Author Interview & Contest with Casey Daniels!

I have been following Casey Daniels' Pepper Martin books since the series started and I love each and every one of them.

The eighth book in the series has just been released and I couldn't resist asking Casey to come back to Amberkatze's Book Blog to talk about Wild Wild Death.

So enjoy the interview, get to know Casey and Pepper and check out the books! Oh and make sure you read to the end and enter the contest!

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Amber - Welcome back to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here again as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your new Pepper Martin book, Wild Wild Death?

Casey - Readers will remember that at the end of "A Hard Day's Fright," Pepper lost her job. Good thing! She's going to need some extra free time. A friend of hers has been kidnapped, and she has to travel to New Mexico to arrange the ransom. Sounds easy until she realizes she's got to dig up a dead body and take the bones with her! Things only get more complicated from there. The bones get stolen, bodies start dropping, and there's a hunk of a Pueblo police chief who's making it hard to concentrate. As always, Pepper manages with her own special brand of panache!

Amber - Wild Wild Death is the eight book in the series. How do you decide what Pepper is going to be up against next?

Casey - Well, book #9 is already written and will be out in September. It's called "Supernatural Born Killers," and like all ideas, it morphed from what I originally intended. I was thinking about doing something based on a classic book (I won't say what since I want to use the idea in the future!) but instead, I have Pepper back in Cleveland and dealing with a whole world she's not familiar with--comic books. Superman originated in Cleveland, you know, and she's about to find out a whole lot about the Man of Steel!

Amber - Pepper has had a lot of ghostly encounters. How many more do you think she will have?

Casey - I'd like to think she'll have many, many more. That remains to be seen. Publishing is a fickle business.

Amber - What famous person could be Pepper's twin?

Casey - Oh my...I don't know much about famous people. I'm afraid I have no idea!

Amber - Do you get much say in the way the finished book looks? For example do you choose the cover? Title?

Casey - I have always chosen the titles for the Pepper books. As far as the cover, my editor and I talk about the book, about what scenes I'd like to emphasize. I send pics of Pepper's outfits. For instance, for "Wild, Wild Death," I love the fact that Pepper gets to buy a pair of cowboy books while she's in New Mexico and I found a picture of the perfect pair online. Pepper loves these boots and I was so glad they were included on the cover!

Amber - What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

Casey - A tough question. Just getting published in the first place is a very big deal. Staying published for 20 years (yes, it's 20 years in 2012!) and having more than 40 books under my belt is a pretty big deal. It's a tough business, and it's not easy for any writer to keep his/her head above water. The fact that I've been able to make my living at this crazy game is something I'm very proud of.

Amber - A lot of authors are writing now in both adult and YA genres. Have you considered writing a YA book?

Casey -I have written YA! Back in the day, I wrote a trilogy called Year of the Cat as Zoe Daniels. I also write the Blood Moon trilogy as Connie Laux. They were great fun and I loved doing them.

Amber - What made you want to be a writer? Were there any books or authors that had an influence on you?

Casey - I've always loved words and it's only been recently that I think I figured out why. All four of my grandparents were from Europe and spoke only broken English. I think one of the reasons words interest me is that they didn't have the words. I had to find them for myself, and learn what things were called. Of course, I knew the normal things. For example, I knew birds were called "Birds" (duh!) but I had to learn all the variety of birds' names. It was that sort of thing that made me want to know all the words, all the time, to describe everything. I also think that being naturally nosey is a big asset for a writer. And being a write gives me the perfect excuse to eavesdrop!

Amber - What comes next? More Pepper? Other projects?

Casey -As I mentioned, Pepper #9 is done. I'm currently working on book #3 in the Button Box msytery series I write as Kylie Logan. Book #1 was "Button Holed," and that was out last September. Book #2 is "Hot Button," and it will be out in June. In addition, I've got a new series starting next year.

Amber - What have you been reading and watching lately? Do you have any recommendations for us?

Casey - I haven't had much time to read anything lately. I'll blame that on the Christmas holidays! As for watching, I love "Bones." Good mysteries, and great personal interaction. I've also just discovered "Hidden City" on the Travel Channel, all about the dark underbelly of famous cities. That ones kind of fun. And of course, the old stand bys, "Ghost Hunters," "Ghost Adventures," "Psych" (those guys crack me up!).

Amber - What's your favorite ghost movie?

Casey - Hmm... not sure I have one. I scare very easily, so I never, ever watch scary movies. I remember loving "The Canterville Ghost" as a kid. Haven't seen that one in years, wonder if I'd still like it.

Amber - If you could be any famous person, alive or dead, who would you be? and why?

Casey - I can barely handle being myself! Not sure I'd want to be someone else. That doesn't mean I'm not interested in plenty of other peoples' lives. I love reading about history and the people who lived in other times and places. I've recently gotten interested in genealogy and I love, love, love doing research.

Amber - Thank you for being on the blog again! I hope you will be back again soon!

Casey - Thanks, Amber. It's always a pleasure!

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Pepper Martin Series

#1 - Don of the Dead
#2 - The Chick and the Dead
#3 - Tombs of Endearment
#4 - Night of the Loving Dead
#5 - Dead Man Talking
#6 - Tomb with a View
#7 - A Hard Day's Fright
#8 - Wild Wild Death
#9 - Supernatural Born Killers (Due out in September)

Button Box Mystery Series
(Writing as Kylie Logan)

#1 - Button Holed
#2 - Hot Button (Due out in June)





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Contest Time

Casey is giving away a copy of her latest release, Wild Wild Death. Sorry only open to US entrants!


How To Enter


What famous ghost would you like to talk to? Help solve their death?


No Answer = No Entry


'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an 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.

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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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Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.

The contest will stay open until Saturday 22nd of January 2012 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.