First important question. Silk, satin, cotton, flannel. What is your sheet of choice?
I live where it’s hot. Definitely cotton. (BTW, no matter what anyone says, certain activities are practically impossible to perform on silk. Just sayin’)
LOL Shhh! That’s a trade secret! But Dee, slipping and sliding can be fun! It’s three o’clock in the morning. What are you wearing?
Depends. Am I with my husband, with someone who’s not my husband, or with my husband and someone who’s not my husband?
Ohh… now I have questions for off the air! ; ) It’s a slumber party! Calories don’t count. What snacks will you be munching on at midnight?
I’m a total cookie monster. Practically any kind. The best are those straight out of the oven, so gooey you can bend them in half and they won’t break.
Oh, and I’m addicted to making cookies. I know what we’ll be doing tonight. I’ll share my chocolate chip cookie recipe with you. But first a little business. How would you describe your writing style?
I really can’t describe it to you. The words people have used to describe my writing to me include “literary”, “eloquent”, “sophisticated” and “dark”. (Don’t ask me how that last one got inserted there. LOL) One of my publishers told me she can spot my voice within the first few sentences of a story. While intellectually I know what “voice” is, at the same time I’m a little flummoxed by what is my own voice and rely on others to tell me about it. I can tell you that in every one of my stories, either the hero or the heroine has, or is going to, suffer. Poor dears.
I’d take all those descriptions as compliments! I’m with you. I just write, I’m not sure what my style is. It may be that we’re too close to it. What inspired you to start writing?
I know it has its fans and its critics, but believe it or not, National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo, prompted me to write my first novella. I knew I wanted to participate in the November-long project of writing a 50,000 word novel, but I didn’t want to jump in with both feet, never having attempted anything like it before. So, I decided during the October prior I would write a 25,000 word story. SOLDIER (Cobblestone Press) was the result of that effort.
Really? I’m neither a fan nor a critique, but I've often wondered if any of the books written go on to publication. I’ve been tempted a few times but it seems I’m always way deep in edits during November.What is the best piece of advice on writing you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received and the one I still hand out is finish the damned book. Authors don’t study their character’s astrology, or research the meanings of their names, spending so much time on their character’s history they can’t delve into the actual story. They don’t participate in exercise after exercise, but never complete a story. It doesn’t matter if you have twenty incomplete manuscripts sitting in a drawer. The difference between a writer and an author is one is published. You can only be published with a finished product.
That’s great advice! What kind of goals to you set for yourself when writing? Word count? Page count?
I work Monday through Friday, so by the time I get home from work, I’m exhausted. Typically during the week, I set my goal as zero. Anything over that is a win. LOL. On the weekends, however, I do aim for 5,000 words a day. Fortunately, I have a couple of online author friends with similar goals and we push each other into meeting or exceeding them.
I may have to join in. After work M-F, I don’t have much energy left to write but on the weekends, there’s the yard, and house, and soccer games, etc. Maybe if I had someone push me a little… : ) Do you listen to music while you write?
I don’t listen to music, but I do have the television on. I can’t concentrate in silence, so I keep it on for the noise. (Comes in handy when I need a secondary character name too. Just scroll through the listings and voila!) My dogs know when the television goes off on a weekend, it’s time for bed.
Where were you when you heard your first book was contracted. What did you do?
I will never forget it. I was working the dreaded 7 to 3 shift at the hospital on Christmas Day. I try to work these hours on this day so that people with children can spend it with them. Fortunately, it’s also usually a pretty relaxed day. Not having anything else going on, four weeks before I expected it, I received my contract offer from Cobblestone Books. None of my coworkers knew I work, so I kept mum, but the friends who did know received a forwarded copy of that email.
Tell us about your newest release.
If you follow me on Twitter (@dee_carney), you know I’m a huge Spartacus: Blood and Sand fan*. I would record it and watch the episodes over two time zones with a friend. We commented on Twitter all the while. Of course, watching all of that man-candy would inspire anyone so I started wondering about a former gladiator living in modern times. What would he be like? Thus, HUNGER AROUSED was born.
It’s my debut release with Carina Press and I’m very proud of this vampire romance. Jasmine, the heroine, has been accidentally made into a vampire. Corin, as vampire executioner, is sent to eliminate her.
*Best wishes to Andy Whitfield and family as he battles non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Let’s hope he recovers quickly! I’m also a huge Spartacus: Blood and Sand fan. If you haven’t watched it, I believe Hulu is still airing episodes. And Dee, now I want to read HUNGER AROUSED even more! Do you have anything else in the works?
Although I never write a book with any intentions of creating a series, somehow I’ve managed to talk myself into writing a sequel to HUNGER AROUSED. Right now, I’m working on PASSION AROUSED, which was inspired by one of the secondary characters in the original story. For now, I’m not saying who.
Tease! You’ve already said you work a day job, so what do you do when you’re not writing about hot characters?
I work as a nurse full-time, so I spend my weekends writing. If I had to count up the hours in a week, I’d say I spend roughly 30 hours a week writing or doing writing-activities. Whew! No wonder I’m tired.
Where can we find you?
I’m everywhere!
My site: http://www.deecarney.com/
My blog: http://www.deecarney.com/blog
My books: http://www.deecarney.com/bookshelf
MySpace: www.myspace.com/dee_carney
My Twitter: www.twitter.com/dee_carney
Time for Truth or… well, truth. ; ) Have you ever had a one-night stand?
Um, yeah. Who hasn’t?
What is the craziest or most unusual place you’ve had sex?
*blush* In the walk-in freezer of a grocery store. (See previous question.)
LOL! Did you defrost the ice cream? What would you consider a romantic date?
(Don’t look at question #2) I’m really one of those gushy types who loves any effort a man puts forward to show me a romantic time. I think some of my best dates were sunsets at local parks, just walking and talking while watching the waves come in. I’m not impressed by material things and so relaxed times like this call to me.
That does sound romantic! What is the best pick-up line someone has ever tried on you? Did it work?
I was working the information booth when this guy walks up and says “Please, I need you to call 9-1-1!” When I asked him why, hand over his heart he said “Because you’ve taken my breath away.” *rolls eyes* No, it didn’t work. It’s perhaps one of the oldest lines in the book.
Okay, I'm getting hungry. What is your favorite thing to eat?
Cookies. All kinds. Homemade are best. Not too sweet. Cookies. Just cookies. Did I mention cookies? Can’t go wrong with cookies. Yes, cookies. Mmmm…cookies.
LOL. You're certainly passionate about cookies. Do you have a favorite color?
Purple. (It’s the color of my aura too. Neat!)
Could be connected. What is your favorite time of day?
I’m a night owl. Any time after dark, especially during a full moon, calls to me.
Maybe that's why you write paranormal. ; ) Out of curiosity, what is your favorite season?
Fall.
Mine too! Until spring, and then that’s my favorite season. It’s hot where I live so the transition seasons are the best! If you could have any car, which would it be?
For PASSION AROUSED, my hero drives a Ferrari Scaglietti. MSRP: $372,000. I’m not impressed by material stuff, but really, I’d love to know what exactly could be so great about a car that costs more than my house.
What is a movie you could watch over and over?
I don’t know that I have a single favorite movie, but one I’ve seen easily a thousand times and can still find something to laugh at with each viewing is The Fifth Element. Bruce Willis and Chris Tucker are a hoot!
What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?
Because it’s so calorie-laden I rarely have it, but I love a virgin Pina Colada. Yum!
Well, today is a special occasion! So while I slide The Fifth Element into the DVD player, I’ll get the chocolate chips out for cookies and you mix up the Pina Coladas!
Here is a blurb for Dee Carney’s newest release HUNGER AROUSED:
Jasmine is sick in bed when a sexy stranger breaks in and reveals she’s suffering an irreversible case of vampirism. And because her turning wasn’t approved by the Council, he must kill her once the transition is complete. In the meantime, the executioner offers to ease her torment with chocolate, hot peppers or sexual release. Fortunately for them both, Jasmine’s kitchen is bare…
Corin’s honor demands he do his duty, but he cannot execute the lovely woman while any part of her humanity remains. He must also find—and kill—her sire. Jasmine denies ever having contact with a vampire, causing Corin to question the justice of his orders. Sensing his hesitation, the Council dispatches another executioner, forcing the pair to make a run for it.
Every hour they spend together—every sensual encounter they share—finds them growing closer. Now Corin will have to choose: kill the woman he loves, or go against everything he believes to set her free
And while we munch on my secret recipe chocolate chip cookes, here's an excerpt:
“You know of vampires?” he asked finally.
“Vampires? You mean…like garlic-hating, cross-avoiding, destroyed-by-sunlight vampires?”
“Truth.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “Vampires, as in Bram Stoker and the like.”
“Are you trying to tell me,” her eyes narrowed, “that someone bit me and I’m becoming a vampire?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes.”
“I see.”
Corin could almost hear the wheels of her mind spinning. Definitely anticipated the way her body tensed. In her position, he expected nothing less. When she vaulted from the bed, he was already two steps ahead of her.
The first thing he realized as he wrapped his arms around her waist and hauled her against his body was how incredibly soft she was. The second thing, as pain exploded against his side, was how determined she was to get away.
Jasmine threw her elbow against him, again and again, ramming into him with the strength of a Mack truck. “Fucking lunatic!” she screamed.
More pain centered in his shin, where she used the heel of a bare foot to deliver a bruising kick. Ignoring the throbbing, he maneuvered around her and made her turn, putting her chest against his. Feisty little thing. If he thought her anger turned him on before, this side of her just about brought him to his knees…literally.
“Wait!” He wrestled one arm behind her back, doing his damndest not to hurt her, but quickly about to lose if she didn’t stop wriggling. “Gods damn it, wait and let me explain.”
“Instrument of death, my ass,” she ground out between clenched teeth. Somehow Jasmine managed to slip her hand between his shirt and skin to dig her nails into his
flesh.
Oh, he liked this woman a lot.
Wrenching her hand away from his abdomen, possibly losing inches of meat in the process, he rushed forward. Together they slammed into the wall, Jasmine taking the brunt of the impact. It wouldn’t break any bones, but it would stun the hell out of her.
Breathing harshly, he hissed into her ear. “Listen to me. Cool your ire now.” When she began to thrash, Corin pulled back and slammed into the wall again, eliciting a grunt from her. “Get your emotions under control or you'll regret it in a matter of minutes.”
“Tough guy, huh?” she panted out. “Gonna hurt a woman half your size?”
Already the cinnamon scent began to waft from her pores. “Physiology, remember that?”
Her breath sawed in and out of her nose. “Yeah?”
“Oxytocin and endorphins. Pleasure hormones.” She still struggled, but with a little less force. “The change— yes, you are being transformed—is like fire inside you. Oxytocin or endorphins are like water. You keep letting your fear or your anger ratchet up, and the endorphins I helped you generate will dissipate, and you will burn from the inside again. Calm down.”
She’d been wearing medical scrubs before and he prayed it meant she had some knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. With her arms behind her back, her delicate wrists locked in his hand, he thought he felt some of the fight leave her body. His cock had been like steel from the moment he pleasured her, and now it came surging back with a vengeance. If he didn’t get himself under control as well, things would become very complicated later on.
“Why me?” she muttered after a few moments. “How did this happen to me?”
Corin took a chance, released her wrists and stepped back. She glared at him, but didn’t charge. “Sometime recently,” he explained, “in the past week, you encountered a vampire. And he or she changed you.”
“Is that what you are?” She inclined her head, studying him.
“Yeah.” He resisted the urge to lift his lip to show her the evidence.
“It’s daylight.”
“Most of the fiction out there is untrue. Some of it is very true, however. What you need to recognize and accept is that you are becoming one of us. I need your help in figuring out how that happened.”
Jasmine dropped her head, her gaze now landing on the floor, and wrapped her arms around her waist. “You said you’re the instrument of my death. What did that mean?”
Swallowing hard, he took another chance. Moving closer, he reached out and stroked her face. Her soft skin temptation. “You don’t want a life like mine, Jasmine. This isn’t for you.”
She glanced up to pierce him with another one of those death looks. “You don’t even know me.”
“You’re right.” His voice was shakier than he would have liked. “In another lifetime, I would have liked to have known you. In this one, I can’t. Help me find your sire and in three days, I’ll reward you with a swift, clean death.”
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2 comments:
Great and FUN interview, ladies!
Thanks Kaily! I'm honored that Lynne invited me to be a guest. :)
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