1.
Why did you decide to write a novella (as opposed to a full-length novel)?
It kind of decided for itself.
Whereas my first novel wanted to be huge, Demons
in the Big Easy seemed to work better as a novella.
2.
Describe this book in 3 words.
Urban fantasy adventure.
3.
I've always wanted to go through a gateway into another universe. What advice
would you give me before I left?
Take plenty of gold and other
valuables. You don’t want to be stuck in another universe without resources.
4.
Why did you pick New Orleans as a setting?
I visited New Orleans for the first
time about ten years ago, and I fell in love with the city. I’ve been back
several times. Since my first visit, I’ve wanted to set a story there. Demons in the Big Easy is the first story
idea that fit in that milieu. Probably, it won’t be the last.
5.
Have you ever been to New Orleans? If so, where is your favorite place to
visit?
The French Quarter, especially the
area around Jackson Square. Artists, musicians, performers, and tarot card
readers abound. It is full of life and excitement in a way that Auburn,
Alabama, definitely isn’t.
6.
Your other novel, The Goddess's Choice, also has to do with a
mythical world. What is your appeal to this genre?
I’ve been
fascinated with fantasy since I was a very young child; my older sister would
told fairy tales. Fairy tales were an escape from the mundane world while
teaching important lessons about life. Good fantasy fiction is like that. It
brings in the magical while illuminating the importance of the simple things of
life and human relationships. My love for fantasy was nurtured in my teen years
by Piers Anthony and Roger Zelazny. It was while I was in high school I
attempted my first fantasy novel. I’ve never really wanted to write anything
else. With magic, the world contains infinite possibilities. It allows us to
reach beyond the mundane into a realm where no one has gone before.
7.
You also teach writing and literature. What do you think all aspiring writers
should know?
That it is almost impossible to make
a living writer. You have to do it out of love rather than hope for fame.
8.
How do you feel about Auburn's football season last year?
It was pretty awful. Fortunately,
I’m not a major fan.
9.
What are you working on next?
I’m
almost finished with the sequel to The
Goddess’s Choice, titled The Soul
Stone, in which Samantha struggles to solidify her rule, and Robrek must
confront a bigger threat to the safety of the joined kingdoms. I’m also working
on an urban fantasy novel, The Bull
Riding Witch, which has a princess from a parallel realm switching bodies
with a rodeo bull rider.
10.
What's your favorite summer treat?
Strawberry, poppy seed salad from
Panera. I look forward to it every summer.
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