Interview with Shona Husk and Giveaway - May 3, 2012

Please welcome Shona Husk to The Qwillery. Kiss of the Goblin Prince (Shadowlands 2), Shona's most recent novel, was published on May 1, 2012. Goblins as heroes? See what Shona has to say.


TQ:  What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Shona:  I do quite a bit of my writing longhand. There’s something liberating about pen and paper where a blank screen can stifle creativity. It also means that if I keep a notebook in my bag there’s no excuse not to write the next scene while waiting for kids sports to finish/at the doctor/during my lunch break. That said my note book and pen are very boring, just cheapies from the supermarket.

TQ:  Who are some of your favorite authors?

Shona:  I have lots. I’ve talked about Katharine Kerr’s Deverry series before, but it is one of my favorite fantasy series, I’ve started her Nola O’Grady series which is urban fantasy. Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files is great. For romance I love Denise Rossetti’s erotic fantasy and last year I got hooked on the Dark Age Dawning series by Ellen Connor. Cat Johnson’s erotic cowboys (Studs in Spurs) are also a lot of fun.

TQ:  Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Shona:  Plotter. I like to spend time getting to know my characters and their hang ups before I start. However I wouldn’t say I’m a detailed plotter. I like to know the main points and then I make my way there, that way the characters can still surprise me and the story stays fresh.

TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Shona:  Like many writers juggling the different aspects writing vs edits vs promo can be tricky, add in a part time job and a family…but my biggest challenge at the moment is finding time to read. Committing to read 50 books on the Goodreads challenge has made me make time which is a good thing.

TQ:  What inspired you to write the Shadowlands series?

Shona:  It was a 2am in the morning idea that at the time I thought would go nowhere as Vampires were everywhere (not that I have anything against Vampires. I love Vampires and have written some for Ellora’s Cave). Goblins as heroes? Goblins are ugly not sexy. Curses and nightmares? Men who’ve seen the worst the world has to offer? It was dark and delicious, and I had so much fun plotting and exploring the world and the curse and the after effects that I couldn’t let the story go. I’m glad I persisted and was lucky enough to be picked up by Sourcebooks. I’ve had so much positive feedback from readers who are thrilled to read about a different paranormal creature with different mythology.

TQ:  What sort of research did you do to create your world and mythology?

Shona:  I looked up goblin lore, and then expanded on what I found and made up more. I did spend some time reading about Roman Britain—which is one of my favorite time periods—to get a feel for the way Roan and Dai would have lived before the curse. For this book I also researched alternative treatments for asthma which was quite interesting.

TQ:  Describe Kiss of the Goblin Prince (Shadowlands 2) in 140 characters or less.

Shona:  Tortured mage meets a lonely widow, but learning to love is almost as terrifying as facing a goblin army.

TQ:  Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in Kiss of the Goblin Prince?

Shona:  I love the scene where Dai tries to pull off his wings. It’s brutal and heart breaking. On the other hand I love it when Dai and Amanda get together for the first time—it’s such a step forward for both of them.

TQ:  In the Shadowlands series, who was the most difficult character to write and why? The easiest and why?

Shona:  I think Dai was the most difficult, probably because he was my most tortured hero. The easiest character to write was probably Nadine in book 3 (For the Love of a Goblin Warrior), she didn’t come with a lot of romantic baggage, her issues were more with her family, so where Amanda in book 2 would hesitate Nadine is a lot more forward.

TQ:  What's next?

Shona:  There is one more Shadowlands book out in January 2013, For the Love of a Goblin Warrior featuring Meryn and Nadine. And the last of my vampire rock stars will be out in fall 2012 Enchanting Absinthe (Ellora’s Cave). I have also been working on a new trilogy and a couple of novellas for 2013.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Shona:  Thank you for inviting me :)



About Shadowlands

Kiss of the Goblin Prince

Shadowlands 2
Sourcebooks, May 1, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 352 pages

The Man of Her Dreams…
He is like a prince in a fairy tale: tall, outrageously handsome, and way too dark for her own good. Amanda has been hurt before, though. And with her daughter's illness, the last thing she needs right now is a man. But the power of Dai King is hard to resist. And when he threads his hands through her hair and pulls her in for a kiss, there is no denying it feels achingly right.

In a Land of Nightmares…
After being trapped in the Shadowlands for centuries with the goblin horde a constant threat, Dai revels in his newfound freedom back in the human realm. But even with the centuries of magic he's accumulated, he still doesn't know how to heal Amanda's daughter—and it breaks his heart. Yet for the woman he loves, he'd risk anything...including a return to the Shadowlands.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million

IndieBound : Sourcebooks

The Goblin King

Shadowlands 1
Sourcebooks, October 4, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 352 pages

Once upon a time …
A man was cursed to the Shadowlands, his heart replaced with a cold lump of gold. In legends, he became known as

the Goblin King.

For a favored few he will grant a wish. Yet, desperately clinging to his waning human soul, his own desire remains unfulfilled:

a willing Queen.

But who would consent to move from the modern-day world into the realm of nightmares? No matter how intoxicating his touch, no matter how deep his valor, loving him is dangerous. And the one woman who might dare to try could also

destroy him forever.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million

IndieBound : Sourcebooks

The Summons

A Goblin King Prequel
Sourcebooks, August 1, 2011
eBook

Every fairy tale has to have some basis in fact, right? That's what Eliza thought as she made a desperate plea to the legendary Goblin King. If he could grant her wish, she'd finally be safe. He would protect her. But what would he ask in return...?

Enjoy this short free prequel and a sneak peek of The Goblin King, the first of a highly imaginative new paranormal series by Shona Husk.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : iTunes

You can see the cover for For the Love of a Goblin Warrior at Shona's website:
http://shonahusk.com/goblin.html



About Shona

A civil designer by day and an author by night, Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Drawing on history, myth and imagination, she writes about heroes who are armed and dangerous but have a heart of gold—sometimes literally. You can find out more information about Shona and her edgy romances at http://www.shonahusk.com/ or follow her on Twitter, @ShonaHusk.



You can also find Shona at Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/shonahusk





The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a copy of Kiss of the Goblin Prince from Sourcebooks! US/Canada ONLY.

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:

Which mythological, fairytale or supernatural being would you

like to see as a romantic hero? 

Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)   Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. You MUST leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US or Canadian mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Thursday, May 10, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*