Please join me in welcoming debut paranormal author Addison Fox back to The Dungeon.  This week, we hit her with Mistress Heidi’s version of Twenty Questions.  Let’s see how she answered…

What is your favorite color? Green—it has been since I could pick out colors. According to my mother, I threw exactly two tantrums as a child (angel that I’ve always been….) One of them was because I wanted a pair of green sneakers at the mall.

Favorite song? Being a child of the 80’s, that’s easy—“Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Minds

Favorite movie? To the point above, The Breakfast Club is my hands down favorite.

And of course, favorite book? Paradise by Judith McNaught is my absolute favorite book—ever. I’m also a sucker for Are You There God?  It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume and the entire “In Death” series by J.D. Robb. Of course, this really is only the tip of the iceberg because I have a ton of favorite authors and books and series, but these are the comfort books that I’ll re-read over and over.

What are you currently reading, & how are you enjoying it? Not just because she’s an oh-so-awesome hostess (and she really, really is!!), but I’m currently reading Knock Me For a Loop by our darling Mistress Heidi. I’ve been waiting for this one, having already devoured Tangled Up in Love and Loves Me, Loves Me Knot last year. I’ve been anxious to get my hands on this one!  (Note from Heidi:  Ooh, triple brownie points for Addison!  Not only did she mention one of my books, but she managed to slip in all three “Chicks with Sticks” titles. )

Name three books on your TBR pile that you can’t wait to read. Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb, Succubi Like it Hot by Jill Myles, & Take Me for a Ride by Karen Kendall

What was the first book in your chosen genre that you remember reading, or that made you want to write the same? For me, it’s been less about a specific paranormal romance and more about reading romance overall. In the late 80s/early 90s, I read all the “Js” as I’ve lovingly come to think of them—Jayne Ann Krentz, Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood, Jude Deveraux. These amazing ladies were the first romances I absolutely devoured and it was the first time I began to catch the “bug” of writing. I loved what I was reading and I hoped to write the same someday. I’m pleased to say the love of the genre their stories inspired continues to drive me every day (these women are also all auto-buys for me!).

I actually met Jayne Ann Krentz at this past year’s RWA National conference and it took EVERY SINGLE THING INSIDE OF ME to try and be cool. Inside—oh my gosh, I was so fan-girling it I wanted to scream!

What do you think of Heidi?  She’s great, right? Absolutely! Heidi is truly fantastic. I’ve been reading her for a while, having discovered her through the Silhouette Desire line and have had a chance to get to know her through a dear friend, Katherine Garbera. I’m very anxious to buy her a drink at the RWA conference in Nashville and thank her in person for all her wonderful support!  (Another note from Heidi:  More brownie points to Addison for reading my Desires.  I can’t wait to get together in Nashville!  We should probably invite Kathy to join us…you know, just to be polite…but don’t worry, we’ll still have a good time! )

How did you get started writing? I’ve always had an interest in writing, playing on and off with story ideas throughout college. Then, thirteen years ago, I moved to a new city for a job and was in a period of transition and just decided I was going to try my hand at writing a book. It took me five years to write two books and then, in fall 2002, I joined the Romance Writers of America and my local chapter and that was it for me—I was well and truly hooked.

It took me six more years to sell, but during that time I wrote eight more books. I learned a lot about perseverance and the business of writing and, while it felt endless at the time, I wouldn’t change anything about the journey now looking back at it.

WARRIOR ASCENDED is your first book. Tell us a little bit about your first sale. This one’s always fun to tell! I actually got the call at work. The book was on submission with NAL and my agent let me know that morning that things were looking good and she was hoping for news that day. Of course, my productivity was absolutely shot at that point, so I began calling/texting/emailing with my sister pretty much all morning.

Lunch came and went and no news, and then I had to go into a meeting around two. Of course….the call came during the meeting (where, I’m not ashamed to say, I was frantically clutching my cell phone willing it to ring…) I excused myself from the room, went and hid behind a row of cubicles and tried very hard not to scream out loud!!

Fill in the blank—If you like [blank], you’ll love Addison Fox! If you’re reading and enjoying hero-driven series, I think you’ll enjoy the Sons of the Zodiac.

Tell us about WARRIOR ASCENDED, and why we’ll love every word. It’s all about the Brody….. Brody Talbot, my Leo Warrior, is yummy. Dreamy. HAWT! He’s also a fierce protector of all mankind and is about to get the wind completely knocked out of him by a sweet, demure little museum curator named Ava Harrison who has a heck of a lot of power inside of her just waiting to be unleashed.

I absolutely love Brody and Ava and I had a blast spending time with them.

WARRIOR ASCENDED is also the first book in your “Sons of the Zodiac” series. Can you give us a little background, like who the Zodiac Warriors are…how many books you’re planning (all twelve?)…how you came up with the idea… The Sons are a band of immortal warriors, created by the Greek goddess of justice, Themis. Each are imbued with a variety of traits (supreme sexiness being one of them!) and carry the protection of their sign. The warriors are tasked by Themis to protect humanity from the chaos of the world and—specifically—from the goddess of war, Enyo.

As to the idea…..I was sitting there one night watching TV and it just sort of popped into my head (I wasn’t even thinking about plotting.) But there it was—Zodiac. Warriors. Those two thoughts grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I started Googling everything I could about the Zodiac and quickly realized how much of modern Western Astrology is tied to Greek Mythology—especially in the naming of stars and the legends behind them. Once I had that piece, the rest of the world my warriors were a part of quickly fell into place.

There are actually 156 warriors—12 bands of 13 warriors (Gemini has his twin)—who millennia ago were chosen and tasked to fight across the globe. Through the millennia, some of been killed (although they are immortal, there are a few ways they can die) and some have turned. The focus of the series is the North American contingent of 13.

It would be an absolute dream to do books for all thirteen warriors. Right now, I’m under contract for the first two and am working on the proposal for Book 3. Kane Montague, my Scorpio Warrior, is the hero of WARRIOR AVENGED, coming in September.

In case you hadn’t guessed, Mistress Heidi is a Scorpio. She has both claws and a stinger, and she is not afraid to use them. What’s your sign? And what are some of the best and worst personality traits of your place in the zodiac? Then you’re going to love Kane’s book!

I’m a Gemini and I definitely have two personalities. I can be the life of the party and the wallflower all in the same evening. I’m interested in everything from art to music to sports to politics and know just enough about each to be dangerous. And, chief trait of my sign—I’m a communicator.

Of course, there’s a flip side to all those traits, including the fact that I get easily bored and often tired of my own voice!

Are you really into astrology, or did you research just enough to plot your way through this series? It’s really a bit of both. I’ve always had a fascination with astrology and love to read my horoscope. I’ve also read about astrology on and off through the years, fascinated by the idea of what in our natural world has an influence on us. That said, what’s been fun in the series is to use astrology as the unique part of each character but to then leverage Greek mythology as the backdrop of their world.

If your plane crashed in the Andes, would you convince the other survivors to eat Heidi first or last? Seeing as how you’d convince the others to sacrifice themselves at the altar of your fabulousness, I will only hope we can keep the fires burning long enough to get rescued by the two hot bush pilots who see our fire signals!  (Even more intrusiveness from Heidi:  I’m running out of brownie points here.  May have to switch to gold stars. )

If you could write anything—whether in the same genre/sub-genre as you’re writing now or another—what would it be? I’m definitely working on something that I love and that I hope will be a part of my life for quite a few years to come. That said, I’m also interested in other genres and have proposals for both a YA and a contemporary adult series with my agent that we’re hoping to sell.

What are you currently working on? I’m working on the third book in the “Sons of the Zodiac” series, title TBD. As I said, I’m hoping to go back to contract soon and want to be prepared for that!

Well, I’m just going to say it.  I think that may be my favorite guest author interview evah! What fun, Addison, thanks!

Don’t forget that Addison has generously offered to give away autographed copies of WARRIOR ASCENDED during her visits this month.  And after her third visit, she’s also going to toss in a $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble!   (U.S. residents only for the prizes, please, but everyone is welcome to chat!)

And remember that Addison will be back with us again next TUESDAY, MARCH 16TH.  You definitely don’t want to miss it, so mark your calendars now!

P.S.  Not to steal Addison’s thunder, but Susan Lyons is our guest knitter today at Must Love Yarn, & I know she’d love it if you dropped by to say hello.

An act of desperation…

Themis, Goddess of Justice and former wife of Zeus, weeps for the annihilation of her adored humans. As the Bronze Age—the Fifth Age of Man—progresses, her beloved human children are wrapped in a chaotic spiral of death and destruction. Frustrated and angered by her inability to change their lives, she pleads with Zeus. Allow her to end the destruction of the Bronze Age by creating a race of warriors to calm the chaos.
a bargain struck…

Zeus recognizes this strange love Themis has for humans and still guilty over his betrayal of her with his new wife, Hera he agrees to the request. With one condition. In order to maintain the balance Themis is so known for, she must agree to an opposing force a catalyst for chaos—for her Warriors. His daughter with Hera, Enyo, Goddess of War, will be equally empowered to maintain the anarchy for which she is known.

The Modern Age of Man begins…

So armed, Themis sets out to create a race of warriors, innately balanced with each other and carrying all the traits so necessary for understanding humans. Kindness, compassion, vanity, arrogance, courage, passion, anger, ego the full spectrum of human emotions wrapped in an immortal package of physical strength and mental agility. Using the 12 signs of the Zodiac as a model for balance, the Warriors are as varied in personality as the traits Themis bestows upon them. And all will protect and serve their goddess throughout the ages.

Addison Fox can’t remember a time when words weren’t a part of her life. An avid reader, her love of the written word started at the tender age of 1 with The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear (a poem she could recite by heart to any family member who would listen). Dr. Seuss, C.S. Lewis, Judy Blume and a host of others quickly followed until she discovered The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel while writing a paper at the library in the 7th grade. Although not a classic romance, Ayla and Jondalar’s love story moved her firmly to the romance section of the bookstore and she hasn’t looked back!

Her debut novel, WARRIOR ASCENDED will be published by NAL in March 2010. WARRIOR ASCENDED launches her series, “The Sons of the Zodiac” about an immortal band of Warriors, granted the powers of their astrological signs and charged with protecting humanity. The series blends sizzling paranormal romance with the myths of the ancients.

Addison lives in New York.

I’m very pleased to welcome debut author Addison Fox to The Dungeon this month.  I was introduced to Addison through mutual good buddy, Katherine Garbera, & quickly learned that Addison is just as much fun as Kathy.  Well, okay, it helps that she sent me an advance copy of WARRIOR ASCENDED & chocolate, but we all know I cannot be bought or influenced (More than once a day. )

But just to show you how right I am about how sweet she is, Addison has uber-generously offered to give away autographed copies of her debut paranormal romance, the first book in her “Sons of the Zodiac” series, WARRIOR ASCENDED during her visit to The Dungeon.  One winner will be chosen each of the three weeks she’s with us, & on her final visit, she’s also going to toss in a $25 Barnes & Noble gift certificate, along with the book.  (U.S. residents only for the prizes, please, but everyone is welcome to chat!)

How cool is that?

I know everybody wants in on that awesome action, so you know the drill:  Hang around today, then drop by again next TUESDAY, MARCH 9TH, & most importantly, TUESDAY,  MARCH 16TH…& let the chatting begin!

This week, we welcome back the talented Leanne Banks, who is going to share with us her inspiration for her new “Medici Men” mini-series for Silhouette Desire.  The first book, FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA! will be out in January, followed by THE PLAYBOY’S PROPOSITION in February & SECRETS OF THE PLAYBOY’S BRIDE in March.

What inspired my new series “The Medici Men” for Silhouette Desire? Several things, but one of the biggest sources of inspiration for this new series was my trip to Italy! My husband and I joined two other couples and visited Milan, Bellagio, Florence, and Rome.

My fave? Florence! There’s so much amazing art and history there. Seeing Michaelangelo’s famous sculpture of David was a thrilling experience. Having the opportunity to learn about some of those famous Renaissance men was fascinating.

When we were in Florence, we took a tour and learned a bit about the famous Medici family. Known as one of the big banking families, the Medicis became a powerful political and creative force. They encouraged the arts and even managed to produce two Popes. Despite centuries of power, however, the Medicis eventually died out.

In my scrambled writer brain, I asked questions, such as what if the Medicis hadn’t really died out? What is a couple of them had secretly survived?

Then my muse took a little trip down another path. What if there were some different Medicis who’d had land in Florence, but been cheated out of it during a business deal gone bad? What if that resulted in the family being scattered? What if a Medici came to the United States and got married and had four sons? What if the father died in an accident and the mother couldn’t manage the boys anymore and they were split up into foster homes? What if one of the brothers was with the father during the accident, but his body was never found? What kind of men would these brothers grow up to be? Could they ever learn to love?

As a side note, with the exception of Damien’s name, I had some fun with the inspiration for the names of the brothers—Rafe (for Raphael), Michael (Michaelangelo), and Leo (Leonardo da Vinci)—all artists of the Renaissance.

Italy provided me with a lot of food for my muse and my belly. If I ever get a chance to return I’m sure I’ll be inspired again!

Whaaaa! Why didn’t you tell me you were going to Italy, Leanne?  I’d have gone with you!  But, no, you had to take your stupid husband.   Sigh.  Well, I’ll try not to hold it against you, I guess!

Especially since you’re giving away another wonderful autographed copy of your first Italy-inspired “Medici Men” book, FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA!

You heard me, ladies!  The more you post, the higher your chances to win, so feel free to quiz Leanne about her great trip or her equally great upcoming releases before she leaves us!

The time has come to pin this month’s guest blogger, the wonderful Leanne Banks, to the wall with some awkward & pressing questions. Maybe we can even find out if she’s naughty or nice before Santa comes to town…

What is your favorite color? Pink, red and blue.  (Can you tell I’m not particularly decisive?)

Favorite song? Toooo many! “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You,” “I’m Gonna Make You Mine.”

Favorite movie? The Sound Of Music. While You Were Sleeping.

And of course, favorite book? It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Note from Heidi: Loooove that one!)

What are you currently reading, & how are you enjoying it? A Silhouette Special Edition by Christine Flynn. She’s awesome. Writes sexy books with compelling characters.

What was the first book in your chosen genre that you remember reading, or that made you want to write the same? Anything by Elizabeth Lowell and Sandra Brown.

What do you think of Heidi? She’s great, right? She actually is quite great. Heidi is very fun and amusing, but she is deeper than most people realize. I’m proud of her and very thankful that I know her.  (Another intrusive note from Heidi:  Aww, that’s so sweet.  Not sure about the “deep” part, though, unless we’re talking mudpuddles. )

How did you get started writing? I lost my last pregnancy and realized I was going to have to go in a new direction. I had always LOVED romance, so I set a goal of writing and selling my first romance within two years. Kinda crazy, but I did it. My family used my advance to go to Disney World.

Tell us a little bit about your first sale. I was very depressed because I had entered a lot of contests and the critiques felt like bullets! I was upstairs with the draped pulled and the quilt pulled over my head. The phone rang. It was Kate Duffy, and my husband gave me the phone. She said. I loved your book and I want to buy it. I felt as if I were having an out-of-body experience.

Fill in the blank—If you like [blank], you’ll love Leanne Banks! If you like fun, heart-warming romance with wish fulfillment, you’ll love Leanne Banks

Tell us about “The Medici Men” series, especially FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA!, and why we’ll love every word. “The Medici Men” is about brothers separated by tragedy and raised by foster parents. The brothers survive and thrive on their own, but need to find each other and the women who will love them in order to make their lives complete. These stories are full of romance, sexual tension, melodrama and wish fulfillment. You will root for them!

If your plane crashed in the Andes, would you convince the other survivors to eat Heidi first or last? Last, because I would want Heidi to survive and be rescued. I totally love Heidi’s bubbly personality and I have a lot of admiration for her for a lot of reasons—cats, exercise, great Mom and all.

If you could write anything—whether in the same genre/sub-genre as you’re writing now or another—what would it be? Two:   My version of erotica and women’s fiction.

What are you currently working on? Line edits for a Silhouette Desire and a Silhouette Special Edition and a single title. I’m very excited because I’ve just accepted a new 3-book contract with Special Edition.  (A final intrusive note from Heidi: Whoo-hoo times three! )

Fabulous, Leanne, thank you so much!  And I just have to say, given your answers to Mistress Heidi’s questions, it’s obvious you have very good taste!  In books, music, movies…& people.

I can’t wait to chat with you about your return to Silhouette Special Edition, & I know others are looking forward to chatting with you about your new mini-series with Desire & your writing in general.

For everyone who does pop in to chat with & about Leanne today, you’ll be happy to know that she’s giving away an autographed copy of her first “Medici Men” title, FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA! (not due to be released until January! ), after today’s visit.

And another next week, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29TH, when she returns to The Dungeon one last time.

So let the posting begin!

Mr. January: Rafe Medici, extremely eligible millionaire

Status: Power is his only partner

Situation: He’s a papa, and the last to know

Fatherhood was not on his agenda. Yet once Rafe learned he had an heir, he was determined to get the child under his roof. Only the boy’s guardian, Nicole Livingstone, stood between him and his desire. No one denied a Medici, and if it took seduction to win over Nicole, Rafe was happy to try. But in getting the beautiful woman to soften, this wealthy bachelor had best be certain she didn’t get him to change his no-love rule.

Leanne Banks is a national #1 best-selling author with over 50 published books. Every time Leanne says she’s written 50 books, she is stunned! Why? Because she’s often not sure she will finish whatever book she is writing until she hits the 100 page mark! Leanne has loved romance since first hearing the story of Cinderella as a little girl. She’s always had a weakness for a good romance in many forms, books, films and musicals like “Sound Of Music”, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and “My Fair Lady”. Leanne first starting writing romance in 1988 and set a crazy goal of writing and selling her first book within two years. Again, though it surprised her, she achieved her goal and used her advance to take her family to Walt Disney World. Leanne has done a lot of fun things as a result of her career. She and her family took a trip to Hawaii to attend a Romance Writers of America national convention. Leanne has won a bunch of awards and been a finalist three times for the Romance Writers of America RITA award. Leanne has also been a presenter for the RITA and Golden Heart Awards. She loved that! That’s actually how Leanne first met Heidi Betts, because Heidi was up for a Golden Heart when Leanne was presenting.

Leanne’s books have made several appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. One of Leanne’s book launch parties took place at a DSW in New York! Another launch took place during fashion week with a fashion show that featured models with painted-on bustiers (!!!) modeling shoes. Leanne also appeared as a clue in a New York Times crossword puzzle. Too cool! Leanne collaborated on a book with Janet Evanovich and that book hit the New York Times bestseller list. Leanne has also delivered a bunch of speeches and workshops that allowed her to meet a lot of great people. If all goes well, Leanne will see 5 books published in 2010!!! Even though she works very hard, she’s not totally sure how that happened.

The first of her “Medici Men” series for Silhouette Desire will hit the shelves in January with FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA!, in February with THE PLAYBOY’S PROPOSITION, and in March with SECRETS OF THE PLAYBOY’S BRIDE. Another Desire will be published in June. Leanne has just signed a new contract to write Special Editions for Silhouette and is really looking forward to getting some of the humor back in her stories.

Anyone who’s met her will tell you that Leanne Banks is a sweetheart. Which is why I’m so delighted to finally have her as a guest here in The Dungeon.  (We’ve been talking about having her visit for ages now.)

She’s right, by the way, that we first met at a RITA/GH rehearsal, but I want to be really clear that I had been a fan of Leanne’s books long before that.  She is actually one of the authors who inspired me to write for Desire to begin with, so she will always hold a very special place in my heart.  Oh, & the fact that she gave me an awesome quote for TANGLED UP IN LOVE doesn’t hurt, either.

Leanne has also very generously offered to give away not one, not two, but three copies of the first book in her “Medici Men” mini-series, FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA! during her visit—one after each week’s guest blog.  Yay!

So get chatting & we’ll let you know who the first winner is later in the week.

Good morning, everybody!  We’re visiting with author Mindy Klasky again today—for the last time, boo-hoo —about her “As You Wish” series & one of my favorite topics:  food!

Take it away, Mindy!

Hello everyone! Thank you, Heidi, for so generously letting me darken The Dungeon’s doorstep once again!

I thought long and hard about what I was going to write about. Heidi introduced me as some sort of Platonic master of the story arc, but there isn’t a tremendous amount to say about that, at least not enough that would keep you interested and reading and not snoring into your cornflakes. (Of course, if anyone has questions about story arcs, or about any other aspect of my writing, don’t hesitate to ask in comments!)

Then, I thought that I would write about something guaranteed to keep you interested and reading—my reaction to the various hunks that Heidi posts here on a regular basis. Alas, you all have your own favorites, though, and I didn’t want to start a fight over who gets to be favorites with whom.

So, I settled on a topic near and dear to my authorly heart:  food. Yep, food.

Now, I could tell you about how I sustain myself while I write (breakfast of oatmeal and cranberry sauce—don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!), large pot of tea, veggie lunch, replenished pot of tea… but that might devolve into a discussion of alternative meals, which would tempt me to try them, which would keep me from writing…  And I have a lot of deadlines coming up, so I don’t want to lead myself anywhere near the path of temptation.

That leaves me with how I use food in my novels.

(A secret for those who haven’t read my books: I use a lot of food in my novels. In the “Jane Madison” series, the main character’s best friend runs a bakery. Several key scenes take place in restaurants. Mojito therapy is the escape of choice. In the “As You Wish” series, food is even more important—starting with emotional over-eating in HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH, and moving on to guerilla gardening in next April’s WHEN GOOD WISHES GO BAD.)

To me, food tells an incredible amount about a character. When I tell you that Kira Franklin likes her coffee twice as strong as anyone else in the theater, you immediately know something important about her. When I tell you that her roommate orders the exact same dish from their favorite Chinese restaurant every single time, you immediately know something important about her.

My books are written primarily for women readers (although men are always welcome, too!).  We women have very convoluted relationships with food. We all have stories to tell about how much we eat—whether it’s too much or too little. We all have distinct likes and dislikes. We all balance the demands of being social creatures around food.

How many of us have wondered if we could/should order an appetizer and a dessert on a first date? How many of us have been quailed by the sight of a full range of silverware at an important business dinner or formal event? How many of us have wondered how to tell a friend or a love interest that we simply cannot stand the dish they’ve just served us?

Food is at the heart of so many of our social interactions. It allows us to show who we are, at the same time that it permits us to hide. (Anyone remember the scene in Pretty Woman, where she eats escargots?)

Besides, it’s just plain fun to write about food.

So, how about you? If you were revealing your personality by describing yourself as food (or an entire meal) what would it be? Me? I’d be oven-baked macaroni and cheese—comforting and easy-going, but with a surprisingly sharp bite of cheddar (and just a hint of hot sauce). Of course, there’d be more than a few crunchy bread-crumbs on top, adding unexpected texture!

I look forward to reading your responses in comments!

Thank you, Mindy! I’m afraid you’ve hit on a topic close to my heart—& belly & thighs & butt…but, sadly, not my knockers —as well, so this should be a fun & lively discussion!

Remember, my Darlings, that Mindy will be drawing a name after today’s chat for an autographed copy of her latest release & the first book in her “As You Wish” series, HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH.  The winner will be announced probably on Sunday, as per our usual slacker schedule.

And don’t forget that you can learn more about Mindy & her books any time simply by visiting her website at MindyKlasky.com.

I’m very happy to welcome Mindy Klasky back to The Dungeon today.  (Welcome back, Mindy! )

Of course, it’s not for anything as innocent as mundane chit-chat.  Oh, no!  We must put her on the rack & subject her to Mistress Heidi’s own unique brand of torture.  i.e. The Interview.

What is your favorite color? Blue. Any color of blue. But if I get to pick my real, absolute, complete favorite, it’s that clear-sky-blue on a brilliantly sunny day, when there’s a single white cloud and a yellow-leafed aspen to set off the color.

Favorite song? Argh! I am a musical ignoramus. I really, truly don’t have a favorite song. Lots of earworms, though. I’d name them, but then you’d all hate me.

Favorite movie? This totally changes with my mood. The only movie I’ve ever watched start to finish to start again was The Manchurian Candidate (the original version.) The inter-cuts of the garden and torture scenes fascinate me to this day! But for romantic viewing? Um, I’d watch Jon Hamm read the phone book. From A to Z. Ads included. Really.

And of course, favorite book? Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings is the book that most changed my lif—it was the book that made me decide to be a writer. (I started writing a sequel with my best friend, when we were both in seventh grade. Years later, I transferred the story from Middle Earth to my own land, and I rewrote the entire thing. I tried to sell it for years and never did—but while I was waiting for that non-sale, I wrote my first published novel, THE GLASSWRIGHTS’ APPRENTICE.

What are you currently reading, & how are you enjoying it? Donna Leon’s Suffer the Little Children. Leon writes mysteries that are set in Venice. The mysteries are okay—the characters (including the character of the city of Venice!) are incredible. As are the descriptions of food. Excuse me, while I go prepare a bowl of pasta, with olive oil, artichokes, and parmesan….

Name three books on your TBR pile that you can’t wait to read. Maria V. Snyder’s Sea Glass, Jeri Smith-Ready’s Bad to the Bone, and Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathon. I’ll spare you the other fifty or so titles lurking there…

What was the first book in your chosen genre that you remember reading, or that made you want to write the same? Chosen genre… Well, I started to write romantic fantasy through traditional fantasy, so I guess the answer would be the Lord of the Rings. Unless I think about myself as writing fantastic romance. Then, I guess the question would be those old Ruth M. Arthur juveniles—the classic gothic stories, about a girl who was alone in the world and found love and adventure… I loved those books; I reread them every summer!

What do you think of Heidi? She’s great, right? Totally! How could anyone think otherwise?!?

How did you get started writing? Years after I started fiddling around with my Tolkien fan-fiction, I found myself in law school, in a four-credit course on the law of evidence. You know, the hearsay rule, which they always scream about in TV shows? (”Objection, your honor! Hearsay!” The class was boring beyond my ability to describe, and I found my mind wandering back to my old unfinished novel. I took out a piece of paper and a pen, and I started to draft a mystical prophecy in rhymed iambic hexameter. And thus, my first real attempt at writing a novel was born.

Tell us a little bit about your first sale. I had signed a one-year contract with my agent, on March 31, 1997, so that he could shop around the manuscript for THE GLASSWRIGHTS’ APPRENTICE. A day after the contract expired, he sent me email saying that an editor was interested in buying the book—in fact, he said that she was interested in sequels, so he told her that I had two. I wasn’t able to reach him by phone before the end of the work day. That night, watching the murder mystery Night Must Fall. Halfway through the first act, I realized that it was April Fool’s Day, and I convinced myself that my agent was the cruelest man in the entire world. I still can’t tell you how the play ended—but my agent wasn’t cruel and heartless; the books were really sold.

Fill in the blank—If you like [blank], you’ll love Mindy Klasky! If you like slightly-crazy, sort-of-smart romantic-fantasy-comedy (and the overuse of hyphens), you’ll love Mindy Klasky!

Tell us about HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH and your new “As You Wish” series, and why we’ll love every word. HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH is the story of Kira Franklin, a stage manager at a down-and-out dinner theater, who discovers a magic lamp containing a wish-granting genie. Kira’s wishes, though don’t quite go as she plans—even when she manages to work on the play of her dreams in the theater of her dreams with the star of her dreams.

You can read the first chapter here: http://www.mindyklasky.com/chapter_hownotto.html

And you’ll love the entire series because each volume is totally and completely self-contained. (The genie connects story to story, so each individual’s set of wishes is resolved.) Plus, who doesn’t like women who can rock bright red lipstick? (Check out the book cover, if you have no idea what I’m talking about?)

If your plane crashed in the Andes, would you convince the other survivors to eat Heidi first or last? I am totally a save-the-best-for-last girl, so Heidi would have to be dessert!

If you could write anything—whether in the same genre/sub-genre as you’re writing now or another—what would it be? There are so many writing projects I want to take on! I have a killer middle grade story that I hope, hope, hope I’ll get to write (it’s a boarding school story, crossed with romance, crossed with fantasy…) I have a serious literary YA novel (full of angst, full of self-discovery…) I have a traditional fantasy novel, set in an imaginary world, where a handful of people are born without magic and have to rely on libraries to maintain their unique knowledge. Wow. I guess I’d better get writing, huh?

What are you currently working on? I’ve written and turned in the last two volumes in the “As You Wish” series—WHEN GOOD WISHES GO BAD (in stores April 2010) and TO WISH OR NOT TO WISH (in stores October 2010.) Next up on the writing plate is a vampire series (yes, vampires!) which will be similar in tone to the Jane Madison books and the “As You Wish” books, but with sexy vamps included!

Heidi, thank you so much for the chance to visit. I can’t wait till next week, when I’ll be able to share more with your readers!

Thank you, Mindy!  We’re delighted you’re here with us today & can’t wait to have you back next week.  Mark your calendars, everyone!  That would be WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH!

Remember, too, that Mindy will be giving away an autographed copy of the third book in her “Jane Madison” series, MAGIC AND THE MODERN GIRL, after today’s visit.

And next week, she’ll be drawing for a copy of her latest release & the first book in her “As You Wish” series, HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH.

Not too shabby, huh?

So feel free to begin chatting, & also take a minute to visit MindyKlasky.com to learn more about Mindy & all of her books!

What would you wish for?  Really?

While cleaning an old lantern, Kira Franklin releases a genie. But this gender-morphing, appearance-bending creature doesn’t do “big” wishes. So forget stopping world hunger or ending war. And still heartbroken from the jerk who duped her, Kira doesn’t believe in the perfect man.

So she wishes for her dream job. Stage manager at the hottest theater in town, the Landmark. And presto: she’s running Romeo and Juliet. Except, like everything else these days, this is one crazy production. And now Teel, the genie, insists she finish her wishes so “he” can move on.

Her second wish is about her appearance, which isn’t exactly catching her third wish’s eye. And there’s the rub.

Because that old saying about being careful what you wish for is so spot-on. And Kira is about to discover that moxie, not magic, is what can make all your dreams come true.

Mindy Klasky learned to read when her parents shoved a book in her hands and told her that she could travel anywhere in the world through stories. She never forgot that advice.

Mindy’s travels took her through multiple careers. After graduating from Princeton University, Mindy considered becoming a professional stage manager or a rabbi. Ultimately, though, she settled on being a lawyer, working as a litigator at a large Washington firm. When she realized that lawyering kept her from writing (and dating and sleeping and otherwise living a normal life), Mindy became a librarian, managing large law firm libraries. Mindy now writes full time.

For years, Mindy’s dating life was a travel extravaganza as well. She balanced twenty-eight first dates in one year, selecting eligible gentlemen from sources as varied as Washingtonian magazine ads, Single Volunteers of D.C., and supposedly-certain recommendations from best friends. Ultimately, she swore off the dating scene entirely. After two years of carefully-enforced datelessness, she made one last foray onto Match.com, where she met her husband – on her first match.

Mindy’s travels have also taken her through various literary genres. In addition to her Red Dress Ink and Mira books, Mindy has written numerous short stories and six traditional fantasy novels, including the award-winning, best-selling The Glasswrights’ Apprentice.

In her spare time, Mindy quilts, cooks, and tries to tame the endless to-be-read shelf in her home library. Her husband and cats do their best to fill the left-over minutes.

So here’s the scoop on Mindy, my Darlings:

Back when I was getting ready to plot out my “Chicks with Sticks” series, my agent was explaining that I needed to have a really good series arc to carry through all three books.  And though it shames me to admit this, I wasn’t real clear on what a series arc was.  So he explained it to me, very slowly & carefully, using an antecdote about one of this other authors who had just sold a series of books involving a genie who popped up to grant the heroines’ wishes, but also had an agenda of his own.  He called it “Sisterhood of the Traveling Lamp” & suddenly I got it.  Now, at the time, I had no idea who this other author was.  My agent is not a name-dropper by any means.  Sometimes he won’t even tell me who he’s talking about it if I ask.  Or beg.

Zip ahead a few months & something is said on one author loop or another, & the next thing I know, I get a note from Mindy Klasky.  Just a quick, “Hey, I’m with Richard Curtis, too!”  So we started to chat & really hit it off.  Zip ahead a bit farther & Mindy starts talking about the series she was currently working on.  And the more she talked, the more familiar they sounded.  But since she was just writing them at that moment, I knew I couldn’t have read them yet.  Then it dawned on me!  Ohmigosh, you’re the author Richard was telling me about!  Your genie series is the one he used as an example of how to create a series arc!  How cool is that?  Oh, & thanks very much, Mindy.

So you can see why I wanted to sit down with her at the RWA conference in D.C. last year, once I learned we were both going to be there, & why I’ve also been eager to get her into The Dungeon.  Having her here to chat about HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH & her entire “As You Wish” series is going to make this a very fun month, indeed!

And to add to our enjoyment, Mindy has generously offered to give away some autographed books while she’s here!

This week, one lucky winner will receive a copy of the second book in her “Jane Madison” series, SORCERY AND THE SINGLE GIRL.

Next week, she’ll give away a copy of “Jane Madison” #3, MAGIC AND THE MODERN GIRL.

And after her third & final visit on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH, the piece de resistance will be a copy of her latest release & the first book in her “As You Wish” series, HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH.

So be sure to join us all this month while we talk wishes & romance with series arc expert *g* Mindy Klasky!  You can also visit MindyKlasky.com to learn more about all of her books!