Exclusive Interview with Drew Cross Author of ‘BiteMarks’

Author Drew Cross may be new to the writing scene, but if the plot to his debut novel BiteMarks says anything it’s that he’ll be here a while. Instead of going the cliché route by writing about magical vampires with superpowers, he delved into the world of real vampires, vampires that hide among you and I, those part of the vampire and fetishist subculture. Props to Drew for taking an often taboo subject a making it his own. I was lucky enough to chat with the author himself on his upcoming book and more, check it out.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Sure thing: I’m a 30 year old former model and ex-police officer (sadly never a model police officer though!) from Nottingham. I’m a keen martial artist, and interested in Eastern Philosophy, Goth subculture and heavy metal music (Tool, Machinehead, Deftones etc, etc). I look absolutely nothing like your average rocker these days, due to my profession (Financial Consultant).

Can you tell us about your book BiteMarks?
BiteMarks is best summed up by its tagline: Blood, lust and bloodlust collide when the police investigation into vampiric attacks threatens to uncover the dark secrets of one that they call their own…

How does BiteMarks differ from out vampire books?
The differences are twofold: firstly, there are no supernatural characters in the book. Shane Marks the main character is a young PC…and a practicing blood-fetishist; the man he’s hunting for very personal reasons, is by contrast, delusional and a different kind of dangerous.
Secondly, the vampiric elements are a foil for the dissection of the police force, the criminal underclass, and the darkness in our own hearts.

Where did you get the idea for BiteMarks?
I had a lot of unresolved conflicts after leaving the police force myself. I was young and different; secretive about my personal life, and guarded around my colleagues. The idea for the book came out of those feelings of isolation and separation.

What is one thing you would like people to take away from their experience of reading BiteMarks?
That we don’t have to be defined by the things that we’ve done; there is always absolution in one form or another if you can come to terms with yourself.

Given the current vampire craze, people seem to feel especially attracted to vampires, why do you think that is?
Vampires are amoral, seductive, powerful, immortal; they embody many of the things that frighten us, but that we would secretly like to be at the same time!

Who’s your favorite fictitious vampire (other than your own)?
I personally like the character ‘Nothing’ from Poppy Z Brite’s ‘Lost Souls’.

What is your favorite vampire book/movie/show?
Fave vamp book, Lost Souls too; movie-wise, I like Lost Boys for nostalgic reasons.

Tell our readers why they should check out your book – in 3 words: (bwahaha)
3 words, that’s tough! I’ll go for: It’s entirely unique.

And finally, what other projects are you currently working on? Any goodies we should watch out for?
Other projects are plentiful! There’s the second ‘Marks’ book entitled ‘TrackMarks’, a children’s fantasy trilogy called ‘The Scarmap’, a YA novel about grief and loss called ‘The Girl and Her Ghost’, and a video nasty of a book percolating which is as yet untitled but revolves around a murderer who uses staging his ‘scenes’ as elaborate love letters to the lead Investigator.

Find Drew here:
Official website
Twitter

– Moonlight