Maggie Blackbird

Today, I have author Marisette Burgess in the interview chair. We’re discussing her latest release Salvation by Blood, a paranormal, fantasy romance. Be sure to check out the freebie alert. And don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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1. What is something unique/quirky about you?

Marisette: Other than writing, I enjoy traveling and relaxing in front of serene landscapes with my family. Things I could not live without are flip-flops, mints, coke zero, and yoga capris.

2. If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?

Marisette: Somewhere peaceful with lots of greenery around. Like, sitting on a cliff surrounded by a luscious green forest overlooking the ocean. Preferably with the love of my life, snuggled together enjoying nature’s serenity. If I’m lucky enough when nightfall comes it would grace me with a full moon.

3. Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie?

Marisette: All of them. 🙂These stories play out in my mind like movie scenes. Salvation by Blood, I can picture as a dark, steamy and horror-ish TV series. Like American Horror Story: Hotel, The Originals, or True Blood.

4. Where were you born/grew up?

Marisette: I was born in LA, California the year the Dodgers won the World Series, so a Dodger blue fan all the way. But, I grew up in WPB, Florida. I’ve lived on the East Coast, Central, and West Coast of Florida throughout my life.

5. What can we expect from you in the future?

Marisette: My plan is to start writing Part 3 in July, with a release date set for 2025. I have a loose outline of events and plot, but the direction I want the story to go still needs some fine tuning. As of right now, my intention is that part 3 will be the finale to the Demarkus and Skylar story arc. But, originally, I never planned for a Part 2 or 3, yet here we are. So we’ll see.

6. If you could invite any characters from all your books to a dinner party, who would you invite and why?

Marisette: Alright, assuming my table held ten with me sitting at the head, I would want Sam Kleon across from me. He’s from my original published series. He’s the evilly misunderstood and under-credited hard core character who would bring some uncomfortable tension to the night. I would sit Demarkus next to him, as I could see them getting along. Then Skylar as she plays fun dinner games with Demarkus. I would invite James Kleon and Cole Osei, as the light-hearted comic relief. Then Antony Kleon and his wife, the siren, Ligeia. She’s feisty like Skylar and taunts her husband. I can see the two getting along. Although she can only speak telepathically through her husband, that’s why he’s at the table to help translate. Finally, I would sit PoPo Osei across from Victor because I would love to see her put that pretentious, creepy vamp in his place.

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Title: Salvation By Blood
Series: Parts 1 & 2
Author: Marisette Burgess
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance

Skylar is gifted to be his human pet. Demarkus, a vampire lord, must take her blood, her body, then her life. But can he?

Blurb: Skylar by no means had the perfect life- but she was free. Until the night vampires broke into her apartment and snatched her. Now, she finds herself in a real life hell, the kind horror movies are made of. She’s gifted to a vampire lord to serve as his pet, but only for a week. Three certainties exist. He will take her blood, take her body, then take her life.

Demarkus Osei, Lord of his clan, is obliged to attend the 20th Vampiric Centennial Conclave. A task he loathes. For one week, he’s given a human to fulfill his duty to his family. But this year there is something different about his slave. Aside from the fact that he and every vampire at the Conclave find her blood mouthwatering, she’s unique. There’s an inescapable pull. He can’t quite put his finger on it, but the urge to protect her, to spare her from pain, is overwhelming. But he’s a vampire. His thirst and hunger must be sated.

As Skylar and Demarkus navigate through his basic vampiric cravings, they can’t ignore the cruel reality of their situation, their inner monsters, or the looming end of their time together. This once rational, put-together lord, now finds himself making rash illicit decisions, to spare her and himself from pain. Will he choose to follow what is demanded, resulting in her demise, or will he defy every vampiric decree?

Marisette Burgess’ new twist on vampiric folklore doesn’t disappoint as she seamlessly weaves a Beauty and the Beast trope into the rich tapestry of a vampire love story. Skylar and Demarkus’ slave/master relationship keeps the reader wanting more as she tries desperately to keep the vampire’s needs under control while he fights his urge to not fall in love.

**Get it FREE June 27th – July 1st!!**

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The vampire surveyed the room, glancing over her as if she was a part of the furnishings. Once his eyes took in his new surroundings, he returned them to her. His smoldering stare inspected his new pet.

She panicked. Tugging relentlessly on her handcuffs. Her legs pushed her into the wall as if one of these times the wall would open up and let her through. She panted, unable to get enough air.

He moved so fast she didn’t even see him take any steps, but in seconds he was crouching before her next to the beanbag chair.

“No, no please,” she continued her attempt to get away from him.

He placed his hand onto her feet over the leather binding, holding them in place. “Shh,

it’s okay,” he said in a tender, soothing voice.

She calmed, but her large rounded eyes watched his odd shaped diagonal pupils as they scanned her features. When he finished taking in her simple pale beauty, he slid his hand behind her neck and, with a firm grip, held her still. His hand was a chilling contrast against her warm skin. His face moved into the crevice of her neck.

She cried. 

His frigid breath tickled her skin, causing goosebumps to travel the length of her arms. Through his nose, he took in a deep, meaningful whiff. He jerked his head back with furrowed eyebrows.

Her light gray eyes beseeched. She whimpered.

He inhaled again, deeply. “Bloody hell, you are mouthwatering,” he whispered.

She wept.

“I’ve never smelled anyone so exquisite… fascinating.”

Sporadic spasms shot through her joints like a rolling wave.

His grip on her neck eased and his eyes softened as they scanned her features and her body. She shifted her legs, attempting to lower the hem of the mini white dress they had put her in.

“Shh, relax,” he said. “What is your name?”

The ability to speak was not an option for her right now. All she could do was try to remember how to breathe. He released her neck and leaned back. Affording her more space between them.

“Let us attempt this once more, shall we? I am Demarkus and you are?”

Her bottom lip trembled as her eyes looked down. She said nothing.

He sighed, with a disappointed frown. “Alright, I see.” He glanced down at the leather straps around her feet. “Let’s undo these.” He pulled out a key from the pocket of his coat and unlocked the linked cuffs to her feet. He then unfastened the straps, holding them tight to her skin and slid them off. With the same key, he unlocked the leather cuffs from the iron pole they chained her hands to, but kept them bound with the handcuffs.

Demarkus ran his hand over her thigh. His touch was icy. Her whole body went tight, and she tried to squirm away.

She whimpered, “Don’t… Don’t please…please.”

He squeezed her thigh gently. 

“I know they explained your purpose here this week. Our time together is short. It will all come to an end soon. It’s a quick six days and then it’s over.”

She bit her lips, trying to contain the outburst of tears. “What are you going to do to me?” She eyed him up and down. “Will you…are you going to take my blood and body?” she breathed in a low whisper.

With tender eyes and a calming voice, he nodded, “Eventually.”

Her entire resolve melted, and she lost control. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up to a standing position. The minute she was upright, her body protested. Her skin sweated, the color drained from her face. Her legs buckled, and she could not hold herself up. She went dizzy, disorientated and the world blurred sporadically. She collapsed, and he caught her.

“What in the world?” he said. He scanned her face. “This is not right. This is more than a faint fright. What is wrong?” he asked.

She swallowed, trying to form salvia, but her mouth was bone dry. He gripped her chin with a firm hand and brought her face upright and close to his. “What is wrong I asked,” his tone was serious.

She mustered the courage to answer. “I’m a diabetic,” she sputtered.

“What?” he spat in shock.

She swallowed again. “I have diabetes, they locked me on that beanbag all day…I haven’t…I haven’t eaten anything…and…and I feel like my blood sugar is probably low right now.” Her voice sounded like she was a scared little girl confessing to something she did wrong.

He blinked as he absorbed the information she just revealed. He squeezed her chin again.

“What is your name?” His tone remained the same, forceful and authoritative.

“Skylar.”

The edge of his mouth rose. In a nicer voice, he said, “That’s pretty.”

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Marisette loves writing about the fantastical and pushing her imagination to the limit. Her son asked her once why she writes and her response was because it allows her to cope with her crazy. She likes to explore themes like girl power, diversity, perseverance, and fighting against the odds. Stories with diverse backgrounds hold a special place in her heart. One reason mixed representation and diverse families are important to her is because her family is mixed. She lives in Florida with her husband, two children and two rescue Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mixes named Ivory and Ebony.

Other than writing, she enjoys traveling and relaxing in front of serene landscapes with her family. Things she cannot live without are flip-flops, coke zero, and yoga capris.

Marisette is author to the Symbol of Hope Trilogy on Amazon a YA Supernatural Adventure Romance.

Latest projects include a sultry vampiric Novella- Salvation by Blood

Follow Marisette: Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | Bookbub | Amazon | Goodreads

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