Paranormal Author Michele Hauf Guesting Here Today

Dear Lovers of Paranormal Romance,

Today my guest is Michele Hauf, paranormal romance author. Michele has been writing for twenty years. Her first novel, a vampire romance, DARK RAPTURE, was published in 1997. She’s since published over 20 works in historical romance, paranormal romance, fantasy, and action/adventure. Michele will be popping in and out today to answer your questions. Meanwhile, here is an in-depth interview I did with Michele which will tell you about her!


If you have 2 hours free time tonight, what would you rather do? Why?

Read a book purely for pleasure. To much reading for research or interviews lately. Sigh…

What kind of books do you love to read? Why?

I will read any non-fiction on 17th or 18th century Paris. Historical romances are my first love, and if they have a paranormal element that’s a bonus. Only read paranormal contemporaries. Am trying to expand my reading horizons, and recently finished The Time Traveler’s Wife, which I really enjoyed.

What type of music do you enjoy relaxing to?

All sorts: Metallica, Def Leppard, Neurosonic, Disturbed, Adam Ant, Annie Lennox, flamenco, Soundtracks, Ricky Martin. And no country. All right, so I do like Wynonna.

What is your stress buster?

I don’t have a lot of stress. It’s not really a word in my vocabulary. Stress is just how you view things. If you don’t view it as anxiety-causing and horrible, then it will not be, no matter the situation.

What is your favorite food? What food do you seek when you==re sad, sort of a comfort food?

Pizza! And chocolate.

Describe yourself in one word.

Persistent.

If a fairy grants you one wish and one wish only, what would it be? Why?
To rewind the world back a century, regarding the technologies and chemicals we use in our foods so we have a fighting chance and can all live healthier lives.

What's your biggest regret in life?

Can’t think of anything.

What is the most adventurous thing you==ve ever done?

Went to Paris for ten days with a couple writer friends.

What makes you happy/sad/disappointed/frustrated/hopeful/angry? (Pick one)

Fresh green grass, cats, books, and smiling kids make me happy.
What are your wildest dreams/fantasies/kinks/quirks?

To move to France, live in a quaint little cottage, and to actually be able to speak and read French so I wouldn’t die of frustration living amongst the natives.

How would readers find out more about you?

www.michelehauf.com Also, I blog (almost) daily just about my writing life in general at: dustedbywhimsy.blogspot.com

When did you write your first book? How long did it take you to write it?

Started Dark Rapture in 1990, finished couple years later. Sold in 1993.
Did you encounter any obstacles in writing? What are they? How did you overcome them?

Editorial volleyball with an author is never easy (being volleyed from editor to editor because mine had left the company). Also, when a line you write for (Bombshell) ceases publishing, that can be a challenge. But I always forge ahead, ever writing, focused on the current story.

How did you feel when you receive your first contract? What did you do? Any celebratory dinner, dance, event, etc to commemorate the occasion?

It was very exciting. I remember the day perfectly. It was a Friday afternoon, and for some reason my hubby was home from work early, taking a shower. I got the call, and I was so excited, I ran into the bathroom hopped into the shower (fully clothed) to tell hubby the good news. I think we went out to Olive Garden that night. Simple pleasures.

Any writing peeves, things you wish you could improve on, things you do with exceptional talent?

Peeves? I have a horrible addiction to using the word ‘just’. I just can’t stop it. I actually just have to do a ‘just’ draft, where I just go through the mss. and search for all the ‘justs’ and take out just like…ninety percent of them.

Exceptional? I think I tell a pretty good story. ;-)

What kind of books do you love/hate to write? Why?

I love any book I write because I’m writing something I want to read. The fact I can sell it, and other readers like it as well, is a cherry on top!

What do you think about editing?

I love the editing process. I really appreciate any comments or suggestion my editor may give me. I feel any book can always be improved upon. The few occasions I’ve not been given edits, I felt somehow deprived of an opportunity to make the story better.

Where and when do you write? Tell us about your favorite work place and time. Any special reason?

I have a nice little office. Usually write well in the mornings, good in the afternoons, and horribly in the evenings.

How do you write? Do your characters come to you first or the plot or the world of the story? How do you go on from there? Maybe you can give us an example with one of your books.

It varies, but most often I have two characters who I see together and then I figure how to pull them apart. Maybe some major plot point is involved at that moment. I’ll play with the characters in my head over a week or two, see if they really do have a story. If so, then I start drafting it out.

My current release, MOON KISSED, features Severo the werewolf hero. He was a small secondary character in a previous story. I’d never intended to write him in a bigger book because I had no interest in werewolves. He kept bugging me though, and when I realized he was very lonely and just wanted happiness, I found a heroine for him.

Also, when creating my characters, I need to have pictures. Before I even write a single word I must know what they look like. So I will surf the internet for my idea of what they look like. Use a lot of celebrity pics, but sometimes a page torn from an advertisement in a magazine may have the perfect face as well.

What books can you recommend to aspiring writers to improve on style, character development, plot, structure, dialogue, etc?

Donald Maass’s Writing The Breakout Novel.What is your must-have book for writing?

See above!

What is your advice to aspiring writers?

Just write. Don’t worry about all the ‘rules’ and stop fretting about whether you’re doing it as well as the next writer, or if your story will fit into a pre-determined slot. Just. Write. Write the best book you can. Then revise and edit. And then revise and edit again until you have what you feel is a great story. Send it out. And then start writing again immediately. Always. Just. Write.

What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

Right now I’m writing paranormal romance. I love the paranormal element and it allows me to create a world I want as opposed to the one I live in (which isn’t a bad world at all, I just like faeries and vampires and all those other fun creatures). I have written historical romances. Would love to do more of those some day. I did a few fantasies for Luna. Great fun. And I’m currently also writing under the Alex Archer pseudonym for the Rogue Angel series which is high action and adventure. (The Alex Archer pseudonym is written by about six different authors at the moment; check copyright in book to see who wrote the one you are reading).

Among those that you've written, which is your favorite book and why?

I just completed revisions for HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND, which was supposed to be a Nocturne but now has been changed to an April HQN release. I LOVE this story! It’s the hero and heroine. They are too cool for words. I want to be their friends. I want them to love me as much as I love them. I want everyone to love them as much as I do. ‘nuf said. ;-)

Where do you get your ideas? Do you jot them down in a notebook, in case you forgot?

I’ve always got something going on in my head. Daydreams, stories, ideas. Some will just float to the surface and linger, wanting their story to be told. Yep, always taking notes. Not so easy to do when driving, but I have a notebook and pen ready in the car for when I need it.

Which book is the closest to your heart? Why?

DARK RAPTURE, because it was my first.

Which of your books feature your family/friends, etc? What characters are modeled after them? Why?

None.

Which of your heroes/heroines is most similar to you? Why?

I think a little bit of me is in all my characters. It’s hard to avoid.

Who is your strongest/sexiest/most lovable/hottest hero/heroine? Why?

Creed Saint-Pierre in Her Vampire Husband. He’s a thousand year old vampire lord who is the key to preventing an all-out war between the vampires and werewolves. He agrees to an arranged marriage with a werewolf princess.

Have you ever wanted to write your book in one direction but your characters are moving it in another direction? What did you do in such a situation?

Sometimes. I just follow along if that happens.

Tell us more about your current release.

Out this September are Moon Kissed, “After The Kiss” and I have a short story in Critters of Mossy Creek by a small press called Belle Books. Moon Kissed is Severo the werewolf’s story. After the Kiss is actually a ‘what happens next’ story that follows Moon Kissed. It looks in on the hero and heroine six months after their happily ever after to see if they really are. Don’t you ever wonder, after you’ve closed the pages of a book, what happens to the hero and heroine now?

Moon Kissed: http://www.michelehauf.com/mk.html (first chapter online)
After The Kiss: http://www.michelehauf.com/atk.html
Critters of Mossy Creek: http://www.bellebooks.com
Any new projects, work in progress?

I’m working on the Of Angels And Demons trilogy for Nocturne. It’s got fallen angels, Sinistari demons, vampires, halo hunters, and muses, all rolled into a bunch of adventure. I think the first book, Angel Slayer, will be out July ’10. This is what my pub schedule looks like (so far) for 2010:

January: Dark Awakenings anthology - Nocturne
March: “The Vampire’s Tango” – Nocturne Bites
April: Her Vampire Husband – HQN
May: Rogue Angel: The Bone Conjurer – Gold Eagle
June: “Halo Hunter” – Nocturne Bites
July: Angel Slayer