July brings the latest addition in Julie Kenner's
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom series, readers, DEJA DEMON
rocks! If you haven't discovered this series, you're in
for a treat...and if you've been following Kate Connor's
mommy and demon-hunting adventures, get thee to the
nearest bookstore pronto because DEJA DEMON heats up the
series big-time! For more information on Julie Kenner
and all her wonderful books, visit her website at:
http://www.juliekenner.com.
Debora: Congratulations on DEJA DEMON! I loved it and
fans of the series will too! The final scene in the
cemetery was wowsers! Book four was a bit darker than
the others, but all the humor and adventure and
wonderful characters are the same. I can't wait for the
next book in the series!
Julie: Thanks so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed DEJA.
Yes, it was definitely darker. The series has been
moving in that direction. Not so much because I want to
write a darker book, but because the story by its nature
calls for it. No title yet for the next one, but it's in
the works!
Debora: What was your inspiration for CARPE DEMON? You
say at your website that you wanted to write a "mommy's"
book...but did "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" figure in
your thoughts, too, and are you a fan? I love what
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY said about the first book: "What would
happen if Buffy
the Vampire Slayer got married, moved to the suburbs and
became a stay-at-home mom?!"
Julie: I am a fan of Buffy, but at the time I turned in
the proposal for CARPE, I wasn't thinking about Buffy at
all, and didn't realize that there were similarities
until much, much later. I was actually looking for an
idea for a romance series, and came up with a team of
alpha male demon hunters. But at the same time, I was
trying to think of a mommy lit idea (this was in late
2002 or 2003, when chick lit was really taking off, and
I was a new mom). The thoughts smashed together in my
head like chocolate and peanut butter, but instead of a
Reese's, Kate was born! (In fact, at the time, I hadn't
seen all of Buffy; I originally stopped watching early
in season 4. I initially didn't care for post-high
school Buffy, and had to give it another shot on DVD.
Now, I love the entire series, but I still think season
4 is the weakest!).
Debora: I've got to ask: Angel or Spike? <g> And any
vampires in a future Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom book?
Julie: Possibly yes to vampires (Kate mentions in book
one that she's hunted vampires). As for Angel or Spike,
that's a hard one. Spike definitely made a more
interesting character, but what's brilliant about the
series is that during the Buffy/Angel relationship, you
never would've thought so!
Debora: Do you approach the writing of the Demon-Hunting
Soccer Mom series differently from your other books?
Will there be a certain number of books in the
series--do you have an overall plan for the series? Will
Kate choose David/Eric or Stuart--oops, I know you can't
answer that!!!! A reviewer can try, can't she?!!! <g>
Julie: Mmmmm-mmmm-mmm-hmmmm-mmmm-hmmm-mmmm. That's me
talking with my hand over my mouth about the last
question. As for overall, yes. I don't want to drag on
the same story questions forever, because I think that's
what has the potential to make a series stale. The next
book will wrap up one major story arc (I won't say which
one!) and then we'll see where we go from there; I have
a couple of possibilities laid out for what will play
out next. As a general rule, I like 4-5 book story arcs,
so if there's a "plan," that's it. As for the approach
to writing, not really. Butt in chair, hands on
keyboard. I will say that Kate is a very "loud"
character, and I tend to write the books fast, as it's
fun being in her head!
Debora: How did you come up with the idea for the
Vatican organization, _Forza_ that Kate works for? Are
you Catholic?
Julie: I am, but that didn't have a lot to do with it.
Demons and the Church go together, and I wanted a very,
very, very old organization. The Catholic Church fit the
bill.
Debora: CARPE DEMON is in development as a feature
film...if you could be the casting director, who would
you pick for the various roles?
Julie: That's a really hard question for me, because I
don't picture celebrities as my various characters, or
cut out pictures from magazines to put on a bulletin
board like some of my author friends do. Clearly, it's a
good thing that my career isn't being a casting
director! For Kate, I could see Diane Lane, Sandra
Bullock, Reese Witherspoon. Those pop to mind, but I
know I've seen others recently and thought "Oh! She
could do it! I used to not know who could play Allie,
but I think Abigail Breslin is getting close to the
right age, and I think she's a great actress. Stuart and
David are much harder!
Debora: How do you manage to do it all--a wife, mother,
home schooling and writing best-selling novels?
Julie: I gave up sleep. Um, seriously, it's hard! A lot
of things fall through the cracks, housekeeping probably
being on the top of the list. Fortunately my husband is
very easy going! And while I love, love, love getting
emails from readers, I often get months behind on
answering (I do answer every one, though, so please
don't stop writing!). Basically, I've gone back to my
"lawyer" schedule. When I first sold (and for the first
4 years of my writing career) I worked full time as a
lawyer. I wrote at night. Now, my job is teaching my
kids, and I write at night again (with the added benefit
of having time during the day when they're playing or
doing assignments or cleaning their room). I'm trying to
switch my body clock to get up around 5 and write before
we start school, but have so far been horrifically
unsuccessful. I'm a night owl.
Debora: What inspires you and what are you the most
passionate about?
Julie: My kids!
Debora: What books are on your night table? Has anything
you've read recently knocked your socks off? Do you read
paranormal romance?
Julie: Right now, I'm in the middle of a Karen Rose
romantic suspense novel. It's my first by Rose, who I'd
heard was awesome. I will say the praise is
well-deserved! I'm also reading an upcoming fantasy
novel called Gordath Wood by new author Patrice E.
Sarath for a cover quote -- it's also wonderful so far!
I honestly don't read a lot of paranormal romance,
though I do enjoy it when I read it. I tend toward
suspense, mysteries, and Sophie Kinsella-esque books.
Debora: Why do you think paranormal romance is so
popular?
Julie: I think romance is popular because of the fairy
tale, happy-ever-after aspect. And with paranormal,
you're taking that to an extreme, increasing the fantasy
portion of the fairy tale.
Debora: What do you like best about being a writer? The
least?
Julie: Best -- everything :) I mean, how cool to get
paid to make stuff up??? Least -- nothing. Seriously,
even on those days when the words aren't coming (or the
words that are coming are positively horrible), I remind
myself of how lucky I am to have my dream job.
Debora: You've written category romance, paranormal
romance, romantic comedy adventure, and Young Adult. Is
there something you're dying to write but haven't? A
book of your heart?
Julie: I've been pretty fortunate to have had the chance
to write books that have absolutely fascinated and
inspired me. I wouldn't say it's a book of my heart, but
I do have an idea for a children's series along the
lines of Magic Treehouse that I'd love to try someday.
Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in the day
...
Debora: What can we expect from Julie Kenner in the
coming months?
Julie: This is the first year since I've been published
that I haven't had three to five books out. It's a
little bizarre ... but with good reason. I have a new
urban fantasy series starting in 2009, and Ace is
publishing the first three books back to back. So while
DEJA wraps up my 2008 books, I will have a lot coming in
2009. I have a Blaze anthology and two back to back
Blaze novels (with Christmas and New Years themes), the
next as-yet-untitled Demon book, and then the first two
in the new series, TAINTED and TORN, with TURNED
following in January of 2010. Of course, to get all that
out, it means my 2008 is full up finishing the work on
all those stories!
Debora: Congratulations again for DEJA DEMON and best of
luck!
Julie: Thank you so much!!! (Click for a review of
DEJA DEMON) |
