Latina Heroine Thrives in Vampire Novel

New Jersey writer, Caridad Pineiro Scordato, a leading author of multicultural romances, is putting some bite into her work with the release of DARKNESS CALLS, a vampire novel with a Latina heroine. DARKNESS CALLS will be released under the authors pen name, Caridad Pineiro, by Silhouette, a major publisher of romances and part of the Harlequin family.

In DARKNESS CALLS, Latina FBI Agent Diana Reyes has learned how to master her darkness, but it will tempt her again when she is forced to go undercover to solve a serial killer case and meets Ryder Latimer, the enigmatic owner of the Manhattan nightclub where the murders have occurred. Ryder is not what he appears to be, but something about him calls to Diana and makes her take a dance with him along the edge. That dance is both erotic and soul shattering. Ryder draws her into his world, which he regrets. Humans after all, are born to die. Ryder also knows that Diana is not prepared to discover a truth more frightening than the identity of the serial killer -- that he is actually a one hundred and forty year old vampire. The race is on to find the killer before he strikes again and before Diana loses her heart to Ryder.

Caridad Pineiro Scordato is no stranger to multicultural fiction. Writing as Caridad Scordato, she was one of the lead authors for Kensington Publishing's Encanto multicultural romance line which debuted in September 1999. After writing six books for Encanto, including the award-winning August 2000 release BETTER THAN EVER, the author decided to push the boundaries of her earlier works.

Many people have asked, Why a vampire novel?" The answer is as complex as the characters Caridad has created in DARKNESS CALLS. I have always had a fascination with vampires from my early days of watching horror movies," Caridad notes. Vampires struck me as tragic creatures, more so than other monsters. Once human, they knew the joys of a normal life and now were seemingly blessed with eternal life. But life without end carries many burdens." In DARKNESS CALLS, Caridad examines many of those burdens while crafting a dark and edgy story that surprisingly comes to a happily ever after ending. DARKNESS CALLS is, of course, a tale with the intensity and sensual passion that is part of the world of vampires.

When not writing, Caridad is a mother and wife, and a partner in a New York City law firm. She also teaches workshops on various topics related to writing and heads a writing group at a local book store. Caridad has appeared on Fox Televisions Good Day New York, , New Jersey News Jerseys Talking with Lee Leonard and WGN-TVs Adelante Chicago as well as being one of the Latino authors featured at the first ever Spanish Pavilion at the 2000 Chicago BookExpo America. Articles featuring Caridads works have appeared in the New York Daily News, Star Ledger, Sun Sentinel, latinolink.com, Variety Yahoo! Online News,and Waterbury Republican-American.

DARKNESS FALLS, a March 2004 release, is the first book in a planned series of multicultural (vampire) romances for Silhouette. Caridad is currently working on DANGER CALLS, featuring Sebastian Reyes, the younger brother of Diana, as the Latino protagonist.

For more information on Caridad or DARKNESS FALLS please visit her website at www.caridad.com. For more information on Silhouette/Harlequin, please visit www.eharlequin.com.