Darque Reviews welcomes Lynda Hilburn, the author of The Vampire Shrink and the soon to be released Dark Harvest!Hi Lynda, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews. We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
LH: Thanks so much for having me at Darque Reviews! I love your site.
Can you tell us a bit about Kismet Knight and what it means to be a Vampire Psychologist?
LH: Kismet Knight is a clinical psychologist. She has worked hard – done everything she was “supposed” to do, professionally and personally – and has created a successful private practice in downtown Denver, CO. In the midst of feeling bored with her life and unchallenged in her work, she meets with a new client in her office. This young woman says she wants to become a vampire. She tells Kismet about a secret world of bloodsuckers living alongside humans in the Mile High City. Of course, Kismet doesn’t believe her. As a psychologist, she has heard every outrageous story a client can fabricate, and all the strange tales can be easily diagnosed. Vampires? Just another sad delusion. But even though she’s certain the young client’s story is due to an overactive imagination, she’s intrigued. What if there are lots of these wannabes who’d benefit from counseling? Had she stumbled upon a brand new dysfunction-of-the-week? Maybe she could write a book about these lost souls and go on Oprah! The Vampire Psychologist was born.
Kismet’s strong hero comes in the form of Devereux, a powerful and sexy vampire. What can you tell us about him and his attraction to Kismet?
LH: Devereux, the 800-year-old, gorgeous, magnetic leader of the local vampire coven, believes he and the human psychologist are linked in ancient and mysterious ways. He tells her a fantastical tale about Druids, wizards and Merlin, of all things. The powerful vampire is used to being in charge and going after what he wants. For reasons Kismet doesn’t understand for most of the book, he wants her. She’d just gone through a two-year drought as far as men and relationships were concerned, so Devereux’s insistence that she assume her role as his “mate” is upsetting and confusing to her. But he is charming, with a body to die for. And then there’s the sex . . .
Your upcoming release, Dark Harvest, published by Medallion Press, is the second book in the Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series. What can we expect from Kismet in this story?LH: By the time Dark Harvest takes place, Kismet has only been involved in the surreal world of the vampires for 5 months. She is still getting used to her new clientele and her relationship with Devereux. One morning, while participating in what she believes is just another radio interview, she takes a call from a day-walking vampire who claims to be a vampire hunter. His mesmerizing voice, floating over the air waves, begins to entrance her, leading her into a series of bizarre and frightening events that further complicate her notions of reality. As she gets pulled deeper into undead madness, she begins to question her own sanity. It seems this evil vampire has his own agenda for Kismet and she is a helpless pawn. Or is she?
Do you have a favorite among your characters, one you feel especially close to?
LH: It would absolutely be Kismet, since she’s my “fantasy me.” I think it would be so incredible to find a gorgeous vampire sitting in my waiting room. And how awesome to actually work with supernatural clients as a therapist! I’m totally living vicariously through her as she has experiences I can only imagine (and I actually DID imagine them! LOL).
Can you tell us what you’re working on now and will readers see a new Kismet story in 2009?
LH: Right now I’m finishing up a short story which will appear in an anthology called The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance, which will be published in Feb., 09. I’m also working on the third book in the Kismet series, but I’ll have to sell that book to a publisher before it will be available, so that probably won’t happen by 2009.
What do you enjoy doing when you find some free time?
LH: I actually enjoy working, so most of my non-writing time is spent seeing clients, either at the mental health center I work at part time or in my own private practice. I also like to read paranormals, psychological thrillers and nonfiction books in my fields. At some point, I hope to have an outlet for my love of singing again.
Do you write full-time? How do you fit your writing into a typical day?
LH: I don’t write full time. I don’t think I’d want to. I enjoy too many different things to ever choose just one activity to do. I have plenty of time to write during the week, but the challenge is choosing to plop my rear end down in front of the computer instead of the TV! I’ve gotten away from my daily writing discipline over the last few months and I need to re-establish that routine. I’m probably not one of the driven writers who can write for hours every day. Although, who knows? Maybe that’s in my future!
If you could choose anywhere in the world to set up your desk and write your next book, where would you like to be? What’s special to you about this place?LH: Ooooo! I’d love to be in a castle in England. My ancestry is English and Scottish mainly, and I’ve always been obsessed with all things British. On a trip to England a couple of years ago, I was overwhelmed by the energy of the ancient cities and buildings I toured. Being an empath and soaking up the emotions, experiences and fears of people who lived before can be a double-edge sword! Marvelous and exhausting. Ideas for characters and stories literally dripped from my brain. Set me up in an English castle and I’ll be a happy writer. Then there’s always Dracula’s castle for a slightly different flavor…
Where can readers find you on the web?
LH: Here’s my website: http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com/, my blog: http://paranormalityuniverse.blogspot.com/ and my MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/lyndahilburn
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring writers before we say goodbye?
LH: As most writers will tell you, never give up. Learn your craft, find your voice and grow a thick skin! If you love writing, do whatever it takes to hold onto the joyful aspects of it. Sometimes, trying so hard to get published, to get an agent – the business of writing – can zap the fun from the process. Create a balance in your life between your professional and personal needs. Share your journey with trusted friends. And, finally, as Nike says, “Just Do It.”
Thank you so much for joining us Lynda. Best wishes for excellent sales when Dark Harvest releases!
Review for The Vampire Shrink: Here
Review for Dark Harvest: Here
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
