I'VE READ THAT MATT LANTER IS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE CHARACTER OF VANCE IN YOUR BOOKS. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS?
Ha! Of course! I'm a huge fan of Matt Lanter, though I have to admit I didn't know who he was before I started writing. When I came up with the character for Vance Mangum I instantly had an image of Matt flash into my head at the same time. For the life of me I couldn't remember where I'd seen him before and I spent a whole day racking my brain before I thought it might have been on an episode of 90210. When I realized I'd found him, I researched everything he'd acted in, buying his movies and downloading previous television shows. I loved his work and he became the image of Vance for me. I studied his movements, gestures, and reactions to situations and used his likeness to model Vance after. It was a very fun experience for me, and I think it help to make Vance a very really character in my head. It was even more spectacular to get to share this experience with Matt too, and have his support with it as well. He's a fantastic guy! (If you aren't watching him...please do yourself a favor and go look him up. He's on Twitter too and has been especially chatty lately so go drop him a tweet!)
WHERE DID YOU FIND THE MODELS YOU USED FOR YOUR BOOK COVERS?
That's actually my lovely, uber-talented daughter, Kamery, and her now husband Jake. I'd initially used their images to spice up things on the website for the books when they were dating. I could hardly afford to use Matt (wouldn't that be nice) and I wanted to give people something to look at. Kamery is a very good actress/singer who has been in several plays, musical productions and a movie too. She has good stage presence and she's very photogenic. Jake was her all-star boyfriend who is extremely good looking and photogenic as well so I approached them about posing for the covers and they were all for it. I think they did a good job, though I personally cannot think of them in the role while I write! Ha, ha. That would kill the story for me!
WHICH BOOK IN THE SERIES WAS THE HARDEST TO WRITE?
So far, probably book four, The Dark Rising. I had another book release right in the middle of writing it and that kind of threw me off my groove. When I came back to it I decided I didn't like the original direction I'd been headed with the story. It kind of stalled, going into a stagnant phase that was difficult to come out of. It was actually a tip from my wonderful mother-in-law that got my brain all sparked up again and helped me to come up with a new storyline. Once I got the rough draft finished, I gave it to my best friend who also offered some good suggestions that helped to push the book from good to exceptional, in my opinion. A few changes to the ending also sent it even further into the realm of fantastic. It really was a process of evolving with that book, but I think the end result is going to rock the readers' socks off! LOL
DO YOU EVER EXPERIENCE WRITER'S BLOCK?
I have on occasion, but it never happened to me until the incident with book four, so it was quite a shock to me when it did. I try not to panic too badly when it does occur. I check to see how tired I am, have I been pushing myself too much lately, and would I benefit from walking away from it for a bit. Usually, if I keep trying to write through it, something eventually spawns a new path to follow. If it doesn't and I find myself beginning to slay my characters with my bad mood then I will get up and walk away from it. That's when I usually go for a weekend getaway with my hubby and we talk plot lines while we drive. He never fails to inspire with something in our conversations and it always works out in the end.
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS IS YOUR FAVORITE?
Well, I truly love things about all of them, but I would be lying if I didn't say Vance was my favorite. I really connect with his character for some reason. His emotions and reactions to things are intriguing to me and he always seems to be the loudest voice talking in my head. There have been a couple different occasions when I thought I was finished with a particular storyline only to have him keep whispering different ways for things to go in my head. I've decided that he's an undiagnosed personality of mine and that I should seek mental treatment. Ha, ha! All kidding aside...I really do love him and my heart bleeds for him regularly.
WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL CAREER BE, IF YOU COULDN'T BE AN AUTHOR?
I would probably do something in photography and digital media. I really love taking pictures and like dabbling in artistic designs with Photoshop too. I haven't had any official training in it though. I just have a great camera and do a lot of online tutorials to learn new things. I try to do something new with it regularly, but my current schedule doesn't always permit it. But it's fun when it does happen!
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER WRITERS?
I think if anyone aspires to try writing they should give it an honest shot. Yes, there are a lot out there, but no two people would tell the same story line in the same way. Don't be afraid to step out and share your unique view with the world. And in the event these writers want to be published, I would tell them to do rigorous research on anyone they would consider doing business with. Don't let your work fall prey to sharks that would take your work and use it to their benefit. Those kinds of people are out there unfortunately waiting to scam the unsuspecting. I don't like to be a "nay-sayer" but I've seen too many writers fall victim to this sort of thing. Protect your work!
ARE YOU WORKING ON ANYTHING NOW?
I am. I'm finishing up book five for the Of Witches and Warlocks series, along with doing some final editing on book four before it comes out near the end of June. I'm also doing some editing on a fantasy/fairytale young adult book that will be released after this series, and I'm in the middle of being published into a book called Dream On, which is a collaborative anthology of several great authors. So lots of great things going on that I'm excited for!
HOW MANY BOOKS WILL BE IN THIS SERIES?
The fifth book, Possession of Souls, will be the last one. I'm forcing Vance to shut up after this one is done! I don't think he'll argue with me this time after everything I've put him through! LOL No, really I'm excited for it though and I look forward to sharing it. It's been a fun book to write! Plus my husband will be happy that he's not competing with a hot warlock anymore!
