An Interview with Gena Showalter

The Reading Cafe is thrilled to welcome the fantastic Gena Showalter our guest today.

Gena has a new release upcoming on December 26th, Last Kiss Goodnight. We will post a review on the book in early January.  Last Kiss Goodnight is the first book in Gena’s new Otherworld Assassin series.

Let’s begin our interview with Gena.

 

 

TRC: Hi Gena and welcome to The Reading Café. It is a pleasure to talk with you today about your new series and books.

Gena: Thank you so much for having me!

TRC: We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us about yourself (for anyone who is new to Gena Showalter and her world)?

Gena: I’m a big believer that we can learn something new everyday.  I love to write, to read, to study ( that’s a new thing) and to just hang out with my family.  I dream about eating whatever I want, whenever I want, and never having to exercise.  I love to wear sweat pants and if you ever spot me out in public in a dress, take a picture because it may never happen again.

TRC: What was your first published novel? Do you remember how you felt when you were notified about your first book accepted for publication?

Gena: Absolutely!  I’d written for a little over two years and had six manuscripts under my belt when I landed an agent (Deidre Knight of the Knight Agency).  We got an offer for The Pleasure Slave almost right away—but that fell through.  Afterward, we shopped TPS everywhere, but no one wanted it.  Then I wrote The Stone Prince… but no one wanted it, either.  Two years passed before Harlequin decided to open up a single title line, HQN. They called my agent, hoping one of her other clients could write for them.  That client couldn’t, but my agent said, “Have I got the author for you,” and sent them TSP.   A few weeks later, my agent received a fax.  The phones were down at Harlequin but executive editor Tracy Farrell had read my book, loved it, and wanted to discuss it when she returned to the office—in a week.

The day before Tracy returned, though, my agent had to leave, so another week passed before the women were able to hook up.  I was very hard to live with during that time, I think.  Very on edge and hopeful.  Then, the call came in.  HQN did indeed want to buy The Stone Prince—plus The Pleasure Slave!

TRC: WICKED NIGHTS is the first book in your new Angels of the Dark series (a spin off from Lords of the Underworld). Would you please tell us about the premise of this series?

Gena: Zacharel, the cold as ice hero of Wicked Nights, is the leader of the Army of Disgrace. And I know, I know, that’s a terrible name for his army, but it’s kind of deserved.  The winged warriors he leads have lost their faith, torched their hope, and given up on love.   Some are as cold and callous as their leader.  Some are just plain cranky, while some have embraced the dark side a little too tightly.  Each book will follow a different warrior on his (or her) journey to love and redemption.

TRC: Will many of the characters from Lords  of the Underworld cross-over into the Angels of the Dark series?

Gena: William shows up in book two, Beauty Awakened, and readers will learn another secret about him.  Paris shows up for a scene, as well, and Kane’s fate is hinted at.  As for book three in the AotD series, (sadly) I won’t know until I sit down to write it.

Speaking of Lords of The Underworld-Kane and Torin are two of the remaining
characters without a storyline, oh and Cameo-when do you plan on writing their stories?  And with the new spin-off, will LOTU go on hiatus or end? 😉

I’m writing Kane’s book now (title coming soon) and Torin and Cameo play a big part in the storyline.  This will be released… August 2013, I think.  

TRC:  ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND is the first novel in your new young adult series-WHITE RABBIT CHRONICLES. Would you please tell us the premise behind the series?

Gena: The White Rabbit Chronicles will feature a teenage girl who loses her entire family in a car crash only to wake up to a world of zombies and zombie slaying—and a bad boy who will either save her or ruin her.  There are shades of Lewis Carroll’s beloved Alice in Wonderland, and I have a new take on zombie mythology.  Put it this way: they aren’t what you think lol

Links to order Alice in Zombieland:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

TRC: The cover for Alice in Zombieland is beautiful. How much influence did you have as the author with the ‘conception’ of the cover?

Gena: I got to help pick the model (which I was so excited about!) but the publisher did all the design work, and I couldn’t be happier with the result!

TRC: THROUGH THE ZOMBIE GLASS is the second installment in the White Rabbit
Chronicles. Would you please tell us about the premise?

Gena: I wish I could, but I hesitate to give out too much information since the first book hasn’t yet hit bookstores.  I’m sorry!  Let’s just say things heat up a notch—in every way!

TRC:  How many books do you have planned for this particular YA series?

Gena: Right now I have two under contract, Alice in Zombieland and Through the Zombieglass, but I have ideas for more.

TRC:  LAST KISS GOODNIGHT is the first book in your new OTHERWORLD ASSASSIN series. Would you please tell us about the premise?

Gena: Last Kiss Goodnight is the first in the Otherworld Assassin novels, and a spin-off of my Alien Huntress books.  The series will revolve around three black ops agents in serious trouble.  The first agent in the spotlight is Solomon Judah, who awakens caged and bound in a twisted zoo where otherworlders are the main attraction. Vika Lukas, the owner’s daughter, is tasked with Solo’s care and feeding.  The monster inside him yearns to kill her on sight, even though she holds the key to his escape. But the human side of him realizes the beautiful deaf girl is more than she seems—she’s his.
Links to Pre-order Last Kiss Goodnight:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Books a Million

TRC: The cover for LAST KISS GOODNIGHT is another fantastic cover. Many readers DO judge a book by its cover. What has been your experience as it pertains to your readers and the book covers?

Gena: You know, they’ve seemed to like the ones I’ve liked and disliked the ones I’ve dislked (yes, there are a few but no, I won’t mention titles lol)

TRC:  You and PC Cast wrote a duology together in 2012. Would you please tell us about this exciting new adventure?

Gena: PC Cast is a dear friend of mine, and we had so much fun doing our Mysteria novellas together, we just couldn’t resist another chance to work together!  Here’s a little about the stories:

POSSESSED by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author P.C. Cast 

Being a psychic detective who can channel only negative emotions makes Kent Raef good at catching murderers, but bad at maintaining relationships. Then Lauren Wilcox arrives with a most intriguing case: her twin sister has been murdered and is communing with Lauren’s spirit-and sharing her body. Raef’s the only one who can track the killer and free the spirit. But soon he begins to wonder just which twin he wants to save…and why…. 

HAUNTED by … me

Artist Aurora Harper is convinced she’s witnessed a crime-a murder so brutal she’s repressed the memories, only to paint the scene by the light of the moon. Now she needs her new neighbor, Detective Levi Reid, to help her track down the victim-and the killer. Levi’s dealing with his own memory issues, but one thing he knows for sure: Harper is meant to be his, and nothing can take her away from him-not in this life…and not in death….

TRC: What are some of the challenges you have encountered writing a duology (with another author)?

Gena: No problems, only fun!

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Gena: I just finished revisions for Beauty Awakened, the second Angels of the Dark book, and I’m diving back into Kane’s book.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Sea food

Favorite Dessert: Bread pudding

Favorite Movie:  Anchorman (I watched it so many times I can quote dialogue)

Favorite TV Show:  How I Met Your Mother… no, Parks and Recreation… no, Big Brother (Go Frank!)  ** TRC Note:  Frank did not win, but ended up being the fan favorite.

Dark or Milk: Chocolate dark

Do you have any pets?  2 bull dogs and one very mean (to others) German shepherd

Last Vacation Destination: Sun Drenched Cali

TRC: Gena, thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions. We are looking forward to your new series and storylines. We wish you the best of luck with each new endeavor.

Gena: Thank you so much for the support!

If you would like to learn more about Gena, you can find her at the following sites:

Website: http://www.genashowalter.com
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

 

Gena has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win a copy of Wicked Nights”.

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Giveaway open to U.S.& Canada only

4.  Contest runs from December 14th – December 17th..