Between conference catch-up and blog-virus problems my postings this week weren’t as spot on as I was hoping they’d be. But all is right with the blogging world (fingers crossed it stays that way) so you’re all being treated to my interview with the fabulous Louann Carroll. Once you’re through meeting her and discovering all about her book, you can immediately go online and pick-up a copy of her latest release!

Thank you for having me on today. I enjoyed answering the questions and talking about my new book, A Shadow of Time.

It’s my sincere pleasure to have you visit Louann! Let’s jump right in!

Me: What was the first book you read that grabbed you? What genre? Who is the author?

L.C: I WISH I could remember because I’d read it again. I was probably no more than 6 years old. I found the book in the bottom drawer of my sister’s dresser. (It was not salacious. *grin*) But it was awesome and got me hooked on books for the rest of my life.

It was a paperback and it was about Tibet. The main character was an archaeologist. He was exploring one of the largest mountains in the area when he ran into a wise man. The sage taught him all kinds of mysterious things, things I didn’t understand until I was older. The book was written in the late fifties or early sixties. If this sounds familiar to anyone, please let me know. I’ve searched for the novel and have never found it anywhere.

As far as romance novels go, it is Rosemary Rogers for Sweet Savage Love, published in 1974. She is one of my favorite authors.

ME: Is there an author that you get fan-girl crazy over? Have you ever met him/her? Do you want to?

L.C: Dean Koontz. Love the guy. Love the way he writes, love the Odd Thomas series. I’ve been reading him for years. I would like to meet him because I don’t think his mind is as quirky as Stephen King’s. King might scare me a little.

What’s your:

• Favorite color? Blue
• Favorite season? Fall
• Favorite Hero – movie or book? I love old movies so it would be… Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca. What else could you want? An alpha male who’s sensitive and after being dumped by Ingrid Bergman, he eventually understands and puts his country before his heart. It just doesn’t get any better than that.
• Snack weakness (food or drink)? Chocolate chip cookies taken from the oven then stuck immediately into the freezer. Wait one half hour and *yum*! Frozen Snickers bars, too.
• What’s your Astrological sign? I’m a Libra with Gemini rising. Obviously, I have issues. I once had my numerology chart done. The bottom line was that I would either become a healer or end up in the nut house. I like to think my books have a little spiritual comfort in them, thereby keeping me sane.
• Do you write sweet and cuddly or toe-curling steamy lovin’ stories? I write cuddly love stories that have a twist. While I appreciate the love scenes, I do like to ‘fade to black’.  I write books that incorporate love and sex into a novel that speaks to the soul as well as to the body. I like to think of my books as Dean Koontz meets Rosemary Rogers. Isn’t that a pair?

ME: What’s on your desk when you write?

 L.C: Well, it used to be Diet Coke, but then I developed Crohn’s disease.  Now it’s a giant glass of water. I also keep a pen and notepad and, of course, my itty-bitty notepad/laptop that I write on. On my desktop computer is the game Eggz Blast. When I need a break from writing, I kill eggs and try to beat my previous score. I had to find something after I quit smoking and this game fit the bill.

ME: Do you write to music or quiet? If you do write with music, can you share one song that’s significantly impacted this story?

L.C: I don’t write to music. If I did, I’d break into song and start dancing around. When I write I get quiet. There can be noise, people talking, doors slamming, but for me, there’s nothing except my computer and the movie going on in my head. Sometimes there is music in my head—but I never write to music.

I play the piano, writing my first piece of music when I was twelve. There’s always music going on in my head, but it’s my own creation. When I listen to CDs, I like country music and Motown.

ME: What’s your favorite line from your most recent release? Why?

 L.C: A dear friend who was a New York Times bestselling author told me that if you have a favorite line in your book, hit the delete key.  I’ve always followed her advice.

 In A Shadow of Time there is one sentence describing Shadow Ley to a tee. (I chose not to share the poignant sentences.) It goes like this:

A rabid shadow shimmered around the periphery of the house that made the creation look ugly, unwanted, and somehow, soiled.

This line describes the estate of Shadow Ley. The house is pure evil and I think this line describes it well without being too overpowering.

ME: What’s next? You don’t have to get specifics – but feel free to leave a tantalizing snippet or cryptic hook.

 REDEMPTION is next and after that Gemini Rising, book two.

REDEMPTION blurb:

Born clairvoyant, 35 year-old Danny Fisk turns to drugs to make him feel normal. The misunderstood love of his wife takes him to the brink of destruction before turning him back to the God of his youth. Danny discovers that even within the depths of depravity God abides, waiting to heal an injured heart.

Detective Serena Del Shaun, Attorney General’s office, Narcotics Division, State of California, loses her sister to the streets and the seductive attentions of a corrupt police officer. Against her better judgment, she vows to destroy him, losing the man she loves, and possibly her life.

Rebecca Fisk, wife, mother, and writer, unknowingly brings down a corrupt police department. She discovers many types of romance, finding it doesn’t matter who creates that magic circle, as long as love shares the space in-between.

Inspired by a true story, REDEMPTION warms the heart and lifts the spirit. Romance and passion lead the way, followed by guideposts of forgiveness and love, forever changing one family’s life.

Me: Who is your favorite character from Greek Mythology OR which Olympian would you want to be? And why?

 L.C: Diana. She is the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and birthing. She lives in the wilderness and has the power to talk to and control animals.

I have a herd of deer that live in my back yard. I have this one buck. He is beautiful—with huge antlers. So, one day I’m standing outside feeding him. I get a weird feeling, like he’s in my head or something. This was early to middle summer. Anyway, since he’s already in my head I asked him if he would drop his antlers in my backyard when he molts. I swear he nodded his head.

In late fall of that year, my husband and I were out walking in the back when low and behold, his antlers were on the ground lying against my favorite tree. I yelped and picked them up while screaming at my husband, “See? I told you I talked to him!”

My husband just shook his head, which is what he usually does when odd things happen to me.

** Thanks for sharing Louann! My husband shakes his head a lot at me too **

You can click on the hyperlinks to reach Louann at her webpage, become a Twitter follower, email her, visit her Linkedin home page or view her Amazon author page. To view Gemini Rising or A Shadow of Time, her new release, click on the book title.

To view Gemini Rising’s book trailer and A Shadow of Time’s book trailer click on the hyperlink.

Thank you so much for having me today!