Today it’s my pleasure to host friend and charming fellow author, Shannan Albright, as she talks about her writing and her upcoming release, Passion’s Flight, through Evernight Publishing.
Shannan Albright – Bio
Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, California, I spend my time between writing, dancing and acting. After retiring from dance I spent some time as an illustration artist, designing covers for several children’s books for local writers.
I currently live in Las Vegas, Nevada with my husband, step-daughter, two dogs and one cat. When not writing, I relax by oil painting, reading, acting in Renaissance fairs, and working out doing Yoga and Pilates.
Wow, Shannan! You certainly have plenty of life experiences to draft your stories on. What decided you on writing?
I have always made up stories in my head, even as a little girl. When I danced I would build a whole world in my head. The same was true when I drew. Every picture had a complete story involved. I didn’t start putting my stories to paper until I was around eleven when two very important things happened to me. The first was my teacher who encouraged me to write and the second was reading Gone with the Wind.
Ahhh! One of my all-time favorite books and movies.
Your books are classified in several genres…Paranormal, Suspense, Urban Fantasy, and Shifters/Vampires. After acting in Renaissance Fairs, I would think you’d be more inclined to write historicals. Why are you drawn to this type of story?
I have always been drawn to classic horror movies. I love vampires, werewolves, and the mummy. Not so much into the slasher movies. There is just something so sexually potent about a supernatural being, practically immortal, brooding and dark. I am pulled to the deliciously dangerous, cursed and alone. Even as powerful as these beings are written, they still need love to fill the void in their souls and find redemption and peace. As for historicals, I do have plans to write one. I play a privateer and assassin at Renaissance Fairs. I’m known as Obsidian, the Black Dagger and have the outline done for her story. I just don’t have much time to get to it at the moment.
Where do the ideas come from?
Everywhere Lol! I see a commercial and get an idea. I could be reading a book and a certain phrase or description will set me off on a tangent for a new book. The only thing that interferes with getting ideas is music. I spent so many years as a dancer and a choreographer that I start to choreograph in my head and forget everything else except what I want my imaginary dancers to do. What steps, lifts and turns would work with the music. Now if I’m dancing myself, I can work out my plots, but I just can’t listen to music and write.
I envy you that. When I write, I like to have peace a quiet…a rare commodity since my younges son and his family moved home.
What comes first, names of H/h, location or plot?
Plot and location work hand in hand for me and always come to me first. Names come after the characters start showing their personality. I have been known to change names four to five times before getting a name to stick to a character.
Are you a plotter or pantser?
I am a plotter with pantser tendencies. I’m a plodding pantser. I put in the key goals to meet and conflicts then let the characters tell the story within the guidelines I set.
What is your typical writing day/night?
Whenever I get the chance. I have a full time job so I usually write when I get home, break for dinner and write until bedtime. The weekends are usually my crunch time where I write most of the day and night.
Do you ever have trouble getting into the ‘writing zone’?
Oh yeah, It seems when that happens there is something in the story I’m writing that isn’t meshing with the whole. At those times I start editing what I wrote and that’s when I find either a scene that just won’t work or some action that is not true to what the character would do. Once I change it, the ‘writing zone’ just happens.
My characters ‘speak’ to me as I write their story. Do yours? If so, what’s it like to have a vampire breathing down your neck?
Sigh, if only they would just take a nibble I really wouldn’t mind. J My characters speak, scream, throw tantrums, you name it, they’ve done it. I prefer that to silence. I hate it when a character won’t open up to me, it’s like talking to a rock. When that happens I concentrate on another character and low and behold they start getting a voice. Guess they think I wouldn’t get back to them to tell their story.
Is Hubby supportive of your writing career? Does he help with the ‘hands on’ research?
Oh, you’re a sly one *winks* I have a very supportive Hubby thank God! He lets me be to write and sometimes even takes care of dinner and the dishes if I’m close to a deadline. As for research well, he’s all over that one any time I ask. The funny thing is the man hates to read. He has only read a few sentences of each of my books. He supports me because he loves and believes in my talent, but don’t ask him to sit and read, or go to a convention. He gives me a look of utter horror when I invite him to go with me to author conventions. He would rather gnaw his own arms off before going to one. Lol!
If you had to descrbe yourself, what three words best suit you?
Reliable, loyal and creative.
If someone else described you, what three words would they use? *evil grin*
Stubborn, driven and diplomatic. (Or so I hear.)
Favorites:
Author?
JR Ward, Kresley Cole, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Erin Quinn (Can’t name just one 🙂
Book?
Gone with the Wind, Black Dagger Brotherhood, Dark Hunters and Lords of the Underworld, Mists of Ireland. (same problem, there is not just one book )
Car?
Cooper Mini
Color?
Purple and black or red and black. Hum…guess you could say if black is in the picture I like the color.
Desktop or Laptop?
Laptop
Dessert?
CHEESECAKE!!!! (Mmmm! I can identify!)
Holiday?
Halloween
Movie?
Oh boy here we go again. Classics like All About Eve with Bette Davis, the Philadelphia Story, The Underworld movies, 300, Immortal, Highlander, the first movie.
Pen or Pencil?
Pen with black ink. Don’t like blue ink at all.
Penis size? Oops!
Now we all now it’s not the size but how you use it that matters most. *grinning wickedly*
Shopping or Baking?
Gah, I can’t bake to save my soul but I would rather do that than shop. I hate shopping and go to the mall under threat of death once a year. I know I’m not normal. Lol!
Then I’m not either. I hate shopping!
Vacation Spot?
The Caribbean, Fiji Islands, Ireland or Scotland.
Here in Canada, the changing seasons would be much different than what you’d experience in Nevada? In fact, it’s freezing cold right now. What is your favorite season? Why?
I love the spring and summer seasons. Here in Nevada it boils down to hot and hotter, and the hotter the better for me. I hate being cold, which makes my wanting to go to Ireland and Scotland so strange, but I love the people and their history.
Do you think you’ll try your hand at different genres in the future? If so, which ones?
I will definitely do Historicals and may even do a contemporary thriller sometime.
What pearls of wisdom would you like to impart to aspiring writers?
Write because you love it. It’s a hard business and you have to have a tough skin so be prepared for negativity. It’s part of the business, learn from it if you can. If it rings false, then ignore the slurs and continue on. Whatever you do, don’t stop writing, going to workshops and honing your craft. Find a critique group you can work with, this will help and remember the most important thing. Submit your work to as many publishers you can and never say die.
Passion’s Flight is releasing February 29th through Evernight Publishing.
I love the cover!
What prompted you to write this story? How long did it take?
This is the second story in the series and Tegan just sprang to life halfway through the first book. I thought it would be my moody Cajun who would take the story forward, but Tegan had a MUCH louder voice. The story was hard to write. It’s taken me seven months just to put it on paper, that’s not counting the editing I did afterwards. I think it was hard because this is the book that sets the mood and plots for all future books. In Dark Passion Rising you got to meet the characters and get a taste of the world they live in. The second cements this and takes it further for both the characters in the first book and for Tegan and Kyra.
Ohhh! Sounds good!
What characteristics/personality traits make your hero and heroine memorable?
Tegan is highly intelligent. He’s the Breed’s doctor and one of their most vicious fighters. He’s combative, brutally honest, and couldn’t care less what people think of him. Inside he is loyal, sensitive, and way too serious. He’s the type of person who would give you his right arm if you had need of it. He is the most vulnerable hero I have ever written, which makes him my favorite character.
Kyra is independent, intelligent with a strong dislike for foul language. Something Tegan is fond of using any chance he gets. An extremely competent fighter her biggest obstacle is learning to trust. The secrets she holds makes having close relationships with anyone near to impossible. She lives her life in a bubble, isolated and never truly living.
Can you share the blurb? Excerpt?
BLURB
With ferals attacking the human populace in greater numbers than ever before, Tegan Murin has his hands full these days. When he is ordered to find and destroy a deadly artifact known as Oman’s Seal, deal with his estranged step-father, and find a missing archeologist. He’s a bit irritable. Add into the mix a recurring dream of one sexy seductress leading him to his death…well, you get one very pissed off were-panther.
Kyra Navarone is an archeologist who is more than what she seems. Escaping from the ferals who captured her, she ends up running into the brooding, irritating man who makes her blood run hot just with one look. Her life depends on the betrayal of this compelling man, but how can she live with herself afterward?
With ferals, An Atlantean Tracker, and Lucien closing in on them, they are running out of time, Tegan and Kyra must learn to trust each other in order to survive. More hangs in the balance than their lives. Their actions could very well spell the end of everything for not just their world, but the world hidden beneath the waves as well.
EXCERPT
His gaze caught once again on her face as she stopped at arm’s length away from him. Her eyes, he noted slanted up at an exotic angle enhancing a heart shaped face. Her nose was small, straight with a small upturn at the tip and her lips, Gods those lips were made for a man to kiss! Full and pale pink, he had the sudden urge to see if they were as soft and lush as they looked.
“You are different from the others,” she stated it as fact in a husky voice, filling his mind with all kinds of lecherous ideas.
“Yeah, I’ve been accused of that before,” he replied giving her a slow smile.
Her arched brows angled down in a frown. “No, I mean I think you are here for me.”
“Any other time, sweetheart, but this is hardly the place for a conversation. We need to get out of here fast before some real bad guys come back here.”
“Yes, it is not safe here. You must go,” she agreed turning to head back into the forest.
He quickly grabbed her arm turning her to face him. “Whoa there, no way am I leaving you alone, lady. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
She pulled back from him. Her voice brushed over him like velvet, yet her words rang with steel. “I am quite capable of taking care of myself. Just get out of here now. I will not be the cause of more deaths.”
“I know how to handle myself, so don’t worry your pretty little head about it,” he purred, giving her his best seductive smile.
He watched those gorgeous eyes narrow with irritation at him. “My pretty little head? You just didn’t say that to me did you? Of course you didn’t. Because if you did that would mean I was dealing with a real imbecile. No, I take that back. I would be talking to a chauvinistic, egomaniacal jerk who had the IQ of a rock.”
“Wow, a rock huh?” His eyes narrowed, all thoughts sexual dissolving in an instant, “Who the hell are you, lady?” He felt his temper rise, never a good sign when his cat prowled just under his skin.. “I’ve been called worse things in my life, and though I would love to stand here and argue with you, I just don’t have that kind of time, so if you don’t mind, move your ass.”
“I have never met a more disagreeable person in all of my life,” she huffed.
“That life will be very short and painful if we don’t get the hell out of her. Now!”
“I just so happen to know this area very well and I don’t need to be saved,” she snapped back at his abruptness. Moving swiftly away from the burning bodies and out to the main path. They walked for some time in a strained silence stretching between them, tension spiking between them until she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Are you always this… exasperating?”
“Baby, that’s my middle name,” he drawled. “Now get that pretty little ass moving.”
“Do you have to use such base language? Honestly, it shows a lack of intelligence.” she grumbled as he marched her out of the settlement to a small overgrown trail.
“Didn’t your mama ever tell you it’s dangerous to judge a book by its cover? It may just take your head off,” he advised dryly picking up the pace. “By the way, do you have a name or should I just call you pain in the ass?”
“Anyone ever tell you you’re a jerk?”
“Every minute of every day.” He chuckled. “Your name?”
She huffed out an irritated breath. “I am Doctor Navarone, Kyra to my friends, which by the way you are not.”
Shannan is offering one lucky commenter a free ebook. Winner’s choice, Book 1, Dark Passion Rising, or Book 2, Passion’s Flight. Draw will take place on release day, February 29th. Don’t forget to leave your email addy with your comment.
Where can you be found:
www.shannanalbright.weebly.com
www.shannanalbright.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/nae0309
www.facebook.com/people/Shannan-Albright/100001442663522
www.goodreads.com/shannanalbright
Purchase Links:
www.evernightpublishing.com
Remember folks, Passion’s Flight is 15% off for the first two weeks through the Evernight website..
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