Interview and Giveaway with Jessica Andersen!

Under the Covers is participating in the Spookacular Giveaway Hop hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and The Diary of a Bookworm. This giveaway will run from Oct. 24th-31st. Please make sure you visit other participating sites during this awesome event! And now....

Jessica Andersen is the author of The NightKeepers series and several Harlequin Intrigue books. Her latest release, Lord of the Wolfyn takes on a sexy shifter in a series with Gena Showalter, Jill Monroe and Nalini Singh called the Royal House of Shadows. We are thrilled to have Doc Jess with us today at UTC! Let's get this party started! For more information about Doc Jess and her fabulous books, please visit her website here.

Thank you so much for stopping by Under The Covers today and hanging out with us!

Thanks so much for having me!

What was it like working on a four-book series with three wonderful authors who have their own distinct writing styles?

Wow, working with Gena Showalter, Nalini Singh and Jill Monroe was truly fabulous!! When we first got together (so to speak- it was all done by email), we brainstormed a ton of different ideas for ways to tie the books together, yet still allow each of us to tell our own kind of story. At the same time it was super fun to talk about all the possibilities, because these were going to be books outside of our own series, which meant we could do some new and different things if we wanted. Honestly, it wasn't a problem coming up with ideas—it was more of a challenge to narrow them down! One of us would say “I think I'm going to do this,” and the rest of us would be all like, “ooh, then that means I can do this other thing!” It was a very cool, very interactive process that I think shows in the stories, which are tied together, yet reflect each of our very individual styles.

Your book is inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. How or what did you do to make your story resemble the well-known tale while not let it be a simple re-telling?

Well, I started out knowing that I wanted to make the wolf into the hero—I'd never done a werewolf before (er ... I mean I'd never written one before), and I really wanted to, so I immediately snagged Red Riding Hood as my starting point. But you're right that I way didn't want it to be a retelling ... So instead of following the story, I actually use the book itself. The heroine—a frustrated, desk-riding cop in Salem, Mass—finds an old, familiar-looking copy of Red Riding Hood in an antique store on the waterfront, and finds herself compelled to buy it. When she gets it home ... well, let's just say it opens up a whole new world for her!

Shifters are very sexy supernatural creatures. What was your favourite thing about writing a book on them?

I had really only written one shapeshifter before (Nate Blackhawk in DAWNKEEPERS), and he doesn't get that particular power until very late in the story ... so I really had a ton of fun thinking about Dayn's shapeshifting powers, how the urges of a werewolf affect him, and how they mess up his self image (the wolfyn are considered the enemy in his home realm!). But the best part was experiencing his mating urges, and the way he really locks on to what he wants. He's a super sexy alpha wolf, and not afraid to use it!

What would you say is Dayn's best quality? What is the quality that he needs to work on?

One of the things I love most about Dayn is his loyalty to the people he cares about, whether his lover, his friends, his family, or the people of his homeland. He's got his own desires (and then some!) and he's not afraid to go after them (woot!), but at the same time he's got this strong, honorable core that I admire. That's why he needs the heroine, Reda—she's supposed to lead him back to his homeland ... if they can make it past the vile sorcerer who's determined to stop them.
On the flip side, though, he's been alone a long time when he meets Reda, and he's used to calling all his own shots. So let's just say that she's got some work to do when it comes to getting him to slow down and listen to her—really listen to her—and understand that he doesn't get to call all the shots for both of them ... at least not if he knows what's good for him!

What would you consider essential elements of a good story?

For me, it's really important that I connect right off the bat with one or more of the characters, and that I really care about what they're going through. I really won't stick with a book or a movie for very long if there's nobody I can really root for.

Fun questions! If you could shape your own series where a different author writes a story in a four-book deal, which authors would you pick and why?

Ooh, that's a cool one! I'm a big fan of historical romance, especially with mysteries, action and/or paranormal elements. So how about a great historical series written by Amanda Quick, Hannah Howell, Elizabeth Hoyt and Jade Lee?

Complete the following sentences:
A good book is one that has.... a heroine I would like to have lunch with and a hero I'd like to have breakfast with. In bed.
Every hero should ... floss.
Paranormal Romance is hot because... it can be my wildest fantasy, and then some!

If you had the choice between a Knight in Shining Armour or Dark and Broody antihero, which would you pick?

I'll take the knight any day. I've had dark and broody, and have learned that it's not my responsibility to fix him. Now I've got my knight ... and no, I'm not sharing!!

If you could shape shift into anything, what would it be?

A great white. I'd like to be on shark week, showing off my backflips and stuff!

You will be attending the RT Booklovers Convention (Chicago 2012) and holding a No-Holds Barred Q&A with the talented J.R. Ward. What do you think readers can expect from this workshop and why shouldn't they miss it?

Weellll, let's just say it's a really uncensored workshop. Anyone who attends might get a spoiler or two, and will definitely get some laughs!!

What's next for Jessica Andersen?

I'm wrapping up two series in 2012—the Nightkeepers (paranormal romance for Signet Eclipse) and Bear Claw Creek (romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue), and will be launching some way cool new projects in '13. Stay tuned for more info, I can't wait!!

Thanks again for stopping by, we had so much fun chatting with you!! 

Jessica Andersen is graciously giving away one signed copy of Lord of the Wolfyn to a lucky maiden! Open to everyone. Winner will be chosen via random.org.

Once upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden.
To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance.

Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.…
For practical Reda Weston, nothing could explain how reading a sexy version of "Little Red Riding Hood" catapulted her into another realm—face-to-fang with the legendary wolf-creature who seduced women. A wolf who transformed into a dark, virile man….

Dayn cursed the Sorcerer that turned him wolfyn and damned him to a lonely fate. As a beast, he mated with women to gain strength.

Strength he needed to rescue his royal parents. But as a man, he craved Reda's heated, sizzling touch. With little time left, Dayn had to either embrace his wolf to save his kingdom…or fight it to save his woman.

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Check out our other giveaways on the blog right now:
Win a personalized book of your choice by Jeaniene Frost, our Author of the Month! - Ends Oct. 31.
Win a signed copy of Possess Me or Three Sinful Witches by R.G. Alexander - Ends Oct. 25