Hi there! I’m spreading the word on a contemporary YA paranormal adventure romance from debut author DK Janotta. FIFTY PERCENT VAMPIRE tracks the misadventures of Astrid, a half-vampire, as she attempts to assimilate into human society.

About the book:
Living at home is driving seventeen-year-old Astrid Sonnschein nuts. She’s desperate to leave her parents behind, and why not, with stepfather George a foul-tempered old vampire, and Mom — well, the less we say about Mom the better.
Our heroine has another compelling reason for getting out of Dodge. If she stays home any longer she’s in danger of being transformed forever, and the last thing she wants is to become the newest Nosferatu.

She escapes to start a new life with her aunt and uncle, but soon finds out that nothing lasts forever. Living a lie proves to be more than a challenge, and Astrid is soon tracked down by the one person she hoped never to see again.
To make things even more complicated, she falls for Mike, a handsome young cop who has every last girl in town under his spell. Will Astrid be able to keep her guard up, or will her new love be her downfall?

Thoughts from the author:
In ‘Fifty Percent Vampire’ there are frequent references to the books your heroine Astrid Sonnschein is reading (when she isn’t obsessing about Mike Hanson). I guess there is some significance in this?

You’re right, the books Astrid is reading are of great significance. Most, if not all, are books from her stepfather George’s extensive library, books he has collected over the centuries. George is hooked on accumulating human knowledge, and he has influenced his stepdaughter in a similar way, to appreciate the very best of human thought. I wouldn’t say he is exactly brainwashing her; I guess this is normal. What parent doesn’t want to have some control over their offspring’s thought processes? Even after Astrid leaves Vampville and starts attending high school, she still continues to study the books George sends her via her mother, such is their importance to her.

At the same time, Astrid is also getting valuable exposure to her Aunt Jean’s worldview, mostly the various world religions, maybe a more emotional education than the masterpieces of science and philosophy provided by George.

In his own way George is helping Astrid to decide which future she wants.

Yes, I get the impression that Astrid has been rather sheltered in her upbringing.

This is true. Astrid spent her first seventeen years at home, with no contact to the outside world. It’s not surprising she now wants to spread her wings and explore. There’s also the matter of choosing immortality or a normal human life however, with temptations on both sides of the argument.

Interested? You can find FIFTY PERCENT VAMPIRE on Goodreads, Amazon, Amazon CA, Amazon UK, and Amazon Australia. The book is currently on sale for $.99 through the end of the week.

About the Author
D.K. Janotta was born and raised in England and Wales but now calls a chalet on a mountainside overlooking beautiful Lake Geneva in Switzerland home. He has worked in Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway, France, South Korea, and several states of the USA. He subverts the vampire genre to ask questions about and reflect on the meaning of human life.

You can catch up with DK on his website, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!