Welcome to Paranormal Romance Author Amanda
Greene! Hello, thank you so much for visiting with me at Coffee Time
Romance and More today.
Hi! I’m excited to be here with you all on Coffee Time Romance and More.
Let’s get right into the good stuff. Tell us about The Rulers of Darkness series. What inspired this story idea?
I began writing the Rulers of Darkness series years ago. The first book, Caressed by Moonlight,
was intended to be a stand-alone. But as I was working through the
book and getting to know the characters, I decided to make it into a
5-book series, which has now grown to a 6-book series. The characters
are leading the way.
The Rulers of Darkness series
centers around 4 (soon to be 5) vampire Clan Chieftains. There are
witches, hunters, and shape-shifters that lurk in the shadows.
Forbidden romance, consuming passion, and magic lace each book and bid
the heroes and heroines together as well as intertwine all of their
stories and journeys.
Sounds great! What is
the next release in this series? Do you have a release date yet?
Introduce us to your hero and heroine, please.
Caressed by the Edge of Darkness
(Rulers of Darkness #5) is my current work in progress. The hero,
Gabriel, is one of my favorite leading men and his story has been a
long time building. He is a former blood slave and an Outcast who has
decided to unite the Outcast Society (those that have been banished
from the other clans or made into vampires against Vampiric Law). He
will stop at nothing to bring an end to the slavery of humans and
vampires. He craves revenge, justice, and will stop at nothing to
rescue the woman who has been taken from him, Jordan. I’m anticipating Caressed by the Edge of Darkness to release summer 2016.
Oh good, that gives me time to catch up before the new release. What is your personal challenges when writing a book? Are you challenged by creating non-human characters?
Honestly, the biggest challenge
I face when writing is time. Life can be hectic: work, school, family,
etc. Writing has become a relaxing escape. When I can, I sneak off to
my office and lose myself in the world I have created for my characters
– so much fun. I don’t have a problem creating non-human characters. I
enjoy creating new worlds and paranormal characters. I actually find
writing “normal” characters more difficult. I have to remind myself
that they don’t have any magical power or fangs or can shift into a
wolf.
Lol. That’s cute! I
see you are also a book reviewer. What is your favorite kind of book
to read? Do you read mostly in the same genre you write?
When I can, I write reviews
for The Book Nympho blog. I enjoy reading paranormal romance (shocker!)
and historical romance. Lately, I’ve been on a highland historical
romance kick and have been devouring The Highland Guard series by
Monica McCarty. I love her writing style, her heroes can be drool
worthy, and her heroines aren’t the typical historical lass that needs
saving. She puts together some kick *** heroines.
I love strong feminine leads. I’ll have to check into that series. Do
you find that you are more sympathetic to other authors because you
also write, or do you feel like you are more critical of amateur
mistakes?
Even though I’m an author, I
am a reader at heart – that’s where I started. There are times when I
read a book when I think I would have done something differently, but as
a reader, I surrender myself to the story. Books really are the best
and cheapest vacations you can buy.
So true! How important is the beginning chapter in your opinion? How about the opening or the first few lines?
The first chapter is crucial
and the first few lines would spell life or death for a book. I enjoy
reading stories that just start off – bang you’re in the action. I try
to do the same when I write. It’s important to have a great hook, to
try to find the right words to draw a reader in. If the reader sticks
with the book after the first page, you’ve already had some success.
Speaking for myself, I rarely DNF a book. It’s just not in me. I will
stick with it until the end – You know what they call book marks?
Quitter strips.
Lol. I love that! Do
you mind a few personal questions? There wasn’t much on your bio. Are
you married? If so, how did you meet? Is he a romantic type? Does he
help inspire your books?
My husband, Robert, and I live
in Southern California (both born and raised here). We have two fur
babies: Kelly (cocker spaniel) & Barrett (a black-mouth cur mix).
I think one day I may turn
the story of how we met into a romance novel. My husband and I met in
elementary school. We “went out” in 5th grade. Robert would call my
house almost every night and we’d talk about whatever it is 10/11 year
olds talk about. (I can’t remember). He moved away the summer between
5th and 6th, which was heartbreaking. We attended different middles and
high schools. The funny part is, Robert attended the schools I was
supposed to go to, but there was no way my parents were going to allow
me to go to those schools. Let’s just say, they were…rough.
Anyway, he remembered my
parent’s phone number and he would randomly call me throughout the
years. We’d talk for hours and then go months without speaking. It
wasn’t until we were 19 that we saw each other again. Robert had
recently joined the military and I was in college.
He was stationed in San Diego
(we grew up about 1-2 hours north of the city) and he was heading home
to visit family. While sitting in some terrible traffic he decided to
call me. To this day, he says he has no idea what made him think of me
or even how he remembered the number. (This man has an awful memory:
can’t remember birthdays or even what/if he ate breakfast in the
morning). To be honest, I don’t know why I even answered the phone
since I have a habit that annoys everyone in my family: I screen all of
my calls. At this time, it had been about 2 years since we last spoke.
We talked the entire time he was in traffic. Robert was going to visit
his sister, who lived literally down the street and around the corner
from my house – small world. So, he asked if he could stop by. Sure,
why not?
I remember answering the door and, seriously, my mind went blank and I just stared thinking, damn, he’s fine.
His face was the same as I remembered, obviously more grown up. His
eyes were a brighter green, but still sweet and humble. He’s got such a
genuine smile, it always touched his eyes. And he is tall! My man is
about 6’4”.
Robert said he had the same
reaction; I still looked like the girl he remembered but again,
obviously grown up. We hung out in the backyard and talked a bit, and
when he left, we hugged. I remember thinking we held on to each other a
bit too long and when he drove away I knew I was a goner. From that day
on, we’ve been together. We got married not long after he came back
from Iraq.
He has always been very
supportive of my writing and helps me brainstorm and world build, but
he is not a romantic. I’d have to say the character I wrote that is the
closest to his personality would be Ethan from Surrender to the Chase, down to the ring tone he had when we first re-met: Dr. Dre Keep Their Heads Ringin.
That is a fantastic
story! Thank you so much for sharing it, and thank you for visiting us
today. We look forward to your upcoming releases!
Read 3 sizzling, dark, paranormal romance novels. Passion can be lethal...
Caressed by Moonlight
Dorian Vlakhos is no ordinary aristocrat. He is a vampire king,
who will do anything to save his clan from complete annihilation,
before an ancient curse can claim his immortal life.
Penniless and orphaned, Victoria Kingston has
nothing to bring to a marriage, yet she must shackle an unsuspecting
gentleman into marriage by the end of the month or forfeit her rights
as guardian of her younger sister. With the help of her dearest friend,
Victoria begins her hunt, and vows to stay far away from the dark,
mysterious, Dorian Vlakhos.
After meeting the beautifully innocent Miss
Kingston, Dorian had to have her. He would do absolutely anything to
make Victoria his. One sweet stolen kiss would bring them together
while a force, more powerful than any vampire, would bind them for all
eternity, but treachery, war, and death rule Dorian's dark world and
Victoria would be fortunate to survive.
Caressed by Night
Dimitri Arsov, the last remaining pure vampire,
was thought to be dead for the past four hundred years. Now, he is back
and has a score to settle with the traitor that had tried to kill him
centuries ago. But as he waits for his prey to blindly step into his
carefully laid trap, his overwhelming hunger for blood is triggered
when he saves a beautiful art historian.
Kerstyn Ingmar's life was normal and straight up
boring until the night she is rescued by the dangerously sexy,
powerfully mesmerizing, Dimitri. Unable to resist his diamond blue eyes
and intense kisses, she is drawn into his world of darkness and closer
to her impending doom.
While their desire consumes them, Dimitri is
haunted by images of a bloody and deadly future. As his enemies draw
near, he must find a way to save his mate from her destiny before fate
destroys them both.
Caressed by a Crimson Moon
Consumed by madness and tormented by dark
memories of blood and death, Hadrian Lucretius, King of the Validus
Clan, has returned after living in self-imposed exile for nearly three
hundred and fifty years.
To maintain peace with the vampires, Eva
Maldonado is offered as a sacrifice to the crazed vampire king by her
father, the alpha of the Silveria Shifter Pack. Hadrian's reputation is
both legendary and lethal; he is ruthless, bloodthirsty, lusty, and
soulless. When Eva arrives at the ancient fortress high in the
Carpathian Mountains, she is shocked to find a ravaged man with dark
burning eyes filled with loneliness and dangerous desire.
Would she be his lover...or his prey? His
savior...or his victim? Would Hadrian lure her into madness or would
their perilous passion be their redemption?
~ Eva couldn't
find her voice. Her throat was dry and tight. She hated how good he felt atop
her and loved it at the same time. He shifted, his erection pressing between
her thighs. Her already rapid heartbeat doubled, if that were possible. Her
breaths came in gasps, her breasts brushing his solid chest with every breath.
