Interview: Merit from Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires Series

In anticipation for the upcoming release of Friday Night Bites, book two in Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series, heroine and newly turned vampire Merit is here with us today!

Merit, thanks for stopping by!

You're very welcome. Thanks for having me!

We first met you in Some Girls Bite - it's been a little while since you were turned into a vampire. How's life? Are you loving it? Hating it?

Weird, yes, and yes. I'll be honest--it's an adjustment. If you made a list of costs and benefits--note to self: make list of same--I think they'd equal out. Immortality and youthful good looks are handy, but the sun allergy and servitude are kind of downers. But, on my better days, I realize what a gift I've been given, and I hope that I'm able to make something of it. To be useful to my House, I suppose.

What do you miss most about life as a human? What do you most enjoy about being a vampire?

Miss most: Enjoying Lake Michigan. Enjoy most: FOOD. In copious quantities. With zero hip-related consequences.


Since you're nocturnal now, how has life in Chicago changed for you?

Well, it's darker, obviously. I guess I have a more honest view of the city--after all, the supernatural drama was going on all along, if under my nose. I've also invited a lot of danger into my life, from Celina to angry shifters to Master vampires with secret motives.

Any long term goals for your newly extended life?
Being of service to my brother and sister as their children grow. Being a good Sentinel. Seeing the Cubs win another World Series. Finding a nice fangless boy to settle down with wouldn't be awful, but what are the odds of that?

I hear that you've got a pretty prestigious job as the Sentinel for Cadogan House. What are the best and hardest parts of your job?

I think it has the potential to be rewarding. After all, I'm in this historically important position, which means I could feasibly be of service to Cadogan's vampires. But we're still trying to figure out exactly what the Sentinel should be doing, and Ethan seems to have pretty specific ideas about the job and who I'm supposed to be. Living up to the expectations of a 400 year-old vampire isn't exactly easy...

How's your best friend, Mallory?

Mallory. Yeah. Could we actually talk about something else? Sorry. Kind of a sore spot right now.

You're currently dating a member of Navarre, a rival vampire house. Do you forsee this relationship having a positive effect on on inter-house relations?

Well, Ethan certainly thinks so, but here's my take: Relationships are hard, dating isn't easy, and both can lead to drama. There's never a guarantee a relationship is going to work out, so I'm not sure relationships are necessarily bridge-builders.

I know that you're making a move from Mallory's place to Cadogan House. What's life like inside those halls? Any rules? Any weirdness?

It's Ethan's House, so of course there are rules. :) No, I kid. It's not unlike living in a big vampire sorority House, with more expensive furniture. There are rituals, a cafeteria, hazing, uniforms, branded clothes (think medals).

Got any news or hints as to what we can expect from Friday Night Bites?

See my answers above. :)

Good luck to you in your new vampire life!

Thanks, Jacqueline! I appreciate having the chance to talk to your readers. Go Cadogan! (And Bears!)

Friday Night Bites hits shelves October 6th!!

Synopsis:

The story of a young heiress's initiation into the dark society of the Chicagoland Vampires continues...

Ten months after vampires revealed their existence to the mortals of Chicago, they're enjoying a celebrity status usually reserved for the Hollywood elite. But should people learn about the Raves-mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle-the citizens will start sharpening their stakes.

So now it's up to the new vampire Merit to reconnect with her upper class family and act as liaison between humans and bloodsuckers, and keep the more unsavory aspects of the vampire lifestyle out of the media. But someone doesn't want peace between them-someone with an ancient grudge...

Check out Chloe's site for more info about Merit, the vamps of Chicago, and Chloe's novels, Some Girls Bite and Friday Night Bites.