Interview and Giveaway with Gabrielle Bisset

United By Books is pleased to have Gabrielle Bisset on the blog today so we can learn more about her amazing books........

 1 ~ Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

Hi and thanks for having me here today! I’m GabrielleBisset, a paranormal romance author. When I’m not writing about deliciously sexy vampire heroes, I’m a homeschooling mom and college history teacher. My first book, Stolen Destiny, was published last June by Siren publishing, and since then I’ve released the three novellas of the Victorian Erotic Romance Trilogy—Vampire Dreams, Love’s Master, and Masquerade—in addition to a follow up to Stolen Destiny entitled Destiny Redeemed. Last December, I began the Sons of Navarus series with Blood Avenged and followed it up with Blood Betrayed in May and a prequel to the series, Vampire Dreams Revamped.

2 ~  Please tell us a little about your newest release ?

Blood Spirit is Book #3 in the Sons of Navarus series and it’s Terek’s story. Made a vampire in the mid-1300s when he was a monk, Terek is the most mystical and spiritual of all the Sons in addition to being the only one blessed with the power of telepathy. He’s a sire to thousands of vampires, mostly females, and to some in the vampire world he’s almost a god. But even gods have their downfall. His newest vampire is a female named Ilona, but unlike his others, she isn’t content to be one of many. Worse, Terek’s power doesn’t work on her, so he has to do things the old-fashioned way: he has to listen to his heart.  And while he has to deal with this, he and the other Sons have to find a way to decipher the Prophecy of Idolas and figure out how to stop the Archons from taking over the vampire world.

3~  Would you like to share an excerpt with us today?

Sure! This is an excerpt from early in the book. Ilona is having a hard time dealing with the changes that come from being Terek's vampire, and Terek is learning that everything he thought he knew has been upended because of her.

Tracing the outline of her jaw, he watched the face of this angel and hated having to wake her. But if she didn't take his blood, he'd lose her for certain and for the first time since he'd turned her, he knew he couldn't bear to think of his world without her.

"Ilona," he whispered near her cheek. "Wake. I'm here."

Slowly her eyelids fluttered open and eyes vacant and lost stared back at him. "Terek?"

Her gaze cut like a knife to his heart. She was nearly gone already, her soul slipping into that void between the vampire and human worlds.

"Look into my eyes, Ilona. Look! I need you to stay with me."

Her eyelids drooped as she began to lose consciousness. Terror raced through his body. There was no more time to wait. Fear of losing her controlled his every move, and his fangs exploded into his mouth. In seconds, he'd pierced his wrist and the blood began to seep from his vein.

Pressing it to her pale lips, he waited in desperation for her to take his blood into her mouth. The blood pooled on her lips, but she made no effort to take it.

"Ilona! Listen to your sire. Drink. Now!" he commanded.

Her eyes opened and turning her head, she whispered, "No. Let me go."

More roughly than he should have, he grabbed her face in his hand and forced her to look at him. "No, I will not lose you! Drink!"

Her voice began to fade and faintly she answered, "Please. I can't live like this."

Terek bent over her and placed a kiss on her lips. The fear that he'd lost her already pressed on his heart and even though he didn't understand why, he was sure when she left him she'd take a piece of his soul with her.

He whispered against her lips one last plea. "Do not take her from me. God, leave her with one who can care for her. I beg of you. Do not take her."

"Why do you want me to live when I don't?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Because there is something special in you as there is in all creatures."

A tiny sigh escaped from between her lips. "You made me this and left me."

Cradling her face in his hands, he said, "I'm sorry. Don't do this. Don't leave me."

"I can't be one of these women. I don't understand this."

Terek kissed her tenderly. "Then don't be. Stay anyway."

Anguish filled her voice. "I woke and I was so hungry. But I don't want food. I hungered for you, but you were gone."

"Take from me everything you hunger for. Take from the one who knows what you need."

Pressing his wrist to her mouth, he fed her soul with his blood. Timid, she stared up at him in fear, but soon her hands held his arm to her lips and she eagerly took what he offered.

Her need for him—for his blood—touched his heart, and a closeness unlike anything he'd experienced in ages came over him. Something about Ilona made him feel like he hadn't felt in almost seven hundred years.

He wanted to save her, to show her the wonders the world offered. If she would allow him, he'd give her that world.

Ilona opened her eyes, and Terek saw that his blood had begun to bring her back from the empty abyss he'd feared and she'd begged for. A tiny smile formed on her lips, making him happy.

4~ What's in store next for your readers?

This month, I’m beginning a series of free shorts at my website related to the Sons of Navarus series. First up is a short story about the god of the Underworld, Hades, who’s set to make his debut in the Sons series soon. Readers can also look forward to shorts about Vasilije, Thane, and the early days of Saint and Solenne. I’m also considering some non-romantic shorts about the other Sons to give readers more about them, sort of like extra scenes from the books. And Book #4 in the series, Blood Prophecy, is in the draft stage now, so readers should be seeing it early 2013.

5~ What's the weirdest thing you've ever done in the name of research?

I don't know if it's weird, but I traveled to New Orleans to do research for Blood Avenged. I had a great time with that, and I'm planning to travel to Greece in the next year or so to do research for the final book in the Sons series.

6~ How many pickled peppers do you think Peter Piper picked?

Seven.

7~ What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I'm quite silly sometimes. I'm often seen as very serious, especially by my students, but anyone who really knows me knows that I'm a laugh-out-loud kind of woman.

8~ What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to relax with friends, good food, and some good drinks. Watching movies is also a lot of fun too.

9~ Describe yourself in three words?

Passionate, driven, romantic

10~ What are three major dreams or goals you would love to happen in the future ?

I would love to be able to leave my day job and be a full-time writer. I would love for the Sons of Navarus series to become big. I would love to be able to move to a warmer place.

11~ How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?

I was at work in office hours and called all my friends and family to share the news. Then, of course, there was a celebration involving food. J

12~ Is there anything special you would like to say to your readers while we have you here today?

I love to hear from readers. They can find me at my website, my blog, Facebook, the Sons of Navarus Facebook page (where I give info on upcoming books and stories in addition to running giveaways) and Twitter. Or they can always email me at gabriellebisset@gmail.com

Thanks so much for having me here today! It was a blast!

********* GIVEAWAY *********

Gabrielle has generously offered up a  Navarus SWAG Pack  ( US/Canada ONLY ) to one lucky commenter. Just fill out the rafflecopter below to be entered.

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