Interview with Natalie J. Damschroder and Giveaway - November 3, 2011

Please welcome Natalie J. Damschroder to The Qwillery.

TQ:  What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Natalie:  Hmmm, this is a really hard question! I have quirks, but they're not that interesting. :) I have to have the character names before the story really starts developing, and they can't be common names. I'm allergic to common names.

TQ:  Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Natalie:  I'm a flyer! I fly by the seat of my pants, I don't pull people's pants down. LOL I'm always trying to change that label, but no one else cooperates. Anyway, I have my big general idea, and beyond that, I plot ahead a little bit at a time. I may get ideas for chunks later in the book, but one of the best parts of being a writer, for me, is discovering things as I go along. Like who the villain is, sometimes!

TQ:  What inspired you to write the Under the Moon (Goddesses Rising 1)?

Natalie:  I'd wanted to write about goddesses for a while, but I only had a kind of chick-litty opening. I wanted to write something with male characters like the brothers on Supernatural—guys who bicker constantly, but would die for each other. Turned out, the rivalry between Nick and Sam in my book was a lot stronger than their bond, at least at the beginning.

Anyway, I had these vague "wants" floating in my head, and I wanted to do National Novel Writing Month but had no ideas for a new book. Everything kind of slammed together in my head a couple of days before NaNoWriMo launched, and I dove in.

TQ:  What sort of research did you do to create the world in the Under the Moon?

Natalie:  I write paranormal because I really don't like to do research, and I also set my paranormal worlds in modern society, which means the world I'm building is very much our own world. But some is, of course, necessary for any book! I had to do research on moon phases, streets in Boston (OMG, Google Street View is one of the best inventions ever for writer's resources!), and classic cars, among other things.

TQ:  Describe Under the Moon (Goddesses Rising 1) in 140 characters or less.

Natalie:  A modern-day goddess teams up with her protector—and forbidden soulmate—to track down the leech who’s stealing power from other goddesses.

TQ:  Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in Under the Moon?

Natalie:  I love when Nick first arrives at Quinn's bar, Under the Moon, and we first see the dynamics between him and Quinn, and her assistant Sam. Then toward the end, there are three scenes—between Quinn and Nick, the final battle, and between Quinn and Sam—that I adore. I can't go into any detail, though, or it will spoil things! :)

TQ:  In Under the Moon, who was the most difficult character to write and why? The easiest and why?

Natalie:  Good question! This book happened to be the easiest first draft I've ever written, so at that point, none of the characters were difficult, and all were easy. But Marley, Quinn's sister, was probably the most difficult in the long run. She's still giving me fits. :)

TQ:  How many books are planned for the Godesses Rising series?

Natalie:  Goddesses Rising will be a trilogy, with book 2, Heavy Metal, out in the spring, and book 3, Sunroper, out in the fall of 2012.

TQ:  What's next?

Natalie:  I have a very long list. :) In addition to Under the Moon, I'm happy to have a new romantic adventure out, Behind the Scenes, with Carina Press. A third romantic adventure (non-paranormal) will be released by them in the spring. Behind the Scenes will also be released in audio at Audible.com.

I just turned in Heavy Metal and am working on Sunroper. I have several books, both paranormal and non, that I need to revise and get into shape for potential publication, and I'm also trying to break into YA. I love the challenge of writing romance from a teenager's perspective, and the viewpoint also makes writing paranormal even more exciting.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery

Natalie:  Thanks so much for having me! I really enjoyed doing your interview!


About Under the Moon

Under the Moon

Goddesses Rising 1
Entangled Publishing, November 1, 2011

Their power gives them strength…and makes them targets.

Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase. She runs a consulting business and her father’s bar, serves on the board of the ancient Society for Goddess Education and Defense, and yearns for Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector and the soul mate she can never have.

But someone has developed the rare and difficult ability to drain a goddess of her powers, and Quinn is a target. With the world thinking Nick has gone rogue (whatever that means) and that Quinn is influenced by “family ties” she didn’t know she had, keeping themselves safe while working to find the enemy proves harder each day.

But not as hard as denying their hearts…

Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Book Depository

About Natalie

Natalie J. Damschroder's latest and upcoming releases:

Behind the Scenes October 31, 2011
Carina Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible coming soon.

Under the Moon November 1, 2011
Entangled Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Fight or Flight Out now!
Carina Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

You can learn more about Natalie and her books at her website, eHarlequin, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook. She blogs with four other obsessed passionate Supernatural fans at Supernatural Sisters, with a number of fantastic romance authors at Everybody Needs a Little Romance, and just to hear herself talk at Indulge Yourself.


The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a $5 gift certificate to the online book store of the winner's choice from Natalie.

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:

Which goddess or god would you be (if you could be a goddess or god)?

Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)  Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)  Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)  Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.

Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Thursday, November 10, 2011. Void where prohibited by law. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*