**Author Peek** Interview with Michele Callahan
**AUTHOR PEEK** Interview with MICHELE CALLAHAN
INTRODUCING…Michele Callahan.
Hi Karen!
Thanks for having me on the Book Bench this week. I am very, very excited to introduce the world to a new sci-fi and paranormal romance anthology that includes USA Today Bestselling author S.E. Smith, Mina Khan, Carolyn Jewel and myself (Michele Callahan). We’ve got four amazing stories to share with everyone starting JUNE 15. It’s called ALPHAS UNLEASHED.
How did this anthology to life?
Well, I’ve wanted to rub elbows with these ladies for a while. I met Mina and Carolyn at RomCon. I’ve never met S.E. Smith, but I LOVE her sci-fi books. So, I took a chance and asked them! I did a snoopy dance as each of them said ‘Yes’. Since then (last October) S.E. hit the USA Today list, Mina won the Readers’ Crown last year, and Carolyn’s My Immortals series is rocking. I’m very excited. (And S.E. Smith IS coming to RomCon this year, so I’m excited to finally meet her in person!)
How did you ladies come up with this title? And what does it mean?
Well, we wanted a common theme in the stories, and decided that an escape theme would work perfectly for everyone. So, in each story (2 paranormal and 2 sci-fi tales) the heroes are prisoners of some sort when the story opens. They escape, kick ass, and fall in love. Sounded like fun to me! When it came time to decide on a title, we literally went through dozens before settling on Alphas Unleashed. Each hero is a bad-ass alpha male, and they are all unleashed once they escape.
So, what is the name of your story, and what is it about?
My contribution is a Sci-Fi story called CHIMERA BORN. With my Timewalkers wrapping up this summer (Book 3 and 4 – Blue Abyss and Black Gate – will be out in June, followed by the finale – White Fire in August) I knew it was time to write the books of my heart. I got the original idea for this story line about 23 years ago and it’s been brewing ever since. I felt like I had to grow up to write them. When I was twenty, I wasn’t ready yet. Too young, not enough life experience. Not enough suffering. Honestly, the idea of writing them scared the hell out of me for years. Now I finally feel like I’m ready. Bring on the nightmares!
CHIMERA BORN is the story of Aron of Itara. He’s a forbidden son of the the ruling class of near-Immortals on his home world. His mother was targeted for execution just for getting pregnant with him. She fled to Earth and Aron spent the first 11 years of his life happy and free. Then the Triscani captured him and killed his mother. 800 years later an encounter with a Timewalker sets him free. And let’s just say, he’s not really happy with the Triscani, but he’s been a prisoner for centuries. He needs help navigating our modern world.
Enter Zoey. Human woman, journalist, and conspiracy theory blogger. She’s thrilled to have an honest-to-God alien to interview, and he’s happy to have a guide in our modern world. Of course, the Triscani hunters aren’t happy about losing him and the couple are forced to run. Aron has a desperate plan to save humanity from the evil Triscani and the scheming rulers form his home world, but they’re going to have to stay away from the bad guys long enough for Aron to do what he needs to do. I would say more, but I don’t want to give it away. J Falling head-over-heels in love wasn’t part of the plan for either one of them.
Why do you write sci-fi romance? Why not some other genre?
I’m a science geek. I love anything in outer space or paranormal (if it has a scientific element that might be used to explain the phenomenon.) I tried to write a historical western once. The school teacher heroine ended up with precognitive dreams and the hero, big shocker here, told me he was telekinetic. I finished the book, re-read it, laughed out loud and put it in a drawer. I stopped fighting my muse after that. It’s been modern mixes of sci-fi/paranormal ever since. And why romance? Because love makes the world go round. Love is the glue that holds the world together. I totally believe that. Love rocks.
I hope you all enjoy my books! See you JUNE 15. ;)
Hugs and happy reading!
Michele Callahan http://michelecallahan.com
RomCon http://romcon.com
P.S. Tell me a reason you love sci-fi romance and I’ll send three winners a digital ARC of ALPHAS UNLEASHED.
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Links to Michele’s website, blog, books, etc.
Michele Callahan http://michelecallahan.com
RomCon http://romcon.com
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BE SURE TO COME BACK to read more about Michele and her story, CHIMERA BORN, one of the five books included in the Alphas Unleashed anthology along with U.S. Today Bestselling Author S.E. Smith, Mina Khan, and Carolyn Jewel, on Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench. Happy Reading!
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**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Michele will give away a digital ARC of ALPHAS UNLEASHED to three lucky readers: Tell her why you love SciFi Romance on her Monday Interview or Wednesday Book Bench blogs. Don’t miss this chance to read this collection of stories. Thanks, Michele, for sharing with us!
