I am really excited to welcome Jolie Mathis to my blog. Jolie’s debut novel, The Sea King, came out just last month, and does it look great. 
Without further ado…here’s Jolie (and me, asking the questions :) )
Q.) First tell us about The Sea King.
J.M.)Sure, Lori! The Sea Kingis set in pre-Conquest, pre-Viking Age England. Princess Isabel of Norsex must guard her heart against the formidable Viking mercenary, Kol Thorleksson, who is the enemy of her people. That’s a deceptively simple description — there are lots of twists and secrets.
Q.) Why Vikings? Definitely not the more common theme for historicals right now. Did you think about that at all when you were writing The Sea King?
J.M.)I never set out with the intention to write a Viking romance, but that’s just how the story appeared in my mind. I tried to force the storyline into several other time periods, which I hoped would be more marketable, but in the end, Kol was Norse, and he wasn’t going to let me forget about it.
Q.) Based on the excerpt you have posted on your web site, I’d guess this book is dark, dramatic and sexy. Is that a fair guess? (all good by the way)
J.M.)Dark, dramatic and sexy is a perfect description for the book! I’ve received a lot of correspondence from readers, and the one thing they have seemed to appreciate was the story’s depth of emotion. I’m very proud about that, because those are exactly the types of stories I like to read.
Q.) Who is your favorite character in this book and why?
J.M.)Oh, difficult choice, but I’d have to say Kol. While he is an Alpha Viking hero, he really plays against the stereotype in so many ways. Cast into the snow at birth by a mother who despised him, he is cursed and doomed to die an early death. Being able to peer into his mind, and to see the way he viewed the world around him was fascinating to me.
Q.) What kind of research did you do while writing The Sea King?
J.M.)Quite a bit! Stephen Pollington’s research on the time period, and the world of the Dark Age warrior was a huge asset, as were the experts at the Northvegr Foundation and the Icelandic Language Institute.
Q.) Do you have any other books in the works?
J.M.)I’ve had a lot of readers ask when my next Viking novel is out. Unfortunately, they are difficult to place in today’s fiction market, so I’m currently at work on a “dark, dramatic and sexy” Victorian novel. I really enjoy any historical period, so it’s all good for me. 
Q.) What kind of writer are you? Plotter—seat of the panster? Fast—slow? Write every day—or when the mood hits? Etc.
J.M.)Usually a story comes to me as an initial premise, and then my brain starts working to fill in the holes. I don’t write outlines, or do any intensive plotting, other than a ten to twelve page synopsis. The rest is “writing into the mist”.
Q.) Where do you write? Can you describe your space? How about interruptions and noise—do you need complete silence or can you juggle real life while you create?
J.M.)I have a home office where I do some of my writing, but mostly I lug a lap top to different locations around the house, or to coffee houses or libraries. I prefer silence, or perhaps some Enya in the background, but with two small children, I’ve had to learn to write in the midst of activity.
Q.) What is the biggest compliment someone has paid you regarding your writing—and what made it the biggest?
J.M.)“Thanks a lot, Jolie! I got no sleep last night because I couldn’t put your book down!” Those are the best sort of compliments! As authors, we strive to write page turners.
Q.) Who and what do you read?
J.M.)As far as romance, my favorites have been Laura Kinsale and Judith Ivory. There are so many more I could list. Other favorites are Stephen King, Edith Wharton, Zora Neale Hurston and Diana Gabaldon. I read a lot of history books, even if they have nothing to do with the projects I’m working on.
Q.) Important stuff now—what is your favorite TV show, food, and vice?
J.M.)TV Show — It’s a tie between CSI Las Vegas and Grey’s Anatomy (Patrick Dempsey!)
food - pizza!
vice - the Internet and e-mail
Q.) And finally, where can readers go to learn more about you and your books?
J.M.)Please visit my website, www.joliemathis.com . I love to receive e-mails from readers.
J.M.)You can find the book at Amazon, Waldenbooks, Borders, Barnes & Nobles, independent booksellers, or anywhere where mass market paperbacks are sold.
Thanks, for the interview, Jolie! I can’t wait to read The Sea King.
Lori
K.L.) Hi Lori and Lori’s blog buddies. Thanks for having me. Even though I did start with romantic comedies, the first book I ever wrote and completed was what eventually became Fangs For The Memories. Rhys and Jane were the couple of my heart. I started thinking about them in, I guess, 1998 or 1999. As far as why vampires? I’ve always had a thing for them. Since Love At First Bite.
Q.) Can you name one author whose work you admire and specifically tell us what you like about it?
