UFI welcomes Sarah Beth Durst Author of Drink, Slay, Love. Thanks for Joining us!!
What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?
You might have noticed from my author photo that I have curly hair. But what you might not know is that my hair is water resistant. When dunked under water, the curls do not straighten, and when out in a rainstorm, water does not penetrate to my scalp for several minutes.
In other words, I am part duck.
What do you enjoy doing on your down time?
I love spending time with my family. Preferably while eating something yummy like chicken massaman curry or freshly picked raspberries or pizza or... *heads to kitchen*
What is your Favorite part of writing?
My favorite part of writing is how it feels when the writing is flowing. The outside world fades away, and you can't tell whether the words are guiding the movie in your head or whether the movie is guiding the words.
Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?
I used to think I needed a routine: I'd write at a certain time in a certain place with certain music... Now, I know that all I need is my laptop, two free hands, and a few minutes. Chocolate does help, though.
One secret to writing that no one ever told me is that it does get easier. Okay, certain parts of it don't, but over time, you do figure out your own writing process and learn what works best for you.
What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?
I ADORE urban fantasy / paranormal books and have adored them ever since I read my very first Charles de Lint short story.
Recently, I read and loved The Daughter of Smoke and Bones by Laini Taylor, Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews, Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready, Grave Dance by Kalayna Price, Bloodshot by Cherie Priest, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris.
How would you pitch Drink, Slay, Love to someone who has not heard of it before?
Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire, fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a were-unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn.
Can you tell us a little bit about the world that Drink, Slay, Love is set in?
Drink, Slay, Love is set in Connecticut. With vampires. And unicorns that hunt them.
Do you have a favorite scene in Drink, Slay, Love?
Behind her, she heard two voices.
"Dude, you ask her."
"Nuh-uh, you ask."
"Rock paper scissors?"
"You cheat, man," Matt said.
"How is it possible to cheat at rock paper scissors?" Zeke asked.
"You game the system," Matt said.
"It's not my fault you always choose rock."
"My manly strength will not allow me to choose a less unyielding material," Matt said. "I have
rocks for muscles. You fear my strength."
"Whatever," Zeke said. "You never choose scissors."
"Sometimes I choose paper," Matt said. "You can't predict me. I'm cagey."
"You always choose rock or paper," Zeke said. "So long as I always choose paper, I can't lose."
"See, I knew you gamed the system."
Pearl did not turn around.
"On the count of three?" Zeke asked. Together, they said, "One. Two. Three." There was a
brief pause. "You should have chosen scissors."
"That would have been too obvious," Matt said. "You just said I never choose scissors so you
had to know I would choose scissors so I couldn't choose scissors because you'd know it. Hence,
the rock."
"Hence the paper, covering your rock. You ask her."
"Well played, my friend," Matt said. "Well played."
Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?
I loved writing Pearl. She's fearless, funny, and (mostly) evil. To write her, I pretty much would just say to myself, "Okay, what would I NEVER do or say in this situation?" From start to finish, this novel was so much fun to write. It was the best writing experience I have ever had.
What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?
I am currently working on a YA standalone fantasy called VESSEL. It will be out in fall 2012 from Simon & Schuster.
Thanks so much for interviewing me!
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Find Sarah and her books
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Drink, Slay, Love
September 13, 2011 Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.
Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees.
The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?
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Hellbent
