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When my editor asked if I ever wanted to try my hand at a horror/fantasy book, I responded with a
resounding YES! YES! YES! As soon as I got off the phone with her, my mind was whirling with so
many ideas. I knew from the beginning I wanted to wr ite a big epic fantasy, like my favorite books
from childhood: King’s Dark Tower series, Isaac Asimov’s The Foundation trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien’s
The Lord of the Rings, Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. But I al so wanted to set the story in the
modern world, like J.K. Rowling’s wonderful Harry Potter books, which reminded me, as an adult,
how pleasurable reading books coul d be. I especially wanted to set it in New York City, my home,
which I had just left and missed terribly, as we had moved to Los Angeles in late 2003.
It just happened that at the time my editor called, I was tooling around on the Internet and had
found a Web site that listed every passenger on the Mayflower, along w ith their notable descendants.
The list was the “lightning bulb” fro m the beginning: I thought, what if all these wealthy, important,
and influential Americans (the list includes the likes of the Bushes and the Roosevelts, but also—which
I thought was more intere sting—American icons like Oprah and Marilyn Monroe)—what if all these
great people had come to be that way because they were . . . (da da dum . . .) UNDEAD?
(BWAHA-HA-HA-HA.) My other idea was that I very much wanted to have an origin story for my vampires. I had yet to
come across a vampire novel that had one. I wanted a believable explanation for their existence. I had
always loved the story of Paradise Lost and found Lucifer’s fall incred ibly romantic and tragic. And so:
the Mayflower, the New York elite, and vampires as cursed angels who fell with Lucifer—my outline
was really starting to take shape. I imagined a large, sprawling stor y with a huge cast of characters. Some pieces came into place
easily: three girls, three different motivations. Schuyl er, the shy girl who might hold the key to the Blue
Bloods’ salvation; Mimi, whose superficial façade masks her true nature; and Bliss, who hides a
dangerous secret. Other pieces, like how the Lost Co lony of Roanoke figured into the tale, came as I

was writingthe first book. Soon I was off and running, and now, five years later, I am more immersed
in the story than ever. It is alive in my mind, the Blue Bloods’ sa ga dominates talk at my dinner table
(my husband is a supportive sounding board), I spend my days turning over plot points, and I can’t
sleep if I can’t solve a character’s dilemma.
In these pages you’ll find the myt hology of the Blue Bloods explained, some new stories featuring
our favorite young vampires, and a sneak peek at wh at’s to come. I should warn you, The Repository
Files, which include character profiles, were writte n by rather crotchety historians who work for the
humorless Committee, so you might find their estimation of the characters a little astringent. Also,
while the Repository might think they know everything, careful read ers will observe that in certain
instances their knowledge is somewhat limited. Thank you for welcoming the Blue Bl oods into your library. I have very much enjoyed the journey
that has brought the‡€h eight=div>ractereigm to your shelves.
I don’t remember how Stephen King said good-bye to his readers, but for me, it’s always a very
fond . . . xoxo
Mel

THE REPOSITORY FILES
The following documents you are about to read contain top secret and classified information
concerning the history of the Blue Bloods. These records were compiled and maintained by Conduit
Renfield, the Repository’s longest-serving histor ian, along with higher-ranking scribes and their
interns. The Committee employs a secret underground network of Wardens, Venators, Conduits, and
interns to keep their members safe and also to keep track of their actions and whereabouts. In Blue
Bloods (or Repository R ecord #101), Mimi Force said of the Committee Wardens: “It was eerie how
they knew so much about you—almo st as if they were always there, watching.” She was right.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN PARADISE
The Fall and Rise of the Blue Bloods
It was the beginning of the end. Lucifer, the Prince of Heaven, the Morningsta r, the most beautiful
angel of