A Christmas With… Dani Harper

I’m very happy to welcome Dani Harper here on the blog today ^^ She writes amazing stories and she’s here to talk about her upcoming installment, Changeling Dawn, third book in her series!

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1- Readers who were lucky enough to have ARCs of Changeling Dawn say it's the best one in the series so far, Why do you think that is? :)

Yesterday I got a review from RT (Romantic Times) that said the very same thing! Myself, I felt this was my best one yet from the moment I wrote “The End”. Maybe it’s because I’ve grown as a writer with each book (I hope!), or maybe it’s just the combination of characters I worked with this time. I love this particular couple and the child they try to save, and this story is definitely my favorite so far.

2- If you had to pick songs to represent each of your main characters, what would it be?

Zoey Tyler – “Paradise” by Coldplay – I chose this because she’s been beaten up by her experiences as a crime reporter in the city, and she’s looking for some peace and paradise in the little northern town of Dunvegan.

Connor Macleod – “Speed of Sound” by Coldplay – I think it’s interesting that his theme song is also by Coldplay! Connor is probably the most well-balanced character I have, so this serene song suits him – and so do the lyrics as he struggles to persuade Zoey to let him into her life.

Jillian Descharme – “Snow” by Red Hot Chili Peppers – She likes this band in the story. To me, this particular song seems to reflect the incredible strength she’s had to find within herself after the trauma she’s been through.

James Macleod – “Monster You Made” by Pop Evil. This song might have come from his own lips, especially the line: “Forgive me for all the damage done.” He blames himself so much for the death of his first wife that it’s become a burden he can’t carry anymore.

Kenzie Macleod – “So Far Away” by Staind – I think this one fits Kenzie as she learns to let love into her life and actually trust someone. (“These are my words, That I’ve never said before, I think I’m doing ok, And this is the smile, That I’ve never shown before…”)

Josh Talarkoteen – “If Today Was Your Last Day” by Nickelback – It’s a very meaningful song to him; he’s chosen it as his ringtone on his cell phone, honoring two of his pals that didn’t make it back from Afghanistan. And it reflects a lot of his own outlook on life.

3- If your book was turned into a movie, which actors would you pick to play your characters?

No matter how many times I’m asked this question, it’s one I can’t seem to answer. Maybe it’s because the characters pop up in my head fully formed. I know them SO well and I can see every detail of their faces – I honestly don’t know how I’d ever select an actor to play any of them, because no one looks like them or behaves like them! If the books are ever made into movies, I’ll have to rely on an incredibly talented casting director!

4- How many books are planned in the series? When does the next one release?

Book 3, Changeling Dawn, releases on Dec. 27th , and after that, I’m not sure yet. I’m writing Book 4 right now but I don’t have a release date for it. I’ve planned Books 5 and 6 as well, but again, I don’t know when they’ll be coming out. But I’ll be sure and let you know!

Now onto some Christmas-y questions:

5- What's your favorite Christmas movie? 

Omigosh, that would have to be “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” --- our family saw that in the theatre years ago when it first came out, and we’ve simply HAD to watch it at the beginning of the holiday season ever since. It’s not Christmas without it! And then there’s “A Christmas Story” --- we usually have the story of Ralphie’s quest for the Red Rider BB gun playing while we decorate the tree. And then we watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” – both the old animated one and the new Jim Carrey live action one. We never, ever get tired of them!

6- What's a typical Christmas like in the Harper family?

The kids are grown up and gone, and they live a long way from my little island in Alaska, so we don’t usually get the opportunity to be together for Christmas. However, my hubby and I have kept one tradition alive by filling a stocking for each of the kids even though they’re adults now. And these aren’t your typical “orange and a candy cane” stockings either! There are silly things to make them laugh and special treats that we remember from years past and crazy things too (my favorite is an inflatable brain, LOL) I just mailed out this year’s stockings this past week, and it’s the one thing that makes us all feel connected and Christmas-y!

On Christmas Day, we look forward to all the kids calling home. My hubby and I have our own little traditions -- we enjoy cinnamon buns and coffee in the morning, and we watch movies most of the day and play games. Then we go out for a drive to see all the Christmas lights!

7- How is it different from when you were a kid?

When I was a kid, we always had Christmas morning at home, then went to my gramma’s house in the afternoon. I miss all the family get-togethers, but we do our best to stay connected in other ways.

8- Are there any Christmas wishes you'd like to share with our readers?

My wish for my readers is that their holiday is a time to relax, to breathe a little easier if only for a day, to remember that the things that are important are not things. To come away from this season feeling a little closer to friends and family, a little more hopeful for the coming year, and a little more determined to dream.

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If it got you curious, here’s a bit more about Changeling Dawn

RUN
Shadow and moonlight merge beneath her bare feet, the forest floor blurring as she flees the dogs and torches. Werewolf, monster -- those are the names given her kind by the humans who hate them.
HUNT
Kenzie Macleod has spent her whole life hiding what she is, and she’s not about to open up to any man, even one as powerfully attractive as wildlife expert Josh Talarkoteen. But legend says that a Changeling cannot escape the call of her true mate, even in the wilderness of backcountry Alaska.
MATE
An isolated archeological site, a terrified Changeling cub, a secretive research center -- as Kenzie and Josh face the ultimate betrayal, his obsidian eyes promise untold pleasure and hint at dark secrets of his own . . .

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Dani would like to offer one of you a signed copy of Changeling Dream and lots of swag!

Open Internationally

Giveaway Ends January 4th, 2012.

All you have to do is fill the Rafflecopter form below.

The only mandatory entry is to provide your name and email addy =)

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“ I write paranormal romance, blog about the paranormal, watch paranormal TV and movies, and read paranormal books of almost any kind. Stephen King once said he'd always had a love of the unquiet coffin ... and all I can say is me too! Maybe it's a gene, but I’ve been a bigger fan of Halloween than of Christmas all my life. It was only natural that werewolves, faeries, ghosts and other supernatural creatures would turn up to populate my stories.

(…)

Today, I live on an island in southeast Alaska, which is an adventure in itself   considering that I spent most of my life in the rural areas of landlocked northern Canada. You see, I met this salmon fisherman and married him ... and yes, he inspires me every single day.

My stories are now written on land or at sea, and I just might be the only paranormal writer in existence who has to vacuum fish scales out of her laptop.”

You can visit Dani here.

More of Dani Harper‘s books:

Posted by Tynga at 07:02

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Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

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