3 Easy Steps to Getting into the (Halloween) Holiday Spirit

By Kate

I want to welcome my fabulous friend Regan Hastings to the Lair today! Regan is the dark alter ego of my equally fabulous friend Maureen Child. As Regan, she writes The Awakening, a series of sexy paranormal romances, in which a coven of reincarnated witches must atone for their actions 800 years ago, when their thirst for power led them to open the gates of Hell. VISIONS OF SKYFIRE, the second book of The Awakening is available now.

And now here’s Maur – I mean, Regan Hastings…



Christmas is taking over the calendar, and I resent it. Santa Claus must have a good press agent. Don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas. I just want it to stay in December, where it belongs. I’m okay with a slight encroachment into November. The Christmas season has my permission to begin the day after Thanksgiving.

But in my opinion, Halloween should have exclusive rights to October. Unless Santa is dressed in a zombie costume, I don’t want to see him.



Let’s band together and take the fat boy down! Let’s reclaim October. This month, the “holiday” in “holiday spirit” shall be Halloweeeeeeeeeeeen!

3 Easy Steps to Getting into the (Halloween) Holiday Spirit

1. Eat candy. Buy a huge bag of miniature candy bars in early October. Brand name candy bars, the ones that kids really like. You want those tiny goblins to tell their little friends to be sure to go to your house. Test one, just to be sure they’re okay, then put the bag in the freezer. Out of sight, out of mind. It won’t hurt if you sample one every now and then throughout the month, though, right? On Halloween, check your supply, realize that there are only two bite-sized candy bars remaining, and they’re unlikely to procreate. (Even if one does have nuts, and the other doesn’t.) Rush to the store to buy whatever meager pickings are available at the last minute, hoping desperately that they’re good enough to keep kids from toilet-papering your trees.




2. Decorate your yard. In October, you can always tell where the really cool people live by the number of tombstones in front of the house. Freak out your neighbors even more by putting their names on the tombstones. Add a zombie arm clawing its way out of the ground, and you’re Halloween gold, baby.




3. Read a book filled with witchy goodness. I was thrilled when I learned that VISIONS OF SKYFIRE would be released in October, because I knew that diving into the dark paranormal world of the Awakening would help put readers in the Halloween spirit. (Take that, Santa Claus!)

As VISIONS OF SKYFIRE begins, Teresa Santiago can feel that her powers are on the verge of Awakening. Since she was young, her abuela has told her that she’s destined to become one of the most powerful witches who has ever lived. If the Bureau of Witchcraft gets its way, she won’t live for long. In this modern day world, witches are hunted and killed. The instant her powers Awaken, the BOW will detect her magic… and they’ll come for her with every weapon in their arsenal.

Her only hope is that her Eternal warrior-protector will get to her first. Rune was forged from the sun to be her mate. With him by her side, she’ll find her piece of the artifact that will save an ungrateful humanity from the demons of Hell… or die trying.

Click here to read a free excerpt: VISIONS OF SKYFIRE



How do you get into the Halloween spirit? Do you decorate your house? Do you dress in costume? Do a lot of trick-or-treaters come to your house? What is your favorite kind of Halloween candy? If you’re from another country, how does your Halloween tradition differ from what we do in the U.S?

Kate here again! Another great thing about October? Well, I can't tell you. It's a secret. But it's good, and you'll love it, and... okay, I better stop now before I spill the beans. All will be revealed later this month!

Karilyn Bentley and Magical Dragons Visit!

interview with Suzanne

Banditas and Bandit Buddies I'd love for you to help me welcome a very good friend, Karilyn Bentley to the lair. Karilyn is here to tell us all about her debut paranormal romance, MAGICAL LOVER.

Suz: Welcome Karilyn! Pull up a barstool and we'll share some sangria punch in honor of your first visit as a guest. As you know I've been so excited about showcasing your book in the lair. We Banditas LOVE call stories. Would you tell us how you got the call for your first sale?

Karilyn: Hi Suzie! Hi Banditas and Bandit Buddies! Yum, I love your sangria punch (takes another sip). I've been excited too about you showcasing my book! ? (puts the sangria down lest she drink too much and make no sense)

The Call.

My first story published was a novella in the Taming of the Wolf anthology put out by The Wild Rose Press a couple of years ago. I entered a contest where they chose the top six stories and placed as number four. The winners were announced online and I logged in and saw my name.

It was Halloween so all these kids were coming to the door and I was jumping around in a state of shock. Since the winners were noted online and I didn't get a call from an editor I kept thinking I had it wrong, that I couldn't have won. So I kept going to the door and dumping candy in bags and then running back to stare at my name on the winners list. It was rather surreal.

The Call for Magical Lover was more like a series of emails between my editor and me about changes I needed in order for her to contract the story. I made the changes and-yippee!!-she made the offer! And here we are with my first novel.

Suz: We've had some interesting shape shifter books pop up in the Bandit Lair. Yours is particularly interesting as yours is a dragon shifter. Why did you choose this particular shifter?

Karilyn: When I decided to write romance, I knew I needed a world to return to (because people were going to buy my books and want to read more stories from me, right?? I've always been a big fan of fantasies, so it was natural to set the world in a whole different place. And I've always liked a story with dragons. At the time I wrote Magical Lover, there were very few dragon shifters out there. It took six years and more revisions than I can count to bring Magical Lover to its print form.

Suz: At the beginning of MAGICAL LOVER, Thoren, your hero has a special goal regarding halflings when he meets Keara, your heroine. What is that mission?

Karilyn: Thoren is a reconnaissance specialist, who has been tasked with finding Halflings and returning them to Draconia. Apparently, many of the male Draconi have been parking their scales in non-Draconi females' caves and producing offspring. As a whole, Draconi are very picky about keeping magical beings on their land. Hence Thoren's Halfling finding duties.

Suz: Keara is in a bit of a predicament when she meets Thoren. How does she get out of it?

Karilyn: Keara has red hair and green eyes (a sure sign of a Halfling, although she doesn't know that's what she is) and has the misfortune of living in a town that shuns all coloring except for brown hair and brown eyes. As one of the town's outcasts, she is believed to be a witch and is caught by the town's nobleman. Instead of killing her, he plans on marrying her, which to her way of thinking is worse than death. Enter Thoren to the rescue.

Suz: Was it easy building a world for dragon shifters? By the way, we have our own dragon here in the Lair, so I'm sure Ermingarde is going to demand we keep a copy here for her to read!

Karilyn: I do hope Ermingarde likes the dragon shifters in Magical Lover! I'll be happy to give her a copy. One doesn't want to upset a dragon! Personally, I think world building is fun. It wasn't hard to do since the story came to me in this world, but like all world building, one has to be consistent. I had to know the way the world worked, what the rules were and never break those rules. Occasionally that created problems, but then, natural laws in our world create problems too.

Suz: What's next for our readers to expect from you?

Karilyn: I'm so glad you asked! I have a novella coming out next month featuring the wolf pack from Werewolves of London, the novella in the Taming of the Wolf anthology (which BTW is no longer available for sale. Bummer. I'm working on getting the novella back out, though). Wolf Mates releases on 10/19/11 from The Wild Rose Press. I'm also working on Warrior Lover, which is the story after Magical Lover.

Here's a blurb and excerpt from Magical Lover.

Blurb:

In a world where men can become dragons, Thoren is one of the most powerful. As a shape-shifting Draconi, Thoren wants nothing more than to continue searching for Halfling children, and returning them to Draconia. The last thing he wants or needs is a mate-until he meets Keara, an outcast unaware of the power that lies within her. Keara doesn't know what to make of Thoren or of the magic he practices. She learned early to keep her magic hidden-her witchy red hair and green eyes are burden enough. When Thoren offers his hand in place of a forced marriage with Lord Simon, Keara jumps at the chance to leave her town behind. But she fears Thoren will shun her when he discovers the truth about her abilities. Can Thoren convince Keara she is his lifemate, or will her secret talent be the wedge that drives them apart?

Excerpt:

"I know enough to realize she denied you." The stranger growled at Lord Simon, his voice gentling as he turned to Keara. "She will take me though, won't you?"


Keara locked her gaze on the stranger, drawn by his green eyes that looked so much like her own. She had never seen green eyes on anyone else, but knew what they meant. Remembered what her grandmother had told her about them.


"Green eyes are the mark of evil, girl," the old woman liked to say. "Be wary of them."
The wind whipped the stranger's hair about his face. A chiseled jaw topped by firm lips that whitened around the edges and a long straight nose comprised a face tightened in anger. His compelling eyes bored into hers.


She couldn't stop staring at those eyes, all the while his fingers continued their steady pattern against her mark, sending sensuous feelings coursing through her veins.


A stranger or Lord Simon? The man whose touch sent zingers of pleasure throughout her body, or the possibly crazy, but socially acceptable man who might have her best interest in mind. Did she actually think that?


There was no choice. It took two tries to get the words out of her dry mouth.


"I'll take you." She lifted her chin toward the stranger and said a silent prayer he would spare her life.

Thank you again Banditas and Bandit Buddies for letting me stop by! If you'd like to contact me, my contact info is on my website: www.karilynbentley.com.

I'll be giving away a free pdf of Magical Lover to one lucky commentator. What is your favorite type of shifter and why?

J.D. Tyler's Primal Law

Today I have a surprise for our readers. We’re introducing a debut series, the ALPHA PACK, and the first book in the series, PRIMAL LAW by author J.D. Tyler, which hit shelves this week. It’s a dark, sexy, paranormal series with very sexy shapeshifting alpha heroes. What? Excuse me, dear readers. Sven is motioning me to the side.

Walks over to the sexy masseuse.

“What is it Sven?”

He bends down and whispers in my ear.

“J.D. Tyler looks familiar to you?”

He nods and points to the pictures of previous Lair guests. Then whispers in my ear.

“She looks like that author that wrote about firefighters and pinched your backside last time she was here?”

Laughing, I pat him on his backside then walk back to our guest.

Jo, you’ve been outted! For those of you who don’t know, J.D. Tyler is also the author, Jo Davis, my good friend and CP Partner. Welcome to the Lair once again, JD. For this occasion I’ve asked for Top Shelf Margaritas, (pointing to the pitcher Paolo just placed on the bar), so help yourself .

JD: Thanks, I believe I will! (Takes a sip) Ohh, these are great! Thanks so much for having me here today. I always love visiting with the Banditas!

Suz: So J.D. Why the name change?

J.D.: The decision to use a different pen name was easy for a couple of reasons—reader recognition and name association. Jo Davis writes hot contemporary suspense and erotica, and that’s what readers expect from her. J.D. writes dark, sexy paranormal romance, and the worlds she creates are grittier. More dangerous. J.D. can, and does, take more chances to give her readers a thrilling ride.

Suz: Did you want to write paranormal romance?

J.D.: Actually, I started out my career writing paranormal erotica for Ellora’s Cave and had planned to stay with paranormal for some time. But then my agent and I sold the firefighter series to NAL, and paranormal went on the back burner. When the firefighter series ended, I’d planned to propose a police series called Sugarland Blue, to spin off of the firefighters. (Which I still would like to do.)

My publisher, however, asked me to write paranormal. I have to say, the request was a dream come true! I’m an avid reader of dark, sexy paranormal romance, and to be handed the opportunity to write in a genre I love was one I was not about to walk away from! I proposed the ALPHA PACK series, it sold, and J.D. Tyler was born.

Suz: So what’s the concept for the ALPHA PACK series?

The ALPHA PACK was founded by a group of former Navy SEALs after they were attacked by rogue wolf shifters in Afghanistan and turned. Now they use their shifting and Psy abilities, battling to protect the innocent from the world’s most dangerous human and supernatural predators.

J.D.: Tell us a little about PRIMAL LAW.

Here’s the blurb:

After a massacre decimates half his team and leaves him crippled, Jaxon Law must relearn how to fight—and must defeat the anger and guilt threatening to overwhelm him. But when he rescues a beautiful woman who reawakens his primal instincts, Jax is unprepared for the dangers that lie ahead.
On the run from her employer, brilliant lab assistant Kira Locke escapes with disturbing evidence that leads the Alpha Pack team on a hunt for someone targeting human civilians with Psy abilities. And as Jax and Kira circle both the killer and each other, Jax will have to decide if the deep connection he feels with Kira is worth breaking the ultimate shifter rule—because bonding with Kira means putting his abilities at risk, and they might be the only tool he has to keep his mate alive…

Suz:  How do Jaxon and Kira meet?

J.D.: Kira has stolen some lab samples and is on the run from her boss’s men, who mean to kill her. Jax hears her scream and rushes to the rescue, shifting in front of her to dispatch the thugs. Only now, because of what she saw and the threat to her life that’s still out there, he can’t let her go. Little does he know he’ll never let her go, under any circumstances…

Suz: There are some interesting characters in PRIMAL LAW. Want to give a taste of what the readers will find inside?

J.D. :The ALPHA PACK compound is very unique in that the team doesn’t just destroy rogue paranormals—they also rescue frightened beings who don’t belong in the human world and are having trouble adjusting. They don’t have much time to deal with these beings, however, so Kira steps up and suggests they make rehabbing paranormals an actual program. Readers will see this program develop and take on life in each successive book, and new types of shifters and other beings will be introduced.

First off in PRIMAL LAW, readers meet Sariel, a beautiful Fae prince who was cast from the Seelie court and is having terrible trouble coping with the human world. He’s a great secondary character who will become extremely important in the series. We also meet Belial, a misunderstood basilisk shifter, and then the most tragic figure of all in the program—Raven, a former Navy SEAL who was turned into a wolf shifter along with the others, but never returned to human form. He’s been feral for over five years, and no one has any clue how to help him.

The series is rich with characters, and they all have a purpose. The story possibilities are delicious and endless! For a list of the main ALPHA PACK team members and their descriptions (and keep checking, as this list will grow), plus excerpts and other news, visit my website at www.JDTyler.com.

Suz: So what’s next in the ALPHA PACK series?

J.D.: Next up is a novella tentatively titled BLACK MAGIC (the title might change), and it will be a stand-alone story involving Kalen Black, the team’s newest member who’s a Sorcerer/panther shifter/Necromancer! Other Alpha Pack team members call him a cross between a rock star and a gunslinger. You’ll find out why in PRIMAL LAW. His novella will be released from Penguin eSpecials in March 2012, and will lead into SAVAGE AWAKENING (book 2), and Kalen’s own story, which will be book 3 of the series. And I’ll tell you right now, Kalen’s full novel, book 3, is going to be truly epic.

After Kalen’s novella is SAVAGE AWAKENING, which is Aric Savage’s story and will be released on April 3, 2012! Aric has been the most fun hero I’ve ever written because he’s such a snarky bastard. Of course, the prickly outside hides a heart as big as a continent. It will take a really special woman to make this sexy redhead accept his self-worth and be the hero everyone knows he is.

Suz: JD will give away a signed copy of PRIMAL LAW to one lucky commenter!

J.D.: If you could be any type of supernatural hero, what would you be and why? (vampire, shifter, Fae, demon, etc.)

Regan Hastings, Author of VISIONS OF MAGIC - Giveaway!

Although VISIONS OF MAGIC is the first book by Regan Hastings, it’s far from the author’s first book. Under another name, her contemporary romance novels number in the double digits, and she has been nominated six times for the prestigious RITA award from the Romance Writers of America. Her romance novels have appeared many times on the USA TODAY bestsellers list. She’s holding a contest for readers to guess her true identity for a chance to win a Federal Bureau of Witchcraft fleece jacket. Enter at http://www.reganhastings.com/. The contest ends February 1, the release date of VISIONS OF MAGIC, so enter immediately!



Kate: I know who Regan is, but I'm not telling! I'll give you a hint, though. She's fabulous, and I love her and her books. Welcome to the lair, Regan Hastings!

Thank you for hosting me, Kate!

Modern Day Witches

Ten years before the start of my book, VISIONS OF MAGIC, the world discovered that witches are real. Reaction was volatile and violent. Women were imprisoned without trial if they were even suspected of witchcraft. Some – including the heroine’s aunt – were burned at a stake erected on a high-tech, gas-powered grid.

The truth is, I believe that magic is real, and witches do exist. But there’s no reason for paranoia because, like humans, witches can be good or bad.

I’ll give you a few examples.

Bad witch: Martha Stewart. Magical power: Making perfectly competent women feel like failures. Not only can Martha fashion the julienned strips of a butternut squash into an amazing centerpiece, she can win the public’s admiration by going to prison.

Good witch: Pink. Magical power: Levitation. Did you see this chick at the Grammy’s last year? First of all, only a witch would feel comfortable in an outfit made of masking tape. Then she rose above the crowd, belting out a song with her powerful voice, and performing Cirque d’Soleil acrobatics all the while.

Bad witch: Lindsay Lohan. Magical power: Destroying her own career (aka, wasting her talent). I keep pulling for Lindsay. Beneath all the addictions, she’s a very talented actress, and I truly want her to get clean and move us again to some emotion other than distaste.

Good witch: Ellen DeGeneres. Magical power: Opening minds, and making even the least coordinated of us get up and dance. Who can resist her joy for life? Portia is a very lucky woman.

Bad witch: Kathy Griffin. Magical power: I don’t know, but she is just plain mean. Wicked… and not in a good way.

Want to play? Name a modern day witch and her magical power. I'll give away a copy of VISIONS OF MAGIC to a random commenter.

Kate: Thanks for visiting with us today, Regan! What a fun post! Except ... Kathy Griffin makes me laugh. Does that mean I'm a bad witch, too? Or am I just under her power?

Vicki Lewis Thompson Brings Some Magical Fun To The Lair!

interview with Suzanne

I am both excited and pleased to have NYT bestselling author, Vicki Lewis Thompson in the Bandit Lair today! Welcome, Vicki, pull up a lounge chair and we'll have one of our cabana boys pour you a drink.

Suz: When you spoke at DARA (Dallas Area Romance Authors) holiday meeting a few Decembers ago, you told the story of how exposure on National TV helped your career. Some of our readers may not have heard that story. Would you care to share it with them?

Vicki: I’ll tell that story at the drop of a hat, LOL! But first, thanks for inviting me to the Bandit Lair! Cute cabana boys! Ahem. Back to the subject at hand -- Kelly Ripa used to have a book club on LIVE with Regis and Kelly. NERD IN SHINING ARMOR was my first single title, and the print run was very low. I was afraid it would sink like a stone, so I hired publicist Theresa Meyers to help me get on Reading with Ripa. With lots of lobbying and a dose of luck, we did it! I appeared on the show. The print run went from 20K to 350K and I landed on the NYT. What a rush!

Suz: I love that story and it is so inspiring to know it can happen out of the blue to an author. How did it change your writing career?
Vicki: It opened doors that would not have been open before. I’ve now worked with three mainstream publishers and have an agent who only takes on NYT authors. Most of all, though, it taught me that anything is possible. You just have to go for it. You may fall on your face, but you may shoot to the stars! I’m much more willing to take risks these days.

Suz: Recently you’ve switched gears and gone paranormal with your HEX series. What made you choose witches over say, vampires or werewolves?

Vicki: With all due respect to the vampire writers and readers out there, I’m squeamish about blood, so that lets out vampires. As for werewolves, funny you should ask! I’m working on a top-secret project right now for 2011, and it just might involve werewolves. But they’re not bloody. I’m not good with bloody. I write comedy.

Suz: Ooo can't wait to hear about those werewolves! Please tell us about the HEX series.

Vicki: The series came alive for me when I decided that instead of setting it in Sedona, Arizona, a hotbed of New Age thinking, I should set it in a conservative little town in Indiana, where NOBODY believes in witches, wizards, magic, or . . . heaven forbid . . . dragons! Big Knob, Indiana, is imaginary, but I’ve had readers ask if it’s based on a real town because they want to go there! So do I, but it doesn’t exist. I made it up totally. The series features a matchmaking witch and wizard who are sent there to rehabilitate the delinquent dragon living in the nearby woods. In between dragon-sitting, they do some matchmaking on the side, which is where the romance comes in.



Suz: Is BLONDE WITH A WAND the first in a new series for you? Can you tell us a little bit about the series?

Vicki: The Babes on Brooms series is – at present – two books long. If readers like it, maybe it’ll get longer! It’s a spin-off from the Hex series in that the matchmaking witch and wizard from that series make an appearance in both BLONDE WITH A WAND and CHICK WITH A CHARM. These two spin-off books are set in Chicago, which is less than a day’s drive from Big Knob, so it works out.

Suz: In BLONDE WITH A WAND, the heroine, Anica Revere, breaks a major witch rule and is stripped of her powers. How does she adjust to that?

Vicki: Not well! She’s always been the “good” sister and now she has to depend on Lily, who’s the rebel sister, to help her fix the magical mess she’s created.

Suz: The hero of BLONDE WITH A WAND, Jasper Danes, is the victim of Anica’s mistake. Does he exact a little revenge or does he easily find himself under her spell?

Vicki: I think it’s okay to reveal that Anica turned him into a cat, because that’s in the blurb. While revenge is definitely on his mind, he’s dependent on Anica and Lily to change him back into a man, so he has to be VERY careful not to tick them off.





Suz: Can you tell us a little about the next book in the series—CHICK WITH A CHARM?

Vicki: I would love to! It’s Lily’s story, and she’s a little jealous of Anica’s love affair with Jasper. Lily’s a bartender who has a crush on a customer. Against Anica’s advice, she gives him a devotion potion in his cocktail and discovers that it doesn’t produce quite the results she’d hoped for.








Suz: What else can our readers look forward to from you this year?

Vicki: I hope you’re ready for this. I’ve been typing like crazy and I could sure use a massage from Sven if you’re willing to loan him out. I have *seven* releases this year. Besides BLONDE WITH A WAND in February, I’ll also have RACING HEARTS, a NASCAR anthology with Dorien Kelly and Nancy Warren. This June will kick off my “Sons of Chance” series with Harlequin Blaze. WANTED! comes out in June, AMBUSHED! in July, and CLAIMED! in August. They’re cowboy stories set in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the series will continue with three more books in the summer of 2011 and three more in the summer of 2012. Also in July I’ll have CUPID CATS, an anthology with Katie MacAlister and Connie Brockway. The stories are linked by an animal shelter that specializes in magical cats who become matchmakers for those who adopt them.

Suz: OMG...we'll have Sven work on those fingers ASAP!! You're going to be one busy lady this year!! Is there a question you’d like to ask our readers?

Vicki: How about this? If you could wave a wand and turn someone (a person you know or a public figure) into an animal, who would it be and what animal would you choose?

Suz: Thanks for being in the Lair with us Vicki. Vicki will be giving away a signed copy of Blonde With A Wand to one commenter today. And don't forget, you can order books by clicking on any covers.

Goth Turns Golden

by Cassondra Murray

A few years ago I joined a local chapter of RWA and met its published authors. Among those authors was a lady memorable because of her long red hair, clear Celtic complexion and her awesome offbeat black outfits. But most memorable was her sense of genuine care and consideration for me as a new member, my writing, my career as a writer-- her kindness.

It's probably a good thing that I didn't know WHO SHE WAS at the time. I might have been intimidated. Granted, she hadn't quite become an international phenomenon (I love saying that) but she was well on her way.

Now she is one. She and her Dark Hunters have a worldwide following that obliterates boundaries that normally separate readers--boundaries like age, gender and genre preference. Yet, she's still that same encouraging, generous person I met at my first local meeting. And in spite of her long list of accomplishments, that's what still impresses me most about this woman.


Since that first meeting, Sherrilyn Kenyon has gone on to become a #1 NYT Bestseller, with more than 15 million books in print, and is poised to blow those numbers out of the water with her next release.

She’s in the middle of her next project for St. Martin’s Press, but she was kind enough to visit us in the lair, and answer some questions posed by the Banditas and their friends.

If you've been to her website, or heard her keynote speeches, you know that Sherri has had her share, and a lot more, of overcoming the odds to make her life and her career work.

She's walked through the fire of financial devastation, markets turned cold to her writing, illness and hospitalization with her pregnancies, death of beloved family members, and nearly losing her newborn child.


When you hear her story, you aren't left with a lot of excuses for not following your dream. She’ll tell you she’s not one for looking back. She’s about moving forward. Still, I’ve wondered what sustained her through all of that. I asked her how she's managed to hold on to her "self"—that woman I met at my first RWA meeting. I think I'd be a jaded, hard and unfeeling person by now. But Sherri isn't.

“The thing that kept me going was my family,” she said, “and my characters’ unwillingness to let go until their story was told.”

Sherri has written stuff other than romance, but she’s made her mark writing about relationships—in particular relationships that lead to redemption—for those who “shouldn’t” have it according to traditional standards. How did such a multi-faceted writer come to focus on love and happily-ever-after? Honestly, how did a Goth chick from Georgia end up writing some of the most powerful love stories of our generation? Other than the obvious roof over her head, what do these love stories do for Sherri Kenyon?

“ I've had to overcome a lot of heartache and loss in my life,” Sherri said. “Especially in my childhood. My friend Kim let me borrow one of her romance novels and I was forever changed. The characters had bad things happen to them in their lives and you know what? They got to live HAPPILY EVER AFTER! That showed me that in life, you can have many trials. Sometimes, even things you wouldn't believe you'd live through, but in the end, you can have a HAPPILY EVER AFTER like the characters.”

Sherri is adamant about this.

“I believe in romance as a reality, not a fairy tale, and it's the believing that characters and people are worthy of having someone to love and someone to love them in return that is the basis for my stories, and sharing that with the fans is a joy.”

It's clear that Sherri honestly appreciates each one of those fans. I once got to hear her talk about the business of writing during a university class, where she said, "I know how hard it is to earn seven dollars, or fifteen dollars, and this person has chosen to take that hard-earned money and spend it on my book. I will never take that for granted." Sherri has always said the most gratifying moments for her are those when a fan says her books have touched them in some way.

Author Dianna Love spent a good part of 2007 with Sherri on a whirlwind book tour, and got to see the writer-fan interactions up close and personal.

"I was impressed by her sincere interest in every person who walked up to her at a signing," Dianna said. "In the lobby of a hotel, at the airports (when we are normally run hard after being in a different city every day for several weeks), in a restaurant - wherever. She has the nicest fans. They will arrive hours in advance of a signing - numbering over 150 at each of last year's stops so I expect even more this year. They visit with each other, laughing as they share stories or are excited to meet someone in person they only knew by an online name. 40% of Sherri's readers are men. Many couples come together,bringing their children. Sherri brings lots of things to give away and everyone is given a free raffle ticket so we can give away special items. Our goal is that signings are always an event. And she is just as real and caring as what everyone sees at the signings."



This is a big year for Sherrilyn Kenyon. The Dream Hunter release, Upon The Midnight Clear hit #1 on the NYT in November 2007.





Dream-Chaser hit #1 on the NYT in Feb 2008.



On top of that, she's just released Phantom In The Night, a collaboration with Dianna Love. Sherri talked a little about what it was like to work with another writer.


“The B.A.D. Agency collaboration was tremendous fun. Dianna and I worked well together and she's an amazing writer.”


I’ve heard Dianna and Sherri joke about their time together living moment to moment trying to make the next book signing as they toured around the country, and about their crazy back and forth dialogues as they worked on Phantom through it all. But what came out was a really interesting blend of the two voices. I’ve read Sherri’s books, and of course, Dianna’s, but this didn’t sound like either—and yet it sounded like both. Almost a whole new “writer” formed from two.

" We became close friends long before we ever considered working together," Dianna said. " Sherri...would never intentionally hurt someone’s feelings and neither would I, which is why we had to have a very honest conversation about writing together. We both believe a successful collaboration depends on honesty and agreed on “no sacred cows” – that anyone’s words were up for editing – because the most important thing to both of us was the final story. We laughed a lot. I think a similarity between us is to not take ourselves too seriously, which made discussing ideas and changes easy. "


“It's like fitting a puzzle together.” Sherri said. “Dianna has certain strengths and I have certain strengths and together they just sort of fit. "

"We spent some time discussing the difference in our styles--" Dianna said, "with her trademark humor and I write dark/edgy – to assure we could create a strong story while not damaging our friendship. It takes a great deal of trust to work together. Neither of us had any idea what it would be like to collaborate, no plan, no guidelines. We just went for it. We both wrote through every page to give the story a seamless feel. We were both invested in only one thing – to write the best story we could. "

"Of course, we'd laugh at each other and disagree just like any team," Sherri said, "but in the end I believe we've forged a great partnership.”

And a successful one. Phantom In The Night hit the NYT list on June 19th, and it's remained there for the past two weeks.


There's a bit of a crackle in the air right now—it's the anticipation—so thick you can taste it. This is it.

The Year of Acheron.




There's a counter on Sherri’s website, counting down the days, minutes, and even milli-seconds until the release of Acheron. Fans have waited a long time for Ash to get his story. We've hurt with him, ached for him as we saw him through the stories of the Dark Hunters. This is a pivotal book in the series. Knowing how Sherri feels about her characters—that they’re real—alive—I had to wonder if this was a particularly emotional story for her to tell. Was it difficult for her to approach?

“Definitely,” Sherri said. “Acheron's story is an emotional one. It was hard to write because I've had him to myself for so long, nurturing him and now he's going out into the big, bad world. I hope the readers experience the emotions I went through while telling the story of his life.”


Sherri has said that characters have often gotten in her way and demanded their own stories, not in the order she’d intended. Was Ash cooperative with his story when the time came to write it?

“Yes, he was. I've had the bulk of it written for many years before I sat down to put the pieces together. There were a few moments when I felt like I was being put through the ringer right there with him, but in the end it felt liberating to get it all out.”


I asked Sherri what’s different about Acheron’s book from the others in the series. I’d read that it’s a longer book, but I sensed, from Sherri’s demeanor, that this is an unveiling of sorts—a revealing of something powerful and close to her heart. There’s an intensity about Sherri when she speaks of Acheron.

“Acheron's book is an epic tale. It's HIS story,” she said. “Of course you have the romance as well, but Acheron's story holds true to his title. The fans will know everything there is to know about Ash when they've finished reading.”


I've seen a little of Sherri’s schedule and gotten a sense of the crazy, hectic life-on-tour she’s leading as a hit writer on a roll. It’s clear she appreciates the opportunities she’s earned, but I have to wonder how she does it. It’s the Fourth of July week as I’m writing this. A time for most people to relax and enjoy family. But for Sherrilyn Kenyon, the Year Of Acheron is about to kick into high gear. She was in the middle of a manuscript when she paused to give this interview.

I asked Sherri if there was such a thing as a break for her nowadays. She laughed out loud.

“It's going to be wild for the next couple of months with the tour, K-Con, Comic-Con, just to name a few. I pretty much work around the clock. Luckily, I get to work a lot from home so I can see my family.” She smiled when she spoke of her kids. “Sometimes when I’m traveling I can take my children with me so I don't have to miss them. But yes, I do stay busy.”


Sherri is on the road a LOT. A writing career—any career—with kids is a tough thing to juggle, and a lot of writers know those struggles well. But she’s managed to nudge a growing writing career into an exploding one, all while juggling a young family, including a son with autism. I wondered if the special needs of her child’s autism had changed her. Has it made her a different person—a different WRITER even—than she would have otherwise been?

“ I understand and have always understood what its like to overcome adversity,” she said. “I've had to do it and my son has to live with it on a daily basis. So that could be why I put my characters through so much.” She laughed as she said that, then she grew thoughtful. “I think that any parent with a special needs child learns patience and how truly important it is to love your child for who they are and not who society expects them to be. I am truly blessed to have him in my life.”

On top of all that, Sherrilyn Kenyon, one of the most prolific, fastest writers I know, has dyslexia. When I asked her if she ever got frustrated she laughed again.

“Well,” she said, “I love spellcheck.”


Sherri has to be able to write anywhere, under almost any conditions because she has to keep up the pace for herself, her publishers, and her readers. I asked her how she connects with her “voices” and preserves her creative flow when things were going nuts around her.

“It's hard,” she said, and nodded. “But once I sink into my world and get into the zone, I'm there. The world could possibly fall down around me and I'm still there living with my characters and telling their story.”


Bandita Suz had a couple of questions for Sherri. Suz wondered about the difficulties inherent in writing a long-standing series while still staying true to your vision as an author. Does Sherri ever find the two at cross-purposes? Has she ever felt the temptation to cave to please readers, or go in a direction she hadn’t planned with characters or plot? (And Cassondra adds, knowing Sherri’s characters, would they ever LET her do this?)

“No. I've always done exactly what the characters have told me to do. I think its important as a writer to stay true to them.”


Sherri is one of the most brilliant promoters I’ve ever encountered. Everything from her merchandise for signings to her websites and the emblems she uses for branding. Suz also had a question about those websites. She’s used them to great advantage, and Suz wondered if Sherri credits those websites with helping to build her fan base to what it is today, and does she believe good use of a website can help a writer sell?

“Yes, the websites helped to get the word out,” Sherri said. “I don't know if there's an exact way to help a writer sell. It's just so different for every writer. When I pitched my series and told them I had a website already, some of the editors thought I was nuts. So, it’s just different for everyone.”

Sherri’s bottom line was this.

“Never give up. If you give up, your dreams will never become a reality.”

For my last question to Sherri, I saved the one sent by my husband, Steve, who also happens to be one of Sherrilyn’s fans. Since Sherri writes about things that go bump in the night, Steve asks, “What scares Sherrilyn Kenyon?”

Sherri said, “The color pink.”

So, Bandita friends, What scares YOU?

Are you afraid of the dark?

Do you believe in angels, demons, and their ilk?

Have you ever slept with the light on? (I have.)

Do you have a favorite Sherrilyn Kenyon story? Does one of her Dark Hunters haunt your dreams?

Do you keep the lights on after reading her books? Or do you sleep better believing the Dark Hunters are stalking the night in your defense?

The Bandits Welcome Stephanie Rowe

interview by Beth Andrews

To celebrate Stephanie Rowe being with us today, one lucky commener will get the choice of ONE of the following:

1) An autographed copy of one of Stephanie's backlist (winner’s choice), OR
2) A critique of a one page query letter (two rounds of critiques), OR
3) A critique of a five page (double spaced) synopsis, OR
4) A critique of the first five pages of a manuscript (double spaced)

It is my pleasure to introduce multiple Rita Award Finalist and prolific author Stephanie Rowe to the Romance Bandits! Stephanie's latest release, Sex & The Immortal Bad Boy, is part of her paranormal romance series for Warner Forever but she's also written Young Adult, Chick Lit, Romantic Comedy and Suspense. I read Stephanie's book, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot, after meeting her in Dallas and am now a total fan - both of her stories and her. *g* Now that my fangirl moment is over, on with the interview :-)

Welcome to the Bandit Lair, Stephanie! To get us started, can you tell us about your road to publication?

Thank you so much for having me! I’m so thrilled to be here! As for my path to publication...hmm... how far back do you want me to start? I decided to try for a career in writing when I came to the conclusion that there was no job on this earth that I could deal with except writing. I’d spent several years soul searching, trying to find the job that I could do happily for the next forty years. I did all the career workshops etc, and finally realized that writing was the only thing that fit. I’d dabbled in writing before, but more to amuse myself and escape from the reality of the killer-day-job (hey, it *looks* like I’m working even though I’m actually typing a book, right?), but I hadn’t really been considering it a career, until then. At that point, I sat myself down at the computer and decided to write a book and see what I thought about the experience. It didn’t take long before I was completely hooked, and I knew that was what I needed to do for the rest of my life. And then after 18 full manuscripts, 7 partials and over 130 rejections, I was published. Obviously, I’m a fast-track kind of girl... LOL.

Another great story that shows perseverance really does pay off! What can you tell us about your latest Warner Forever release, Sex & The Immortal Bad Boy?

The hero in my November release (release date 11/1), Sex & The Immortal Bad Boy, was inspired by the heroine, Paige Darlington, who we met in the previous book in the series, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot. At the end of He Loves Me, Paige demanded the next book be about her (she wasn’t in my plans at all), and I had to come up with a hero worthy of her. Paige is facing some really tough crises (like, being cursed by Satan to become a soulless wraith who kills everything she touches), yet, she is a truly optimistic and positive person to her core. I needed to pair her with her worst nightmare, which of course would be the one man who needs to kill her, a man who has been tortured for so long that he lives in the darkest place, so utterly devoid of hope and joy that even Paige can’t reach him. But for Paige to survive, she has to reach past that hellish wall Jed has erected around his heart and soul, and she has to find a way to make him believe again. If she doesn’t, they’ll both die and bring down everyone they care about with them. Paige and Jed are such opposites, at such different places on the spectrum, yet they are both so incredibly desperate that they are forced to find a way to deal with each other if they are to survive. I wanted to give each character a partner that would challenge everything they believed in, everything that made them who they are, and force them to face their worst fears and deepest hopes.

Here is the blurb for Sex & The Immortal Bad Boy:

IF THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS...
Paige Darlington is finally free of the literal boss from hell—Satan. There's just one hitch: she's been cursed, and will soon lose her soul. The only way to reverse this ultimate buzz kill is to skinny dip in one of Heaven's cleansing moats. But Heaven has defenses against girls like Paige…and they typically involve being charred to a crisp.

MAYBE THE ROAD TO HEAVEN IS PAVED WITH SEXY ONES.
Jed Buchanan, shadow warrior and Satan Jr.'s favorite assassin, is on a fast track to hell. Until sexy, spirited former Rivka Paige Darlington begs him to help her sneak past the pearly gates. Heaven's no place for a man as dark as Jed, but one look at Paige's sensual eyes and long legs and he knows one thing for sure – he's in for a hell of a hot ride…

I love Paige and can't wait to read her story! Your paranormals are wonderful - funny and sexy with great characters -- but my favorite has to be Satan himself. Can you describe him for our readers and tell us how you came up with such a unique twist for Satan's personality?

Ah, Satan. What a love! Satan is one of those villains who does his very best to be bad, but he’s too vulnerable to be very good at it. Sure, he’s the ruler of hell, but he’s got a one-track-mind when it comes to his true love, and all his actions revolve around his attempts to win her and become a man worthy of her, and of his role as the leader of hell. He puts on no airs, and freely says whatever is on his mind. After all, when you’re the leader of Hell, it’s not like you have to worry that people won’t take you seriously, right? I love Satan because he defies all stereotypes about what the leader of hell should be, but he’s not ashamed of it. He is who he is, and anyone who has a problem with it, can just go rot in hell... LOL. I think he evolved from the fact that my goal as I was writing the first book in the series was to be unpredictable at all times. I tried to do the opposite of what the readers would expect, so, of course, I had to make Satan be the antithesis of what the leader of hell usually is. And then he quickly took on a life of his own, and by the end of the book, I had to go back and edit some of his earlier scenes, because his personality hadn’t totally evolved until the book was over.

You did an excellent job - Satan had me LOL througout the story *g* As with most paranormals, world building is a big part of your series. How did you go about creating the underworld and the fantastical characters that inhabit not only the underworld but the normal world as well?

Honestly, the world in this series just evolved as it went. It was originally supposed to be a stand alone book about the Goblet of Eternal Youth, but then I needed a villain, and I figured Satan would love to get his hands on the Goblet to persuade people to barter their immortal souls to him, and once Satan was involved, everything else just blossomed. With each page I wrote, the world grew bigger and more complex and took on a life of its own. I ditched the editorial censors early on and just allowed the world to expand as it wanted. I was so surprised by the end of the first book when I had such a complex world that was ripe for more stories. Who knew?

As I mentioned, these books are both laugh out loud funny and hot enough to make your readers wiggle in delight. Any tips on writing comedy and/or sexy?

I think the key on writing comedy is to let your inner censors turn off and let your own personality come out. I found that if I tried to write funny, I wasn’t funny. I had submitted other books as romantic comedies, and they kept getting rejected because the editors said they didn’t see what was so funny about them. So, with this series, I sat down and let myself have fun with the story, and when we sent it out, we didn’t market it as a comedy. It was just a paranormal romance. And, of course, people thought that one was funny! I did feel a little stress writing the second book, because I realized people expected it to be funny, and the last one had been funny almost by accident. I had to really concentrate on releasing the pressure to be funny and just allowing myself to be natural and amuse myself as I wrote.

Great advice! What’s next for you?

I have a new paranormal romance series launching in 2008 with a trilogy. The series is called THE ORDER OF THE BLADE, and it’s darker, sexier and more dangerous than my current series, and the cover art will reflect that. It was great fun to write, and I think readers will love the warriors in this series. I do, however, plan to continue my current series as well. I also recently sold a romantic suspense series with sexy Alaskan bush pilots that will be launching in early 2009.

Wonderful! I know I'll be looking forward to all your releases. Thanks so much for being with us, Stephanie and congratulations on all your success! Visit Stephanie's website at: http://www.stephanierowe.com.

Both Paige and Becca (the heroine in He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot) are tough, take-charge, kick butt heroines. *g* Who is your favorite tough girl, kick butt, super smart and savvy or generally take charge heroine? Remember, one lucky commenter will get their pick of a prize from Stephanie!

Paranormal Alive and Well?

by Christie Kelley

I'll admit it...I love the paranormal.

Ghosts, vampires, werewolves even time travel. The fantasy of something else being out there with us intrigues me. It might be the result of growing up in a hundred year old house that always had creepy sounds. Or things walking away from where you put them only to turn up in the same spot two days later. Of course, it could also be the fact that I grew up with eight sneaky brothers and sisters.

In addition to my historicals, I also have a paranormal romance I’m working on. Writing it was so much fun and so very different from the historicals. But now that I’ve written it, I keep hearing that is going to take a down swing any day now.

Really?

It seems to me you can’t turn on the TV these days without some paranormal show being on. Here are just some of my favorites this season:

Heroes
Journeyman (though I’m starting to lose interest)
Reaper
Ghost Hunters (love those ghost hunting plumbers)
Supernatural
Ghost Whisperer

Those are only the shows I watch. There is a whole bunch of new shows that I haven’t even tried yet.

So now it’s your turn. Tell me, what are your favorite paranormal shows (if you watch them), or your favorite paranormal authors. Or better yet, if you want to share anything that has happened to you in the paranormal range, let me know!

ps.. I'll be without power most of the day here due to the construction on my house so I may not be able to respond to comments until after 6pm edt.

Paranormal Author, Catherine Spangler is in the Lair!

Interview with Suzanne Welsh

Catherine Spangler grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, home of The Marshall Space Flight center. Her father worked for NASA, on the space program, and she credits that exposure with giving her a fascination for space travel and other worlds. She began writing as a teenager, but then "real life" intervened, and she devoted her time to starting a family and business career. After her children got older, the desire to write returned and new stories took flight.

Now, former Golden Heart finalist, national bestselling and RITA nominated author, Catherine Spangler alters your reality with TOUCHED BY FIRE, the second book in her edgy, sexy Sentinel series. These romantic fantasy thrillers center on the ancient superhuman race of Sentinels, and the human conductors who are psychically linked with them.

Legends of Atlantis . . . sexy alpha heroes . . . strong, resilient heroines . . . combustible sexual attraction . . . magic . . . fantasy . . . myth. What could be better than these elements, all woven into a contemporary paranormal thriller!

Step into the hidden world of the Sentinels, and surround yourself with the ancient magic of Atlantis, and the suspense of hunting ultimate evil—and of course, the empowerment of love.

Catherine, welcome to the Bandit Lair. Pull up a hammock and make yourself comfortable!

Suz (pouring them both a glass of wine): Both my daughters, who adore fantasy romances, and I have loved your stories for years. Where did you get the idea for this new series involving Atlantis?

Catherine (snuggling down into this lovely, swaying hammock): I think it started when I became interested in the psychic Edgar Cayce at the tender age of eleven, and discovered MANY MANSIONS by Gina Cerminara. After that, I devoured books on metaphysical subjects. I was especially fascinated with Cayce’s 700+ readings on Atlantis. I studied those readings, and other books on Atlantis, feeling as if I might have once lived on that mystical continent.

At the same time, I was also a budding author, writing off and on into adulthood. I wasn’t content to write ‘normal’ stories. I was drawn to paranormal romance like a spaceship to a black hole. My first books, the Shielder series, were science fiction romance. Then I switched to romantic urban fantasy and found the perfect match for my fascination with Atlantis and my desire to write paranormal stories.

Suz : So, what exactly is a Sentinel?

Catherine: Sentinels are reincarnated Atlantians returning to Earth after thousands of years. Their sole purpose is to track down Belians—evil Atlantian entities who were responsible for the destruction of Atlantis. Reincarnating into the Earth in large numbers, Belians thrive on blood, death, terror and chaos. They have found violent venues as serial killers, drug lords, gang leaders, brutal dictators, any form of incarnate evil. The Sentinels are sworn to stop them.

Suz: Sounds like the Sentinels have their work cut out for them. Do they get any kind of help?

Catherine: Since both Sentinels and Belians have supernatural powers, and both occupy mortal human bodies, they are evenly matched, which makes it pretty difficult for the Sentinels to defeat the Belians. However, the Sentinels have one edge—a small group of psychic humans known as conductors. These humans can link psychically with Sentinels and enhance the tracking of Belians. The linking process is called a conduction, and involves the rise of energy through the body’s spiritual chakras, creating a powerful sexual surge. Most conductions involve sex.

Suz: I’m liking this connection. Is the heroine in TOUCHED BY FIRE a conductor?

Catherine: (Snickering. Bad, bad Suz!) Yes, Marla Reynolds is a conductor, but she doesn’t know it. When she meets ultra-sexy Luke Paxton at a Houston bar, she’s upended by the powerful sexual attraction between them, not realizing it’s the pull of a matched Sentinel and conductor. Luke knows what it is, though, and realizes Marla might be the only person who can help him track a Belian serial bomber.

Suz: How does Marla feel about this?

Catherine: Marla is not a happy camper. She is resistant to Luke’s charms. She’s been emotionally frozen since a brutal attack on her sister eleven years ago, and knows Luke is way out of her league. She avoids him—actually she stands him up—which drives him to a desperate act to get her cooperation—kidnapping. Even then, Marla proves to be one of his biggest challenges and more than a match for him.

Suz: Can you tell our readers more about Luke?

Catherine (fanning herself): Luke is ultra hot. He wears a lot of leather and rides a Harley. He’s the cool element in the relationship—incredibly sexy, yet deadly serious about his mission to track Belians.

Suz: This is the second in the Sentinel series, can you tell us a little more about the first book, TOUCHED BY DARKNESS?

Catherine: TBD is about dark and dangerous Sentinel Damien Morgan who accidentally discovers a young male Sentinel in the small Texas town of Zorro. The boy is unprotected and has received no training. His mother, Dr. Kara Cantrell, is a conductor who has been on the run from the supernatural battles between Sentinels and Belians ever since her Sentinel lover was murdered. She wants nothing to do with Damien, doesn’t want him near her son, or to help him track the Belian stalking Zorro. Damien has to convince her to let him protect the boy, as well as getting her to conduct for him so he can catch the Belian—without losing his heart in the process.

Suz: Sounds like a great series. What else would you like to share with us?

Catherine: I have a lot of fun stuff going on in conjunction with the release of TOUCHED BY FIRE. I’m giving away a Sentinel pendant (beautiful pink quartz crystal cabochon, hand wire-wrapped in sterling silver) in my contest at Fresh Fiction. I also have a great book video playing on my MySpace page, or you can view different versions of the video on my website and vote for your favorite, which puts you in a special drawing for a Barnes & Noble gift card. While you’re at the website, check out the excerpts and reviews.

Thank you so much for having me on the Romance Bandits. This is an amazing, creative, and fun group. I’d like to leave you with a question, and I’ll be giving a set of the two Sentinel books TOUCHED BY DARKNESS and TOUCHED BY FIRE to one of the responders. The question:

Which authors are your “comfort reads”, those authors whose books you read more than once, even with a towering TBR stack? Some of mine are Linda Howard, J.D. Robb, Charlaine Harris, and JR Ward. Who are yours?

Suz, didn’t you say something about chocolate . . . ? Oh, and do I get to keep the hammock?