Angie Fox Interview & Int. Giveaway
I'm very happy to be hosting Angie Fox for an interview and giveaway today. She's promoting her upcoming book, Immortally Yours. I read an early copy and loved it. It is incredibly hilarious and features are really interesting mythology and some pretty awesome characters. Check back on the 24th to see my review.
*How did you come up with the intertwining mythology behind Immortally Yours?
Well, I went with the philosophy that, sure, these legendary deities are the only show in town where they come from. But when you think about it, every tradition has its gods just like every place has its sports teams. Just because a particular goddess is only worshipped in one place, doesn’t mean she don’t exist in another.
In Immortally Yours, we’re in the middle of a great immortal war where all of the traditions converge. So you have the Greek and Roman gods, co-existing with Egyptian and Norse gods, we have an ancient Germanic goddess, a few Japanese legends, you get the drift.
In my world, the war is between the old gods and the new gods and the divine choose their sides based on their personal philosophies – old gods are more conservative, new gods are the “progressive” side. And I use that term lightly.
*The mix of all the mythologies definitely made for an interesting combination, that's for sure! How many books do you have planned for this series. Any hints you can give us for what is in store?
Immortally Yours is the first in a trilogy. I’m planning it so that each book is a complete story and can be read alone, yet they all tie-in together. As far as hints? Hmm…look for lots of adventure, snarky humor, sexy demi-gods and a surprise anti-hero.
*Ooo, I can't wait to read the next two!! If your book were to made into a movie who would be your top picks for the cast?
This is a tough question for me because I rarely think in terms of movies. But Petra, the heroine is a no-nonsense surgeon who is actually quite vulnerable at times, so perhaps Keira Knightley. And then for Galen, the special ops soldier, Channing Tatum.
*Very yummy! Could you tell us a little about the ups and downs you have experienced in publishing your first book?
I’ve always loved paranormals. In fact, I remember discovering them back in college. In my sophomore year, there were six of us, living in this tiny place. One night, my roommates started talking about Interview with the Vampire. They were shocked I’d never heard of it and, like the enablers they were, they managed to put together Ann Rice’s entire vampire series, which they stacked next to my bed the next day. I picked up the first book and wow. I was always a good student, but I skipped class for the next week and read the series straight through.
Ironically, when I decided to actually try and write a book of my own, I completely ignored my love of paranormals. Because, you know, that makes sense. I decided to write mystery/suspense with lots of science and research involved. I’d outline, I’d write pages and pages of character notes, I’d force myself to do those little note cards. And I hate note cards. In retrospect, I was fighting my voice. When I was about ready to go insane, I’d sneak off and read Kerrelyn Sparks, Lynsay Sands or Katie MacAlister, just to catch a break.
It took three unpublished books for it to click and for me to realize that hmm…maybe I should write the kind of books I love to read. I had this spark of an idea about a preschool teacher who is forced to run off with a gang of geriatric biker witches and The Accidental Demon Slayer was born. Instead of a 20-page plot outline, I had a 5-page list of ideas, one of which included “but little did they know, all the Shoney’s are run by werewolves.” Instead of following the rules, I broke a few. Instead of painstakingly writing over the course of a year, I grinned my way through the book and had a complete manuscript in five months.
The opening chapters did well in contests and caught the eye of Leah Hultenschmidt, who asked to see the whole thing. Leah bought the book less than a week after I finished it. And I didn’t write one single note card.
*And look where you are today because you stopped fighting yourself! I'm so glad you did. What are some of your favorite books in the paranormal genre?
I’m one of those people who always has a book on hand. Right now, I’m addicted to the Southern Vampires series by Charlaine Harris, as well as Lynsay Sands Argeneau vampire series. I like Jim Butcher's Dresden series. I love Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series. Kate Pearce has an amazing series out about vampires in the court of King Henry VIII, called the Tudor Vampire Chronicles. I’m also a sucker for the Love at Stake series by Kerrelyn Sparks.
*Very nice choices. I'm a particularly big fan of the Fever Series myself. If you could tell readers one thing about yourself or your books what would that be?
I’m a huge fan of the genre, and I purposely make sure that my books offer a new approach to what is already out there. I strive to give readers something fresh and different.
*Fresh and different is always a good thing, and you really delivered that with Immortally Yours. What is the craziest or at least most interesting thing you have ever done?
Well, the first series I ever wrote is about a newly-minted demon slayer who has to run off with her grandma’s gang of biker witches. The biker witches ride Harleys, and I’d never been on a motorcycle before. Plus, the demon slayer has a dog, so I had to figure out how to get a Jack Russell Terrier onto a bike.
I went online and learned about the Biker Dogs Motorcycle Club, made up exclusively of Harley riders and their dogs. I ended up meeting some of them, along with a few other bikers along the way. These bikers were so great to me. They hoisted me onto the back of their Harleys (with dogs in tow). They took me to biker rallies (note to self: don’t wear pink). And they laughed at me when I tried to put my helmet on backwards (I still say I was distracted by the Pomeranian wearing a tiny pair of motorcycle glasses).
After a few outings with my new biker friends, I was able to make my geriatric biker witch characters a lot more realistic. And I took home some great pictures, too.
*That sounds like a blast! My husband and I were big into motorcycles ourselves before the kiddos. Hopefully, someday we'll get another bike or two. (Although I doubt I could ever convince him to let a dog on his "precious".) Just for fun. If you were stranded somewhere but had electricity, what three things other than basic survival supplies, would you have to have?
My e-reader, Tim Tam cookies and Brad Pitt, not necessarily in that order.
*Finish this statement: "You'll like Immortally Yours if…"
You’re looking for a fresh, new take on the paranormal genre.
Thanks Angie!
Author Info:
Angie Fox is the New York Times bestselling author of several books
about vampires, werewolves and things that go bump in the night.
She claims that researching her stories can be just as much fun as writing them. In the name of fact-finding, Angie has ridden with Harley biker gangs, explored the tunnels underneath Hoover Dam and found an interesting recipe for Mamma Coalpot’s Southern Skunk Surprise (she’s still trying to get her courage up to try it).
Angie earned a Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. She worked in television news and then in advertising before beginning her career as an author. Angie enjoys making up fun quizzes and thinks you should take one right now.
Book Info:
IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE GODS…
No one patches up the incoming wounded like Dr. Petra Robichaud. Recruited by the gods for her uncanny medical skills, she’s the best M*A*S*H surgeon in the army. Along with a nosy guard sphinx,vegetarian werewolf, and otherparanormal paramedics, she bandages soldiers who are built like Greek gods (literally). But when one sexy immortal ends up on her operating table—half dead and totally to-die-for—Petra’s afraid she’ll lose her patient and her heart…
NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN LOVE
Commander Galen of Delphi is one gorgeous but stubborn demi-god. When his spirit tries to slip out of his fatally wounded body, Dr. Petra has to slip it back in—unwittingly revealing her ability to see ghosts. Now that Galen knows her secret, he’s convinced she’s part of an ancient prophecy. If the oracles are right, Petra could lead Galen’s army to peace. And if he seduces her on the way to hell and back? Heaven knows—all’s fair in love and war…
Well, I went with the philosophy that, sure, these legendary deities are the only show in town where they come from. But when you think about it, every tradition has its gods just like every place has its sports teams. Just because a particular goddess is only worshipped in one place, doesn’t mean she don’t exist in another.
In Immortally Yours, we’re in the middle of a great immortal war where all of the traditions converge. So you have the Greek and Roman gods, co-existing with Egyptian and Norse gods, we have an ancient Germanic goddess, a few Japanese legends, you get the drift.
In my world, the war is between the old gods and the new gods and the divine choose their sides based on their personal philosophies – old gods are more conservative, new gods are the “progressive” side. And I use that term lightly.
*The mix of all the mythologies definitely made for an interesting combination, that's for sure! How many books do you have planned for this series. Any hints you can give us for what is in store?
Immortally Yours is the first in a trilogy. I’m planning it so that each book is a complete story and can be read alone, yet they all tie-in together. As far as hints? Hmm…look for lots of adventure, snarky humor, sexy demi-gods and a surprise anti-hero.
*Ooo, I can't wait to read the next two!! If your book were to made into a movie who would be your top picks for the cast?
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*Very yummy! Could you tell us a little about the ups and downs you have experienced in publishing your first book?
I’ve always loved paranormals. In fact, I remember discovering them back in college. In my sophomore year, there were six of us, living in this tiny place. One night, my roommates started talking about Interview with the Vampire. They were shocked I’d never heard of it and, like the enablers they were, they managed to put together Ann Rice’s entire vampire series, which they stacked next to my bed the next day. I picked up the first book and wow. I was always a good student, but I skipped class for the next week and read the series straight through.
Ironically, when I decided to actually try and write a book of my own, I completely ignored my love of paranormals. Because, you know, that makes sense. I decided to write mystery/suspense with lots of science and research involved. I’d outline, I’d write pages and pages of character notes, I’d force myself to do those little note cards. And I hate note cards. In retrospect, I was fighting my voice. When I was about ready to go insane, I’d sneak off and read Kerrelyn Sparks, Lynsay Sands or Katie MacAlister, just to catch a break.
It took three unpublished books for it to click and for me to realize that hmm…maybe I should write the kind of books I love to read. I had this spark of an idea about a preschool teacher who is forced to run off with a gang of geriatric biker witches and The Accidental Demon Slayer was born. Instead of a 20-page plot outline, I had a 5-page list of ideas, one of which included “but little did they know, all the Shoney’s are run by werewolves.” Instead of following the rules, I broke a few. Instead of painstakingly writing over the course of a year, I grinned my way through the book and had a complete manuscript in five months.
The opening chapters did well in contests and caught the eye of Leah Hultenschmidt, who asked to see the whole thing. Leah bought the book less than a week after I finished it. And I didn’t write one single note card.
*And look where you are today because you stopped fighting yourself! I'm so glad you did. What are some of your favorite books in the paranormal genre?
I’m one of those people who always has a book on hand. Right now, I’m addicted to the Southern Vampires series by Charlaine Harris, as well as Lynsay Sands Argeneau vampire series. I like Jim Butcher's Dresden series. I love Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series. Kate Pearce has an amazing series out about vampires in the court of King Henry VIII, called the Tudor Vampire Chronicles. I’m also a sucker for the Love at Stake series by Kerrelyn Sparks.
*Very nice choices. I'm a particularly big fan of the Fever Series myself. If you could tell readers one thing about yourself or your books what would that be?
I’m a huge fan of the genre, and I purposely make sure that my books offer a new approach to what is already out there. I strive to give readers something fresh and different.
*Fresh and different is always a good thing, and you really delivered that with Immortally Yours. What is the craziest or at least most interesting thing you have ever done?
Well, the first series I ever wrote is about a newly-minted demon slayer who has to run off with her grandma’s gang of biker witches. The biker witches ride Harleys, and I’d never been on a motorcycle before. Plus, the demon slayer has a dog, so I had to figure out how to get a Jack Russell Terrier onto a bike.
I went online and learned about the Biker Dogs Motorcycle Club, made up exclusively of Harley riders and their dogs. I ended up meeting some of them, along with a few other bikers along the way. These bikers were so great to me. They hoisted me onto the back of their Harleys (with dogs in tow). They took me to biker rallies (note to self: don’t wear pink). And they laughed at me when I tried to put my helmet on backwards (I still say I was distracted by the Pomeranian wearing a tiny pair of motorcycle glasses).
After a few outings with my new biker friends, I was able to make my geriatric biker witch characters a lot more realistic. And I took home some great pictures, too.
*That sounds like a blast! My husband and I were big into motorcycles ourselves before the kiddos. Hopefully, someday we'll get another bike or two. (Although I doubt I could ever convince him to let a dog on his "precious".) Just for fun. If you were stranded somewhere but had electricity, what three things other than basic survival supplies, would you have to have?
My e-reader, Tim Tam cookies and Brad Pitt, not necessarily in that order.
*Finish this statement: "You'll like Immortally Yours if…"
You’re looking for a fresh, new take on the paranormal genre.
Thanks Angie!
Author Info:
She claims that researching her stories can be just as much fun as writing them. In the name of fact-finding, Angie has ridden with Harley biker gangs, explored the tunnels underneath Hoover Dam and found an interesting recipe for Mamma Coalpot’s Southern Skunk Surprise (she’s still trying to get her courage up to try it).
Angie earned a Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. She worked in television news and then in advertising before beginning her career as an author. Angie enjoys making up fun quizzes and thinks you should take one right now.
Find Angie online:
Book Info:
No one patches up the incoming wounded like Dr. Petra Robichaud. Recruited by the gods for her uncanny medical skills, she’s the best M*A*S*H surgeon in the army. Along with a nosy guard sphinx,vegetarian werewolf, and otherparanormal paramedics, she bandages soldiers who are built like Greek gods (literally). But when one sexy immortal ends up on her operating table—half dead and totally to-die-for—Petra’s afraid she’ll lose her patient and her heart…
NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN LOVE
Commander Galen of Delphi is one gorgeous but stubborn demi-god. When his spirit tries to slip out of his fatally wounded body, Dr. Petra has to slip it back in—unwittingly revealing her ability to see ghosts. Now that Galen knows her secret, he’s convinced she’s part of an ancient prophecy. If the oracles are right, Petra could lead Galen’s army to peace. And if he seduces her on the way to hell and back? Heaven knows—all’s fair in love and war…
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