Spellbinding fantasy for the heart, mind, & soul
Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series
Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series
Labels: appearances, Contests, vampire series
Q. At last count, you write for three different publishers: Kensington, Cynthia: Oh, a clone would be awesome! I could get her to do all the housework. J Right now, things are pretty easy for me. The primary writing obligations that I have are for Kensington Brava. I was recently offered another three-book contract from them, so they’re keeping me busy for the time being. (And I love to be kept busy.) I will have another release from Red Sage later this year—and I’m really looking forward to that Secrets anthology.
For my writing schedule, I stick to my ten pages a day rule. Writing ten pages generally allows me to finish up a novel rough draft in about 40 days—then I can take a few weeks for re-reading and editing.
You recently gave a workshop at a writer's conference on "Keeping the '
Redeeming the anti-hero. When the villain becomes the hero, you have to explain his past actions. Why did the vampire go on a brutal feeding spree? Was the transformation into a vampire so painful that he had no choice? You should help the reader understand his actions. Forgive them, to a certain extent. Readers won’t love a hero who is evil—show the goodness and the struggle, or the reasons for the dark behavior—and the readers will feel that sympathy and understanding for the anti-hero.
(If anyone is interested, I posted my workshop handouts on my website. Feel free to visit for all the tips you want!) On your bio, you list Dracula,
Dracula and Wolverine. I’d pay big money to see that one. And, as much as I love Dracula, in the end, I’m pretty sure Wolverine would take him down.
If you could inhabit the life of any of your characters, enter their world and deal with it as that person, which one would you choose?
Dr. Emily Drake from Hotter After Midnight. She’d be an easy choice for me. J I feel like Emily has an advantage in the paranormal world—since her empathic powers let her pick up on the feelings of the Other, she’s generally a step ahead of most paranormal beings. I’d sure like to be a step ahead.
Conversely, which of your characters would you most like to bring to life in our world (maybe as a best friend or much, much more ;-) ?
Another fast answer for me: Cain Lawson from “
Same two questions, but use examples from another author's work (including television/movies/theatre)?
I’d love to be Buffy. Come on—she was strong, tough, and she had some fantastic friends. (Well, she did when
Now, if I had the chance to bring one character to life…I’d choose Brendan Fraser’s character (Rick O’Connell) from the Mummy movies. The guy was a fabulous hero—and he was always up for a little adventure.
Which author, living or dead, would you most love to collaborate with?
Edgar Allan Poe. I loved that man’s writing. I became hooked after "The Tell-Tale Heart. " Oh, but that beating of the old man’s heart. Late at night, I could almost hear that thumping. Because Poe was that good—his stories snuck under my skin and stayed with me for days after I’d read them.
If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the publishing industry, what would it be?
I’d create much, much faster response times. I hate waiting to hear back on a submission! Sure, generally, I’m a patient gal, but when it comes to my story—the patience disappears, fast.
What's the weirdest tidbit of research you've ever incorporated into a book?
Oh, yes, I remember this one…during mating, jaguars in the wild “can copulate up to 100 times a day.” Did you know that? I didn’t, until I started researching jaguars for my novella in When He Was Bad. Busy animals, those jaguars.
What's your earliest memory?
I remember my father carrying me outside of my house in the middle of Hurricane Fredrick. I was bundled in a blanket so the pelting rain wouldn’t hurt me. (Okay, in the interest of total honesty—not really the middle of the hurricane, but right before the storm came ashore.) My parents had decided we’d better had to my grandmother’s for better protection. My first storm, but certainly not the last. The howl of the wind has become a familiar sound for me.
Do you have any phobias?
I’m terrified of snakes. Terrified! Yet I’m also curiously drawn to them. If I have the opportunity to watch them on TV—yes, I’ll sit for hours watching. I’ll pet them at zoos. But, let me see one in the wild (AKA my backyard) and you’ll see a woman scream with a fury to rival Jamie Lee Curtis.
My husband hates when people use the word 'barometer' to mean 'measure.' Which word usage faux pas drives you berserkest?
Oh, I don’t usually go too berserk. I love it when folks misuse words—I write down those “mistakes” and use them later in books to make my characters seem a little more authentic.
Okay, this is sad but…I loved the movie The Scorpion King. I know, I know—it was cheesy as all hell—but I am a fan of the cheese. And of the Rock.
If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
Take my son to the beach and build sandcastles. Around lunch time, we’d break for a chocolate ice cream treat (hmm—probably not sounding like the healthiest mother, huh?), and then we’d head back for kite-flying and wave-watching.
If you could ask your favorite author one question and they had to answer honestly, what would it be?
I’d ask Jayne Ann Krentz a question. Ms. Krentz, I’m dying to know…where did you get the inspiration for Shield’s Lady? (I love that book. She wrote it as Amanda Glass and I almost missed that story because of the name change.)
If you could write in a totally different genre than your current one, which would you choose?
Romantic suspense. Okay, that might not be “totally different” since my Kensington stories are pretty much paranormal suspense, but I do think I’d like to eventually try my hand at straight romantic suspense. And maybe even historicals. Back in the day…I taught history and I’ve always been tempted by that romance sub-genre.
What are you working on now, and what new releases can we expect to see from you down the road?
Right now, I’m working on another novel for Kensington—this one is about a demon, Niol. (Readers will be introduced to him in Hotter After Midnight). This is the last story in my “Midnight” series and then I’ll start on a new paranormal series—one about paranormal bounty hunters.
If you could tell a stranger just one thing about HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT (other than what it's about--no cheating by quoting synopses or back cover blurbs), what would it be?
Have you gotten your quota of psychics, wolf shifters, demons and vampires for the month? If you haven’t, then you should check out the world of the Monster Doctor (Dr. Emily Drake) in HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT.
(I realize the stranger in question would probably look at me like I was a crazy woman, but that’s okay.)
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Give Cynthia a comment or a question, or tell us which animal you wish you could "shift" into, down there in the comments before 5 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 5. I'll draw a name and announce the winner next Tuesday morning.Good luck!
Labels: Contests, guests, reading
Labels: Contests, vampire series
Labels: appearances, Contests, good, vampire series
Labels: appearances, Contests, craft, Eyes of Crow, good, vampire series, Voice of Crow
Labels: Contests, good, guests, music, reading
Labels: Contests, craft, The Reawakened, vampire series
Welcome back to our final installment (for about a month, anyway) of our author interview series. Today we have Rachel Vincent, who is following up her USA Today-bestselling urban fantasy Stray with its much-anticipated sequel, Rogue. Rachel's graciously agreed to give away a signed copy of Rogue to one lucky commenter.You've said that Faythe (your main character) undergoes significant character growth in ROGUE. How are her choices and challenges in this volume different from those in STRAY? What issues will she struggle with most in this book and in the future?
In STRAY, Faythe had no idea who she was, or who she wanted to be. She didn't start to really grow up until she got a peek at what real independence means, and that freedom isn't really free. It comes with a lot of responsibility. At the end of STRAY, she accepted that responsibility. In ROGUE, she's growing into it.
In STRAY, Faythe's choices revolved around herself. What was best for her. But in ROGUE, she makes decisions based on what's good for the Pride, even if that decision isn't very good for her. And in fact, in this second volume, we see even more clearly that what's good for the group and what's good for her as an individual seldom go hand in hand.
As for future struggles? Her personal life is never easy. She and Marc love each other, but there are many other factors that affect a relationship, and theirs is pretty stressful anyway. Still, she's not one to give up on something just because it isn't easy. ;-)
Faythe will also have an opportunity in the near future (books 3 & 4) to see things from a new-to-her perspective, and I think it'll be interesting to see how that changes her outlook.
If you could inhabit the life of any of your characters, enter their world and deal with it as that person, which would you choose?
Ooh, that’s tough. None of my characters live very peaceful lives, because peaceful is boring. But of all the werecats (because my werecat world is the only one currently on the shelf), I guess I’d like to be Faythe. On one of those days where she gets to enjoy the high metabolism and hang out with Marc all day. Not one of those kill-or-be-killed days, where she gets blood all over her clothes and under her fingernails. Conversely, which of your characters would you most like to bring to life in our world (maybe as a best friend or much, much more)?Which author, living or dead, would you most love to collaborate with?
Stephen King. I love King’s writing, and I think he’s brilliant. And even though working with him would no doubt give me a huge inferiority complex, I’d never pass up that chance.
The waiting. No doubt. Everything takes forever in the publishing industry, and even though I know there are many, many steps between writing the book and seeing it on the shelf, I’d love to speed that process up a bit. You know, if I had that magic wand… ;-)
What's the weirdest tidbit of research you've ever incorporated into a book?
Well, I don’t know how weird this is, but during my research for Stray, I discovered that there’s really no such cat species as a black panther (though cougars are sometimes called panthers). Big cats that appear to be black are actually jaguars or leopards with melanism, an increased amount of black or nearly black pigmentation. It’s the opposite of albinism. If you look closely at a melanistic cat, you can see the rosettes in its fur.
What's your earliest memory?
Watching out the window as my two younger sisters played in the season’s first (and probably only) snow. I was maybe four years old. I couldn’t go out because I had chickenpox. I had the last laugh, though. My mom said I couldn’t scratch. But she never said I couldn’t get my sisters to scratch for me. Soon they had it, and I was all better. ;-)
Do you have any phobias?
Like Faythe I can’t eat chicken skin. Can’t do it. That’s where her aversion comes from.
My husband hates when people use the word 'barometer' to mean 'measure.' Which word usage faux pas drives you berserkest?
I hate it when people say “added bonus.” If it’s a bonus, it’s been added by definition. No need to say it twice. I also hate “kneel down.” Has anyone ever knelt up?
Name a literary cliche that makes you throw a book across the room.
I hate it when a girl is so overwhelmed by a man’s beauty/magnetism/whatever that she can’t maintain consciousness. What’s up with passing out over one kiss? Excuse me, but no one’s that hot.
Let's say there's a TV show, movie, or recording artist that has a cult of you. Which is it? (i.e., what do you like that no one else you know likes)?
Okay, don’t tell anyone, but I’m totally obsessed with “So You Think You Can Dance.” Because I know I can’t dance. I love it. I rearrange my schedule around it in the summer.
If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
I would go see a movie with some friends I hardly ever see. Then we’d go out for ice cream. Marble Slab Creamery. Then, when I got home, I’d read until I fell asleep with the book still in my hand.
If you could ask your favorite author one question and they had to answer honestly, what would it be?
“If you could start your career all over again, would you do anything differently?” Because experience teaches people a lot, so surely nearly everyone has one thing they’d change. And I’m really nosy. ;-)
If you could write in a totally different genre than your current one, which would you choose?
Mysteries. I’ve always wanted to write mysteries. I love mysteries (both books and movies) and love trying to guess who-done-it.
What are you working on now, and what new releases can we expect to see from you down the road?Right now I’m working on the fourth werecat book, which I can’t mention by name until the title has been officially approved. But it’s the most emotionally wrenching book I’ve ever written, and also the most difficult to work on, for that reason. Pride, the third werecat book, will be out in March ’09, to be followed by the fourth, fifth, and sixth in the next couple of years. And like most writers, I have a couple more things up my sleeves… ;-)
If you could tell a stranger just one thing about the Werecat series or Rogue in particular (other than what it's about--no cheating by quoting synopses or back cover blurbs), what would it be?
My werecat series is about Faythe Sanders, a tabbycat facing a big responsibility and an even bigger opportunity. She’s in the unique position to change her world for the better, but like all great changes, this one will come at an immense personal cost. A revolution is on the horizon, and Faythe will be leading the charge--if she lives long enough to see it.
Labels: Contests, guests, reading
I feel lucky to have so many wonderful fantasy and science fiction authors visit this blog and give such witty answers to my occasionally dorky questions. Today is no exception, as we welcome Justin Gustainis, author of the acclaimed and ABA bestselling urban fantasy thriller Black Magic Woman, which was released at the end of January.Q. Your protagonist, Quincey Morris, is a descendant of the character of the same name from Bram Stoker's DRACULA, a man sadly omitted from most movie adaptations (if DRACULA were a rock band, Morris would be the bass player). What intrigued you about this classic character to make you decide to form that connection?
Justin: There were, I think, two factors involved. One is what you've just mentioned -- Quincey is the Rodney Dangerfield of Dracula: he "don't get no respect." Well, that's not true, but he's given pretty short shrift by Stoker -- and this is the guy who gives his life to help kill Dracula! Talk about taking one for the team! I've always been interested in Quincey, but there's not a lot to do with the character, since he dies at the end (although P.N. Elrod portrays him surviving as a vampire, which is an interesting idea; wish I'd thought of it).
The second factor is motivation. I wanted to give a plausible reason why my male protagonist is an occult investigator, something beyond, "well, he's just a good guy who fights evil." The Morris lineage seemed like a good way to explain it -- my hero is simply carrying on a family tradition that began in the shadow of Castle Dracula. He's been brought into the family business, you might say.
Unlike most urban fantasies, BLACK MAGIC WOMAN is told from multiple points of view with interwoven plotlines, much like a thriller or horror novel. Was this your intention from the beginning, or did it come about during the writing process as your story grew in scope?
It was my intent from the beginning. I prefer third person; all I've written in first person are a couple of short stories. I understand the value of first person: the reader sees everything through the protag's eyes, and thus is surprised every time the protag is. But it limits you, too. The only information the reader gets is what the narrator knows. Third person gives you more ways to build suspense, IMHO.
That said, I wasn't making any conscious effort to "swim against the stream" of urban fantasy. Several reviewers have said what a refreshing change it is to have an urban fantasy written in third person, and with a male protagonist.
I wasn't trying to be "refreshing." Although I read a lot of urban fantasy, I never consciously thought about the first-person-female trend. I've explained above about the choice of third person. And I chose a male because I am one, and thought I could identify better with the character (although I like to think I did right by Libby Chastain, and most of the women who have talked about the book seem to believe that I did).
I guess it's only natural to use your own gender as a focus for the story. Most of those writing urban fantasy today are women (and they're an incredibly talented bunch, too), so that probably explains the female progatonists. Whereas Jim Butcher's and Simon R. Green's heroes are male.
Vive la difference!
You said in your interview with Marta Acosta that
Well, I wasn't trying to be clever with "in some ways." A number of plot elements are wrapped up at the end of BMW, but there are a few left hanging. Most of these involve the insane gazillionaire Walter Grobius. He figures prominently in
Quincey and Libby don't really have a lot to do in this book -- just save the world.
What's been your biggest surprise/thrill about your first release?
I suppose the biggest thrill (so far, anyway) came when I learned that BMW was going to be the January featured SF/F book at Waterstones, the
If you could inhabit the life of any of your characters, enter their world and deal with it as that person, which one would you choose?
I'd like to be Quincey Morris, my male protagonist. Quincey has all kinds of specialized knowledge of the occult, and he uses it to fight against the forces of darkness. My own idea of fighting the forces of darkness usually involves turning a light on, so I'd really like to be Quincey and do the real thing.
Conversely, which of your characters would you most like to bring to life in our world (maybe as a best friend or much, much more ;-) ?
I think it would be cool to have white witch Libby Chastain as a girlfriend. She's smart, kind, got an off-kilter sense of humor, and, oh yeah -- she can work magic. What's not to like? Besides, both the book's cover artist (Chris McGrath) and I agree that Libby has a cute ass.
Never underestimate the value of a cute ass. :)
Same two questions, but use examples from another author's work (including television/movies/theatre)?
I think I'd like to be Carl Kolchak (the original, not the 2006 version). Kolchak has an insatiable curiosity, and the courage to indulge it, no matter how hairy things get -- and around Kolchak, things often get very hairy. And he doesn't take crap from anybody, including his editor, Tony Vincenzio.
Who would I like to hang out with? Got to be Emma Peel, from The Avengers. I was sooo in love with her when I was a kid (of course, it's hard to separate her from Diana Rigg, the actress who played her -- but then, who would want to?). Emma's smart, and she kicks butt. Plus, I've always been a sucker for that upper-class British accent (at least, in women).
That's kind of a tricky question, because if you paired me with one of the writers whom I truly admire, I'd probably be so intimidated that I might not have a lot to contribute to the partnership. But, that said: Raymond Chandler. I wouldn't mind resurrecting Philip Marlowe for some new cases, and I also like
If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the publishing industry, what would it be?
I'd magically find a solution to the "Catch-22" that all new writers face when trying to break in: the biggest publishers won't look at your stuff unless it comes through an agent, and you can't get an agent unless you already have a track record of successful publications. I don't know what the answer to that conundrum is, but we're talking magic here, right?
What's the weirdest tidbit of research you've ever incorporated into a book?
Well, did you know that some kinds of African muti magic use the organs of human beings -- and that the organs must be "harvested" while the victim is still alive? I made use of that in Black Magic Woman, although I suspect that mahny readers will think I made it up.
Do you have any phobias?
Although I like fish, I don't eat it much, because I'm afraid that a bone will stick in my throat and choke me. Happened to one of Ted Kennedy's sisters -- she died. You could look it up.
My husband hates when people use the word 'barometer' to mean 'measure.' Which word usage faux pas drives you berserkest?
It's when people confuse "verbal" with "oral." Verbal means "with words," which includes words both spoken and written. "Oral," means by mouth. I hear people say things like "We had a verbal contract." Well, duh! What other kind is there? When the parties point and grunt until the terms are settled?
I once knew a girl so naive that she thought oral sex meant talking about it (cue rimshot..). Believe me, if that's all it is, nobody would have even heard of Monica Lewinski.
Name a literary cliche that makes you throw a book across the room.
It's when a macho character proclaims, "I'm goin' in!" What does he expect the other characters to do -- talk him out of it?
Let's say there's a TV show, movie, or recording artist that has a cult of you. Which is it? (i.e., what do you like that no one else you know likes)?
There's a show on the Cartoon Network that they only show late at night. It's called "Moral Oral," and it's a satire of those old "Davy and Goliath" kiddie programs that the Lutherans (or somebody) used to show on Sunday mornings. It's done in the same crude, stop-motion-animation style as the original, but the content is utterly subversive. In one, Oral journeys to the big city to recruit a bunch of prostitutes to come to his town -- so that the Reverend will have some sinners to save (everybody in Oral's town is perfect, you see). Well, the hookers show up, and they are very popular -- but not in the way Oral had in mind (although I believe "Oh, God" is often uttered in their presence). Talk about oral communication.
If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
I'd spend the morning sleeping in, the afternoon in a good bookstore, and the evening in the arms of a beautiful woman who loves me.
If you could ask your favorite author one question and they had to answer honestly, what would it be?
I'd ask, "With all your success, are there still times when you find yourself looking at something you've written and think, "This is shit. Nobody's going to want to read this"?
If you could write in a totally different genre than your current one, which would you choose?
I'd try crime fiction. I'd like to write hardboiled, noirish stories about a professional criminal who always gets away with it --sort of like Westlake/Stark's "Parker" novels.
What are you working on now, and what new releases can we expect to see from you down the road?
I'm writing
If you could tell a stranger just one thing about BLACK MAGIC WOMAN (other than what it's about--no cheating by quoting synopses or back cover blurbs), what would it be?
Labels: Contests, guests, reading
Q. What’s been your biggest surprise/thrill about your first release?
Adrian: Can I say everything? I’d have to say the biggest thrill so far has been the great review A RUSH OF WINGS received in Entertainment Weekly. I’ve been a regular reader of the magazine for a gazillion years and it was pretty damned surreal to see a review of my book in their pages. Thrilling, yes, but surreal!
Dante’s world of
I haven’t spent as much time as I’d like, honestly. As I was preparing to write RUSH, I went to
But my favorite time was night. Then, with the flickering old-fashioned street lamps, the old , flower-draped buildings and the clop of horse hooves on the cobblestone streets (tourist rides in a horse-drawn buggy), I felt like I’d stepped back in time. And I felt like I belonged there.
As to why it seems like such a natural place for vampires – for me, it was the atmosphere and the city’s pulse, or maybe it was more the Quarter’s pulse, a deep and dark rhythm pounding beneath your feet. Mystery and the possibility of danger saturated the night air. Each narrow alley, each inner garden, each shuttered window whispered a seductive, “Look, ma jolie, if you dare.” LOL. What’s not for a vampire to love? The city is night-blooded.
The storylines in RUSH are complex, with many point-of-view characters, yet the plot is deftly woven so that it all comes together in an easy-to-follow way. I’m in awe. What’s your secret? Index cards? Hyperlinked multi-colored outlines? Forty drafts?
Thanks so much! Actually, I hate to admit it, but I don’t have a secret. I did three drafts of the story, mainly to cut it for length. It was 150K words originally. But for the plot lines, somehow they all kept clear in my mind. I’d finish a chapter and think, “Okay, it’s now this day and time. What is everyone else doing?” And go to the next POV and storyline. I knew how they needed to weave with the others. It’s been going the same way with the second book. But I think, before I start the third, I’m going to create a bible so I can keep everyone straight. It’s finally reached that point.
If you could inhabit the life of any of your characters, enter their world and deal with it as that person, which one would you choose?
Wow. A very interesting question! A tough one too. I choose Dante, because the creative side of me would love to delve into the world of music and rock shows.
Conversely, which of your characters would you most like to bring to life in our world (maybe as a best friend or much, much more)?
Another tough question! Heather and Von would both make great friends, and Lucien and Dante would be very cool as otherworldly friends and Dante could be a friend with privileges. ;) Ack! Can’t choose.
Same two questions, but use examples from another author’s work (including television/movies/theater)?
Geek-girl jumps right in with Legolas from LOTR – but the movie version instead of Tolkien’s book. The books lacked characterization, but the films offered much more with expressions, a hand to the shoulder, a glance away, a tensed jaw. Yeah, Legolas, for both. A second choice would be Eric Draven from The Crow.
Which author, living or dead, would you most like to collaborate with?
Oooo! Another tough one! Bring ‘em on, baby! ;) Stephen King would be my first choice. I also loved Caleb Carr’s work in THE ALIENIST and its sequel.. It’d be cool to work with him too. But he’d be third pick. Oscar Wilde would be my second choice. LOVE him!
What’s your earliest memory?
Oddly, it’s a sensation of falling and darkness.
Do you have any phobias?
Oh yeah! I can’t have the light on when in the bathroom. A night-light, yes. But not a light. It freaks me out. (I have no explanation for this.) Maybe I’m afraid of seeing what might need to be cleaned.
Name a literary cliché that makes you throw a book across the room.
The old misunderstanding bit: X walks in on Y sitting all cozy with Z, assumes the worst and stomps off. Refuses to listen to Y explain that they’d been bargaining for X’s life with Z. X and Y split up. Years later the truth comes out, etc.
If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would it be?
Go to a movie or three, eat lots of popcorn, then go home, lounge on the sofa and read, yummies at my side.
If you could write in a totally different genre than your current one, which would you choose?
Historical. Definitely.
What are you working on now, and what new releases can we expect to see from you down the road?
Right now, I’m finishing up IN THE BLOOD, which takes place three weeks after the events in RUSH. I’ve got some short stories coming out in anthologies and I’ll be doing a dark fantasy novel on John Keats in the near future.
If you could tell a perfect stranger just one thing about A RUSH OF WINGS, (other than what it’s about – no cheating by quoting synopses or back cover blurbs) what would it be?
It’s about facing the past, no matter how dark and bleak and ugly, and holding onto your heart, to who you are deep inside.
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Labels: Contests, guests, reading
Q. What's been your biggest surprise/thrill about your first release? Labels: Contests, guests, reading
Congrats to Silverstein, who just won a signed copy of Anton Strout's Dead to Me. Just send your mailing address to me at jeri AT jerismithready DOT com. Everyone else, console yourself by buying Anton's book. If you do it now, I bet you'll have it before Silverstein gets it in the mail, which should be some small revenge.Q. NIGHT RISING, MIDNIGHT REIGN, and BREAK OF DAWN (September 2008) form one trilogy in the Vampire Babylon series. You're currently working on the first book in the second trilogy. How is the second trilogy different from the first? A new set of characters? Will Book Six be the ultimate culmination, or could we see Books 7-9 as well? Or can't you tell us without spoilers? ;-)
Chris: Heh, heh, heh. Actually, I can’t tell you too much, but I can say that
The Vampire
You know, I can’t say that I’ve avidly sought out noir movies, but I do love them when I find myself watching one. The tone is always so stirring, and I love characters whose “moral compasses” aren’t always set quite right. Movies like
Speaking of films, the series takes place in an underground
I’m not sure about current stars, but I sure do wish Harrison Ford in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK could grace us again and again!
From your website, it looks like you've done a lot of traveling. Have any of your experiences inspired a brand-new story or novel you weren't expecting?
Most of the time I have a purpose for my trips. For instance, I did research for an atmospheric thriller called BAITED while I was in
If you could inhabit the life of any of your characters, enter their world and deal with it as that person, which one would you choose?
A lot of my characters are in deep trouble during their respective stories, so although I admire the courage of characters like Dawn Madison and Camille Howard, I think I’d want to be Kimberly Wight from a vampire Blaze I wrote called THE ULTIMATE BITE. She got into trouble, but it wasn’t too much, and she won the love of a hot vampire. I also very much connect to the “geek vibe” she had going: like Kim, I like to read comics and I’m a pop culture freak. Adding a vampire to the equation would make life extra interesting. :-)
Conversely, which of your characters would you most like to bring to life in our world (maybe as a best friend or much, much more ;-) ?
LOL—it seems most of my heroes have bigger issues than I’m equipped to deal with, so I’d choose Breisi Montoya from NIGHT RISING as a good friend. She’s totally got her stuff together, and she’d be a rock in anyone’s life. She’s also a kick-ass, vamp-slaying genius girl, and I would anticipate some very enthralling conversations during happy hour.
Same two questions, but use examples from another author's work (including television/movies/theatre)?
I sooooo want to be Indiana Jones. He doesn’t have any heavy personal things to drag around, and he’s just…Indiana Jones. I’d love to learn to use a whip like that, too.
As far as bringing a fictional character to life? I’d kind of like to do that to Dr. Sloan on GREY’S ANATOMY, just to give him a hard time. I’d tame that man (without totally taming him, of course).
Which author, living or dead, would you most love to collaborate with?
Larry McMurtry. It’d be awesome to take a master class from him in creating characters who reveal so much without saying a lot—but when they do have something to say, every word counts. And I love how his characters are so quirky yet very real.
If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the publishing industry, what would it be?
Paying all authors 50% in royalties! LOL.
What's the weirdest tidbit of research you've ever incorporated into a book?
This is gross, but I think the honors would go to “How to Kill a Wild Boar” in BAITED (10/06). There are just things you never anticipate researching, and this was one of them.
What's your earliest memory?
Do you have any phobias?
I’d say the most noteworthy phobia I have is making sure the covers are around my neck when I go to sleep at night. I got that from watching IN SEARCH OF… when I was little. There was a clip of NOSFERATU because they were highlighting vampires, and that gave me a freaky fear of being ambushed by Max Schreck.
My husband hates when people use the word 'barometer' to mean 'measure.' Which word usage faux pas drives you berserkest?
When “travesty” is used instead of “tragedy.” Nggggghhh.
