Hi Sarah! And welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! It is great to have you with us. Thank you for taking time out of your workday to answer some questions. The readers are anxious to learn something about Sarah Reinke.

Sarah, I love your logo on your website, Discover Worlds Beyond Imagination. You have quite a few books out and the covers are fantastic. Would you like to tell us a little something about Book of Dragons, Vol 4 of 5 today?

Thanks so much for the compliment on my website! I do all of the design work and maintenance personally, so feedback is always welcome. I wish I could take credit for my book covers (ha ha) but alas, I owe them all to some fantastic artists whose talents and abilities in that arena far outshine my own. As for Book of Dragons, Vol. 4 of 5, (the cover for which is absolutely extraordinary -- a wrap-around featuring a dragon in full flight as created by artist Deron Douglas) it's the second-to-the-last installment in a multivolume fantasy "series within a series," my Chronicles of Tiralainn, which are available in ebook or trade paperback from Double Dragon Publishing. Like the Lord of the Rings series, all five books of Book of Dragons must be read in order so that the entire story can be enjoyed. Each installment is a novel-length book in its own right, and it tells a sweeping, epic adventure that spans from the high seas to snow-capped mountains, from battlefields to Roman empire-inspired arenas. It revolves around one of my favorite all-time heroes, an Elf (think Legolas not Keebler, LOL) named Rhyden Fabhcun, who is abducted, sold into slavery and rescued by a group of primitive nomads who believe he is a mystical guide promised to them by ancient legends, one who can deliver them to a long-lost dragons lair. Rhyden's friend, Aedhir Fainne, tries to come to his rescue, but winds up being captured by a fierce tribe of warriors called the Enghan and caught in the middle of a bloody turf war in which he must choose sides or die.

Are there any works in progress that you would like to mention today?

Not so much works in progress as works coming up for release. This summer, I make my Kensington debut with the mass-market release of Dark Thirst, the first in a paranormal/vampire romance series from their Zebra imprint. In it, Brandon Noble, a young man born into a ruthless clan of vampires called the Brethren, longs desperately to be human. When he shuns the ritual of the first kill, he earns his family's lasting wrath. When he falls in love with Angelina Jones, a human woman, his fate is sealed. Can he protect Angelina from his enemies -- and his own dark thirsts? Dark Thirst challenges a lot of the stereotypes for vampires you find in paranormal fiction today, and presents a whole new breed. Brandon is also a very unconventional hero. He's deaf and mute, and was an extraordinarily fascinating character to develop and create. I really think that fans of paranormal and vampire fiction are going to enjoy what Chris Marie Green, author of Vampire Babylon calls "a clever take on the genre."

What is your favorite type of genre to read?

I don't know that I necessarily have a favorite genre to read. I look for well-written, well-crafted stories first and foremost, those told in fresh, dynamic voices by authors with new and original takes on even the most tried and true of storylines. I'll read just about anything and enjoy it if the author is talented and can draw me into their world, make me believe in their characters and feel an emotional investment in their story.

Do you ever see yourself in any of the characters in your books?

I think many of my characters get their start from pieces of me, components of my personality (or maybe it's just from character traits I wished I had, LOL), but over the course of the story, they all definitely evolve into their own unique individuals, completely separate from me. I like to say that they "write themselves," which sounds peculiar, but is completely true. Character development is a lot like flying a kite; as the author, you offer them a huff of breeze to get them off the ground and going, and you turn loose of the string enough to empower them, but eventually they hit a point where the wind catches them and carries them away. I am constantly amazed by my characters, and how more often than not they turn out differently -- and so much better -- than I had ever imagined them in the incarnation.

What is your favorite part of the book, the beginning, the middle or the end?

I think the end -- both as a reader and a writer. I enjoy discovering how all of the details presented throughout the rest of the book finally come together, how events all culminate. I am a big fan of the "big pay-off" for readers; I want someone who reads my book to feel like they had their money's worth when they reach the end, that I've left no loose ends, no disappointments, nothing to make a reader feel cheated somehow. I personally hate it when I've invested time and money in a book or movie, and walk away feeling like it's all been wasted. Thus, as a writer, I try to keep in mind the philosophy that no matter how gripping your beginning, no matter how polished your middle, your book is ultimately only as good as its conclusion.

Have you ever written a screenplay or considered writing one?

I've written plays in the past, but no screenplays. I don't know that I would ever rule anything like that out, but have no plans to do something like that in the future. I've explored other avenues of writing -- plays, as I mentioned; monologues, poetry, etc. when I was younger, but I've always found storytelling -- and in particular, writing novels (as opposed to short stories) to be the medium with which I'm most accustomed and comfortable. Most writers have a particular niche in the industry, just like some artists prefer sculpting while others enjoy painting. You play around until you find the one that best suits you.

Do you think there is a perfect man or woman?

Yup. I'm married to the perfect man. :)

Have you ever developed the dreaded writer’s block?

Oh, yeah. God, yes. I once had writer's block for damn near 10 years. I pecked out some chapters here and there, an idea or two, but nothing more. I'd graduated from college and was trying to pursue more "grown up" ambitions in life, like journalism for awhile, and then nursing school after that. Then, in 2001, I had two very close family members die unexpectedly, both within six weeks of each other, and it really galvanized me into re-examining my life. It made me think about what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be -- and writing books was all that came to heart and mind.

What does your work station look like?

At the moment? I've got my calendar open in front of me, with my marketing and promotional to-do list underneath that. I have a wadded up napkin sitting on a coaster, grisly remains from an earlier snack of trail mix and M & Ms. My cat is sleeping on a free prize book copy I need to mail out this week; he's basking in the warm glow of my desk lamp beside my copy of the Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (or, as I like to refer to the hulking monstrosity, the "Necronomicon.") I have a small bookshelf on the right with my Scottish place names directory; a copy of "Celtic Names for Children" and "The Very Best Book of Baby Names," plus a copy of "A Dictionary of English Surnames" and a couple of Scottish and Irish Gaelic-to-English dictionaries. An overflowing pen and pencil cup beside my computer monitor; the beautiful card my husband gave me for Valentine's Day this year; a print-ready galley of my upcoming Zebra release, Dark Thirst, plus some photographs, a framed copy of the cover for Book of Days, my first published book and a little statue of Gollum from the Lord of the Rings movies. Oh, yeah, and some old character sketches taped above my keyboard for the highwaymen in Book of Thieves, an old fortune cookie slip that says "a pleasant surprise is waiting for you" and a page out of last year's day-by-day calendar from the Onion with the faux newspaper headline: "Independent-minded cat shits outside the box."

What do you think is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Receiving feedback from my readers. I've received emails from all over the world from people who have enjoyed my books and who have taken the time to let me know. That's absolutely mind-boggling to me, that someone in China or Pakistan or Australia -- or heck, even Idaho -- has read and liked my stories. Of course, I love my stories; I created them, they're like my children, and I personally think they're good, but as an author, I'm plagued with insecurities, and the notion that this is only my opinion, and no one else will necessarily share it. So when someone you don't know emails or writes to you and says that they liked what you've created, it's an absolutely magical, rewarding feeling. I can't describe it adequately. I used to think that getting published, that holding a printed copy of my book in my hands was the greatest reward I'd ever know, but man, it doesn't even hold a candle to hearing from my readers.

Do you have any pet peeves that you would like to share?

I think people who derive amusement from trying to make other people feel stupid is a big pet peeve. People who drive under the speed limit aggravate me, too. Bullies are an enormous pet peeve. That some bullies survive childhood and think that, even into adult years, bullying is acceptable behavior, is an even bigger one.

For Fun: If you could spend a luxurious trip away for a week, where would you choose to go just to kick back and relax?

I would love to go to Ireland. I'd say Australia, too, but there are too many "the world's most..." things there, like "the world's most deadly spiders" are in Australia. "The world's most deadly snakes." "The world's most populated ocean region for Great White sharks." Florida is the same way. My mom lives there; it's a beautiful place, but you have to watch out for alligators, crocodiles, sharks, barracudas, fire ants, rattle snakes, etc. So yes, I would say Ireland.

For Fun: What do you think is the best appliance invented?

I'm going to go with a toaster. I'm not one much for kitchen appliances or gadgets. I have a friend who has every one ever made -- salad spinner, quesadilla maker, rice cooker, Fry Daddy, toaster oven -- you name it, she's got it crammed on a counter top or stuffed in a cabinet somewhere, all of them collecting dust. I'm a practical sort. I want to be able to use it, or I'm going to give it the Goodwill. I make toast. Therefore, my toaster serves a purpose. I also kind of admire it, considering it's around 15 years old, has been dropped on the floor enough times to crack the casing, and usually takes two or three go-arounds before it eventually gets your bread browned and not just hot. It's a veteran. It's stubborn. But it eventually gets the job done, so there's a hidden lesson in there about perseverance. I think.

Do you have a website other than www.sarareinke.com that you would like to share with your readers?

Nope. You'll find links to my publishers, blog, My Space and newsletter group all there at www.sarareinke.com, plus an online contact form. I also offer free reads, including a FREE downloadable, novel-length historical romance ebook, "Heart's Ransom." Each month, I have a terrific giveaway with prizes from me and some of my author friends at the "Contests" page. I also give away ebooks each month to folks who complete my quick-and-painless online survey. I always try to add new, fun things to the site, to make it worth bookmarking and revisiting over and over again. To me, that's the purpose of a website -- it should be an author's primary tool for communicating with both new and established readers, and as such, it should always be interactive, dynamic and evolving.

Thank you so much for spending the morning with us, Sarah. Anyone interested in reading more about Sarah Reinke and her outstanding books, please visit her website to read more about her superb works. She is one remarkable author that should not be missed. It has been a pleasure Sarah, and I wish you the best in your writing career.

Thanks so much for this wonderful opportunity. I've had a ball. If any of your readers would like an autographed copy of the cover flat for my upcoming Zebra release, Dark Thirst, all they have to do is drop me an email with their snail mail address in the body of the email and "FAR cover flat giveaway" in the subject line!

Interviewed by: Linda L.