Author Interview
First,
tell me a little about your book.
Demon
Hunting with a Dixie Deb is the fourth book in the demon hunter
series, and it tells the story of Sassy Peterson, a pampered heiress
who comes to Hannah to unload a timber mill, and gets sucked into
supernatural craziness. Here’s the blurb:
Way down south in
the land of cotton, one belle’s plans are soon forgotten—when
Sassy Peterson drives her Maserati off the road to avoid a deer and
lands smack-dab in the proverbial creek without a paddle. The Alabama
heiress should have known something weird was going on when she saw
the deer’s ginormous fangs. Hello,
Predator Bambi! But
nothing can prepare her for the leather-clad, muscle-bound,
golden-eyed sex god who rescues her. Who wears leather in May? That’s
just the first of many questions Sassy has when her savior reveals
he’s a demon hunter named Grim. Also: Why would a troop of fairies
want to give her magical powers and rainbow hair? Why would a
style-challenged beast called the Howling Hag want to hunt her down?
Most importantly, what’s a nice debutante like Sassy doing in a
place like this anyway? Besides feeling Grim . . .
Do
you recall how your interest in writing originated or did you always
just know?
Mine
began with a love of books and reading. I was that nerd, who roamed
the library shelves, and lost myself in other worlds. I’ve always
written (bad poetry, mostly), but I didn’t start writing fiction
until I was in my thirties. How I wish I’d started sooner, because
I didn’t get published until I was fifty!
What
inspired you to write your first book, and what was it?
The
first book I ever wrote was a fantasy, and it’s a story I still
love. Here’s the blurb:
Raine
Stewart is dying, and no one can tell her why. For twenty-five years,
she’s been poked, prodded, and tested for every disease known to
man with no definitive answer. Lately, Raine’s convinced the
culprit is a brain tumor. What else would explain the sudden
appearance of her long-dead aunt and a vision of a strapping,
dark-haired warrior in her bedroom mirror?
But
a tumor can’t explain the arrival of a wizard dressed like a
Renaissance Faire reject—a wizard who invades Raine’s home and
carries her off to a land where magic and monsters are real. He has
his reasons, he tells her—and really, “kidnapping” is such an
ugly word.
Then
again, abduction may have its upside. Raine feels better than she has
in ages… too bad she might not live long enough to enjoy it. The
Dark Wizard wants her dead. And what the Dark Wizard wants, the Dark
Wizard gets.
My
editor is shopping the manuscript right now, so fingers crossed!
How
do you choose when and which characters die in your books?
Well,
the villain usually dies, and, sometimes, people get caught up in the
consequences of their actions. For instance, in book three, Demon
Hunting in a Dive Bar, a secondary character steals a bottle and
opens it. Unfortunately for him, the bottle contains a demon. Things
don’t end well for the thief.
Who
do you look up to as a writer?
Oh,
so many! Growing up, I loved The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I am
a HUGE Harry Potter nerd. George R. R. Martin astonishes me with his
world building and with the ruthless way he kills off his characters
in Game of Thrones. On the romance side, I cut my teeth on Georgette
Heyer novels, and I love Amanda Quick, Lisa Kleypas, Loretta Chase,
and Julia Quinn. In paranormal, I enjoy anything Suzanne Johnson
writes, Darynda Jones, Charlaine Harris, and Kevin Hearne’s Iron
Druid series.
If
you had it to do over again, would you change anything in your book?
I
am a constant tweaker, never satisfied with my prose. If you gave me
a hundred chances to go back and edit my books, I would do a hundred
revisions. The storyline, however, I would probably leave alone. Too
complicated, and if you change one thing, things start to fall apart.
The domino effect!
Is
there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Sex
scenes!!!! I struggle with them, every time. I want them to be
sensual and emotional, and beautiful,
if you know what I mean. I really pull my hair out over them. Also, I
struggle with conflict. I just want everybody to be happy.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t make an interesting book.
What
book are you reading now?
I
work full-time, so I listen to a lot of audio books. I’ve just
re-listened to the Harry Potter books, and, right now, I’m plowing
my way through Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances. Love them!
Did
you learn anything from writing your books and what was it?
I
have learned that books and writing, like anything else, are
subjective, and that not everyone is going to like what I write. I
have developed a thicker skin than when I first started, but bad
reviews still sting. I have learned not to read the bad ones, because
they shut me down and make me second guess everything.
I
have learned that I’m a writer.
I know that sounds odd, so let me explain. When I sold the first
demon hunter book, it was thrilling. And then I realized, “Oh, no!
I have to do it again.” So I wrote the second one, and the third,
and each one came out different, like children. Then came book four,
the one coming out in May. I had just started it when my life
imploded, and I went through a divorce. I didn’t write for eight
months, and missed my deadline, something writers are not supposed to
do. But, I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and started writing
again. When I finished that book, I knew I was a writer, because I’d
written it in spite of the devastation. There. TMI?
If
you could be one of your characters, who would you choose?
Probably
Addy, the heroine in the first book, because she’s a smartass. Or
Beck, the heroine in book three, because she’s kickass. And I love
Sassy, because she’s so bubbly and optimistic. And then there’s .
. .
Well.
You get the picture. I like ʼem all!
Are
there any books you think some of us should read, just because?
I
say read what calls to you, and don’t let anyone, ANYONE make you
ashamed because you like romance, or comic books, or mystery, or
erotica, or YA, or Amish biker vampires, or any other genre. We all
have a need for stories, and they come in a variety of forms. Read
what you like! Life is short. Writers need reader, so please,
please, don’t stop reading.
Do
you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Yes,
email me! If you run into me at a book signing or a conference, come
up and let’s chat. I am not an introvert, like some writers, and I
love to talk to readers. Talk to me!
Also,
if you have any interest in becoming a writer, start now. Today. This
very minute. Writing is like any other craft, it takes practice, so
the sooner you start, the better you will be. My one regret is that I
didn’t start sooner. I started writing in my thirties, but I was
fifty by the time I was published.