Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

Harlequin is giving away a free download of Caridad’s story Desire Calls. To get your copy go to their paranormal blog!

That is the number of subscribers to my newsletter. I find this fascinating because it seems stuck there. It goes up when I have a release, but then back down when I send out a posting–I guess when people are reminded they subscribed. I’m not sure what I would have to do to get over that 439. Not sure I want to for that matter.

Authors brag a lot about having these gargantuan mailing lists. I’m talking like 20,000 names. Thing is, unless you are a BIG name I have major doubts most of those email addys are 1. ) real and 2.) even slightly interested in your books. Now by real what I mean is not duplicates. I have people do that, sign up under say four email addys when I’m giving away a prize. Periodically, I go through and weed those people out–there are ways to tell when someone has done this. So far as the others, there are TONS of people who only sign up for the contests. Now some are still readers, but many come from contest web sites. Web sites that direct people to your contest AND provide the answer for them. In general I don’t mind that–but I don’t pat myself on the back for it either. (or fool myself into thinking they will eventually see the light and buy my entire backlist for themselves and all their friends.)

Now so far as not knowing whether I want to break that 439… I have a simple reason for that. I use a mail list service that keeps everything nicely organized for me. It’s affordable and I like it, but guess what, when you go over 500 names, your price goes up. That’s right. I hit 501 and I’ll have to start kicking off my friends. Of course at say 748 maybe it would pay again…

So, anyway just a few things to think about as you push to get that mailing list big and fat.

I know I have been very bad about blogging. If you think things are bad here, you should visit my Live Journal. The dust bunnies have taken over that place. But I have reasons–I do. September and October are birthday central here in the Devoti household. This means lots of extra stuff to do. Plus all the normal stuff. I don’t handle extra stuff too well–not when I’m trying to write too.

So, something had to give and I picked this, my blog. I have, however, been Twittering. If you Twitter, friend me. I’m starting to really enjoy the whole Twit phenom.

Back to blogging, Friday I’m blogging at Romancing the Blog on the forgotten books in your TBR pile. You know the ones you bought or took because they were free or cheap? We all have them. I challenge everyone to pull a few out–READ them!

On to writing. I’ve been doing it–that’s good, right? A writer is supposed to write. I’m doing something new too–writing two books at once. What I do is work on one until I hit my personally set word goal of the day (for that WIP), then I switch to the other one. It’s working for me. I tend to hit a burnout point and by switching gears, I’m able to extend the pre-burnout period. The two projects in question are Nocturne/Unbound 4, follow up to my April 2010 release and a YA. Yes, a YA. I KNOW everyone is writing one right now. Sorry about that.

And Planning. I’m planning something fun for my Holiday with a Vampire II novella. 30 Days of Vampires. I’ve already lined up a TON of guests. There will be interviews, informational posts, and prizes. It will be a bloody good time. (bad joke I know.) So, watch for that. And with at least 30 days of back to back posts, I will make up for some of the dead air I’ve created lately.

So, that’s it for now–stop by RTB on Friday and look for me at Twitter. Oh, and if you write or love vamps and want to be part of 30 Days of Vampires, drop me a line!

A few months ago I asked a couple of multi-pubbed authors–authors who have been writing for around twenty years–when they felt “real”. They kind of looked at me like “Uh, one of those. Someone get the net.” That was my first clue that admitting you don’t feel real is probably not the best idea–but here I am again, talking about it.

I have five books in print, four more under contract, two short stories ready to be released and a novella. Kind of wild. I also just found out my next full-length Nocturne is scheduled for April. Which means two of those books (Dark Crusade, the Nocturne and Amazon Ink, urban fantasy) will be out in the spring. By this time the novella and both shorts will also be out and about. Even wilder.

So, does this make me real?

Being a writer is a weird thing. I tell people that is what I do, and they usually assume I don’t really have anything published, then when I say I have five books out they look at me like I’m from Mars. It makes me strangely uncomfortable, like I am impersonating someone. Very, very weird.

But there you have it, by spring I will be able to say I have seven books published–eight if you count my Holiday with a Vampire novella. Will I feel real then? Hmmm…maybe after ten.

Oh, and I got the Holdiay with a Vampire cover. I’m in it with Merline Lovelace. She is real.

This article is long (9 pages), but it has some very good information in it. I did find it amusing that there was more than one slam at women-oriented fiction. Bitter much? Still a great read.

Today I have a fellow Nocturne author visiting! Vivi Anna writes sexy adventurous tales that everyone needs to check out. Her third Nocturne, third in her Valorian Chronicles series, is available right now through eHarlequin.com.

And it will be in bookstores in just a couple of weeks. Look for it!

Author of: the Valorian Chronicles and Hell Kat
Favorite Candy: gummie bears
Favorite Cartoon Character: Wolverine
Super Power Most Covets: to manipulate people’s minds

Q.) First tell us about your books.

V.A.) My current releases from Silhouette Nocturne are the Valorian Chronicles, which are a series of books revolving around a paranormal CSI team working in a secret city called Necropolis. They are led by a 300 year old vampire named Caine Valorian and solve crimes in their own city and have helped the crime team in San Antonio on a case or two.
The third book, VEILED TRUTH, which is out in October, centers around the witch on the team, Lyra Magice. She thinks she’s figured out the key to all the murders plaguing the two cities. But what she didn’t figure on was sexy Frenchman Theron LeNoir wanting to help her with the case.

Q.) Are you a plotter or a pantser? Character-driven or plot driven? Ever try to be the opposite? Do you have a set method you use when starting a book?

V.A.) I’m a little of both a plotter and a pantser. For the last three books, I’ve used this method—plotting three chapters, then writing them, plotting another three, then writing them…etc.

I don’t do extensive plotting, just a few sentences to state what the scene is about and whose POV its in.

I do a lot of character development though before I start any book. I usually spend about 2-3 weeks on developing my characters, depending on what kind of deadline I am facing.

But the latest book I’m writing, a UF YA, I have been pantsing it. And it’s awesome. I’m never written a book so easily, that has flowed out of me so fast and furious. I love it. And I love this new genre.

Q.) Your current release is Veiled Truth for Nocturne, but you also write erotica. How do the books for Nocturne differ from your other releases?

V.A.) I wouldn’t call my other books erotica per say…but erotic adventures. Hell Kat and Inferno are definitely action packed futuristics first, with hot sex as a bonus.
Probably the big difference between my Nocturne books and my others is the language I use. I confess I curse a lot in my other books and use explicit words in the sex scenes and in the action scenes. Language is a powerful thing.

Q.) Which comes first in your books spice, adventure, romance or something else? In other words if you had to describe your books in just one or two words, what adjective would you use?

V.A.) Action adventure

Q.) What do all your books, no matter the publisher or genre, have in common? How does a reader know it was written by Vivi Anna (besides the name on the cover)?

V.A.) All my books contain powerful characters, and non-stop action. Also the prevalent theme in all my books is redemption. Either main characters, or both, are atoning for something they did in their past.

Q.) What is the smartest thing you’ve done so far as advancing either your writing or your writing career? What is something you wish you had done differently?

V.A.) I had an epiphany about a year back. I realized that I couldn’t control anything in this business except for what I wrote. So, I decided to quick chasing the market and write what I wanted to write. Either it was going to get bought or it wasn’t. But I had to stay true to myself and my voice.

I wish I wouldn’t realized that earlier.

Q.) What do you like best about writing? What do you like least or find the most challenging?

V.A.) I love creating new characters and submersing myself in their world, losing myself really. LOVE IT. I do it all day, every day. I’m a constant daydreamer. Always have been. Oh, also, I can wear my PJs while I write. Very cool.

The most challenging part—the waiting. No matter where you are in your career, you will always have to wait for things…the new contract, edits, cover art, the AAs, the back cover copy, the reviews, the next contract, and around and around we go. It’s never ending.

I hate that part. I’m usually a patient person, but sometimes it gets ridiculous in this industry.
Q.) Where can readers find you on the web? How about in person, any appearances coming up?

V.A.) Readers can find me at www.vivianna.net, and at a blog for a bunch of authors repped by the same wonderful agent Laura Bradford, www.thebradfordbunch.com/

If any readers are in the Alberta Canada area, I’ll be signing my new book VEILED TRUTH at the Signal Hill Chapters in Calgary, on Friday October 17th, at 4-6. There will be some other awesome authors there as well, like Rebecca York, and Kimani author Pamela Yaye, and Superromance author CJ Carmichael. Readers can check it out here www.calgaryrwa.com/workshops.html

Thank you again Lori for hosting me today.

Today Rowena Cherry, paranormal romance author, has stopped by to answer a few of my questions. Welcome, Rowena!

Author of: Futuristic romances: Forced Mate, Mating Net, Insufficient Mating Material, Knight’s Fork (coming in October 2008)

Favorite Candy: Don’t get me started! Chocolate.

Favorite Cartoon Character: Pepe Le Pew? Wile E Coyote? The Dreamworks Anglepoise lamp. I change my mind a lot, and I don’t watch cartoons much, so you get a stream of consciousness answer.

I enjoy the cartoons where poor Pepe (the skunk) falls in love with a painted cat, and pursues her indefatigably –but with humor and tenderness. However, he IS a bit of a stalker, so maybe a villain? Wile E just wants to eat, doesn’t he? Some of his methods would suggest not. If he were successful, there wouldn’t be much left of the Road Runner. So, I’ll go for the inquisitive, bouncing lamp. It’s cute, funny, and it guarantees a good story will follow.

Super Power Most Covets: Superman’s package. (Pun intended.)

Q.) First tell us about your books.

RC.) Depending on how you count, there are either five or three and a half. The paperbacks are Forced Mate, Insufficient Mating Material, and Knight’s Fork.

Then, there’s Mating Net, which is a 58 page short e-book. It’s a “prequel” by which I mean that it was written after Forced Mate, and tells a story that took place a generation or two before the start of Forced Mate, when Grandmama Helispeta was a devious and ambitious young Princess, who outsmarted herself, and ended up in bed with a much bigger matrimonial catch than she intended.
There is also an electronic version of Forced Mate, which is similar to the paperback, but had a different editor, and is a little bit heavier on the science fiction in that it makes the unflattering comparison of humans with primeval wolves, discusses the battlefield applications of urine, and mentions astrophysics.

FORCED MATE, was my first book, and is the book of my heart. I spent ten years writing it, and then re-writing it… and then revising it again when I sold it and was told to remove 50,000 words.
The title is taken from Pandolfini’s term for the point in a chess match where the winner will be decided by a race between the two Kings to make a pawn his Queen.

It’s a futuristic take on the abduction of Persephone by the mythological dark god of the underworld. I took almost every traditional situation in an abduction/obligatory-travel Historical Romance and had fun. I made the hero an all-powerful, alpha-male alien, a god-Prince with a nasty reputation.

In Forced Mate I introduced ‘Rhett (who is the hero of Knight’s Fork) as the ultimate altruist. He tried to stop one of his older brothers from having unwise sex. (He does that a lot, that’s partly why his brothers get mad at him.) So, his big brother thumps him. As a result, Rhett is arrested, imprisoned and threatened with torture and death. He risks his life to protect the bad-ass older brother who hit him, and also his beloved half-sister.

INSUFFICIENT MATING MATERIAL takes up almost immediately after the final scene of Forced Mate. Wild, impulsive, one-off sex has consequences, especially when the parties are less than discreet about it, and one of the participants videotapes the proceedings.

Crown Prince Tarrant-Arragon decides that his younger sister, Princess “Marsh”, needs a husband before she creates a bigger scandal as a result of her politically disastrous choice of bed partner for a defiant one-night stand, and her assumption that the well-hung hunk she bedded was a lesser being and a commoner, and that contraception would not be necessary.

However, the Royal shotgun wedding does not go smoothly, and Tarrant-Arragon makes a practical decision to forcibly maroon the unhappy couple on a tropical island, and to shower them with aphrodisiacs until they consummate their union.

What he does not realize is that someone very powerful wants the couple dead.
In case you were wondering, Insufficient Mating Material is a chess term for a no-win situation.
Knight’s Fork (the chess position) is about tough choices in an impossible situation where you can only save one of two (or more) threatened pieces. Often, with a Knight’s Fork, it’s the Queen and a Castle that are threatened.

KNIGHT’S FORK begins right after the climax of Insufficient Mating Material, when the entire rogue branch of the royal family is too aroused to go to bed, so they look around for someone to torment, and pick on ‘Rhett and his unbelievable reputation for virtue and chastity.

His Tarot reading has hardly begun when a card showing a naked Queen of Wands turns up in a position suggesting that he has a sordid, sexy secret in his past. Of course, he is not about to reveal that he’s avoiding a real life queen, who is desperate for a sperm donor, and who can’t take “No” for his answer.

Q.) Are you a plotter or a panster? Character-driven or plot driven? Ever try to be the opposite? Do you have a set method you use when starting a book?

R.C.) I’m not methodical and disciplined enough to be a plotter, and I’m not fast enough or brilliant enough to be a pantser.

Until recently, I’ve always said that I’m a sloth-like pantser. However, someone –not me—has coined a third term. Puzzler. I think I’m a puzzler.

I’ve compared writing one of my stories to doing a 1,000 piece jigsaw of the kind where at least 20 pieces are black, and two or more sides of each black piece are identical in shape as well.

My books are definitely character-driven, which is partly why it takes me longer than it should. I believe that everything that happens to my hero and heroine –that brings them together, or that drives a wedge between them, or that makes sex go disastrously wrong when the time is NOT right—should have a “thusness” or inevitability about it.

I’ve tried to do a book in a month, and an outline in a week, and it has never worked for me. (Laughing!) You should see the results. It’s a mass of fragments of dialogue, aphorisms, philosophy, stage directions, and shopping lists. Only I can understand them. It’s not an ideal method of working.

Q.) What can readers expect to find in all your books no matter the setting?

R.C.) My goal as a Romance author is to give good value. I expect to provide my readers with six to eight hours of amusement, at least a couple of really good laughs, a romantic frisson or two from the sensual scenes, and something to think about when the book is finished.

Ah, and –of course—a happy ending. That goes without saying, doesn’t it?

Q.) Any new projects on the horizon? What would you like to try next?

R.C.) I’m going to be a little bit evasive here. I might as well be honest about giving you a not-quite-straight answer. My editor had me write out not one but two characters who were originally in Knight’s Fork, because she didn’t want to cramp my scope if one or both of them has a book.

There’s a character –actually there are two– who became a great deal more intriguing than I intended them to be. They “refused” to be the stock villains that a plotter might have made them, and left them.

‘Rhett’s quest was initially intended to end much more neatly, with a clear revelation about the mysterious Queen of Pentacles whom he was sent to find, and a new series based around several misfit heroines was supposed to be launched.

But, I like the guys.

I’d also love to write a “wrinkly” romance. Moreover, I have unfinished business with the god-Emperor Djohn-Kronos…. or he has unfinished business with me!

Back to Lori: Thanks to Rowena for taking the time to answer my questions. To find out more about Rowena’s books, stop by her web site!