Would you like to
start off by telling us a little bit about yourself?
Let me start by saying thank you to Vanessa for having me here today. My name is Rayna Vause. I also write M/M romance as R.A. Vaughn. I’m a huge fan of paranormal romance, which is why, regardless of which name I’m writing under, I always tend to have paranormal elements in my stories. When I take off my writer hat I’m a martial artist (currently a Kenpo Karate green belt), video game lover (Just starting Skyrim), Disney enthusiast, and a Pop Tart aficionado (The Pop Tart store on Amazon makes me happy).
During your writing
career have you done anything embarrassing in the pursuit in getting published?
I honestly can’t recall any embarrassing moments in pursuit
of publications When I seriously started
pursing a career in writing I joined RWA as well as a local chapter and one of
the things they teach you early are some of the dos and don’ts of navigating
your way through the publishing world. For instance, you don’t submit your book
by slipping it under the bathroom stall wall to the editor in the neighboring
stall. That’s an extreme example, but it has happened.
What is one thing
about you that your readers would find surprising or never guess about you?
Hmmm…these types of questions are always tough for me since
I generally consider myself pretty run of the mill. People do tend to be surprised at the depth of
my well of useless information. For example, did you know that, in the comic
books, Princess Diana didn’t spin in a circle to become Wonder Woman. The
spinning was strictly used for the television show. That was a fact that I learned and retained
while doing research for Amazon Heat, my latest release written with Melinda
Leigh. Wonder Woman is one of the
inspirations behind the story. At any
rate, I’m like a sponge for that type of information.
Can you tell us about
your current work in progress, perhaps you could share a favorite fact or piece
of fascinating information it?
At the moment, I have two works in progress. The first is
the sequel to The Demon He Knows. In the Demon He Knows I introduced two
characters Adrian, an angel, and LeLand, a demon and head of the Corporate
South Board. This is their story. It’s
been a fun story to write. In the first story, I introduced that concept of
angels and demons being corporatized and I’ve really enjoyed spending more time
in that world and walking around the buildings opening doors to see what’s
behind them. The opening scene of this
book is set in 1274 and I had the hardest time writing it simply because it was
set in the past. I obsessed over that scene and even tried to avoid writing it
because I was so concerned about messing up the few historical facts that I
used. I do have a tendency to nitpick
over minutia at times.
My other work in progress is the second story in the Amazon
series that I’m writing with Melinda Leigh.
This one is just as, if not more, action packed then the first story and
we’re having a ball creating this world together. Both Melinda and I are martial artists and in
this story we actually get to use some of that knowledge since we have a couple
of fight scenes, but we also mix in some fun paranormal elements. The Amazons have a psychic link to nature, so
on top of spears and arrows they also use trees, plants and animals as weapons.
If you were to write
yourself into one of your books or series which would it be, what role would
you pick and why?
I think it might be fun to be a character in my Angel and
Demon series. I’m might write myself in as one of the heroes closest friends.
Because, I think my heroes would be pretty cool to hang out with. We have a lot
of things in common, but then I do put little pieces of myself in all of my
characters. It’s not an intentional thing, I’m just writing what I know. Plus,
they have the ability to teleport, which I think would be so fun. Plus, more
paranormal abilities are revealing themselves as I go such as the ability to
conjure and control fire.
What have you read
and loved recently?
Honestly, I’ve been doing a lot a re-reading of some m/m
romance lately. I recently re-read Bound by Nature by Cooper Davis. While I
like vampire stories, I love werewolves and this is one of my favorites next to
J.L Langley’s With or Without Series. What the two men in this story go through
is just heartbreaking. I just love this book. I’ve also been re-reading
Conquest and No Fear by S.J. Frost. I love, love, love rock star stories. M/M
or M/F I just love them. Toss in my
other guilty pleasure of secret babies and I’m a happy camper. So if you ever
come across a secret baby story that has a rock star hero in it please let me
know.
How do you spend your
down time between edits, deadlines, writing and creating new and fascinating books?
Do have a favorite pastime or hobby to fill you spare time with?
I am an enormous video game fan. I will lose myself for days
in Xbox heaven playing role playing games. Do you remember the pick-your-own-ending
books? When I was a kid I used to love those types of books and I think that’s
part of the appeal of video games for me. Games these days have such engaging
storylines and playing the game allows me to be a part of the story. Some of my favorite RPGs are the Fable
series, the Dragon Age series, and the Assassin’s Creed series. I’m also a fan
of games like The Sims, Tropico and the Lego games such as Lego Harry Potter.
How did you celebrate
the publishing of your first book?
When my first book came out, my friends sent me a bouquet of
chocolate covered strawberries to celebrate and then we got together for a
celebratory dinner. I also bought myself
a t-shirt and ball cap that had my book cover printed on it and I had a
laminated posted of my cover made up.
I love author
stalking. Do you have any 2012 convention plans? Where can fans stalk you?
I’m going to
be making a couple appearances this year. I’ll be at:
Liberty
States Fiction Writers & Readers Conference -March 17th - -
Iselin, NJ
Romantic
Times Booklovers Convention – April 11-15 – Chicago, IL
RWA – July
25-28 – Anaheim, CA.
What has been your
favorite scene to write and why?
One of my favorite scenes to write is in an unpublished
manuscript that I have left sitting on the back burner for a while. At the start of the book is a fight scene (I
love writing action) between a crazed vampire and one of my heroes. My hero is
not a fighter at all. At the time I
wrote this scene I had just taken a women’s self defense class so I decided to
employ some of these techniques in the fight. Some of the moves I wanted to
write I hadn’t actually tried I’d just watched them being performed. So, in order to realistically write the
scene, Melinda and I got together so that I could try the techniques. After
that session I was able to go home and bring the scene to life and accurately
write not just the maneuvers but also about characters excitement in having a
move work successfully. That is a very cool feeling. I’ll have to clean a few things off my plate
then I think I’ll revisit that story.
Rayna is giving away 2 eBooks, so giveaway is open to my International followers as well as my US gals. The pics will direct you to the goodreads.com info if you click it! To enter just comment below with email address. I will announce the winners Sunday February 12, 2012.
Thanks for the fun post and giveaway! I've read such awesome things about Amazon Heat, I've had it on my wishlist. It's awesome when an author has real world experience about the things they write about. Those scenes (especially fight scenes) *pop* and I feel like there's a movie in my head as I read!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your releases!
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to read Amazon Heat. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteHi Erin,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Amazon Heat was a fun story to write. Just like you have a movie in your head when you read I have on e in my head as I write. The more I understand about what I'm writing the more vivid the movie. I hope you enjoy the book!
Hi Tore,
Thanks so much for stopping in.
Rayna
Hey Vanessa!! I totally added your button to my fellow naughty girls list!! What a great giveaway!! Rayna,
ReplyDeleteBoth books look amazing! Amazon Heat looks especially yummy though!!
viajeradelmar@aol.com
Great post and both books found great. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeletemythic021@gmail.com
Thanks Nikki and Vanessa,
ReplyDeleteLogan and Elizabeth are a great couple, but then I biased. LOL!
Thanks for stopping by.
Rayna
Wonderful books that I would love to read. I have heard so many things that are good about them..*s* I've put them on my gotta have list for sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway!
Darcy
pommawolf @hotmail.com
Thanks Darcy! I hope you enjoy them. Appreciate you stopping in.
ReplyDeleteRayna
I have seen Amazon Heat and wanted to read it. This is the first time seeing The Demon He Knows. I would like to read both of these. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteRachel V
pefrw(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in. The Demon He Knows is actually the first in a m/m series I'm writing. I'm actively editing book two and Melinda and I are already half way through book took of the Amazon Heat series. I hope you them if you do read them and I always enjoy hearing what people think of the stories.
Rayna
Decisions, decisions. They both look like great book. Can't wait to read both. Something to look forward to.
ReplyDeletelareynolds0316@gmail.com
I'd be happy with either book, they look good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win.
luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com
I would love to read either book. I'm hoping to go to the Liberty State Conference. Really must get my butt in gear and register. It's coming up fast.
ReplyDeletethanks for the giveaway!
beckerjo at verizon dot net
Hi Julianne and RRE,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in and saying hello. I hope you enjoy both books. Should you read them please let me know what you think.
JoAnna,
Please do register. It's going to be a really fun time and we have a ton of stuff to give to our attendees. I'll just say the publishers have been very nice to us this year.
Best,
Rayna
I would love to read either book! They sound very interesting!!
ReplyDeleteThank for the giveaway!!
samantha
samanthadacier @gmail.com
I read the review of The Demon He Loves and that is the one I want. I love m/m stories like these :)
ReplyDeletesstogner1 at gmail dot com