Can you
tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this
particular genre?
I’ve always loved the paranormal genre for as long
as I can remember. It’s fun to create a unique setting and build a magickal
world. It’s also convenient to have your characters use magick to get out of
sticky situations. I was inspired by the Harry Potter series and loved reading
the HP fan fiction. I thought maybe I could create a story like HP, but for
adults. The fact that I grew up in a small town in Connecticut, known for
hauntings also might have had something to do with it. I spent a lot of time
hanging out at a neighbor’s who introduced me to the Ouija board. I have fond
memories of riding my bike to my best friend’s grandmother’s house where she
used to serve us orange juice and chocolate chip cookies and talk about the
ghost that lived with her. The
paranormal has always been something embedded in my psyche, something I have
been brought up with and fascinated by in every way. I’m not only interested in
ghosts and witches, but Nessie, UFO’s, Big Foot, and even mermaids, you name
it, the stranger the better!
What
inspired you to write this book?
My favorite fan fiction stories were always the ones
with a romantic theme surrounding Hermione and Draco. I love that kind of
conflict and sexual tension between a hero and heroine. Another inspiration,
well a really twisted one that is, came from a story I’d read in the newspaper
about a serial killer by the name of Stephen Griffiths. He was handsome, a PhD
student and had a bright future ahead of him, but he was a sociopath. The story
caught my attention and reminded me of Ted Bundy with a Jack the Ripper twist.
Please
tell us about your latest release.
I think a book blurb is in order:
Determined
MBI (Magickal Bureau of investigations) agent Alex Denopoulos will stop at
nothing to catch a killer, including recruit notorious felon, Willow McCray to
work for the agency. The lines between duty and passion become blurred the more
time he spends with the sultry witch. In the midst of the investigation, they
succumb to the dark edges of desire, placing both their lives in danger. Alex
will risk more than his badge to keep her alive.
Kick-ass
witch Willow must use her powers for good if she wants to stay out of Hellios,
a mage prison for those who have broken the Wiccan Rede of ‘Harm ye None.’
Willow never expects to fall so hard for Alex, a mortal with a penchant for
justice and a deep seated hatred of witches. Though a future together seems
impossible, she doesn’t want to let him go. If only she can vanquish the evil
surrounding them and give Alex what he wants, her mind and body-before she
loses her heart and maybe her very soul in the process.
Do you have a formula for developing
characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before
you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
I definitely have detailed character sketches, and
horoscope charts that I fill out before I write the story. Eventually, the
personalities emerge from there and becomes more three dimensional than the
glimpses I see in my head. As I write the story, the characters become more fully
developed people. My critique partners help too. They will always tell me what
my characters would never say or do. So they help me define the characters as
well.
What is
your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without
spoilers of course?
My favorite scene to write was when a small group of
witches from a coven that the killer has targeted get together and try to
divine his location using magick. I get to showcase their abilities all at
once, which is a lot of fun! There’s a Tarot card reader, a medium, a tea leave
reader, a seer with the unique ability to see images in a cauldron of water
using candle wax and a witch who can see images in a magick mirror. I think it
sets the tone and immerses the reader into this world.
Did you
find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
Yes! I’ve
gotten to see many interesting things. I went to a crime scene lab and got to
see pictures of decomposing bodies. I also went to a ballistics lab and got a
tour. I interviewed a forensic expert, whose job was to create a computer composite
of unidentified victims based on whatever was left of them, even if it was just
bones. I also got a chance to visit a haunted inn. I also interviewed a medium, but not for this
book.
Do you
ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
I find
that when I’m not writing consistently I have trouble getting words on the
page. I try to read my favorite authors and then ideas flow more easily. I go
back and reread where I left off and take a walk and then just keep at it. The more
time you spend on the story the more the ideas will flow, especially when
you’re driving or in the shower. I love the creative vibe you get when your
head is truly in the story. There’s nothing better.
When did
you consider yourself a writer?
Even before I ever wrote my first novel, a
contemporary romance that’s in a drawer somewhere, I used to write crazy top
ten lists, short stories, and crazy little notes and antidotes that I would
share with friends and family. But once I started submitting my work to my
critique partners, contests, agents and editors, then I guess I felt more
legitimate.
What are
your guilty pleasures in life?
I love to
get pampered. I adore facials, massages, manicures and pedicures. If you can’t
take a little time to do something for yourself you stress, although lately I
haven’t had much time for those things. But I'm not complaining!
What was
the last amazing book you read?
I absolutely
loved Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren.
The writing is so fluid and sensual! I couldn’t put it down.
What can
readers expect next from you?
They can
expect another sexy romance about a medium that's forced to banish a vengeful
spirit from a haunted inn. I have some contemporaries in the works as well. I
love the whole billionaire trend. I think it’s very sexy right now.
Where can
readers find you on the web?
Would you
like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Willow took a sip of her margarita and glanced down
at Alex’s big hands, tanned and sprinkled with a smattering of dark hair.
Funny, she never found a man’s hands sexy. Suddenly her mind filled with images
of Alex trailing those big, masculine hands over her body. She wondered if he
fit the stereotype. Big hands, big…
“You never did answer my question. Are you
considering taking me up on my offer?” The sound of his voice pulled her from a
host of fantasies. Willow dug her nails into her palm to get her head back in
the game. She shouldn’t be thinking about this man in such a raw, sexual way.
“Why not? My car’s parked in the back.” She probed
through the nearby crowd to check if Alex came here with bodyguards. A virtual
cacophony of conversations invaded her thoughts, but nothing about protection
for Alex. Once she got him alone, she’d take her chances and pray she wouldn’t
be outnumbered. “Then let’s get out of here. Unless of course I’ve got some
competition.” He motioned over her
shoulder to the incubus whose head
now lolled forward over the bar.
“I think you’re flying solo here.” She’d set her
trap and let the consequences be damned. She rubbed her finger along the rim of
the glass and licked off the salt.
She lifted the glass to her lips, savoring the tangy
flavor of margarita mix along with the zing of tequila as it slid down her
throat. Headrush. No surprise there,
she couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept or eaten in the past
forty-eight hours, existing on a combination of raw nerves and pure adrenaline.
“You missed a spot.” He ran his thumb along the seam
of her lip. He put it to his mouth and licked. “Mmm, sweet.” Her plan didn’t
involve foreplay…but damn he was hot.
In another time and another place she would be seriously into this guy. Too bad I might have to kill him.
Witch Hunter
The Ravens Hollow Series
Book 1
Shari Nichols
Genre: Erotic, Paranormal romance
Date of Publication: November 19, 2014
ISBN: 9781419991882
Number of pages:194
Word Count: 90,000
Book Description:
Determined MBI (Magickal Bureau of investigations)agent Alex Denopoulos will stop at nothing to catch a killer, including recruit notorious felon, Willow McCray to work for the agency. The lines between duty and passion become blurred the more time he spends with the sultry witch. In the midst of the investigation, they succumb to the dark edges of desire, placing both their lives in danger. Alex will risk more than his badge to keep her alive.
Kick-ass witch Willow must use her powers for good if she wants to stay out of Hellios, a mage prison for those who have broken the Wiccan Rede of ‘Harm ye None.’ Willow never expects to fall so hard for Alex, a mortal with a penchant for justice and a deep seated hatred of witches. Though a future together seems impossible, she doesn’t want to let him go.
Excerpt:
Willow took a
sip of her margarita and glanced down at Alex’s big hands, tanned and sprinkled
with a smattering of dark hair. Funny, she never found a man’s hands sexy.
Suddenly her mind filled with images of Alex trailing those big, masculine
hands over her body. She wondered if he fit the stereotype. Big hands, big…
“You never did
answer my question. Are you considering taking me up on my offer?” The sound of
his voice pulled her from a host of fantasies. Willow dug her nails into her
palm to get her head back in the game. She shouldn’t be thinking about this man
in such a raw, sexual way.
“Why not? My
car’s parked in the back.”She probed through the nearby crowd to check if Alex
came here with bodyguards. A virtual cacophony of conversations invaded her
thoughts, but nothing about protection for Alex. Once she got him alone, she’d
take her chances and pray she wouldn’t be outnumbered. “Then let’s get out of
here. Unless of course I’ve got some competition.” He motioned over her shoulder to the incubus
whose head now lolled forward over the bar.
“I think you’re
flying solo here.” She’d set her trap and let the consequences be damned. She
rubbed her finger along the rim of the glass and licked off the salt.
She lifted the
glass to her lips, savoring the tangy flavor of margarita mix along with the
zing of tequila as it slid down her throat. Headrush. No surprise there, she
couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept or eaten in the past forty-eight
hours, existing on a combination of raw nerves and pure adrenaline.
“You missed a
spot.” He ran his thumb along the seam of her lip. He put it to his mouth and
licked. “Mmm, sweet.” Her plan didn’t involve foreplay…but damn he was hot. In
another time and another place she would be seriously into this guy. Too bad I
might have to kill him.
About the Author:
Shari Nichols grew up in a small town in Connecticut where haunted houses, ghosts and Ouija boards were common place, spurring her fascination with all things paranormal. Ever since she read her first Barbara Cartland novel, her life-long dream has been to write sexy, romantic stories. Shari has been married to her own alpha hero for twenty-two years. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, going to the gym, or hanging out with family and friends.
She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two teenagers, and her adoring golden retriever. Shari graduated from Rider University with a degree in Business Administration. After spending several years in the grind of Corporate America, she quit to stay at home with her kids. Now she’s thrilled to spend her days in sweats, eating chocolate while pounding on her keyboard to create her next novel.
Her first book, Witch Hunter has been contracted with Ellora’s Cave Publishing. Her next book, another steamy, romance, will venture into the world of ghosts and haunted inns. Shari is a member of Romance Writers of America, New Jersey Romance Writers, Liberty States Fiction Writers and Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Romance Writers.
December 1 Interview
Kay Dee Royal
December 1 Spotlight
Jodie Pierce's Ink Slinger's Blog
December 2 Guest blog
A Writer's Mind
December 3 Spotlight
Counter Culture Critic
December 4 Review
Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
December 4 Spotlight
Houston Havens
December 5 Spotlight and review
Fang Freakin Tastic Reviews
December 8 Guest blog
Erotica For All
December 8 Interview
Fang-tastic Books
Posts
2 comments:
Thank you so much Fang-tastic Books for having me as a guest! I love your site!
Nice cover
Post a Comment