Author Interview & Contest with Lori Handeland

My last author guest this month is Lori Handeland!

Lori is published world wide in several genres--historical, contemporary, series and paranormal romance, as well as urban fantasy and historical fantasy. You may know her for her Nightcreature Novels and The Phoenix Chronicles!

Any fans of either series will find the following interview interesting! Also anyone wanting to try and win a set of Lori's books should make sure they enter the contest! Plus check out the new Nightcreature Novel! Book #10, MOON CURSED, is due out this week!

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Amber - Welcome back to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here again as a guest! You have a new book out on March 1st. Can you tell us a bit about the story in Moon Cursed?

Lori - Great to be back. Thanks for having me.

In Moon Cursed Kristin Dainels is the host of the television show HOAX HUNTERS. She's traveled to the ends of the earth to explore, and expose, life's most enduring myths. Now she's bound for Scotland where she intends to get to the bottom of the Loch Ness Monster legend once and for all. But once in the quaint village of Drumnadrochit, on the shores of the loch, she encounters not only the local "keeper of the loch" the seductive Liam Grant, but many unanswered questions. Edward Mandenauer shows up for a creepy conversation, and before Kris knows what's going on, she's involved in murder, mayhem and mystery.

Amber - It is so great to see the Nightcreature novels back. Why did they take such a long break?

Lori - The Nightcreature Novels were a victim of the vagaries in publishing. They weren't selling as well as they should have and were put "on hold" while I was asked to write another series. But now they're back and I couldn't be happier.

Amber - Was it hard to go back to writing the Nightcreature series? Did you already have the new books written?

Lori - I was concerned it would be hard, but it wasn't. I was able to slip right back into that world, thank goodness! I did not have the new books written.

Amber - Moon Cursed is the tenth book in the Nightcreature series. How many more can we expect to see? Do you have some way you want to end it or will you keep writing them as long as the fans keep reading them? ;)

Lori - I will keep writing them as long as I can.

Amber - Away from the Nightcreatures and to the Phoenix Chronicles. Can we expect to see Liz again?

Lori - That is up in the air right now. Publishing again.

Amber - Can you tell us a little about your book Shakespeare Undead? I keep seeing it on Amazon but haven't quite managed to get it in my basket yet.

Lori - Shakespeare Undead is a mash-up in the tradition of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. In my book, Shakespeare is a vampire and the dark lady of his sonnets a zombie hunter. They must join forces to save Queen Elizabeth and London from a zombie horde. Along they way they fall in love. I have just begun writing the follow up Zombie Island, my take on The Tempest, and the further adventures of Will and Kate.

Amber - What is next? Are you working on any other projects you would like to tell us about?

Lori - Once I complete Zombie Island I will begin a new venture that I'm very excited about. I will be writing western historical romances under the name Lori Austin. I began my career writing westerns so I'm thrilled to be able to do them again.

Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Why did you pick the Paranormal Urban Fantasy genre?

Lori - I have always wanted to be an author, or at least since I was 10 when I figured out that was a job! I ended up in the paranormal genre eventually because that was what I enjoyed reading.

Amber - What other paranormal creatures would you like to write about besides the ones you've already written about?

Lori - I'm open to pretty much anything. I never know what kind of creature is going to pop out once I begin writing.

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

Lori - Names are hard. I have to have just the right one and have been known to change the name after I've begun the book. I'm not really sure how I get to the "right" name. I just keep looking through baby name books until one strikes me as "the" one.

Amber - Would you ever be able to write a book together with another author? If yes, which author would you like to work with and why?

Lori - I have written a series with another author (my friend Linda Winstead Jones, w/aLinda Devlin)-alternating books in the same town--called The Rock Creek Six. (Basically the Magnificent Seven, with six) We had a great time and I'd be happy to do any other project with her at any time.

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

Lori - I did write a proposal for a YA book. Unfortunately it didn't sell.

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

Lori - After I work all day I like to spend my evenings watching TV. My new favorite show is BEING HUMAN. I also love Castle, V, Fringe,Supernatural, Dexter, Medium, Bones. I can't listen to music while I write, but on my ipod I have quite a collection for when I jog--from Guns n Roses to John Denver.

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

Lori - Perhaps a fairy. Flying would be cool. Magic. Pixie dust. I could use that.

Amber - Thanks for visiting Amberkatze's Book Blog again!







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Contest Time

Lori is giving away a set of The Phoenix Chronicles! Yes! One lucky winner will get all four books in the Phoenix Chronicles!

How To Enter

Which historical figure would you like to see go Paranormal?

No answer = 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.

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 Sunday 6th of March 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.