Hey Carrie Ann! Welcome to My Secret
Romance. I am so excited to have you here today! This is Buffy- one of the
reviewers for My Secret Romance and a member of your Streetpack Team. When
Taryn presented me with the chance to interview you, I jumped on it. I’ve read
just about all of your books so I am very familiar with them. I really am
looking forward to the release of Dust of My Wings! So, for those who don’t
know, please tell us a little about yourself what kind of books you write.
Hi
Buffy! Oh, it’s so great to see you here too! LOL So, I'm a paranormal romance
author who soon will dabble in contemporary, and loves happy endings. That's
pretty much it, I'm quite boring. Though I love reading & writing romance.
What inspired you to write about
angels? And how did you come up with this particular version (more human
than Heavenly, etc)?
So this
was actually a plot bunny from Rebecca Royce who wanted me to use my science
education and try to figure out what would happen if a lab tech got ahold of
that Angel dust. I came up with my particular version of Angels from the fact
that I wanted to know what would happen if science mixed with something that
actually could happen. What if we stumbled upon something we didn't know, and
the sciences didn't make sense?
I also
don't want to put a godly spin on them, because I don't teach religion, and I
did not want to go that way. I wanted to know what happened if Angels were just
another genetic trait.
What lies in store in the future of the
Dante’s Circle series? More of the other supernatural species perhaps?
Oh yes,
I have so much in store. The whole series revolves around a group of seven
friends and what happens when they're introduced to this new world. So each
story is a revolver on a different paranormal creature. I have every type you
could possibly imagine like bears, cats, pixies, mermen, demons, and so on. I'm
so excited!
With the exception of novellas between
novels, the Redwood Pack series and Dante’s Circle series are both slated to
have seven books. Is there a reason why seven specifically?
I’ve noticed that in your Redwood Pack
series, book 1’s heroine was a chemist, and in Dust of My Wings the heroine has
a chemistry degree. Is that to put some of yourself in your heroines, or
to put one of your other passions in your work?
Again,
I totally didn't mean to do this. An Alpha’s Path started off as just a free write
to see what would happen if someone with my job, not me at all, found out
werewolves were real. With Dust of My Wings, it wasn't even my idea for all these
lab techs, rather it was Rebecca Royce's. She knew I had a science background
and wanted to see what would happen. I probably won't be writing another science
heroine for a little bit. Well, at least for now. Who knows. Mel and Lily are
actually really different, and the science that they do is different. Mel is
more academic and merely biased, while Lily isn’t a PhD and just does some of
leg work.
When writing, do you ever struggle to find a
balance between action, romance, drama, etc?
Yes.
I'm a plotter, so everything that I do I pretty much try to make sure things
are even. But sometimes it's not the balance, but rather the fact that the
characters would rather just have action scenes or romance things or drama.
Like in my current WIP, these characters refuse to have any romance. They'd
rather just hide within themselves, and it's taking a lot to break open the
shell. However, that’s the essence of who they are, and makes sense for the
story.
What helps you get in the mindset to
write? Music? Certain time of day? A glass of wine?
LOL I
can't write while drinking. I do have music on in the background, mostly so
that I’m not listening to my the air conditioner or something like that. And I
do usually have Pandora on with a certain station that has to do with the book
I'm writing. So when I'm writing my Montana stories I'm actually looking more
towards country, but my current WIP I'm looking more into singer-songwriter
music. And I usually write in the morning and late afternoon, and then do all
of my Admin things at night. I can't write with my husband looking over my
shoulder, so soon as he gets home, I’m pretty much stuck.
Do you have a book that you’re most proud
of?
No. I'm
actually proud of all of my books, as each book is a testament to where I was
at in my life and writing
What WIP are you most excited about working
on and releasing?
So I’m
writing Adam’s book in the Redwood Pack series right now called Enforcer’s
Redemption. I think this is one of the books that my readers are most excited
about but I am freaking out about. I can't wait for everyone to read it, but
this book is slowly killing me. And by slowly I mean OMG. But yes, I'm super excited
about this one. And Dust of My Wings, my current release, is a new start for
me. It's a new series, with new characters. And I'm actually really nervous and
excited about this one.
Authors have different opinions on whether
or not to read reviews. Some say that if they’re bad, they would only
bring you down. Others say that it’s important to read them because they
help you grow. What are your thoughts?
I
actually try not to read reviews. Unless they tagged me in them or send me them
I’ll read them. Either way I like the post or say thank you to the reviewer.
But I try not to read them, mostly because I don't want to get depressed.
Reviews are opinions, and readers have every right to that opinion. But I try
not to focus solely on that. I'd rather talk to the reader themself, and have
an online conversation, or meet them at a conference and talk to him.
What do you think is the most important
element in the publishing process? Having an editor? Beta
readers? Promo help?
For me,
it’s talking it out with my writing partner and then edits. I have a fantastic
editor who really understands my worlds, and helps me figure out exactly where
I had wanted to go to make sure you get there.
What advice would you give to any aspiring
author?
Write.
Read. Then write some more. Then read some more. You can't be an author and not
read. It just doesn't make any sense. And you can't be an author without
sitting down and actually doing the work. Nothing comes easy, writing is hard,
but you can do it if you try hard. You may not ever be a bestseller, or make
any lists, but you are an author if you actually sit down and write.
Thank you so much for being here, Carrie
Ann. I really appreciate it.
Thank you so much Buffy! I really, really
enjoyed your questions! And I'll be around all day and week in case anyone else
has questions for me and I'll answer them! Thanks again!
Carrie Ann Ryan
is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After
spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance
world and find her werewolf mate - even if its just in her books. Happy endings
are always near - even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in
love first.
Her first
book, An Alpha's Path, is the first in her Redwood Pack
series. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She
loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are
appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.
Carrie Ann
loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:
Website: http://www.carrieannryan.com/
Blog: http://carrieannryan.blogspot.com/
Heartthrob
Haven: http://heartthrobhaven.blogspot.com/
Facebook Author
Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carrie-Ann-Ryans-Author-Page/243643205647654
Facebook
Friend:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002584098860
Goodreads |:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5360266.Carrie_Ann_Ryan
Twitter:
@CarrieAnnRyan
Tumblr :
http://carrieannryan.tumblr.com/
An Alpha’s Path
A Taste for a Mate
Trinity Bound
ARe
Carrie
Ann will be awarding Dust of my Wings "swag" packs to one commenter at
ever stop, a $25 Amazon GC and necklace to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour and a $10
Amazon GC to the host with the most comments.
Shade may
be an angel, but only by physical definition – you know, the wings and all –
but he doesn’t live in Heaven, and he definitely doesn’t behave like an
“angel”. He’s got his own past to
overcome from the Angelic Wars, and it makes for a somewhat tortured hero,
though not as much as Ambrose; I’m looking forward to his story! Lily is a quirky heroine, making her pretty
unique. For being a big bad warrior,
Lily certainly seems to bring out the softer side of Shade. 
