Bite Somebody Else with Sara Dobie Bauer

Today Sara Dobie Bauer, author of Bite Somebody and the new Bite Somebody Else, has joined me to answer a few very important questions.

Okay, they’re not end-of-the-world important.

Even “important” is probably pushing it. But Sara has lots of vampire friends and I have a dragon, so you’d better be nice to us.

Reader caution: This interview is PG, but Sara’s books are not. You have been warned.

I don’t usually do author interviews, but Sara is funny. I know she writes about vampires, not dragons, but nobody’s perfect.

Now for those very important questions.

Thank you for joining me today, Sara. Before I pull you totally off topic, what would you like to tell us about yourself and your new book, Bite Somebody Else?

I’m a paranormal romantic comedy author with an anxiety disorder, a penchant for whiskey, and an addiction to all things Halloween. I might have a slight fixation on Benedict Cumberbatch, and my most recent photo shoot involved me bathing in a tub of blood.

Bite Somebody Else is the second (and final) in the Bite Somebody series, featuring vampires who are anything but suave and live in the Florida Keys.

I imagine it would take a lot of blood to fill a bathtub. I hope you had a bunch of friends over to help you drink it afterwards.

What’s your favourite aspect of Bite Somebody Else?

The relationship between Imogene and Nicholas. If you’ve read the first book, you know Imogene is an abrasive, non-monogamous, homicidal maniac—in an entirely likeable way, of course. She never intends to fall in love, especially with someone like Nicholas, who’s over 300 years old and uber posh. The way the chemistry crackles between them (and eventually burns to full flame) makes me so dang happy.

Non-monogamous is my favourite type of homicidal maniac. It’s almost as if you knew.

Bite Somebody Else was clearly very thoroughly researched. How many vampires did you interview for your research, and did you get any gems from them that didn’t make it into the book that you’d like to share?

Oh, my gosh, several! I’ve known some of my vampire friends for over twenty years. Lestat is actually really nice if he’s well fed, although Louis can be such a bore when he’s in one of his rat-eating “moods.” My newest friend is Yulric Bile (he’s really close with author Jim McDoniel). When I interviewed Yulric, he mostly just hissed at me, which made me think vampires might actually be part cat. (They aren’t apparently.)  Any gems that did not make it into the book shall not be shared here on probable pain of death. Vampires need to have some secrets, y’all.

I’m disappointed you can’t share, but more disappointed that vampires aren’t part cat. How cool would that be?

I’m sure a lot of authors would like to learn from you. Suppose I wanted to interview vampires for my book. Can you give me any tips on how I might go about finding, approaching, and getting useful information out of vampires without getting bitten?

But getting bitten is half the fun.

You heard the woman.

Suppose I’m a reader who knows nothing about Bite Somebody or Bite Somebody Else. How would I know if they’re likely to be books I’ll enjoy?

Do you have an affinity for 80s hair bands? Are you intrigued by the eternal conflict of fang dysfunction? Do you consider garden shears a useful weapon? Finally, do you like happy endings? Then, the Bite Somebody series is definitely for you.

That’s pretty specific. I prefer machetes, but at a pinch garden shears would work as a weapon.

If Bite Somebody Else were a dessert, what kind of dessert would it be?

I think Bite Somebody Else would be a drink, honestly: a rum punch. Imogene’s favorite.

Yum.

Okay, let’s talk about you a bit. What’s the weirdest thing about you?

I know every word of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Grocery stores give me panic attacks. Sometimes, I wake in the middle of the night horrified I never saw Freddie Mercury sing live. I legitimately like sharks, but alligators can die in a fire. I can’t stand the sound of an idling engine.

Grocery stores are the devil’s playground. Or at least they’re the natural gathering ground for a lot of very slow people.

What the stupidest thing you’ve ever done?

I asked a panel full of feminists at a book convention what they thought about Christian Grey. … Hahaha, no, actually, that was brilliant. But stupid. There might have been alcohol involved.

Sure, blame alcohol.

Tell us about your worst dating experience (vampire or human)

I once had a guy take me to a movie for our first date. Halfway though, I thought I smelled pine. I looked to my right, and the guy was smoking a joint in the middle of the movie theater. To make matters worse, the movie was Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

Oh no! He took you to see The Phantom Menace?

You’re a published author! That’s a dream for a lot of people. How is it different to what you expected when you first decided you wanted to publish?

I never expected all the friends. Writing is my job, but it’s not my life. I’ve consistently tried to keep a line between the two; otherwise, I’d go nuts. Imagine my surprise when I had people from all over the world reaching out to tell me how much they loved the Bite Somebody series. Imagine my surprise when I found so many friends at book conventions. And these aren’t momentary connections—they are seemingly for life. How freaking cool is that? I’m so thankful for my Bite Somebody peeps … and I never expected my job would bring such love into my life.

That is very freaking cool.

What’s the most important piece of advice you have for pre-published authors?

Don’t listen to anyone. Well. Listen a little. I recognize the irony since you’re asking me to give advice, but … There’s this RDJ quote: “Listen, smile, agree, and then do whatever the f*** you were gonna do anyway.” There’s a lot of wisdom in this statement. People are going to be hard on you. They might even tell you to quit writing. Ignore them. That said, do find a core group of beta readers you trust who will help you grow as a writer, but get rid of people who bring you down. Stay close to the people who make you laugh, which is true in writing and in life.

Great advice, thank you, Sara. And thanks so much for joining me today in this little piece of asynchronous virtual reality.

About Bite Somebody Else:

Imogene helped her newbie vampire friend Celia hook up with an adorable human, but now Celia has dropped an atomic bomb of surprise: she has a possibly blood-sucking baby on the way. Imogene is not pleased, especially when a mysterious, ancient, and annoyingly gorgeous vampire historian shows up to monitor Celia’s unprecedented pregnancy.

Lord Nicholas Christopher Cuthbert III is everything Imogene hates: posh, mannerly, and totally uninterested in her. Plus, she thinks he’s hiding something. So what if he smells like a fresh garden and looks like a rich boarding school kid just begging to be debauched? Imogene has self-control. Or something.

As Celia’s pregnancy progresses at a freakishly fast pace, Imogene and Nicholas play an ever-escalating game of will they or won’t they, until his sexy maker shows up on Admiral Key, forcing Nicholas to reveal his true intentions toward Celia’s soon-to-arrive infant.

About Sara Dobie Bauer:

Sara Dobie Bauer is a writer, model, and mental health advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. Her short story, “Don’t Ball the Boss,” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, inspired by her shameless crush on Benedict Cumberbatch. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. She is a member of RWA and author of the paranormal rom-com Bite Somebody, among other ridiculously entertaining things.

You can find Sara all over the web: Website | Bite Somebody Else, Amazon | Bite Somebody Else, World Weaver Press | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

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