The power of the Triad and Poppy . . . a mmmMMMonday interview with Poppy Dennison!

Just for reading this interview, and commenting on it, you are entered to possibly win one or two FREE books. SO DO IT! And you'll be glad you did!

Wt - This is Wt Prater, and i'm here today interviewing Poppy Dennison. Thanks for being here.

PD - Thanks for having me!

Wt - So, apparently today is bad 80's movie, as I'm currently watching Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. What's your guilty pleasure?

PD -  As far as 80's movies are concerned, I'm a John Hughes girl. Give me the Molly Ringwald movies any day and I'm curled up and happy. Sixteen Candles...*happy sigh* That moment when Jake and Sam are leaning across the table. Gets me every single time! Oh, and when she walks out and he’s leaning against the car. Gah! I’m revealing my age here, aren’t I? Those movies are the ones I watched during my impressionable tween years and have always seemed the most romantic to me.

Outside of 80's movies, I'm normally curled up reading the newest paranormal romance I can find with a huge mug of coffee by my side.

Wt - What book(s) are you currently reading?

PD - I'm a huge Mary Calmes fan and just finished a reread of her Matter of Time series in preparation for the newest one coming out. Love those books. Jory is an amazing character. I try to keep up with a few other paranormal series, including the Anita Blake books and the Southern Vampires by Charlaine Harris. Unfortunately, I haven't been reading a lot lately because I'm in the middle of writing 3 of my own! I think that’s a pretty valid excuse though, don’t you?

Wt -  Tell us about your current projects.

PD - I've just submitted a novella with a sick werewolf and the nurse who takes care of him. It was such a fun story to write and the main character really tested me! Andrew is a feisty bit of goods and finds himself in over his head with shapeshifters. He doesn’t even know they exist! I'm hoping to have good news on it soon.

 I'm currently writing a vampire christmas short that has me giggling at every turn. What happens when a vampire falls for a television cooking show host? I’m having a blast writing it and love stories where I can play up the humor. Funny paranormal books aren’t around a lot, but I’m hoping my fans enjoy my twist on this one.

And I can't leave out Soul Magic, the third and final book in the Triad series. This book really packs a punch and I have a feeling I'm going to be in big trouble with my readers when it comes out! It’s very challenging for me to write, because I know it’s the last time I’ll be venturing into this world (well, at least for a while anyway!). This one features more of Simon and Gray, and wraps up the big “whodunit” of the series. And yes, for the fans who are asking me, it does feature Cormac in a romantic role!

Wt - For you is there a difference in writing novels and short stories? And how so?

PD - In a lot of ways, they are very similar for me. The process, in fact, is exactly the same. Both start with a major idea, usually a scene that is clear to me. It plays in my head like a movie and I have to write it down. Then I build the story around it. The difference between novels and shorter stories comes in the subplots. When I'm working on something like Soul Magic, the plotting becomes much more intricate and time consuming. I have more characters to deal with, and more threads to keep moving forward.  In a novella or short story, I have to limit the amount of subplots because I simply don't have the word count available to fully delve into them. I can’t introduce as many characters, either.

Wt -  Speaking of Soul Magic, how's the Triad doing? I was checking out reviews on Mind Magic, and it seems it's doing a little better in reviews than Body Magic.

PD -  Body Magic seems to be doing very well. The series is doing much better than I could ever have imagined. It's hard to come on the scene as a newbie and have a book that people really connect with, but my readers seem to really enjoy Gray, Simon, and the rest of the pack. I'm thrilled with the response!
 

Wt - In planning the Triad, how much did you plan out ahead?

PD - Triad was originally one book, so I had a pretty good idea of where it was going from the beginning idea. In fact, I knew the ending of book three before I knew anything about the middle of the series because it was supposed to be the ending of book one! I have a notebook full of notes on the series. Characters and plot points and romance, oh my! As I'm writing the third book, I keep referring back to those notes to make sure I keep my original intention in mind. The series is really about Simon's journey, and I hope that as the other characters appear around him, my readers see how they all impact him and his growth as a person, a mage, and a mate.
 

Wt - Well, I love the first one, and i know the second one came out Sept. 20. Do you have date for the third one?

PD - I'm hoping to have the third book out in April 2013, as close to a year from the original release of Mind Magic as I can. I like the symmetry of it. I have a few shorter pieces scheduled for release in the meantime, so I’m hoping my fans don’t yell too loudly about the long wait.

Wt - And these are available through Dreamspinner Press. When you deciding which house to go through, why did you ultimately decide on DSP?

PD - I did quite a bit of research on several different publishers in the genre. Ultimately, word of mouth helped make my decision for me. Every author I spoke with who had published with Dreamspinner loved the team and the process. I'm so thankful I decided to go with them. Elizabeth North is amazing to work with, and the editing team has really saved my bacon a few times. It's been an amazing experience.

Wt - Besides online promotion, are there events that you attend to promote sales? AKA do you spend much time at conventions and such?

PD - I haven't attended any events yet. Last year, I attended GayRomLit in New Orleans as a reader (which is where I met you, Will! *g*). I will be at GayRomLit in Albuquerque this month, but honestly, I'm so much of a fangirl that I don't consider that event promoting sales at all! For me, it’s all about connecting with friends, and if they happen to buy a book afterwards, that’s a bonus. I will be attending Olde City, New Blood, a paranormal convention in St. Augustine, Fl next year that will be more sales oriented. Heck, who am I kidding. I'll be fangirling my way through that convention as well!

Wt - And I noticed you are a fan of blog hopping. Have you found that to be useful in finding new authors and new followers?

PD - Absolutely. As both an author and a reader, the more involved I am in the genre, the more I learn. I find other authors to read, those who share my interests, and have made some amazing friends in the process. I think the best way to find new authors and followers is to be sincerely interested in what’s going on in the genre. There’s a lot to keep up with, but with so many social media options available, everyone can find a niche where they fit in. Blog hops are a great tool for that purpose. It’s a bit of the Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon game. I might not know an author, but they know a friend of mine, and we connect by both doing a blog hop.

Wt - Any new faves?

PD - I'm a huge fan of Jeremy Pack. His new book, To Touch the Stars, blew my mind. Your readers are probably familiar with Jeremy from his interview here. He’s a true gem in this genre, and has wit and wisdom that I admire greatly. As to blogs, I follow the Chicks & Dicks blog because they tend to touch on issues as both a writer and reader that I care about. It’s not all about promotion. I don’t think you can go into any of the social media aspects only thinking about selling another book. How boring would that be? I like interacting with other fans and readers and learning from my fellow authors.
 

Wt -  Do you do NaNo?

PD - I don't do NaNo, but am considering it this year. I'm going to hit up Kiernan Kelly in Albuquerque for some advice. Shall I hit you up as well, Will?

Wt - Please do it! More inspiration aka ass-kicking!

PD - I'm definitely considering it! I need to check the NaNo rules because I've technically just started writing Soul Magic so I'm not sure it will count. Either way, I could use the daily challenge practice and I’m very interested in the community aspect of NaNo. I’ve thought about it for the past couple years, but the timing never seems to be right.

Wt - So, are there any questions you wish i had asked and/or any questions you never want to be asked again?

PD - I must say that I'm still kind of a newbie at this whole interview gig, so there aren't any questions that I've gotten tired of...yet! LOL. Other than that, I think you covered things well. Thanks so much for having me!

Wt - Well, What can I say . . .you are still one of my biggest inspirations!

PD - *hugs* Thank you so much Wt. I don't think of myself as an inspiration. I'm just thrilled to be writing stories that I love, and hope to be able to continue doing this for years to come! And I plan on you being right there with me so get to work! I can’t wait to see you this week in Albuquerque. 


Poppy Dennison developed an obsession with things that go bump in the night in her early years after a barn door flew off its hinges and nearly squashed her. Convinced it was a ghost trying to get her attention, she started looking for other strange and mysterious happenings around her. Not satisfied with what she found, Poppy has traveled to Greece, Malaysia and England to find inspiration for the burly bears and silver foxes that melt her butter. Her love of paranormal continues to flourish nearly thirty years later, and she writes steamy love stories about the very things that used to keep her up all night. If her childhood ghost is lucky, maybe one day she’ll give him his own happily ever after.
 

The Big Picture on mmmMMMonday from Jeremy Pack

Jason, Ellie, and Jeremy Pack

Wt--- Greeting and salutions. This is Wt Prater 
with Just Write and SO Gay,  and I am here
today with Author Jeremy Pack. Thanks for
allowing us the time, good sir.

JP ---Thank YOU for the opportunity.

Wt--- So I feel like I should start off with honesty. . . I have been crushing on you for months, ever since I read your blog for "HOP Against Homophobia"

JP--- Haha. That's very sweet. I had fun with that post--and felt like it was a fantastic event to participate in. One of the cool things about being a part of this community is events like that, where readers and authors come together and make a statement.

Wt--- After visiting twenty or so blogs, I laughed my ass off reading yours and became an instant fan. And I have stalked from a distance since.

JP--- Alas, I'm afraid I must have been a bit of a letdown on that count. I'm pretty dull by most standards. Work, sleep, Ellie and Jason updates, the odd book news....

Wt--- So, in researching for this interview, I glanced over your FB statuses and saw you had watched The New Normal, or at least the first episode. Have you continued watching?

JP--- I'm afraid I haven't. Jason and I were a little offput by the couple in the pilot. I had a really difficult time reconciling the way gay men were portrayed. Our approach to parenthood is very, very different. Probably because I view being a dad as a sacred duty, something I cherish with my very soul, I was sad that it was portrayed in a way that felt disrespectful and vanity driven.

Wt--- I've been watching it with my wife, and our straight and gay friends, and discussing it. We all love it, but then. . .of course, our POV is different because none of us have children. But I love the characters. But I can understand others wouldn't.

JP--- I imagine they would grow on me if I would give it a chance. I just have a hard time with the idea of the "children as accessories" stereotype. I think that sends a dangerous message and probably isn't really a good representation of the reasons a gay couple might want to have children.

Wt --- I know the show is a little "preaching to the choir", but my hope is that there is enough comedy, and reality in it to get the naysayers to understand "Love is love, and being a parent is about that, and not anything else. "

JP--- I hope so too. I think gay men becoming fathers is still a really exotic idea for a lot of people. We encounter some wide eyes and double takes every now and again, even though we live in a very liberal part of the country.

Wt--- I can imagine, and that saddens my heart. Your daughter, Ellie, is six, and you and Jason have been together for four years, is that right?

JP--- Actually Jason and I have been together for just about three years. He is the most amazing partner I could ever have hoped for. Ellie and I are so lucky to have found him. The two of them became immediately inseparable. I adopted her before Jason and I met.

Wt--- And do you both work full time?

JP--- Jason stays home with Ellie, and I have a day job. He works 100 times harder than I do. I could never do what he does, certainly not with as much love and care. I'd be a wreck inside a week--not to mention what would happen to the house, the yards, the dogs, and Ellie. Talk about utter disaster. Shudder...

Wt--- Do you want writing to become a full time job, or are you happy as is?

JP --- I have to be honest, I like the social stimulation and the challenge of my work. I have a very interesting day job that I love. That being said, I would love to be able to write full time because I have so many stories in my head wanting to get out. There's always retirement, right?

Wt--- That is true. So you currently have two books out: The Heart of the Jungle, which one reviewer compared to an Agatha Christie classic, and To Touch the Stars, which Poppy Dennison, author of Mind Magic, calls "The best book I've read all year!" Are you excited with all the raving people are going over your books?

JP--- I'm still so new at this and learning to believe in myself, so I have to tell you, I cry every time I read a review or someone emails me to tell me they liked my work. True story: I almost didn't write To Touch the Stars yet. I didn't believe I had it in me to do it justice. I'm glad I manned up and gave it a go because I grew immensely as a person in the four months it took to write it.
I am so grateful for all the kindness and welcome I've been shown since being published. I am a little teary thinking about it right now. This is an incredibly supportive community. The publishers, the writers, and especially the readers.

Honestly, that kindness and Jason's support--those are the things that made me believe in myself enough to keep writing after The Heart of the Jungle was accepted.

Wt--- Well, the only thing I've read beside the blog is Brianna, your short for The Heart of the Jungle, which hooked me so I definitively plan getting your books soon. Do you have any conventions or anything planned to promote your books?

JP--- My plans to attend GayRomLit this year were unfortunately sidelined by a business trip to the UK that will occur during the same week. I would like to attend some events next year. I'm actually very shy so I'm hoping the extra time getting my legs under myself will help me come further out of my shell.

I have had the opportunity to meet a few of my fellow Dreamspinner Press authors in a social setting and enjoyed getting to know them immensely. I felt like a commoner among kings--they're all so talented and well known--but they made me feel so welcome. Bless them.

Wt --- Thank you again for taking time to do this. One last question before we go: Is there a question you wished I had asked and/or are there any questions you wished do never be asked again?

JP --- The one question I'm asked often and always like to have come up as a discussion point relates to the lack of erotic content in my work. I bring it up regularly because I don't want readers to feel as if I've failed them somehow by not including it in my stories. As a person, I don't have any moral objections to explicit content. As a writer, it just isn't what I write. One reason I love Dreamspinner Press is that there is room for a lighter touch in their catalog and they're willing to indulge that particular idiosyncrasy of mine. Hopefully, my stories will be strong enough that it won't be missed.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to get to know you and spend some time with you! I have had a great time! 

 

Jeremy Pack is a writer of fiction about men who happen to be gay. You’re as likely to find him thrilling to a midnight release of the latest popcorn actioner as weeping in the greeting card aisle to a particularly touching Hallmark card. It is these tastes that inform his storytelling. A fan of car chases, heartmelting sentiment, and head scratching puzzles, he strives to pepper his stories with all three.

Born and raised in a small-town in Idaho, Jeremy now resides in the Pacific Northwest with his partner and their weak-in-the-knees-cute, but teenager-precocious six-year-old daughter. Jeremy believes the best part about writing is making connections with readers! Find him on the web at:

E-mail: http://www.jeremy-pack.com/contact/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JeremyJPack
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JeremyPack1973
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/JeremyPack