BooksChatter: ℚ The Blood & Magic Series [1-3]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Danielle Annett to talk about her New Adult Dark Urban Fantasy series, The Blood & Magic.

The Series | Author Q&A | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to Danielle Annett; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for The Blood & Magic Series?

"Ah, this one is always so hard for me because I didn’t have a dream, or any great singular idea, and my first book, Cursed by Fire, is an entire different world, with an entire different set of characters than I’d originally intended it to be.

If I had to place inspiration anywhere, as strange as this may sound, it would be on the movie Boondock Saints. There is a line in the movie that says something along the lines of, those who stand by and watch as evil is done, are worse than the evil doers themselves because they could have stopped it and chose not to. I really wanted a heroine with that train of thought driving her and that continues to be my inspiration throughout the series."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"I think my main character has a lot of my personality in her. When I work through how she reacts to something, I run through my own responses. I like to think that I am my main character in a way, if I happened to have awesome fire powers and knew how to kick ass in a fight :D …all of her irrational behavior and temper, that's all me though."

I had a feeling that no matter how hard I tried, blood would be spilled. The relationship between shifters and vampires was too volatile to expect anything else. I just hoped, it wasn't mine.

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for The Blood & Magic Series - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I was actually lucky enough to have the amazing Regina Wamba with Mae I Design for my cover and I will forever be grateful to her because without that cover, I don’t know if I would have finished the book.

I’d been passively writing for a little over a year when I entered a giveaway and won my cover design. My book was still a work in progress so my concept was pretty basic and I really let Regina run with it. If I remember right, I asked for a kick but heroine with a dagger and some fire. For Cursed by Fire, I accepted the first design she threw my way and we went from there, and since she’d done such a great job on the first cover, it was a no brainer to hire her for the second. "

Why should we read The Blood & Magic Series and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"If you like reading a book with a strong heroine who has some snark and a complicated and messy life but who takes it in stride and doesn’t lie down when she’s been kicked, hard, then you’ll like my books.

With so much out there, and so many expectations when you write in the urban fantasy genre in regards to Pack and Vampires and Witches, and all of the elements that readers have developed certain expectations for, I think what sets my books apart more than anything are my characters themselves and the way they handle the situations that come their way."

Can you tell us something quirky about The Blood & Magic Series, its story and characters?

"So the Alpha of the Pacific Northwest Pack is named Declan Valkenaar. I picked up the last name from a girl I went to high school with who I wasn’t really friends with but we weren’t enemies or anything either. We just casually knew one another and I thought she had a cool last name.

Well, when my book released, I happened to be working with her cousin who obviously had the same last name, which happens to be mentioned on my blurb. It was a little weird at work when he thought I’d been inspired to write a character like him because I’d used his last name and didn’t believe me when I told him I really pulled it from his cousin, not him."

Who would you recommend The Blood & Magic Series to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I’d recommend my book to anyone who enjoys Urban Fantasy and New Adult but doesn’t mind the occasional swear word.

My first two books only hint at romance, though there is more in book 3, but I wouldn’t ever categorize my books at romantic.

If you like kick butt heroines who don’t always take their own skin in to account before jumping in to battle, you’ll like Aria."

If you could / wished to turn The Blood & Magic Series and the Blood & Magic series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Aria would be Jana Kramer from her One Tree Hill days. That's who I envision when I write about her.

James would be a slightly older version of Steven R McQueen who plays Jeremy on the Vampire Diaries.

Melody would be Elizabeth Gillies, Declan would be Liam Hemsworth, and Inarus would have to be Chris Wood.

What person doesn't dream of Michael Bay as the director?

And I would have it take place right here in Spokane, WA where the story is set."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I prefer to write urban fantasy and paranormal romance since those are the genres I enjoy reading most"

What is your writing process?

"It's a hot mess. I try and outline everything before I start writing and for the most part, it helps but lately my mind has a mind of its own and I deviate from my outlines more than I follow them."

What is in store next?

"I’d like to finish the Blood & Magic series before I launch anything else but more than likely, I’ll be releasing Burned by Fire, book 3 in the series this coming September and then plan to finish a PNR work in progress. Whether it will launch before Branded by Fire I’m not sure but I’ve been itching to work on it and I think it is something my readers will enjoy."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"I have two pets actually though neither of them is mine. I believe pets choose their owners and our first dog chose my husband. Our second chose my daughter. They love me and all but not nearly as much as they love their chosen owners."