PSC: Interview and Giveaway with Kristen Callihan

I am super excited to welcome author Kristen Callihan here on the blog today! I LOVE her Darkest London series, so I had to invite her for summer camp!

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1- The first book in the Darkest London series is a fantastic historical retell of The Beauty and the Beast, how did you come up with that idea?

Honestly? My daughter was watching Disney’s Beauty and the Beast while I was tying to come up with a story. I started to wonder, what if the “beast” wasn’t outwardly ugly but hid behind a mask? And what if the “beauty” had power of her own, instead of being some helpless victim? And so it went from there.

2- Unless I’m mistaken, Moonglow isn’t a retell of any story, was it different to write this book because of that?

Well it was different in that I didn’t have to follow any preset story markers. But it was the same, in that I always write characters first. Meaning, the characters, how they interact, what they feel about life, is what guides me.

3- How would you introduce Daisy and Ian?

Daisy and Ian are both bright, irreverent people with a joie de viv. But they both use their humor and insouciance to hide deep, personal pain. Apart, they are a bit aimless and fractured of heart and soul. Together, they are a force to be reckoned with.

4- I’m assuming the third book in the series, Winterblaze, will feature Poppy, the third sister, who will be featured in the fourth book, due September 2013?

Yes, Winterblaze features Poppy and her now estranged husband Winston Lane. Book 4, which I hope to have a title for soon, will feature Jack Talent and Mary Chase, who dislike each other immensely. But you know what they say about the thin line between love and hate.

5- Is it important to you to be true to the time period when writing your novels?

As true as I can be. I research, look up the etymology of words to make sure they were in use during the day, and fact check. For all that, however, I do think that the characters, and their situations, have to appeal to a modern audience. Which is why I chose characters  who would be atypical of the time.

6- What would a day camp be like in old London?

A lot like our camps, in that they would advertise vigorous exercise, fresh air, and training of body, mind, and spirit. Just like us, the Victorians were big on self-improvement, and tended to self congratulatory about it as well. ;)  But you can read about an example for yourself! Here is a bit about the Wimbledon Camp in 1867:

“The principal spectacle of the day was now commencing. The four public schools of Eton, Harrow, Rugby, and Marlborough, had each sent its contingent of eleven apiece to contend for the Ashburnham Shield. Each school had its own volunteer uniform, and all seemed full of anxiety and esprit de corps. The mothers and sisters of these young gentlemen mustered also in great numbers, and their heightened colour and eager eyes not only betokened the interest they felt in the juvenile riflemen, but were also exceedingly becoming. Chairs where allotted to the ladies in the best places, to command a view of the proceedings, and behind them stood the vast throng of male spectators.” (Lights and Shadows of London Life [by James Payn], 1867 - Chapter 5 - Wimbledon Camp [external link: http://www.victorianlondon.org/publications8/lights-05.htm])

7- What kind of campers would Daisy and Ian be?

Ian would be an awesome camper. He’s part wolf, so he loves the wild –and can hunt like the beast he is. ;)

Daisy, however, would hate camping. The bugs? The dirt? And where is her soft bed? Ironic, isn’t it, seeing as nature is her gift. Then again, once she got over complaining, she’d likely enjoy being her element and gain much strength from it.

Together, I’m pretty sure Ian would come up with plenty of activities to dissuade Daisy of her discontent. Lol.

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More about Moonglow:

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .
Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .
Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository

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Kristen is offering a copy of Moonglow to one lucky winner!

To enter the giveaway, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

Open Internationally

Ends Wednesday, September 5th, 2012
(like all of our Paranormal Summer Camp giveaways)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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More books by Kristen:

Kristen Callihan is a child of the 80’s, which means she's worn neon skirts, black-lace gloves, and combat boots (although never all at once) and can quote John Hughes movies with the best of them. A life long daydreamer, she finally realized that the characters in her head needed a proper home and thus hit the keyboard. She believes that falling in love is one of the headiest experiences a person can have, so naturally she writes romance. Her love of superheroes, action movies, and history led her to write historical paranormals. She lives in the Washington D.C. area and, when not writing, looks after two children, one husband, and a dog — the fish can fend for themselves.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

Posted by Tynga at 06:00

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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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