Author Interview & Signed Book Giveaway w/ Michelle Rowen

Hey everyone! Another Tuesday Wednesday, another interview =D A day late, but here I am with a great interview with a great author.

I found Michelle’s Immortality Bites series a while back and simply fell in love with it! It is a hilarious Paranormal series that had 5 books. Though it’s over, I keep hoping for more and this interview gives my hope some new life… YAY!

Michelle also write a Paranormal YA series, that is two books deep so far… The Demon Princess series. She also has a new Paranormal Romance series called, Living in Eden. You’ll actually get a chance of winning a signed copy of the first book in this new series, cool huh?

Well, without any further delay, I welcome Michelle to my awesome humble abode… {Giveaway details at the bottom of the post}

Enjoy!

- When did you first start writing?

When I was about 12 years old I started dabbling a bit with creating stories and characters.

- Have you always been interested in Romance?

I am inclined to say no, but all of my ideas have always contained a very strong romantic element. I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic, I guess. But it’s really not my main focus when I’m telling a story, that element just happens organically for my characters.

- What about in the Paranormal?

I’ve always been intrigued by the thought that something magical could be waiting around any corner, the extraordinary living side by side with the ordinary. I love fantasy and sci fi, so it was a natural thing for me to write paranormal stories. I’ve tried to write non-paranormal stories and I get totally stuck.

- Why writing Paranormal Romance?

Those are just the kind of ideas that the muses hands to me. ;)

- Were there any Books, Movies or Writers that have inspired you?

Originally, when I first started taking writing seriously, I was inspired by Laurell K. Hamilton for adult books and L.J. Smith for young adult. I was majorly inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayer as well, that humor/drama/fantasy feel really appealed to me.

- What is your favorite subject in the Paranormal Romance Realm?

I like to explore the fine line between good and evil and the choices that we make every day toward one or the other. Plus, sexy vampires or demons who battle their true nature in order to be better than what is expected of them in order to win the love of the heroine.

- The sex scenes in your books are amazingly hot. Where do you get your inspiration?

Why thank you. :) My inspiration comes from my characters themselves. As long as they’re really into each other, the scene will basically write itself. I like focusing on the sexual tension between the characters the most, and whatever comes after that is really just a bonus.

- Do you find it hard to write them?

If I do, then it means there’s something off. I need to fix motivation. If I do have a sex scene, it is not gratuitous (in my opinion). It’s there as an important part of the plot or character development.

Favorites:

- Favorite Paranormal themed Movie?

Okay, I’ll say it. Twilight. The first one. I’ve seen it more times than I care to admit.

- Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show?

Buffy! And, at the moment, Supernatural!

- Favorite Paranormal themed Book?

I loved Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton. It was one of the first I read in the genre.

- Favorite Author?

At the moment it’s Suzanne Collins. Can’t wait for Mockingjay to come out.

- Favorite Paranormal Romance Author?

Eve Silver, who’s not only a good friend, but an amazing author.

- Favorite one of your Books?

I’ll always be the fondest of Bitten & Smitten because it was my first book and Sarah will always be the most vivid and real (to me) character I’ve ever written.

- Who is your favorite of your own characters? Why?

Normally I’d probably say Sarah from the Immortality Bites series, but right now I’m really liking Darrak, the demon from THE DEMON IN ME, because he makes me laugh and he’s just a lot of fun to write.

- Which was the hardest to write? Why?

The hardest book I wrote was Fanged & Fabulous because I was writing it right when Bitten & Smitten came out. I found it distracting when I read reviews that said what should have happened or how Sarah should act. At the time, it was difficult to separate my creative side from my business side. I want to please readers, but I have to focus on telling the story that my characters want to tell. Sometimes it becomes a bit of a tug of war.

- What would you be if not a writer? Why?

I did have a career as a graphic designer before I started writing full-time, so probably that. As far as dream careers, I’d certainly consider being a movie star. ;)

Quickies!

- Coffee or Tea? Coffee

- Up or Down? Up

- Virtual or Real? Virtual

- Right or Left? Right

- Day or Night? Day

- Here or There? There

- Sooner or Later? Sooner

- Light or Dark? Dark

- Fast or Slow? Slow

- Vampires or Werewolves? Vampires

- Angels or Demons? Demons

- Reading or Writing? Writing

- What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Brainstorming just before I get started writing. Everything seems possible and wonderfully shiny then.

- What is your least favorite part?

Copy edits. At this point, I’m frankly sick of looking at the story. That’s how I know it’s really done!

- I absolutely LOVED your Immortality Bite series. Is it really over?

My normal answer to this is yes, it is. However, lately Sarah has really been talking (very loudly) in my head. For some reason she seems to thinks her story isn’t over yet. So...you never know! Stay tuned!

- Your new series, Living in Eden, in your own words?

A woman is possessed by a demon who makes a bargain with her that if she helps him find the witch who cursed him, he’ll help her with her love life. She agrees only to find that the man of her dreams just might be the demon himself.

- What is coming up next for you?

The second book in the Living in Eden series, SOMETHING WICKED, is out October 2010.

- What are you working on right now?

Right now I’m finishing up my third book for Harlequin Blaze called INEVITABLE that will be out March 2011 and I’m about to start Living in Eden #3, THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC. Can’t wait to hang out with those characters again.

- Do you have any advice or tip to those like me that want to become a published Author someday?

Write what you love to read. Make sure that your protagonist has a specific goal she wants to achieve—without that goal, plots tend to meander. Also, do your research, read other novels paying close attention to sentence/paragraph structure, emotions on the page, character arcs, pacing. Also read how-to-write books such as Stephen King’s On Writing and magazines like Writer’s Digest. Absorb information from everywhere to help you hone your craft. Get beta-readers or critique partners who are honest with you, and don’t have too many of them. Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth, as they say. Trust your gut when it comes to implementing the changes they suggest. And, lastly, never give up!

- Anything you would like to say to your fans out there?

Thank you for buying my books and spreading the word about them. I appreciate the emails, tweets, and comments on my Facebook page. My fans seriously rock out loud. :)

- Thanks so much for being here!

Thank you for inviting me and for the great questions!

 

Thanks so much Michelle for taking the time to answer my questions and for the great giveaway!

 

 

You can win a SIGNED copy of “The Demon in Me”!

To Enter:

- Leave a comment about anything on this post.
- Leave an EMAIL for contact! (if you don’t feel comfortable leaving it here, email me at larissa@larissaslife.com)

Extra Entries:

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+1 Add all your entries! (including this one!)

U.S. & Canada Only!

Ends August 9th!

Good Luck!

 

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,