Interview and Contest with Angela Cameron!

To win a copy of Blood & Sex, Vol. 1: Michael —
Send your answer to the question below to: sscontests2@gmail.com. Want a second chance in the hat? Then leave Angela a comment to this post! I’ll pick a winner tomorrow night (Wed.)!

When did Angela earn her first paid publication?

I’d like to congratulate you on your new release (today!!), Blood & Sex, Vol. 2: Jonas! Can you tell us a little about this book?

Thank you so much! I’m so excited about it. The Blood & Sex series has been very successful, and Jonas is just the second edition. In the first one, we meet the Italian Vampiro and Michael, who is fighting to become the leader of the group and take Tori as his human lover.

Jonas follows his second in command, Jonas Luciano, as he tries to adjust to all the changes in his family. The problem is that he’s used to being the playboy performer of the group, and Tori’s being off limits is totally irresistible to him. When things go too far, he jumps at the chance to leave the city and avoid punishment for going too far with his best friend’s girl. But his new charge, Dr. Elena Jensen, isn’t as easily swayed by his good looks, dominating sexuality, and vampire charm either.

How long have you been writing and what was your first published book?

I’ve been writing on and off most of my life, but I didn’t take it seriously until a couple of years ago. That’s when I started trying to publish things. I didn’t have as many rejections as many people seem to get, for which I’m grateful. My first flash stories were published then. I sold my first novella in late 2007, which was released from Drollerie Press. The first novel length is Michael (Blood & Sex, Vol. 1) from Ravenous Romance, which came out in January.

Do you plot out your stories first or do you let the characters lead you?

I do a little of both. A character jumps into my head and pushes me into a partial plot, which I write down and work to a satisfying end. Then, when I’m writing the first draft, the characters seem to take over and do what they want. It doesn’t always end up the way that it’s plotted. Sometimes, they can wreak total havoc and drag me into places I never wanted to go.

What are you currently working on?

I have a number of things in the works. First, a Civil War vampire romance set in the South, which spans to modern times. Then a modern story where a woman is literally thrown into a vampire den to act as bait to lure a young vampire into breaking the most serious of their rules. There are also a few other stories that are in plot and draft form, like the young adult romances I’m working on with my daughter that features a set of witch brothers. And, of course, there’s Blood & Sex, Vol. 3.

Of all your characters, do you have a heroine that you identify with the most? If so, which one and how do you identify with her?

Hmmm. That’s kind of a tough question. I identify with all of them. Tori is probably the one that I identify with the most. She is the person that I was before I found my husband. Being a woman who’s suffered through one too many bad relationships, she doesn’t trust men—especially men who have as much control over her as Michael. He’s her weakness, her kryptonite. And then he brings out her more submissive side. It scares her, and that lack of control, for a strong, independent detective, is something the she feels naturally inclined to avoid.

Is there a genre that you haven’t written, but would like to try one day?

Yes! All of them. *laughing* I would seriously like to finish this Young Adult Romance. It’s a different kind of world that affords a sweeter kind of romance. And I have a horror/suspense that I’m cooking up under my real name. Both of these are new genres that I’m excited about venturing into.

What is the best thing about your job as an author? What is the hardest thing?

The best thing about this job is being a professional daydreamer! Oh, and then there’s talking to readers. Having someone who’s ventured into your imaginary world and come back to talk with you about it is a wonderful thing. It’s the best job in the world—even better than being Santa Claus!

The hardest thing for me right now is pulling myself out of my imaginary worlds to deal with real world stuff. When you spend eight or more hours in a writer’s subspace, it’s hard to come back and cook dinner or deal with the laundry. You find yourself longing to go right back. *laughs* Especially when the economy is in the tank like it is.

Have you ever had any embarrassing moments at a book-signing that you can share with us?

I haven’t had one at a book signing, but at an online appearance, I accidently booked myself for two on the same day. I did so well, keeping everything straight as I chatted along all day long in two different chat rooms. But when it came to the contests, I swapped the emails and advertised the competitor’s name on each chat. I was mortified. I don’t think that anyone caught it though. If they did, they were kind enough not to torture me. I learned a lot from that experience.

Describe a day in the life of Angela Cameron.

*laughs* I’ll warn you; it’s not very exciting.

I usually wake up, get my daughter ready for school and then drop her off there. I come straight home, kiss the hubs goodbye, and sit down in front of my computer. I spend up to two hours on email, then the rest of the time before noon on promotions. I grab a bite for lunch, then eat it at my computer while I try to do a little writing for the day. I usually manage to get almost enough done before it’s time to pick my daughter up again. When we get back, it’s a mad dash of dinner, laundry, homework, straightening up the house, and a little bonding time. Finally, I write a little more, then read a few pages of whatever my current pick is to pull myself out of my own world before I go to sleep. Needless to say, I have some very vibrant dreams about my own work and whatever novel I’m reading at night. Sometimes they cross and I get my characters interacting with characters from Twilight or some other series.

Favorite Season?

I love winter! I live in the Deep South where it’s always sweltering from April or May, to November or December. So winter offers a break from the horrible temperatures. Occassionally, we even make it down into the teens. And on those rarest of occasions, like this week, we get a little snow, and we all get to act like children!

Morning person or night owl?

Night owl! I love staying out late, having fun, and riding around at night with my car windows down. I also do my best writing at night. Some of my best work has been on legal pads while I’m lying in bed around midnight.

Favorite movie?

That’s like asking me to pick a favorite body part. I’m a movie fanatic! Right now, my favorite movies are P.S. I Love You, 300, Thirte3n Ghosts, Shaun of the Dead, Underworld, and Becoming Jane. Don’t get me started on the classics. *laughs* There’s a good reason that my playwriting professor urged me to become a screenwriter, which I still might do.

Favorite song?

Right now, I’m wrapped up in three songs right now: A River Flows In You by Yiruma, because it relaxes me. Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance and Breakdown by Seether, which I think is the pick of my muse for Blood & Sex, Vol. 3. Each novel’s had it’s own playlist on YouTube because certain songs just put me in the story.

Favorite color?

Purple.

If you had a shrinking device, what’s the one thing in your house you’d miniaturize first?

*laughs* That’s a great question. The stack of papers that I still need to file away!

If a movie was made about your life, who would you like to see play the lead role as you?

I’ve actually joked about this with my husband. I would love to see Angelina Jolie in the lead. She’s got the attitude and ability to pull it off. She’s no nonsense. I just love her.

The hubs argues though. He says it’d have to be either Drew Barrymore (her Charlie’s Angels days) or Kate Winslet (in Titanic). Apparently, they both remind him of me. I’m much rather have that smoldering sensuality thing going on, but I could do worse than to look like either of these two women.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Sex, Dreams, and Disasters…That pretty much sums it all up. *laughs* There’s been some decent sex, a whole lot of dreams, and many more disasters. Somehow, I’ve survived them all.

Instead of leaves or money, what do you wish would grow on trees?

Godiva Chocolates! Yummmmmmm.

If you had to smell like one thing for the rest of your life, what scent would you pick?

No doubt about it. The Bath and Body Works “Sensuality” aromatherapy candle in Jasmine & Vanilla. I’m so addicted to this scent.

Angela, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me!

Thank you so much for having me!

It’s been a lot of fun, celebrating the release of Blood & Sex, Vol. 2: Jonas with you. You should drop by my blog for a chat sometime.