Hi all...I was interviewed by my blogging friend Wave on Reviews by Jesse Wave. This is a GLBT review site. :)
You can read the review : HERE
Don't forget to post today for a chance to win a copy of Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione!
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Interview - Victoria Laurie
Today Darque Reviews welcomes Victoria Laurie. She has graciously agreed to share a bit about herself and the books she writes.KS: Hi Victoria, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
VL: Thank you so much, Kimberly! It’s a pleasure to be asked to participate!
KS: Can you tell us how long you’ve been writing, and what influenced you to write professionally?
VL: Honestly I haven’t been writing that long. I started my first book, Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, in February of 2003, and it was published in December of ’04 – so it was a ridiculously quick process for me. And at the time of its publication, I didn’t expect to write more than three books. I thought I’d write a trilogy and be done with it, so it’s rather hysterical that I should be in the process of writing my fourteenth book right now with five more under contract. We plan and the Big Guy Upstairs laughs, right? :)
I will also say that what motivated me to begin writing in the first place was reading the first few books in the fantabulous Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. I think I had just started in on her third book when I had that “Eureka!” moment and I thought, “I could TOTALLY write something like this!” I then promptly called my sister and told her that I was going to write an amateur sleuth novel. Her response was, “Okay, Victoria….good luck with that!” She thought it was just another one of my crazy ideas. Ha! I guess I showed her, huh? :)
KS: For those readers who haven’t experienced the Ghost Hunter Mysteries series, can you tell them a little about M.J. Holliday and her friends?
VL: Well, M.J. is a character that was first introduced in the Psychic Eye Series in the book A Vision of Murder. Ms. Holliday is a psychic medium and ghost hunter. Her sidekick is her best friend, the extra light-in-his loafers Gilley Gillespie. Together, M.J. and Gilley help de-spook haunted locations, while assisting the dead in crossing over and in the process, they also solve a mystery or two. M.J. is a bit more mature than Abby, with an extra dose of guts – not much scares her – so she’s a blast to write – and I will admit that I also enjoy trying to scare you a teensy bit in the process! :)
KS: With your March 2009 release approaching, the third in the Ghost Hunters Mysteries series, can you give fans an idea of what to expect from Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun?
VL: Certainly! Haunt is set in one of San Francisco’s most haunted hotels. M.J. gets roped into doing a television show called, Haunted Possessions, which is set around the premise that certain items can be possessed by evil spirits. M.J. starts out thinking that the show’s premise is a lot of baloney until she participates in the production and she and a fellow medium encounter an evil spirit inhabiting an antique knife.
All sorts of chaos follows, so I would say that Haunt is a cross between Agatha Christie’s, And Then There Were None and the movie, The House on Haunted Hill. It’s a bit spookier than previous M.J.’s, but I think that there’s enough levity there to help temper it.
KS: The series that first got me hooked on your writing is the Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye Mysteries. Can you tell readers a little about Abby and her friends?
VL: Absotutely! Abby Cooper is a professional psychic, but she doesn’t go for the bangles, headscarves and crystal balls. She’s a very non-traditional intuitive; incredibly down to earth, very girl-next-door – and if you called her a witch she would be highly offended!
So, in the first book, the Abster meets her main squeeze, a police detective named Dutch Rivers, who doesn’t think much of her sixth sense, until she uses it to help solve two local murders. From there on out Abby is sort of constantly getting involved in solving crimes, much to her own chagrin. Although, after six books, I believe she might finally be getting used to it. :)
KS: When can fans expect to see a new Psychic Eye Mysteries release?
VL: You know, I kept wondering why so many people were asking me this until I noticed that my own website is woefully absent of any future launch info on the Abster….my bad! :) So, for the foreseeable future, (at least the next 3 years) the official schedule of release dates for each series are:
Each March a new Ghost Hunter Mystery (M.J.)
Each May a new Oracles of Delphi Keep adventure
Each September a new Psychic Eye Mystery (Abby)
KS: You have an all new series coming up, and the first release will be Oracles of Delphi Keep. What can you tell us about it, and who is the series geared toward?
VL: Ah…thank you for mentioning Oracles! This series is my lovechild. I adore it and I’m beyond excited about it – it’s official release date is May 26th, 2009 by the by.
While most of my adult novels take a month or two to craft – this book took EIGHT months to write! Sooooo much love, research, and attention to detail went into it, and like any proud parent I’m so excited to send it out into the world and watch what happens!
So, the premise of the series is this: Three thousand years ago a great Oracle of Delphi named Laodamia foretold of a time in human history when the world would be brought to its knees, and a dark and terrible force would inspire such a battle between good and evil that the fate of all mankind would hang in the balance. Laodamia also foretold that the only way for good to conquer evil lay in the gathering of six oracles – all orphaned children –each bearing a unique intuitive gift that would be needed at the time of the final encounter between these dark forces and our orphans.
Fast-forward to the story’s main setting, Dover, England, August 1938; Ian Wigby is living with his sister Theo in an old fortress turned orphanage called Delphi Keep. One day while exploring an underground cavern along the White Cliffs of Dover, he stumbles upon an ancient silver box which contains a prophecy written by the Phoenician Oracle Laodamia, and within the prophecy, the Oracle names both Ian and his sister directly and sets them on a rather epic adventure to gather the other oracles from around the world while dodging sorcerers, evil beasts and a particularly nasty underworld god. Oh, yeah, and also while trying not to become a casualty of World War II!
The overall story arc is rather humongous….I seriously bit off a tad more than I can chew here – but I have another five books to try and tell the giant tale, with plenty of adventure, mystery and yes, even laughter in between. The series is specifically targeted for the Children’s Middle Grade age group of 10 and up, but, really, as we learned with Harry Potter – it could very well appeal to adults too.
KS: What are you working on now? What will readers see in the upcoming year?
VL: Well, I’m just wrapping up the second book in the Oracles series….which is proving to be every bit as challenging as the first. Then I’m off to pen another M.J. mystery, (for release in March of 2010) and of course immediately following that I’ll have to dive right into another Abby Cooper, (for release in September 2010)
This March, however, readers can follow M.J. to San Francisco where she’ll fight a force of evil greater than any she’s ever encountered as she rids a haunted hotel of its spectral tenants in Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun.
This May they’ll get their first glimpse of Ian Wigby in The Oracles Of Delphi Keep, (see above for a description.)
Then, in September 2009, they can follow Abby Cooper to Washington D.C. as she officially goes to work for the FBI on a missing persons case that has her embroiled in politics and danger in the release of Doom With A View.
KS: With several great series going, do you work on more than one project at a time?
VL: Ha! Always!!! :)
Yes, it’s impossible not to because every book gets revised or edited at least twice, then of course there are the page proofs to review etc., etc. I remember a few months ago I sat down for a phone conference with my agent as we went over the various deadlines coming up in 2009, and about ten minutes into it he actually asked me how the heck I juggled it all. I truthfully told him, “I have no idea!”
And yet, somehow the work always gets done, and I truly believe that it does so because I have such an amazing support team of editors, copyeditors, and my wonderful agent. They keep me on track, upbeat and focused; otherwise I’d be bald (from pulling my hair out) and sniffling noisily into my Cocoa Puffs about now…
KS: You have an amazing ‘day job’, can you tell us about it, and what made you decide to share your talent in a professional capacity?
VL: You know that phrase, “Write what you know?” Yeah…that is really true for me. Like Abby and M.J., I’m also a psychic medium.
I was always an intuitive kid – I just knew when things were going to happen, and the fact that they weren’t usually “big” things is what kept me skeptical about my own abilities for so long. Also – a lot of the hype you see around some of these famous “psychics” just turned me off. In my opinion, a lot of them thought they were “special” and “gifted” and the way they sort of lorded themselves above other people really soured their appeal. I wanted nothing to do with the profession – I mean, those people were strange!
Anyway, I didn’t feel very “gifted” when I would play around with friends and predict their futures, but enough of what I predicted came true and enough of them finally convinced me to start charging for what I could offer on an intuitive level that I finally – and quite grudgingly - took their advice and hung out my shingle. One friend told another, who told another, who told another and soon I had a small following that turned larger year by year.
I’ve remained pretty practical about the whole thing since then. I still don’t believe I’m “gifted.” It’s really not a gift in my opinion, and no, it’s not a curse either. :)
Being a professional psychic or medium takes skill, and like any skill, the more you practice it the better you get at it. So, I try always to remember that I can be wrong – ‘cause I can – and that people who sign up for a reading with me have waited patiently for at least two or three months, and that they are spending their hard earned cash for my intuitive input – that’s a really special trust when you think about it, which is why I try so friggin’ hard to get it right and to “see” as much detail for them as possible in each and every reading. I truly give it my all.
Pretty much, my readings are very much like the ones Abby gives to her clients; down to earth, practical and with real information – not some hippie-yippee-airy-fairy-fluff that you can’t quantify. I hate that stuff, so I don’t incorporate any of it into my readings. My sessions are about who from the Other Side wants to stop in and say hello, and then I do a future forecast of the next 12 months and what my clients can expect to come down the pike. I cover stuff like career, relationships, family, finances, travel, etc., etc., etc. I want you to be able to take the information I give you, and not only know what kind of a year to expect, but use that information to your advantage to make good choices and dodge the occasional bullet if need be.
KS: Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers, or do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?
VL: Wow, okay, so the number one thing I’d like to say is THANK YOU, Kimberly for this fantabulous opportunity to stop by and say hello to your readers, (waving!) and also, thank you to each and every person out there who has supported me over the years. It means more than you can know.
As for advice to aspiring writers…hmmmm. Well, I would say that I think the best advice I can offer you is to write every day, even if it’s just a paragraph. You should learn to get into writing as a habit. If you do, and are ever lucky to land a book contract, then it won’t feel so much like work. By that time it’ll just be second nature.
KS: Thanks so much for sharing your time with us Victoria, it’s been a pleasure!
VL: Huge hugs and a bajillion thank you’s, Kimberly, it’s been a blast!
To learn more about Victoria Laurie, her writing and her work, please visit her website: HERE
To learn about the upcoming Oracles of Delphi Keep series, please visit the website: HERE
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Interview - Terry Spear
Today Darque Reviews welcomes Terry Spear. She’s agreed to share a bit about herself and her writing.Hi Terry, thanks so much for joining us!
TS: Thanks so much for having me, Kimberly!
KS: Can you tell us how long you’ve been writing, and what influenced you to write professionally?
TS: Forever! Really, since I was a child I loved to read and make up my own stories, create my own worlds to live in. When my children were young, I bought tons of books for them, read to them, encouraged them to read, and wanted so badly to create my own stories. So I did. One even made it to a senior editor! But then I switched gears and began writing a historical romance. My dad, my greatest advocate, who loved the story, was diagnosed with a fast-acting cancer and was dying. When he died, I couldn’t write. I was devastated. But then in tears, I began to pen his story, The Thirteenth Mission, about his last mission over Germany when he was shot down, which was published in Ex-POW Magazine. Fan mail from that free publication spurred me forth, from the Belgian who thanked me for sharing my father’s story and my father for helping to free his people, to the Ex-POW who sent me his book of consolidated ex-prisoner of war stories from his local chapter. Their own stories touched me so much, I’ve been writing both for nonfiction and fiction magazines, and novels and short stories ever since. J And Destiny of the Wolf was dedicated to my dad and all those who serve in the Armed Forces.
KS: You have an upcoming SourceBooks release, Destiny of the Wolf. Can you tell us about it?TS: All my wolf titles are stand alone books, and I want them to really showcase something different about the wolf world in each so it doesn’t seem like the same old story told over and over again. In Destiny of the Wolf, the gray lupus garous actually run the town in Colorado from its inception as a silver mining town, whereas in most werewolf societies in my world, the werewolves live amongst the humans, keeping a low profile. So it was fun showing them in charge. :) And now, others want to model their own towns after Darien Silver’s. But his isn’t perfect, not when Lelandi Wildhaven shows up and turns his world upside down.
KS: Will we be seeing more of your wolves in the future?
TS: Absolutely! In Temptation of the Wolf, due out in the fall, we have the same world, only different location, and totally different pack dynamics. His people have abandoned him. His sister has run off with a pack of betas, and …well, he runs into the heroine when he’s not in his best form and things go downhill from there. :) Allure of the Wolf, title to change, is about an Arctic werewolf pack, set in the Canadian Arctic, which may come out in the fall also.
KS: What are you working on now?
TS: Plight of the Wolf and Night of the Wolf, Huntress for Hire.
KS: Which came first for you, Scottish Medieval Romance or Urban Fantasy?
TS: I first started writing a western romance when my dad became so ill. I did finish it, but then set it aside. I went from there to a ghost western, still working on it, set near where I live in an old stagecoach stop town. Then I switched gears and began writing Scottish Medieval Romance, partly because of my Scottish background and all the research I was doing into my roots. At that time, the heroine has second sight, so it was the first work I’d written that delved into the light paranormal. Soft core. :) Realistic enough to fit into the real world in Medieval times. Then I began writing hardcore paranormal—vampires, and from there, werewolves. But with my werewolf world, I wanted the world to feel real, and so I keep my werewolves and their actions as close to what real wolves mixed with a human half might be like.
KS: Which part of the writing process do you enjoy most? Which you part do you enjoy the least?
TS: I love coming up with the first meeting between the hero and heroine, and the first kiss. :) In each of the stories, I wanted the kiss to come unexpectedly. So I hope I was able to do that. :) The least? Saying goodbye to the characters. So in each one of them, you’ll get a glimpse of a character from a previous book. The mystery wolf in Heart of the Wolf makes his appearance in the next three books. Darien Silver from Heart of the Wolf makes a cameo appearance in Temptation of the Wolf also. :)
KS: What do you do when you manage a little free time?
TS: Garden, though I should say relandscaping. Major work, but I love to see the transformation. And reading. Whether I have free time or not. :)
KS: Do you enjoy reading the same genres that you write? Who are some of your favorite authors?TS: I do. I love Leslie Lafoy’s historical works, Karen Moning’s Immortals, and Joy Nash’s as well and tons more.
KS: If you could have any supernatural trait, what would it be? Why?
TS: Vanish and reappear somewhere else. And time travel. With the ability to vanish and reappear anywhere else if I ended up somewhere that I really didn’t want to be. :)
KS: Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers, or do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?
TS: For readers, I love to hear from you! I’m on Myspace, Facebook and Twitters, so please join me! For aspiring writers, same thing. Just keep writing, keep revising, and keep submitting. Perseverance is the name of the game. :)
Thanks so much for sharing your time with us Terry, it’s been a pleasure!
TS: Thanks so much for having me, Kimberly!! :)
To learn more about Terry Spear and her books, please visit her website: www.terryspear.com
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
Monday, September 8, 2008
Interview - Lynda Hilburn
Darque Reviews welcomes Lynda Hilburn, the author of The Vampire Shrink and the soon to be released Dark Harvest!Hi Lynda, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews. We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
LH: Thanks so much for having me at Darque Reviews! I love your site.
Can you tell us a bit about Kismet Knight and what it means to be a Vampire Psychologist?
LH: Kismet Knight is a clinical psychologist. She has worked hard – done everything she was “supposed” to do, professionally and personally – and has created a successful private practice in downtown Denver, CO. In the midst of feeling bored with her life and unchallenged in her work, she meets with a new client in her office. This young woman says she wants to become a vampire. She tells Kismet about a secret world of bloodsuckers living alongside humans in the Mile High City. Of course, Kismet doesn’t believe her. As a psychologist, she has heard every outrageous story a client can fabricate, and all the strange tales can be easily diagnosed. Vampires? Just another sad delusion. But even though she’s certain the young client’s story is due to an overactive imagination, she’s intrigued. What if there are lots of these wannabes who’d benefit from counseling? Had she stumbled upon a brand new dysfunction-of-the-week? Maybe she could write a book about these lost souls and go on Oprah! The Vampire Psychologist was born.
Kismet’s strong hero comes in the form of Devereux, a powerful and sexy vampire. What can you tell us about him and his attraction to Kismet?
LH: Devereux, the 800-year-old, gorgeous, magnetic leader of the local vampire coven, believes he and the human psychologist are linked in ancient and mysterious ways. He tells her a fantastical tale about Druids, wizards and Merlin, of all things. The powerful vampire is used to being in charge and going after what he wants. For reasons Kismet doesn’t understand for most of the book, he wants her. She’d just gone through a two-year drought as far as men and relationships were concerned, so Devereux’s insistence that she assume her role as his “mate” is upsetting and confusing to her. But he is charming, with a body to die for. And then there’s the sex . . .
Your upcoming release, Dark Harvest, published by Medallion Press, is the second book in the Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series. What can we expect from Kismet in this story?LH: By the time Dark Harvest takes place, Kismet has only been involved in the surreal world of the vampires for 5 months. She is still getting used to her new clientele and her relationship with Devereux. One morning, while participating in what she believes is just another radio interview, she takes a call from a day-walking vampire who claims to be a vampire hunter. His mesmerizing voice, floating over the air waves, begins to entrance her, leading her into a series of bizarre and frightening events that further complicate her notions of reality. As she gets pulled deeper into undead madness, she begins to question her own sanity. It seems this evil vampire has his own agenda for Kismet and she is a helpless pawn. Or is she?
Do you have a favorite among your characters, one you feel especially close to?
LH: It would absolutely be Kismet, since she’s my “fantasy me.” I think it would be so incredible to find a gorgeous vampire sitting in my waiting room. And how awesome to actually work with supernatural clients as a therapist! I’m totally living vicariously through her as she has experiences I can only imagine (and I actually DID imagine them! LOL).
Can you tell us what you’re working on now and will readers see a new Kismet story in 2009?
LH: Right now I’m finishing up a short story which will appear in an anthology called The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance, which will be published in Feb., 09. I’m also working on the third book in the Kismet series, but I’ll have to sell that book to a publisher before it will be available, so that probably won’t happen by 2009.
What do you enjoy doing when you find some free time?
LH: I actually enjoy working, so most of my non-writing time is spent seeing clients, either at the mental health center I work at part time or in my own private practice. I also like to read paranormals, psychological thrillers and nonfiction books in my fields. At some point, I hope to have an outlet for my love of singing again.
Do you write full-time? How do you fit your writing into a typical day?
LH: I don’t write full time. I don’t think I’d want to. I enjoy too many different things to ever choose just one activity to do. I have plenty of time to write during the week, but the challenge is choosing to plop my rear end down in front of the computer instead of the TV! I’ve gotten away from my daily writing discipline over the last few months and I need to re-establish that routine. I’m probably not one of the driven writers who can write for hours every day. Although, who knows? Maybe that’s in my future!
If you could choose anywhere in the world to set up your desk and write your next book, where would you like to be? What’s special to you about this place?LH: Ooooo! I’d love to be in a castle in England. My ancestry is English and Scottish mainly, and I’ve always been obsessed with all things British. On a trip to England a couple of years ago, I was overwhelmed by the energy of the ancient cities and buildings I toured. Being an empath and soaking up the emotions, experiences and fears of people who lived before can be a double-edge sword! Marvelous and exhausting. Ideas for characters and stories literally dripped from my brain. Set me up in an English castle and I’ll be a happy writer. Then there’s always Dracula’s castle for a slightly different flavor…
Where can readers find you on the web?
LH: Here’s my website: http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com/, my blog: http://paranormalityuniverse.blogspot.com/ and my MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/lyndahilburn
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring writers before we say goodbye?
LH: As most writers will tell you, never give up. Learn your craft, find your voice and grow a thick skin! If you love writing, do whatever it takes to hold onto the joyful aspects of it. Sometimes, trying so hard to get published, to get an agent – the business of writing – can zap the fun from the process. Create a balance in your life between your professional and personal needs. Share your journey with trusted friends. And, finally, as Nike says, “Just Do It.”
Thank you so much for joining us Lynda. Best wishes for excellent sales when Dark Harvest releases!
Review for The Vampire Shrink: Here
Review for Dark Harvest: Here
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Interview - Caitlin Kittredge
Darque Reviews welcomes Caitlin Kittredge!
Hi Caitlin, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
CK: Hi Kimberly, and thanks. I love talking…er…doing interviews.
Can you tell us how long you’ve been writing and what inspired you to write urban fantasy?
CK: I’ve been writing seriously since 2005, but I was writing fanfiction and infant-stage novel attempts since I was 13, so…ten years, really. I’ve always loved fantasy, from the time I was just learning how to read—my mother gave me a big book of Greek and Norse myths, and I learned largely on those and on Grimm’s fairy tales. It seemed natural that I’d write fantasy when the time came, and I love shapeshifters, so I created a world where my werewolves could thrive and it turned out to be contemporary. Urban fantasy hadn’t quite blown up the way it has nowadays, so I was pretty much writing blind, but I was happy to find that this strange book I’d turned out had a niche.
Hi Caitlin, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
CK: Hi Kimberly, and thanks. I love talking…er…doing interviews.
Can you tell us how long you’ve been writing and what inspired you to write urban fantasy?
CK: I’ve been writing seriously since 2005, but I was writing fanfiction and infant-stage novel attempts since I was 13, so…ten years, really. I’ve always loved fantasy, from the time I was just learning how to read—my mother gave me a big book of Greek and Norse myths, and I learned largely on those and on Grimm’s fairy tales. It seemed natural that I’d write fantasy when the time came, and I love shapeshifters, so I created a world where my werewolves could thrive and it turned out to be contemporary. Urban fantasy hadn’t quite blown up the way it has nowadays, so I was pretty much writing blind, but I was happy to find that this strange book I’d turned out had a niche.
Night Life was released March 4th, 2008 by St. Martin’s Press, can you tell us a bit about Luna Wilder and Nocturne City?CK: Luna Wilder is my heroine, who is a werewolf and a homicide detective in Nocturne City, where the story takes place. I always say that Luna could only exist in Nocturne, and Nocturne could only exist because of Luna. They’re the perfect noir couple: a grim, dark city with a tarnished heart and a tough, street-smart detective who hasn’t lost her sense of justice. Luna is a bit of a departure from “kick-ass” heroines—she makes mistakes, she gets herself into bad situations with her big mouth, she has trouble paying her bills, she has job stress. But she’s also incredibly strong, because I was inspired by some very strong women growing up and I wanted to translate that unsinkable, unshakable heart into one of my characters. Luna is a survivor, and that doesn’t always lead to happy ending, especially in a place like Nocturne City, but she does the best she can.
Pure Blood is scheduled for release on August 26, 2008, by St. Martin’s Press, what can fans expect to see Luna up to in this second installment?
CK: Pure Blood takes readers deeper into what I call the Hexiverse (after the Hex Riots, which outed supernatural creatures to the larger world in the 1960s), with an exploration of witchcraft and Luna on the trail of a killer who’s a much, much better predator than she is, and has bad plans for the future of the city. Any more would be spoiling, but I guarantee that if you enjoyed Night Life you’ll love Book 2!
What are you working on now, and what can we expect to see in new releases coming up?
CK: Right now, I’m writing Book 5 of the Nocturne City series, tentatively entitled Spell Bound. I’m also pleased to report that I sold a new series to St. Martin’s, the Black London adventures, about a psychic mage and his police inspector partner on the trail of missing children, hungry ghosts and black magic in an alternate version of London where demons are commonplace and nothing is what it seems. Street Magic, first in that series, will be out in June of 2009, and the Nocturne City books will continue to release every six months.
What’s the most difficult/enjoyable part of the writing process for you?
CK: The most enjoyable part is definitely plotting, and writing that first draft of something totally new. I love playing around with ideas until I hit just the right combination. I’m a musician, and it’s a lot like playing with chords until you get just the right progression. Writing a draft is very freeing…you can toss anything in and not have to self-edit. My least favorite part is probably copyediting, because then I not only have to deal with my mistakes, but I know that someone else read the manuscript and caught them all!
What genre do you enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?
CK: I’ll read absolutely anything that catches my fancy. I love nonfiction, particularly about music, Victorian culture and fashion. I read a ton of urban fantasy because I get a ton of free books (bonus!) and I love mysteries and thrillers as well. Right now I’m reading a mystery by a Japanese author, Natsuo Kirino, entitled Grotesque that’s just fabulous. Some of my favorite authors are Raymond Chandler, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and H.P. Lovecraft. For urban fantasy, I really enjoy Cherie Priest, Stacia Kane, Richelle Mead, Holly Black, Jackie Kessler, Kat Richardson, Mark Henry and Jim Butcher.
Is there something special you do to reward yourself each time you’ve finished writing a book?
CK: Yes! This is silly, but I’ m a vegetarian and usually fairly strict about my diet (outside of the chocolate), so when I finish a book I take a day off, pop in a movie, and order up a pizza or cook a big plate of cheese fries. Comfort eating is definitely my reward.
What is a typical day for you like, and how much of it do you spend writing?
CK: I’m a night owl, so I usually wake up, er…late. I pour some tea into myself so I can be semi-coherent, and spend about an hour answering email, reading blogs, and doing what I call “administrivia” to wake my brain. Then I grab food, figure out what I need to write by reading my outline and settle down for about 3-4 hours to get in my wordcount for the day. Ideally, I hit the gym and do responsible, grown-up things like go to the post office and buy groceries, but more likely I go play in the garden or load up Rock Band for my Playstation…what can I say? If I’m on tight deadline, I write for another hour or two after dinner, or work on copyedits, page proofs, etc. I usually go to sleep between 2 and 3 a.m. to do it all over again. I write full time, so I don’t really get “days off” unless I’ve just finished something.
How do you spend your free time when you find some?
CK: I love to garden, so I spend a lot of time battling weeds, slugs and all of the other wonderful pests we have here in Washington. I catch up on my reading, or my Tivo, go to movies (I’m a huge movie geek, so I go once or twice a week), go thrift-shopping, go out places with my friends, or find interesting spots to take pictures. I have a Flickr stream that’s linked on my web site if anyone’s interested.
Where can readers find you on the web?
CK: I have a web site, www.caitlinkittredge.com, and there’s my blog, which is www.caitlinkittredge.com/blog (so exciting!) I’m on LiveJournal, Myspace and Facebook, which are all linked on my site. Feel free to friend me…I like the false sense of importance that comes with online social networking.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or with aspiring writers before we go?
CK: Readers: Thank you so much for reading my books. Really. I know there’s a vast selection and the fact that you read/will read mine is a huge thing. You make my career possible, and I love each one of you from the bottom of my neurotic writer heart.
Aspiring authors: A crappy finished manuscript is better than a perfect manuscript that’s not done. You can always go back and edit the damn thing. That’s the best advice I ever got (other than “Don’t be an idiot”, which is sound advice any way you slice it.)
Thanks so much for joining us, and the best of luck with both your Nocturne City and Black London series!
CK: Thank you, Kimberly!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Interview - Rachel Caine
Darque Reviews welcomes Rachel Caine!Hi Ms. Caine, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Can you tell us how long you’ve been writing, and how many books you’ve had published?
RC - I started writing when I was 14, but I didn’t sell anything until I was nearly 30 – long learning curve, I suppose! I published my first book, Stormriders, in 1992. Since then, I think the total is about 25 novels to date, with three more still to do this year.
We’d love to hear about your Weather Warden series and your upcoming August 2008 ROC release, Gale Force (Weather Warden, Book 7). Can you tell us about Joanne Baldwin and her role with the Wardens?RC - Joanne started out in trouble with the Wardens – a magical organization that controls all sorts of magical forces – and while her status has definitely risen, her talent for getting into trouble is also going strong. She’s quick with a quip and has a sharp eye for absurdity, but she definitely takes her role as a Weather Warden seriously – she’s prepared to die for others, and in fact, it wouldn’t be the first time. By Book 7, Joanne’s risen to the top of the organization, but she’s gained a lot of enemies along the way. Her love affair with David, the leader of the New Djinn, is still going strong, but now that he’s asked her for a formal vow, it’s putting them both at risk.
There are Djinn that are as beautiful as they are dangerous. How did they develop, and what is their relationship with the Weather Wardens?
RC - The Djinn come from two sources ... the “True Djinn,” who have been around since the dawn of time and were never human, and the “New Djinn,” humans who have been transformed into Djinn by the circumstances of their deaths. Not surprisingly, there’s a pretty big division between the two, at least in terms of internal politics. None of the Djinn are entirely happy with the Wardens, who more or less perverted the trust that the Djinn gave them way back when, and now Djinn and Wardens exist in an uneasy state of truce – but only because they need each other.
Undone is the first book in a new Weather Warden series titled Outcast Season. Can you tell us about the series and when we might see the first release?
RC - Outcast Season follows a True Djinn named Cassiel who has a serious disagreement with her leader Ashan, and gets exiled into human form. She’ll die without help from the Wardens, but the Wardens want something in return for their generosity ... namely, she has to become part of their organization. But looking human and being human are two very different things, and Cassiel has a lot to learn about herself, and the world around her.
Undone is out in February 2009, and there are four books total in the series.
Another fabulous series is your Morganville Vampires young adult series. Feast of Fools is the 4th book in this series, scheduled for a NAL June 2008 release. Can you tell us about Claire Danvers and her Morganville friends? -
RC - Claire moved to Morganville for college, but she’s getting a lot more of an education than she ever expected. She’s acquired some great friends, (like Michael, Eve, and her now-boyfriend Shane), and some strong allies (like the most powerful vampire in town, Amelie). But now she’s apprenticed to a crazy, brilliant vampire scientist Myrnin, and neck-deep in town politics ... and Amelie’s evil father has rolled into town to take over. What’s a girl to do? Especially with final exams looming!
What are working on now, and what can we expect to see in new releases over the next few years?
RC - I just turned in the fifth Morganville book, Lord of Misrule, and I’ll be starting on the next Weather Warden novel shortly. In addition, there will be three more Outcast Season books coming in the next couple of years. I plan to also do another Stargate SG-1 book this year, and I have some other irons in the fire that aren’t finalized quite yet – but I’m staying busy!
Oh, I’d also like to put in a good word for a marvelous new charity anthology coming out soon called Tears of the Phoenix ... the profits go to the repair and support of the New Orleans Public Library system, which sustained such horrible damage during Hurricane Katrina. It’s being released in two editions, paperback and hardcover, and in the next few weeks you can preorder copies at the website: http://www.tearsofthephoenixanthologies.org/
Is it difficult for you to switch gears from writing an adult series to a young adult series?
RC - Actually, not at all ... I really enjoy the change of pace, and the style and characters are very different. I’m very lucky to have so many varied opportunities.
Who are some of your favorite authors? Have any of them been an influence in your writing?
RC - I have so many favorite authors, I don’t think you have enough space for them here! But I’ll give you the short list: Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, P.N. Elrod, Vicki Pettersson, Stephenie Meyer, Laura Anne Gilman, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, C.J. Cherryh, Roger Zelazny, Tanith Lee, Judith Tarr. I’d probably say that the biggest influence on my writing has been Roger Zelazny, if I had to choose one in particular. I still re-read his Books of Amber just about every year. I also love the classics – the Scarlet Pimpernel series by Baroness Orczy, Men of Iron by Howard Pyle, the Sherlock Holmes stories.
When you’re able to find some free time, what do you enjoy doing?
RC - What is this free time of which you speak? When it rolls around, we have a pretty fierce home theater system and loads of movies and TV shows. Also, I’m trying to get myself back into reasonably good order on playing the clarinet (which I did for a number of years) and learn guitar and harp.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring writers before we go?
RC - I’m a reader first, last, and always – I love writing, but there’s just something so magical about reading a new book for me. So hooray for readers!
And for your aspiring writers ... patience is a virtue. It can seem to take forever to get noticed and published, but honestly, there’s no substitute for hard work, dedication and learning the business. And I look forward to shaking hands with you at a book signing someday!
It’s been a pleasure speaking with you Rachel. Thanks so much for joining us!
RC - Thank you for the opportunity. It’s a pleasure!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
Visit Rachel Caine’s Website here:
http://www.rachelcaine.com/
Visit Rachel Caine’s Blog here:
http://rachelcaine.livejournal.com/
Friend her on Myspace and Facebook!
What are working on now, and what can we expect to see in new releases over the next few years?
RC - I just turned in the fifth Morganville book, Lord of Misrule, and I’ll be starting on the next Weather Warden novel shortly. In addition, there will be three more Outcast Season books coming in the next couple of years. I plan to also do another Stargate SG-1 book this year, and I have some other irons in the fire that aren’t finalized quite yet – but I’m staying busy!
Oh, I’d also like to put in a good word for a marvelous new charity anthology coming out soon called Tears of the Phoenix ... the profits go to the repair and support of the New Orleans Public Library system, which sustained such horrible damage during Hurricane Katrina. It’s being released in two editions, paperback and hardcover, and in the next few weeks you can preorder copies at the website: http://www.tearsofthephoenixanthologies.org/
Is it difficult for you to switch gears from writing an adult series to a young adult series?
RC - Actually, not at all ... I really enjoy the change of pace, and the style and characters are very different. I’m very lucky to have so many varied opportunities.
Who are some of your favorite authors? Have any of them been an influence in your writing?
RC - I have so many favorite authors, I don’t think you have enough space for them here! But I’ll give you the short list: Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, P.N. Elrod, Vicki Pettersson, Stephenie Meyer, Laura Anne Gilman, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, C.J. Cherryh, Roger Zelazny, Tanith Lee, Judith Tarr. I’d probably say that the biggest influence on my writing has been Roger Zelazny, if I had to choose one in particular. I still re-read his Books of Amber just about every year. I also love the classics – the Scarlet Pimpernel series by Baroness Orczy, Men of Iron by Howard Pyle, the Sherlock Holmes stories.
When you’re able to find some free time, what do you enjoy doing?
RC - What is this free time of which you speak? When it rolls around, we have a pretty fierce home theater system and loads of movies and TV shows. Also, I’m trying to get myself back into reasonably good order on playing the clarinet (which I did for a number of years) and learn guitar and harp.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring writers before we go?
RC - I’m a reader first, last, and always – I love writing, but there’s just something so magical about reading a new book for me. So hooray for readers!
And for your aspiring writers ... patience is a virtue. It can seem to take forever to get noticed and published, but honestly, there’s no substitute for hard work, dedication and learning the business. And I look forward to shaking hands with you at a book signing someday!
It’s been a pleasure speaking with you Rachel. Thanks so much for joining us!
RC - Thank you for the opportunity. It’s a pleasure!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
Visit Rachel Caine’s Website here:
http://www.rachelcaine.com/
Visit Rachel Caine’s Blog here:
http://rachelcaine.livejournal.com/
Friend her on Myspace and Facebook!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Interview - Jeri Smith-Ready
Darque Reviews welcomes Jeri Smith-Ready!
Hi Jeri, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your writing a bit better.
Wicked Game is scheduled to release on May 13th, 2008 by Pocket Books. Can you give readers an idea of what they’ll find between the covers of your upcoming release?
JSR: WICKED GAME is a dark, fun, and sexy urban fantasy about a con artist trying to save a vampire radio station from corporate takeover. It’s loaded with music, spiked with horror, and has more than a touch of romance.
Ciara is an ex con trying to live a straight life, the vampires are DJs forever tied to the eras in which they were turned. Which of these ideas came first, and how did the other follow?
JSR: I was driving to work flipping the dial and came to a classic rock station playing “Bad Company” by the band of the same name. I thought, Hmm, “Bad Company” would be a perfect title for a paranormal book with a shady main character.
By the time I got to work, I had a fully formed idea for the vampire DJs stuck in time and a heroine with a criminal past. (The punch line is that even though it all began with “Bad Company,” the publisher ultimately asked me to change the title.)
It was a few more weeks before I figured out Ciara’s criminal background. Con artists tend to be the most charming crooks (who doesn’t love Redford and Newman in The Sting, or Sawyer from Lost?). It also lets Ciara sympathize with the vampires, because she’s a predator, too.
Will this be a stand-alone story, or can readers expect to see more of Ciara Griffin in the future?
JSR: At least one more book (tentatively titled Bad to the Bone) will appear next spring. Like any new series, its continuation largely depends on reader enthusiasm. (hint, hint—if you like the book, tell all your friends!)
Can you tell us about your previous books?
JSR: I also have a romantic fantasy series with Luna Books. The ASPECT OF CROW trilogy (Reviewers Choice Winner and Rita nominee EYES OF CROW, 2006; VOICE OF CROW, 2007; and THE REAWAKENED, November 2008) takes place in a world where everyone has magic bestowed by their Guardian Spirit Animal. The heroine has the Aspect of Crow, which deals with the powers of death. The character’s world is threatened with destruction by an outside force called the “Descendants,” who lack magic but are more technologically advanced—both due to their alienation from nature.
My first urban fantasy was REQUIEM FOR THE DEVIL (2001), which takes place in modern-day Washington, DC. Lucifer is masquerading as a political consultant (not much of a fantasy, I know). He falls in love, and it changes who he is, how he does his job, and even his destiny.
Which of your characters are you most attached to, and why?
JSR: I would have to say Shane, the hero of WICKED GAME. Ciara is probably my favorite, but she’s completely irrepressible. She could survive anything through strength of will alone. But Shane has that darkness lurking inside, waiting to consume him. The music gives him a reason to live, which makes saving the radio station an even more urgent matter for Ciara, as she comes to care about him.
What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
JSR: Definitely the first draft. It feels like sculpting air. Once I have a rough draft down, no matter how crap-alicious, I can work to make it better. But that initial creation of the story is torment.
What are you working on now? What can readers look forward to next?
JSR: I’m in the middle of the second draft (yay!) of WICKED GAME’s sequel, BAD TO THE BONE (to appear in spring 2009). I’m also putting the final touches on THE REAWAKENED, the third book in the Aspect of Crow trilogy. That will be released this November. Once those two projects are turned in, I’ll finish a proposal for a young adult urban fantasy series.
Which genre do you enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?
JSR: I tend to read widely rather than deeply. Want a dark confession? I’m not much of a series fan—I tend to read the first in a series, then no more, no matter how much I enjoyed it. I’m whatever the opposite of an addictive personality is. I’m pretty sure I’d be the world’s first casual crack smoker.
The short list of authors I’ve read 2+ books by include Rachel Vincent, PC Cast, Caprice Crane, Madeleine L’Engle, Charles de Lint, John Irving, Neil Gaiman, C.E. Murphy, James Morrow, Catherine Asaro, and Jana Oliver. And of course the Harry Potter books, but I read them all straight through in a month, which was the only way to hold my attention.
Music was a big part of Wicked Game. Do you always listen to it while you write?
JSR: Usually. It helps me focus amid the background noise of my home. It also keeps me awake, which I find to be really useful when writing.
As to how music affects the actual creation process, the rhythm and mood can drive me through the scene, lending it an extra edge. And of course, when writing a scene that contains music, as often happens in WICKED GAME, I need to hear the song to describe it, so that a reader who’s not familiar with the tune can get a feel for it. If Shane is playing a song on the guitar, I try to find a YouTube video of someone performing it so I can describe how it looks as well as how it sounds.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring authors before we say goodbye?
JSR: To readers: support the authors and series you love by buying their books new and spreading the word. These days, it’s the only way to make sure they stick around.
To aspiring authors: If I had treated my writing with the same amount of professionalism *before* I had a contract as I did afterward, I probably would have been published years sooner. So if you’re serious about it, don’t cram it into the corners of time you manage to find each day. Make it a priority and fit the rest of your life around *it*. Yes, even if it means giving up television.
Hi Jeri, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your writing a bit better.
Wicked Game is scheduled to release on May 13th, 2008 by Pocket Books. Can you give readers an idea of what they’ll find between the covers of your upcoming release?
JSR: WICKED GAME is a dark, fun, and sexy urban fantasy about a con artist trying to save a vampire radio station from corporate takeover. It’s loaded with music, spiked with horror, and has more than a touch of romance.
Ciara is an ex con trying to live a straight life, the vampires are DJs forever tied to the eras in which they were turned. Which of these ideas came first, and how did the other follow?
JSR: I was driving to work flipping the dial and came to a classic rock station playing “Bad Company” by the band of the same name. I thought, Hmm, “Bad Company” would be a perfect title for a paranormal book with a shady main character.
By the time I got to work, I had a fully formed idea for the vampire DJs stuck in time and a heroine with a criminal past. (The punch line is that even though it all began with “Bad Company,” the publisher ultimately asked me to change the title.)
It was a few more weeks before I figured out Ciara’s criminal background. Con artists tend to be the most charming crooks (who doesn’t love Redford and Newman in The Sting, or Sawyer from Lost?). It also lets Ciara sympathize with the vampires, because she’s a predator, too.
Will this be a stand-alone story, or can readers expect to see more of Ciara Griffin in the future?
JSR: At least one more book (tentatively titled Bad to the Bone) will appear next spring. Like any new series, its continuation largely depends on reader enthusiasm. (hint, hint—if you like the book, tell all your friends!)
Can you tell us about your previous books?
JSR: I also have a romantic fantasy series with Luna Books. The ASPECT OF CROW trilogy (Reviewers Choice Winner and Rita nominee EYES OF CROW, 2006; VOICE OF CROW, 2007; and THE REAWAKENED, November 2008) takes place in a world where everyone has magic bestowed by their Guardian Spirit Animal. The heroine has the Aspect of Crow, which deals with the powers of death. The character’s world is threatened with destruction by an outside force called the “Descendants,” who lack magic but are more technologically advanced—both due to their alienation from nature.
My first urban fantasy was REQUIEM FOR THE DEVIL (2001), which takes place in modern-day Washington, DC. Lucifer is masquerading as a political consultant (not much of a fantasy, I know). He falls in love, and it changes who he is, how he does his job, and even his destiny.
Which of your characters are you most attached to, and why?
JSR: I would have to say Shane, the hero of WICKED GAME. Ciara is probably my favorite, but she’s completely irrepressible. She could survive anything through strength of will alone. But Shane has that darkness lurking inside, waiting to consume him. The music gives him a reason to live, which makes saving the radio station an even more urgent matter for Ciara, as she comes to care about him.
What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
JSR: Definitely the first draft. It feels like sculpting air. Once I have a rough draft down, no matter how crap-alicious, I can work to make it better. But that initial creation of the story is torment.
What are you working on now? What can readers look forward to next?
JSR: I’m in the middle of the second draft (yay!) of WICKED GAME’s sequel, BAD TO THE BONE (to appear in spring 2009). I’m also putting the final touches on THE REAWAKENED, the third book in the Aspect of Crow trilogy. That will be released this November. Once those two projects are turned in, I’ll finish a proposal for a young adult urban fantasy series.
Which genre do you enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?
JSR: I tend to read widely rather than deeply. Want a dark confession? I’m not much of a series fan—I tend to read the first in a series, then no more, no matter how much I enjoyed it. I’m whatever the opposite of an addictive personality is. I’m pretty sure I’d be the world’s first casual crack smoker.
The short list of authors I’ve read 2+ books by include Rachel Vincent, PC Cast, Caprice Crane, Madeleine L’Engle, Charles de Lint, John Irving, Neil Gaiman, C.E. Murphy, James Morrow, Catherine Asaro, and Jana Oliver. And of course the Harry Potter books, but I read them all straight through in a month, which was the only way to hold my attention.
Music was a big part of Wicked Game. Do you always listen to it while you write?
JSR: Usually. It helps me focus amid the background noise of my home. It also keeps me awake, which I find to be really useful when writing.
As to how music affects the actual creation process, the rhythm and mood can drive me through the scene, lending it an extra edge. And of course, when writing a scene that contains music, as often happens in WICKED GAME, I need to hear the song to describe it, so that a reader who’s not familiar with the tune can get a feel for it. If Shane is playing a song on the guitar, I try to find a YouTube video of someone performing it so I can describe how it looks as well as how it sounds.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring authors before we say goodbye?
JSR: To readers: support the authors and series you love by buying their books new and spreading the word. These days, it’s the only way to make sure they stick around.
To aspiring authors: If I had treated my writing with the same amount of professionalism *before* I had a contract as I did afterward, I probably would have been published years sooner. So if you’re serious about it, don’t cram it into the corners of time you manage to find each day. Make it a priority and fit the rest of your life around *it*. Yes, even if it means giving up television.
Thanks so much for spending time with us. The best of luck with Wicked Game!
JSR: Thanks for having me, Kimberly. I really enjoy your site!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
JSR: Thanks for having me, Kimberly. I really enjoy your site!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Jeri Smith-Ready at her website, here:
http://www.jerismithready.com/
You can visit her blog, here:
http://www.jerismithready.com/blog/
You can preorder Wicked Game, here:
Amazon – Wicked Game
http://www.jerismithready.com/
You can visit her blog, here:
http://www.jerismithready.com/blog/
You can preorder Wicked Game, here:
Amazon – Wicked Game
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Interview - Tera Lynn Childs
Darque Reviews welcomes Tera Lynn Childs…
Hi Tera, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
Oh. My. Gods. is scheduled to release on May 1, 2008 by Dutton Books (Penguin Group, USA). Can you tell us a bit about Phoebe Castro and her life at the Academy?
TLC: Phoebe is a California girl whose mom marries the headmaster of the Academy, a super-exclusive private school on a tiny Greek island. She just wants to get through her senior year with a B-average and a few cross-country wins because that’s her ticket to a USC scholarship. But when they arrive she learns that the school is populated by the descendants of Greek gods--and she’s the only one who’s not! How can she compete with that? As my cover blurb says, Phoebe’s in for a romantic odyssey of mythic proportion.
Which came first, Phoebe or the Greek gods?
TLC: The gods. Actually, the (original) title came first. My working title was Growing Up Godly--a twist on the Growing Up Gotti reality show--and since I’m not an inspirational author I knew I had to find another meaning for the “Godly” part. I’ve always loved anything ancient, so the Greek gods were a perfect fit.
Will this be a stand-alone story, or can readers expect to see more of Phoebe in the future?
TLC: There will be at least one more--I’m revising the as-yet-untitled sequel right now. I can’t say too much without revealing Oh. My. Gods. spoilers, but the second books takes place the summer after Phoebe’s first year at the Academy. All the familiar characters (Nicole, Troy, Griffin, Adara, and Stella) play major parts in the story.
Can you tell us how long you’ve been writing and what influenced you to choose it as a profession?
TLC: I know the exact moment I started thinking about writing as a legitimate potential career. During my masters thesis defense one of my advisors said, “You are a very effective writer.” Now he was only trying to soften the blow of his next comment, but it got me thinking. Maybe, just maybe, I could.... Two years later, in 2003, I decided to really go after the career.
What was the most difficult part of the writing process for your first book?
TLC: Finishing. The first book I completed was a Regency historical romance the will never see the light of day. Before that I’d started one book after another, but never got more than halfway before giving up. After you reach the end once, then you always know you can do it again, but that first time is scary. You’re plagued by doubts. What if I can’t finish it? What if it’s horrible? What if, what if, what if? You have to push that aside. Just. Keep. Writing.
What are you working on now? What can readers look forward to next?
TLC: Like I said, I’m just finishing up the sequel to Oh. My. Gods. Hopefully there will be more books in the series because I’m not done with Phoebe yet. In the meantime I have a few others in the works. I have BADD (Book Attention Deficit Disorder) so I always have half a dozen ideas at the ready, but until I have a contract I can’t know which ones will make the cut.
Which genre do you enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?
TLC: Of course I’m reading mostly teen books right now and some of my favorites are Stephanie Hale, Jaclyn Moriarty, E. Lockhart, John Green, and Rachel Cohn. My first love, though, is historical romance and my must-reads are Sophie Jordan, Shana Galen, Suzanne Enoch, and unequivocally Julia Quinn.
What did you do to celebrate the sale of your first book?
TLC: I got a tattoo! I’d been wanting one forever, but was very cautious about the what and the where. Choosing the location was easy--my back hip--but I couldn’t decide on the art. TeenVogue published a picture of a Brazilian girl with a field of stars over her shoulder. That was perfect! I was unpublished at that point and made myself a deal: I could get one star for every book I sold. Which reminds me, I still need to get a star for the sequel...
How do you spend your free time when you find some?
TLC: (I find way more than I should!) I’m a reality TV junkie--gasp, I know. If someone has a chance to win a bunch of money by doing something disgusting, embarrassing, or awe-inspiring, then I’ll tune in. I also like to read, rearrange my furniture, travel, browse bookstores, make lists, and covertly observe teenagers at my local coffee shop while I’m supposed to be working--it’s market research!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring authors before we say goodbye?
TLC: Never give up and never stand still. If writing is your passion and you are committed to never stop learning and changing and growing as author you will eventually succeed. Author friend Lynda Sandoval once gave a very powerful speech in which--and I’m majorly paraphrasing/interpreting here--she said, “Imagine if you gave up the day before. The day before you got the bestselling idea. The day before you sent the query that landed you an agent. The day before all the hard work paid off. How can you ever give up knowing that today could be the day before?”
Thanks so much for spending time with us. The best of luck with your upcoming release, Oh. My. Gods.!
TLC: Thank you for the fun interview and for the luck--all writers need that in heavy doses.
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Tera Lynn Childs website, here:
http://teralynnchilds.com/
You can visit her blog, here:
http://www.myspace.com/teralynnchilds
You can order a copy of Oh. My. Gods., here:
Oh. My. Gods. - Amazon
Hi Tera, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
Oh. My. Gods. is scheduled to release on May 1, 2008 by Dutton Books (Penguin Group, USA). Can you tell us a bit about Phoebe Castro and her life at the Academy?
TLC: Phoebe is a California girl whose mom marries the headmaster of the Academy, a super-exclusive private school on a tiny Greek island. She just wants to get through her senior year with a B-average and a few cross-country wins because that’s her ticket to a USC scholarship. But when they arrive she learns that the school is populated by the descendants of Greek gods--and she’s the only one who’s not! How can she compete with that? As my cover blurb says, Phoebe’s in for a romantic odyssey of mythic proportion.
Which came first, Phoebe or the Greek gods?
TLC: The gods. Actually, the (original) title came first. My working title was Growing Up Godly--a twist on the Growing Up Gotti reality show--and since I’m not an inspirational author I knew I had to find another meaning for the “Godly” part. I’ve always loved anything ancient, so the Greek gods were a perfect fit.
Will this be a stand-alone story, or can readers expect to see more of Phoebe in the future?
TLC: There will be at least one more--I’m revising the as-yet-untitled sequel right now. I can’t say too much without revealing Oh. My. Gods. spoilers, but the second books takes place the summer after Phoebe’s first year at the Academy. All the familiar characters (Nicole, Troy, Griffin, Adara, and Stella) play major parts in the story.
Can you tell us how long you’ve been writing and what influenced you to choose it as a profession?
TLC: I know the exact moment I started thinking about writing as a legitimate potential career. During my masters thesis defense one of my advisors said, “You are a very effective writer.” Now he was only trying to soften the blow of his next comment, but it got me thinking. Maybe, just maybe, I could.... Two years later, in 2003, I decided to really go after the career.
What was the most difficult part of the writing process for your first book?
TLC: Finishing. The first book I completed was a Regency historical romance the will never see the light of day. Before that I’d started one book after another, but never got more than halfway before giving up. After you reach the end once, then you always know you can do it again, but that first time is scary. You’re plagued by doubts. What if I can’t finish it? What if it’s horrible? What if, what if, what if? You have to push that aside. Just. Keep. Writing.
What are you working on now? What can readers look forward to next?
TLC: Like I said, I’m just finishing up the sequel to Oh. My. Gods. Hopefully there will be more books in the series because I’m not done with Phoebe yet. In the meantime I have a few others in the works. I have BADD (Book Attention Deficit Disorder) so I always have half a dozen ideas at the ready, but until I have a contract I can’t know which ones will make the cut.
Which genre do you enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?
TLC: Of course I’m reading mostly teen books right now and some of my favorites are Stephanie Hale, Jaclyn Moriarty, E. Lockhart, John Green, and Rachel Cohn. My first love, though, is historical romance and my must-reads are Sophie Jordan, Shana Galen, Suzanne Enoch, and unequivocally Julia Quinn.
What did you do to celebrate the sale of your first book?
TLC: I got a tattoo! I’d been wanting one forever, but was very cautious about the what and the where. Choosing the location was easy--my back hip--but I couldn’t decide on the art. TeenVogue published a picture of a Brazilian girl with a field of stars over her shoulder. That was perfect! I was unpublished at that point and made myself a deal: I could get one star for every book I sold. Which reminds me, I still need to get a star for the sequel...
How do you spend your free time when you find some?
TLC: (I find way more than I should!) I’m a reality TV junkie--gasp, I know. If someone has a chance to win a bunch of money by doing something disgusting, embarrassing, or awe-inspiring, then I’ll tune in. I also like to read, rearrange my furniture, travel, browse bookstores, make lists, and covertly observe teenagers at my local coffee shop while I’m supposed to be working--it’s market research!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring authors before we say goodbye?
TLC: Never give up and never stand still. If writing is your passion and you are committed to never stop learning and changing and growing as author you will eventually succeed. Author friend Lynda Sandoval once gave a very powerful speech in which--and I’m majorly paraphrasing/interpreting here--she said, “Imagine if you gave up the day before. The day before you got the bestselling idea. The day before you sent the query that landed you an agent. The day before all the hard work paid off. How can you ever give up knowing that today could be the day before?”
Thanks so much for spending time with us. The best of luck with your upcoming release, Oh. My. Gods.!
TLC: Thank you for the fun interview and for the luck--all writers need that in heavy doses.
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Tera Lynn Childs website, here:
http://teralynnchilds.com/
You can visit her blog, here:
http://www.myspace.com/teralynnchilds
You can order a copy of Oh. My. Gods., here:
Oh. My. Gods. - Amazon
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Interview - Laura Anne Gilman
Darque Reviews welcomes Laura Anne Gilman!
Hi Laura Anne, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
Free Fall is scheduled for release on May 1, 2008 with Luna Books. Can you tell us about Wren Valere’s newest adventure?
LAG: In Free Fall, Wren does something she’s sworn never to do – she takes herself as a client, making a Retrieval that only she can pull off. Except it’s not just her, of course – Sergei and P.B. aren’t going to let her go it alone, no matter what she thinks. A lot of what’s been building in the past few books really comes to a head, here, and the piper is definitely paid. It was a lot of fun – in the cruel author sense of the word – putting them through the grinder. But don’t worry – they have their lighter moments, too. And yes, we do learn a lot more about the fatae, the non-human members of the Cosa Nostradamus.
This is the 5th book in The Retrievers series; can you give readers a little background on the previous books?
LAG: The books follow Wren Valere and her partner Sergei Didier. Wren is a Retriever, which means that she uses magic (‘current,’ in the parlance of the Cosa Nostradamus) to steal items for her clients. Sometimes the jobs are on the up-and-up…and sometimes they’re not. Over the course of the series, Wren and Sergei both develop their rather rocky personal relationship, and become more and more involved in the larger world of the Cosa, especially when Sergei’s former employers get involved….
You’re also beginning a new series this year (2008), the first of which is titled, Illumination. Can you tell us about The P.U.P.I. series and how it relates to The Retrievers series?
LAG: Actually ‘Illumination’ is the title of the short story that will kick things off, in the forthcoming anthology Powers of Detection II. The first book is still searching for a title, as it’s only now being written. PUPI, or “the Pups,” were introduced in the Retrievers books – Private, Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigation. In the convoluted, often volatile Cosa, where human Talent are split into freewheeling ‘lonejacks’ or the more formal Council, and the non-human fatae have grudges that go back generations, two men have decided there is a need for an impartial, fact-driven investigative team that took no sides except that of the (magical) evidence, to deal with the inevitable situations where normal police and courts can’t be brought in.
The first book in that series won’t be out for a while (we still have the sixth Retrievers novel, BLOOD FROM STONE), but I’m already really excited about it!
Have any of your characters become a favorite for you?
LAG: Hrm. P.B., certainly – the demon was only supposed to be a walk-on character in STAYING DEAD, and he sort of moved in and took over, to become Sidekick #1. And Bonnie endeared herself to me enough to demand her own series! But actually, my surprise favorite character is Duncan. Such a cold, ruthless, and yet [in his own bigoted way] honest character, I was fond of him even as I despised him. He was certainly a challenge to write!
If you could be one of your characters for a day, who would you choose and why?
LAG: Rorani, the dryad. The thought of being part of such an old tree, with such a sense of history…being that grounded and a part of your surroundings is very appealing, especially considering the pretty constant chaos of my life.
What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
LAG: Starting the revision process. Telling the story the first time is fun. Layering it, so that all the details in my head make it onto the page, is the crafty, brain-tickling part I enjoy maybe the most. Fixing problems that crept in during the telling and layering… I stall out like a cranky car going uphill. I rely on my editor not only to be fresh eyes and brain to find the problems I’ve overlooked or pretended weren’t there, but to tell me about them in a way that jumpstarts the car and gets me moving again. Thankfully, she’s very good at that – I read her notes and start thinking “oh, yeah, okay, I can approach it that way….”
What are you working on now? What can readers look forward to next?
LAG: In addition to working on Bonnie #1, I’ve sent off the revised manuscript for BLOOD FROM STONE, the sixth Retrievers novel that will be out in May 2009. But before then there will be an unrelated e-novella (“Dreamcatcher” out in August 2008), and two paranormal romances under the name Anne Leonard – THE NIGHT SERPENT and DAUGHTER OF THE SEA. They’re more in the traditional romance-with-paranormal vein, rather than being fantasy, so we’re putting them out under a different name.
For short fiction, my stories “Illumination” (Powers of Detection II), “Wolfling” (from Abyss & Apex), and “apple, not a fairy tale” (Aeon Speculative Fiction) should be available before the end of the year (publication updates are posted on my website and in my Livejournal).
Plus, there’s an entirely unrelated project that my agent has out with potential publishers now. It’s huge fun, a second-world fantasy rather than the mostly-familiar setting of the Cosa Nostradamus.
I like to keep busy, yeah.
What inspired you to become an author?
LAG: I’m not sure I was inspired so much as hard-wired. There was never much doubt in my mind that, whatever else I did with my life, writing would be part of it. The ‘author’ thing still catches me by surprise – when people ask me what I do I saw “writer” because hey, I write. Active tense.
I suppose the inspiration I got was being raised in a household that was not only filled with books, but where “I’m gonna write books” was greeted not with “suuuure you are” or “good lord, why?” but “all right, that’s a tough career, but if that’s your dream, go for it!” My mother is a short story writer, and my uncle was in publishing, so I learned early on what I was in for. That didn’t stop me either from writing, or having a 15 year career as a book editor myself. Like I said – hard-wired for this career. It was either that or go for my PhD in history, and I just couldn’t bear the thought of any more 8am classes…
Is there a hobby you enjoy when you have some free-time?
LAG: Cooking. I love good food well-prepared, and the alchemy of taking seemingly unrelated ingredients and transforming them into satisfaction. My friends say I should have my own cooking show – “The Improvisational Chef.”
I’d never do it professionally, though – a good hobby should be something you pick up only when you’re in the mood, not because you have to. Otherwise, it becomes a source of stress, not pleasure. We have enough stress in our lives, there’s no need to add any more!
I think that’s a large part of why I write, actually. To help take some of the stress out of other peoples’ lives…
Thanks so much for joining us and sharing your time and answers. The best of luck with Free Fall!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Ms. Gilman’s website, here:
http://www.sff.net/people/LauraAnne.Gilman/
You can visit her blog, here:
http://cosanostradamus.blogspot.com/
You can preorder Free Fall, here:
Amazon – Free Fall
Hi Laura Anne, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
Free Fall is scheduled for release on May 1, 2008 with Luna Books. Can you tell us about Wren Valere’s newest adventure?
LAG: In Free Fall, Wren does something she’s sworn never to do – she takes herself as a client, making a Retrieval that only she can pull off. Except it’s not just her, of course – Sergei and P.B. aren’t going to let her go it alone, no matter what she thinks. A lot of what’s been building in the past few books really comes to a head, here, and the piper is definitely paid. It was a lot of fun – in the cruel author sense of the word – putting them through the grinder. But don’t worry – they have their lighter moments, too. And yes, we do learn a lot more about the fatae, the non-human members of the Cosa Nostradamus.
This is the 5th book in The Retrievers series; can you give readers a little background on the previous books?
LAG: The books follow Wren Valere and her partner Sergei Didier. Wren is a Retriever, which means that she uses magic (‘current,’ in the parlance of the Cosa Nostradamus) to steal items for her clients. Sometimes the jobs are on the up-and-up…and sometimes they’re not. Over the course of the series, Wren and Sergei both develop their rather rocky personal relationship, and become more and more involved in the larger world of the Cosa, especially when Sergei’s former employers get involved….
You’re also beginning a new series this year (2008), the first of which is titled, Illumination. Can you tell us about The P.U.P.I. series and how it relates to The Retrievers series?
LAG: Actually ‘Illumination’ is the title of the short story that will kick things off, in the forthcoming anthology Powers of Detection II. The first book is still searching for a title, as it’s only now being written. PUPI, or “the Pups,” were introduced in the Retrievers books – Private, Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigation. In the convoluted, often volatile Cosa, where human Talent are split into freewheeling ‘lonejacks’ or the more formal Council, and the non-human fatae have grudges that go back generations, two men have decided there is a need for an impartial, fact-driven investigative team that took no sides except that of the (magical) evidence, to deal with the inevitable situations where normal police and courts can’t be brought in.
The first book in that series won’t be out for a while (we still have the sixth Retrievers novel, BLOOD FROM STONE), but I’m already really excited about it!
Have any of your characters become a favorite for you?
LAG: Hrm. P.B., certainly – the demon was only supposed to be a walk-on character in STAYING DEAD, and he sort of moved in and took over, to become Sidekick #1. And Bonnie endeared herself to me enough to demand her own series! But actually, my surprise favorite character is Duncan. Such a cold, ruthless, and yet [in his own bigoted way] honest character, I was fond of him even as I despised him. He was certainly a challenge to write!
If you could be one of your characters for a day, who would you choose and why?
LAG: Rorani, the dryad. The thought of being part of such an old tree, with such a sense of history…being that grounded and a part of your surroundings is very appealing, especially considering the pretty constant chaos of my life.
What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
LAG: Starting the revision process. Telling the story the first time is fun. Layering it, so that all the details in my head make it onto the page, is the crafty, brain-tickling part I enjoy maybe the most. Fixing problems that crept in during the telling and layering… I stall out like a cranky car going uphill. I rely on my editor not only to be fresh eyes and brain to find the problems I’ve overlooked or pretended weren’t there, but to tell me about them in a way that jumpstarts the car and gets me moving again. Thankfully, she’s very good at that – I read her notes and start thinking “oh, yeah, okay, I can approach it that way….”
What are you working on now? What can readers look forward to next?
LAG: In addition to working on Bonnie #1, I’ve sent off the revised manuscript for BLOOD FROM STONE, the sixth Retrievers novel that will be out in May 2009. But before then there will be an unrelated e-novella (“Dreamcatcher” out in August 2008), and two paranormal romances under the name Anne Leonard – THE NIGHT SERPENT and DAUGHTER OF THE SEA. They’re more in the traditional romance-with-paranormal vein, rather than being fantasy, so we’re putting them out under a different name.
For short fiction, my stories “Illumination” (Powers of Detection II), “Wolfling” (from Abyss & Apex), and “apple, not a fairy tale” (Aeon Speculative Fiction) should be available before the end of the year (publication updates are posted on my website and in my Livejournal).
Plus, there’s an entirely unrelated project that my agent has out with potential publishers now. It’s huge fun, a second-world fantasy rather than the mostly-familiar setting of the Cosa Nostradamus.
I like to keep busy, yeah.
What inspired you to become an author?
LAG: I’m not sure I was inspired so much as hard-wired. There was never much doubt in my mind that, whatever else I did with my life, writing would be part of it. The ‘author’ thing still catches me by surprise – when people ask me what I do I saw “writer” because hey, I write. Active tense.
I suppose the inspiration I got was being raised in a household that was not only filled with books, but where “I’m gonna write books” was greeted not with “suuuure you are” or “good lord, why?” but “all right, that’s a tough career, but if that’s your dream, go for it!” My mother is a short story writer, and my uncle was in publishing, so I learned early on what I was in for. That didn’t stop me either from writing, or having a 15 year career as a book editor myself. Like I said – hard-wired for this career. It was either that or go for my PhD in history, and I just couldn’t bear the thought of any more 8am classes…
Is there a hobby you enjoy when you have some free-time?
LAG: Cooking. I love good food well-prepared, and the alchemy of taking seemingly unrelated ingredients and transforming them into satisfaction. My friends say I should have my own cooking show – “The Improvisational Chef.”
I’d never do it professionally, though – a good hobby should be something you pick up only when you’re in the mood, not because you have to. Otherwise, it becomes a source of stress, not pleasure. We have enough stress in our lives, there’s no need to add any more!
I think that’s a large part of why I write, actually. To help take some of the stress out of other peoples’ lives…
Thanks so much for joining us and sharing your time and answers. The best of luck with Free Fall!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Ms. Gilman’s website, here:
http://www.sff.net/people/LauraAnne.Gilman/
You can visit her blog, here:
http://cosanostradamus.blogspot.com/
You can preorder Free Fall, here:
Amazon – Free Fall
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Interview - Linda Wisdom
Darque Reviews welcomes Linda Wisdom!
Hi Linda, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
Your new paranormal romance, 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover, just released from Source Books on March 1, 2008. Can you tell us about it?
LW: Jazz Tremaine is a 700 year young witch who works as a curse eliminator during the day and a driver for All Creatures Car Service at night. She’s snarky, sexy and funny. And not too many witches have a ghost haunting their car. The only curse she wasn’t able to eliminate. Except now, her life is turning upside down when Nick Gregory her vampire ex lover shows up. He needs her help in taking down a killer of vampires. The only thing is, Jazz doesn’t want to spend too much time with Nick because she’ll just fall into bed with him again and that never goes well.
Jasmine Tremaine is a witch, Nikolai Gregorivich is a vampire. What made you choose to put them together in their on and off relationship?
LW: When I thought of the man who would take on Jazz, I soon realized a vampire, someone who’d been around for centuries, could be the only one who could handle her. Even if it means dodging fireballs she can throw all too easily.
Fluff and Puff…of course we have to hear about those naughty little slippers. How did they come about?
LW: We all have our form of comfort items. Teddy bears are great, but I’ve always had a thing about bunny slippers. I have quite a few stuffed animals wearing bunny slippers including a wolf. Fluff and Puff just sort of popped up, said they were magickal, that they were protected from punishment and they pretty much ate anything. There are times I’m convinced my own bunny slippers are out partying at night.
There are a variety of supernatural beings in Jazz’s world. Which was your favorite to write about, and why?
LW: Wow, that’s tricky. Irma, the cranky ghost was a blast to write, but I’d have to say Dweezil, Jazz’s boss at the car service. He could be the only one of his kind, has his collection of erotica, is so cheap he makes Scrooge look like a philanthropist, and believes the world is out to get him.
Will we see more of Jazz Tremaine in the future?
LW: In the fall!! I don’t have the exact month yet. Hex Appeal begins several months after 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover ends.
Can you tell us what you’re working on now, and what readers have to look forward to next?
LW: I’m waiting word on the next few witch books and I’m also trying a Young Adult urban fantasy.
What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you, and why?
LW: Writing a synopsis! I hate them. To me, it’s easier to write the whole book than write a synopsis.
What genre do you enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?
LW: I enjoy most genres, paranormal, contemporary romance, mystery, romantic suspense, sci fi/fantasy. And so many great authors out there. Yasmine Galenorn, Annette Blair, Candace Havens, Jim Butcher, Laura Anne Gilman, Linda Fairstein, Charlaine Harris, Maryjanice Davidson, Carrie Vaughn. As I said, a lot!
Do you have a hobby, or something you enjoy doing when you find some free time?
LW: Reading, of course.I also have a spoiled rotten Yorkie/Chihuahua I love to play with. Bogie’s 16 and still loves his walks. And a great way to get out and figure out what’s next.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring writers before we say goodbye?
LW: For aspiring writers, just keep on as long as you have absolute faith in your work. For readers, if you buy Jazz I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved writing.
Thanks so much for spending this time with Darque Reviews, Linda. We wish you the best with 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Linda Wisdom here:
Witchy Chicks
Or at MySpace, here:
http://www.myspace.com/lindawisdombooks
You can purchase 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover, here:
http://www.sourcebooks.com/cart/shopexd.asp?id=1520
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Hi Linda, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
Your new paranormal romance, 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover, just released from Source Books on March 1, 2008. Can you tell us about it?
LW: Jazz Tremaine is a 700 year young witch who works as a curse eliminator during the day and a driver for All Creatures Car Service at night. She’s snarky, sexy and funny. And not too many witches have a ghost haunting their car. The only curse she wasn’t able to eliminate. Except now, her life is turning upside down when Nick Gregory her vampire ex lover shows up. He needs her help in taking down a killer of vampires. The only thing is, Jazz doesn’t want to spend too much time with Nick because she’ll just fall into bed with him again and that never goes well.
Jasmine Tremaine is a witch, Nikolai Gregorivich is a vampire. What made you choose to put them together in their on and off relationship?
LW: When I thought of the man who would take on Jazz, I soon realized a vampire, someone who’d been around for centuries, could be the only one who could handle her. Even if it means dodging fireballs she can throw all too easily.
Fluff and Puff…of course we have to hear about those naughty little slippers. How did they come about?
LW: We all have our form of comfort items. Teddy bears are great, but I’ve always had a thing about bunny slippers. I have quite a few stuffed animals wearing bunny slippers including a wolf. Fluff and Puff just sort of popped up, said they were magickal, that they were protected from punishment and they pretty much ate anything. There are times I’m convinced my own bunny slippers are out partying at night.
There are a variety of supernatural beings in Jazz’s world. Which was your favorite to write about, and why?
LW: Wow, that’s tricky. Irma, the cranky ghost was a blast to write, but I’d have to say Dweezil, Jazz’s boss at the car service. He could be the only one of his kind, has his collection of erotica, is so cheap he makes Scrooge look like a philanthropist, and believes the world is out to get him.
Will we see more of Jazz Tremaine in the future?
LW: In the fall!! I don’t have the exact month yet. Hex Appeal begins several months after 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover ends.
Can you tell us what you’re working on now, and what readers have to look forward to next?
LW: I’m waiting word on the next few witch books and I’m also trying a Young Adult urban fantasy.
What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you, and why?
LW: Writing a synopsis! I hate them. To me, it’s easier to write the whole book than write a synopsis.
What genre do you enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?
LW: I enjoy most genres, paranormal, contemporary romance, mystery, romantic suspense, sci fi/fantasy. And so many great authors out there. Yasmine Galenorn, Annette Blair, Candace Havens, Jim Butcher, Laura Anne Gilman, Linda Fairstein, Charlaine Harris, Maryjanice Davidson, Carrie Vaughn. As I said, a lot!
Do you have a hobby, or something you enjoy doing when you find some free time?
LW: Reading, of course.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring writers before we say goodbye?
LW: For aspiring writers, just keep on as long as you have absolute faith in your work. For readers, if you buy Jazz I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved writing.
Thanks so much for spending this time with Darque Reviews, Linda. We wish you the best with 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Linda Wisdom here:
Witchy Chicks
Or at MySpace, here:
http://www.myspace.com/lindawisdombooks
You can purchase 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover, here:
http://www.sourcebooks.com/cart/shopexd.asp?id=1520
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Interview - Karen MacInerney
Darque Reviews welcomes Karen MacInerney!
Hi Karen, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews. We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
Your upcoming book, Howling at the Moon: Tales of an Urban Werewolf, is being published by Ballantine Books on February 26, 2008. Can you tell us a bit about it?
KM: Howling at the Moon is the story of reluctant werewolf -- and auditor -- Sophie Garou, who's got a great job, a great loft, a great boyfriend... and a big fat hairy secret. Because I LOVE the teaser Ballantine came up with, I'll share it here for your readers:
Sophie Garou seems to have it all: a great job at a prestigious accounting firm, a closet that rivals a Nordstrom showroom, and a terrific boyfriend who isn’t afraid to use the “M” word. There’s just one little itty-bitty problem: Sophie is a werewolf–and her time of month has a whole new meaning.
Needless to say, life among yummy flesh-and-blood humans is no piece of steak . . . er, cake!, but regular doses of wolfsbane tea and a mother who runs a magic shop have helped Sophie keep her paranormal pedigree under wraps. Still, when a sexy, golden-eyed werewolf prowls into town, Sophie finds herself struggling to keep her animal impulses in check–not to mention trying to keep things on track with her super hot (and super human) lawyer boyfriend. What’s more, someone is threatening to expose Sophie for what she really is. And when her mother is accused of selling a poison-laced potion, Sophie must sniff out a culprit before the fur hits the fan.
Howling at the Moon is the first book in your new Tales of an Urban Werewolf trilogy. Will the trilogy center around one character, or will it change with each book?
KM: Sophie is definitely the star of the trilogy, so all three books will be from her point of view, although the cast of characters will grow and evolve as the books -- and Sophie's world -- grow.
Prior to Howling at the Moon, you wrote cozy mysteries. Have you found that you enjoy writing in one genre more than the other?
KM: I really enjoy writing cozy mysteries, in part because it's wonderful creating the kind of warm, welcoming world that I love to fall into when I read. I also enjoy watching the small-town dynamics unfold -- and perfecting (and sampling) the recipes, of course!
But writing in the paranormal realm has been a ton of fun -- in part because the world-building is in an exciting challenge, and in part because there are fewer rules, which means you can let your imagination run free. When you're working in a world where werewolves are de rigueur, your options for what can happen expand exponentially, and it allows me to create all kinds of absurd, hilarious situations. It's still creating a world, though -- only one where magic, rather than muffins, is the star of the show.
What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
KM: When I'm in writing mode, the words often come tumbling out -- I just wrote 2,000 words in two hours this morning, so I've had a great day. But I've learned that sometimes my creative brain needs a rest to recharge. So for me, I think the challenge has been understanding that while I have periods of great productivity, they are balanced by 'fallow' periods. I've had to accept that the breathers are what enable me to work so enthusiastically -- and productively -- the rest of the time.
Can you tell us what you’re working on now, and what fans can look forward to?
KM: I am currently finishing up the third Tales of an Urban Werewolf book and the third Gray Whale Inn mystery (Murder Most Maine); I plan to have both finished in May. But I've got several exciting ideas for new paranormal projects -- projects that will delve into all kinds of interesting and untapped areas -- bouncing around in my head, and I can't wait to get them on paper. I'll keep you posted!
Do you work on more than one project at a time?
KM: I have tried to -- many times -- but I seem to be a one-book-girl. My friend Susan Wittig Albert once said that books are greedy, and demand all of your attention; she's right. If I work on more than one book at a time, I tend to lose my focus. I will occasionally switch from one to another for a period of months, depending on deadlines and other factors, but when I'm in one book, I don't move to another unless I'm completely switching gears.
I do allow myself to daydream about future projects, though -- which for me, is half the fun of writing. The payoff for finishing one book is letting myself start fleshing out some of my (many, many, many) other ideas!
What genre do you enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?
KM: I read in many, many genres, and I must admit my list is rather eclectic. In mystery and romance, I love Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Wittig Albert, Diane Mott Davidson, and my fellow Cozy Chicks authors, of course. But I also adore Diana Gabaldon, Vladimir Nabokov, J.R.R. Tolkien, Bernd Heinrich, Philippa Gregory, Robin Hobb (she's a fabulous fantasy author I discovered just a year or two ago), Claire Berlinski, James Herriot, Bill Bryson (who can make me snort orange juice) and Michael Pollan. And cookbooks -- I'm on a Barefoot Contessa kick right now.
Do you have a particular time of day that you set aside specifically to write?
KM: Primarily in the mornings after I exercise -- and almost always when my kids are at school or at their grandma's house. Otherwise, just when I get to the steamy bits, e.g., "He put his warm hand on my thigh, sending a current of lust through me..." a child always barges in and announces that someone just spilled four gallons of milk on the kitchen floor. And that most of it is now under the refrigerator.
So I write while the kids are gone... unless I realize that I misread a deadline, in which case I can write 40 pages in 8 hours with three kids jumping all over me. (I wish I could say this was theoretical, but it's not.) I usually write at a coffee house or at the library, but it varies; lately I've been working on the living room couch. I have no idea why.
Do you have any hobbies? How do you spend your free time when you find some?
KM: I like to read -- surprise! -- and I like to exercise, so you'll often find me on walking or biking the Hike and Bike trail or at an exercise class. Also, I'm a big fan of plants and growing things in general -- in a previous life, I was working toward a PhD in plant population biology -- so I love nature hikes and gardening. I enjoy cooking, and I love, love, love to travel. I'm planning to learn Italian soon so I can convince myself that spending a summer in Tuscany would be educational. (And deductible, for research purposes, of course. Italian werewolves, anyone?) And there's nothing better than settling into a hot bath with a candle and a great book.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring authors before we say goodbye?
KM: I think for readers, I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you for going to your bookstores and libraries keeping the art of the written word alive. I love books passionately, and I'm so glad there are so many people still devoted to the magic of books!
And for writers? I think I would say that above all, the best way to learn to write is to read. Read obsessively, read curiously, read to find out what kind of book you want to write. And when you sit down to work, be as clear as you can about the book you want to write. You wouldn't sit down at a blank canvas without knowing if you were planning to paint a still life or a modern piece; in the same way, it's best to have at least some vision of what you want to do before you pull out your laptop (or notebook, or whatever you choose to use).
And when you do start submitting your work, keep your chin up -- and start on the next piece as soon as you've sent that query letter out. (Preferably not the sequel to the unsold first book -- get excited about something new!)
Thanks so much for spending some time with us. The best of luck on Howling at the Moon!
KM: Thank you, Kimberly... and thank you so much for the interview. Great questions!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Karen MacInerney’s website here:
http://www.karenmacinerney.com/
You can visit her blog here:
http://karenmacinerney.blogspot.com/
You can purchase a copy of Howling at the Moon, here:
Amazon – Howling at the Moon
Hi Karen, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews. We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
Your upcoming book, Howling at the Moon: Tales of an Urban Werewolf, is being published by Ballantine Books on February 26, 2008. Can you tell us a bit about it?
KM: Howling at the Moon is the story of reluctant werewolf -- and auditor -- Sophie Garou, who's got a great job, a great loft, a great boyfriend... and a big fat hairy secret. Because I LOVE the teaser Ballantine came up with, I'll share it here for your readers:
Sophie Garou seems to have it all: a great job at a prestigious accounting firm, a closet that rivals a Nordstrom showroom, and a terrific boyfriend who isn’t afraid to use the “M” word. There’s just one little itty-bitty problem: Sophie is a werewolf–and her time of month has a whole new meaning.
Needless to say, life among yummy flesh-and-blood humans is no piece of steak . . . er, cake!, but regular doses of wolfsbane tea and a mother who runs a magic shop have helped Sophie keep her paranormal pedigree under wraps. Still, when a sexy, golden-eyed werewolf prowls into town, Sophie finds herself struggling to keep her animal impulses in check–not to mention trying to keep things on track with her super hot (and super human) lawyer boyfriend. What’s more, someone is threatening to expose Sophie for what she really is. And when her mother is accused of selling a poison-laced potion, Sophie must sniff out a culprit before the fur hits the fan.
Howling at the Moon is the first book in your new Tales of an Urban Werewolf trilogy. Will the trilogy center around one character, or will it change with each book?
KM: Sophie is definitely the star of the trilogy, so all three books will be from her point of view, although the cast of characters will grow and evolve as the books -- and Sophie's world -- grow.
Prior to Howling at the Moon, you wrote cozy mysteries. Have you found that you enjoy writing in one genre more than the other?
KM: I really enjoy writing cozy mysteries, in part because it's wonderful creating the kind of warm, welcoming world that I love to fall into when I read. I also enjoy watching the small-town dynamics unfold -- and perfecting (and sampling) the recipes, of course!
But writing in the paranormal realm has been a ton of fun -- in part because the world-building is in an exciting challenge, and in part because there are fewer rules, which means you can let your imagination run free. When you're working in a world where werewolves are de rigueur, your options for what can happen expand exponentially, and it allows me to create all kinds of absurd, hilarious situations. It's still creating a world, though -- only one where magic, rather than muffins, is the star of the show.
What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
KM: When I'm in writing mode, the words often come tumbling out -- I just wrote 2,000 words in two hours this morning, so I've had a great day. But I've learned that sometimes my creative brain needs a rest to recharge. So for me, I think the challenge has been understanding that while I have periods of great productivity, they are balanced by 'fallow' periods. I've had to accept that the breathers are what enable me to work so enthusiastically -- and productively -- the rest of the time.
Can you tell us what you’re working on now, and what fans can look forward to?
KM: I am currently finishing up the third Tales of an Urban Werewolf book and the third Gray Whale Inn mystery (Murder Most Maine); I plan to have both finished in May. But I've got several exciting ideas for new paranormal projects -- projects that will delve into all kinds of interesting and untapped areas -- bouncing around in my head, and I can't wait to get them on paper. I'll keep you posted!
Do you work on more than one project at a time?
KM: I have tried to -- many times -- but I seem to be a one-book-girl. My friend Susan Wittig Albert once said that books are greedy, and demand all of your attention; she's right. If I work on more than one book at a time, I tend to lose my focus. I will occasionally switch from one to another for a period of months, depending on deadlines and other factors, but when I'm in one book, I don't move to another unless I'm completely switching gears.
I do allow myself to daydream about future projects, though -- which for me, is half the fun of writing. The payoff for finishing one book is letting myself start fleshing out some of my (many, many, many) other ideas!
What genre do you enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?
KM: I read in many, many genres, and I must admit my list is rather eclectic. In mystery and romance, I love Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Wittig Albert, Diane Mott Davidson, and my fellow Cozy Chicks authors, of course. But I also adore Diana Gabaldon, Vladimir Nabokov, J.R.R. Tolkien, Bernd Heinrich, Philippa Gregory, Robin Hobb (she's a fabulous fantasy author I discovered just a year or two ago), Claire Berlinski, James Herriot, Bill Bryson (who can make me snort orange juice) and Michael Pollan. And cookbooks -- I'm on a Barefoot Contessa kick right now.
Do you have a particular time of day that you set aside specifically to write?
KM: Primarily in the mornings after I exercise -- and almost always when my kids are at school or at their grandma's house. Otherwise, just when I get to the steamy bits, e.g., "He put his warm hand on my thigh, sending a current of lust through me..." a child always barges in and announces that someone just spilled four gallons of milk on the kitchen floor. And that most of it is now under the refrigerator.
So I write while the kids are gone... unless I realize that I misread a deadline, in which case I can write 40 pages in 8 hours with three kids jumping all over me. (I wish I could say this was theoretical, but it's not.) I usually write at a coffee house or at the library, but it varies; lately I've been working on the living room couch. I have no idea why.
Do you have any hobbies? How do you spend your free time when you find some?
KM: I like to read -- surprise! -- and I like to exercise, so you'll often find me on walking or biking the Hike and Bike trail or at an exercise class. Also, I'm a big fan of plants and growing things in general -- in a previous life, I was working toward a PhD in plant population biology -- so I love nature hikes and gardening. I enjoy cooking, and I love, love, love to travel. I'm planning to learn Italian soon so I can convince myself that spending a summer in Tuscany would be educational. (And deductible, for research purposes, of course. Italian werewolves, anyone?) And there's nothing better than settling into a hot bath with a candle and a great book.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or aspiring authors before we say goodbye?
KM: I think for readers, I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you for going to your bookstores and libraries keeping the art of the written word alive. I love books passionately, and I'm so glad there are so many people still devoted to the magic of books!
And for writers? I think I would say that above all, the best way to learn to write is to read. Read obsessively, read curiously, read to find out what kind of book you want to write. And when you sit down to work, be as clear as you can about the book you want to write. You wouldn't sit down at a blank canvas without knowing if you were planning to paint a still life or a modern piece; in the same way, it's best to have at least some vision of what you want to do before you pull out your laptop (or notebook, or whatever you choose to use).
And when you do start submitting your work, keep your chin up -- and start on the next piece as soon as you've sent that query letter out. (Preferably not the sequel to the unsold first book -- get excited about something new!)
Thanks so much for spending some time with us. The best of luck on Howling at the Moon!
KM: Thank you, Kimberly... and thank you so much for the interview. Great questions!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Karen MacInerney’s website here:
http://www.karenmacinerney.com/
You can visit her blog here:
http://karenmacinerney.blogspot.com/
You can purchase a copy of Howling at the Moon, here:
Amazon – Howling at the Moon
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Interview - Mark Henry
Darque Reviews welcomes Mark Henry, author of the upcoming Kensington Books release, “Happy Hour of the Damned”.
Hi Mark, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know a bit about you and your writing.
You must be very excited about your first novel, Happy Hour of the Damned. Can you tell us a bit about it?
MH - Well, first off, thanks for having me. The thought of this book hitting the shelves is driving me insane with anxiety and excitement and all those other emotions that cause bowel issues. So…yeah. I am totally excited.
And, here's that bit you asked for…
Amanda's an ad-exec turned flesh-eating ghoul searching for a missing friend, the perfect martini, and a way to stop the coming zombie apocalypse—'cause really, more zombies equals less food. It's the first in a contracted trilogy and I hope to cover every horrible, funny, and awkward thing you can imagine about joining the undead while retaining the use of your brain. I want people to have a really good time with it.
Where did the idea come from? How did it develop into a story?
MH - I've always loved zombies, in movies, fiction, whatever. Back in the 80s, Douglas E. Winter wrote a pair of stories for anthologies from the perspective of the sentient undead rather than the mindless shambling variety, Less than Zombie and Bright Lights Big Zombie, based, obviously, on two of the biggest novels of that decade, Bret Easton Ellis's Less than Zero and Jay McInerny's Bright Lights Big City. I always wanted more but further stories never materialized. When I decided to write my first novel, it was a natural fit. I asked myself what if the Sex and the City girls ended up rising from the dead with a craving for flesh? What would that be like? I wrote a short story called An Acquired Taste—the first appearance of Amanda and Wendy—that was published in a small press anthology and really started the ball rolling.
Can you tell us what you’re working on now and what we might see from you in the next few years?
MH - I'm in the middle of three projects, right now. I've just finished book 2 in the Amanda Feral series, Road Trip of the Living Dead, and preparing another comic urban fantasy called The Dark Rites of Joe Barkley, which if you can believe it is even darker than Happy Hour and teeming with all sorts of ludicrous sexual situations. Book 3 is outlined and partially complete, as well. So lots of irons in the fire.
Do you have a favorite author you read? Are they an influence on your writing?
MH - I love Christopher Moore and have been making my way through his books for the past couple of years. His humor is this absolutely brilliant, no-holds barred stuff and I can only hope mine bears a resemblance. In Joe, I'm attempting the kind of multiple narrative structure that Moore employs so comfortably. I also love Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next and Liz Williams Detective Inspector Chen, both series that just blew me away in world building and humor.
If you could choose anyone to co-author a book with, who would it be? Why?
MH - I can say, with all confidence, no other author would put up with my non-linear flights of extrapolation, lazy writing habits and/or filthy pottymouth. Except maybe my wife but she's not a writer, although she's my first reader and one hell of a blue pencil editor. Scary!
Is all of your writing filled with humor? Is that something that carries over from your personality?
MH - Not all of my work is humorous, but probably the stuff that gets published will be. It's the one thing that sets my work apart from other urban fantasies. That's going to sound snotty. Let's put it this way, people who haven't read the book will make an assumption based on the cover, but Amanda is not simply snarky ala Anita Blake, the book is built on a comedy framework.
It definitely carries over from my personality, and the group of friends I associate with are quite sarcastic, acerbic, and, dare I say, biting. Nyuk nyuk.
Do you have any bad writing habits?
MH - Oh God, tons of 'em. I'm lazy as hell, and as any writer can tell you, too much time between writing sessions is like starting over. I start over, a lot. I'm an incessant e-mail checker and internet procrastinator. Blogging is both fun and terrible for my work. I can easily spend five hours prepping and posting a blog and then have so much less time Plus, I have a tendency to interject my filthy vocabulary into my narrative. Maybe you've noticed?
Is there a favorite quote or saying you use often?
MH - Don't ask me that. I have tons of movie lines that seem to slip out at inappropriate times. Mostly really offensive quotes from John Waters' films. He's another huge influence on my work. Oops…here comes one now, don't say I didn't warn you.
"Lulu? Tell me you don't dance lewdly for the boys at school."
"For a quarter I will."
How do you spend your time when you’re not busy writing?
MH - I love to read, play with my dogs, go to movies, travel. After people read the book, they'll be expecting the answer to be: torturing innocents in my dungeon lair, but really just normal stuff. Oh…and I love to cook, body parts, of course.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers before we say goodbye?
MH - You keep laughing and I'll keep writing. Does that sound corny? I think it sounds corny.
Everyone can use that wonderful bit of humor in their lives, so I think we’ll all be happy to hold you to it. :)
Thanks so much for joining us and sharing your time. Congratulations on Happy Hour of the Damned!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Mark’s website here:
http://markhenry.us/
Visit Mark’s blog here:
http://burlesqueofthedamned.blogspot.com/
Visit Mark at League of Reluctant Adults here:
http://www.leagueofreluctantadults.com/
Hi Mark, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know a bit about you and your writing.
You must be very excited about your first novel, Happy Hour of the Damned. Can you tell us a bit about it?
MH - Well, first off, thanks for having me. The thought of this book hitting the shelves is driving me insane with anxiety and excitement and all those other emotions that cause bowel issues. So…yeah. I am totally excited.
And, here's that bit you asked for…
Amanda's an ad-exec turned flesh-eating ghoul searching for a missing friend, the perfect martini, and a way to stop the coming zombie apocalypse—'cause really, more zombies equals less food. It's the first in a contracted trilogy and I hope to cover every horrible, funny, and awkward thing you can imagine about joining the undead while retaining the use of your brain. I want people to have a really good time with it.
Where did the idea come from? How did it develop into a story?
MH - I've always loved zombies, in movies, fiction, whatever. Back in the 80s, Douglas E. Winter wrote a pair of stories for anthologies from the perspective of the sentient undead rather than the mindless shambling variety, Less than Zombie and Bright Lights Big Zombie, based, obviously, on two of the biggest novels of that decade, Bret Easton Ellis's Less than Zero and Jay McInerny's Bright Lights Big City. I always wanted more but further stories never materialized. When I decided to write my first novel, it was a natural fit. I asked myself what if the Sex and the City girls ended up rising from the dead with a craving for flesh? What would that be like? I wrote a short story called An Acquired Taste—the first appearance of Amanda and Wendy—that was published in a small press anthology and really started the ball rolling.
Can you tell us what you’re working on now and what we might see from you in the next few years?
MH - I'm in the middle of three projects, right now. I've just finished book 2 in the Amanda Feral series, Road Trip of the Living Dead, and preparing another comic urban fantasy called The Dark Rites of Joe Barkley, which if you can believe it is even darker than Happy Hour and teeming with all sorts of ludicrous sexual situations. Book 3 is outlined and partially complete, as well. So lots of irons in the fire.
Do you have a favorite author you read? Are they an influence on your writing?
MH - I love Christopher Moore and have been making my way through his books for the past couple of years. His humor is this absolutely brilliant, no-holds barred stuff and I can only hope mine bears a resemblance. In Joe, I'm attempting the kind of multiple narrative structure that Moore employs so comfortably. I also love Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next and Liz Williams Detective Inspector Chen, both series that just blew me away in world building and humor.
If you could choose anyone to co-author a book with, who would it be? Why?
MH - I can say, with all confidence, no other author would put up with my non-linear flights of extrapolation, lazy writing habits and/or filthy pottymouth. Except maybe my wife but she's not a writer, although she's my first reader and one hell of a blue pencil editor. Scary!
Is all of your writing filled with humor? Is that something that carries over from your personality?
MH - Not all of my work is humorous, but probably the stuff that gets published will be. It's the one thing that sets my work apart from other urban fantasies. That's going to sound snotty. Let's put it this way, people who haven't read the book will make an assumption based on the cover, but Amanda is not simply snarky ala Anita Blake, the book is built on a comedy framework.
It definitely carries over from my personality, and the group of friends I associate with are quite sarcastic, acerbic, and, dare I say, biting. Nyuk nyuk.
Do you have any bad writing habits?
MH - Oh God, tons of 'em. I'm lazy as hell, and as any writer can tell you, too much time between writing sessions is like starting over. I start over, a lot. I'm an incessant e-mail checker and internet procrastinator. Blogging is both fun and terrible for my work. I can easily spend five hours prepping and posting a blog and then have so much less time Plus, I have a tendency to interject my filthy vocabulary into my narrative. Maybe you've noticed?
Is there a favorite quote or saying you use often?
MH - Don't ask me that. I have tons of movie lines that seem to slip out at inappropriate times. Mostly really offensive quotes from John Waters' films. He's another huge influence on my work. Oops…here comes one now, don't say I didn't warn you.
"Lulu? Tell me you don't dance lewdly for the boys at school."
"For a quarter I will."
How do you spend your time when you’re not busy writing?
MH - I love to read, play with my dogs, go to movies, travel. After people read the book, they'll be expecting the answer to be: torturing innocents in my dungeon lair, but really just normal stuff. Oh…and I love to cook, body parts, of course.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers before we say goodbye?
MH - You keep laughing and I'll keep writing. Does that sound corny? I think it sounds corny.
Everyone can use that wonderful bit of humor in their lives, so I think we’ll all be happy to hold you to it. :)
Thanks so much for joining us and sharing your time. Congratulations on Happy Hour of the Damned!
Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews
You can visit Mark’s website here:
http://markhenry.us/
Visit Mark’s blog here:
http://burlesqueofthedamned.blogspot.com/
Visit Mark at League of Reluctant Adults here:
http://www.leagueofreluctantadults.com/
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