Please welcome one of my favorite fast growing authors in the PNR world Caris Roane!!
I’m a fulltime writer, which means I have the best job in the world. I have two children, grown. I live in Arizona with my hubby and two cats, Sebastien and Gizzy. Before I wrote paranormal romance, I wrote Regencies for Kensington, but that market all but disappeared in 2005. Having included vampires in one of the Regencies, it just wasn’t a stretch for me to embrace the extraordinary and exciting paranormal market. In fact, some of my earliest Regencies even had characters from Greek mythology; Eros, Psyche, Anteros, Aphrodite and Artemis!
Do you have a process in your writing routine?
Since all my writing time is consumed with my Guardians of Ascension series, I’ll take you through that process, which is awesome, because it all starts with focusing on my hero—and I’m sorry, but what can possibly be better than that?!? In this case, for instance, I’m writing Thorne’s book so let me tell you I carry that man around in my heart right now. He’s just awesome (besides being totally gorgeous)! From there, I bring the heroine into sharper focus, deepen her, asking questions like, why is she worthy of Thorne? In this case—and this is for fans of the series—Thorne knows extraordinary things about Marguerite that nobody knows. But getting to that point, of knowing Thorne and knowing his woman, is a challenge. I have to think and ponder and question. A lot!
At the same time, I work on structuring the plot. Where plot is concerned, I map all the events out based on the hero’s journey. I’m a huge fan of this particular concept which involves, in a nutshell, character growth. Essentially, the plot must show how these two characters grow: in this case, Thorne and his woman. It’s a difficult challenge but soooo rewarding when it all comes together!
What are some of your favorite author’s and books you’ve read?
Sherrilyn Kenyon is one of my favorite authors and so is Laurell K. Hamilton. Now let me tell you what I think they did that I still find mind-boggling; both of these authors made me fall in love with their leading men. I’m still amazed by that. I can remember the exact scene in which Ash came into supremely sharp focus for me (Zarek’s book). And I’ve been a devotee of Jean-Claude’s from the moment he stepped on the stage. I still have a fantasy that Laurell will start a new series from Jean-Claude’s point-of-view! I think I would turn serious groupy for that one!
Would you tell those who haven’t heard of your The World of Ascension series a little about it?
Well, it’s easiest to begin this way. When I really looked at the Greek mythological scope of the Dark Hunter series, I thought, “I want a world as big as that one, so that if I fall in love with my characters, I can write many, many books based on that world.” From there, I thought, why not create a world of ascending dimensions, in which the inhabitants of each dimension, as they develop new preternatural power, find themselves in the midst of a call to ascension and therefore a call to a new world and a new state of being. Second Earth, for instance, is the world of the vampire. In fact, all the ascending kingdoms are inhabited by vampires. But it’s very possible that Third Earth will have greater evolutions, shifters maybe, I’m not sure yet. The possibilities are endless and that was the goal. If Sherrilyn wanted to, she could explore a hundred different aspects of Greek mythology and keep building and expanding her world forever.
I have seen quite a few reviews where people said your book Ascension reads like other PNR author series. I am not naming the author because I am sure you know. In your own words would you tell what sets your series is apart?
I know what you’re getting at and though I was surprised at these reviews, I think any writer who attempts a brotherhood series, and there have been many before me and will be many after, will find comparisons inevitable. But in this case, what sets this series apart from my point of view, is that each of the women in my world, as novel builds on novel, develops extraordinary emerging powers that shape the course of the world. But to be a true brotherhood book, I also worked hard to build up each of the men, as well as how they relate to each other and to their peace-keeping job generally. Beyond that, my vampires have wings, which means that flight is a huge part of the series. And as I said before, the world is enormous, with six ascending dimensions!
How in the world do you come up with different powers for the heroines?
I have to say this is one of the most fun parts of this series for me, perhaps because it’s mostly an organic process! I don’t just sit down and assign a power. Instead, what happens in my creative process is that I put the heroine into a certain situation, a certain problem or difficulty, then I watch what emerges. It’s been an amazing ride so far.
Will you write a book for Endelle?
Endelle! Don’t you LOVE her? I recently posted on Facebook that she’s the woman I would want to be if I didn’t have a conscience, if I had no sense of propriety, and if I didn’t have to get along with others at all! But YES, she gets a book and it’s the climax book of this part of the series, book #10! So, not only does all this grief with Commander Greaves draw to a conclusion, but Endelle finds love as well…and maybe a slight softening of her spirit (but not too soft)!
You have so many different wings, how do you come up with them all?
The wings! That was an organic process as well and started to really take shape in the first book when Warrior Medichi notices that Warrior Marcus’s wings have a light green banding on them! Then Medichi says, “The same color as Havily’s eyes.” So, there you go! From that moment, wing coloration would relate to some other aspect of the story, the setting, or the romance. In the fourth book, BORN OF ASHES, the heroine’s wing coloration has to do with an emerging preternatural power, but I won’t say anything more! (But it’s awesome!)
Anything else about your series you like to add?
Only that I see this first part of the series as consisting of 10 books total, and that all ten books are building to a terrible war in book #10 (as well as love finding Endelle!) It’s a huge challenge to carry around ten books in my head, so before I begin the next book of the series, I reread everything I’ve written before and I take notes. My sincerest hope is that when all ten are completed, the whole group will read as one complete story, just broken up ten times…or something like that!
Would you tell us a little of what you’re working on next?
I’m writing Thorne’s book right now, OBSIDIAN FLAME! This is the book that many fans have posted about—when will it be Thorne’s turn? Of course, he’s the man, the one in charge, the one who’s carried the load for two thousand years, so yeah, we want him to find love and peace and finally get some rest while he continues to soldier on as the leader of the Warriors of the Blood. This book will release in May of 2012. (Jean-Pierre’s book, BORN OF ASHES, releases in January of 2012.)
Fun questions
What your favorite color?
Hands down, green, especially on the mossy side. Next in line is dusty rose.
Do you have any pets?
I love animals. At one time, I had three goldfish, very big, fat, and spoiled, which lived for ten years. I also had four cats and two cocker spaniels. But life took it’s course and now I have only two kitties with me. I’m hoping to get a dog in the next year. I miss my cockers!
What your favorite movie and TV show?
I think “The Good Wife” is one of the best shows on TV and I also adore “Castle”. When “American Idol” rolls around, I never miss an episode. I also can’t get enough right now of the houses that Sarah Richardson renovates…HGTV! Go figure!
Do you have a favorite food or place to eat?
I LOVE Mexican food and we have several restaurants in the Phoenix area that do the cuisine proud!
Places to find Caris
Website
Brief Bio
Caris Roane has published over fifty Regency romance novels and novellas under the pen name, Valerie King. In 2005, Romantic Times gave her a Career Achievement award in Regency Romance. Having had a long-time love affair with vampires, Caris tackled the paranormal genre, building a world based on ascending dimensional earths. The first novel of the series, Ascension, was released December 28, 2010. Burning Skies, the second book in the series, hit the shelves in May. And the third novel, Wings of Fire, is a September release.
Caris lives in Buckeye, Arizona with her two cats, Sebastien and Gizzy.
Caris is giving away a signed copy of BURNING SKIES. Please leave a comment or question for Caris to enter. Open to US and International.
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