I met Emerian Rich through a a Facebook group dedicated to women who write horror.  She invited me to contribute to The Horror Addicts’ Guide to Life, then invited me to join her — the first time I attended BayCon — in a group reading from the book.  It was amazing to meet her in person.  She is a bundle of energy.

Officially, Emerian Rich is an artist, horror host, and the author of the vampire series Night’s Knights. She is the hostess of the internationally acclaimed podcast HorrorAddicts.net. Under the name Emmy Z. Madrigal, she writes the musical romance series, Sweet Dreams. She’s also the Editorial Director for the Bay Area magazine SEARCH. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and son.

Loren Rhoads: Did something in the real world inspire your book?

Emerian Rich:  Yes, I am always inspired by the world around me. The series started as two stories that I put together. One was about three vampires I patterned after different inspiring individuals I have known in my life. The other story was about the yin and yang of how I see myself vs. how I want to be seen. Although this is a vampire series, it’s very much about humans and how we deal with life’s tribulations.

LR: What is your favorite scene in the book — and why?

ER: Wow. There are so many. This book series follows so many different lives, it’s hard to choose just one favorite scene. But if I could step into my book, I’d want to visit the vampire artifact museum located deep inside NOSS headquarters. They are a government agency who track and record the going-ons of supernatural beings. When one of my old vamps visits the museum, he comes face to face with a grisly painting of himself. I would love to be in the room when he sees it. Here’s an excerpt:

In the painting, Reidar stood atop a snowy mountain ridge, a bloodied corpse at his feet and wolves by his side. He looked quite Viking-ish with fur and leather covering him, a massive Mjölnir in his hand and his mouth open, showing elongated canines. At first sight, Reidar chuckled.

“Painted by one of our scribes. Grandfather always wanted you to see this to tell him if it was an accurate depiction of events.”

“Not so dramatic, but yes, I suppose I might have appeared as grisly when emerging from battle.”

“He thought you may think it was over the top, but wondered if he got the amulet right.”

Reidar’s eyes fell to the left side of the painting where his twin clutched an amulet in his hand.

“My word, it’s spot on.” A sharp pain pierced his heart.

“He would’ve been very proud to hear it.”

Taking a deep breath and swallowing hard, Reidar let the pain in his chest subside. Memories of his sister could still shake him to the core. It had been hundreds of years, but he still couldn’t let the pain of her passing go.

LR: What was your writing process like as you wrote the book?

ER: I’m a pantser. I just write. The characters want to take me on these adventures and I follow. There is very little plotting for me and if I do plot, it’s only to keep the characters in a semi-straight path, but they have their own ideas about where the story is going. I mostly let them have their way. I have no choice.

LR: Are you doing anything unusual to promote the book?

ER: No acrobatics or death-defying feats of strength or anything, but I get excited about making book-specific favors for my VIP party and special edition packs that I send out. This time it will be a short story booklet and a couple of items from the book like a pouch of Kingdom Tea, a drink from heaven that makes you forget the past.

LR: What do you have planned next?

ER: I am working on the third book in this series, Day’s Children. There is a planned fourth book to round out the set, Dawn’s Drog. I also have a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey coming. It’s the story of a Horror Addict, so it’s right up my alley.

Dusk’s Warriors by Emerian Rich

Heaven has opened up and welcomed the vampires of Night’s Knights into a new reality. As they struggle to find their place in their new world, trouble brews on Earth.

Demon servant Ridge is causing havoc by gathering up all the souls on Earth that have been touched by immortality. When he injures one of the Night’s Knights crew, he launches a war between the vampires of Heaven, the Big Bad in Hell, and a mortal street gang of vigilante misfits.

Will Julien, Markham, and Reidar be able to defeat the evil that’s returned, or will they once again need Jespa’s help?

Praise for Dusk’s Warriors:

“All hail, the queen of Night’s Knights has returned! Emerian Rich’s unique take on vampires delights my black little heart.” ~Dan Shaurette, Lilith’s Love

“A world of horror with realistic characters in a fast-paced thriller you won’t be able to put down.” ~David Watson, The All Night Library

Praise for Night’s Knights: 

“Fresh, original, and thoroughly entertaining.” ~Mark Eller, Traitor

“Emerian brought the vampire novel back from the dead.” ~C. E. Dorsett, Shine Like Thunder

Available now at Amazon.com in print and eBook

https://www.amazon.com/Dusks-Warriors-Nights-Knights-Vampire/dp/1544628803