Author Interview

Today I got to interview Ashley Tenille Rempel over at CritiqueThisWIP. Ashley is one of my best friends and is my very own, personal Critique Partner! I love her dearly and have been waiting with bated breath for this interview. Want to see it? Click on over to CTW for the goods.

Come one, come all

Ladies and gents, boys and girls! Gather ‘round and listen to the most exciting news you’ve heard all year—

CritiqueThisWIP is looking for writers –that’s right, people like you— to take part in our Author Interview Series. All writers are welcome, published and unpublished alike. So if you want to get your name out there, run on over to CTW and send us an email!

Announcements

Hello everyone! I know, long time, no blog—but I’m back, and with THREE important announcements that could make you a happy, happy reader!

First off: Today on CritiqueThisWIP I have the honor (or dumb luck) of interviewing KRISTIE COOK! That’s right, guys! I got to take a sit down with Kristie and learn all the nitty-gritty details. Swing by and check her out!

Second: Speaking of interviews—yours truly got to switch seats with none other that Kristen Yard for an interview of my own! Yep, you read that right—I was interviewed by Kristen Yard (you know, the chick I interviewed last week on CritiqueThisWIP). Apparently, Kristen wanted pay back because her questions were WAY worse that mine were…then again, I’m pretty biased. So swing by Kristen’s blog at Take It As It Comes and read my interview. You may learn more than you ever wanted to know about me. *Don’t judge*

Last, but not least: Now I’ve saved the best for last (not that mine and Kristie’s interviews aren’t little golden tickets, but this is a real gem!). My critique group, CritiqueThis has three openings available and waiting for romance writers to fill them. We’re holding a contest on our group blog where you can apply for membership. All romance writers are welcome to participate! Drop by the Contest Page for more details.

Okay, that’s it—I promise! What are you waiting for? You have links to click on!

Best Blogger Award & 'An Interview with a Vampire'

Because I've been AWOL for the past week, I'm just now getting around to checking in with some of my favorite bloggers and guess what I found out?! Last week, my writer-friend, Sara McClung, awarded me my very first blog award!

The Best Blog Award--awarded by:
Sara McClung who blogs at The Babbling Flow of a Fledgling Scribbler.

I'm so excited to get this award! Thank you so much, Sara. I'm so honored!

In keeping with the Best Blog Award traditions, it's my turn to pass on the love. Here are the rules for the BBA:

1. To accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.
2. Pass the award to other bloggers that you recently discovered and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I have so many favorite blogs that its really hard to ONLY select five for the award -- but I have to limit myself or this post will be really long. So, here goes. These are five of my must-read bloggers.

• Jemi Fraser at Just Jemi 
• J. Koyanagi at J. Koyanagi
• Simon C. Larter at Constant Revisions
• Carolina Valdez Miller at Carol's Prints 
• Mary W. Jensen at Feywriter
  

Congrats guys! Now its your turn to pass on the love; get to it!


On another (and still super excited) note, I am pleased to announce that Caleb's Interview has been posted on Carol's Print's. His interview is part two in a two part series. To see part one (Kate's interview) click here.

I have to say... Carol, you could be in advertising; you made me look good! I definitely don't feel nearly as awesome as you made me out to be on your blog! You've been such a sweetheart to work with. Thank you for hosting Caleb's Interview. We both applaud your patience as we struggled to keep ourselves in "interview mode". What can I say? I'm a writer not an interviewer; I live for descriptions!

For anyone who doesn't know, Carol AKA Carolina Valdez Miller is currently blogging a series called Totally Sane Interviews with Vampires, Hobbits, and Talking Toads: A Series of Character Interviews. This series is a collection of author/character "interviews" from different writers throughout the writing community. Can I just say, WOW! Talk about funny stuff...seriously. We writers are constantly saying things like, "Man, my poor character is going to hate me when I'm finished with this chapter," and "I feel bad for what I'm about to do to [insert character name here]." But after these character interviews, you can forget it! The characters (yes, the one's inside our heads) totally get back at us! They so deserve that broken bone, gunshot wound, or crippling heartache. I don't even feel bad for the near-death-experience that my MCs are headed into... muahhahaha!

Kate's Interview

I waited for Kate for about ten minutes in a small but comfortable private sitting room in the vampire palace. I knew she’d be late—I’d been warned by several of my characters that the reclusive assassin wouldn’t willingly submit to an interview. But, luckily for me, the King himself had extended my invitation to her, making it impossible for her to refuse.

Of course, that didn’t mean she’d have to be generous about it…

When she did arrive, she smiled politely—though it didn’t reach her eyes—and took a seat across from me on an antique settee that coordinated perfectly with the armchair I had chosen.

Me: "Hello Kate, how are you today?"

Kate: “Busy; I’m getting close to nailing another Dark Cell. No offense to you or anything, I just don’t see why you couldn’t have found someone else to interview. I don’t have time to be back in Crehmor, let alone sitting down for an interview.”

I was expecting this kind of response from her. I knew she hated the vampire city of Crehmor and wouldn’t be thrilled to be here, so I’d prepared myself for this line of argument.

Me: “You’re a main character in the upcoming book, Kate. Everyone wants to know a little about you, including myself.”

Kate: “I’m here because Gabriel told me to come, so ask your questions so I can get back to work. There is a war going on, or haven’t you noticed?”

Me: “Speaking of the war, what part do you play in it?”

Kate: “As you well know, I’m the General of the Assassins—the Assassins being a branch of the Vampiric Army. I work undercover to collect intelligence against our enemy, the Shade. Once I, or one of my people, infiltrate a Cell, we join up with the Slayers—the other branch of the army—and take them out. Then, we move on to another Cell.”

Me: “Sounds like dangerous work.”

Kate: “It can be.”

Me: “Don’t you ever worry about the things that could happen to you while you’re undercover?”

Kate: “Not much. I’ve thought about it, sure, but someone’s got to do it. Might as well be me—I don’t have anything to lose.”

Me: “Except your life…”

Kate: “It’s a war, Ms. Reese. People die every day—people with husbands, wives, children… I don’t have anyone. My family’s dead. Besides, I’m not afraid to die.”

Me: “You have someone; Micah. Tell me about him.”

Kate: Sighs and slouches back in her seat before answering. “My father was killed when I was a child. Micah had been very close to him, and he became my guardian. He’s…like an uncle to me.” Realizing where I had been going with this, she added, “Micah knows the risks of what I do. He also has his own life to live.”

Me: “I see. So you take on the tough assignments? So the soldiers with families don’t have to?”

Kate: “I’d rather risk my life than the lives of my men.”

Me: “So there’s no one in your life? No boyfriends or special someones?”

Kate: “No; I don’t get attached to people.”

Me: “No one?”

Kate: “No one.”

Me: “I’ve heard the gossip around the city. They say that you and the King’s cousin—the King’s Right Hand—are involved?”

Kate: “Caleb and I are acquainted only through our work; we’re both on the High Council. That is our only connection.”

Me: “He is quite attractive…”

Kate: “Your point?”

Me: “Well. He seems like he’s interested—”

Kate: “Well he’s not; and neither am I. Are we finished here?”

Me: “Not quite; I have a few more questions. You’re a legend throughout the immortal world—an icon for young girls. Why is it that you are afraid of relationships? Even the soldiers in your unit say that you can be cold as ice. They say you’re afraid of attachments.”

My bluntness must have taken her off guard. She glared at me and I added a mental note to add “deadly as explosion” to her bio…

Kate: “I can’t afford attachments, Ms. Reese. My job isn’t just a danger to my life, but to all those around me—”

Me: “Your father was killed in this war. Are you afraid to put your own loved ones through that pain if you are kill as well?”

Kate: “My—that has nothing to do with this interview. Leave my father out of this. As for your little observation, no, I’m not afraid of dying.”

Me: “No, you aren’t afraid of dying—we’ve established that. But that wasn’t what I asked. Are you afraid of getting involved because of the work you do?”

Kate: “Next question.”

Me: “After you answer my last one.”

After a long pause, Kate stood and smiled.

Kate: “It’s been a pleasure, Ms. Reese. I hope you got what you needed for your report. I’ll tell a servant you’ll be leaving now so they can escort you—

Me: “Oh, don’t bother. I have one last interview today…with Caleb. He should be here shortly, if he isn’t already waiting in the hall.”

The look she gave me could have triggered heart attacks in the elderly. I, however, stood and extended my hand.

Me: “Good luck, Kate. I’ll see you again soon.”

Caleb's Interview

A knock on the door brought me to my feet as the door opened and Caleb stepped into the small room. He was tall and masculine and everything I knew he would be—still, he took my breath away. I watched, awestruck, as he bowed slightly and stretched out his hand. Automatically I extended my own and he took it, bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss on my knuckles.

I was staring—I knew I was, but I couldn’t seem to stop. He was literally perfect; no wonder Kate had it bad. Did I look okay? Had my makeup smudged? Was I drooling?

Caleb: “Hm, ma’am? Are you alright?”

Me: “Huh? Oh—ah, yes. I—I stood up too fast… I’m…just a bit lightheaded is all.”

I really hoped he hadn’t caught my lie—how embarrassing would that be to be caught ogling?!

Me: “Tell me about yourself Caleb. Who are you and what is your role in the immortal world?”

Caleb: “I am the cousin to the Vampire King as well as his top advisor. A few years ago, I was given the title of Right Hand. It means that I am not only his top advisor, but also the successor to the throne and the second highest authority in the vampire world.”

Me: “That seems like quite an honor.”

Caleb: “Yes, it is. I’ve been Gabriel’s top advisor since he took the throne. He values my opinion.”

Me: “Now, you weren’t promoted to Right Hand until five years ago. That was right after you retired as General to the Slayer Army, wasn’t it?”

Caleb nodded; he knew where I was going with this, but he didn’t so much as shift in his seat.

Me: “But you didn’t retire on the best of terms. You stepped down because of a dispute between yourself and the daemon race. Can you tell me what happened?” 

Of course I knew the answer—I’d done my research—but I didn’t think he’d answer. After a long minute, he spoke.

Caleb: “I insulted them. They felt as if I’d overstepped my boundaries in seeing that justice was served to one of their people. I retired to keep the daemons from going after the vampire race. It worked; they saw me as a ‘lone ranger’ instead of as the leader of an army. Soon after that, they pressed charges. It went all the way up to the gods before I was cleared.”

Me: “What was it that you did, exactly?”

Caleb: “Some say it was murder. Some say it was justice.” His voice was blank of all emotion, as if he’d used that line a hundred times before.

Me: “What do you say?”

Caleb: The corner of his mouth turned up in a smile. My questions weren’t annoying him; he was amused by me. “It depends on the day of the week.”

Me: “As the king’s advisor, do you know the details of the Assassin general’s latest assignment?”

Caleb: “Yes, I know about Kate.” He looked at me suspiciously. “She’s currently working undercover in a Dark Cell.”

Me: “I’ve heard that you and she are somewhat of an item.”

Caleb: “Uh, no. That’s not true. We’re coworkers, in a sense; we’re both advisors.”

Me: “You’re daughter seems to think you like her…”

Caleb: “My—you talked to Hannah?” 

I nodded. Now I was getting into tricky territory. If I wasn’t careful, he’d up and walk—just like Kate had.

Caleb: “My daughter’s five. Of course she thinks I like Kate; I do—as a friend.”

Me: “A friend? A moment ago she was just a coworker.”

Caleb: “Semantics. You’re fishing, Ms. Reese.”

Me: “Why would I need to fish? I’ve already spoken with Kate. She’s told me exactly what’s gone on between the two of you.”

He squinted at me, probably trying to get a read on me. Of course I was bluffing but he didn’t know that.

Me: “The way I see it, the two of you have some serious chemistry and—”

Caleb: “You do realize that I can read your mind? It makes bluffing a moot point.”

Son. Of. A—

Caleb: “I should be getting back to work. I’m glad I could help you with your report, Ms. Reese. We should do this again sometime.”

I was still a bit shocked from the whole mindreading thing. How had I missed that? I knew all about vampire abilities and that Caleb was one of the most powerful of them all. Stupid, stupid...

Me: “Uh, huh. Sure.”

As he walked out, I realized—to my utter horror—he had caught me ogling him. Great.