Hi all! Are you in a post-holiday stupor like I am? Well, to pull you out of it Yasmine Galenorn and I have teamed up to bring you some mid-winter heat. We have releases coming out on the same day, so we’re doing a little cross-promotion at each other’s blogs. Basically, we interviewed each other.
Here you can read Yasmine’s answers. Over on her blogs, you can read mine.
Oh, did I mention I’m giving away books? But of course I am! I’ll do a drawing from the pool of commentators. Two of you will win autographed copies of Witch Heart. The deadline to comment and be eligible is Monday. I’ll announce the winners on Tuesday.
Here are a list of the places you can find my answers to the interview:
Yasmine’s Blog Sites:
Yasmine’s LJ
Yasmine’s MySpace
Yasmine’s Web Site Blog
Seven Questions With Anya
Anya: Which hero/antihero of yours would you most like to play footsie with and why?
Yasmine: Talk about an unfair question. Almost all of them appeal to me, and if I could, I’d do what Camille does and keep all three of her lovers. But if I have to choose one…first it narrows to Smoky and Morio, and then…as hot as Morio is, and as much as I think he and I’d get along best, I’d probably pick Smoky the dragon because he’s the steadiest in some ways, the least unpredictable. He’s also an excellent lover, and not afraid to take charge of the situation. And because in the face of love, he bends his rather severe ways. His hair too…oh man, his hair and what it can do would be reason enough! I never expected to write about a dragon in the series, by the way—Smoky just popped up and made it known he was in the Sisters’ lives to stay. That was a surprise.
Anya: What’s your favorite scene (out of your published books) that you’ve written and why?
Yasmine: Another hard one. Out of this series, and probably out of all the books I’ve published, I’m going to have to say the scene where Camille undergoes her initiation as a Moon witch. The scene was so magical to me, and so vivid that it felt like I was right there with her, watching through her eyes.
Anya: What’s your favorite villain you’ve ever written and why?
Yasmine: I think, so far, Karvanak the Rāksasa, because even though he wasn’t on stage all that much, his presence in both Dragon Wytch and Night Huntress left an undercurrent of fear running through the books. Karvanak is a demon who loves what he does, who loves the pain he can inflict, and he’s cool-headed enough to know how to use his power to make people do what they normally wouldn’t. He’s one scary-ass dude.
Anya: If you could take one of your characters on vacation, which one would you take, where, and why?
Yasmine: For a passionate vacation—Trillian. I think we’d end up staying at five-star hotels, eating in fine restaurants, and still slip off for sex on the beach. For a girls-weekend, Camille. The shopping, the makeup, the clothes, working magic together—it would be a blast.
Anya: Who are some of the first authors you remember reading that made you interested in writing for a living?
Yasmine: I knew I wanted to be a writer from the time I was three, so it goes back to before I could read (I was learning right around that time). But as I got into the ages of, oh, around 10 and up, my inspirations began to include Ray Bradbury (still my greatest inspiration), L’Engle, Clifford D. Simak, Frederick Pohl, Arthur C. Clarke, I was reading so many of the SF/Fantasy greats by then. I also discovered Daphne du Maurier around the time I was twelve. And then, of course, I loved some of the YA authors like Frank Baum, Alcott, and I was an avid Trixie Belden fan.
Anya: Did you ever want to be anything other than a writer?
Yasmine: LOL, no. Although I wanted to be other things along with being a writer, including (as I was growing up—in my early teens): a parapsychologist, an exotic dancer, a volcanologist, a paleontologist, an archaeologist, and—inexplicably—leader of a motorcycle gang. Yes, I did have diverse interests and still do.
Anya: What’s our favorite Tony cover out of the ones he’s done for us?
Yasmine: Tony’s so brilliant it’s hard to choose one, and even my ‘least favorite’ is still incredible. But if pressed to choose, I think my very favorite is still Witchling—the first from this series. He captured Camille so completely with that pose and the curves. After that, I think in order: Demon Mistress, Night Huntress, Dragon Wytch, Darkling, Changeling.
USA Today bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy for Berkley: both the bestselling Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon Series for Berkley (Witchling, Changeling, Darkling, etc.) and the upcoming Elemental Magic Series. In the past, she wrote two mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, and eight nonfiction metaphysical books. With both Darkling and Dragon Wytch, she hit the extended NYT bestseller’s list.
Yasmine has been in the Craft for over 28 years, is a shamanic witch, and describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos. She lives in Bellevue WA with her husband Samwise and their cats.
Yasmine can be reached via her website at www.galenorn.com, via MySpace: www.myspace.com/yasminegalenorn and via Live Journal: http://yasminegalenorn.livejournal.com she is also the co-founder of the Witchy Chicks blog (http://witchychicks.blogspot.com).
Love how both covers have fiery orange-and-yellow themes – coincidence or conspiracy? 😉 Either way, they both look terrific, and Tony’s done a fabulous job. Though I am partial to the Witch Fire cover, because of the fiery path and the autumn leaves…
Thanks, ladies, and have a lovely day! 🙂
by Tez Miller January 3rd, 2009 at 6:22 amThank you for hosting such a great contest Anya.
Wonderful interview. I wasn’t familiar with Yasmine’s work before so this is indeed a treat. I will definitely add “Night Huntress”, to my list.
And, yes I too am in a post holiday stupor. I’m supposed to be putting away all the decorations right now, but it’s more fun to visit my favorite author’s blogs. 😆
Best Regards
by Lea January 3rd, 2009 at 8:18 amThanks for the wonderful opportunity, and Yasmine is also a new author for me. Looking forward to visiting her site as well!
by Teresa W. January 3rd, 2009 at 9:05 amHi Anya!
I’m a big fan of Yasmine’s books and enjoyed your interview with her. So many great books all coming out on January 6th! Must be a popular date!
I also checked out her interview of you and loved it too! Very cool idea.
by RachaelfromNJ January 3rd, 2009 at 9:24 amWonderful interview! I love how much you learn… those covers are beautiful work! Thanks for introducing Yasmine to us! 😀
by Colleen January 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 amThe covers are gorgeous. I have not read any of Yasmine’s books yet. Am going to her site new.
by Estella January 3rd, 2009 at 1:14 pmGreat interview, I truely enjoyed it. I am really pschyed about Witch Heart it sounds amazing. Yasmine is a new author to me so I am definetly going to be checking her out.
by sara hurt January 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 pmBoth books sound awesome!
by Virginia Hendricks January 3rd, 2009 at 4:54 pmWOW 2 of the best authors there are , and together!!!!!!! you are a dream. now maybe you two ought to think about teaming up to write a book together?
by gypsy January 3rd, 2009 at 7:28 pmhmm that would be interesin
Hi Anya and Yasmine~
This is a fun a really fun contest!
Great interview and Yasmine, I was/am a huge fan of Trixie Belden too.
Witch Heart and Night Huntress both sound really great and are both books that I need to pick up to continue my series.
by Lori T January 3rd, 2009 at 7:57 pmGreat interview! Night Huntress sounds great!
by Amy S. January 3rd, 2009 at 8:25 pmgreat interview and I love both of your books.
by Pamk January 3rd, 2009 at 8:28 pmI was always debating about reading one of Yasmine’s books. Now the interview has convinced me that I must start reading her series right away! Though I must confess I can not wait for witch heart to come out! I’ve been counting the days! It’s like christmas again! Can’t wait for the fourth installment.
by Erin January 3rd, 2009 at 11:43 pmGreat idea and great interview. I love both of your series’ and cant wait to get copies of both of the new releases.
by Donna S January 3rd, 2009 at 11:57 pmLike you Yasmine, I wanted to be an archaeologist as a child. Of course, I had just seen one of the Indiana Jones movies. LOL
Deidre
by Deidre January 4th, 2009 at 10:34 amHi Yasmine, enjoyed the interview, it was great to get to know you. I will definitely be checking out this series.
by Cathy M January 4th, 2009 at 1:23 pmThanks everybody who’s thinking of checking out my books. And yay–Anya and I thought this would be fun and so it has been!
by Yasmine Galenorn January 4th, 2009 at 3:23 pmWOOHOOOOO love this contest, cause i love both of the authors and their books!!! please enter me!
by tami January 4th, 2009 at 7:14 pmo im fixing to blog and post a bulltien at myspace for yall contest
by tami blackroze37 January 4th, 2009 at 7:15 pmI love it when authors interview each other, they know all the best questions to ask and the ones a non-writer wouldn’t think to ask.
Great covers — about time more strong heroines graced the covers! (This is in no way a complaint about all those covers with hunky men which I lust after!)
by Sue A. January 5th, 2009 at 2:47 amThis was a great interview. Both the questions and answers were a lot of fun to read. I’m looking forward to checking out some of Yasmine’s books since I’ve not heard of her before but am intrigued now.
by Karin January 5th, 2009 at 5:24 pm