Author Interview of Cindy Spencer Pape

I'd like to welcome Cindy Spencer Pape to Nocturnal Nights. Cindy is an amazing author whose success just keeps growing. She has works published by Ellora's Cave, Carina Press, and Wild Rose Press. It is my pleasure to have her here with us today.

Tell us a little about your writing. What type of stories do you like to write? Any characters you like to write about? Any themes you find especially inspiring?

First and foremost, I like romance, both as a reader and an author. I crave that happy-ever-after. I write primarily paranormal, some erotic, others just steamy mainstream, but I do like to mix things up so I’ve also written some contemporary and historical romance without the woo-woo elements. Most recently, I’ve started adding steampunk romance to the list, and I’m currently having a lot of fun with that.

What is your favorite part of the writing process? What are your most dreaded tasks? Anything special you do to get through the tough parts?

Getting to make stuff up for a living is just plain fun. I love developing characters and towns and worlds and watching how they unfold. When the characters stop talking to you though, you sometimes have to keep writing anyway. That’s when it’s a job, not just fun. I have to remind myself of that occasionally. I usually just make myself write, and I’ll tell myself, “Oh, just get one page done today.” Then when that’s done, I tell myself, “Come one, just one more…” until I have a reasonable amount of work done. Sometimes it works. J

What’s a typical day look like for you? What’s your writing schedule? When you’re not writing what are you doing?

I write full time, and can usually be found at my computer unless I’m doing something with my family, or out of the house. If I’m not actually writing, I’m catching up on emails, blogs, etc. My kids (2 boys) are college-age, so fortunately, they don’t take up as much time as they used to, though the grocery bills are a LOT bigger.

What author is your work most like? What author would you like to be more like?

I couldn’t honestly say who I’m most like. For genre jumping, I’d have to say I admire Linda Howard, Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle. One of my all-time favorites, whose voice is probably most similar to mine is Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels. But I tend to write hotter than any of those ladies, so maybe in an ideal world I’d write like a cross between all of them, Douglas Adams for humor, and Christine Feehan or Angela Knight for heat.

What inspires your stories?

Anything and everything under the sun. Snippets from dreams. Snatches of overheard conversation. Silly things that have happened to me. Movies or TV shows that get the ending wrong. Mostly that over-active imagination my parents and teachers were so worried about when I was younger.

Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

A recurring theme is love, and family, whether the ones we’re born into or the ones we build for ourselves. There’s always a bit of humor, even in the darkest parts of my books because life is short. If you focus on the bad stuff, you’ll go insane. So laugh, and love as much as you can.

What would you like readers to take away from your stories?

I write escapist fiction. That’s the whole point. I want my readers to leave with a smile, and a feeling of warmth and maybe a chuckle or two, or even a moment of gasping suspense. In the end, I want them to forget their own problems for a while, and dive into a world where the HEA is guaranteed.

What book are you reading now?

Indulgence in Death by JD Robb. And while my style is nothing like hers, man do I admire her work ethic and creative mind.

What is your favorite way to promote?

Mostly, none. I hate touting myself. I’d much rather talk about someone else’s book. Interviews are fun, and sometimes loop chats, though, because I get to interact. I like face-to-face events like conferences and signings too, because I get to actually met people.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

If writing is something you’re meant to do, do it. And Don’t. Give. Up.

Please tell us about your current projects and where we can purchase it. Where can we find you on the web?

Currently I’m working on book 3 of my paranormal romance series Urban Arcana from Carina Press, Motor City Werewolf, scheduled to release this coming August. I have two steampunk/fantasy/romances, Steam & Sorcery and Photographs and Phantoms coming out from them in the spring. This February, I have a new release at Ellora’s Cave called Valentine’s Heart, which continues a series I started last Christmas with Yuletide Enchantment (a finalist in this year’s EPIC awards) and continued last summer with Like Bunnies. I’ve attached an excerpt of Yuletide Enchantment below. You can find out more about ALL of my books at www.cindyspencerpape.com

Yuletide Enchantment

Cindy Spencer Pape

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-7821-yuletide-enchantment.aspx

Blurb:

The company Christmas party goes awry in an erotic way when quiet accountant Shelby Carter is magically whisked into a miniature Victorian village with the boss’s gorgeous son Noel Holiday. Noel has always honored the policy against fraternization, but when he’s trapped for several days with sweet, sexy Shelby, he knows it’s time to start breaking the rules.

While exploring the enchanted surroundings, they delve into their deepest fantasies, even acting out scenes from a collection of erotic Victorian postcards. After all, what’s Christmas without a little magic and a whole lot of sexy fun?

Though Shelby’s crazy about Noel, she’s sure he’ll forget all about her once their interlude is over. But Noel has fallen head over snow boots in love with Shelby. Now he just has to convince her that holiday wishes can come true, and his devotion will last beyond their Yuletide Enchantment.

Excerpt: (PG)

“Who the hell put me in a freaking corset?” she demanded.

“Probably the same sick bastard who gave me this starched collar.” Noel stopped his pacing and turned to face her. “Does this room look familiar to you?”

“No, I’ve never been in here before in my life.” Cautiously, she eased herself around until she was sitting on the green velvet chaise instead of lounging with her feet up. The tight jacket made it hard to move even her arms. “Do you know where we are?”

“I have a suspicion,” he answered. “But it sounds ridiculous. Look around you and tell me what this room reminds you of.”

Once she mastered the shallow breathing required, she stood. Things were still a little fuzzy, but on the table next to her chaise rested a pair of gold-rimmed wire glasses. Maybe those would help. Just for the heck of it, she picked them up and tried them on.

The prescription was perfect. She blinked and studied the room again. “Are those candles on the Christmas tree? Who’d be crazy enough to do that?”

“It was common practice in the late 1800s,” Noel said. “Still is in a few places around the world. Now look. What else do you see?”

“Victorian furniture, gaslights and really gaudy wallpaper.” After holding her hands out and assuring herself that actual heat came from the cracking flames, she crossed to the big bay window that fronted the room and peeked out the curtains. Her breath frosted the glass, which was icy to the touch. “It’s snowing. Snowing!”

“Exactly. I don’t think we’re in Savannah anymore, do you?”

“What? Where?” She whirled around too fast and tripped over her petticoats. Petticoats? What the hell was going on here?

Then she spotted the sampler on the wall across from the window. A cross-stitched sampler. Why had she just been thinking of that? Without planning to, she crossed to it and read it. “Enjoy the Holiday magic and don’t fret. You’ll be home for Christmas Eve.”

The room spun again as she realized that the whole damn place did look awfully familiar.

Noel crossed the room and caught her by the arm to hold her steady. “Figured it out, didn’t you?”

Shelby nodded, looking up into his piercing blue eyes. “Holy cow. We’re in the house, aren’t we? We’ve been shrunk down and stuck in the Christmas village.”

If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be?

Definitely a selkie. I LOVE the water, and my husband has long claimed that one of my Newfoundland ancestors didn’t go hunting seals, he brought one home and married it. My kids have picked up on this, it’s become a running family joke .

Thank you so much for visiting with us Cindy, and sharing your vast knowledge. I can't wait to see all you have in store for your readers, and the great successes coming your way.