Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Guest Author/Interview - Gena Showalter

I'm delighted to present an interview with the fabulous Gena Showalter! We're talking about her amazing new series and Gena's agreed to swing by and answer any reader questions, so hit her with them!

1. Who is Gena Showalter?

I’ve always been a mix of the wallflower wh
o wants to remain in the shadows and a quirky, attention-hogging wild child who craves compliments. How’s that for variety? I married my high school sweetheart, have three English bulldogs I adore (Mary Ann, Ginger, and Lovey), and am an avid romance reader.

2. You have a new series debuting this May – can you give us the lowdown?

I’ve taken the myth of Pandora and completely turned it upside down! I say the gods entrusted Pandora, the greatest warrior of her time, to guard the box. But a group of immortal warriors, her peers, fought and won it, opened it, and unleashed the horde of demons locked inside. Because of this, the gods punish each warrior to house a demon inside his own body. So the warriors become the box, so to speak. It’s not an easy pairing, either. There’s Violence, Pain,
Disease, Wrath, Death, Doubt, Misery, Lies, Disaster, and so on.

N: I've been lucky enough to read books 1 & 2 in advance and they rock (and I'm not saying that just because I might possibly be in the dedication *grin*). I blogged about my reaction to book 1, here.

3. The first three books are going to release back to back—what did that
mean for your writing schedule? (Keeping in mind that Gena writes demon-fast).

The first book was already written and the second one well on its way to be written when we decided to push back their release dates and do the back to back thing. So it was just a matter of writing the third. But still, that third had to be written very very quickly when I didn’t have the story figured out yet. So panic? Just a wee bit.

4. The series starts out in Budapest—why did you choose this city?

I love the mix of old world charm and modern style, the sense of mystery and mysticism.

5. Very Important Question: Who do you think is the sexiest Lord of the Underworld and why?

(Answer always subject to change.) Whoever I’m writing at the time is usually the one I’m most in love with. Right now that just happens to be Sabin, keeper of Doubt. He has a very dry sense of humor that I adore, and he’s always been one of those warriors who will do anything to win: cheat, fight dirty, whatever. He’s always put his war with his enemy first, but for once, for a woman, he’s going to have to rethink that.

6. Do you have a set number of books planned?

I think I could write these books forever, I love them so much.

7. Can you share any super-secret behind-the-scenes info on the series?

Sometimes death is only the beginning. All’s I’m sayin.

8. Since this is a new series, where can folks find out more info about it and your other books? Are there excerpts?

I’ve just launched a new Lords of the Underworld website! You can find it at www.lordsoftheunderworld.net There aren’t any excerpts up yet, but I plan to load them soon!

N: A three chapter excerpt has been added since we completed the interview!

9. And this one's for the fans of your other series'—will you be writing more books in those worlds, or are you focusing on the LOTU?

Next year, there will be a sequel to Playing With Fire -- Twice As Hot -- and the fourth book in the Atlantis series -- The Vampire’s Bride. If readers want more, it will be my pleasure to give them more!

10. Final question just for fun –hypothetically speaking, if a (gorgeous) man came up to you and told you he had a demon inside, what would you do?

After I kissed the breath out of him? Hmm, I’m not sure. Hard to say. Guess it’d be a wait and see situation :-)

N: Thanks for the interview, Gena. (Now, feel free to grill her mercilessly!)

26 comments :

KT Grant said...

Gena, you can write both comedic romance and dark romance so well! Which of the two are easier to write and hwo do you keep coming up with those fabulous OMG hot sex scenes? *G*

little alys said...

OMG! Two of my fav authors together~oh, I'm feeling faint. This was a great interview and I second ms. katie's comments on comic/dark/smexy greatness. Teehee.

~Alice

Gena Showalter said...

Oh, hard question! And right off the bat, too LOL (But first, thank you so much for the wondderful welcome, ladies)

The comedies are easier to write. The dark romances drain me, but I'm happier with them when they're published, if that makes any sense. (Maybe because they WERE so hard to write, and it's like: that book almost killed me, but look how pretty! :)

Lori T said...

Hi Gena,

These books sound so amazing! I can hardly wait to grab my copy up and I am very excited that the first few are releasing back to back.

You, also, write some young adult books and I was fortunate to run across "Oh My Goth" the other day at my local bookstore and picked it up. Do you find it difficult to write for this age group? My daughter is dying to read "Oh My Goth."

Again, I am really really looking forward to your new series!

ShellBell said...

Hi Gena .. love your books and I'm looking forward to Layel's book. Has The Blood King been renamed, or is The Vampire's Bride another book in The Atlantis series?

Anonymous said...

Wow! The cover of the books are amazing!
I will look for the books!

KT Grant said...

OMG I love Layel!! Anything we can know about him? Just an itty bitty teeny weeny spoiler? *G*

Gena Showalter said...

Lori,
Thank you thank you!

GOTH was a pain in the tush to write :) It was my first venture into young adult and I second guessed every word. I relaxed while writing Red Handed and Blacklisted, but they were for older teens and it was the future, so I had a lot more room to play.

Gena Showalter said...

Shellbell,
Thank you!!! (you guys are great for my ego :) Layel's story has indeed been renamed to The Vampire's Bride. (it's undergone three title changes: The Vampire's Queen, The Blood King, and now the final for sure no changing Vampire's Bride!!

Gena Showalter said...

Sissi,
Thank you so much. I hope you like them!

Gena Showalter said...

Katie,
Thank you!!

Layel will be kind of exiled to another island with a group of other creatures from Atlantis and they'll be forced to battle for survival. His heroine's name is Delilah and she's gonna give him a good. . . time LOL

KT Grant said...

Thanks Gena!!
Layel needs to have a good time ASAP. Poor guy is so sad. He needs some major hugs.

Anonymous said...

Great interview, Gena. Fascinating concept. Lands, what an imagination you are gifted with. You set this book in Budapest and I, too, love the old world charm of Eastern Europe. Have you ever been there?

www.lindagoodnight.blogspot.com

Gena Showalter said...

Linda,
Thank you! I'v only been to Budapest through pictures and a brother-in-law who went, but I so wish I had. If I enjoyed traveling more, I would totally go.

Jessica said...

I looked for these books on eharlequin.com and didn't see them...did I just miss them? I saw other books by you on there...thought I would go ahead and order the first 3.

Gena Showalter said...

eharliquin puts them up on their releases dates (Night -- May, Kiss -- June, Pleasure -- July) To order them beforehand, you have to go to a place like Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com I'm sorry!

Kim Lenox said...

I love your bulldogs' names, Gena! Your new series sounds great, and I love the covers.

Anonymous said...

HI Gena,

Your new series sounds absolutely fascinating! I will definitely be keeping an eye out for them! I haven't read the excerpt yet (although I'll be heading that way shortly :) but I was wondering...are the books only about the warriors that opened the box? I'm just wondering about Pandora?

Thank you and good luck with the releases!

orannia

Gena Showalter said...

Pandora is dead. Right now :) No telling what I'll do in the future. My mythology is set up with Pandora being the greatest warrior of her time, but the box was stolen from her and she was slain.

But readers will meet all kinds of other creatures along the way. Other warrior-types, friends, enemies. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry Gena - you must think I am a complete idiot :( See, that's what comes from not reading the excerpt before posting a question!

orannia *who is curerntly bright red with embarrassment*

PS I do like the 'for now' part of your comment though :)

Gena Showalter said...

Oh, never be embarrassed! Not with me!!

JH said...

I am excited about the Lords (and impatient.) I love the excerpt. I think it's wonderful twist on an old myth.

Anonymous said...

Holy wow! Those three chapters have whetted my appetite big time. I've pre-ordered it, so now I have to [impatiently] wait. I can see this is going to be another obsession...you ladies are far too excellent for our good! ;) Awesome site by the way, i'm loving the layout. And the yummy men!

Gena Showalter said...

Thank you so much, guys!!

Jackie (Literary Escapism) said...

Ms. Showalter isn't on my TBR list, well, she wasn't until I added these books. :) Now I can't wait to check them out.

Kwana said...

Great Interview! that Gena is my writer hero.