Congratulations on the October 2006 release of your paranormal romance, A TASTE OF MAGIC with 

LoveStruck Books.  I just finished reading it and I have to tell you, it really held my interest.  October is the 

perfect time for a paranormal treat with Halloween approaching.

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the book.  You’re right, October is perfect, the mood for all otherworldly

beings really kicks up this time of year. 

I see in your bio that you hail from New Jersey as do I.  It is so nice to discover yet another wonderful 

Jersey author.  Has paranormal romance always been your niche?  

Another Jersey girl – that’s great!  I love our fair state, despite its sometimes not-so-rosy reputation. 

As far as paranormal, I’d have to say yes and no, actually.  I’ve always been a big fan of vampires, I’ve 

seen most of the movies out there, and read so many vampire novels, but when I started writing romance, 

vampires weren’t very popular in romance fiction.  So I wrote medievals and westerns, two of my favorite 

time periods that happened to be very popular at the time.  I don’t remember exactly when it was, 

maybe the very late 80’s, when I stumbled across a vampire romance and realized there was finally a 

market for it.  But so many of the books I read had vampire heroes that despised their existence, and 

hated what they’d become.  A good many ended with the vampire reverting to human form.  And to me, 

that wasn’t a happy ending.  After so many disappointments in that respect, I decided to take a shot at 

the characters I’d had in my head for so long, and everything just sort of fell into place after that.   

When did you first catch the writing bug and when did you know you had what it takes to get published?

I’ve been writing my whole life.  In fourth grade, my teacher used to staple magazine pictures on a piece 

of lined paper, and we could write a story for extra credit.  I must have done one every single day that year.

It just progressed from there.  I wrote my first complete novel at 14, and was always with pen and paper in 

hand, writing something.  It wasn’t until I found RWA about 15 or so years ago that I realized I could really 

try to make something of it rather than just spending hours holed up by myself.  Being invited to join my 

critique group (which I still belong to and attend faithfully) kind of validated that I had talent, since many 

of the members of that group were multi-published when I met them.  I trusted them, because they knew 

(and still do know) way more than I did.  It was their belief and support in my writing that brought me to 

where I am now.

Do you outline your stories before you write them, or do you "go with the flow"?

I should outline, but I never do until I’m well into the book.  I usually start with a single scene that will come 

to me, and go from there.  Those beginning scenes are usually inspired by something I see or hear during 

the day, or from playing the old “what-if” game.  Other times a lyric from a song can set a whole series of 

events going off in my head.  Once I’ve written about three or four chapters, then I start to pull together 

plotlines, and future scenes.  Not really an outline, just sort of notes of what I want to do with the story. 

What are you working on now and would you like to share a few excerpts with our readers?

I’m working on a couple of things actually, though my time is rather limited.   I have another vampire novel t

hat is close to finished, and I have a time travel that I am revising and editing as well.  I’d be happy to share

an excerpt from the vampire novel, with a working title of The Night Club.  Here it is:

He released his grip.  She made a dash for the door, only to find it blocked by his body.  He towered

above her, forcing her to tilt her head to look at him.  Too late.  Caught in the hunger and promise

in his dark gaze, she could do nothing as his desire held her motionless. 

“What brings a novice hunter to my club?”  The husky timbre of his voice broke the spell holding her

immobile. 

She shook her head and backed away.

She forced her voice to remain steady.  “What makes you think I’m a novice?” 

“I know.  You haven’t destroyed your first yet.”

How the hell did he know that?  He chuckled, following as she backed away.  She came up against

a desk.  He leaned forward, trapping her between his arms. 

“I know many things about you, cherie.  But for someone who hunts my kind, you are ignorant.” 

He brought a finger up and stroked it slowly down her cheek, and along her throat. She shivered

under the caress. 

Was it a threat?  Or something else?

“Be careful, LaCorte.  I can destroy you.”

He threw back his head and laughed.  The sound vibrated through her.  An unruly lock of dark hair

tumbled across his forehead.  She resisted the ridiculous urge to brush it aside.  His piercing eyes

locked on hers and she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat.

“Many have tried and failed.  Once we’re through here, you won’t even try.”

She slipped a hand into her pocket, fingers closing around the short stake she carried.  But before

she could remove it, his hand followed, slipping into her pocket, brushing against her skin with

lightning speed.  He pulled the stake free.  Long slender fingers crushed the wood into powder. 

The former weapon dusted the floor beside them.

His eyes grew cold now, angry.  “My fledglings would enjoy you.”

“Please.”  But what did she ask for?  She didn’t know. 

He pressed more tightly against her.  He shook his head.  “No, cherie, I would much rather enjoy you

myself.”  Those fingers were once again on her throat, stroking, caressing, making her senseless with

longing.  She couldn’t fight, didn’t want to resist as he lowered his head and brushed his lips against

 hers.  He suddenly crushed her against him, his arms wrapping tightly about her.   His mouth

devoured hers, stirring her senses to fever pitch.  Unable to stop herself, her arms crept around his

neck, as if she tried to draw him still closer. 

Her fingers tangled in the shoulder-length dark hair and she marveled at its velvety softness.  His

tongue brushed her mouth, urging her to open and she did, knees buckling as he swept inside, 

tasting deeply.  He left her mouth then, to trail along her jaw and finally her throat.  As his fangs

brushed against her pulse point, she stiffened.  Reality cut through the haze he wove, alerting her

to the danger.  She released her hold, shoving at his shoulders, panic rising to choke her as she tried

to push him away.  A whimper escaped, it was all she could manage, and suddenly, he drew away,

that dark gaze questioning.

“You are afraid?”

She nodded, her voice elusive when she tried to answer. 

“Don’t be.  Just a taste, to show you what is between us.”

The promise in his gaze shredded her fear.  There was no threat, only reassurance. And desire.  He

kissed her again, lightly, and she relaxed in his arms as his hands cupped her head and gently tilted

it back.  She didn’t protest as he laved her neck with his lips and tongue, softening her in his

embrace.   

The characters in A TASTE OF MAGIC are all not quite what they appear.  How did you come up with such 

wonderfully complex characters?  Do they become a part of you as you write?  Do their lives sometimes take

 over a part of your life?

My characters are always a little part of me, for instance, there are some things that Kat says in 

THE TASTE OF MAGIC that are similar to things I have said.  So that part of it comes easily.  The rest is a little 

harder, and I have to admit that the help of my critique partners comes into play here. They really ask the 

“right” questions, catching things I may have missed or not even thought of, or have in my head, but 

neglected to get onto the paper.  As far as taking over my life, my characters have been known to intrude 

at the wrong times!  

Most authors are also avid readers.  Is this the case with you?  What authors influence you?

I used to read a book in a day or two, and several of them a week.  Now, I don’t read as much as I’d like to, 

with a full-time day job and two kids, time can get scarce, and what little bit I do have I like to devote to 

my writing.   But when I do manage to squeeze in some reading, it’s usually something by Nora Roberts, 

Carly Phillips, Janet Walters, Jenna Kernan.  There are a few others, my TBR pile is quite large.

The steamy sex scenes with Adrian and Kat were certainly hot.  How hard is it to write love scenarios?

Very hard!  LOL!  I usually write my love scenes after everything else.  Literally, I will put the words, 

“Love Scene Here” and go back to it after I work out the other surrounding events.  Since I sometimes find it 

difficult to make love scenes seem fresh, and pull all the emotional angles in, when I write them, I like to be 

free of plot worries and the like, so I can devote myself to my characters’ feelings and emotions.  I also 

sometimes find it draining when a love scene is complete, but just like the real thing, when you get it right, i

t can be wildly exhilarating and satisfying.   

Have you ever suffered from "writer’s block"?  If so, what do you do to overcome it?

LOL!  All the time!  And I procrastinate, especially when I know I have to get something new down and 

keep the story moving.  What usually works for me is to edit a scene, and once I get the juices flowing, I can 

move on.  Often once I’ve started making changes to an existing scene, ideas for the new stuff fall into 

place.  Editing is like a warm-up before the workout, and it always helps get me over the block.   

I just love discovering new authors to add to my reading collection.  How do you think your life will change 

as your name becomes known in the fiction world?

That’s an interesting question, and not something I’ve given much thought to.  Ultimately, what I am 

hoping for is to build a solid foundation of readers who enjoy my books, so I can someday devote my full 

time working days to writing.   

So when do you expect your next book to come out?  How long does it take you to write a book start to 

finish?

I’m hoping to have the next one completed, with all edits and revisions done, by December.  In most cases, 

it takes me about ten months to a year from start to finish, and that includes all of the revisions and edits, 

rewrites and scene tossing.     

Any final advice to aspiring authors?

Don’t give up, if the talent is there, everything else will follow.  The only other thing I would suggest is 

growing a thick skin, and try not to take personally the rejections – it’s a part of this business, and rejections 

are a good learning tool.  

Lifetime has just come to you to make A Taste of Magic into a movie of the week. Who do you cast in which 

role and why?

Hmm, another interesting question.  For Katerina, I think I would choose Diane Lane, I’ve been a fan of hers 

for years, since way back when she was in The Outsiders, and I love her acting style.  I think she’d make a 

good Kat.  For Adrian, that’s a little tougher, but I think I would go with Jason Isaacs, he plays a bad boy so 

well, as evidenced by his portrayal of Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.  And he’s got those piercing 

eyes, they could just melt your bones.   

Do you have anything to add that I might have missed, like I don’t know, do you have a favorite review 

site?  Just kidding.  Please, what else can you tell us?

Just that I’m thrilled to finally have the chance to share this story with readers, and I hope they enjoy 

reading it as much as I did writing it!   

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy writing schedule to chat with us.  We look forward to 

reading more of your magical stories some time soon.

Thank you – I really enjoyed myself.  And I hope to have something new for you soon, as well!

TO READ REVIEW