How is it the middle of the month already?
Didn't we just start this month?
Wow.
Well, put down those pencils and pause the report-reading, because I've got a treat for your Monday morning!
I have a paranormal romance author with me today, Danielle Paquette-Harvey. Danielle is an Award-Winning Amazon International Best Selling author of paranormal romance and steamy vampire romance fantasy. Her books include werewolves and vampires, myths and dark prophecies, magic, and witches, dragons and fairies, adventure and war, goddesses and demons. Her books have sold thousands of copies in 12 different countries worldwide and are being considered for a movie adaptation.
Her books have been translated into French and Italian.
She is a self-published author living on the south shore of Montreal, Canada, with her husband, children, two cats, and an Australian Shepherd.
Sign up for her newsletter to hear about the latest news and receive free bonus content -> https://www.daniellephauthor.com/registration
Instagram -> @daniellephauthor
Facebook -> facebook.com/Danielle-Paquette-Harvey-101649618699113
Youtube -> https://www.youtube.com/@daniellephauthor
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/daniellephauthh
Drop a line -> danielleauthorph@gmail.com
Star Trek or Star Wars? Star Wars
DCU or MCU? DCU
Firefly – gone too soon or overrated? Gone too soon
Reboots – a great idea or a lack of creativity? Lack of creativity
A book you’re looking forward to release (by someone else)? The third book in the Vorelian Saga
Coffee, tea, or cacao? Tea (because coffee keeps me up at night)
Favorite hangover recovery recipe? Drink water before bed.
Is there a trope you find yourself going back to in multiple works? Or one you avoid?
I mix romance with fantasy. Enemies to lovers is definitely a trope I use in different books. Morally gray characters too.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I have written 6 books so far (if I include my debut novella). The latest one, Cursed King, is coming out this Fall. It’s my favorite so far and I’m very excited for this series.
My book, Age-Old Enemies, is considered for a movie adaptation. It would be a dream come true if it were to happen.
My books also have been translated to French (which is my first language) and some of them have been published in Italian too.
Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Read other authors books. Expand your reading, try different genres, indie authors and traditionally published authors. See what you like in their writing, what you didn’t, etc.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I do, and I love to hear from my readers. One of the best feelings is when they write as they read my books to give me their feedbacks. One of my books has a particularly sad ending and I’ve got a lot of them writing to tell me how much they cried reading it. As an author, I live for the readers feedback. It makes it worthwhile to know that they enjoyed your book.
Do you like to create books for adults?
I only write books for adults. I write the kind of books that I love reading. Not that YA books are not good, but I prefer more mature subjects.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
When I was a child, I wanted to be an author, but I knew it wasn’t an easy and steady job. So instead I wanted to become a teacher. Then as a teen I wanted to become a lawyer. I finally settled for software developer which eventually evolved as I gained experience.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Writing energizes me. It’s a way to escape real life and escape from routine and daily tasks.
Does a big ego help or hurt writers?
It hurts. Because as a writer, you need to be able to take criticism; if you can’t do that because of your ego, you can’t grow.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I write what I want but sometimes create stories asked by my readers. The Goddess’s Wards was created because my readers really wanted to know what happened to a pack of werewolf-witches (from A Beloved Sin). And so, I created the story of this pack as a standalone book related to my series. It ended up being one of my favorite books so far, and also a finalist in the page-turner awards for the fantasy category in 2023. (Results will be announced in Fall 2023).
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
I think anyone can try to be a writer, and the qualities required vary depending on the genre you want to write. You won’t need the same qualities for writing romance books than non-fiction for example. And the effort and work required will also vary depending on the target audience and the style you write in.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you building a body of work with connections between each book?
Each of my books is in the same world. Readers don’t have to read all of my books, but if they have read many of them, then they’ll recognize the world.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
To write if it’s a passion to you. Not to get discouraged because being an author has to be the hardest job I’ve ever done, but if it’s a passion, you’ll continue. Live your dream. Ignore bad reviews but take constructive criticism. You can’t please everyone, and some people are just rude. But take the time to talk with your readers, and you’ll discover amazing friends.
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
As a child, immediately when I learned to write and read, I understood that with words, you could make anything come true, from mighty dragons to magic. I knew immediately that I wanted to become an author.
Do you write novels, novellas, short stories, episodic fiction, poems, screenplays, or something else? What is your preferred format?
I write novels. I try to aim for about 300 pages. It’s a size that I like. I have a standalone book, but I prefer to write series. Standalone books are in the same world but add additional information or different storylines than what happens in the series, so I find that it complements the series well. I do have a poem book and participated in a few short story anthologies (for charity).
Are you traditionally or self published? Or both? Do you feel there are advantages to one over the other?
I’m an indie author. I do feel there are advantages to both. Right now, I’m very happy to be in control of everything, but I admit that I’d sometimes loved it if someone could participate in some aspects of the book publication. Traditional publishers have a bigger list of contacts and more marketing experience than me.
What is the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything?
42 :D But maybe when AI is more advanced, we can ask the question again and see what they come up with. (That’s my geeky side. I work in computer science.)
What does literary success look like to you?
Being able to live from being a full-time author. It would be a dream come true, and it’s my goal.
What’s the best way to market your books?
I’ve found that social media are the best place to market my books. Connecting with readers is amazing, and it allows me to find people who enjoy the kind of books that I write.
What do you have coming next?
Cursed King is the first book of the Blood and Kisses Series. It’s a dark fantasy romance and will release in October 2023.
I’m so very excited about this new series. It contains vampires, werewolves, elves, dragons, and so much more!
BLURB:
In a world teetering on the edge of chaos, a legendary prophecy unfolds, foretelling the rise of the cursed king. Born from an impossible love between a vampire and a werewolf, he possesses a power unrivaled by any creature that roams the night.
A cruel fate awaits the cursed king, Nathan, as his rule is forced into question after a series of unexplainable events. Confronted by enemies from all corners, the cursed king is thrust into a web of deceit, peril, and betrayal, far surpassing anything he had ever imagined. To reclaim his destiny and restore equilibrium to a world on the brink of ruin, he must confront the very essence of his own existence.
Caleb never misses a contract, even better when it's a woman he can savor. The day his target slips through his fingers threatens to tarnish his reputation. The assassin will go to the ends of the earth to hunt and finish what he's been hired to do.
Samantha comes from a respected line of noble vampires, but their fortune is secretly lost. Now betrothed to the cursed king, she hopes to restore her family's name. However, her true motives remain shrouded in darkness as faith dictates her every move, for the gods have chosen her.
In this epic tale of forbidden love, dark prophecies, and insurmountable challenges, the cursed king must rise above his origins and find the strength to defy destiny. The world’s fate hangs in the balance as the cursed king confronts his true legacy.
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