publication side with these books, I hadn’t done much homework on the characters beyond the first three heroes of my “trilogy.” So, in addition to plotting for the overall action thread of the series, I also went back to the drawing board and fleshed out character profiles for the rest of the cast going forward.
For Rio, coming up with his true name, Eleuterio de la Noche Atanacio (or, loosely translated from Spanish, “he who is free and of the night everlasting”) inspired his entire background and the dark circumstances of his youth. It also gave me the answer to what Rio’s unique Breed ability was—his “manos del diablo,” (devil’s hands), which allowed him to kill with a touch.
I don’t recall how Rio’s heroine in Midnight Rising , tabloid reporter Dylan Alexander, came to me initially. I knew he needed someone fiery and forthright, someone whose own personal goals—to find a juicy story that would hopefully save her loathed, but necessary, job—came into direct conflict with his. And at the time that Dylan stumbles upon Rio, his primary goal is to be left alone to die in peace.
Of course, Dylan didn’t merely stumble upon Rio’s hiding place; she was led there by Eva in ghost form. I felt bad for the way things ended between Eva and Rio. I knew Eva wasn’t a horrible person, just a selfish one who let her possessiveness become a disease, one that made her do something so reprehensible, there was no turning back. But I wanted to redeem her, even if only in some small way. Using her as the conduit for bringing Rio out of the dark place he’d retreated to after Eva’s betrayal felt right to me. I like things that come full circle, and letting Eva atone for what she did by guiding Dylan into his life—and later, for allowing Eva to assist Rio in saving Dylan when she was in mortal danger—is one of my favorite parts of Midnight Rising .
In addition to the emotional, romantic side of this book, we also get our first glimpse at the new villain of the series—Dragos. I wanted him to come on scene in a big way, demonstrating right up front that if Marek seemed dangerous, this guy was diabolical. Hiding behind assumed names and secret alliances that wormed deep into the highest ranks of the Enforcement Agency, Dragos was going to give the Order a real run for their money.
Midnight Rising came out in April, 2008. John and I were driving home to Michigan to visit my parents when my editor called late in the afternoon, as we were approaching Buffalo, New York (yes, I remember where I was!). The New York Times bestseller list had just come in. Midnight Rising had debuted at #6!
Rio and Dylan’s story stayed on the New York Times list for another four weeks. It spent two weeks on the USA Today bestseller list, and was my first appearance on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. Later, Midnight Rising’s German translation, Gebieterin Der Dunkelheit , would be my first bestselling title there, debuting on Der Spiegel .
Veil of Midnight
BOOK 5
Romantic Leads
Nikolai
Renata
Plot Summary
A mission to stop an assassin that’s targeting Breed elders calls warrior Nikolai to Montreal, where he crosses paths with—and finds an unlikely ally in—the one woman capable of bringing him to his knees.
Primary Story Locations
Various locations in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sergei Yakut's lodge outside Montreal
One of Dragos's labs outside Montreal
Order's compound headquarters in undisclosed location in Boston
Playlist
Bring Me to Life by Evanescence
Ghostflowers by Otep
Time of Dying by Three Days Grace
REV 22:20 by Puscifer
The Bird and The Worm by The Used
Woman by Wolfmother
Closer by Nine Inch Nails
Personal Jesus by Marilyn Manson
Story Background
I can still recall the surge of excitement I felt when I was jotting down the preliminary concept for Veil of Midnight . I’d never written a truly kickass heroine before—one who dressed
For Rio, coming up with his true name, Eleuterio de la Noche Atanacio (or, loosely translated from Spanish, “he who is free and of the night everlasting”) inspired his entire background and the dark circumstances of his youth. It also gave me the answer to what Rio’s unique Breed ability was—his “manos del diablo,” (devil’s hands), which allowed him to kill with a touch.
I don’t recall how Rio’s heroine in Midnight Rising , tabloid reporter Dylan Alexander, came to me initially. I knew he needed someone fiery and forthright, someone whose own personal goals—to find a juicy story that would hopefully save her loathed, but necessary, job—came into direct conflict with his. And at the time that Dylan stumbles upon Rio, his primary goal is to be left alone to die in peace.
Of course, Dylan didn’t merely stumble upon Rio’s hiding place; she was led there by Eva in ghost form. I felt bad for the way things ended between Eva and Rio. I knew Eva wasn’t a horrible person, just a selfish one who let her possessiveness become a disease, one that made her do something so reprehensible, there was no turning back. But I wanted to redeem her, even if only in some small way. Using her as the conduit for bringing Rio out of the dark place he’d retreated to after Eva’s betrayal felt right to me. I like things that come full circle, and letting Eva atone for what she did by guiding Dylan into his life—and later, for allowing Eva to assist Rio in saving Dylan when she was in mortal danger—is one of my favorite parts of Midnight Rising .
In addition to the emotional, romantic side of this book, we also get our first glimpse at the new villain of the series—Dragos. I wanted him to come on scene in a big way, demonstrating right up front that if Marek seemed dangerous, this guy was diabolical. Hiding behind assumed names and secret alliances that wormed deep into the highest ranks of the Enforcement Agency, Dragos was going to give the Order a real run for their money.
Midnight Rising came out in April, 2008. John and I were driving home to Michigan to visit my parents when my editor called late in the afternoon, as we were approaching Buffalo, New York (yes, I remember where I was!). The New York Times bestseller list had just come in. Midnight Rising had debuted at #6!
Rio and Dylan’s story stayed on the New York Times list for another four weeks. It spent two weeks on the USA Today bestseller list, and was my first appearance on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. Later, Midnight Rising’s German translation, Gebieterin Der Dunkelheit , would be my first bestselling title there, debuting on Der Spiegel .
Veil of Midnight
BOOK 5
Romantic Leads
Nikolai
Renata
Plot Summary
A mission to stop an assassin that’s targeting Breed elders calls warrior Nikolai to Montreal, where he crosses paths with—and finds an unlikely ally in—the one woman capable of bringing him to his knees.
Primary Story Locations
Various locations in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sergei Yakut's lodge outside Montreal
One of Dragos's labs outside Montreal
Order's compound headquarters in undisclosed location in Boston
Playlist
Bring Me to Life by Evanescence
Ghostflowers by Otep
Time of Dying by Three Days Grace
REV 22:20 by Puscifer
The Bird and The Worm by The Used
Woman by Wolfmother
Closer by Nine Inch Nails
Personal Jesus by Marilyn Manson
Story Background
I can still recall the surge of excitement I felt when I was jotting down the preliminary concept for Veil of Midnight . I’d never written a truly kickass heroine before—one who dressed
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