Stevens: Website • Facebook • TwitterSeries: Paranorm World #1
Release Date: June 19, 2013
Publisher: Classy Scribe Publications
Genre: Paranormal > Zombies
Get It: Amazon • Smashwords
Zombies aren’t supposed to exist, yet they are turning up all over Nash City. As a member of the Elite Black Blade Guard, Fiona Moon is tasked with hunting down the most dangerous Paranorm criminals. Now she must find out who is kidnapping mages and sucking the life energy from their bodies. To make matters worse, she has to work with the one man that embodies everything she despises.~synopsis provided by GoodreadsInterview with June Stevens
Ian Barroes is the rich founder and head of the Necromancers Guild and a professor of Necromantic Studies at the Academy of Science and Magic. There is one thing he wants more than anything else in the world… Fiona.
They each hold secrets that could destroy them but could also be the key to destroying the evil Voodoo priest, Bokor. They must learn to trust each other track down Bokor before more innocents are taken, and murdered. To make matters worse, when Fiona becomes a target of the evil madman she is lured into his trap. Now she and Ian have to fight for survival and their very souls.
Welcome to Beauty but a Funny Girl, June! I'm so excited to have you here with us today! What inspired you to write Voodoo Moon and how do you come up with the ideas?
I’d had a female witch character with Fiona’s powers in my head a very long time, but hadn’t been sure what to do with her. Then one day I was brainstorming with my husband and he came up with the character of Bokor (or atleast the basics of the character) as well as some of the more frustrating traits of Ian… and so now I had my two main characters and the bad guy and I plopped them down in a world I had been dreaming up for a while..and there you go.
As for the inspiration to write the book: I’ve been writing my whole life, and have written many short stories over the years under other pen names, but never a full length novel. I got my writing talent from my mother, who always wanted to write a book, and was always pushing me to write a full length novel. I started Voodoo Moon two days after I lost her in August of 2011. It took me two years (never start a bit project after a traumatic experience…it will take longer than expected), but now it is here, and I think she would be proud.
Which of your characters is the most like you, and which is the total opposite?
Fiona is most like what I wish I were, but I’m not. I suppose I am a little more like River, in that I’m a mother-hen to everyone, but I’m not as sweet and demure as she is. In truth, there is probably a little of me in all of the characters, but not enough to really shine through. The only character in this book based on a real person in any way is Mrs. Gary, Ian’s housekeeper. From her kind heart to her paisley dress, she is very much the image of my mother-in-law, whom I love dearly.
Do you plan your stories beforehand or do you just go with the flow?
I do plan very carefully doing character sketches, plotting, etc. However, I’m also flexible in that I let my characters develop as I write and take their own road. If I veer too much off the plotted path I go back to the outline and restructure. I had to do that with Voodoo Moon oh… 10 or 15 times. Fiona just didn’t want to do what I told her! And Ian came out much more aggressive and charming than my original character sketch.
How do you decide your book title and series?
One day (back in 2010) I thought…what would happen if the world really does end in 2012? Would everyone die? What would it be like in two hundred years? I came up with the Paranorm World, where magic and paranormal beings are a matter of science, not mysticism. The entire series is based in this world, and so it was only natural to give the series that name. The first three books in the series, while being complete books in themselves, revolve around the three Moon sisters, so each of the first three books have Moon in the title. Later books, if I’m so lucky to have an audience that wants more books, will have titles based on their own merits.
Do you prefer writing in a quiet place, or while listening to music?
It depends on the mood and the scene. Writing fight scenes and some of Fiona’s scenes called for some angry or girl power (No Doubt, Alanis Morrisette, etc) rock. Normally I listen to swing or show tunes (don’t judge me!) on a normal day, but if I’m having a difficult time with a scene I need absolute silence.
What's the most difficult part in writing Voodoo Moon?
The bad guy, Bokor. I’d never written a villain before, and to write one so evil and, well, gross, it was very difficult. I had to rely on my husband a lot to tell me if it sounded plausible and at least a little creepy.
If you could have any fictional character to yourself for a day, who would it be and why?
The Doctor. I know, I know, I was probably supposed to pick someone from MY books, but nope. It is the dream of every geek girl (or at least every geek girl that swoons over skinny British dudes) to have a guy show up at their door and say “Hell, I’m The Doctor. Fancy a ride in my blue box?” I’m an incurable Doctor Who fan and I’d be gone in a second! (Though, like Amy Pond…I’d take my hubby along for the ride!)
If I HAD to pick one of my characters…it would be Fiona. Despite her hot headedness and ability to be thick brained sometimes, she is confident and kickass. (I hope I can say that here!)
In no more than 3 sentences, describe your book.
Voodoo Moon is a sexy and suspenseful urban fantasy romance set in a post apocalyptic world where norms, mages, werebeasts and vampires live side by side. Fiona Moon and Ian Barroes are tasked with the job of solving a series of kidnappings and murders by hunting down a paranormal criminal with unheard of powers.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on Immortal Moon (Paranorm World #2). It is Anya and Jarrett’s story. I had planned to work on a New Adult romance next, but Anya and Jarrett won’t shut up, so they are first.
Anything extra before we end this Q&A?
I just wanted to say thank you for having me. Writing Voodoo Moon has been an incredible journey for me and getting to come and talk to you and your readers about it is amazing. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that people care about my little story. Thank you so much.
You're very welcome. Thank you for stopping by! And to my readers, be sure to check out the excerpt and giveaway.
