This week I am very excited to have a new author on the Paranormal Urban Fantasy scene here on Amberkatze's Book Blog as my guest. Jocelynn Drake's first book in the Dark Days series has just been released and I was lucky enough to win an ARC and reviewed it a few weeks ago. You can read my review of Nightwalker
by clicking here but if you want to know more about this amazing debut and the author read the interview below!Oh and if you are interested in getting your hands on a copy of the book keep reading to the bottom of interview ;)
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Amber - Thank you for being a guest here on Amberkatze's Book Blog. Maybe you can start things off by telling us all about your debut novel Nightwalker
?Jocelynn - Nightwalker
is about a vampire and a vampire hunter who are forced to work together in an effort to stop a dark race from returning to the earth and destroying mankind. Mira and Danaus travel to Savannah, Aswan, and London in search of the three members of the Nightwalker triad that locked the dark race of naturi away. Along the way, Mira discovers that her own past is riddled with lies and those she most trusted are out for her head.Amber - Your leading lady Mira is very independent, feisty and strong. Obviously you aren't "a beautiful bloodsucking babe with a brain" but are you and Mira alike? or did her character come from somewhere else?
Jocelynn - Sometimes, Mira and I are more alike that I would care to admit. We both can be impulsive, acting on emotion before we take the time to completely think things through. We both have quick tempers, but are also passionate about what we believe in. On the other hand, there are some definite differences between us such as the violence, the blood drinking, and the fire manipulation.
Amber - In Nightwalker
Mira travels from the US to Egypt and then on to London. Have you been to all these places? or did you use some other resource to get the feel for the places mentioned?Jocelynn - I’ve not yet been to Egypt or London, but both are very high on my to-do list. Writing about those places required a great deal of research. My resources included websites on the Internet, travel books, maps, what pictures I could dig up, and my amazing editor, who has been lucky enough to have traveled to those distant locales. Travel journals are also an amazing resources, because they often provide the best “feel” for a place.
Amber - You build a whole new Paranormal Urban Fantasy world in Nightwalker
and even though some of it sounds familiar you have made it very new and unique. How did you come up with the idea and did it take a long time to put it on paper?Jocelynn - The world came from tinkering with a lot of popular myths and doing my best to turn them on their heads. I spent the better part of two years working on the world that Mira and Danaus inhabit. I think one of the things that I like best about the world is that it continues to surprise me with its complexity and strangeness. Around every corner that Mira turns, there is something new waiting for her. This world is a playground for my imagination to run wild.
Amber - Nightwalker
is the first 'Dark Days' novel. How many more are there going to be? can you tell us anything about any upcoming releases?Jocelynn - With the Dark Days series, I’ve tried to create a very open-ended world with a rich tapestry of characters. I want to be able to have more than one character step up and tell a story. Mira will remain the dominant storyteller simply because she is my favorite character and the main story arc will involve her. Because of this set-up, I can’t say as to how many books will be in the series.
Book 2 in the series is titled Dayhunter and is slated for release in May 2009. The book mostly takes place in Venice, Italy. Mira and Danaus are forced to match wits with the Coven, the ruling body of the nightwalker nation, as they try to maneuver through its tangled web of politics while at the same time search for a way to take down the naturi.
Amber - Except for the 'Dark Days' series is there any other projects you are working on or would like to tell us about?
Jocelynn - I’ve always got other projects in the works, but due to my limited writing time, it’s a very slow process. My favorite side project at the moment is a piece within the magical realism genre that looks at a murder during a magician conference in Las Vegas.
Amber - On the back of Nightwalker
it says that you are a financial analyst writer. Is that the job you always wanted? or did you always want to be a writer? How did you get to where you are today?Jocelynn - My two passions in life are writing and Wall Street, so I’ve greatly enjoyed my time as a financial analyst writer. My day as an analyst includes studying stocks and sectors, then writing articles about what I find. Wall Street always has some interesting bit of news that is waiting for me to jump on and write about. I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I love the written word and getting lost in a good story.
As to how I got to where I am today, I have to say a lot of hard work. I received a number of rejection letters, like every author, before I was finally signed. In this business, you learn to develop a thick skin and you push on through the best way you know how.
Amber - What made you write Paranormal Urban Fantasy? Why do you think the genre is so popular lately?
Jocelynn - Vampires have always held a special place in my heart. I’ve spent time writing in different genres and played with different, interesting characters, but I always find myself coming back to vampires. I love their super-human abilities, but also the moral dilemma they are always faced with when dealing with humans. I love to explore the question of whether a long-lived creature can retain its humanity when it is given amazing abilities and has no real way of insuring that they obey the old rules of humanity.
I think the genre is so popular right now because it providers readers with an excellent escape from a world that is increasingly in turmoil.
Amber - What books/authors do you enjoy reading? Any favourite must haves?
Jocelynn - I love reading urban fantasy and traditional fantasy along with some paranormal romance and thrillers. Kim Harrison is definitely one of my favorites within the urban fantasy genre. Some other fantastic authors that I enjoy reading include Rachel Vincent, Vicki Pettersson, Dean Knootz, and Raymond Feist.
Amber - Alot of writers listen to music or have songlists for their books. Do you have any particular music you listened to while working on Nightwalker?
Jocelynn - I do make of song lists when I am plotting out a book, but I usually don’t drift too far from a select group of favorites. I listen to a lot of Nine Inch Nails, Linkin Park, Korn, Marrilyn Manson, and Tool. When I am editing, I typically switch off to movie scores. Scores to Constantine, Queen of the Damned, and Underworld were some that I frequently listened to while working on Nightwalker
.Amber - What atmosphere do you need to write in? What do you do to relax?
Jocelynn - I can write almost anywhere, but a quiet place, free from distractions is the best place for writings for a few hours. When I want to relax and take a break, I usually watch movies, play video games, or go for a long walk through the woods with my camera.
Amber - If Nightwalker
was going to be made into a movie or TV series who would you like to see playing the lead roles?Jocelynn - Wow, that’s a hard question, but one I have actually turned over in my head a few times. For Danaus, I would like Oded Fehr. He played Ardeth Bay in The Mummy and I think he would do a fine job as the hunter. Mira is a lot harder to pick as I’ve never found anyone that seemed to completely match her. A mix between Angelina Jolie and Milla Jovovich comes pretty close.
Amber - Thank you so much Jocelynn for taking the time to answer my questions!
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Contest Time!This weeks contest is now open! What can you win?
A signed copy of Nightwalker
and a cool magnet (I have one and it is cool)! Thank you Jocelynn for donating this great prize!
To enter the contest comment on this thread telling me where in the world you would most like to visit and why. No answer no entry!
You can also earn yourself an extra entry by posting about this contest somewhere (please post a link in your comment so I know where you posted) on the internet.
The closing date for the contest is Sunday 17th of August at 4pm CET.
Please remember to check back and see if you won! I will pick a new winner if the prize hasn't been claimed after 7 days.
Good luck everyone!!
Labels: Author Interviews, Contests, Jocelyn Drake
At 10 August 2008 at 13:31, 
Susan Helene Gottfried
Just letting you know I posted this at Win a Book -- and congratulations to Jocelyn for hitting the USA Today best-seller list!
As for where to visit: please don't make me choose. Deciding on the vacation we just go back from was hard enough. It's a great big world out there and I want to see it all!
At 10 August 2008 at 15:08, Paula Greenspan
I love learning about new PUF books & authors on your blog, and this one sounds very interesting.
There are many, many places I'd like to go but my current ambition is to visit China. Not because they're hosting the Olympics but because I hosted a foreign student from there and would love to visit his home culture. Also, I've never been anywhere in Asia.
-
At 10 August 2008 at 17:51, shaunesay
Thanks Amber and Joceylnn!
It's a toss up for me on where I would like to visit. I've loved Egyptian art and ruins since I was a wee thing, and I would love love love to see those places in person! Next on the list is probably Scotland, so many castles! Third would probably be South America, to catch the Aztec, Mayan and Incan ruins.
Thanks again!
Awesome interview as always.
Mmm...I have two places I really want to go to. The first being Argentina so I can see my "sister" again. Eledis was an exchange student who stayed with us when I was a freshman in high school (which considering I just had my 10 year reunion was awhile ago) and we are still in touch. My mother is going next summer and I am insanely jealous.
My dream vacation is to get to spend two months touring through Europe. I know it's cheesy, but I love languages and I'll probably only get there once so I want to see everything while I can.
At 10 August 2008 at 19:22, catslady
I took one cruise over 30 years ago and would love to take another - and if I'm really going for fantasy - a trip around the world. You don't have to check in and out of hotels and you get to get off and visit many different countries when you want to or stay right where you are and still have a fantastic time.
At 10 August 2008 at 23:48, Michelle
I would love to visit Helsinki, Finland. I was there before but spent the entire time in the hospital as I was a student in Moscow and broke my arm there & needed surgery. I really only had a few hours after my hospital stay to walk around while waiting for my train to Moscow. I really loved what I saw & would like to see more.
And I posted this at http://www.myspace.com/koshkalady
At 11 August 2008 at 06:05, Joanne (NeedSun)
Wow, Amber!
I have been away for a while and can't believe how wonderful your book blog is.
Great interview! I do have to poke around to see the other hidden treasures on your site.
Right now, I am studying Greek mythology so I would love to visit the sites where some of the action took place....Greece, in particular.
Congratulations on your site...
Joanne (NeedSun)
If I could go anywhere in the world, it would be to New Zealand. Years ago, I met a couple from there while sitting at a bus stop, and I've been in love with it ever since. The pictures they showed me, along with the stories of grandiose mountains, stunning beaches, and natural hot springs captured my heart. I wanted to go there on my honeymoon, but we were low on funds. My DH promised me we'd get there... someday.
I would most like to travel to Hong Kong because that is where my parents are from but I've never been there. I think that I would learn more about my identity if I go back to where my parents first called home.
I blogged about your giveaway here:
http://c-alexis.livejournal.com/9256.html
Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you. =)
Carmen T
carmenalexistsang[at]gmail[dot]com
At 12 August 2008 at 06:54, Carinthia
Thanks for the contest!
I would love a literary & historical tour of the British Isles - everthing from the Barrow Mounds to the Globe Theatre. With unlimited resources, I'd be gone for months!
I posted your contest on my blog, The Persistence of Vision:
http://carinthiaone.blogspot.com/2008/08/few-contests.html
At 12 August 2008 at 14:36, Shooting Stars Mag
Awesome interview. I highly enjoyed the questions, especially seeing what she listened too while writing the book since i enjoy music almost as much as reading.
If I could visit anywhere in the world though...at the moment, it would be England just because I've wanted to go there for awhile and have yet too, and it would definitely be my first pick if I could go anywhere!
-Lauren
At 12 August 2008 at 14:36, Shooting Stars Mag
Awesome interview. I highly enjoyed the questions, especially seeing what she listened too while writing the book since i enjoy music almost as much as reading.
If I could visit anywhere in the world though...at the moment, it would be England just because I've wanted to go there for awhile and have yet too, and it would definitely be my first pick if I could go anywhere!
-Lauren
I'd love to visit anyplace with a long history! Just now, southern Europe or Japan would probably top the list because I find those areas so fascinating and have never been anywhere near there. But really I'd just love to travel anywhere at all -- I could use a vacation! ;)
This book sounds great by the way!
-Alexis/Kyrissaean
Back to Yorkshire, England, I would want to go. I enjoyed 10 days there a few years back and still want to explore so much more in the City of York. My bookcrossing penpal also lives closeby and handing a book in person would be incredibly special.
Win or not, I am definately getting a copy of this book.
Thank you, in advance, for the opportunity to win to both you and the generous author.
hagathorn on bookcrossing.com
hagathorn@aol.com
by Kelley Armstrong
I love warm weather, so I would have to pick Hawaii. I love the fun in the sun, beaches and swimming.