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SRR: Hi,
Lynda. Thank you so much for letting me interview you for
Simply Romance Reviews.
LH:
You’re so welcome, Julie! I’m happy to
be here.
SRR: Before we start
talking about your new release, can you tell us a little about yourself?
LH:
I had to think for a moment. Usually, when someone
asks me about myself, I just start talking about what I do for a living.
But I just had a telephone conversation with a client, where I said to
him, “You’re more than what you do for a living.” So, with that in
mind, I’ll say that I’m a strange person. Hmm. Maybe unique would be
better. I have a weird sense of humor and tend to see the world through
my quirky lens. I guess I’m as normal as someone who grew up seeing
ghosts and talking to dead relatives could be. I enjoy living in the
foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The beautiful scenery inspires my
creativity. I have a grown son who lives in a nearby town with his two
beloved dogs. I have a thirst for knowledge and am a voracious reader. I
love reading wonderful stories with compelling characters. I talk a lot.
And, to pay the bills, I’m a licensed psychotherapist, certified
clinical hypnotherapist, professional psychic/tarot reader, workshop
presenter, university instructor and group facilitator. Oh, yeah. And a
fiction writer. I used to be a musician/singer, but I don’t have the
opportunity to do much of that anymore. It was fun while it lasted.
SRR:
Was there a certain point in your life when you said to yourself, “I
need to be a writer, this is what I want.” Or was it a gradual
happening?
LH: I
don’t think I ever thought about being a writer. I’ve just always
written. Mostly nonfiction: journals, articles, workshop/class
materials, newspaper columns. Switching to fiction was exciting and
challenging. Fiction writing is very different from nonfiction writing.
I usually follow my intuition about things. If an idea occurs to me, I
take action. Four years ago, a student in a hypnotherapy class I taught
told me about a category of books I hadn’t heard of: paranormal romance.
I’d been a paranormal fan (Bram Stoker, Anne Rice and many others) for
years, but hadn’t known about romance novels. Discovering the treasure
chest of paranormal romance books was a major turning point in my
fiction writing career. After reading a few, I thought I might like to
try my hand. I can smile about it now. I thought it must be simple.
After all, I’d been writing for years. HA! But, my previous writing did
make things come together more quickly. I’m a fast learner, and was able
to sort through my worst writing blunders rapidly (not that I still
don’t make some!!). I then discovered that my stories were a better fit
for “with romance elements,” because I can’t help but complicate the
heroine’s life with more than one male interest. Now, even though
writing is sometimes like pulling teeth, I believe I’m hooked.
SRR:
Is there a certain author or book that inspired you or that still
inspires you?
LH:
Authors like Tom Robbins, Carlos Castaneda,
Richard Bach, Bram Stoker and Anne Rice were inspirational. I still
sense Tom Robbins’ very strange writing style lurking in the shadows
behind mine. Later, I discovered Laurell K. Hamilton, Kelley Armstrong,
P.N. Elrod, and Charlaine Harris (among other wonderful paranormal
writers) and found a niche for my quirky paranormal style. I think I was
also influenced by some of Woody Allen’s clever, old movies. Some of his
writing was so incredibly witty.
SRR: As
a reader, I’m so excited for the release of your book, “The Vampire
Shrink.” How is from your perspective? Do you count down the days
until release day?
LH:
Do you mean am I a complete basket case? Or merely
a nervous wreck? HA! Just kidding (not). It’s very exciting and
completely terrifying. I’ve been doing as much as I can to let people
know about my upcoming book since I signed the contract with Medallion
Press last December. Writing the book and selling the book are only part
of the process. Promoting the book can be stressful. And fun. I would be
counting down the number of days until the release day if I knew what
the release day was. My publisher says the book will be “available”
(does that mean released?) on Oct. 1. Everywhere else (Amazon, Borders,
B&N, etc.) says Oct. 28. So, I just think “October,” and do whatever I
can to generate interest. It’s really scary (mostly good scary) to think
of all the people who will read my book. All the different opinions. I’m
trying to prepare myself for the ones that aren’t quite so . . .
friendly.
SRR: What
is “The Vampire Shrink” about?
LH: “The
Vampire Shrink” is about Denver Psychologist Kismet Knight, Ph.D. Thanks
to a new client – a young woman who says she wants to be a vampire –
Kismet is pulled into a world she doesn’t believe exists. A hidden
underworld of vampires. And vampire wannabes. Not to mention a few other
strange things. Kismet’s “reality” fragments further when she meets the
gorgeous, blond Devereux – who claims to be an 800-year-old vampire. Add
to the mix a serial murderer, handsome FBI profiler Alan Stevens, and
some very bad vampires, and you have a prescription for paranormal
insanity.
SRR:
How would you describe the heroine, Kismet? Did you add a bit of your
own personality when writing her?
LH:
Kismet is definitely me -- an idealized version.
We’re both therapists, we both work in Colorado, and we both have
pronounced intuitive abilities. But she’s thinner, younger and prettier
than me, and she has a MUCH more interesting love life!! I get to have
the exciting life I’d love to have by creating it for her. I actually
modeled Kismet’s appearance after singer Sarah Brightman. I think she’s
gorgeous, with her bright blue eyes, long dark hair and fit body. And of
course, Sarah’s an awesome vocalist.
SRR:
How is “The Vampire Shrink” different from your other books?
LH:
Hmmm. That’s a great question. “The Vampire
Shrink” is more personal for me, because the main female character is
based so obviously on me (as opposed to unconsciously, as is often the
case with authors’ characters). Unlike the other projects I’ve written,
I feel quite protective of Kismet. Maybe because “Shrink” is my first
print book. Or maybe because I intend to write several books with these
characters. I had to walk a fine line with “Shrink” by adding humor,
while keeping everything in Kismet’s cerebral style. I wrote a novella
based on my years as a musician in inner city Detroit, and was able to
give vent to more aggressive actions/dialog. With “Shrink,” I have to
stay in my therapist persona a lot, and I think the fact that Kismet is
so unaccustomed to the weird things that happen to her, people relate to
her confusion and personality growth. Or, at least, my fingers are
crossed for that!
SRR:
What made you chose to write about vampires? What about them appeals to
you?
LH:
I love vampires. Perhaps due to my line of work
(listening to problems, difficulties, etc.), I appreciate the
extraordinary nature of the nightwalkers. Their dramas are beyond the
norm. They have mystical abilities and most of my favorites are
physically attractive (Laurell K. Hamilton’s Jean-Claude and Anne Rice’s
Lestat). Talk about fantasy material! They represent both danger and
desire. Offering your neck to a sensuous vampire is the height of
intimacy. Sharing blood (life force) is the ultimate aphrodisiac. He’s a
bad boy – he doesn’t follow any human rules or believe in any
superstitions. He’s the dark, silent stranger standing in the corner,
gazing at you with mesmerizing eyes. I just love the magical, the unique
and the unusual. And the forbidden!
SRR:
What can readers look forward from you in the up coming months?
LH:
I’m in the midst of writing the second book
in the Vampire Psychologist series, “Dark Harvest.” Medallion has
already bought this book and I have a deadline (yikes!). I have some
other ideas, but no time to write anything outside of Kismet’s world
right now. I’ll likely come up with more books in the series over the
next few years, as well as explore other paranormal avenues. I’ll be
attending as many conferences/conventions as possible, and signing books
everywhere they’ll let me! If you see me at a conference, please come up
and say hi!
SRR: Thank
you so much, Lynda for letting me interview you. Before you leave, is
there anything else you would like the readers to know?
LH:
It was my pleasure to be here. I’d like to
invite your readers to visit my website and send me a message. If you
read my book, I’d really enjoy hearing what you think. Also, I’ll be
updating my blog regularly with information about my books and
paranormal fiction in general.
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