Crimson Crimes Tour: Character Interview + Giveaway

We are thrilled to spend time with the fearless and outspoken Auntie Aileen, who is
understandably troubled by her niece Magdalene, the One and Only Vampire on Earth.
It’s fortunate for us that Auntie makes another appearance in The Crimson Crimes:
A Vampire Revenge by author Patricia K McCarthy. This is a rare opportunity to
experience first-hand her wisdom and sense of humour.

1. Describe yourself to me. 
Good gracious but that’s a stupid question… it’s not even a question, child! But if you must know, child, I haven’t got the time or patience for fooling around. Now for sure I’ve been known to imbibe the odd nip or twenty… seems to me you might as well enjoy life. Soon enough you’ll be pushing up the daisies and no one will bother to wink one false eye if you raised your skirt to show off your knickers. That’s been my philosophy. I never planned on living with the likes of vampires, for the love of all Creation. But I’m Magdalene’s aunt and I love her to smithereens. She’s got a heart of gold, even if her loins are devilishly wicked.

2. How do you fall in love? At first sight? Over a long period? 

My love life is none of your business, child. Is this the kind of cockamamie example you set? But if you must know, child, my niece Magdalene is love sick mad over that hybrid vampire husband of hers, Samuel. I swear the two of them would follow each other into the bowels of hell. To be sure, there’s going to be trouble at the end of their vampire story, I just know it. You can’t love a vampire without sacrificing your soul. And for the love of God, why would anyone ask such a stupid question? Love goes according to its own course, child. It’s like that baritone crooner Leonard Cohen says, “Love seizes you.” That’s about the size of it.

3. What do you consider your special talent? Or, what do you wish your special talent
was? 

Well now that’s a question worth asking and answering. I used to play piano for the silent pictures, those were the days. We could smoke indoors ‘til our fingers turned yellow and didn’t have to worry about the evils of marketing. I loved puffing all night long and not so much as one ball of mucus would be brought up. Gave up all that stuff, you know. My fingers are crooked now so there’s no more piano playing and my lungs are about ready to collapse. But at least my lips still work and my pouring arm is strong. Suppose that’s better than nothing.

4. What's the worst thing you've ever done? 

Got married and then had the foolish idea to give birth to eight children, all of them as hopeless as weak umbrellas in a fierce wind. You see God fools us with love, child. It’s how he tricks us into thinking that loving a man will make us happy. I never met a woman who could keep that dream alive after marriage. A woman has got to have her own passions. That’s my best piece of advice. You know what happens to a woman when she lives with a man? I tell you what happens… her workload doubles!

5. Do you care what others think of you?

 Never have, never will. If you worry too much about what others think or say about you, you might as well stick your head in the toilet for a good soaking until some sense comes back into your fool brain. Life is short, child. One day I was thirteen years old with a full head of wild, red hair and now I’m into my late seventies with barely a few strands left to comb over. I feel smarter and just as young in the mind but my body has other ideas. You’ll know what I mean, child, soon enough. Time waits for no one.

~Thanks Auntie Aileen for stopping by! Enter the rafflecoptor below for a chance to win The Crimson Crimes and read more about her!


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Crimson Crimes Tour: Giveaway + Guest Post by Patricia K. McCarthy

Hello lovely readers and thanks for stopping by Joie de Lire :)

Today, we've got a guest post from Patricia K. McCarthy, author of The Crimson Crimes, answering the following question:

 How has vampire fiction, or the public's perception of vampires, changed since you began writing the series? 

PKM: Since I started my Crimson series in 2003, vampires have gone mainstream with hugely popular television shows like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries (the first targeted toward adults with frank sexuality; the latter geared for teens with implied sexuality) and of course let’s not exclude Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series (I reviewed the first three movies for True North Perspective magazine). At one time, vampires were considered fringe in that they were deeply rooted in the horror genre with no alternate portrayal other than as ruthless villains. But thanks to romantic young adult fiction, coupled with the International success of the Twilight movies, vampires are now primarily powerful and charismatic romantic leads. But nothing in life, especially fiction remains static and this is a good thing, to my mind. The imagination cannot and should not exist in a vacuum - that would be the death of imagination. It was therefore inevitable for vampires to evolve (or devolve) into something more marketable. I write what I call paranormal vampire erotica which blends horror/thriller with graphic sex, suitable for adults and young adults. The presence of vampire erotica in the fiction world is timely and couldn’t have resulted without the public warming up to erotica in a big way. Look at the success of 50 Shades of Grey (despite the intensely critical reviews). Vampires, after all, are sexuality personified – the perfect predator who makes you feel desired and good about being devoured. Their power, immortality, and animalistic nature give a writer a plethora of plots to pursue, taking your story anywhere you want to go. I have set my Crimson novels in Ottawa, the city I adore, in contemporary times but my one and only vampire is over 900 years old, allowing me the luxury of interweaving an ancient element into my series.

~Thank you, Patricia for writing this lovely guest post, and thank you readers for stopping by! 

Keep scrolling for a chance to win a copy of The Crimson Crimes!!

Title: The Crimson Crimes
Author: Patricia K. McCarthy
Publication date: June 29th, 2012 by PKM Publications

It’s the dead of night in the dead of winter, and bodies have been found, stacked ceiling-high, in a hillside cave in Ottawa’s Strathcona Park; necks pierced, blood drained – the usual. The city is gripped by a dusk-till-dawn curfew. The press, police and public have whipped each other into a glorious panic over someone or something called the “Vampire Undertaker.” Well, when did a silly curfew ever shut down the kitchen party at the Crimson house? Bring beer, bring smokes, but please bring yourself to meet The Vampires (there are at least four of them) and their quirky human pals. We can take turns feeding the baby vampire, stalling the cops when they come knocking, and tripping out on that time-dream machine up in the bedroom. You’ve got to love people who know how to make their own fun! 

Giveaway time!!!
*this is a giveaway sponsored by the author, I'm just providing you with the rafflecoptor to do so, BUT due to the content of this book, I would not recommend it for younger teens*

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