Revamped is a paranormal comedy/romance and my first participation in a multi-author series. What a great experience writing the Mortar & Pestle series with six other authors by my side, metaphorically speaking.

Chelsey asked how I came to write Revamped, in part because it’s a departure from writing humorous women’s fiction.

The idea was a group effort. We were all on Zoom, gathered around our computer screens discussing writing and marketing, when someone popped the question. “Why don’t we write a series together?” It took almost a year in the making, but here we are, having released all seven books. Sydney Winward, who wrote Selkie, the first book in the series, did our beautiful covers.

In order to meet our deadline, I put aside the novel I was working on to draft Revamped. I am somewhere between a plotter and a pantser, and for the first time had to create a world and work within a deadline. This meant interviewing writers on how to go about world-building, asking questions, reading other vampire books. It was not easy to find energy vampires in the literature. How many did I find? Zero.

I always begin writing a new book by first planning out the characters and the interpersonal relationships essential to the story. Why do people come together? How do they uncouple and what leads to that decision? Creating a world in which paranormal characters live is less interesting than their personal stories within that world. When I set out to write Revamped, I wanted readers to relate to my characters, even if they’d never read a paranormal story.

Dante, the vampire, is different from the usual people Sophie meets in her sphere of friends and family. Finding that special person no matter how different he or she is from ourselves is what’s important.

I’d like to introduce readers of Chelsey’s blog to an unusual vampire. As a special treat, I interviewed Dante Allegretti, my main character.

Dialogue with the Vampire  

      Shirley: I have a few questions for our readers. They’re curious.

      Dante: I suppose they want to know about my special powers.

      Shirley: Not really. They want to know what it’s like to date a vampire.

      Dante: [eyes widen] I don’t talk about being a vampire. Not openly.

      Shirley: The thing is, I wrote a whole book about you so it’s no secret, not anymore. For instance, one reader would like to know if you would suck on her neck. You know, take a little taste.

      Dante: That’s ridiculous. First of all, I’m not that kind of vampire. I’m an energy vampire. Meaning I get energy from people by depleting their resources. Bored people are especially easy targets, but angry men run a close second.

      Shirley: Men in particular? Why is that?

      Dante: Their negative energy and muscle mass make them vulnerable.

      Shirley: Do you still drain people’s energy?

      Dante: I’ve stopped living that life. I attend DE meetings––that stands for Dis-Energy––two or three times a week. It’s not easy, but my energy sobriety is important.

      Shirley: Anyone who dated you would have to respect the work that went into your lifestyle change.

      Dante: I don’t want to be thought of as a vampire. I’m a normal guy with issues like anyone else. With a few differences.

      Shirley: So, it’s a daily challenge, right?

      Dante: Absolutely. I don’t hang around with other vampires. Very few people know I’m a vampire, only a few close friends.

      Shirley: Are you still at odds with your family?

      Dante: I don’t think that will ever be resolved. [Swipes a hand through his hair.] You want to know something?

Shirley: Of course.

Dante: Energy vampires don’t have much fun. You can’t hang out with regular people. It’s too tempting and how can you look yourself in the face if you’re draining your friends.

Shirley: That sounds gross, using your friends.

Dante. Yeah, that’s why I never had friends. Until I met Groucho, my best friend. But I knew the second I met him he was a vampire.

Shirley: What is it, a sixth sense?

Dante: Sort of. When it comes to friends, you’re limited to the few energy vampires around and no one wants friends who literally suck. That’s why I rejected the whole lifestyle. I’m thirty-six and I’ve just begun living. I feel so lucky.

Shirley: So, what advice do you have for women interested in dating vampires?

Dante: Don’t do it.

Shirley: Sort of a dead end, isn’t it?

Dante: Unless you’re with a man who promises to give up that way of life.

Shirley: Can you tell me more? What was the most difficult part of changing?

Dante: I’ll tell you that every little and big thing in my life changed. If I told you more, I’d be spoiling the read and besides, telling is boring.

Shirley: Well, thanks, Dante. Do you know if Groucho will be in the sequel?

Dante: Since you’re writing the books, you’ll have to answer that one, won’t you?

Shirley Goldberg is a swing and salsa dancer, novelist, and former ESL and French teacher who’s lived in Paris, Crete, and Casablanca. She often writes about men and women of a certain age starting over. Her website http://midagedating.com offers a humorous look at dating in mid-life, and her friends like to guess which stories are true. Her Starting Over series can all be read as standalones starring women and men in midlife who learn a thing or three about new beginnings. Revamped, A Vampire Comedy, is the story of an energy vampire with one good friend and a family who embarrasses him. Revamped is part of the Mortar & Pestle series by seven authors that debuted in March.

Interested in the Mortar & Pestle series? Here is a link to the FREE prequel: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3vhm7opc1r

Shirley’s characters believe you should never leave home without your sense of humor and she agrees.

Vampire Dante Allegretti hates his sucky life. Born into a family of energy siphoners, he’s desperate to reinvent himself as a fun-loving normal guy rather than a crowdsourcing parasite. To stop the draining urges, Dante resorts to grinding alternative meds in an ancient Mortar & Pestle, not knowing it contains magical properties. 

Enter wisecracking thirty-year-old Sophie Arley, who lives with her clingy parents. Working three jobs and craving independence, she’s come back strong after a breakdown crashed her cozy world. So when the weird, hot guy she just met-cute asks Sophie to the movies, she agrees.

Sophie won’t spoil their magical connection by mentioning her heartbreak. And Dante dreads telling Sophie about his dark side. Will the power from the Mortar & Pestle guide them to their happily ever after despite the secrets and lies?