Interview with Misa Buckley

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Misa Buckley to the blog today.  

Misa, can you please share with us a little about yourself
I’m a closer-to-40-than-I-like housewife, married to a Land Rover obsessed husband and mum to five children. I write to stay sane, though as a sci fi geek, that’s probably relative *grins*

Have you always wanted to be an author?
No. Growing up I wanted to be a cat, a vet, an astronaut and an artist by turns. I did office work after leaving school and hated it. It was only after my first child that I discovered the internet and then fanfic. The rest, as they say, is history.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
I read Austin and Carroll as a child (Pride & Prejudice is still a favourite) and of course the sci fi/fantasy masters such as Tolkien, Adams and Pratchett. I think every book I read bears some influence on me. Right now I’m loving everything by Lori Gallagher Witt, Gini Koch and Kevin Hearne.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
Paranormal was a step outside my usual sci fi, so yeah I like playing with genre. I prefer weird, which is why I call myself a “speculative romance” author, and I also like to blend genres. Officially, ELEANOR’S HEART is a Historical Paranormal Romance with Steampunk elements.

What are some of your writing rituals?
I have to check my email and Twitter before writing. I usually check Tumblr as well, just in case there’s been some eyecandy posted. I’m terribly shallow 😀 

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

ELEANOR’S HEART is the book I always swore I’d never write. Vampires were overdone, or so I thought. I was very reluctant to jump on that bandwagon, even after the idea struck.

But my vampires are different to the norm. The story revolves around Eleanor, a poor young woman forced to steal in order to buy the drug that gives her a little ease from the pain of cancer. When she steals an ancient relic, she tips herself into a species war… and the arms of Jefferson Park, Vampire.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
I was watching Sanctuary. There was a line about vampires not being affected by sun or garlic other than resulting in “tanned vampires with bad breath” that stuck with me. I was intrigued by the idea of vampires inventing fiction to misdirect hunters and so began to create my own version. 

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’m in the throes of finishing an erotic sci fi, then I’ll be working on a weird western. I also have a novel-length space opera, another erotic sci fi and a future Earth/dystopian on the cards. My writing schedule is full until May 2013! 

What would you be if you were not an author?
I have absolutely no idea. I can’t imagine not writing. 

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I have a huge TBR pile! I can’t think of anything outstanding, though I want to read Revis’ Across the Universe. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I can be found on my website – misabuckley.com – and on Twitter, where I *love* to chat about anything and everything (though my favourite subject is Stargate/Ba’al) – @MisaBuckley