Hi everyone, we're having fun talking to author Imari Jade, author of A Christmas to Remember, Death Takes a Holiday, and A Rose By Any Other Name in the anthology Sweet Revenge.

Ms. Jade, first let me say, welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews and thank you so much for taking time out of your busy and hectic schedule to chat with us today, it's greatly appreciated.

Please tell us about yourself and your writing style for anyone not familiar with you.

Well, I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. I still live there in a suburb called, Marrero. I’m a full-time accountant, and I have three sons. I have been writing quite a number of years. Most of my publishing credits come from short stories, but I’ve also done well with writing humorous tales about my sons while they were growing up. Currently my writing style tends to bend toward romance writing, particularly erotic romance. My stories are humorous and erotic. I don’t have one set style. I try to be versatile. I’m also comfortable writing contemporary romance.

I love the story A Rose By Any Other Name, and how Keisha gets back at Maceio, how did you come up with the idea? Have you ever wanted to get revenge on anyone?

Well, I knew it had to be different than the average tale of revenge by a scorned woman. I kept thinking about what would be the ultimate revenge on a man that played around on a woman, so I decided that what would hurt his ego more was to let him know his woman preferred the company of another woman than his. Sure, I’ve wanted to get revenge on a lot of people, but I do it on paper.

Do you think living in New Orleans has influenced your reading or writing habits?

Yes. I was taught to write what you know, or write about your own back yard. New Orleans has such a rich culture. I grew up reading Tennessee Williams and Truman Compote novels that were written here in New Orleans. More often than not I’ll use New Orleans as a backdrop for my stories. My characters like to eat, love jazz, and most of them have a southern accent.

With adding a little Cajun spice to your novels, I know everyone is wanting to know, are they as hot as you make them?

Yes.

How have your stories and you, as an author, changed from your very first until now?

My grammar has improved considerably. I have had the privilege of working with some great editors and I thank my college professor for insisting that her students take a grammar class. You’d be surprised what you’ve forgotten after being out of school for a long period of time. I think I’ve read every how-to-write book on the market. We, in general, sometimes write the way we speak, but I’ve learned what may sound natural to someone down south gets lost in the translation for people in other parts of the country. My characters in my stories grow with me. I try to put a little of myself in each one of my heroines. They have the same fears that I have, and my characters outgrown them as I do. I’ve also learned to take risks as a writer. There was a time when I wouldn’t dream of using such descriptive terms in my writing because it isn’t taught that way in books. Now I’ve learn to just come right out and say what I want to say without trying to be politically correct.

If there was one thing you could do that you haven't done before, what would it be and why?

If we’re speaking about writing, I’d love to write a screen play or a television show. I think either would be a challenge. As for my personal life, I wish I could retire from my current job and write full-time. Sometimes there aren’t enough hours in a day to do both, and besides writing is much more interesting to me than messing with numbers all day.

What is it about the paranormal that intrigues you?

I think I’m a bit strange when it comes to this subject. I grew up afraid to watch horror movies at night, but it wasn’t until I read my first paranormal novel by Laurell K. Hamilton that I got hooked. I’ve always loved vampires and werewolves. I think I was more upset than the actors when Buffy the Vampire Slayer went off the air. I’m like, “What am I going to do on a Tuesday night?” I’m in the process right now of creating a vampire series that I hope to publish one day. Yes, its set in New Orleans, but the creatures fit in perfectly. For years I’ve had bouts of Deja vu. For example, something can happen in my life and after it happens I remember it as happening before. I do believe that people reincarnate and it would be interesting to find out who I was in a past life.

How hard is it for you to research your story lines?

Not hard at all since the onset of the Internet. I don’t drive so it hard for me to get to the library all the time. I usually come up with an idea and do a bit of research for accuracy with details and scenic background. I think the weirdest research I’ve done was for my novel “A Christmas to Remember.” If you haven’t read it yet, it deals with a young woman with a fascination for sex toys. Try pulling up some of those sites in a household full of people, especially with your seventy-five year old mother lurking about.

In Death Takes A Holiday your hero Thantos is King of the ghost realm, how did the concept of this book come from? Is Thantos an image of someone you know?

I got the idea from watching an episode of “Charmed,” when the sisters meet “Death.” (Season 3, Episode 6 “Death Takes a Halliwell) I found the man who played him, Simon Templeton, very sexy and the perfect actor for the part. I loved his accent, and the way he was focused on the mission. It was nothing personal. He was just doing his job. I like a man who has principles and who doesn’t let tears sway him from doing what he has to do. Death has always been portrayed as a skeletal creature, but I took one look at Mr. Templeton and I decided, Death has to be blonde with perfect diction.

With A Christmas To Remember, you gave us two mothers who decided to play matchmaker, have you ever played matchmaker to family or friends and has it worked out?

No, I try never to interfere with love. I think if a person is meant to be with someone they will be. On the other hand, my friends are always trying to set me up with someone. I tell them I’m happily divorce and am capable of finding a man. Right now I just don’t have the time.

Could you tell us what you're working on now?

I’m working on a novel for Valentine’s Day. It’s a mythological/paranormal/erotic romance. I’ve also working on the second book in the Greek Pantheon series that follows “Death Takes a Holiday.”

How can readers find out more about you and your books?

My current books are available at Midnight Showcase and StarDust Press. They can find out what happening with me and my writing at my website or MySpace.

Midnight Showcase will be featuring my story “Love Never Dies,” in their Halloween anthology, “Halloween Hijacks.”

Ms. Jade, thank you so much for being with us today, I know that besides myself the readers really appreciating finding out about you and your wonderful books. I can't wait to read more from you.

Interviewed by: Donna