And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

During the late 1990's, a new sub-genre of romance novels were finding acceptance and gaining a foothold in the industry. Paranormals featuring vampires, some reminiscent of the old TV show, Dark Shadows, began popping up. Perhaps it was due to the success of Anne Rice's Vampire series and the movie that followed. But, regardless of the whys, pop up they did, and found an audience ready to devour the books.

Back then, there were only a handful of authors who were able to get their novels on the shelves, and they have come to be considered pioneers of a sort. The numerous authors who are writing the same type of paranormal books today can thank them for paving the way.

One of those original authors is Christine Feehan. She has published over 20 books since 1999. Many of them are parts of series, though each book can stand on its own. Of the several series she has written, she is most renown for her Dark Series.

The Dark Series features the natives of the Carpathian Mountains. If you've seen the movie, Van Helsing, you already know the Carpathian region is the breeding ground for vampires. But Christine's vampires aren't your usual Vlads—bloodsuckers looking for a ripe neck. Rather, they are searching for their soul mates and redemption.

Christine's writing ventures into other areas, also. She has series featuring ghostwalkers, witches, and the leopard series, among other things. All have one thing in common—they will take you to other worlds and into an imagination that knows no bounds.

Though a very busy lady, Christine took the time to answer some questions and share a bit about herself. And when you are done, take a moment to check out her website. It's obviously designed with her readers and fans in mind, a place you can get lost for quite a while. I highly recommend signing up as a member and checking out the trailers available for her books. They really are something to whet the appetite!

http://www.christinefeehan.com/

1. You mention at your website that you come from a large family. How large is large? I'm guessing when you mention 'my sisters' that you have no brothers?

Actually I have ten sisters and three brothers. There are fourteen of us.

2. You also mention that you have a large family of your own. At the risk of sounding repetitive, lol, how large is large?

We have a yours mine and ours family and call eleven ours.

3. You grew up in a large family and now you are raising one. I know I used to call my mom up periodically and apologize for being a brat once I had my own daughters. *G* Do you ever have moments like that? Where you suddenly see what your parents had to put up with now that you are in their shoes, so to speak?

Don't we all? I even find myself repeating things she said to me to my daughter. Just the other day my fourteen year old got 'that look' on her face and I told her to remove it. It suddenly occurred to me that was the look my mother was always talking about when she was upset with me as a teen! *vbg*.

4. What has been the reaction from your family in regard to your novels?

I'm very lucky to have a very supportive family!

5. In the member's section of your website (which is free, I might mention) I discovered the movie trailers for your books. I've never seen the like and think it's got to be the coolest thing I ever have seen. Is this something new authors are doing? How much control do you have over what is done in the trailers? Do you think it helps or hampers the reader to gain a better visualization for your stories? How did this come about - making the trailers?


I love to have the trailers made. Essentially, they are really made up as commercials, but I take the extra footage and put it up for my members to see just because it so wonderful to see the book come to life even if in small images.

I have a great deal of input into the projects. Circle of Seven makes the trailers and they are very easy to work with. I know Heather Graham has a trailer for DEAD ON THE DANCE FLOOR and Jennifer Ashley also has made one. The letters I've received so far about trailers are not only enthusiastic but they beg for more!

6. How long did it take for you to find an agent and have a publisher take you on? Were they apprehensive on taking a chance on this type of novel? Is it going the way you wanted or expected to?

I actually attended a workshop with a friend and after the workshop the woman conducting it came up to me and gave me the name of an agent. I contacted her and she responded immediately asking me to send thirty pages. I did and within a few hours of receiving it she called me to say she would represent me. No publishing house was willing to look at the book because at that time no one was taking paranormals especially with the word vampire in it. I was lucky enough that Alicia at Dorchester read it and decided to give me a try.

7. Has anyone ever contacted you claiming to be a vampire or Carpathian? Well, a Carpathian in the role portrayed in your novels, not someone from the Carpathian region. *G*

Yes, I've had many vampires contact me and some have been really nice and others have not. I have never had a Carpathian contact me. *G*

8. Have you ever visited the Carpathian Mountains or that area? If it's as beautiful as the pics I've found on-line, I know I wouldn't mind a holiday there!

No, a friend of mine visited for me and brought me footage and over five hundred pictures as well as rocks and minerals from the region and material and books and I could go on and on... (even a bottle of vampire wine)

9. It must be difficult to maintain the premise of your stories and find new twists to keep it interesting. How do you manage to keep your stories and plots fresh?

I think of the books as single titles, a love story between a Carpathian and his lifemate. When the characters come to me, no two stories are going to be alike. Some people don't like that, they'd rather have the same story, but I can't write that way. I'm afraid my books are always going to be love them or hate them.

10. The paranormal romances that you write are fairly new to the market. You, and a very few other authors, have basically come to be considered an icon and pioneer for this type of book. I recall seeing another author accused of imitating your books. When you hear something like this, what is your reaction and thoughts?

It is sad and painful both for me and for the other author. Most of us are just telling our stories. We have an idea and we write it down and hope people love our characters the way we do. I've had more than one writer contact me with someone's hurtful remarks and I feel bad for them. They offer to let me read their work and I've often already read it. I'm a voracious reader and I love books, especially paranormal. Most of the time the books aren't anything like mine other than they have a soul mate or something of that nature.

Of course, if someone plagriarized me, I would definitely prosecute, but I don't think most authors would ever think to do such a thing. They have their own voice and their own story to tell.

11. Last question - You probably get asked the same questions over and over. What would you want readers to know that you haven't been asked?

I don't think readers ever get told enough how much writers appreciate them. We write the books for them to enjoy and when they do, when they share our worlds, it is worth every single hour of work, every insult, every tiny step on a very long ladder to publication. And for the writers who are not yet published, believe in yourself and keep after your dream. It will happen and along the way enjoy your journey and the wonderful people you meet.

Thank you, Sue, for giving me a chance to 'talk' with my readers,

Christine