Interview with Erin Quinn

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Erin Quinn. 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 HAUNTING WARRIOR. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

HAUNTING WARRIOR is the story of Rory MacGrath, who readers met in the first book of my Haunting Series, HAUNTING BEAUTY. The night Rory’s father disappeared from his life, Rory disappeared too . . . .but only for a few moments. He was just five at the time, but Rory—as children will—has always felt responsible for what happened that night. In his heart, he feels that something he did, or didn’t do, caused his father to vanish.

Twenty-five years later, Rory is a man now, and not one to dwell in the past. He’s sealed up his memories and put them into long term storage. Living in the US, Rory has turned away from his family, his heritage—and the very magic that has defined his people for centuries. But all that is about to change when Rory MacGrath meets his fate head on.

What made Rory so special for me is the fact that he begins so completely broken. He’s disconnected from everything he loves. He’s convinced himself that he doesn’t mind being alone and that he doesn’t long for more.
But I didn’t believe him. I knew what was in his heart.

It took a very special woman to mate with this incredible man and Rory had to travel through time to find her. His journey to meet his destiny spans only a few days, yet in it he and the woman he was meant for find the love of a lifetime.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I have always been fascinated with the paranormal, whether it’s time travel, psychic connections, ghosts or past lives—I love it all. I don’t think I could NOT have some element of it in my stories.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

For me, writing is a very organic process. I start with the seeds of an idea or a question. In this case, “What happened to Rory in those few moments he disappeared?” and I go from there. I often have no idea what I’m going to grow until it starts to sprout—and then I’m still in dark until it begins to bloom. Ha, how’s that for a metaphor?

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research and/or world affect your character development?

See above. I don’t do all the sketches and interviews because I like to learn my characters as they interact with my story. I’ve tried a more structured approach, but it just doesn’t work that way for me and after five books completed and the sixth almost done, I’ve learned to trust and respect my own process.

How do you go about building your world if you use one? Do you use maps, charts or drawings?

All of the above, but I usually have a very clear visual in my head and somehow I can keep it straight up there in that scary place I call my brain.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

More than I can count. There are so many mega talented authors out there that I’m inspired and humbled on a daily basis.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

Sigh, I wish I could answer that but it’s hard to say if ANY promotion is effective. Does it work? I dunno. I don’t think anyone knows. I mean, seriously, if publishers knew exactly what sold books, they’d be doing it for all of their books wouldn’t they? There’s a reason why authors carry the burden of promo and that is because it’s not an exact science in any way shape or form and publishers know that you can sink a lot of money into with little results. What makes a reader pick one book over another varies from reader to reader and changes with the wind.

I will say that once I asked NYT Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley that exact question and she gave me some really good advice. She said the only thing that sells more books is more books. I think that is true. If you look at the authors that are topping lists, they are all producing more than 2 books a year.

What do we have to look forward next?

HAUNTING DESIRE comes out in March 2011 and the next book, currently untitled will release in October 2011.

Thanks, Erin!

To celebrate her book release, HAUNTING WARRIOR, Erin is offering Reader’s Choice of either ECHOES OR WHISPERS by Erin Quinn, writing as Erin Grady to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (please check the blog Monday night to see who won. Chances of winning determined by the number of entries.)

She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Check out author’s website at www.erinquinn.info

Buy: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0425234142
B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=9780425234143
Borders: http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0425234142
Indy bound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780425234143