Author Interview & Signed Copy of “Double Cross” Giveaway w/ Carolyn Crane!

 

 

Hey guys! I’m coming to you with my weekly Author Guest and Giveaway a day late, but I bet you all will forgive me, specially because my guest today is one of my new favorite people in the world… oh and she’s also a phenomenal author!

I really enjoyed Carolyn’s debut novel, Mind Games, but it was the sequel to it that captured my heart… I simply fell in love with Double Cross and Carolyn has become an “automatic-buy” author for me… Not to mention that she is one of the sweetest people that I have ever met and a relentless supporter of this little blog of mine…

It’s with immense pleasure that I welcome Carolyn Crane! Don;t forget to check out the awesome giveaway at the end of the post…

 

Hey Larissa!  thanks so much for having me here.

It’s my pleasure Carolyn! When did you first start writing?

The first thing I remember writing was a poem about earthworms. I was in second grade, I think. It might have been the only poem I ever wrote, but apparently I stayed with the whole dark side/underground theme. I always sort of enjoyed writing, but I never thought of it seriously as a career until much later.

Have you always enjoyed Fantasy?

I was really into fantasy as a kid, with books like A Wrinkle in Time and The Rats of NIMH, The Hobbit and all that. But then, I don’t know why I left off reading it. We didn’t have so many cool YA books at the time, I guess. School sent me in other directions. So, it took me until much later to return.

Why write Urban Fantasy?

Urban Fantasy can stretch to contain everything—mystery, romance, sword and sorcery, thriller. I feel like there is just a ton of creativity happening in this area.

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

Kelley Armstrong and Laurell K. Hamilton hugely inspired me. I think they are both absolutely excellent writers on every level. Also, Janet Evanovich. Somehow, her books feel so warm and accessible and colorful to me. Evanovich is kind of an ideal of mine. Not to write cozy mysteries, but to achieve that level of warmth and fun.

What is your favorite subject in the Urban Fantasy Realm?

Even though I don’t write them, I do like werewolves and other kinds of shifters. I’ve always liked animals. I was really excited when Keri Arthur has a seagull shifter. Also, I enjoy interesting geographical areas. Like, the ones Illona Andrews creates.

Favorites:

Favorite Paranormal themed Movie? Does Terminator count? I love that movie.

Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show? Buffy the Vampire Slayer!!!

Favorite Paranormal themed Book? Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Favorite Author? Ooh, these days, Kresley Cole.

Favorite Urban Fantasy Author? Kelley Armstrong

Favorite Genre that is NOT your own? Historical romance ALL THE WAY!!!

Favorite one of your Books? Hmm. I’d say Double Cross.

Who is your favorite of your own characters?

I really love Simon. He’s been easy to write, and as a character he taught me a lot, on an author level. At first, I tried to make him this bad guy that people would dislike, but the more “bad” I made him, the more my critique partner and others liked him. It really showed me that when you try to make a character likeable, it’s hard, but when you make a character really  unusual and their own person, people respond.

Which was the hardest to write?

To be honest, Justine, my main character is hardest to write. When you are in a person’s head and voice, you are sunk so deep into them, it can be weirdly easy to make them generic.

What would you be if not a writer?

Well, my day job is as a freelance advertising writer. I’d probably be working in a big agency. I like idea jobs. Though, I have often dreamed of being a police officer, though I would totally suck at it.

If you Could be a Paranormal Being, Who would you be?

I think a seagull shifter!! But I would live at a beach, not in a garbage dump or somewhere like that.

If you could meet ay Urban Fantasy Character out there, Who would you like to meet?

I think…Clay from Bitten. Or Jeremy!

ooooh YUM! I LOVE Them!

Quickies:

Coffee or Tea? Black Tea - Earl Grey

Up or Down? Up

Virtual or Real? Real

Right or Left? Um, why is this one hard for me? I can’t decide!!!

Day or Night? Day

Here or There? You are CRAZY with these questions! Elsewhere.

Sooner or Later? Later.

Light or Dark? Dark

Fast or Slow?  SLOOOWWWWWW

Vampires or Werewolves? Werewolves

Disillusionists or Highcaps? Gah! Highcaps.

Reading or Writing? Reading.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Revising. I love love love to revise. I would go into a bookstore and pull my books off the shelf and revise them some more if I didn’t think they’d arrest me.

What is your least favorite part?

First drafting. It is like pulling my own teeth. 

The Disillusionists Trilogy in your own words?

Often, I say a hypochondriac heroine joins a psychological hit squad.

What is coming up next for you?

I’m working on stories for two 2011 anthologies, finishing up book 3 which will come out in late 2011, and I have a new Paranormal romance series started. Wow, now that I say it, that seems like a lot.

What are you working on right now?

One of the stories. It’s for the Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance. I’m trying to think of the idea. I have been trying for like 2 days.

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

I think the secret to being a published author is to be a learning machine. Learn from books, rejections, feedback, life. But, especially books and feedback. Take what you can use, discard the rest, and don’t get emotional or discouraged. Be a learning machine. Also, there will be tons of pitfalls, and the ones who get published keep moving forward.

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

Yes… you mean so much more to me than you can ever imagine. Whatever you think my appreciation is, you can way multiply that. And, of course, thank you !!

Thank you so much for being here!

Hey, thanks for having me! These are great questions, and I know I always say this but you really have such a graphically gorgeous blog!!

Find Carolyn Crane Online:

Website | Twitter | Blog

Goodreads | Facebook

Buy Carolyn’s Books:

Amazon US | Barnes & Noble

Book Depository | Get Signed Copies

 

 

Win a Signed Copy of Double Cross {Book #2 in The Disillusionists Trilogy}

 

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Ends December 21st!

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

xoxo,