Interview and International Giveaway with Caris Roane

Today I am pleased to welcome Caris Roane to Book of Secrets.  Caris is the author of the Guardians of Ascension series.  Her latest release is WINGS OF FIRE.  Hi, Caris!

 When did you first consider yourself a writer?

It took me a long time to think of myself as a writer. I mean from the time that I thought, yeah, maybe I could write a book until I was first published was a period of 9 years, which I understand to be quite common. But during that time, I was back-and-forth about it. So you could say it took me 9 years to really be able to say with a committed voice, I am a writer.

Please tell us a little about your latest release.

WINGS OF FIRE is the third book in my Guardians of Ascension series featuring winged warrior vampires and the powerful women they protect. This installment follows Warrior Antony Medichi and his woman, Parisa, both of whom have mythical 'royle' wings with the power to bring peace. Parisa 'ascends' to Second Earth and straight into a battlefield of death vampires, gorgeous winged warriors, and the evil Commander Greaves who intends to take over two dimensions. Oh, and did I mention this is a dimensional world, six dimensions in all?

What was your source of inspiration behind this book?

I've always loved vampires, ever since I can remember, though I can't exactly say why. And there are so many wonderful brotherhood books out there as well. So of course I wanted to write a brotherhood of vampires--I mean what could be better--but I also wanted to offer my own twist on the genre and one day, while writing, a really bad death vampire showed up bearing enormous, exquisite, glossy black wings! That was it--my vampires had wings. To that I added my six dimensions and Guardians of Ascension was born!

As for WINGS OF FIRE, the title, created by my agent and editor in a lively back-and-forth, totally inspired this novel. Since my vampires have wings, I went crazy with the wings this time and made them the focus of the plot. 

For readers who are not familiar with your books, please share some background information on your series.

Well, ASCENSION is the first book of the series and came out this past January. The heroine, the very powerful Alison Wells, goes through her rite of ascension in the course of the story, which is to say that she's a mortal-soon-to-become-a-vampire and soon to live on Second Earth. In this book, I introduced Havily who then becomes the heroine of book #2, BURNING SKIES. Havily's story is a little different, since she is already ascended and lives on Second Earth. But she has emerging powers and because of it, the enemy wants her dead, so she needs the protection of her 'guardian', the powerful Warrior Marcus Amargi. In the course of their story, I also introduce Parisa and Antony and as I mentioned before, their story gets fully told in book #3 WINGS OF FIRE. And there you have it, a world at war, women with lots and lots of emerging powers, and hunky warriors who are driven to protect them and to bond with them.

How many books do you have planned for the series?

Right now, I have 10 books planned for this first part of the series. I know exactly which warriors will be featured in the first nine books and that the last book, #10, will star the infamous Endelle, the Supreme High Administrator of all of Second Earth. She's wonderfully profane, notoriously fashion-challenged, and designs all her own leather-feather gear!

Which character was the most challenging to write and why?

The most challenging character to write so far was Warrior Thorne. I just finished his book, OBSIDIAN FLAME, which will be out in May. Now the reason he was so challenging to write was because Thorne is 'the man'. He's the leader of the Warriors of the Blood and he has a mind-link with Endelle, so he serves as her second-in-command. I've had fans ask about him numerous times so I felt really strongly that of all my warriors, I needed to do right by him. He needed to grow in power and responsibility and he needed just the right woman. My editor called her 'Endelle-light', which will give some of your readers a clue as to what she's like. All-in-all, I WORKED REALLY HARD to get his story just right. 

What books have most influenced your life?

Two books stand out for me. DUNE, by Frank Herbert and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, by Jane Austen. To date, I've written in both genres. Before I wrote paranormal, I wrote Regency Romance under the pseudonym Valerie King. Writing my Guardians of Ascension series is very much the fulfillment of a dream to write big books set in a world I've created. I have two homages in my books to Frank Herbert. One is the precis in front of each chapter and the other is the use of the Convent concept. DUNE doesn't have a convent, that I recall, but there was definitely a Catholic-sisterhood feel, which I gave a nod to just for fun.

What are your top three tips for aspiring writers?

My top three tips for aspiring writers are: 1) read everything you can get your hands on, 2) write the kinds of books you love reading the most, and 3) study your tush off since writing is a craft like any other on the face of the planet.

Where can readers find you on the web?

Readers can fine me at carisroane.com and on Facebook. I can also be contacted directly at carisroane@gmail.com.

Can you leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from your book?

Here is the opening poem to WINGS OF FIRE. This has always felt so special to me because it reveals part of Antony's past and how much he was once beloved. The poem was written by his deceased wife, who died in tragic circumstances. Here it is: 

My Beloved

In the twilight I think of him
He sees me in the wonder of his eye
I allow the air to breathe
He does not move with swift feet

His thoughts turn to me imagined
I wait beyond the faint boundary of time
He does not rush
My steps are measured

I have known his love from the beginning
I perceive his beauty angled, firm
He is earnest in his movements
Love rises on wings of fire

Maria Medichi, 707AD – 732AD
Translated by her husband, Antony, 1845

Giveaway Details:

Caris is giving away the winner's choice of either ASCENSION, BURNING SKIES, or WINGS OF FIRE!  This is an international giveaway.  To enter, please leave a question or comment for Caris along with your e-mail address.  Contest is open until 9/24/2011 at 11:59 pm.  Good luck!