Guest Post & Giveaway With Author Dianne Duvall

Today we have the lovely Dianne Duvall joining us, please give her a warm welcome! Dianne is an author of paranormal romance and her debut novel, Darkness Dawns, was released February 1st, 2011. This is the first novel in her new Immortal Guardians series. You can see my review on Darkness Dawns here. (I LOVED it btw!)

Immortality:  Is It Worth It?

More often than not in paranormal romances, the heroine is human and the hero is a preternatural being:  Vampire, were-animal (I love that they come in different forms now), demon, or -- as in my debut paranormal romance Darkness Dawns -- immortal.  Technically the immortals in my Immortal Guardians series aren’t immortal.  They can be killed.  But decapitation is about the only thing that will do it.  As a result, they are capable of living thousands of years and may as well be immortal, particularly when compared to humans, who have a far briefer life span.

Many of the other preternatural beings I mentioned are the same.  They can be killed or destroyed, but usually live centuries, if not millennia and are mostly immortal.  This leaves the human heroine who falls in love with one of them with quite a dilemma.  Assuming it’s possible, should she or should she not allow the hero to “change” her and make her immortal, too?  Is immortality worth it?  It is, after all, not without its disadvantages.

We all know the pros.  One would never have to worry about succumbing to illness or disease.  Oftentimes becoming immortal also lends one dramatically increased strength and speed and enhances one’s senses.  One could remain young indefinitely.  Considering how many people buy reverse and anti-aging products (yes, I’m one of them), I’m guessing this one alone would make many leap at the chance.  :-)  Just think of all the things someone so long-lived would see.  Roland Warbrook, the hero in Darkness Dawns, has lived nearly a thousand years.  He has witnessed amazing changes in the world and in society.  It sounds great, right?

Well, there are also downsides.  Immortal beings in paranormal romances often live in secret societies, their very existence hidden from mortal men.  If the heroine agrees to be “changed,” she will most likely be forbidden to tell her family and will have to leave them, faking her own death after a few years.  Otherwise will notice the fact that they are aging, but she isn’t.  This is usually the greatest obstacle heroines must overcome in paranormal romances.  Understandably, they are reluctant to turn their backs on their families.  If, on the other hand, they aren’t required to and are instead allowed to tell their family members everything, the heroines will outlive them all.  They’ll also outlive their friends.  A common source of angst for preternatural beings is the many human deaths they witness.  Some find it difficult to become close to humans, then lose them time and time again, generation after generation.  So, this, too is a drawback.

There are additional cons that are specific to each particular kind of preternatural being.  The heroine contemplating transforming might, for instance, not be too fond of the notion of shifting or turning into an animal.  Becoming a demon has religious repercussions.  In Darkness Dawns, both vampires and immortals require regular infusions of blood.  Without it, both lose their accelerated healing capabilities.  Vampires will die if denied long enough and immortals will slip into a sort of stasis or hybernation.  Many heroines in vampire romances balk at the idea of drinking blood.  In Darkness Dawns some of the “ick factor” is removed because the immortals don’t actually drink the blood.  Their fangs act like IV needles and syphon it directly into their veins.  But blood is still necessary and may repel human heroines who are contemplating joining the preternatural world permanently.

Yet another con or drawback to immortality is also listed as a pro or an advantage of it:  dramatically enhanced senses.  On the surface, this sounds good.  I, personally, would love the enhanced vision, being able to see in the dark, etc.  But the enhanced sense of smell may not be so great.  I would imagine being around crowds of people would be quite unpleasant.  Everything from perfumes and colognes to the scents from soap, hairspray and clothing detergent to B.O. and bad breath would be magnified.  Food aromas would, too.  A more acute sense of hearing may not be such a plus either, considering what a noisy society we’ve become.  Loud music, the clamor of construction, blaring car horns and sirens, the neighbor’s dog that barks for hours on end . . .  Even such mundane sounds as the refrigerator or air conditioner cycling on would be loud.  What if you couldn’t voluntarily tune it out?  It would be irksome, to say the least, possibly even painful.

So, considering these and other drawbacks, would immortality -- or a semblance of immortality -- be worth it?  The heroines who love immortal heroes certainly seem to think so.  But what do you think?  Perhaps Darkness Dawns will help you decide.  :-)

Blurb

ISBN-10: 1-4201-1861-7 

ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-1861-2

In this dazzling, sensual novel, Dianne Duvall beckons readers into a world of vampires, immortals, and humans with extraordinary gifts . . . where passion can last forever, if you're willing to pay the price . . .

Once, Sarah Bingham’s biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she’s landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control . . . 

In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible -- when it mean forfeiting the world she’s always known, and the life he would do anything to protect.

Question

What would be the biggest deterrent for you if you were considering becoming an immortal or mostly immortal preternatural being?

Thanks so much for joining me today! You can find me on the internet:

Website

The Immortal Realm Blog

Face Book

Twitter

GoodReads

And don't forget, there is still time to enter my Win A Kindle contest! Visit my website for more details.  :-)

Dianne Duvall

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Thank you Dianne for visiting us today at Paranormal Romance Addict! I look forward to reading more of this phenomenal series!

-Giveaway-

Dianne has graciously offered one signed copy of Darkness Dawns as a giveaway for readers!

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Giveaway is opened internationally and will end at 11:59pm on March 10th. At that time a winner will be selected using random.org and announced shortly thereafter. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the notification email before a new winner is chosen.

-To Enter- 

Leave a comment answering Dianne's question and don't forget to leave your email address so that we can contact you if you're a winner! 

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED