Q&A Interview and Giveaway with Cynthia Eden

Hello everyone!  Book Monster Reviews and LITERAL ADDICTION are proud to welcome award winning author Cynthia Eden to our sites today!  

Cynthia is a Gemini who has always wanted to write.  She particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters, vampires, werewolves, etc as in her paranormal romances, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.  She does it quite well too!  Her romantic suspense novel “Deadly Fear”, was recently named as a RITA finalist.  

Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about the people who interest her).  She worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and an editor.  Now, she’s thrilled to be spending her days making stuff up and getting paid to do it.

She loves Dracula, Lois Lane, Buffy and Wolverine, and has no problem admitting that she’s addicted to chocolate and romance novels. 

Her favorite films are The Princess Bride, Romancing the Stone, Friday the 13^th, Underworld Evolution, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Hellboy.  

While Cynthia thoroughly enjoys a life of Fantasy, she also enjoys her reality with her husband Nicholas and son Jack.

Cynthia is the proud creator of the MIDNIGHT, DEADLY, NIGHT WATCH and THE FALLEN series. 

Her two newest releases, “Never Cry Wolf”,  which was just released on June 28, 2011, and “Angel of Darkness”, THE FALLEN book #1, which is due out on November 29, 2011, have been getting rave reviews. 

For our readers not yet familiar with Cynthia’s NIGHT WATCH and THE FALLEN series, let’s give you some more information about the books…

NIGHT WATCH

“Eternal Hunter” (Book #1)

Assistant DA Erin Jerome has a secret. Make that two. One: She's not entirely human - she's Other, desperately trying to keep her supernatural strength under wraps. Two: she's got a killer stalking her - an Other rogue set on gifting her bloody corpses, not to mention nights lying awake in terror. Small wonder she's been having bad luck with men.

“I’ll Be Slaying You” (Book #2)

Sandra "Dee" Daniels is a vampire's worst nightmare. Sure, she couldn't get up to five-six in the highest heels money can buy—not that she ever wears heels. But the monsters in her past and the stake in her boot are enough to keep most bloodsuckers interested in staying undead out of Baton Rouge.

But there are changes afoot on her turf. Rumors of a Born Master in town—a vampire so powerful he can make the streets run with blood. And a new face in Dee's dive bars and alleyways—Simon Chase, a strong, sexy shadow with a haunted past of his own. Simon knows a lot about the dark side of Dee's work. He knows even more about how to make her body spark with desire. But the hot lust shimmering between them is only the beginning. Because Simon also knows a secret that will change Dee's life—if she can live long enough to uncover it.

“Eternal Flame” (Book #3)

No one that deadly should look that good. Hybrid demon Zane Wynter specializes in tracking the most lethal criminals, whether human or Other. But Jana Carter is nothing like his previous targets. She's an Ignitor, able to conjure and control fire. She's also sexy beyond belief—and used to playing dirty...

Jana knows she's being set up. She even knows who's responsible: Project Perseus, a secretive group that plans to rid the world of paranormals by any means necessary. From Louisiana's sultry swamps to its desolate cemeteries, Jana and Zane must race to destroy the mastermind behind Perseus before their world goes up in flames—and with it, a desire that burns too hot to resist...

“Never Cry Wolf” ( not a direct part of the Night Watch series, but a new werewolf romance)

Lucas Simone is not the kind of guy you mess with. He's big, he's strong, and his eyes hint at a wilder side most women can't handle. Of course, that's because his predatory instincts are no metaphor—he's a genuine Grade-A top-quality werewolf, tough enough to fight his way to dominance over the scariest pack on the West Coast. There's only one chink in his armor. Unlike most alpha dogs, Lucas has a reputation for protecting the weak and innocent.

Sarah King is counting on that protective impulse—it's the only thing standing between her and certain death. There are only two problems: one, she's not quite as innocent as she'd like Lucas to believe. And two, if he doesn't stop stoking Sarah's animal lust, it's only a matter of time before her own wild side gets unleashed. . .

THE FALLEN

“Angel of Darkness” (Book #1)

As an angel of death, Keenan’s job is to collect the souls on his list. He’s carried out his duty for two thousand years and never faltered once. Until he meets Nicole St. James. When the moment of death comes, Keenan hesitates, and instead of taking Nicole, Keenan touches the vampire who’s attacking her.

Cast out of heaven for disobedience, Keenan plummets to earth. Six months later, he finally manages to track Nicole to a bar in Mexico. He’s stunned to discover that the woman he remembers has undergone a dramatic change—she’s become a vampire. And when he realizes that she’s the target of all manner of enemies—other vampires, demons, even shifters—he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, even if all hell breaks loose…

They sound great don’t they!!?  Now that we’ve pulled you into a piece of Cynthia’s library of literary excellence, what do you say we get to the Interview now and learn some more about this incredible author and her amazing work?

DONT FORGET - Cynthia will be chatting with us LIVE over on LITERAL ADDICTION's Contact Us page  from 4-6pm EST.  (http://www.literaladdiction.com/contact-us.php#/members/)

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  Hi Cynthia!  Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to come and chat with us today.  We’re very happy to have you here, and are excited to help you promote “Never Cry Wolf” and the upcoming “Angel of Darkness”! 

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  We like to start by finding out a bit more about our guest author, and then we’ll dig into the books… 

Q1): Can you tell us 3 things about yourself that we couldn’t find out easily on the Internet, in your bio, etc?

CYNTHIA:  When I’m feeling down, I watch The Mummy. Maybe that seems random (probably!) but the romance of the show always gets to me (and I do enjoy that horror blend). And as for horror, while I list myself as being a big horror fan on the Internet, I actually like the really, really bad B movies the best. They make me smile. And my 3^rd thing?  I don’t eat anything green.

Q2):  What are 2 things that always make you smile, and 2 things that never fail to piss you off?

CYNTHIA:  LOL, I should have saved some of any answers from the 1^st question!  Okay, I smile when I hear my son laugh (always), and I smile when I open a fresh box of chocolate. 

The things that piss me off? Kids being mistreated. Folks tossing out litter like the world is their garbage can. (I live close to a beach, and I always get so angry when I go for a visit and find the beach covered in  trash.) 

Q3):  What are some of your hobbies or things that you enjoy doing when you’re not working, writing or taking care of other business?

CYNTHIA: I love going to the movies. I think it’s the escapism of the shows—they can take me away (just like books do) and let me forget any real-world problems for a while.  I also really enjoy snorkeling, though I haven’t been lately.

Q4):  What’s your fondest childhood memory?

CYNTHIA: You guys are gonna laugh but…getting my picture taken with the Incredible Hulk. 

Q5):  Do you listen to music when your write?  What were some of the artists that helped to inspire the NIGHT WATCH series and “Angel of Darkness”?

CYNTHIA: I don’t listen to music when I’m actually typing out the story, but I do prefer to listen to music before I actually start a scene. I like to hear some mood music to get me ready for the writing that will come.  The music gets my mind in the zone.  Because there were a lot of action scenes in ANGEL OF DARKNESS, I liked to listen to a lot of hard, driving music.  That music worked well for me. J

Q6):  Who are some of your favorite authors, and what are a couple titles in your TBR pile right now?

CYNTHIA: I have so many favorites!  Larissa Ione, Jayne Ann Krentz, Kresley Cole, Linda Howard, Christine Feehan, and Julie Garwood all spring immediately to mind.  My TBR pile is actually quite huge right now—overflowing! When I’m working on a story, I don’t let myself read any books within my genre. I save all the releases until I’m done, and then I have a big reading party as a reward for finishing my WIP.

Q7):  If you could spend the day with one of your characters, who would you want it to be, and what would you want to do?

CYNTHIA:  Oh, let me think on this one.  Okay, I’d want to hang out with Keenan from Angel of Darkness.  Why?  Cause he’s a kick-ass angel! I figure we could do anything we wanted, and the guy could always keep me safe.  And he’s been around for more than  few centuries. I could pick his brain and hear some awesome stories. 

Q8):  What’s a typical work day like for you?  Do you have a routine; is there something that you absolutely have to have with you to get through your day, etc?

CYNTHIA: Now that my son is in kindergarten, I’m creating a much better working schedule.  I try to write 3000 words each day, and I usually do these in big chunks of 1000. So in between my writing periods, I check email, do promo work, and, occasionally, try to clean the house. As far as a routine goes…I like to listen to some mood music to get me in the right frame of mind before I write. If I’ve got a big action scene, I’ll listen to music with a pounding beat before I dive into the story. 

Q9):  What is your favorite type of scene to write (dialogue, sex, action, mystery, etc)?

CYNTHIA: Action, definitely!  In action scenes, so many factors come into play—danger, emotion, evil—it’s great to mix all of that up and see what happens to my characters. 

Q10):  With Fantasy being such a popular genre these days, what about it fascinates and draws you personally?

CYNTHIA: I love the idea that anything can happen in these books. If you think it, it can be.  A world without limits—how awesome is that? 

Q11):  Do you think that your upbringing influenced your writing, and if so, how?

CYNTHIA: I think my mom strongly influenced my writing…because she always encouraged my love of reading. She’d drive me for hours and hours and we’d go on hunts at used book stores.  She didn’t care that I spent my days with my nose buried in a book—in fact, she loved that I did it! I got to spin all kinds of dreams in my head, and, well, I’m still spinning them now.

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  O.K, now we’ll ask some questions directly related to “Never Cry Wolf” and the NIGHT WATCH series, as well as “Angel of Darkness”…  J

Q12):  Was there any specific inspiration that lead to the concept and creation of the NIGHT WATCH series?

CYNTHIA:  The entire Night Watch series began with one line that popped into my head: “It takes a monster to catch a killer.” As soon as I had this line, I knew that I wanted to write about paranormal heroes and heroines who tracked down criminals. I decided to make the Night Watch agency a bounty hunting agency (the bounty hunters would have more freedom to act—something I wanted for the characters), and the stories all developed from that point. 

Q13):  Is there a specific message in the “Angel of Darkness” that you’re hoping your readers will grasp?

CYNTHIA:  There is one message I’d like readers to take away—Don’t assume. Don’t assume you understand everything about the world and the people around you.  Surprises and twists can be everywhere.  What you may see as some terrible punishment someone else may see as a blessing. 

Q14):  What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, logistical, etc) in bringing NIGHT WATCH and “Angel of Darkness” to life?

CYNTHIA:  With the Night Watch books and with Angel of Darkness, I set the stories in an area that I know well—Louisiana. (Angel of Darkness is set in New Orleans—a city I adore). Since I was already familiar with the area, I didn’t have to research that aspect of the story. I do a lot of psychological research on my bad guys. I’m always curious as to why folks “go” bad.  And when it comes to law enforcement research…I know I spend WAY too much time on the FBI’s website and on the sites of various police departments. 

Q15):  How many books do you have planned for each series?

CYNTHIA: Right now, there are three books in the Night Watch series (Eternal Hunter, I’ll Be Slaying You, and Eternal Flame). I am definitely open to writing more, though, so we’ll just have to see what can happen!

For the Fallen series (my Fallen Angels of Death), I am currently working on book #4.  After I finish this book, I’ll talk with my editor and see what she thinks about my next proposal. 

Q16):  What can we look forward to as each series progresses?

CYNTHIA: With the Fallen series, you can definitely look forward to some bad boy heroes (serious anti-heroes).  Book #2 (Angel Betrayed) and Book #3 (Angel in Chains) both have heroes that have slipped WAY over that line between good and evil. Hopefully, the right woman will be able to redeem those guys. Hopefully. 

As for the Night Watch series…I don’t know. I’ve always wanted to go back and write a story for Tony and his witch Cat. 

Q17):  What else is in the works for Cynthia Eden outside of these 2 series?

CYNTHIA:  The growing popularity of self-publishing and the ebook revolution has opened up a new door for me.  I’ve put out two paranormal novellas recently (ebooks), and I’ve been thrilled by the responses I’ve received to those stories.  I’m pricing these books low, at .99, and I hope that I will be able to release more of them in the future. These books are set in a new “world” for me, a world in which vampires and werewolves don’t always have to be enemies. Instead, they can make great lovers. 

I also hope to write more romantic suspense tales soon.  I love romantic suspense, and I can’t wait to explore that area more.    

Q18):  Is there a question that you have always wanted to be asked in an interview but have never been asked?  How would you answer that question? 

CYNTHIA: Yes! I’ve got one: What would your life be like without books?  My answer? Sad. Very, very sad.  Without books, I’d just be lost. 

Q19):  In a day far, far in the future when you decide to stop writing and retire, what thoughts do you want to have about your career and your body of work?

CYNTHIA: I am currently training my 5 yr old to take over the writing life with me.  I have plans for that boy.  J And as I sit back and read his books, I’ll spend my days hanging out on a beach and sipping tasty drinks. 

Honestly, though, I can’t imagine *not* writing. I love it so much, I feel like I’ll always be doing it (in one form or another). 

Q20):  Is there anything specific you would like to say to your readers while we have you here today?

CYNTHIA: Yes, please—I’d like to say thank you. Thank you for reading my books. For sending me such great notes about my stories. Thank you for supporting my work and for reading romance novels!!

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  Cynthia, thank you so much for being with us today!  The NIGHT WATCH series is fantastic, and we’re very excited for “Angel of Darkness”!  We’d LOVE to have you back to help promote your next release following “Angel of Darkness” if you’re interested…

CYNTHIA:  I’m always interested in coming back! Thank you! I had a great time answering the interview questions, and I am so glad that you invited me over.  Thanks for a wonderful interview!

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CONTEST:

CYNTHIA is graciously offering up a signed copy of “Never Cry Wolf” and an Advanced Reading Copy of “Angel of Darkness” to 2 lucky winners from Book Monster Reviews (one winner per book).

To Enter: Make sure you are a follower of the BMR Blog and then post a comment on the interview and make sure you leave a valid email address. Any comments without an email address will NOT be entered into drawing.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Don't forget to drop by the LITERAL ADDICTION website (http://www.literaladdiction.com/) and follow the directions and links to enter their contest for an extra chance to win!!!