An Interview with Angela Verdenius

 

This month we will be talking with Angela Verdenius about her pending December release, Love's Beguiling Healer. Thanks Angela for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us! Always happy to talk LOL 1.       Congratulations on your December 2006 release Angela! Please tell us about your newest book, Love's Beguiling Healer. Love’s Beguiling Healer puts two characters, both from very sensual races, head- to-head <g>.  They met briefly in Love’s Bewitching Thief, and clashed almost immediately.  Fascinated me ever since!  Now they have to work together to save the extinction of an entire race.  It also meant introducing yet another new species as well. The story was more fun, as the hero is from a feline-type race, and I wanted him and his people to be very feline in some of their ways.  I think I’ve accomplished that <g>. 2.               Love's Beguiling Healer (LBH) is the eleventh book in your popular Heart and Soul series. Do you find it difficult to keep your stories fresh after writing so many in a series? Why or why not? Did you ever expect that eleven novels into the series fans would still be clamoring for your books? So far, I haven’t found it difficult to find new story-lines.  Each character brings with them their own set of problems and quirks. I do try and make the storylines different, and I strive for individuality. I think that’s important. I never dreamed fans of the series would still want more by book eleven!  You have no idea how grateful that makes me - and how wonderful it makes me feel.  I value my readers; I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for them.  3.         I personally discovered your series with Book 6, Love's Bewitching Thief and have read everything since then. Love's Beguiling Healer is definitely the hottest book so far that I've read. What was it like to write a much spicier story in the series? Actually, it was fun.  The fact that the couple was from sensual races made that a little easier LOL.  I basically let my imagination fly, and let the couple be who they really are, with no inhibitions.  Yep, it was fun!  (I felt most daring <g>)    4.         I love the fact a couple of your world's species are decidedly feline, the Felys being the most cat-like one. I also know you are a strong advocate for animal welfare, especially cats. What was it like to be able to combine two of your greatest loves, cats and writing, into one continuing project? Awesome.  Absolutely awesome. I’ve had cats for years, so to be able to put their little habits and characteristics into a person was the best thing ever.  I wanted the Felys to be feline in many ways, not just the odd growl or hot sex.  They had to be feline.  Combining that with human characteristics was a real challenge.   5.       So let's sideline here for a minute to discuss your passion for those loveable four footed children. Please tell us a little bit about your work with the SPCA and the Cat Sterilization program as these are very important topics to us fellow animal lovers. What is involved in your activities with these programs? How did you get started working with them?   I’ve always loved animals, and hate animal cruelty, so becoming an active member of the RSPCA was a natural step.  It’s not a glamorous volunteer job, by any means.  We do a lot of fundraising and some education from our Geraldton branch.  We’re what you’d call ‘behind the scenes’.  Raising funds is a constant ‘job’.  The money supports the animals, inspectors, shelters and court cases. I joined the Cat Sterilization Society to try and help prevent the number of unwanted cats/kittens being dumped.  Sterilization is the major step in this.  Unfortunately, it also costs money, so we raise funds to assist those without jobs to sterilize their animals, by providing a subsidy.  We also do education and try to be ‘in the eye of the public’. On the side, I help with the cat rehoming, mainly taking in abandoned kittens.  I’m one of a small number of foster parents for the furbabies LOL. 6.               Now back to your writing. What was it that made you one day decide you were going to be a writer? Did you always know or was it a surprise to choose this career path? I’ve always wanted to be a writer from as far back as I can remember, always scribbling little stories even as a young child.  It was something I yearned to do, and to have the dream coming to life is amazing.  I still have to work for a living LOL (someone has to keep the cats in the luxury to which they’ve become accustomed), but the dream is to write for a living.  Gotta have a dream! 7.       If I had to pick one book of yours that stood out from all the others for me, it would be Soul of the Forgotten. My heart ached for Liane and everything she went through. I was more moved by this story than any to date. I know this question is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child, but if you had to choose one book that you've written that you love above the others, which would it be and why? Okay, that’s hard.  My mind goes immediately to three books… Soul of a Mercenary, Soul of a Hunter and Heart of a Traitor.  I guess I’d have to pick Hunter, because Sabra went through an experience no child should have to go through, and came out stronger for it.  She really is a hunter, and Cam was such a perfect match for her.  His devotion and un-judgmental love, so unconditional and unswerving, just made him the perfect hero.  He was so patient and kind, yet firm when needed.  There is nothing he wouldn’t do for her, and he proved that.  8.                In Love's Beguiling Healer, we once again got to visit many beloved characters from previous books. I love when this happens because we get a glimpse at how these characters are doing after their story is completed. I was especially happy to see Lysie again since she is the one who drew me into your world in the first place. Do you ever get surprised when previous characters pop back in for a visit? Do you ever find it difficult to weave so many interlaced stories into current books and have them have purpose in the current adventure? I’m not surprised by previous characters popping up.  In fact, I feel it gives the series a feeling of continuation, of linking the people and revisiting old friends.  Because so many of the characters have met at some time or other, it is natural they’d meet again at another time.  The areas they cover, even though it is millions of miles wide across the universe, are familiar territory.  Sometimes having previous characters come in gives a person insight into the main characters. Interlacing the stories and having them have a purpose hasn’t been hard.  It’s sort of like a domino affect - one happening can affect another, and bounce off another person, etc.  What one does, meets, says or plans in one book, can actually have a sinister, humorous or helpful line that weaves a thread linking some of the books. It’s fun…not easy, but fun <g> 9.         If someone were to ask you what you thought your "signature" characteristic was for your writing, what would you tell them? Strong characters who are true to what they are.  They won’t deviate unless there’s a very good reason.  Anything can happen. 10.         If you had to think back and pinpoint who it was that inspired you to be a writer, who would you say? Would you say these same people have been most influential on your writing style? If not, then who? Well, I was a voracious reader as a child, so that’d be hard - I was an Enid Blyton fan <g>.  Had all the famous Five and Secret Seven books, and spent all my pocket money on books and comics, so… But I think Johanna Lindsey had the most impact on me in my early days of writing.  There was just something about her writing; the heroines did things that made me laugh, cringe and cheer.  They were spirited. 11.         This is one of my favorite "signature" questions to ask in an interview. If you had to write a short paragraph about your writing to convince readers to give your books a shot, what would you tell them? If you want strong heroines, heroes to die for, and an interesting storyline with a difference, then give my books a go! Man, how egotistical does that sound?  LOL *cringe* 12.        How much advance plotting goes into your writing process? Do you plan everything out ahead of the time or do you just start writing and see where your characters lead you?  I’m an advance plotter <g>. My stories start as little daydreams.  I’ll be driving along, listening to a song, or playing a game of solitaire, or in the shower or walking with my headphones on, and suddenly I’ll get a little picture in my mind.  I’ll daydream and expand on it a bit more.  Then comes a bit of a storyline, so I’ll jot down notes.  Then, when I’m ready, I’ll sit down and do a rough plot outline.  This plot outline goes up on a board on my desk, and stays there.  I have bits of paper in a file (it all starts out neatly, but by the end of the book, there’s notes everywhere and the desk is a mess).  I use the plot outline to keep me focused, but I change things as I go where needed, and jot notes and ideas down as they come. 13.        If you had to go back and change one key part or characteristic of Tera and Illam's story, what would it be? There’s nothing I’d change <g>  14.         I see on your website that you have Book 12, Heart of a Peacekeeper slated for a June 2007 release. Can you tell us anything about this story?  Oh, this was sooooo much fun to write!  The Head Peacekeeper is Desdemona, aka The Demon, and she’s in charge of a settlement on the outskirts of the Outlaw Sector, so it’s rough <g>.  She’s bad-tempered and foul-mouthed, and she had a run-in with Simon the Daamen trader, in Heart of a Traitor.  It seemed only fair to teem them together LOL.  Having a Peacekeeper as a heroine was new territory for me, but it made for a really entertaining and interesting ride!  Simon’s role was very different to those of some of the heroes in previous books. 15.           If your fans were to come visit your home and want to see where you create your novels, what would they find in your office? It’s a little storeroom off the back room, and was converted to what we call my writing room.  I have a desk near the door on one side, under a window, and my main typing desk faces the wall on the other side.  One big pantry cupboard full of books (shocking, I know) another pantry cupboard full of paper, a spare laptop for when this one goes haywire, old nursing books, bits and pieces.  A storage container with some of my books in it.  A four-door, cheap filing cabinet made of thin wood my mother and I put together.  It’s fine as long as you don’t try to move it around <g>.  A sagging basket sits on top, where Abby the black cat sleeps (you remember Abby, Kelley? The little pregnant waif that came and had kittens during our chat?  LOL).  An old library shelf near my desk, holding several books of names and some knickknacks given to me by friends and family.  A little bin overflowing with paper.  (My Mother wrote on it ‘This is a little bin to be emptied often’.  I forget to empty it often, regardless).  My main desk has a laptop and printer on it, and on the hutch above the desk a radio/tape deck (I live in the dark ages), and a couple more little knick-knacks.  On the wall is a huge poster of Legolas *drool*, a cat calendar, and numerous jokes and naughty sayings.  *cough* did I say naughty?  I meant inspiring - honest! Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me about your latest novel, Angela! I am already eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. Do you have anything you'd like to say in closing? I’m always available if anyone wants to email me in regards to any queries on my books.  And I’m currently wrestling two characters into submission for book 13 - I think I’m winning! Thanks heaps for the interview, Kelley - fun as always! Angela Please remember to drop by Angela’s website for a visit! Interviewed by Kelley November 2006 Read our reviews! Click on the book cover to see the review: