Interview with fantasy author Tifani Clark

Blurb for Shadow of a Life by Tifani Clark

Jamie Peters plans to spend the summer before her junior year with her nose stuck in a book—not saving lost souls. Usually the girl that blends into the crowd, Jamie’s world is turned upside down when a mysterious ghost begins to follow her.

But Sophia isn’t just any ghost.

A hundred years earlier, Sophia’s disappearance sparked a national mystery that remained unsolved. Jamie knows the legends surrounding Sophia’s disappearance, but she never dreamed she would find out what really happened . . . or that her family might have had something to do with Sophia’s disappearance.

Determined to set Sophia free, Jamie blows the dust off her family’s past and unearths clues to discover what she must do to save Sophia’s soul. She enlists the help of childhood friend—and secret crush—Peter Ashby as she sets off on a dangerous quest to find a missing map. Spending the night in a graveyard, crawling through a dilapidated barn, and staring down the barrel of a gun aren’t enough to deter Jamie from helping Sophia. But can she find the answers she needs before another ghost gets revenge on her and Sophia?

Interview Between Me and Tifani Clark:

Me: Where did you get the idea for your book?

            Some of the characters (like Jamie and Peter) had been holding conversations in my head for a couple of years before I actually started writing Shadow of a Life. I knew Jamie's personality and that she would help a ghost, but it took me a while to figure out who that ghost would be. One day, I read an article about the true story of the Mary Celeste. I knew immediately that my first book had to explain what "really" happened all those year ago.

Me: Who are your favorite characters in your book and why?

            My favorite character of this book is Sophia. In the book she is eighteen, but in real life she disappeared at age two. Her picture haunted me (ghost pun intended) the entire time I wrote the book and I still think about her all the time.

 

Me: What themes does your book present?

            Sometimes it's okay to believe in things or ideas that society tells you are ridiculous...like ghosts. Also, Jamie and Sophia and all the other characters find that persistence is important. It took 140 years, but they finally solved the mystery surrounding Sophia's death. 

Me: How many books do you have in this series?

            Shadow of a Life is the first, the second is completed and being edited, and I hope to finish the third book by the end of the year. There isn't an end to this series. Jamie can help as many ghosts as I can find time to write about.

Me: What authors influence your writing?

            I like authors that write about suspense and danger. (You know, the kind of books that you read in the dark, but wish you didn't.)  As a teenager, I read all of the Caroline Cooney and Lois Duncan books. These days, I don't necessarily focus on specific authors. The internet has opened up the chance to read the works of a million different people and I've been having fun "experimenting" with different genres and authors.

Me: How many books have you written?

            Shadow of a Life is my first book to be published, but I have completed three other novels. Hopefully they will all see the light of day soon!

Me: Where do you see the young adult paranormal book market 10 years from now?

            Honestly? I think it will still be just as popular, but it will have evolved greatly. Over the years, different beings have been all the rage. Vampires, werewolves, and witches have all found the spotlight. My books are obviously about ghosts. There are all kinds of creatures and beings that I believe will each get their turn to shine.

Me: What makes your book different from other Young Adult paranormal books?

            I think my book is different because of the way I imagine the ghosts. In real life, ghosts are portrayed as hazy (usually scary) beings. In Shadow of a Life and its sequels, the ghosts are good people who can still be seen long past their expiration dates.

 Excerpt from Shadow of a Life

            My eyes popped open and I stared wide-eyed at the ceiling, heart pounding. Something had pulled me out of a deep sleep. A noise. I’d definitely heard a noise. I lay motionless, listening for any sign of movement, but the only sounds I heard were the faint tick-tick-tick of my watch and my own heart thumping in my ears. The room was dark except for a thin stream of light extending from the crescent moon outside my open window. What made that noise? Is someone in my room?

           

            “Come on, Jamie. Don’t be a baby,” I whispered to myself. My heart raced faster and faster as I forced myself to turn my head and look into the shadowy corners of my bedroom.

            Nothing.

            My alarm clock flashed 12:00 a.m. I’d fallen asleep during a spring rain shower, and the storm must have knocked the power out at some point during the night. I fumbled for my cell phone on the nightstand and checked the time. 3:48 a.m. I sighed and sat up, turning on my lamp as I did so. The sudden burst of light blinded me for a few seconds, and I rubbed my eyes to relieve the blurriness before reaching to reset my clock.

            And then I smelled it. A floral scent—rose, with a hint of lavender—and it was strong. My heart began to pound again. Something wasn’t right.

          

Author Bio 

Tifani Clark grew up on a farm in southeastern Idaho (yes, that’s where they grow all the potatoes) as the middle of five children. She had a lot of space to imagine and daydream and often pictured herself as a character in one of the many books she read. She was habitually found pretending to be Scarlet O’Hara. Tifani loves mystery and hates it when one goes unsolved. She is married to the love of her life and is the mother to four fabulous children. When not writing, she enjoys playing the violin and piano and traveling to new places. She especially enjoys visits to national parks and places of historical significance.

Links to Find the Author and Her Book 

Author Links--

 Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/tifaniclark
Twitter:  @TifaniClark
Website: http://www.tifaniclark.blogspot.com

Book Links--

  Barnes & Noble 
Amazon 
Smashwords

Author Interview with E.B. Black

Interview Between Me and E.B. Black

Me: Where did you get the idea for your book? E.B. Black: I've always loved greek mythology. Also, I like to explore the mind and why we do things. I wanted to explore the characters of greek mythology in a deeper way and see if I could uncover "secrets" that I thought the characters might possibly have. Me: Who are your favorite characters in your book and why? E.B. Black: I like characters that sacrifice themselves or are misunderstood. They are true heroes to me. So in Pandora's Mistake, my favorite is Prometheus and in Medusa's Desire, it's Medusa. Me: What themes does your book present? E.B. Black: Pandora's Mistake is about lost innocence. Medusa's Desire is about body image and confidence. Me: How many books do you have in this series? E.B. Black: So far, only two, but it should end up with at least 5. Me: What makes you choose to write fantasy? E.B. Black: I'm drawn to it. The first story I ever tried to write was a Fantasy Romance novel about a girl with amnesia turning into an Evil Queen and her best friend who was falling in love with a Prince. I hadn't read many fantasy novels at the time. It was just where my mind automatically went. In the past ten years, since then, I have read a lot of fantasy. Me: What authors influence your writing? E.B. Black: I don't think other authors influence my writing as much as they influence my marketing. The reason I decided to make my first novel, Pandora's Mistake, free, for instance, is because I saw other authors do it and thought it would be an excellent idea. Why should someone buy my books without getting the chance to sample them at length? Me: Why do you think fantasy books are so popular? E.B. Black: It's because they provide escapism. The worlds in fantasy novels are completely different from ours. They also give a sense of wonder. It's like you are a kid again because you are exploring this brand new world for the first time and amazed by everything that makes it special. Me: How many books have you written? E.B. Black: I've had two books published, so far: Medusa's Desire and Pandora's Mistake, but I have several other stories saved on my computer that aren't finished yet. Some are greek myths, but others are just generic Fantasy Romance novels or Science Fiction Romance. Me: Where do you see the fantasy book market 10 years from now? E.B. Black: What I hope is for more women to be enjoying fantasy novels at that time. Me: What makes your book different from other fantasy books? E.B. Black: When other authors write about Greek mythology, they usually write stories that are loosely based off of Greek myths, but the details of all the characters are totally or partially changed. With my novels, I try to tell the original story, but in a new way, so that you view the characters totally differently. Like I am telling you the secret story of these characters, the parts that were left out of the original greek myths.

Excerpt from Pandora's Mistake

She wrapped her arms around him. "Aren't I enough for you? Can't you spend a little time with me and ignore this for a while?" He dropped the clay on the ground as their lips met. Their tongues fought for control of their passions as they entered each other's mouths. That old familiar desire to explore Hecate's body crawled down Prometheus' chest and to his loins. He moaned into her mouth, until he opened his eyes for a moment. He looked at the ground. The clay was covered in dirt and it had rolled over several flowers. It was misshapen. He pushed Hecate away, forgotten. He lifted the piece of clay in his hands and tried to dust it off. It was ruined. Hecate frowned and grabbed the snake around her neck angrily. Before it had the chance to bite her, it transformed into a golden key. Her face warped and began to change with it. Hecate's lips grew fuller. Her eyes became larger. Her body was curvier. "Perhaps this form of mine will tempt you more," Hecate whispered. Her voices were husky. Hecate knew he was unable to resist this body the most out of the three she possessed. She could shapeshift between them. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pecked her on the lips. "What do you need those humans for anyway?" she asked. "You have three women living inside me who all wish to sleep with you.”

Author Bio

Growing up, I was sheltered from fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction novels. Now that I've tried them as an adult, I've become addicted! I like to escape to other worlds so much that I had to create my own.

In junior high and high school, I read romance novels all day long. It frustrated my mother and teachers because I'd neglect my homework in order to squeeze more reading time in.

I became an author because I enjoy reading and daydreaming. I wanted to share my passion for these things with all of you!

I live in Southern California with my boyfriend and two dogs. If you'd like to contact me about anything, please do so at deathauthor@live.com

Twitter Faceboook Website Blog Buy Links For Pandora's Mistake-- Amazon Barnes and Noble Smashwords

Author Interview with Jayson Dash

Blurb from Treacherous

It was the end of summer party, the beginning of senior year, and Holden just wanted to let loose with his buddies Nate and Danny. For Holden Cotillard, usually the definition of fun was doing extra credit projects for his AP chemistry class. For Danny Vanderbilt it meant selling dexies to his classmates. And to Nate Engel it meant practicing drill for his future as a naval officer. But on the way home, they cover up an accident. Just when they think it’s over, they all receive haunting threats from an anonymous source who intends to make them pay.

Holden distracts himself by striking up a friendship that could prove treacherous to his perfect academic record if he isn’t careful…

Danny may be the smartest drug dealer on campus but with the latest OD on Adderall, the principal is cracking down—and he’s not the only one watching Danny’s every move.

Nate just wants to be a Navy man. It doesn’t matter that his heart flutters for Alec every time he walks in a room—even if he’s dating his best friend.

What will it take to keep Holden, Danny, and Nate’s past in the dark? Who’s demented enough to want to see them harmed, frightened, or worse?

Interview Between Me and Jayson Dash

Me: Where did you get the idea for your book?

The idea for the book came to me when I was reading a book that ended so horribly I was so frustrated I decided to write my own ending. I eventually wrote my own book and I was so happy with it, I let others read it who agreed that I should publish it. I love the idea of teens in trouble, especially when they are the ones who put themselves there.

Me: Who are your favorite characters in your book and why?

I know I sound biased but I love the three main characters: Holden, Danny and Nate. I love Holden because he reminds me of a close friend who's always trying to do the right thing. Danny is my favorite because he has amazing one-liners and he doesn’t hold back. Nate, he’s just like me in so many ways. I like that he is kind-hearted and cares about everyone and even though he’s gay, he doesn’t let it be his defining trait.

Me: What themes does your book present?

The themes in my book are friendship, revenge, deception, secrecy and accountability. Wow, that’s a lot.

Me: Is this a series? If so, how many books do you have in it?

At the moment the book is a standalone with series potential, if I ever decided to revisit that world, which I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.

Me: What makes you choose to write young adult?

I think I chose to write young adult because there isn’t so much restriction as in adult books. Young adult is all about that innocent age where we’re a bit naïve to the world and that immaturity gets us in a lot of trouble. I like putting myself in the shoes of teens with really big problems to solve.

Me: What authors influence your writing?

Oh boy. J.K. Rowling’s awesomeness seeped into me when I was like 13, been hooked since. I love how Richelle Mead infuses humor into her books and it totally works because normally there isn’t much humor in fantasy/urban fantasy. Also, Amanda Hocking is my hero. If it wasn’t for her blog and books, I never would have taken the plunge to publish.

Me: Why do you think young adult books are so popular?

I think people like the escape and to be able to have these awesome adventures involving vampires or facing off with a stalker like my characters in Treacherous. Young adult has a lot of crossover appeal and it’s because people are seeing that the books aren’t just for teens anymore.

Me: How many books have you written?

So far, I’ve written about 7.

Me: Where do you see the young adult book market 10 years from now?

I’m pretty sure it may still be around. Who really knows? The publishing industry is so fickle.

Me: What makes your book different from other young adult books?

It’s because it’s not trying to be like any other YA book about a girl who falls for the bad boy with a dark secret. Although my main characters do have secrets, my book tackles many subjects that teens can relate to without being preachy. It’s fast-paced, tense at times and makes you a bit paranoid if you read before bed, haha!

Excerpt from Treacherous

Danny was on his way out of school when his phone was blowing up; everyone was asking questions like: Is it true? You got ratted out?! No more smart pills? Is this some joke? Are you kicked out? Know where I can score some pills?

Danny was somewhat relieved when he got a text from Holden. Yo, I hoped it wouldn’t come to this but I told you this was going to happen. I’m sorry.

No worries, bro, Danny texted back. This ain’t nothing. I’ll be straight.

Holden quickly texted back and made Danny laugh out loud: Ain’t isn’t a real word. Catch you later – if your dad doesn’t kill you.

Danny was about to tuck his phone in his pocket when his father called. Regretting not letting it go to voice mail, Danny answered it anyway. “Yes, Dad,” he answered. “I’m guessing by the tone of your voice that you’re not a very proud father at the moment.”

His father was practically screaming into the phone, and he had to hold it an inch away from his ear. “You better get your ass home IMMEDIATLEY! No hanging out with your friends at the mall, no nothing! Do you hear me, dammit?!”

“You got it.”

With a heavy sigh, he totally ignored his dad's wishes and decided he was going to stay at school and watch the cheerleaders practice. Then he watched Holden and the rest of the lacrosse team run up and down the field until it was dark. When he was ready to face his father, he headed towards the student parking lot. The lights were on and he was just a few feet away when he heard a voice say, “Grab him!”

 Author Bio 

I was born and raised in South Florida where I still reside. In my spare time I attempt to sing along to Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Adele and many more. I'm a big fan of the Spurs, like going out to movies and when I'm not writing, I like to read books by Richelle Mead, Ally Carter, and anything that keeps my attention longer than five pages. I'm currently in college for marine engineering. Writing has been a huge part of my life since as long as I can remember. I love writing stories and entertaining people with my wild imagination.

Links to Find the Author and His Books

Blog

Facebook page

Goodreads author page

Twitter

Google+

Amazon
Smashwords

Author Interview with Sunniva Dee

 

Blurb for Shattering Halos 

He traded my death for love. I wasn’t given a choice. His decision has caught up with us, so now I am a living, breathing catalyst to war between Heaven and Hell.

 The violations he committed saved my life. Since the collision, he’s appeared everywhere. In my hospital room, my school, even my house. He shows up in my paintings, my drawings, in all of my art projects. I can’t stop thinking about him.

He says his name is Gabriel, and he doesn’t understand what’s happening to him. He doesn’t know how I can see him or why he loves me in ways that should be impossible for a Celestial.

My obsession grows. I want him to hold me, kiss me—give all of himself. For every day he protects me, the consequences loom darker and taller. Soon, they’ll crash down on us. Yes, the war is about to begin.

Interview Between Me and Sunniva Dee 

Me: Where did you get the idea for your book?

I've always loved angels....not in the way Gaia does, of course, but still... you know what I mean! 

Then, I read Twilight 5 years after the hype and went—aww, she should write about angels! Then I thought, "No. I should write about angels the way I want them written." So that's how the New Adult Fantasy Shattering Halos started out.

Me: Who are your favorite characters in your book and why?

As a writer yourself, I bet you know what I mean when I say that it's hard to have one favorite. I didn't write a single character thinking I wouldn't love them with all their imperfections—and in the case of the angels—all their perfections. I think I started out with a slight crush on Gabriel as I wrote him. Then, Cassiel with all his sass and wicked wit was fun for me. But deep down, I think I enjoy Gaia the most, because she's just how a very unrepentant and real 20-yr-old is in my mind with her adorable, immature reactions. Obviously, being faced with actual angels vying for her attention, I love how she just does and says whatever the heck she feels like.

Me: What themes does your book present?

Themes. Boy. The first, big one is Good versus Evil. Then, there's Beauty. What beauty is. I hope that through the escapism that this novel is, deep down, the reader will find that there is beauty in everything and everyone. The Angel of Beauty, Yofiel, represents just that. And strange how I said these two first, when obviously this novel is all about love. LOVE, love. :)

Me: How many books do you have in this series?

I wrote Shattering Halos alone. It is a standalone. I don't want to tell you if it ends on a happy or a sad note, only that I was MAD as hell for a week after it was finished because I wasn't going to be hanging out with my characters anymore. Which is why I changed my mind. I've now finished Stargazer, the second and last book in the Halos series. You will meet everyone in Shattering Halos again, and NOT because I'm backtracking on their ever afters. No. There is a new couple brewing, and the "old" couple from Shattering Halos has their own, really important life-changing issues to deal with New-Adult style in Stargazer too.

Me: What makes you choose to write fantasy?

I started with Fantasy because it's what inspired me after I was missing that one angel book in the market. I had to write it myself, with the passion, the sass, the flaws from the human side, the way I wanted it. Thankfully, my publisher found it different enough to accept. As you will see both from Shattering Halos and Stargazer, my heart is in New Adult. It was a time in my own life that I lived to the fullest, with all the mistakes, the heartaches, everything that later formed me as a human being. Because of it, my Fantasy is college-inspired, i.e. New Adult.

Me: What authors influence your writing?

Easy: The passion, the depth, and development of characters present in Cheryl McIntyre's writing. S.C. Stephens' amazing talent for conjuring to life sexy-as-hell, beautiful men like Kellan Kyle, and Laini Taylor, my only Fantasy influence. She's an absolute genius with words, and I wish I could allow myself to even try to write with such fluid, lyrical beauty.

Me: Why do you think fantasy books are so popular?

Are they? If they are, it's because of writers like Laini. And Stephenie Meyer too. Everyone has an opinion about Stephenie Meyer, but the truth is, she wrote what the business calls "a category killer." It means that readers cross genres read her stuff and loved (or hated) it and that is absolutely amazing. For me, it was the first book(-s) of the kind I ever read. Wow, and did I just mention Twilight twice??? *blushes*

Me: How many books have you written?

I'm not counting former dabblings in my native language, Norwegian, so I've finished two (Stargazer is now at my publisher's, going through the motions of getting published) and I'm finishing my first draft of my third book, Pandora, Wild Child, which is a New Adult contemporary romance. The NA market is full of bad-boys, but Pandora is about a bad-girl and the boys who try to save her/change her/deprave her. I can't wait to get it out there for you to read. I'm planning on an October release—my first self-published book!! I will finally be Indie like my friends! <3

Me: Where do you see the fantasy book market 10 years from now?

Oh God. I have NO idea. I'm guessing it will still be there? If you mean the romantic branch of the Fantasy market, I'd say it'll definitely be there because just like horses appeal to young women, so do angels/vampires/anything supernatural that's sexier than teenage boys. Makes sense, right?

Me: What makes your book different from other fantasy books?

Well, finally an easy question! ;-)

It's because it's more geared toward the New Adult issues/level of passion/writing style than it is toward the Fantasy/Paranormal style. It's fresher, they tell me, hotter, and the dialog much younger. I think it's relatable to YA readers, but I'd say to be careful because the sex might be a bit much for below 17+.  Basically, if you loved Hush, Hush and Fallen, and Twilight... mmmm—gear it up a notch. I'm not saying the paranormal version of Fifty Shades, but without comparison to storyline—how about up the alley of Jessica Sorensen's Ember X? Really, I don't know of many authors in my particular niche, which has made it easy for Shattering Halos to remain on the bestseller lists since it was published in February. It is a New Adult Fantasy novel. 

 Excerpt from Shattering Halos 

"Why was she so upset with you, Gabriel?” I asked.

“I can’t read her mind.”

“Oh right, how silly of me.” I rolled my eyes. His thoughts were somewhere else, so my sarcasm didn’t register with him.

“I’ve never had to cloak myself before.”

“Oh, with your other humans, you mean?” My voice came out strange.

Gabriel turned fully and looked at me. His eyebrows lifted. “Right…”

“How many others have you had?”

“I don’t know, thousands.”

Holy. Crap.

I leaned my forehead against the window, trying to hide the flare of jealousy.

“Gaia.” A gentle hand reached around and pulled me back toward him. I couldn’t meet his stare.

“They were humans that lived before you.”

“Girls?” Why did I sound sulky? Oh, right, because I was a terrible actress.

Gabriel’s quiet laughter drizzled over me. “Babies. Some growing into women and others into men. Many never grew up.”

“Did they see you?” Did you kiss them?

Gabriel didn’t reply at first. Then the back of his hand traced my cheekbone down to my mouth.

“No, I didn’t.”

My breath hitched. I must have heard wrong. His eyes focused on my lips, and my gut clenched.

He let go of me too fast. An arm hid his expression as he fell back into his seat. I leaned over, my palm molding to his face. I needed him close.

When it slid down his neck, a muffled groan slipped from him. “Please don’t touch me, Gaia.”

“You started it.”

“I know—I won’t. We have to stop this.”

“Crap! You’re not making any sense—you know that? This is bullshit!”

Gabriel pushed his seat up and faced me, his irises shimmering like water. “Gaia. I don’t know why the archangels haven’t come for me, but humans and angels—” He cut himself off, then continued. “I screwed up. Since I’m still with you, they must have given me another chance.”

And just like that, I transformed into pure instinct all over again and jumped into his lap. Clearly I could not be trusted near this—this…angel.

The steering wheel jabbed into my back, but I barely noticed. The pain was just another reason to get closer, much closer to him. My fingers slid into his hair, tangling with it. I tugged him to me and pressed my mouth against his.

Gabriel reacted immediately. He crushed me so tight that my breath wheezed out. The seat lowered underneath him, and he pulled me with him, devouring my mouth.

“We can’t be together?” I panted.

“No, we can’t.”

“Never?” Desperate, my tongue found his. He shook his head against my mouth. My stomach burned with need.

One at a time, I forced the words out in clipped gasps. “I can’t ever touch you again?” Gabriel groaned. I could feel him under me. So male, so alive.

“No.”

I want him so much it hurts!

Gabriel’s eyes opened beneath me. He rocked me closer, and I moaned.

“Will you be visible to me?”

“Sometimes.” The tiny suckling noises as he feasted on my lips sent fire straight to my womb.

“Please, promise me you’ll be visible always.”

His hands moved up to my face and held me out from him. The kiss he gave me was too light on my lips, and I shuddered.

“No, not always. But I promise that you will see me every day.”

I absorbed the kisses, lucid enough to know they were the last ones I would ever receive from Gabriel.

Author Bio:

Originally from Norway, I moved to the United States twelve years ago.

The first awesome five years I spent in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, before moving to the beautiful city of Savannah, Georgia.

I'm currently on my seventh year in the South, where my husband, son, and I are enjoying the heat, the humidity, as well as our crazy menagerie of animals better known as the petting zoo. The only one not here is my daughter, who returned to Norway for college.

I hold a Master's degree in languages, and for ten years, I taught at university level, before settling in as graduate adviser at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Writing is my passion, my joy, and my addiction. Shattering Halos is my debut novel. When I'm not writing, I read. A lot. :)

Shattering Halos - genre and such:

Genre: New Adult Fantasy - it is "Beautiful Disaster" meets the TV series "Supernatural"...if the brothers were angels and love made them lose their heads.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunniva.dee

My website: www.sunnivadee.com 

Twitter: @SunnivaD

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191170.Sunniva_Dee

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sunnivadee/

Amazon buy link: amzn.to/1dqfwt8 

Interview with author Alys B. Cohen

 

Me: Where did you get the idea for your book?

Alys: A couple years ago I had a conversation with a friend who was gushing about how ideal a character in a popular book was.  She wasn’t able to see the abusive aspects of his behavior, and just parroted the popular lines about how he broke in to watch her sleep because he couldn’t bear to be away from her, and how sweet that was, and how he only tried controlling her because he loved her.  Having been with someone like this, it alarmed me how many women are defending as romantic the very behavior that should never be accepted, and that indicates abuse.  I don’t want young women and teens to only have books about abuse being painted as the ideal.

 I think most of us have heard the line (and I’m paraphrasing since there’s no one official way to say it), “If you don’t like something, do it better, and if you can’t do it at all, then shut up about it.”  Well, after getting off a chat with her, I thought of this.  Without saying anything to my sweetheart, I grabbed the keys to my truck, went to the store, bought a bunch of index cards, notebooks, pens, and a binder, went home, sat on my bed, and started creating characters. 

 

Me: Who are your favorite characters in your book and why?

Alys: I’m going to skip why I love the main characters.  Too predictable. 

 Emma and Sunil were in the very first chapter of the very first draft.  These two are married in every aspect but the legal, and have been for a long time.  Their relationship has been tested over a very long period of time.  Their relationship predates civil rights and the legality of interracial relationships, but that story is for the backstory miniseries I have in mind.  Still, in the Sacred Blood trilogy itself you see their relationship is a very tender one, one full of love and support. 

 Sunil is the unofficial second-in-charge in the family, after Gabrielle (the oldest member of it), even though he was the fourth to join.  In his mortal life, he was a practitioner of Vajrayana, and some elements of his faith are evident.  He exudes calmness, never raises his voice, promotes peace, forgiveness, compromise, and acceptance, and doesn’t relish eating meat, though it is necessary for him, and cherishes the pursuit of new knowledge on a level that makes it as vital to him as breathing.  He is the perfect support for Emma, who suffered a great injustice that nearly cost her her life.

Through her time, Emma hasn’t managed to move past what happened to her.  You can read about some of that in Sacred Honor.  She is a kind soul who is deeply dedicated to her husband, and tries to help whenever she can.  But she panics at the thought of anyone outside their circle of trust knowing the truth about them. 

Emma’s relationship with Sunil seems a bit old-fashioned by today’s standards.  He is leader in it, though Emma actually has equal say, when she chooses to use it.

 

Me: What themes does your book present?

Alys: Learning to step outside of one’s established comfort zone is a big theme.  Staying with what is comfortable, which is often simply when is known, isn’t always a good thing, especially that zone is harmful.  Juliette had to do this to overcome the oppression she had lived with, and to escape abuse.

The desire and will to survive are driving themes, for not only Juliette, but all the protagonists, even when their ways of trying to do so don’t make sense when only the surface is viewed.

 

Me: How many books do you have in this series?

Alys: So far only Sacred Blood is complete and available.  Sacred Honor and Sacred Heart are both in first draft-mode.  I also have an 8-book novella miniseries planned, one each for Juliette, Tristan, and the other six in the family, for their stories before this trilogy and before meeting each other.  I’m also tossing around the idea of a larger universe for them.

 

Me: What makes you choose to write fantasy?

Alys: I’ve got two reasons.  The first is that, because I wrote this trilogy in response to abusing relationships being peddled to readers of supernatural books as the ideal, I needed an inlet into that reading demographic.

The second may give a bit of a spoiler.  Let’s just say that I needed a lack of police involvement to be reasonable.  Humans call the police if a human relative is missing without a trace for an extended period of time.  Supernatural beings do not.

 

Me: What authors influence your writing?

Alys: I try to push against being influenced because I want my writing style to be my own, but am probably the most influenced by JK Rowling anyway.  I like how she created a large world right under the noses of humans, though there isn’t a way to get to a version of Diagon Alley in my series!

If anything, I think that I’ve been anti-influenced more than anything, by writers whose books I strongly dislike, and by several in-depth critical reviews I’ve read that pick apart problems in some well-known books.

 

Me: Why do you think fantasy books are so popular?

Alys: A lot of people who like to read enjoy a chance to take a mental break from their daily lives.  I’ve noticed, at least among people I’ve had chats with about this, that books that take place in the real world with non-supernatural characters can leave them feeling their own lives are lacking.  Why do those characters have the luck that earned them comfort and riches, or got them perfect health and beauty and admiration of all?  It’s difficult to compare your own life to a supernatural character’s and to feel like yours is lacking when those characters have many more years on their side, or abilities foresee the future, and it’s just plain accepted that most supernatural beings are beautiful and attractive.  Fantasy books elevate us from subconsciously comparing our lives against those in a book, to not feeling that need to do so so strongly, and to just join in and enjoy it.

And to bring up a couple forbidden-by-society topics, the religion and politics that divide our real world’s societies can’t affect the characters in fantasy stories so much, if at all.  Read Nora Roberts’ Dream trilogy, and you can feel how taxes come April are going to be a drag.  Characters in fantasy books, even if they’re hidden in our world, just plain don’t have to deal with the aggravating things we have to deal with.  Why would supernatural characters debate Democrat versus Republican policy if they have their own supernatural governments to deal with, with problems we don’t have to worry about?

 

Me: How many books have you written?

If we only count books since I’ve decided to seriously pursue writing, then I’ve completed one and have two others as first drafts.  If we count over the course of my lifetime, then about 15 novels, one medical memoir, and about two dozen children’s books that I also illustrated.  Some of those were when I was very young though, and probably wouldn’t count. 

 

Me: Where do you see the fantasy book market 10 years from now?

Alys: I see it being the favored genre.  Where once most fantasy books featured the same few beings, mostly vampires, zombies, and werewolves, readers and writers are starting to expand out into lesser-known creatures, and some that are known, but have been ignored, such as angels.  Writers are also stretching accepted supernatural canon in new ways, further expanding what can happen.

I think the epic fantasy market will remain a bit of a niche market, as it has been for a long time.  Tolkien is a bit of an anomaly with how his epic fantasies went mainstream.

 

Me: What makes your book different from other fantasy books?

Alys: Other fantasy books tend to give the feeling being in their world at all times, at least once that world is introduced.  Harry Potter, aside from a couple chapters early on in the first book, was submerged in the wizarding world, and once back in the muggle world, was still in the wizarding world.  Eowyn was in Middle Earth with absolutely no human world as we know it.  Bella Swan was a human who, while she lived in Washington State with her human father and attended human high school, was so busy in the supernatural world with vampires and humans that it felt like she only occasionally visited our world.

However Juliette, Tristan, and the rest of his family, live firmly in the real world, despite only one of them being human.  There is no magic or magical ability giving them the ability to drive “safely” at 200MPH or to fly over cities.  They are subject to our laws.  You can’t tell who is supernatural or not by touching them, poking them with sticks to see if they bleed, or seeing how many sets of chromosomes they have.  The supernatural characters are very human. 

Juliette and the rest visit the supernatural/fantasy world instead of occasionally stepping out of it.  One experienced, that other world that is not seen as highly desirable.  Unlike Bella and Harry, but similar to Elena (Vampire Diaries), Juliette does not want to join it, nor does she want to leave behind her human life, despite its struggles.  In fact, she embraces the challenges ahead, even when given an option most people would be quick to accept.  To her, being a plain ol’ human is revered.  Humanity is good.  Living and dying are part of life, and they are good.  Our world, with all its flaws, is good.

Another huge difference is how this book ends, which not only takes this book firmly out of the realm of romance, but is unlike any other fantasy book I’ve come across.  I’m not even going to hint at what I mean.

Excerpt from Sacred Blood


Seeking answers, Juliette grabbed the book still beside her and opened to a painting on canvas mounded to the page.  The man appeared slightly younger than Tristan, wearing a white cravat and vest and a fine black frock coat.  He sat in front of an elaborate oriental tapestry.  The year written beneath had faded to a deep tobacco color: 1814.  The detailing in the portrait indicated an artist’s skill, and must have cost a small fortune.
         She turned the page to an ink drawing and a tin photograph, dated 1839 and 1850.  The paint on his emerald tie and cream vest had discolored in spots, though the coat was still dark and even.  The fabric flared from his hips down and matched his top hat.  In the photographic portrait to its right, he sat on a plush chair in a studio, leaning against a table, his pinstriped suit fit close. In his hand he held a pocket watch Juliette recognized as the one he always carried with him.  She studied his face, ignoring the large, fake sideburns he wore.  His eyes stared at the photographer with a fierce intensity, almost as if staring through time directly at her.  
       Reluctant to leave the page, she flipped to the back pages of 20^th-century photographs. Most of them also had other members of Tristan's family.  So many familiar faces at various points in history forced her to believe Emma had told some truth.  Nothing in her world made sense anymore. 

 

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17238992-sacred-blood

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(Print books will be arriving soon.)

 

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