Welcome to Nancy Haddock's guest blog

Welcome Ms. Nancy Haddock to Love Romances and More, thank you for joining us.


Did you always want to become a writer?

Oh, yes! According to my mother, I used to ask her to take dictation long before I learned to write and spell.

What is the most, and the least interesting fact about writing?

The most interesting aspect for me is “going out to play with my characters.” The least interesting aspect? Hmmm. That might be keeping up with the business aspects of publishing.

How did you celebrate your first release? What was it like to see your book in a bookstore? Do you have a special ritual for celebrating a book release?

I celebrated my first release by going to dinner with some family and friends, then going to the bookstore. Seeing my book on the shelf was surreal. I kept thinking, “Wow. Oh, wow. There it is! This is weird.”

We all bought books that night and took pictures, but I look so shell shocked in the photos that I tossed the lot of them. I also bought myself a balloon.

For the second book – the one just out – hubby and I did dinner, an Office Max trip for supplies, and then hit the bookstore. The photo we took this time is better – meaning I don’t look gob smacked – so I’ll post it on my site at some point. We also made a donut and Starbucks run, and I bought myself another balloon. I also have both books on my shelf.

My husband’s ritual is to buy the book on release day, and mine is to buy myself a balloon.

How did your family react to fact that you also write romance novels? Have your family read your books?

My mother – who wanted me to go back to teaching – was wildly excited about the first book. And bless her and her friends and my aunts, they all bought copies. My husband’s family was also supportive. Most of my family and friends have read my books, and no one seems the least bit embarrassed.

Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites? Have any influenced your writing?

Oh, my, do I read! Lorraine Heath, P.C. & Kristin Cast, Joan Hess, Charlaine Harris, Robert Crais, Jan Burke, Robert B. Parker – the list goes on and on … and on!! I read mysteries, romance, adventures, historicals, and some of the classics. I’ll read just about anything, and I do go on binges of reading certain authors!

I think everyone I read influences my writing. I absorb nuances of description or emotional intensity or action scenes, etc. as I read, though I don’t do deep analysis of books. I can still read for pleasure, and I’ve found that I might be a more forgiving reader than some of my friends.

Your characters come to life in your books. Do you feel each of your characters live with you as you write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life? Can you name an example? Do you have living role models for your characters?

Oh, yes, my characters live with me while I’m writing them, and it can get mighty crowded in the house and the car! We shop together, we get coffee together, we walk the beach together. I even taste foods and drinks that I wouldn’t normally eat in order to get into my characters’ skins a bit more. (Except for oysters. I won’t eat oysters for anyone!)

Examples of my characters taking over part of my life? I bought a clock for my heroine, Cesca – which was okay since it wasn’t too expensive and wasn’t 180 degrees from my own taste. I’ll also buy her favorite caramel drink at Starbucks. I drink it, of course, and it does help me shift more deeply into her, but it’s not my favorite.

I can’t think of a living role model for any of my characters, though they may share traits I’ve observed in others.

Where do you get the inspirations for your books?

Inspiration is everywhere! The idea for La Vida Vampire and the series grew from a line of dialogue I misheard in a peanut butter commercial. Watching a man on a beach as he lit a cigarette inspired another project. Sometimes I can run with an idea because it comes to me near-fully formed. More often, an idea needs to cook for six months or more before I can do more than make notes and do very rough character sketches.

Do you find it difficult at times to write love scenes?

I don’t write many on-screen love scenes. I have written them, and it’s not that difficult, but love scenes have to fit the characters and the tone of the book – and overall, how I want to write the book. My love scenes in La Vida Vampire and Last Vampire Standing have been very short. In fact, I write more pages leading up to a love scene and more pages of after glow.

What is your favorite book from the books that you have written so far? Who are your favorite hero and heroine, and why?

Since I’m writing a series with two books out, my favorite hero and heroine are Saber and Cesca. As for favorite book? I’ll have to go with Last Vampire Standing. I love the gun-toting seniors in my first book, but Jo-Jo cracked me up in the second book.

Which book was the hardest to write and which the easiest?

Again, with just the two out, I’d say Last Vampire Standing was a bit easier. Except for coming up with some vampire jokes. That was wrenching!

If you could change places with one character from your books, who would it be and why?

Easy! I’d trade places with Cesca. I wouldn’t like having to do the Starbloods thing, but she surfs a heck of a lot better than I do! I’d like to have her skill!

If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why?

I’d time travel to Regency England and visit Jane Austen. No doubt! I’m wild about this time period, and I’d adore visiting with Jane!

Do you listen to music while you are writing and if so what music is it?

I don’t listen to music while writing, not unless it’s New Age. If the music has a beat, I’m chair dancing. If I know the words, I’m singing along. Either one blows my focus.

I can listen to environmental sounds with music in the background, but again, only if I don’t know piece. Otherwise, I’m humming and drifting somewhere other than in my story.

If you could choose of your books for a movie, which one would it be and who would you as the cast?

Right now, I’d pick Last Vampire Standing, but I have no idea who I’d like to see cast. Oh, wait, except for one role. I’d love to be Shalimar Millie. She gets to tote a gun, and she has an ocean view condo. She rocks!

Big congrats to your newest release “Last Vampire Standing”, can you tell us something about the book and the series?

The series revolves around Cesca Marinelli, a 228- year old part day-walker vampire who was buried and forgotten for over 200 years. She comes out of the box in a time when vampires are a protected species, and sets her mind to living a normal afterlife.

After helping to catch a killer in La Vida Vampire, Cesca thinks her afterlife is back on track. She lives in the cottage behind her mentor’s Victorian house now, she has hot Deke Saber in her life, and she still gives ghost tours when she’s not studying interior design on line.

Then Jo-Jo the Jester crashes Cesca’s housewarming party and begs for her help to become a stand-up comic. Jo-Jo has escaped from the Atlanta nest to follow his dream, but Cesca soon learns he’s not funny – not when he means to be. She and Saber also discover that Jo-Jo’s brought big trouble on his trail – trouble that’s gunning for Cesca and those she loves.

Are you working on anything right now, and can you tell us a teaser about these projects?

I’m working on four things right now.

1. The third book in the Cesca series in which readers will finally get to connect with Triton in the human flesh.

2. A cozy mystery series that is not yet sold, also based in St. Augustine, Florida. The story features a young woman who is lucky in money but unlucky in love as she buys a beach-themed gift shop, then finds the previous owner dead.

3. Two screenplay ideas get my attention now and then, but I’m reworking both of them.

4. I’m also working on a ghost of an idea at this moment, but I’m excited about it!


Contest:

Two lucky bloggers will get a copy of Last Vampire Standing. So stop by and say hello! Please check back tomorrow if you won, because if I don't here from the winner within 7 days, I am going to choose another one.

Review of LA VIDA VAMPIRE