GERRY BARTLETT IN THE HOUSE!

MEOW!  Today my guest is Gerry Bartlett, the bestselling author of the REAL VAMPIRES series!

Here’s a bit about her:

Gerry Bartlett is the nationally bestselling author of the REAL VAMPIRES series about a vampire who was bloating the day she was turned in 1604. Gerry was previously published in historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense as Lynn McKay. This former teacher lives south of Houston, not far from Galveston, Texas, where she has an antique business and enjoys treasure hunting for it when she’s not busy writing the next Glory adventure. Would she like to be a vampire? No way. Give up Mexican food? Not happening. You can check out Gerry’s website and blog at gerrybartlett.com, friend her on Facebook or follow her on twitter.

And now…Gerry in my hotseat!

R:  Meow, hello Gerry and welcome

G:  Thank you, Rocco.

R:  Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became interested in writing.

G: I have always been an avid reader. One day I decided that I had my own stories to tell and tried my hand at writing one. It was a romantic suspense. It took me a few years to find the right story and publisher and to discover Romance Writers of America, but eventually I got published.

R:  The “Real Vampire” concept is so original. What inspired it?

G: My critique partner Nina Bangs dared me to try a vampire story. Another friend suggested that I give her generous curves. Making Glory “every woman with fangs” was my idea. I figure if vampires are really out there, they would be hiding in plain sight, blending with humans. I enjoy writing comedy and it all just clicked when I began writing first person.

R:   Is there a bit of you in your main character, Glory St. Clair?  Who or what inspired her?

G:  Yes, I think I can relate to Glory because she has issues with her less than perfect figure and isn’t rich like a lot of vampires we read about. She’s a working girl who has to make her own way in the world. She’s like you and me, but with a liquid diet. Of course she misses food. Who wouldn’t?

R: Tell us about your upcoming release, REAL VAMPIRES KNOW HIPS HAPPEN.  

G: At the end of REAL VAMPIRES HATE SKINNY JEANS, book 8, Glory’s main guy, Jeremy Blade, headed home to Scotland, upset because she’d had an affair with her former bodyguard. Glory decides to follow him to his ancestral castle so a lot of the story happens there. She meets her mother for the first time. You haven’t met an interfering mom until you meet Glory’s. She really doesn’t want Glory to be with a vampire. I have a lot of fun with this one.

R: What made you choose a vampire over another supernatural character like a werewolf or a warlock?

G:  I have always thought that night creatures, especially vampires, are more sensual. And male vampires just seem to do it for me, ever since Anne Rice did Interview with a Vampire.

R: Are you a fan of vampire shows?  If so what is your favorite tv show? Movie?

G:  I watched True Blood until it got so graphic. I have it DVRed and will probably catch up. Love the BBC version of Being Human. I had to go see Johnny Depp in Dark Shadows. What a hoot. I’m really not into violence. I can write it, but don’t want to see it.

R:  Do you have an “how I got my agent” story you’d like to share?  How did you feel when you got the call your first novel had sold?

G: I tried to get an agent for years. It was the Glory proposal that finally did it. She was my dream agent and sold the series in three weeks. I actually sold my first novel when I was out of the country when my husband was working overseas and I’d gone to visit him. I got back and found out an editor had called me. Wow! I was over the moon.

R: You’re a Scorpio, like Glory. Do you feel that you are true to your sign?

G: Yes, I’m a very sensual person which is frustrating since I’m a widow now. I made Glory a Scorpio too so I’d understand her. We can be pretty bossy and secretive too. That’s me.

R: What’s a must have for you when you are writing? What aids the creative process?

G:  I’ve got to have Diet Dr. Pepper or Diet Coke. Caffiene is my fuel. I also need to get out occasionally and lunch with friends. I don’t hold myself prisoner until a book is finished. I have to fill the well with good gossip and good food.

R: If you had access to a time machine, which historical moment would you travel to and why?

G:  I’d go back to the sixties. I totally wasted them being a good girl. I’d do some of the dangerous things my brother did—backpack through Europe, sleep around. Oops, did I just say that?

R:  If a movie were to be made of one of your books, which one would you want it to be and who would you pick for the lead roles?

G:  We are doing a fantasy movie setup on my Real Vampires Fan Group on Facebook right now. Friends there are voting on the leads. I had my own ideas when writing the books. I’d start with Real Vampires Have Curves, of course, then jump to Don’t Diet because that’s a great book with rock star Israel Caine. I’m totally into him. Anyway, I always saw Scarlet Johanssen as Glory and maybe Hugh Jackman as Blade but they’re getting older so it would have to be someone else. I’d love to have a movie deal. It’s an author’s dream. That or TV. I see this series on USA—Characters welcome, especially Glory.

R: What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to know about you?

G:  I really tell my readers way too much on Facebook. I don’t think there is much that would surprise them. I even shared a picture of my messy office on there. I’m disorganized, for one thing. It’s a miracle my Street Team gets their stuff on time.

R: What is the craziest thing you've ever done?

G:  I try to avoid crazy.  (R: Don’t we all, heh heh)

And now, a little thing Big Rock calls, “Just for Fun”

R:  Your Favorite –

Movie—Snow White and the Huntsman but any of these can change as I see something new!

TV Show-Lost Girl

Novel-Divergent

Actor-Matt Bomer

Drink-Diet Dr. Pepper

Mountain or Seashore? Seashore

Night or Day- Night

Vampire or Vixen-- Vampire
Cat or Dog? Dog (sorry, Rocco, my dog Jet made me write that)

Martini or Manhattan? Manhatten

R: What do you hope readers will most take away from your writing?

G: A smile

Folks, to keep up with everything Gerry’s doing, check out Gerry’s website and blog at www.gerrybartlett.com, friend her on Facebook or follow her on twitter

Now for the giveaway!

Gerry will give one lucky reader their choice of the first book in the series, REAL VAMPIRES HAVE CURVES or the latest available, REAL VAMPIRES HATE SKINNY JEANS.  Just leave a comment below with your email address (comments without email addresses will be disqualified, sorry L)  For extra entries you can:

Friend moi or the Human, Toni LoTempio, on Facebook

Follow me on twitter @RoccoBlogger

Follow Gerry on twitter

Friend Gerry on Facebook

Tweet, FB or blog about this interview and contest (gets you 3 extra entries).

The contest is open to US residents only and closes midnight, September 3 – winner announced September 4!

Get crackin’!

And in September – Rebecca Hale, Dakota Cassidy, Angie Fox and Penny Warner – all right here!

The winner of our Carole Nelson Douglas giveaway: Tonette! Congrats!

Have a happy and safe Labor Day!

ROCCO

Incredible Blogging Cat