Loading ...Interview, Chat and Contest With Author Candice Gilmer
PLEASE NOTE: The contest portion of this event is now over. The winners will be chosen later and contacted via email.
A big welcome to our readers today! Be sure to read to the end of the interview to find out how to WIN the fabulous prizes being offered up.
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a fixed time event, the post just goes live at 12:30 pm Central. You can stop by any time during the day or evening and leave your questions and chat.
PLEASE KEEP SPOILERS TO A MINIMUM. Not all of the readers today have read Candice’s books.
Interview:
Hi Candice!
Welcome to Bitten by Books, we are excited to have you here today!
I would like to thank you taking the time to join us for the question and answer session with our readers. It has been very interesting to get to know more about you and what makes you tick as a writer! Readers, if you haven’t done so already please stop by and get your copy of Candice’s latest release Broken Shine.
BBB: What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?
CG: Getting to be God, lol. No, seriously, to know that I created something that people like, and I’ve been pretty lucky, most of my stories have been well received. But the most amazing part is seeing the story come to life, seeing the characters say things and do things that I didn’t expect, and if I didn’t see it coming, as the writer, then how would the reader expect it?
And on the flipside, that also makes it very challenging—wanting to create something new, something that no one’s done before, or twisting a concept and making it new again. So when I can twist it, tweak it, and make it new, refreshing and different, that’s very rewarding.
And very challenging.
BBB: If you could have one of your books made into a movie who would your dream cast be?
CG: So far, Broken Shine is probably my favorite book I’ve written in a long time. So how would I cast it? I’m not sure… This much I do know:
Sir Liam – Batista from WWE wrestling. Funny story about that, husband was watching wrestling, and I walked through the living room when I had just started Broken Shine, and I glanced at the TV, and froze. I stared, saying “Oh my God, that’s Liam…” “Who is?” my husband asked. “That guy there, the big one with the really short black hair.” “That’s Batista, honey.” And so I had to go find pictures of Batista, and put him on my desktop to keep me inspired for Liam.
Leeza – Drew Barrymore maybe? She’s a very natural gal, but klutzy and funny, and someone everyone could like, and that’s what I was going for with Leeza.
Sir Adrian – Jessie Pavelka, partially because he’s blond, and I always see Adrian as a blond, and because of Pavelka’s tattoos—he has one that’s a big cross on his shoulder, and another that says “For my brother” just above his hip on his side. That’s something that Adrian would do—something that he would have for his brothers-in-arms.
Nara – Either Natalie Portman or Winona Ryder. Both are lovely, and I always thought Nara was beautiful, even if she is a ghost.
Melios – Eric Bana. Attractive, but still something dangerous about him.
BBB: What are your top 3 favorite paranormal books and movies?
CG: Paranormal books: Um, let me see. I like the JR Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood series – Zsadist is my favorite. I also loved the Katie McAlister vampire series, those were fun. Those are the first ones that come to mind. It’s really hard to pick out books that I like, because I read so much of so many genres. I read paranormal, historical, contemporary, even the occasional sci-fi. My tastes vary so much.
As far as movies, pretty much any movie where a girl kicks butt—Resident Evil, Underworld, Ultra Violet, Aeon Flux, Tomb Raider.
And there’s Star Wars. I can’t forget the devotion to Star Wars. Star Wars is what made me realize that a girl could be a princess, but she still didn’t have to wait for the hero to rescue her. While some would debate that Princess Leia isn’t the strongest female character, and she did have to wait for Luke Skywalker to rescue her, she still didn’t take any crap. She said what she thought, she shot the bad guys, and she knew who she was. Just like Wonder Woman, just like Isis.
That’s always been a huge inspiration to me.
BBB: What character (s) in any of your books is most like you?
CG: All my female leads are something like me. There’s a part of myself in every book. Leeza’s klutziness in Broken Shine is straight out of my world. I can’t hardly walk through a room without knocking things over. In Unholy Night, Marissa’s hanging at the punch bowl is so me at any party. And Nicole’s doubt and worry in A Darker Trinity is me all over the place.
BBB: What is the most ridiculous thing that you have thought about doing to any of your characters but never did?
CG: I don’t ever not do it, lol. If I can think of it, it winds up in the story. Though I seriously considered in the opening scene of Broken Shine, having Liam actually dance with little Leeza and the belly dancers.
And he FLAT OUT told me NO.
BBB: How do you keep track of your world building?
CG: I don’t.
Just kidding. I use One Note from Microsoft, and I have one particular notebook just about the Immortal Knights Templar and all that encompasses their world. Including links to other files etc, because I’m a little nutty like that.
Most of it remains in my head though. I have a notebook that I scribble things down in as well, but it all winds up being put in the One Note file eventually.
BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle 2 or Sony Digital Book Reader
CG: The obvious thing for me is that it saves paper, which means less trees cut down, and more filters for the air, which is what a tree, or a plant, is, basically. Also, it’s a neat, compact way to carry a ton of books with you anywhere. I have a Palm that I use for schedule stuff, and as an ereader, and it’s nice to know I have a ton of books at my fingertips whenever I need something to read—like waiting at the doctor’s office. (I have two kids. I’m at the doctor’s office regularly.)
BBB: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
CG: As long as the ereaders support all the formats that are available, then they’re a good thing. When ereaders only support one type of file, or it’s a pain to try to redo other formats so you can read them on your ereader, then they’re not worth it.
As an author, it’s great to know my books are available in many formats that most all the ereaders support. So they’re getting out there for more and more people.
It was just rocking the other day, when my girlfriend pulled out her iPhone and showed me one of my books on it. To know that people can find me so easily, that’s amazing to me.
BBB: Why the Knights Templar?
CG: I’ve always had a fascination with the concept of the warrior-monk. Whether it be the samurai, the Jedi, or the Knights Templar, the idea of men who live via their faith and devotion to meditation and enlightenment, but can turn around and kill someone just intrigues me. It’s a twist of ironies that I have always been amazed by.
And, when I was first sketching out the concept of doing a paranormal story, I knew I wanted to do something different. I didn’t think that that God, in all his wisdom, would allow mythical creatures to exist beside humans, without some kind of police force, making sure everyone behaved.
I started doing some research about the Knights Templar, and they were exactly what I was looking for—a meant-to-be idea exploded in my head. I started crafting a world, where the Knights were immortal, and they took care of the mythical creatures on earth. Protecting humans from the mythicals, and on occasion, protecting mythicals from humans, they had their work cut out for them.
BBB: Can you give us a more in depth look at Broken Shine and the storyline that drives it? Please share with us what can we expect from you next.
CG: Broken Shine was actually started at the behest of my editor from Lyrical Press at the time. She was in love with Liam. I had barely started on A Darker Trinity when she started begging me for a story with Liam. So as I worked on A Darker Trinity, the story expanded larger and larger, with the rape-drain crimes, and eventually James and Joseph informing that Melios was about, and probably making trouble.
The storyline with Melios was too large, too complicated to try and fit in A Darker Trinity, so Broken Shine was created, partially to give Liam his own book, and partially to finish the story.
A Darker Trinity left with a cliff-hanger, and Broken Shine continues on the same path, resolving that cliff-hanger, and eventually bringing the story around full circle. And of course, because I can’t do anything simple, not only are the Templar Knights trying to find Melios, but there’s a dragon in the midst, who’s raping women and burning their houses down.
And of course, our wonderful heroine, Leeza, gets mixed up in this mess. Leeza gets a crash-course in the mythical world, learning not only that mythicals exist, but they’re integrated in her life all the way around.
Meanwhile, she meets and falls head over heels with Sir Liam.
So, to say it’s complicated is an understatement.
BBB: Werewolves, vampires, immortal Templars, Gods & Goddesses, ghosts, magic, and more; is there a limit to your mythicals? Or will the ever fascinating collection keep getting larger?
CG: I wanted to be completely open, and allow myself to dip into any particular kind of mythical creature out there, allowing me a ton of leeway to create any kind of story.
In Broken Shine alone, there’s also the introduction of Dragons and Djinn, (genies). I just love the idea of all these beings being out there somewhere, and that we’re just not noticing. Because let’s face it, we humans don’t notice a lot unless it’s shoved in our faces, and even then, we really don’t see it.
So thus far, there’s not really any limit. Just my own imagination.
BBB: With Sir Liam’s story written and the main story arc from the last two books complete, where will you go next with your Moonlight and Shadows series?
CG: I’m working on that currently. There’s a new character that hasn’t been in any of the stories, and originally, it was going to be a single book, but the story arc is too complicated and far too large to limit to just one book. It’s almost a more sci-fi story, because I’m dealing with time benders and matter benders in the middle of my Templar world.
Oh, and did I mention, I’m doing all this in an alternative time line that has to be fixed?
So, yeah, it’s a huge undertaking that I’m having an absolute blast working on.
BBB: Do you see yourself returning to the characters from past books (such as Unholy Night) and writing character sequels? Or do you see those stories as complete?
CG: The only character I thought about going back to work with is Sir Adrian. I love Adrian to pieces, and he always gets the shaft when it comes to women. He always seems to be crushing on the wrong woman, so I’d love to get him set up with someone.
But for now, this story arc is complete, and I don’t think I’ll be jumping back into this, at least not until I finish the next arc, and bringing all the worlds back together.
BBB: On a side note, I understand you also write contemporary romance, do you ever find the paranormal creeping into those stories or do you keep them strictly quarantined?
CG: I wouldn’t say I keep them quarantined, but when I’m doing something contemporary, like The Reluctant Prince, which is coming out this summer from Samhain, many times, I just can’t find room to bring in paranormal, because the story’s complicated enough without it.
I don’t do simple stories, even in my contemporary ones; so many times it’s just that the story doesn’t have room for anything paranormal.
Though I have to say, after I’ve been working on contemporary stories, I have to walk away, and do something paranormal, for a change. And vice-versa. Too much paranormal, I want to go out and write a story in a simpler world (though they never wind out simple…)
Thanks for having me here, and doing this great interview—it’s been a blast!
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Learn more about Candice Gilmer below:
To read reviews of this author’s work go here.
To visit the author’s website go here.
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CONTEST: PLEASE NOTE THE NEW CONTEST EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO BELOW. There are also revisions to the rules for this contest, please read them all carefully. Also, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME in your comment/post so we can give you the proper credit for your entries.
Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do just ONE or ALL of these things, and each thing you do will give you additional entries at a chance to WIN. REMEMBER you have Until 2/10/10 at 11:59 pm Central to do the different things that YOU choose to do. It is NOT mandatory you make a purchase to enter the contest. There are plenty of free ways to get entries as well.
CONTEST: She will be giving away
Prize 1: A $20.00 Electronic Gift Certificate to the Lyrical Press book store
Prize 2: A $10.00 Electronic Gift Certificate to the Lyrical Press book store
Prize 3: A $5.00 Electronic Gift Certificate to the Lyrical Press book store
Open to readers worldwide!
1. Purchase copies of Candice’s books by clicking the links below:
Books in the Moonlight and Shadows series in the order they should be read:
Unholy Night
A Darker Trinity
Broken Shine
Stand alone titles:
Mission of Christmas
Good for 300 entries per book you purchase by using the links above. Email your receipt to the prize Goddess here bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Not valid on past purchases.
OR you can use the Barnes & Noble link HERE to make your purchase of ANY kind of merchandise during the contest. You can also use the Amazon link HERE to shop as well. Good for 100 entries to the contest for EACH item you purchase. Not valid on past purchases.
2. Leave question for her below good for 10 entries. (max 2 questions for entries)
3. Be friends with Candice by joining her here:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/candicegilmer
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Candice-Gilmer/96543284794
Good for 25 entries per place you friend or follow. Be sure to send your confirmation emails to bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces).
4. Join us at our daily book chat here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=19543 RSVP for Wednesday’s event here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=19245 enter the free book contest here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=19514 good for 25 entries for each one you do.
5. Spread the word about this event! Use this direct link to the event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=19554 on twitter, at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group, Goodreads, Shelfari (any group where it is appropriate). You MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread so we can verify your entries. Good for 50 entries per place you post the event link.
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The contest ends on 2/10/10 at 11:59 pm Central and the winners will be contacted via email. You will receive your prize directly from the author. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME as well as a valid email where we can contact you. REMEMBER the more things you do, the more entries, the greater the chances of winning. PLEASE ALLOW THIRTY DAYS to receive your prize BEFORE EMAILING US.
1. Please note, the prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.
2. You have FIVE days from the day the we contact you to claim your prize by sending your name/mailing address to me. Failure to contact me will forfeit your prize. BBB can at that time, choose either to re-award the prize to another entrant or not.
3. The prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be no substitutions, trades or changes. No exceptions. Please do not ask. If for some reason you do not wish to claim your prize, please let me know as soon as possible. Bitten by Books has the option to re-award it or not.
4. Contest is open to readers in the USA except where noted. The prizes are shipped directly from the author unless otherwise noted.
5. Bitten by Books is in NO way responsible for the prizes being offered in any of the contests. If for some reason a contributor does not honor their prize, there is nothing we can or will do about it. We are not worried that this will happen, but we want to be very clear that WE are not offering these prizes, the contributor is and it is their responsibility to fulfill their prize obligations.
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(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Hello Candice,
Thank You for spending time with us today. Zsadist in the Black Dagger Brotherhood is also my favorite. What is your favorite thing to do when is is cold?
[Reply]
Hi Candice. Your books seem very interesting and I know that I will enjoy reading them.
My question is “What or who are your influences for your characters in your books?”
I RSVP’ed
Entered book giveaway
Joined in on Daily Chat
Talked about on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=761514769
and Twitter
https://twitter.com/Amy_Luvs_Books
[Reply]
i really enjoyed hearing/reading this insight. simply amazing how similar and yet so different the craft of writing is to each author!
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Hi Candice, thanks so much for visiting with us today!
I have two questions for you. The first is do you think writing a short story with a 2000 word limit, plot, hero and heroine to be as hard as writing a novel? And for my second question, do you find writing excerpts and blubs easy?
By the way, the cover to Broken Shine is awesome!
RSVP’d
commented in daily chat, rsvd for tommorrows interview, and entered the free book giveaway.
posted links on my facebook and twitter
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=app_2309869772&ref=profile&id=100000400298057#!/profile.php?v=wall&ref=profile&id=100000400298057
http://twitter.com/katearoo79
[Reply]
Hi Beet, thanks for coming by. You gotta love Zsadist, he was great. I love a story where the tough guy falls.
My favorite thing to do when it’s cold is to bundle up with a blanket on the couch–however, since I have two kids, one still in diapers, I don’t get to stay bundled up too much–about half my time is spent running after short people and telling them to get off things, stop hitting things, etc. lol.
[Reply]
Hi Amy, thanks, I hope you like the books.
In answer to your question, my major influences for my characters come from my muses. I’ve always created stories, ever since I was a kid, and where the ideas for characters come from is hard to pinpoint. Many of them just sort of appear. Sometimes from dreams, sometimes just POW, they come to me. Sure, there’s a part of me in many of my characters, and I’d like to think my husband influences my heroes to a certain degree too. But a lot of it, well, they just appear. Sometimes it’s a picture, sometimes it’s a commercial on television, a song on the radio, anything can make everything click in my head, and boom, there’s a story.
[Reply]
Thanks The Muse… Everyone does it differently, probably why we all have different stories, lol.
[Reply]
Hi Rebecca.
Glad you like Broken Shine’s cover–it is really amazing, I just love it.
In answer to your questions, first off, I’ve never actually written a book in 2000 words or less. Every time I start something with the express purpose of being a super short story, it winds up exploding into something much larger than I ever intended.
Example: Mission of Christmas–it was started to be a short, freebie for Christmas, limit 3K. Wound up being 16K, and probably could have been longer, if I embellished even more than I already did. Heck, most of my sex scenes are 1-2K a piece, lol. So for me, writing something that’s 2K would be ten times harder than doing anything novel length. I am big on developing the characters and really spreading out the sexual tension (something that’s really big in Broken Shine), and that’s very hard to do in only 2K, for me anyway.
And for your second question, excerpts don’t bother me, more it’s about the decision of what to use–what scene shows the most tension, the most oomph, the one that’s going to make a potential buyer go “I GOTTA HAVE THIS.” As far as blurbs go? I’m horrible at them, lol. I usually wind up consulting other author friends to help me condense them down into something that would actually work.
So in essence, if you want short from me, uh… it probably won’t work out in your favor, lol.
[Reply]
Hi Candice! I remember you from way back when at Aphrodite’s Apples - your new books sound great.
I have to agree with you on the BDB by Ward - Zsadist is the best.
[Reply]
Hi Candice,
I love the cover of Broken Sword. How much imput do you have into the cover design?
RSVP’d
Joined the chat
RSVP’d for Wednesday’s event
entered the free book giveaway
[Reply]
Hi Kate, how are you doing? Good to see you here! I always loved the epilogue of Zsadist’s book, the one where he’s kicking all the trainee’s butts, and then after, out comes his wife, holding a baby, and he turns to jello over the baby. I still see that scene in my head. Love it!
[Reply]
Hi Sandy. I must say, when it came to Broken Shine, I got a lot of input on the cover. Everyone always gives you a sheet to fill out with your wants for your covers, but you don’t always get that.
Though I got lucky. I had been talking to my cover artist, and I found the picture and sent it to her. She absolutely loved it, thought it went along perfectly with the story, and ta-da! I got that amazing cover.
[Reply]
Great interview.
Was wondering what music you think about or listen to while writing your books, if any?
I RSVP’d
4. done all three
[Reply]
Hi Beth,
I do listen to music, mostly it’s because my writing room is my kitchen table, and I use it to block out the world around me. Though certain songs remain better when writing. A couple of my motivating songs are “Black Horse and a Cherry Tree” by K.T. Tunstall, and “Hazy Shade of Winter” by the Bangles. Both of those can be put on repeat, and they tune out the world around me, and keep the momentum on with my writing.
[Reply]
Hi Candice! I was wondering what you love most about writing novels?
[Reply]
Hi Kristina,
Writing keeps me centered, releases stress for me, and generally keeps me happier. Whether it’s working on paranormal or contemporary, or even some sci-fi stuff, I love to do it, it makes me feel amazing. I tell my husband I have to write every night before bed, or I’ll never get to sleep, it helps download my brain.
And I’ve always been a person with a very active imagination, and I have a feeling if I don’t write, my head will explode.
[Reply]
Great interview. How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
[Reply]
I R.S.V.P.’D
2) Hey Candice What Are One Or Two Things We Wouldn’t Normally Know About You?
And
What Inspired You To Write Your Templar Series?
3) I Am Following Candice On Twitter (@skyla11377).
I Am Friends With Candice On Facebook.
I Am A Fan On Candice’s On Facebook.
4) I Joined Bitten By Books At Your Daily Book Chat Here Comment 10.
I R.S.V.P. For Wednesday’s Event Here Comment 24.
I Entered The Free Book Contest Here Comment 26.
5) I Posted A Blog About This Event.
http://skyla11377.blogspot.com/2010/02/join-bitten-by-books-for-interview-chat.html
I Tweeted About This Event (@skyla11377).
http://twitter.com/skyla11377/status/8867087154
I Posted This Event On My Facebook Page.
http://www.facebook.com/skyla11377?ref=profile
I Posted This Event On My Myspace Blog.
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&bID=528838361
I Posted This Event On My Myspace Bulletin.
http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&authorID=82282510&messageID=6636183254
[Reply]
Love the cover. The book sounds wonderful! Thnk you for joining us today.
RSVPed
RSVP for Wednesday’s event.
Enterd the free book contest.
Sue B
stevebrandes(at)gmail(dot)com
[Reply]
I R.S.V.P.’D
2) Hello Candice Have You Always Wanted To Be A Writer Or Was Their Something Else You Wanted To Do?
4) I R.S.V.P. For Wednesday’s Event Here Comment 25.
[Reply]
Hi, thanks for being here. I love hearing about new books.
I RSVPd.
Fan and following
Did all three
Facebook and Twitter
[Reply]
Hi Candice! Thanks for visiting. Man, I thought I was the only person who liked Aeon Flux. That series was amazing visually and just in terms of drama.
Here’s my question: If you could date one of your heroes, who would it be and what would the “perfect” date consist of?
Lauren D
RSVP’d for Wednesday’s Moira Rogers chat +25 entries
Asked a question +10 entries
[Reply]
Candic, here’s another question: If you could live a day in any book, what book would you choose and why? (i.e. if you could jump into LOTR to smooch Legolas. Not that I fantasize about doing that…much.)
Lauren D
calypso58 AT hotmail dot com
Asked a second question +10
(above, I mentioned that I RSVP’d for Wednesday’s event)
[Reply]
Hi Janice,
I was, oh, twenty-eight when I knew I wanted to be a writer. I had always written, but it was just something I did when I was a teenager and a young adult. I mean, it was kind of the “thing” to do–you wrote poetry as a teen to release your angst, and when you got a little older, you wrote a story or two. I took creative writing classes in high school and college, but it wasn’t because I wanted to be a writer, they were just easy “A’s” for me. I didn’t get serious about it until I was older.
Thanks for coming by.
[Reply]
Hi Sue, thanks for coming by.
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Hi Denise,
No I didn’t always want to be a writer. When I was younger, in elementary school and high school, I was determined to be a fashion designer, an astronaut, and a dancer. I actually took the fashion designer thing to college, with the intent of majoring in fashion marketing (we didn’t have any schools for fashion design anywhere near here).
The astronaut thing died when I learned I coudln’t be a shuttle pilot because of my bad eye sight. And the dancer thing? We all knew that was a pipe dream, lol.
Instead, I got a cosmotology liscense, and have been doing hair for quite a while now. In fact, I’ll have to run to work for a few hours here shortly, but I’ll be back around eight CST.
[Reply]
Hi Dianne, I’m glad to be hear too.
[Reply]
Lauren, Nope you weren’t the only person who liked Aeon Flux… Heck, I even enjoyed the movie, however, it wasn’t nearly as cool as the series.
If I could date one of my heroes? How about one of my characters? Because I think it would be Sir Adrian, Liam’s partner in the books. Adrian’s sweet, he’s very honest, but he’s also very passionate about what he believes is right.
And he’s blond. I love blonds.
The perfect date? With Adrian? Hmm… Probably something fun. I can so see him being the type of guy to take a girl to a roller derby match, or something else off the beaten path. Then have a beer to shoot the breeze, maybe do a bit of dancing. I could see Adrian doing some two-stepping around a dance floor. And of course, taking her home, and well, having his way with her–where his true alpha self comes out… grrowwlll…
[Reply]
LOL, Lauren… Hmmm…. Live a day in any book?
I don’t know… I wrote enough Star Wars fan fiction in my time, I guess I’ve imagined that quite a bit, lol.
I would jump into probably any of the Star Wars books… Maybe even the Republic Commandos series, and kick Darman’s ass, just on general principle, and then I’d probably have to go jump on Fi. If you don’t know the series, these guys are clones in the Republic Army, all of them look alike, but each one has distinct personalities, and Fi’s probably my favorite–a bit of a smart mouth on him.
In a good way. 
(If you have read the series, and read the last book, Imperial Commando, you’ll know WHY I wanna go kick Darman’s ass….)
[Reply]
Hey Candice!
How much influence did stories like the Davinci Code and the Templar Legacy have over your series. Do you enjoy reading other accountings of this mystical group by other authors?
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us here at BBB today!
Rachel
[Reply]
Hi Candice,
Great interview and very informative, I just learned alot! lol
I haven’t had the pleasure of reading your books, but when I RSVP’d for this event I did a little research,the reviews are great and I am definitely looking forward to reading your work. You have all the paranormals in your books and I think that’s just awesome. I know they won’t dissapoint!
Did you always want to be a writer?
What’s the first book you published?
I am wishing you much success on your series, and I will definitely be looking for your books on the shelves.
I RSVP’d
Spreaad the word on FB & twitter
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Sent friend request on FB
[Reply]
Hi Candice. Your books sound great. Now, I’m going to have to add to Mt TBR.
Have you played any of the Star Wars video games? I ask because my BF does and he says that everything & I mean everything hangs together. He knows stuff that applies to the Clone Wars animated series from his games; stuff that they don’t actually tell you on tv.
[Reply]
I RSVPed for this
Hi Candice, Your book sounds great. It will definitely have to be added to my must read stack.
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Hey Raquel,
First off, I’m sorry I missed your post before–my computer’s been wonky all day. I don’t know how I missed it…
Two things that you wouldn’t know about me, one, I have black and red streaked hair. My pic isn’t an accurate hairdo, lol. And another thing, hmm, I have a C-3PO cookie jar that stares at me when I’m on this computer. I keep expecting it to speak to me some day. Of course, when it does, it’ll probably wind up being broken, lol.
And where did the inspiration come from for the Templar books? My husband, actually. He had a dream about these immortals, one (no, not Liam) in particular, and told me about it. He didn’t know what it was about, except that they were immortal. And later, when I was working on a paranormal concept, I remembered his dream about these immortal knights. Between that and incredible timing from the History channel, doing a special on Knights Templar, things started clicking together.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Hi Rachel.
Actually, no, the DaVinci Code and The Templar Legacy hadn’t been very inspirational. I’ve read them, but they talk more about the theology around the Templar Knights, the political and religeous situations, which deviates from the backstory I’ve created for them, which I did on purpose–I didn’t want any of the stories to be history books about the Templar Knights. That would have been horribly boring to read, much less to write.
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Hi there Tawania,
Thanks, I’m glad the books sound good to you.
I like them, lol. 
I always thought it was funny to do a paranormal story without all the creatures. I mean, vampires and werewolves have been tied together forever in history. Why not have them all in one world? And if you’re going to have those, why not everyone? There’s a lot more mythical creatures than just vamps and wolves. 
I can’t say I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I’ve always written. My first story was written in elementary school, my first attempt at novel writing when I was twelve, so I’ve always done it… Just not with any desire to sell anything.
And my first book was Unified Souls, published by Aphrodite’s Apples several years ago, but the company has since closed, and I’m (being the perfectionist I am) reworking the book before resubmitting it anyhwere.
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Hi Sewicked,
I haven’t played all the games in Star Wars, but I have played a few. And oh yes, they all tie together. I aspire to be able to create a world big enough to tie together as much as Star Wars does, lol.
I wanna play Clone Wars, because I have a crush on Captian Rex, lol, but we haven’t gotten it yet.
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rsvp and #4
i was wondering what advice you would give to a writer just starting out
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Hello! I was wondering if you have traveled anywhere, and if you did, how did those places influence you?
Thank you!
Aori H.
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Hi Authra,
What would I tell any starting out writer? Finish your book. Don’t worry about covers or where you’re going to sell it or what you’re going to do with it. Just finish it. And when you’re done, start on the next thing. Write a little every day–a word count goal, or page count, whatever works for you.
Personally, I have a word count goal of 2000 words a day, or 10,000 words a week. I give myself the weekends ‘off’ so if I get behind, I have a couple of days to catch up if I need to.
I also highly recommend reading a lot, especially Stephen King’s On Writing. Best darn writing book I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a ton of them. But read. Read in your genre, read out of it, read what you like, just read books. You won’t know what’s out there if you don’t read a lot.
Write every day, and read as much as you can. That’s the biggest advice I’d give anyone.
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Hello Aori,
To be honest, no, I haven’t done a lot of traveling. I have lived my whole life in the midwest, and I kinda like it here. I’ve been to the Rockies, Dallas, and even Florida. However, they don’t consciously influence my work. I would love to travel more, but we are just like anyone out there right now, and our financial belt is tight.
Though there’s a lot of history and interesting things around here. My husband travels around the midwest a lot, and he always is bringing me pictures, brochures and stories about the places he’s visited. And that does influence me a bit.
So in answer to your question, lol, yes and no.
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Ihave not read this book either. Oh well, something to learn so the day is not wasted. I think I will have to get one of your books now. Which series should I start with, or does it matter? I’ve done 4. Lisa D.
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Hi Candice welcome to BBB
I havent read any of your books but they sound good do you ever chose urbook covers or wish you had and smething else was chosen?
Im
following on twitter :@bainesgoddess
and i fanned you on face book: Beverly Gordon
BBB
I rsvped
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I rsvped for weds event
went to the book chat
shared on
face book: beverly Gordon
twitter: @bainesgoddess
myspace: http://www.myspace.com/forever14n9
and my blog : http://zenes-escape.blogspot.com/
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Hi, Candice.
I like Drew Barrymore. Natalie Portman and Winona Ryder would both be my fiance’s style. I liked Eric Bana in Troy and your girl power movie picks. Yay for belly dancing. Fun. Sounds like you’re very detail-oriented and focused on research.
2. What’s your sign?
I love reading (or watching) sexual tension. Makes it more worth it when something might happen. I like your writing songs. When I was on a writing/journaling streak, I had to get it out of my head so I could sleep, too. Now, I’m doing some of that with my tee/gift designs on CafePress, like the LOST ones I’m working on for their fan portal/contest. Hey, you wanted to be a fashion designer, dancer and hairdresser (now you are one). Sounds like me: entertainer, hairdresser and fashion designer (all I wanted to be), and now I minpelt dabble in all of those with costuming/some modeling/tee design.
I like black and red streaked hair, even have wigs and clip strips for that. I bounce ideas off my fiance, so that’s cool about your husband’s dream. 
2 (question above)
4 done all 3
RSVPd for this
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Hi Candice the book sounds like a lot of fun. What do you like to snack on while writing?
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Hi Candice,
Would you ever consider writing in a different genre?
4 - Done
RSVPed to this event!
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I’d love to enter this contest! Thanks!
+25 I’m a Twitter follower @aikchien
+25 I’m a Facebook fan. (Aik Chien)
+50 I tweeted : http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/8896838443
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Hi Candice,
I really like the names you give to your characters, how do you come up with them?
And what do you think of the three latest Star Wars episodes (I-III)?
Thanks!
RSVPed for this event
4. chatted, RSVPed and entered the contest
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Fascinating interview! Thanks to BBB and Candice!
I also find stories of the Knights Templar enthralling. What sources did you use for your research of the Templars?
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Hi Candice! Great interview! Your Immortal Knight’s Templar world sounds like something I’m going to have to check out. It’s new to me, but I’m always so glad to find new authors!!
My questions for you are:
What’s your favorite paranormal being?
Who is your favorite author, or authors if you can’t pick one?
Thanks again!
By the way, I’m a big Star Wars fan as well!!
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Hi Lisa… The series starts with Unholy Night, and the second book is A Darker Trinity. Broken Shine is the third in the series.
Unholy Night and A Darker Trinity just came out in print this month, together in one book, called Moonlight and Shadows, books one and two. (It’s a purple cover–and it’s amazing looking too, lol). So if you wanted to get both of them in print, you can do that too.
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Hi Beverly.
In my experience thus far, I’ve been pretty lucky with my covers. Every time I come up with something, ironically it’s not even close to what the cover winds up being, but I completely love what the artist winds up doing far better than what I envisioned.
So I really haven’t had a bad cover experience.
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Hi R.E.B.,
My sign is Leo, the lion. And I’m totally a lion, most days, just ask my husband.
Sounds like you’re tapping that creativity quite well, designing your stuff on Cafe Press. I’m not that kind of creative. I try to be, but I’m just not, lol.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Hi Miranda,
Sir Liam and Leeza was a lot of fun, :). I usually snack on anything that’s available, lol. Triscuits are my fave, though. I have to be careful with those, because I can eat an entire box in one sitting some days. lol. Of course, if I eat salty, I have to follow with some kind of sweet-a cookie, chocolate, something. So I’m better off if I don’t eat anything and chew on a wad of gum, lol.
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Hi Ruby,
Oh, I write all over the place. I have paranormal stories, contemporary romances, and even a scifi novel or three in my head. I find I like better building up worlds, or even just towns.
I’m desperate to get a Sims game or something like it to build my own town, but I don’t know anything about the games to be able to do what I want to do, lol.
But again, that’s part of me just being all over the place with writing.
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Hi Dovile,
The names for my characters, um, honestly, I think I got Liam from Liam Nielson (aka Qui Gon Jinn), because I wanted an older, classic Irish/Celtic name. Leeza came from, believe it or not, a deck of Angel cards I had. Well, her middle name did, Zanna. I wanted a name that specifically meant “God’s Gift.” I also have a really huge book called Character Names by Sherrilyn Kenyon, published by Writer’s Digest, that is an amazing sourcebook for names, broken down by region. Also, each section has a detailed listing of surnames, or how surnames are created in different cultures, which is super helpful.
As far as the three latest Star Wars movies? I quite enjoyed them. They were breathtaking in their beauty, and I just love the epic tale. Of course, they only fueled my love/fascination with Jedi and warrior-monks. I must have liked it quite a bit, I ran a Star Wars fan fic site for years.
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Hi Candince,
Thanks for the interview. What music do you listen to when you’re writing? Is there a song you have to listen to when writing about a particular person?
4. complete
rsvp’d
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2. RSVP’d and asked two questions
3. follow on twitter (NRSVampChick)
and facebook
4. RSVP’d for Wednesday’s event and entered free book contest
5. spread the word
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Hi Patricia,
I used a lot of sources, but my primary one was a book I found called… I can’t remember! Aahh! I just searched my house for it, and then searched Amazon for the cover, but for the life of me I can’t find it.
I know I found bought it at RWA in 2007, when I was first thinking about the idea for the stories, and it seemed like such a sign that I found it–it was the last copy they had at the conference.
Now I’ll have to search my house for it! lol
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Hi Amanda,
Glad the books sound interesting to you, you’ll have to let me know what you think of them.
My favorite paranormal being? I’m not sure. I’m actually as a reader pretty willing to accept about any kind of paranormal being, as long as the writer makes it somewhat believeable. I mean, you have the vamp, the wolf, the dragon, the genie, there’s so many to choose from!
And I’m the same with writers, I just can’t pick a favorite. Of course, I read all across the board, just the other day I finished a series of historical romances by Julia Quinn. And my TBR pile is huge, filled with a ton of books, including the House of Night books and the Marked series. And of course, since I live in the midwest, Wicked.
So it’s really hard for me to pick an author.
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