Interview: Cheyenne McCray and Kayla Janz!

Anyone who’s been to a Romantic Times convention knows that the Faery Ball is a highlight of a week of fabulous parties. Food, decorations, costumes—it’s the best! Who are the beauty and brains behind the ball? A pair of lovely and talented paranormal authors – Cheyenne McCray and Eden Robbins. Next April in Pittsburgh, Chey and Eden will lead a Court of twenty-one Fae authors in hosting an incredible underwater fantasy party.

Today’s blog features Faery Queen Cheyenne McCray, along with author Kayla Janz, who - like me - is a new member of the Faery Court. (Faery Virgins, I believe they call us )

JN: Welcome, Chey! Can you tell us a little about the origins of the Romantic Times Faery Court. When did it start? How did the event evolve into the gala I’ve attended in the past few years?

Cheyenne McCray: Eden Robins and I put together a mixer at the 2005 RT Convention. It was so successful that we decided to look into putting together a dinner. With a suggestion from Kathryn Falk, the founder and owner of the Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine, we came up with the Faery Court idea as a fun way for authors to become more visible in the public eye. Not to mention another great Romantic Times Booklovers Convention party!

JN: Kayla, you're new to the court. Last year in Houston I had major "wing envy" when I saw the gorgeous fluttering Fae costumes at the Faery Ball. Pittsburgh is six months away, but already I'm obsessing about what to where. Have you started planning a fabulous costume yet?

Kayla Janz: I certainly have! I've going dress "window" shopping, but I haven't settled on anything yet. I couldn't be more excited about my first year as a Faery Court member! The 2008 Faery Ball is going to be amazing. I can hardly wait.

JN: Chey, I love your paranormal "Witches" series. Your D'Anu with heroines and Tuatha D'Danann warrior heroes team up to fight demons and other nasties with kick-ass style! Wicked Magic, which came out in September, is the third book in the USA Today Bestselling series, followed by your novella "Breath of Magic" in this month's No Rest for the Witches anthology from St. Martin's Press. Tell us a little about the mythology behind your books.

Cheyenne McCray: I use some Celtic mythology in this series. The D’Danann, Fomorii demons, the dark god and dark goddess all come from Celtic mythology. I’ve put my own twist on all of the beings and created my own “world.” In the Witches series, my D’Anu witches, Pagan descendents of the Ancient Druids, live and practice in modern-day San Francisco. A warlock who worships the old god Balor, brings forth demons and a wicked, wicked goddess who threaten the city and every person in it. The Tuatha D’Danann warriors answer the D’Anu witches’ plea for help and come from Otherworld to fight the horrors threatening the city.

JN: Chey, you're in good company with the Not Rest for the Witches anthology. You join authors MaryJanice Davidson, Lori Handeland, and Christine Warren. Tell us about your story in the anthology.

Cheyenne McCray: In "Breath of Magic," San Francisco's witches find themselves embroiled in an epic battle. But even if D'Anu witch Sydney can use her sultry ways and ancient Druid powers to save the world, can she risk losing her heart to handsome warrior Conlan?

JN: Kayla, your latest from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid comes out November 1. Can you give us a sneak peek?

Kayla Janz: I'd love to! Heart of Glass is Book 2 in my Right Man...Right Now series! (Book 1, The Perfect Package, is also available) In Heart of Glass, Kendra Mills has a secret thing for down-n-dirty rockers. She's never acted on impulse until she met Nick Satorre, bass player for the band Shattered Dreams. Leather-clad, long-haired Nick holds the key to unlocking all Kendra's hidden passions. He can rock her world, but does he have staying power?

Nick’s dreams of becoming a famous rock star are about to come true, but at the worst possible time. Love or fame – Nick’s got to choose. Will he live up to his band’s name and shatter Kendra’s dreams? Or will Kendra’s heart of glass bind him forever?

Love and music create the most beautiful harmony!

JN: Wow, this book sounds h-o-t! How did you get the idea for the story?

Kayla Janz: LOL. A conversation about sex toys with another authors started the series.

JN: Hmmm...I'd have liked to have been a fly on the wall during that conversation! What else can you tell us about the story -- um, without setting my blog on fire, that is!

Kayla Janz: I love music and have always had a thing for long-haired guys. In this story I got to combine two of my favorites. I also love how Kendra fantasized about Nick, turning him into a bad-boy-rocker-pirate in her dreams!

JN: Her dreams and mine! Kayla, are your books available in both eformat and print?

Kayla Janz: Yes, Joy, they are! All my titles are available in multiple e-formats as well as trade paperback. Readers can find them at www.whiskeycreektorrid.com as well as at www.fictionwise.com and www.amazon.com.

JN: As an (insane?) author, I always end up with the feeling that my characters are real people, and are continuing the story on their own after the book ends. Chey and Kayla - when your books are over, the baddies gone, and the hero and heroine catch their breaths, where do they decide to go for a much-needed vacation?

Cheyenne McCray: Sydney and Conlan take off for a quick trip to the Celtic Otherworld--just a few days at the most. There are more demons and a dark goddess left to eliminate in San Francisco, after all!

Kayla Janz: Since Nick is newly famous, he and Kendra go somewhere quiet and sultry, and hide in their hotel room, or on a secluded beach. I'm thinkin' Barbados or Mexico. After a quick stop in Vegas to get married, of course!

JN: Chey and Kayla, where can your readers find you online?

Cheyenne McCray: www.cheyennemccray.com

Kayla Janz: www.KaylaJanz.com, and www.myspace.com/KaylaJanz.

JN: Great! Thanks for stopping by!

Hope you all liked my visit with Cheyenne McCray and Kayla Janz!


Joy

http://www.joynash.com/

Introducing...the 2008 RT Faery Court...

A HUGE highlight of every Romantic Times Convention is the Thursday Evening Faery Ball. Hosted by authors Cheyenne McCray, Eden Robins, along with their bevy of be-winged and be-glittered Faery Court, the Faery Ball never fails to bring the magic of the Fae world to life. Next April, during the 2008 RT Convention in Pittsburgh, I'll have the honor of joining Chey's and Eden's Faery Court in hosting an Underwater Magic-themed Faery Ball.

There are more than twenty Fae in all--some are old friends, some are new. All are lovely and talented! I hope to introduce all the Fae and many of their books here before next April. This month, I have the pleasure of interviewing four members of the 2008 RT Faery Court - Liz Andrews, Brit Blaise, Taige Crenshaw, & Lynn Crain.

JN: Liz, Brit, Taige & Lynn - Welcome! I understand all four of you have books out this month, and they all have a paranormal twist. I want to hear all about them! Liz, you're up first.

Liz Andrews: My release is Shadow of Moonlight by Lena Matthews and Liz Andrews (ebook, Ellora's Cave). It's a werewolf romance. Remington's dedicated her life to protecting her Werewolf pack, and there isn't a Were alive who can make her put her own desires first. Then again, Jace McClellen isn’t an ordinary Werewolf--he possesses the strength of a Were, and the talent of seeing into the future, but not the ability to change to wolf form. Can Jace convince Remy she's his fated mate? www.LizAndrews.net

JN: Sounds cool! Can I ask, Liz, what's your favorite scene in Shadow of Moonlight?

Liz Andrews: I love the scene where Jace pulls Remy into his dreams to show her their future daughter.

JN: Ah, that's really sweet. Liz, if Remy were out shopping for the perfect outfit--in her human form, of course--what would she buy?

Liz Andrews: Camouflage pants and a tee shirt, definitely.

JN: A no-nonsense heroine--my favorite kind! Now let's hear about Brit's new book.

Brit Blaise: My September release is A Lady's Lessons (ebook, Amber Heat). It's a paranormal historical. What happens when a naive English woman discovers her handsome tutor with his pants down? Coming of age has never been more interesting than behind the great haw hedges of Grantman Manor. www.BritBlaise.com

JN: Whoa, that sounds...intriguing! What's your favorite scene in A Lady's Lessons?

Brit Blaise: As a third degree invisible, my hero Charles has his supernatural hands full. Not only is he entrusted to care for a young woman bent on blackmailing him, he has an army of sylphs to conquer, too.

JN: The poor guy! Brit, if your heroine were to place a personal ad for her soul mate, what would she write?

Brit Blaise: It might go something like this: Wanted...a not-exactly-human man who can save me from evil slyphs, immoral goblins and all manner of supernatural dementia.

JN: LOL! Sounds like a handy guy to have around--does he cook, too? I predict your book is going to be a big hit. Next up...drum roll...Lynn.

Lynn Crain: My book's another werewolf story! Night of the Blue Moon (ebook, Loose Id). A werewolf from the wrong side of the track, Cordy must keep her wits about her while training the boss's arrogant son, Connor. When Connor proves to be one sexy were, she learns the real meaning of loyalty. www.LynnCrain.com

JN: Oooh, I just love a rich, arrogant werewolf! Connor sounds yummy. Lynn, every writer has a muse. What does yours look like?

Lynn Crain: My muse is a Scotsman -- I think that says it all! ;-)

JN: Yep, I'd say a big, braw, kilted Scotsman standing next to my computer would be *very* inspiring! My last question for you, Lynn, is...if you were a witch, what animal would be your familiar?

Lynn Crain: It would be a toss up between a wolf and a huge orange cat, Joy. I love wolves for their aggressiveness when facing down an enemy and the pack. As far as cats go, they're smart and aloof, and yet they know *exactly* what’s happening around them all the time.

JN: Great answer. Good luck with Night of the Blue Moon, Lynn. Now, last, but not at all least...Taige.

Taige Crenshaw: My new book is called Golden Seduction (ebook, Ellora's Cave). Laila Brooks would much rather write computer code than risk looking for love, until a deck of Tarot Cards draws her into real life adventure--the search to save a man, find herself, and come out of her shell. Aleneic knows his time is running out. He must complete his quest or be sent back into a solitary existence. The fates have put him in the path of a woman who tempts him to do the one thing he dares not – hope. www.TaigeCrenshaw.com

JN: So Laila's the brainy type of heroine...Okay, let's pretend she's shopping at the mall for the perfect outfit to entice Aleneic. What does she buy?

Taige Crenshaw: On her way to the clothing store, Laila's distracted by the gadgets in the computer store next door. She can't resist going in for "just a second." Five hours later, she leaves the mall with a sackfull of electronic components for her special project--and no new clothes at all!

JN: Laila's one focused lady! So I wonder, what would happen if a genie gave Aleneic his dearest wish. What would he wish for?

Taige Crenshaw: More time. He needs that desperately.

JN: I sure hope Aleneic makes his deadline!

So there you have it, folks. Four talented authors with four hot books to burn up your September! Thanks for reading to the end of the interview.

Hope you'll all check back in October for another round of author interviews...

See ya next month,

Joy
www.joynash.com