NJ WALTERS
Day two in our
SAMHAIN NIGHTS event where we are featuring authors published by
Samhain Publishing
everyday of the week. Lets get to know NJ Walters!
Hi NJ, you've
written several series already and are in the process of expanding them. How do
you go about outlining your work? Do you have a set number of books in mind as
your write?
Thank you so much
to Under the Covers Book Blog for having me here today!
I have to admit
that I’m not much of a planner when it comes to writing my series books. I tend
to start with an idea for the first book and go from there. With the Legacy
series, I wanted to write a werewolf story. I worked out the basics of the world,
and wrote character sketches, which is something I always do. Once I have the
first scene in my head, I start writing. I generally have an idea where I want
to go with a book, but it doesn’t always unfold the way I imagined.
I knew I would
write more than one Legacy book, but I had no idea how many books or which
characters would jump to the forefront. Some characters like Isaiah Striker and
James LeVeau Riley are obvious choices to have their own books. But sometime
characters surprise me. I originally thought I’d be writing stories for the
Wolf Creek pack, but instead ended up focusing on the Haven pack in Chicago.
That just seemed to be the right thing to do. After book six comes out in
October, I’ll be taking a break from this series, because I’ve told all the
stories I have to tell right now. I’m leaving it open to more books in the
future but, for now, I’m done.
Having said that
I don’t plan, I’ve just contracted another paranormal/shapeshifter series for
Samhain, which is a quartet. I knew going in it would be four books and
actually did some outlining for this particular series. That’s very unusual for
me, but it seems to be working for this particular series. Watch for the first
book in the Hades’ Carnival series, Night of the Tiger, in January 2013.
If you could recommend only one of your books for readers to try, which one
would it be and why?
That’s a tough
question. It would depend on what kinds of books a person likes.
If you enjoy
paranormal, then my Legacy series is the obvious choice (Samhain Publishing) or
possibly my Dalakis Passion vampire series (Ellora’s Cave). If you like ménage
a trois, then my Tapestries series is a must (Ellora’s Cave). If
contemporary/erotic is your thing, then you should try out the AwakeningDesires series (Ellora’s Cave). If you like contemporary/spicy tales with an
emphasis on small town living and family, then you might enjoy my Jamesvilleseries (Samhain Publishing). I have other series, but these are my most popular
ones. All my books are love stories at the heart of them.
Can you tell us a bit about your Legacy series with Samhain publishing?
My Legacy series
began with Alexandra’s Legacy and my vision of a twenty-two year old woman who
works in her father’s garage in a not so great neighborhood in Chicago.
Alexandra Riley has no idea just how much her life is going to change when a
tall, dark stranger appears in her father’s garage and completely blows up her
idea of what her life is. She discovers her father has lied to her all her
life—he is really a pureblood werewolf and she is a half-breed. Now she is in
danger from paranormal bounty hunters who want to kill her. But there are also
certain factions of pureblood werewolves who want her dead, not wanting their
bloodlines diluted by her half-breed blood. Then there are the werewolves who
want to mate with her because female werewolves are scarce. All of them are now
searching for her and she must depend on the stranger, Joshua Striker, to keep
her safe as they make their way to the protection of her father’s former pack.
And if that wasn’t enough, she’s about to go into heat!
What
characteristic do you think all heroes should have?
A hero can be
rough around the edges, he can be worldly, smooth and suave, or any combination
between the two extremes. His appearance doesn’t matter as much as his
character. A hero should be loyal and should live by a code of ethics, even if
it isn’t the same one that is recognized by the rest of the world. He has to be
willing to admit his flaws (even if it takes him a long time and brings much
suffering for both parties until he does) and grow during the course of a
relationship. He can be stubborn and, at times, conceited, but he can never be
abusive for any reason. He is protective of his woman and family and puts them
ahead of himself.
How do you ensure that a sex scene isn't over the top or unbelievable? How do
you know when to draw the line?
It really depends
on the characters. I honestly don’t think much about the sex scenes before I
write them. I let the characters tell their story and try to stay out of the
way as much as possible. I’ve often said that when I’m sitting at my computer
I’m merely taking dictation. The characters tell their own tales and sometimes
they surprise the heck out of me. I’ll read back over something I’ve written
and be shocked that I actually wrote it, considering I’d never planned to go
down a certain road to begin with. That’s part of what makes writing fun. J
As
a result, my books vary greatly in the sex scenes from very graphic and earthy,
to sweet and sensual and everything in between.
What is your favorite thing about being a Samhain author?
Where do I begin?
I love everything about being a Samhain author. From owner Christina Brashear
right down the line to all the talented people who work for the company, everyone
has been wonderful to me from day one. I’ve had three different editors with
Samhain and have learned so much from each one. Heidi Moore, my current editor,
is always so enthusiastic about whatever path I want to take with my writing. A
writer can’t ask for more than that! My fellow authors are so supportive,
giving and kind. The cover artists are brilliant. And we have the best fans
ever!
It's a warm summer's night and you are free to do anything you want! What would
you do and who would you spend it with?
I would spend it
with my husband, no question. We might watch a movie or go for a walk or simply
hang out together. We’ve been together for a lot of years, but we never run out
of things to talk about. We might even curl up and read, both of us on separate
ends of the sofa. Not exactly earth shattering, but I’m a laid back kinda gal.
Stalk NJ Walters
Ms. Walters is giving away winners choice from her Samhain
backlist.
To enter:
1. Be a follower
2. Fill out the form below.
I’d love to. I’ve read a lot of erotic romances that take place in sex clubs with dungeons and public viewing areas and while they work for those stories, I wanted to come up with the kind of fantasy sex club I might actually go to. So the Playhouse, a private fantasy club was invented, and along with it, its sexy and enigmatic owner, Paolo. The four stories in the series are intentionally short, dealing with a couple at a crossroads and how their visit to a playroom at the Playhouse affects their relationship. Each story features a different fantasy: exhibitionism, voyeurism, ménage, and bondage. Reader response has been great!
