Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Q&A with Sharon Clare, author of Trick Me Once



Now available from Apatite Publishing is the paranormal romance Trick Me Once, book three in the Magical Matchmaker Series, by Sharon Clare.



The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.


When did you become interested in storytelling?

First, I want to thank you for hosting me today.

I’ve always made up stories in my head, but I didn’t start writing seriously until later in life when I went back to school to do a science degree. My course load was heavy, and I was managing a household with 3 young kids. To lighten the load, I took a course on creative writing. Small class sizes and the professor read beautiful prose to us. I fell in love with storytelling.

I ended up doing a minor in professional writing and when I finished my degree, I missed writing classes so much, I found a correspondence course to take with a college in the states. From there, I realized this is my passion and I am forever hooked!

What was your first book/story published?

My first novel was a romance published by Crimson Romance. Love of Her Lives was the first book in The Magical Matchmaker series.

What inspired you to write Trick Me Once?

One day I watched Dave, my cat, drinking from the pond in my garden. The goldfish seemed fascinated by this intrusion into their world, but there was no way they understood Dave was a cat on planet Earth just inches from their world. As Dave lapped water, the fish hovered just under his nose, his tongue, his teeth. Lucky for them, he wasn’t hungry.

The fish made me wonder about perception. A story idea started to percolate that became the premise for the series. What if there was another world just one step away that we don’t perceive?

In Trick Me Once, Aiden MacAuley returns to Earth after being trapped in Alfheim, an Elvin world, for over a century. The gateway between Earth and Alfheim is guarded by the MacAuley clan, and like the fish in the pond, Alfheim is only a step away. Unfortunately, it was a step Aiden couldn’t take until the story begins.

I wanted to pair Aiden (born in the nineteen hundreds) with a contemporary woman who would never believe in elves.

What character in Trick Me Once is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Aiden is more like me in that he’s become reflective with the length of life experience behind him. He’s also an artist and while I’ve done some painting over the years, mostly folk art, he’s a true master.

With Jessica, I tried to write a character who wasn’t like me. One of my favorite things to do is walk in the woods, Jessica is a city girl whose single focus is her career. I chose being a stay-at-home mom over a career. Jessica wouldn’t make that choice. At least not at the beginning of the story.

What is your favorite part in Trick Me Once?

Finn, a mischievous match-making elf, is the thread that ties the books in this series together. Finn is much like a trickster. He loves to play games with the humans he matches.

My favorite part was writing the magic trick scene where Finn sends the heroine across the country and into the hero’s bed. She thought she was already having a bad day, but now she believes she’s losing her mind. It was great fun to show her trying to rationalize the craziness.

What was the hardest part to write?

The end. I wanted a twist at the end of the story and struggled with how to do this while resolving the story crisis without being cliché. Everyone knows the hero and heroine will end up together, so it’s hard to write an ending that takes the reader by surprise. I hope I managed to accomplish this.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

Oh horror! Well, I love graphic design, and do designs for many authors, so I would likely focus more on that if I couldn’t write.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Yes, I absolutely read my reviews and do pay attention to what readers say. I think they are a good opportunity to learn what readers most like or dislike about my stories. So far, the majority of my reviews are good. Of course bad reviews hurt, and it takes me a day or two to remember every opinion is subjective.

One reviewer said Trick Me Once makes you think. This was thrilling to hear. One of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received.

What well-known writers do you admire most?

Some of my favorite authors are: Karen Marie Moning, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Harlan Coben, Kelley Armstrong, Jody Picoult and Diana Gabaldon.

Do you have any other books/stories in the works?

Thank you for asking 😀 Yes, I do.

While I do have an idea for the next book in The Magical Matchmaker Series, my next release will be book 1 in a new contemporary series. Race of Hearts could be described as The Dating Game meets The Amazing Race. In a small town, Adair and Josh compete against other randomly matched couples in challenges geared to spark romance. All would be fun and games if someone weren’t manipulating the challenges to drudge up the secret Adair held for thirteen years, a secret that nearly destroyed Josh life.

Look for Race of Hearts in late winter.

Thanks again for having me today and thank you kindly for reading!



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About the Author: Sharon Clare writes light, paranormal romance with a little magic, a little suspense and a little humor.

She’s always been fascinated by the idea there’s more to the world than we perceive. That’s why she created Finn, a mischievous, match-making elf, from a world just a wee bit off Earth who believes every time love is experienced, energy empowers our worlds.

Life has enough difficult times, so it’s important to Sharon to write novels where happiness ultimately triumphs. She helps her characters overcome their demons, open their hearts, and find the love everyone deserves. When you reach the end, she strives to leave you in a happy place.

If you’d like a free book in the Magical Matcher series, please come visit Sharon at: www.sharonclare.com

You can follow Sharon on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Goodreads.

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