Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Felicity Heaton to the blog today . Felicity, Can you please share with us a little about yourself
I’m a paranormal romance writer, although I have been known to dabble in science fiction romance. I’ve been writing since 2005, and went indie in 2006, before all the cool kids were doing it. I’ve written over forty-five books in my career as a writer, and around forty of those are still available. I love to write passionate paranormal romances, with high-octane action, intense emotion, and heroes who will make your toes curl!
At the moment, I have three series on the go and one I completed this year. The completed series is the Vampire Erotic Theatre series, with the delicious heroes of Vampirerotique, London’s premier naughty theatre for vampires. The ongoing series are the Her Angel series with my take on sexy passionate angels determined to protect their women from a terrible game between Heaven and Hell, and the Vampires Realm series, which is packed with twisting plots, vampires to die for, and is a huge world encompassing ten books at present. And also my new series is Eternal Mates, which is set in the same world as the Vampire Erotic Theatre but it takes a look at the wider world outside the theatre, with all manner of fae and demon species, and plenty of hot-blooded alpha heroes determined to have their mates.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
No, not at all. I wrote a little in school when I was a teenager because we had to write the opening chapter of a gothic horror and it really got my mind working, and my teacher liked mine so much that she read it out to the class. I wrote more for it, had a whole plan for the story, but then schoolwork took over and it fell to the wayside. I didn’t write until 2003 after that. I’ve always been creative though, and spent most of my youth drawing fantasy creatures. I actually went into graphic design and then web design and development. I love developing almost as much as I love writing.
Are you a plotter or a pantser or combo of both? And you explain the difference?
I write outlines for all of my books, so I’m definitely in the plotter camp. My outlines are compiled from all the notes / scenes I’ve written down while working on other stories and then filling in the gaps. Sometimes, my outlines end up huge! I’m currently editing Claimed by a Demon King, which is the second book in the Eternal Mates series, and the outline for that book was around 25,000 words. That just shows you how serious I am about plotting before writing. The outline was a quarter of the length of the first draft of the book! It really helps me work in any plot twists and misdirection if I plan it all out in advance.
The difference between a plotter and pantser is really quite simple. A plotter is someone like me who prefers to have a full outline of events, sometimes broken down into chapters, and a clear idea of where the book is going and the majority of what happens in it. A pantser takes the opposite approach. They begin with an idea and maybe some characters, and a notion of the events in the book and then just write and let the story come to them as they go.
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I can’t really think of any. I can write anywhere. When I held down a job as well as writing, I would work on the train during my commute. I can write with people next to me. It really doesn’t bother me at all. If they snoop at my screen and get an eyeful of a love scene, that’s their fault. Of course, they might like it too!
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Kissed by a Dark Prince is the first book in the Eternal Mates series. It’s about the dark elf prince, Loren, and his millennia-old feud with an enemy bent on killing him and destroying his kingdom. When Loren is knocked unconscious and dumped on the inspection table of Olivia, a scientist working with the demon-hunting organisation Archangel, she thinks it’s her lucky night and sees her mystery man as a way of redeeming herself with her superiors. Loren comes around and can’t resist tapping her carotid for some life giving fluids to help him heal. That one bite changes their lives forever because she’s his one true mate and not only has he bound her to him, but he’s weakened himself and dragged her into the crossfire between him and his enemy… exactly as his enemy had planned. It’s a race against time for them to find a way to break the bond, but can Loren really sacrifice the one thing he’s been waiting millennia for—his mate?
How did you come with the idea for this story?
I was actually trying to think up a series idea that would appeal to NY publishers and that I wouldn’t feel too attached to in case they made me change a lot in the stories and about the series. The trouble was, as I worked on the series and the world, and the outlines for the first three books, I really wanted them to tie into the Vampire Erotic Theatre world because that path felt right to me. I also began to feel deeply connected to the series and the characters, so much so that I decided against giving this series to NY and decided to write it how I wanted it—with it set in the same world as my previous series, exploring the wider universe and other creatures, especially the dark elves.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I just finished the edits on the second book in the Eternal Mates series, Claimed by a Demon King, and I’m preparing for its release at the end of February. Right now, I’m working on planning two new stories. One is the next Her Angel series book and the other is a Vampires Realm series book. Both will release in 2014.
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
I’m deeply in love with Lara Adrian and Gena Showalter. I would love to meet Lara. She writes the most amazing books and I always have to get the signed copies when a new one comes out. I wish I had the rest of them signed too.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Study the craft. I think it was advice I gave to myself but I do recommend it to all writers. I’ve read some fantastic books on writing and I still make time to read books on writing now. They’ve all helped me in some way or another. I’m an advocate of putting in some reading time and doing exercises to improve your writing.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
I don’t have a bucket list. They always seem a bit grim to me. I have things I plan to do though. Some wild, some probably quite boring. I would love to ride a snowmobile. I’ll get to do that in 2014 when I visit Swedish Lapland and I can’t wait!
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’m waiting to get my hands on the latest Lords of the Underworld book by Gena Showalter. I haven’t had time to read recently. I can’t read while I’m writing so I have to wait for gaps in my schedule. I’m planning to wade through a few books on my huge TBR pile over the holidays.
What is one book everyone should read before they die?
I’m not going to say one of mine. To be honest, I can’t think of just one. I definitely recommend reading Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breeds series and Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld though!
What is your favorite time of year & why?
Autumn. I love the smell and the colours. I love the days when the sky is crystal blue, the sun is shining but the temperature is crisp, and you can smell the leaves and the smokiness of wood fires, and all the trees are golden. It’s wonderful.
Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?
Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman. I would probably faint if I met them!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just thanks for having me here and thanks to my readers for reading my books and sticking with me, and I hope you’ll keep sticking around and demanding more from me, because I have so many stories left to tell!
About Felicity Heaton:
Felicity Heaton is a USA Today and international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!
If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.
If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.
If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Mailing List
