I started in the publishing industry as a
developmental editor for an independent publishing house a little over a decade
ago. Their focus was nonfiction, so soon I moved onto freelance editing for
several publishing houses. I’m also an avid reader and author. The only genre I
don’t like to read is horror. I just don’t find being scared enjoyable. I’m
also a multi-published, award winning author with fifteen full length novels
under my belt. I write romance and women’s fiction under my name and dangerously-sexy suspense under the name L. L. Reaper. On a personal note, I have three fantastic daughters who have given me the three greatest grandchildren ever. I also married my hero over twenty-five years ago and look forward to when we can both retire and can be the annoying older couple in the grocery store fussing over which bottled water brand to purchase.
I understand you’ve written a fantasy romance
book. Tell the readers why you chose to write in this genre? What inspired the
story?
I read everything, but my favorite genres are
sci-fi and fantasy. Authors get to create worlds, but the worlds usually follow
the rules of the world we live in. For example the sky is blue, there are
twenty-four hours in the day, it takes a sperm and egg to produce a child, we
have various government structures. No dragons… Even though a novel is fiction,
thus not real, you still need to make it realistic. With fantasy, I get to make
my own rules for the worlds my characters live on. I create what is realistic.
Okay, you’ve got me. I’m a control freak. Seriously though, The Other Realm is
my first time writing a fantasy. I don’t know what took me so long.
My inspiration for The Other Realm was a Canadian goose. One morning I was sitting in the courtyard outside of my office building when a Canadian goose decided he wanted to visit with me. It scared the heck out of me at first because these are not small birds and if they are nesting nearby, they will attack. I guess the goose decided I wasn’t a threat so hopped himself up on the opposite end of the bench. I jokingly said, “You’d better keep your feathered butt on that end of the bench or there will be a problem.”
That’s when the concept for a plot came to me. What if the goose answered? Next thing you know, I was writing The Other Realm.
What makes this book stand out from the other
fantasy romance books? You’ll still get your romance, out of this world creatures
and an adventure to remember, but the two realms this novel takes place in—our current
realm and the other realm—feel completely different. I did my best to also have
the reader feel this difference. I even used Limited Point of View in our realm
and Unlimited Point of View in the other realm. And the clashing of the realms… Well, you’ll
need to read to find out.
Who was your favorite character in the book and
why? Aurora, the heroine. She was raised in our realm and
taught other realms don’t exist. Her transition to accepting the impossible,
then accepting her destiny yet not settling for less was enjoyable to watch.
And I’m not just saying that because it’s my book.
Do you think this character would prefer plain
vanilla ice cream or chunky chocolate brownie ice cream and why? Aurora would prefer plain vanilla ice cream so
she could add whatever ingredients she felt like having that particular day to
make it into whatever she’d like.
When you’re in the midst of writing a story, do
the characters let you sleep at night? The characters always take over the story when
I’m writing. I walk around with a notebook and write, write, write. Now I must
admit, nothing keeps me from sleeping. I think the characters and I would have
to fight if they kept me awake at night.
Please give us a sneak preview, a short excerpt:
Here’s the first scene in the book where the heroine meets her hero (who is a
goose in this realm and a warrior in the other realm).
Majestic bird should be reserved for
eagles and hawks,
thought Aurora. Eagles, hawks, and now geese. She watched a goose
soar across the courtyard, his wings fully expanded. In a few graceful strokes,
he traveled two hundred yards and descended into an effortless landing.
She’d never seen anything so magnificent.
The goose took her mind back to her pet goose that flew away one day, never to
return. She constantly worried about what became of him.
As if the goose knew of his audience, he
took off again, skimmed the freshly mowed grounds, then stopped in front of
her.
She quickly checked over her shoulders.
A few people were walking along the path that circled the office courtyard, but
none were within earshot. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were putting
a show on for me,” she teased.
Aurora.
She jumped and clinched her pounding
chest at the sound of a deep, husky voice calling her name. She couldn’t tell
what direction it came from, but she’d never heard a more clear sound. After a
quick visual scan of the area, she took out her imitation hearing aids to see
if she’d actually heard speaking. She’d had the earplugs made in the shape of
hearing aids to block out the distorted sounds she heard instead of clear
voices.
Aurora.
Her heart lurched forward from an
anxiety-laced adrenaline rush. One of her earplugs slipped out of her hand. She
knelt to pick it up. The goose stepped forward and stood on the device.
Aurora.
She looked around again. There was no
one around. Not even on the walking path. She and the goose were the only
warm-blooded creatures in sight. “Please, mister goose,” she murmured. “I think
I’m losing my mind and,” she pointed at his foot, “I need my earplug.” He
didn’t move.
You’re not crazy. It’s me—Tahlan, the voice
explained.
She sat on her haunches and fought to
remain in control over her nerves. “Oh great. Now the voice in my head has a
name.”
A hearty chuckle filled her head. I
haven’t heard sarcasm in such a long time. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard
spoken word in such a long time.
She slowly rose. “I’m hearing voices, a
goose is standing on my earplug and I’m talking to myself.” She held out her
hands. “What next?”
This goose is the voice in your head.
Her lips pursed and eyes scrunched. “Oh
yeah, I’m crazy. Now the goose is talking to me.” She spotted a few people
across the lawn walking onto the path. “Listen here, mister goose.
Geese do not talk,” she whispered with a
touch of agitation.
I know this all sounds crazy, Aurora,
but please listen to me. I’m the voice in your head.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “If
you’re talking to me, why isn’t your mouth moving? And how can I understand
you?” She held out her imitation hearing aid. External sounds were distorted
for her. Therefore, she couldn’t understand spoken word. “I’m not happy about it,
but I’m crazy. I’m either hearing voices that don’t exist, or I think a goose
is talking to me. Either way, I need some serious psychological help.”
My mouth isn’t moving because geese
don’t talk.
She laughed so hard she drew the
attention of the people who walked along the path.
After she calmed, he continued, I
don’t have lips in this form. We communicate to each other telepathically.
“Not only am I fighting with a goose,
but I’m losing the argument. This isn’t right.” She walked away. “Keep it. I’ll
have another made,” she said over her shoulder. Audiologist never found a
medical reason why Aurora’s hearing was distorted. She wore the imitation
hearing aids to block out the noise and to minimize questions from people. It
was much easier just saying she was hard of hearing than explaining the truth.
Aurora. The goose
bent his long neck down, picked up her earplug, then gave chase.
Listen to me.
“I don’t argue with animals. I’m going
through some sort of crazy, think–geese–speak psychosis thing.”
You have a clear mind and heart. You
know you’re not crazy.
“Crazy people never believe they’re
crazy.”
He stepped in front of her.
She stumbled over him onto the cement
walking path. “Listen up you crazy goose.” She glared into his beady black
eyes, and a jolt of recognition zipped through her. It took a bit, but she
shook it off. “If you trip me one more gin, I’ll pluck your feathers and have
you for dinner.”
He dropped the earplug onto her lap. I
find your spoken word comforting, but you don’t have to open your mouth. Just
think to me. Tell me to do a flying trick. You’ll see this is real.
She wiped her hearing aid off with her
denim shirt. “Yuck. Goose slob.”
Please try. This is important. What do
you have to lose?
“My mind. But I’ll try anyway.” She
closed her eyes and imagined the goose sailing a few feet above ground. She
opened her eyes and watched him glide a few feet above the ground.
She changed her thoughts to him circling
the flagpole. He circled the flagpole.
Her whole body trembled. “Oh no. This
can’t be.” She ran into the building and practically knocked over a few
innocent bystanders who’d come out to enjoy the show.
~ * ~
Ciara, I’d like
to thank you for allowing me to introduce myself and The Other Realm to your
readers. It was truly a pleasure.
