Author Q&A and Giveaway: Willow Rose

I'd like to welcome author Willow Rose to the blog today!

Bio:  Willow Rose writes Paranormal Romance, fantasy and mystery. Originally from Denmark she now lives on Florida’s Space Coast with her husband and two daughters. She is a huge fan of Anne Rice and Isabel Allende. When she is not writing or reading she enjoys to watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

Welcome to Hanging With Bells Willow.  Why don't you tell us a little about yourself.

I am 35 years old, a mother of two young girls and a step-mother of a boy and a girl. I am currently living in Florida with my family. Originally I am from Denmark but three years ago we chose to leave the cold and move to the sunshine state where every day is a potential beach-day and where winter-boots are something you wear with your shorts when they bring in artificial snow in December for the kids to play in. I have written several books in Danish before I started writing in English. My Danish books are published in Denmark, Germany and Norway.

Your latest book, Savage,was released last month.  How did you come up with the idea for this book?

For me a book starts with the characters. The characters and their story come to me. I like to say that they "pop up" in my head. That is the best way I can describe it. The characters are just there all of a sudden with their backgrounds and problems and then they start to do stuff and talk to other people and soon there is a whole story that I simply have to tell or else I will burst. The main character Christian in Savage is somewhat inspired by my husband. Back in '83 when he was 19 years old he was sent to Florida by his parents to live with a very wealthy family just like Christian in Savage. My husband's experiences coming from a small country Denmark to the big USA in the 80'ies are very similar to those of Christian, yet they do not share backgrounds.  Christian has lost his mother in a young age and that has had a huge impact on who he is and why he acts the way he does. He matures a lot throughout the book and love changes him from being a selfish self-centered boy into a young man. The female characters that Christian meets in the haunting house next door are my favorites in this book. They are so innocent and childlike yet very wise and magical. I like to say that they are inspired by my daughters and I have also dedicated the book to them. I have two young girls of four and six years and then I have a wonderful step-daughter who is twenty-three. Those three combined makes this world a magical place. As does the female characters in Savage. I simply adore them and I know everybody else will too. They are so lovable. I have a hard time letting go of them and think I will write many books about them. 

Savage is the first book in your Daughters of the Jaguar family saga.  How many books do you plan on having in the series?  

First of all I will write three books about the main character Christian and his great love Aiyana.  It is sort of a family-saga really. In the first book he is in his twenties and so is she. In the second book they have kids of their own and are in their thirties with all the problems and seriousness that comes with being that age. In the last book they will have young teenagers and face completely new challenges. I am also planning on doing a book about Aiyana, the magic spirit-filled Native American girl that he falls hopelessly in love with. About her and when she first discovers who and what she really is. I might also do a book about her sister who does telekinesis and their grand-mother who predicts natural disasters. I love those characters so much that they each deserve their own book.

You also have other books that you have written.  How many other series do you have?

I have written three mystery-novels in Danish, one mystery-novel in English called One, Two ... He is coming for you, a fantasy-novel called The Eye of the Crystal Ball, a YA paranormal romance series called Afterlife (three books Beyond, Serenity and Endurance) and now I have started the Daughters of the Jaguar - series.

What or what inspired you to become a writer? 

I have always told stories. I remember telling stories to my friends as a child in school and making them forget that they had to go out and play for recess. Even my teacher would listen in and he told me to keep it up and to write them down. I wrote several notebooks filled with stories that he read. He encouraged me a lot. I went on to become a journalist and wrote my first novel when I was 28. It was published by one of the big Danish publishing houses.  /span>


Who are some of your favorite authors and books that you like to read?

My favorite authors are Anne Rice and Isabel Allende. My favorite book is The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. I read it as a child and that was when my imagination really took off. I have read it again and again since then.

What do you have planned in the future for your writing?
Right now I am writing the sequel to Savage. I am hoping to have it out in September. Then I will write the third one and after that I will write the book about Aiyana's childhood. 


Thanks for stopping by the blog Willow!

The pleasure was mine!

 

Savage 

Book 1 in the Daughters of the Jaguar family saga 

Author: Willow Rose

The year is 1983. Christian is 22 years old when he leaves his home in Denmark to spend a year in Florida with a very wealthy family and go to med-school. A joyful night out with friends is shattered by an encounter with a savage predator that changes his life forever. Soon he faces challenges he had never expected. A supernatural gift he has no idea how to embrace. A haunting family in the house next door. A spirit-filled girl who seems to carry all the answers. An ancient secret hidden in the swamps of Florida. One life never the same. One love that becomes an obsession. Two destinies that will be forever entangled.

Savage is a paranormal romance with some language, violence, and sexual situations recommended for ages sixteen and up

Check out the trailer of the book below:

Giveaway

Willow is generously giving away one e-book and one signed paperback (Open to US only).  Please leave your email with a comment if you are interested in entering the giveaway.  Giveaway ends  8/4/12 at 12PM EST.  Good luck!
 
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