Interview & Giveaway with Keri Arthur [NOW CLOSED]

I am very excited to welcome Keri Arthur, who has two releases in the UK today: Bound to Shadows, the 8th Riley Jensen novel and Circle of Desire, the 3rd in The Damask Circle series, both published by Piatkus. To celebrate the launch of these two books, Keri kindly agreed to answer a few questions.

I also have a copy of Bound to Shadows to giveaway to one lucky commentator - so make sure you enter at the end of the interview!

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BCC: Hi Keri, welcome to Book Chick City. I'm so pleased to have you here today and thank you for answering my questions. You have two books due for release in the UK today: Bound to Shadows and Circle of Desire. Can you tell us a bit about each book?

Keri: Bound to Shadows is the penultimate story in the Riley series. As such, we start getting some answers to the storylines and questions that have been running through the series. 

Circle of Desire is the third in the Damask Circle series. It tells the story of shapeshifter Katherine Tanner, who’s sent by the Circle to hunt down the monster murdering children, and police officer Ethan Morgan, whose niece is one of the missing children. They’re forced to join forces, and both battle their feelings for each other as they struggle to uncover clues that will lead them to the monster’s lair. But there are a whole lot of zombies and other dead things determined to stop them…

Interestingly, it was Circle of Desire which (along with my Ripple Creek series) that sparked much of the world building that appears in the Riley Jenson series.

BCC: I noticed on your website that the 9th book in the Riley Jensen series, Moon Sworn, will be released summer 2010. Do you have many more planned after that?

Keri: No, Moon Sworn will be the last Riley book. There will be an offshoot series, however, featuring Risa, the little girl that appears in a few Riley books. It’s set in the same world, but 25 years into the future, and will feature Aedh and reapers, as well as the usual assortment of vampires, werewolves and shifters. Riley and the gang will make appearances in it.

BCC: Why have you decided to end the Riley Jensen series after Moon Sworn?

 

Keri: Given everything I've done to Riley, and everything she's gone through, I really don't think I could have taken the series any further without it becoming unbelievable or contrived. I believe most series have a natural life span – and if you go beyond them, the series can suffer. I didn’t want that to happen with Riley, because she’s such a great character. So, I gave her an ending and I’m moving on. But we’ll still catch glimpses of her and the gang in Risa’s series, so all is not lost.

BCC: If Riley was to star in her very own Hollywood movie, who would you like to play her character?

Keri: I really have no idea—and wouldn’t actually care, as long as she was believable as Riley. It would have to be someone who could combine Riley’s sexiness and toughness—and make it believable—and who would look good with red hair. There are not many actresses in Hollywood who could pull that off.

BCC: You have written many series. Which did you enjoy writing the most or is this just impossible to answer?

Keri: I guess I’d have to say Riley’s series, because she’s such a fun character to write. She’s sexy, tough, sassy, and she’s a gal who will stand by her friends and loved ones through thick or thin. She’s going to be a tough act to follow.

BCC: Why urban fantasy and the paranormal? Have you always been interested in these sorts of subjects, eg vampires, werewolves etc?

Keri: I’ve always written fantasy of some sort—my very first book (completed at the age of 12, and which was actually a rewrite of an already published book—the author killed off a favorite character, and that annoyed me so much I rewrote the book and changed the ending) featured talking horses, then I graduated to talking dragons, moved onto shapeshifters, and eventually found vampires and werewolves. So for me, it’s been a long time love affair with the weird and wonderful.

BCC: Can you tell us about your writing process?

Keri: I write full time, so I basically treat it as a job. I have a set amount of pages I need to write a day, and I usually write in the afternoons, with music blaring. If I’m on deadline (or behind on a deadline) I’ll either up the daily page count or write in the evenings or weekends—whatever I need to do to get the book done. 

BCC: When and where do you like to write?

Keri: As I mentioned, I write in the afternoons (I’m at the gym in the mornings). I always write in my study, and my desk is a complete and utter mess. Actually, the whole study is. One of these days, I’m going to have to tidy. lol

BCC: What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?

Keri: I have a gorgeous garden, so if it’s a nice day, I’m out in that (weeding, generally). I do love watching TV and movies, and I’ve also just taken up photography as a hobby. I’m still very much a learner, but I’m having a ball. If anyone wants to see some of my pics, they can go to my Flickr site HERE. 

BCC: Do you think you will dip into the Young Adult market as so many other urban fantasy writers have?

Keri: No. I’m afraid my muse is a blood thirsty little soul, and I doubt I’d be able to tame her down enough for the young adult market.

BCC: Have you ever visited the UK? Will you be coming here for a tour in the future?

Keri: I’m actually heading over there August/September next year—I’m having a three week holiday touring around England and Ireland. I’m hoping to leave a few days at the end of the tour to do some book signings and such.

BCC: That's great news! Can't wait! Lastly, if you had to choose, would you be a vampire or a werewolf?

Keri: Werewolf. I can’t stand rare steak, so I’d be a washout as a vampire. lol

Thanks so much Keri!

If you would like to know more about Keri and her books then visit her here: 

Website | Twitter

The Riley Jensen Guardian Series:

1. Full Moon Rising

2. Kissing Sin

3. Tempting Evil

4. Dangerous Games

5. Embraced by Darkness

6. The Darkest Kiss

7. Deadly Desire

8. Bound to Shadows

9. Moon Sworn

The Damask Circle Series:

1. Circle of Fire

2. Circle of Death

3. Circle of Desire

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Okay, on to the contest:

US Edition

For the chance to win a copy of Bound to Shadows, all you have to do is the following:

1. Leave a comment with your email address

2. Blog/Tweet about this contest. Make sure you leave the URL link with your comment.

This is open WORLDWIDE! Ends 12th Nov. Winner will be announced Fri 13th!!

GOOD LUCK!