Sometimes it’s difficult to remember exactly where my vampires came from. I wrote Raphael late in 2007. His book was my NaNoWriMo project that year. So, even though I did a lot of revisions after that first manuscript, Raphael, and all the other vampires, feel like they’ve been with me, well, forever. It’s sort of the way you remember your parents bringing home a younger brother or sister, but you really can’t remember much of life without them. Although to be fair, I definitely don’t think of Raphael or any of the others in a way that is even remotely brotherly! Like, no way!
I do remember the inspiration for the character of Raphael. It was the scene that ended up being the opening chapter of the book, Raphael, the one with Alexandra, although she wasn’t Alexandra yet. When the scene first popped into my head, it was just this female vampire character who suddenly finds herself betrayed by someone much stronger than she is. She knows she can’t fight him, but, even so, her almost sorrowful response to her betrayer is, “He’ll kill you for this.” She’s completely certain of the outcome and warning her betrayer not to go down that road, even though it’s obviously too late. I wanted to create a character who could inspire that sort of certainty in the female vampire. And that character became Raphael.
So, first and foremost, he had to be incredibly powerful, and he had to be possessive in a way that would drive him to destroy anyone who dared touch someone he cared about. I also knew from the very beginning that while all of my vampire lords would be powerful, Raphael would be the most powerful among them. And that set up the Vampire Council scene in the first book, which established the territorial, aggressive nature of the vampire lords, in that they could barely sit at a table with one another.
After that, the story of Raphael flowed from my keyboard as if I really had known him forever. His intellect, his sexiness, his sexual aggression and dominance. Even when he and Cyn are being playful, he has to be in charge. The other vampire lords have similar qualities. They’re all incredibly powerful, all aggressive and dominant, but some of them have been around humans more than others, and that tempers their behavior. They know how to mimic human behavior, or maybe they choose to mimic human behavior, whereas Raphael deals with humans as little as necessary.
The physical or magical characteristics of my vampires, like their glowing eyes, their special abilities . . . those evolved over time. I knew I didn’t want any of the religious stuff, no crosses or holy water taboos, something I demonstrate very early on when Raphael is taken in by the monastery in his first flashback. And my vamps aren’t risen from the dead, either. They’re infected by a sort of virus, which changes them, and each vampire is individual in the way his or her body responds to the “infection.” Most of them experience only the basic package—virtual immortality (which is very nice), enhanced hearing and smell, speed and strength. But beyond that, they live pretty ordinary lives. But some very few become powerful enough to be vampire lords and that’s who my stories are about, because they’re the most interesting. They’re uniquely and scarily powerful, but they still live among the regular human population with very few people aware of who and what they really are. If humans truly appreciated what walks among them at night, the things the vampire lords could do . . . But I won’t tell them. Will you?
Please not this is an 18 and over Excerpt below.
Hot Excerpt:
She cupped her breasts, squeezing and releasing, scraping her fingernails around and around her nipples, until they begged to be suckled, until blood streaked the round perfection of her breasts and drops hung poised on their very tips. She leaned forward, her hands to either side of his head as she moved, sliding herself up and down his aching cock. Colin growled, grabbing her hips and holding her in place as he began to thrust upward, delving deeper inside her with every stab of his cock into her welcoming body. She leaned closer and he fastened his mouth over one breast, sucking hard, tasting her blood on his tongue, feeling it hot and slick as he swallowed. Sophie cried out, her inner walls shuddering around him in warning. Colin grinned, tightened his grip on her hips, and switched his attention to the other breast, taking it in his mouth and sucking until it was bright pink and swollen.
Sophie had closed her eyes, her body swaying above him as if in a trance. Colin could feel her orgasm building around his shaft, could feel the tremors in her belly, the tightening of her inner walls as they began to ripple along his cock, caressing him, urging him to give up his seed. He grunted softly, trying to hold out a little longer, wanting to feel her climax, her wetness soaking his cock and dripping out of her swollen sex.
“Colin,” she gasped. “I can’t . . . I can’t last much longer.”
“Then, don’t, Sophie. Come for me.”
RAPHAEL
http://www.amazon.com/Raphael- D-B-Reynolds/dp/1933417471/ ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8& qid=1245278783&sr=1-2
JABRIL
http://www.amazon.com/Jabril- D-B-Reynolds/dp/193341751X/ ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
RAJMUND
http://www.amazon.com/Rajmund- D-B-Reynolds/dp/1933417072/ ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c
SOPHIA
http://www.amazon.com/Sophia- D-B-Reynolds/dp/161026049X/ ref=pd_sim_b_3
D. B. Reynolds
http://dbreynolds.wordpress. com
Giveaway will be an autographed copy of any one of the four books, winner's choice, and I ship internationally.
Giveaway rules and policy
RAPHAEL
http://www.amazon.com/Raphael-
JABRIL
http://www.amazon.com/Jabril-
RAJMUND
http://www.amazon.com/Rajmund-
SOPHIA
http://www.amazon.com/Sophia-
D. B. Reynolds
http://dbreynolds.wordpress.
Giveaway will be an autographed copy of any one of the four books, winner's choice, and I ship internationally.
Giveaway rules and policy




That hot excerpt was just the thing I needed to start my Wednesday morning out right! Please enter me in the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks D.B. & Laurie.
redzsm@yahoo.com
Love D.B.Reynolds! She's got some amazing vampires in her book :)) *sigh*
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway, I'm reposting the link
impy80(at)hotmail(dot)com
Wow! Adding to TBR list right now! Thanks for the giveaway. cheriestokes@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWow, the review is so good, make me wanna to read the whole story...
ReplyDeleteblessing80000[at]gmail[dot]com
Wow another great sounding series of vamps to read and a new author for me. Thanks for the interview and for offering a giveaway. I'd love to have any one of the books.
ReplyDeleteOmg that was hot. I would love to win this book. Please enter me in the contest.
ReplyDeletemiztik_rose@yahoo.com
I would love a copy of Raphael!! Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteJennyb845@hotmail.com
I have the second book Jabril and was not sure if I could read it without reading book 1 first. So if I do get lucky enough to win, please count me in for Raphael =) Thanks for the post...love new vampire reads and the little tease was...well very nice ;)
ReplyDeleteTanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com
Whew, that was really good. I would love to read the rest of it.
ReplyDeletetwoofakind12@yahoo.com
I loved Raphael because it brought back what I call "old school" vampires. They are powerful predators and they know it and aren't tortured by the fact . My favorite part was when Raphael was pissed and walked into a room. Everyone was physically affected by his power. They were forced to their knees. Now *that is hot! ;)
ReplyDeletewould love to win the second book in this series. Thanks to Bitten for hosting and Reynolds for posting :)
Thanks for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeletejuliecookies(at)gmail.com
Steamy lil excerpt there. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletevanessa(at)thejeepdiva(dot)com
Raphael sounds like and intense and exciting book. I love the idea of them becoming Vampires when they are infected by a virus and how each of them respond differently to it. Not all vampires being equal sounds like the makings of an interesting good read. Thank you for the great giveaway.
ReplyDeleterjofus(at)gmail(dot)com
Hmm, that was an interesting excerpt! Loved it! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnnie
alltherhage AT gmail DOT com
Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win!
ReplyDeletelizzi0915 at aol dot com
Bethie
Wow! Awesome. The other day, I got the bookmarks for all of these books with another book I'd won and I want them now! They all sound amazing and hot:)
ReplyDeleteGood reading ~ Escape by Fiction :)
Great interview,I love to find out the background to writing a book and how the ideas evolve. I have not yet read this series so if I'm lucky I would choose Raphael as I want to read the whole of this series from the start,it sounds great!
ReplyDeleteirgl7(at)bonzo15(dot)plus(dot)com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCannot wait to read this series. Thank you for the post and contest.
ReplyDeleterobin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
Wow, that was hott. Count me in.
ReplyDeleteHeather
chamblinh@gmail.com
Wow, that is one hot excerpt! This sounds like an amazing series, I am adding it to my TBR pile! I would love to win any of the books!
ReplyDeletebooksavvybabe AT gmail.com
Book Savvy Babe
Great interview, it was fun to read. This series definitely has my interest, and has been added to my TBR list. That hot excerpt just moved it up on my list.
ReplyDeleteKrysta
crystal_reaper(at)hotmail(dot)com
Wow, I have had my eyes on this series for a while now and I so need to get it. thanks for the giveaway - I would love to win.
ReplyDeletemrsqueentutt@yahoo.com
Thanks D.B. Reynolds.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Duncan.
Connie M.
cemour at verizon dot net
follow on facebook.
WOW! Great excerpt. I definately have to check out this series! Thank you so much for sharing and for the giveaway. Gotta go check this out now. LOL
ReplyDeleteGFC follower: June M.
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
Sounds great. Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeletebacchus76 at myself dot com
What a great post! I have Sophia on my hands, but I don´t read the previous books and sounds fantastic. Thanks you so much for this chance.
ReplyDeleteitzel_library@hotmail.com
Wow *fans self* I love it. Hott vampires will make my day for sure! Would love to win a copy.
ReplyDeletek28dalton (at) yahoo (dot) com
Holy moly that was steamy and just what I needed for today actually this week has been a rough one.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have Raphael if I win(the book that is):)
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Everyone, thanks so much for reading my guest post and for commenting!
ReplyDeleteARTEMIS - in answer to your question, i.e., whether my series is UF, Paranormal Romance, or Erotica, I consider the books to be equally Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. There's so much crossover between those two genres that it's hard to tell them apart sometimes. I definitely don't consider them erotica, though. There's some quality sex, but not enough to qualify as erotica. There's always an action/adventure/mystery aspect to my books which shares the story with the relationship.
Thanks again, and good luck in the drawing!
DBR
Thanks for the giveaway. The books sound great.
ReplyDeletemsuck27@hotmail.co.uk
WOW! That excerpt is hot! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletejcross719 at yahoo dot com
I've been wanting to check out this author for ages! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteAmanda
ohmorningglow AT aol DOT com
What a wonderful treat - thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
ReplyDeletedz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
What a great post! I didn't know about this series. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
ReplyDeleterootml1 AT hotmail DOT com
Great interview. I enjoyed Ms. Reynolds' insight into her vampire world. And I really enjoyed the excperpt of Sophia. That was very hot! I have read the first book and will now have to put the next three in the series at the top of my TBR list/mountain. BTW, love your blog, Laurie.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogging and Reading
Laurielu
Wow, a hot excerpt, covers and new to me Author D.B. Reynolds. Thanks Laurie for bringing me a new Author and a new series as well. Please count me in.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750@aol.com
oops, GFC follower under Lucky47 and Goodreads friend under Carol Luciano.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750@aol.com
forgot to say I'm a GFC follower under Lucky47 and Goodreads friend under Carol Luciano.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750@aol.com
That excerpt was HOT and definitely the type of book I would love to read!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this giveaway!
redfirewood888(AT)yahoo(DOT)ca
OMG!!! That's a HOT & SEXY excerpt!!! I can't wait to read these books!!! Thanks for introducing this author to me!!! Hope to win! Thanks for the giveaway!!! :-)
ReplyDeletejfort357(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Hi
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt!!
Please enter me in the contest. Books are in my TBR list!!!
Thanks.
Daniela.
Caliente!
ReplyDeleteheadlessfowl at gmail dot com
That is indeed a very hot excerpt. Great giveaway thank you.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thank you for amazing giveaways!
ReplyDeleteRathouska.jana@gmail.com
Does the name Jabril have any particular meaning or background?
ReplyDeleteForgot my e-mail: acm05atjuno.com
ReplyDeleteWOW! Okay. This is soooo a series I want to read! :-)
ReplyDeletejustforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Hi again, everyone! Thanks so much for stopping by to read and comment.
ReplyDelete--acm05 ... Jabril is the Arabic form of Gabriel. The character, Jabril, is a very old vampire from what is now Saudi Arabia. He moved to North America at the strong urging of his family, because his vampiric excesses were becoming a problem.
DBR
I have Raphael on my TBR pile and I just haven't gotten to it yet. Every time I read an excerpt it reminds me that I really should start this series. It sounds great.
ReplyDeletejen at delux dot com
wow..hot excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win a book in this series.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Oh, man. That excerpt is seriously HOT! Whew!! I'm following you on GFC (Darlene), and my email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDelete