In the Hotseat....Alexandra Ivy!

today we welcome paranormal author Alexandra Ivy!

Here's a little bit about  her, in her own words:

I’m not exactly sure when I fell in love with books.  Probably on my mother’s knee listening to her read Dr. Seuss to me.  I do remember that I was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library.
Could anything be more wonderful than spending summer days surrounded by stacks of Nancy Drew mysteries?  Over the years I fell in love with Victoria Holt, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien just to name a few.  I read poetry, essays, biographies, and plays.  In fact, I read anything I could get my hands on. 

Years later (no, I’m not admitting how many) I’m still an avid reader, and my tastes are still as varied as they were in my youth, which I suppose helps to explain why I enjoy writing regency historicals under the name of Deborah Raleigh, as well as my contemporary paranormals as Alexandra Ivy.
For now that is enough to keep me busy, but who knows what the future might hold!

I do have a few other loves in my life besides reading and writing, the most important being my unbelievably patient husband, David, and my two sons, Chance and Alexander.  Without their constant support and belief in me, I never could have been able to follow my dreams.  They are truly my heroes.

Alexandra's books can be found in bookstores and all major online retailers.

Find more at her WEBSITE

AND NOW...ALEXANDRA!

R: Meow, hello Alexandra and welcome

A: Thanks, ROCCO!

R:  Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became interested in writing.

A:I’ve always loved to read.  Even as a child I was always carrying a book wherever I went.   It was a natural progression to try inventing my own stories.  At first I only wrote for my own pleasure.  Eventually I decided to try and become published.

R: What drew you to this genre?

A: I feel in love with Buffy J  I’d never seen such an original show.  It had it all.  Horror, humor, and adventure…plus a kick-ass heroine!!  I started writing my first paranormal in sort of a private tribute to Buffy, but as the story unfolded I fell in love with the characters and decided to give the manuscript to my editor.  Thankfully he saw potential in the story and the next thing I knew the Guardians of Eternity were born.

R: Tell us about your upcoming release, DARKNESS AVENGED.

A: This book begins just after the defeat of the Dark Lord, Santiago is in no mood celebrate. He still yearns for sensual, raven-haired Nefri, who has inexplicably disappeared. But brooding for Nefri is a luxury Santiago does not have. His traitorous sire, Gaius, is unleashing a violent scourge upon the mortal world, and Santiago must stop him before it's too late. . .

R:  You are featured in a soon to be released anthology, PREDATORY.  Which do y ou prefer writing, short stories or novels?

A: Short stories are challenging.  You have to have a story that can unfold in a third of the space of a normal book, but they’re also a lot of fun.  I love the opportunity to take characters that might not be suitable for a full length story and giving them their own adventure!!  But there’s something utterly satisfying about a long book where you have the luxury of delving deep into each character.

R: Which of (your character)  adventures was the most fun for you to write? Were any of them the least amount of fun?

A: It’s always Levet!!  The three foot snarky gargoyle is always so much fun...causing trouble for the male vampires and charming the ladies.  He gets to say all the things we want to, but are too polite to share.

R:  Do you have an “how I got my agent” story you’d like to share?  How did you feel when you got the call your first novel had sold?

A: I actually didn’t get my agent until I’d been published quite a few years.  But I will never, ever forget the day I received the ‘call’.  I’d been writing and submitting for years.  I had been getting closer with every manuscript, but it was still hard not to wonder if it was ever going to happen.  When I did at last sell I couldn’t sleep that night.  I was terrified I was going to wake up and it was all a dream.

R: What’s a must have for you when you are writing? What aids the creative process?

A: Actually nothing.  I’ve written everywhere and under every situation.  With kids climbing over me as if I was a jungle-gym, at football games, waiting in the doctors’ office...

R: What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to know about you?

A: That I’m a sports fanatic.  With a coach for a husband and two sons I didn’t have much choice but to spend a majority of my time at one sporting event or another.  Now I love watching sports...especially baseball.  Go Cards.

R: What is the craziest thing you've ever done? 

A: Oy, that’s hard.  I was a theatre major so crazy was an everyday event J

R: What do you hope readers will most take away from your writing?

A: I want them to lose themselves in the story.  We all need a few hours away from the world, falling in love again, enjoying an adventure or solving a murder!   Escapism is a wonderful thing!

R: What are you working on at the moment / next?

A: I’m currently working on the second book in my new Sentinels series.  The books are similar to X-Men and Avengers with a group of people with ‘special’ abilities.  Witches, necromancers, and warriors known as Sentinels!

R: Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A: Both

R: What other writing genre would you like to try that you haven’t yet? Historical, screenwriting, etc?

A: I’d love to do a huge fantasy with elves and wizards...

R: What book is on your TBR shelf you can’t wait to get to?

 A: The last book in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

R:  Now, a little thing I call Just for Fun:

A: Night or Day?  .Day

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully)  CAT (GREAT answer, meow)

Beach or Pool?   Beach

Steak or salad?  Salad

Favorite Drink?  Mojito

Favorite Book?  Pride and Prejudice

Favorite TV Series?  Buffy

Favorite Movie?  Pride and Prejudice J

Favorite Actor:  Cary Grant

Favorite Actress:  Sandra Bullock

Dirty Martini or Pina Colada?  Pina Colada

Hawaii or Alaska?  Hawaii

Finish this sentence:  If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be Jane Austen.  Her clever wit and willingness to flout convention fascinate me.

If I had just one wish, it would be good health to all my loved ones.

If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be Angelina Jolie

Thank you for a great interview, Alexandra! 

Alexandra will be giving away a copy of "Predatory" to one lucky reader!

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post with your name and email address (entries without email will be disqualified). For extra entries, you can do any or all of the below:

* Follow my blog (+ 1 point)
* Follow me on Twitter (+ 1 point) (Link: https://twitter.com/RoccoBlogger)
* Tweet about the contest (+ 1 point)
* Friend me on Facebook (+ 1 point) (Link: https://www.facebook.com/ToniLotempio)#!/

* Mention the contest on Facebook (+ 1 point)
* Mention the contest on your blog (+ 1 point)

Winner will be chosen at random using random.org.  Don’t forget to mention all you’ve done in your comment. Good luck!

Winner of our Ashlyn Chase giveaway:  Heather!
April 23: Jody and MeanKitty!

April 30: LeAnn Sweeney in the HotSeat!