Have you always wanted to be a writer or is it something you discovered along the path of life?
I never really thought of writing as a professional career. In high school I wrote poetry and screenplays simply because I enjoyed writing. But the defining moment was when I lost my beloved grandfather a few years ago. My mother assumed I’d write a eulogy to honor his memory. My refusal caused an argument that ended with my mother saying, “You’re writing it, because you have always been a writer.”
Her words repeated in my mind for days leading up to the funeral service. When I finally finished and delivered the eulogy, I’d received so many heartfelt compliments from most of the attendees. I turned, looked to my husband and said, “I think I want to be a writer.”
How has your writing path evolved? Where did you start?
My reading preferences have changed drastically over the years and I found myself wanting something different. A girlfriend of mine suggested romance. When she’d recommended a few authors, I opened the books and could not put them down. Suddenly, ideas flooded my mind consisting of a woman, two men, an elaborate world, and several conflicts.
Do you commit to a daily writing goal? So many words or chapters?
I wish I could commit to the same writing goal on a daily basis, but I’m a wife, mother, and I work fulltime. When I finally sit down to write, my goal is at least a few thousand words. Sometimes I tend to go a bit overboard and write furiously until the late hours of the night.
If you could give a new writer one piece of advice, what would it be?
I’d be lying if I said the road to publishing is an easy one. The industry is extremely subjective. Some will love what you do, some won’t. It’s important to never give up when you feel discouraged. There are some great online communities available to both published and aspiring authors for the support often needed while reaching your publishing goals.
What made you decide to start writing paranormal stories?
I’ve always read paranormal stories and the experience inspired me to weave a tale of my own using similar elements.
Which paranormal characters are your favorite to write (witches, werewolves, vampires)?
I LOVE vampires. I will almost always read anything with vampires and they are my favorite creature to write. The lore is fascinating and though I create characters based on other paranormal creatures, I will always return to writing about vampires.
What books are currently on your to-read list?
Would you believe me if I told you that I have a TBR pile the size of a toddler? Seriously, I have roughly 75 books on my Nook and dozens of paperbacks. The stack includes: JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Covet, and Crave, Charlaine Harris’s True Blood novels, Tanya Huff’s Blood novels, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s League series, “Blood Trinity” by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love, books by SA Price, Meljean Brook, and Joey W. Hill. Those don’t even begin to scratch the surface of what I need to read. There simply isn’t enough time in a day.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Joey W. Hill, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Larissa Ione and Sharon Page…to name a few.
If you could entertain a character from a book, who would it be and what would the evening be like?
See…here’s where I have a problem. How in the world could I choose just one? *sigh* You’ve left me no choice but to throw a party and invite Acheron from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter Series, Wraith from Larissa Ione’s Demonica Series, and Lord Mason from Joey W. Hill’s Vampire Queen Series. Then I’d lock the door and see how the evening progresses. Stay tuned. *wink*
If you were not a writer what would your career be?
I’d probably do something involving either culinary arts or performing arts (vocal).
When you are not writing, what can you usually be found doing?
Cooking! I love to cook and you’ll often find me experimenting with new recipes and volunteering my husband and friends as test-tasting guinea pigs.
What are some of your favorite activities or hobbies?
I love photography. For Christmas, I received a bunch of different lenses for my camera and I can’t wait to use them. I also like to read, sing and to make some cool promotion items.
How did the idea for your newest book/series come about?
Since I love vampires, I naturally wanted to write about them, but needed more conflict. I wondered what it would be like if my heroine was not only a vampire, but something else that caused her to be an outcast to both races, remaining in hiding by blending with her dominant species. The woman needed to be badass…etc. The ideas and the world only grew from there.
Tell us a little about your newest book.
Centuries after the death of her family, human/vampire hybrid, Gianna Marino is determined to shed the blood of the vampire responsible.
Disguising herself as a human wanting to be turned, she infiltrates the enemy’s coven with the hope of bending him to her will and destroying him from the inside.
But when a handsome stranger enters the scene and is lured into their seductive game that results in a heated love triangle, she discovers a secret that blurs the lines between good and evil, forever changing the course of her existence, and destiny will soon determine on which side she’ll stand.
Excerpt:
On the wet, dimly lit streets of London, a pounding against puddle and pavement was a cause for concern. Nicholas Sutton ran faster than his once human feet could carry him. The roads were dark, but his ability to see never faltered, and his destination wasn’t yet decided. Wherever it was, he needed to get there—fast. Bright headlights gained speed while he heard the voices behind him, belonging to both men and women, filled with sinister laughter, as if their chase were a game instead of an assassination attempt.
Assassination may have been an overdramatically drawn conclusion, but he knew that those who followed in the vehicles behind him were indeed, not human. Only one, high-ranking individual could order such lowly creatures to do his bidding. And from the appearance of things, he’d received the message that Nicholas had arrived, and intended to prevent him from making contact.
The scent of smoldering rubber grew near. He snapped his head in its direction, hoping to remain out of sight. The minions were close, close to being rid of him—the one person who stood between their leader and the desire for vengeance. Or so Nicholas thought.
In an instant, the rain stopped—and started again.
Goddammit.
He despised this city. It was far too dreary for his liking. He appreciated a town with spirit and this one dampened his.
With the wind at his back, Nicholas detoured through an alley far narrower than the vehicles that gave chase, and climbed the brick buildings. He leaped from the ground to the side of the brick wall, on to the roof with little effort. As he jumped from one structure to another, he caught a glimpse with his peripheral vision, of something moving fiercely though the darkness, striking at will. He could only see a reflection of light that appeared to move along with him, rather than toward him. Although tempted to investigate the phenomenon, he paid it no further mind. He had bigger problems.
While he understood the fascination with this metropolis and the haven London became for those like him, the constant cover of fog and rain was enough for even a vampire to develop suicidal tendencies. He wanted to impale himself on the nearest stake. Aside from the antiquity blended with modernization, there was nothing he liked about London that convinced him to stay. Nothing.
He thought repeatedly about his quest and practically forced himself to make the journey. If not for the situation at hand, he would’ve remained in his more familiar habitat. His life, while predictable and monotonous, was what he preferred. No surprises, no expectations. Just comfort, plain and simple.
Looking over his shoulder, however, wasn’t how he wanted to spend his future. He spent too much of his past waiting to be discovered, hunted and wondering which moment would be his last. But no longer. One way or another, the high-ranking individual Nicholas was so desperate to meet, would listen to reason. Even if he had to be forced.
Nicholas ceased jumping and remained perched on the edge of a building, listening in on the ground below. When he detected nothing but a few human heartbeats, he figured his stalkers had ended their pursuit. He jumped to safety and hurried along.
He found keeping pace with the humans around him, an annoyance. He didn’t wish to draw attention but just this once, couldn’t they move a little faster? He feared for them, a faint attachment to a past life. His concern wasn’t relative to the danger that could turn a corner at ninety miles per hour, but because he was what they truly feared. And they were completely unaware of the existence of his kind.
The rain began to pummel the asphalt, misting the perfection of his eyesight. Damn. The visual interference was a pestering reminder that while vampires were immortal, there were things that disrupted their lives, simple things such as weather. Although precipitation wouldn’t cause them harm, it either shielded them or caused one hell of a delay.
He detected something other than the vehicles on his path. A powerful entity teased his senses, tracking him. He felt it, heard it. The presence wasn’t the sports cars full of the approaching carnivores. He was already aware of them. He placed the sound of metal clashing against metal, flesh on flesh and a wielded weapon, a sword—maybe.
Ugh!
He despised the few times when he was slow to identify anything in his path, the result of a distraction. His only comfort was he wasn’t the target. That he knew. He overheard a struggle, followed by silence and then once again striking, sharp metal. Only this struggle was not among humans.
Humans were betrayed by their fear, their screams. The way their hearts raced with increased adrenaline gave them away, making them such simple prey. To taste them during their rush was enough to drive even the most regimented of his kind over the edge. But the presence he sensed tracking him in the night, possessed a charismatic strength. One he couldn’t place, its source a mystery.
Imagine being in London a few hours and attracting such an audience. It was one hell of a welcoming committee. He laughed at the thought when he was spotted. Once again the same lights appeared, gaining speed. Increasing his own pace, he made a sharp right turn. Since the streets were dark and misty, combined with his celerity, he was sure they didn’t see his maneuvering. Yes, he was proud of himself and the gift of unnatural speed. He owned it.
Without warning, swift darkness startled him. Nicholas had little time to react. He was cornered by the loud screech of a black Maserati, headlights off. The lightless vehicle spun to face the opposite direction from where it came, missing Nicholas’s legs by mere inches. He was caught. Game over. Its revving engine faded to a soft purr as the tinted passenger side window lowered and a woman’s voice commanded, “Get in.”
Readers can find me at:
Mythic is now available at All Romance
I am giving away an eBook copy of MYTHIC to one lucky commenter.
Include a valid email address to send the book.
Blurb:
Contest: 
Posts
