Award-winning and best selling Author Rosemary A Johns has always been a rebel, a trait I can closely relate to 😉 She writes sexy British anti-heroes, savage vampires, and epic battles. Recently I had the pleasure to chat with Rosemary about her newest release, Vampire Huntress, writing and her incredible theater background.
- When did you write your first book and what inspired you to write it?
I became a traditionally published short story writer at fourteen and then a playwright, so my first published novel (BLOOD DRAGONS, the first in my REBEL VAMPIRES series), was at aged thirty-four!
I’d taken time out of writing to care for my son who’s an autistic savant: everything he sees he remembers. It’d sparked me to wonder what it’d be like to be a vampire savant and to live for centuries, remembering both wonders and horrors with the clarity of a photograph. Would it be a blessing or a curse?
BLOOD DRAGONS IS AVAILABLE HERE:
2. How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
I loved bringing the emotion and voice from my theatre background into the novel format. Writing is a thrilling emotional rollercoaster for me; I immerse myself and live it alongside the characters. Publishing my first book was an amazing experience because seeing other people’s connection to that – there’s even a rock song inspired by it! – has been incredible. But it hasn’t changed that rollercoaster.
- Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Energizes!! In ‘first draft’ stage I go into a ‘zone’ and I see what’s happening like a film in front of me. This helped a lot when I wrote plays and screenplays. It’s frequently said that my series would make good films, and it’s been awesome to hear the audiobooks. I think they work because of this.
- What is your writing Kryptonite?
Distractions! Usually, phone calls or just something small that jolts me out of that ‘zone’. You have to write each day, and it’s tough if you have to start all over again.
- What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Gorgeous covers for my books! I’m in love with the current covers for REBEL ANGELS!
- What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
I love writing blokes. Actually, REBEL VAMPIRES is written from the POV of Light, a male British vampire. His voice had been in my head for about a year before I could write the series. People say he’s my male alter ego!
I think it comes partly from being a playwright, where you need to be able to write and understand the psychology of both genders equally, and partly from the fact that I grew up living in the grounds of an all-boys school where my dad was a teacher!
- Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
I think authors often do feel emotions strongly but it’s more about understanding people’s motivations – hate, greed, or love – and then being able to write those, than whether you experience them yourself. Emotion is at the centre of everything I write because that’s what makes you both fall in love with the characters and experience the adventure along with them!
- What are you working on now?
My new series – REBEL ANGELS! The first in the series VAMPIRE HUNTRESS is out now.
It’s a Buffy meets Lucifer addictive new series.
Vampires and angels are locked in a deadly war.
Half vampire/half angel, Violet, is dragged into the supernatural world when her sister disappears.
Violet’ll have to rely on a sexy vampire geek, while facing off the harem boy angel threatening her sister.
And there’s only one way she’ll win: by letting out the monster…
VAMPIRE HUNTRESS IS AVAILABLE HERE: viewbook.at/VampireHuntress
The second book in the series VAMPIRE PRINCESS: REBEL ANGELS BOOK TWO by Rosemary A Johns is available on pre-order here: viewbook.at/VampirePrincess
VAMPIRE MAGIC, which is set in the REBEL ANGELS world is one of the novels in THE SHADOW FILES!
Mages and witches battle in an eternal supernatural war…
Thanks for having me on today Kim, it’s been fun!
The Shadow Files
Find Rosemary A Johns on the web:
kimpetersendotcomdotau.wordpress.com 