AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: ANGELIQUE ARMAE
Stealing Angelique Armae away from her writing for a few….
Hi Angelique what is your most current work for us to read?
Shadows of the Soul by Angelique Armae
Fantastic cover art (interviewer prerogative to comment)!! Can you tell us a little about Shadows of the Soul and what inspired you to write it?
Shadows of the Soul is the story of a Grigori prince and a demon huntress who team up to search for the antidote to a supernatural disease. I love angels and have studied them most of my life. I have written dark fantasy novels on angels set in the Medieval era, but Shadows Of The Soul is my first contemporary angel novel.
When you start writing, do you already have the story plotted out or do you let the characters dictate what will happen?
I always have a basic story line plotted out, but my characters change a lot of things along the way. The basic plot - a grid based on the Hero’s Journey with turning points and acts plotted out – is a very general outline. I can write a few chapters without having everything plotted out, but after that I need to know where the story is going, even if changes are made as I write.
What inspired you to write in your genre and is this the genre you started writing in or have you morphed to this one?
My Irish grandfather was a writer and my Italian grandmother had a love for the paranormal, so it only seemed natural that I become a writer of paranormal novels. When I was a kid I liked writing thrillers and mysteries. I love a book with a good twist. Over the years my characters grew a bit older, but the twists and thrills still exist in my writing.
Do you have a favorite character you have written?
Yes! Nicolai Valentine and Isabel Godfroie Heart, the hero and heroine in my latest book Shadows of the Soul. I LOVE these two characters. They are very dear to me. I’m also partial to the valet, Simpson, in The Protectorate. I’d say he’s my favorite secondary character.
Do you have a character that you look back on now and don’t like?
No. I can’t say that I do.
Do you draw inspiration for your characters from real life? Any fun stories you could share?
Sometimes. I never know what will inspire me – it can be anything from a name to an event to a place I’ve visited.
Name one thing that your readers would be surprised to know about you.
In grade school I sang at Carnegie Hall and recorded an album of Celtic songs.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Paris perfume by YSL. I have to have it – even if it means being cheap about everything else.
What do you need before you start writing? Anything that is just a must have or the creative juice don’t flow?
Music is a must, and sometimes a nice candle. But nothing stirs the muse like turning on my iPod.
Ah ha, so we can see that music is an influence to your muse. Do any of your stories have a theme song?
As for theme songs, not necessarily as I listen to a lot of different music – pop, techno, Celtic and movie themes. My ‘book’ list on the iPod includes U2, Coldplay, River Dance, the soundtracks from Gladiator and The Tudors, Il Divo, and Snow Patrol, among many, many other groups and genres. I also love classical music.
Where were you when you got your first contract? Who did you tell first?
My agent call came while I was away with friends at a Carla Neggers book signing. I like to tease Carla and tell her I missed my call because I went to Vermont that weekend for her appearance at a local book store. I borrowed a friend’s cell phone to call the agent back after Carla insisted a NY agent wouldn’t call for a rejection. I was so nervous! Needless to say the call was positive. I’m now represented by Holly Root of the Waxman Literary Agency.
How old were you when you read your first romance book?
I’ve been an avid reader my whole life, thanks to my mom and grandmother. As for reading romance, my first book read was written by Amanda Quick and I was instantly addicted.
Are you writing full time now? Or do you still have a pesky day job (or two, or three, or….)?
I have two full time jobs LOL! Writing and web design. I represent over 100 clients, including bestselling authors and a celebrity psychic/intuitive.
What are you currently working on, and what else is in the wings?
I’m currently writing the sequel to Shadows of the Soul and the sequel to The Protectorate. I also have a few novellas in the works.
Where can readers find you?
http://www.facebook.com/angeliquearmae
And for the silly side – What is your favorite type of chocolate?
I love white chocolate and good quality dark chocolate. I’m addicted to Godiva’s white chocolate star fish, Dove dark chocolate and of course anything Lindt. I guess I just love chocolate! But my Easter bunny HAS to be white chocolate.