About Colleen Gleason | Author of The Gardella Vampire Chronicles

I can't remember a time when I wasn't writing some kind of story – from the 6th-grade version of Gilligan's Island that starred my classmates and me, to the passed-around-the-classroom story of my friends in high school meeting our favorite rock band and the adventures that ensued, to my first real attempt at writing a full-length novel, which was in college (when I should have been studying).

Off and on over the years, during my career in health care and with small business start-ups, getting married, raising two dogs and three children, I wrote – sometimes finishing the book, sometimes moving on to greener pastures (ie, a different story. New. Exciting. Fresh!).

I recently became addicted to Buffy the Vampire Slayer (thank heaven for DVDs!), and thought ... hmm ... what would it be like if Buffy had been living during the times of balls and chaperones and the ton? And thus The Gardella Legacy was born.

The first book in the historical Gardella Legacy series of vampire hunters, The Rest Falls Away (Signet), was released in January 2007. The second, Rises the Night (Signet), will be available in early June 2007.

I hope you enjoy the books and would love to hear from you!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I've been writing stories since I was in elementary school. All through high school and college I wrote (when I should have been studying) and finally finished my first novel after I finished college. Unfortunately, I didn't sell that one. Or the one after that, or the one after that... .

How many books did you write before you sold your first novel?
The Rest Falls Away was the ninth novel I finished writing, and the first book I sold (actually, it was part of a two-book contract).

How did you sell your books?
My agent sold them by pitching them to an editor who decided to buy them!

How long does it take you to write a book?
About five months, approximately.

Did you pick your covers?
No, my publisher's art department conceives and designs all of my covers. And in my opinion, they do an amazing job!

Do you work a day-job?
No, I'm lucky enough to be able to write full-time now. It's a life-long dream come true.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
When I'm not hanging out with my three kids and husband, I love to read, garden, cook, and watch movies.

How can I get my books published?
The best advice I can give is to write the best book you can write – finish it – and then start to submit it to agents and editors that represent/buy the kind of book you've written. And while you're waiting to hear from them (which will be months), write another book. Finish it – make it the best book you can! And then start to send that book out. And then write another one. And send it out. And keep doing this until one of two things happens: you sell, or you give up. There's no shortcut, no easy way.

That's how people get their books published. Unless you're famous ... and then, it might be a little bit quicker!