One For The Wicked by Karina Cooper (Interview/Giveaway)

Paranormal Romance, witches, and some stunning heroes. Yes dear readers we have Karina Cooper here today. Welcome Karina!

Lexi: Book 5? Already? *hides face in shame* I am behind. How that is possible I can’t tell you because this PNR series hits all the right spots. Who doesn’t like some apocalyptic scale events and witches? So tell us Karina, did you have this all mapped out when you started writing Blood of the Wicked (Book 1)?

Karina: No reason to hide! Life is full of, you know, life. We can’t always tuck ourselves away in fantasies. Even ones involving the end of the world as we know it (and we’re feeling fine?... yeah, I’ll stop). 

I wish I could say I had all this mapped out! To be perfectly honest, I only really had the gist worked out for the first three books. As I was writing All Things Wicked, a lot of things I hadn’t really considered slotted into place—like magic! Suddenly, it was as much about the things that the characters were trying to cope with as much as the goals they personally were trying to achieve, and as we all know, life does not always give you what you want.

Lexi: Through this series you have given us some end of the world stuff, a heroine that wasn’t a beloved secondary character in book one but made us love her anyway, some betrayal, and last but not least...hot lovin’. When writing the various romantic scenes for each book did it just flow for each character or did you have to work at it so they didn’t turn out sounding the same?

Karina: It’s one of my biggest fears that the love scenes for each character would end up sounding the same. I’m so glad you’re suggesting they don’t! I like to think that I write entrenched in the characters’ heads, so the decisions they make about sex and love are very much as they’d do it. 

With Silas, the man carried so much anger in him that it really turned passion into something explosive and scorching. Naomi liked her interludes fast and hard, all the better to scratch and itch and lose herself for a bit—but Phin knew her game, and deliberately slowed the tempo to make her really lose herself, and also learn a few things about the difference between him and all the others. Caleb, like Silas, carried around too much self-directed anger, but he utilized passion like a weapon—and an excuse, while Juliet took what she could get, knowing it was wrong but unable to deny herself the chance. 

Danny brought a playfulness to Jonas’s serious nature, Simon played to Parker’s subtler nature and his own dominance, and as for Kayleigh and Shawn, well! You’ll have to read it to find out. 

They flowed, but sometimes, it’s exactly as you say: you need to go back and quirk a few details to make sure you weren’t on auto-pilot when you wrote it. I hope my sex scenes never turn into boring “tab A, slot B” mechanics—but I’m always paranoid they will. And when they do... I shall commit seppuku.

Lexi: Noted...keep all samurai away from Karina in case she frets over her hot smexy scenes.

Your books are so fun, they must be easy to pimp. Speaking of, you make yourself available for readers a number of ways. What is your favorite of the moment, twitter? Facebook? Fans running up to you and screaming in your face?

Karina: I do have a lot of fun with the books, I have to admit. I mean, I can really talk about anything! The politics of the world, the crime, the conflict, the characters, and, yes, even the hot sex. I prefer Twitter to just about anything else when it comes to social media—though I do have a Facebook. There’s something about Twitter that lets me be me, and I’ve had readers tell me I’m exactly how they imagined me from my Twitter feed, so there’s that.

When it comes to a personal touch, I’m all for just about anything! I’ve had a reader squee upon finding out I was me, another go all fangirl and spastic, and others who politely shake my hand. It’s fun to meet folks in the flesh, as it were, so whatever makes you comfortable is good with me! 

Lexi: You will be attending RT this year, correct? Have you been before? Any fun tips for any virgin RT goers?

Karina: I am attending! This will be my third RT. I think. Or maybe my second? I can’t remember. Anyway, it’s lots of fun! It can also be very overwhelming if you try to do everything at once, so the best advice I can give any RT newbie is to pace yourself. Make time throughout the day to go sit somewhere quiet—or even head back to your room for a quick nap. Don’t try and hit every party, you’ll burn yourself out fast that way. Many is the breakdown at the big cons when people over-extend themselves!

And don’t be shy about saying hello to random strangers. Lots of times, the best friends are made at the bar or even passingly in the lobby.

Lexi: Go next year so I can meet you :) That conference sounds like an excellent one to attend. Until then, us non attendees can pick up One for the Wicked and pray for book six! Thanks for stopping by Karina!

Karina: Thanks so much for having me! I’m afraid the Dark Mission saga ends with One for the Wicked, but don’t fret! I’m always writing more, including my award-winning St. Croix Chronicles series. You can always keep an eye on my website or various social media for more news as it comes out.

Cheers! And did I mention you have the best blog name ever?

Lexi: Why thank you Karina *clinks wine glasses together*, the name really does fit. And despite One for the Wicked being the last one for Dark Mission it gives me the chance to pick up book four and five and enjoy the series wrap up! Thanks again!

One for the Wicked

Dark Mission #5

by Karina Cooper

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Published April 30th, 2013 by Avon

ISBN 9780062127754

In this thrilling finale to Karina Cooper's Dark Mission series, New Seattle's witches will rise again…or fall forever.
Dr. Kayleigh Lauderdale possesses the only cure for what's killing the city's witches. Desperate to acquire it, the resistance sends their best agent, but Shawn Lowe has his own agenda, and it doesn't include saving anyone—least of all, the daughter of his sworn enemy. He has to ignore the blistering attraction he feels the instant they meet, because he can't give in until he gets what he wants. He just never counted on wanting her…
Kayleigh can't believe how out of control Shawn makes her feel. He lies to her with one breath and excites her beyond reason the next. A reckless encounter could steal her heart, while the danger hovering over the city may prove too much for either of them to handle. When the world turns upside down, it will take everything Kayleigh and Shawn have to hold on…to life, to hope, to each other.

Goodreads

Available for purchase at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Book Depository

About Karina:

After writing happily ever afters for all of her friends in school, Karina Cooper eventually grew up (sort of), went to work in the real world (kind of), where she decided that making stuff up was way more fun (true!). She is the author of dark and sexy paranormal romances, steampunk adventures, crossover urban fantasy, and writes across multiple genres with mad glee. Tarnished, first in The St. Croix Chronicles, was the recipient of the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Steampunk Novel of 2012.One part glamour, one part dork and all imagination, Karina is also a gamer, an airship captain’s wife, and a steampunk fashionista. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with a husband, a menagerie, and a severe coffee habit.

http://karinacooper.com/ 

~*GIVEAWAY*~

We have a giveaway for a lucky reader today! One reader will receive a copy of  SACRIFICE THE WICKED! (US/CA Only Please) To enter leave a comment for Karina. Going to be at RT? Are you a paranormal addict and love her Dark Mission series? Then fill out the Rafflecopter below, good luck!

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