Q & A WITH DENISE AGNEW

Hey Denise, I appreciate your taking the time out to chat with us.

It’s a pleasure. J

Did you always want to be a writer?  How did you start?

I was an avid reader at a very young age and at fourteen I wrote my first short story and after that I continued to write fiction. When I was a teenager I wrote reams of poetry and started writing gothic romances. I took journalism class as well as creative writing courses throughout high school.

You write so many genres, is there one that’s a favorite?

No, I can’t say there is a favorite. I can say that many if not most of my novels contain elements of paranormal and/or suspense. I’m drawn to both of those avenues in my writing. I’ve only written two straight contemporary romances that don’t have those elements somewhere in the story.

Is it ever difficult to write across so many genres or is it mood reflection?  You write per your mood?

Almost all of my novels are written based on what blows my skirt up. J  It’s easier by far for me to write across genres than it is to continually write in the same vein for too long.

Can you please tell us a bit about your most recent release MAJOR PLEASURE and your July release DARK, DEADLY LOVE?

Major Pleasure was one of three stories in an anthology called BY HONOR BOUND featuring interconnecting stores about the military. It’s erotic romance. When Ellora’s Cave divided up the anthology, Major Pleasure was released again. It features an Army Special Forces hero.

July 2010 is my new release. It, too, is a re-release. The original title was Midnight Rose. It was renamed DARK, DEADLY LOVE. This is one of my favorite books. It’s set during the Jack The Ripper murders in 1888 London and features an aristocratic hero and an American heroine. It’s definitely suspenseful with paranormal elements.

That sounds really good…I love books set in that period.

Do you have any say in regards to your book covers?

I have a lot of input into my covers. That doesn’t mean I’ll always get the cover I’d like, but I do get input. The cover for DARK, DEADLY LOVE is stunning. I can’t wait to share it with the world.

I can’t wait to see it.  You’ve had some gorgeous covers.

Is the whole story figured out beforehand or do you go with the flow?

Virtually, all by the seat of the pants. If I plot much ahead of time my creativity dries up. I can have ideas of things I might want to happen in the story, but I may change my mind completely as I go along. The story has to evolve as I’m writing it. I have only one novel where I knew before I started writing what the end of the story would be.

That must keep it interesting for you.  Are you in charge or do you allow your characters free rein?

I’d say it’s more the characters in charge.

What is the hardest part of being a writer for you?  The easiest?

Probably being a by the seat of the pants writer is the hardest. I have to recognize each time I write a book that it’s okay to feel uncertain about what is happening next. My inner critic is a real bitch and very mean. The easiest thing is writing when I want how I want for how long I want every day. And I can do it in sweats with bed head.

You’ve traveled extensively and lived in many places, do you have a favorite?

Scotland hands down is my favorite, though we loved traveling and living in England. Wales and Ireland were fabulous. Here in the US our favorite travel destination is Sedona, Arizona.

Can you tell us what Bogey’s up to?  His pics are adorable.  There’s one that reminds me of what a cashier once said to me about my oldest, “You can just see the devil dancing in that boys eyes”.  O’ how true!

Bogey is almost eighteen months old and spunky. He’s adorable but can be mischievous about certain things. He’s in puppy play camp twice a week where he plays with other dogs all day. We’re doing that to try and calm him down a bit since he loves other dogs so much he just has a fit if he can’t run up to every one he sees and say hello. He adores people.

We share a love of spiders..my motto is,  “the only good one is a dead one.”  Do you have a funny/scary spider story?

We share a love of spiders? We do? LOL. I wish I could say I have a funny spider story. Probably the scariest one I’ve every seen was in Hawaii. It was this really big cane spider that turned up on the wall of the office where I worked. Ugly!!! Really, when it comes down to it, roaches and centipedes are even creepier as far as I’m concerned.

Denise honey, thanks so much for making the time to join us.  I’ve had a large time and am looking forward to DARK, DEADLY LOVE.

Y’all be sure and check out those gorgeous covers & catch up on the latest news on Denise’s website.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with me.:)