Lala's Book Corner Presents: Author Interview & Giveaway w/ Terry Spear

Hey Everyone! Before we get to the Interview, I just wanted to apologize for the delay in announcing the results for the giveaway with Michele Bardsley. I will be announcing that winner and the winner to last week's contest with Lexi Ryan on my Round Up post on Monday!

Today I'd like to welcome Terry Spear to Larissa's Life! Terry write the great Heart of The Wolf Series. You can check out my review of the series HERE.

Giveaway info at the bottom!

Here's the interview, enjoy! =)

- When did you first start writing? 

I always wrote--between making up stories for myself, or creating oral stories to share with my friends when I was young. Then many years ago, I started writing children's stories. One went as far as a senior editor, who reluctantly turned the story down, saying it was too similar to something they had just published. So, I began writing romances, then young adults. Sold two young adults, the line was dropped, and the books were never published. And then I sold some adult urban fantasy romances, and two young adult paranormal books as well.

- Have you always been interested in Romance? 

My very first brush with romance was when I was thirteen, and my girlfriend shared two books with me that her sister sneaked home to her (she was ten years older and was a librarian.) It was pretty wild--at least for me. I didn't pick up romances after that until I started writing them and fell in love. Now, everything has to have a romantic bent. I love happily ever afters!

- What about in the Paranormal? 

My first book was a western romance, but I didn't sell it, and I still have it, in case I ever want to revise it. But when I wrote my first vampire romance, my critique partners agreed that the paranormal was my forte. There is nothing hunkier than a paranormal character!

- Why writing Paranormal Romance? 

I loved Dracula when I was a teen and saw him in a play at Brevard Community College in Florida. I wanted to be the actress he so sensually put under his spell. Only I hated to see him die. :)

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

Dracula in the play did. But also Jack London's Call of the Wild and White Fang gave me a love of wolves, and gave me the desire to allow all animals to have a chance in this world. Not just humans. So, my werewolves are based on real wolves, not some beastly werewolf shapeshifter.

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

Werewolves and vampires. Werewolves have a sexy ruggedness. Vampires are more suave. I love both.

- I Love the sex scenes in your books, they are so hot and wild. Where do you get your inspiration?

Thanks, Larissa!! I love to see the characters as real as they're going through the paces. It's an emotional involvement, not just a physical one. When I'm developing the characters, I see them as individuals, based on everything they've done in the story so far. That helps to make them different from characters in other books in a series. Their fantasies are different from others, as they fantasize about the hero or heroine in the story, until that big bang, when they finally give in to their more primal desires.

- Do you find it hard to write them? 

Only when my "kids" were watching television in the next room. :) I like it very quiet when I write them, get totally focused and write. With other scenes, action and dialogue, it's easy, and I can have noise or music in the background. For everyone, it's different.

Favorite:

- Favorite Paranormal themed Movie? 

I love a lot, but Stardust was one of my favorites.

- Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show? 

I rarely watch tv because I have so many deadlines, so nothing comes to mind except years ago I loved Bewitched and I Dream of Genie.

- Favorite Paranormal themed Book? 

Celtic Fire, Immortal Highlander

- Favorite Author? 

Moning

- Favorite Paranormal Romance Author? 

Moning

- Favorite one of your Books? 

:) I love them all, especially the one I'm just writing because I'm learning all about the characters as I write, the conflicts they have to go through, falling in love...

- Who is your favorite of your own characters?

I always love my heroes. If I can't, how can anyone else? I had fun with Leidolf though, because he's in the first four stories and then has his own in Book 5, Seduced by the Wolf, coming August 1.

- Which was the hardest to write? 

The hardest to write was Legend of the White Wolf because my mother was dying of breast cancer. We were best friends and I had to do major rewrites while taking her to the hospital for tests, surgery, and finally to die. So it was a really horrible time for me, and yet she wanted me to read the story to her as I progressed until the end. I love that story, but it truly was the hardest to write because of the heartache I was going through for my mother. My editor and everyone at Sourcebooks were so wonderful too. I couldn't have asked for a better publishing house while I was going through all of that pain.

- What would you be if not a writer?

I wouldn't be anything else. I'm a retired lieutenant colonel from the USAR, and I work at a library. But writing is what I love to do more than anything else in the world.

Quickies:

- Coffee or Tea? 

Green tea. I envision it cleaning out my arteries, and I swear it helps me to lose weight.

- Up or Down? 

Up, always. No matter the situation, I'm climbing up.

- Virtual or Real? 

A little of both. I love reading and I love playing Role Playing Games, like Dragon Age that my son gave me for Christmas. But I love being in the real world also and participating in life.

- Right or Left? 

Right. I'm right-handed, so it just seems to me, making the right decisions, doing the right things, writing right is the way to go. :)

- Vampires or Werewolves? 

Really a bad question. Now how can I choose when I love both so much? If you haven't read Daemon in Deadly Liaisons, you will know what I mean. He is to die for, but the great part is to be a vampire, you do not have to die. In fact, you can't. But I adore my werewolf guys too. So really can't choose between the two.

- Angels or Demons? 

I'm not really fond of either. Is that bad, or what? I mean, I loved the angel in It's a Wonderful Life...but as far as reading about them...

- Reading or Writing? 

I LOVE both. I have to have my reading fix. Have to have. I feel on edge if I go too long without being able to read a good book. And writing? The same way. I have to write. If I'm in between stories, I feel in limbo and have to get into a story, even if it's one that I've written before and just want to revise it someday.

- What is your favorite part of the writing process? 

Writing the first meeting between the characters. Then the first kiss. :)

- What is your least favorite part? 

Ending the book, because although I love having the happily ever after, it means I have to give up my characters and start a new book, learning the characters all over again. Still, I miss the ones I just breathed life into. :)

- The Heart of The Wolf series in your own words? 

The Heart of the Wolf series is about a sexy bunch of werewolves who believe in family, commitment, loyalty, having fun, hunting and working together who are wolves when wolves, and wolfishly sexy humans when in their human form. The stories are full of mystery, adventure, suspense, humor and romance, with a werewolf kind of flair!

- Any plans for more Heart of the Wolf Books? 

Lots! Heart of the Wolf, Destiny of the Wolf, To Tempt the Wolf, and Legend of the White Wolf (Feb 1), are released or soon to be released. Seduced by the Wolf is coming August 1, and Wolf Fever in the fall. Taming the Highland Wolf and Dreaming of the Wolf are coming in 2011.

-  What is coming up next for you? 

Legend of the White Wolf, was just released on Feb 1, and The Accidental Highland Hero, April.

- What are you working on right now?

Right now, I've just written the 1st chapter and part of the 2nd on Taming the Highland Wolf. I'm excited about it!

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

Keep writing, keep revising, keep submitting, and start all over again.

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

Legend of the White Wolf was out this February if you're looking for a wintry story set in Maine where the hunk of a hero, Cameron MacPherson, warms up the heart of the heroine, Faith O'Malley, while trying to solve a mystery and attempting to stay alive...then take the plunge into a snowy-filled world of Arctic wolves--werewolves that is, and a new breed of threat.

- Thank You for stopping by Terry!

Thanks so much for having me, Larissa!

I hope you enjoyed the interview =)

%%%THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER!%%%

Thank you all for joining!

Winners will be announced on monday!

Now to the Giveaway! 

Terry is giving away a signed copy of one of her books to a lucky winner! You can chose between: Destiny of The Wolf (Book #2), To Tempt The Wolf (Book #3) and Legend of The White Wolf (Book #4)

To Enter:

- Comment on This post about anything talked about on interview.

- Leave a way to contact you (if you don't feel comfortable leaving your email, you can send it to me at larissa@larissaslife.com) 

Extra Entries:

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+1 Sum up your entries!

This Giveaway will run until March 4th!

U.S. and Canada ONLY!

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Thanks for tuning in and I'll see you soon!

xoxo,