Author Interview & Contest with Jana Oliver

One of the books I have been really looking forward to this year is the second part of the Demon Trappers series. After finally getting and reading a copy of book 1, Forsaken, I just couldn't wait to see where the series would go next. I already ordered my UK version of book 2, Forbidden, from The Book Depository because it doesn't release in the States till the end of the month. I don't want to wait that long ;)

So I hope you all enjoy this interview with the author of this amazing new series. Jana Oliver not only explains what her Demon Trapper series is about but why it has two different names and which book is which!

Keep reading till the end and enter this weeks contest! You could win a copy of a Demon Trapper book!

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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your Demon Trappers Series?

Jana - The Demon Trappers Series tells the story of Riley Blackthorne, seventeen-year-old daughter of legendary Demon Trapper Paul Blackthorne. Riley wants to become just as awesome a trapper as her dad and that’s causing problems with the Atlanta Guild, who has never had a female in their midst. On top of dealing with guys who think she can’t handle the job, Riley is facing dating issues, family tragedies and the possibility that Heaven and Hell are headed to war.

Amber - Before we continue, I have to ask, what is up with the different titles and release dates for the series? Are the contents the same? Can you explain it? Or at least tell us which book is released where and when? ;)

Jana - It’s a bit confusing, isn’t it? The US and UK publishers decided they wanted different titles and covers right at the beginning, mostly so that books would appeal to their respective country’s readers. The books are essentially the same with a few minor differences in copyediting and grammar. The UK versions insert additional vowels in words such as humor, favor, and some of the more gritty scenes are slightly toned down. They also refer to gasoline as fuel, a curb as kerb and tires are spelled with a “y”. Other than that, they’re the same books.

A short and definite guide to which book is which:

US UK/Australia
Demon Trapper’s Daughter Demon Trappers: Forsaken
Soul Thief Demon Trappers: Forbidden
Forgiven Demon Trappers: Forgiven

A sharp-eyed observer will note that the US title for the 3rd book is now the same as for the UK as they decided to have them in sync.

For my German readers the first book will be published in September and it is entitled: Die Dämonenfängerin #1: Aller Anfang ist Hölle - Book 1 and it’ll also be out as an audio book.

Amber - I love the first book in the series, FORSAKEN/DEMON TRAPPERS DAUGHTER, and found it to be so original and unique. How did you come up with the idea for the Demon Trapper series? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?

Jana - The basis of the novel––the Grand Game between Heaven and Hell––had been percolating since I read GOOD OMENS (Pratchett and Gaiman) over a decade ago. The young adult part of the story came to me in late 2008. I thought it would be rather fun to take an everyday girl and put her in the midst of a dangerous, male-oriented profession. Once I wrote the first scene (which wasn’t the one that finally ended up in the book) Riley just took off as a really strong character.

Amber - Riley is a strong girl but has been through so much already. What can we expect her to be up against in the second Demon Trapper book, SOUL THIEF/ FORBIDDEN?

Jana - Life doesn’t get any easier for the poor girl. Both Heaven and Hell have been pulling her strings and those machinations result in Riley having to make some choices, not all of them wise. One decision, in particular, will have longstanding consequences.

Amber - Is it hard to write from a teenage point of view? Do you have a young helper?

Jana - It’s been a long time since I was a teen, so I rely on a fellow young adult author (Gillian Summers) and some younger folks to vet my work. I try to stay away from using too many slang words as sometimes they don’t stand the test of time. The best tactic is for me to remember what I was like at seventeen and how everything was a huge deal while I tried to figure out who I was and what my future might hold. Fortunately I never had to battle rampaging demons.

Amber - There are quite a few Demons to Trap in your series and I am sure we haven't seen them all yet. But which is your favourite demon and which one can't you stand?

Jana - I’m really fond of the Grade One Klepto-Fiends (or Magpies as the trappers call them). They aren’t nasty, they’re just hooked on shiny stuff so they creep around and nick things. The one that lives in Riley’s apartment is actually sort of nice for being one of Lucifer’s minions.

Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?

Jana - They just come to me, though I did take particular care with picking Riley, Beck and Ori’s names. Riley Anora (Blackthorn) means valiant light. Ori means my light and Denver Beck doesn’t have a middle name as his mother couldn’t be bothered to pick one out for him. In fact his first name came courtesy of the travel magazine in the labor and delivery room.

Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Why did you pick Young Adult and the paranormal genre?

Jana - When I was about ten I wanted to be a spy but I became a registered nurse instead (less explosions, for one thing). I really didn’t have that desire to be an author until 1998 when suddenly I had all these stories that needed to be told.

Amber - I am sure that being an author has its ups and downs. What experiences have you had so far?

Jana - I’ve had some amazing ups and some annoying downs. One of the big “ups” was finding out that my Demon Trappers Series had a US publisher, then that it was going to be published in the UK and Germany. The downs are a lot less dramatic, just the usual run-of-the-mill job related hassles. It’s a difficult, time consuming, solitary profession. On the plus side I get to tell stories and get paid for it (grin).

Amber - When will we see more Demon Trapper books? Are you working on any other projects?

Jana - The second book in the series (FORBIDDEN (UK/Australia) and SOUL THIEF (US/Canada) will be out in August. The third in the series (it’s called FORGIVEN both in the US & the UK) should be in out Feb. 2012. Given how quickly the books are published I don’t have a lot of time to do much else, though I do pen a short story every now and then.

Amber - Alot of authors have 'soundtracks' for their books. Is there any music influenced your books?

Jana - I definitely use a sound track. I’ve set up those tracks on Playlist.com and Spotify.com (for those in the UK)

For Playlist the link for Book #1 & Book #2.

Spotify

Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favourite authors/series?

Jana - I read all sorts of different books. On my To Be Read pile currently holds: DIVERGENT (Veronica Roth), THE LAST WEREWOLF (Glen Duncan) and I just finished MOON OVER SOHO by Ben Aaronovitch. Jim Butcher’s next Harry Dresden novel has already been ordered so that’ll be a treat.

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

Jana - I can’t handle zombies, vampires are night owls (and I’m not) and werewolves probably have fleas. I think I’d like to be a shape-shifting faery. That might be rather fun as long as I wasn’t around any iron.

Amber - Thank you so much for being a guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog! I hope you will come back again ;)





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Contest Time


Jana and her team are giving away a copy of The Demon Trappers - Forbidden and maybe some more?


How To Enter? Just answer the question below!


Who is your favourite Demon?


No answer = No Entry


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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.

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The contest will stay open until Sunday 14th of August 2011 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.