Author Interview with Shéa MacLeod

Author Name: Shéa MacLeod

Book Title(s): Kissed by Darkness

Book Category/Genre: urban fantasy, paranormal

Link to book(s):

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kissed-Darkness-Sunwalker-Saga-ebook/dp/B0058PIWJ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311938203&sr=8-1

Amazon US:
http://www.amazon.com/Kissed-Darkness-Sunwalker-Saga-ebook/dp/B0058PIWJ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311938282&sr=8-1

Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/70109

Any other links you would like to share:
My blog: http://sheamacleod.wordpress.com/


Tell us what the book is about:

Kissed by Darkness is a fast paced urban fantasy with a kick-ass heroine who faces her demons. Quite literally.
Blurb:

Danger is always on the menu for Morgan Bailey, a sexy and street-smart bounty hunter, who prowls the dark underworld of Portland, Oregon hunting creatures of the night. Morgan’s never met a vampire she couldn’t dust or a demon she couldn’t kill until she’s hired to destroy a new kind of mystical threat: the Sunwalker.

A powerful immortal once believed myth, the Sunwalker carries with him an ancient secret which, if left unchecked, will destroy Morgan’s world. Pursued by a passionate Templar Knight and the target of the local vampire clans, an ancient power is awakened within her, unlike anything she’s ever known. Morgan must uncover the truth behind her mission and about herself, before the Darkness lurking inside swallows her whole.

What would you say the theme of the book is?
This is the first of a six book series, each with a theme related to a specific element, the creatures in the book, and what's happening in our heroine's life.

KbD is all about Darkness. It's about facing the Darkness in the world and it's about realizing that Darkness lives in all of us.

But mostly, it's just good fun. :-)

Do you have a favorite character from your novel(s)?
The heroine Morgan Bailey, of course. She's strong and sassy and totally kicks ass.

What motivates you to write? Do you write everyday?
I write nearly every day, even if it's only a few hundred words. It's not so much about motivation as about obsession. If I don't write, I get antsy and can't sleep. I need to get those words in my head onto paper. I crave the creative process.

And that just made me sound mad as a hatter. lol But seriously, motivation is rarely an issue for me unless I'm just needing a break.

Who would be most interested in this novel?
Fantasy lovers, particular those who like urban fantasy. Probably those who enjoy paranormal romance as there are some elements of that. Definitely anyone who was a fan of Buffy. And anyone who just likes a good adventure with a little magic.

What prompted you to write the book?
I loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the series). And I had this thought that it would be cool to sort of take the idea of Buffy and mash it up with someone older who maybe worked for a PI firm investigating paranormal occurances (kind of like Ghost Hunters). It just sort of morphed from there, throwing in a little Templar Knight action here and some Atlantis mythology there until this story began taking shape in my mind.

Who are your favorite authors?
Agatha Christie hands down. Genius. I've been reading her since I was eleven. For paranormal/urban fantasy it's Nalini Singh and Ann Aguirre. Steampunk: Gail Carriger. Thrillers: James Rollins. Horror: Stephen King and Jack Wallen. Mysteries: Norah Wilson (N. L. Wilson) and Janet Evanovich.

Those are just a very few. There are far too many to count!

Would one of your books be a good movie?
I think it would make an excellent HBO series. Similar to True Blood where each season was based on a book. Now that would be fun!

What is your dream job?
To write full time.

What projects do you have planned for the future?
The second book in the (Sunwalker Saga) series, Kissed by Fire, will be out late August. The third book should be out by Christmas.

In the meantime I'm working on a new series called The Dragon Wars set twenty-five years after an apocalypse. There's a bit of science fiction, a bit of paranormal romance and dragons. Lots and lots of dragons.

Because, as I always say, everything's better with dragons!