deepens into love. But can two people who are unable to touch find a future together?
Previously published in On The Hunt
Don't miss a single Immortal Guardians tale!
Book 1, Darkness Dawns - http://amzn.to/1GC0nmk
Book 2, Night Reigns - http://amzn.to/1GC0pKP
Book 3, Phantom Shadows - http://amzn.to/1JnRqUE
Book 3.5, In Still Darkness - http://amzn.to/1IhSDv9
Book 4, Darkness Rises - http://amzn.to/1QTHqq7
Book 5, Night Unbound - http://amzn.to/1SQdwRk
Book 5.5, Phantom Embrace – http://amzn.to/23p0HGm
About the Author:
Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series and The Gifted Ones series. Her books have twice been nominated for the RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance and are routinely deemed Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, The Romance Reviews, and/or Night Owl Reviews. Reviewers have called Dianne's books "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews).Dianne loves all things creative. When she isn't writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the vampires she has created in her books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit www.DianneDuvall.com. You can also find Dianne online . . .
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Tsū | YouTube | Pinterest | Goodreads | Google Plus
Giveaway!
1st Prize—$35 Amazon Gift Card
2nd Prize—$20 Amazon Gift Card
3rd Prize—Signed copies of Night Unbound and Shadows Strike+swag
For the complete tour schedule please go HERE at Author's Taproom.
lol I love hearing how characters like Cliff pop up unexpected like.
ReplyDeleteZach is another character who surprised me. I originally intended for him to remain a sort of shadowy background character. :-)
DeleteSeth's story is on the horizon? YESSSSSSS!!!! I love him so much and can't wait to meet his heroine! I have a little catching up to do with this series, but it's one of my favorites, so binge reading is no hardship. Thanks for the interview ladies!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us, Jenny! I hope you'll like Seth's story when I release it. :-)
DeleteI always think it is fun when author's have favorite characters in their series. Glad this series is still going strong, it sounds like fun and I know I really should read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I hope you'll enjoy it if you give it a try. :-)
DeleteThank you for hosting Dianne today for this fun interview on the Phantom Embrace Blog Tour! I hope that your readers enjoyed it and are excited to pick up PHANTOM EMBRACE, available at online retailers everywhere June 28th!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I so love her books. :)
DeleteI haven't read this series but I really like what the author said about villains. A good villain is essential to any story so I'm going to have to pick up some of these titles, after all. Thanks for putting this on my radar, Melissa!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us, Keertana! I hope you'll like the villains you'll find in my series. I've had a lot of fun creating them. :-)
DeleteI agree completely about villains. Cartoonish villains are one of my pet peeves. Realism is what I'm after, and morally gray areas make me so happy. I have yet to read this series, but it sounds like a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteHi, Maja! Thanks for joining us. Bastian was such a fun character to write that I ended up giving him an integral role in the series. :-)
DeleteI know you like your Duvall
ReplyDeleteI do! :D
DeleteI love when I am able to read a novella to get a taste for an authors writing. Fabulous interview! Definitely curious now!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Candace! I found some of my favorite authors through novellas and anthologies. :-)
DeleteVillains! Sometimes I love villains more than I love the heroes
ReplyDeleteLOL! I do, too, sometimes. :-)
DeleteOooh, I need to try this!
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll like it! :-)
DeleteNice interview thanks for sharing! I need to try this series!
ReplyDeleteLove the casting.
ReplyDeleteIsn't this series Awesome! I discovered it late but have been devouring it from where I started as well as at the beginning. :)
ReplyDeleteThese sound kind of awesome. Thanks for sharing these, I'll have to check them out!
ReplyDeleteI do love a good psychotic villain! Great interview.
ReplyDelete