Saturday, February 6, 2010

Welcome to Heather Kuehl's guest blog


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

Thank you for having me,

Did you always want to become a writer?

Since I was in sixth grade. My teacher had us to a project where we wrote short stories and she had us design the artwork and covers. Then she laminated and bound them for our parents. When I saw my story bound as a book, I knew I wanted to see my book on the shelves one day.

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

The most interesting fact is I can any one I want to be. I could be a werewolf today, and a dragon tomorrow. There are no rules; anything can happen. The least interesting fact is the editing. While I like cleaning up the story and fixing any plot holes, it gets redundant.


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?


My first release, Fade to Black, was celebrated in two ways. My husband took me out to dinner and we toasted to a dream come true. The second way was promoting. I spent the day getting the news out about my release, making sure that I didn’t leave anyone out when spreading the good news.

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

My family has been very supportive when it comes to the genre that I write in. My mother is my rough draft editor, reading anything I write before I submit it for publication, so yes she has read my book. However, my husband isn’t big on reading. He will, though, help me get through tough spots while I’m writing. That means more to me than him reading the final work.

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 yes! I end up reading what I write; paranormal fantasy. Some of my favorite authors are Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. I think anything a writer reads will influence their work. I love the flow of Harrison’s Hollows series and am trying to work of flowing multiple plots together as well as she does.

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?

In a way, yes. I think about what they would do in certain circumstances of my life, but I don’t let them take over. They do have living role models though. Jared’s is Billy Idol.

Where do you get the inspirations for your books?


Anywhere; music, TV, movies, books. The inspiration for Fade to Black was a song quote from Sublime. “Life’s too short so love the ones you’ve got, cause you might get run over or you might get shot.”

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

Very much so. I get awkward and embarrassed to the point that I have to write it over three days. Sometimes I wish I could skip them, but then it wouldn’t be a romance.

Do you have a problem with deadlines and have you ever suffered a writers block?

So far I haven’t had to deal with deadlines. I’m sure I will someday. While writing I’ve discovered that my form of writer’s block is when I’m doing something that the character doesn’t like. Something that is not in their character to do. For example Sarah is a very strong willed woman, but I had her weakened by a silver serum. She didn’t like being weak, and I couldn’t keep writing until I fixed it.

Do you prefer stand-alone books or series (As a reader or a writer) ?

I’m very fond of series. I like seeing the character grow and the plot progress.

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

I’d change places with either Sarah from Fade to Black or T.D. from Promises to Keep. Both are very strong willed powerful women with sexy men at their sides.

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


I think Fade to Black will always be my favourite because it was my first. However, my favorite heroine is Starlette from Promises to Keep. She would go to the ends of the earth and beyond to get her father back. My favorite hero is Damian., if you could call a Machiavellian born vampire a hero.

Would you like to give another genre a try?

No, since I’ve already tried my hand at science fiction, fantasy, horror, and romance.

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

The hardest to write was Promises to Keep and the easiest was Fade to Black. Promises took me ten years to get out while Fade only took two.

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


Fade to Black would make an excellent movie. I always envisioned James Marsters as Jared. As for Sarah it’s a tie; Alicia Silverstone or Holly Marie Combs.

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

The Renaissance. The artistic growth and cultural discovery would be breathtaking to live through.

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


It depends on the character. Sarah’s music was Evanescence and Avenged Sevenfold while Starlette liked silence.

Big congrats to your latest release, can you please tell us something about the book?


Fade to Black
is about werewolf bounty hunter Sarah Vargas. Her goal in life is the kill the Were that changed her. However, a slew of werecreature murders send Sarah and her partner, Jared Fontaine, on the mission of their lives, ending with a discovery about Jared’s past that might destroy them both.

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

I’m working on the sequel to Fade to Black, currently titled Malevolent Dead. It takes place 6 months after the events in Fade. Not only does Sarah have to deal with Jared going back to work for the corporation that betrayed her but Marcellus, a dangerous vampire with power over the undead, is claiming that Damian himself killed the vampire twins that murdered the werecreatures. Can she overcome her past to love Jared or will Marcellus obliterate everything and everyone she holds dear?

1 comment:

Mary Corrales said...

Great interview, Heather! Sounds like Fade to Black is a real page turner.

Love the cover!