Photographic Evil: An interview with paranormal novelist Christopher Savio

1) Please tell us about your book. 

The Daguerreotypist is a book that is much more than your typical paranormal romance. Don’t get me wrong, it has its fare share of romance and has the ability to scare the pants off most any reader. Mostly the book is about what happens when people don’t realize the wonderful things they have in life. Too many times we all wish we had something or someone else. Often we think that our lives are much too boring. After reading The Daguerreotypist, you will be grateful for what you have and hug and kiss your significant other.

2) Please tell us a bit about your main characters.

The antagonist, Isaiah Whitfield, is a loner who wants to change the world by eliminating its sins. He believes that in so doing he can and will bring about the Second Coming. In the 19th century, he bounced around from one job to the next before finding himself in business as a daguerreotypist (photographer). Taking pictures of the rich or other people he loathes drives him wild with frustration. They don’t listen to him and continue their sinning. Due to his anger and failed attempts to get people to change, he devises a crusade to kill the sinners and scare people into changing their lives. His favorite hangout or place to go and people watch is a coffee house around the corner from his 1842 New York City apartment. Here in an attempt at human contact and to spread his message of eradicating sin, he often gets into political and religious debates. To everyone but him, it is blatantly obvious why he has few people who can tolerate his presence.

The protagonist, Rachel, is a beautiful photojournalist who lives in Isaiah’s apartment in the year 2012 with her fiancée Brian. Rachel is outwardly brave, successful and happy. On the inside, she yearns for something else. She needs something a bit more exciting than her safe and loving life with Brian. Once she finds Isaiah’s Daguerreotype in her wall, she finds herself obsessed with him, despite his horrific history. It turns out to be an obsession that may ruin much more than her safe and loving life she has found with Brian.

Brian, Rachel’s fiancée, is a high school history teacher who recently has mustered up the guts to move into New York City with Rachel. He is Rachel’s safety net and rock. Brian is loyal and devoted and is the kind of guy who will stick by here through thick or thin. Given this is partially because he believes himself to be out of her league and endures much more than most men will to stay with his true love.

The Devil, for the most part is only visible or seen by Isaiah. Once he is revealed for what he really is, he appears sporadically through the book to antagonize Isaiah and drive him even madder. The Devil pushes Isaiah to do his bidding, which appears to be solely for his own amusement. As the story unfolds, amusement may not be his sole motive. The reader may have to read the sequel to find out the true evil of the Devil’s true motives.

3) You have a background in, among other things, teaching criminology. How did that inform some of your character development in this novel?

In teaching criminology I have learned much about serial killers and their behavior. (It makes watching shows like Criminal Minds much more interesting.) I have blended that into my character Isaiah Whitfield. The dementia of a serial killer can be seen when the reader is shown his inner most thoughts. The reader will see him acting erratically and desperately. He clearly displays the actions of a paranoid disorganized killer who is fighting for his survival with the Devil biting at his heels. I believe it only adds to frightening and disturbing actions of my antagonist. It may also lend itself to the reader almost feeling sorry for him. Well, maybe for a moment until the reader continues on with the novel.

4) Why do you center certain elements of the plot around an daguerreotype? Have you always had an interest in the history of photography?

One of my favorite scenes in movie history comes from The Dead Poet’s society. When Robin Williams asks his students to listen to the pictures on the wall in order to hear what they are saying. Well, my imagination did not hear “seize the day” it heard something far more sinister or downright odd. It wondered what could happen if the people could come out of their pictures and time travel back and forth between our world and theirs. What would they do? Would we want them here? Those thoughts are what eventually gave me the idea to write The Daguerreotypist.
I have always loved history and looking at old pictures. I often thought of what if the people in them could come out of them. (A vivid imagination I know, but to be a writer you have to be a bit different.) Although, I am not really into photography, I have always been captivated by daguerreotypes and the story of the people in them.

5) Books featuring serial killers, paranormal or otherwise, continue to draw in readers. Why do you think people are so interested in engaging with some of the darkest creatures that can still be called human?

It is a basic human instinct. People say they hate the sight of blood or horrific scenes, yet they slow down at every accident on the highway to get a good look. Although many love to think of sunny days or utopian existences, people can’t get away from their own dark sides. Reading books about it is a safe way to feed that part of themselves,

6) Do you any links to any excerpts you'd like to share?

I would love to do so. My website Scaryreads.com is currently on the fritz. I will post them as soon as I can get word press to get me up and running again. Please stay tuned.

7) Please tell us briefly about your other works.

I currently have one other book, The Beckoning, out on the market. That book is about a young girl of fifteen finding her inner strength and coming of age. Rest assured however that this is not your typical coming of age story. Forced to relocate to a rural Virginia plantation house, my main character Marissa soon finds herself haunted by a demon who is trying to kill her family. All alone, except for her dog Max, Marissa almost falls victim to despair. That is until the ghost of the fifteen-year-old boy who used to inhabit her very room over a hundred years befriends her. Not only does he hold the key to getting rid of the demon, but he also leads her down a path to understanding her family’s mesmerizing yet eerie past that she never knew. Falling in love with the ghost, Zachary, Marissa not only learns about true loves powers, but gains bewildering powers of her own. Can she use these powers to free her family and the souls of her long lost relatives from the demon who is desperately trying to kill her?

I am currently working two other books, the prequel to The Beckoning and another involving vampires and Billy the Kid. I hope to have these two works hitting the market during 2013.

The Daguerreotypist is available for sale at Amazon.

The Next Big Thing: A Woman of Proper Accomplishments

EFHA associate Mary Thornell tagged me in a recent meme. Usually, I'm not all that into these sorts of things, but even I can cut loose now and again. So, here I go then:

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1. “What is the title of your work in progress?”

A Woman of Proper Accomplishments

2. “Where did the idea come from for the book?”

I've always had a long fascination with the English Regency period. At the same time, I'm a bit of a fantasy nerd. A few years back I entertained the idea of injecting a bit of magic into the Regency, but I was under the impression there wouldn't be much interest in such a book outside my own fevered imagination. I stumbled upon several, though, and that convinced me it wasn't such a bad idea after all.

I was heavily influenced by some of the more adventure-driven Georgette Heyer narratives. I want a bit of period romance, with a touch of adventure and magic.

3. “What genre does your book fall under?”

Depends on who you ask. I've been calling it Regency paranormal romance. Some might call it historical fantasy. There's a bit of an alternative history element because of the introduction of magic into the setting (by Benjamin Franklin, no less!), but it's not really about exploring historical divergences is as much as playing around with a romantic narrative that seems plausible in a Regency England that has a bit of magic (even if the people in the story insist, insist, and insist some more that they aren't doing magic).

The only reason I'm not totally set on calling it a paranormal romance is although the center-point is the growing romance between characters, and there is a happy romantic ending with smooching and all that (yes, this is a old-fashioned "sweet" romance; no bodices are ripped), certain elements aren't totally wrapped up by the end. So, arguably, it's not a true "Happily-Ever-After" as much as a "Happy Right Then." Mostly, that's because it's the first part of trilogy with a plot. I'll talk more about that in a bit.

4. “Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?”

Oh, I honestly don't know.

5. “What is the one sentence synopsis for your book?”

Helena Preston, rthe daughter of a rural gentleman of modest means, finds her romantic interest in a gentleman scholar of spiritus, the rare ability to imbue life into objects, complicated by his possible involvement with a criminal.

6. “Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?”

 I'm still exploring my options at this time.

7. “How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?”

It took about three months to write the first draft. That was...a while ago. I've gone through many drafts since then.
 
8. “What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?”

I think if people like books like The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, or Shades and Milk and Honey, they would probably enjoy my book, though there's a bit more of an adventure element in my book than something like Shades. 

I was trying to be more "Heyer adventure with magic" and not so much "Austen with magic."

9. “Who or what inspired you to write this book?”

Oh, just my twin interests in Regency England and fantasy, and the various fine examples of the historical Georgian fantasy that I encountered several years back.

10. “What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?”

Despite the inclusion of magic and the alternative history elements (among other things, the Americans lost the Revolution), I've actually strived very hard to make this book accurate to the Regency period. That might seem absurd given the present of magic, but I thought it'd help with versimilitude. I've studied the period extensively, including primary source letters and materials, and try to capture period-appropriate social details, references, et cetera.

I even went so far as to check that almost every word I used in the book, both in the narrative and in the dialog existed at the time of the story (1811) and also did my best to use it appropriate to the context of the time. It's surprising what was around then that meant exactly the same as today and what common words and even greetings weren't around back then.

Initially, I even went so far as to try and closely model my dialog patterns after period dialog, but several beta readers found it more distracting than immersive, so I've admittedly modernized the syntax a bit. I sprinkle in Regency slang here and there, but not so much that it's distracting (I hope).

This is actually the first of a trilogy. Each book will involve a different main lead and be a romantic adventure continuing in the backdrop of an increasingly heating up Napoleonic Wars that are unfolding slightly different than they did in our history due to increasingly sophisticated use of weaponized spiritus.

The second book will focus on the Helena Preston's flightly francophile friend, Cassandra, and the third book will focus on Helena's more uptight younger sister, Sophia.

The Jinni and the Guardians: An interview with Liz Schulte

Today I'm talking with urban fantasy and paranormal romance author Liz Schulte about her book Choices.

1) Tell us about your book.

Choices is the second book in the Guardian Trilogy. The story picks up where the first book left off and dives back into the lives of the three main characters: Olivia, a new guardian who is heartbroken and confused; Holden, a jinni who is channeling his own heartbreak into a destructive path; and Quintus, a very old guardian who finds himself slightly out of his depth when he is tasked with mentoring Olivia. Meanwhile guardians are disappearing and possibly being murdered and all three of them have to find out who is doing this for their own reasons.

2) What inspired this book and the trilogy?

The original inspiration for this trilogy came from a dream, which is actually in the first book. But it has since grown into its own world with seemingly its own life and voice.

3) What are the fundamental themes your story explores?

There are several themes in the trilogy. It looks at love and whether or not love is truly enough. How much of another’s actions can be forgiven for love. Can love change you? It also looks at the idea of good and evil and whether it is as black and white as that. There is a lot of duality in the book. Where there is light, there is darkness. Where there is despair, there is hope. It also deals with destiny.

4) Urban fantasy and paranormal romance are popular, if somewhat saturated, genres. What sorts your books apart?

My characters while living in a paranormal world are very human. I try very hard to keep their reactions and responses believable and even at times maddening. Perhaps it is my background in psychology, but I very much like write characters who are tangible and who can be explored through their actions and words.

5) Oh the bad boy. As Bronte's Heathcliff demonstrates, this is a hardly a new phenomena. What's the enduring appeal of this particular character type?

I love the bad boys. Heathcliff is one of my favorites. I believe the notion started taking wind with Lord Byron and his Byronic heroes. There is something about the anti-hero that makes you root for them and girls weak in the knees. It’s that idea that someone so coarse, so rough round the edges can be so soft and gentle underneath because he has been touched by love. I think it appeals to the romantic in all of us.

6) What do you have in store after the completion of this trilogy?

I have my second mystery novel coming out next, round October. Then in December another trilogy will start called Easy Bake Coven that takes place in the same world, the Abyss, as the guardian trilogy.

7) What got you interested in writing to begin with?

The first I remember writing stories was in junior high school. I think most of those were inspired by R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series. I have always enjoyed making things up so this seems like a natural outlet.

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Thanks, Liz.

You can read more from Liz at http://www.lizschulte.com/.

Choices is available from Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.

Complicated Love Webs and Angels: An interview with paranormal romance author Debie Esmeralda

Today I'm taking with Debie Esmeralda about her paranormal romance, THE ANGEL SERIES: FALLEN.

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1) Please tell us about your book.

THE ANGEL SERIES: FALLEN is about an angel who was punished for breaking the rules of the Heaven. She has to live with the humans, but there she learns all the things humans do. She is known as Penelope Reef, an average girl with dreams of being on Broadway. She meets the rich, wealthy Swaiz brothers, Drew and Xander. She falls for both but  really is in love with Drew. But Xander makes her situation confusing. What makes it even more complicated is the return of her ex-boyfriend, Jeremy. Aside from the love life she has. She’s also being haunted by dreams. She comes to the decision that she better find the answers in her hometown. In the end she has to make a decision that will change one of her lives.

2) What inspired this book?

I got my inspiration one night when I was about to sleep. I was listening to the 98° song Heaven's Missing Angel. It is about a girl that resembles an angel for them. Suddenly an idea of an angel falling in love with a mortal came to me. At that time I also love High School Musical, so I imagined my lead character to be like Zac Efron, blue eyes and brown hair.

3) What are some of the major themes of this book?

Love, journey and discovery. Love, that it can be felt and happen to anybody. It has no exceptions whether you are a mortal or immortal. That when it comes to love all is equal. Also it also features the struggles and conflicts that happen when you fall in love. Sometimes it makes you happy,sometimes it's not like that. It also has different kinds of love. Love for someone of the opposite sex or attraction. 

Love for her grandmother and love for a brother.

Journey, journey through her new found life as a mortal. Penelope was an angel before, but now she has to face the world she once taken care of. 

And Discovery, Penelope tries to conquer what her dreams are about. She tries to discover what seems to be unknown about her.

4) Many paranormal romances are satisfied with one major series of emotional interactions between a woman and a man. You've upped the ante with three potential suitors. Why did you choose to develop a more complicated web of love for your story ?

A complicated love story happens to everyone. As a human we tend to use our emotions in controlling our decisions. Only wise people can overcome their feelings in facing something. Love is always accompanied by imperfections. And complicated love stories also happen in a real life settings. Sometimes a man or a woman has another invited party outside the supposed to be relationship exclusivity he/she already committed to.

5) Do you worry that this may potentially affect reader's ability to become invested in the romantic outcome?

Not at all. Anyone can relate. No one is perfect. Sometimes we feel the temptations around us.

6) Dreams are a major component of your story. Are vivid dreams something you personally experience?

It is not really about what I personally experience. It just came into my mind out of nowhere. Whenever I'm in front of my computer doing my book the words just came one by one. Maybe another factor why I use dreams is because I also believe dreams are somehow connected to our soul. What we want or about to experience was shown through our dreams. Most of the time we really cannot interpret what they are about.

7) Do you have any other projects you're working on?

I'm starting my 2nd book right now. It will be entitled THE ANGEL SERIES: FATE. I'm also constructing other possible titles and ideas I can use for another book I had never decided what to name at this moment. But maybe after I finished my 2nd book I'll start on my third right away.

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Thanks, Debie.

THE ANGEL SERIES: FALLEN can be purchased at Amazon.

What's sexier than a cowboy? An interview with paranormal romance author Cait Lavender

Today I'm talking with paranormal romance author Cait Lavender about her werewolf western paranormal romance, HUNTER MOON.

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1) Please tell us about your book.

HUNTER MOON is a paranormal romance set in the small Central California town of Raymond. Shelby Flint is a cattle rancher struggling to make ends meet, fighting against her vindictive cousins who are trying to take her ranch and fighting against a man sabotaging her land and trying to kill her, all the while trying to keep from throwing herself and her heart at the feed of a nosy, gorgeous game warden who’s poking his nose in her business.

2) This book is part of the Lupine Moon series. Can you tell us how it fits in with the rest of the series?


Basically, any books in the Lupine Moon series are going to revolve around, you guessed it, lupines. They’re my own special, sexy brand of werewolves.

3) At first brush, werewolves aren't something you'd think would have made the romantic leap quite as well as they have in fiction. What do you think is behind the popularity of werewolves in paranormal romance circles?

I think there is something sexy about a man who can be, quite literally, an animal. Animals have a certain kind of honor too; they don’t kill needlessly, they protect those they love fiercely and
with their lives, and they have strength and agility that humans just can’t possess. Mix that in
with a sexy man, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a dream-man.


4) What traits do you think make for an interesting romantic heroine? An interesting romantic hero?


I hate it when the heroines are these shy little victims, accepting the bad things that happen to them because they can’t do anything to change them and expecting a big man to save them. All
my girls have guts, even if it takes them a little while to find them. And my heroes? I don’t like guys that are like Superman. Perfect. My men have flaws, issues, but I think that makes them
more real.

5) What's something that you just don't like to see in romance and have tried to avoid in your work?


Mmm...probably the instant "love at first sight’ moment." I don’t mind "lust at first sight", because I think that happens a lot in real life. But the instant, overwhelming I’ll-die-for-you kind of love, that’s gotta be worked up to. I think it’s a rare person that is that aware of their feelings and can come to terms with that strong of an emotion in second.

6) There's an old writing maxim: "write what you know." Though the exact meaning of "what you know" is debatable and varies by context, it's striking that you've written a story that seems
to play somewhat into your background strengths. Can you tell us a little about how your background influenced your story setting both in a positive way or maybe even ways that you found frustrating?

That’s a great question! That old maxim is why I set my story close to my hometown. I think because I was so familiar with the area, I was able to paint a clear picture of the landscape, the people and the western culture. The only thing I had to worry about was being too close to real life.

7) Fill in the blanks: ______ are sexy, _____ are sexier.


Cowboys are sexy, werewolf cowboys are sexier.

8) What's next for the Lupine Moon series?

I’m going to focus on Shelby’s next move. I’ve got lots of people hounding me for book two, so believe me when I say I’ll try to get it finished as soon as possible!

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You can find more from Cait at www.caitlavender.com.

HUNTER MOON can be purchased at Amazon.

Love, sacrifice, elves, and vampires: An interview with Wendy Hales

Today I'm talking with Wendy Hales about her paranormal romance that mixes vampires and elves, IMMORTAL BECOMING.


1) Tell us about your book.


 IMMORTAL BECOMING is story of the bloodmating between a Volaticus Elven named Shane and a human/Elven (Hulven) Volaticus hybrid named Jess. There are stark differences between the two races of Volaticus. Elven are born with wings, directional hearing and dentes (retractable fangs). Hulven are born completely human and Become into Elven traits (very painfully) in their mid-twenties. Suffice it to say Jess had no idea what she is when her and Shane meet.

The love and passion between Shane and Jess is intense.






2) What inspired this book?

I’ve always written. Never seriously, it was just something I’ve always had to do. One resounding theme in my life has been "Wendy lives in her own little world." Now everyone knows that ain’t no ‘little’ world in my mind. None of them are. And there are many.

I wasn’t inspired to write, per se, I had to write IMMORTAL BECOMING! Writing has always been like a compulsion for me.

Honestly I figured it would go right into a drawer just like everything else I’ve ever written. Jess and Shane demanded to be heard, my family and friends encouraged me to share this story. I bit the bullet and let other people read it (GULP!)… that was not something I usually -- if ever did. The positive feedback empowered me to take it to the next level. I’m really glad I did.

3) Vampires are pretty common. Fairies are even pretty common. A book that combines elves (as something distinct from fairies) and vampires covers somewhat less common territory. Why did you decide that particular mix of supernatural elements?
Hot flying vampire like creatures? The sexy species practically created itself!

Doesn’t that sound way better than research and a lifetime love of the paranormal/fantasy world? Over the years of writing merely for my personal enjoyment the vampires, elves and every other creature got a little different. Merging the two mythical vampire/elf creatures into one misrepresented species flowed onto the pages. … After I spent months researching every myth, lore, legend, psychic ability, psychic potential, scientific theory, etc.

 To a lesser degree I did the same type of research for the Tellus and Aquatie species. The dynamics of the Tellus and Aquaties societies develop more detail in the upcoming and yet to be written sequels in The Enlightened Species.

In Book Two, SHADOW REVEALED, you learn the Tellus are shifters and the power of their psychic energy.

 The world I’ve created is a great place for my character to live and for me to dwell as the author.

4) Everything we know, both on a scientific level and more intuitively, about how sentient beings react is based upon our relatively modest human experience. Humans tend to, on average, live less than a century, lack supernatural abilities, et cetera. With all that in mind, how did you go about developing the psychology for Shane Einar, a supernatural being centuries old?
Shane is a fierce warrior by bloodline. He’s been raised under the developing peace of the Symbiosis of Species Council. Fighting rogues, hunting down the evil Morsdente, and helping pre-enlightened humanity in every way possible. He is honorable and controlled. (Though Jess rocks his control pretty effectively) Through Shane’s commitment to the SOSC, you see the best of the species and him. It is through the conflict and battle with the rogue element you encounter the fierce primal side of him.

 Shane is a youngster compared to many of the characters. Innanna for example is twelve thousand years old. She survived the fall of Atlantis. (Jess calls her Wonder-Brat) In my opinion the most important element of aged/ageless species is developing boundaries. Yes the Elven species and its people are timeless … to an extent. The universe NEVER gives a gift without charging a price, in fiction or reality. The Elven are potentially immortal because they are able to heal at a cellular level psychically. They also have the ability to release their living energy at will. They still face extinction. Why? Their young are mostly males and they mature physically, emotionally, etc. far slower than a human.

 In IMMORTAL BECOMING two of the characters, Jorie and Jerika, are prime examples. Jorie is a 26 year old pre-teen. Jerika is barely the equivalent of a human 18 year old at the spry age of 52. The Elven are anemic, their females are fertile only a few times per century. The females are prone to bleed to death during childbirth, especially those without bloodmates. These factors make the females disinclined to propagate when fertile. Add those challenges to a species with a history of warring with the other enlightened species further reducing their numbers … Life is never easy. If you create a world where everything is bliss and sunshine, it’s not realistic or interesting to read.

5) Although vampires have been being redefined in novels for centuries with Polidori's THE VAMPYRE starting the major trend of literary breaks from extant vampire myths, major literary redefinition of elves is, one could argue, a somewhat more recent phenomena that, among other things, owes a heavy debt to Tolkien. What went into designing your elves and how were you influenced by past depictions? Is there anything about past depictions you strove to avoid?
I adore vampires. The primal call of blood, specifically the blood of the one person you are fated to love for all eternity. Hmmmm! Yet I wanted a species that rule the skies as a habitat. Voila flying vampires.

Volaticus is Latin based for "winged man". Giving the defined name of Elven was to differentiate the Elven race from the Hulven race within the species. When I originally started writing Immortal Becoming I used the Volaticus title exclusively. It made the hybrid race more confusing. I came up with Elven and Hulven for clarification reasons. (I know not very glamorous).

I don’t do "pointy ears", however, I did give the Volaticus directional hearing (They can move their ears like horses, one forward one back.) Why? Because they must have some visual characteristic for an antagonist element to identify them from humans, overdeveloped cranial musculature is not overt yet it’s something bad guys would recognize if they where specifically looking. Setting up for conflict is critical. Ultimately it’s the conflict that drives a story.

Short excerpt:

“No, we don’t have pointy ears. Our hearing is directional. We can hear great distances in the direction that we aim our hearing. At some point someone utilized the term ‘point’ rather than ‘direct’ or ‘aim.’ Over time the ‘point’ terminology was taken literally: ‘pointy ears.’” He laughed, “That is how myths and legends are made.”

6) Obviously you're interested in vampires, elves, and fairies. Is there a particular type of supernatural creature that you just don't find interesting?
I outgrew my curiosity of the boogieman. Everything else is fodder for my Muse, LOL. It’s the possibility of supernatural creatures and talents that gets my mind churning. Making the fantastic feasible is where I hit my stride! For me it’s not building the world that’s difficult … it’s reining the sucker in when it gets too outlandish.

7) Tell us about your upcoming sequels.

SHADOW REVEALED, book two of The Enlightened Species, will be released Mid-April.

SHADOWED MAGIC, an Enlightened Species novella, will be released the end of May.

 FIRE'S TOUCH, book three of The Enlightened Species, I’m targeting for late summer/early fall.

Until the species/characters fall silent I will continue to write them.

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Thanks, Wendy.


You can see more from Wendy at her website, www.wendyshales.com.

IMMORTAL BECOMING is available in paperback form at her website and e-book form at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Vampires Who Don't Hang Out in Rural Washington: An interview with paranormal romance author Uzuri Wilkerson

Today I'm talking with Uzuri Wilkerson about her upcoming vampire paranormal romance, SWEET.

1) Tell us about your book.

SWEET is paranormal fiction set in modern-day Boston. Celia is a bartender at a hip bar-and-lounge downtown. She enjoys living life in the moment. Her current goal is to save up for a vacation with her boyfriend. Everything seems fine until she witnesses a man stabbed in the chest. Her simple life that is usually only complicated by her inability to find parking in front of her building soon becomes very complicated. Now she has to face the reality that her boyfriend is not entirely indestructible, confront her fears about the future of her relationship, and learn about her own mysterious abilities she had never bothered to think about before.

2) What inspired this book?

The Twilight movie was being advertised on television and I was surprised to find that there was a new vampire series I hadn’t heard of before. I read the books and thought I can do this. It was one of the easier ways that I have found inspiration. I always carry a notebook where I jot down ideas and quotations that come to me throughout the day. I usually refer back to the notebook when I need motivation. For this novel, I wanted a story set where I live involving a conflicted main character dealing with relationship issues like everyone else—except in this case, one of the complications is that the guy is a hundred years dead. There’s nothing too lovey-dovey, though. There is a turf war going on around them, which becomes a distraction as well.

3) Vampires are very popular, but that very popularity has led to a lot of competition. What sets apart your book from others in the genre?

SWEET takes place in an urban, inner city locale. A lot of stories take place in small or rural towns or in the early 1900s. There is also no set power system in my story. There are “areas” run by one lead vampire but no hierarchy, at least not with vampires…

4) Even in more modern times with more positive portrayals, they are still typically depicted as blood-suckers that are barely on the edge of self-control. What’s the continuing appeal of vampires?

I think it has a lot to do with them being secretive, superhuman beings. There’s also the sexiness of them. The exchanging of fluids. The “glamour” they use to entice and disguise themselves. Mysterious borderline dangerous characters usually intrigue people. They want to know what makes them tick. I tried to portray a range of characters and the challenges they faced with their existence.

5) Can you tell us what went into creating your male and female leads?

SWEET mainly centers around Celia and Victor. I wanted Celia to be strong-willed and opinionated but to also have a silly, relaxed side. She likes Victor but not when she’s forced to think of the future. That makes his “otherness” and her own mortality too real.

I wanted Victor to be handsome, of course, and smoldering. I always picture Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon with his angular, dark features. Victor holds onto his humanity by living and interacting with humans. But he is also old enough to be aware of the curse of his immortality. He’ll never have kids or feel the sun on his face and yet he still craves those things.

These attributes came about during the course of writing. As author Tess Gerritsen once described in a seminar I attended, I am more of a “seat-of-the-pantser” when it comes to writing. I sit at my computer and let the words come to me. Only when I am blocked do I revert to the “planner,” who has to look at her notes and outline what needs to happen.

To that end, when this story first came to me, I only had an image of a female main character talking to a hunter who was trying to stake her boyfriend. In this original vision, the main character didn’t know her boyfriend was a vamp and didn’t believe the hunter. I had the scene clear in my head: the two were in a park, under a tree, next to a park bench. It was nighttime and a small breeze rustled the green leaves of the tree. The story developed and evolved from there.

6) You have a background in screenwriting. Did this influence your novel at all?

Studying film helped me to see things visually. I try to be as vivid as possible to ensure that the readers see what I see. It’s a challenge sometimes but that’s the process I try to maintain. I only moved away from screenwriting and back to novels because I have more control and freedom when it comes to how much direction I have over the characters and scenery. There’s no fear of stepping on anyone’s toes because it’s just me and the input of my editors as opposed to producers and an entire film crew.

7) With all the world building involved in this story, sequels are easy to imagine. Do you have any planned?

This has always been a series to me. After finishing SWEET, I didn’t want it to end because I enjoyed the characters and there was more to add on and more that needed explanation. The problem I encountered was the direction of the series. I had been working on the fourth book when I found a publisher but I had been battling constant writer’s block with that story. I knew I needed an ending. Who cared about baby showers and how many drinks Celia served if none of that was about her development? I didn’t want it to drag on.

Having an end point also forced me to think about what was relevant to the big picture. I need those kinds of restraints because I have a tendency to be long-winded while writing. I had to scrap some of the minor characters as well as a few events that weren’t pertinent. I think that may be the hardest part of being a writer: finding the discipline to just stop. Stop editing. Stop nitpicking. Stop changing miniscule details. Leaving the series open-ended was why I had writer’s block halfway through. Now I have a focus and a goal.

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Thanks, Uzuri.

To learn more about Uzuri Wilkerson and to stay up-to-date on upcoming novels and contests, visit www.uzurimwilkerson.com. To enter and get a chance at winning a $25 VISA gift card, visit www.azizapublishing.com for the SWEET contest details.

SWEET can be pre-ordered from the publisher at www.azizapublishing.com.

Hell in Michigan: An interview with paranormal romance auhtor Andrea DiGiglio

Today I'm talking with paranormal romance author and screenwriter Andrea DiGiglio about her paranormal romance, FINDING ALICE.

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1) Tell us about your book.

FINDING ALICE is a story about a young woman who chooses to continue a secluded life from most of society, mostly due to her condition of extreme empathy. As all humans do, she eventually finds companionship in some locals and her entire reality is altered from it instantly. Quickly, Fallen Angels emerge to protect her from the wrath of God they had created. Choosing a side isn't the issue for Alice, she only hopes to survive it all.

2) What inspired this book?

I wanted to write about a strong woman who faces all challenges with intense bravery and strength. I also wanted her love interest to be supportive but equally strong, and above all, no outrageous love triangles. The rest just came to me honestly, though I do have a enormous infatuation with Fallen Angels.

3) There are a lot of paranormal romance titles on the shelves. What sets your story apart from others?

From what I have read and heard, I am the first to address God's feelings about what Fallen Angel's really did.

4) How did your Michigan background influence the setting? Were there specific aspects of Michigan that you felt compelled to include?

The city Hell in Michigan seemed too perfect not to use and I am proud of my state as a whole. Max's Bar, does not exist as far as I know. As for the "field" (I don't want to give too much away), I did in fact visit a field in Hell, MI that resembles what I described in FINDING ALICE.

5) Angels and fallen angels are creatures that have been deeply embedded into the religious and mythic fiber of Western society for thousands of years. Do you think that makes them more difficult to write about than something like vampires, which despite their current reputation, didn't have much penetration as a major creature until relatively recently?

No, I think it makes it easier at least for me. I think people are more likely to believe that an angel or fallen truly exists and therefore can quickly get lost in a novel.

6) You have a screenwriting background. Did that influence your novel writing process at all?

In a sense yes, meaning if I can't see it in my head playing out like a film I will never be able to write it. My writing itself, no. I had to research and retrain myself to write my novel correctly.

7) If you were casting a FINDING ALICE movie, who would you want for your leads?

You with the tough questions! I would say Ian Somerhalder for Cole. And Alice? Honestly, me. Mostly because I have been dying to play a role like that. It's the reason I started writing screenplays in the first place well over a decade ago. If I had to choose someone else, I would choose Danielle West.

8) This is book 1 in the Alice Clark series. How many books do you have planned for this series?

I am currently planning on three, but you never know. I swear Alice has a mind of her own.

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Thanks, Andrea.

If you want to read more from Andrea, please visit her at http://www.andreadigiglio.com/.

FINDING ALICE is available in both physical and ebook format at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. 

Coming Soon: A Tibetan in Oz and the Regency with a touch of magic

In my zeal for my research involving my historical products, it's sometimes lost that I'm working on other projects. Two of these writing products are coming to fruition (i.e., on the final stages of editing and proofreading). Now that I have the cover for one, it's starting to hit me that I'll be releasing books soon. Let the panic begin! It's all well and good when you're in the self-flagellation of writing-self-editing-beta reading-editing-rewriting and all that, but actually sending your precious baby to the harsh world of the general public is a bit unsettling.

At the end of January, I'll be releasing a book that I've previously discussed on my blog, The Emerald City. The story is a somewhat loose and modern young adult urban fantasy reinterpretation of The Wizard of Oz centered around a Tibetan-American teen from Kansas who ends up at a more than a little strange boarding school in Seattle.

It's actually a bit surprising, when I think about it, that my first release is going to be a young adult urban fantasy. Although I read plenty of young adult books, I never had any intention, when I began writing, of producing young adult work. Mostly, I intended to produce work in my favorite genres: historical fiction (as one might have surmised by my main blog content), historical fiction with magical elements, and adult fantasy.

I happen to really enjoy musical theater, though. In the course of satisfying that particular interest, I had the opportunity to see Wicked. So, I ended up inspired to write a reinterpretation based on another reinterpretation. The Emerald City will be out at the end of January. This book also benefited from being written after I'd written several other manuscripts. The old saying is that it takes a million words before you produce something worth reading. In my case, that's pretty much true.

The finishing proofreading and editorial touches are also being put on my sweet Regency paranormal romance, A Woman of Proper Accomplishments. Alas, I don't have my cover yet for that one. It was fun, but also a bit challenging, producing a Regency story where a type of reliable supernatural ability exists that still preserved the social atmosphere of the Regency period that interest readers. I think I succeeded (at least some of my beta readers claim I did), but I suppose the general reading public will have to decide here come February.

While I'm on the subject, I have an adult fantasy project, Mind Crafter, coming down the pipe, but it is still in first phase of editing.

Of course, I have a wonderful (I hope) Heian mystery coming out, hopefully, in fall of 2012.

Why doesn't CarFax talk about ghosts? An interview with paranormal romance and romantic suspense author K.A. Jordan

Today, I'm talking with K.A. Jordan about her paranormal romance, Swallow The Moon, which I recently reviewed over at Good Book Alert.

1) Tell us about your book.

Swallow the Moon is the story of a witch and a soldier vs. the ghosts of a stripper and a DEA agent. It is also a story of love, redemption and sacrifice.

In many ways, it is more of a Gothic romance than a Paranormal Romance. I think the new cover reflects that style – it's not a 'clinch' cover – a moody, chilling cover.

2) What inspired you to write this book?

My husband's into motorcycles – sometimes I see his Suzuki as a rival for his affections. I'm sure I'm not the only woman who feels that way. The opportunity was too good to pass up. ;-)

3) Swallow the Moon is striking in that both your hero and heroine aren't particularly distinguished by their abilities or appearance in a genre often known for beautiful and special people, yet at the same time are defined characters as opposed to blank slate audience surrogates. Why did you choose to develop your characters this way?

I love the old Gothic novels. Barbara Michaels is a good example of the Gothic style. I found her blend of the real and paranormal utterly captivating. My goal is to write a story that will pull readers in the same way. Therefore, the emphasis is on the setting instead of how the characters look.

As for special abilities, I didn't want to deal with a cliché 'Hollywood witch' – I felt it would be too easy. Instead, I use 'Magic Realism.' This way, everything is more difficult, the dangers are more real. In the end, June and Eric both sacrifice what is most precious to them. By using a very light hand in world-building, I have an open-ended universe to continue my series. I can do almost anything inside this framework.

It's very exciting.

4) Some authors put a little (or a lot of themselves into their character). Some don't. How are you similar (if at all) to June? How are you different?

June loves her home and wants a husband and a family. She's strong and courageous, but she's not aware of that part of herself. She's an introvert, works very hard and doesn't want to draw any attention to herself. She has 'Second Sight' and is descended from a long line of 'Wise Women.'

We are similar in that I grew up in Ashtabula. June's house is my childhood home. I worked on Bridge Street and partied at the Iroquois Club. I live on a small farm and raise chickens.

On the other hand, I'm outgoing. I joined the theatre in high school and college. I used to party with a bunch of actors and musicians and I can handle myself in rough situations. I ride with my husband on his Suzuki M109R – a huge cruiser.

5) Dying Rust Belt small towns aren't exactly glamorous such as a city like New York or exotic like quirky supernaturally-infested small towns in Louisiana. Why did you choose this setting?

Dying cities make great Urban Fantasy settings, so it would make sense that they would do well for Paranormal Romances. Any place that has the dark atmosphere of Batman's Gotham City has a certain romance to it.

Ashtabula was settled by Europeans over 200 years ago, the city's history is similar to New England – which is the setting for many Gothic novels.

6) If you were going to sell your soul for a motorcycle, what kind would it be?

If I were to sell my soul for a machine – it would be a 1969 Shelby Cobra in royal blue with white racing stripes.

I ride behind my husband on his Suzuki M109R from time to time, that's his dream bike. I'm sitting on his bike in my author photo.

7) Your other recent novel, Let's Do Lunch, is notable in its lack of supernatural elements. Do you think Swallow the Moon would appeal to Let's Do Lunch fans and vice versa? 

Sure – because I handle characters the same for both genre. My women's fiction tends to have more plot twists. But anyone who likes my writing will like both books.

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Thanks, Kat.

You can find more from Kat at her blog: http://katjordan.wordpress.com/ and http://jordanscroft.blogspot.com.

Swallow The Moon is available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Let's Do Lunch is also available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Succubus Soccer Mom: An interview with paranormal romance author Michelle Scott

1) Tell us about your book, Straight to Hell. 

The story revolves around a suburban soccer mom named Lilith Straight who dies and is sent to hell.  There, she discovers that she is bound to serve the Devil due to a contract made by a long-ago relative.  Although working for the Devil has its positives (free shoes and designer clothes), the negatives (being forbidden to love her daughter) outweigh it.

2) A succubus single mom is an unusual concept. I can't say that I've personally run across it before. How did you come up with the idea? 

 I wanted to write about a different kind of supernatural being outside of the vampire/werewolf/zombie arena, so I came up with a succubus.  And one of the things I love to write about are characters who are stuck in situations they hate but yet cannot escape.  To me, the ideal candidate for a reluctant succubus was an uptight, stressed-out, single mom.

3) While the book certainly isn't G-rated, it also is, I'd argue, a decent distance from erotica land. Honestly, given that it involves a succubus, a type of demon synonymous with erotic temptation, that's a bit surprising. Were you ever tempted to make it more explicit than it is? 

Actually, no.  I had thought about making the succubus in the book more traditional (by having her sleep with a series of men), but that seemed rather repetitive.  So I envisioned her as that little devil that sits on people’s shoulders and tempts them into doing something they know they shouldn’t.  Also, I wanted the romantic scenes between Lilith and Mr. Darcy (her incubus counterpart) to stand out.

4) A character working for the Devil, even for reasons beyond her control, can potentially make it difficult to sympathize with her. How did you go about working around this?  

I know, right?  Ever since watching the TV show The Sopranos, I’ve wanted this kind of challenge – to create a character like Tony Soprano who does terrible things while at the same time remaining sympathetic.  In Lilith’s case, I hoped that her altruism towards her anti-social eleven-year-old niece would win her points.   Also, I had Lilith address the readers directly throughout the book, as if to say, “Look, if you were in my situation, you’d do the same thing.”

5) Besides the male and female leads, do you have any particularly beloved characters in the book?  

I love Tommy LeFevre, the spiritual guru who is dating Lilith’s stepsister.  He melts my heart because he’s such a genuinely good person.  And, weirdly, I care a lot about Mr. Clerk, the beleaguered assistant to Lilith’s devilish boss.  Mr. Clerk is a fussy old maid, but he is Lilith’s only champion in hell.

6) Do you have any plans for a sequel?  

Yes.  I’m hoping to release the next book in the series, Straight Shot, next spring.

7) You've written a number of books. Although magic and paranormal elements are common to all of them, they tend to be in slightly different genres. What about this book will appeal to fans of your other books? 

 I always try to add a humorous element to my books, and I think that comes out clearly in Straight to Hell since the book has a chick lit feel.  I also like a twisty plot with a lot of characters.  Finally, I hope readers will get the feeling that Lilith is like other characters from my books: uncertain but ultimately courageous.

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Thanks, Michelle.

You can pick up her book at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.

You can visit her at her webpage at http://www.mscottfiction.com/

Why choose a bad boy when you have a good boy? An interview with paranormal romance author Melissa Smith

Today, I'm talking with paranormal romance author Melissa Smith about her young adult book Cloud Nine.

1) Tell us about your book.

Claire is a typical teenage girl. Sterling is a by the book Guardian. After a chance encounter, neither one will ever be the same again. They both bring baggage to the table in the form of exes who don't want those titles anymore. Both exes want things to go back to the way things were, but both Claire and Sterling are willing to fight to stay together. And a fight is what's in store.

2) What was your inspiration for this book?

My own childhood imagination. :) I used to pretend I had someone to grant my every wish, no matter how small or trivial. Someone who was always there to stand up for me and guard me. Someone to clean my room when I didn't want to! So when I decided to sit down to write, it just flowed out almost fully formed. I was in awe!

3) A lot of paranormal romance involves a emotionally difficult hero who may even present a physical threat to the heroine. Now while this is an obvious extension of existing "taming the rogue/bad boy" trends that have existed in romance for a long time, the supernatural element has made it particularly pronounced and noticeable. Why did you choose to swim against that tide with a hero who is pretty much the opposite of a bad boy?

I don't really don't know. He just developed that way :) He's a rogue in the way that he fell in love with Claire and tried to hide it. But still a good guy in the way that he really did try to deny himself the freedom to have her love.

4) Many authors put part of themselves into their characters. Is your heroine anything like you?

Actually no :) Arianna (another Guardian) is more like me than Claire really is. I suppose I did give her a few of my more snarky qualities, but overall Claire is someone all her own!

5) Paranormal romance is a burgeoning, some say saturated, genre. What sets your story apart from others in this genre?

Like you pointed out, my hero isn't the typical bad boy. He isn't someone who goes out looking for a fight. Sterling is the nice guy. The one who will cherish you while at the same time fighting everything and everyone to keep you safe.

6) If you had to pick a musical artist/group to write a few songs that defined the atmosphere of your book, who would you pick and why?

Wow. I honestly have no idea! For some reason when I try to think of setting a musical score to this book...I draw a blank!

7) You've already written a sequel. How many books do you have planned in this series?

Well so far, I've planned a novella and another novel featuring another character :D You'll just have to wait and see!

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Thanks for stopping by, Melissa.

You can find purchase Cloud Nine at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.

Infusing History Into Pulse of Heroes: A Guest Post By A. Jacob Sweeney

Today, we have a guest post by A. Jacob Sweeny as part of the VBTC Romancing Your Darkside Book Tour.

She's going to talk to us about infusing history into her paranormal romance, Pulse of Heroes.

In addition, she's giving away a copy of Pulse of Heroes. Just leave a comment and we'll use random.org to pick a winner. You'll be receiving a physical copy, so the author will be contacting you for a shipping address.

Now on to the guest post:

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There was never a question about infusing history into Pulse of Heroes, as the entire idea for the story began with me wanting to bring ancient history back to life. My intention first and foremost was to bring the subjects of what most people today think of as legends into our modern reality, since the bulk of these tales have their roots in actual historical events. And this was to serve as the backdrop of my romance and very real coming-of-age story of 17-year-old Michelle. The immortals in my novel are the story tellers, and through them we get to learn about so much. Below, an example:

Elliot, our main immortal character, served in the military under King David’s command. Now most people are probably familiar with the legend of how David as a boy toppled the giant Goliath with a small sling shot. Whether this ever happened or not, perhaps we’ll never know. However, as I study archaeology and participate in actual excavations, I get to see firsthand how legends and history collide as we discover more and more. And this to me is the most exciting thing. I wanted to share this with people who would never dream of picking up a history book, let alone a field report from an ancient site. I will give you another example.

I had the unique privilege to actually excavate in the hills of Judea on a site that has been dated to the proposed time of King Saul (David’s predecessor) and King David. It overlooks the valley where the Philistines would meet the Israelites in battle. It also marks the exact place where David and Goliath’s story is said to have taken place. On a clear day one can see the outlines of the cities of the Philistines, now also active archaeological sites, from this hilltop (it is a royal pain in the behind to climb up that long steep pathway every day). The encampment was clearly constructed so as to have an unobstructed view of every side of the great valley as a military vantage point.  The Goliath story might be legend, but the Israelite encampments are not. Knowing this gives the Goliath story a whole new dimension.  I was there. I dug and lifted the broken dishes that these fighting men used to eat their dinners. They were every bit as real as we are today. Just last year, a carving of the name “Goliath” was found in one of the Philistine ruins. Suddenly, the name Goliath itself gains a new reality. We don’t know which Goliath, but the name was evidently used by these people. Another clue pointing to David’s existence has been found carved into a victory stele (a large stone) by Hazael, King of Damascus, or by one of his sons. The inscription is in Aramaic and commemorates victories over local ancient peoples including the Davidic Kingdom. The bracketed areas below denote missing fragments which have been filled in by recognized biblical and ancient near-East text experts.

5: And Hadad went in front of me, [and] I departed from [the] seven[...]

6: of my kingdom, and I slew [seve]nty kin[gs], who harnessed thou[sands of cha-]

7: riots and thousands of horsemen (or horses). [I killed Jeho]ram son of [Ahab]

8: King of Israel, and I killed [Ahaz]iahu son of [Jehoram kin]g

9: of the House of David. And I set [their towns into ruins and turned]

10: their land into [desolation........................]  ( Courtesy of Wikipedia)

This is what I wanted to share with my readers. I wanted to spread knowledge around. And if the reader is interested, all they have to do is search further.

So far I have received nothing but compliments with regards to the way I weave short historical tidbits into the main plot of Pulse of Heroes. The real history also provides a basis for the existence of the immortal characters. I have noticed that many people do not enjoy “high fantasy”, and yet historical reality is just as fantastic. As the saying goes, “Truth is indeed stranger than fiction”!

If anyone is interested, right now there is a continuing discussion on the Pulse of Heroes Facebook page about the historical elements of the novel. You should come check it out - it’s on the left side under the “Discussion” tab.

Thank you for having me here!

A Jacob Sweeny.

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Thanks for stopping by.

Check out AJ's site at http://www.pulseofheroes.com/.

Remember, if you want to be entered for a free chance to win a copy of Pulse of Heroes, just leave a common (preferably with some sort of e-mail address so we can contact the winner).

Guest Post by Kristie Cook: Why we need the escape of paranormal romance

Today, we have a guest post by Kristie Cook as part of the VBTC Romancing Your Darkside Book Tour.

She's going to talk to us about why readers need the escape of paranormal romance.

In addition, she's giving away an ebook copy of her paranormal romance novels, Promise and Purpose. No fancy contest requirements, just leave a comment and we'll use random.org to pick a single winner for both books.

Now on to the guest post:


Why We Need the Escape of Paranormal Romance


Paranormal romance has been around for decades, experiencing highs and lows along the way, but the genre seems to have experienced an explosion of interest in recent years. The Twilight Saga may have played a significant role in grabbing readers who had never read the genre before and made them lifelong fans, but there are a number of series and authors who could have played the same part. I think timing has had a huge impact – when and where our world was when Twilight came out and where it still is as readers continue to devour paranormal romances and contemporary fantasies.

With everything going on in our world, from wars, famines and natural disasters to failing economies, job losses and loss of homes, people are living in survival mode. Our minds are constantly running at full-speed, working overtime to ensure our families stay afloat. Problems bombard us from all sides, but solutions are often out of reach or even non-existent. We don’t know what to do but just keep going as best as we can.

We can’t afford the money and/or time to take much-needed vacations, but the need for escape is even greater than ever. So we escape into fiction – books, movies and television. And many are finding that they want their escape to be just that – a removal from the current world, from normal daily stresses and from having to use our brains too much on genres that require intense focus.

With paranormal romance, we get problems that may be somewhat similar but also different than our everyday human ones. We also get main characters who eventually solve those problems, a relief when we can’t solve our own. We swoon over alpha males because we want someone else to take care of us, although we know in the real-world we’d never put up with their arrogance and control. We take the role of the strong, independent heroine who does things we’d never bring ourselves to do in real life. And we lose ourselves in the heat of the passionate moment.

I love writing this genre because I love reading it. All of these elements come together in stories I wish were written, but they’re not, so I write them. I’ve always enjoyed the foundation and rules of our real-world setting combined with the freedom to incorporate the impossible from the fantasy world. And I’m a sucker for romance and the sexual tension and heat that comes along with it.

Some may say paranormal romance is frivolous or a guilty pleasure. But, really, what’s wrong with a little guilty pleasure, especially in our lives today? Escaping to the insanity of a fantasy world helps to maintain our sanity in our own world. After all, at least we’re not dealing with overbearing, control-freak partners, creatures who want to suck our blood or rip out our throats during sex and villains who can wipe out all of humanity in a half-second. It helps to make our own lives more bearable and we can all use every bit of help we can get right now.

What do you think? Have touched on any of the reasons you read paranormal romance? Do you have anything to add? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Thanks, Kristie.

Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win  Promise and Purpose.

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Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, with the first two books, Promise and Purpose, available now and the third book, Devotion, coming February 2012. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis, coming October 2011.

Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at:

Author's Website & Blog: http://www.KristieCook.com

Series Website: http://www.SoulSaversSeries.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristieCook
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/kristiecookauth
Tumbler: http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/kristiecook
Google+: https://plus.google.com/102746226001674797330/posts

Blog Tour: Kelvin O'Ralph, LS: The Beginning

Today, I'd like to welcome Kelvin O'Ralph. As part of his blog tour to promote his book, LS: The Beginning, we chatted for an interview.

Mr. O'Ralph is giving away two e-copise of LS: The Beginning to two winners who comment on today's post. He'll list out the names of the winners from each stop of his blog tour on the last day of the tour, June 27th.

1) Tell us a little bit about your novel.

A handshake between strangers has never held so much promise for discovery.

When Stephen Wilson meets Lisa Morgan at his new school in Sloutenville, it is the simple act of extending his hand in greeting that flips both of their worlds upside-down. With the gesture, both discover that in some way they are connected, and that they share the ability to manipulate the elements, fire and water. Though their abilities vary, they share the gift of telepathy allowing them to communicate without words, which creates a bond between them stronger than either had expected.

As the two begin to spend more and more time together, David, Lisa's ex becomes wild with jealousy, and launches multiple attacks on Lisa. In the fight against the dangers that await them around every corner, Stephen and Lisa soon discover that they are up against much greater odds than they had originally known, and that their struggles are far from over

2) What inspired your current novel?

I always wanted to write a fantasy novel, but never got to it. So, after watching the second film of twilight(New Moon), I decided to write a paranormal novel that hasn't been written before.

3) Paranormal romance is a crowded genre right now. What sets your book apart from others?

Not only is LS: The Beginning written a male's perspective, it's creativity and uniqueness is overwhelming. In this book, you'd find a complete different aspect of fantasy than most books.

4) Tell us a little bit about your writing process.

It took a me three months to write the first draft of LS: The Beginning and that was in 2009. Since then, it's take me close to a year to edit and style it. I always give a break between the writing phase and editing phase. This doesn't mean I take a break off writing; it just means I leave that particular manuscript and pick up a new one.

5) You've self-published this book. What made you decide to go down that route?

Like some indie authors, I decided to self-publish because getting a literary agent seemed like a dead end for me. Therefore, I decided to work hard to earn their respect, so they'll be the ones wanting to represent me.

6) If you had one piece of advice for an aspiring author, what would it be?
Other than the normal technicalities of researching about the world of publishing, two important tools an aspiring author needs is to be determined and to have passion for the art. "If you don't love your work, then who will?"

Please do follow me on twitter @Kelvin O'Ralph and like my Facebook Page. Also, you can always get updates on my blog, Kelvin's World.

Six Sentence Sunday #4: Be careful where you kiss

This Sunday's six is from my Regency paranormal romance WIP, A Woman of Proper Accomplishments:

"Never had Helena expected something like this to happen. The seconds stretched into an eternity of bliss. Any thoughts of guilt, propriety, and anything other than the pleasure of the kiss were washed away into oblivion.

That made it all the more unfortunate when a familiar giggle sounded from near the door--Cassie!

She wrenched away from Mr. Morgan and turned toward the noise, her whole body burning with a mixture of suppressed desire and embarrassment. Cassandra stood at the entrance of the room with her hands over her mouth doing little to conceal her wide grin."

For six sentence snippets from other writers please visit: http://www.sixsunday.blogspot.com/