Hey guys! I’m coming to you with my weekly Author Guest and Giveaway a day late, but I bet you all will forgive me, specially because my guest today is one of my new favorite people in the world… oh and she’s also a phenomenal author!
I really enjoyed Carolyn’s debut novel, Mind Games, but it was the sequel to it that captured my heart… I simply fell in love with Double Cross and Carolyn has become an “automatic-buy” author for me… Not to mention that she is one of the sweetest people that I have ever met and a relentless supporter of this little blog of mine…
It’s with immense pleasure that I welcome Carolyn Crane! Don;t forget to check out the awesome giveaway at the end of the post…
Hey Larissa! thanks so much for having me here.
It’s my pleasure Carolyn! When did you first start writing?
The first thing I remember writing was a poem about earthworms. I was in second grade, I think. It might have been the only poem I ever wrote, but apparently I stayed with the whole dark side/underground theme. I always sort of enjoyed writing, but I never thought of it seriously as a career until much later.
Have you always enjoyed Fantasy?
I was really into fantasy as a kid, with books like A Wrinkle in Time and The Rats of NIMH, The Hobbit and all that. But then, I don’t know why I left off reading it. We didn’t have so many cool YA books at the time, I guess. School sent me in other directions. So, it took me until much later to return.
Why write Urban Fantasy?
Urban Fantasy can stretch to contain everything—mystery, romance, sword and sorcery, thriller. I feel like there is just a ton of creativity happening in this area.
Were there any Books, Movies or Writers that have inspired you?
Kelley Armstrong and Laurell K. Hamilton hugely inspired me. I think they are both absolutely excellent writers on every level. Also, Janet Evanovich. Somehow, her books feel so warm and accessible and colorful to me. Evanovich is kind of an ideal of mine. Not to write cozy mysteries, but to achieve that level of warmth and fun.
What is your favorite subject in the Urban Fantasy Realm?
Even though I don’t write them, I do like werewolves and other kinds of shifters. I’ve always liked animals. I was really excited when Keri Arthur has a seagull shifter. Also, I enjoy interesting geographical areas. Like, the ones Illona Andrews creates.
Favorites:
Favorite Paranormal themed Movie? Does Terminator count? I love that movie.
Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show? Buffy the Vampire Slayer!!!
Favorite Paranormal themed Book? Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Favorite Author? Ooh, these days, Kresley Cole.
Favorite Urban Fantasy Author? Kelley Armstrong
Favorite Genre that is NOT your own? Historical romance ALL THE WAY!!!
Favorite one of your Books? Hmm. I’d say Double Cross.
Who is your favorite of your own characters?
I really love Simon. He’s been easy to write, and as a character he taught me a lot, on an author level. At first, I tried to make him this bad guy that people would dislike, but the more “bad” I made him, the more my critique partner and others liked him. It really showed me that when you try to make a character likeable, it’s hard, but when you make a character really unusual and their own person, people respond.
Which was the hardest to write?
To be honest, Justine, my main character is hardest to write. When you are in a person’s head and voice, you are sunk so deep into them, it can be weirdly easy to make them generic.
What would you be if not a writer?
Well, my day job is as a freelance advertising writer. I’d probably be working in a big agency. I like idea jobs. Though, I have often dreamed of being a police officer, though I would totally suck at it.
If you Could be a Paranormal Being, Who would you be?
I think a seagull shifter!! But I would live at a beach, not in a garbage dump or somewhere like that.
If you could meet ay Urban Fantasy Character out there, Who would you like to meet?
I think…Clay from Bitten. Or Jeremy!
ooooh YUM! I LOVE Them!
Quickies:
Coffee or Tea? Black Tea - Earl Grey
Up or Down? Up
Virtual or Real? Real
Right or Left? Um, why is this one hard for me? I can’t decide!!!
Day or Night? Day
Here or There? You are CRAZY with these questions! Elsewhere.
Sooner or Later? Later.
Light or Dark? Dark
Fast or Slow? SLOOOWWWWWW
Vampires or Werewolves? Werewolves
Disillusionists or Highcaps? Gah! Highcaps.
Reading or Writing? Reading.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Revising. I love love love to revise. I would go into a bookstore and pull my books off the shelf and revise them some more if I didn’t think they’d arrest me.
What is your least favorite part?
First drafting. It is like pulling my own teeth.
The Disillusionists Trilogy in your own words?
Often, I say a hypochondriac heroine joins a psychological hit squad.
What is coming up next for you?
I’m working on stories for two 2011 anthologies, finishing up book 3 which will come out in late 2011, and I have a new Paranormal romance series started. Wow, now that I say it, that seems like a lot.
What are you working on right now?
One of the stories. It’s for the Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance. I’m trying to think of the idea. I have been trying for like 2 days.
Do you have any advice or tip to those like me that want to become a published Author someday?
I think the secret to being a published author is to be a learning machine. Learn from books, rejections, feedback, life. But, especially books and feedback. Take what you can use, discard the rest, and don’t get emotional or discouraged. Be a learning machine. Also, there will be tons of pitfalls, and the ones who get published keep moving forward.
Anything you would like to say to your fans out there?
Yes… you mean so much more to me than you can ever imagine. Whatever you think my appreciation is, you can way multiply that. And, of course, thank you !!
Thank you so much for being here!
Hey, thanks for having me! These are great questions, and I know I always say this but you really have such a graphically gorgeous blog!!
Find Carolyn Crane Online:
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~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,
Oh man what a great author and an awesome book giveaway!
Fantasy is just the best!
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Great interview. Thank you for sharing and the contest!
Does the dagger on the cover have significance in the book?
Great interview!! Carolyn is great shes so sweet on FB! Her books look amazing great giveaway Larissa!!
Kristen
My Bloody Fairy Tale
Great interview. Oh, man I'd love to meet Clay or Jeremy too! That anthology looks good.
Great interview. Sounds like a busy year coming up. Looking forward to the Mammoth book of Ghosts Romances.
Great Interview.
I have the first book and I would love to get the second one.
Oh great interview. the Quickies are always my favorite because they have great questions. Thank you for coming on and sharing with us.
New PR series?! WOOT! *waves cucumber*
I bought Mind Games not to long ago because someone told me I would be missing out on something if I didn't.
I also love Ms. Cole's books. They are like a train wreck. So cheesy alpha-male cliche's but I can't stop reading them and wanting one of those cheesy alpha-males for myself .
Heya!
Nice interview - it actually convinced me to move Carolyn's books higher up on my to-read list. And to start Kelley Armstrong's series already!:))
Oh, btw, I love the quickies, they're always fun!:D
Xo
I'm a big fantasy fan myself.
Being a fairly new owner of a Kindle though would ask what your thoughts were about ebooks and ereaders. Do you think they'll increase your reader base?
I enjoyed the interview and loved Mind Games.
andrea.infinger@gmail.com
Thanks for the great interview! Loved Mind Games and I'm so looking forward to the upcoming anthology! Happy Holidays!
Great Interview! I loved Mind Games =D
Mind Games it´s just a-w-e-s-o-m-e!!!
Great interview too
nice interview. Great answer.
I havent read both of them. I have I'll find a chance for it
I haven't read any books by Carolyn yet - hope I get a chance now :)
Great interview, I'm planning on reading Mind Games again soon and I'm looking forward to the new releases next year.
Great interview! I keep meaning to start this series, but haven't found the time yet. Plan to do so soon!
It is a good interview.
I always enjoy learning a bit more about an author.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
Carolyn Crane is becoming one of my automatic buy authors aswell, can't wait to read the new book.
Great interview! It was very intreguing :). I cannot wait to read this!!! Thank you for the awesome giveaway!
moonlightgleam(at)gmail(dot)com
I love this series. Thanks for stopping by and chatting
I've seen so many good reviews for the two books in this series. I'm getting Mind Games fr Christamas so I'll find out if I agree soon.
Great interview! Good choice with Clay- I'd like to meet him in real life too. I think he'd be fun to have a beer with.
What a great giveaway and author. I would love to read some of her other books. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
That was a great interview. Thanks so much for hosting it!!:
Carolyn is always sweet and fun, just like her books XD
I just started reading the first book and I'm loving it so far! :)
Sounds like an awesome book...thanks for the giveaway!
Im also a BIG fan of Kelley Armstrong. All of her novels are exceptionally well written and my favurite character has to Clay:)
holz_twilight@msn.com
Great list of favorites, Carolyn. Watching Buffy all those years ago is what got me hooked reading paranormal/urban fantasy stories.
Looking forward to reading book 2.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Oh I´ve never heard about this author but It would be nice to read her jajaja
XOXO Thanks for the giveaway
Nice interview, and oh I so wanna meet Clay too. My first werewolf fictional bf ;)
Seagull shifter?! LOL! That is one that I didn't expect to hear in my lifetime.
Great interview. Thanks for the giveaway!
Riley Jenson, Keri Arthur's werewolf/vampire hybrid can shift into a wolf and also a seagull. It seems to come in handy for her, so you may be on to something, LOL.
I always enjoy your posts Carolyn, because you're always so funny.
I really like your take on Urban Fantasy. So many people do not see the mystery as the base of the story. Yes, it is usually a kick-ass heroine. But the mystery to solve is still the base. It is just that the world has expanded to include more tools (and problems) to solve it.
Great giveaway! I love Crane, although I have to say, if you were to ask me what her books are about, I'm not sure I could answer, even after reading the first book
How funny that Carolyn likes revising best - that's the part that most authors absolutely hate. I finally just got Mind Games and I'm totally looking forward to reading it.
jen(at)delux(dot)com
Great interview...
Will look for her book ASAP
Hi Larissa & Carolyn :)
Thank you for the interesting & fun interview.
All the best,
RKCharron
fantastic interview - thanks sooo much! and I always love the quickie questions and answers :)
wish you all the best, Ina
great interview!!
Interesing interview.
I have heard so much about Double Cross I'm itching to read it.
I'm interested in shifters too - their powers are amazing!
lol your favorites and mine match. I have your series on my tbb list. Can't wait to get them and read them.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
Great interview! I've been wanting to read this series for a while now, but haven't gotten around to doing so yet.
<3,
TL
Great giveaway!
I loved the interview. Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite UF autors as well.
And about Clayton.. he's mine! You could keep Jer :)
Great giveaway!
I loved the interview. Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite UF autors as well.
And about Clayton.. he's mine! You could keep Jer :)
Great interview! I haven't read these books yet and will have to add them to my wish list!
Great interview! I'm with Meredith... Must add this books to my TBR pile!
;)
Loved the interview. And now I have even more great sounding books to add to my To Be Read Pile. :-)
Great interview! I'm also a fan of Buffy and Terminator.
Awesome interview! My pile gets bigger and bigger!! :D
Cynthia M
I love the interview I always enjoy to learn more about my favorite authors.
I really enjoyed Mind Games and I would love to read Double Cross!
Merry Christmas everyone:-)
Thanks for the awesome interview. I haven't read this series but I would love to.
And a sea gull shifter, how funny!
I've heard great things about book 2! Thanks for the interview & hosting the giveaway.
I've read Mind Games and loved it! I can't wait to read book 2! Thanks for this great interview:)
Great interview !
I really like the cover for Double Cross
raluk.93 at gmail (dot) com
It was great hearing about the writing process and what's involved.
polo-puppy-fluffyAThotmailDOTcom
Merry Christmas
Thanks so much for the opportunity. =)