Please join me in welcoming author Sara Reinke to Cali Cheer Mom!
Let's get right to it!
Paranormal romance, particularly with vampires are hot right now. How do you keep your stories fresh and different from the rest?
I’m constantly brainstorming ideas. In my head, I’ve built a pretty intricate history for the origins of my vampires, and I use that as the foundation. I’m inspired by history in general, and enjoy discovering ways in which my vampires could have really come to develop and prosper as a separate, secreted race. In my new release, Dark Passages 2: Pilar & ElÃas, for example, readers are introduced to the Nahual—a new species of vampire who are separate from but similar to the Brethren. According to Mesoamerican folklore, a nahual was a witch capable of transforming into animal form in order to prey on human blood. In the story, they’re a race that has descended from the same creature from whom the Brethren originate as well (the Brethren called this the “Abomination;” among the Nahual, it’s called a “Wayob.”)
The Nahual are all of Central and Southern American descent, as I imagined their ancestors would have migrated from Europe by sneaking aboard Spanish ships to wherever the conquistadores traveled. I envision similar distinct races of vampires could have developed all over Europe, Asia, even Africa—any place this common ancestor might have been driven in search for blood. This gives me countless avenues to explore for future storylines, a virtually endless well of creative possibilities.
What is a typical writing day like for you?
I don’t think I have a “typical” day twice in a row, lol. I work full-time, go to nursing school at night, have a terrific husband, two kids, two cats, a dog…you know the drill. Writing for me is very much catch-as-catch-can because my schedule is so crazy, but I always make time for it whenever possible. I figured out a long time ago that writing stories is my true, singular passion, and I’d do it whether anyone reads them or not. I think when it’s in your heart, you can’t shake it, no matter what—so go with it.
Who is your favorite character from each of your new releases?
I’m torn because I love both Pilar and ElÃas from Dark Passages 2: Pilar & ElÃas, but for different reasons.
When writing Pilar, I wanted to present a strong, powerful, fierce woman, but one who could also be soft with the man who wins her heart. There are scenes in the book when Pilar is really violent; her rage and hatred keep her motivated and driven. But whenever ElÃas is around, she’s torn—because he brings out in her a vulnerability she doesn’t want or understand. She’s one of the Nahual, a vampire, and he’s human; their love is very much forbidden among her people.
For his part, ElÃas was wonderful to write because he’s so passionate about Pilar. He loves her and wants her—body, mind and soul, and he struggles to resist her because he thinks it’s the right thing to do by her. During the course of the book, he’s introduced to the world of the Nahual, and is forced to change his entire way of thinking about and looking at the world—and Pilar.
The coolest thing about Dark Passages 2: Pilar & ElÃas from a reader’s standpoint, I think, is that even though it’s Book 5 in The Brethren Series, because it introduces new characters and a new breed of vampires, readers can jump right in, even without having read the previous books, and not feel lost.
Readers will also find an “About the Brethren” page at www.sarareinke.com that fills them in on the series to date, and the different characters introduced so far, if they haven’t read any of the preceding titles. (You can also check out the hot promotional video for Dark Passages 2: Pilar & ElÃas at my website!)
Plus, for a limited time, readers can subscribe to my e-Newsletter and receive a FREE ebook copy of Dark Thirst, Book One in The Brethren Series. There’s no better way to be introduced to the world of the Brethren vampires than with the book that started it all!
BACK COVER BLURB:
Pilar Cadana has one thing on her mind: revenge against Pepe Cervantes, the vampire who murdered her father. But her plan to get close to him by working as a stripper in his nightclub backfires when she meets Elias Velasco, the police detective assigned to her father's case. Pilar has known tremendous heartache, sorrow and loss, but in Elias's arms, she feels safe enough to trust again...and even dare to love. But as the passion between them grows, so too does the danger -- because Pilar has dark secretes of her own. And while she's everything Elias wants, he may just prove to be everything Pilar needs.
EXCERPT:
Son of a bitch, ElÃas thought as he fought with the tie wrapped snugly around his wrists. After a furious moment’s effort, he worked the knots loose and freed himself. Scrambling to his feet, he hurried after Pilar, catching sight of her across the club as she hurried for the dressing room.
Son of a bitch, he thought again—as much referring to himself as his own frustration with the unexpected situation. God, how could everything that had been so perfect in one moment get so completely fucked up in the next? Pilar had been astride him, he’d watched her beautiful face soften, her brows lifting, her lips parting in a soft, sweet O as she’d approached climax—not a dream this time, not one of his fantasies, but real and warm and with him. And then, with one stupid, thoughtless utterance, he’d ruined everything. He’d driven her away.
I can explain, he’d told her. Yeah, he thought bitterly. Good luck with that one, ElÃas. What are you going to say? “I’ve been watching you dance for weeks now, Pilar, and I’ve fallen in love with you. Only thing is, one of the guys who killed your father and sexually assaulted you has been found laid out like day-old ham salad in the bayou, and the wheel base for the motorcycle your brother gave you matches one I found at the crime scene. So even though I think about you all the time, dream about you, wake up in the middle of the night reaching for you, that doesn’t change the fact that I think Valien might have used your bike to hunt Miguel Torres down and kill him.”
Yeah. He managed a coarse, humorless laugh. That should clear everything up.
“Wait,” he said, rushing to catch up and intercept her before she could get through the door and escape. He caught her elbow and she whirled, catlike, eyes wide. “Please.”
“Don’t touch me,” she snapped, wrenching herself loose.
“I’m sorry.” Holding up his hands, palms facing her, he said it again. “I’m sorry.”
“Forget it.” Turning on her heel, she marched toward the door again.
“Pilar.”
He said it quietly so that if anyone else happened to be in earshot, they wouldn’t overhear, but loudly enough so that she would. She froze in her tracks, her entire body stiffening.
She turned slowly to face him and he could tell from her face, her rigid posture, that she was thinking about bolting into the dressing room, hiding from him, not coming out until firmly convinced he was long gone and ancient history.
“Don’t you ever call me that again,” she seethed, almost inaudible, and God, the look of wounded, bewildered betrayal in her face nearly shattered him. “Do you hear me?”
“Please.” ElÃas kept his hands raised. “I just want to talk.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “Yeah? That’s not what seemed to be on your mind a few minutes ago.”
“I know that,” he conceded, shamefaced. “And I’m sorry. With all my heart, Pilar, I’m sorry. I promise you—I swear to God that’s not why I came here today. I just…” His voice trailed off and he raked his fingers through his hair. I just lose my head whenever I see you. Madre de Dios, woman, you’re so beautiful and you were right there in front of me. I couldn’t think straight…couldn’t think at all!
“Yeah, and next you’ll tell me you didn’t like it, didn’t want it,” Pilar shot with a frown.
“God, no,” he said, blurting it out, taking himself as much by surprise as her by the frank admission. “I did like it,” he whispered, his brows lifting. “And I did want it…more than anything.” I want you more than anything, he added in his mind, pressing his lips together momentarily to stifle the words. More than you can know. “That’s why I couldn’t stop myself. Or you.”
His confession had visibly deflated her fury, at least for the moment. “Please,” he said. “Just hear me out.”
A heavy hand fell against his shoulder, a low voice with menacing intimacy in his ear. “Hands off the lady.”
ElÃas turned in start and found one of the club’s very large, very imposing security guards standing there, dressed in a white tuxedo shirt and cummerbund, both stretched tautly across the broad expanse of his chest.
“This guy bothering you, Destiny?” the bouncer asked Pilar gruffly. “You want me to show him to the door?”
Because ElÃas suspected the man was using “show” in its loosest possible interpretation, he was grateful when Pilar shook her head.
“No, Joey. It’s okay.”
The bouncer, Joey, leveled his surly gaze at ElÃas for another moment, then growled, “Keep your hands to yourself. House rules.” Then with a reluctant glower—as if he’d been hoping for the chance to forcibly eject ElÃas from the building and thus highlighting what had otherwise been a boring day for bouncing—Joey turned and walked away.
“Here.” Pilar reached down and took the money ElÃas had given her out of her waistband. “Take this back. I don’t want it.”
He shook his head. “It’s yours.”
She locked gazes with him, stony and cold. Opening her fingers, she let it drop to the floor. “I don’t want it.”
“Wait.” She tried to leave again, turning away, but he caught her arm. This time, she didn’t try to fight her way free, but she awarded him a look that could have passed as a deadly weapon. “Please. I need to talk to you.”
“About what?” she asked, huffing out a put-upon sigh.
“Miguel Torres,” he said, leaning toward her, speaking softly again. He didn’t miss the startled intake of her breath or the way her gaze darted abruptly away, like that of a cornered animal surveying its options for escape.
“What about him?” she asked.
Stepping closer, tilting his head, ElÃas spoke softly into her ear. “He was found dead in the middle of Highway 1226 this morning, half-eaten by alligators.”
He felt a slight tremor work its way through her, whether a shiver at the revelation of Miguel’s discovery or at his proximity, his breath rustling her hair, he couldn’t be sure. Because in all the weeks he’d been coming to Melaza and all the times he’d watched—longing, envious—as Pilar had danced for other men, he’d never seen her perform for anyone as she had for him. More than just a dance, she’d moved against him, responded to him like a lover. Like she’d wanted him too.
“What…what’s that have to do with me?” she asked, close enough now so that when she glanced up at him, her cheek dragged lightly against his own, and when he moved in turn to meet her gaze, his mouth hovered just above hers, so close…
Madre de Dios, he thought, agonized, as he fought the impulse to lean in and kiss her. Mother of God.
“You tell me,” he breathed.
Her hands fell lightly against the front of his shirt; then she pushed him away. “Not here.”
“Pilar…”
Her brows narrowed. “I said not here.”
“Then tell me where. Tell me when.”
Again, her eyes swept nervously about. “I…I don’t know.” He reached for her, but she shook her head and backed away. “I’ll call your office. I’ll let you know.”
And with that, she was gone; with a sparkle of sequins and a flip of blonde hair, she hurried toward the dressing room, letting the door fall sharply shut behind her.
You can find more info about Sara at:
