Devyn Quinn Interview and Giveaway

Hello Devyn Quinn. Thank you to taking the time to stop by. I am honored to have you here. You can read my review for Siren's Call (here) and Siren's Surrender (here).

Thank you for welcoming me, Marissa. I’m happy to be here!

To start with, would you mind telling the readers a little about yourself?

Not much to tell, really. I live in Southwest Texas and run a small ferret rescue. When I’m not running after ferrets, I dabble with my writing.

Your upcoming release is Siren's Surrender, what can you tell us about it?

Siren’s Surrender is the second book in the Dark Tides mermaid trilogy. It is Gwen’s story, and continues where book 1 left off—after Gwen’s older sister Tessa accidentally opened a sea-portal into a lost Mer civilization.

What inspired you to write about mermaids and what can we except from your mermaid series, Dark Tides?

I wasn’t really so much inspired, as prodded. I had submitted a project to en editor at NAL, which she liked but it wasn’t what she was looking for. She wanted something with a mermaid theme. For fun I put together a proposal using mermaids and my agent submitted it. I will honestly say that I never expected it to sell. I was hoping the editor would see I was a good egg and perhaps look at more material later on. I was very surprised when my agent called to say they wanted it.

Besides the Dark Tides series you have a number of other books out, if you had to pick one do you have a favorite? How about a favorite character from your books?

I started out writing erotica for Kensington’s Aphrodisia imprint, as well as a few novels for smaller presses. My favorite book, Echoes of Angels, has just been re-released by Mojocastle Press. That is my favorite book hands down. Morgan Saint-Evanston will always be my favorite character. I even managed to sneak Morgan into Sins of the Night, which I loved doing. I hope to release more in his series someday soon!

In August 2011, you have a new series coming out, and the first book is Darkness Descending what can you tell us about that?

Oddly, that is the series my agent submitted to NAL when the mermaid project came along. It was put on the back burner while I worked on the Dark Tides series. In the interim the editor who bought Dark Tides left, as did her replacement. When my current editor mentioned she was looking for books in that genre, my agent resubmitted the material. After a few tweaks to the plotting, the “Vampire Armageddon” sold.

When did you know that you wanted to be a writer? Was your family and friends supportive?

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to write. And I spent most of my high school years and early twenties pursuing the dream. I wasn’t successful, and no, my family was not supportive. They saw it as a massive waste of time and really wanted me to get a more stable career. I did, in theater management, but I absolutely hated it. After my divorce, I left it all behind and went to work as a night clerk in a hotel so I would be able to concentrate on my writing. Again, it went nowhere. I had just decided to chuck writing entirely when the call to submit for Kensington’s new Aphrodisia imprint came out. I subbed a few things, and finally snagged a two book deal. After that, things kind of took off.

What is the writing process like for you? Do you have a particular writing process or any writing rituals?

I simply sit down and write. I have a rough idea of plot and characters, but for the most part the books write themselves. I have a core goal to make 1500 words a day. Once I hit that, I can stop if the words just aren’t coming together. Most days I manage a lot more because everything is falling into place.

Who or what has been the biggest influence in your writing?

I enjoy reading so much that I wanted to be able to share my own stories with readers, too!

In your free time what can you be found doing?

Cleaning up after the ferrets. I have a small ferret rescue and we’re usually up to our elbows in ferts!

What are you currently working on? Anything you can share regarding your current Work in Progress?

I am currently working on Siren’s Desire, the third Dark Tides book. All I can say is that it’s going to tie up the loose ends in the previous books and give younger sister Addison her HEA.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Come visit me online at www.devynquinn.com & be sure and friend me on Facebook!

Leave a question for Devyn and be entered to win a copy of Siren's Surrender. Contest ends February 3rd at 11:59pm