About Dani Harper
Dani Harper, author of Changeling Moon, writes paranormal romance, blogs about the paranormal, watches paranormal TV and movies, and reads paranormal books of almost any kind. So it's only natural that werewolves, faeries, ghosts and other supernatural creatures populate her stories. She lives on an island in Southeast Alaska with her fisherman husband. Her stories get written on land or at sea with the help of her executive secretary, Fiona the Pug.
For more information please visit http://www.daniharper.com/ and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter
Now on to the interview
When were you bitten by the writing bug?
Maybe it's a stray gene from some old Irish or Welsh roots, but I wanted to write stories before I could read! I had a fascination with books from a very early age -- we're talking toddler here. I carried them around, slept with them, scribbled in them (editing, obviously), chewed the corners off them (trying to internalize the stories?) and generally wore them out. I remember sitting outside on the doghouse (very Snoopy-esque!) with a humongous sheaf of paper, "writing" an epic novel in orange crayon. No pictures, just pages and pages of squiggly lines that only made sense to me.
Did you find it hard to get into the writing industry?
I've accumulated the very same giant teetering pile of rejection slips that 99.999 percent of all authors do. In 2007, I broke into the e-pub world with a book and couple of novellas, but things really didn't start moving for me until I found an agent -- and that took an even LONGER time and even MORE rejection slips. I was so thrilled and excited when I discovered an agent who believed in me and my story -- but there are no words to describe what it was like when she phoned me to tell me that Kensington wanted my book!
What sets your Changeling series apart from other similar series in the same genre?
I've built my concept of Changelings from European legends of garwolves -- creatures that retain their humanity when they're in animal form. And what I enjoy most is the "ordinariness" of their lives that allows them to hide in plain sight! Anyone, anywhere, might be a Changeling -- your next-door neighbor, the clerk at the grocery store, the policeman patrolling the streets . . . However, all that humanity doesn't make the inner wolf tame, and being a Changeling means living with an alter-ego that sometimes has ideas of its own.
Do you have any say in your cover art?
Yes and no. I had a little bit of input when we were discussing the initial concept for the series covers. By the time I get to see a cover now, it's pretty much a done deal. I feel very fortunate to have such wonderful artwork -- many readers have mentioned that the covers are really pretty.
It's probably a good thing that I'm not in charge of the design. My love of scary movies would probably get the best of me and there'd be big teeth and glowing eyes and blood and whatnot on the covers!
Do you find it daunting to write an ongoing series? And how do you continue to keep the story line fresh?
Writing my Changeling series isn't daunting unless the characters aren't talking to me at the moment. Overall, Connor Macleod and his siblings popped up almost fully formed, with their own personalities and names and so forth. They're very different from each other, each with his or her own issues, and that certainly helps to keep things fresh because there are different things to overcome and to learn.
What can we expect from you next?
Changeling Dream is the second book, and it comes out on June 28th. Changeling Dawn is slated for release in January 2012. And yes, I'm working on Books 4, 5 and 6 at present.
Thanks again Dani
The Giveaway
*Up for grabs is one copy of Changeling Moon and one Proof copy of Changeling Dream.
- There will be one winner and that one winner will get both books.
- This giveaway is open to the continental US only.
- The giveaway will run from June 30, 2011 to July 7, 2011
- You do not have to be a follower to enter, though it is always appreciated, please let us know if you are a new follower so we can check out your blog.
- To enter simply comment on this post and leave your valid email address.
- If by July 11, 2011 the winner has not contacted us after being emailed a new winner will be chosen.
Good Luck,
Rebecca and Kelly
Contest is now closed
Contest is now closed
