I've been tagged by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of the
middle-grade Guardian Herd Series, starring flying horses (How cool is that?)!
Click her name to see her answers to these same questions.
What are you working on? I'm working on Legend of The Lost, a Zoey and Claire Mystery, Book #4. I have twelve more pages to polish up before it goes to the line editor! In case you didn't know, I also write under Claire Kane. There are three mysteries out so far: The Riddles of Hillgate, Cruise to Murder, and Hexes and X's. Although the books star grown adults, a mother and daughter, the stories are clean enough for any age to enjoy. If you enjoy my Molly Snow stories, then you may enjoy my Claire Kane mysteries, since they have some similar silliness.
I'm simultaneously working on To Catch a Fox, a third story
in my shifter series... although I'm still in the first chapter. I have a cover
made, though, and that's always good for motivation! I'm very excited to see
how this series will do once advertised.
How does your work
differ from others in its genre? I started writing paranormal stories a
long, long time ago. I haven't really been a reader of paranormal stories,
either, so perhaps this is a reason why quite a few reviewers say my stories
are fresh. I don't feel obligated to go by classic rules of the genre. For
instance, my zombies can look good for a long time, because of a preservative
released into their body once turned. My werewolves can cure zombies of their
condition. The black cat in BeSwitched can switch bodies with lonely souls. So
whatever I think sounds fun, I do.
Why do you write what
you write? I write what excites me. I like to think of my writing as a
business, but there is one thing I will never do to get ahead--write something
that's not really me. I know there are other genres that could make me so much
more money, but I have to stay true to my interests. My stories have plenty of
comedy. I just can't help
myself when it comes to humor--it has to be an integral part of my storytelling
or I won't have fun in the process.
Describe your writing
process? It depends on the story, but I try and have some sort of outline
before I start. The least I should know is what's
my main characters' greatest desire and greatest weakness? Next, what's the obstacle holding them back from
reaching their goal, and what's the
worst thing that can happen to them--some sort of moment of crisis.
For example, in Head
Over Halo, an angel, Persephone, has two great desires--to learn to sing,
and to be with a mortal guy, who happens to be a singer. Her greatest obstacles
are, she's an angel with a voice that destroys things, and since she's an not
mortal it's against the laws of heaven to be with one. You'll have to read the
story to find out her moment of crisis, but the way it unfolds is a lot of fun.
