Hello Readers! Today I bring you Urban Fantasy author, Adrian Phoenix. Adrian says that as a writer, a person, and a mother, she’s always believed in following your dreams, following your heart. She adds, it’s also important to keep your heart, so she also believes in being prepared for zombie attacks and can’t stress enough the importance of having regular family drills so every member of the household is zombie-ready. One never knows. Make sure the sofa is ready to push in front of the door. Be clear that if a member of the family is on the wrong side of the door when the zombie action goes down. They remain on the wrong side of the door. The greater good, etc.
Adrian lives in Springfield, Oregon in a zombie-free home (except when meeting deadlines) with two cats, and she has two sons, three grandchildren and two granddogs. She authors two urban fantasy series, The Maker’s Song and Hoodoo series. Adrian is a featured author attending Author’s After Dark in New Orleans. For more information about AAD2012, click HERE.
Keep reading to learn more about Adrian’s newest release, Caught Forever Between, and enter to win a copy! Also, Adrian is giving away a signed copy of any book from her backlist – that’s right TWO WINNERS! GIVEAWAY details are below.
Please help me welcome Adrian to That’s What I’m Talking About.
Twimom: Adrian, welcome and thank you for stopping by.Adrian: Thank you so much for inviting me. It’s a real pleasure to meet you and your readers.
Twimom: Although I have yet to read them, I hear WONDERFUL things about your books, and I have Caught Forever Between on my TBR list after I tweeted with Pamela (@SpazP) about her review on GoodReads. Will you please tell us more about your Hoodoo Series and the world you’ve constructed? Where does the new release fits into the big picture?
Adrian: Please thank Pamela for me. She’s truly awesome! The Hoodoo series takes place in the Louisiana bayous (with an occasional foray into New Orleans) and revolves around Kallie Rivière—a young Cajun gal learning hoodoo from her aunt—and her eclectic family which includes bayou pirates, root doctors, and loups garous. This is a hot and humid world of mysterious loa, twilight magic, earthy werewolves, sexy nomads; a world of dark secrets and darker pasts, mystery and murder, coupled with family love and loyalty and a bit of humor.
Caught Forever Between is a stand-alone short story set in the Hoodoo world. Although the story doesn’t feature Kallie, you’ll meet other characters from the series (including the Demon Wolf of the bayou, Devlin Daniels). You don’t need to read the books first to enjoy this one.
The first book in the series is Black Dust Mambo and you can read the first chapter here.
Twimom: What does the future hold for the Hoodoo Series?
Adrian: I have a lot of fun with this series and plan to continue with it for as long as there’s a fun and compelling tale to tell. Black Moon Mojo is the next book in the series. (Coming in 2013.)
Twimom: You also author another dark fantasy series, the Maker’s Song series. Will you share with us a bit about this series as well?
Adrian: The Maker’s Song series (A Rush of Wings, In the Blood, Beneath the Skin, Etched in Bone) takes place mainly in New Orleans and features fallen angels, vampires, nomads, and dark government conspiracies.
A Rush of Wings (named as #7 on BN.com’s Best Paranormal Fantasy Novels of the Last Decade 2000-2009) is the first book, the one where we first meet Heather and Dante. In brief: Tracking a sadistic serial murderer has led FBI agent Heather Wallace to New Orleans, Club Hell, and to a mysterious Goth/industrial musician known as Dante. Digging into his past reveals very little. Heather’s sure, however, that Dante is linked to the murderer and could be the next target. But what she doesn’t know is that Dante’s past holds a shocking, dangerous secret, and once it’s revealed not even she will be able to protect him from his destiny.
As much as I enjoy writing the Hoodoo books, Dante and Heather and their journey together really holds my heart.
You can read the first chapter of A Rush of Wings here.
Twimom: Wow! That’s great (about BN)! Do you enjoy writing any genres outside of the dark fantasy and paranormal genre? Do you have any other works in progress?
Adrian: Oh, yes! I enjoy writing historical paranormal and mysteries. I’m working on a historical paranormal about the Romantic poet John Keats and another urban fantasy series about a pair of brothers who aren’t entirely human who fight the forces of darkness (from which they were born), called Sons of Darkness.Twimom: Let’s talk Authors After Dark … you are a featured author in 2012. Why AAD? What are your favorite aspects of AAD?
Adrian: Honestly, this is my first time at AAD. So I’m really looking forward to the experience!
Twimom: Oh, I hope you enjoy it! I went last year and had a blast. Plus… it’s in New Orleans – it’s gonna be great!!
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 or so far in 2012?
Adrian: I love reading many different genres—urban fantasy, mystery, historical, non-fiction. So far my favorite read this year has been Rob Thurman’s Doubletake (the Cal Leandros series), and 11/22/63 by Stephen King.
Twimom: What upcoming 2012 releases are you most excited to read?
Adrian: I have such a hard time keeping up with all the great books that are coming out. Anything new by these authors always excite me: Rob Thurman, Jeri Smith-Ready, D.B. Reynolds, Jeaniene Frost, Jaye Wells, Patricia Briggs, James Lee Burke, Kristine Kathryn Rusch (and all her pseudonyms), Jenna Black, J.F. Lewis, Phaedra Weldon, Kelly Gay, Jeanne C. Stein, Jennifer Estep, James Elroy. C.S. Harris, among others. I’m always discovering new (and sometimes not-so-new) authors to love.
Twimom: Now that’s an impressive list!
Adrian, 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 meeting you in New Orleans and taking a tour of the city with you!
Adrian: Thank you so much, Jen! I appreciate the opportunity and I’m very much looking forward to meeting you as well!
You can find Adrian on line at
More on Caught Forever Between (Dreaming Nomad Books; January 21, 2012)Deep in the bayou, justice comes in many forms.
When Cass finds her partner lying on the floor of their New Orleans tattoo shop in a pool of blood, the world as she knows it ends. Alex, her ink-slinging Michelangelo, lies in the hospital comatose, perhaps permanently.
Lacking faith in the police and their ability to find whoever shot Alex, Cass puts the word out that she’s seeking justice, justice she will willingly pay for.
When a Voodoo mambo offers the services of her mysterious godson, Cass finds herself stepping into a dark, deadly world, one that she may not walk out of again intact.
This is a short story set in the world of the Hoodoo Series novels, and features Gabrielle LaRue and Devlin Daniels from those books. It is not necessary to read the novels in order to enjoy the story.
GIVEAWAY Thank you, Adrian, for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About. Adrian is graciously giving away one (1) e-copy of Caught Forever Between. In addition, she is giving away a SIGNED COPY of any of her backlist. Winners can choose from The Maker’s Song series: A Rush of Wings (#1), In the Blood (#2), Beneath the Skin (#3), Etched in Bone (#4) or from the Hoodoo series: Black Dust Mambo (#1) or Black Heart Loa. (#2). Please leave your comments for Adrian by Wednesday June 6, 2012, at 9:00 PM EDT to be eligible for the contest. One entry per person, the winners will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open internationally; please leave your email address so I can contact you. Thank you to Adrian for this fun giveaway!
I have seen Adrian Phoenix’s name, and knew I needed to check her books out, but they take place in New Orleans?! Now they are a MUST! Great interview and thank you for the contest. If I were to win I would pick a first in either series. lostinsidethecovers (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks so much for dropping by, lostinsidetheovers. Good luck in the contest!
Adrian Phoenix is one of my favorite authors ever and one I recommend everybody to read. If you love Urban Fantasy she is a MUST (read) author. I’m really looking forward to meet (stalk) her in NOLA.
Great interview.
thebookaholiccat (at) gmail (dot) com
YAY! Adrian Phoenix is one of the most gifted authors out there right now. Already a fan of the Maker’s Song and Hoodoo series, I was reluctant to pick up Caught Forever Between because don’t like novellas… omg I am so glad I bought it – IT IS FREAKING AWESOME!!! Thanks for the interview!! 😀
BookaholicCat and Pamela, I can’t thank you enough for all your support! Maybe drinks at AAD?
HUGS!
Thanks for a fun post and giveaway! I read such awesome reviews for Adrian’s books. I must crawl out from under my rock and get reading 🙂
Thanks so much for joining us, Erin!
I love her books, we are even friends on Facebook.
aehwalker34@gmail.com
I love stories set in places where you can just tell there’s more going on beneath the surface, and New Orleans is definitely one of those places. This story sounds like a keeper! (My tbr list just grew–again.)
Thanks so much for the great interview and the info on the books!!
Great to see you here, indieterror! Thanks for dropping by. <3
B: Glad you enjoyed the interview! And I’m thrilled to have my books added to your TBR list.
I just love your books Adrian! Thanks for hosting Twinmon.
Unknown; Thanks TONS! Hugs!
I am SO excited for Caught Forever Between! I love Adrian’s work and can’t wait for Black Moon Mojo. 😀
zombiimoshpit (at) hotmail.com
Deidredeee: Thanks so much! I’m glad you dropped by.
I just love your books Adrian! Thanks for hosting Twinmon. – 2nd try at a real comment…
Glad to hear we get more from Kallie I acanthus wait. Thanks
I absolutely love Adrian Phoenix. Thank you so much for the awesome interview! It’s great to find out more about your favorite authors! Can’t wait to read more of your books! =D barbarick2415 @ me . com
I enjoyed the interview and I wish I could go to AAD, it sounds like a lot of fun.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
lavendersbluegreen: Thanks TONS for the support! <3
candrbeyer: Yup, more Kallie and co on the way. Thanks for your patience!
Elizabeth: Thank you so much! Hugs!
Barbara: Glad you enjoyed the interview. I wish you could go to AAD too. Maybe next time! 🙂
I have had these books on my TBR for a while but I need to move them up. Love New Orleans and am going to AAD so I will be there in August. Can’t wait to see everything and meet all the authors.
A great contest! Thanks so much. 🙂
I can’t wait to meet you in New Orleans. It’s going to be so much fun.
lindseye and Jen: Thanks for dropping by! I look forward to meeting you both at AAD.
adrian, another great interview as always…but wish 2013 wasn’t so far away…joneses for more dante and the rest fo’sure *winks*
love you one and all
conn
Conn, thanks as always for your support! I know 2013 is a long ways off. I still hope to get some short stories posted. HUGS!!
What an awesome interview!! Black Dust Mambo (#1) sounds like my kind of read ;D All your books sound amazing. I just can’t wait to get started.
Rasberryice25@yahoo.com
Dante Dante Dante…thank you so much for him..LOL …love all of your books….keep em comin! See you at AAD 🙂
I love the series!! it’s great escape from kids, household and uni 🙂