Mailbag #2: More questions to answer!

written by Betsy Flak on 2017-12-07

In this second installment of the mailbag, I'll answer a few more questions from readers.

What makes The Clan-Vampire Clash book series so special?

A few things. First and foremost, my vampires are evil, not sparkly, brooding creatures for humans to fall in love with (don't worry, I still heart you, Twilight). Secondly, it's told from multiple perspectives. Think of it as Harry Potter if you got to read chapters from Ron's, Hermione's, and Voldemort's perspectives in addition to Harry's. Finally, there are multiple plotlines in each book, ranging from everyday high school drama to epic battles of vampires and vampire hunters, with a good amount of scheming on all counts. In a nutshell, it's Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Harry Potter with a dash of Game of Thrones.

What order should I read the books in? Can I get the whole series in one go?

I'm going to go with the easy answer first: no, you can't get the whole series in one go. Mostly because I'm still writing it! Books 1-3 are in edits, and I plan to start writing Books 4-6 in 2018. Since there are eighteen books planned, it's going to be quite a while before the whole series is available. But I hope you join me on the journey! There's going to be a super fun recap section at the beginning of each book so you don't have to re-read the earlier books if you don't want to (think of it as the narrator of Jane the Virgin but in high school).

And now for the harder question: what order to read the books in. You have a couple of options. If you want to read chronologically, start with The Unleashed Creation (The Clan-Vampire Clash: A Stand-Alone Prequel Novelette), then read The Impossible Creation (The Clan-Vampire Clash: A Stand-Alone Prequel), and finally The Impossible Adventure (The Clan-Vampire Clash: Meet Your Misadventure #1). That will get you all caught up to the first book in the proper The Clan-Vampire Clash book series.

The other option is to start with Book #1 of The Clan-Vampire Clash, and read the two prequels (The Unleashed Creation and The Impossible Creation) at a later date. Which option you pick is up to you.

Note: You can read The Clan-Vampire Clash: Meet Your Misadventure book series (a series of interactive stories set in the world of The Clan-Vampire Clash) whenever you want. The main characters of the regular series may make cameos in the Meet Your Misadventure side series, but they won't do anything that affects or reveals the plots of The Clan-Vampire Clash regular series. The Meet Your Misadventure series is meant to stand alone, but it also contains fun little tidbits here and there for fans of the regular The Clan-Vampire Clash book series.

Why should I give these books a try?

There are several reasons. First, one of my favorite things as a reader is finding a book that I can read multiple times and discover new things each time (such as the foreshadowing of a major plot twist that I didn't notice the first time around). As a writer, I love adding in all those little details that you only find with a second or third read. I want you to enjoy my books over and over and over again!

Secondly, there's an epic good versus evil battle planned where the stakes get higher and higher with each and every book, resulting in a climax that leaves me breathless (and I'm books away from writing it). I've got a lot of crazy stuff planned for all eighteen books and I can't wait to share it with you!

Thirdly, I try to include a diverse cast of characters, whether that's in terms of race, sexual orientation, gender stereotypes (or defying them), body shape, etc. And of course, there are strong women (and men) galore.

And that's it for now! Tune in next time for more questions and answers.

Miss the last mailbag? Check out Mailbag #1.