Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter is the author of sexy paranormal romances, including The Stone Prince, The Pleasure Slave, Heart of the Dragon and Jewel of Atlantis.  She is also the author of Awaken Me Darkly and Enslave Me Sweetly, a darkly seductive alien huntress series.  Her mix of humor, danger and wickedly hot sex provides wildly sensual page-turners sure to enthrall.                                   

PNR: Have you always wanted to be a writer, what led you to pursue writing as a career?

Gena S.: Not always.  For many years, I didn't know what I wanted to be when ‘I grew up’.  I dabbled with story telling in high school, but didn't think to pursue it afterward, and so I jumped from nursing to phlebotomy to microbiology in college.  But none of those satisfied me.  Finally - and I don’t recall exactly what happened to at last kick some sense into me – I decided to give writing a try.  I wrote for two years (six stories) before I landed an agent, but we didn't sell anything for another two years.        

PNR: Could you tell us about your writing routine, how do you balance writing and personal time?  

Gena S.: Personal time?  What's that?  When I'm working on a rough draft, I write all day and all night.  Lately rough drafts have been taking me about four weeks.  Once that’s done, I'll usually work an eight hour day until the book is completely polished – that takes about 2 months.  It's all about OCD, baby.  Once I start something, I'm obsessed with getting it done.   

PNR: What is the best part about being a writer? The most frustrating?

Gena S.: I love creating characters and worlds and situations.  I love imagining and weaving fairytales.  I love seeing and holding the finished product.  It’s a rush, like a drug.  I love, love, love it and can’t get enough!  The most frustrating part would have to be writing a rough draft or a scene and realizing later that it does'’t work for the story.  Oh, the agony of cutting it or starting from scratch!

PNR: Who is your favorite author(s)? Who has most influenced your work?

Gena S.: I adore Karen Marie Moning, PC Cast, Jill Monroe, Jennifer Crusie, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Linda Howard, Charlaine Harris - I could go on and on.  All of these wonderful ladies have definitely influenced my work.  I want to be them when I finally do grow up.  One of my new loves is Kresley Cole.  What a powerful writer!

PNR: Though you do write contemporary romance, most of your work is in the paranormal genre, what do you like most about writing paranormal romance?  

Gena S.: The possibilities are endless.  Anything and everything is possible.     

PNR: Your stories feature a number of paranormal abilities and beings, is this challenging?

Gena S.: Sometimes the ideas flow easily, others times I have to force them.  I’ll take a drive or pull out my hair as I try to figure something out, but it’s amazing when the right idea/character/situation finally forms.  

PNR: Who is your favorite character(s) to write? The most challenging?

Gena S.: I love writing the heroes in my books.  They are fun and sarcastic and edgy and strong, and I fall madly in love with every one of them.  They’re always willing to die for their women, and that’s just irresistible to me.  I’ve found the most challenging characters to write are my bad guys.  I have to remind myself that good characters can do bad things and bad characters can do good things.      

PNR: Everyone is excited about your Alien Huntress series; can you tell us a little about it, maybe some inside information? 

Gena S.: Some insider information…..Well, the second book in the series, Enslave Me Sweetly, features some pretty cool aliens.  They were tons of fun to create, with some. . . attributes people might find surprising.  Also, the heroine of this book isn’t as dark (and, let’s face it, quick with her fists) as Mia Snow, the heroine of Awaken Me Darkly, but she kills without hesitation.  Plus, I introduce some new, fun gadgets in the second story.      

PNR: It looks like you have a busy year ahead, could you tell us about your current projects, what can readers expect to see in the coming months?   

Gena S.: Up next is Jewel of Atlantis, set in the same world as Heart of the Dragon.  A human OBI (Otherworld Bureau of Investigation) agent enters the fabled land to steal a jewel.  He steals a woman instead.   After that I have the mass market version of Awaken Me Darkly.  Then Enslave Me Sweetly (the second alien huntress novel), Animal Instincts (my first contemporary), Oh My Goth (my first YA romance), Mysteria (an anthology with MaryJanice Davidson, PC Cast and Susan Grant), and Playing With Fire, a book about a woman who develops unexpected super powers.  And that's just my 2006 schedule.     

PNR: Thanks Gena, for taking the time out to talk to us. Where can readers find out what's new and how can they contact you? 

Gena S.: It was my pleasure!  I happen to be my favorite subject J
Check out my blog www.genashowalter.blogspot.com

Featured in this Issue:

Interview:
Gena Showalter
J.R. Ward

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