Romancing Your Dark Side Tour Week: Jamie Magee Interviews Stacey Kennedy

As a part of the Romancing Your Dark Side Tour we have a few stops that allow us to interview each other. I admit I was really excited about this – I thought to myself now…I can get the answers I want! Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Stacey Kennedy the author of Whatnots & Doodads. It has been a delight to be on this tour with her and I look forward to diving to each of her novels.

About the Author, Stacey Kennedy:

Stacey Kennedy’s urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn’t plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she’s got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.

About the Book, Whatnots & Doodads:

For Bryanna, a witch from the Asheville Coven, magic is on the fritz. Shunned by her coven and her boyfriend Layton for her unruly magic, she seeks a new life for herself. It just so happens, fate steps in and brings her to Strange Hollow--a place where being different is not only acceptable, but encouraged.

When Bryanna arrives in Strange Hollow, Zeke, a demon gone good, is burning with Hell’s fire over her. Not only has she set his world ablaze, but he’s found one soul he can save. He’s determined to free her from the insecurities that have damaged her soul.

Together they experience lava-hot passion as they weave their way through a tornado of emotions. But when Layton returns for her, will Zeke’s attempts to break the unworthy cage woven around her be enough to keep her in Strange Hollow forever? 

The Interview:

1)      I love your title, Whatnots & Doodads – how did you come up with that name? Was it your first choice or did you debate on others?

The character, Bryanna came up with this title. I knew I needed something quirky to reflect the humor that’s in the story and this line comes right from her dialogue.  She’s a witch but not a very good one. Every time she conjures magic it always comes out in weird sort of ways, and she calls them her “Whatnots and Doodads”. So that’s where the title came from. It’s her description of the items her magic produces.

2)      So…what’s your sign? ( I love the zodiac can you tell?!) Do you feel like the characteristics of that sign fit you?

I’m a Sagittarius and yes, I fit that sign perfectly! Whenever I read a little snippet of what they traits are, I’m always shocked how many similarities there are. Below is a perfect example:

Your optimism and big ideas are always helpful in the workplace when you are given the freedom you require to express yourself. One of the strongest qualities of a Sagittarian person is their imagination. This imagination fits in with the symbol of the Sagittarius. The symbol is an Archer half man/ half horse which symbolizes the attempt to free it's self from the grasp of a mythic animal.

3)      What draws you to write your genre? 

Easy answer, I love the paranormal and it’s my favorite genre to read. Give me alpha men, magic, mystery, danger…and I’m a sucker.

4)      When you wrote Whatnots & Doodads did you write it from the beginning to the end – or did you write the story line in a different order?

I always write in order and the reason being is because, I’m a panster. I can’t plot a book out for the life of me. Honestly, I sit there and stare at a blank screen. I only know what’s going to happen as I’m writing it. Sometimes on karger stories, I’ll plot after just to make sure I’m hitting character ARC’s and things happen when they should, but for the most part it’s all in order. Well, sometimes I skip to the steamy stuff because both the characters and me get impatient.

5)      What is a must have when you write?

Coffee—that’s it…that’s all!

6)      I have found that a lot of writers have playlist that they love to write with – do you have one? If so, what songs are on it ?

I think it’s awesome that writers can work with music but I’m not one of them. I love silence.

7)      What inspires you to write – where do your ideas come from?

Most of the time my ideas come for the story I’m writing. I’ll branch off using side characters that demand their stories be told or a completely different set of characters pop into my head that are totally unrelated. I never fight it. If someone wants their story told…I tell it.

8)      What did you find to be the most challenging about the writing process?

Edits—I loathe them!  I love seeing the story become richer through the advice of my editor but I honestly hate that part. I get grumpy.

9)      What is the easiest part about the writing process – what do you adore about what you do?

I love creating. My favorite part is writing the first draft. I love to see where the characters take me and since I’m not a plotter, it’s as exciting for me as it is for the reader because I never know what’s going to happen next.

10)   Where can readers reach you:

Website – www.staceykennedy.com

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000956942180

Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/Stacey_Kennedy

Wow, what a great interview! Thank you so much Stacey, I can see we a lot in common when it comes to writing styles ( I’m a proud panster, too!) .

I hope everyone enjoyed talking to Stacey as much as I did – do you have any questions you would like to ask her? I know she would be excited to answer them – so ask away.

*Virtual Gift Basket Giveaway - Ebooks upon Ebooks, swag, goodies.*

Comment to enter all week long, August 14 – 20^th Winner will be chosen on the 21 :)

Romancing Your Dark Side Tour Week: A. Jacob Sweeny Interviews Jamie Magee

This interview is conducted by A, Jacob Sweeny author of Pulse Of Heroes and she is interviewing Jamie Magee, author of two fantastical paranormal novels Insight and Embody 

About the Author, Jamie Magee:

Jamie Magee has always believed that each of us have a defining gift that sets us apart from the rest of the world, she has always envied those who have known from their first breath what their gift was. Not knowing hers, she began a career in the fast paced world of business. Raising a young family, and competing to rise higher in that field would drive some to the point of insanity, but she always found a moment of escape in a passing daydream. Her imagination would take her to places she’d never been, introduce her to people she’s never known. Insight, her debuting novel, is a result of that powerful imagination. Today, she is grateful that not knowing what defined her, led her on a path of discovery that would always be a part of her. 

http://www.insightjamiemagee.com/

About the Book,  Embody:

Not many Scorpio’s are known for their patience, and Willow Haywood is no different. Her only desire is to love Landen Chambers and redeem the lost souls of Esterious, but the path to that desire is long, dark and dangerous...

Before Willow’s life had a chance to balance the sudden revelations and grief she had to endure to get to Chara a disturbing discovery is made. A photo, one that shows Willow blissfully embracing the flawless image of Drake Blakeshire; giving her not only proof that she had lived before, but that she had loved him. 

Running away from the memory of Drake’s hypnotizing touch, and the prophecy set before her seemed like the logical thing to do. That is, until a dark dream reignites her passion to save the hopeless dimension of Esterious. Willow struggles to find patience – to learn everything she needs to know before she faces Drake again, but her eagerness is dangerous and one step in the wrong direction takes everything and everyone away from her – the only way to survive this trial is for Willow to remember who she is and what she really wants out of this life.

The Interview:

1)      What was your creative spark that got you to write your first novel?

I tend to daydream constantly – about movies, books, conversations – anything and everything. One day I realized I was daydreaming about something that hadn’t been written – something that was original and unseen by anyone else. I  can’t explain where the spark came from or why for the first time in my life I truly took a leap of faith…all I can I say is I wish I could have found this passion sooner because the only regret I have after taking a leap into the literary world is that I hadn’t  taken it sooner.

2)      How different was the process of writing the second novel?

Embody was a lot easier to write. When Insight came to life I had to introduced and understand the characters, not only to myself, but to the readers as well. Once I knew who they were it was so much easier to anticipate their reaction to the conflict that I could see blooming all around them. The story literally seemed to take its own direction.

I think another reason it was so simple was because the first flash – the image that inspired Insight never surfaced in Insight – it did not show itself until almost the end of Embody – I was determined to reach that scene - to get the images out of mind and safely into a word document. With this forethought, I began writing Embody from the center of the book – I wrote the middle – the beginning, then the end. With Insight I wrote from the beginning to the end. I found that each novel I’ve written comes to life within its own terms.

3)Which character in your books has the most of 'you' in them.?

To be honest I can see a reaction or thought I would have in each of the characters of the Insight Series, although, Willow, my lead character, tends to remind me of myself more than others. I didn’t even grasp this as I wrote the story. In fact it wasn’t until I allowed my mother to read the story ( my mother saw her daughter in Willow) that I realized that a part of me was imbedded in this character. Willow has an Insight that allows her to feel others emotions. In my life, in every moment of conflict, I always find myself trying to understand how the other person feels – it helps me to find a peaceful resolution in most cases. Willow also has a focus that allows her to see past the dark moment she is in and drive forward to the resolution she wants – I to tend to do this in my life as well .

4) How do you deal with reviews?

Well…if we all had the same opinions life would be quite boring – so I embrace them! However, I’ve learned not to read them as I am writing a new novel. In the past when I’ve done this the words of the reviewer echo in my mind and when this happens the story I am creating is catered to their desire – which means it is no longer a natural flow of words.

One of the best things about being a writer is sharing a part of  your soul with the world – when you give something so deeply you have to appreciate what is returned to you weather it is what you wanted to hear or not.

I am abundantly grateful for each and every person that has not only read my books – but taken the extra step to share their opinion with not only me, but the world.

5)Name three of your favorite authors and why?

E.B White the author of Charlotte’s web. This was the first ‘big girl’ book I read. It was a story that taught me so much about life and led me to believe that authors were magical people – simply because they could invoke emotion at a distance.

Nicholas Sparks – this author has a way of showing his readers that love does not always have a fairy tale beginning or ending, and that in the span of a lifetime a person can change several times.

Francine Rivers – Her story ‘Redeeming Love’ left me in deep thought for days. This author has a way of invoking every emotion possible within her work.

Thank you so much Jamie for sharing with us your knowledge, perspective, and  inspirations; the inner workings of the author. 

*Virtual Gift Basket Giveaway - Ebooks upon Ebooks, swag, goodies.*

Comment to enter all week long, August 14 – 20^th Winner will be chosen on the 21 :)