Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

The Wisconsin State Journal ran the article on me yesterday. I’m pretty happy with it. My hair is flat. I kind of feel like I need to explain a few things…but I think it represents the book well and accurately.

And now my mom has something she can show my grandmother that will take attention away from the fact that I put sex in my books. ;-)

30 Days of Vampires Schedule

Today Jennifer Rardin author of the Jaz Parks series joins us! I have heard all kinds of buz over Jennifer’s series and am really excited to get the scoop on her and her books!

Author of: The Jaz Parks Series…Once Bitten, Twice Shy; Another One Bites the Dust; Biting the Bullet; Bitten to Death; One More Bite (coming January 5, 2009)
Favorite Candy: Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups
Favorite Cartoon Character: Scooby-Doo
Super Power Most Covets: You know the one that makes your boobs so springy they try to leap out of every outfit you wear? Yeah, that one.
Favorite Vampire: Vayl (who is winning a squeaker over Angel even as we speak)

Q.) First can you tell us about your Jaz Parks series?

J.R.) Jasmine Parks is an assistant assassin. Didn’t know they had those, didja? Well, there’s a lot the CIA doesn’t share with the general public. Minor facts like the existence of the tiny department Jaz works for. Or their hero-worship of her boss, Vayl, who (as mentioned above) also happens to be a bloodsucker. It helps that he’s Edna-put-your-knickers-back-on! gorgeous. And trying really hard to behave.

Jaz and Vayl spend the majority of their time chasing down evil pricks who’ve convinced themselves that mass murder is the only way to bring the U.S. around to their way of thinking. In their spare time our heroes like to crochet afghans for homeless orphans and volunteer at the nearest food pantry. Naw, that wouldn’t even work as a cover story. Free time either means that they’re circling each other like a couple of suspicious dogs, trying to decide if assassin romance would cause some sort of implosion at the earth’s core. Or they’re trying to straighten out their pretzular (yup, that’s a word—try it next time you play Scrabble) family lives.

Q.) What about your take on vampires, do you stick with tradition or tweak it a bit?

J.R.) I like to honor the masters while adding my own flare. So, while my vamps still rise at night, sizzle in the sun, and avoid holy sites like junior high boys shun the dance floor, they each come with their own unique abilities called cantrantia that jack up the badass in an oh-crap-run-for-the-hills sort of way.

Q.) Why vampires? Didn’t people warn you it had been “done?”

J.R.) People didn’t have to warn me. Oh baby, I knew. Which was why I never intended to dip my toe into such muddy water. But my husband gave me a nice, gentle shove. Lucky for me there was room for one more!

Q.) What would you do if you met a “real” vampire? Would you be a vamp groupie or would you dash for the nearest stake?

J.R.) I’d definitely be on the hunt for sharpened edges. Which leads me to a rather hilarious train of thought. In our uber-safety-conscious world, how hard would it really be to find an item so patently dangerous just lying around? After all, it’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. So here you are, running for your life, the bad vamp’s breath practically steaming up the backs of your eyeballs, and you can’t find a broken fence slat or a jagged shovel handle to save your life. Literally! If vamps came into this world, I’m afraid they’d have us beat for sheer lack of handy weaponry!

Q.) Who makes the best hero—slayer or vamp? Why?

J.R.) It’s gotta be the slayer. Because deep inside we all want to be heroes. And my guess is that it’s easier for us to identify with slayers than vamps.

Q.) Ultimate fighting challenge, you have a choice of a vampire, a werewolf or a witch as an opponent, who do you pick and why?

J.R.) The witch. Physically a vamp or a werewolf is going to kick my ass every time. But a witch? I just might be able to punch her lights out before she can get a spell off. Plus spells are tricky beasts (pardon the pun). If I pull out the bob-and-weave, she might be laughing so hard at my Mohammed Ali impression that she totally botches her attack. Again, I win. Yup, I’d definitely prefer to face the magic.

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?

J.R.) I’m character-driven. Big-time. Which forces me to work very hard on my plots, because the last thing I want is for my readers to say, “Ho-hum,” and put the book down.

I have come to the point where I’ve got a little routine going on start-up. First I take about three days just to think. This is a semi-crazed time during which I do general household chores while talking to myself. Occasionally I’ll say, “Yeah, that’s it!” and dash upstairs to record my latest bright idea on the laptop.

The second step is a detailed outline that might take me through the first fifteen chapters, or about halfway. I know at that point I’ll want to go back to the beginning and replot anyhow, so there’s no real point in plotting anything after that. I do have a vague idea of how it all ends, but usually nothing specific until I’ve written those first fifteen and completed the outline. Even then, even after I’ve written the ending, I know I’ll probably change it at least twice before I’m happy with it. So I don’t cuddle with the first draft. We kinda nod to each other respectfully, like strangers in an airport, realizing we’ll never see each other again. And then I go back and do the fun writing. The part where spit and polish finally begins to make the jewel shine.

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?

J.R.) Smartest thing for my career? Marrying my husband. I’m not kidding. I would not be writing today if not for him.

As for making a change . . . I wish I hadn’t let most of my English professors get inside my head so much. They really had me believing for a while that if I couldn’t write like Shakespeare I shouldn’t bother. I nearly lost my Voice because of that, and it took me a long time to regain it.

Q.) Can you describe three things in your writing area that tell us something about you?

J.R.) I’m sending a picture that includes a windup robot who I call Delilah.2. She dances before all my writing sessions. Sometimes I’ll turn the knob and say, “How’s it going to go today, Deliliah.2?” Then she boogies, and I know it’s going to rock. Good fun! The funky silver and black card file contains all the pertinent information I need related to the Jaz Parks series. And the light-up tiara is for those special occasions, when I want to slip into domestic goddess mode and prance around the house announcing, “We are a hungry author! Feed us, dammit!” After which I get my own grub because, ya know, domestic goddesses gotta watch what they eat or they will get diabetes and go blind.

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

J.R.) I am prepared to start a new series after I’ve finished book eight of Jaz’s adventures, so I’m hoping that’s what happens next, although you can never tell in this business! I’m also working on a YA book called Shadowstruck. Since it’s been relegated to my back-back burner, it’s hard to say when I’ll be done, but fingers crossed that my agent reads the final result and then does a little Delilah.2 dance around her living room!

Order Jennifer’s Books:
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Another One Bites the Dust
Biting the Bullet
Bitten to Death
One More Bite

30 Days of Vampires Schedule

Basic Facts: Gerry Bartlett, author of REAL VAMPIRES DON’T DIET, book 4 in the Glory St. Clair series, Berkley Trade Paperback, January, 2009
Favorite Candy: anything chocolate as long as it doesn’t have peanut butter in it. Not a fan of peanut butter.
Favorite Cartoon Character: Snoopy because he’s a fellow writer.
Super Power Most Covets: I’d like to have the vampire’s ability to never age. Hate the way gravity gets to you. Never gaining weight is cool too.
Favorite Vampire: Charlaine Harris’s Eric—he’s the bad boy we all crave. Don’t know why the good guys never seem to do it for me.

Q.) First can you tell us about your Glory St. Clair series?

G.B.) About my series: Gloriana (Glory) St. Clair was turned vampire on a day when she was bloating. Now she’s been stuck for over four hundred years with an hour glass figure that runs more like ninety minutes, if you know what I mean. She’s in an on again, off again relationship with her maker, a hunky Scot, and runs her own vintage clothing store in Austin, Texas. She’s big on independence and tries to stay safe by blending with humans. She has a dog/shape-shifter named Valdez who is by her side twenty-four/seven, lots of interesting friends and enough enemies to keep her hopping in her four inch stilettos.

Q.) What about your take on vampires, do you stick with tradition or tweak it a bit?

G.B.) My vampires are fairly traditional. They can’t go out in sunlight, sleep the day away, and drink blood to stay alive, though there are synthetics available. They are independent—no fancy hierarchy, government or special species. They live off the grid, blending with humans, and are immortal, so they have to stay moving to keep their cover and live peacefully. Like any group of people, there are good guys and bad guys. The bad ones are pretty evil and like to rip out throats and cause problems for the peace-loving vamps like Glory. They can read minds and control them too. This is handy when they use mortals as their source for nourishment. They wipe the memory and move on, no harm, no foul. Some humans do know about the vamps and are “pets”, but this isn’t a common thing and Glory usually just hangs around with fellow vampires.

Q.) Why vampires? And more specifically why a full-figured vampire? Where did you get that idea?

G.B.) I decided to write about vampires because my critique partner Nina Bangs nagged me into trying it. She’s been very successful with her vamp books and thought I could be too. I decided I had to do it my way and I had read some other vamp books I liked, including Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris and Maggie Shayne. I wanted to make mine funny and my friend and other critique partner Kimberly Raye actually suggested the full-figured aspect. Kim’s a genius, because that was the spark I needed to get excited about the story. I began writing it first person and Glory just seemed to speak to me. Since I’ve had figure issues myself, it was really easy for me to get inside her head.

Q.) What would you do if you met a “real” vampire? Would you be a vamp groupie or would you dash for the nearest stake?

G.B.) If I met a “real” vampire, I’d run. The paranormal actually scares me. Let’s keep it fictional. Please.

Q.) If you were given the option, would you be turned?

G.B.) If I were given the option, I wouldn’t want to be turned vampire. No way. Not unless everyone I know and loved would live forever too. I can’t imagine watching them die while I lived on. There could be nothing worse. And I’m with Glory and the whole liquid diet thing. I love my food too much to give it up. What fun is it to live forever without steak and a baked potato? Not to mention chocolate pie. I have to have crunch in my diet, just like my heroine.

Q.) Matchmaker dilemma, you have a choice of a vampire, a werewolf or a witch/wizard as a date for your sister’s wedding, who do you take?

G.B.) I’d rather date a wizard, I think, than a vamp or a werewolf. Not into the furry thing at all and not interested in being a blood donor, though the dark and dangerous male is a real turn-on in my fantasy life. A wizard could do some cool things, though. Like turn some people who have been not-so-nice into frogs for me.

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?

G.B.) I’m definitely a pantser. I always have a starting point, a beginning of an idea and the characters I want to write about, but that’s about it. With a series, it’s really fun because I know Glory and her friends so well. The challenge is that I know fans want to see how some of their favorites are doing but the landscape can get pretty cluttered, especially now that I’m on book five. I always try to balance the humor, mystery and the love story, so that’s the juggling act I’m constantly involved in. When I start a book, I do a lot of brainstorming with my critique group and think about how I can use the cast of characters to help Glory with whatever problem is going to crop up. I do a lot of rewriting, but I don’t mind it. I’d much rather edit than face a blank page.

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?

G.B.) The smartest thing I ever did to advance my writing career was join Romance Writers of America. I attended a local chapter meeting and got up my nerve to go one Sunday when there was an invitation to form a critique group. That group was the beginning for me getting serious about writing. It’s been many, many years and only Nina, Kim and I are left of the original gang, but the three of us, who all started really raw and unpublished, have sold nearly eighty books now. Kim’s sold the most at almost sixty and has hit the USA Today list. Nina’s hit that one and the NYTimes bestseller list. I’m the slowest to get going, but still have made the Barnes and Nobles and Borders bestseller lists. It wasn’t easy, with lots of tough criticism and tears along the way, but we’re living proof that perseverance pays. The only thing I wish I had done differently is not wasted so much time writing something that wasn’t marketable. Nina is very market savvy. It has paid off for her in a big way. That’s not to say that she doesn’t love what she writes, but that she always makes sure there is going to be a place to sell what she produces. I foundered around with a historical for too many years when they were dead in the water. The vampire thing was my reality check. When I finally tried my hand at it, I got my first agent and a quick sale after a long dry spell. Now that historicals are heating up again, I may try a vamp historical.

Q.) Can you describe three things in your writing area that tell us something about you?

G.B.) My writing area is a work in progress. I just put in new flooring and still haven’t rescued all of my “stuff” from the garage. I do have a sign from my late father’s desk that says “A cluttered desk is a sign of genius.” I take that as a challenge. Daddy encouraged me to write and bought me my first computer. I have a picture of the two of us together when I was about a year old next to my desk too. I’m obviously a Daddy’s girl. I also have a poster from “Gone With the Wind.” It was the first romance I ever read and I still think Scarlett and Rhett ended up happy together somehow. Naturally, I’d have written the ending differently. Finally, my husband John passed away last year and I have one of the better pictures of us together next to my computer. We were both fairly skinny and look happy at one of his high school reunions. He was my hero and I learned that love at first sight is real and can last. Have to admit, though, that it’s getting tough to write those hot love scenes lately. So if you have a hunky vamp or wizard who needs a date, hook me up. ;)

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

G.B.) As for new projects, I hope to keep the Glory St. Clair series going for a while. And I’d like to try my hand at a funny vamp historical series. I’ve always loved the Regency period and am convinced I lived there in a previous life. For now, I’m busy trying to recover from Hurricane Ike. My home and family are fine, but my antique business in Galveston was basically wiped out. So I’ve been busy shopping and cleaning and assessing what needs to be done to get things going again down there before Christmas. If you’re ever in Galveston, come to the Strand at 20th to Somewhere in Time where I have a booth and say hi. I usually keep a few of my own books on the shelf there. One of the worst losses when we got ten feet of water during the hurricane, was that all of my collectible books were ruined. Argh. Including my 1936 copy of “Gone With the Wind.”

You can read Glory’s blog at myspace.com/gerrybartlett or check out gerrybartlett.com for a complete list of the Real Vampires series and an excerpt from REAL VAMPIRES DON’T DIET coming from Berkley Publishing on January 3, 2009.

Order Gerry’s books:
Real Vampires Have Curves
Real Vampires Live Large
Real Vampires Get Lucky
Real Vampires Don’t Diet

30 days of Vampires Schedule

Today author Lynda Hilburn is joining us to celebrate 30 Days of Vampires. She’s giving away a copy of her book, Dark Harvest, and the winner’s choice of one of her guided hypnotherapy CDs (can be seen on her non-writing website: www.lyndahilburn.com)
To be entered…Describe the vampire you’d like to see floating outside your window in the comments section of this post. Contest ends December 11 at midnight. Ships to U.S. and Canada addresses only.

Author of: The Vampire Shrink and Dark Harvest, books 1 and 2 of the Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series
Favorite Candy: Anything chocolate! (I’m sure I emotionally scarred my son for life by biting the heads off his chocolate bunnies every Easter!)
Favorite Cartoon Character: Count Duckula! A vampire duck – what’s not to love?
Super Power Most Covets: It’s a toss-up between mind reading, being invisible and being able to fly.
Favorite Vampires: I can’t choose one, so I added an “s” to the end of vampire. Bela Lugosi is a fave for filling my childhood with fangs, Frank Langella’s 1980 version of Dracula introduced me to the notion of an overtly sensual vampire. And, of course, my own vampire character — Devereux – 800 years of gorgeous undead maleness.

Q.) First can you tell us about your Kismet Knight series?

L.H.) I’d love to! Kismet Knight is a Denver psychologist who has become a little bored with her life. She yearns for excitement – for professional fame and fortune. When a new client comes to her office claiming to be part of a hidden vampire underworld, Kismet thinks she’s found a new, trendy diagnosis, as well as the key to an Oprah appearance! Vampire wannabes! Of course, she doesn’t believe the story for a minute. Everyone knows vampires don’t exist. Or, do they? When gorgeous, 800-year-old Devereux shows up in her waiting room, she finds herself falling through the Looking Glass into an alternate reality. He says she’s his long-awaited mate. She thinks he’s mentally ill. And then there’s the bad vampire leaving a trail of blood-drained bodies and the handsome FBI profiler . . .

Q.) What about your take on vampires, do you stick with tradition or tweak it a bit?

L.H.) Like most authors, I use what I like and leave the rest. My vampires are nocturnal creatures who love drinking blood. Most of them don’t feel guilty or shameful about their need for the crimson elixir. They don’t have to kill humans to feed, although – like humans – there are “good” vampires and “bad” ones. The bad ones often kill just for the enjoyment of it. My bloodsuckers aren’t affected by religious symbols/places or garlic, and they can use mirrors. (In fact, they’re rather vain!) In my world, the vampires can move through thought. They can travel through space and time, and the main vampire character, Devereux, spends a lot of his days literally living in the past (which accounts for his odd speech patterns and European accent). They can be killed by fire, by walking into the sun, or by having their heads chopped off. Vampires are always so remarkably creative about destroying each other!

Q.) If you were given the option, would you be turned?

L.H.) It would really depend on the situation I found myself in. If I could be like many of the vampires in my fantasy world, and could spend the centuries learning, acquiring knowledge and becoming wise, I’d definitely consider it. Of course, I would have had to be young, built and gorgeous in order to make the most of the opportunity. But if I had to spend my existence struggling to survive: hiding in graveyards or constantly stalking humans for blood, smelling bad, I think I’d prefer to die. I like reading about the monster variety of vampires sometimes, but I wouldn’t want to be that! But if I could hang out with Devereux for a few centuries . . .

Q.) What would you do if you met a “real” vampire? Would you be a vamp groupie or would you dash for the nearest stake?

L.H.) I’m too much like my heroine to make either one of those choices. I’d want to understand him or her. Explore the species – analyze the differences. Write up case notes. Get the bloodsucker on my therapy couch! Unless, of course, the vampire was of the primitive variety, then I’d grab the stake!

Q.) Who makes the best hero–slayer or vamp? Why?

L.H.) I don’t really have a lot of knowledge about this. The hero of my series is a fascinating vamp. There is a slayer in the second book, but he’s a vampire, too! I will be adding in a human slayer character in one of the upcoming books, but this person will be part of the humorous aspect of the story – a less-than-successful vampire killer who can’t quite seem to get the job done. My main female character did take out a vamp in the first book, but she managed to do it by instinct, in spite of herself.

Q.) So, why is a vampire more in need of counseling than say a werewolf or a witch/wizard, or are they? Which do you think would be the best adjusted in real life—have the easiest time “passing” as human?

L.H.) I guess werewolves and witches/wizards are in just as much need of counseling than vampires, but that’s a different series!! LOL. It would probably be easier for a werewolf or witch/wizard to pass as human because that’s how they look. The werewolf only has to worry about his furry appearance occasionally. Being dead, vampires usually have features that stand out as unusual: pale skin, unique dentistry, non-human reactions, and eyeballs that tend to mesmerize. And, since most of them can only come out at night, their “passing” opportunities are limited. While I haven’t personally met any “real” vampires or werewolves yet (but I have lots of unusual clients in my therapy practice and a vampire or werewolf could show up any day!), I do know a few well-adjusted witches!

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?

L.H.) Things would be a lot easier for me if I plotted, but I’m a pantser. I never know what’s happening in a story until my fingers start to move on the keyboard. Sometimes I laugh out loud at what I see on the screen. (I know – I need to get a life.) I haven’t tried plotting yet, but I think often about writing an intricate synopsis. Yes. I think about it, but I don’t do it. Maybe tomorrow, grin. I’m definitely character-driven. It is possible I could write a plot-driven story, but I suspect I’d have a hard time. What I like to write – and to read – are stories about people. About their feelings, thoughts, choices, influences, and psychological patterns. “Inner action” as well as outer action. I just tend to lose interest in a story if I’m not given the opportunity to explore the interpersonal aspects. I don’t really have a set method. Mostly I nag myself until I sit in front of the computer and start writing. I seem to resist beginning, but after that, I can become obsessive. In fact, if I have a deadline and I’m excited about a project, I’m a typing fiend.

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?

L.H.) The smartest thing I’ve done was to join Colorado Romance Writers, my local RWA chapter. I had no idea such an extensive romance network existed or that there were so many great resources available to me. Romance writers are the most generous and creative writers I know. As for doing something differently, I wish I would have understood more about the business of writing before I started subbing. I probably would have saved myself some pain and made less mistakes. But then, every writer has to pay her/his dues, I guess.

Q.) Can you describe three things in your writing area that tell us something about you?

L.H.) The first thing people notice about my writing area is that it’s messy. Papers, books, files, manuscripts, supplies, promo materials everywhere! Sticky notes abound. And, along with my writing materials, there are all the books, files, papers, etc. for my psychotherapy business. It looks like a tornado touched down. I think my space is a perfect symbol of my inner world: chaos!

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

L.H.) I’m working on the third Kismet book and thinking about ideas for an additional series about a psychic who lives here in Boulder, CO. I’m a paranormal fan, so I’ll probably focus predominantly on that genre, but I’d also like to explore some other areas of psychological fiction – maybe a thriller or mystery. I look forward to the release of The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance, which contains my story, “Blood Song.” I was going to submit a story in Kismet’s world for the anthology, but this other idea – involving sound healing and vampires – just wouldn’t leave me alone. I hope I get the opportunity to participate in more anthologies. It’s nice to write something short once in a while.
Thanks for interviewing me, Lori! It was fun.

Order Lynda’s books:
The Vampire Shrink
Dark Harvest

30 Days of Vampires Schedule

Today Chris Marie Green is stopping by to answer a few questions, and she’s kicking in a copy of First Blood, an anthology with a Vampire Babylon novella by Chris, plus stories by Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy and Meljean Brooks! Leave a comment on this post to be entered. U.S. addresses for shipping only. Contest ends midnight December 11th.–Lori

Author of: Vampire Babylon series (Night Rising, Midnight Reign, Break of Dawn, A Drop of Red)
Favorite Candy: s’mores
Favorite Cartoon Character: Disney’s Sleeping Beauty
Super Power Most Covets: Batman’s smarts (although that’s not really a superpower, I suppose)
Favorite Vampire: Dracula’s brides

Q.) First can you tell us about the Vampire Babylon series?

C.M.G.) Sure, thanks! The series centers around Dawn Madison, an ex-stuntwoman who returns to Hollywood when she discovers that her father has gone missing. She finds that he was involved with a strange firm of vampire hunters, and that leads her to delve into a lot of things about her past that she was trying to outrun. The series itself is told in trilogy arcs, which basically means that there are mythology/character arcs that are tied up in the 3rd books of each trilogy while each individual novel solves its own basic mystery. The second trilogy starts in March and it continues the adventures of Dawn and the team.

Q.) What about your take on vampires, do you stick with tradition or tweak it a bit?

C.M.G.) It depends on which book I’m writing, LOL. I’ve used more traditional vampires in a couple of Harlequin Blaze books, but otherwise, I do some tweaking. I’m a fan of the wilder vampire whose loss of a soul equates to death, and with Vampire Babylon, an individual’s strengths come out when a person sacrifices that soul to become a vampire. They can use their talents any way they see fit to survive in a world that would hunt them down if they knew of their existence.

Q.) You also write contemporaries for Harlequin, and I discovered you when you wrote for Bombshell (a great vamp book by the way). What if anything do you think the books have in common?

C.M.G.) Thank you, Lori! THE HUNTRESS (Bombshell) had some fun vampires for me—I based the feral female tribe of bloodsuckers on Dracula’s brides, my favorite vamps of all time. But vampirism itself was the villain in that story. I think most of my vamp books—one of the Blazes, the Bombshell, and Vampire Babylon—focus on how vampirism affects the hunters most of all. Why do these people dedicate their lives to this cause, and how does it make them into something more powerful—and maybe more dangerous—than what they were before?

Q.) Why vampires?

C.M.G.) I used to love the old Hammer films because they were really evocative. And long ago, I saw a clip of NOSTERATU on that program, IN SEARCH OF… It scared the tar out of me, so I developed a combination of fascination and fear for vamps.

Q.) What would you do if you met a “real” vampire? Would you be a vamp groupie or would you dash for the nearest stake?

C.M.G.) I think I’m really into blood imagery—how artful and symbolic it can be. I like the adrenaline rush you get from being scared, too. So depending on the vampire, I wouldn’t rule groupiness out (although there’d have to be a distinct lack of dead-flesh smell from that vampire!). But, truthfully, my instincts would be to grab that stake.

Q.) Who makes the best hero–slayer or vamp?

C.M.G.) I’d lean toward slayer. There’s something so interesting about someone with a crusade, and let’s face it—vamps can be great villains. I look at slayers as gunslingers of a sort, and I’m hoping to build toward that with my Dawn Madison character in Vampire Babylon. How does a gunslinger get made?

Q.) Ultimate fighting challenge, you have a choice of a vampire, a werewolf or a witch/wizard as an opponent. Who do you choose?

C.M.G.) If I had to fight anyone, it wouldn’t be a witch/wizard (unless they’re in their first year at Hogwarts). Way too many talents and powers there. Same with a vampire; depending on whose vamp you’re fighting, they can have some serious magical-based powers and they can probably mind screw you. That leaves the werewolf, who’d probably rip me apart unless I had those silver bullets handy. Yeah, the werewolf increases my chances of survival, I think.

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?

C.M.G.) Plotter. Definitely a plotter. And I’ve had books that started with a character and some that have started with a plot, so I’d have to chalk up both for that. Depending on the book, I do try different ways of working my way through it—whatever feels good and whatever I need to do in order to sell it. For instance, if I don’t have to write a synopsis in order to get an advance check, I’ll use a “stickie method,” where I arrange scenes on my closet door and write detailed scene sheets as I go along. This way I have the big plot/character elements set up but there’s a lot of freedom to move around. However, even with a synopsis, I feel that there’s still freedom, a lot to flesh out and discover.

To plot, I use the “Goal, Motivation, Conflict” chart from Debra Dixon. Then I “interview” my characters. Lastly, I use the Hero’s Journey.

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?

C.M.G.) Back in the day, I was a teacher, and I wrote while doing that. I promised myself that, if I ever sold three books in a year, I’d have to quit and pursue writing full-time, no whining, no excuses. So I did. I figured time was an investment—a risk—I had to take in order to further my career. As for doing something differently? I’m actually pretty happy with everything, but I could change my mind. You never know!

Q.) Can you describe three things in your writing area that tell us
something about you?

C.M.G.) My writing area is spread out all over my house, LOL. I write my chapters on a laptop while sitting in bed (Yes, I can do my work in my PJs—how cool!). So I would name my bed as one of those three items. It’s really cozy with one of those pillow-top mattresses. I do revision work and business in a study with a big old desk that has every sort of paper sticking to it. This is “organization” in my world—deadlines, schedules, ISBN numbers. That’s my desk, and that would be item number two. Item number three is a little Japanese Pullip doll I keep nearby just because it’s super cute. She’s a goth girl with platinum hair, purple lipstick and eyes like one of the characters from a Tim Burton stop-motion movie.

Q.) Any new projects on the horizon? What would you like to try next? And where can readers find you on the web?

C.M.G.) There’s something very cool happening that I can’t really talk about now…. Let’s just say that it has to do with the gunslinger thing, LOL. I talk about my projects on my blog and in my newsletters, so maybe I’ll have something to shout about soon!

Note from Lori: I stole the following from Chris’ blog, I hope she doesn’t mind. You can still drop by her blog and check out her newest, rocking cover. :) (Congrats, Chris!!)

Penguin has contracted me for another series in addition to the Vampire Babylon books!

I haven’t written the novels yet, but the series is tentatively entitled BLOODLANDS, and my pitch (which was announced in Publisher’s Marketplace) said that it’s a paranormal “Shane meets Mad Max.” I’m really excited about this, and even though I don’t have a release date just yet, I’m eager to get started….

www.vampirebabylon.com
www.crystal-green.com
www.myspace.com/vampirebabylon

Thank you so much!!!
c

Order Chris’ books:
Night Rising
Break of Dawn

30 Days of Vampires Schedule
Author of: Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, Midnight Brunch, The Bride of Casa Dracula
Favorite Candy: Idaho Spud, because what is better than a candy that looks like a potato?
Favorite Cartoon Character: Stewie of “Family Guy.”
Super Power Most Covets: Power to fly since traveling on planes is expensive and annoying.
Favorite Vampire: Spike of “Buffy” because he’s snarky and snarling.

Q.) First can you tell us about your Casa Dracula series?

M.A.) My novels follow the adventures of Milagro de Los Santos, a funny, sexy, smart, yet impetuous young woman who gets caught up with a pack of rich, snobby vampires. She prefers to think the best of people (and other creatures) which is why she’s sometimes duped, but she has the courage and cleverness to overcome obstacles. She always manages to find good parties and attractive men while doing so.

Q.) What about your take on vampires, do you stick with tradition or tweak it a bit?

M.A.) I’ve never understood the appeal of ancient corpses, so my vamps are humans who have a genetic anomaly that makes them crave red things (like blood), heal faster, and also makes them sensitive to sunlight. They dislike the superstitions about them (why wouldn’t they be visible in a mirror?), and they’re a secretive bunch so Milagro is never sure if they’re being completely honest.

Q.) If you were given the option, would you be turned?

M.A.) To quote Milagro, ha, ha, and ha.

Q.) What would you do if you met a “real” vampire? Would you be a vamp groupie or would you dash for the nearest stake?

M.A.) What does he look like? If we’re talking Gary Oldman with that crazy-ass wig in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” I’d have to stake him for his high-crimes-against-fashion. If he looks like Gerard Butler with that rock star wig in the deliciously bad “Dracula 2000” I’d offer him a Bloody Mary and we’d discuss the options.

Q.) Who makes the best hero–slayer or vamp? Why?

M.A.) A normal human makes the best hero because vamps and slayers have unfair advantages of strength and fearlessness. I prefer regular Joes (or Josephines) who fight the good fight. I adored Buffy, but I admired Xander.

Q.) Matchmaker dilemma, you have a choice of a vampire, a werewolf or a witch/wizard as a date to your sister’s wedding, who do you pick and why?

M.A.) Vampires are high maintenance. It’s all about them. “The coat check girl lost my cape. The salmon was overcooked. I drained the blood out of the ring bearer.” Witch/wizards are notoriously bad dancers. You know, the kind that wave their arms around and do lame Isadora Duncan moves as they get in touch with their inner wood nymph.
Werewolves are the original party animals. As pack critters, they have mad social skills. They may not be the best dancers, but they get down and get funky with during party perennials like “Y.M.C.A.” and “Full Moon Rising.” They wouldn’t whine about the food, they’d be fun to pet, and think of how great the wedding photos would be!

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?

M.A.) I used to be a pantser. However, my editor objected to the meandering nature of my work. Now I’m a dedicated plotter. I think most writers begin as pantsers, because, well, it’s easier. But it’s like building a bedroom and then trying to construct a house around it. Much better to frame out the house and complete the construction of the individual rooms. You can still change things if you need to.

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?

M.A.) Contributing columns and articles to newspapers helped me learn to meet deadlines and work with editors. It also gave me professional writing cred when I pitched myself to agents. I wish I had done it years before.

Q.) Can you describe three things in your writing area that tell us something about you?

M.A.) My writing area is a disaster, because I hate filing. I have a bulletin board with lots of photos of my son and family, a pencil holder made from a pretty tin that belonged to my grandmother, and a Slinky that I constantly fidget with.

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

M.A.) I just handed in the first draft of my next novel, a romantic comedy tentatively titled Nancy’s Theory of Style, which will be published by Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books in 2009. After that I’m writing another Casa Dracula novel. My agent is sending out a young adult gothic that I’ve written and I hope that will be snatched up by a publisher soon.

Thanks, Lori, for having me here! I’m always happy to hear from readers and they can visit my website. Fans of vamp and paranormal entertainment can keep up with all the latest news at my Vampire Wire blog.

Order Marta’s books:
Happy Hour at Casa Dracula
Midnight Brunch
The Bride of Casa Dracula

30 Days of Vampires Schedule
Basic Facts: Urban fantasy author. Texan but without the big hair. Hobbies include sleep, gluttony, sloth and excessive pride.
Author of: Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane)
Favorite Candy: Anything chocolate
Favorite Cartoon Character: She-Ra
Favorite Vampire: Count Chocula

Q.) First can you tell us about Red-Headed Stepchild?

J.W.) Red-Headed Stepchild is the first book in a series about a half-vampire, half-mage assassin named Sabina Kane. In the first book, Sabina is sent on a mission to assassinate a rival vampire who’s threatening the Dominae, Sabina’s bosses. The mission reveals secrets about the Dominae’s activities that threaten all the dark races. In addition, facts come to light about Sabina’s past that will change the course of her life forever.

Q.) What about your take on vampires, do you stick with tradition or tweak it a bit?

J.W.) Major tweakage. I decided to keep the blood lust and the immortality. The rest I punted out the window. My vamps are not made or undead. They’re a race create by Lilith through a liaison with Cain Their biggest weakness is apples. It sounds strange, but there’s a whole Garden of Eden connection. Plus, all vampires have red hair, which they inherited from Cain.

Q.) Which group would you want to be a member of vampire or mage?

J.W.) That’s a great question.I’ll go with mages. Vamps are immortal, but mages live extremely long lives due to their ability to use magic to repair damage. Plus mages have the advantage of being able to attack from a distance. I think it’d be fun to zap people.

Q.) Why vampires? Didn’t people tell you they had been done?

J.W.) They’d been done, but not by me. I’m not sure why I’m drawn to them. My mom says it started early with a fascination for the Count on Sesame Street, so it obviously started at an early age. I write about them now because they’re such rich sources for metaphor and symbolism. Plus, it’s fun to write about creatures that are strong and immortal. My favorite thing is to put a character like that in an embarrassing situation and watch them squirm.

Q.) What would you do if you met a “real” vampire? Would you be a vamp groupie or would you dash for the nearest stake?

J.W.) Depends on which kind we’re talking here. If it’s the undead, creepy kind then bring on the stake. If they’re the misunderstood hunky hero type then sign me up.

Q.) Ultimate fighting challenge, you have a choice of a vampire, a werewolf or a mage as an opponent. Who do you choose?

J.W.) I think I’d prefer to fight a werewolf. They’re easily distracted by meat products. Just toss a rump roast at them and run like hell.

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?

J.W.) I’m a plantster. I plot some beforehand but leave lots of room for spontenaity. After the first draft is done, I disect the plot extensively before I tackle rewrites. To me character and plot aren’t mutually exclusive. They feed off each other.

When I start a book I spend a lot of time trying to figure out the world.This involves alot of research and brainstorming. I kew a few things about Sabina before I started writing Red-Headed Stepchild, but until I understood her world I couldn’t tell her story. Once I have a grasp on the world-building, I write several drafts of the first scene until I find the right starting point. Once I have that everything falls into place.

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?

J.W.) The smartest thing I did was start a blog. Back when I was just starting to write with the intent to publish, it served as my testing grounds. It helped me find my voice. And now that I have a contract, it helps me network and get the word out about my work. I don’t think blogging is for everyone, but it can be helpful if you’re willing to put in the effort.

I’ve made mistakes, but I can’t say I wish I’d do anything differently. Instead, I wish I’d trusted myself more. It would have saved me a lot of stress.

Q.) Can you describe three things you keep in your writing area that tell us something about you?

J.W.) -This sign inspires me. It says, “She was armed with intuition and the fearless courage to act.” It’s especially helpful when I’m mired down in the story and start to lose faith.
-A friend gave me the bobble head monkey. I love his fez. His name is Jasper. All this says about me is I like monkeys wearing fezes.
-Candles. One of these is a sandalwood scent, which plays an important role in my books. They’re also pretty, which makes me happy.

Q.) Any new projects on the horizon? What would you like to try next? And where can readers find you on the web?

J.W.) I just finished book two of Sabina’s series, The Mage in Black . Now it’s on to the third book, tentatively titled Green-Eyed Demon. After that, I have a few ideas simmering. I’m sticking with urban fantasy for a while though. It’s so fun to write. Readers can find me at www.jayewells.com

Preorder Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane)

Fav candy
Gummi bears–and not those squishy, pretending to have something to do with real fruit flavor junk you see at the grocery store, but the original ones. There’s a candy store in Hampton called Sanborn’s where I get mine.

Fav cartoon character
I don’t really have one. Maybe Ariel from the Little Mermaid–although I totally dig Ursula, too.

Super power most covets
You have to ask? Breathing underwater, of course.

Q.) First, tell us about Seaborn
C.H.) Seaborn is about the loss of control, the loss of freedom in two different forms and how it affects each character, how each of their stories flow together. Corina Lairsey has lost all physical control to someone else, and she goes from misery, fear, hopelessness to having to deal with her captor–deal with evil–in order to get her freedom back. Kassandra has extraordinary power, commands tides, does all this wonderful and scary stuff with the oceans, and at the same time, cannot ever be certain that any motive, direction, decision is really hers. She shares her soul with other powers, she’s been set up by others to be something she doesn’t want to be, she’s lost the ability to control her future. More concretely, Seaborn’s about people who have–long ago–been cursed to live off the ocean’s power. They don’t have to worry about pressure, drowning, temperature extremes. They’ve built cities, fought wars, lived down there for thousands of years. They look, for the most part, just like us on the surface. Kassandra’s grown up as far from the ocean as her grandfather, the king, could arrange–Nebraska. Now she’s ready to return, declaring war on her grandfather, ready to take back what is hers. Corina Lairsey isn’t from the sea–she’s from California, lives south of San Jose, but she’s taken by someone–something–that needs a body in a hurry, and Corina’s handy.

Q.) Do you consider Seaborn fantasy, urban fantasy or something else?
C.H.) Seaborn is definitely fantasy, probably urban fantasy, depending on your definition. If urban fantasy requires a contemporary setting, then certainly Seaborn applies. This is modern day New England, California, deep Atlantic. If urban fantasy requires a mythic foundation, then yes, because I have poured a lot into Seaborn from the myths of the Telkhines (Telchines) the original sorcerer inhabitants of Rhodes, protectors of gods, makers of fabulous gifts, ultimately betrayed, cursed, sent to the bottom of the sea. (more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telchines)

Q.) Why under the sea?
C.H.) I have been fascinated with the oceans, life the in oceans, the abyss, weather, waves, tides, everything saltwater since I was nine–that’s when I decided I wanted to be a marine biologist when I grew up. (It didn’t work out. I’m a software engineer, but I’ve never lost my interest with the sea).

Q.) What kind of research did you have to do to make characters who can live underwater feel real?
C.H.) A lot, mostly spread out over years. I don’t really go into the source or explanation of the powers in the story, except where it’s relevant, but I did spend considerable time researching what’s remotely possible underwater and how it could be accomplished. I began writing about Kassandra in 2003, trying to fit the constraints (people who live in the ocean but don’t look much different from us) with reality–and I think fantasy writers have to in order to make the setting, motives believable. I also think that worldbuilding isn’t for the reader, it’s not for the author to dump onto the page. The real purpose of worldbuilding–all those exercises an author does to construct a believable world, the culture, politics, the way magic works–is to allow the author to write comfortably in that world. I’ve blogged about some of my research at SaltwaterWitch.com, including an essay on hearing underwater.

Q.) Seaborn tells the story of two females, Kassandra and Corina Lairsey. To you, whose story is it? Or is it both of theirs?
C.H.) It’s both, with Corina’s story starting and finishing with Seaborn, and Kassandra’s continuing into the sequel, Sea Throne (expect it sometime in 2009). I have also completed a “prequel” to Seaborn that goes back five years before the events of Seaborn. This one’s a YA, and is under consideration with another publisher.
The whole story is Kassandra’s, this book–Seaborn, then next–Sea Throne, and a prequel that is currently under consideration.

Q.) Your publisher Juno Books specializes in fantasy featuring strong female characters. Why did you choose to have female protagonists? What makes them strong?
C.H.) I started writing about Kassandra in 2003, and I got into a groove with female protagonists–and it’s still going. For me, strength is about self-reliance and will and refusing to act against principles. I don’t dwell a lot on physical strength in my stories. My characters are as strong as they need to be, and I can’t think of a case where any challenge was won by muscular strength. I love internal struggles. Many of Kassandra’s battles are with herself or the others inside her. Corina’s storyline is very similar.

Q.) How long have you been writing? Can you tell us anything about your road to publication. How long? Mistakes you realize now or tips for people starting out?
C.H.) I’ve been writing fiction, poetry, songs, since I was a teenager. My mother was an actress, artist, wrote fiction and non-fiction, and I always knew I wanted to write as well. It took a long time, but it’s been somewhere in my mind–back and front–all along. I’ve done the most and learned the most in the last five years, writing continuously, short fiction (first story to get past an editor was Diminisher of Peace in 2005, appeared in The Harrow, and I think I made enough to buy lunch). Seaborn is my first sale of novel length fiction, a little over a year ago. I’ve completed two more novels since then, including Sea Throne, the sequel to Seaborn. Mistakes? Make them all is my advice, try everything, fail, get back to putting stuff on the page. I know I haven’t made every mistake, but I’ve done things like misspell editor names, magazine title names, asking editors, agents too soon if they’ve had time to read my story, sent out crap manuscripts–but I think there’s a lot to be learned from making them and learning. It’s also very likely that I’m a slow learner. As far as tips, there are things I didn’t realize a few years ago, like the importance of conventions, the social side of writing. If you’re not going to your local SF/F convention–or better the major ones, you should.

Q.) Are you a plotter or pantser? Character driven or plot driven? Ever try to be the opposite? Do you have a set method you use when starting a book?
C.H.) More panster than plotter. I just need to know where to go. Plotting too much takes the edge, the uncertainty, the fun out of the writing–so I don’t try to be the opposite. I usually begin with an idea and the characters flow out of that, not the other way around, unless you consider a character with a particular problem as the idea (I do). I’ve just finished my fourth novel (fourth worth publishing) and in every case I have started with an idea (explore revenge, different ways the loss of freedom can be played out). I’ll write three or four chapters, then I’ll write the ending–or something close to it. That’s my destination. I have a beginning and I know where to go. I can write a 130,000 words in that gap.

Q.) Any new projects on the horizon? What would you like to try next?
C.H.) Two novel length projects. One is another Seaborn story, but set in the past. Another’s a YA fantasy with cooking and food magic.

Q.) Who do you enjoy reading? If someone were to compare your books to anyone else’s what author would you most likely be compare to? Why?
C.H.) I love Connie Willis, Neil Gaiman, Caitlin Kiernan, Lois Bujold, many more that, but I’d put these four up as major modern writer influences, and I’d love to be compared with any of them. Why? Widely different styles, settings, senses of humor, all coming from different directions, but they’re all storytellers.

Q.) Where can readers find Seaborn? How about you (on the Web?)
C.H.) Seaborn is available (end of July) anywhere you get books, at all the major chain stores (Barnes & Noble), smaller retailers like Pandemonium in Cambridge–or your local bookshop. You can get it online at all the usual places, Amazon.com, through Book Sense.

Find out more about Seaborn and sequels at www.SaltwaterWitch.com. I also blog on writing, art, everything else, at http://theophrast.us . I’m on Facebook, and I have pages, links, profiles all over.

Today and tomorrow I’m running two related interviews with the new writing team of Patricia Rosemoor and Marc Paoletti. Their first book The Last Vampire will be hitting stores June 24th. First up in the interview que–Patricia.

Author of: THE LAST VAMPIRE
Super Power Most Covets: Being able to read minds. If the mind is the most powerful organ, that makes it even stronger…

Q.) First tell us about The Last Vampire.

P.R.) Deep in a Texas cave, the military unearths a five-hundred year-old corpse, its desiccated flesh teeming with mysterious DNA that can transform mortals into beings of unimaginable power. Captain Scott Boulder, leader of a Black Ops unit that has been endowed with these superhuman abilities, is among the first to benefit from the find. But when, with the help of a voodoo priestess, the creature is conjured to life, unleashing an ancient evil bent on reinstating its poisonous kind on earth, Scott knows he must return the monster to the grave. But this is no ordinary vampire. Once a brutal torturer in the Spanish Inquisition, it can bend the laws of science and magic in horrifying new ways.

Powerless to fight this evil alone, Scott grudgingly seeks the aid of reclusive anthropologist Leah Maguire, an expert in the mystical rituals of the past. To keep humanity from entering a new Dark Age, Scott and Leah will battle unspeakable horrors and will sacrifice everything they hold dear-perhaps even their own humanity-to destroy the last vampire.

Q.) Why the team thing? How did you meet?

P.R.) I teach Writing Popular Fiction and Suspense-Thriller Writing at Columbia College Chicago. Marc was a grad student in my classes. After that, we became friends, and we helped brainstorm each other’s writing. Marc suggested we try collaborating on a thriller. I at first wasn’t interested, then much later thought of something I’d always wanted to try–each of us writing our own characters’ scenes. And since he wrote horror and I wrote paranormal suspense, I thought it would be fun to write a dark fantasy romantic thriller with me writing the heroine and villainess, Marc writing the hero and villain. He agreed.

Q.) What benefits and challenges did writing as a team present?

P.R.) Two minds are often better than one. If one person can’t work out a plot point or character arc, the other person comes up with a possible solution. The challenge is to combine ideas coming from two different directions into a workable whole.

Q.) How did you work it—each write a POV, one write and the other revise, etc.?

P.R.) We write our own characters and send the scene to the other person for notes. We revise our own scenes.

Q.) What vampire traditions does The Last Vampire honor? Any you changed or left out completely?

P.R.) Andre is made from alchemy and blood magic, so he isn’t a Bram Stoker vampire. He can turn into smoke or lightning, he attracts and absorbs metal. He is strong, of course, and has the power of suggestion. He also needs blood to survive.

Q.) You both have individual careers too. Can you tell us a bit about those books?

P.R.) I’ve been writing romantic suspense and paranormal romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue for more than 20 years. My December 2007 book, WOLF MOON, was named Reviewers Choice Best Intrigue 2007 by Romantic Times BOOKreviews. My most popular books are part of The McKenna Legacy — all have paranormal elements.

Q.) You both have mystery/thriller roots, and Patricia also writes romance. How much of those genres show up in The Last Vampire?

P.R.) TLV is a thriller set in a dark fantasy world. It has a romantic subplot and uses historical scenes (from the villain’s history) as plot points. So it’s a combination of several genres.

Q.) Do you think readers who have read you individually will see “you” in The Last Vampire? How or how not?

P.R.) My readers will see this as a Patricia Rosemoor read inthat the hero and heroine are willing to sacrifice everything–even their souls–to save others. Also, I usually write about people with a dark past or present, and both Leah and Scott certainly meet that criteria. Protagonists without psychological problems would be no fun.

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? (answer individually, and if this changed when team writing)

P.R.) I’ve always been a plotter, but my plots are character-driven. I actually teach my students a method I call “Growing Plot Out of Character.” Early in my career, I started with plot and eventually developed the characters. Now I do the opposite. I start with a premise, figure out what characters would interest me and develop them, then go to the plot and figure out how my characters would shape it. That is pretty much how we developed TLV. We started with characters. Then we thought of situations that would be interesting and worked them into the plot.

Q.) Any new projects on the horizon (individually or as a team)? What would you like to try next?

P.R.) We have a sequel scheduled for January – The Dark Agent. Before discussing a possible follow-up, we need to see if the first book appeals to readers.

In the meantime, for Harlequin Intrigue, I am writing the last of the original The McKenna Legacy series, then will develop another branch of the family for more stories. It will be in the vein of a McKenna curse, though it will fall under the Legacy series. I’m also working on a big thriller set in Ireland and have an idea for another urban fantasy series.

Q.) Who do you enjoy reading? If someone were to compare your books to anyone else’s what author would you most like to be compared to? Why?

P.R.) I enjoy reading dark suspense-thrillers and urban fantasy. I try not to make my books like anyone else’s, so I hope not to be compared to someone else.

Q.) Where on the web can readers find out more about The Last Vampire and the books you have written individually?

P.R.) http://PatriciaRosemoor.com

Basic Facts: Born in November of 1967 in Sacramento, California; grew up in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and is currently drifting back westward as she lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Is mother (ima) of Mason, a four-and-a-half year old charmer who knows the difference between ptyerglotis and megarachne (and the periods in which they lived!), five cats, and eight fish.
Author of: Tall, Dark & Dead, Dead Sexy, and Romancing the Dead. (Also: Archangel Protocol, Fallen Host, Messiah Node and Apocalypse Array.)
Favorite Candy: Dove Promises. Chocolate = yummy, and I’m amused by the silly little inspirational messages, ala “Send a Love Letter Today!”
Favorite Cartoon Character: Hobbes (although sometimes Susie Derkins) of Calvin & Hobbes.
Super Power Most Covets: 12 inch adamantine claws – they’d make good letter openers and all around defense, especially with all the cats in the house.

Q.) Your new release, Romancing the Dead, is part of a series. Can you tell us about this book and some background on the series? (Are the books light, dark, spicy, not so spicy, all the dirt…)

T.H.) Garnet, the heroine of the books, is a Witch living in Madison, Wisconsin. The books are light and humorous, but there’s some undertones of dark – as Garnet harbors the goddess Lilith who has a bit of a murderous streak, and when the books begin Garnet is on the run from modern-day Inquisition witch hunters.

Q.) In addition to writing paranormal romances as Tate Hallaway, you also write science fiction as Lyda Morehouse. Why the two names? Why science fiction? Why romance? And why not scifi romance?

T.H.) The two names have a couple reasons – the first of which is the idea of “branding.” Branding is a business buzzword that’s been kicking around advertising for some time and which now many authors (and their publishers) are adopting. The idea is that a company sells the consumer the entire brand (rather than each individual product) and instills a sense of brand loyalty. You love Green Giant’s big belly laugh and sexy green physique so much, you’re compelled not only buy his carrots, but also the green beans, the peas, etc.

Thus, the name Lyda Morehouse is supposed to invoke a certain kind of book: edgy, cyberpunk, religious science fiction. Tate Hallaway equals kicky, fun, chick-litty paranormal romance.

Never the twain shall meet.

As for why I write the genres I do, well, I love a good romance. If you picked up my earlier scifi books you’d notice that as well, as there’s a strong romantic element in all the books (plus the main character of Archangel Protocol is a closet romance reader, which I was at the time. I’m happy to say I’m out of the closet now.)

Science fiction was my first love. I fell for it after seeing Star Wars, I suspect. After that I was all about being a space pirate. And I have the outline for a science fiction romance, but I haven’t found the time to write it.

Q.) How long have you been writing? Which came first (in the published world) Tate or Lyda?

T.H.) Lyda came first. She died (book speaking, anway), and then Tate rose from her ashes. Which leads into the second reason that I have two names: my first set of books didn’t sell as well as the publisher hoped they would. The AngeLINK series, as they’re called, got a lot of critical acclaim, which is to say they’ve won several awards (most notably the Shamus and the Philip K. Dick Special Citation for Excellence), but they just didn’t become break-out bestsellers we all hoped for.

Q.) Actually some might call your paranormal romances, urban fantasy. Which do you think of the series as? What do you think the difference between the two is?

T.H.) I noticed that ROMANCING THE DEAD was labeled an urban fantasy by Bookclub/Romantic Times. I think that’s the sexier label, the one that’s getting all the good buzz, but I envisioned the Garnet series as paranormal romance. The difference, for me, at least, is that in my books the relationship is the center of the story. That makes it a romance.

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?

T.H.) These days I sell my books on proposal, so I’ve written down the plot bones in a synopsis. But once I actually start writing the book I tend to let the characters lead the way, so much so sometimes I’ve gotten lost and have had to go back and do a boatload of revision.

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

T.H.) Humor. Irreverence.

Q.) Who are your favorite authors and/or books?

T.H.) Rachel Caine, who writes the Weather Warden series, and Kristine Katheryn Rusch who writes the Disappeared series, a kind of futuristic police procedural on the Mars.

Q.) What is the best thing about being a published author? What is the worst?

T.H.) I’ll admit it. I LOVE seeing my name in print. And, seeing myself on the shelf next to favorite authors? There’s nothing more awesome in the whole world. The worst part is working to deadline, and having to be creative on a schedule. You know, some days I’d rather play video games than write… or write something else.

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

T.H.) Some day I’d like to write that futuristic romance. I’m also hoping to go back to the world of Lyda Morehouse’s AngeLINK books some day.

Q.) Finally, where can readers find you on the web? How about your books-where can they buy them?

T.H.) You can buy Tate’s novels anywhere fine books are sold. Amazon has them, of course, as well. Lyda’s books are somewhat more difficult to track down. Amazon has a few used, but you can still buy them from Uncle Hugo’s or email: UncleHugo@aol.com. You can also order on-line from Dreamhaven Books.

I’m all over the web otherwise. Tate blogs alone and as part of her writers’ group’s blog, she’s also a member of Fangs, Fur & Fey a LiveJournal community for readers and writers of urban fantasy/paranormal romance. You can also friend her on MySpace and FaceBook. Of course, there’s also http://www.tatehallaway.com.

Lyda blogs separately on LiveJournal , and on Wyrdsmiths, and also has separate MySpace and Facebook pages. Lyda also contributes to SF Novelist’s blog. I also have a website at: http://www.lydamorehouse.com.