Scorched is your second book in The Dark Forgotten series. Did the writing process feel different this time? Easier? Harder?
Every book is different. Every one feels at some point like the most brilliant thing ever, and at another point like the worst piece of drivel ever committed to paper. The one thing that made SCORCHED easy was Mac. He’s a very nice character to work with—funny, solid, practical, and a problem solver. If you’re going to have voices in your head for months on end, it’s better if they’re cheerful.
What made it hard was working in the amount of detail I wanted about the setting without slowing the story down. There’s a lot of world building in SCORCHED, but I worked very hard to make it feel seamless, so there aren’t gobs of description in the way of the story. Thank heavens for the delete key.
The Castle is a place we discover in Ravenous but it really takes center stage in Scorched. At what point in the planning process did you think of the Castle? Can you give us some insight into creating it?
I came up with the Castle when I was walking down one of the historical alleys here in Victoria. It looked like the sort of place where an alternate dimension could be, as if a different time was just on the other side of the smoke-streaked brick wall. Then Constance came to me, and then I had the Castle almost in one heartbeat of thought.
I started coming up with the Dark Forgotten stories in a very different order than the way they were written. The first story was meant to be Lore’s, but that hasn’t happened yet. At the time, I had most of Ravenous on paper and then thought—oh, well, now I know how they find the door ….
As a side note, I worked in the administration area of a secure youth jail for about four years. While it bore no resemblance whatsoever to the Castle—the staff there were incredibly caring people—some of the questions a place like that poses did work their way into the story. Plus, there’s nothing like the sound of a prison door shutting behind you, even if you have keys to get out!
I really enjoyed that Alessandro and Holly’s story was continued in Scorched. Do you have a set number of books planned in the series? Will we keep seeing Alessandro, Holly, Mac and more?
The characters from previous books will keep appearing as needed. They all know each other and live in the same place, so that’s natural. Different ones will pop to the forefront at different times. In Unchained, Holly and Alessandro appear, but not as much. Instead, we see quite a bit of Perry the werewolf. (<-----oooh, I'm intrigued!)
It looks like Unchained is going to feature Reynard, a guard in the Castle and Ashe, Holly’s sister. I am so interested to read their story – they both are more darker characters. Any hints from Unchained?
I finished Unchained about two days ago. The leads are angsty characters, but there’s plenty of humour as well. I have to have that—otherwise the story gets to be the consistency of cold molasses: dark, stiff and hard to work with. Both Ashe and Reynard are fond of beating up monsters and that exhausted me sometimes. More than ten pages without staking something, and they get all twitchy. I’m rolling my eyes and wondering if the Save the Monsters Coalition is going to show up and start arresting my characters. (LOL!)
What was a bit different in this book is that there’s more of a whodunit factor. It’s not a detective story, but there’s a mystery to solve. So far no one has figured it out before the end.
I think your covers represent the books well – how much input do you have with them?
I am asked for suggestions, and the art department does follow the character descriptions pretty well. The heroes approved of the covers very much. The heroines, well, they asked me how I’d like to appear on a book cover in my underwear.
You have some great secondary characters. Do they ever demand page time? Please tell me we get more of Lore, the hellhound in Unchained. Pretty please? :)
Lore makes a brief appearance in Unchained. I do have a book planned for him down the road. I’m fascinated by the culture of the hellhounds and really want to explore it.
I try and flesh my secondary characters out as much as space permits, because there’s a lot you can say about the world as a whole by the type of people who are in it. However, some of the smaller players do take off and start doing their own thing. I have a fairy prince who was mentioned a few times in Scorched who kept fascinating me. I kept thinking “who IS this guy?” He comes back with a large role later. Think Dracula by way of Captain Jack Sparrow.
Since you are in Smexyville, I must ask:
What fictitious character do you lust after the most?
If you could trade places with any heroine, who would it be?
I always wanted to be Red Sonja. Kick those barbarian butts, yeah!
Hairy chests – smexy?
Context is everything. I don’t say no to any good-looking chest!
I really enjoyed Ravenous and can't wait to read Scorched!! I'm just finishing up Demon Forged so I will go with Rael for the Castle.
cfisher1504 at gmail.com
Oh wow, these are some very intriguing books! Thanks for the heads up on the new to me author Mandi! Great interview ladies!
Drop my name in the hat please!
As for who I would drop in The Castle…. I might have to think about that and come back. Damn… I'll be back… lmao!!
Have a great day ladies!
Now I am so curious to lurk at the Castle myself…Vadim Maur is one that defintely belongs there, creep mage that he is! Hekata a wtich fron the Black Jewel trilogy defintely belongs there too and oh…what about Artemis from the Dark-Hunter series, she can stew there for a while too IMO
This is a new-to-me author but this series sounds intriguing. If I was going to put a villian in The Castle, it would probably have to be Gregor from Cat and Bones' world.
In the spirit of the game I would choose to put in The Castle Calvin Malone from Faythe Saunders world in Rachel Vincent's werecat series, he is the worst type of villian because abusing power to gain your own ends against your own kind truly needs punishment just as evil….
Cannot wait for Scorched to hit the shelves so consider me in for this drawing.
Sharon it sounds like it will be more interesting than Ravenous if that is possible and thanks for the insight on what is to come with the rest of the characters and possible stories down the road, can't wait for those books to come either…..
Jackie B. Central Texas
I had a major OMG moment – Sharon Ashwood would like to come back as Red Sonja. I totally geeked out there for a minute. Great interview Mandi and Sharon.
I would definitely throw Artemis from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. That's someone who REALLY needs an attitude adjustment.
I would put The Tulpa from Vicki Pettersson's Signs of The Zodiac.
bbricke AT yahoo DOT com
Vadim Muir is a great choice. I would throw Peter Whitney from the Ghostwalker series by Christine Feehan in there with him.
cherie(at)yahoo(dot)com
This was a great interview-I love reading about how a story was created. This interview makes me want to read both Ravenous and Sorched!
Hi Sharon, really enjoyed your interview.
Just got thru re-reading the whole Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison and would gladly thrown in Piscary.
caity_mack(at)yahoo(dot)com
Ravenous was excellent—can't wait for Scorched.
I would put Peter whitney for the Ghostwalker books by Christine Feehan in the Castle.
kissinoak at verizon dot net
No contest. Ivy from Kim Harrison's The Hollows. I really, really can't stand her.
Great post!
Throwing into The Castle – Maddie from Richelle Mead's 'Georgina Kincaid' series. That boyfriend-stealing ho needs a time-out!
The book sounds awesome, count me in :)
Hm, who would I throw in. Oh no, that creepy guy from Ward's BDB series. Oh well all the freaky bold baby powder smelling guys.
If I were to throw someone in the Castle it would be Damon from Vampire Diaries. But he is so hot, I might have to lock myself up with him!
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
Great post.I have Ravanous in my TBR pile.And would love to win Scorched.
I'd also throw Piscary or Al the demon from Kim Harrison's The Hollows series into the castle.
Oh my!!! I am so glad you are doing this giveaway! I enjoyed Ravenous and a coworker also read it and enjoyed it. We were just talking over Scorched today. I just had to let her know this book was coming out.
I have to say I am glad to see both Holly and Alessandro coming back. I liked Mac in the first book as well. I really felt bad for him when he was made half demon. It is great to see he come to light in this book.
Now, for who I would throw in the castle… I think maybe Echo from Dollhouse. I am not sure who I would through in there. I was trying to think of a character that I would like to see how they would match up with the magics and creatures in there, and of course I am drawing a blank.
Well, I am keeping my fingers crossed on winning this book. Thanks!
hayden392@comcast.net
Great interview. Loved Ravenous and cant wait for Scorched!
I would throw the Tulpa from the Scent of Shadows series in the Castle. It would definitely be interesting.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Hi :)
Thank you for the excellent interview! I really enjoyed learning more about Sharon Ashwood and her writing. Thank you for sharing here today Sharon.
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
PS – I'd throw Edward from Twilight!
what character would you like to throw in The Castle, a prison for the supernatural?
I'd throw Edward from Twilight in. He annoyed the hell out of me when he left Bella in New Moon. Gah.
rubs.escalona [at] gmail.com
I would throw Wrath in the cell for a bit. He annoyed me the most in the last book.
cindyc725 at gmail dot ocm
Lovely interview! I may have to check out this series! Thanks! :)
Enjoyed the interview. I would throw in Edward from Twilight.
seriousreader at live dot com
I would have to throw Edward from Twilight into the Castle. I just saw New Moon and he annoyed me…maybe my annoyance will be enough to actually get me to read the books so that I can try and find the love for Edward that my sister in law has.
I am really looking forward to reading Scorched!! The cover is amazing!!
latomli (at) yahoo (dot) com
I am new in this gere but am reading A Vampires Claim and I would love to see Lord Ruskin confined but since he is a vampire?? don't know how to do that..LOL..He's a real meanie.
Thanks for this opportunity to win your book. This would get me started in another direction. Thanks..