Teri Chambers

THE BIRTH OF VAMPIRE ILLUSION

I’ve been asked by people how the story of Vampire Illusion came about. Are the characters based on anyone I know? Answer: No, they’re not, but Sophie knocked on my mind one evening, about five years ago. At the time, I was having a ‘phone conversation with my eldest daughter. You know how it is, one minute you’re discussing family matters, the next, which book, film, TV series you’re following.

Well, she mentioned she was watching Vampire Diaries, and I said I watched True Blood. We did comparisons. She preferred Stefan Salvatore; I liked Bill Compton. Anyway, an image of Sophie sprang into view and I blurted out, ‘What if someone was so hooked on all things vampire, they developed fangs?’

There was silence for a moment… ‘Why don’t you write about it, mum, then we’ll both know.’

‘Okay,’ I said, ‘I will.’

Now, I don’t know about you, but I sometimes jump before I look for a safe landing place – this was one of those times. Writing about Sophie wasn’t hard. She bubbled with energy and ideas. Normal working girl develops fangs, has hysterics, runs to dentist. Hmm, okay. Then what?

Of course, there’s nothing ‘normal’ about our Soph; she’s anything but, although she doesn’t know that. Neither does she have a clue about her family’s secret. That made two of us!

After getting up to let the cat out; making another mug of coffee and staring at the computer screen, I decided to just type and Vampire Illusion was born.

A FEW TEETHING TROUBLES (OR SHOULD THAT BE FANG TROUBLES) WITH VAMPIRE DISILLUSION

Hmm, this is one story that really set the cat amongst the pigeons. Initially, I knew exactly what I wanted to write… then came the characters who disagreed. ‘Whose story is it?’ they queried. I shrugged and handed over to them. After all, it’s their lives at my fingertips; get it wrong and well…

For those of you who are familiar with Sophie and Frey, you’ll recognise the need to keep them happy.

Not much is known about Honour except her relationship with Nicholas, the head vampire son of Abbas (also a head vampire) and Caroline, Sophie’s grandparents. So, the idea was that Honour and Nicholas would be the main characters. Simple, right? It turns out that other vampires wanted in on the action and kept nudging me. Honestly, you’d think I was offering free tickets to a blood bank.

I like a bit of humour to balance out the gore, but there are a few characters in this book who I’d think twice about smiling at – and I brought them into existence – I must be mad. Luckily, romance comes to the rescue, which, to my mind, alleviates the tedium of blood feuds, ambushes, kidnapping, old magic and everything else these newcomers have dreamt up.

Honour is fierce, loyal and in love. Nicholas is strong -minded, uncompromising and besotted. Both have a responsibility to others which interferes with, but doesn’t detract from, their mutual attraction. Throw into the mix Honour’s father, Ralph and the secrets he’s keeping, and things get slightly out of control.

Any hope I had of a straightforward story gets skewed and we’re off on a tangent; but, as is the way of storytelling, that tangent leads to a conclusion that even I didn’t see coming.

WHEN IS A VAMPIRE NOT A VAMPIRE

This was the dilemma I faced at the beginning of Vampire Fusion.

As usual, the characters thought they’d throw a spanner in the works. What if one of them didn’t transition in the way I’d expected?

Ellie put her hand up as she had yet to change. ‘What would you like to be?’ I asked her.

She thought for a moment and then whispered, ‘I’d like to be a …’

Sorry, I can’t tell you here – it would spoil the surprise wouldn’t it?

I can say it surprised me, but I trust Ellie and know she’ll help if I get stuck for ideas.

There were a few grumbles from Damien. He wants to know everything about his wife. She, on the other hand, likes to keep him guessing.

And then there’s the wedding invitation. I have to say that took me out of my comfort zone as I feel protective of all my characters. However, Rachel was prepared to risk the fall-out. Brave woman. Riling a vampire would definitely not be on my bucket list.

So, let the fun begin…

NO CONFUSED VAMPIRES HERE

When Katie first told me about her dreams, I was a bit sceptical. I mean, dreams are just that aren’t they? Luckily, Alice put me right. That lady isn’t one to mince her words…

Thus began book six of the Vampire Illusion Series.

As usual I had input from several other characters, Sophie being one of the main contributors. She insisted this story wasn’t all about her, Frey and Tansy et al. There should be new characters to bring a clearer insight into their world.

Enter Gregory. A warrior vampire with elf blood pumping through his veins.

How could an elf be connected to Katie? It turned out there was a lot more to her dreams than a shadow figure luring her away from Alfred, the love of her life.

The more I wrote, the more surprised I grew at how that tenuous link was firmer than I first thought. Several new characters later and the story became clear.

Sophie was right – I now have a clearer insight into the world of vampires.

If you do get to read Vampire Confusion, I hope you enjoy the journey.

My Non-Vampire Books

ETERNAL OTHERNESS

What if the one you loved wasn’t who you thought they were? What if the love you shared was denied by beings who could and would control your life?

Sarah couldn’t forget James. Somehow she existed without him, but….

This was a hard story to write because of the heartache involved. I really suffer along with my characters. I like it when they’re feisty, cheeky and unputdownable. When the tears start it’s another matter.

I was walking through woodland when I suddenly became aware of other things going on that I’d never noticed before. Different sounds, scents; you know the kind of feeling. One minute you’re on your own and the next anything is possible. Well that’s how the characters in Eternal Other began.

Did I really see something in the bushes?

Why were those leaves moving rapidly when the ones next to them remained still?

My imagination went into overdrive and by the time I returned to my car, Sarah and James were already meeting, albeit in the past.

But Mr Joss? Whose side was he really on? What could be so important he risked his own existence to protect it.

As you’ll discover if you read the story – when love is strong, anything is possible.

A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO A VERY SPECIAL WOMAN

This story evolved over many years. (At least eight.)

I once knew a lucky person who lived on the shores of a lake. I remember how clearly sounds travelled across from one side to another, and, at dawn, how the rising sun cast reflections in the mirror glass water. Add the treeline in the background separating the outside world from this peaceful idyll, and it was pretty much heaven.

With all the beauty of this scene came the thought of another side of the coin.

What if events transpired and our world was thrown into chaos?

What if humanity was threatened to such an extent that survival of the fittest was the mantra of most? Take that mantra and multiply it beyond what is acceptable by any standards.

I won’t include spoilers, but I cast characters with the task of putting right what has gone so horribly wrong in a certain part of their world.

One of these characters is Annie Holmes. She has no idea who she really is or why people are relying on her. Needless to say she soon finds out.

I don’t throw her into the fray alone; she has Sol and one or two others, but she is special – hence the title.

It wasn’t an easy story to write. As more and more was revealed within the characters’ backstories, harrowing events conspired to make me hesitate. But, as I’ve written in other blogs, the characters choose and I follow.

There is a follow-up story in the pipeline (it’s been in there for a long time) so who knows, I may one day pull it out and complete the second half.

AVSW is a standalone and therefore there is closure – I wouldn’t leave you dangling off a cliff edge, however, there is more to uncover through the lives of those who live on the lake.

SNOWFLAKES & CANDLELIGHT

I have to say that this particular story came out of the blue. Maybe it was the mince pies I’d just taken out of the oven, or the Christmas cards bought earlier in the day. Who can say? But when Sanan and Kraig made an appearance, it was pretty certain they were going nowhere until I set fingers to keys.

The story begins on 23rd December and continues into the first few days of the New Year.

It’s a short story, more a novella. Just long enough to enjoy but short enough to carry on with the festivities.

I hope you read it. There are two hunky guys and two pretty women who manage to click, even though they all work in the same company. Just goes to show that sometimes that special one is closer than you imagine. Naturally there are villainous deeds and some misunderstandings, but that’s life really, isn’t?

Go on, sit back, relax and leave the real world behind for a little while.

A LITTLE NOSTALGIA

Do you ever think back to things your parents said but at the time you first heard them you weren’t really ‘listening’ although you heard the words?

I confess to being an oldie. My father fought in WWII while my mother brought up my sister. I was lucky, I came along years after the war ended, but remember scribbling in the ration books.

The characters in Safe in Your Arms lived through that time, like my parents, and the one thing I can recall them saying time after time was that you lived for the day because you never knew if it might be your last.

I wanted to portray that era from various viewpoints.

The parents of Charlie Harrison; their concern for him and how they continued to live their lives in Cleydon.

Lillian Susan Jones, Charlie’s girlfriend, who fretted over his lack of letters and her joy on his return. Also her pain at seeing his injuries but knowing under all the anger he barely controlled, her Charlie would surface again. She’d make sure of it.

James, Charlie’s friend, who had already suffered a terrible loss and how he rebuilt his happiness only for it to be taken from him when he was injured and left behind in Italy, with no memory of who he was.

I won’t give away any more of the story; it’s theirs to tell.

MYSTERY, MURDER AND DRAGONS

When I first began writing Dragons Don’t Lie, I kept in mind a stone dragon I’d seen at a garden centre. What tales could you tell I wondered as we stared at each other. Naturally I blinked first.

Mrs. Drake came fully developed; an elderly lady who knew her own mind and wasn’t afraid to show it. George…hmm. He was a character who kept his heart protected by a virtual portcullis, until Cheryl came on the scene.

One by one, different characters and scenarios made their appearance, developing the storyline until my light-hearted fantasy became a sharp-edged, murderous dark sword.

I was surprised how quickly it turned dark and was determined not to fall into the trap of making it so grim that even I didn’t want to go there. Enter the element of humour. Now humour is a personal thing. Mine varies from outright belly laughing to dry, even acerbic at times. It helped when certain scenes led to quite nasty outcomes.

I hope, if you read the book, you won’t be put off by fantasy entering the realm of this crime/detective story. After all, if it wasn’t for the dragon there might not have been a story at all.

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