Interview with Marie Treanor

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Today, as part of a blog tour, I'm interviewing Marie Treanor, and I'm doing a review for Marie's newest book,  Blood Guilt. So, without further ado, let's begin the interview. I hope you'll leave a comment and let us know you stopped by!

Hi Marie, welcome to my blog. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It's always fun to get to know an author :)


Tell me about yourself, and your writing.


Hello! I’m Marie Treanor, I live in Scotland with my three kids and my husband of more than twenty years. I write mostly paranormal romance on the steamy side -most recently, BLOOD GUILT!

How long have you been writing? How many published books do you have, and what genres?

I’ve been writing since I was a small child, but only began writing romance “seriously” – ie with a view to publication – about eight years ago. I have over twenty published books of varying lengths from short stories to novels, mostly paranormal romance but also with odd flurries into fantasy, science fiction and even steampunk.

Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre?

I often stray outside the genre in the sense I do like to mix them up in one story – a bit of humour, suspense, time travel, historical etc. But I have also written a straight historical romance (out of print just now), a science fiction romance and a steampunk romance. I don’t feel bound by genre, just go wherever my imagination takes me : ).

Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants?


I used to be terribly seat of the pants, but I’m a bit more disciplined now. I tend to write myself a vague outline, even when my publisher doesn’t demand one. It’s flexible, though, because as I write, the characters and the story start to speak for themselves. And if things get confusing, I sometimes write much more detailed outlines of  the difficult parts.

What is a typical writing day like for you?

I usually wake up around 6am and work on the laptop in bed over a cup of coffee or two before my husband gets up for work and I have to wake the kids for school. Then I start writing again after I’ve taken my daughter to school, and work straight through until I have to collect her again. I only stop to make coffee and the odd snack which I eat at the computer. Occasionally I get a bit of extra writing in after the kids come home, but it depends on their plans and how often the phone or the doorbell rings!

Who do you love to read? Favorite authors, favorite books?

Oh too many to mention! Currently reading my way through Sookie Stackhouse, with breaks for variety :)

What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career next year?

I think just write more books and reach more readers – it’s what I love :)

If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?

Hmm… healing would be good, although I suppose you might get swamped with requests. Or telepathy! Save on mobile phones when you need to track down the kids.

If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?


I’d have a pet Medusa that would work over the phone and turn cold callers and scammers to stone .

Tell us a little about your latest release.


Sure! BLOOD GUILT is the first of a new vampire romance series called Blood Hunters – which is also a spin-off series following on from the Awakened by Blood trilogy published in 2010 and 2011. My heroine in BLOOD GUILT is one of the vampire hunters from the previous series – a strong but tragic figure devoted to duty, who finds herself increasingly obsessed with a sexy vampire who once saved her life, but whom she knows she can’t trust. Which becomes an issue when events throw them together.

What is something that you absolutely can't live without? (Other than family members)
Coffee!

Could you ever co author a book with someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?

Funnily enough, I have written four books with another author – the very talented Bonnie Dee. We have a series of adult fairytales (Fairytale Fantasies) at Samhain: Cinderella Unmasked, Demon Lover (Rumplestiltskin), Awakening Beauty (Sleeping Beauty) and, coming in October, Sex and the Single Princess (The Twelve Dancing Princesses).

If you could spend a day with anyone from history, dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you do? What would you ask them?


Hmm…just one? Difficult! Maybe the thirteenth century Scottish hero William Wallace. I think I’d just like to talk, learn what really motivated him and what life was really like for him. We tend to imbue historical figures with modern ideals and morals which would probably have been completely alien to them, and however much you study the time or the character, you’re still only guessing!

What are some of your other hobbies outside of writing?


Writing was such a major hobby for so long that most others have fallen by the wayside! I do still read a lot, and I like to watch films and TV, travel, eat good food and hang out with friends.

If you were on the staff to have a book adapted to movie, what would you pick?

Ooh, one of my own – loads of money :)

What is a talent you wish you had, but don't?
I wish I could sing :). I love singing, but unless it’s in a huge crowd my kids cover their ears (as does everyone in a two mile radius).

Favorite color?
Red

Weather: Hot or cold?
Hot!

Favorite place to read?
Bed. Anywhere peaceful!

Favorite meal
I don’t think I have one! Love to try new things, providing someone else is cooking :)

Favorite non-alcoholic drink.
Coffee again.

If you could travel anywhere and do anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go?
Everywhere! I’ve never been outside Europe, so I’d love to go a bit further afield, see America, China, India, Australasia…

BLOOD GUILT

(Blood Hunters, Book 1)

By Marie Treanor

eBook coming 5th June 2012

The first of a new vampire romance series, a sequel to the Awakened by Blood trilogy.

Natural enemies, deadly attraction…

Mihaela, a fearless vampire hunter secretly haunted by loneliness and childhood tragedy, finds it difficult to adjust to the new world order where vampires are not always the bad guys. She's taking a much needed vacation in Scotland when she sees a little boy being chased through the streets of Edinburgh. Rescuing him brings bigger problems - two vampires from her past: Gavril, who killed her family; and the reclusive and troubled Maximilian, gifted Renaissance artist and one-time overlord of the most powerful undead community in the world. Maximilian once saved her life and now needs that favor returned.

The earth moves for Mihaela in more ways than one. From Scotland to Budapest and Malta, she  races against time to prevent a disastrous, vampire-induced earthquake and save an innocent yet powerful child – all while fighting a dreadful attraction to Maximilian, her only ally, whom she can’t afford to trust. For Maximilian, the hunter becomes a symbol of renewed existence, as he struggles to accept his past and rediscovers his appetite for blood and sex - and maybe even happiness.

Amazon Amazon UK Barnes & Noble

Author Bio:

Marie Treanor lives in Scotland with her eccentric husband and three much-too-smart children. Having grown bored with city life, she resides these days in a picturesque village by the sea where she is lucky enough to enjoy herself avoiding housework and writing sensual stories of paranormal romance and fantasy.

Marie Treanor has published more than twenty ebooks with small presses, (Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Changeling Press and The Wild Rose Press), including a former Kindle bestseller, Killing Joe. Blood on Silk: an Awakened by Blood novel, was her New York debut with NAL.

Website: www.MarieTreanor.com  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Treanor-Paranormal-Romance/105866982782360

Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marietreanornewsletter

Blog: Marie Treanor's Romantic Theme Party: 

http://romanticthemeparty.blogspot.com/

Rating: 4 Lightning Bolts


Review: If you can't get enough of vampires, Marie Treanor has begun a new series with them. Blood Gilt is the first, and what a tale! From what I hear, it's a spin off from a previous series, but while reading Blood Guilt, I didn't feel lost or confused, so I'm guessing it's all good to read Blood Guilt if you haven't read the other series.

I enjoyed this story. The characters are dynamic and well crafted. They have their quirks, their good and their bad habits which makes them easy to relate to.

Mihaela is not one to trust vampires at all. She's had a history, and the emotional turmoil she endures really had me aching for her.  She has a lot of things she needs to conquer and overcome, and throughout Blood Guilt, little by little, she scores a personal victory. She begins to grow and let go of things, and come to terms with others.

There's a great amount of tension, action and suspense in this story, which made it a pleasurable read. There's plenty of surprises and a little bit of everything for readers. This is my first time reading a book by Ms. Treanor and I wonder, what in the world took me so long to pick up a book from this author before? No worries, because she is under my radar now. A round of applause for a job well done.  Fans of paranormal and vampires, Blood Guilt awaits you!  What are you waiting for?






Blood Guilt on Barnes & Noble