Author Interview with Casey Wyatt
Welcome, Casey! Thanks for coming by. Please tell us about your book/series and how did the idea come to you?
The idea for The Undead Space Initiative hit me like lightning bolt while I was driving in my car. I remember: Cherry Cordial, a vampire stripper forced to go to Mars. At the time I was writing Mystic Ink, so I took notes. Later I wrote the first three pages, then shelved the idea until the summer of 2011 when I finally wrote the book.
When did the writing bug first bite?
I’ve always liked writing, but it wasn’t until I was an adult when I realized that I wanted to be a writer, for real!
Who are you favorite authors, book/series?
I have loads of favorites, too many to list them all! Jeaniene Frost’s Cat and Bones books, Harry Dresdan (Jim Butcher), JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood and Simon Green’s Nightside and Drood series.
What is your most favorite childhood memory?
Spending summers camping in Rhode Island. Every day we’d go to the Misquamicut Beach or visit Watch Hill and ride the carousal. I remember one summer, we rented a house and it had an upper deck. We stayed up late and watched the Perseids meteor shower. I’ll never forget how dark the sky was. With almost no light pollution, the meteorites stood out vividly. I’ve never seen anything so spectacular since.
Do you have any hobbies or special things you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy reading, watching movies and spending time with my family. I also love to knit and crochet fun stuff. When the weather cools down, I like baking too. My specialty is peanut butter filled chocolate cupcakes.
Any advice for new writers just starting out?
Loads! The first is trust yourself (beware The Doubt Monster!). The second is just write! Don’t spend forever on one story. Write it and move on to the next one. Think of them all as learning experiences.
Boxers, brief or commando? Commando!
Favorite eye color?
I like my hubby’s blue-green eyes. They change color depending on the light or his clothes. Sometimes they are bluer, other times greener. I call them magical mood eyes.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve heard or seen?
Last October when a freak storm passed over the northeast, knocking out trees and power for days (we had no power for five days, others in the state for twice as long). The evening the storm hit, I spent half the night listening to tree branches cracking and crashing to the ground, hoping none of them would hit my house. So awful and freaky! I hope to never experience a night like that again!
The Undead Space Initiative
by Casey Wyatt
BLURB:
Cherry Cordial, vampire stripper extraordinaire, spectacularly messes up her life with a single act of kindness. How could she have known when she rescued gorgeous rogue Ian McDevitt that she would be implicated in the vampire queen’s murder? Soon, she faces the wrath of the entire vampire community. To escape retribution, she joins a settlement program to colonize Mars. Her choices are grim: hurtle through space to the red planet to face the unknown and possible death, or stay on Earth and face certain annihilation. To make things even more complicated, a certain gorgeous rogue seems to be shadowing her every move…
Life sucks, then you die. It’s a universal truth. But here’s what’s scarier. Even in death, life can still suck.
Case in point … wait for it….
“Cherry! Get your skinny ass up on stage!” Jonathan barked through my dressing room door. How do I describe him? Pain in my rump? Benefactor? Reason for my current situation? None of them seem adequate. His main occupation? Yelling at me to perform and to make him money. And he’s always interrupting. Never lets a girl have even a moment to think.
“I’m on my way. Geez Louise.” I flung open the door, narrowly missing Jonathan’s long Roman nose. The tops of his fangs peeked out from his full lips as he smiled at me. This was a game we liked to play. I would try to smack him with the door whenever possible.
Okay, it was a game I liked to play. I’ve never managed to nail him in the face. My vampire sire is too damned fast.
Jonathan tsked and crooked his finger. A slow smile curled his lips. “Cherry, I don’t know why I put up with you.”
“Of course you do. I’m your number one performer.” I flashed fang. My pearly whites are nowhere near as long as his, but they can still do the job. Due to feed soon, I tried not to stare at Jonathan’s jugular. I hated needing my sire’s blood to stay strong and avoid overpowering hunger. The kind, if left untended long enough, that made vamps go feral. I buried my nose in a bouquet of fragrant red roses, a gift from one of my many fans.
Jonathan smirked. Damn. I hated when he caught me eyeing him like a roast. Another game we liked to play – I pretended I didn’t need him. And he pretended not to notice. We both knew otherwise.
I needed him.
Crap on toast.
Casey Wyatt has no personal knowledge of the paranormal, but she hopes someday that may change. If there are ancient Gods, elves or satyrs living nearby, they’re more than welcome to visit. Bring pizza and chocolate please!
Her paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels have won or placed in numerous RWA contests. When not writing, Casey enjoys time with her family, loves to read, and enjoys knitting and crocheting.
She lives in a bustling Connecticut town with her husband, two sons and an assortment of pets (none of which are shape-shifters).
Visit Casey on the web: www.caseywyatt.com or at http://secretsof7scribes.wordpress.com/. You can also find Casey on Facebook and Twitter (@CaseyWyatt1).
Website: www.caseywyatt.com
Blog: www.caseywyatt.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casey.wyatt.37
Twitter: @CaseyWyatt1
Tumblr: http://caseywyatt.tumblr.com/
I enjoyed the excerpt thank you. I always like to know how the muse strikes.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Hi Mary! Nice to see you at Lia’s! I’m kinda weird. I don’t really have a Muse. But I do have Doubt Monster who I constantly battle with!
Lia, thank you so much for having me as your guest today. If anyone has anyone questions, please ask!
Also, I’m wondering what television programs your readers enjoy. My hubby and I love to watch Lost Girl. And with my sons, we never miss an episode of Warehouse 13.
I like Lost Girl too. Also, I really enjoy Game of Thrones on HBO.
I’d love to win your book!
Hi Monica. I’m bummed that the season finale for Lost Girl is coming up. Guess that means I will have more time to write! (And that is probably a good thing!)
Great interview and I would just about kill for one of your cupcakes right now! lol (major sugar craving today).
I enjoyed the excerpt! Congrats on your release Casey!!!
Thank Christine! Now that the cool weather is returning, I’ve been itching to bake. Maybe I will have to make some evil cupcakes soon!
Thank you for hosting Casey today.
Casey, I love the premise for this book, I also love to say vampire strippers on mars, its just funny! Anyway, if your sharing cupcakes I would love one ;0) I wish you much success with your book, Carin
Thank you Carin. Lucky for us vampires don’t eat food so we don’t have to share any cupcakes!
You had me at Vampire stripper! I loved this book. Great job! And hey, did someone say … cupcakes???
Yes… you heard right. Although you can’t have the peanut butter version (but I know you’ve had the creme filled ones)! And I’m happy you enjoyed the book.
I think we all have Doubt Monster to contend with, for sure. I like Lost Girl, though I started rather late…it’s good to see Kris Holden-Ried in a vehicle worthy of him (too often he’s been the best thing in something crummy).
Aagh, forgot my e-mail: vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
I really like Kris too. I remember him from The Tudors (and sadly his character died from a plague). Maybe his wolf can come and eat the Doubt Monster!
What a unique story line. This is a first, as far as I know. A vampire stripper going to Mars. What fun.
Thank you momjane! I think you might be right about that! As far as I know, no one else has put vampires on Mars in a book. And there are more than vampires. There are also zombies and revenants too.
I absolutely loved The Undead Space Initiative. You redefined the persona of vampires and changed the slant on revenants and zombies. I was riveted to your book from the first page to the last. Can’t wait for your next book.
Great interview, ladies. Casey, it’s always a pleasure learning more about you. Good luck with your virtual tour.
Thank you so much Janna. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the story. I know it was a bit weird to set vampires on Mars, but I am so glad I didn’t listen to the Doubt Monster and just wrote it anyway!
Lia, thank you so much for having me as your guest today!
Great original questions! Oh, Casey! I think I would have left my house! I’m a scaredy cat– I would have had to hotel up!
justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Hi Chelsea! We didn’t have a choice with the storm. The entire state of CT and parts of Massachusetts were without power for days! It was unlike any storm I’ve ever seen. There was no where to go. Kind of makes me think if there is a zombie apocalypse, they can just have me.
Hey Casey, It’s great to get to know a little about you. First line is brilliant. Excerpt overall all is great. Hope the blog tour and book sales are doing well.
Hey Sabrina! Thanks! I’m glad you liked the excerpt. I appreciate you stopping by!