Interview and Giveaway: Author Renee Wildes

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to Renee Wildes. Ms. Wildes is the author of the Guardians of Light series.

Guardians of the Light
1. Duality (2008)
2. Hedda's Sword (2009)
3. Lycan Tides (2009)

Good morning Ms. Wildes and welcome to Michelle's Book Blog.

Hi Michelle!

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm married w/2 kids, 2 half-Arabian horses, a Chow puppy and a calico cat - live in central WI. I'm a total history buff, from medieval times back to ancient Greece and Sparta. As a Navy brat and a cop’s kid, I gravitated to protector/guardian heroes and heroines. I've had horses my whole life, so became the only vet tech in a family of nurses. It all comes together in my Guardians of Light series for Samhain – fantasy, action, romance, heroics and lots of critters!

2. You write in the Fantasy genre - what does Fantasy mean to you?

I grew up reading fantasy authors Terry Brooks and Mercedes Lackey and am a huge Joseph Campbell fan, so the minute I discovered romance novels it became inevitable that I'd combine it all and write fantasy romance. I think fantasy is a combination of an escape from the real world mixed with good can always triumph over evil. I love worldbuilding and magical possibilities mixed with nonhuman creatures that come to life. I want to be able to step into a story and experience that world as if it were as real as our own.

3. You've said that you're a hard-core plotter - What's your writing process like and do you have a dedicated writing space?
I'm what Bob Mayer (my favorite writing instructor) calls a "front-loader." I start with a character, figure out who romantically would be perfect for them, and then work to figure out what gets them together vs. what keeps them apart, what's going on in the world around them and what problems they have to tackle. I write it all down in an outline, figure out points of view, and how to break up the action so each chapter has a beginning & ending hook. I do a bare-bones rough draft, then I do the layering - multisensory descriptions, deep POV, cultural references (foreign words, religion, govt.) I have a map I always have to check and make sure everything stays in the right place geographically speaking. It takes me forever - a book a year.

We bought a house last November (rent-to-own) with 4 bedrooms - one of which (at the top of the stairs) I turned into a home office. All my bookshelves are there, my writing awards and framed book covers. I have a scrapbook page for each book, and the framed page goes on the wall beneath its final cover. Funny to see how close (or not!) the artist came to my vision.

4. Where did you find your inspiration for the 'Guardians of Light' series?

I started out writing contemporary romances, but then my muse - a big red dragon - moved it and told me to knock it off. I read fantasy, I should write fantasy. The biggest draw for me with fantasy is the good-triumphs-over-evil theme. Duality began with a snapshot vision - a mental image of a red-haired woman kneeling in a burning room. When I found out Dara STARTED the fire, I got interested. I remember asking my critique partners if there was anything to this, and they said to run with it and see what happened. After Duality was done, I started Hedda's Sword, featuring Loren's best friend Cianan and an assassin nun. I was looking for a common theme as a tie-in and "Guardians of Light" came to mind. Keeps me focused on each book, no matter how different the stories are, they all rest on that one similar spine. Good vs. evil.

5. When you have the time, what authors do you enjoy reading?

Fantasy - Tolkien & Campbell. Terry Brooks & Mercedes Lackey. I love Joy Nash, and Elizabeth Vaughan's "Warprize." Paranormal - Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan, J.R. Ward, Angela Knight & Pamela Palmer (Duality is competing w/Palmer's "Obsession Untamed" in the WisRWA Write Touch Reader's Award contest )

Contemporary - Suzanne Brockmann & Lori Foster

6. What are you working on now?
I just finished all final edits and approved the cover for "Dust of Dreams" which is Bk 4 in the "Guardians of Light" series. Benilo, the elven spirit healer from "Hedda's Sword," gets his own story. Paired him up with a dream faerie named Pryseis. Comes out as ebook 7/13/10. I am currently working on Bk 5, "Riever's Heart" which is Verdeen's story. She's Dara's lady's maid from "Duality." She's assigned to be a bodyguard for Prince Aryk, who's trying to unite the northern "riever" tribes into a single nation. She's the ultimate tomboy who learns to be a woman as well as warrior.

7. Where can we find out more about you & your books?

I have a website - http://www.reneewildes.net and a blog http://reneewildes1.wordpress.com

I have a Yahoo! group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reneewildesromancefantastique/

My books are at Samhain Publishing at http://www.samhainpublishing.com/authors/renee-wildes

Renee Wildes

http://reneewildes1/wordpress.com

http://www.samhainpublishing.com/authors/renee-wildes

I would like to thank Ms. Wildes for her time and generosity.

Ms. Wildes has graciously offered a pdf copy of the first book in her Guardians of Light series - 'Duality' - to one lucky commenter. That means that this giveaway is open to all followers of this blog with an email address.

Just leave a comment or question for Ms. Wildes and your email address to enter the giveaway. Giveaway will run through Monday June 21 and the winner will be announced Tuesday June 22.

Good luck and happy reading!!

M