Why did you decide to write a vampire series?
I love the Celtic culture and Celtic mythology. So when I read that another name for the Baobhan sith was Dancing Vampires, I jumped at the chance to introduce traditional vampire fans to the Celtic version. I include other Celtic mythology and lore as well, especially several gods and goddesses. The war and fertility goddess Morrigan is a strong secondary character throughout the series.
Do you prefer vampires as magical creatures or as a different species?
For me, magical creatures, because my dancing vampires are really dark fey. They are Baobhan sith (ba vawn shee) from Scottish folklore. They target handsome men on the road at night and dance with them until the men grow exhausted. The vampiric temptresses transform their long nails into talons and rake them across the men’s backs. Clawing at their victim’s skin, draining their blood, then drinking it. But in my Dancing Vampire series, instead of attacking men, the seven sisters fall in love with the men they go after.
What makes your vampire different than most traditional vampires?
They are vampiric fey. They aren’t undead or sleep in coffins. They live in the fairy realm, under hill. They cross the portal between worlds through a cairn to roam the Scottish highlands. They can’t be killed with a steak through the heart. The way you get rid of them is you pile the stones back on the cairn so they can’t come through to earth.
All of them are women, no men. They are voluptuous and enticing beauties always garbed in green dresses. Also, they have talons, no fangs.
What’s one trait of a traditional vampire that you wanted your character to have?
I wanted them to drink blood so the baobhan sith worked out perfectly as that is one of their traits. They also burn if they get caught in earth’s sunlight. Other than that there are many differences between them and traditional vampires. That makes them unique and more interesting.
Would you tell us about your latest vampire story?
The series is completed and there are six books in it, all novellas. The last one, Some Vampires Shimmy, takes place at a Steampunk Con in Glasgow Scotland and it involves some shibari between a baboon sith, steampunk belly dancer, Afric, and a hot steampunk rock guitarist, Kade.
Here are the blurbs for the six books:
Dance of the Vampires—1st in the Dancing Vampire series — Free
Ian is bewitched by the wild delights Sorcha offers and she can’t resist the urges he stirs in her. But her wicked sisters and his highland brothers only want to attack and kill each other. Will Sorcha and Ian’s sizzling passion prove strong enough to overcome the differences between human and fey?
Vampire Highland Fling —2nd in the Dancing Vampires series
Murdina a vampiric fey is hunting for a man, but this time she wants love not blood. She spots Cameron just as a strong wind lifts his kilt, she takes a good look and decides he’s the one. Cameron meets a mysterious beauty, who dances the Highland fling for him, and his blood boils for her. Soon Murdina and Cameron are doing more than dancing. But their time together is limited. Is their love strong enough to overcome the threat posed to Murdina’s heart and to Cameron’s life? http://tinyurl.com/ndzll63
A Bonnie Vampire Dancer—3rd in the Dancing Vampire series
Calin has fantasized about the vampiric fey, Ever, since they danced a year ago. When they meet again he waste no time in claiming and capturing her. Once the sun rises, Ever can’t leave the earthly realm and is bound by fey lore to Calin. Though he has saved her from the sun, things get pretty hot in his arms. But she made a vow to her sisters to not leave them for a mortal man. She fights her feelings for Calin and seeks help from goddess Morrigan. http://tinyurl.com/qylmvco
One Dance With A Vampire—4th in the Dancing Vampire series
Angus, comes upon the alluring fey woman again and despite the danger, he has to have one dance with her. From different worlds, fey and human, her sisters and his brothers threaten at every turn to keep them apart. Tearlag and Angus fight for a future for their forbidden love. http://tinyurl.com/nl864lm
Valkyrie Vampire Ball—5th in the Dancing Vampire series
When Mordak spots Tor, she burns for his touch but before she can steal a kiss, three Valkyrie land in front of him. When Mordak fights the Valkyrie and saves his life, he knows she’s the woman for him. But can he win Mordak’s love even though he’s only human? http://tinyurl.com/pdp8k77
Some Vampires Shimmy—6th in the Dancing Vampire series
The last of the dancing vampire sisters, shimmy and strut their way into belly dancing at a Scottish Steamapunk Con. It’s all sizzle and steam when they get together with a sexy rock guitarist and a hot looking god at the con. Afric swore she’d never love a human but Kade’s got her tied up in Celtic knots with the exotic pleasures of his shibari rope. http://tinyurl.com/obdtvhc
About the Author
Cornelia Amiri, who also writes under the name of Maeve Alpin, is the author of 28 Celtic and Steampunk romance books. She lives in Houston Texas as does her son and granddaughter and her cat, Severus. Severus is a writer’s cat, he loves books. He likes to knock them off the bookshelf, sit on them, and sniff the open pages. He also uses the computer, he sits on it, lays on top of it, and walks across the key board almost constantly. http://CelticRomanceQueen.com https://www.facebook.com/CelticRomanceQueen, Twitter: @CorneliaAmiri & Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/corneliaamiri/
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