Hi Brandi! Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit with us. I am thoroughly excited about the opportunity to chat with you today and I know the readers out there are too.

For anyone out there that doesn’t know you, can you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure. I’m a Southerner by birth who loves snowy winters in the North. Yes, I know that’s a paradox. *grin*

I’m also a devoted wife whose most treasured title is Mom. I work as a writer and editor now for a Boston-based computer software company, but my previous career put a microphone in my hand, and my feet in heels. I worked as an investigative crime reporter for an ABC affiliate, experience that’s come in very handy while writing the Lycan Packs trilogy.

If you were going to describe yourself to someone in less than ten words, could you? If so, how would you describe yourself?

In less than 10 words... How’s this? I’m very loyal to family and friends.

I am very excited about your upcoming release, Lycan Instinct, which is scheduled to release on June 9, 2006 through Cobblestone Press. The blurb is quite intriguing and this story features a true alpha male werewolf. What more could a reader want? Can you give us readers a little more dirt on Rafael Stone?

Inspired by a picture a friend showed me, Rafael stole my heart the moment he came to mind. That picture, by the way, is now on my LycanPacks.com website...on Rafe’s page.

As the leader of his pack, he’s made sacrifices for his siblings, even to the point of setting aside his own needs to devote his life to building an empire that can protect the pack. A man of many facets, he’s a mysterious character who spent years protecting so many secrets behind a very cool, debonair façade, while living in the public eye. Because he’s perfected the art of hiding behind masks, he’s developed a talent—an instinct—for reading others and seeing beyond the walls they erect to hide their own secrets. He must rely on that instinct when faced with a new danger to his pack—in the form of a feisty homicide detective who believes he’s guilty of murder.

With Lycan Instinct being the first story in this new series, what can readers expect to find in the upcoming stories? Please tell me that we won’t have to wait long for them.

I’m very excited about the direction the trilogy is taking. Readers can expect more mystery, more danger, more love, and more sexy, shape-shifting Stone brothers. Rafe is the eldest of triplets, all men, and all of whom the readers meet in Lycan Instinct. Gabriel is second in line, with Lucian being the “runt” of the litter, so to speak. Although don’t let that term fool you. Luc’s a deadly Lycan assassin with a quick wit, sharp tongue, and a wounded heart of gold. Oh, and a wardrobe of hot black leather. Gabe is the brains of the pack who has fully embraced his wilder nature, so he’s also the most emotional, and the one in need of the perfect heroine to take him down a peg or two.

While I’m currently writing Gabe’s story, the entire trilogy has already been plotted. So, I can assure you that there are three very worthy heroines, who are more than capable of toppling the Stone brothers and winning their hearts. And, of course, Rafe and Mackenzie make return appearances in the sequels.

Readers if you haven’t seen the cover to this story, jump over to Cobblestone Press and/or Brandi’s website to see it. It is amazing. Can you tell me what you favorite part of this cover is? I love the eyes myself.

Thank you. While writing the book, I found the penetrating, almost mesmerizing, quality of Rafe’s golden brown eyes to have the most impact on the heroine. So, I’m pleased to hear you say that you love his eyes.

I do want to commend both Cobblestone Press and their very talented artist, Christine Griffin, who did a fabulous job of capturing Rafe the way I envisioned him. I know how difficult it must be to put a face on a character that only exists in the author’s mind. Christine really brought my words, and the hero, to life with that portrait. But I also have to say that his mouth—neither a frown nor a smile—is perfect in showing the mystery embodied in the character, and that little, unruly tuft of curls on the forehead added just the right touch of softness...a little imperfection that makes him seem so real.

I love stories that involve werewolves especially for the strong alpha males, are you drawn to alpha males or do you tend to love the ones that support and follow the alpha?

While I’ve read and enjoyed romances with beta male heroes, I’m still drawn to alpha males. I think that’s because they tend to fight the hardest against losing their hearts, so when they do fall in love, it seems to mean so much more.

Other than this paranormal series, do you have any other series or standalones in the work that you can tell us about?

My focus right now is primarily on finishing the Lycan Packs trilogy. However, Lycan Instinct is actually the second full-length manuscript I wrote. The first is a time travel story that lands a very modern woman in the 1830’s Revolutionary Texas. That manuscript won 3rd place in the paranormal category of the Romance through the Ages contest in 2004, so I still have hope of one day seeing it in print.

Moving onto your actual writing style, do you have any special rituals or routines when you write? Something that you always have to have: music, total silence, a nice cold Coke, etc?

LOL. I’m addicted to Coca Cola C2 soft drinks, so I tend to have one within reach any time I’m in front of a computer. Having worked in the hectic environment of a television newsroom, I don’t require total silence when I write, but I do enjoy listening to love songs in English or Spanish while I write the more emotional scenes of a story. I particularly like Ricky Martin’s Hagamos El Amor. (We Make Love)

Do you do any research for your stories? If so, what is the most interesting thing you have learned in your research quest?

With a background in investigative reporting, I think it would be impossible for me to write a story without researching something for it. It’s very important for me to write a story that, while it’s a work of fiction, it’s still accurate in regards to setting, language, and other secondary aspects. I love to weave little gems of truth into my fantasy worlds in such a way that readers can’t tell fact from fiction. If I can accomplish that, then I can say I succeeded in writing well.

As for the most interesting tidbits... Hmm. For Lycan Instinct, I wanted to create my own type of werewolf character, and not rehash the same old bone-cracking, Hollywood horror movie stereotype. To do that, I did a lot of research into the history of the werewolf myth and found the study of lycanthropy truly fascinating—all of the real people in history who claimed to be werewolves, or who were tortured into confessing the ability to shape-shift as a means for committing various crimes, such as murder.

Have you ever incorporated your life’s experiences into your stories? People you know?

Oh sure. I think every writer does that to some extent. There’s a little bit of me in every character. Even Rafael Stone, although I didn’t realize it as I wrote the story; a critique partner of mine pointed out that Rafe’s signature trait is cocking an eyebrow, which is something I do often, usually without thought. And Rafe’s talent as a chef, a man willing to cook for his “heroine”, is something that I can happily say comes from experience. My husband does more cooking in my household than I do, and I’m bold enough to say I love him for it. *grin*

So, yes, more than once, something someone did or said to me...some little gem of wisdom...has found its way into a scene in one of my stories.

What is the best thing you have heard from a reader? How about the wackiest?

The best? Well, this is probably the best compliment I ever received: With Lycan Instinct, a critique partner told me she was cooking dinner while reading. She got so engrossed in the first love scene of my story that she “burned her beans”. Literally. The house was filling with smoke, and she didn’t even notice until her husband came in and asked about it. While I’m thrilled my story captivated her, I don’t want it to be the cause of a house fire, so I told her she’s under a standing order never to cook and read any of my stories simultaneously.

As for the wackiest... I think the most fun I’ve had is reading the comments from people who have visited my LycanPacks.com website, and either signed my guestbook or sent me an email. Some have even claimed to be Lycans. Their creativity far exceeds mine.

Do you have any habits that drive your family insane?

Several, I’m sure. One of which is to do some little something each day just to drive them nuts. *grin*

Can you tell readers something about you that they would never have known?

OK, but for a writer, this is most embarrassing. *deep breath* I once forgot how to say semicolon in English. I was in Venezuela at the time and, although English is my first language, I could only think of the Spanish word for it. LOL

As an author, do you spend a lot of time reading other authors?

Not as much as I’d like. But yes, I do have a large library of “keeper” books on my shelves, much to my husband’s dismay. But I have to say that my collection of e-pub’d books is growing rapidly, which takes up a lot less space. *grin* So, I read every chance I get.

Do you have any favorite authors or books out there that readers need to know about?

Yes, I fell in love with Anna Leigh Keaton’s Phantom Lover book as well as her firefighter in Five Alarm Neighbor. And I’ve enjoyed numerous other e-pub’d authors, such as Lora Leigh and Delilah Devlin. In print, and sticking only with the romance genre, I enjoy Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dara Joy, Suzanne Brockmann, Christine Feehan, and of course, J.D. Robb (a.k.a. Nora Roberts).

May is the month to celebrate Mother’s Day. Do you have a favorite memory of you and your mother together?

I have too many to count, like when she sobbed after seeing me try on a wedding dress for the first time, or when she was my Lamaze coach (because my husband was in the Navy and out to sea at the time), but I think my favorite is the look on her face when I and my siblings surprised her and my dad for their silver wedding anniversary. When they married, they just went to the Justice of the Peace. No wedding dress, no flowers, nothing like that. But 25 years later, we gave them that in a surprise ceremony complete with bridal bouquet, a pastor, candles...and the opportunity to renew their vows.

What is the best part of being a mother?

Hearing my son’s laughter, seeing him smile, and hugging him every chance I get.

I personally love spring and fall because of the wide variety of colors. They remind me of the wide variety of heroes in all the books I read. So many different and unique heroes out there, but all beautiful in their own right. What is your favorite season of the year and why?

I live out in a rural area, in a part of the country that is beautiful in its own unique way during each and every season. So regardless of the season, I can find something spectacular that makes me love that time of year. Like the fragrance of new blossoms in the spring, the warmth and color of sunsets in the summertime, the splash of color and crackle of fallen leaves in autumn, and the chilly fantasyland created with new-fallen snow in the winter.

I have always wanted to visit Maine, Alaska, and Australia. Is there some place you would love to visit?

I’ve been all over the continental U.S., as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Spain, and Norway. But I think if I could go anywhere in the world, it would be a toss up between Alaska, Hawaii, and the UK. Although, I’d love the chance to take my family with me back to Spain or Norway.

My husband laughs at me because I can’t seem to go anywhere that I don’t call someone on my cell phone. Is there something that you can’t leave the house with?

Absolutely. I’ll admit it; I’m a techno-junkie. I can’t go anywhere without my cell phone, my jump drives, and my PDA. I have a wireless Blue Tooth headset for my cell phone, so I’m constantly walking around looking as if I’m talking to myself. In reality, I’m either talking on the phone or listening to MP3s. My jump drives—I carry three with me everywhere—are attached to my car keys, so I never have far to go to access my writing. And I couldn’t survive without my PDA. I carry e-books that I want to read on it, plus it is great for when I need to jot down a story idea or take notes while researching.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Just that I’ve truly enjoyed talking with you, and I’d like to extend an invitation to everyone to come and check out LycanPacks.comIt’s a site that not only promotes the book and series, but it’s an interactive site that will take you into the World of the Lycans. There are hidden portals to explore, if you can find them, and much more. Plus, if you sign up for the Lycan Packs newsletter before June 9th, you’ll be entered in the drawing to win a free copy of the e-book, Lycan Instinct.

Thank you so much for stopping by Brandi; it has been a pleasure chatting with you. Readers if you have not had the opportunity to see Brandi’s website jump over there to see what you are missing. I know that I am looking forward to June 9th’s release of Lycan Instinct and I hope that there are many more stories out there waiting to be told.


Interviewed by: Jessica