I am happy to have Chloe Neill here today, Friday Night Bites the second book in her Chicagoland Vampires Series, was released October 6th. Thank for stopping by Chloe!

Pixie: Can you tell us about Friday Night Bites?

Chloe: Absolutely. Friday Night Bites is the second book in my Chicagoland Vampires series. It picks up about two weeks after Some Girls Bite leaves off, and offers up the next chapter in Merit’s continuing adjustment to her new vampiric life.

Merit moves into Cadogan House, and also learns that a former boyfriend-turned-reporter is now threatening to reveal some unsavory aspects of vampire life.

Pixie: Where did the idea for Merit come from? Is she based on someone real?

Chloe: Merit is a figment of my imagination, although I think she shares my sarcasm. I knew I wanted to write about a strong heroine who was also a vampire, because when I started writing there weren’t many vampire heroines out there. (And still aren’t, I think, at least compared to the percentage of male vampires). She started off with a more musical bent (a band, instead of grad school), but when I figured out who Ethan was going to be, he helped me build the foil of Merit’s character.

Pixie: What’s next in the Morgan/Merit/Ethan love drama? Can I have Morgan if Merit doesn’t want him? (ha)

Chloe: Oh, I can’t touch that first question, or the second one. You’ll have to keep reading.

Pixie: Whoo Hoo there’s still hope for ME!! (ha ha)

Pixie: Was Friday Night Bites easier to write than Some Girls Bite?

Chloe: Interesting question. Each book, I think, has it’s equally tough and easy parts. I’d consider it more of a scene-by- scene issue. There were some parts of FNB that took a little more tweaking than others, and some scenes that flowed pretty quickly.

Pixie: Will we get to learn more about Ethan’s background? Morgan’s?

Chloe: Yes. We’ll learn more about Ethan’s background in Twice Bitten, Book Three, which will be released in July, 2010. We got a sample of Morgan’s background in Some Girls Bite, but we’ll learn a little more about how he ticks in Twice Bitten, as well. Just as he’s still figuring himself out, we’ll all have to wait a bit for his character to become a bit clearer.

Pixie: Why did you chose to write not just about Vampires, but a lot of different sups? Does that make it harder as a writer?

Chloe: Actually, it makes it easier. It’s easier, I think, to build interest when you have lots of interesting folks to write about.

It probably also helps keep the story more interesting for the reader–especially when vampires are so rules-and- regulations focused.

Pixie: How do you research paranormals for your books?

Chloe: I do a lot of Internet and bookstore surfing, trying to look into the mythology of vampires and other creatures on an international scale. It’s fascinating to me that so many cultures have a vampire-esque myth. I suppose the fear that a creature could steal your life’s essence is a very universal, elemental one.

Pixie: When not writing, what are you reading?

Chloe: I’m currently reading Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose, and I just finished Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. LOVE me some Jamie Fraser.

Pixie: Quick, name us music you write too?

Chloe: Right now, no music. Just lots and lots of Discovery Channel and NCIS. (I don’t know why; it just works.) Although, when I finished the last two scenes of TWICE BITTEN, I was listening to “Alone” from the GLEE soundtrack over and over and over again for about four hours.

Pixie: Can you give us some hints as to what happens in the third Chicagoland Vampire book, Twice Bitten? A hint aboutwhos sending those mysterious letters to Merit?

Chloe: Um, can I just say that you’ll figure out both in July 2010? How about this–Twice Bitten will introduce readers to the Packs and internal shifter dynamics, and we’ll meet a lot of new characters (some vamps, some shifters), as well.

Pixie: Can you tell us a little about your Young Adult Series, Firespell?

Chloe: Sure thing. FIRESPELL is the first in my Dark Elite series, and tells the story of 16 year-old Lily Parker’s first couple of weeks as the newest student at Chicago’s St. Sophia’s School for Girls. After informing her that they were leaving the country under somewhat weird circumstances, Lily’s parents have sent her from her home in upstate New York to a boarding school in Chicago, where she discovers that things really do go bump in the night. 

Pixie: If you could be any Supernatural, what would you be and why?

Chloe: I like being human, but being able to fly would be pretty sweet. 

Pixie: I loved that a portion of your proceeds are going towards the Greater Chicago Food Depository, can you tell us about the charity and why you chose them?

Chloe: Thanks!! A couple of scenes in Friday Night Bites take place at social fundraisers for Chicago charities, including one for a Chicago area food bank. Since I built the foundation of the book on these charitable events–and what Merit learns while she attends them–I thought it only fair that I give something back.

Pixie: Finally, what question in your vast blog tour have you not been asked, that you wish you had been?

Chloe: This is another one I can’t answer. I think I’ve mentioned before that there’s one event in Some Girls Bite that folks have discussed in my Yahoo Group, but no one has asked me about outright. It’s going to be very, very interesting when it’s time to discuss.

Well, I think that’s it for me. Thanks for having me today, and thanks for reading!

Pixie: Thank you for stopping by Chloe & now I must go re-read Some Girls Bite and see what I overlooked!

Chloe has offered up some goodies! A signed copy of Friday Night Bites along with a Firespell Bookmark & a Chicagoland Vampire’s Pen. In my comments, answer the following question…

If you could belong to any of the Vampire Houses (Cadogan, Grey, Navarre) which one would you choose & why? Or What do you like about Vampires?

Contest Rules: One entry per person and open to USA/Canada/UK, winner will be chosen on Monday October 26, 2009 using Random.Org. Please be sure to leave a contact email address so I can get back to you.