An Interview with Sheila Stewart

Today we have an interview with Sheila Stewart, author of the Darkness series.

Here is a sumamry of the first book in the series, Seducing the Darkness:

An outcast by her kind, Trinity Ford has learned how to live on her own. And it isn't easy doing so, considering she is a Vampire.

Once a fragile girl, taken by a powerful vampire prince, Trinity had relied on Basil for support. But finding him in the arms of another woman was more than she could take. On her own, she has decided to protect her city from the predators of her kind that prey on the innocent. Another tough thing to do when you're heart is broken. She's had to learn fast, how to be tough, how to survive, how to stay alive. And she's doing a pretty damn good job of it. Until Basil walks back into her life.

Basil Hawthorn has been the reigning prince of vampires since banishing his father to the Realm of Darkness decades earlier. When his father comes to him in a dream, threatening Trinity’s life, he knows the only way to save her is to push her away. Doing so is not easy, especially when she is the only woman he will ever love.

Rumors in the underworld talk of raising the vampire King and blotting out the sun. Basil knows that if his father rises, he will be put to death for his betrayal. Trinity knows that if the King returns, no human would ever be safe again.

Despite the betrayal and the threat, neither can stay away from the other. But can the two work together to stop the Ritual before the King is resurrected?

Or will the darkness capture them both?

Penetrating the Darkness is the sixth and newest book in the series. To learn more visit Sheila's website http://www.sheilasbooks.ca/

Now onto the interview:

Have you always wanted to be a writer or is it something you discovered along the path of life?

SS: I’ve always written. You could say it’s in my blood. I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t write. But have I always aspired become a “Writer”? No. I wrote to get the stories out of my head, to give the characters their own story. I also wrote poetry and songs in my youth. It wasn't until 2005 when my hubby told me it was time I looked into getting my work published did I think about becoming a true writer.

How has your writing path evolved? Where did you start?

SS: Oh lord has my writing evolved. LOL When I first began I had no knowledge of the proper grammar in writing. Plus, I would have my character smoking in one sentence then chewing gum the next with no cigarette to be found. That sort of thing. It wasn't until I submitted a book to Linden Bay Romance did I learn what it took to become a writer. Thanks to the wonderful advice from senior editor at the time, Barbara Perfetti, I learned all the do’s and don’t’s in writing.

Do you commit to a daily writing goal? Like so many words or chapters?

SS: I never commit to a word count a day. I do like to write daily but I tend to let the writing flow as it may. If I write a chapter, two, three or only three sentences, in any given day, then that’s just fine with me.

If you could give a new writer one piece of advice, what would it be?

SS: Write from the heart. Do what comes naturally to you and don’t let others convince you what you’ve written is wrong. And keep up the fight. One rejection or a hundred doesn’t mean anything. Not every editor will like your work, but there may be the one who does. If I’d given up after receiving all my rejections I wouldn’t have eleven books published now.

Are you a long time paranormal fan or new to the “Other” world?

SS:I was born loving spooky stuff. Seriously, I lived in a haunted house in my youth. LOVE Halloween more than Christmas, was mesmerized by mystery. Paranormal has always fascinated me from ghost haunting’s, vampires or a mystery that begs solving. My favorite color is black and I find it oddly fitting that I live a great deal of my life in the darkness due to severe migraines. And I’m still trying to figure out if my children find it amusing or annoying that I love scaring them for no good reason.

How did the idea for your newest book/series come about?

SS: The Darkness series came about from the idea of , What if there was no sun? Vampires would be free to roam about as you and I do, take any human they like and rule. Now bring in a heroine who is also a vampire but refuses to allow the blood thirsty animals to take over her city and kill innocent lives. Originally, Seducing the Darkness was a one book story. But when I submitted it to my editor, she threw the idea of trying to make it a series and thus, seven other books were born.

Tell us a little about your newest book.

Penetrating the Darkness is the sixth book in the Darkness series and takes place a year after the sun was blotted out in Jacob’s Cove.

Raised in the Land of Mystics, Felicity Hawthorn had it all. Except for her natural parents. Desperate to find them, and find out the reason they gave her up at birth, she breaks away and sets down in Jacobs Cove. Stunned by the drastic difference from her warm bright world to a dark cold city she finds herself confronted by demons wanting her blood.

On his way to attend MIT, Dusty Ryder was taken by a group of fanged animals. After spending weeks held captive, starved, tortured, he’s too weak to fight them off. Waking up a vampire was not part of his plan. As a rouse, he agrees to join the forces that captured him, then escapes when he’s set free.

And ends up saving a damsel in distress.

Confused by the world she’s in, Felicity clings to Dusty. With his help, she sets out to find her parents and get the answers she’s looking for. But when she discovers Dusty’s been experimenting on vampires to find a cure, she tries to convince him his life isn’t so bad. But can she save him from himself before it’s too late. And will he be able to save her when her life is jeopardized.

Or will Chaos finally win in the end.

All the Darkness books should be read in the order they were released to understand the series.

Prequill: Surrender to the Darkness: Free story available at http://www.lindenbayromance.com/
Seducing the Darkness: Bk 1
Desiring the Darkness: Bk 2
Embracing the Darkness: Bk 3
Charming the Darkness: Bk 4
Tempting the Darkness: Bk 5
Penetrating the Darkness: Bk: 6
Consuming the Darkness: Bk 7
Surviving the Darkness: Bk 8



So what books are currently on your to-read list?

SS: Lover Avenged by J.R Ward. Forbidden the Temptation by Samantha Sommersby, Promises in Death by J.D Robb. There just isn’t enough time in the day.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

SS: J.R Ward, J.D. Robb, Nora Roberts and Samantha Sommersby. I have every single J.D. Robb In Death books and a good number of Nora Roberts Books. I also have every single Black Dagger Brotherhood books by J.R. Ward. I love those brothers. J

If you could entertain a character from a book, who would it be and what would the evening be like?

SS: I would have to say I would love to spend a day with C.J. Dowling from my book, Secrets of the Dead. http://www.shielasbooks.ca/Secrets%20of%20the%20Dead.htm
I’d tag along with him as he goes on his paranormal investigations of a haunted house. C.J. can communicate with the dead so it would be fascinating to see him at work, to watch him communicate with the dead.

What is your strangest habit?

SS: Chewing the inside of my cheek.

If you weren’t a writer what would your career be?

SS: A dancer or Child Psychologist. Big difference, I know, but I love both.

When you are not writing, what can you usually be found doing?

SS: Taking long walks with my hubby or working in my flower beds. I also enjoy watching TV and love watching reruns of both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

Thanks so much for joining us today Sheila. Your books sound interesting. If there are fangs, I am there to check them out. Thanks for taking the time to let readers get to know you a little better. I know I am looking forward to reading your books.