Reading in Twilight Interview

1.What inspired you to write this book?

Years ago I started daydreaming about a young man dying and a wizard saving his life. From there, the plot thickened and I wrote the story out. But it wasn’t my best writing (too inexperienced, hadn’t found my voice, etc.) and I never sold the book to a publisher. Duh. Then I started over again, same characters, same (not quite the same plot) storyline, went in a strangely different direction. Thus “In a Wolf’s Eyes” was born and its successor, “Catch a Wolf”, hard on its heels.

2. What characters do you connect with most?

Probably Ly’Tana. Not that I’m royalty, but we feel the same way about our horses. I just wish I could ride as well as she can.

3. What's your favorite book-turned movie?

Not much doubt about that one: “Lord of the Rings”. My brother turned me onto “The Hobbit” when I was in high school (I think) and from there I devoured “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “The Silmarillion”, the books’ predecessor. Every few years I re-read them all. The movies surpassed all my hopes and expectations – gonna be remembered as one of the finest films ever made some day.

4. If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who would it be?

Again, Ly’Tana. I’d want her to teach me to shoot a bow, fight with a sword and above all, ride a horse the way she can.

5. Can you tell us about any other books you're writing?

I’m currently working on a stand-alone fantasy novel called, “The Unforgiven.” It’s proving a challenge in many ways. I’m still using the alternating POV with two main characters, but this time it’s between the hero and the villain. Although the hero a tad tainted and the villain isn’t quite as villainous as he’d like to be. I wanted two anti-heroes in this one, but I think I’ll settle for one. Can you guess which?

6. What do you do in your spare time?

As I still work full time, I have precious little of that. Outside my day job, I spend my evenings finding ways to market my published novels, write on “The Unforgiven”, and spoil my cats. I don’t ride my horses enough, but I do spend time feeding one end and picking up after the other. Once I do make a vow to ride and work my boys, the weather turns ugly – drat it. Then I have to remake my vow. Sooo-I’ll begin riding them again this weekend. I hope.

7. Who's your inspiration?

I can’t really say that I’m inspired by anyone. I admire many authors: Stephen King, Dick Francis, Tami Hoag, Robert Jordan, George RR Martin, David Eddings, as well as a few others. Watching a good movie or TV series might inspire me to write more than reading a book. Odd, huh. I think it’s the visualization.

8. If you were stranded on a desert island which character do you want by your side?

Raine. He’s a total bad-ass and won’t just protect me, but he’s so easy on the eyes. Major, major, eye-candy.

9. Team Edward or Jacob?

Um, I think this is a reference to the “Twilight” series, which I couldn’t get into. I read the first one, and couldn’t get past the first half of the second. Sorry. I did kinda like Edward – sort of. Better than the twit telling the story, anyway. Never saw what he saw in her, though. I didn’t like her much.

10. Team Peeta or Gale?

OK, Peeta, definitely. I never took to Gale. I’m not sure why, though. I guess he was just – shallow, but not through the author’s fault. I know he was devoted to Katniss, but I really liked Peeta and how he didn’t care if she loved him. He gave all he had for her. He’s my kind of man.

11. What are you reading now?

I read a self-published novel by a writer who tweeted me. It wasn’t bad to start with. I was sucked into it from the start, always a good sign. But I seriously got turned off by the errors (green shudders on a house – c’mon! Seriously?). And the dream. The narrator kills his friend so I’m like – OK, this is bad – only to find out it’s a dream. Not cool. That comes under the heading of “Reader Cheating”. I’d rather tell you about the funky movie I watched last night: “Death Proof”. A Quentin Tarantino movie – whoa! That guy’s got a serious imagination. Kurt Russell is still very easy on the eyes (sigh), even with a scar from temple to chin. Not for the faint of heart, or those who can’t tolerate Quentin’s weird style. But a powerful movie all the same. Um – does that count?