HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!: Contest & Conversation with HAUNTING EMBRACE's Award-Winning Author Erin Quinn

Today is one of my favorite days for two very special reasons. First, it is St. Patrick’s Day. Wishing all a HAPPY ST. PATTY’S DAY! =) Another reason and why we all have stopped by is to welcome A Mists of Ireland Novel series author herself, award-winning Erin Quinn. From the first word of HAUNTING BEAUTY to the last word of HAUNTING EMBRACE, I was a devoted fan. I am so excited that Ms. Quinn has stopped by to spend the day chatting about her epically enchanting series and the characters that have readers wanting to visit time and again. Enter the world of myths and magic that only Erin Quinn could create.

HAUNTING EMBRACE

Interview

with

Award-Winning Author

Erin Quinn

Why do you write?

I’ve dreamed of being a writer my whole life. I write because I love crafting stories. I love the challenge (when I’m not hating it) and I love hearing from readers who’ve read my books and connected with the stories I’m telling

Name one eye-opening thing you learned from your book research.

Wow, tough question. I’ve learned so many things that I had no idea about. When I wrote Echoes, I read so many diaries from women who had made the journey across our country that I felt like I knew each and every one of them. With my Mists of Ireland, I was at first overwhelmed with the depth of history Ireland has. Do you know that Newgrange is older than Stonehenge? Boggles the mind.

Do you have a favorite motto?

There is no shame in falling down. The shame is in staying down.

Do you have a favorite fictional hero? a favorite fictional heroine?

Too many to list. I don’t think I have one who is my favorite above all others though.

Which fictional character would you hang out with?

I think I’m going to need a glass of wine for these questions, lol. Of my own, give me Rory MacGrath. I wanted him something fierce when I wrote him and I think he and I would get on just fine. J

What is one of your favorite book covers, your own or someone else’s?

Haunting Warrior and the original Echoes covers are my two favorites. I thought the artists captured exactly what the stories were with those.

What would readers be surprised to learn about you?

That I’ve still got a full time job, I go to school, manage a husband, kids and three dogs and only drink occasionally. J Oh, and that I’ve sat in the gas chamber at the Florence State Penitentiary and lived to tell about it.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever learned by Googling your name?

Well, nothing about my pen name, but I have a very unique Irish Mexican married name (Erin Alcaraz) and I discovered that there are more than one of me. I really never expected to see those two names combined by anyone else.

If you could go backward or forward in time which would you chose? Why?

Backward. Why? Because I’ve completely romanticized the past to outright unrealistic proportions and I think it would be grand to see life in such a light. =)

Erin, please share with us more about “HAUNTING EMBRACE” released by Berkley Sensations.

Haunting Embrace was such a rewarding and difficult book to write. I wanted to tie up all the loose ends and also to give readers who’d followed the series the payoff they deserved. There were a lot of characters in the series with complex backgrounds, so it wasn’t easy. But hopefully I pulled it off. =)

I noticed that your Mists of Ireland Novel series is a paranormal time-travel? What is it about this genre that piqued your curiosity?

I have been in love with paranormal before it really had a name. As a young adult, I read a lot of horror and lot of romance. (Literally, I bounced between Stephen King and Harlequin Romances!). I would read Stephen and think—what a great book, if only it had a romance. I would read my Harlequins and think, what a great book, if only it had a little thrills and chills. It was only natural that I would endeavor to write something along those lines.

Okay, I want to give a warm welcome to, Meaghan Ballagh and Aedan. (Waving franticly, trying to get the besotted couple’s attention). I know you two have gone through a lot to get to your happily-ever-after, so I will try to be brief. (Blushes scarlet as she catches the intimate glance between the newlyweds, clears her throat).Okay, so you two are still in the honeymoon stage, I see. I would like to know what each of you thought when you first laid eyes on the other. Was it love at first sight?

Feck no. (from Meaghan of course). I didn’t know what to make of Áedán. Sure he had that sexy smoldering thing going on, but really. The man has more baggage than Aer Lingus.

Áedán: Love? It’s a myth. At least I thought it was. I knew I wanted her. (insert meaningful glance that’s even making ME blush). I knew that right off. Love took a little longer.

When you met, did you believe in true love? You can both answer. I’m quite curious to know both of your opinions.

Meaghan: Snort. Seriously? Not with all my hang ups. I can sense emotions, remember. And the feelings I got off others…they were never love. Lust, yes. But people lie and to trust someone with my heart… It took an amazing man to get me there.

Meaghan, name the one thing about Aedan that you believe won your heart.

It would have to be his inability to see all that is good within himself. He seemed so broken and yet so very strong. It was a heady combination. (Not to mention…well, have you seen Áedán? A girl would have to be addled not to fall a little head over heels after looking into his incredible eyes.)

Aedan, name one thing about Meaghan that you believe changed your outlook on love.

Hands down, her courage. Meaghan never backed down from a challenge, stubborn woman that she is. And she faced terror that would make most men flee. That inner strength put me to shame. And of course she has all the right curves in all the right places. What red-blooded male could resist that smart mouth on a woman who looks like every fantasy he’s ever had?

Now back to Erin

Erin, while you were writing Meaghan and Áedán’s story was there a scene that popped out the most?

Several, but the first was the scene where Áedán tells Meaghan that he is evil. He believed it to his soul and her ability to see past his own prejudices about himself convinced that I was dealing with the perfect match.

Erin, what is more difficult to write: an intense sexual scene or a heart-wrenching emotional scene? Why?

I think they are equally difficult. The art of a great sexual scene is to make it heart wrenchingly emotional and the art of a great emotional scene is to make sure there is enough sexual tension to keep it from becoming morose.

When you were writing “HAUNTING EMBRACE” did you have music playing in the background? If yes, what type? Does music play an intricate part in your writing?

Music distracts me so I never write to music. I like the quiet.

Which do you find is most important to you as a writer, voice or story? Why?

Voice. When you know your voice, it drives the story.

Erin, please share with desperate readers where they can connect with you in cyber world. =)

I am everywhere! Literally. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ErinQuinnAuthor  (I may as well fess up. I have 2 FB pages. The one above and one where the word Author is spelled wrong. Long story, there was vodka involved, and I can never get it fixed, lol) Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErinQuinnAuthor  Website: www.erinquinnbooks.com and blog: http://quinnessentials.blogspot.com/

I know this is a difficult question with there being so many amazing authors out there to choose from, but who are some of the GOT-TO-HAVE authors in your TBR pile?

Well my latest find in historical fiction is Kris Kennedy. If you like my books, you’ll love hers. The last one I read was Defiant and I just LOVED it. After that, read all of her titles and I’m such a fan. But as you say, there are just too many authors out there that are fabulous. Kathryne Kennedy (who writes magical historical novels that are WONDERFUL), Gini Koch, (who writes hilarious kick ass science fiction,) Joyce Lamb, (who writes amazing romantic suspense)…I could keep going all day long, lol)

What’s next in the works for you? When can readers expect to see it out on shelves in their local bookstores?

I’ve been releasing some short novellas lately and now I’m turning my focus back to my big novels. I’m not ready to talk about my new series, but I will tell you the title of the first book because I love it: The Five Deaths of Roxanne Love. Can’t give you an ETA on when it will hit bookstores yet, because I’ve been keeping it close and haven’t even sent it in to my publisher yet. J

Erin thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with Romantic Crush Junkies readers and me. It has really been a blast getting to know more about you and your books.

Thank you for the lovely review of Haunting Embrace and for having me as a guest. I am just thrilled to be here!!!

~CONTEST~

RCJR is proud to present Penguin Group  and award-winning author Erin Quin's dynamic  sexy paranormal  A Mists of Ireland Novel series to celebrate St Patrick's Day.   

THE PRIZE: One lucky reader has a choice between eBook or print format of Erin Quinn's wonderful HAUNTING WARRIOR.

To enter: Please leave a comment for  including your email address.

Read review of HAUNTING EMBRACE at

RCJR eZine

*Connect with RCJR eZine at:

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Contest is open to ALL

It will runs until March 23, 2012

I will contact the winners directly on March 24, 2012

HAPPY READING! =)