Author Interview & Contest with Lynsay Sands

This week I have a second author interview for you guys! Please give a warm welcome to author Lynsay Sands!

Lynsay is well know for her Argeneau and Rogue Hunter Vampire series and I know that a lot of you are looking forward to the new book, Born To Bite, which comes out at the end of August. Oh and we are lucky readers this year because in November we also get Hungry For You! Argeneau fans update your wishlists or better yet pre-order. I already have :)

So enjoy the interview and check back because Lynsay is going to try and stop by! Be sure to read till the end and enter the contest. Lynsay is giving away a special prize!

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Amber - Lynsay, welcome to Amberkatze's Book blog! You have a new Argeneau novel out! Born to Bite is the 13th book in the series and I am sure it isn't going to be unlucky for you. Can you tell us a little about what we can expect this time around?

Lynsay – Actually 13 is a lucky number for me. One of my parents was born on the 13th, and that was pretty darned lucky in my opinion, since if they hadn't been born, neither would I. As for what you can expect, Born to Bite clears up the question of what really happened fifty years ago with Nicholas and the poor woman he was accused of killing. Unfortunately, explaining it in Renegade Hunter would have given away all of Armand's story, so it had to wait until now. It was also too much to explain in just a couple paragraphs and they only give me so many words per story. It also clears things up about Armand's bad luck with wives and brings him back into the fold which is definitely a good thing.

Amber - How do you decide which Argeneau will be next and what is going to happen to them?

Lynsay – I don't really decide so much as they do. Now you’re thinking “what does she mean by that?!” LOL. What I mean is that ideas circulate inside my head all the time. Some stay just a possibility or scene that floats through once or twice, but others will grow and become more insistent or even whole stories. The one that squawks the most, or takes up more of my thoughts, ends up being the next story. It's kind of like the squeaky wheel getting the grease, and once I start writing I often hit a point where the characters start doing completely unexpected things, that's when I know it's working, because they've taken on a life of their own in a way. I know a lot of writers plot whole stories out and so on, but I can't work that way. I just can't force a story. Either it comes or it doesn’t. If I try to force it, which believe me I have tried in the past, it simply doesn't work. The story will be stiff and horrible and I suffer a great deal to produce it. So I've learned to listen more to the characters. Right now Christian, Jeanne Louise and Harper are making the most noise in my head, and Harper is in the lead with Mirabeau, Tiny and Stephanie backing him up on wanting us to visit Port Henry again, so-- at the moment--that's who I think the next book I write will be about. However, that could change by the time I sit down to hear their story.

Amber - The Argeneau books are one of my favourites reads. Will there be more?

Lynsay – Yes! As mentioned, Armand's story, Born To Bite is coming out in September and Alex Willan's story, Hungry For You is coming out in December. Also, I have just signed a contract for another 3 books in the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series. But there are more than three stories floating around inside my head. There are so many characters to play with in this series that the ideas just keep rolling in.

Amber - With so many Argeneau books do you find it hard to keep track of who did what and when? Have there been mistakes? ;)

Lynsay – It does get to be a problem at times but generally I do pretty well at keeping it straight. The occasional thing has made it into the books but it’s only happened a couple of times and readers tend to enjoy pointing it out! LOL

Amber - Are you like any of your characters? Or are any of your characters based on people you know?

Lynsay – Many of my characters are based in part on people I know like family members, but no one character is entirely based on one person. As for whether I'm like any of my characters, I suppose there's a bit of me in every one of them. . . well, maybe not the bad guys . . . I mean, I hope not the bad guys, lol

Amber - How do you pick the names of your characters? Are they just names you like, people you know or do they have some other meaning?

Lynsay - Some names I choose because I like them. They could be names I’ve come across in my readings, daily life or people I know. However others have meaning like Argeneau and Argentus based on latin for silver because they have silvered blue eyes. And Leonius Livius, for example was named that because he's got a lion's mane of blond hair (Leonius), and because underneath all his madness, he envies the immortals. And then too, I often name characters after family members, many have shown up in the books in name at least.

Amber - What kind of research have you done for the Argeneau books? Anything interesting or is the research boring?

Lynsay – Research for the Argeneau books is interesting but then again I like doing research as I find history and science interesting. For the Argeneaus, I had to do some scientific research to find a logical reason for their immortality and what may or may not be plausible for them to do or get done to them physically. I looked up a lot of bio-engineering and nano research for that. Sometimes I also have to do historic research for the eras and areas they were living in in the past if it’s necessary for the story. And I sometimes do geographic research for areas they visit or reside in now. This research is fun though as it forces me to take a ‘vacation’ to wherever it is the characters going to go.

Amber - What are you listening and watching lately? Is there any music or other media that influences your writing?

Lynsay – I have my favourite shows. I watch funny and scary and avoid depressing. I also do this in reading. I watch Supernatural, Big Bang Theory, and used to watch Ugly Betty though that's done now. And I tend to listen to all sorts of music, from dance to alternative to soft rock. It all depends on my mood.

Amber - There are a lot of online sites taking up people’s time lately. Are you on Facebook or any other sites? Do you think the sites are useful or do they just take up too much of your time?

Lynsay – Groan… well I am on many sites. Facebook, Myspace, Windows Live blog, Twitter, my forum and message board on my website, etc. Do I think it’s a waste of time? I think it can be very time consuming and though I love to chat with readers I feel sometimes it can be a bit much as it can go on 24/7, if you let it. I guess it’s like everything else… the key is moderation. But I have to say, instead of being the time saving device it was supposed to be when first created, the computer has instead become a time eater with a voracious appetite.

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

Lynsay – That’s easy… an immortal like my Argeneaus. You never age, you’re strong, you’re fast, can have as many careers as you like and you never get sick. Only downside would be having to drink bagged blood (ick) and the possibility of never finding your lifemate. That would suck. I’m sure living that long without someone you could relax around would get pretty lonely.






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Contest Time

Lynsay is giving away a special prize! One lucky person will get a copy of Love Bites with the old cartoon cover (see pic). These are now out of print and may actually be worth something in the future! While I think the new covers are nice and steamy, I loved the cute cartoon covers.

How To Enter

Who is your favourite Argeneau? and why?

No Character = No Entry

Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter & MySpace but make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries! However please do not make individual postings for each entry. Please post all your entries in one post.

Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest!

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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.

Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.

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The contest will stay open until Sunday 1st of August 2010 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.