Hi Angela and thank you for speaking with us today. Why not grab a cup of coffee and tell the readers something about Angela Cameron.
*coffee in hand* Thank you for having me.
Angela, hmmm, Dangerous Adventures, I love your website. Absolutely lovely. When I was reading some things about your life, I could almost picture you when you would go in your closet and read by flashlight. When it comes to vampires, I have a passion for them, too.
Blood & Sex Vol. 1, Michael is out this month. We would love to hear about this spine-tingly sexy Mafia tale, can you enlighten us?
Michael is the first in the series about, as you said, a group of vampires who are Italian Mafia types. Their world is well organized, with all the secrecy and rules that their human counterparts have. But in their world, sex and blood are the most valuable assets.
In Michael, we learn about their basic existence and Michael’s fascination with a certain female detective named Victoria Tyler. I’m not going to give away spoilers, but I will say that their journey revolves around Michael’s life in a vampire underworld full of fetishes, blood slaves, and murder. His ability to gain power over his own life wrapped up in Tori. And Tori’s ability to stop a serial killer is dependent on Michael’s willingness to help her.
This series is my ability to explore my obsession with vampires and their dark, inherently sensual natures. It’s a lifelong addiction really, starting with The Lost Boys. I even have a picture of Kiefer Sutherland as David on my desk.
You have quite a number of published works. How do you keep your ideas fresh and imaginative?
I can’t complain about a lack of ideas. I am blessed a child’s imagination. Perhaps it’s due to my inability to live without sensory input. I devour movies, books, pictures, art, and any new experience that I can get my hands on. Dreams often translate into stories. I have lots of dreams every night and I remember most of them, which I’m finding to be an odd trait.
Do you feel horror and vampire tales are your best works?
I can’t answer that yet. Every time I write something new, I think it’s my best work. So, it’s a question of what I’m writing at the moment. I wrote a scene for a horror novel a few weeks ago that scared me so badly that I couldn’t sleep with my leg hanging off the bed. Then, I would have said horror. But this week, I wrote a very seductive scene with a vampire, and now I’m thinking that vampires are the best. Time—and readers—will be the judge, I suppose.
What does the start of the New Year hold for Angela in upcoming works?
2009 will be an exciting year. I plan to have three volumes of the Blood and Sex series available at Ravenous Romance before summer’s end. I also just had a werewolf story, Changing Moon, released in the Power Plays anthology edited by Jamaica Layne with the same publisher. I will also be finishing a horror novel that I’m researching with a real ghost hunter and several short stories. I’m sure several other opportunities will come along as well.
Do you ever make New Year’s Resolutions or just brush that thought aside?
I used to make Resolutions, but they started causing more anxiety than positive results. Now, I just sort of make a mental list of what I hope to accomplish during the year and move on. This year, I’m finishing my BA in English and Literature, and shooting to have five novels published. I hope to dedicate what’s left of my energy to fitness. Sitting in a chair on my laptop most days is not improving my waistline!
Have you ever completely finished one book then suddenly decided you wanted to change the ending?
I usually do this to some degree. I have an idea of what the ending’s going to be, but when we get there, my characters drag me in a different direction. Michael, for example, decided that it was important for us to see a vampire funeral at the end of his book, along with the family scene. I had no idea that was coming and had finished the story. I had to rewrite it a little.
Jonas, the hero of Volume 2 has done something similar. This character, more than any other, has completely taken over. The fate of Elena changed, the end of their story, his fate with Luciano—it all changed. I just nodded and typed. That’s a Dom for ya.
How would you describe your working space?
My main workspace is a big comfy chair in front of a big screen television that loops appropriate shows. Some days it’s SciFi channel, other’s it’s the Resident Evil movies. I just sit with a diet Mt. Dew on my right and my laptop in front of me, typing away.
When it’s not flowing smoothly, I have two alternates. First, I get in my Tundra and drive either to my city park or to my daughter’s school if I’m picking her up, and just write whatever comes to mind on one of my many notebooks.
If that doesn’t work, I go to bed. I used to write, as a kid, in my journal every night. Now, my best writing happens in my pajamas, snuggled in bed with a dim lamp, legal pad, and my favorite ink pen. I don’t do this all of the time because I hate typing up my own notes. I’d rather get on with the story.
Do you have a favorite character that is close to your heart?
Of my own characters, it’s a tie between Tori in Blood & Sex, V. 1 and Jonas in V.2. Tori is a lot like me. I even named her after my younger cousin. But Jonas…he’s so—himself—that he can’t be normal even when he tries. Not that he really tries. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks. And it’s that passionate, brave, and free spirited personality that makes me admire him so.
I am familiar with Birmingham when I go that way to Nashville instead of driving through the Atlanta traffic, but am not familiar with the Smith Lake area. I did do a Google search on it, and found the location. The area indeed looks lovely. I bet the fishing is good there. Do you ever get many story ideas from the beautiful area?
I do. It’s a great place for the imagination with a wealth of Native American and Civil War history. In Nocturne, the novella that came out on Halloween, the scene at the lake house is taken from an actual place here. Changing Moon also has an area inspired by the location. My ghost story will center around the area, as will other werewolf tales that I’m working on.
If you could be a character in any Disney Movie, which movie would you choose?
Wow. *laughing* I’ve never thought about it. I guess I’m part Mia Thromopolis from the Princess Diaries. That’s how I feel about being a writer. After I started writing again as an adult, I was working on my genealogy and my aunt pointed out that I’m related to Louis L’Amour. Then I found all of the other wonderfully talented artists, musicians, and writers in my family. I signed my first contract shortly after and felt like I’d joined them in some weird way.
The other part of me is Captain Jack Sparrow. He’s my inner child. My nieces and nephews love it because I’ve been known to let them dress me up or dance in the front yard, teaching them the Thriller Dance. Although, they do seem a little concerned when I start talking to myself. Maybe that’s why they think I’m the fun aunt?
You are on a picnic, which do you go for first, hot dog or hamburgers?
Can I pick potato salad? If I have to choose, then it’s hot dogs. They’re perfect if they’re grilled enough to be just a little bit burnt. Have to have the black marks.
If you were given a choice to spend a day at the spa, or have a maid for a day, which would you choose?
Maid. No doubt about it! That poor woman would probably have a stroke at my house. When I’m writing, everything else goes on hold. I do what I have to do to keep my family running, but laundry backs up, dusting doesn’t get done, and even the clutter around my workspace piles up. I clean between writing stretches.
You are trapped inside an elevator with a woman with a screaming baby, a toddler who wants to try to push every button and a teenager who is complaining because he is bored out of his wits; how would you handle the situation?
I’d have to agree with the teenager. *laughs* That poor mom probably needs a break. So, I’d help the toddler press all the buttons, except for the stop button, which I’d have to say makes lets the monsters into the elevator. Then I’d make faces at the baby to try to distract it. If by the time we get off the mom hasn’t tried to have me arrested, I’d drop to my knees and thank God that my daughter’s a teenager now. Later, I’d write a scene about it.
I love kids, but I don’t miss the never-ending struggle of having young children. It’s tough to have little ones, and I admire those moms who survive having several.
Angela, can you give the readers your website, blog, myspace, or Facebook, so they can visit and get to know more about Angela?
Sure. The first place to visit is my website www.Angela-Cameron.com . You can find my Twitter, MySpace, and other information there. To keep up with what I’m doing on a daily basis, visit my blog at http://angelacameron.wordpress.com . RavenousRomance.com also hosts one of my blogs on their site (Just click on my name). They’ve got my books listed with excerpts
Angela Cameron Interview
Hi Angela and thank you for speaking with us today. Why not grab a cup of coffee and tell the readers something about Angela Cameron.
*coffee in hand* Thank you for having me.
Angela, hmmm, Dangerous Adventures, I love your website. Absolutely lovely. When I was reading some things about your life, I could almost picture you when you would go in your closet and read by flashlight. When it comes to vampires, I have a passion for them, too.
Blood & Sex Vol. 1, Michael is out this month. We would love to hear about this spine-tingly sexy Mafia tale, can you enlighten us?
Michael is the first in the series about, as you said, a group of vampires who are Italian Mafia types. Their world is well organized, with all the secrecy and rules that their human counterparts have. But in their world, sex and blood are the most valuable assets.
In Michael, we learn about their basic existence and Michael’s fascination with a certain female detective named Victoria Tyler. I’m not going to give away spoilers, but I will say that their journey revolves around Michael’s life in a vampire underworld full of fetishes, blood slaves, and murder. His ability to gain power over his own life wrapped up in Tori. And Tori’s ability to stop a serial killer is dependent on Michael’s willingness to help her.
This series is my ability to explore my obsession with vampires and their dark, inherently sensual natures. It’s a lifelong addiction really, starting with The Lost Boys. I even have a picture of Kiefer Sutherland as David on my desk.
You have quite a number of published works. How do you keep your ideas fresh and imaginative?
I can’t complain about a lack of ideas. I am blessed a child’s imagination. Perhaps it’s due to my inability to live without sensory input. I devour movies, books, pictures, art, and any new experience that I can get my hands on. Dreams often translate into stories. I have lots of dreams every night and I remember most of them, which I’m finding to be an odd trait.
Do you feel horror and vampire tales are your best works?
I can’t answer that yet. Every time I write something new, I think it’s my best work. So, it’s a question of what I’m writing at the moment. I wrote a scene for a horror novel a few weeks ago that scared me so badly that I couldn’t sleep with my leg hanging off the bed. Then, I would have said horror. But this week, I wrote a very seductive scene with a vampire, and now I’m thinking that vampires are the best. Time—and readers—will be the judge, I suppose.
What does the start of the New Year hold for Angela in upcoming works?
2009 will be an exciting year. I plan to have three volumes of the Blood and Sex series available at Ravenous Romance before summer’s end. I also just had a werewolf story, Changing Moon, released in the Power Plays anthology edited by Jamaica Layne with the same publisher. I will also be finishing a horror novel that I’m researching with a real ghost hunter and several short stories. I’m sure several other opportunities will come along as well.
Do you ever make New Year’s Resolutions or just brush that thought aside?
I used to make Resolutions, but they started causing more anxiety than positive results. Now, I just sort of make a mental list of what I hope to accomplish during the year and move on. This year, I’m finishing my BA in English and Literature, and shooting to have five novels published. I hope to dedicate what’s left of my energy to fitness. Sitting in a chair on my laptop most days is not improving my waistline!
Have you ever completely finished one book then suddenly decided you wanted to change the ending?
I usually do this to some degree. I have an idea of what the ending’s going to be, but when we get there, my characters drag me in a different direction. Michael, for example, decided that it was important for us to see a vampire funeral at the end of his book, along with the family scene. I had no idea that was coming and had finished the story. I had to rewrite it a little.
Jonas, the hero of Volume 2 has done something similar. This character, more than any other, has completely taken over. The fate of Elena changed, the end of their story, his fate with Luciano—it all changed. I just nodded and typed. That’s a Dom for ya.
How would you describe your working space?
My main workspace is a big comfy chair in front of a big screen television that loops appropriate shows. Some days it’s SciFi channel, other’s it’s the Resident Evil movies. I just sit with a diet Mt. Dew on my right and my laptop in front of me, typing away.
When it’s not flowing smoothly, I have two alternates. First, I get in my Tundra and drive either to my city park or to my daughter’s school if I’m picking her up, and just write whatever comes to mind on one of my many notebooks.
If that doesn’t work, I go to bed. I used to write, as a kid, in my journal every night. Now, my best writing happens in my pajamas, snuggled in bed with a dim lamp, legal pad, and my favorite ink pen. I don’t do this all of the time because I hate typing up my own notes. I’d rather get on with the story.
Do you have a favorite character that is close to your heart?
Of my own characters, it’s a tie between Tori in Blood & Sex, V. 1 and Jonas in V.2. Tori is a lot like me. I even named her after my younger cousin. But Jonas…he’s so—himself—that he can’t be normal even when he tries. Not that he really tries. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks. And it’s that passionate, brave, and free spirited personality that makes me admire him so.
I am familiar with Birmingham when I go that way to Nashville instead of driving through the Atlanta traffic, but am not familiar with the Smith Lake area. I did do a Google search on it, and found the location. The area indeed looks lovely. I bet the fishing is good there. Do you ever get many story ideas from the beautiful area?
I do. It’s a great place for the imagination with a wealth of Native American and Civil War history. In Nocturne, the novella that came out on Halloween, the scene at the lake house is taken from an actual place here. Changing Moon also has an area inspired by the location. My ghost story will center around the area, as will other werewolf tales that I’m working on.
If you could be a character in any Disney Movie, which movie would you choose?
Wow. *laughing* I’ve never thought about it. I guess I’m part Mia Thromopolis from the Princess Diaries. That’s how I feel about being a writer. After I started writing again as an adult, I was working on my genealogy and my aunt pointed out that I’m related to Louis L’Amour. Then I found all of the other wonderfully talented artists, musicians, and writers in my family. I signed my first contract shortly after and felt like I’d joined them in some weird way.
The other part of me is Captain Jack Sparrow. He’s my inner child. My nieces and nephews love it because I’ve been known to let them dress me up or dance in the front yard, teaching them the Thriller Dance. Although, they do seem a little concerned when I start talking to myself. Maybe that’s why they think I’m the fun aunt?
You are on a picnic, which do you go for first, hot dog or hamburgers?
Can I pick potato salad? If I have to choose, then it’s hot dogs. They’re perfect if they’re grilled enough to be just a little bit burnt. Have to have the black marks.
If you were given a choice to spend a day at the spa, or have a maid for a day, which would you choose?
Maid. No doubt about it! That poor woman would probably have a stroke at my house. When I’m writing, everything else goes on hold. I do what I have to do to keep my family running, but laundry backs up, dusting doesn’t get done, and even the clutter around my workspace piles up. I clean between writing stretches.
You are trapped inside an elevator with a woman with a screaming baby, a toddler who wants to try to push every button and a teenager who is complaining because he is bored out of his wits; how would you handle the situation?
I’d have to agree with the teenager. *laughs* That poor mom probably needs a break. So, I’d help the toddler press all the buttons, except for the stop button, which I’d have to say makes lets the monsters into the elevator. Then I’d make faces at the baby to try to distract it. If by the time we get off the mom hasn’t tried to have me arrested, I’d drop to my knees and thank God that my daughter’s a teenager now. Later, I’d write a scene about it.
I love kids, but I don’t miss the never-ending struggle of having young children. It’s tough to have little ones, and I admire those moms who survive having several.
Angela, can you give the readers your website, blog, myspace, or Facebook, so they can visit and get to know more about Angela?
Sure. The first place to visit is my website Angela-Cameron.com. You can find my Twitter, MySpace, and other information there. To keep up with what I’m doing on a daily basis, visit my blog at angelacameron.wordpress.com. RavenousRomance.com also hosts one of my blogs on their site (Just click on my name). They’ve got my books listed with excerpts, too. Soon my work will be on Amazon, iTunes, and more! If you stop by one of my sites, please email me, friend me, or drop a comment on the blog. I love to talk to readers.
Thank you very much for having me!
Thank you so much for spending the morning with us, Angela. I have certainly enjoyed the time we shared.
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