ATTENTION VAMPIRE ACADEMY FANS…
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE IS ALMOST HERE!!!!
Just a few more days, then all of us Rose & Dimitri, Lissa & Christian, Adrian… aahhhh, Adrian… *ahem*, fans will have access to all the facts and trivia about the books in our hot little hands. Michelle Rowan (bestselling author in her own right, and superfan of the VA series) has collected all the important facts and juicy details about the characters, the storylines, and the world of St. Vladimir’s and put them all together in one place. She’s also included memorable quotes (broken down by book), and spread throughout the guide are results from her in depth Q&A with Vampire Academy series author, Richelle Mead. This Q&A answers some of the whys and hows of the story, and offers some insight into the characters we love so much.
Michelle was kind enough to take time out of her insanely busy writing schedule to answer a few questions about the guide.
1) Obviously you have to be a big fan of the series in order to author the Ultimate Guide. What was it about the story that hooked you?
I was a huge fan of the series ever since I received an ARC of the very first book from my agent (who is also Richelle’s agent). Got to say what initially hooked me was the “forbidden” relationship between Rose and Dimitri — the chemistry between the two is incredible! Loved every minute of their roller coaster relationship! Plus, Rose was such a dynamic heroine, even when I was shaking my head at some of the crazy decisions she made, she was just so real and compelling on the page. And then later, I was hooked by Adrian! (Because he’s hot). So, the characters, the world, the story…everything drew me in and kept me turning the pages!
2) What prompted the idea of an Ultimate Guide for the series?
I’m honestly not sure what prompted the idea in the first place — but I’m pretty sure it had A LOT to do with the extremely enthusiastic fan base this series is blessed to have. All I know is that one night last year, Richelle was in Toronto for an event and we went out for dinner. She mentioned that Razorbill was thinking about doing a Guide and I immediately said “ME WANT TO WRITE THAT!” My sincere enthusiasm for the series and for Richelle’s writing, as well as a few more connections that came together helped pave the way for my getting the chance to be a part of the Vampire Academy world!
3) How did you get the information that is included in the guide? Did you do a Q&A with Richelle about things YOU wanted to know?
For the bulk of the Guide, I reread each of the books slowly and took copious notes on everything — characters, terms, plot, favorite quotes, etc. — then organized it into the sections I already had mapped out. There were a few things that I had to go directly to Richelle to find out — such as a couple of last names that weren’t readily available in the books themselves. She was more than happy to help me out whenever I needed a little guidance!
4) Will there be any new “story” in the Ultimate guide? Some other series guides include a novella or short story that was created specifically for it.
The Ultimate Guide is what I’d call a fun overview of the series as it was written — a journey through the world of Rose, Lissa, and their friends, and the plots, characters, relationships, terminology, tattoos, etc. While there are no new stories included, there are some awesome insights from Richelle herself about her writing process, about the characters and world, and many Q&As throughout the book with her which adds a real personal and exclusive touch to the Guide. Also, there’s plenty of fun quizzes throughout to test a reader’s knowledge about the world of Vampire Academy. And the color insert is fantastic, giving a great glimpse into the gorgeous artwork used in the VA graphic novels.
5) Is there anything you inadvertently left out of the guide you had planned to include, but realized after it was too late to add it? Here’s your chance to share, lol 
Quite honestly? I think I included everything I could! If there’s something I left out, I don’t know what it could possibly be! 
So… can’t wait til the 22nd to get your hands on the Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide?? Take a shot at winning a copy, autographed by Michelle Rowen, by posting your favorite quote from any of the books in the Vampire Academy series in the comments below. (I’m curious how many of YOUR favorite quotes ended up in the Guide!)
Please remember to include your first name and email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win. Contest will end Saturday, December 17th at midnight, pacific time. Winner will be chosen and have 7 days to respond to my notification. The prize copy of the Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide will be sent out by Michelle, so she can personalize it for you!
Can’t wait to see all the quotes!! Good Luck!!
