Between Moonlit Covers With Kali Willows: December 2012

Welcome to Deena Remiel, thank you so much for joining us on your action packed blog tour!

1. Tell us, what inspired the Book Waitress series? It’s making huge waves with the paranormal readers and they are dying to know what to expect next in this remarkable 13 part novella series.

A. I’ve always loved the paranormal TV series of Buffy, Angel, and Charmed. I wanted to write a series that paid homage to them and yet retained a unique flavor unto itself. Readers can expect a lot of suspense, paranormal activity, demonic pleasures, and… love.

2. Camille and Derek are so powerfully written, they virtually come to life on the pages, how did these characters evolve for you?

A. I love these two! I wanted two very quirky, unsuspecting people who would become embroiled in sinister plots and a quest to end Satan’s terror. Their personalities allow them to grow exponentially throughout the series. Camille and Derek have to be multi-dimensional. There’s so much darkness that they need to be able to experience all sorts of emotions. And humor is huge! There must be a place and time to take a breath for the readers as well as our hero and heroine.

3. Most readers are often taken in by the appeal of the strength and virtue of the hero. You have created a villain who is extremely, cold, callous and exotic. Victor was well written, with a sexually intense quality about him, how do you find you are driven to write such dark and appealing evil?

A. Wow! Victor has really attracted quite an audience! I had no idea he’d be so magnetic to my readers. I just knew he needed to give people the shivers with his matter-of-fact way he worked evil. Who would suspect a man held in such high regard as the leader of a cult and in bed with the devil? I figure, if I’m creeped out by the story and dialogue, then you as a reader will be, too. That’s a good thing. J

4. One of your reviews, a reader commented on how detailed some dark moments are written, specifically, the “bad things” some people do, as opposed to the paranormal aspects of the story. Can you share with us, how the process of writing those pivotal scenes impacted you?

A. I know that there are people in this world that have done terrible, horrific things to others. We see it and hear about it on the news every day. What I’ve done here is provide the lead-up, the event, and the motivation behind these dark moments. These scenes are exhausting to write because I review and revise over and over until it’s exactly the way I want it. I’ve been known to shake my head, mumble, and gasp while writing and rereading. My family ignores me at this point. J

5. You write typically in the paranormal genre with a strong theme of good vs. evil, angels, demons, and of course, the almighty Satan. Can you describe the appeal that inspires you with your stories?

A. I grew up believing there is good in everyone. I still believe that. However, I am not blind to the atrocities against the human race that continue to surface. If anything I am too aware of them. So I do believe, as well, that there is evil on this earth, as well. In the real world, many times I see evil worming its way into society and there is no push back from the good around us. In my stories, the good shall always be the victor. Now, that’s not to say there isn’t a lot of crap to wade through to get that win, but in real life, sometimes it’s not so apparent that the good people in this world come out the victor. So, in my stories I like to instill hope that all is not lost. The good shall remain sovereign no matter what evils are thrown at us.

6. From the first sentence, and non-stop until the last, I didn’t want to stop reading Devil De Jour, your writing is exquisite. Can you tell us how you manage to keep the momentum of action packed suspense and intrigue throughout your entire book (s)?

A. Thank you so much, Kali! Your words are going straight onto my inspiration wall! From a very technical angle, I try to make sure that each chapter has a pivotal moment in it. I try to treat each one as though they were mini stories that have a beginning, middle, and end with all the highs and lows that come along with that structure. But I’m not a plotter, so I must confess to really letting the story tell itself through me. I’m just here to make sure those suspenseful moments and those action-packed moments come across clearly and the way they are intended to be received.

7. Deena, readers describe your books as filled with suspense, keeps you on the edge of your seat, and one review noted, she shouldn’t have read it before bed, it had her mind racing J Can you enlighten us on how you have developed your writing for suspense in paranormal, and would you have any advice to offer aspiring authors?

A. I grew up reading Robert Ludlum and now I LOVE to read romantic suspense novels. My favorite authors for this genre are Linda Howard, Karen Rose, Elizabeth Lowell, and Allison Brennan. Rather than studying how to write from a stuffy textbook, I study my favorite authors. I use their books as mentor texts. When it comes to suspense, I enjoy having multiple threads woven into the storyline. For example, in Devil Du Jour, there are a few threads that are introduced that are not resolved by the end of the story. They shall be seen and dealt with again in Demon a la Mode. So keeping issues unresolved until it makes sense to deal with them is a great way to keep the tension going. It doesn’t make sense to resolve those vignettes right away because they all lead up to some big cataclysmic event further along in the BIG story. Creating suspenseful characters is another way to build tension. That’s why I enjoy writing my villains so much. I love to create ones that on the surface, to all other people, they appear normal, but to us, the reader, we know better, and we get to watch mayhem unfold.

8. I could asks dozens more questions, but I recognize your readers will be eager to get the next letter on your blog tour and piece together your mysterious message for a chance to win your prize, my last question is; what is your long-term writing ambition? Where do you see yourself in 3, 5 and 10 years from now?

A. First, I’m so excited for folks to join in this fun letter game! All the collected letters create a sentence, so when you know what the sentence is and email me, I WILL SEND YOU A GIFT! And everyone who emails me is in the running for the Gift Card!

I decided that along with the recipe card, I will pick from that pool of entries at random to receive a $20 Amazon or B&N gift card.

As for my writing goals, I see myself writing full-time in three years, if not sooner. I want to continue writing books for The Brethren Series, with a spin-off. The Book Waitress will be over in 13 parts, so I see myself cultivating ancillary material for that series. Other series have popped up in my mind and I’ve begun those, though they haven’t been released yet. I see myself writing until my mind can’t think up one more story to tell. I’m confident that won’t happen for a VERY long time! J

Thank you for joining us today Deena, I look forward to the next book in the Book Waitress series, you are an incredible author, and I am so pleased to have the chance to pick your remarkably gifted brain.

Kali, thank you so much for hosting my blog tour, and for these FABULOUS questions! Let’s continue our conversation over some coffee and pastries…

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Now, details of Deena’s contest:

DIRECTIONS FOR READERS: Each stop on the DEVIL DU JOUR Blog Tour will have a letter to collect. After collecting all 13 letters, put them all together to create a sentence! Email me what the sentence says and I’ll email you back with a special gift! deenaremiel@yahoo.com

Kali’s Letter of the day……………drum roll please………………….

Did you know…The Book Waitress is FREE and the first book, as one book picks up exactly where the other leaves off. :)

Devil Du Jour Blurb

The Book Waitress, Camille Dutton, has luck on her side. Good and bad. On the upside, she narrowly escaped death and Satan claiming her soul. On the downside, a portal has been opened, and she can feel every time a creature from Hell crosses over to our world.

Derek Galloway is one tenacious man. His curious nature won’t let him rest until he closes Hell’s portal and finds a cure for Camille’s affliction. Satan will have one helluva fight on his hands if he tries to claim her again.

Camille and Derek, an unlikely couple, have found each other in the darkest of times. Will they find the answers they need to free her and the world from Satan’s grip? Or are they in for the longest, darkest battle of their lives?