Q & A Time

Thanks to everyone for your recent letters, questions, comments and critiques. I love how invested you've all become in the characters and worlds I have created.

Thanks also to everyone who has taken the time to write a review and post it on Goodreads/Amazon - truly appreciate your thoughts and feedback.

So let's get down to the business of answering all those burning questions:

Q - Who features in book nine? And when will it be published?
A - To Vex A Valkyrie features Fen, fireman, and brother to Locke, Hadleigh and Erik. The last singleton of the Valhalla clan living in the Southern Sanctuary.
Fen has watched as one after the other his siblings have fallen victim to the match making machination of Great-Aunt Alma, and he's determined not to be next. So much so, that even though it pains him he has taken a vow of celibacy.
Of course that is the moment a 6 foot Valkyrie falls right into his lap.
Brodie lives for war and the bloodier the battle, the better. Though the new y-generation of Valkyries keep complaining about how she is too blood-thirsty and scary.
Forced to take a holiday in the Southern Sanctuary - Brodie's boss has warned her not to return until she is completely chilled. Or in other words, bang a guy, they are the best stress relievers out there.
Brodie of course sets her sights on Fen. And with a deadly supernatural firebug thrown into the mix, it will take Fen and Brodie working together to survive... whilst falling in love along the way.

Publication date? I wish I could narrow it down. But with a bathroom renovation going on at my place and general life hassles - let's just say I expect to release book nine sometime in October or November. Promise to keep you updated.

Q - What is the strangest thing that has sparked your imagination or inspired something in one of your books?
A - I think the invisible sheep were a stroke of pure genius. But I didn't create them. Tom, then seven years old, the son of some friends of mine, had a flock of invisible sheep as imaginary play mates. As soon as he told me about them I knew I had to co-opt them for my world.

Q - Do you plan/plot out a book carefully before you commence writing?
A - Not to any great extent, no. What generally happens is that I'm writing a story and a fantastic meet-cute idea will occur to me regarding a secondary character. Which can be annoying - given I'm writing a novel featuring completely different characters.
And the more I ignore the great idea for the secondary characters - the more plot ideas occur to me.
This proved very annoying - when I was writing To Date A Disaster - featuring Erik & Cara. I was bombarded with all these great ideas on how to make Fen's (Erik's brother) life hellish. The whole idea of a Valkyrie who chases/pursues him just came to me.

Q - What other characters - that we've met - do you have plans to feature in up coming stories?
A - At this stage I am writing Quinn's story. Next up it is slated to be Riya and Marcus (Maat warrior). Then Darcy.
Down the track I have vague plans for Fraser, Gigi, Flynn and Dash.
And a character who has totally come out of left field whilst I am writing book ten to demand his own full length book is Elijah, head of the Enforcers.
I'd always had a novella in mind for him, but this fabulous secondary character has appeared in book ten who will prove a perfect match for him. Promises to be a lot of laughs and frustration on the cards for these two.
Elijah's story is slated to follow Darcy's starring turn.

Q - I'm pretty sure I know who Darcy ends up with, will you confirm his identity?
A - Where would be the fun in that? And you should know, I've been dropping hints since book one. Can't wait to get stuck into Darcy's tale, not too far away now. Think I've mentioned I've already written the prologue and have the whole thing vaguely plotted out. Darcy's a little demanding like that, as you well know.

Q - What's the best/worst thing about being a writer?
A - The best? Easy. Writing. I love bringing these characters to life. I love how often they end up surprising even me with the situations they get themselves in to.
The worst? The isolation. Writing is a solitary occupation. Sometimes it feels like you are in a vacuum, and that no one out there is reading your work, liking it or responding to it.

Q - Which of your books is your favourite?
A - I get asked this a lot. Is there a prize if I get the answer right? Kidding. I love all my books. And go through the same journey with each of them. I fall in love with my characters. They make me laugh, surprising even me with the stuff that comes out of their mouths.
Above all I want my characters to find a place to belong. A community that will accept them no matter how different or unique they are. And I want them to find a HEA with a meld mate who is obviously their best friend and perfect match.

Q - You've mentioned previously starting a new series, any update on that?
A - I have two sci-fi series battling it out in my head. I really like both ideas - but they are completely different.
At this stage I can't imagine changing my focus from the Southern Sanctuary series until I have written Darcy's tale. For some reason that book has always been some kind of milestone in my head.
Watch this space for more news in regards to new series.

Once again. Thanks to everyone for your letters, comments and feedback. Hopefully your burning question was covered by the above. If not, contact me via my Goodreads mailbox, or ask me a question on my Author Page.

Until my next blog... Happy Reading.