A Portal Into The Mind of NB Charles

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to one of my favorite authors, NB Charles.  For those who may not know, NB is not only a writing friend of mine, but he is also the master architect behind the Immortals’ Universe.  His writing is sinfully addictive.  But NB remains an absolute mystery.  And so I decided to grab my trusty ice pick and dig deep inside the mind of this enigmatic personality. So NB, you carry this dark and mysterious presence on social networking sites and your website.  Tell us something about yourself outside of your posted bios.  What do you like to do when not writing?

Well, my brain has an irritating need to keep busy. I’m always doing something, be it learning a new language, studying, dissimilating and challenging historical philosophy or generally jumping head first into anything that catches my fantasy. I won’t even go into my Kinbaku-bi, Sundance film and North Western crocheting phase. When I’m not writing I’m reading or doing some amateur chemistry or physics experiment. Other than that it’s herbology and alternative sciences. I’m more than, a bit of a hippie-geek.

*picks jaw up off the floor* Um.  Wow, I uh, don’t suppose you have days where you just veg out with a bag of Doritos and an afternoon of Lifetime Movie Network then.  *jots note to Google Kinbaku-bi* Ok, next question.  You’ve constructed this alternate realm, teeming with supes: demons, vampires, werewolves, dragons.  Give us a brief tour of the Immortals’ Universe.

Brief tour!!! Okay, right… it’s not like I don’t like a challenge. Basically the thing to keep in mind is that the Immortals Universe is our own except history is told through the eyes of the supernatural creatures that inhabit it. Think about all the myths and fantasy stories you’ve ever read without any shading or dilution from any of the world’s major religions and the overtly skeptical. It’s Grimm’s fairytales absent the child friendly view. But most importantly, it’s about women. Who they were - are… The power they held and still possess today, even though popular thought likes to marginalize it. Imagine the fearsome goddesses who ruled over life and death, commanded creation itself, now, stuck here, in our time, with only a half-hearted oath to keep their majesty in check. Those goddesses, working a nine to five, are putting up with dating in a climate whereby if you’re not Kate Moss, with an I.Q. of 1 you’re ugly. They must resist smiting cheating men, who couldn’t fight a war, hunt wild beast in the woods, build you a temple made of gold and be home in time to make the kind of loving you damn well deserve, on cue.  They balance the lousy paycheck you get at the end of the month whilst smiling at the idiot boss man who knows not nearly enough to qualify him to eat with a spoon. So essentially, supernatural creatures, living under human law and societal restraints, is going to cause very big problems.  This is the Immortals’ Universe.

*daydreams of the faithful, sweaty warrior coming home after a hard day of building my gold temple, carrying a wild beast over his shoulder as he bursts through the door to…* Oh.  Sorry, NB.  I um.  *shifts in chair* So what inspired you to write The Darkest Kiss Series?

Short answer, an overactive imagination. Longer answer, the idea came to me whilst watching the tragic destruction of three couples who couldn’t manage life’s challenges and still keep love alive. They were great people at the mercy of metaphorical vampires, savage beasts and walking serpents, not to mention the demons inside them nipping away. The Darkest Kiss Series is literally a Girl’s Guide to navigating life’s trials, except that it treats the metaphorical as literal.

I believe part of the art in writing is the quiet observation and the ability to turn those brief snapshots of life into an entire story.  What was the most challenging part of writing this series?

The events in the series aren’t consecutive. Some of the different stories take place during the same time in a few of the books, only at different places. The secondary plot however is sequential. Keeping track of everything as it interlaces demands a good memory. I can’t even remember what the first question in this interview was.

Uh *quickly scrolls to top of page to check* yeah, I know what you mean about keeping it all straight, I have trouble with that too.  Carmella, Rowland and Sebastian are the main characters in the first book of the series, titled Tender Kiss.  Who was your favorite to write and why?  Are your characters ever based on someone you know?

Carmella, Rowland and Sebastian are the main characters and each of them has an aspect in their personalities that I love to play with. My favorite, if I had to choose, would have to be Carmella. She’s this almighty vampyre queen who’s about to lose everything because she trusted her heart to the wrong guy. Who hasn’t been there? However, the real problem emerges as destiny seems to be forcing her to trust in another fella. Some scars run too deep and even if they can someday heal, why should this independent, powerful woman rely on another to save her from the proverbial dragon? Unfortunately, whether you’re supernatural or not, life works in such a way that you’ll always need some help at some time. Carmella has to balance what her mind tells her against what her heart needs. Even for a virtual goddess, that isn’t easy. It’s her eventual answer that made me fall in love with her.

All my characters are based on people I know actually, but are a bit more honest about them than they are about themselves.

Oh man.  I’m dying to know who the real Carmella is in your life.  She must be one kick ass woman because this is a character J'adore as well.  You have a knack for creating these delicious male MC’s that women could just devour **cough** Rowland.  What ingredients go in to a sexy alpha?

It’s strange; these guys are basically your everyday average Joe, if he was completely true to who he was, with himself and everyone. It just happens that average isn’t average at all. When your own brand of uniqueness shines at the fore, with the confidence it deserves, I guess it’s just darn sexy.

So my list of ingredients are:

Mix who you are with who you can be. Add an ounce of spirit and a dash of determination, then abaracadabara- sex on a stick. Corny but true.

Damn.  Do you mind if I write this on my bathroom mirror?  Not corny.  You’re absolutely right.  Confidence in who you are and what you can achieve is sexy as hell.  What is your writing routine?  Do you listen to music?  If so, what kind of music?

I have no set in stone routine. I usually just write until exhaustion, and then break off to continue life.  Whilst I wait for the next bolt of inspiration to strike, I think through the story and characters, even take them off script if I have to just to see them squirm. It’s during my thinking time that I’ll listen to music, anything that my iPod lands on, (it’s usually French contemporary). When I’m writing, I prefer silence and solitude. The images and voices in my head are more than enough company.

Hahaha, true, though I think a sultry voice, like Lana del Rey, can sort of anesthetize those voices a little so my fingers can keep up the pace on the keyboard.  I must have music when I write.  Who are your literary influences?

Salman Rushdie, JRR Tolkien, Hemmingway, Jean Rhys, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allen Poe, Roald Dahl, Chinua Achebe, D.H. Lawrence and Bessie Head. There’s a whole lot more but these ten started me on the path to reading.

What is the most valuable advice you’ve been given that you would pass on to other writers?

You write a story but you edit a novel. Truer words were never spoken. Your novel is really what you get after mounds of editing on the story. Attached to that credo I’d add, know your circuit. It’s really important to understand who you’re writing for. Learn everything you can about the demographic and the culture surrounding your genre.

I couldn’t agree more.  What are you currently working on?  Can you give us a little snippet of your favorite scene?

Two works actually, but I hope to have them published under a separate pen name. Working titles are: The Whore Of Camelot and The Death Dealers’ Secret.

Here’s a snippet from The Whore Of Camelot (Still to be edited)

“One thousand.” She’d stop counting. There was no point in continuing. She was sure that they were all dead. All four thousand and sixty four of them - dead.

Uther, as promised, had shown no mercy.

The army of Dunherd had fallen, leaving the women and children no more than open prey. Uther wouldn’t suffer the sons of his enemies another day’s breath. She was sure of it. And as to the daughters, they’d most likely become whores and playthings, at least until they were spent and the edge of a dull blade became their only salvation. If wisdom befell any of the lot, they’d know to take salvation into their own hands.

Salvation and dignity.

But the younglings? Guinevere thought to herself. The ones too little to think beyond their mothers’ breasts. Their fate would be the cruelest. Uther would see them to the mines. To subsist or die as slaves.

Guinevere squeezed the leather cask in her aching hand. She knew what had to be done but the knot, twisting inside her stomach, contested her every step.  The fretful cries of the children hummed along the stone hallway.

Still, Guinevere’s teeth clenched as she fought back the monsoon of despair, desperate to slip out of her lilac irises. A wave of skin cutting cold ravaged her insides.

Still, it had to be done.

WTF?!  NB, somewhere along the line, I suspect you earned a degree in ‘How To Choose The One Scene In A Book That Will Drive Your Readers Crazy With Curiosity’.  This is not the first time you’ve done this to me, and I suspect it will not be the last…*sigh* I asked for it though.  Perhaps I should have specified a chapter-length snippet.  BONUS QUESTION:  Where in the hell does one, who happens to live on an island paradise, go to ‘get away from it all’?

Usually another island, ha, ha, ha…

Want to know more about this brilliant writer?  You can find him here:

VISIT NB Charles WEBSITE

FOLLOW NB Charles on TWITTER

LIKE NB Charles on FACEBOOK

And I recommend you stop by and take a look at his flash and shorts.  You can find them here:  NB Charles Flash & Shorts

Thank you NB for stopping by.  Looking forward to reading more about the Immortals Universe!

Unraveling the Mystery - An Interview with Narcisse Navarre

It is my absolute pleasure to introduce Narcisse Navarre, author of steamy erotic novella, The Olive Grove.  First, let's take a good long look at the stunning cover and the blurb: Seeking to escape her unfulfilling life in NYC, Gia impulsively books a vacation to Italy. Wandering lost in an ancient olive grove near the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa she is found by a mysterious stranger. Carried away to a secluded grotto, Gia is spellbound by Oviello, a lover beyond her wildest fantasies. Caught in a world between myth and reality, Gia wonders if her enigmatic captor is the man of her dreams or just a fantasy.

Continue reading to find out how YOU can score a copy of The Olive Grove!!

*stares dreamy eyed*  ahem...sorry, phew!  That cover is...hot.  Now, if I can peel my eyes away from it for a moment, I'll get on with the interview.

First, Narcisse, you have such a mysterious presence on Twitter and Facebook, particularly your enigmatic poetry.  Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Thank you for having me on your gorgeous blog Keri!

I was born in Havana, Cuba and grew up on a farm devoid of most major forms of media. I lived a relatively idyllic existence and was safeguarded from the scariest parts of Communism by my loving parents. From a very early age my father instilled in me a love of literature, magic and the fantastic. I didn't grow up with the constant noise of the television or radio or any of the incessant distractions many of the kids have today. I was pretty much a wild child. When I wasn't in school, I was climbing trees, playing make-belief in the woods, riding horses, swimming in the river, reading, and counting stars.

At age four, my mother taught me how to read and write and soon after I developed an interest in poetry. I would spend the days writing silly poems and drawing, tucked deep in the fruit orchards that bordered our stone farm house. My mother tells me I'd stand on the kitchen table and perform a new poem every night. Luckily, my artistic expression in all forms was encouraged and allowed to blossom. I'm fussy and can be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to editing and writing prose but poetry just flows. I don't try to bend the words or force it. I don't usually edit poems nor do I delete, erase or rearrange words. I think poetry is part of the most primal me–the wild and carefree soul that grew up in that tiny piece of heaven.

From my father I acquired a love of dreams. He dreamed of one day leaving Cuba and raised me to be self sufficient and critical of my surroundings. Years later, I realized just how hard he had to work to undo the brain washing of the Communist system. It took my father eighteen years to see his wish fulfilled but he did it. In 1984, with the Cuban Army breathing down our backs, we left our country. It was one of the most traumatic periods of my life but also one of the most formative.

Because of my family's courage, I was one of the first people in my family to go to college. Free to pursue my own dreams, I focused on my creativity. I went to school for film and art history, taught myself graphic design and now I'm pursuing a career as a writer and publisher. Needless to say, I have my family to thank for my appreciation of literature, my keen interest in science, travel, art and my indomitable love affair with freedom.

I am one of the most grateful people you will ever meet. If I seem a little strange it's probably because my context is slightly different.

Wow!  Your story is incredibly fascinating.  An example of resilience following a traumatic period, as you mentioned.  And proof that with hard work and focus, dreams can be achieved.  What inspired you to write The Olive Grove? 

As you can surmise by now, my father is a very positive influence in my life. Growing up I was influenced by the fantastic stories he used to tell me about the Greek gods. A lover of mythology himself, my dad took time every night to point out constellations and weave the wondrous tales of the gods. I was spellbound by the struggles and the hubris of these formidable beings. It was in this climate that I developed a fascination with magic and fantasy that continues to this day.

I am not sure when it happened but somewhere along the way I developed a small obsession with Dionysus’s children–satyrs. I have scoured the web for erotic satyr fiction and have often come up empty. The few stories and novels I have downloaded have been interesting but have invariably left me wanting.

I didn’t set out to write The Olive Grove, the story sort of wrote itself. In June 2011, my husband and I went to Europe for two weeks. We started our trip in Rome and visited France, Croatia and Bosnia before heading back to Italy. Since we had already explored Rome, we decided to stay in the outskirts of the city and visit off-the-beaten path sights and small hill towns.

On the third day of our Italian explorations we found ourselves in the dilapidated ruins of Hadrian’s Villa near Tivoli. While the ruined villa was beautiful, what captivated my imagination were the olive groves along its periphery. Everywhere we went were these ancient, gnarled olive trees that stretched in all directions. It was nearly ninety degrees on the day we visited and I had sweat pouring down my back. An hour into the visit I was soaked and perhaps the heat played a trick on me.

I could have sworn that I saw them–satyrs of old darting between trees. I imagined them frolicking, feasting, dancing in some other parallel world kept alive by the ancient magic of the grounds. Certain places have mystical energy that, I believe, transcends time. Hadrian’s Villa with it’s sprawling galleries and baths and three hundred acres worth of Roman greed certainly did. It was almost as if the blood and sacrifice of the slaves and workers that toiled on it had seeped into the earth. The feeling was uncanny.

Almost immediately after our departure I began writing. During the next few nights, as we sat drinking wine in the gorgeous, frescoed galleries of Villa Grazioli (our hotel) the story took shape. By the end of the third day I was possessed with the tale of Gia and her mysterious abductor. About eighty percent of the story was finished by the time we boarded the plane home.

Your father sounds like an amazing individual!  I love Greek mythology and reading about the gods.  And I can attest, the pictures of your travels to Hadrian's Villa, posted on your blog, are gorgeous.  A must see for readers of this interview (see below).  What was the most challenging part of writing this piece?

The Olive Grove just sort of happened. I didn’t have an outline or a structure or even a plan. I was sort of writing by the seat of my pants. As a result, it took me nearly two months after having written the bulk of the story to find an appropriate ending. Wrapping up the tale into a novella-sized piece that wouldn’t disappoint or short-change the characters was the biggest challenge.

I'm the same way when I write.  I pretty much just dive right into the story without much planning.  What have you learned by writing The Olive Grove?

The Olive Grove popped my publishing cherry so to speak. As my first published work it was very daunting to put it out there. I had no idea how it would be received. With the help of my co-author, Marzio Ombra, I had to learn all the steps associated with self-publishing an eBook across various markets.

The novella has been invaluable in terms of getting my ducks in a row for future works. I’ve had a few hiccups with the book in terms of timing, marketing and formatting but I’ve learned from these mistakes. What I would tell self-published authors from my own experience is:

  • Do a soft launch and announce your release date three weeks from the soft launch date. That way if there are issues with the book you will have plenty of time to correct them across any and all platforms before your announced release.
  • If you feel that the cover is not working don’t be afraid to try something new. I did and I’m quite happy with the results. The new cover is turning heads.
  • Stand by your writing and turn a half blind eye to negative reviews. If your writing is good more than likely a bad review just means your book missed the target audience. I recently received a lackluster review from a romance reader. Luckily she was fair enough to say nice things about the writing in spite of the fact she didn’t like the subject matter. Reviewers like this are rare. More than likely when someone doesn’t like the subject matter they slam the whole book. Don’t let great reviews and bad reviews dictate how your day goes. Do your thing and just keep writing.

As it stands I still have much to learn about self-publishing and The Olive Grove is certainly helping me do that. I’m always open to any and all advice other successful authors have regarding self-publishing.

Fantastic advice and I couldn't agree with you more.  It doesn't matter how much you read on the topic, everything seems to fall together and make sense after you've published your first work.  And I think the novella was a great introduction into your publishing career.  Also, good advice about negative reviews.  There isn't a product in existence that hasn't come without a negative review.  Who is (are) your literary influence(s)?  What book could you read over and over?

I have a never-ending curiosity when it comes to all things magical and scientific. Recently I’ve developed a keen interest in theoretical physics so I’ve been devouring books on the holographic nature of the universe, zero point fields and other oddities. I’ve also been reading my share of history books like The Dream and the Tomb, Guns, Germs and Steel, The Assasins and the history of Byzantium. As far as influences I have quite a few. I love the magical realism of Marquez and the heady thickness of Suskind. As you can imagine I’ve read Bram Stoker’s Dracula many times over as well as The Hobbit.

As I said before, a very intriguing mind...  I happen to know that you are a fellow demon aficionado.  What do you think makes these beings so enticing to some women?

Demons….Mmmm….where do I begin? The demons in the books Marzio Ombra and I are writing are more akin to the Greek daimons then they are to their cloven-hooved, satanic counterparts. They are a race of immortal beings of extraordinary beauty, power and grace lacking our Judeo-Christian values. Our demonic societies exist on planes bordering the prime-material world and tend to be extremely draconic. I really despise cookie cutter characters and so we’ve painted our demons in brilliant shades of gray. Dante’s Inferno is so last year! Who needs these unbendable concepts of good and evil? I think what makes our demons sexy, and ultimately irresistible, is the power they wield coupled with their humanity. Pure evil doesn’t turn anyone on. Give a supremely powerful character a dirge of a conscience and watch them draw the crowds!

Gray is a beautiful color!  I love multi-dimensional characters that charm readers into falling in love with them by the end of the story.  What is your writing routine?  I noticed that you have a magnificent writing nook *jealous*  Do you use music when you write?

No one said self-publishing was going to be easy right? Even with my formidable magical skills of accomplishment I have my hands full. The writing routine is something I’m desperately working on improving. I’ve built a nice escritoire that is quiet but the second part of the equation, of course, is time. Like most self-published authors just starting out, I have a career. Four out of seven days a week I get to the gym around seven, work out half hour and get home around eight. Between eight and nine thirty I get to shower, eat dinner and spend time with my husband. It’s only around ten or so that I sit down to write, blog, tweet, work on artwork and run my freelance business. Yes, I know, I’m insane. I usually get to bed around 1AM and try to sneak tweets and blog posts between the 9-5 hours.

Originally I had set a goal of writing 1000 words a day but this soon fell to the wayside. There are days when I can sit down and write 5000 words and some when I can only do 200. The 1000 word-a-day plan wasn’t working for me psychologically. I started giving myself a lot of guilt when I didn’t meet that goal in spite of the fact that I had accomplished a great many things that day (like launching web sites, doing blog posts, working on cover art, etc.).

On occasion I do listen to music but it’s not a constant. Unlike my husband who can’t fall asleep without the TV blaring, I prefer silence. I don’t seem to need background music or noise but if it’s there I can easily tune it out. Music is a source of inspiration but not always while I’m working.

To be perfectly honest, I need to develop a better plan for writing my novels. The Books of Lirios is looking like six books and I need to get cracking. Somehow, I need to find a way to do more. Now where did I put that portable pocket dimension thingamajigger? Hmmm. I sure do hope it turns up soon!

*slowly slips portable pocket dimension thingamajigger into pocket, careful not to rouse attention*  Yikes!  I thought I kept crazy hours.  You're a machine!  What are you currently working on?  Do you intend to self-publish again?

The Khajj project has evolved significantly since its inception two years ago. Marzio and I wanted to present a radically different self-publishing experience. The trilogy will be accompanied by a musical soundtrack (Music of the Dreams) and an erotic coffee-table art book featuring scenes from the novels. We are still debating whether the art book will be interactive (iPad), print, or both. We've had incredible success working with extremely talented artists like Mark Blanton, Gary Martin, Lucas Pandolfelli and others in terms of capturing the essence of our dark fantasy.

You can listen to a short 30 second clip of Music of the Dreams here:

February 2012 will see the release of a vampire novella titled An Endless Hunger. It is not romance or erotica but a very deep and dark work of psychological horror. Following An Endless Hunger, towards the latter part of 2012 we are hoping to publish the first book in the Khajj series titled The Soulbinder’s Covenant. Assuming the world doesn’t end, 2013 will see the release of Z.H.E.N.N. a hard-edged sci-fi thriller and the second book in the Khajj series (as of yet untitled). Future projects in the pipeline include a Steampunk erotica book titled Nahja and more. We’ve been busy!

Amazing things happen when artists collaborate!  I'm so looking forward to reading An Endless Hunger in February.  And you can be sure the Soulbinder's Covenant will be on my TBR list.  Where can readers get their hands on a copy of The Olive Grove?

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

SMASHWORDS

iTUNES

SONY

KOBO

They can find an excerpt at:

http://www.khajj.com/the-olive-grove-exerpt/

Inspiration for The Olive Grove and pictures of Hadrian’s Villa:

http://www.khajj.com/inspiration-strikes-at-hadrians-sprawling-villa/

BONUS QUESTION:  If you could create a portal that would transport you anywhere and to any period of time you wished, where would you go and why?

One of the joys in my life is the ability to travel. Knowing me, I’d like a portal to the portal maker so that I could finagle a few more. Since I have just one, however, it would have to be Veronica Franco’s Venice. I have been to Venice four times and each and every single time I am convinced I belong there. I would jump at the opportunity to see it in its heyday with the courtesans dangling their wares over the Rialto. By the 1500’s Venice was the most powerful and populous Italian city–a veritable stronghold of trade, art and culture. The pageantry and decadence of Venice at this period is something I can only begin to imagine. Experiencing it in person during a time of such prosperity would be the ultimate treat. My little black book would be filled to the brim with appointments. On my notable “to do” list would be posing for Titian, coffee with Giorgione, saucy debates with Franco, masked revelry with Dürer and sensuous feasting with Bellini. Look closely at Bellini’s Feast of the Gods. Just where do you think that satyr is taking that wine anyway?

Feast of the Gods: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/The_Feast_of_the_Gods-1514_1529-Giovanni_Bellini_and_Titian.jpg

Hahaha!  And I should have set some rules...like no creating portals to the portal maker!  I've never been to Venice, but you have effectively made it sound like a place where I'd like to have a secret portal - not merely meant for visiting, but experiencing!

Want to know more about this fascinating author and her writing?

Check out her website at http://www.khajj.com/

Now if you'd like to win a copy of The Olive Grove, Narcisse has generously offered 3 copies to give away!

**WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO WIN?**

1.  Sign up to her blog.  Just click on the link below and enter your email address (easy peasy):

BLOG SIGN UP

AND...

2.  Leave a comment below.  Tell me what sexy supe you'd like to frolic in the olive groves with...vampire, werewolf, satyr, demon?

Be sure to include an email address when posting your comment.

Winner will be drawn at midnight on Monday, February 6th.

We're Talkin' Sexy Alphas - Interview with Angela Addams

I’m delighted to introduce a writer friend of mine, Angela Addams, author of The Temptress, Assassin and Ghost Bride.  She just recently released a new title, Going the Distance.  First, a quick glimpse of the book and its cover:

Here is the blurb for the book:

He’s been in love with her since they were teenagers, Steph Randall, the most wanted woman on the planet. Pierced by Cupid’s arrow as teens, Ronan fell hard for Steph, he had plans for them, even bought a ring, only to discover that her ambition was stronger than their love. Cupid had failed to win her heart and join the couple. Now Cupid needs to fix things, an incredible boon if he can succeed. All he has to do is show Steph what she is missing.

As an award-winning actress, Steph has a mind of her own and is blinded by her ambition. Yet, for all her money and fame, the only time she truly finds peace is when she is in Ronan’s arms. She thinks that all she needs is a friend with benefits, but with a little Cupid intervention, Ronan suddenly finds that he can’t tolerate it any longer and Steph is forced to choose. What will she risk losing for her ambition? And what is Ronan willing to give up to get his girl?

Angela is giving away an ebook copy of this beauty...continue on to find out how YOU can enter to win it!

Now, to get down and dirty with some questions...er, not dirty...just down.  Ok, nevermind.  Here is my interview with the lovely Angela:

First Angela, I follow your blog and came across a recent post where you and author Anne Michaud discuss being goth.  In it, you mentioned the movie, The Crow.  I nearly spewed the sip of water I’d just taken when I read this.  I believe this movie was a turning point for me.  I’d always written dark poems and stories about death and vengeance, but at such an impressionable age, this movie put it out there and made it cool.  Suddenly, I didn’t feel like a freak about my love for the dark and twisted.  What influenced your love for goth or do you feel it’s always been an inherent part of your DNA? 

Thanks for having me on your blog, Keri!

I have always been interested in the paranormal, from the time that I was a little kid until now. I devoured Anne Rice’s Witching Hour series as a teen and immersed myself into vampire lore and literature soon after that. I can’t say I’ve always written paranormal stuff because that didn’t really come until a friend pointed out that that’s what I really should be writing…and then I had this light bulb moment where I was like, “Duh! Of course that’s what I should be writing!”

I was a goth as a teen, still am one at heart ;-) Loved being different in my small town and sending out that creepy vibe to all the normal folk. There was an element of danger, and of course a big eff u to the “cool” (boring), normal looking, popular groups. It was awesome!

Haha!  Flipping the boring cool kids off...Why do you think women are drawn to paranormal romance?  What is it about these books and movies that make being seduced by a vampire, werewolf or demon so much more appealing than the average Joe Schmo? 

I think what draws us to these creatures is partly the element of danger, and partly the fantasy of an exotic, feral, wild alpha male who is usually characterized as being intensely passionate, possessive, and protective. It’s the allure of eternal life and venturing into the unknown. These heroes are the epitome of bad boy and you know how we all love the bad boys ;-)

Oh God…excuse me while I collect myself.  You just used ‘exotic’, ‘feral’ and ‘wild alpha male’ in the same sentence…the power of words.  Must stop fantasizing about running naked through the woods with this sexy beast! *cough*  Ok Angie, I have a feeling I’m going to know the answer to this question before I even…finish…typing it.  Your female characters – tough as nails or sweet and demure?  Why?

I’d have to go with tough as nails…for the most part. In The Temptress, Assassin and Going the Distance, my female leads are strong seductresses who know what they want and go after it. That doesn’t mean that they all carry swords and kick ass, but each has her own way of getting results. In Ghost Bride my female lead is softer, more innocent…although she does kick some pretty serious ass in her own way at a certain point. I respect strong women and I can guarantee that all of my mc’s are going to have, or discover that they have, strength in some way. I was raised to believe that a strong woman is a worthy woman and that girls can do anything. That doesn’t mean that I write my characters as stone cold females, but I do give them an edge so that they don’t take things lying down…or at least they don’t for long.

Girls rule!!  *clears throat*  Sorry for that.  What is your writing routine?  Any odd habits or rituals that you simply must perform in order to kick start your muse or do you just dive right in?

I don’t have a muse. Sorry, it’s just not something I believe in. I control my writing process and refuse to allow the notion of needing some outside influence in order to get to work. I treat writing as I do my day job. I outline, I set my word count target and I write. Period. Not very romantic, I know, but that’s the way I am. I’m very goal oriented and efficient. With an idea of where I’m headed via my outline, I can pump out what I need. I have never missed a quota target that I’ve set for myself.  (Usually 10K a week when I’m working on a project).

Oh man…the second I try to outline, it’s over.  You’re a machine!  Of all your published titles, which character is your favorite and why?

Oh, no, nope, won’t fall for that one! I love them all!!! Equally, just like my kids ;-)

I will say, just between you and I, that I love Ronan and Steph from my newest release, Going the Distance. They aren’t picture perfect, in fact, they both have some hurtles to overcome, but their chemistry is incredible! I love reading their story (and not just because I wrote it ;-)

Imperfection is what makes a great story, IMO.  Who is (are) your biggest literary influence(s)?  What book could you read again and again?

I have to say that without the amazing, Kelley Armstrong, I wouldn’t have made it as far as I have! She not only opened the doors to urban fantasy in Canada, but she is also one of the most helpful, personable and talented writers I’ve had the pleasure to interact with.

I will also say that Anne Rice, Kresley Cole, D.B. Reynolds, Rhyannon Byrd and Karen Marie Moning are all incredibly talented storytellers who inspire me to write sexy erotic romance. Any of their books are ones that I will read repeatedly.

Wonder if chains are on sale at Home Depot this week?  *straightens in seat* Ahem, my apologies, you mentioned Kresley Cole…just having a Rydstrom moment.  Moving on.  Are you a coffee, latte or tea drinker?

I’m a coffee and latte drinker. I love the flavored coffees, Caramel Macchiato, Peppermint Mocha…yum! But on a day-to-day basis I brew my own at home!

Mmmmm…Peppermint Mocha.  My favorite!  Of all the supernatural beings (vampires, werewolves, ghosts, demons, zombies, shifters, etc), which is your favorite to write about?  Why?

I love to write about witches actually, although I haven’t yet published a novella about witches ;-) I’ve been working on an urban fantasy with my agent that deals with my love of witches quite well though!

For my erotic romances I love vampires, werewolves, ghosts…oh my! Do I really have to pick just one? They’re all so yummy! Strong alpha males with delicious, hot bodies, mmmmm…yeah, do you really have to ask why I’d love to write about them?

Well, I was actually asking why you preferred a certain species over another, but since you love them all, think I can guess why ;)…hahaha!  For me, its those lovable badboy demons.  Oooh.  Incubi.  Or angels with a dark side *winks*  Sexy as hell… What is the release date of Going the Distance and where can readers purchase the book?

Going the Distance was released on Dec. 28 and you can find it at Evernight Publishing

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/angela-addams/

BONUS QUESTION:  Lestat de Lioncourt or Eric Northman?

Ohhhhh, that’s a tough one. I think I’ll have to go with Eric simply because he is so masculine and sooooo sexy! Lestat is great and all, but he’s not savvy with the times like Eric is, and I don’t think he’s quite the alpha that I need ;-)

Eric is pretty yum, though I must admit, I'm 100% Team Alcide.

I HAD to post this because I don’t know that I’ll conduct another interview where I’d get the pleasure of throwing in a Trent Reznor song at the end of it.

Ahhh….one of my favorite NIN songs:

The Fragile

Want to know more about this talented writer and her 'exotic', 'feral' and 'wild alpha males'?  Check out the links below!

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF ANGELA ADDAMS

TWITTER

EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING

FACEBOOK

AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL

GOODREADS

Thanks for letting me pick your brain, Angela. I wish you success on your newest release, Going the Distance!

WANNA WIN AN EBOOK COPY OF Going the Distance??? 

Simply leave a comment below.  Winner will be randomly drawn next week!! 

'What If' Game! #2 #whatifgame

It's that time again!  As I detailed in the last 'What If' post, I’m going to give you a brief scenario.  You imagine that you are the character in the scene and write what you would do as the MC of the story. You do NOT have to be a writer to participate! 

So come on and give it a shot.  It’s simple and fun!

 Here’s your scenario:   

 The blaring of car alarms yanks you from sleep.  Your eyes open.  The room is dark, aside from beams of light crawling along the ceiling from the traffic outside your window.  A glance over at the clock reveals it’s still much too early to be awake – just after three.  The alarms continue to make a racket from below.  That’s Detroit for ya.  You cover your ears with a pillow and squeeze your eyes shut in hopes of miraculously falling back to sleep.  Problem is, you’re a writer.  You know that once you’re awake, there’s no going back. 

After a few minutes and a good effort, you kick your feet against the mattress in frustration then sit up.  Curses from two men arguing outside echo through the skinny side street and compete against those obnoxious horns and sirens.  Not again.  You don’t bother to peek out because the last time you did, you were met with a glare and a threat.  And since you’re single, living alone, there’s no point in making every night a sleepless one by stepping in to save the day.  The dueling alarms and the bickering have at it while you saunter toward the kitchen. 

With a yawn, you flip on the light, rub your eyes then reach for the coffee tin to make a pot.  The ideas are already swirling in your mind; the dialogue of your characters battling the noise outside.  “Better make it extra strong,” you murmur.  Coffee’s percolating as you make your way to the living room.  Would someone please turn off the damn alarms?!  It’s hard to believe they’re still going.  The culprit who set them off must be long gone by now.  You flip on the TV, not bothering to watch the news report.  It’s only meant to be background noise to hopefully drown out the incessant ruckus in the streets. 

Grabbing your iPod, you plop into your desk chair and power up the computer.  When the screen flickers bright, you plug in the earbuds, pull up the Word doc and prepare to go to town.  A series of thuds, like bowling balls falling onto the ceiling can be heard through the percussion solo of the White Rabbits.  You look up and frown.  Friggin vampires. 

They haven’t been part of society long.  Only in the last few years has anyone actually seen one.  They’re night hunters, feeding mostly on the blood of animals.  A ruling of the courts recently made it possible for them to integrate into society.  Warmies, they call you, of course referring to your blood.  This social acceptance of them bothers you for some reason.

For the most part, the vampires are quiet.  They keep to themselves.  But there’s something odd about the noises you hear upstairs.  Naturally they happen at night, and usually you’re asleep.  But sometimes they’re so loud they rip you from your dreams.  If you had to compare the noises to something, they sound like bodies being dragged across the floor. 

You pull your earbuds out.  The alarms have silenced.  The men have stopped bickering.  Only the chatter of the news remains.

Then the sound of a yelp sends you flipping out of your chair. 

You crash to the floor, momentarily dumbstruck, and look around for the source.   Your eyes settle on the TV screen across the room.  The news report.  A banner flashes across the screen.  In large block letters, a bold contrast to the fearful expression on the news reporter’s face, it reads:  VAMPIRE REBELLION.

The small screen floating to the right of the reporter’s head broadcasts a grisly scene.  Vampires attacking Warmies in the streets of Los Angeles.  Rebellion?  You rise to your feet and glance back in the direction of your bedroom window.  Swallowing a gulp, you turn and tiptoe toward it.  Will the bickering men be dead; lying in a pool of half-sopped blood?  Worse, yet...will there be a brood of vampires feeding on them?  Your ears strain to listen for sounds from above.  Halfway there, a pounding at the door freezes you in your tracks. 

Your hand flies up to your mouth and a scream dies in your throat.  Thump, thump, thump. Your pulse is racing.  You pivot on your heel and glide against the hardwood floors, sneaking toward the door to look through the peephole.  Thump thump thump.  With your nose pressed against the door, you squint one eye and peer through the hole with the other.  Oh no…