Interview with Vicki Lewis Thompson

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Vicki Lewis Thompson. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.





I understand you have a new release out called Wild & Hexy. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Wild & Hexy is the second in a series, but don’t freak out if you haven’t read the first one, Over Hexed. You won’t get lost, I promise. Wild & Hexy features a nerd who lost his chance to date the beauty queen during high school, and now has a second chance when she returns to the little town of Big Knob, Indiana, for her sister’s wedding. To make the most of that second chance, he needs a little magic, conveniently provided by a matchmaking witch and wizard. The conservative residents of Big Knob have no idea a witch and wizard live in Big Knob, and they would have a conniption if they found out about the dragon in the forest and the lake monster in the lake!

Wild & Hexy is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

This is officially called the “hex” series, so the titles needed to work that in somehow. I started it off with Over Hexed, and then my editor suggested Wild & Hexy. Her boss came up with the third title, Casual Hex. It’s a fun word game we’re playing. I’m open to suggestions for future books.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Research of the most interesting kind – reading about the traditions of magic. But once I ventured into light paranormal, I realized I had tremendous freedom to make stuff up, which I love doing.

What character did you like writing about the most, and why?

That’s like asking me to choose my favorite child! I loved writing about Annie, because she had to come back to town a former beauty queen who is 20 pounds overweight. Then there’s Jeremy, my computer nerd, and nerds will *always* find a place in my heart. Dorcas and Ambrose, the witch and wizard, are a hoot, but my favorite character is George the dragon, who claims he’s ADD. George is a typical teen, except that he weighs 2,000 pounds and breaths fire. He’s a prankster who loves listening to his iPod and playing Texas Hold ‘Em with the raccoons. How could I not love George?

If your book was made into a movie, what actor would you like to fill your hero’s shoes?

I’d pick John Krasinski, from The Office, but I also loved him in License to Wed.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Absolutely. When I was in high school, I read Huckleberry Finn and became enamored of Mark Twain’s writing. Then I fell into a big non-fiction hole during college and, later, the diaper-changing years. I finally managed to climb back out and enjoy fiction again when I started reading romance in my – if you can believe it – mid-thirties! I devoured Jayne Ann Krentz, Sandra Brown, Barbara Delinsky, and, of course, Nora Roberts. Susan Elizabeth Phillips is another writer I really admire because she likes to make her readers laugh, which is one of my main goals, too. And I can’t leave out Jennifer Crusie and Janet Evanovich. Lately I’ve become a huge fan of Alexander Smith McCall.

What do we have to look forward next?

I have an anthology coming out from Harlequin in January, 2009, and the third book in the hex series, Casual Hex, will hit the shelves in February, 2009, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Thanks, Vicki!

To celebrate her book release, Vicki is offering a free copy of Wild & Hexy to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (please make sure we have a way to contact you if you win) She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio. New York Times bestseller Vicki Lewis Thompson sold her first book 25 years ago, and it’s been a rollercoaster ride ever since. She’s written more than 90 books for Dell, Harlequin, Bantam, St. Martin’s Press, and NAL in both series romance and single title. Besides being an eight-time RITA nominee, she’s won numerous RWA chapter contests and will receive the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award at RWA’s national conference this summer. Her latest book is WILD & HEXY, out from NAL Onyx June 3.

Check out author’s website at http://www.vickilewisthompson.com/

Buy Wild & Hexy. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Wild-and-Hexy/Vicki-Lewis-Thompson/e/9780451412584/?itm=1