Fan of Mystery by Lorelei Bell

In her teens and adult years, Lorelei Bell has always rooted for Dracula to be the dark romantic hero, but was often disappointed. She went on to write novels to reflect her interest in vampires as the heroes and villains. Her Sabrina Strong Series includes the first two books Vampire Ascending and Vampire's Trill, touted as page-turners by fans of the vampire genre, and also (surprisingly), by those who were not particularly interested in vampires at all.

When not at her day job, Lorelei works on her novels, short stories, etc., inventing new characters, hunky vampires and the worlds in which they dwell. Her writing has been compared to Anne Rice's more gritty novels, but with a humorous twist in the tradition of Charlaine Harris.

Welcome, Lorelei.

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 Fan of Mystery by Lorelei Bell

I've always been a fan of mysteries. As a result, my works always include some sort of mystery. Oh, yes. As a writer of urban fantasy, I think the mystery is a cohesive part of the story as much as anything. It makes it an I-can't-put-it-down read.

In my Sabrina Strong Series, Sabrina is a touch clairvoyant. You'd think that no one could keep a mystery, or a murder from her. But you wouldn't believe how easy it might be. Sabrina can't get a read (second sight), off of vampires or from other magical creatures, such as elves or even her side-kick Rick, who is a leprechaun. And sometimes even when she does, she can't remember too much about it.

My vampires have more on their list of things to do than to drink blood, or try to dominate the world, or to kill all humans—which makes no sense to me whatsoever. Thus they have donors and bottled liquid refreshments.

Sabrina is not simply a “vampire slayer”, nor does she turn into a vampire along the way. Although she is bitten by a werewolf in the beginning, she really doesn't like turning into a were-creature in later books, and does so only when she forgets the potion to stop this transition.

In the first book, Vampire Ascending, Sabrina is hired by Bjorn Tremayne (vampire magnate of Chicago), to learn who killed his life-time mate. She becomes the target of a much larger plot to take over the North American Vampire Association, and the murder of Bjorn's brother and anyone else who gets in the way. Sabrina is quickly immersed in romantic trysts and dangerous situations involving scheming vampires, shift changers, and werewolves. Little does Sabrina know that her whole life is about to change when her best friend is abducted by a vampire and Sabrina is the only one who can find her. Her friend's fate intensifies the search to find the murderer and, consequently, brings her into contact with a rogue vampire, Vasyl—the one who bit her when she was young.

In the second installment, Vampire's Trill, she has been spied on, chased after, and shot at. Vasyl saves her after being shot, and she learns more details - through Vasyl's recounting of his human and vampire life— of what her role as a sibyl means and how the past and the future will come together. She finally learns what role Vasyl has played in his thousand-year search for the sibyl and why she is so important.

As Sabrina's partner, Dante Badheart (shift-changer), puts himself at risk to learn what their enemies are up to, Sabrina learns why newcomer, Bill Gannon (nephilim), is so interested in her, and meanwhile she works to protect Bjorn Tremayne from losing it all. Sabrina's past catches up to her, and she discovers that not everyone is, or was, what she thought.

The third book, Vampire Nocturne—my Steam Punk novel (January 2013 release), Sabrina Strong's cousin, Lindee, has disappeared. During her investigation, she is transported to another world and century, where vampires rule. While trying to find Lindee in this world, Sabrina encounters Drakulya—the real-life Dracula—a.k.a. The Impaler—who has somehow managed to become a vampire living in this strange world, and rules as King. He is mystified by Sabrina's various abilities (like being able to disappear from her imprisonment). Meanwhile his son, Jett, woos her, despite the fact he is to marry Penelope—who is a difficult read for Sabrina, which makes her suspicious. Especially after discovering unusual creatures, called Dreadfuls, who spread sickness and death throughout the village—including Drakulya's own wife who is near death. When it is discovered she can “kill” the Dreadfuls, Sabrina's services become high in demand, and she has to figure out who is the creator of these creatures before it is too late. While solving this mystery she must go up against a blood broker who may be behind another murder of a very popular blood dame. Will she find her cousin in time?

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Anyone who follows my blog regularly knows that vampires...and werewolves...and zombies give me nightmares. The thought of a future world where vampires rule actually sends chills down my spine. I suspect that's exactly what Lorelei likes to do.

I love those authors who write in this genre and always enjoy hearing about their unique ideas, world-building techniques, and the writing life. Some of the nicest, sweetest people have the most vivid, horror-filled ideas. That fascinates me.

You can learn more about Lorelei and her novels at her blog, Lorelei's Muse. She can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.