Interview w/ Claire Delacroix/ Giveaway Hop

Shameless Giveaway Blog Hop & Interview w/ Claire Delacroix

Thanks to Jen(@RedHotBooks), Brie (@Romance Around the Corner), and Michelle (@Michelle's Book Blog) for hosting this giveaway. Now we'll get started!

Interview w/ Claire Delacroix

Q1: Hello! Thank you for being a guest on my blog. It is a pleasure to have you come and speak about your book Fallen. Could you give us an overview of Fallen? FALLEN is an urban fantasy romance which takes place in the future, in a post-nuclear but pre-Apocalyptic society. Lilia doesn’t believe that her estranged husband’s death was an accident, so she heads into the heart of the Republic to unearth the truth. She’s not one to worry about following the rules. She never expects to meet a sexy cop who understands her better than anyone ever before. That cop, Montgomery, is a fallen angel who has volunteered to sacrifice his wings and join an angelic mission to save humanity. Lilia awakens him to earthly pleasure and frustration, as he tries to sort her fabrications from the truth. Is she who she claims to be, or the person who is hunting fallen angels?
Q2: What gave you the idea to write Fallen?
This book was unusual for me, in that I didn’t have an idea in the first place. I had finished a series of medieval romances and wanted to write something different, but I wasn’t sure what that would be. One day, Lilia started to talk to me. I wrote it all down, wondering all the while just who she was and what her story was. I couldn’t leave it alone, and telling her story became a bit of an obsession for me. So, I didn’t have the idea so much as I met Lilia. Authors say stuff like this all the time, but I’ve never had a character be so demanding.
On the other hand, Lilia is pretty convinced of her own perspective!
Q3: Just wondering, do you have a favorite book in the Prometheus Project?
I like all three books and I like that they’re different from each other. I do really have a fondness for Lilia, though, because of the process of discovering her story, and (yes) a weakness for Montgomery. Because they have more page time in FALLEN, I’d have to pick that as my favourite.
I can’t choose a favourite in the covers, though. I think all three of them are fabulous.
Q4: Do you have a uniform writing process, or can you write anytime or anywhere you go?
I have a pretty strict writing routine. I have an office and I’m there for specified hours each day. Sometimes I’m there longer (as when I was listening to Lilia) but I spend four or five hours there each day. I write only in my office, not in public places, and I turn the music up really loud. Because of that routine, I have a pretty solid idea of how much I can get done in a day, which lets me predict when I can finish different projects. When I travel, I have a harder time focussing on the story than when I’m in my office, so I don’t travel much when I’m on deadline.
Q5: Did this book turn out how you planned for it to, or did you end up changing some things?
The unusual thing about FALLEN was that I didn’t have much of a plan initially. I was just following Lilia to find out what she was up to. I had no real idea where she would go, and that was intriguing. I usually have a plan for my books, although they sometimes make small detours. FALLEN was something completely different.
That said, I originally wrote Lilia’s story in first person point of view, and structured it as a mystery. It really was an urban fantasy with romantic elements, but in 2005, very few publishers were publishing books like that. I couldn’t place it, but there was one editor (at TOR) who loved it. We had a long talk because she was disappointed to pass on the story, but couldn’t figure out how to package and market it. I suggested to her that I could flip the balance of elements around, and make it a romance with a mystery subplot, then write it in third person point of view. She was very excited about that and TOR bought the resulting trilogy. I really liked how the story worked out this way, because we see more of Montgomery than in that first version. Lilia still had a lot of secrets, so they don’t truly get their HEA until the end of book #3, REBEL. I like that too.
Q6: What genres of books do you generally read? Also, do you have any favorite authors of your own?
I have always read a lot of fantasy and science fiction, as well romance. I also read a lot of literary fiction and magical realism. The past few years, I’ve had a lot of deadlines, so haven’t been reading as much as I’d like. My To Be Read pile is towering, because I’m still buying books! So, one of my resolutions for this year is to read more books. I can’t wait to dig in.
Q7: Which character would you say is most similar to you in Fallen?
Tough question. I don’t think I’m like any of them - but all of them have a little bit of me in them. :-)
Q8: Do you have any upcoming projects/books you are working on? What can we expect from you this year?
I have been writing my Dragonfire series of paranormal romances in the past couple of years. Those are published under the name Deborah Cooke and feature heroes who are dragon shape shifters. There’s one out now called FLASHFIRE and another coming in October called EMBER’S KISS. You can read more at http://www.deborahcooke.com
I also have a paranormal YA spin-off from Dragonfire called The Dragon Diaries, also published under the name Deborah Cooke. WINGING IT, book #2 in that trilogy, came out in December and BLAZING THE TRAIL (#3) will be out in June. There’s more information about those books at http://www.thedragondiaries.com
As for my Claire Delacroix books, I’ve been republishing digital editions of my backlist titles over the past year, which has been an interesting and educational process. In spring 2012, I’ll be publishing a new medieval romance - look for news about that on my website in February - plus I have another project on my desk. I still worry about Tupperman, you know. My website is http://www.delacroix.net and my blog is http://www.delacroix.net/blog

General Questions (:
1. Do you like chocolate or vanilla?
Both - but I usually choose vanilla first
2. What is your current favorite book?
I don’t have one right now, but there are plenty of candidates in my TBR, just waiting to be loved. I keep fingering Cassandra Clare’s books so I think they will be first.
3. If you could spend a day with anyone dead or alive, real or fake who would it be and why?
How can I choose? Freddie Mercury, or Angela Carter, or Eleanor of Aquitaine.
4. Do you prefer hardcover or paperback books?
I love trade paperbacks.
5. Soda or Water?
Water with fizzle - like Perrier. It’s the best of both worlds!
6. Do you like to get up early, or stay up late?
I am a morning person. Absolutely.

7. If you could be a book character who would it be?
It would completely rock to be Lilia Desjardins.

Thank you for visiting us and taking your time to tell us more about Fallen. I really enjoyed being able to interview you. Thank you so much for joining us today! I wish you the best of luck.



Bestselling author Claire Delacroix always loved stories, both telling them and hearing them. She sold her first romance novel - a medieval, THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE - in 1992 and has published over forty romance novels and numerous novellas since. THE BEAUTY, part of Claire's bestselling 'Bride Quest' series, was her first title to land on the New York Times Extended List of Bestselling Books. Claire makes her home with her family, a number of incomplete knitting projects and a lot of overgrown houseplants. She loves to travel, to cook, to ride her bike and to read. She frequently teaches workshops to writers' groups. Claire also writes as Claire Cross and as Deborah Cooke.

Click here to visit Claire Delacroix's Website

Now For the Giveaway!!!!

I will be giving away a copy of Fallen by Claire Delacroix w/ a signed book plate that came from Claire Delacroix herself to go along with it. To enter just fill out the Rafflecopter form. Happy Hopping!!

Book Description:
When her estranged husband's mysterious death is declared an accident, Lilia Desjardins knows that it is a lie. She leaves all she knows to risk the dark heart of the Republic -- only to find that she herself has been targeted by forces unknown.Adam Montgomery will do anything to complete his earthly mission, even if he has to tangle with the enigmatic Lilia Desjardins. But when his contact is murdered and he must rely on Lilia’s silence to save him from the slave dens, Adam knows that his wings were only the first sacrifice required of him.
As danger and intrigue surround them, Lilia and Adam realize that they must work together -- body, mind, and soul -- in order to save the world.



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