Interview Angela Verdenius

by

Nancy Minnis Damato

Congratulations, Angela, on the Release of Soul of a Predator, the cover is absolutely thrilling and inviting.

1) Knowing you have a career, cats and family to take up your time, what drives you to write? Do your animals, career or family stimulate ideas for characters or settings? Will you to continue to author Sci-Fi?

My imagination drives me to write <g>. I’m always fantasizing and day dreaming, and have so many ideas darting around in my mind that they need to come out. I find music stimulates ideas for stories, I’m not sure why. Probably because I day dream and listen to music at the same time LOL. Continue to author sci-fi? Yes, most certainly, but I’m hoping to branch out into other genres later. I have plenty of ideas for those, too!

2) Sci-Fi is such a specialized genre, how do you refresh the settings, action and keep it all new for the reader? Where do you find the invention of each new book’s setting after having written so many?

I don’t find it hard to refresh the settings because the story revolves around the characters, and hence what they’re doing, where they’re going and what is happening creates their surroundings. Sometimes it’s familiar surroundings, sometimes new, sometimes a mix of both. It can even be a familiar setting used before, but because of what is happening to the characters, new areas in that setting can open up. The action also depends on the story-line. Some stories have a lot of action, while other stories have intermittent action.

3) How many sci-fi books have you already authored? Where would you list The Soul Of A Predator with ease to write, inspiration, etc.?

Um… I’ve actually written fifteen sci-fi romances, all of them except one in the Heart & Soul series. Soul Of A Predator was hard to write in some ways, because the characters are so complex. The ideas were easy, the interaction not always so! I ended up fighting my characters a fair bit before we got things sorted out LOL. In regards to ease to write, about a five, in regards to inspiration, it was a ten. I really loved writing Shaque & Elyse’s story. I’d have to say their story is among my top favs.

4) A bounty hunger and pirate, strong woman and a men with his own agenda in an action packed, erotic love triangle. How do you put yourself into the character when you’re writing?

I tend to live through my characters while I write. I imagine the scene unfolding in my mind, and have even found myself smiling, frowning, and even crying when writing scenes. I literally live them.

5) As an avid reader, do any particular authors influence your work?

I don’t think they’ve influenced me so much as teaching me that characters need to go their own way, to a certain extent, and to not be afraid if they tread the edges of what people would expect. And don’t be afraid to go with the unexpected! That’s always fun!

6) Knowing you have a blog, engage in extensive networking, and are always helpful to new authors, do you schedule writing time by schedule, mood, or happen-chance? How long did Soul Of A Predator take to write from first idea to submission?

I set writing times. Basically, I now only do internet three times a week, the other times are writing. Or I try that, doesn’t always work LOL. When I’m working (I work nights), I write for an hour or two before the evening meal, then try to get another half hour or whole hour after the meal before I get ready for work. On my nights off, I try to write pretty much most of the day or part day and into the night.

7) Which of your memberships, i.e. writing groups, critique groups, network of published authors, Wings-press, your website, etc. do you feel gives you the most insight to answer the needs of your readers?

I don’t do critique groups--I’m a lone flyer <g>. But I find a mixture of published authors and readers groups gives me the most insight into the needs of readers. Most especially, reader feedback lets me know if they’ve especially enjoyed a certain story and which characters they’re interested in. Also knowing what other people are reading is a good indicator of what readers are going for, and when someone asks questions and people answer them--for example, how important is it that the hero is an alpha? Discussions are always insightful--and fun!

8) You have another book, Love’s Winsome Warrior, due to release June, 2008, what are you working on now? Sci-Fi? Romance?

Yep! Sci-fi romance. LOL Heart Of A Smuggler, which I hope to submit soon. This is Shamon’s story, and is quite light-hearted.

9) Whatever you choose, your talent is much appreciated by your fans and we look forward to each new release. Thanks for making time in our busy schedule to bring us the gift of your talents. Can’t wait for The Soul Of A Predator…

Thank you so much! I hope readers enjoy Shaque & Elyse’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it!