Interview, Chat and Contest with Author Lucy Finn aka Savannah Russe
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 10:30 am CDT. 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 Lucy’s books.
Interview:
Hi Lucy!
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 Lucy’s newest book Best Wishes Always.
BBB: What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?
LF: Most challenging is Time with a capital T. The luxury to just write every day simply doesn’t exist in my life . . . yet. Anton Chekhov, who had very delicate health, had a revolving door built into his home to prevent his ever feeling a draft. I feel like I’m stuck in that door, going around and around with the tedious existence of daily life and not able to escape often enough to do what I love best.
The most rewarding aspect is… well, three things. First is the act of creation. Completing a story is a high like no other (for me). Exhilaration and joy run through me. The second reward is having people read what I created and be entertained. When I make people happy, I am happiest. Last is the publisher’s check in the mail! By the time it arrives all the hard work is just a memory.
BBB: Do you consider your writing paranormal romance or urban fantasy and do you think it is important to distinguish between the two?
LF: I write paranormal romance in my genie books. My stories are filled with magic, love, and wonder. When I am Savannah Russe, my shadow side, I write paranormal “unromances.” My publisher called them urban fantasy. I’m not even sure what that means except that The Darkwing Chronicles take place in New York City and Dark Nights, Dark Dreams in Washington DC. As Savannah, what I actually write are erotic paranormal thrillers filled with action and sex. Guys also love them.
BBB: We know that you write under two pen names, Savannah Russe and Lucy Finn, how hard is it to differentiate between the two voices when you are writing? Or even promoting the different books?
LF: I have no trouble differentiating between me as Lucy and me as Savannah. Lucy is me as I am to the world—gentle, sunny, and want everyone happy. The stories are fun, clever, and tremendously romantic. Ahhh…love, sweet love.
Savannah is my dark side—and whoa! I guess she’s the part of me I treasure while I hide her deep in my psyche. She’s Jung’s shadow self that I allow to come forth and create. It feels different when I’m writing from that part of me and the stories reflect it. There is nothing forbidden for Savannah…except maybe taking shit from anyone!
Promoting Lucy is way easier… She doesn’t offend. Savannah is not for anyone who has a problem with explicit sex, and many people do. Also, because of Twilight, young people want to read vampire stories. I have to tell them they can’t read The Darkwing Chronicles until they’re 21.
BBB: What is the most ridiculous thing that you have thought about doing to any of your characters?
LF: LOL. I don’t do anything to my characters. Once I dream them up, they tell me what happens to them. Seriously. The story at that point rolls out like I’m a watching a movie in my mind. And the characters take over—I just record what they want, even when I don’t agree. For example, in book 2 of The Darkwing Chronicles, Past Redemption, I loved the character of a vampire from Kentucky named Bubba Lee. I did not want to kill him. He, however, decided it was his fate to turn to dust. He had a close call—he was about to be staked through the heart—and I intervened and saved him. He didn’t like me doing that. But by the end of the story, tragically, he had been killed and I grieved. Believe me, I had nothing to do with his death.
BBB: You make it easy for your readers to feel good about living in small town America. How long have you lived in your rural location?
LF: I moved from NYC to tiny Beaumont PA in 1984. Where has the time gone? My mother, Clara Patton, was born on the other side of the mountain in quirky, quintessentially small town Noxen, PA, as many of you know from reading Careful What You Wish For. She had two Native American ancestors and I believe that’s why I need dirt, not concrete, beneath my feet to feel alive and whole.
BBB: How much research do you do for your books? How much of it actually gets used in the finished book?
LF: I do a great deal of research as my books are chock-full of real-life facts and information, but some of my research was done long ago. For example, I got started in the antique business in the 1990s. Learning about Metlox Teddy Bear cookie jars, crackle glass, and antique furniture—all of which appear in Best Wishes Always - has been an on-going process. And I am a voracious reader with a huge interest in medicine, the paranormal, and history (Lord Byron has always been an icon for me). Much of what I write about I already know; for what I don’t, I often just go downstairs to my library and pull out reference books. As for how much of that makes it into the books… I use tons!
BBB: How do you keep track of your world building?
LF: I have a good memory.
BBB: Do you plan to write more books as Savannah Russe, set in the Darkwing Chronicles world?
LF: I would very much like to write book Six and finish the series. Signet Eclipse, the publisher, does not agree. I will write it at some point even if I have to self-publish.
BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle 2 or Sony Digital Book Reader to the environment?
LF: Oh boy, a sore subject. I see no benefit, NONE, to the environment, just as the computer did NOT save trees as everybody thought it would. I think the only advantage to the product is instant access to a book…but then readers miss the joy of going to a bookstore and that magic moment of discovering a book they never knew existed.
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?
LF: From my perspective, I see little or no impact. In the long run, because unlike books, they nearly guarantee one reader per work, authors and publishers may see greater profits. My books have, I think, about a ratio of 15 readers to every one copy—and I think it’s wonderful, even though I don’t make a dime on 14 readers.
BBB: How many more books do you have planned for the Wishing series? What other projects are you currently working on?
LF: I have three more books I’d like to write in the Wishing series. The next one is called Dare to Wish. But right now I’m working on two very different works. The first is called The Cat Prince and it is fantasy. The second is The Dog’s Case, and it’s a straight mystery-thriller…well no, not quite straight. The heroine and the dog can communicate.
BBB: Can you share with the readers about your Wishing series and the general storyline that drives it?
LF: The general storyline is simple: If we could suddenly have anything we wished for, what would happen? My heroines are always women whom we recognize and know…searching for the life and the love they know exists, but haven’t been able to find. All of them have lost a great love and think they will never find it again. Then fate sends each of them a bottle…with a genie inside. But genies, even sexy, macho, gorgeous one, are tricky—and so are wishes. A woman has to be careful with both of them, lest she lose her heart or totally screw up her life!
BBB: Do you have any stray plot bunnies running around in your head and do you think something may come of them?
LF: My bunnies reproduce prolifically. I have more than I can count in my head…and I hope to write them all!
BBB: Not many people write about the genie in a bottle, how did you come up with your concept?
LF: Funny, true story: My agent, John Talbot, was a new father. One day his wife said to him, “I could use a real genie, not a Diaper Genie.” He told me what she said… and Careful What You Wish For exploded in my head. Having watched most episodes of I Dream of Jeannie probably had something do with it. My working title was “I Dream of Diaper Genie.”
BBB: If your series had a theme song, what would it be?
LF: “When You Wish Upon a Star”
BBB: If you could pick one of your characters to have dinner with, who would it be and why?
LF: Ohhhhh, give me Darius—the bad boy of The Darkwing Chronicles. Please please give me Darius. We would not just have dinner! I take that back. We’d never get to dinner.
BBB: If you could shapeshift, what animal would you be? And why?
LF: A cat. I think I was a cat in a past life. (I do have three dogs too. But I was never a dog)
BBB: In the Darkwing Chronicles your bats have a very distinctive shape and look. Why did you choose those characteristics?
LF: Because they are fallen angels. They are dark angels… flawed, sometimes evil, but with the capacity to be superheroes and very very good.
BBB: Have you ever lived in New York City? Or do you just visit often for inspiration?
LF: Yes I did live in NYC, in both Manhattan and Brooklyn. I don’t get back as often as I’d like to. I wish I were rich and could keep a pied a terre there.
BBB: What is in your CD player/iPOD right now?
LF: The soundtrack from La Vie en Rose Favorite song: Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
****************************************************
Learn more about Lucy Finn here:
Read reviews of the author’s work here.
To visit the author’s website go here.
****************************************************
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 7/13/09 at 11:59 pm PDT to do the different things that YOU choose to do. Contest is open to readers worldwide!
Lucy will be giving away a $100.00 electronic Barnes & Noble Gift Card to one lucky winner!
Contest open to readers worldwide and will run until 11:59 pm PDT 7/13/09! PLEASE NOTE THE NEW CONTEST EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO BELOW.
1. The easiest way to enter is by purchasing copies of Lucy’s books from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Books in the Wishing series in the order they should be read:
Careful What You Wish For
If Wishing Made It So
Best Wishes Always
Books in the Darkwing Chronicles by Savannah Russe in the order they should be read:
Beyond the Pale
Past Redemption
Beneath the Skin
In the Blood
Under Darkness
Good for 150 entries per book you purchase by using the links above.
OR you can use the Barnes & Noble search banner on the right hand side of the site or this link HERE to make your purchase of ANY kind of merchandise during the contest. You can also use the Amazon search box or this link HERE to shop as well. Good for 100 entries to the contest for EACH item you purchase. Not valid on past purchases.
It is NOT mandatory to purchase anything to enter the contests, there are plenty of other ways to enter and win. Just email us a copy of your purchase receipt to bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Sorry no faxes or snail mail copies.
2. Make a purchase in our Bloody Cafe store here: http://www.cafepress.com/bittenbybooks. We are all volunteers so your continuing support is deeply appreciated. Email us a copy of your purchase receipt to bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Sorry no faxes or snail mail copies. Good for 50 entries.
3. In order to be entered into this contest the ONE thing you ALL have to do is ask Lucy a question or leave a comment. It can be ANY question you like. No questions = no entries! You can come by through 7/13/09 and ask Lucy your questions. Good for 10 entries. (max 2 questions that count towards entries)
4. Be friends with Bitten by Books here:
SUBSCRIBE to the Bitten by Books newsletter by clicking here or use the box on the top right hand side of the site. Be sure you VERIFY your subscription, an email is sent with the verification link. Unverified subscribers will not be entered and will be deleted from the mailing list. If you are already a subscriber, just let us know and you will get entries too.
Join The Blood Bank the Bitten by Books Community! here: http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/ then come back here and tell us your user name and leave the link to your new page.
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59929467915
Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/bitten_by_books
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bittenbybooks
Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=614064436
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BittenbyBooks be SURE to tweet us after you follow so we can count your entry! @BittenbyBooks
Add Bitten by Books to your blog roll or links page: http://bittenbybooks.com if you leave our link up permanently you will always be entered into our contests automatically. Just be sure to stop by each contest we hold and leave the link to where it is so we can give you your entry!
Email us a copies of ALL of your verification emails to bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Good for 50 entries each place you add us.
5. Spread the word, the more places you post the event, the more entries you get. Use this direct link to the event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=8949 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 100 entries per place you post the event link.
NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day.
6. Be friends with Lucy by joining her here:
Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savannahrussefiction/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/savannah.russe
Add Lucy’s website to your blog roll or links page: http://www.lucyfinn.com/
Then send us all the confirmations you receive verifying subscription and friendship to: bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Good for 50 entries per place you friend/add her.
7. Twitter and ask your friends to re-tweet the URL for this event be SURE to include us in your tweet @BittenbyBooks http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=8949. Good for 10 entries each day you tweet it. Max 1 tweet per day counts for entries.
8. Email ALL of your friends and invite them to come by this week! If your fiends come and post here and say you sent them, they get FOUR entries and you get EIGHT entries! They have to tell us who you are so we know who to give the entries to. You can invite as many people as you want and get all the extra entries!
IMPORTANT CONTEST RULES AND LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
GENERAL CONTEST INFORMATION:
The contest ends on 7/13/09 at 11:59 pm PDT and the winners will be contacted via email. You will receive your prize bag 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.
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 THREE 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 worldwide. The prizes are shipped directly from the author.
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.
6. These rules are subject to change or be modified without prior written notice.
7. Contest is void where prohibited.
8. By entering this contest you are agreeing to our terms of entry




(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)


(2 votes, average: 4 out of 5)


