I can’t equivocally state that my own passion for theatre is what led several of my vampire characters to love it as well, but it does seem a safe assumption. My personal proclivities aside, however, their interest in the stage seemed only natural. Theirs is a life that is not quite real and they spend a great deal of time pretending to be what they’re not. For vampires, all the world really is a stage.
There is something both appealing and saddening about this aspect of the vampire life, which is a major part of why I wanted to explore it in-depth. We might dress up as vampires on Halloween, but they pretend to be human every night of their lives. I don’t believe it wears on them—I think there is always some thrill and there is certainly acceptance, but it must occasionally feel strange. They can dress up and play the part of insiders, but are the ultimate outsiders.
So this desire was one reason I found so much joy in writing about such ancient vampires. They allowed me to go back in time through their eyes. I studied history at the University of York in England, which is an incredible city even if you're not a history geek. But if you are, just walking the streets is an education. The history is literally under your feet and you can feel it, as well as see it. The city is simultaneously ancient and modern, just like the vampires, and it was only natural that they lived there for many centuries before moving to London.
There’s an old saying: “God writes lousy drama.” It’s very familiar to anyone who writes historical fiction in any capacity, and even if you’re an atheist, it’s still apt. The idea is that you can’t write most stories exactly as they occurred (to the extent documented, that is) because even riveting history can make for a dull book or play. Writers can derive a lot of comfort from this saying, because it offers a certain amount of carte blanche to alter history as needed to suit a narrative. Of course, you can also run into trouble if you start thinking it lets you off the hook when it comes to complicated history and research.
Enjoy these sample chapters from 
