Tonight, I have Charlene Wilson, author of "The Transformation of Anna," on my blog. Her book won the Reader's Favourite award. Let's get on with the interview as all the meaty stuff about her is in there:
Thank you so much for having me here today, Kathy!
1. What is the best thing for you about being a writer?
That has to be getting to share my worlds and characters with everyone. To have others fall in love with them and even want more is awesome to me!
2. What is the hardest thing for you about being a writer?
I’d have to say the technical side of it. I’m not a whiz at how things should be punctuated or divided. Lol. Thank heavens for editors.
3. What genre/s do you write and what genre is your latest release?
I write paranormal, science fiction, and fantasy. Though I have some contemporary stories on the sidelines waiting to be written. My latest, The Transformation of Anna, is a science fiction/fantasy. (Though some have classified it as a paranormal with the magic flying around.) It takes place in another dimension, and the main characters have advanced powers.
4. Who is your favourite heroine from your books and why?
My favourite heroine is usually the one I’m focusing on at the time. Lol. So, I’m going to go with Anna. We don’t get to know the true Anna very well yet in The Transformation of Anna—things happen that kind of hide her personality—but her soul is strong in her faith to her goddess. Even though her will is bent to adore her new Keeper and her soul is bound, it still cries to Arylin, Goddess of Love, when she sees the statue of her.
5. What type of hero do you like? Super alpha, wounded or somewhere in between? Or even something totally different? You could give an example from a movie or well-known book.
I love the tortured hero or one with low self-esteem who finds he’s more than he thinks, who rises above himself. Sometimes this is done in a way that comes across as cheesy. But when done well, I love it. I love Angel in the vampire series. Moody, searching for salvation, constantly tried, but plugs forward and proves himself over and over.
6. Tell us about your journey in writing this book.
This book—the series, actually—started out as a clip written about a nightmare. Chapter three is almost step for step what happened in the nucleus of it. I posted it on a writer’s site for critique, and while there were corrections, they wanted more. It turned into The Transformation of Anna and continued into book two of the series, Cornerstone Deep. The second book, Echoes, will be released the 10th of next month with book three later next year.
7. Tell us three quirky or interesting things about yourself.
Um, well… I jabber to myself as I do things, gotta hear it to make sure I’m doing things right. *wink* I cook a mean salad. (yeah, I don’t cook, but can throw together a few fresh veggies.) And…I have to have my soft snuggly throw around my shoulders while I write? Lol.
8. What rituals do you use to help you focus or get the words down on the page e.g. music or a snack.
Gotta have my Ritz Bits. Yeah.
9. Mention something unique about your books and your writing style.
Love crosses dimensions and lifetimes. Death doesn’t hinder soul mates from reuniting after they’ve been reborn. Eternal love and progression.
10. What book would you like to work on next?
Besides book three of Cornerstone Deep, I’m revising book one in my Aumelan series. There are four books written in that one and waiting for revision. The characters are still upset that I pushed to get Cornerstone Deep out first. *wink*
The Transformation of Anna
For centuries, Cole Shilo has harvested the homeless, wiped their memories, and delivered them as servants to the nobles of Cornerstone Deep. When Cole is sent to harvest a second-class woman who has broken curfew, he expects no different. But Anna Sinclair’s soul calls out to him. Soul mates aren’t possible on Cornerstone Deep…
Are they?
“My life is a mirage of endless time. But you engulf me, rivet my mind, encompass my soul.”
What a fascinating premise!
An excerpt from her book:
Cole unstopped the slender vial and gently lifted Anna’s head to administer the potion. As he carefully tipped the container to her lips, tremors traveled down his forearms. His hands quaked. The amber liquid jumped to the brim and he quickly tilted it upright. Gods, Cole, control yourself. She needs every drop.
A soft palm rested on his wrist and Cole’s gaze shot to Elaina’s. When had she returned and how did he not pick up on the strong compassion emitting from her when she had? Her blue eyes looked deep into his, understanding with a touch of sadness. “Let me do that, Cole. You’ve been through enough.”
He wasn’t sure if the tremors were from anticipating a fortunate outcome or from sheer anxiety over the whole ordeal, but he accepted her tender attention as a blessing. Vincent’s intervention with her was evident. He watched as she patiently poured small measures into Anna’s mouth.
Elaina turned to Cole and lifted the emptied container. “Well, that’s it. She got it all.”
He sighed. “Thank you.”
“Anything, Cole.” She smiled and set the vial on the bed stand. “What about you? Can I get you a drink? It might calm you some.”
Nodding, he offered a small smile.
“Good, then. I’ll be right back.”
As she closed the door behind her, Cole eased himself onto the bed. “Don’t give up, Anna.” His faint words were swallowed by the silence of the room. “I’ll fix this and see to it nothing ever happens to you again.” Brushing his fingertips over her hair, he solemnly whispered a plea. “Don’t leave me.”
Her soft locks sent countless memories rushing through his mind. Her smile, her cheeky comments, her blue eyes dancing as if life itself was a game. Her Arylinite spirit embraced every moment of love, able to see beneath façades that others deemed as truth. He sighed, knowing that side of her may have been unique to that lifetime—a result of her specialized upbringing in the Arylin colony of the northern territory.
He tilted his head and gazed over her still face. Her features were remarkably similar to Mianna’s. The gentle slope of her nose, the way she chose to wear her dark hair long, and he couldn’t deny her blue eyes when she’d looked at him. He cupped her cheek with his hand, gently stroking her lips with his thumb. They curved from a bow-tie center into a natural smile. So soft. Inviting. He leaned to her and lightly kissed them, then leaned his cheek to hers.
“Talk to me, Anna.” His breath was a plea. As much as he knew no answer would come, his heart called to her with his deepest wish.
He brushed his fingers down her neck to her chest, tenderly caressing her pale skin at the neckline of her gown. A strained pause caught his throat as he lightly followed her breast to her ribcage. “What’s in your heart?”
The tiny circles he drew on the thin fabric fed his longing for her touch. Supple creases followed his motion. To have her arms around him, the love they brought, had given him unmitigated comfort in a past life. It could be so again.
“My life was yours.” He kissed the circles he created. “Every moment, I found joy in you.”
He looked at her closed eyes. “Please, don’t leave me. Please promise you’ll be mine again.”
No emotion showed upon the visage of his love, but distant echoes of vows lighted his soul.
“Open to me.” He wondered if his whispered thought could possibly reach her unconscious mind. “Speak to me with your soul.”
Her lips parted and a chill flew through him. He waited, listened intently. Weak sensations touched his senses. “Anna,” he said aloud, hope rising. He cupped his palm to her cheek again. “Fight for it. Call to me.”
Anna remained silent.
Cole’s heart ached. Yet, that small reaction spurred his resolve. He framed her face as he lowered to take her lips with his. “I’ll help you.”
The scent of licorice and cream fell from his lips as he called on his Breath of Zephyr . His soul’s voice owned his words. “My life is a mirage of endless time. But you engulf me, rivet my mind, encompass my soul.”
She inhaled his sensual gift and gasped for deeper intake.
Yes. Hope impossibly filled him. His muscles tightened with expectation. His heart pounded against his chest. “Call to me!”
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Thank you, Charlene!
Thank you for the fun interview, Kathy. It's great to be here. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure! I enjoyed having you.
ReplyDelete