Hello Everyone,
Welcome my guest, author, Liena Ferror. She writes paranormal shifter romances. Liena, I am glad to have you here today, and I'm loaded with questions.
Response: Thanks for having me today, Sandy. It's a pleasure to be here with you.
SM: Liena, before we get to business tell us a bit about yourself and your family. Do they support your writing?
LS: I live in South Central Pennsylvania with my husband and daughter. My son is currently serving in the U.S. Navy. I have a small zoo's worth of animals. When I'm not writing, I'm reading or making jewelry. I'm a huge sports and documentary fan so I watch a lot of TV in the evenings.
My family has been amazingly supportive of my writing career. My husband is actually the reason I gave writing a try.
Question: When did you first start writing?
Answer: My husband told me that I read so much that I could probably write a book. He was right on both counts. I was always reading. After his comment, I decided to give writing a try. It took two years but I finished my first manuscript which was a suspense. It was rejected but I was undeterred and tried writing a story in my favorite sub-genre of paranormal romance. It is getting published in November. It's amazing what the power of suggestion can do.
Question: What made you choose this genre to write in and what exactly is a paranormal shifter romance?
Answer: Romance has always been my favorite genre to read so it was natural for me to write it. I love happily ever afters and romances are chock full of them.
A paranormal shifter romance is a story about a hero or heroine who has the capability to physically change some part of their bodies as in a lycanthrope or werewolf. My lycans can change from human form, to a wolf and lastly, a mid-form or combination of both. They grow fur, claws and their faces change into that of a wolf's, but they stand upright and can speak.
Question: What made you choose digital over print? Do you think digital is here to stay? Oh, I know that's two questions, but I'm really curious about this technology.
Answer: I researched publishers, both digital and print and came across my current publisher, Eirelander Publishing and liked the fact they were a green publisher. I immediately had a good feeling about them so I submitted my manuscript to them for consideration.
I think that digital publishing will be here to stay as the world becomes more eco-friendly. More and more companies are turning to the internet for their commerce. Going paperless. I believe publishers will be no different.
Question: Tell us a bit about your story.
Answer: My first and latest release is Queen of the Ghost Drakon which is part of the Risen Series. The heroine, Keara McCabe starts every day thinking she is your typical human female until the fateful night when she gets bit by a bloodsucker and watches as he dies a painful death. She is thrust into a world where paranormal species exist and she find out not only do they exist, she's one of them and her blood is toxic to vampires. Together her and her hero, lycan Gannon Langon work to help her cope with being more than human and to keep her alive.
Question: Your story has a carnal rating. Does that mean it's steamy? lol
Answer: By definition carnal means pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual: carnal pleasures.
It is a steamy story though I tried to add sensuality. My story isn't just sex, it's about two people taking pleasure from one another physically while maintaining emotional ties as well. It isn't about two strangers meeting on the street and deciding a roll in the hay is in order. There is a bond between my hero and heroine.
Question: How hard are the sex scenes to write, or do they come easy for you?
Answer: They aren't hard to write, at least to me. It's just keeping the scenes fresh that becomes a challenge at times. Having the same scene repeat throughout the story makes for a boring read. Keeping it hot and fresh is the most important factor in writing a sex scene in my opinion.
Liena, I know you must be getting thirsty after talking so much.
Response: Yes, I am.
What is your favorite beverage?
Response: Depends on the time of day and my mood, Sandy. I usually drink coffee up until 3:00 in the afternoon. I try not to drink it after that time but some days require more caffeine than others. I like cherry colas and southern brewed iced tea as well. Then there are times when plain water suits me just fine.
Okay, I'll be right back. You can post a blurb and an excerpt of your story while I'm gone.
Blurb: A vampire's ultimate fatal attraction is the essence of a ghost...
Innocent to the paranormal world and innocent to the world of men, Keara McCabe finds herself caught in a century's old battle between renegade vampires and lycans after witnessing the murder of her friend at the fangs of an immortal bloodsucker. On the other hand, the vampire barely sips her blood and dies. From that moment forward, she becomes dead or alive. The vampires want her destroyed for the danger she is, the lycans want her as a weapon against all vampires.
Lycan Gannon Langon vows to protect her from both her enemies. But its in her arms that he finds innocence and fire, tentativeness and passion. As their desires ignites, the enemy implements a deadly plan.
Will Keara and Gannon survive to explore their new love together or will that love be destroyed?
Excerpt:
"Did you see the tall guy with the long black hair?"
Keara heard her best friend Donna ask. The two women had just left Maelstroms, the local nightclub, and enjoyed the walk to Donna's car. The streets were nearly deserted, as it was three in the morning.
Her rich and husky laughter filled the night air. "You mean the one with all the bulging muscles?"
Donna nodded. "That wasn't the only thing bulging." She winked as they reached the alley where she had parked.
"You would notice." Keara frowned when she saw Donna pull out a pack of cigarettes and leaned against her car. "Such a nasty habit," she scolded.
Donna frowned. "This is the first one I've had since we went into Maelstroms." She pulled out a smoke and lit it. She inhaled, obviously savoring the nicotine that flooded her lungs. "I'm down to less than half a pack a day. Give me a break."
Keara leaned against the car. Why would anyone pollute their systems with such obnoxious smelling toxins? She tried one cigarette in her life and didn't like the feeling she was going to pass out or vomit. She never smoked again and wasn't a heavy drinker; even on her nights out with Donna. Only two drinks in case she needed to drive. Coffee was her poison of choice.
"Anyway, what did you think of the guy? He had to be at least six-foot tall, " Donna said as she took a drag from her cigarette.
Keara had to laugh again. Donna stood at five foot three if she was lucky. Keara had a good seven inches on her. Donna was forever attracted to men who were much taller than she was. "Why is it you go for the men who'll give you a crick in your neck?"
Donna chuckled as she exhaled. "I just like my men tall, dark and absolutely gorgeous, which he was by the way."
"I have eyes, I saw him." Gorgeous but not my cup of tea. She perferred her men taller with athletic builds and shorter hair. She was partial to men dressed in jeans and a t-shirt over a man in dress clothes. She liked them more ruggedly handsome than drop-dead gorgeous. "Have you ever seen him there before?"
"No, come to think of it. I wonder if he's going to become a regular," she said, and a wistful note entered her voice.
Keara shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he's new to the area." A small sound had her turning her head to the opening of the alley. An involuntary shiver overtook her. A single harsh light outlined a tall figure walking into the entrance of the alley. "Uh oh, we got company, Donna." She reached to open the passenger side door. Damn, it was locked. Her eyes turned to her friend. Unease filled her with dread. "Unlock the car, Donna." Urgency made her voice tremble and her pulse pound.
"Relax, Keara. It's Mr. Tall, Dark and Absolutely Gorgeous." Donna said, waving away Keara's concern.
Keara relaxed marginally as she, too, noticed who it was. She still wasn't fond of the idea of being pinned in a dimly lit alley as a hulk of a stranger approached them.
Donna smiled. "Are you lost? Do you need directions?"
The man smiled in return, which showed perfect white teeth glowing in the harsh light of the alley. "Yes, as a matter of fact I am. I noticed you two were talking and was hoping you could give me directions."
The man was indeed gorgeous, Keara thought. Almost too gorgeous. His face was heavenly, like a dark angel. His eyes were an amazing shade of blue. His thick hair fell around his face and reached his shoulders. Still something about him wasn't quite right. She couldn't put her finger on it.
"Sure. Where are you heading to?" Donna asked, totally at ease with the stranger.
"While I was in Maelstroms, I overheard a couple talk about a diner close to here. I didn't catch the name of it." He walked to no more than three inches away from Donna.
Warning bells rang in Keara's head. Trepidation crept into her voice. "Come on, Donna. Let's get out of here." She tried the door handles again.
The stranger laughed as he gazed deeply into Donna's eyes. "Your friend appears to be afraid of me."
Keara felt her eyes widen and gasped. He had fangs. People don't have fangs. Panic gripped her. The other possibility was absurb. Maybe not. The stranger ran a finger down Donna's face and tilted her head to the side slowly as if her were about to caress the skin of a lover.
He looked directly into Keara's eyes. "You will stand where you are and not move. You will not make a sound," the stranger said. His voice dropped an octave and wrapped around Keara's mind, first like wisps of mist then like fog rolling off the ocean, thick and dense.
She couldn't move. The stranger entranced her. She watched helplessly as the stranger leaned down toward Donna's exposed neck. The stranger licked his lips in anticipation. He swirled his tongue gently over Donna's skin. Once. Twice. Keara's mind screamed when the stranger sank his fangs into Donna's jugular vein.
Donna moaned in what sounded like bliss as the stranger drank in long pulls from her neck.
Holy shit. A real live vampire drinking from her best friend. She tried to move but was unable to . She struggled with the hold the stranger had put on her body and mind, but it was useless.
The vampire continued to drink from her friend. After what seemed like an eternity, he lifted his head. He licked his blood-coated lips until he'd gathered the final drop on his tongue.
She watched in horror as the vampire lifted his hand, and one of his fingernails lengthened into a razor sharp point. Her mind screamed again as the vampire drew the fingernail over Donna's throat, cutting her from one ear to the other, effectively covering the signs of his bite.
"What is your name, human?" he asked.
Keara felt the fog in her mind lift enough to answer his question. "Keara McCabe."
The vampire smiled sinfully as he gazed into Keara's eyes. "Asian American," he commented as he walked around the car.
She tried desperately to turn and run, but her body was like lead. She wanted to vomit when he used the same razor sharp fingertip to turn her neck to the side. The tip of his talon nicked her skin.
"You are indeed a beautiful woman. It's a shame I'm as hungry as I am or I might spare you, make you my pleasure slave," Evil laughter erupted into the night as he lowered his mouth to her neck. The tip of his tongue gently followed the trail of blood that trickled from the wound. His tongue swept back up to her jugular.
A moan broke from her throat when she felt his fangs puncture her skin. After the initial shock and pleasure, bile rose into her throat. I need to run. The trance had her rooted in place. She stood and waited for her life to be drained out of her.
To her utter surprise, the vampire lifted his head and his eyes widened. "What are you?" His body started to convulse wildly as he dropped to the ground like a felled tree. "Oh, fuck," he wailed. His body thrashed as spasms wracked his body.
Keara felt the enthrallment of her mind weaken and finally she was released. Running out of the alley and literally running for her life, she panted hard against the residual fog still weighing down her legs. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she ran away from the pure evil she had encountered, a creature that only inhabited legends, novels and movies. She could barely think it. Vampire.
Handing a glass to her; here's one of your drinks of choice, Liena.
Thanks, Sandy. Taking a sip. I certainly needed this. My mouth felt parched.
Question: Now, I'm dying to know how you came up with the idea for this story, Liena?
Answer: Just my overactive imagination. Part of it came from watching a show on television about blood disorders and my love of the paranormal made up the rest. I've always loved stories and movies about vampires and werewolves. When I decided to seriously try and complete my first paranormal romance, the idea just fell into place. I often get my ideas (I have a notebook full of them) from television shows, usually documentaries.
Question: Do you write at the same time every day, or do you just fit writing in when you can? What is your schedule like?
Answer: During the school year, I usually write as soon as my daughter is off to school. That gives me the length of her school day to write. During the summer, I write after I get my exercise in for the day. I still manage to get as much writing in as I can. I usually try not to write in the evenings or weekends unless inspiration strikes me. I reserve that time for my family. It's a balancing act but it works for us.
Liena, tell everyone when your book will be released and where it can be found.
Liena, I've enjoyed having you here today, but I know you want to get back to writing your next story. I wish you much success with your career.
Response: Thank you so much for having me today, Sandy. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule for me. Have a great week, everyone.
The Risen: Queen of the Ghost Drakan
November 20, 2009 release
Frost at Dusk
April 16, 2010 release
I hope you have terrific sales, Liena. Your excerpt was very intriguing.
Enjoy the rest of your week, folks, I'll be back on Sunday.
Sandy
