Run with the Moon - A free online read!
http://lucymonroecotm.com/bookshelf.htm

Lucy, you began with Harlequin Presents and contemporary romances, what prompted your move to paranormal historical romances?
 
I’ve always written in multiple sub-genres of romance.  No matter what people told me, I couldn’t stick with one type of story and that ended working okay for me and my readers.  My move to paranormal came when I had stories bouncing around in my brain and they wouldn’t stay still, their characters refused to be silenced - no doubt because I had just fallen in love with the whole concept of a sexy, romance driven story about shapechangers.  I’d read Lorie O’Clare, Christine Feehan, Angela Knight and I wanted to write my own stories ‘cuz there weren’t enough of theirs. LOL
 
I love the mix of history and parnormal. Throw in sexy warriors in kilts and you have a bestseller! What inspired this idea?
 
I’ve always been fascinated by the lost peoples of world history and the Picts in particular.  It didn’t take much to realize they would be a great kernel for the “What if?” question.  What if the Picts hadn’t just been a lost race, but a lost race of shapechangers?
 
Do you see a trilogy or set number of books for your Children of the Moon, or do you plan this to be a continuing series?
 
This will definitely be an ongoing series.  There are just so many more of the stories to write!   I’m working on the next one now, in fact.
 
What is your favorite aspect of writing this series?
 
The fantasy element, allowing my characters to be more in touch with their primal natures than civilized man is supposed to be.
 
How do you tackle the daunting pile of research? Do you write the story, then fill in researched facts as needed, or does your research influence the story?
 
I read, I interview experts, I surf the web, I watch documentaries and I do most of it before I write the book and while I’m writing the book.  If there is an error, it’s an oversight, or not an error.  One thing my extensive research in different eras of history has shown me is that the beliefs about a period are shaped by the opinions of the “experts” one adheres to.  I tend to research in and outside the normal channels and come up with quirky aspects to history others often assume are incorrect, but are in fact quite valid.  Just not always well known.
 
Possibly only of interest to writers, but how do you keep your series organized? Binders, spreadsheets, post-its, special software?
 
I do a cast of characters sheet for each novel and keep everything in files and binders pertaining to each series.  I’m a fiend for organization.  I may write by the seat of my pants, but the documentation on my books is anything but. LOL
 
Do you have any upcoming events or news you’d like to share?
 
In fact, I do!  Tons, but probably most important is an event for readers I’m coordinating on my blog for the week of April 26-30.  Drop by http://lucymonroeblog.blogspot.com for info on something really different and really special!

How fun. I will definitely be there!  Thank you for visiting, Lucy!

 Lucy will peek in now and then and if you have any questions, just leave them in the comments section.

I recommend reading the excerpt. Wow! I am so excited at the mix of werewolves and highland Scotsmen and history! I haven’t seen quite that mix before. Scots and werewolves, Scots and history, but not all three. This book is so on my wish list! (Please forgive my excess exclamation points. I seem to have developed a joy in using them. LOL)

Moon Craving
Feb 2010 - Berkley Sensation - ISBN-13: 978-0425233047
Children of the Moon Book 2

If it were up to him, Talorc—laird of the Sinclair clan and leader of his werewolf pack— would never marry. But when the king orders that Talorc wed an Englishwoman, the lone wolf is shocked to find his mate in the strong-willed Abigail. And after an intensely climactic wedding night, the two fiercely independent souls sense an unbreakable bond…
Deaf since childhood, Abigail hopes to keep her affliction from Talorc as long as possible. And for his part, he has no intention of telling her about being a werewolf. But when Abigail learns that the husband she’s begun to love has deceived her, it will take all of his warrior’s strength—and his wolf’s cunning—to win his wife back. And Talorc will have to face his biggest challenge yet: the vulnerability of a man in love…

Read an Excerpt | Buy: Borders ~ B&N ~ Chapters ~ Books-a-Million ~ Amazon

Seriously. Absolutely ruined him.

When we first met, I was a book a day girl. He was more a book a year kind of guy. Not many people understood me. He just found it cute.  Thank God!

While in college, he decided he wanted to be a better reader. I’m not sure I’ve ever given him enough credit for this, but I am so very proud of him. He made this choice, this goal, and he went after it. He decided to read a few pages to a chapter every night. Actually, he doesn’t give himself enough credit either. He will say he’s not a very disciplined guy, especially with self-discipline, but he really is. He did it with reading and he does it all the time with work. I’ll say it now -

CRAIG LOVE!!!

Ok. So, this lovely man picked up his reading through a series of steps. Reading every night to relax and prepare for sleep. Then I talked him into checking out a romance. His first:

After that, he took off, reading faster than ever. And he expanded from the never-ending DragonLance. He positively zoomed through Harry Potter, then discovered Ravenloft. The world where DragonLance villains become heroes of the darkest tragedies. Ooohh. He loved those. After that, a mix of RA Salvatore and Christine Feehan.

So, how have I ruined him? Let’s see. He met his favorite author on his birthday this year, then read his newest book, The Ghost King. Goodbye Cadderly and Danika. Hopefully not for good? A few months and a few other books (Yes, he is now a book a week guy. See, didn’t I say? He’s awesome!) Then he reads a Ravenloft and is furious!

The wizard spends the entire book trying to save his wife from an accidental spell that turned her into a porcelain statue and in the end, she is shattered and he is a broken man.

I have *ruined* him. He wanted an HEA, damnit!

Thhhheeeennnn, we’re watching Chuck. I bought him Season 1 last year and just bought Season 2 and we did a Chuck-a-thon. Then Season 3, again, of what was on demand. So, we are watching “Chuck vs. the Assassin” and two things happen to send him through the roof. Now, I haven’t read any news lately, but an article I read said the number of eps were reduced and I heard they would be getting rid of some main characters.

So, badness #1: Sarah told Shaw her real name. Then kissed him.

Craig called her a hussy. Chuck may have tried relationships with other women, but only because Sarah kept blowing hot and cold with him.

Badness #2 was all my fault: They very convincingly killed Sarah for about ten seconds. Craig couldn’t breathe. Or close his mouth. His words: THEY CAN’T KILL SARAH!!!

And you know why? Oh, yes. He said it. He wants it. That one thing most guys vehemently deny for fear someone will question their testosterone poisoning. My man is unafraid. He wants the HEA. He wants Chuckles to get the girl.

After his depressing read, I handed him How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks. Who, right now, is battling that other Sparks (You know, the one who vehemently denies he writes romance…) for the top two spots on the Romance, New Releases/Bestsellers list at Barnes & Noble.

http://tinyurl.com/sparks-vs-sparks

All right, weigh in. Dear John or The Vampire and the Virgin?

Heidi Betts said it best: Romance - we promise not to depress the crap out of you!

I’m blogging at the PASIC blog, www.toberead.wordpress.com, about my wonderful hubby and the incredible VDay pressie he bought me.

Come on over and join the discussion:

Have you ever read a book that made you look at your relationship differently? What good did it do?

 Leave a comment there and win this week’s prize:

Possessing Morgan, a Harlequin Blaze by Bonnie Edwards.