Were Vamps Romance: Author Misty Evans - Book Giveaway, Author Interview, Book Review

Haunted by tragedy, FBI profiler Rife St. Cloud is driven to find the person who brutally attacked six women. Unfortunately the only survivor, Keva Moon Water, has no memory of what happened, and the evidence makes her the prime suspect.

Keva cannot die. She has waited a thousand years to be reunited with the man she loves, whose soul sleeps within Rife. Though he refuses to believe her claims of immortality, there's no denying the passion that burns between them. Keva desperately hopes their sexual connection will be enough to awaken Rife's memories of the love affair that started a war and bound their souls together for all eternity.

But when Keva's own memories come trickling back, she realizes that a future with Rife depends upon confronting the mistakes of the distant past...

My Review:

This book starts of with a murder mystery of multiple women, and just gets better as it goes. I love the plots twist and turns. I enjoyed the romantic tension between an immortal, a High Chieftess, Keva and her reincarnated soul mate Kai. This story was well built with strong native American background, and well formed characters. Even the bad guy you love to hate. This was an awesome read and a great book to recommend.

My Rating: 5 Stars!

The Interview:

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I love books! Big surprise, right? Um, let’s see. Besides being an author with eight books out, I’m the mom of twin boys, been married to my hubby for 22 years, have a 125-pound dog and dream of being a rockstar when I grow up. I teach online writing classes and am a member of Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I won an essay contest in 4th grade with a story about my dad. The essay was printed in my hometown paper and the moment I saw my *byline* in print, I was hooked. Of course, I grew up to be a responsible adult for awhile and put my writing dream on hold until 9/11 happened. My world did a 180 and I started writing for real.

What surprised you the most about the writing/publishing process?

Writing is a solitary process, but publishing a book takes a village. The publication process sometimes takes longer than the writing and involves many people, from cover artists to editors and staff.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?

Characters come to me, fully formed. Keva in Soul Survivor appeared to me in a dream – that was a first. Usually I have an idea for a character and then start building them from the inside out. But Keva appeared in a dream, standing in the middle of a tornado as if waiting for me to give her direction. When I woke up, I knew I had to write her story, whether it ever got published or not!
Plots are harder. I have to go through a process, brainstorming and asking a million questions before I get all the intricate details just right. Then I let the story sit and percolate. My brain does its thing and then I start editing to fine tune the plot before sending the story to my beta readers.

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

Two elements: Voice is what makes an author’s stories unique and fascinating characters are what sticks in the mind of readers.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Absolutely! I’m currently writing the fourth novella in my Witches Anonymous series, Dark Moon Lilith, to be published in late summer/early fall. I also have a story in the Entangled Halloween anthology with a host of other fabulous authors, including Allison Brennan, Karin Tabke, Cynthia Eden, Nancy Haddock, Edie Ramer, Michelle Miles and more. That story, Sweet Demon is the prequel to my new paranormal romance series and will be available in September. All proceeds from the anthology will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

In Twitter Fashion use140 characters or less, sum Soul Survivor for us.

A thousand years ago, their love destroyed an entire nation. When their souls meet again, who will be the sacrifice this time?

How did you come up with a story that was such a whirl wind of events?

After Keva appeared in my dream, the story literally poured out of me. Keva, Rife, even the killer, Enann, were all so real, I couldn’t write the story fast enough. I tend to like lots of action in the books I read and in the books I write.

How long did it take you to write it, and did you have any writer’s block along the way?

The first draft took about a month, but I couldn’t get the agent I had at that time to read it, so it sat on my laptop. Finally, three years later, I found a good home for it with Carina Press! My editor, Charlotte Herscher, who edited for Allison Brennan before moving to Carina, said she’d never read a story like it. I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad, but she assured me it was good. :)

Will we be seeing a following book to this story?

I hope so! I have the first draft of the sequel done and Charlotte’s eager for me to finish polishing it and send it to her.

How did you come up with the character Keva?

After Keva appeared in my dream, needing me to tell her story, I did a lot of research into lost civilizations in North America and mixed in my love of all things paranormal. She was a shaman – a healer – but she was forced into the role of Chieftess and had to become a warrior in some ways in order to protect her clan. From the very start, I knew she believed in soul mates and would do whatever it took to be with hers.

I always must ask, If you could pick one actor to portray Rife on the big screen who would it be and why?

If I got to pick, it would be Johnny Depp (who has Native American ancestry) or Jake Gyllenhaal. They both have that sexy, no-nonsense edge to them like Rife.

Was there anything you find particularly challenging when writing this book?

The time travel was a challenge. Enann takes Rife back to the past to trap Keva and she has to go after him. Then she has to bring Rife back to the present. It was tricky moving them through time, and then when they were in the past, dealing with two Kevas and two Rifes! Can you imagine going back to when you were younger and running into yourself?

What were your feelings when you first saw the cover of your finished book?

The amazing Frauke of CrocoDesigns (http://crocodesigns.deviantart.com ) did a fantastic job with the cover. So pretty, and definitely conveys the suspenseful tone of the story. I hope it appeals to many, many readers.

Thank you for interviewing me for your blog! I hope you and your followers have a great summer.

About This Author:

Misty Evans writes the award-winning Super Agent Series, Witches Anonymous series, and now her new Lost Worlds series with Carina Press. Her debut novel, Operation Sheba, Super Agent Series Book 1, won the CataNetwork Reviewers’ Choice Award in 2008, a CAPA nomination in 2009, and the New England Reader’s Choice Bean Pot Award for Best Romantic Suspense in 2010. Operation Sheba was the number one Kindle Romantic Suspense book and a Top 10 Kindle bestseller for over a month in 2010. I’d Rather Be In Paris, the second book in her Super Agent Series, was nominated for a 2009 CAPA for Best Romantic Suspense, and along with the third book in the series, Proof of Life, was a Top 100 Kindle Bestseller in 2010.

Misty is currently at work on the next books in all her series. She likes her coffee black, her conspiracy stories juicy, and her wicked characters dressed in couture. Learn more and sign up for her newsletter at www.readmistyevans.com. Like her author page on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.