Interview with paranormal romance author Randa Flannery

I’d like to introduce Randa Flannery to you today. She’s here to chat about her new paranormal romance novel, Love the One You’re Witch.

As she does her virtual book tour, Randa will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Randa Flannery has an a degree in English and writes a variety of romantic fiction, including suspense, comedy, and urban fantasy. Randa is a member of the Romance Writers of America and lives as an expat with her husband and children in FuYang, China.

Welcome, Randa. Please tell us about your current release.
Love the One You’re Witch is a paranormal romantic comedy. It follows Ana Gregor, a snarky witch PI, as she works to save a family of vampires from a love spell. Ana, herself, is not a fan of vampires. Then she meets Lucas. Sure, he’s good looking and intriguing and just all around perfect, but he has a big drinking problem...namely that he drinks blood. There’s a little mystery, a bit of action, a tiny twist, and a ball of fluff named Ollie. As things get complicated, Ana has to decide whether to hitch a broom out of town or stay and face the fang.

What inspired you to write this book?
I had only recently started reading the paranormal genre and was intrigued by the witches. I got a bit hooked on a series by Suza Kates called the Savanah Coven Series and, when I needed a break from writing the more serious topics in the novel I’d been working on at the time (Missing), I decided to dip my toe into the paranormal waters. Around that time, I’d read several stories that all seemed to have a whiny heroine pining after a dark, brooding, tortured hero. Drove me crazy. I hate whiny. I don’t find brooding and silent to be all that sexy, and didn’t see how in the world the characters were drawn to each other. So as I set out to write Ana’s story, I focused on making it the exact opposite from that. Love the One You’re Witch is the result.

Excerpt from Love the One You’re Witch:
“Can you fix it?” She said it with a touch of desperation and I wondered how long this had been going on.

“I can if it’s a spell,” I offered. “How long has she been like this?”

“I’ve loved him forever!” the young vamp declared as she and Lucas finally made it to the couch. “And I will love him forever, no matter what you try to do to us!”

“It’s been about a month,” Lucas answered, frustration edging that smooth voice while she ran fingers through his hair. “She was fine one day, chatting and joking, completely normal. The next, she couldn’t keep her hands off of me.”

I nodded. “Yes, well, have you seen yourself? I think that may be the normal reaction for teenagers when confronted with...” I waved a hand at him. I stopped mid-gesture when I realized the silence around me was now more of a shock reaction than the discomfort of having the errant vamp pawing at her man. “Sorry, just trying to lighten things up,” I mumbled. This is why I didn’t like vampires. No sense of humor. Well, the trying to kill me thing was also a put-off. That in mind, I got back to business and refused to drool over Lucas any more. Or at least, I’d try.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’ve just finished the first draft of the second book in the Magically Yours series, which follows Ana’s coworker and friend, Lucy. Lucy is very different from Ana, but no less fun, and you get to know a few of the other characters a bit better, as well.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I was about 7 or 8, I wrote my first story. I’ve always loved writing stories and have been doing it forever, but always on the side. When I was applying to colleges, I actually considered not going because I wanted to write and I didn’t need college to teach me to do that. (HA!) But once there, the dream faded with a lot of other naivety and I looked for a direction in life that would keep me fed. Never really took, though. After changing majors about five times, I finally graduated with an English degree...and still didn’t consider the writing as anything more than a hobby. It wasn’t until we moved to China, where I can’t really work outside the home, and all of my kids were in school all day that I finally, with a push from the husband, decided to make a real go of it. It still felt funny to tell people I was a writer, and I still blush when I say it, but it’s true! I am a writer! Whether it’s been for over twenty years or only one year, I am now a writer.

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 do write full time. I get the kids to school and get back home by 8am. I immediately sit down at my computer and get to work. I check email, social media, blog, goodreads, and amazon reviews. Take care of anything that needs attention there. Then I start writing. I take a couple breaks to exercise and shower, maybe watch a little TV if I’m feeling stuck, but ultimately, I’m at my desk until about 3. I make the rounds to pick up all my kids and get home at 5. While they do homework, I return to my office and keep plugging away (starting with the email and social media again) until it’s time for dinner at around 7. If i’m not under deadline, that’s the end of my work day. If I am, then I go back to the office after a quick dinner and stay there until I can simply take it no more and fall into bed.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I generally have to have two stories going at the same time, ones that are completely different from each other. Then I jump back and forth between them as I start to lose focus. My mind seems to constantly be kicking ideas around, so I lose focus a lot.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Oh, it changed a lot. A veterinarian (but I ended up hating science), a journalist (because, hello...Lois Lane got Superman), a boy (because peeing standing up seemed so much more convenient), a spy (heck, I still want to be that), and a writer (check).

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I’d like to thank them for reading. It’s why I write, to share a story with people who love stories. I’d love to hear from them, too, if they want to drop me a line through the Website or on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.

Thanks, Randa! Happy writing.

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