Gracie
C. McKeever
Many dark secrets lurk between the
walls of the Rambler's Inn. For the most part, that's
where they stay, but barman Eddy has one particular secret that
regulars will be hard pressed to forget, following yesterday's
little 'incident'. That's right. He likes
dressing up. As a vampire.
Mme Enchanté and
Mrs. Rambler were both so completely overcome by the sight of
the normally denim-clad and fresh-faced Adonis, donning a cape
and bloodied fangs, that they were rendered momentarily
speechless.
Eddy saw his chance, and took it.
He 'flew' into one of the private back-rooms, where Gracie C.
McKeever was enjoying a quiet read of the latest Octavia Butler,
and wasn't seen again for over an hour. We're not entirely
sure how his costume went down... or even if his costume
went down... although goodness, if it had been us that thing
would have been off in a shot!
Anyway, that's by the by: Below is what
Eddy *claims* was said...
If you have an alias or pen name, what is it?
I don't have an alias or pen name yet, and at this point,
I'll probably never use one since I've gotten this far without it.
When I started writing erotic romance/erotica I briefly toyed with
the idea of using a pen name, but finally just chickened out and
decided to stick with my own.
Tell us about yourself...
Well, let's see…I work-full time as a Program Agency
Aide with the Department of Health in New York, but would love to
be able to quit this day job and write full-time (doesn't every
writer with a day job fantasize about this?).
I was born and
raised in New York where I still reside and spend my time between
writing and trying to keep off the weight I took off last winter
working out in the morning before work and eating right (I know,
bo-RING).
I love playing handball, and try to play it as often as
I can at the courts at nearby Yankee Stadium in the warm weather
months. I'm a certified movie addict (and am looking out for the
next gotta-run-out-and-see-that-NOW release. There don't seem to
be any movies like this on the horizon, no LOTR, Matrix, epics
that pull me).
Oh, and of course I love to read romance, almost
any cross and sub-genre of it. Currently I'm on a vampire and
erotic romance kick which has rubbed off on my own recent writing.
Anything special the readers should know about you?
I don't know if this is too special, but I used to do
illustrations for my "books" when I was a kid. Nothing
close to anime (although one of my stories did feature two Asian
characters and martial arts experts). But nope, I specialized in
the figure eight bunnies and action (stick) figures if you can
imagine it. Hey, I didn't have Poser back then, so sue me!
How long have you been writing?
I've been writing since I was seven (hence the bunnies and
stick figures J), but didn't really start taking it seriously with
an eye towards publication until I was in my early thirties. I'm
43; I'll let you and your readers do the math.
Where do you typically find your inspiration?
I find inspiration pretty much everywhere and in
everything-at my job, on vacation, in the news, from my family and
friends. Sometimes just seeing an actor/actress' picture or a
model in a catalogue could inspire me to create a certain
character.
What genres do you write in?
All of my novels are in the romance genre (I love happily
ever after) so far with paranormal elements in more than half of
them. I also cross genres in my short stories and novellas as
well.
Before I started writing in the erotic/erotica genre I would
have said it was easy to move back and forth, but now that I've
let the genie out of the bottle and amped up the sexuality in all
of my books, I can't imagine going backwards (to the
"typical" romance) and using euphemisms and/or purple
prose or not just coming out and saying what I (or the characters)
want and mean to say. Call me crude.
I have
one upcoming book, SPELLS CAST IN SHADOWS that crosses several
genres as does my available title NEW LIFE INCOGNITA. It's safe to
say I have the most fun writing the more genres I cross
Who has influenced you in your writing?
I'd have to say Octavia Butler though my depth of
characterization and tackling of social issues comes nowhere close
to this author's work. I can still dream. Tina Wainscott's books
are a big influence too. And I know you didn't mention
"What" influenced me, but I think I still have to
mention TV and Harlequin romances. I loved watching fantasy,
horror and science fiction shows as a kid (still do) - Star Trek,
Lost In Space, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Bewitched, Jeannie -
and reading romances. Hence all my cross-genre novels.
What books do you have out?
Currently, I have five books available:
From
Awe-Struck E-Books http://www.awe-struck.net
...
- DANCING IN THE
DARK (Contemporary Ennoble
Romance)
- FLAMES PAST (Paranormal
Romance)
- MILES TO GO
(YA Byte-Me Romance)
From Fictionwise http://www.fictionwise.com
...
- DESERT DREAMS
(paranormal djinni urban fantasy romance)
- NEW LIFE INCOGNITA
(New Age paranormal romance,
interracial/psychic/reincarnation/urban fantasy/wiccan)
Coming
out soon from Siren Publishing http://www.sirenpub.com...
- BETWEEN DARKNESS AND DAYLIGHT (erotic paranormal romance,
interracial/psychic)
This is actually one of four books being
serialized in LOVE INTERLUDES, Siren Serials, beginning March 1,
2006. The complete, individual book is not due out until December
2006, but readers can whet their appetites from March to October
2006 purchasing instalments (the first download is FREE!) of
BETWEEN THE DARKNESS AND DAYLIGHT and the three other Siren books
in LOVE INTERLUDES.
- BENEATH THE SURFACE (erotic paranormal
romance, interracial/psychic)
This is due from Siren April 2006 and is
Book I in The Matchmaker series which (so far) has two more books
following it sometime the end of this year, and the middle of next
year.
- SPELLS CAST IN SHADOWS
(erotic paranormal romance,
interracial/psychic/shapeshifter/urban fantasy) is due from Siren
June 2006.
Are you doing any signings or appearances soon?
I don't have anything planned just yet.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Nothing particularly awe-inspiring, just that if writing
is something they really want to pursue, they should grow a tough
hide for all the rejection (unless they're one of those lucky few
to succeed or get accepted on their first attempt); don't let
rejection get them down and don't give up .They should do their
research (whether writing non-fiction or fiction) and be true to
themselves and their voices always. Always hone their skills and
be open to and willing to learn as much as possible about the
craft (as long as I've been writing I still learn something new
with each book and hope I will continued to learn more until I
can't write anymore).
Do you have a website or a blog?
I have a website: http://www.graciecmckeever.com
However,
I have not gotten on the blog-wagon yet. I do have a newsletter
that fans can sign up for at my website.
Do you prefer fan mail/email?
Either one, as long as it includes unmitigated praise.
Other than being a writer, did you ever picture yourself
doing anything else?
I actually never pictured myself as a writer, though it's
always been an integral part of my life. At one point (in high
school), I had considered going into law. But I've left that torch
to be carried by my seventeen-year-old niece now.
If you had time off to do whatever you like, what would you
do?
Sorry folks, not going to say writing…I'd go on a
cruise. Food, lazing on deck at the pool, on the beach, the
Caribbean ocean before me, tropical drinks, climb the rock wall,
more food and…You were asking me what…? Oh yeah what would I
do if I had time off. I might squeeze writing in there somewhere.
Oh, who am I kidding? Would you?
Is there a favorite author you haven't met that you'd like
to?
Octavia Butler (though I'd probably be totally tongue-tied
and awe-struck in her presence that the meeting would be wasted.)
Tina Wainscott, whose book ON THE WAY TO HEAVEN inspired my first
paranormal romance, NEW LIFE INCOGNITA and one of the main books
that set me on the way to consistently crossing genres in my own
writing.
Many
thanks to Gracie for speaking with our barman, Eddy!
You can find
out more about Gracie on her website, here:
http://www.graciecmckeever.com
:-)
