Q. Who are some of your favorite writers?
A. Well, Christine Feehan, Angela Knight, and Sherrilyn Kenyon, of course. Also Charlaine Harris. They inspired me to want to write paranormal romance. But I read many diverse genres. Other favorites include everyone from J.R.R. Tolkien and Charles Dickens to Nora Roberts and Stephen King.
Q. Do you write on a particular schedule?
A. I wish! I write when the mood…or the muse…strikes. Some days I’ll sit and write for hours; others, not at all.
Q. Any pet peeves?
A. Bad grammar and spelling. As an English major, I’m afraid that is one of my biggest annoyances. Computers and texting are killing our language skills.
Q. Are you planning on writing more books in the All-American Vampire series?
A. Absolutely. I’ve got books in the planning stages for most of the vampires in the first book, as well as some of the werewolves. I’m working on the next one as we speak.
Q. Why “American” vampires?
A. I guess I’d gotten a little tired of all those vampires that were thousands of years old and from some East European country. I wanted something a little fresher. I got hooked on the True Blood series and wanted my vampires to be homegrown, like Bill and Jessica (for those who are True Blood fans).
Q. Why do you think vampires and werewolves are so sexy?
A. Now that is an interesting question. I’m not exactly sure. I think it has something to do with the physical perfection, first of all. And the secretiveness of their existence. Who doesn’t want to be in on a super secret like that? Finally, I think a lot of it has to do with the forbidden. We are all drawn to things we know are dark and dangerous. And what could be more dark and dangerous than a vampire or a werewolf?
Q. Do you believe in the paranormal?
A. I think anything is possible. There are too many unexplained and unexplainable events in this world to think that there’s not something else out there. I’m not sure if I believe in vampires and werewolves exactly, but I do believe that there is more than what we are aware of.
Q. Why romance? Why not write straight horror or science fiction?
A. I’m a sucker for a happy ending. Life isn’t always a bed of roses, but in my books, I can punish the bad guys, reward the good guys, and make everything turn out right in the end.
Q. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
A. I’m going to give the same advice that was given to me. Write! Even if you don’t think it’s any good, keep writing. And read!! Anything and everything you can get your hands on. Hone your grammar skills, too. Writing is a craft, and like any craft, you have to know the basic tools in order to work efficiently.
