Welcome to the Raven's Kiss Blog Tour!
Today I have an interview with author, Toni LoTempio to share with you!
Thanks so much, Toni, for joining me here on Reality Bites!
We’re talking about Raven’s Kiss, the 1st book in the Raven Grace series. How many books do you have planned for this series?
Right now I have two more novella length adventures planned for Raven, and also for Morgan, the heroine of NO REST FOR THE WICCA. There may be more, depending on other writing commitments. And my day job.
Can you sum up the series in one sentence?- A girl, turned into a Shapeshifter by a demon’s bite, travels to parallel time in search of him and finds romance with hot Scottish detective.
What has been the best part about writing this series? – creating the characters of Raven and Finn, and injecting a touch of humor into the series. I don’t really like to get too dark.
What has been the hardest part? – Length. For a novel, you really have to have a cohesive outline, and I suck at those I usually have a vague idea of where I’m going, but if I write it all out in painful detail, it’s a waste of time. The finished product usually ends up looking NOTHING like the outline.
Do you have a favorite place where you go to write? – yes, I have a room in my apartment set up as my “den” that’s where I have my bookcases, filled mostly with research materials, computer, etc….and the kittie’s beds, of course
Can you give us 3 random facts about you? – I can shapeshift at will, I like a good nip of blood, and…oh, you want me to be serious? OK. I’m a born and bred New Yorker, My favorite tv show is a tie between Dancing with the Stars and Castle, and I’m very active in Nathan Fillion’s charity, KIDS NEED TO READ. And I shapeshift. On occasion.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing? – Not writing???? Is there such a thing???? Planning the next book
What can we look forward to from you in the near future? – the aforementioned Raven/Morgan joint novella will be out the end of the year, and early next year I’m releasing a YA fantasy with a Dark Shadows tie –in, which would be before the movie opens in May. I’ve got a few other paranormal romantic suspense series in the works, but …we’ll have to wait and see on those.
Quickies- Favorites:
Cookie- Chocolate Chip!
Comfort food- Tacos!
Drink-Sangria!
Music –PopRock (Barry Manilow…I know, I know, but I like him…and David Buble.)
Movie – GONE WITH THE WIND – NO CONTEST
Book- The Thorn Birds, if I absolutely have to pick one.
Author – we don’t’ have enough space for me to list all of them. I can’t pick just one
Finally, any advice for aspiring writers out there?- Yes, keep on writing, and don’t get discouraged. Above all, have patience. Something will happen – exactly how and when it’s supposed to.
Again, Thanks so much! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions! :)
All About….TONI LOTEMPIO
Hello! I’m Toni LoTempio, author of Paranormal Romance/Romantic Suspense/YA Fantasy! I’ve been writing ever since I was old enough to read, when I didn’t like the endings of the stories my mother read me I simply rewrote them Even though I write mainly in the paranormal genre, I have also written straight horror, as well as contemporary romance/suspense.
In 1995, I joined the staff of SUSABELLA PASSENGERS AND FRIENDS, a pulp magazine for collectors of antique children’s literature (Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, etc.) Currently I’ve written over 300 articles for that magazine, and I was the first recipient of their Margaret Sutton Award for Distinguished Writing in 1998. I joined the staff of NIGHT OWL REVIEWS IN January 2011 as the suspense reviewer/columnist. My column, DARK STREETS, which features articles on suspense authors and their novels, is featured on a monthly basis. I love to spotlight new talent, so if you’re a suspense author, please contact me!
In 2007, Whiskey Creek Press published BOUND BY BLOOD, a tale of possession, and EBONY, which deals with zombies and the dark side of man. EBONY was #2 on the Fictionwise bestseller list for e-books for the month of July 2007, beating out Stephen King’s Lisey’s Story. (and no one was more shocked than I, LOL) In 2010, after countless attempts to land another agent, I took the advice of a fellow author HP Mallory, and self published NO REST FOR THE WICCA, which has been on Amazon’s list of top one hundred in Occult since March 2011. My short story, THE SACRIFICE, appears in the e-published anthology KISS ME KILL ME, and I also have a YA fantasy, MY SUPERHERO SISTER on B&N and Amazon. A complete listing of my books appears at the end of this bio.
Currently single, I work full time and live in Clifton, NJ, with my muses: Rocco, Maxx, Gata and Trixie. (Rocco is also known as Rocco the SciFi Blogging Cat and has appeared on the SciFi Saturday Night website and radio show, and also on the Kids Need To Read website where he holds the distinction of being the first (and possibly only!) blogging cat to support this charity!)
I love hearing from fans, so please feel free to friend me on FACEBOOK, and visit my website, www.tonilotempio.webs.com Rocco and I post daily M-F on his blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com
Toni LoTempio Books:
Bound by Blood – Whiskey Creek Press, trade paperback & e-book, Feb. 2007 (paranormal suspense)
Ebony – Whiskey Creek Press, trade paperback & e-book, July 2007 (paranormal suspense)
Witch’s Pawn – Echelon Press, trade paperback & e-book, December 2008 (horror)
Nom de Plume – Whiskey Creek Press, trade paperback & e-book, November 2008 (contemporary romance)
It’s in the Cards – Whiskey Creek Press, e-book, February 2010 – (paranormal romance)
Out of the Ashes – Whiskey Creek Press, e-book, May 2010 – Fantasy
No Rest for the Wicca – Amazon & B&N Pub-It, e-book, September 2010 – paranormal suspense
My Superhero Sister – Amazon & B&N Pub-It, e-book, Trade Paperback - January 2011 – YA Fantasy
Kiss Me, Kill Me – Amazon & B&N Pub-It, e-book anthology –February 2011 – Short Story, “The Sacrifice”
Raven’s Kiss – Amazon & B&N Pub-It, e-book, & Trade Paperback April, 2011 – Paranormal Romance
We’re talking about Raven’s Kiss, the 1st book in the Raven Grace series. How many books do you have planned for this series?
Right now I have two more novella length adventures planned for Raven, and also for Morgan, the heroine of NO REST FOR THE WICCA. There may be more, depending on other writing commitments. And my day job.
Can you sum up the series in one sentence?- A girl, turned into a Shapeshifter by a demon’s bite, travels to parallel time in search of him and finds romance with hot Scottish detective.
What has been the best part about writing this series? – creating the characters of Raven and Finn, and injecting a touch of humor into the series. I don’t really like to get too dark.
What has been the hardest part? – Length. For a novel, you really have to have a cohesive outline, and I suck at those I usually have a vague idea of where I’m going, but if I write it all out in painful detail, it’s a waste of time. The finished product usually ends up looking NOTHING like the outline.
Do you have a favorite place where you go to write? – yes, I have a room in my apartment set up as my “den” that’s where I have my bookcases, filled mostly with research materials, computer, etc….and the kittie’s beds, of course
Can you give us 3 random facts about you? – I can shapeshift at will, I like a good nip of blood, and…oh, you want me to be serious? OK. I’m a born and bred New Yorker, My favorite tv show is a tie between Dancing with the Stars and Castle, and I’m very active in Nathan Fillion’s charity, KIDS NEED TO READ. And I shapeshift. On occasion.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing? – Not writing???? Is there such a thing???? Planning the next book
What can we look forward to from you in the near future? – the aforementioned Raven/Morgan joint novella will be out the end of the year, and early next year I’m releasing a YA fantasy with a Dark Shadows tie –in, which would be before the movie opens in May. I’ve got a few other paranormal romantic suspense series in the works, but …we’ll have to wait and see on those.
Quickies- Favorites:
Cookie- Chocolate Chip!
Comfort food- Tacos!
Drink-Sangria!
Music –PopRock (Barry Manilow…I know, I know, but I like him…and David Buble.)
Movie – GONE WITH THE WIND – NO CONTEST
Book- The Thorn Birds, if I absolutely have to pick one.
Author – we don’t’ have enough space for me to list all of them. I can’t pick just one
Finally, any advice for aspiring writers out there?- Yes, keep on writing, and don’t get discouraged. Above all, have patience. Something will happen – exactly how and when it’s supposed to.
Again, Thanks so much! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions! :)
Hello! I’m Toni LoTempio, author of Paranormal Romance/Romantic Suspense/YA Fantasy! I’ve been writing ever since I was old enough to read, when I didn’t like the endings of the stories my mother read me I simply rewrote them Even though I write mainly in the paranormal genre, I have also written straight horror, as well as contemporary romance/suspense.
In 1995, I joined the staff of SUSABELLA PASSENGERS AND FRIENDS, a pulp magazine for collectors of antique children’s literature (Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, etc.) Currently I’ve written over 300 articles for that magazine, and I was the first recipient of their Margaret Sutton Award for Distinguished Writing in 1998. I joined the staff of NIGHT OWL REVIEWS IN January 2011 as the suspense reviewer/columnist. My column, DARK STREETS, which features articles on suspense authors and their novels, is featured on a monthly basis. I love to spotlight new talent, so if you’re a suspense author, please contact me!
In 2007, Whiskey Creek Press published BOUND BY BLOOD, a tale of possession, and EBONY, which deals with zombies and the dark side of man. EBONY was #2 on the Fictionwise bestseller list for e-books for the month of July 2007, beating out Stephen King’s Lisey’s Story. (and no one was more shocked than I, LOL) In 2010, after countless attempts to land another agent, I took the advice of a fellow author HP Mallory, and self published NO REST FOR THE WICCA, which has been on Amazon’s list of top one hundred in Occult since March 2011. My short story, THE SACRIFICE, appears in the e-published anthology KISS ME KILL ME, and I also have a YA fantasy, MY SUPERHERO SISTER on B&N and Amazon. A complete listing of my books appears at the end of this bio.
Currently single, I work full time and live in Clifton, NJ, with my muses: Rocco, Maxx, Gata and Trixie. (Rocco is also known as Rocco the SciFi Blogging Cat and has appeared on the SciFi Saturday Night website and radio show, and also on the Kids Need To Read website where he holds the distinction of being the first (and possibly only!) blogging cat to support this charity!)
I love hearing from fans, so please feel free to friend me on FACEBOOK, and visit my website, www.tonilotempio.webs.com Rocco and I post daily M-F on his blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com
Toni LoTempio Books:
Bound by Blood – Whiskey Creek Press, trade paperback & e-book, Feb. 2007 (paranormal suspense)
Ebony – Whiskey Creek Press, trade paperback & e-book, July 2007 (paranormal suspense)
Witch’s Pawn – Echelon Press, trade paperback & e-book, December 2008 (horror)
Nom de Plume – Whiskey Creek Press, trade paperback & e-book, November 2008 (contemporary romance)
It’s in the Cards – Whiskey Creek Press, e-book, February 2010 – (paranormal romance)
Out of the Ashes – Whiskey Creek Press, e-book, May 2010 – Fantasy
No Rest for the Wicca – Amazon & B&N Pub-It, e-book, September 2010 – paranormal suspense
My Superhero Sister – Amazon & B&N Pub-It, e-book, Trade Paperback - January 2011 – YA Fantasy
Kiss Me, Kill Me – Amazon & B&N Pub-It, e-book anthology –February 2011 – Short Story, “The Sacrifice”
Raven’s Kiss – Amazon & B&N Pub-It, e-book, & Trade Paperback April, 2011 – Paranormal Romance
Buy the book:
Next stop on the tour:
The Book Mystress http://www.thebookmystress.blogspot.com/
and don't miss the exciting giveaway at the end!
