OBS has had the pleasure of getting an exclusive interview with Sue Dent. Sue has written two fictional novels ’Never Ceese and it’s sequel ‘Forever Richard’ that bring new light to the genre of vampires and werewolves. Here is a little bit of background on Sue, from her personal blog site. “Forever Richard is the sequel to her first book Never Ceese, short-listed in 2007 for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. Sue was an invited guest of Nicholas Grabowsky to the World Horror Convention in Toronto, Canada in 2007 as well. Never Ceese went to Comic-Con in San Diego with award winning graphic novelist Bob Luedke of Head Press Publishing. Sue writes for the general market but has garnished many readers from the audience that bigger Christian publishers appeal to. Of her writing, which continues to cross these two boundaries, Sue says, “Well, somebody was bound to do it. Might as well be me.”

OBS: How did you get into writing?
SD:“I’m creative by nature. I expressed this with art initially and thought I might move into an art related field. Deciding that there was no money in art, I gave up that dream. As Capn’ Barbosa would say of binding up Calypso in POTC3 [Pirates of the Caribbean], “That was a mistake.” But to scratch my creative itch, I began writing stories that would come to me . . . as they came to me. I had a friend who encouraged me along and eagerly awaited whatever I could come up with. I can’t say thank-you to her enough. She saw something in what I wrote and so I saw something too. Thank-you Teresa. ”

OBS: Who are your literary influences?
SD:“I really would have to say John Grisham but he would be more of an inspiration I guess. Movies and television influence me more than anything. Go figure.”

OBS: What are you reading right now?
SD:Actually, I enjoy writing more than reading. I am going through The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns & Fairies by the Gaelic “fairy minister” Robert Kirk. It’s research for the next book in my Thirsting for Blood Series. Hmm. . . faeries and vampires and werewolves.

OBS: What is your favorite book of all time? and why?
SD:Believe it or not, False Colours by Georgette Heyer. Remember that friend Teresa who encouraged me early on. Well she and I share reading interests. She raved about this book and put it in my hands to read. I just looked at her funny but I did read it. Oh my gosh! Georgette Heyer is a masterful writer. IMO The story is of two identical twin brothers whose father was royalty. They spend the book switching places etc . . to get one or the other out of scrapes. That’s really not a fair description but you really should read it. I just love the way Georgette Heyer writes. You absolutely love and hate the characters.

OBS: With the current popularity of books such as Twilight and Vampire Diaries, how do you feel your books stand out?
SD: “If my books stand out to anyone it’s because of the story. It’s just a good story that has the added bonus of featuring a werewolf and a vampire as the lead characters. ”

OBS:Your books have a very spiritual theme, particularly faith. Is that related your own personal faith?
SD: “I’ll put it this way, I write what I know. A person’s faith is usually a big part of who they are. I considered this when I wrote. What are the odds that someone cursed as a vampire wouldn’t have, at one time in their lives, been impacted by religious views from one sector or another? The same odds that they wouldn’t be. Why then do so many authors never delve into the spiritual lives of their characters? I don’t know but I don’t plan to ignore it. My books are only spiritual in that I won’t hesitate to explore what makes that character who they are.”

OBS: How did you come up with the idea to put a cursed vampire and werewolf in the same family?
SD: “The story came to me as I wrote as did the idea. Initially, the vampire and werewolf weren’t related at all. I just toyed around with what I thought might make a good story.”

OBS: What other media do you use to help inspire you while writing (Music, Art, Movies, etc.)? Anything specific?
SD: “I really love a good movie, book and television. Music too. Yet I don’t need to be inspired. Writing is simply a part of who I am.

OBS: How do you develop your characters’ individual personalities? Are they inspired by anyone you know or do they have a little bit of you in them?
SD: “My characters are inspired by everything I know and many of them have a bit of me in them I suppose and a little bit of everyone else too.”

OBS: Are you working on anything not related to vampires/werewolves? If so, can you tell us more?
SD:“Indeed! I do love the speculative genre though. One MS [manuscript] I started years ago involves an electrical entity and I’ve also a nearly complete MS on a modern day western (rodeo) type story that involves intervention from “beyond the grave.” LOL Oh and if any of you larger publishers want to take a chance with these two MS’s you can contact me. I could really use the promotional help only big houses can provide.”

OBS: Are you working on anything else in the Thirsting for Blood series? Are you able to tell us more about it?
SD:“The third installment Cyn No More will be out late 2010, early 2011 or late 2011. It’s really difficult for me to say. I’m under no real deadline and since I’m published through a small house, have to work extra hard on promoting which cuts in to writing time. If anyone wants to see the third installment sooner, I suggest they recommend my books to others. ”

OBS: What is your favorite vampire book made into a series or movie and why?
SD:“*chanting* Buffy, Buffy, Buffy! I absolutely loved the first few seasons and of course Spike and Drucilla. And if the old daytime drama, Dark Shadows is in fact being made into a movie (with Johnny Depp as Barnabus Collins) then that one will probably become my favorite.”

OBS: What is one thing you’d like your fans to know about you and your books?
SD: “I would like my fans to know that I appreciate them giving a small press author a chance. It’s absolutely the most hostile environment you can imagine right now in the publishing world. One had to have a thick skin to make it past go and a thicker one to keep going. Y’all will be the ones to make the difference. I’ve done all I can do.”

‘Never Ceese’ is OBS’ Book Club for the month of October, and as a special treat, Sue has become a member of our forum. She participates in the discussion questions, character breakdowns, and even asks a few questions herself! It’s not too late to join the book club and get it on the fun, read more HERE

View Sue Dent’s official blog HERE
Also check back here at OBS tomorrow Sunday the 11th, I will be posting Sue Dent’s ‘Author Profile’

A special thank you to Sue Dent, for allowing OBS to cover her novel for our book club, and giving us this interview!