Interview with paranormal romance author Minnette Meador

Today is a virtual book tour blog stop with paranormal romance author Minnette Meador. She's touring her new book, A Ghost of a Chance, with Goddess Fish Promotions.

Minnette will be giving away a Kindle and a $100 Amazon gift certificate to a lucky commentor. See details below.

Bio:
Somewhere between thirty and dust...red hair, blue eyes...six kids, one slightly used husband, and any number of pets from time to time... wanttabe hippy... wanttheirmoney yuppie... pro musician and actress for 30 years... native Oregonian... lover of music, beauty, and all things green. Willing slave to the venerable muse. Minnette currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband, having replaced the children with one dog. The dog, Pierre, pretty much runs the show.

Her works include: Starsight, Starsight II, The Centurion & The Queen, The Edge of Honor, A Boy and His Wizard (w/a M.A. Smith), A Ghost of a Chance, The Gladiator Prince (August 2011), and The Bell Stalker (October 2011). She has also contributed to the award winning Cup of Comfort Series and 150 Oregon Stories celebrating Oregon’s Sesquicentennial. For more information on her books and excerpts, visit her website.

Welcome, Minnette. Please tell us about your current release.
A Ghost of a Chance is a paranormal romantic comedy that released June 22 from Resplendence Publishing.

Keenan Swanson is your typical, everyday graphic designer. Well, except for the hundreds of pesky, prank-loving poltergeists that make his life interesting (in a Chinese curse sort of way). He finds his situation precarious yet manageable — until witty, smoking-hot coworker Isabella enters the scene and Keenan decides he wants her all for himself. With a horny succubus who has other ideas, a burly city cop determined to lock Keenan away, and an evil entity who’s hell-bent on using Keenan’s seed to create a living demon, the reluctant psychic realizes he just might not come out of this alive — or with heart intact.

"Hysterical and very original!" 2-Time Rita Winner Wendy Warren

What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to write about ghosts, having been a big fan of all things ghostly for most of my life, plus some real hair raising experiences of my own. I asked myself: What if someone saw hundreds of ghosts floating around him, in fact he talked to them? What would his life be like? How would he function in the “normal” world? What would his love life be like? What would the ghosts be like?

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently working on the third book in the Centurion Series, The Gladiator Prince, which hits the stands on August 17th. Set in ancient Roman Britannia and Rome, it is a standalone book in the series featuring the last royal of the Briton Trinovantes Tribe, the spoiled daughter of his owner, a dashing ancient pirate, and the search for the gladiator’s two daughters who have been taken to Rome as slaves.

Excerpt:
Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans after the Boudicca Revolt to save his two daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver's raid, Thane escapes, forcing the daughter of his master to take him to Rome to save his children. Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save them all? Book III of the Centurion Series.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I penned my first Star Trek script at the age of 8. It wasn’t very good, but, oh, what fun it was to pretend!

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I have to work full time like most writers, but I do set aside time on the weekends and evenings to write. I also try to get away for small retreats to write, which really helps. Most of my hobbies get put aside when I’m on deadline, but I try to take a long break during the year to recharge for the next book.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Believe it or not, I like to listen to funky music when I write. Don’t know why, but I tried classical and other mellow types of music, but for some reason a funky female vocal about her bad boyfriend seems to do the trick! ~teehee~

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a singer and actress more than anything when I was a kid. I got the opportunity when I was 13 to sing at a night club in downtown Portland and never looked back. I’m retired from singing and acting now, but I spent a good 30 years doing what I really loved.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Just want them to know that if they want a chance to win lots more prizes, visit http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com for a complete list of where I’ll be this month. The more blogs you visit and comment on, the more chances you’ll have of winning Amazon gift certificates, totes full of goodies, jewelry, make-up, and even two drawings to win a Kindle, loaded with great books (even some of your choice!), plus lots of surprise contests.

Here's the buy link for A Ghost of a Chance.

Thanks so much, Lisa, for inviting me to your amazing blog. I really had a blast! Minnette :o)

My pleasure, Minnette. It's been fun getting to know a bit about you and your writing. Best of luck with the rest of the tour!