Basically, I’m a writer like just about any other writer, but if I can’t find the twist that makes people say “huh?” I get bored very quickly. As a fiction writer, I want it in my pages, and as an Author Success Coach, I want to see it on the author’s face. There’s magic in every part of life, we just need to look for it. Whether it’s outside our front door, inside our head or part of a plan for success, creative and unique solutions are everywhere! I love to challenge myself in big ways. When I decided to write The Twice-Baked Vampire series I asked myself the simplest question I could think of. What really happens to a vampire after he finally dies? We all know what previous authors have told us and what contemporary authors and writers subscribe to … I thought something different. I thought, OMG! What if that poor vampire, Gabriel Strickland, simply wakes up in West Hollywood and has to live out purgatory in a secret warehouse filled with other really dead supernaturals? What if he has to do everything he can to earn redemption and his own ticket through the Pearly Gates? The concept lent itself to a character readers could sympathize with, a unique world view no one’s ever written before. It seemed like a LOT of fun to write. That’s me and my writing.
2) Monkey Jump is an interesting title. Where did you get your inspiration for this newest installment in the Twice-Baked series?
The title, Monkey Jump, came from my childhood nightmares about those creepy flying monkeys in the movie, The Wizard of Oz. They still scare the bejebus out of me. *shiver* The entire Twice-Baked Vampire series has been carefully plotted and all the inspiration came from the original idea. What does it take for a once-vampire to really earn heaven? A LOT. There are extraordinary and ordinary challenges in Gabriel’s life, and a whole lot of confusion, poor guy. The problem isn’t finding inspiration for the Twice-Baked Vampire series, the challenge is limiting the inspiration to the most interesting ones.
3) How much did feedback from Cold in California affect your decisions when writing this second book?
Big time! Oh yes! It came from the positive reviews and comments. It encouraged me to continue Gabriel’s story and take it even further, explore the darker side of seeking redemption and even the possibilities of not gaining that redemption at all. I found that readers were rooting for Gabriel, so I need to keep his adventures and growth on point. I can actually feel the unspoken agreement where I promise the reader strong stories and good progress with each book in the series. It’s an honor, and nothing feels better than when a reader or reviewer states that they can’t wait for the next book. It’s what writers live for. But at the end of the day I’m just a writer at the mercy of my muse and hoping to please a reader. It’s a little overwhelming when the first and second book do well. That sure adds pressure to keep it up and that … well that’s the challenging, creative magic of being a writer.
4) Can you give us any hints about what the future has in store for your characters?
In Book #1 of The Twice Baked Vampire series, Cold in California, Gabriel’s biggest problems included adjusting to his new life, staying out of trouble and protecting his new love, Dori, from the truth about him. He faced a near disaster and rose to the challenge of protecting his new, albeit strange, community. In book #2, Monkey Jump, things are quite different. Gabriel now has big responsibilities and getting a serious grasp on the fact that if he wants to go to heaven, he’s REALLY got to earn it. Things become even more difficult when the powers that be send Gabriel on a training program that gets terribly sidetracked and lands him in real trouble, facing unheard of dangers and extreme temptation. My goal with Monkey Jump was to test Gabriel’s resolve and toss things into his path that would make him consider risking his relationship with Dori, turning away from redemption and questioning his past, present and future. I wanted Gabriel to grow and develop by exploring not only his own desires, but the qualities hidden deep inside those around him – living Vampires, Polar Bear Shifters, a really nasty Witch and a Soul Eater – all while working his way through an incredible adventure. Oh, and there’s a dragon too!
5) Tell us a random interesting fact about yourself.
I’m a retired chef. I used to compete and have won several metals in culinary competitions. Oh, and I like to eat, LOL. On the horizon is a cookbook, I’m just waiting for the time to finish writing it.
6) What are you working on at present? Any more coming for the Twice-Baked series?
Yes, book #3 in the Twice-Baked Vampire series is entitled Amsterdamned and I will be getting it to my publisher in the next few months. I’m also working on a paranormal woman’s fiction and an historic romance with a supernatural twist. In addition to all that, I’m developing my second non-fiction geared toward helping authors find author sales success, a Cross Marketing workbook.
I blog - http://rileymagnus.wordpress.com/
I teach - http://theauthorsuccesscoach.com/
I fiction – http://coldincalifornia.com
I write - http://deborahriley-magnus.com/
I tweet – http://twitter.com/rileymagnus
I facebook - http://www.facebook.com/deborah.rileymagnus
I should be sooo tired!
Twice-baked vampire, Gabriel Strickland may appear to be coping well with the responsibilities his life after double-death has dealt him, but it's only show. The struggle to earn his ticket through the Pearly Gates takes a toll when he's assigned to perform a Monkey Jump - a program designed to teach newly assigned management the skills required to do their job. To soften the blow, he takes Dori as his assistant. What he wants is peace and serenity to think things through, what he gets is startling temptation, a Soul Eater and his sidekick, Master Witch Neave Brittania Cook. One has a revenge agenda and the other, designs on Gabriel's soul.
The Monkey Jump itinerary, scheduled for Phoenix and Seattle, takes a perilous detour to a north Alaskan community of the oldest, most evolved vampires on the planet. Secrets must be kept and Gabriel must protect Dori as well as his own path to paradise. Well hell, this can't be good.
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