Monday, January 29, 2018

Interview & Giveaway with Dani Harper


Now available to purchase on Amazon from Montlake Romance is Storm Crossed, book 4 in the Grimm Series, by Dani Harper.



What's your writing routine? Do you write in the mornings, nights, daily, or when the mood strikes you?

Mornings are often the best, right around 5:30 or 6. I can write for a long stretch then. I think it’s because my brain is awake (yes, I’m one of those annoying “morning people” – providing there’s COFFEE!). The rest of the day, writing has to compete with daily life. Lately, my brain has been getting a “second wind” for a writing stretch at around 8:00 at night, and my hubs kindly puts on earphones to listen to the TV so I can have some quiet time.

When I’m not writing, however, I’m always, always, ALWAYS thinking about the story.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing for you?

Physically, it’s making sure that I get up from the laptop regularly and move around! Luckily I have a flock of chickens that get me outdoors a few times a day. I also spend time daily on my exercise bike – I look forward to it because I allow myself to read my favorite novels there! Needless to say, I often end up biking much longer than planned…

As far as the actual writing goes, the trouble starts when the characters abandon the storyline I’d so carefully planned, and head off in another direction. I often feel like I’m running after them, yelling “Wait, I thought we were going to do (fill in the blank)” or “Hey, you can’t do that!” Sometimes I end up written into a corner for a while… It all works out in the end, thank goodness, as soon as I stop struggling and really listen to my characters. They often take the story to places I hadn’t even imagined. They surprise me, and the story is better for it.

What’s your favorite non-essential item on your desk?

I’ve always loved things that make me smile – stuffed chickens, ceramic gnomes, space aliens, rubber brains, etc. But ever since I started the Grim series, I’ve noticed more metaphysical and fantasy items have made a home for themselves on my desk: crystals and rocks, decks of tarot cards, a tiny statue of a mechanical dragon. My absolute FAVORITE is a small figurine of a winged black horse (see the photo!). My sister found it when we were shopping together, and it reminded me SO much of something that one of my characters would ride in the Wild Hunt. My imagination starts revving every time I see it!

Which one character out of all your books was your favorite to write about?

There are several I’m in love with, but tops would have to be Ranyon, the little ellyll. He’s not a faery, but an ancient elemental, and tremendously powerful in spite of his small size (he’s about knee-high). I love his delight in what the mortal world has to offer, like baseball. Plus he’s outspoken and opinionated, and that provides a lot of humor! Ranyon has become close friends with the humans in my stories, since he has ample reason to hate the ruling class of the Fae, the Tylwyth Teg. What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

I have a passion for most of the sciences, even physics. But earth sciences like geology appeal to me the most. Like my character, Lissy, in Storm Crossed, I’d like to study geology. (There are rocks all over my desk for a reason, LOL)

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
Sometimes I do. I feel very fortunate that most of the reviews are positive! The ones that aren’t fall into two camps – ones that I might be able to learn something from, and the ones where nothing I could have done would have won over that particular person. Everyone has different tastes.

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

I’m currently working on the fifth book in the Grim Series for Montlake Romance. The adventure continues! …………………………………………



a Rafflecopter giveaway



About the Author


Legend, lore, love, and magic. These are the hallmarks of Dani Harper’s transformational tales of faeries, shapeshifters, ghosts, and more, for a mature audience.

A former newspaper editor, Dani’s passion for all things supernatural led her to a second career writing fiction. There isn't anything she likes better than exploring myths and legends from many cultures, which serve to inspire her sizzling and suspenseful stories.

A longtime resident of the Canadian north and southeastern Alaska, she now lives in rural Washington with her retired mountain-man husband. Together they do battle with runaway garden gnomes, rampant fruit trees, and a roving herd of predatory chickens. Dani Harper is the author of Storm Crossed, Storm Warned, Storm Bound, Storm Warrior (the Grim Series), as well as First Bite (Dark Wolf), for Montlake Romance. She is also the author of a Yuletide ghost story, The Holiday Spirit, plus a popular shapeshifter series, which includes Changeling Moon, Changeling Dream, and Changeling Dawn.

For more, visit her website at http://www.daniharper.com.

7 comments:

  1. Congrats on the tour and thank you for the great interview and giveaway.

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    1. I'm really glad you liked the interview, and I've been very excited about the giveaway. Thanks!

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  2. Since your chickens get you outdoors a few times a day, do you play with them (like you would a dog) or is it more just taking care of them & their habitats?

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    1. They're not much for playing, but some of them are very affectionate and "chatty" -- they'll come running up to me and I imagine they're telling me all the latest gossip. I bring them treats and take care of them (there's ALWAYS something to do, LOL)

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  3. Love the interview . Was going to ask if there would be more books but I read where you're are working on the fifth one.
    Carol Luciano
    Lucky4750 at aol dot com

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by. Yes, I'm working on Book 5 right now. :)

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  4. Hi Billy! *waving* Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog today, and for the great interview. I enjoyed it very much! :)

    ReplyDelete

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