Book Lovers Inc.
Romance Novel Reviews, Author Interviews, Commentary
Interview: Author, Vicki Pettersson + Giveaway
We are very happy to have Vicki Pettersson here today. She’s the author of the Sings of the Zodiac series and here today to talk about her newest release Cheat the Grave (review can be found here). She also offers a huge prize pack for one lucky commenter so be sure to read till the end.
Please give her a warm welcome.
The Geeky Lover: Hey Vicki. So great to have you here. Perhaps we should start with a few essentials: Tell us a bit about yourself?
You know, I met a woman the other day who was my age, also nearing the fourth decade of her life, and who had also been born and raised in Las Vegas. It’s funny how meeting someone like that is akin to running into an old relative. You have the same recollection of events and places, if disparate details, and one of the similarities between us was that when it got right down to it, we both saw ourselves as small town girls from a dusty desert town. And that’s really the gist of it; how I self-identify. I was just a little girl from a rather shiny boomtown who had no idea she could write books until she sat down and actually did it. Believe me, no one was more surprised than I.
The Geeky Lover: I saw this picture of you on your website. Please tell me you are a Star Wars fan at heart?
How can you not be a Star Wars fan? I grew up in the seventies and eighties. At one time I thought wearing cinnamon bun braids over each ear was the height of glamour. And Han Solo was my first movie crush. That’s not something you ever shake off.
The Geeky Lover: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?
I’ve become more of a planner as the series grows. I have to be in order to keep track of all the previously developed threads. That said, I leave plenty of room for growth and change within the individual scenes themselves. I want to remain open to the magic of surprise. I had one such day yesterday where unexpected things happened and my heart was pounding by the end of the scene. I love that.
The Geeky Lover: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?
The stalking.
Just kidding.
Real Book Lovers are knowledgeable. They retain arcane story detail. They’re insatiable. Curious. And they value the inner life.
The Geeky Lover: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?
I’ve become more of a planner as the series grows. I have to be in order to keep track of all the previously developed threads. That said, I leave plenty of room for growth and change within the individual scenes themselves. I want to remain open to the magic of surprise. I had one such day yesterday where unexpected things happened and my heart was pounding by the end of the scene. I love that.
The Geeky Lover: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?
The stalking.
Just kidding.
Real Book Lovers are knowledgeable. They retain arcane story detail. They’re insatiable. Curious. And they value the inner life.
The Geeky Lover: Cheat the Grave is book 4 in your Signs of the Zodiac Series. Can you give us a short rundown on what your series is about?
The Zodiac series follows reluctant superhero(ine) Joanna Archer as she navigates a previously unrealized supernatural underground in her hometown of Las Vegas. There she battles enemies she never knew existed over humanity’s right to personal choice, and learns hard lessons about family, love, and the masks we all hide behind … whether we’re superheroes or not.
The Geeky Lover: Why did you choose the signs of the zodiac as a characteristic trait for your heroes?
Very simply because I knew it would be interesting both to me and readers (who isn’t interested to some degree in their own star sign?) and because it had an inherent richness and complexity that I could piggyback off of in my worldbuilding and character development. It’s also a loose and widely interpreted system, which allowed enough wiggle room for my imagination to roll around like a pig in mud.
The Geeky Lover: I especially love the fact that your characters are super heroes with their own comic books. Why did you choose this? Are you a comic fan at heart?
Mostly because I hadn’t seen it done before. Yet it didn’t come about until after I’d already started writing the book. A character popped up in the third chapter of THE SCENT OF SHADOWS and demanded that he was a superhero. It took me by surprise until I sat back and thought about it. Superheroes had long been around in graphic form, and they’d never been more popular in movies, yet I hadn’t seen any of them in prose. The idea of being able to take the most cliched and popular comic tropes and come up with new reasons for their existence immediately sparked my imagination, and I never looked back after that.
The Geeky Lover: What is a super human for you?
Someone who offers unconditional love, whether that be a parent, lover, or friend. I believe that kind of love is truly transformative.
The Geeky Lover: If you could choose one super power, which one would it be?
My childhood dream was to be able to fly, so I’m going to stick with that because it’s such a pure, joyful wish. There are no ulterior motives attached to it — just the bliss of total freedom.
The Geeky Lover: Your series is about Joanne Archer. Can you tell us a bit about her?
Joanna is an emotionally injured woman when we first meet her, and she has effectively shut down, and put up impenetrable walls in order to keep from ever being touched again. That said, she’s not a victim. I wanted to show someone pushing past their emotional scars, and that’s her personal evolution throughout the series. This is not a character who stays the same from book to book. I push her hard and fast, and by the end of each installment she is different than she was when she started out, and forever changed. This makes her fascinating to me.
The Geeky Lover: The Tulpa, your ultimate bad guy is a Tibetan mystical entity (I googled while reading book 1). Why did you choose Tibetan mythology in contrast to Babylonian Zodiacal signs?
It was what I was interested in at that the time. I’d run across it – and, again, hadn’t seen it used in prose form before – and it very simply captured my imagination. The power of thought, intention, and the mind is a huge part of the series, and the Tulpa is literally a manifestation of that theme in these books. The scariest things out there often spring forth fully formed from our own minds.
The Geeky Lover: What can we expect from you new book Cheat the Grave?
I’d like to say that you’ll have to read it and see, but that’s just mean. I can say that you’re going to finally have some answers, and a bit of closure, to some long-standing questions regarding Joanna’s love life, her mother, and her daughter. There are also some strange new characters and kickass battles that I absolutely loved writing.
The Geeky Lover: Jo really suffers in Cheat the Grave. Will there be better times for her in the next book?
Jo has suffered quite a bit in each book thus far. I’m not sure there’s much hope for that to change now … but you never know. I’d certainly love to see her get some Happy.
The Geeky Lover: Okay, I don’t want to spoil but do we see more of Hunter in the next book? Please say yes! *puppy eyes*
Okay, yes.
(But you won’t know until next year if I said that because you gave me irresistible puppy eyes or if it’s actually true!)
The Geeky Lover: We are introduced to a new faction of the superhuman population in your world. Tell us a bit about them? What makes them special in your eyes?
Ah, the grays. I’ve known they were out there from the beginning of the series. After all, what world – what person – is solely Light, or conversely, impenetrable Shadow? Everyone possesses shades of gray in their personality, as I’ve shown via Joanna from the start. So I knew the independents, rogue agents, existed and I really wanted to know what their lives were like – how they felt, what they thought – outside of troop law. And now I do.
The Geeky Lover: What is next on your schedule?
I’m working on the first draft of the sixth book now, and I have an upcoming signing at the wonderful Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in San Diego on June 11 at 7 pm. I love this store, the staff … and I always walk out of there with a load of books. (Because I’m a real Book Lover too!)
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our Questions.
~*~*~Giveaway~*~*~
Vicki offers a great prize pack to one lucky commenter. You can win a whole SIGNED series set. How great is that? Woot Vicki!
All you have to do is to ask Vicki a question or leave a comment about the interview.
Giveaway is open to everyone.
And it ends on Sunday, June 6th and we will announce the winner on Monday.
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Very interesting and I think that prize pack is pretty kick a$$. I've been comtemplating selling my brothers on the black market just so I could get the dough to get this series, LOL. Hey, I've known my brothers 23 years, it was a good run. 😉 Any ways onto my question.
Do you listen to music while writing or do you have to have quite? If you have music do you just listen to anything that pops up onto the shuffled playlist or do you have a mini sound track for the book you are working on?
{ littleredride.nhood@yahoo.com }
Thank you for the interesting interview! And thank you for making this GREAT contest international! 🙂
Have you ever experienced writer's block? If yes, how did you deal with it?
Thank you! 🙂
Giada M.
fabgiada @ gmail.com
Great interview.I learned more about the author and the series,whichhas been on my wishlist for awhile now after a read a short story in an anthology.
So my question, do you have any more stories in upcoming anthologies?
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Jessica Rabbit – Whoa, either someone is offering too little for your brothers *grin* or asking too much for the series! Good luck … I hope they find a good home. LOL
No, I don’t listen to music while I write. I prefer complete silence, though each book usually finds one song that represents the whole of it. No playlist, just one that plays again and again, ad nauseam. I can hear the song years later and scenes from that book will pop into my head.
Hi Giada – I’m happy to offer this up internationally. I’m happy to have international readers! As for your question, I don’t really believe in writer’s block. I believe that a writer sometimes take a wrong turn and the subconscious, knowing this, tries to redirect by simply not allowing any more forward movement. When that happens, I start from the beginning and rethink the whole thing. I generally have to do this once every hundred pages or so.
Hi Elaing8 – Ah, the anthologies are so much fun. I am featured in another one coming out this summer, and I’m extremely excited about it. It’s called DARK AND STORMY KNIGHTS, edited by the awesome P.N. Elrod. Jim Butcher, Ilona Andrews, and Carrie Vaughn are some of the other contributors. My story is called “Shifting Star” and features a character named Skamar, on an adventure I placed just before the events in my latest release, CHEAT THE GRAVE. It stands alone, of course, but it gives my long-time readers of the series a bit more to noodle on. I love doing that.
Thanks all for the questions!
Hi, have not read your books yet, but they sure sound good.
The mythology part got my attention, Tibetan, wow, do not know much about that.
So for a person who has not read these, do you have more mythology in them? Or is there any mythology you would love to incorporate.
blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com
I just fnished CtG and was not only entertained, but connected with the characters on so many levels. I'm definitely cut out to be a gray because I live in the gray. LOL!
So my question, is there a part of yourself in Joanne? If so, does it make her difficult to write at times?
Thank you for answering! As long as you keep writings, I'll keep reading.
I love this series! Maybe I'm so attracted to it because I have the zodiac tattooed on my back (or maybe it's the fabulous writing.) Do you have any tattoos? I also wondered, because of their place in your stories if you have cats?
blodeuedd1 – Well, welcome to the world of the Zodiac! Pull up a chair, have a seat. (And if you, or anyone else, has an e-reader, you can dl a free copy of the first book, THE SCENT OF SHADOWS. Give it a try that way. I don’t know how much longer my publisher will be offering this – a week or two at most – so I’d dl now and read later if you need to. It might be a good way to get your feet wet. Details are on my site homepage: http://www.vickipettersson.com)
Anyhoo, you asked about more mythology. Boy-howdy, do I have more mythology! More than I’ll ever need. It turns out, surprisingly, that I’m actually pretty good at the business of worldbuilding. If my editor doesn’t reign me in, it can get a little crazy.
Heeza – Thank you for reading! It’s so funny, I just received an email saying much the same thing – that the reader really connected with the characters on many levels – and boy did that make me smile. The best compliment an author can get. Thank you.
And yes, there is a part of me in Joanna – in all the characters, actually, as scary as that can be to admit – and I think it makes her easier to write rather than more difficult. If I’m feeling it, so are you. Make sense?
Bethany C – I love this series, too. *Grin* Thank you for reading! Do you have the entire western zodiac on your back, or just your star sign?
I don’t have any tattoos. I couldn’t commit to anything when I was younger, and just when I decided on something, the tattoo explosion happened. It seems my desire to do something is inversely proportionate to its popularity. Now, even though I want one, I won’t out of stubbornness. (I do the same in my writing – which is why I write dark, moody superheroes instead of vampires. Crazy, huh?)
And yes, I’m a cat girl! How could you tell? *wink*
Great interview and contest. This would be awesome to win.
What is your Zodiac sign? (I don't think anyone else asked that)
Stephanie G
sgradel(at)gmail(dot)com
Great interview! I would love to read these books now since I haven't yet!
My question is did someone inspire you to write or did you always love doing it?
Thanks!
bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
I would ask, what was the most unusual thing that inspired you, and what did it inspire?
I would love to read your book, it sounds good. Anyone that is a cat lover, gets bonus points with me.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Hi Vicki – Your series sounds so good. I downloaded THE SCENT OF SHADOWS but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Can't wait. I'm a cat person too – kind of have to me – I'm a Leo and a Tiger :). Thanks for the giveaway.
vsloboda@gmail.com
Hello Vicky! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer out questions =)
I've been wanting to read this series for a while, but never got around buying the books so this giveway is a fantastic opportunity! Thank you!
TyngaUF(a)gmail.com
Vicki,
Do you ever hate characters that we readers do, or do you find that they all have a special place in your heart, as your creations?
i.e. Regan, Warren, the tulpa…
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! Who are your favorite authors?
-Kaitlyn V.
Great interview and I LOVE the picture with the Stormtrooper. I just ordered the first book in this series as I'm really curious about it and this interview increased my curiosity.
I'm just starting to read the series!
How much of yourself and own experiences do you use to create and develop your characters?
Hope all is well!!
~Los
I really enjoyed the interview and the chance to get to know more about Vicki and her books. I have a couple of the books in the series on my TBR shelf, but haven't had a chance to get started on the series yet. The chance to win a set of the whole series is an awesome prize, that would be so cool to win.
Awesome contest! I haven't read this series yet, but it looks really interesting.
– Which books aare you looking forward to in the last half of the year?
spav05(at)gmail(dot)com
To answer your question (thanks for asking) I have all the symbols for the signs of the Western zodiac in a kind of wheel on my back. Next to each one is the symbol for each sign's ruling planet. And a pentagram as the center.
The entire series is the prize!? WOW, this is an awesome contest! I absolutely adore the covers of these books!
How have the social networking sites (Twitter and Facebook to name the two I know you're on) changed how you interact with your readers?
How also does it make you feel when someone famous tells people to read your books? I got into you because of Hurricane Helms (gods that man is funny).
Please forgive me, All! I'm at a book signing with my Hudson Books friends and will be back asap-y to answer your questions!
Best – and happy Memorial Day to all those Stateside!
Vicki
Just finished Cheat the Grave. I loved it. I love the setting and the characters. Las Vegas is perfect for this series. This is a very emotionally dark series but I am totally hooked on it and can't wait for the next book. Cheat The Grave was also dark but I was not left with a depressing feeling after finishing it. Joanna grew so much in this book and really found herself and her strengths. She also learned about relying on others as well as believing in herself.
Here are just some of my questions:
Will Olivia be back? How about Suzanne and Cher? Why did the Tulpa regain his strength? Once your soul splinters are on Solange's ceiling is there a way to get them back and restore your soul? Will you write stories about the characters that are stuck in Midheaven, for example, the back story for Chen, Mackie, Tripp and the women that are there?
I hadn't really heard of this series before reading this interview, but it sounds really, REALLY interesting! I'm hoping I win it, so I can ask intelligent questions next time. *cough*
These books are on my TBB list…would love to have a chance to win them .
Who are some of the authors who you religiously follow?
*hugs*
Anna
s7anna@yahoo.ca
Woo Hoo! Another Star Wars fan! I feel like I'm cool now. 😉
Great interview. Don't have questions right now. I still have Memorial day brain. :p lol
Great interview! i would like to read and win this! I´m agree with Vicky about who is a super human, just someone who offers unconditional love, whether that be a parent, lover, or friend. I believe that kind of love is truly transformative.
dani(dot)prmr(at)hotmail(dot)com
Great interview.
"she battles enemies …. over humanity’s right to personal choice"
I'm a big fan of personal choice so I look forward to reading this book.
eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com
Stephanie G – I’m an Archer, of course. Just like Joanna. I figured if I was going to delve into the zodiac signs, I’d have some fun with it.
Hi Angie – you asked if someone inspired me to write, and the answer is no. Not any one particular person. I think the only one who can inspire a person to write is themselves. That’s who’ll you’ll be hanging out with for hours alone in a room, after all.
Debbie – you asked what the most unusual thing was that inspired me, and what it inspired – and I’d have to say my hometown, Las Vegas. Everyone has an idea of what Vegas is, of course, but I really wanted to show what it was like beyond the Strip, for locals, so I’ve included some fun, and favorite, locales for all my supernatural action to take place. And my local readers love it, so it’s really gratifying!
Victoria – you’re very welcome, and I hope you enjoy SCENT once you start reading. I loved writing it.
Tynga – it’s my pleasure to be here! So very nice to get out and see some new “faces” if you will.
Hi Raven – you asked: Do you ever hate characters that we readers do, or do you find that they all have a special place in your heart, as your creations?
i.e. Regan, Warren, the tulpa…
And the answer is, Yes. A resounding yes. I mean, I can understand who they are and where they come from, but I don’t have to like it. And in order to make Jo feel the way she does, and thus the readers, I need to be able to go there first. So, yes, I do. And if it works on me, I have hopes it’ll make you feel the same.
Kaitlyn – you asked who my favorite authors are … whoa. Once I start I’m not sure I can stop. Okay, in genre: Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, Charlaine – these are all the writers who came up before me and I still greatly admire. All time faves? JD Robb, Dennis Lehane, Diana Gabaldon. New shiny finds are in mystery: Theresa Schwegel, Megan Abbott. Oh, and I love a dark fantasy author named Richard Kadrey, who writes dark, gritty stuff but has a huge heart. It practically leaps from the page. I really could go on forever.
Hi Sullivan – enjoy the read! And the storm trooper is pretty full of awesome, isn’t he?
Hi Los – I hope all is well with you, too. You asked: How much of yourself and own experiences do you use to create and develop your characters?
While I have appropriated some personal experience and woven it into the text before, I’ve found that the best results, and resonance, come when you focus on the human condition rather than personal conditions. Otherwise you risk sounding proscriptive or preachy or merely like you have a bone to pick. So I focus on the universals, and apply them to specific characters. Make sense?
Hi Spav – you asked: Which books are you looking forward to in the last half of the year?
Hm. I actually haven’t looked ahead that much. I see stuff when it comes out on the shelves, although there are two new UF series I’ve given cover quotes to: Carolyn Crane’s MIND GAMES and Kelly Gay’s THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS. Both have new entries coming out this year. The big one for me is Richard Kadrey’s KILL THE DEAD, a sequel to his awesome SANDMAN SLIM. Every page is a treat.
Bethany – your tattoo sounds gorgeous. Is your star sign marked in any specific or special way on the wheel? My character’s star sign, the Sagittarian glyph, shows up on her chest, a la Superman’s S, and so on. I thought it a great way to incorporate the zodiac while inventing my own mythology. Too. Much. Fun.
Steph H – Not only is Hurricane Helms funny, he’s smart, literate, and kind. He’s wonderful to his fans, too. I was incredibly flattered when he wrote to say he was a reader of my series. And, actually, I think *he* should be a writer. He has a way with words and connecting with people, as well as a nice platform. I know I’d read him.
You also asked how the social networking sites have changed how I interact with readers, and the answer is immeasurably. I can respond faster, almost instantly, to readers on FB and Twitter, while I still have email languishing in my inbox from weeks ago. For some reason it’s harder to get to, but that instant communication, and appreciation of my readers, is great. It’s often hard to know when to stop and turn it off (and I need to do that soon so I can get back to writing the 6th book) but it has definitely changed the way we all work.
Hi Beth – I’m **thrilled** to hear how much you enjoyed CHEAT THE GRAVE. And, yeah, I really owed you for the last one … I didn’t want you to close it feeling depressed. Maybe thoughtful. And, yes, wondering, as you obviously are. So as to your questions:
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
Will Olivia be back?
No She really is gone.
How about Suzanne and Cher?
It’s not safe for them just now. We’ll see if the city gets cleaned up in the future.
Once your soul splinters are on Solange's ceiling is there a way to get them back and restore your soul?
No. Once she uses alchemy and gemology to change your soul into gems, she owns them. And you.
Will you write stories about the characters that are stuck in Midheaven, for example, the back story for Chen, Mackie, Tripp and the women that are there?
Are you interested in them? Tremendous, if you are. That means I brought them to life for you. But remember, there are also the grays. However my next short story is about Skamar, and it takes place only weeks before CHEAT THE GRAVE. So you’ll see more of her and what influenced her actions in that book. It’ll be out next month in the DARK AND STORY KNIGHTS anthology, so look for it if you’re wanting a little Zodiac fix.
Hi Anna – You asked: Who are some of the authors who you religiously follow?
See my above answers to Kaitlyn – these really are my favorites.
And for all of you who commented but are new to the series and weren’t able to question me, hello! Welcome to the world of the Zodiac. Hop on in, the water is fine … just watch out for sharks.
Or tulpas. **evil grin**
Hi Vicki!!! Thanks for the great prize pack. I have picked up book one, and am definitely intrigued by the Zodiac. 2 questions for you: do you read your horiscope everyday? 🙂
Since comics play a role in your books, any thoughts of turning your series into a graphic novel.
Thanks!!!
Vicki, thank you so much for the interview and thank you The Geeky Lover for hosting this.
My question is how do you reward yourself after finishing a book or do you find ways to reward yourself for certain things throughout the process such as you finished 5 chapters so time for a shopping break?
Thank you again,
Yesenia, Silly Little Game
Hi Heatwave16 – You asked if I read my horoscope everyday and the answer is no. I’ve studied the signs and each one’s basic personality traits and used that to influence my characterizations, and I’ve had a professional reading a couple of times (which is fascinating, of course, because it’s all about me, me, me *wry grin*) but I don’t follow it daily.
As for thoughts of turning the series into a graphic novel, it has come up a couple of times from differing angles, but nothing has come of it quite yet.
Yesenia – great question. You asked: how do you reward yourself after finishing a book or do you find ways to reward yourself for certain things throughout the process such as you finished 5 chapters so time for a shopping break?
Not to sound cheesy, but if I make my goal for the day, that’s reward in itself. I can relax and read and hang out with family and friends guilt-free – same as any other self-employed person. So no reward system there. But when I finish an entire book? Yes, I’ll buy myself a little bauble. I keep telling myself I’m going to get a massage at one of the Vegas resorts, but I never do. Maybe that’ll have to change…
I'm enjoying these question, y'all! Thank you for engaging!
Best,
Vic
I've read the first two books in the series and I really like them. I'm saving up my pennies to buy the others. Thank you for such a good series!
The comment about superhuman being the unconditional love. I have to say I love that comment. That is not one you would hear from many people, and yet I have to agree with how true it is. That is the one thing that can break many boundries. Great interview.
I have not heard much about this series. But with the new one coming out, I have started really looking into them. They sound like great reads. Thank you for the chance to win them. 🙂
Hi Vicki! I must say you look absolutely glamourous in your head shot… that red hair!
Oh, and I have a love of storm troopers too! Have you seen this flickr photo group?
I got hooked on your series through your free ebook and would love a chance to have the whole series actually in my hands.
Thanks ~ Miranda
mdwartistry at yahoo dot com
Wow! Vicki Pettersson is stunning!
Hi Vicki, I love your books.
How many books will there be in this series?
jellybelly82158 at gmail dot com
Thank you, Adele and Melissa, for commenting – and, Adele, I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the series so far!
Hi Miranda – thank you for the compliment, and I love your flicker album. So cute! I gotta say, I like ‘em life-sized too, though. LOL
JellyBelly – you asked how many books there are going to be in the series, and the answer is at **least** six. I’m still writing the sixth one, so I’m waiting to see where Joanna goes with it before planning too many more.
Hi Vicki,
Let me just say I love, love, love your zodiac series! I think it's one of the best UF series I've seen in a while. 🙂 It's so different and (yes) I like different. 🙂 OK, so my question is, are you a comics reader (or fan), and if so, what heroine would you liken Joanna to?
Thanks!
Julianne
email: sistertyme-at-yahoo.com
Great interview, giveaway, and site, here, Susi! TY for it! I would so love to win the signed books, myself! 🙂
@Juliana Thanks hon! And believe I would love to win those too. *goes to cry in the book lover corner* Just kidding.
What an interesting series. I'd love to read it. The description sort gives me the "Buffy" in Vegas feel. Were you inspired by the Buffy series when it first came out? Or were you already into the paranormal with a female lead character? What turned you on to the world of paranormal originally?
juliecookies(at)gmail.com
Hi Vicki!
I'm from Germany and I love your books.
Until now I only read Scent of Shadows and Taste of Night (in German) but unfortunately Touch of Twilight and the others won't be translated.
That's the reason why I want them all in English!!! (I hope I understand all of the books ^^)
Tanja
( tanja-singer@web.de )
Hi!
what a great giveaway! amazing!
thank you for the chance to get it!
it´s hard to get some in english (i´m from germany) & i love to read english books …
so, i hope i will get this great giveaway
nice greetings
Tracy
kaktusnadel@gmx.de
hi vicki,
what an awesome contest. i read the first book a while back and really enjoyed that one, so to get to know what happens next would be great. lol.
my Question would be what you do if you're having a writer's block? something special? or do you never have one and can just shake it of?
aand way more important – is that your natural hair colour? because i'm very much in love with it. – you really don't need to answer that one – i just wanted to show my love for read hair. LOL.
Take Care.
I have a question: I saw you wrote an impressive amount of books, how do you manage to get every time new ideas?
I don't think I saw your books translated in my country and that is too bad.
kaguya2000@gmail.com
Whoa, that's insane. Five books? What a generous prize! I like 😀
Nice interview – love the definition of a real Book Lover. I once read a comment by author Juliet Marillier where she says that often her readers know so much more about her characters than she does – when she's written the book, she's done with it, and wouldn't remember mundane details like the colour of an old character's eyes, etc, while her readers remember every detail 😀
I love that the heroine in this is both emotionally injured and NOT a victim. I get so sick of whiny annoying victim-type heroines! I've also read series where the herione changes and matures during the book and then seems back to square one in the next book and has to do it all over again – SO frustrating I almost stopped reading the series! (But I'd already bought the whole series, so I didn't. :D)
The Tulpa sounds Fascinating. Honestly, from question and answer I still am not really sure who or what the Tulpa is (the manifestation of the power of thought/intention/mind? I understand the words, but not what that makes the Tulpa), but I totally want to find out now. 😀 It's really interesting to mix Tibetan and Babylonian mythos – I really like reading about such old cultures/myths/etc.
And the grays sound fascinating. Again, I really don't like books which separate everything into black and white cos THAT'S NOT HOW THE WORLD WORKS.
Anyway, overall, good interview which raised a lot of interesting points – and series sounds great! Please enter me 🙂
Email: kiwibooklover at gmail dot com
Thanks so much! [/end novel of a comment]
Oh, I love stories about superheroes. I'm a comicbook fan from way back. Great interview,
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
You are a new author to me Vicki, but I have heard so many praise your Zodiac series and what I've read so far certainly piqued my interest, so it is added to my wishlist!
ROFL? your answer to what's the difference between a reader and booklover had me in stitches! 😀
I would also like to fly, it must be amazing to soar and fly through the clouds look down on the city, would love to experience that!
Can you tell us what are your plans for the future (aside from working on the 6th book in this series)? Do you alraedy have an idea what you'd like to explore, write about next?
Thank you! 🙂
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
Great interview! I would love to win!
I totally agree with choosing the ability to fly because it is freeing and you can also travel anywhere! Love your pic with the Star Wars character!
lilazncutie1215 @ yahoo.com
Hi Vicki – I downloaded the first book last month and I'm really looking forward to reading it but would also love to get my hands on all of the books. I was going to ask why your series was set in Las Vegas but then I saw that it is your hometown. What an interesting place to grow up in. I'm sure you see it very differently from those that are just visiting.
I love reading this interview! Thanks for posting it on your blog! I'd love to enter! Thanks!
aikychien at yahoo dot com
Hi Julianne – you asked if I’m a comics readers, and the answer is somewhat. I have my favorites, but they tend to skew dark and a bit gory. IDW is one of my fave imprints, so that should tell you a bit right there. But Willingham is a favorite writer as is Joe Hill – but you see? It’s still all about the writing for me, so I’ll always put my love of the prose first.
Thank you for reading!
Julie, you asked: Were you inspired by the Buffy series when it first came out? Or were you already into the paranormal with a female lead character? What turned you on to the world of paranormal originally?
I didn’t watch Buffy until it’d already been cancelled, I’m afraid. I was working nights then, but I’d get home and watch La Femme Nikita religiously – so that’s a bit telling if you contrast her with my character, Joanna. As for the paranormal aspects, I had no idea I was even writing paranormal until a character popped up in the third chapter of the first book and announced he was a superhero. Instead of saying no, I decided to follow his lead, and doing that turned my series on its head.
Hi Tanja – you know, the first three books have been bought for German publication, but you’re right. I haven’t seen the third yet either. Let me check with my publisher and get back to you. I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the first two installments, though … we’ll see what we can do about getting you the rest! 😉
Gertrud, you asked: would be what you do if you're having a writer's block?
and way more important – is that your natural hair colour?
Usually when I get stuck in my work it’s because I have either a) written myself into a corner, and need to back up or b) don’t know enough about the story and have to replot/rethink it. So I don’t really believe in writer’s block. I believe in hard work. (Oh, and sometimes your brain needs a break!) And finally – way more importantly 😉 – nope, it’s not natural … but I’ve been red since I was sixteen so it feels that way!
Michikit, you said: how do you manage to get every time new ideas?
I know my characters and world so well that a lot of it is there before I put pen to page. I’ll plot out other aspects of it before I start on the first draft, and then even more will come to me as I write. Believe me, the ideas are the easy part. The daily grind – sweat and work – that’s what’s hard.
I don’t know what country you’re from, but I’m sorry they’re not translated there yet. Maybe someday!
Ruth – fabulous comments, and I have to agree … and add that Jo definitely isn’t a victim. Whoa. Quite the opposite. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Stella, thanks for stopping by … you asked: Can you tell us what are your plans for the future (aside from working on the 6th book in this series)? Do you already have an idea what you'd like to explore, write about next?
OMG, if you could see me nodding my head. I have so many ideas I can’t keep up with them. The problem isn’t ideas, the problem is time and focus. So I really am focusing on the sixth book right now – trying to see where Jo leads me with that – before I turn my attention to anything else. But I have more series ideas, stand-alone ideas, YA ideas, comic ideas, screenplays … it goes on and on. I’ll never have time to write it all, but it’s nice to daydream!
JenM – I hope you enjoy the dl when you get to it. Las Vegas **is** very interesting. I know that, but I still see it as just a dusty desert town with a big bright bulge in the middle. **shrug** Does anyone ever think where they come from is interesting?
Thank you to everyone else who commented, even if you didn’t leave a question. I’ve had a wonderful visit here!
Best,
Vicki