Hello Readers! Today I bring you my newest favorite urban fantasy author, Carolyn Crane. Carolyn lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two daring cats. She works a day job as a freelance advertising writer, and has for years (Carolyn says “think low-rent Don Draper”). She’s also waited tables at a surprising number of Minneapolis restaurants and bars (though not as many, incidentally, as her writer husband has). She’s been a shop clerk and a plastics factory worker, which she was dismal at (think I Love Lucy).
As a side note, Carolyn can relate almost any life experience to one or another Star Trek episodes, and if you invite her to your party, your cheese plate will be in grave danger.
During rare moments when she’s not at her computer, she can be found reading in bed, running, helping animals, or eating Mexican food.
Carolyn is a featured author attending Author’s After Dark in New Orleans. For more information about AAD2012, click HERE.
Also, keep reading to learn more about Carolyn’s newest release, Devil’s Luck, and enter to win a copy! GIVEAWAY details are below.
Please help me welcome Carolyn to That’s What I’m Talking About.
Twimom: Carolyn, welcome and thank you for stopping by.
Carolyn: Thank you so much for having me! And thanks for that wonderful introduction!! Look, I am all exclamation points right now.
Twimom: Aren’t exclamation points fun?! That reminds me of a Seinfeld episode… Oh sorry… I digress…
Okay, let’s get this out of the way… (insert fangirl squee) I LOVE your Disillusionists Trilogy… As you know I consumed the first 3.5 stories in a matter of days. (Readers, after meeting Carolyn at the 2011 AAD con in Philly, I put her book Mind Games on my TBR list, hoping to read it last fall. I finally got around to it last month and fell in love.) First, can you please tell my readers a little bit about the trilogy and the amazing world you’ve created?Carolyn: LOL thanks! I’m so glad you gave it a spin! You know, when we met at AAD, it was clear we both share such a love for a lot of the same books, and in particular, the work of Meljean Brook, and I remember thinking, I hope she likes my series, so I’m thrilled that you do!!
Okay, description: The Disillusionists Trilogy follows the journey of Justine Jones and her friends—former losers whose weaknesses were turned into crime-fighting powers. It also follows Justine’s suitors: two flawed but brilliant men—one on a journey of redemption, the other descending into a pit of moral depravity. The trilogy takes place in a fantastical Midwestern city – a Chicago & Milwaukee that’s been run down by years of paranormal crime.
Twimom: Other than your recently released novella, Devil’s Luck (review HERE), what are your plans for Justine, Packard, Simon and Shelby?
Carolyn: I don’t have any specific plans – but I love writing novellas and shorts, and they may keep making appearances for some time to come, if I get more novella ideas. But Head Rush is the last novel of the world. I always saw it as a trilogy.
Twimom: *hoping for more novellas* Okay, I’m dying to know… your heroine, Justine, is a major hypochondriac with fears over some bizarre medical issues. How did you come up with these (horrifying yet convincing) conditions? Are you or do you know someone with as much fear as Justine? Did you have to do a lot of medical research?
Carolyn: I’ve been around a lot of people with heath fears and when younger, I worried about my heath far too much, too. (Though nothing like Justine!). The conditions are made up, but sort of inspired by various real diseases that are twisted and made more fantastical. Actually, last year another blogger did some research and found out Vein Star is actually a real disease, similar to the one I made up. I was shocked!
Partly I wanted my diseases to be fantastical because I felt like, there are real people with real diseases out there, and I didn’t want to use real diseases and make light of them. Also, I want this to be escapist read and not anchored too deeply in reality.
Twimom: Well, I for one thought the diseases were perfect and hilarious! I am very sad to say goodbye to my Disillusionist friends, but I’m excited about your two new upcoming series. Can you give us a little more information yet?
Carolyn: My paranormal spy romance will come out first (don’t yet know when! I will know by the end of March if not sooner), but it takes place in rural Minnesota, and it is a massively quirky project that I am in love with. It’s also a LOT hotter than the Disillusionists… a bit wild, in fact—I’ll tell you that.
My UF adventure series, Dark Forest, is more of a traditional UF. It’s on the humorous and sexier side, and takes place in northern Wisconsin. Kind of a rural gothic supernatural book where even the deer heads on the walls of the rustic supper club look vaguely vampiric. I love the hero in this one.
Twimom: I cannot wait to read the new books… They will be at the top of my list when you find out more info!
You have attended Authors After Dark in the past and are a featured author in 2012. Why AAD? What are your favorite aspects of AAD?Carolyn: I love the quiet times of this convention. Like, sitting down to coffee with readers and bloggers I’ve chatted with online, and just being relaxed and talking, or discussing things that have weighed on my mind with other authors. There’s something about that in-person contact that is so important. And it’s just wonderful to be in a place with 400 other people who you have so much instantly in common with. And everyone is SO nice.
Twimom, you have chosen to attend again, too! What are your favorite aspects?
Twimom: *looks around* a question for me?! AAD Philly was the first (and to date only) con I’ve attended. I loved it so much – meeting my long time blogging tweeps and friends – and well, stalking Meljean, Larrisa and Lara! But in all seriousness, it’s as you described – the intimate settings to be able to talk about what we love we others that “get it.” And meeting new-to-me authors (like you!) was such a thrill. This year I’m especially excited because of the locale (I’ve never been to New Orleans) and being a featured blogger.
Okay, back to you… I always like to ask authors about their reading habits… What types of books do you enjoy reading? What was your favorite read in 2011?
Carolyn: Favorite read of 2011!! That is not easy. I’ll be honest. for relaxation I read out of my genre. I love historicals, paranormal romance, steampunk. I was crazy about Meredith Duran’s a LADY’S LESSON IN SCANDAL. Also, I read ICE STORM by Anne Stuart, and it blew my socks off! As did DREAMS OF A DARK WARRIOR by Kresley Cole.
Twimom: What upcoming 2012 releases are you most excited to read?
Carolyn: I’m looking forward to Meredith Duran’s AT YOUR PLEASURE, and Jenn Bennet’s SUMMONING THE NIGHT as well as CAUGHT IN THE ACT by Jill Sorenson
Twimom: Carolyn, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourself and your writing. It was wonderful chatting with you. I look forward to hanging out with you in New Orleans!
Carolyn: I’m looking forward to seeing you, too! Every time I turn around I find out somebody else I want to meet up with is going to AAD. You and I will have to help the newbies, now that we’re veterans and keep them out of trouble! LOL
You can find Carolyn on line at
More on Devil’s Luck:
There’s a thin line between love and doom.
No wager is too outrageous for Simon Fitzgerald, the most reckless of the Disillusionists. His dark secrets drive him to take increasingly extreme risks, but he’s never lived so quite so dangerously as when he hooks up with Midcity’s most powerful prognosticator.
Fawna Brady is tormented by the destinies she sees for those around her. To Fawna, knowledge of the future is a cage she’d do anything to escape. She’s stunned to discover a taste of the freedom for which she yearns at the side of Simon, the one person in the world who despises everything she is, everything she stands for.
Simon’s defiant attitude toward destiny captivates Fawna, but will her love destroy him? And will Simon rush headlong into the delicious doom she offers?
GIVEAWAY Thank you, Carolyn, for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About. Carolyn is graciously giving away one (1) electronic copy of Devil’s Luck. Please leave your comments for Carolyn by Thursday March 8, 2012, at 9:00 PM EST to be eligible for the contest. One entry per person, the winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open internationally; please leave your email address so the author can send you the book. Thank you to Carolyn for this fun giveaway!
Review of Book 1: Mind Games
Review of Novella 2.5: Kitten-Tiger and the Monk
Review of Novella 3.5: Devil’s Luck
Please stop by later today for my review of Book 2: Double Cross!
I’m so interested in reading your book. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
DeannaP
dpostell2(at)gmail(dot)com
OK I am totally sold and all your books are now in my TBR PILE LOL! Looking forward to AAD and meeting everyone. Also I was severely distracted by Nima’s and Jen’s Hotties LOL move those things to the END of the articles ladies! 😉
Thanks so much for taking the time to do this and giving us the opportunity to win Devil’s Luck. I can’t wait to meet all of you amazing authors at the AAD NOLA convention!!
mandy(at)fuse(dot)net
Deanna: Thanks so much for stopping by!
Annie: Wow, so honored to join your TBR. Thanks, and hope you enjoy!!
Amanda: I’m really excited to meet all of you amazing readers – and hardworking bloggers, too. I think it’s going to be a really special convention.
Carolyn, I LOVE your books. The only one I haven’t read yet is Devil’s Luck, and that’s only because I wasn’t able to download it to mu Nook for some reason. I can’t wait for more news about your upcoming series!
Jeanne
jmrodberg(at)gmail(dot)com
I have heard awesome things and have already added you to my TBR list! Please enter me in the contest and thank you very much for your being ‘here’ today and the opportunity to win!
I think these books sounds fantastic! I have your first one on my TBR list. I am trying to read books of the authors that will down at AAD. I can’t wait to meet everyone. It is going to be so much fun! Thanks for the chance at a great sounding book.
sariahwalters at gmail dot com
Jeanne: Aw, thanks! I’m so happy to hear that! You warm a writer’s heart.
Una: your cat looks a bit like mine! And, thanks for the kind words and stopping by.
Sariah: I can’t wait, either. And, I’m doing the same thing, trying to read the authors I’ll meet there. It makes it so much more interesting!
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I loved the first book in your series and I have the second toward the top of my TBR pile. Can’t wait to read your new UF…it sounds amazing.
My email is Pacey1927@yahoo.com
Thanks for this great post! I just recently bought the first book in the series because everyone said how awesome it is! I’m really looking forward to reading it! Soon I won’t be out of the loop anymore!
Thanks for the chance to win
Ann
alltherhage AT gmail DOT com
Pacey: Thanks!! I hope you enjoy it.
Yourformerparamour: LOL peer pressure! Hey, so glad you’re giving it a spin!