Author Interview & Contest with Sunny

When I contacted Bestselling author Sunny a few months ago, I didn't think I would get a reply. However a few days later Sunny herself replied to me and said she would be happy to be interview as long as the interview was only 6 questions long! Only six questions? How hard can that be? ;)

Sunny's Mona Lisa books took me totally by surprise and I hope that fans of the books will enjoy this interview and anyone who hasn't tried her books will get a craving to try them.

Here is the interview and if you keep reading till the end you will find the information you need to enter this weeks contest.

Enjoy!

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Amber - I am very honoured to have Sunny here as my guest this week on Amberkatze's Book Blog. I hope you will start us off by telling my readers a bit about your books?

Sunny - I enjoy blending dark fantasy with romance. My Mona Lisa series is based upon a "children of the moon" idea about a Monère race of supernatural creatures that are faster, stronger, and more beautiful than humans. The ability to shapeshift is one of their gifts. The Demon Princess Chronicles is a spin-off series set in the same world, but more about the blood-drinking demon dead, what the Monère become after they die. In both books, the heroines find not just one love but several gorgeous, worthy men.

Amber - How did the idea for the Mona Lisa series come about? Why the paranormal genre?

Sunny - The paranormal genre came secondary. The first and most important idea was the concept of a supernatural race of creatures descended from the moon, living on Earth after their planet died. The idea was birthed by both my husband and I collaboratively. He thought of using it for a young adult fantasy story, but never got around to writing it. I was quite taken with the idea as a possible adult romance, and it eventually it became my version of vampires and werewolves.

Amber - The books are very sexual. Do you find it hard to write those scenes? Do you have to do alot of research? ;)

Sunny - The "very sexual" part came as quite a surprise to me. I never intended or expected my stories to edge into the erotic, but when I hit the love scenes, the writing and emotions just flowed so easily and in-depth, and more and more ink was devoted to these scenes. I truly believe that to write well, you have to be fearless, and not worry about what your mom or dad or church members will say about your writing. Heck, at the time, I wasn't even sure if I was good enough to be published. I'd never completed a story before. For me, being daring and trying something new was very exciting. The love scenes certainly stirred my creative juice.

Amber - What does the future hold? More Mona Lisa books? More about Lucinda? Any other projects you are working on?

Sunny - LUCINDA, DANGEROUSLY, coming out in October 2009, will be the last book set in this world for a while. A couple of other series ideas have been brewing in the back of my brain for several years, and I want to get these written, and out of my system. I may return back to Mona Lisa's world eventually, but my plans aren't certain at this point.

Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Are there any series or authors that are a must read for you?

Sunny - I love anything that involves a strong heroine and a love story. I'm basically a romance reader, but have been pulled over into many other genres such as sci fi/fantasy, historicals, even westerns. I follow authors rather than genre. My favorite authors are Lisa Kleypas, Linda Howard, Jayne Anne Krentz, Nora Roberts, Iris Johansen, Suzanne Brockmann, J.R. Ward, Laurell K. Hamilton, Patricia Briggs, Lois McMaster Bujold, Charlaine Harris, Anne Bishop, Joey W. Hill, Sarah McCarty, and Stephanie Meyer.

Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature what would you be and why?

Sunny - That is a tough one. All of them seem to live in pretty vicious worlds. I guess I'd have to say a Monère Queen because she gets to have not just one true love but several, like Mona Lisa. I ended up falling in love with all her male lovers as I wrote them out.

Amber - Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope you will pop by again sometime!



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Contest Time!

Sunny's publisher is donating 2 free copies of MONA LISA DARKENING (to U.S. residents only please) for this weeks contest! So that means 2 winners will each get a copy of the newest Mona Lisa book.

To enter the contest tell us which male or female book character you find sexy!!

No Character Name = No entry!

The usual rules apply!

Earn another entry for each place you link this contest on the net. Make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries!

You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.

The contest will stay open until Sunday 28th of June 2009 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.

If you are claiming a prize, have emailed me and have not heard back before the 7 day limit is up then post a comment here on the blog. Your email may get sucked into my spam filter.