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Interview and Giveaway: Jeannie Holmes, author of Blood Secrets
Please welcome Jeannie Holmes to the blog today! Jeannie is the author of the Alexandra Sabian series (Blood Law, Blood Secrets), and kindly agreed to answer a few of my questions. She’s also generously offering a signed copy of Blood Secrets to one lucky winner, so be sure to see the details at the end of the post!
Jeannie, your Alexandra Sabian series is just awesome! Did you always picture yourself becoming a writer someday?
I’ve had an interest in art since childhood, as well as writing. I knew I would do something creative, but I didn’t always specifically see myself as a writer.
Did you have a plan for how many books you wanted to write in the series, or did you just decide to see where the series took you?
I planned for six books in the series, but I did leave room in the story line for surprises.
What are some of your favorite authors? Did you have a favorite while you were growing up?
Charlaine Harris, Vicki Pettersson, and Kim Harrison are some of my favorite urban fantasy authors, but I read in every genre so it’s hard to pick favorites. I loved reading classics as a kid—Edgar Allan Poe, Jules Verne, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, H.G. Wells, and J.R.R. Tolkien.
I read that you love to travel. Do you have a favorite destination?
Traveling is definitely one of my favorite hobbies. My most favorite destination is Idaho Springs, Colorado, which is a small former mining town west of Denver. I love the architecture of the buildings, the little shops, and of course, the Rocky Mountains.
If you could pack up and go anywhere right now, where would you go?
Ireland.
Like you, I’m a coffee lover. Do you have a favorite?
I love Kona coffee from Hawaii, but it’s hard to find here in Alabama.
On your site, it says you love exploring old cemeteries. I’d love to hear more about that!
Cemeteries have always fascinated me. I look at gravestones as art, especially the older markers that can be elaborately carved. Unlike today when most are made by machine, older stones were carved by hand by artisans whose names may or may not be known. Cemeteries also contain a lot of history that’s specific to that area. Walk through one sometime and see how people died within days or weeks of each other. As a writer, I find that interesting because it makes me question what could’ve caused it. Was there an outbreak of illness? A serial killer in the area? I find a lot of inspiration in cemeteries.
What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
The most daring thing I’ve done is probably spending an entire twelve hour shift riding shotgun with a patrol officer. I can now actually describe what it’s like to be in a vehicle traveling at about 100 miles per hour on an interstate at 2:00 AM with lights and sirens. It’s not an experience I’ll be forgetting any time soon.
From what I’ve read, the road to getting published isn’t an easy one. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten about writing, and what advice would you give to a struggling writer?
I’ve gotten a lot of great advice but I think the best came from Kim Harrison and Lee Child. Lee’s advice was simplistic: “Ignore all advice.” I have to agree with him because new writers will hear a lot of conflicting advice. If you listen to it all, you’ll drive yourself crazy and never write a single page, which leads me to Kim’s advice: “Write like you’ve already got the contract.” Basically, if you’re going to listen to any advice, listen to Kim’s and put your butt in the chair and write. It doesn’t have to be every day but you do need to set a schedule with goals and then meet them. That’s the best advice I can give to anyone.
Is there any news about upcoming projects or events you’d like to share?
I’m taking a little break from the Alex books to work on a couple of new projects. Unfortunately I can’t really say much about them right now. I do have a couple of events coming up later this year. I’ll be an attending guest at CONtraflow in New Orleans, November 4-6, and I’ll also be a guest at the Dahlonega Literary Festival in Dahlonega, Georgia, November 11-13.
Stalk Jeannie: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blog
1. Giveaway is for a signed copy of Blood Secrets to one winner!
2. To enter, leave a comment for Jeannie along with your email address.
3. Giveaway is open Internationally
4. Giveaway ENDS 9/14/11
About the book:
WHEN ALEXANDRA SABIAN SINKS HER TEETH INTO AN INVESTIGATION, SHE DOESN’T LET GO.
Alex allowed a case involving murdered vamps to get personal and is suspended from the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation. Now she’s facing an official inquiry but has a chance to redeem herself. The catch: She must once again work with Varik Baudelaire, her former mentor and ex-fiancé, as he spearheads a search for a missing college student. But Varik has been keeping secrets from Alex, and his mysterious past is on a collision course with his present.
When Alex and Varik discover a carefully handcrafted doll at a crime scene, neither of them can see how close the danger really is or that a killer known as the Dollmaker has made Alex the object of his horrific desire. Now the only way out of the Dollmaker’s lair is through the twilight realm of the Shadowlands, where all secrets—for better or worse—will be revealed.
45 Responses to “Interview and Giveaway: Jeannie Holmes, author of Blood Secrets”
Author comments are in a darker gray color for you to easily identify the posts author in the comments
These are great books, I love them.. I cant wait for more.
the books sound and look amazing! i hope i win so i can try em! and cemeteries scare the crap out of me…
alainala@ hotmail . ca
I have this books on my wishlist! I can’t wait to read them
siljeblomst@gmail.com
I read both books and I’m so anxious for the 3rd one. I love the way Jeannie combine a good thriller with fantasy/paranormal, 2 genres I love to read. And Varik is, simply, devastating. He’s so good with Alex and she’s also so great. And I’m glad he cut his hair!
The books sound interesting and I’d love to read them if they were ever published in my country.. They are definitely going on my to-read list!
by_myself@mail.bg
Wow – that ride along sounds scary and I’m not sure I could do 12 hours!!
Definietly count me in on the giveaway! I love the sound of these book!
Mel
notanotherbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk
I haven’t read any of these books but i love the cover art and the stories sound interesting so even if I don’t win them here then I will have to go and look them up myself and read them.
sweetreaderma@yahoo.com
Love your cover! Looks like a great book, thank you very much for the chance to read it! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom
What is your fav book?
teressaoliver at gmail dot com
It’s really good I get to follow book blogs because living in Italy I sometimes do not know all the great books out there and this series looks just amazing! Thanks for the post!
aliasgirl at libero dot it
I love cemetaries too. During our breaks at my college my friend and I actually walk down there to look at the different headstones, even doing our class photoshoot there, lol
Thanks for the giveaway
faefever25 at hotmail dot com
My husband is a fan of kona coffee as well. my MIL brought us a bag from hawaii one year when they went down there.
I love the cover of the books. i actually have the first one but i havent had a chance to read it. i’d love to win the second book though, then i could read them together.
Terri M
oklahomamommy0306@gmail.com
Sounds like a great read!! Thanks for the giveaway!!!
Looks like fun! Thanks!
pam
blomette@yahoo.com
I have not started this series yet. I have Blood Law on my TBR list…I need to get my butt moving. There’s already book 2…lol. Please count me in for the win. Thanks for the giveaway and post.
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com
I haven’t had a chance to start this great series yet, but I’m looking forward to getting started.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
This series sounds great! Thanks
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com
First, thanks for the giveaway!!!
I have to say the covers of your book are really amazing. Without knowing anything about you as an author at the beginning of the year I discovered Blood Law on a must-reads list of my friend and ever since then I have wanted to read your books. I can’t wait!!!
Nat. (:
nat_isabel(AT)hotmail(DOT)com
WOW Jeannie! Your stories sound really good… definitely adding them to my wishlist!!!
Thanks for the giveaway!
yadkny@hotmail.com
I thoroughly enjoyed the interview. Thank you for sharing of yourself. You are officially on my list.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I have to say I don’t usually read interviews, but I read this one…I think that Jeannie should definitely go to Ireland, it’s amazing. And, I really, really love the writing advice…”write like you’ve already got a contract.” Love it. My e-mail is midnytereader(at)gmail(dot)com. Thank you so much for the giveaway (and for sharing the advice!).
Count me in on this awesome giveaway!! I would love to win a copy of this book
Jeannie
I have heard great reviews of the first book and I have this series on my wish list. Thanks for the giveaway.
I see that you are currently living in Alabama, I also live in Alabama about an hour and a half from Mobile.
rachaelmccully@yahoo.com
These look amazing and the covers are stunning! Thank you for the great interview.
mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com
The book and series sounds great. Nice intereview! Thanks
areeths AT new DOT rr DOT com
This book has been on my wishlist for a very long time now. Thank you so much for sharing today and for the awesome giveaway opportunity. I would love to read Blood Secrets
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
Firstly, the covers=awesome. I love them. Secondly, I’d really like a chance to read Blood Secrets. Thanks
quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com
What a great interview! I read Blood Law a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed it. I loved that you used your love for old cemeteries in this book. I liked how Alex’s talent to seeing someone’s history when no one else can. Thank you for sharing the advice, they actually made sense LOL! Oh man, I can’t wait for whatever else you are working on, I am so excited. So glad I stumbled on you Ms. Holmes. Great interview and giveaway, thanks sooo much.
drharleyquinn87 (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks for interviw and for giveaway!I would love to read this book.
ladypentesylea@yahoo.com
I like the cover :X:X:X:X
Thanks for the giveaway!
ioana_raluk95@yahoo.com
The interview was interesting and I wish Jeannie the best with her new projects.
I haven’t read any of the series as yet but I have seen some good reviews so I would love to try it.
Please enter me in the giveaway and thanks for opening it to worldwide entries.
Carol T
Woot! Yummmm another new author find for me!!!!
Can’t wait to devour these.
musicalfrog@ comcast.net
Great interview! I’m dying to read this series! I’m with you on pscking up to go to Ireland!
Poisnivyred AT gmail.com
Love the cover and enjoy the interview. I will put this book at my wishlist
.. And, I would love to go to Ireland too!!
sawamura_foxman AT yahoo DOT com
The covers look great for this series! Thanks for the giveaway!
kliu107(at)gmail(dot)com
I’ve had these om my wishlist! Great interview thanks for the giveaway.
dragon_tear@cox.net
Great enterview! And wicked awesome covers! I’m thinking a must read!
yabooksunified@gmail.com
This series always gets me interested when I read about it. I don’t know why I just haven’t read them yet. Hopefully I can win this one LOL so I can get on it.
Jennifer K Jovus
kjovus at gmail dot com
I would love to win this book. I have the other books on my TBR list. Thanks for the giveaway.
The series has been on my TBR list for awhile and I would love to read it. Thank you for the giveaway. Cambonified {at} yahoo {dot} com
Hi Jeannie! These book sound great. Added them to my TBR list!
Love the covers and can’t wait to get my hands on these
june111(at)att(dot)net
These books should have their own genre! There’s nothing quite like them! I think readers of police procedurals, vampire novels and mysteries will like them equally. It’ll definitely make you want to broaden your reading horizons!