Interview and giveaway with author Adrian Phoenix

We are pleased to have Adrian Phoenix here to answer some questions. Adrian is the author of the series, The Makers Song. If you have not checked it out we recommend you do so. It is intense, romantic, action packed and full of surprises. Check out my reviews on the series. The series includes these books, Rush of Wings (book one), In the Blood (book two), Beneath the Skin (book three) and Etched in Bone (book four), will be out the end of December 2010 . She is also releasing a new book June 29th 2010, "Black Dusk Mambo". Check out the interview below for more on this new series and some great interview answers from Adrian. In addition to the great interview Adrian has granted us. She has also offered to giveaway the first three books in The Makers Song Series signed to one lucky winner. See after the interview how you can be that lucky winner. Keep reading after the interview for more information on the giveaway.

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Now for the interview!

Adrian: First, I want to thank Athenna and Stephanie for having me here (and for sending me devil ducks and M&Ms. I officially love you now). I’m thrilled to be meeting your readers and I appreciate your time!

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Adrian: Yup. Ever since I started reading, I've loved books and stories, and read constantly. By the time I was in sixth grade, I started writing my own stories--animal stories mostly, for me and my sisters and friends. Then when I hit my teens and started to experience all that teen angst, alienation, and loneliness, I started writing stories about angsty teens. LOL. In many stories, paranormal/supernatural elements played a part. Eventually I started sending my stories out.

How did you get started writing?

Adrian: I started sending out my short stories to magazine markets and sold pretty much all of the ones I sent out. A few still sit in my file cabinet. Rejected. Sniff. But I plan to start sending them out again. Then, as a single mom working two jobs to support my family, I stopped writing for a time to focus on raising my sons. But stories and characters kept shaping themselves in my mind. That never stopped. When I started writing again, I decided, what the hell, let's try a novel, so I wrote A Rush of Wings. I sent queries out to agents and editors, landed an agent, then quickly sold Rush and a sequel to Pocket. Needless to say, there was a lot of pogoing around the house and squealing on that day. LOL.

What inspired you to write the Maker's Song series?

Adrian: I wanted to tell Dante's story. He'd been in/on my mind for some time, and I knew his story was too big for a short story, too complex for just one book. And as I began his story in A Rush of Wings, the other characters began revealing their own complex histories. When I visited New Orleans, I could see Dante prowling its streets, hungry and restless, or just walking with friends, laughing at their jokes, responding to their kisses. I could see him murmuring to the mules who pull the tourist carriages, stroking their necks, and feeding them carrots. The city was his, without a doubt. I walked the Quarter and found the perfect spot for his club and could visualize him performing with his band in the Cage.

What inspired the words for Dante's Lyrics?

Adrian: Dante. He's the one who came up with them. LOL. Just a matter of sliding into Dante's head. Of course, listening to NIN was also an inspiration.

Do you speak Cajun? If so is that why you chose to include it in the series?

Adrian: No, I don't speak Cajun, but I've been learning. (Maybe that means I *do* speak it, but badly. LOL.) I have Cajun language tapes, five different Cajun language books and dictionaries. I just love the Cajun culture, the language, its history, and the way it sounds.

How many books do you plan on writing for this series?

Adrian: As long as there's a story to tell, I'd love to keep writing books for this series. I love these characters and their world.

Do you listen to music when writing? if so what artist do you listen to most?

Adrian: I'm always listening to music when I write. NIN (Nine Inch Nails) is my main source of musical inspiration and provides the perfect emotional sound scape for the books, especially for Dante. I also love listening to C.C. Adcock, Rammstein, AFI, Queens of the Stone Age, Chevelle, Lady Gaga (say what you will! Bad Romance rules!), Saints of Ruin, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, and movie soundtracks like Batman Begins (perfect for Lucien), all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies soundtracks, The Last Samurai, Gladiator, The Assassination of Jesse James, and others.

What can we expect from you this year?

Adrian: At the end of June, the first book in my new series will be released: Black Dust Mambo. And at the end of December, the fourth Maker's Song book will be released: Etched in Bone.

Can you tell us a little about your new series that's coming out?

Adrian: You bet! Black Dust Mambo begins the story of Kallie Rivière, a hoodoo apprentice learning the art from her aunt (who may or may not be who she seems) in Bayou Cyprés Noir, Louisiana. Even though this series is lighter and more humorous, dark secrets still ripple throughout. Kallie’s been scarred both physically and emotionally by a violent moment in her family’s past, a moment she is seeking answers for but only finds deeper mysteries. Nothing is what it seems. The series also features her best friend, Belladonna Brown, a voodooienne in training to be a mambo (priestess) and who believes in the gospel according to Web Md. Another key character is Layne Valin, a nomad with the Fox clan, who also happens to be a Vessel for the dead. The dead can slip into his body like a suit and use him to say their final goodbyes or whatever it is they need.

Here's a small bit from the book from Kallie's POV as she realizes what Layne is:

A Vessel didn’t need ritual or séance or linked energy from the living to call to the dead or to open doors between the mortal and spirit worlds. A Vessel was a living, breathing spirit cabinet. And most Vessels spiraled into madness by their late teens, usually ending their lives in messy and desperate ways. Very few Vessels lasted into their twenties.

Kallie stared at Layne, wondering if he was actually younger than he looked and wondering how much time he had left before his mind and soul twisted in on themselves.

Adrian: Black Dust Mambo also includes magic, murder, mystery, possession, a wet boxers contest, voodoo poppets, loup garou, and nomad society.

Do you have pets? if so what types and their names?

Adrian: I have three cats-- Amiga and Diabla are sisters and feral rescues. Dede (Diabla) has a basket in my office and always supervises my writing. Amiga stays out of my office because she doesn't like my music. Sniff. Ember is sixteen years old and is part-Persian. He tolerates the girls. LOL.

What is in your TBR pile?

Adrian: A bunch of books! And like the rest of you book junkies, I keep adding to it. LOL. Right now I’m reading the first book of Vicki Pettersson’s Zodiac series, and I have Simon Green, Meljean Brook, Jeaniene Frost, C.S. Harris, and a ton of others. Those are the only names popping into my head at the moment.

Do you have a paranormal book or series that you have read you would recommend ?

Adrian: I recommend Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series—great books with compelling characters; D.B Reynolds’s Vampires in America series—another great story-teller with fascinating characters; and Jeri Smith-Ready’s WVMP series, Wicked Game, Bad to the Bone, and the forthcoming, Bring on the Night. Sexy and funny and heartbreaking.

Do you have anything else you want to tell your fans?

Adrian: Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Without all of you, where would I be? I truly appreciate your support and enthusiasm and, to new readers, welcome! I hope you enjoy the hell out of each and every read.
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Thank you Adrian for the great interview. Here is Adrian's Question to you:

I LOVE the show Supernatural. I like both Winchester brothers, they're both hot, but I have a special spot in my heart for Sam Winchester. Which Winchester brother do you prefer - Sam or Dean? If you haven't seen the show, you can put, "haven't seen Supernatural."

Like we said before Adrian Phoenix has been more than generous and is giving away signed copies of the first three books in The Makers Song series.

Here are the requirements for contest entry:

1. You must be a follower of our blog
2. You must answer Adrian's question (see question above)

Ways to earn extra entries:
1+ Entry for being Adrian Phoenix's friend on Facebook or Myspace
1+ Entry mention this giveaway and interview any were else on the web (please leave a link so we can check it out)
2+ Entries if you are a Club Hell Member (on Adrian's website)
2+ Entries if you are a Street Team member for Adrian Phoenix

Winner will be announced March 29th and they will have 3 days to email us there shipping information or another winner will be chosen. Their information can be sent to paranormalhaven@gmail.com. We do not require that you leave your email address in your comment but it would make it easier and faster to contact you if you do. Remember to mark your calendars for the June 29th 2010 release of Black Dusk Mambo!