Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

Maggie Stiefvater has a new release! I discovered Maggie not long after her first book, Lament came out. I loved it, my mom loved it, you would probably love it too. :)

It’s YA, as is her new book, but definitely something adults who like fantasy will enjoy too.

So, when I heard she had a new book, part of a new series that features werewolves, coming out, I definitely wanted to have her stop by the blog to answer a few questions, and she nicely agreed.

Q.) First can you give us an overview of your new release Shiver?

M.S.) Yup. The spiel: It’s a bittersweet love story about Grace, a girl who has always loved the wolves behind her house, and the Sam, a boy who has to become a wolf each winter. Each summer he gets fewer and fewer months as a human, so when they fall in love, the countdown begins.

Q.) How is this book similar/different from your first book Lament?

M.S.) It’s a lot more character driven. There were a lot of scenes where I thought “this scene really ought to have a corpse or something to move it along” — but it wasn’t that kind of book. It’s a slower, more detailed book. I think you could speed read LAMENT and get the gist. I don’t think you could speed read SHIVER. Well, you could, but I think it would be pretty boring.

Q.) Where did you get the idea to have a character whose shifts are tied to the seasons?

M.S.) I was trying to think of something cyclical, like the phases of the moon, but that would give me more time to play with inside the cycle. The seasons worked perfectly, plus it gave me built in, easy to understand tension as the temperature dropped.

Q.) Is Sam part of a group who also shift like this or is he affected by a curse or something similar that only affects him?

M.S.) In my version of werewolf lore, it’s contagious — you’re bitten, you’re screwed. I mean, you become a wolf. So Sam is part of a larger pack, all in varying states of their shifting. He’s one of the few that still becomes human in the summer.

Q.) Would you call Shiver a romance or something else?

M.S.) I think of it as a love story — a romance guarantees a happy ending. Also I think of romances as a bit grander. Shiver is a very quiet, understated novel. Or at least I like to think so.

Q.) Is Shiver part of a series? What characters will we see again in future books?

M.S.) It’s a trilogy — I just finished writing LINGER, which comes out next fall, and FOREVER will finish it up the fall after that. Readers will see some of the characters from SHIVER in LINGER — not saying which ones!

Q.) What formats and where can readers find Shiver?

M.S.) It’s available as a hardcover and as an audio book (and as an audio download). The audio was very cool — I went to NYC and in this very swank and beautiful studio they had me record some extras for the audio book, like an interview, and me reading the first chapters. Also, they have two narrators — one for Sam and one for Grace. I was very pleased!

Q.) How long have you been writing? What was your first sale experience like?

M.S.) I’ve been writing ever since I was a tiny, evil child. I remember writing novels (terrible, terrible things involving the death of all unicorns at the hands of evil, evil wizard-kings) on my dad’s word processor, in the days before cheap PCs. I first started submitting for publication when I was 16, which was not the world’s best idea. And I sold my first novel to Andrew Karre, an editor at Flux, shortly out of college. I had submitted it to him the year before and he’d asked for revisions, which I’d twiddled at. I didn’t really go far enough — I didn’t really know enough to revise properly anyway — and just went ahead and wrote another novel, which I submitted to him. He said “how about that first one? feel like tearing it apart this time?” So I did, and with a year’s experience under my belt, I was able to really rip it apart. On just three revised chapters, Andrew offered a contract, and I was off. He said “this is your foot in the door.” He was so, so right.

Q.) What’s your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

M.S.) Sort of a combination. I absolutely need to know where I’m headed before I start, or I guarantee you I will get stuck. So I write a two page synopsis before I start writing my novels — the ending is true, and the beginning is mostly true, and then in the middle I stuff in lies and damn lies. I like to pretend I know how I’m getting to the end, but really, it’s just guessing until I get there.

I do a lot of plotting along the way — meaning that I cannot write every day. I will write a scene or two, and then the next day I will brainstorm and think about where I’m going next. I won’t sit down and stare at a blank computer screen. Nothing will happen. Nothing good, anyway.

Q.) I saw the cute and creative book trailer for Shiver. Can you post a link and tell us where you came up with the idea for it? Did you create it yourself?

M.S.) I got the idea for this after seeing the initial art for the cover — the gorgeous silhouettes of the trees. I’ve always been a fan of stop-motion animation and I really wanted to try it for myself. I thought a cut-paper stop animation video would be less work than hand-drawing (I did a hand-drawn one for BALLAD that I’m putting out there next month, and trust me, it was more work doing the cut outs), so I cut out the trees and the people and the wolves and wrote the music for it. My sister and I went to the studio and recorded the track and then I assembled it. It took . . . um, a lot of time. I’m afraid to admit to how much time I spent doing this when I should’ve been writing LINGER on a deadline.

(Note from Lori: A link to Maggie’s blog where she tells how she made the trailer..)

Q.) What other things do you do to promote yourself?

M.S.) Well, I have my blog (both the Blogger version that I just started: maggiestiefvater.blogspot.com and the LiveJournal version that I’ve had for years: m-stiefvater.livejournal.com), and I do library and school visits. I sent out a ton of review copies of LAMENT, my debut, for review. And other bloggers have been great about guest posts and participating in contests that get the word out.

Q.) Why young adult? What about that age attracts you?

M.S.) I have a Peter Pan complex. I love writing teen protagonists because everything’s still new for them — the world stretches out with endless possibilities. I think that it could still be this way for adults, too, if they saw the world that way — but a lot of adults get into their rut and just keep going through the motions. I can’t see myself writing about desk jobs or normal adults . . . so teens it is. Also, I love reading YA and they say to write what you love to read.

Q.) What is the last really great book you read? Why did you love it?

M.S.) I read Stitches, a graphic novel memoir by David Small. It was absolutely wonderfully observed and funny and dark and brilliant. I loved it.

Q.) What’s next for you and where can readers find you on the Web?

M.S.) Next up: LINGER, the sequel to SHIVER. And BALLAD, coming out this October — the companion book to LAMENT.

And websites: www.maggiestiefvater.com
LJ blog: m-stiefvater.livejournal.com
bi-monthly short fiction: www.merryfates.com

Thanks for having me, Lori!

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Basic Facts: Isabel Sharpe
Author of: AS GOOD AS IT GOT, Avon/HarperCollins, July 2008 (in stores tomorrow), and numerous Harlequin Blaze, most recently INDULGE ME, May 2008
Favorite Candy: Dark Chocolate
Favorite Cartoon Character: Bugs Bunny
Super Power Most Covets: Instant Housework

Q.) First tell us about your books in general. I know you write fun sexy romances for Harlequin Blaze and last year debuted in women’s fiction. Can you give us a bit about both?

I.S.) Sure. I started writing for Harlequin’s comedy line Duets. I loved the short length, the ability to let my comedic voice loose. It was a great place to start. When it folded, I fell into Blaze and relished the longer length and chance for more complex plots, and to let the book be serious when it needed to be.

Women’s fiction lets me tell stories that don’t center around a man and woman falling in love. As a single woman in her forties, I felt I had more to say about the experience of being a woman than I did ten years ago. Amusingly, someone pointed out to me that my Harlequins are all about finding men and my women’s fiction books thus far have been about getting away from them. Guess that makes me a bit bipolar.

Q.) What about your new release, AS GOOD AS IT GOT? What can you tell us about it?

I.S.) The book is about a retreat on the coast of Maine for “suddenly single” women. As in Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakthrough, I have three heroines, Ann, Cindy and Martha. Ann’s husband ruined them and killed himself, Cindy’s often-cheating husband finally left her for another woman, and for twenty years Martha has been the mistress of a politician who has just had a stroke and isn’t expected to recover. It doesn’t sound very cheery, but I think it’s similar in tone to Women on the Edge, a dark-ish comedy.

Q.) AS GOOD AS IT GOT and WOMEN ON THE EDGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKTHROUGH are both women’s fiction. What made you decide to try this genre in addition to your Blazes?

I.S.) Very simple. I had other stories I wanted to tell. Obviously there is so much more to the experience of womanhood in this time and country than falling in love and living happily ever after. And as a writer, you know that when a story idea demands to be written, you go with it.

Q.) What is the most obvious difference between your women’s fiction and your Blazes?

I.S.) The obvious difference is that the story is not focused around the developing relationship of a man and a woman. I also feel freer to write characters that are more realistically flawed than my Harlequin heroes and heroines. I say this with no judgment. People want to be the heroine in a romance and fall in love with a hero. But selfish, difficult, weird people fascinate me and I love trying to capture them. I also haven’t done a male point-of-view in the women’s fiction books I’ve sold so far. Amusingly, people absolutely loved my hero Mike, in Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakthrough, which cracked me up because he barely says anything and we never know what he thinks. I guess we like projecting whoever we want men to be.

Q.) Have you noticed any difference in how people perceive/treat you since your women’s fiction came out? Do you find a lot of readers cross-over from your Blazes?

I.S.) I don’t believe there has been a lot of crossover, no. People who know me well don’t treat me differently, but people who sneer at romance seem to think that suddenly I’m a legitimate author. Don’t get me started.

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?

I.S.) I’m a plotter. I start with a what-if premise, then choose characters who will fit it. Once I figure out what they want and how they’ll go about getting it, the plot seems to fall into place. So I guess that makes me character driven. Then I fill out a little background sheet on each character, what they look like, basic facts about their past, and then I brainstorm scenes, any idea that comes, and then I arrange it all into a coherent plot with appropriate character development along the way. That comes out to a pretty detailed scene-by-scene outline. Then I write it, polishing as I go, page one through to the end. Pretty basic. It varies here and there, but I’ve never tried it any other way. I guess because this works.

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

I.S.) My sense of humor. Characters I’ve spent a lot of time fleshing out. A great romance, whether it’s the focus of the book or not. And I hope a really good story.

Lori again. :) To learn more about Isabel and her books, stop by her web site!

Laura Drewry is one of my bestest buds. We met when we both sold to Zebra, since then we have struck up a true friendship the kind that gets you through sick kids, deadlines, and life in general. I am thrilled that her new book is out and I hope you will all check it out!
Basic Facts: Laura Drewry
Author of: Historical Western Romances
Favorite Candy: Licorice Allsorts and Bridge Mixture
Favorite Cartoon Character: Snoopy (is there anything more enjoyable than his letters to his editor? I don’t think so!)
Super Power Most Covets: Speed. Think of how much I could get done if I could move like SuperMan!

Q.) First tell us about your new release, The Devil’s Daughter.

LD.) The devil’s daughter, Lucy Firr, strikes a deal with dear ol’ dad whereby she’ll steal the soul of a newborn and the baby’s uncle, rancher Jed Caine, in return for her freedom, but it’s Jed who ends up stealing Lucy’s heart instead. Theirs is an unusual relationship from start to finish, made more difficult by the facts Jed’s brother is missing, his pregnant sister-in-law is teetering on the edge of madness, and he has a new ranch to run. Lucy’s promises to help are nothing more than lies, but by the time Jed realizes that, it’s too late.

Lucy learns the hard way that she must work for what she wants, and to make that more difficult for her, she soon learns that what she wants has changed. And it’s not a small change, either. What she wants now will either cost her a mortal life without Jed, or an eternity shoveling brimstone, and she must decide which form of hell is the most bearable.

Q.) Your earlier books were also set in the Old West. What’s the appeal of the era for you?

LD.) There is absolutely nothing appealing about the dirty smelly way most people lived back then. LOL But they had a way about them, rules if you will, that made it okay for the men to be hard-headed and stubborn, and for the women to be strong, yet feminine. Each era in history has different qualities that make it fascinating in its own way, but to me, the Old West is the one that average people can relate to. It’s the pioneers of the Old West who helped build North America into what it is today. It’s a time of hard working people who overcame all types of adversity to carve a life for themselves and their families out of the most unforgiving land and wilderness. Loneliness, heartache, poverty. . .it hit every one of them. But they persevered. What’s not to love about that? J

Q.) What can readers expect to find in all your books, besides the Old West setting?

LD.) Characters who are anything but perfect. They’re not super-models, they’re not rocket scientists and they’re not without faults and flaws. And for some reason, at least one of the characters will have a bit of a smart-ass streak. I don’t know where that comes from (ahem), but there you have it.

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?

LD.) Tough question! There are many things I think are smart at the time, but ten minutes later, I’ll start to second-guess the same idea. One smart thing I’m certain about is the people I’ve surrounded myself with over the last few years. This is a tough business, and it’s very easy to give yourself an “out” when things start to take a dive, but the people I’ve met and become close to won’t give me that chance. They’ll let me whine for a while, but they’ll also give me a kick in the butt if that’s what I need.

If I could go back and do anything differently. . . .hmm. . . .I wish I’d taken a public speaking class at some point! LOL I’ve never been one who like to talk about myself – or anything else – to a group of people I don’t know well. I think that’s something that would have been good to know before I started promotion.

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?

LD.) It’s one of my life goals to learn how to plot. I beg my brain to work things out before hand, to figure out who is who and why the heck they’re doing the things they’re doing, but it has never worked out that way for me. Each book has started out a little bit different. Sometimes I have the main characters’ names, sometimes I have the first scene. Sometimes I have one or both main characters’ goals and motivation, sometimes not. With The Devil’s Daughter, the only thing I had to start with was the title.

Once I have a starting point, I scribble, type, edit, rewrite, scribble, type, edit, and rewrite until things start to make sense. I do a huge amount of rewriting before I finish the first draft because I know, without fail, I’ll come across all sorts of tidbits that need to be sorted out earlier in the book, so back I go, add it in, sort out, and then go back to where I was before I got derailed.

Now do you see why I wish I could plot ahead of time? Surely to God it’s an easier – and less time consuming – way to write! LOL And I’m absolutely certain my editor and agent would prefer it.

Q.) There’s another Devil book in the works, right? Can you tell us about it?

LD.) Dancing with the Devil, the sequel to The Devil’s Daughter, is scheduled for release in the fall of 2008. It’s Deacon’s story (Lucy’s brother) and while I’d love to give you a few insider details about it, I simply can’t, and if you’ll refer back to the last question, you’ll understand why. LOL It’s still very much in the scribble, type, edit, rewrite, scribble, type, edit, rewrite phase. So anything I tell you now could, and will quite possibly, be edited out and completely rewritten by the time the book hits the shelves.

Q.) If someone were to compare your writing to another author’s (besides mine, of course ;-)) whose would you most want to be compared to (most flattered by the comparison)? Why?

LD.) To be honest, I don’t like to compare one author to another. However, if someone were to say I wrote scenes with the same emotional depth as other historical western authors like Jodi Thomas or Linda Lael Miller, I’d certainly enjoy that moment for a while! LOL

Q.) Where can readers go to find out more about you and your books? Where can they buy your books?

LD.) They can always find everything about my book from my website – www.lauradrewry.com and the books will be available at all book stores, including those online, and the Dorchester Publishing website.

I met Ann Voss Peterson through my local RWA chapter, and she is one swell chick. :) She’s always willing to answer my bizarre questions about synopses, plotting or police. And we just discovered we are only a month apart in age!

Oh, yeah, and she writes kick-ass romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue.

Anyway, I’m really happy to have a chance to post an interview with her and to celebrate the release of her new book, Wyoming Manhunt–in stores TODAY–I’m giving away a prize to one lucky commenter. Ann’s November 2006 release, Critical Exposure. Don’t ask me how I have it–I squirrel things away for just such occasions. :) So, read the interview and maybe win a book! (Prize to be awarded March 31st.Chosen from comments on this post.)

Author of: Romantic Suspense
Favorite Candy: VERY DARK chocolate
Favorite Cartoon Character: Harley Quinn from Batman
Super Power Most Covets: I’d love to read minds.

Q.) First tell us about your books.

A.V.P.) I write fast-paced romantic thrillers. My current release, Wyoming Manhunt, is the debut of Harlequin Intrigue’s Thriller series. It’s the story of a single-mother accountant who goes on her company executives’ big game hunting trip hoping for a promotion…until the boss starts hunting her.

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?

A.V.P.) I’m a combination of plotter and panster. A combination of character driven and plot driven. I’ve tried to write a myriad of different ways, but it always ends up the same.

I like to say I’m a purger of bad ideas. When I come up with an idea, it always seems exciting and fabulous at first. Then I plan it out on a dry erase story board and immediately see that it wasn’t as good as I thought. Then I write an outline. That’s the second purging of mediocre ideas. Then I write a horrible first draft, that gets rid of the largest mass of bad stuff. I revise as I write the first draft. I revise after the draft is done. I revise and revise and the story grows and grows. And in the end, the novel is so much better, deeper, more emotional, and more thrilling than anything I originally conceived, it’s a little bit like a miracle.

Q.) What attracted you to romantic suspense?

A.V.P.) I love the way love and fear play off one another and make each other more intense. Think about it. Extreme situations lead to strong bonds between characters. And falling in love gives those characters more to lose. It’s a delicious combination.

Q.) Your new release, Wyoming Manhunt, is “duh” set in Wyoming. What made you decide to write something set in the west? Did you get to go on any fun research trips?

A.V.P.) My brother moved to Wyoming about two years ago. I’ve been to Wyoming twice before, so I didn’t go for this book. But I’m planning more Wyoming books and fabulous research trips to come!

Q.) On your web site you talk about some of the adventures you’ve had in the name of research. Which did you enjoy most? What else would you love to try?

A.V.P.) I loved taking part in my local citizen’s police academy and fire department citizen’s academy. I experienced everything from firing weapons and driving police cars to ice rescue and searching smoke-filled buildings. I’ll be using those experiences for books to come.

My list of things to try is long. Right now, I’m taking karate classes and it is adding a whole new dimension to my fight scenes. I’m also planning to do some rock climbing. I’m looking forward to trying out anything that might add to the stories.

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

Thrilling stories, fast pacing and characters to care about.

Q.) What advice do you have for writers first starting out? What do you wish you’d known from the get-go?

A.V.P.) Writing is a dream. Publishing is a business. Confuse the two at your own peril. I’m lucky in that I always understood publishing meant business. What I forgot to do was nurture the dream and have fun with it. All work and no play makes the muse go away. Luckily she does come back.

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

A.V.P.) The story I’m writing now is one that I’ve always wanted to do…a gothic. You know, an old house, a dark, tortured hero, a heroine afraid for her life, even a hint of ghosts. As a fan of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, I’ve always wanted to write a bit of a tribute to that tradition, and I’ve finally found the story to do it.

I also have plans to use my research with my local police and fire departments in a story set in my native Wisconsin. And the Wyoming series that I mentioned earlier will have a definite horse emphasis to it, taking advantage of the many years I spent immersed in the horse world. And I’m working with three other Intrigue authors on a special series celebrating Harlequin’s 60th anniversary. I have a lot of irons in the fire, as they say, but the one thing they all have in common is suspense and romance. Those elements seem to be at the center of all the stories I want to explore.

Q.) Finally, where can readers find out more about you and your books?

A.V.P.) My website! http://www.annvosspeterson.com