Interview with Melissa de la Cruz

Hello Mel, it is an honour to have you answering some questions for us at The Vampire Library today! I would first like to congratulate you on the release of the final Blue Bloods novel Gates of Paradise.

How does it feel to be wrapping up a series that has spanned seven books and two companion books?

It's very satisfying and a little bittersweet. It's nice to have the closure and to know that it was a job well done, and it's amazing how much the Blue Bloods changed my life. But I'm also excited for all the new things to come, I have many new projects I'm working on and I can't wait to unveil them all!

What is the hardest part of bringing closure to characters that must be very dear to you?

Saying goodbye - or thinking I was saying goodbye -- to their childhoods I think... they are not teenagers anymore, they're adults... they have adult responsibilities now. Which leads to your next question... 🙂

Your website says that this is the end of the first cycle and that "a new chapter with new characters (and some old ones!) will begin a new Blue Bloods series." This is exciting news for your readers! Is there anything more you can tell us about the second cycle?

Oliver will be the main focus of the second cycle, and I'm still figuring out who else will be in it, on the one hand the story has ended with Blue Bloods, but on the other hand, there is a new story on the horizon so I'm trying to figure out who will populate the new story. I think at the very least there will be cameos from some of our favorites. But I don't think they will be the main focus. I think Richelle Mead was so wise when she said, "Well who wants to read Vampire Academy the Bed Bath and Beyond Years?" Right?

I find the history and mythology of your vampires to be unique and interesting. How did you come up with the original premise behind the Blue Bloods?

I wanted to have an origin story for my vampires, and the idea that they were cast out of heaven with Lucifer came so naturally to me. I've always loved the story of Paradise Lost.

Where do you find the inspiration for your main characters?

I wanted to create three different girls - one who was an outcast, one who was an insider, and one who was an insider with a dark secret. From there, parts of my personality filtered to Sky, Mimi and Bliss. Bliss is probably the farthest from me, and Schuyler at first probably the closest, but in the end I have to say Mimi is closest to my voice.

Does your work in fashion and beauty play a part in developing the world in your novels?

In Blue Bloods, a little in the beginning and I wanted to pay homage to that in the last book. But not so much anymore.

Finally, my favourite question to ask authors, who are some of your own favourite authors and literary inspirations?

It's hard to name a favorite, especially in different times of your life you have different favorites. I loved Stephen King, Anne Rice and Frank Herbert when I was a teen, but I don't read so much sci-fi/fantasy anymore except for George RR Martin's Game of Thrones (which I started reading in the 90s!). In my genre, love books by my friends Margaret Stohl, Alyson Noel, Deborah Harkness. I loved Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. These days my favorite writers are funny ladies or thoughtful ladies, I love Jen Lancaster, Jen Weiner, and I also deeply love Cheryl Mendelsohn but she doesn't seem to write novels anymore which is so sad. My other latest favorite is Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple. I worship her.

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