Inspiration for Chalice

It never ceases to amaze me that although we are writers, visual stimulation and inspiration play a large part in making our stories come alive.

I started out with location. Sapphire is a vampire living in New York.

She lives in a secure penthouse apartment...I wanted a building with history, security, and a certain je ne c'est quois, spookiness! What

would be best than 55 Central Park West, otherwise known as the Ghostbuster building?

Sapphire McKenzie is a young vampire. She was turned in 1999 by Sam Bosan. She's brilliant -- in fact, she's been hailed as the armchair greatest detective since Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's older brother. Like Sherlock, she's accomplished in many things, computer programming, forensics, and music.

Derek Chastain retired from playing ball after he damaged his knees in a playoff game. Now his income is derived by commercial endorsements and the stock market. Unfortunately, since he can no longer play the game he loves, he's now just plays...with women's hearts. If Sapphire hadn't rejected his proposal two years ago, things might have turned out differently. But now, all those women are disappearing and reappearing...dead. The only one not missing (yet) is Sapphire -- can she prevent him from being framed for murders he didn't commit?