The Midnight Breed Series Companion (47 page)

Why haven't or can't the Ancients produce a female? I mean in all those generations resulting after them, why can't there be some female offspring as a result?

—Tori R., Port Saint Lucie, FL USA

Remember, the Breed is the offspring of the Ancients (alien) and Breedmate females (half human, half Atlantean). The Ancients’ DNA is the stronger of this pairing, even down the line in later generations of the Breed, so their genes determine gender in their offspring. In the case of this story world, it’s always produced males. Dragos was able to manipulate gender and breeding in his labs, but scientific interference in reproduction is frowned upon by Breed society as being unnatural. On the Ancients’ planet, among their own kind, they produce both male and female offspring.

Why did you choose the Atlanteans to be the fathers of the Breedmates and as the new (old) enemies of the Breed?

—Tamara K., Birkenau, Hessen Germany

It was actually a happy accident that Atlanteans played into the series in any way at all. In
Kiss of Midnight
, I had mentioned that the Ancients devastated entire civilizations after coming to Earth. One of those civilizations I listed was Atlantis. When I wrote that, it was nothing more than a throwaway mention, but later on, many books later, I realized I needed not only a way to explain the existence of Breedmates, but I also needed to find a bigger, more powerful enemy for the Order than Dragos as the series continued to grow. Making the connection between a mysterious, hidden civilization like Atlantis and the Ancients felt like a perfect fit—one that had been right in front of me the whole time!

Was it hard to get a publisher to pick up a story with "alien" vampires in it? It seems to me the alien/science fiction genre is a little harder to pull into mainstream.

—Amanda K., Littleton, CO USA

I’m happy to say it was no problem at all. From the very beginning, I’ve had wonderful editorial support on pretty much anything I wanted to do with the series. I think the alien element of the Midnight Breed world is subtle enough that it doesn’t fall into space-y Science Fiction/Fantasy categories, which aren’t really my personal reading interest anyway, and which might have been problematic from a marketing standpoint. But no one has ever asked me to tone anything down or avoid certain storytelling choices in any way, and for that I feel quite fortunate.

I am a huge fan of the Midnight Breed series. I have every book to date. I am not sure if anyone has ever asked this or not, but out of all of the Breed members that you have written so far, who is your favorite and why?

—Jennifer L., Euclid, OH USA

Thank you, Jennifer! I’m so glad you’re enjoying my books. I don’t have a personal favorite character in the series, and that’s a deliberate choice. I try not to let myself fall too much in love with any one character in particular, but instead focus all of my attention—and affection—on the characters I’m writing at the moment.

I think as a writer it can be all too easy to lavish all the love on one series “star” to the neglect of the others. I want each character, and each book’s romantic pairing, to be as special as I can make it, and let no one pale in comparison to another character. I feel I’ve done my job when readers tell me who they love most and there’s no clear winner, but favorites across the board!

Are we ever going to read about the years between Darker After Midnight and Edge of Dawn? Or do you not feel they are essential to the story line?

—Amanda C. Dodge City, KS USA

I may set a novella or two in the twenty years between First Dawn, which occurs at the end of
Darker After Midnight
, and the start of the new series arc that begins in
Edge of Dawn
. I have one idea percolating now, and I think it could be interesting to see a story set against the backdrop of those dark years of war. I don’t envision any full novels set during that period, though.

When the captive Breedmates were rescued in 'Taken by Midnight' they were taken to Claire and Andreas's. Did they stay there indefinitely or move on to some of the nearby Darkhavens?

—Lisa D., Raymore, MO USA

Andreas and Claire’s Darkhaven in Newport, Rhode Island, provided temporary shelter for the freed Breedmates. The ones who were pregnant at the time stayed on to have their babies there, but most have either reunited with their own families or moved on to make new lives for themselves elsewhere. It’s possible that we might see some of those women again, or their grown children, in the second arc of the series.

I have read all of the Midnight Breed novels thus far and I always wondered. Why did you decide to promote this series as romance novels and not as vampire genre? I feel that they are so much more than romance novels.

—Lori D., Warwick, RI USA

Thank you, Lori! Marketing decisions for the series are made by my publishers, not me, but I do feel that the books are romances first and foremost. Each story is centered on the evolving romantic relationship between a hero and heroine, and everything else going on in the novel is secondary to the focus on that relationship. But I’ve always loved books with high-octane, engaging plots and lots of adventure and suspense, so writing those elements into my romance novels just comes naturally to me.

Why do the elders of the Order have so few children? It seems Breedmates only have one pregnancy each.

—Margie E., Akron, OH USA

As Lucan would likely tell you, the Order’s compound, like any other military headquarters, is not an ideal place to raise children. Although having a mate and kids may be fine for the civilian Breed populations in the Darkhavens, it’s long been a conscious choice that warriors in the Order do not go willingly into a blood bond or family life. But then I came along several years ago and started messing with everyone’s lives! I’m taking great enjoyment in showing Lucan and the others that resistance is futile. *g*

Has Jenna turned into the first female Breed?

—Miriam W., Aztec, NM USA

The first female Breed that we’ve met in the series is Tavia. Jenna is human, and she cannot turn into one of the Breed. She is, however, taking on some of the genetic qualities of the Ancient, with some differences. For example, although she has developed a fondness for Brock’s blood (I mean, really, can you blame her?) she will not develop fangs and will not require blood for sustenance like one of the Breed or an Ancient. Her human biology means she can still consume human food and she is also unaffected by ultraviolet light. So, Jenna is a powerful, unique genetic being unlike any other we’ll see in the series.

Will we ever learn more about the Breed members' families? For example, we met some of Kade's family in Shades of Midnight. I'd love to learn more about other extended families!

—Shannon E., Benson, NC USA

I find it’s a tricky balance, trying to provide fully fleshed-out backgrounds and backstories for the main characters without overwhelming the current storyline or the flow of the text with a lot of names and details about people we may never meet. So, for that reason, usually, unless a character’s family will play a part in the book, or if some detail is necessary for explaining part of the story—for example, a character’s motivation for being a certain way or doing something good or bad in the current storyline—I tend to leave those details out.

Although several of the Order’s members are parentless (Lucan, Dante, Rio, Gideon, just to name a few) it’s reasonable to assume there are parents and/or siblings out there for many of the other major characters in the series. Whether or not those family members will have parts to play in the books still to come, I’m not sure. But if it makes sense to bring some of them into the storyline, I’m definitely open to it. I need to be a little careful there, or the series could easily explode into a cast of thousands, all demanding a turn in the spotlight!

If they have the same ability (like Kellan and Alex), does that mean they are biologically related? Or just nature repeating itself?

—Amber F., Monroe, GA USA

I try not to make any of the characters’ ESP talents exactly the same as someone else’s, unless the characters share a maternal connection somewhere down the line. If talents seem similar, as with Kellan and Alex, and Tegan as well, in this case, there are subtle differences that separate them. Alexandra has the ability to detect deception in humans with her touch. Kellan’s touch gives him the ability to determine a human’s intentions, good or bad. And Tegan’s talent works on human, Breed and Breedmate alike, giving him the ability to read anyone’s emotional state with his touch.

Will Jenna enjoy the same longevity as the Breedmates since she has the Ancient's DNA implanted in her?

—Christina S., Camby, IN USA

Yes, but unlike the Breedmates, Jenna will not require a blood bond in order to live longer than a normal, mortal human or an unmated Breedmate. She will easily live as long as any of the Breed.

Did you always plan to reveal the Breed to the humans and if so, why did you want them revealed?

—Manna G., London, United Kingdom

From just about the midpoint of the series—while I was writing
Midnight Rising
—I came to the realization that if the series was going to continue for any length of time, it needed some room to grow and evolve. One thing I wanted to avoid from the beginning was stagnation in the series, and it seemed to me that it all could get pretty boring unless something big was coming farther up the road. I knew I’d need a closing point for one part of the series—something monumental, which would also provide a good twist that could carry me into another storytelling arc.

I was never in doubt about what that twist needed to be, so from that moment on, I began writing toward the events that unfolded in
Darker After Midnight
. Bringing the Breed out in the open has given me a big new canvas to work with, exciting new conflicts, allies and enemies, while still allowing me to remain faithful to the core characters and the heart of the series. I’m having more fun than ever, and I hope readers will enjoy all the twists and surprises still to come.

Why wasn't Rio able to sense Eva's deception through their blood-bond?

—Bettina H., Maglod, Hungary

Rio would only have been able to sense Eva’s heightened emotions and her physical presence through their blood bond, but it’s not a mind-reading connection. If she were careful to keep her emotions in check while she was betraying him, Rio would never know. And his trust in her as his mate would only blind him further to any deception.

As an author, what's the biggest challenge that you have felt and how did you overcome it?