27. Along similar lines, do appearances play a big role in your stories? Tell us about them, or if not, how you go about designing your characters.

Looks play a role in my story but aren’t huge – then again someone who’s read my stuff might come through here and laugh out loud because I’ve said that. Now Sami looks like her father in the face, but she has her mother’s piles of blonde hair and petite build. Where Laurel was “barely five foot tall”, Sami is “barely five-foot-three”, and the running joke is that she gets her height from her father!

28. Have you ever written a character with physical or mental disabilities? Describe them, and if there’s nothing major to speak of, tell us a few smaller ones.

Sami suffers from chronic depression, which isn’t the same thing. I know from my own experience that while depression can be debilitating, it’s not a disability, per se.

Now Jeremy had an accident at one point that left him with a limp and walking with a cane for almost a year.

See? My vampires aren’t perfect. Except for that minor problem, they’re just as human as we are.

29. How often do you think about writing? Ever come across something IRL that reminds you of your story/characters?

When do I not think about writing?

I often come across stuff that reminds me of the stories and my characters. I bought a necklace at HotTopic a couple of years ago because it reminded me of Destiny. I see a maroon, convertible Sebring now and then and think of Michael. I see a grey Sequoia and think of Sami. For a while, our neighborhood Wal-Mart had an employee who reminded me of Mick. I actually stopped a guy and talked to him — and took his picture with my cell phone — at my neighborhood Kroger last year because he looked like Mick, even more than the guy at Wal-Mart.

I want a pair of cowboy boots like Michael wears. One day I’ll find them and will be able to afford to buy them.

30. Final question! Tag someone! And tell us what you like about that person as a writer and/or about one of his/her characters!

I’m not doing this one. lol

20. What are your favorite character interactions to write?

I’m not sure if this is asking about the type of interactions or the characters themselves.

Continue reading →

Yeah am cramming a lot into this post. If I get bored later, I might do three or four more. Stay tuned.

16. Do you write romantic relationships? How do you do with those, and how “far” are you willing to go in your writing?

I do write romantic relationships. I can’t write sex scenes for shit, though. But I try. I can report that I’ve been told I’ve gotten better with the romance angle over the last several years.

17. Favorite protagonist and why!

Except for Daniel in Midnight’s Heir, and really he was a bit part, I’ve never had a physical human protag. I’ve had more success writing depression and personal demons. Because that’s what I know.

18. Favorite antagonist and why!

Sami and Michael both, of course. Why? They’re just easy for me to write. I catch myself writing about either of them and find myself going and going and going … I have to rein myself in.

19. Favorite minor that decided to shove himself into the spotlight and why!

Minor character. :thinks: Sarah Williams. She started out as a party guest in Midnight, ended up being one of Michael’s advisors in Midnight’s Heir and the mother of his son. Then over the course of writing the prequel (shaddup!), Eventide, Sarah ended up with a grandmother, mother, and a last name. Then because of a fit Sami threw between Midnight and Midnight’s Heir, Sarah became Michael’s wife.