We chat with author Lauren Jackson about Live For Me, which follows a vampire uncovering dark secrets to save the town, her tormentor trying to break a witch’s curse, and a prisoner who won’t provide any answers—a dark, spicy vampire romantasy perfect for lovers of True Blood and The Vampire Diaries
Hi, Lauren! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! I am an Australian author who grew up in Northern Rivers, NSW but now reside in the beautiful Gold Coast. I love writing angsty, steamy romances with a little bit of suspense!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I first discovered my love for writing when I would do creative writing for school. I would write pages and pages during our downtime and then begin working on stories in my spare time. When I discovered an online website where you could post content and have people read/review it, I really began to practise my skills and develop writing into a passion of mine.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Rainbow Magic series
- The one that made you want to become an author: When I read the Harry Potter series and was in awe that one person could create such an incredible world in their own mind
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Vampire Academy series, it will always be a favourite of mine!
Your latest novel, Live For Me, is out September 10th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Dark, spicy, suspenseful, angsty and fun.
What can readers expect?
Getting the ending they always wanted Klaus and Caroline to have!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?
I really enjoyed writing Kian, the main male character. It was my first time writing a true antihero and I really enjoyed taking a walk on the darker side.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing the sequel?
Initially, I did! There were so many seeds I planted in the first book that needed to be honoured which in a way narrowed my creative vision for the next book, however I did really enjoy being able to revisit the world and mention some favourite characters from the first book!
Top three vampires of all-time?
Damon Salvatore, Stefan Salvatore, Klaus Mikaelson
What’s next for you?
I will be working on the third installment of the Red Thorne series!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
My favourite reads from this year so far are: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Yellowface and Funny Story. I’m really looking forward to the release of Daydream and Onyx Storm!
