Wild Roses Blog Tour: Lilly Gayle

Today we're winding up the Wild Roses Blog Tour. Please give a warm welcome to paranormal romance author, Lilly Gayle. Take it away, Lilly... (And readers please remember that commenting to any post on the Wild Roses Blog Tour automatically makes you eligible for our grand prize giveaway. More details here.)

Lilly Gayle is a wife, mother, mammographer, and writer of paranormal and historical romance. Out of the Darkness is her first published novel.

What compelled you to write in your chosen sub-genre? What is your favorite aspect of this type of story?

My first attempt at novel writing was a medical thriller. I thought it would be something along the lines of a Robin Cook book with more romance. It sucked. So, I trashed it, joined RWA and my local writer’s group, and started writing what I loved to read. Historical romances. Then I read Nora Robert’s vampire trilogy and got hooked on paranormals. I started writing Out of the Darkness in 2005. I submitted it to a NY publisher in 2006 and went through three sets of revision letters, two editors, and a line change before it was ultimately rejected. One of my critique partners suggested I submit the manuscript to The Wild Rose Press because they had a much faster response time than most NY publishers. I followed her advice and on mother’s day 2009, after thirteen years of serious writing, I was offered a contract.

How did you come up with the premise of Out of the Darkness?

I read Dean Koontz’s Fear Nothing and Seize the Night and fell in love with his lead character, Christopher Snow, a young man who suffered from xeroderma pigmentosum, a light sensitivity disorder. I’d never heard of XP so I went on the internet and starting doing research. I’d recently read Nora Robert’s vampire triology and was on a paranormal kick at the time and the idea of combing vampires with a real life disease sounded intriguing. So, I started jotting down notes and plot points and a story started to take shape.

What do you like most about this story?

It’s not your typical vampire romance. I came up with a scientific explanation for why vampires exist and my sexy hero, Vincent, is a tortured soul seeking a cure for his dark hunger. And unlike some other vampire romances I’ve read, the heroine, Dr. Megan Harper doesn’t want to become a vampire so she can spend eternity with the hero. She wants to cure him. I’ve thrown in some chilling villains and a mystery just to keep the story interesting.

Tell us about the heroine. How do you think readers will identify most with her?

Megan Harper is a research scientist suffering from survivor’s guilt. She knows she’s just one chromosome away from having the same light sensitivity disorder that killed her sister and she’s desperate to find a cure for xeroderma pigmentosum. So, when Vincent shows up on her doorstep wanting to see her research, she assumes he’s suffering from XP and volunteers to help. Little does she know, but she’s stepped into the dark and unseen world of vampires. But she doesn’t back away from the man she’s coming to love. She vows to find a cure for vampirism as well.

I think readers will identify with her because she’s smart, determined, and she has a big heart. Plus, she’s not some needy, clinging heroine desperate for Vincent to bite her and convert her into some undead creature just so she can be with him.

Tell us about the hero. Is he an alpha or a beta?

Vincent is a dark, brooding alpha hero but he has a vulnerable side as well. He wants to be human again and he wants to seek out and destroy those responsible for the kidnapping and torture of his friend and fellow vampire, Gerard.

What will readers like most about him?

I think readers will appreciate Vincent’s vulnerability and his desperate desire to become human. And I think they will love and respect the fact that he doesn’t want to drag Megan into his dark world.

What kind of research did you have to do for this storyline?

I have a BS degree in applied science in radiologic technology but I had to do a lot of scientific research. I had to research the light sensitivity disease, xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and brush up on my knowledge of DNA. I also had to study laboratory procedures and protocols. It was tedious but kind of interesting at the same time.

How does this book compare with other books on your backlist or that you have written?

Out of the Darkness is my only published novel. And with the exception of a time-travel that needs some serious work, the rest of my books are historical romances. I do have a paranormal WIP dealing with psychics, but it’s in the early stages. And I’m also about half-way through writing the sequel to Out of the Darkness.

Would you like to share reviews for this work?

From Night Owl Reviews: http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nor/Reviews/Silvermage-reviews-Out-Of-The-Darkness-by-Lilly-Gayle.aspx

Out of the Darkness is a Top Pick for me. I just loved the plot and the interaction between Vincent and Megan. The sensual scenes were hot and the ending was done just right. The villains were chilling and Vincent’s history compelling. This was an action packed and exciting read.

And from Siren Books- http://sirenbookreviews.blogspot.com/2010/07/lilly-gayle-out-of-darkness.html

Lilly Gayle takes vampires to a scientific level with the incredible heroine Dr. Megan Harper. You can't help but fall in love with these characters! Plot twists and turns keep the story hopping and the pages turning.

Also from Coffee Time Romance- http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/outofthedarknessbylillygayle.html

Lilly Gayle presents in a detailed, accurate manner a rational paranormal romance. The two main characters in this story jump right off the pages and engage the reader. Who cannot feel for a sexy vampire with a conscience? How can you keep from falling head over heels for this ultimate, sensitive, bad boy? And if that isn't enough to make your heart flip, what about when he admires her gray hairs? Megan is such an easy woman to relate to; she is heartbroken and strong, lonely and independent….. This is a must-read for those who like their paranormals to feel entirely possible.

Now for the fun part of the Q&A! What is your zodiac and what is it telling you today?

I’m an Aries. And yes, I am as stubborn as the sign says. Lol!

Today’s horoscope: Wednesday, Aug 25th, 2010 -- Intensity rises today as the critical Virgo Sun creates a powerful trine with mysterious Pluto, shining the brilliance of awareness into the shadowy depths of our hidden feelings. We are driven by unconscious urges to get to the bottom of what's happening. The dreamy Pisces Moon also motivates us to concentrate on the richness of archetypal symbols. The difference between myth and reality is heightened when the Moon opposes logical Mercury midday.

Odd, that my horoscope mentions myths as we discuss my vampire paranormal. Guess it will be a good day to work on the sequel.

If you could set a story in your real-life setting, what would it be? Heartfelt contemporary, high-flying fantasy, or steamy romantic suspense?

I’m not real keen on doing real life but while I was undergoing treatments for breast cancer in 2007, I did keep a blog. And one of these days, I would like to turn those blogs into a story. And believe me, my husband would be the hero. He was incredibly supportive and loving through my ordeal and I fell in love with him all over again. This past June, we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary.

If you were a mixed drink, what would you be and why?

A Long Island Ice Tea, because I’m emotionally strong and a nice mix of a different personality traits.

What recent read would you recommend?

Virgina Kantra’s Close Up. It’s one of her older books but the last one I read. Virginia is one of my mentors and I love everything she rights. She has a paranormal series that’s on my “must read” list.

What is your favorite smell and what makes it significant?

The sweet smell of a freshly bathed baby. Babies are so sweet and innocent and they have their entire lives ahead of them. Adventure, love, and laughter await!

And last but not least, if you found the Mirror of Erised from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, what would you see in it? (Note: If you aren't an HP junkie like me, the Mirror of Erised is a magical object that is inscribed “I show not your face, but your heart’s desire.” Orphaned Harry sees his parents, his friend Ron sees himself distinguished as Head Boy and Quidditch Captain, and Albus Dumbledore supposedly sees himself with a pair of socks.)

I see myself living at the beach, writing full time from my ocean view deck. I see myself as a multi-published author earning more from my books than I ever earned as a radiologic technologist or mammograhper. That, is my heart’s desire.

Would you like to share an excerpt from Out of the Darkness with readers today?

I’d love to!

He leaned in, his arm snaking around her waist, pulling her closer. Her muscles strained,
but she didn’t resist as he drew her in and slowly lowered his head.

“And would you have put me in your sister’s bed?” He raised a finger to trace the outline of her mouth.

She trembled, her breath escaping her parted lips in a breathy sigh. Warm air brushed his fingertips, stirring his senses. Heating his blood.

“I don’t know.” Her breasts rose and fell with each shuddering breath she took, her soft curves
brushing the hard wall of his chest.

She pulled her plump bottom lip between her teeth and looked up with pleading eyes. Eyes that
begged him to make the decision for her.

Blood rushed to his groin, awakening an insatiable hunger, but not for blood. For the taste
of her lips. Just one taste. A taste that would haunt him in his dreams as the last one had. He groaned.

And lowered his mouth to hers.

Her lips parted, and God help him, she responded just as she had that first time. She melted against him, pulling his head closer, taking his tongue deep inside until he was hot and straining against her.

She tasted so damn good. A heady mix of wine and woman. Mortal woman.

Warm blooded, mortal woman.

You can learn more about my book at: http://www.lillygayle.com/ I also blog at http://www.lillygayleromance.com/. Out of the Darkness is available in both print and e-book format The Wild Rose Press, Digi Book Cafe, and Kindle:

Her research could cure his dark hunger if a covert government agent doesn’t get to her first.

Vincent Maxwell is a vampire with a conscience searching for a cure to his dark hunger. But when a scientist looking to create vampire soldiers captures and kills a fellow vampire, Vincent seeks out Dr. Megan Harper. While researching xeroderm pigmentosum, a light sensitivity disorder, Dr.Harper discovered a link to vampirism and she could hold a key to a cure and the answers to Gerard’s death. But getting close to the beautiful scientist could endanger both their lives.

When researcher Dr. Megan Harper meets Vincent Maxwell, she believes he suffers from xeroderma pigmentosum, the genetic disease that killed her sister. Sensing a deep loneliness within the handsome man, Megan offers friendship and access to her research files hoping he will offer her a position in his company. But they soon become more than friends and Megan learns the horrifying truth. She's entered the dark and unseen world of vampires and Vincent is her only hope of survival.