That evening, rowing on the quiet river as sunset turned to dusk, I saw an occasional smoky smudge on the towpath, always slightly ahead of me, like a dark star guiding me home.

My experiences thus far had me planning to throttle the first Tudor historian I met upon my return for gross dereliction of duty.

All that children need is love, a grown-up to take responsibility for them, and a soft place to land.

there’s nothing more powerful than human fear—not magic, not vampire strength. Nothing.

Desire urges me on as fear bridles me" Bruno.

I'd studied 16th century science and magic. I thought it was strange that people were interested in the same kinds of things my research was about. The more I thought about it, the more intriguing it became and pretty soon I was writing a novel about a reluctant witch and a 1500-year-old vampire.

I know,I can smell it, too.