Spotlight on: Meet Blackthorn’s Most Wanted by Lindsay J. Pryor

Please help me welcome Lindsay Prior, author of Blood Shadows!

Huge thanks to GraveTells for inviting me to visit today and for being willing to feature my debut novel, Blood Shadows, the first in the Blackthorn paranormal romance series.

When the suggestion was put forward that I interview the anti-hero of the story – the extremely bad vampire, Kane Malloy – I thought that rather than me ask the questions, I’d open up the opportunity to some of his avid fans. So here we go…

What’s your full name?

Kane James Malloy.

You’re a master vampire – you’ve killed men and lived for centuries, but have you ever been truly afraid?

Like you said, I’ve lived for centuries – I’ve felt every emotion there is to experience. Have I ever been truly afraid? Once, yes. A long time ago. Am I going to elaborate? This is Blackthorn. You don’t disclose anything in Blackthorn that someone can use against you.

How well-deserved is your status as the VCU’s most wanted?

I’m still not meeting their standards then? That breaks my heart. You’d think after 40 years they’d take the hint. But if those so-called law enforcement bad boys are still getting off on gazing at my picture every morning, let them. They can make personal copies and stick them on their bedroom ceilings for all I care.

Whose company do you prefer – vampires, humans, or lycans?

I have associates in each. I make my choices based on who they are not what they are.

Could you ever envisage vampires surviving on synthetic blood?

Could you ever envisage humans surviving solely on a regimented issue of daily vitamin pills? You’re not made that way and neither are we. Your authorities know the misconception that we kill to feed is propaganda. Only inept or over-stimulated vampires feed humans to death. We take nothing more than what you’d happily donate at your local blood bank. The tip is, don’t fight back and don’t struggle and nine times out of ten, you’ll walk away. Incite us or excite us and you’re guaranteed to lose. And we sure as hell don’t turn you as your religious leaders would like you to believe, anymore than drinking cow’s blood would have you grow hooves and chew the cud.

Ok, Kane, I have a couple of questions for you. Firstly, I’m really intrigued… How old are you? I know many things mature with time and I’ve heard you’re pretty *ahem* experienced in many walks of life.

Age is such a human preoccupation, but as you asked so nicely, I’m a little over 400. So yes, you could say I’m somewhat ‘experienced’, though that’s a pleasant way to put it considering some of my practices. Rest assured, I know how to handle myself so if we ever meet you’ll be in safe hands. Or maybe not. Whichever you’d prefer.

Secondly, I’ve heard the rumours that you’re a bit of a hit with the ladies… What about you? Could you describe your ideal partner?

It comes down to chemistry. Nothing else matters. I have no preconceptions other than I prefer a female who makes me think. And if she’s able and willing to test a few boundaries, that adds a little interest too.

Well hellooo there, Kane. Okay, so you walk in a bar and you’re desperate for blood (yes, I’m the one in the Team Blackthorn T-shirt waving madly at you) what chat up line would you use on me to get what you want? And what chat up line could I use that would work on you?

Nice T-shirt. Clearly you don’t do subtle, but I can work with that. I don’t use chat up lines. If we make eye contact and there’s a spark between us, words are extraneous. I leave the bar and you either follow or you don’t. And if you do, I’ll know soon enough if we’re compatible or not. So will you. And just to make it clear – I’m never desperate for anything.

Do you have a brother?

I had a sister. Now it’s just me.

Kane, Blackthorn is a dark and scary place. Who or what scares you – and does it involve the prophecy?

I don’t discuss the prophecy with humans. But if you think Blackthorn is dark and scary now, you’ve seen nothing yet.

There’s only one thing any vampire would be stupid not to be unnerved by and that’s serryns. Those toxic, malicious witches are as unpredictable as they are lethal. If I ever hear of one in this district, I will track her down and destroy her.

Hello Kane, first of all do you prefer to date human or vampire women and why?

I don’t date. My choice of partner depends what mood I’m in. If I want to feed, it has to be a human female. The low metallic content of vampire blood does nothing for me. Vampire females definitely have more stamina though. They’re less breakable too.

And secondly, if you weren’t involved in, let’s say, questionable activities, what could you see yourself doing the rest of eternity?

I’ve got a lot to sort out between now and the rest of eternity and these so-called ‘questionable activities’ are all a part of the bigger picture. I’ll decide what to do next after I’ve succeeded. And by the way, I’m a vampire, not immortal. You watch too much TV and read too many books. Come to Blackthorn if you want to know what a real vampire is like.

I’m going to ask you outright – are you the bad guy, Kane?

I do a lot of bad things and have a lot of bad thoughts. But I’ve never hurt anyone who didn’t deserve it or had an important lesson to learn. If you want to judge me, then judge me – that’s fine with me as long as you’re not one of those hypocrites who then gets sanctimonious when someone judges you in return.

With tensions running high between humans, vampires and other third species, what do you see in the future for Blackthorn?

Blackthorn is constantly on the cusp of imploding because of the situation your kind has created. We have our own effective systems in place to manage the district, so the last thing we need is further human interference exacerbating the problems. I was running districts bigger than this before your authorities were even born. As for what I see in the future for Blackthorn – I know exactly what lies ahead. That’s why I came here.

For vengeance – would you trust a vampire?For justice – could you betray your family?For love – are you ready to question everything you believe in?Gifted with the ability to read the shadows of ‘third species’ beings, Caitlin Parish is the Vampire Control Unit’s most powerful agent. Despite that, her mission to hunt down Kane Malloy – a master vampire – comes with a death wish. Many have tried, but few have survived.For Caitlin, tracking Kane is about more than just professional reputation. With her parents both mysteriously killed 7 years apart to the day, Caitlin knows that without Kane’s help she is next. She has four days to make a deal with the wicked, the irresistible, the treacherous Kane Malloy. The vampire who despises everything she stands for.

Or die. Read our review of Blood Shadows here!Buy it on: Amazon | Apple | B&N | Kobo

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About the author

Lindsay J. Pryor is a British Paranormal Romance author who writes dark, intense, multi-layered stories set in the dystopian world of Blackthorn.Her first three books in the series have been signed by Bookouture – with ‘Blood Shadows’ launching this November and ‘Blood Roses’ to be released in the Spring of 2013. The third in the series will be released in the Autumn of 2013.

Lindsay’s writing was first discovered through Harlequin Mills & Boon’s New Voices competition, where she finished as a runner-up in both 2010 and 2011.She has been creating stories since she was nine years old, when she quickly decided that fantasy was more interesting than reality. She thought she’d grow out of it but hasn’t yet.When not writing or teaching, Lindsay indulges her fascination with mythology and supports local animal welfare work. She’s Welsh but lives in the South West of England with her husband.