The Qwillery

Please welcome Kris Norris to The Qwillery as part of the Authors After Dark Author Spotlight Interviews.




Hi Sally. I just wanted to start off by thanking you for having me drop over to your blog. Such a fantastic site. I’m thrilled to be here.

Thank you, Kris. We're happy to have you visit!



TQ:  What inspired you become a writer?

Kris:  Honestly, I don’t think I ever planned to become a writer. It kind of happened by chance. I had some ‘free’ time, lol, and this story just kept playing in my head. After a while, I decided to try writing it down, and I guess I just got hooked and realized I had more stories still rattling around in there…I also had a teacher in high school who tried to get me to enter a few writing competitions based on a short story I wrote. I suppose her ‘suggestion’ never quite left my subconscious.


TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Kris:  Like most writers, finding time is the hardest part. I’m a single mom with three kids, I edit on the side, and I love training for different kinds of extreme races, so there are times when training takes up a lot of free time. That’s what little free time I have after the kids:) In the winter months, I swear I live at the hockey rinks.


TQ:  What writing achievement are you most proud of?

Kris:  That’s a hard one. I’m fairly new to the scene, so I’m still working hard to get my name out there. But if I had to pick one thing, I think getting that first book I ever wrote published. Like many writers, my first work was more of a exercise at first, but I’m pretty happy that I took the time to revisit it, and get it to the point it was published…it’s called Hard Target, and there’s just something special about seeing that book out there. Of course, I have my lovely editor, Chris, to thank for helping me make it more than just a collection of words.


TQ:  What one thing should everyone know about your writing?

Kris:  I like writing long books…and I love writing suspense. Most of my books are guaranteed to have both of these qualities, even if they’re in a different genre. Yes, I’ve tried my hand at shorter pieces, but I always come back to novels…there’s just something special about a book you can sink your teeth into.


TQ:  Please tell us about your latest and upcoming works.

Kris:  I just had a book release last week! It’s called Coyote Blood. It’s a erotic historical shifter romance that takes place in the Wild West, late 1800s. It’s loosely tied to a previous release I had, titled Coyote Law, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. I’ve discovered that I love writing in this time period and I love writing shifter books (hint, so look out for more wild west shifter books in the future, though not tied to these two.)

        US Marshal, Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Kade, isn’t your typical desert flower. She’s as tough as any man and takes her job seriously. So when a prisoner she’s been sent to escort back to Durango escapes, she’s determined to track him down. She doesn’t want help, especially when it comes in the form of a gunslinger known only as Everett. The man is more than mysterious, but can track fugitives better than anyone she’s ever met. Now if she can only get her heart to stop racing every time he smiles, they just might catch their prey.

        Coyote shifter, Everett, is hell bent on catching his prey, only it’s not Jacqueline’s fugitive. After years of roaming the wilds of Mexico, he’s finally come home to a life that was taken from him. He never thought he’d meet his mate, or that she’d be a gun-toting Marshal, but he can’t deny what his inner animal already knows. 

        A dangerous chase through New Mexico might unite them, or it might destroy his last chance at reclaiming his humanity.

As for upcoming work… I have a new series starting in August titled Between the Veils. It’s based on a group of ghost hunters and will jump from one haunted city to another. The first book is called After Dark and revolves around New Orleans. I was inspired to write the books after creating a chapter for one of the blogs I visited for AAD NOLA.

I’m also currently working on another thriller book, shocking I know, and hope to have it release later this year or early 2013.


TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Kris:  Again, thanks so much for having me. It’s been a blast.



About Kris

I see myself as somewhat obsessive and feel I tend to push the boundaries of common sense sometimes. My friends graciously see me as passionate and adventurous. After all, speed limits are only a guideline and shouting is just my way of rising above the chaos.

I love the outdoors. If I’m not on my computer— or chasing after my three kids— you’ll find me out on a trail somewhere, either running or riding my mountain bike. I took up adventure racing a few years ago, and do my best to enter one or two races every year.

I started writing some years back, and it took me a while to realize I wasn’t destined for the padded room, and the voices chattering away in my head were really other characters trying to take shape. (And since they weren’t telling me to conquer the human race, I went with it.)

I love writing erotic novels. I love heroines who kick butt, heroes who are larger than life, and sizzling sex scenes that make you squirm in your seat, and leave you feeling just a bit breathless.




The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a digital copy (eBook) of Coyote Blood from Kris!

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:


Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)   Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. You MUST leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Sunday, July 1, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

Please welcome Stella Price to The Qwillery as part of the Authors After Dark Author Spotlight Interviews.


TQ:  What inspired you to become a writer?

Stella:  I have always written, though its been a long hard road to get where I am now. I remember I was in like 2nd grade, and a friend came over and saw something I had written, a funny little picture book about a fish. She ripped it up. Needless to say I stopped talking to her. After that, I loved creative writing in school, but became an art major instead. In college, one of my art teachers told me I sucked, and that I should just write, because that's what I was good at. I didn't take the old f**kers advice till years later when Audra and I decided we wanted to do something together.

TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Stella:  Getting readers I guess. I mean maybe its just that our blurbs suck or something, but we have a hard time sucking readers in to try us. Once they do, they are loyal readers over all, but its a hard road. I guess its because we don't write the hot button subjects like BDSM and interracial that everyone is reading. Still its rather frustrating.

TQ:  What writing achievement are you most proud of?

Stella:  So far, its being mentioned in RT Magazine several times: One for being on their list of unusual paranormal creatures in romance and once for a 4 star review for a book the publisher swore wouldn't review well (especially since the other books they were so proud of only got threes).

TQ:  What one thing should everyone know about your writing?

Stella:  We write risk taking romance. We don't write heart of gold men, or superficially sassy females. We write what we wanna read, because we are tired of the cookie cutter books that are plaguing the shelves.

TQ:  Please tell us about your latest and upcoming works.

Stella:  Um we have some re-releases coming out this year, nothing new so far. We have some books in for submissions, but I'm not counting on them coming out before 2013. We haven't had a real release for two years.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.


About Stella and Audra Price

Bi-continental, Stella and Audra break all misconceptions about siblings. Writing as a team they have produced well over eighteen novels as well as several novella's and short stories. And nary an argument has come from it.

On their off time from writing, Audra is a makeup artist and Stella is a graphic artist and web designer, as well as the convention director for the Authors After Dark convention. They both love animals and have several including several snakes and a peacock.

Audra lives in Scotland with her husband and children, while Stella Lives in South Carolina with her dog Moo and her husband.

Website
Blog
Twitter
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Please welcome Lia Habel to The Qwillery as part of the Authors After Dark Author Spotlight Interviews.


TQ:  What inspired you to become a writer?

Lia:  I still feel very much like I stumbled into it. I never planned to become a writer, or even made it a cherished dream - occasionally I'd dabble, or think of seriously working on something, but I don't think that I ever truly believed I had the talent or the ability to make it my career. I never made a study of creative writing, either, although I did plenty of academic writing. More than anything, I just got into the habit of writing for my own amusement or to banish ideas from my head by getting them down on paper, and I'm as amazed as anyone that it's gotten me this far.


TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Lia:  Definitely revisions and the various stages of editing. The first draft can often be deceptively easy - I liken it to slapping clods of clay together in the rough shape of a statue. That part's fast, sloppy, even enormously fun. But then you enter the refining period, where you have to squeeze and snip that clay down to the bare minimum needed in some areas, while building it out into fanciful, delicate, self-supporting branches in others. You have to question your own intentions, your own ability, your own skill level. That's the worst part of the editing process, for me...the fact that it's a bit like gaslighting yourself. Constantly second-guessing yourself, be it over the motivations of a character or the spelling of a word you've known since middle school, fills you with a horrible sense of doubt that can have a negative impact on your work if you let it. As you can see, I take editing really seriously! It's also just generally tedious; trust me, by the end of the process, I never want to read my own book ever again.


TQ:  What writing achievement are you most proud of?

Lia:  I'm most proud of the fact that so many readers have told me, "I never liked zombies, but I like yours," or better yet, "I still hate zombies, but I love Bram!" I've always been so pro-monster, such a lover of monstrous characters, that it's incredibly moving to know that I've been allowed to contribute yet another lovable weird guy to the ranks. And I see that as my mission and brand going forward...I'm the Monster Girl. (A friend listed me on her wedding website as, "Lia: She writes monster porn and wears wigs"!) I turn dead flesh, multiple arms, and fangs into, if not desirable traits, traits that readers can live with - because the guys and girls sporting them are otherwise so interesting and engaging.


TQ:  What one thing should everyone know about your writing?

Lia:  How much it sucks out of me! I've been praised before for talking about how hard writing is, and I'm glad that I'm able to (although I don't do it often, lest I come across as horribly depressed). I think sometimes people get the idea that an author's life is all tea and pretty notebooks in ivory towers, that everything comes to us easily, that we're page prodigies. We're not. It takes a lot of effort, a lot of tears and rageful rants, and a lot of hours to bring you the things you like to read about. D,D actually put me on anti-anxiety drugs for a while. That said, I do love doing it, and what it does suck out of me is then there on the page, hopefully making my work more personal and meaningful.


TQ:  Please tell us about your latest and upcoming works.

Lia:  The sequel to Dearly, Departed - Dearly, Beloved - comes out on September 25th. It's a little darker than D,D, but we're now dealing with a fundamentally changed world and a set of ever-changing societies. I'm really proud of the way some of the characters from D,D developed, though - there are a couple of one-liner characters from the first book that become pivotal in the second, and I hope to continue that trend moving forward. I'm not contracted for any more books in the Dearly series after this, so we're going to have to go to proposal in order to continue the story. I'd like to eventually have four or five books. As far as teasers go, here's one - you're either going to love or hate the ending.

Meanwhile, I'm working on two other projects - SUCKER, which is a cyberpunkish novel that is either anti-religion or pro-religion depending on how you look at it, and ATOMIC AGE, which is my homage to all the great 1950s sci-fi and horror movies I was raised on. Both involve monsters, and both are YA.


TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.




Gone with the Respiration1
Del Rey, October 18, 2011
Hardcover and eBook, 480 pages
Trade Paperback, August 14, 2012

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

Gone with the Respiration 2
Del Rey, September 25, 2012
Hardcover and eBook, 496 pages

Can the living coexist with the living dead?

That’s the question that has New Victorian society fiercely divided ever since the mysterious plague known as “The Laz” hit the city of New London and turned thousands into walking corpses. But while some of these zombies are mindless monsters, hungry for human flesh, others can still think, speak, reason, and control their ravenous new appetites.

Just ask Nora Dearly, the young lady of means who was nearly kidnapped by a band of sinister zombies but valiantly rescued by a dashing young man . . . of the dead variety.

Nora and her savior, the young zombie soldier Bram Griswold, fell hopelessly in love. But others feel only fear and loathing for the reanimated dead. Now, as tensions grow between pro- and anti-zombie factions, battle lines are being drawn in the streets. And though Bram is no longer in the New Victorian army, he and his ex-commando zombie comrades are determined to help keep the peace. That means taking a dangerous stand between The Changed, a radical group of sentient zombies fighting for survival, and The Murder, a masked squad of urban guerrillas hellbent on destroying the living dead. But zombies aren’t the only ones in danger: Their living allies are also in The Murder’s crosshairs, and for one vengeful zealot, Nora Dearly is the number one target.

As paranoia, prejudice, and terrorist attacks threaten to plunge the city into full-scale war, Nora’s scientist father and his team continue their desperate race to unlock the secrets of “The Laz” and find a cure. But their efforts may be doomed when a mysterious zombie appears bearing an entirely new strain of the virus—and the nation of New Victoria braces for a new wave of the apocalypse.

Lia Habel’s spellbinding, suspenseful sequel to Dearly, Departed takes her imaginative mash-up of period romance, futuristic thriller, and zombie drama to a whole new level of innovative and irresistible storytelling.

About Lia

WinterWolf Studios

Lia Habel was born in Jamestown, NY, and has lived there the majority of her life. Her first book, Dearly, Departed, is a sweeping tale of zombie-living romance set in a cyber-Victorian/steampunk future. When Dearly, Departed sold, Lia was swimming in debt incurred from her studies and years of un- and underemployment, with only a few dollars to her name. Miss Habel enjoys attending anachronistic and steampunk events, watching zombie movies (she has watched over a hundred of them), commissioning ball gowns, and collecting Victorian and Edwardian books. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunities she has recently been given.





The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will her/his choice of a print copy of Dearly, Departed (signed) or an audiobook of Dearly, Departed from Lia!  US/CANADA ONLY

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:


Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)   Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. You MUST leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US or Canadian mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Sunday, June 24, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

Please welcome Virna DePaul to The Qwillery as part of the Authors After Dark Author Spotlight Interviews.



TQ:  What inspired you to become a writer?

Virna:  I've been an avid romance reader since I was twelve years old. I've always loved words, so it made sense that I was an English major, and then a lawyer. Writing fiction, however, didn't seem "practical" or, to be honest, attainable. I always thought writers had to be creative geniuses with intelligence beyond anything I possessed. But then I discovered that lawyering wasn't for me. I wanted to try something creative that I could be passionate about. I tried a lot of things (painting, acting, singing) until finally writing was the only thing left. I told myself, "just write something you'd like to read," and once I did, I was hooked!

TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Virna:  Trying to keep ego and pride out of it. I'm a perfectionist and I'm a people-pleaser to boot. So getting negative reviews or feedback can play havoc with my confidence. Then again, even good reviews create pressure to do that much better. And of course, what one reader loves another hates, so there's not even a definitive answer of what's "good" or "awesome." Ultimately, I always have to get back to the place where I started--writing because I love it.

TQ:  What writing achievement are you most proud of?

Virna:  Writing for both Harlequin's category and single title line was always a big dream of mine. I grew up reading Linda Howard and Nora Roberts, and that was the path they followed. I'm proud to be taking a similar career path. I'm also really proud of two other things: 1) that I took a risk by writing paranormal, a genre I never thought I'd write, and ended up loving it; and 2) that my novella, Molly Wants A Hero, is included in Lori Foster's upcoming pet anthology, Love Bites. I know that's three, and there are many more--I couldn't pick just one! ;P

TQ:  What one thing should everyone know about your writing?

Virna:  That I like to explore tough issues. That I think we're all a mix of perfect and imperfect, light and dark. That I believe in redemption and true love and empowerment, but only because someone's willing to dig deep and work hard for it.

TQ:  Please tell us about your latest and upcoming works.

Virna:  Most readers know me for my Para-Ops series, and book 3, Chosen By Sin (Dex Hunt's story) is now available on Amazon and www.chosenbysin.com. I'm also launching a new contemporary romantic suspense series that follows a team of agents with the California Department of Justice. Shades Of Desire, my debut single title with HQN, just launched May 22, 2012, with the first book in the Special Investigations Group series. In this story, a famous photographer who's just lost her vision is asked to help a sexy homicide detective solve an investigation. The next book in the series, Shades Of Temptation, releases in September. Finally, a deal is in the works to bring a slightly different paranormal romantic suspense series to readers. I'm super excited about it and look forward to sharing the details soon.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Virna:  Sally, thank you so much for interviewing me. It's always a pleasure to work with you and get in front of your readers.



Special Investigations Group

Special Investigations Group 1
HQN, May 22, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 384 pages

Natalie Jones is the lucky survivor of an elusive killer who preys on young women and then disappears from view. And since her harrowing ordeal, the once gutsy photojournalist has remained isolated in her home, paralyzed by fear and her failing vision.

Special Agent Liam "Mac" McKenzie has scars of his own. But despite his efforts to ignore the attraction that simmers between him and Natalie, he needs her help to catch a predator. Soon, they will forge a tentative alliance—charged with desire. Through a soft-focus lens, Natalie dares to envision a future with Mac beyond the investigation…never guessing that the clues hidden within her photographs are drawing them into an explosive confrontation with a madman.

Para-Ops

Chosen by Sin
Para-Ops 3
December 2011
Paperback and eBook, 256 pages

The longest life isn’t always the happiest one…

For now, werebeast Dex Hunt serves on the Para-Ops team, but his true purpose is to kill the werewolf leader he blames for his mother’s death. Biding his time, Dex keeps his emotional distance from his team members and anyone else he might care for, including a mysterious vampire he met in L.A.

As a doctor, vampire Jesmina Martin has dedicated her immortal life to healing others. As a scientific researcher, she’s trying to prolong life spans, in particular those of her adoptive dragon-shifter family and the werewolf who saved her as a child. Her greatest hope lies with Dex, a werebeast she believes can gift immortality to others.

Only Dex knows nothing about his gift or the fact Jesmina wants to harness it. After a passionate night together neither expects to see the other again. Weeks later, they are reunited in France and forced to acknowledge a fragile miracle—a new life struggling to survive. At the same time, they must stop a group of rebel shape-shifters hoping to unleash every demon in hell. But before Dex and Jesmina can save their child or the world, they must relinquish their secrets, face their fears, and open themselves to love.

Para-Ops 2
Berkley, October 4, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 320 pages

Although he keeps company with a vampire and a were, human Shaman Caleb O’Flare can definitely hold his own. But neither his psychic ability nor his healing powers can help his sexy-as-hell teammate, Wraith—a ghost with no memory of her human existence, who cannot experience touch without pain. No wraith has managed to exist past its tenth year, so her time is about to run out. She wants only two things before accepting her fate: to learn her human identity, and experience one night with Caleb...

Para-Ops 1
Berkley, May 3, 2011
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and otherborn—humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA—still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.

About Virna


Virna DePaul is a former criminal prosecutor and now national bestselling author of the Para-Ops Novels (Chosen By Sin, Book 3 now available; see www.chosenbysin.com.)

Virna also writes contemporary romantic suspense for Harlequin Romantic Suspense (It Started That Night, May 2012) and HQN (Shades Of Desire, June 2012).

Finally, Virna is a national bestselling author of numerous indie published novels. Sign up for her mailing list for access to her monthly writing cheat sheets and reader contests.

www.virnadepaul.com

Virna's Links:

Website
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Facebook Books That Rock Fan Page

Please welcome Kelly Meding to The Qwillery as part of the Authors After Dark Author Spotlight Interviews.



TQ:  What inspired you to become a writer?

Kelly:  No single thing inspired me to become a writer. I think it was a combination of different things that came together in my mind, including support and positive feedback from a variety of teachers. I've been playing with stories since I was in junior high, but never with the intention of making it into a career. I even went to college with plans to work in film or television in some capacity, and it was during a Screenwriting class that I had a professional screenwriter say to me "You could do this for a living."

Obviously I didn't go on to become a screenwriter, but that was the push I needed to pursue writing more seriously. At the time, I was an avid fanfiction writer and email-based RPGer, with no strong desires to write original fiction. So I took an old screenplay I'd written and rewrote it as a novel—and a new career path was born. A few years later I discovered this growing sub-genre called Urban Fantasy, and the Buffy fan in me just squealed with delight at having found something that appealed to all sides of my writer's mind. I've been at it ever since.


TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Kelly:  I think the most challenging thing about writing is keeping the momentum going, once that initial burst of "OMG, best idea ever!" has worn off and I'm getting into the nitty gritty of the novel. And doesn't really have anything to do with plotting or getting stuck on the story. It's keeping myself mentally motivated, and not allowing myself to fall into the trap of "wait, this is crap, I should stop before I embarrass myself." It's keeping confidence in my characters and my plot and moving forward, instead of allowing doubt to stop me from finishing.


TQ:  What writing achievement are you most proud of?

Kelly:  I'm proud of just making it this far! Of signing with a good agent, of having sold novels to two major houses, and of having a wonderful group of fans. But one of the things that really stands out was the first time a reader recognized me in public—at my day job! I work in retail, and the customer I was ringing up had read my books and recognized me from the picture on the back cover. It was funny and surreal and kind of awesome. I'm not a well-known author, even locally, so it was pretty cool to be recognized by a total stranger.


TQ:  What one thing should everyone know about your writing?

Kelly:  I am from the Joss Whedon school of "make them cry, then make them laugh." I don't shy away from difficult subjects or violence (because my characters live in dark, violent worlds). But I do try to counter the darkness with shots of humor and sarcasm, because no one wants to read a book that's too bleak and depressing (at least I don't). So if you're looking for fluffy bunnies and sparkles, don't read my books. Bunnies will only sparkle if they're about to explode.


TQ:  Please tell us about your latest and upcoming works.

Kelly:  The fourth book in my Dreg City series, Wrong Side of Dead, released January 31 from Bantam. It finds Evy and friends rebuilding their lives after the devastation of the previous book, as well as accepting help from some new allies. Book two in my MetaWars series, Changeling, releases June 26 from Pocket, and it continues the adventures of the last surviving group of superheroes in the world. Looking farther forward, two more books in the MetaWars series will release digitally in 2013, and I'll have an original universe story in an anthology due to release Summer 2013 (more details on that will be announced in the near future).


TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Kelly:  Thank you so much for inviting me!


About MetaWars

MetaWars 2
Pocket, June 26, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 384 pages

HEROES FOR HIRE

After barely escaping a madman’s attempt to annihilate all MetaHumans, Kelly Meding’s supernatural crime fighters have banded together to take back the streets of war-ravaged Los Angeles.

Dahlia “Ember” Perkins still feels like an outsider among her new Meta friends, despite everything she’s been through since coming into her miraculous ability to absorb heat and extinguish fires. But when the police need help investigating human skins discarded like slipcovers on the street, the Metas’ youngest team member quickly finds her place. Evidence points to a murderer the likes of which they have never encountered but who inexplicably seems to be gunning for Dahlia—and who may be neither human nor Meta. After a bullet meant for her nearly kills one of her teammates, Dahlia uncovers a connection to the crimes buried deep in her past. As the danger escalates and her personal life falls apart, Dahlia soon learns there’s no such thing as a “normal” relationship when you’re a superhero. . . .

MetaWars 1
Pocket, October 25, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and ebook, 432 pages

Kelly Meding’s war-ravaged Los Angeles is ground zero for the ultimate Meta human showdown in this sexy, action-packed new series.

Fifteen years ago, Teresa “Trance” West was a skilled telepath and a proud member of the Ranger Corps. But ever since the Rangers were inexplicably rendered powerless at the climax of the devastating Meta War, she’s bounced from one dead-end job to another. Now her powers have reappeared just as mysteriously as they vanished— only they’re completely transformed and more potent than ever. And they’re threatening to destroy her.

Trance heads to Los Angeles to track down the surviving Rangers and discover who restored her powers—and why—but a phantom enemy is determined to kill them before they can reassemble. As they dodge his deadly attacks and come to terms with their new role as heroes, Trance and the rest of the team set out to annihilate the sinister madman . . . only to discover their own powers are his greatest weapons.

About Dreg City

Dreg City 1
Bantam, November 24, 2009
Mass Market Paperback and ebook, 416 pages

They’ll never see her coming. . . .

When Evangeline Stone wakes up naked and bruised on a cold slab at the morgue—in a stranger’s body, with no memory of who she is and how she got there—her troubles are only just beginning. Before that night she and the two other members of her Triad were the city’s star bounty hunters, mercilessly cleansing the city of the murderous creatures living in the shadows, from vampires to shape-shifters to trolls. Then something terrible happened that not only cost all three of them their lives but also convinced the city’s other Hunters that Evy was a traitor—and she can’t even remember what it was.

Now she’s a fugitive, piecing together her memory, trying to deal some serious justice—and discovering that she has only three days to solve her own murder before the reincarnation spell wears off. Because in three days Evy will die again—but this time there’s no second chance. . . .

Dreg City 2
Bantam, July 27, 2010
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 432 pages

Evangeline Stone, a rogue bounty hunter, never asked for a world divided between darkness and light . . .

. . . or the power to die and live again in someone else’s borrowed body. After a murder plot meant to take her out leaves an entire race of shapeshifters nearly extinct, Evy is gnawed by guilt. So when one of the few survivors of the slaughter enlists her aid, she feels duty-bound to help—even though protecting a frail, pregnant shifter is the last thing Evy needs, especially with the world going to hell around her.

Amid weres, Halfies, gremlins, vamps—and increasingly outgunned humans—a war for supremacy is brewing. With shifters demanding justice, her superiors desperate to control her, and an assassin on her trail, Evy discovers a horrifying conspiracy. And she may be the only person in the world who can stop it—unless, of course, her own side gets her first.

Dreg City 3
Bantam, August 02, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 384 pages

She can heal her own wounds. She can nail a monster to a wall. But there’s one danger Evangeline Stone never saw coming.

Been there. Done that. Evy Stone is a former Dreg Bounty Hunter who died and came back to life with some extraordinary powers. Now all but five people in the world think she is dead again, this time for good—immolated in a factory fire set specifically for her. Evy and Wyatt, her partner/lover/friend, can no longer trust their former allies, or even the highest echelons of the Triads—the army of fighters holding back from an unsuspecting public a tide of quarreling, otherworldly creatures—they can trust only each other. Because when the Triads raided a macabre, monster-filled lab of science experiments and hauled away the remnants, they failed to capture their creator: a brilliant, vampire-obsessed scientist with a wealth of powerful, anti-Dreg weaponry to trade for what he desires most of all—Evy Stone: alive and well, and the key to his ultimate experiment in mad science.

Dreg City 4
Bantam, January 31, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 368 pages

Monster hunter Evangeline Stone woke up on the wrong side of dead this morning—and now there’s hell to pay.

Barely recovered from her extended torture at the hands of mad scientist Walter Thackery, Evy can use a break. What she gets instead is a war, as the battered Triads that keep Dreg City safe find themselves under attack by half-Blood vampires who have somehow retained their reason, making them twice as lethal. Worse, the Halfies are joined by a breed of were-creature long believed extinct—back and more dangerous than ever. Meanwhile, Evy’s attempts at reconciliation with the man she loves take a hit after Wyatt is viciously assaulted—an attack traced to Thackery, who has not given up his quest to exterminate all vampires . . . even if he has to destroy Dreg City to do it. With Wyatt’s time running out, another threat emerges from the shadows and a staggering betrayal shatters the fragile alliance between the Triads, vampires, and shapeshifters, turning Evy’s world upside down forever.

About Kelly

      Born and raised in Southern Delaware, Kelly Meding survived five years in the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia, only to retreat back to the peace and sanity of the Eastern Shore. An avid reader and film buff, she discovered Freddy Krueger at a very young age, and has since had a lifelong obsession with horror, science fiction, and fantasy, on which she blames her interest in vampires, psychic powers,superheroes, and all things paranormal.

      Three Days to Dead is the first book in her Dreg City urban fantasy series that follows Evy Stone, a paranormal hunter who is resurrected into the body of a stranger and has only three days to solve her own murder and stop a war between the city's goblins and vampires. The next three books in the series, As Lie the Dead, Another Kind of Dead, and Wrong Side of Dead, are also available from Bantam.

      Kelly's MetaWars series from Pocket Books tells the story of the grown-up children of the world's slaughtered superheroes who receive their superpowers back after a mysterious fifteen-year absence, and who now face not only a fearful public, but also a vengeful villain who wants all of them dead. Trance is available now with book two, Changeling, coming June 26, 2012. Books three and four will be available digitally in 2013.

      You can find Kelly on Twitter and Facebook, as well as her website: www.kellymeding.com

Please welcome Alexandra Ivy to The Qwillery's as part of the Authors After Dark Author Spotlight Interviews.



TQ:  What inspired you to become a writer?

Alexandra:  I actually came to writing from my love for theatre. I’ve always been a huge reader, but when I was younger I hoped to work on stage. After taking a playwriting class I realized I actually preferred to create my own characters rather than mimicking someone else’s. I worked on a play (that I would still love to finish), but my heart has always belonged to romance, so I swiftly turned my efforts to novels.

TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Alexandra:  I have a very vivid idea for each scene and it runs through my mind like a movie clip, but getting it from my head and onto the paper into words that capture my idea is always tough. I also have a habit of changing my mind about the ending of the story about three quarters of the way through a book, so I have to go back through and make sure it all makes sense :-)  The one thing that’s never tough is getting new ideas. I only wish I had more time!

TQ:  What writing achievement are you most proud of?

Alexandra:  I know it’s cliché, but hitting the New Times bestseller list will always be one of my greatest moments. It took me years to finally get published and even after I had several books in print I still felt like a fraud :-) As if someone might suddenly realize that I shouldn’t be published. So hitting the list felt like a confirmation that it hadn’t all been some huge mistake!

TQ:  What one thing should everyone know about your writing?

Alexandra:  That I write my books in play format…which means that I write all the dialogue first with a few stage directions. I don’t know if it’s because I started writing plays first, but it’s the way I make sure that the characters always move the story forward and don’t become overwhelmed by the details and descriptions.

TQ:  Please tell us about your latest and upcoming works.

Alexandra:  My next book in the Guardians of Eternity series will be FEAR THE DARKNESS in Sept. This is Caine and Cassie’s story and for those who’ve followed the series it has a HUGE turning point!! After that will be Santiago and Nefri’s story (June 2013).

Kensington is also reprinting my vampire trilogy that I wrote under the name Debbie Raleigh. The Immortal Rogues, starting with MY LORD VAMPIRE (Feb. 28th) are regency historicals that are set in the early 1800s London England. They’re ‘sweeter’ than my current series (less sex and violence :-) ) but I do have a character in my current series that makes an appearance in my earlier books. It’s soooo much fun to write about immortals!

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Alexandra:  Thanks so much for inviting me!!


Recent and Upcoming Novels
Immortal Rogues 1
Zebra, February 28, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook

In the first of a mesmerizing trilogy, Alexandra Ivy, author of the Guardians of Eternity series, introduces the Immortal Rogues—three vampires duty-bound to protect their own kind even as they fall prey to mortal desires…

Centuries have passed since Gideon Ravel dwelled among humans. Now he must infiltrate the cream of London society to earn the trust of one woman. Simone, Lady Gilbert, possesses an amulet of unimaginable power, and no concept of the threat that surrounds her. The ton’s gossip prepared him for her beauty and wit. But he is blindsided by her barely disguised sensuality and his growing need to possess her...

None of the idle aristocrats who vie for Simone’s attentions know about her past. To them, she is the sophisticated, worldly widow known as the “Wicked Temptress.” The truth would ruin her, and she has never been tempted to reveal it until now. Yet beneath Gideon’s bold, black-eyed stare is a hunger that demands satisfaction and complete surrender…and a secret far more dangerous than her own…

Guardians of Eternity 9
Zebra, August 28, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook

The Guardians of Eternity are embroiled in an epic battle for survival. They are as dangerous as they are sensual—and their lustful appetites are legendary…

Her Visions Lead Her To Danger

Beautiful Cassandra is a Were, a prophet both vulnerable and defiant, blessed with visions that portend the fate of the world. A rare and delicate creature, Cassie must be protected at all costs. Enter Caine, a powerful cur turned pureblooded Were whose recent tangles with a demon lord have left him in serious need of redemption. Caine is duty-bound to keep Cassie out of danger—and that means resisting his potent urge to seduce her…

And Only He Can Save Her

As Cassie’s mysterious visions lead them in and out of danger, Caine believes he has found his true mate, the woman with whom he is bound for all eternity. Cassie is both charmed and frightened by Caine’s magnetism, and unsure if he—or her feelings for him—can be trusted. But Cassie can’t afford to doubt Caine now. A deadly enemy bent on destruction is closer than they realize—and only they can keep chaos from ruling the world…

Read about the Guardians of Eternity at Alexandra Ivy's Website

About Alexandra

Alexandra Ivy is the author of the highly acclaimed Guardians of Eternity. Her books have regularly hit the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists along with Publisher Weekly. The next book in her series, FEAR THE DARKNESS, will be released September 2012. She has also written historicals under the pseudonyms Debbie Raleigh and Deborah Raleigh.

Alexandra graduated from Truman University with a degree in theatre before deciding she preferred to bring her characters to life on paper rather than stage. She currently lives in Missouri with her extraordinarily patient husband and sons.

Alexandra's Links

Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook



The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a copy of My Lord Vampire (Immortal Rogues 1) from The Qwillery.

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:


Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)   Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. You MUST leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

Please welcome Jae Lynne Davies to The Qwillery's as part of the Authors After Dark Author Spotlight Interviews.




TQ:  What inspired you to become a writer?

Jae Lynne:  For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a certain affinity for placing pen to paper. There’s something exhilarating about expression through literature and I’ve always enjoyed the ar. I considered the idea of becoming a writer for some time, but my firm decision occurred when my beloved grandfather passed away and I wrote a heartfelt eulogy. My intention was to share thoughts and experiences about the man I hold responsible for most of my positive qualities, but after the feedback from numerous individuals, I looked to my husband and said, “You know, I really want to be a writer.” The rest, as they say, is history.

TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Jae Lynne:  The most challenging part of writing is the extensive research about places I’ve never been. The wonderful thing about writing fiction is that it’s simply…fiction. I can take a common belief and twist it into an alternate reality were the normal rules don’t apply and make it my own, but all fiction is based on facts. If I’ve never been to a certain location, I try to find friend or family who may have taken a trip or know people of a particular heritage I can speak with for information that would prove beneficial for the story I’m working on at the time. Otherwise, Google Earth is a wonderful tool that I use often.

TQ:  What writing achievement are you most proud of?

Jae Lynne:  It might sound strange, but I’m proud of anything I complete. There’s such a relief when I’ve finally finished a story, because there are moments of frustration when I think I might never reach the end.

TQ:  What one thing should everyone know about your writing?

Jae Lynne:  When people think of my writing, I’d like for the term ‘unpredictable’ to come to mind. With every journey, there are twists and turns we might not see coming. I tend to keep that in mind when living vicariously through my characters as there will be stories where the hero or heroine achieve their HEA. But there are others where the HEA won’t occur until a book or two down the line when the time is right for a particular character. I won’t ever rush to an ending if it doesn’t feel right.

TQ:  Please tell us about your latest and upcoming works.

Jae Lynne:  I just completed Blood Moon, the second installment in my Mythic series, and have happily signed the contract. While I don’t have a solid release date yet, I’m anticipating the novel to be available sometime early this summer.

Blood Moon blurb:

Forced to make a heartbreaking decision between the man she loves and the family she thought long dead, Gianna Marino returns to London—obligated to vampire coven leader, Mattias Vitale while thoughts of another are fresh on her mind.

When word is received of suspicious vampire activity, she is assigned to an investigation that leads her to Greece, where she discovers Dante—Mattias’s recently resigned second in command, and a dangerous prophecy.

Dante Diakos is the last of a pure immortal bloodline—a descendant of the gods, and he intends to invoke the power of the entire pantheon on the eve of the Blood Moon, which occurs once every millennia. If he attains the legendary abilities, he’ll be the most powerful being on earth, and intends for her to rule by his side.

When the fate of world hangs in the balance, the decision is placed in Gianna’s hands…become an eternal slave to Dante’s will or lose everyone she’s ever loved.

I’m currently working on two novels and a short story:

Ashes of Reckoning (third installment in the Mythic series): Deep in the heart of New Orleans, an ancient presence roams the streets of the French Quarter and human/vampire hybrid, Gianna Marino is on the hunt.

The key to her existence rests with the eldest of her kind, a two-thousand year old hybrid, her equal in all ways, with wisdom beyond the ages. But when the two collide, an event of cataclysmic proportions is unleashed and threatens the fate of humanity.

When Gianna relies on the assistance of the two men in her life who fight for her heart, she embarks upon an unimaginable journey to self-discovery that leads her to decision between them. With life hanging in the balance, she’ll search the far reaches of her heart and a question will be put to the test...Will love conquer all?


Desires of a Dark Lord: An erotic tale about Ronan—a demon ordered to claim the soul of a particular human woman to advance his position in his world. He meets his target—the curvaceous Ginevra Gimes (a child services attorney) and vows to deliver her every desire so long as she promises her soul in return. But when the two connect on a level neither one of them expects and Ginevra and Ronan succumb to mutual passion, can he surrender her to another or will he risk eternal suffering to claim her for himself?


The Ritual (A short story for Tease Publishing LLC’s ongoing anthology, Love’s Immortal Pantheon) involving the goddess Diana and her mortal lover Cole Hunter and his journey to immortality.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Jae Lynne:  It was a pleasure to be here. Thanks so much for having me!



About Jae Lynne

Jae Lynne Davies is a wife, mother and author who wishes there were more hours in a day to balance all three and her full-time job. But whenever she finds a spare moment, you’ll find her sitting in front of her laptop typing the next chapter! Jae Lynne currently resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her husband and two children.

To learn more about Jae Lynne and her work, please visit her website: http://www.jaelynnedavies.com

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Mythic is available online at Amazon (Kindle : Trade Paperback)



The Giveaway

Centuries after the death of her family, human/vampire hybrid, Gianna Marino is determined to shed the blood of the vampire responsible.

Disguising herself as a human wanting to be turned, she infiltrates the enemy’s coven with the hope of bending him to her will and destroying him from the inside.

But when a handsome stranger enters the scene and is lured into their seductive game that results in a heated love triangle, she discovers a secret that blurs the lines between good and evil, forever changing the course of her existence, and destiny will soon determine on which side she’ll stand.

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win digital copy of  Mythic from Jae Lynne!

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:


Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)   Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. You MUST leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Monday, May 21, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

Please welcome Abigail Barnette / Jennifer Armintrout to The Qwillery's as part of the Authors After Dark Author Spotlight Interviews.



TQ:  What inspired you to become a writer?

Abigail:  It was really a last ditch career effort for me. An unplanned pregnancy sidelined my college career, and when the baby was born, I really couldn't find the interest to go back. My grandmother suggested I write romance novels, since that was what I loved to read.

TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Abigail:  Right now? Finding the time to write. I remember when my son was an infant, and it was nothing for me to sit down and write, write, write, but now he's nine, and I have a three-year-old daughter. They're both in school, so we've got field trips and scouts and friends coming over, I feel like it's impossible to get anything done. I used to say, "It'll be easier to find time to write when they're older and more independent." Nooooooope.

TQ:  What writing achievement are you most proud of?

Abigail:  Booklist online named my American Vampire one of the top ten horror novels of 2011. I made the list with Stephen King, who has always been one of my idols. In fact, American Vampire was an homage to him, so to be on a "best of" list with one of his books was just amazing. Also, I once got mentioned in Fangoria magazine, and that totally blew my mind!

Buried in the Heartland is a town that no one enters or leaves. Graf McDonald somehow becomes its first visitor in more than five years…and he was only looking for a good party. Unfortunately, Penance, Ohio, is not that place. And after having been isolated for so long, they do not like strangers at all.

Jessa's the only one to even remotely trust him, and she's desperate for the kind of protection that only a vampire like Graf can provide. Supplies are low, the locals are ornery for a sacrifice and there's a monster more powerful than Graf lurking in the woods. New men are hard to come by in this lonesome town, and this handsome stranger might be Jessa's only hope for salvation.

Even if she has to die first…

TQ:  What one thing should everyone know about your writing?

Abigail:  I don't pull punches. If there's going to be violence, it's going to be over the top gore. If there's a love story, it's going to get physical. I don't like half-way.

TQ:  Please tell us about your latest and upcoming works.

Abigail:  Lately, I've been writing a lot as Abigail Barnette. I have wanted to write romance for such a long time, but my books always ended up being about vampires exploding. Now, I'm really enjoying being able to write whatever kind of romance I want under this pen name. I have a lot of freedom at Resplendence Publishing, too, to write basically whatever I want. My last book to come out with them was a medieval fantasy romance about werewolves, called Wolf's Honor (the second in the Canis Clan series). I have one coming out in June that's a m/m contemporary romance about baseball players. I've really been enjoying my time off from dark and scary!

A low-born, half-breed who is more human than wolf, Henry Barley has never been able to ignore the cruelties visited upon the human servants at Blackens Gate. Powerless to stop the abuses perpetrated by his clan members, he knows he can save one… but rescuing her might test his vow to never love a human.

At first viewing Blackens Gate as an escape from the poverty of her village, Ursula finds a much harsher reality inside the castle’s walls. With a secret she must guard at all costs, she must place her life in the hands of a wolf, and the only man who has ever treated her with kindness and respect.

Though he owes the ruler of Blackens Gate his very life, Henry cannot leave Ursula to her dark fate. In accepting his help, Ursula places her trust in a man she knows she should fear, and Henry must face a foe even greater than Lord Canis himself – a woman who needs him, and who may even come to love him.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Abigail:  Thanks for having me!


About Abigail

The alter-ego of USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Armintrout, Abigail Barnette was born during a conversation with author Bronwyn Green, who encouraged Jennifer to develop an elaborate fantasy persona-- complete with nom de plume-- under which to pen erotic romance. Abigail enjoys long naps in fairy-filled glades, running through corridors in tragically romantic haunted castles, and drinking goblet after goblet of spiced wine.

You may browse Abigail's book here.

Abigail's Website
Abigail's Blog

Jennifer's Website
Jennifer's Blog
Jennifer's Twttier

Please welcome Mark Henry / Daniel Marks to The Qwillery's as part of the Authors After Dark Author Spotlight Interviews.




TQ:  What inspired you to become a writer?

DM:   I was always a big reader. Horror, mostly, even as a young child, but I'd never really held any aspirations of being a writer. Lots of other jobs, yes. I quite wanted to be an architect and a professional chef, but settled ultimately on psychotherapy. I worked in crisis intervention and child and family therapy for twelve years, which is probably ten years longer than anyone in their right mind should. During that time, an already dark sense of humor turned absolutely necrotic and when it was time to call it quits, I wasn't fit for anything else but writing.

TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

DM:  Staying focused. I'm highly distractible and nowadays, as authors have more and more promotional responsibilities, I'm able to rationalize my lazy writing habits as necessity. So. Bad.

TQ:  What writing achievement are you most proud of?

DM:  Resiliency. It's funny, because that's the first thing that came to me when I read this question but it's so true. When my adult urban fantasy series tanked and I was floating out there without a contract and looking at writing a book on spec, that was a real turning point. I was wounded and not in a good place and it probably would have been easier to just start job hunting and give up on writing altogether. But I didn't, I buckled down and wrote something that I'm exceptionally proud of and then we sold it to one of the big guys. I was ecstatic. Broke, but ecstatic.

TQ:  What one thing should everyone know about your writing?

DM:  My words are pretty dark and my humor is even darker, but it's smart and I cram as many pop culture references as I can onto every page. I know most of them will fly right over people's heads, but it's the way I think and I can't change that. So readers, prepare for the possibility of some mixed emotions. You may laugh and immediately be ashamed of yourself. You may be expecting a laugh and I'll throw you into a pit of horrors. I guess you never know what to expect.

TQ:  Please tell us about your latest and upcoming works.

DM:  My first young adult fantasy novel as Daniel Marks, VELVETEEN, comes out on October 9th of this year from Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books. It's about the victim of a madman named Bonesaw who winds up in purgatory, finds a way to slip back into the world of the living with one goal in mind: haunting her killer to death. But distractions abound. Ghostly revolutionaries are plotting mayhem across the veil, shadow creatures are terrorizing the crumbling tenements of her district and if that weren't bad enough she has a new and unreasonably hot coworker that she's not allowed to touch. Velveteen is a dark and irreverent fantasy that drifts into all out horror when you least expect it. I'm thrilled for people to read it!!!

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

DM: No! Thank you, so excited to be here!



About Velveteen

Delacorte Books for Young Readers, October 9, 2012
Hardcover and eBook, 

Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that's not the problem.

The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it's not a fiery inferno, it's certainly no heaven. It's gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn't leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what's really on her mind.

Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she's figured out just how to do it. She'll haunt him for the rest of his days.
It'll be brutal . . . and awesome.

But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen's obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she's willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.

Velveteen can't help herself when it comes to breaking rules . . . or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her. 

The Amanda Feral Series by Mark Henry

Originally released in Trade Paperback, the Amanda Feral series is now available in Mass Market Paperback too! Check it out at Kensington.



About Mark / Daniel

Mark Henry writes adult urban fantasy, screenplays and young adult horror. He spends way too much time glued to the internets and collects books obsessively (occasionally reading them). He’s been a psychotherapist for children and adolescents, a Halloween store manager, and has survived earthquakes, volcanoes and typhoons to get where he is today, which is to say, in his messy office surrounded by half empty coffee cups. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Caroline, and three furry monsters with no regard for quality carpeting. His debut young adult novel (as Daniel Marks) VELVETEEN is coming on October 9th from Delacorte/Random House Childrens Books.

Daniel's Website
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Mark's Website
Twitter