Interview with Author Nancy Gideon and a Giveaway (International)

My guest today is Nancy Gideon, the author of over 50 books published under different pseudonyms.  She has written in many genres, including western and Regency historicals, vampire romances and romantic suspense.  Her latest shifter series falls into the dark paranormal category, which Nancy describes as "Romeo & Juliet meets Beauty and the Beast in the Big Easy."

The first three books of the Moonlight series (USA release dates):

Masked By Moonlight (Available Now)

Chased By Moonlight (June 29, 2010)

Captured By Moonlight (July 27, 2010)

You can check out my review of Masked By Moonlight HERE.

Welcome, Nancy!

BoS: You've been a published author for over 20 years, writing a variety of romances including historical, paranormal and suspense. What are some highlights from your writing career?

NG: Writing as Dana Ransom for Zebra Books, I won a “Career Achievement for Historical Adventure” from Romantic Times and a HOLT Medallion for my Men of Pride County historical series for Avon as Rosalyn West. Those were pretty nice mile markers. Overwhelming fan response to my early ‘90s MIDNIGHT vampire romance series for Kensington under my own name brought it back to life with small press ImaJinn Books for six more book. That was personally gratifying. The most fun I’ve had was working with an indie producer/director on the horror film, In the Woods. I got to do some revisions on the script, write the novelization, and even had a credited part as ‘Bar Extra’! Going behind the scenes, hanging with the actors, makeup and effects people was fabulous. From that experience, I got to collaborate on the screenplay for another horror film called Savage, and even have my own listings on the International Movie Data Base as both writer and actor. My son, who wants to make films, is soooo jealous. Having a Hollywood producer contact me to express interest in MASKED BY MOONLIGHT after reading the Publishers Weekly starred review was also a huge high point!

BoS: Very nice!  I'd love to see the Moonlight series on the big or small screen.  Masked By Moonlight is the first book of the series. Why did you choose to write about shifters? What genre do you most enjoy writing?

NG: I’d already done my share of sleekly elegant, Type-A tapping vampires, so I was looking for something different. Werewolves who can’t control their transformations were a bit too rough for my taste, so I created my own brand of Shifters who’ve evolved into a tiered hierarchy with a powerful ruling class of intellectuals, the ruthless assassins who do their bidding and the outcasts who are just trying to survive in secret. I love writing in all different genres and especially enjoy combining them. MASKED BY MOONLIGHT is a dark paranormal, an edgy action thriller, a twists-and-turns suspense, and a steamy romance all in one. All of my books contain at least a measure of suspense to keep things interesting so I guess suspense would be my favorite genre element.

BoS:  I enjoyed the paranormal and romantic suspense elements in the story.  In the first book you introduce us to Detective Cee Cee Caissie who finds herself entangled with mob enforcer Max Savoie, and their story continues in the second book. How many books are planned for the Moonlight series? Will Max and Cee Cee continue to be the central characters?

NG: So far I’m contracted with Pocket for six books. The first four, MASKED, CHASED, CAPTURED and BOUND (tentative title), will contain Max and Cee Cee’s story arc. They will appear in books five and six as secondaries, but those books will have different heroes and heroines. All books will build upon the Shifter mythology that unfolds with each new story. How many? I could go on infinitely. I’ll just coin a phrase from Arnold’s movie Last Action Hero to say at least until the grosses go down.

BoS: That's great!  It sounds like we will get to know Max and Cee Cee very well.  Their characters are both tortured people haunted by their past. How did you develop your characters?

NG: To be able to carry more than just one book, I needed strong characters with lots of issues, both internal and external. Where they’ve been determines who they are and who they’ll become. A shared event in Max and Cee Cee’s past was the stepping stone for their relationship, a moment of trust that immediately binds them forever. I love complexity. Nothing is worse than a hero or heroine who leaves you feeling indifferent. Even though Cee Cee’s take-no-prisoners attitude might leave a few readers cold, it’s consistent with her past and motivated by her experiences. And I’d rather have them love her or hate her than be unmoved by her. Max is unique and I wanted to present him that way, not as just a hunky hottie (although he definitely IS that!), but as a lost individual with no real sense of self, who is NOT human, so he doesn’t always respond as you’d expect. But again, he’s consistent within his world. Having them grow through the progression of books both as individuals and as a couple has been a delightful challenge.

BoS: Why did you choose New Orleans for the story's setting? Do you get to travel much for research?

NG: I LOVE to travel. I’ve never met a location I can’t spin into a backdrop for romance and adventure, from Iowa to Ixtapa. New Orleans is my favorite destination. I’d been there for several conferences, but really got to immerse myself in the nuances when two writer friends and I rented a historic condo in the French Quarter this past April and spent a week exploring everything from the swamps in airboats to the cemeteries and walking tours. You can’t capture the flavor without breathing it in first hand.

BoS: A week-long getaway to the French Quarter sounds wonderful!  In closing, is there anything else you would like to share with readers?

NG: I’m ubber excited about my new BY MOONLIGHT series and urge readers to learn more about me and the series by visiting my website at http://nancygideon.com/. I’ve got tons of extras tucked away there from writing tips to a foreign cover quiz, so make sure you take time to explore. Also check out my book trailer and sign up for my e-newsletter.

Four Fast & Fun Questions:

What is your favorite language?

NG: I like the romance languages: French, Spanish, Italian because I know enough French to feel my way along. What I really love are accents. Nothing’s sexier than a man with an accent!

Which one would you rather live without: the internet or television?

NG: Television (not the same as movies). I watch only a very few programs and refuse to get pulled into the time suck of reality shows. I am very visual, though, so I do sneak in a Hulu or two. Though I fought Facebook and Twitter, I’m becoming quite addicted and am anxiously awaiting my IPad! I’m a self-confessed Net Flix junkie and movieaholic. When I write, I see the story evolve as if it was on the screen.

What is the last movie you saw (in the theater)?

NG: Iron Man 2. Now that I finally broke down and got a big screen TV, I’m very choosy about what I go to see in the theater. It usually has to be something huge cinematically . . . or have Clive Owen or Robert Downey Jr. in it.

What book is at the top of your to-be-read pile?

NG: I’ve been intrigued by the upsurge in YA paranormals so I’m working through James Patterson’s Max series and the next book after City of Bones. And anything by Dean Koontz or J.D. Robb automatically moves to the top. I don’t travel without them!

Thank you so much for being with us today, Nancy!  I really enjoyed reading Masked By Moonlight, and I'm looking forward to reading more of the Moonlight series.  Nancy will be stopping by today to answer questions, so please feel free to leave a question or a comment for her!

Giveaway Details - International 

{The contest has ended. The winner will be announced in a separate post.}

One commenter will win a copy of either Masked By Moonlight (Book One) or Chased By Moonlight * (Book Two), sent by The Book Depository (or by me if you are in the USA).  The winner will choose which one she (or he) will receive.

* A Note for International Readers Only (outside the USA):  According to The Book Depository, Chased By Moonlight (Book Two) will be available on August 19th, so if you are the winner and choose that book, it will be shipped in late August.  Masked By Moonlight is available now.

HOW TO ENTER: 

In a comment, leave your e-mail address or a way to contact you if you are the winner.

Possible extra entries:

+2 Leave a question for Nancy or a comment about the interview. 

+2 Spread the word about the interview/contest on Twitter, etc.

+2 Be a follower of my blog.

The contest is open worldwide, meaning anywhere the The Book Depository delivers.  You must be 18 years old or older, or a legal adult in your country of residence.  Entries will be accepted until Wednesday, June 30th, at 11:59 pm Central Time.  The winner will be chosen using Random.org and notified by e-mail.  Good luck!