About Your Books:
1) Which book, of your own, is your favorite?
That's a hard question! It's like picking a favorite child, but at the moment, I think my favorite book is the one that's coming out next October. It doesn't have a title yet, but it's a sequel to Night's Touch, which is a sequel to Night's Kiss.
2) What are you currently working on now?
I'm currently working on a third sequel to Night's Kiss. And loving it.
3) What do your friends and family think about you writing stories involving vampires?
Close friends think it's great. People who don't know me very well probably think it's a little weird. <G> My critique group loves it.
About Writing:
1) What book do you suggest for aspiring authors to craft their own vampire novels?
I'm not sure if you mean a published novel or a research book, but there are tons of both out there, in bookstores, libraries, and on the Web.
2) What advice would you have liked to have known before you become a published author?
I really can't think of anything. When I started writing, it was just for the fun of it. I never planned to sell anything.
3) How do you write your books? Do you storyboard your book ahead of time or just write and let inspiration guide you?
I just sit down and write. My stories usually start with a single line.... and I just follow where it leads me. I don't plot ahead, I don't write from a synopsis. In fact, I never write a synopsis. I know that's unheard of, but I just don't do it.
About Night's Touch
1) How many changes, if any, did you have to make from your original storyline to the finished product, after the publisher, editor, etc got involved?
I don't recall making any changes after I sent the manuscript in, other than a line here or a sentence there that I thought of after I had submitted the book. My editor rarely makes any major changes.
2) Since Night's Kiss is the beginning of this story, did you intend for this to be a series or did the
success of Night's Kiss allow you to continue?
I never intended to write a sequel, it just sort of happened. I was curious to know what happened to Cara. And after I finished her story, I had to know what happened to her twin sons, Rafael and Rane. Rafe's story will be out in 2008, and Rane's in 2009. I wish both were coming out sooner!
3) What's the feedback, from your readers, in regards to their favorite vampire?
I think Gabriel from Embrace the Night is a fan favorite. Running a close second is Grigori from Shades of Gray.
From blackroze: I love how you combined, Native American and vampires! DEAD SEXY! Could that be aseries?
I haven't given it any thought, but then, I suppose it could it! I'd love to do an Indian vampire story where I could combine my love for Indians and vampires.
From MarieWP: If you are able to continue this series, which character will you focus on next?
As I mentioned, Rafe's story will be out in 2008. love this book, and think it's some of my best writing ever. At the moment, it's titled Night's Caress, but that could change.
From MrsHenryFitzroy: I loved Vince in the book. If you could choose anybody to play Vince, who would you pick and why??
Hmmm, that's a good question. I'd love to see Johnny Depp as a vampire.... I think Edward Norton would be good. Also Hugh Jackman. As for why... I think they're all very sexy and terrific actors. I loved Johnny as Jack Sparrow, Edward in The Illusionist, and Jackman as Wolverine.
From airportgirl: My question has two parts. What made you decide to do a sequel to Night’s Kiss and will we revisit any of the other characters from Night's kiss or Night's Touch in any of your future books?
I decided to do a sequel to Night's Kiss because I was curious to see what happened to Cara, and because it gave me a chance to revisit Roshan and Brenna and Serafine. I had such fun writing Serafina's character! And then, as I mentioned, I had to do stories for the twins. I'm thinking Mara's story might also be a possibility in the future, although I've never written a female vampire heroine.
From DreamVision: Hi Amanda! Thank you so much for being a part of our book club! My question is this: Why do you think paranormal romance is such a hot genre right now?
Paranormal has always been popular with readers. It's just taken publishers a long time to figure that out! I think one reason the genre is so popular is because there are so many possibilities.... instead of a plain romance between a man and a woman, authors can let their imaginations run wild. Sure, a handsome hero is a powerful attraction, but a hero or heroine who can shapeshift, or has other supernatural powers, adds another layer of interest and gives the author another path to follow.
From freg: Hi Amanda. Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us. How do you think writing for the Vampire Romance genre differs from writing Traditional Romance?
Well, for one thing, it's a lot more fun! You can do things and go places in a paranormal story that you can't pursue in a traditional romance, and I think that's part of the allure of today's paranormal books. Instead of being an airplane pilot, your hero can fly a spaceship.
From bettyboop73: Amanda, Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions. I was wondering how you came up with the concept of allowing Vince to be
able to give Cara two children? I thought this was great because Cara really wanted to have a baby. I thought this was a great book! Thanks!
I just thought it would be a fun touch to have a vampire become a father. I wasn't sure my readers would buy it, so I talked to my editor about it, and she thought it was a great idea. So did my critique group. And it seemed plausible to me, since Vince had only been a vampire a short time. I'm glad you enjoyed the book.
From Sylvie: Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions! My question to you is about you characters' names. How did you come up with them? I'm guessing that Anthony Loken's name is inspired by Loki, the Norse god of mischief, and I'm wondering if Anton Bouchard's name is a nod to Dark Shadows' witch Angelique Bouchard. I'm also curious about Serafina, Raphael and Rane. How did you come up
with their names? Thanks again!
Names are always a challenge. I don't remember where I got Loken's name, but I think you’re on the right track with Loki, although it may have been a subconscious decision on my part. I don't know where I got the idea for Bouchard, but that's interesting that there was a character on Dark Shadows with that name. I remember watching it years ago... again, perhaps the name surfaced from my subconscious. I got Serafina from a baby name site on the web. Rafael is a favorite name of mine, and one I think I've used in a Western. I'm not sure where Rane came from. I was just looking for another "R" name.
From SourGirl: Hello Amanda. Thank you soo much for taking time to answer our questions. My question is a two parter... How did you come up with your alter ego
Madeline and how does she inspire your writing?
Well, actually, Madeline came first. When I started writing vampires, my editor suggested I take a pseudonym. I took my granddaughter's names, Ashley and Amanda, and became Amanda Ashley. I've been told that Amanda Ashley has a different "voice" from Madeline, although I'm not conscious of it when I write.
Thanks to all of you for letting me be a part of your group. I hope you all enjoyed Night's Touch. FYI, Night's Kiss is being reissued next year with a new cover and a lower price. My next book, Dead Perfect, will be out in February.
I hope you're all having a wonderful summer, filled with fun and good books.
Amanda
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