Monday, June 21, 2010

Interview - - Pamela Palmer

Our special guest today is the multi-talented paranormal and historical romance author, Pamela Palmer.  The daughter of an Air Force pilot, Pamela's childhood was filled with adventure but, when she wasn't riding elephants or riding out earthquakes, she could usually be found in her room where, according to her website, she spent hours "reading, watching Star Trek or imagining other worlds filled with magic, strange creatures and dashing space pirates."  It's no surprise that, nowadays, she's the award-winning author creating those other worlds in her books.  Please help me welcome Pamela to The Romance Dish!
 





Good Morning, Pamela!  Thank you for visiting with us today.  Congratulations on the upcoming June 29th release of RAPTURE UNTAMED, the fourth book in your paranormal Feral Warriors series. Please tell us a bit about this series and Jag and Olivia’s story.

Thanks so much for having me! The premise behind the Feral Warriors series is that only nine shape-shifters exist in the world, each one able to shift into a different animal. Once there were thousands, but millennia ago the shifter race, the Therians, mortgaged most of their power to defeat the Daemons. Now only nine are left and the Daemons are rising again. Not good. RAPTURE UNTAMED is the fourth book in the series. In this one, three non-thinking wraith Daemons have escaped into the world and are on a killing spree. With the Feral Warriors fighting battles on several fronts, their leader, Lyon, requests the assistance of several non-shifting Therian fighters, led by Olivia.

Jag, the hero of RAPTURE UNTAMED, is the bad boy of the Feral bunch. He delights in making others mad and he’s great at it. When he gets paired with Olivia, he turns to heckling her, even as he’s massively attracted to her. Sparks fly, but Jag soon realizes Olivia’s not quite what she seems and that she’s a match for him in ways neither of them could have imagined.

That sounds terrific!  I can see I'll be adding four more books to my massive tbr stash.  Should the books in the Feral Warriors series be read in order or do they each stand on their own?

I try very hard to set up each book so that someone jumping in mid-stream won’t get lost. But this is very much a continuing-plot series. It’s best to start at the beginning with DESIRE UNTAMED.

I have to say, the covers on these books certainly put me in the mood for a Feral Warrior of my own. Do you have any input into the cover art for your books?

The covers are…inspiring…aren’t they? The Avon art department has done a fabulous job, IMO. As for me having input, the answer is yes. And no. I give them the pertinent facts, basically a description of the hero and the animal he shifts into. The art department does the rest. A couple of things I’ve even changed to match the covers – writer following artist. For example, I originally envisioned the Feral armbands as silver. If anyone read one of the ARCs of DESIRE UNTAMED, you’ll notice the armbands were silver. But the covers for those first books all had gold armbands and I liked the way they looked, so changed it in the books.

Pamela, you wrote for many years before finally selling. What advice would you give to unpublished writers?

Two things: keep writing and never give up. The element of luck in this business is huge. It’s all about finding the right person at the right time with the right project. When you hear about an author who sold her first book, it all seems so easy, but for every author who does that, there are dozens who didn’t.

Speaking of selling books, we love call stories here at The Romance Dish.  How did you get the news of your first sale? Did you do anything special to celebrate?

That first sale call was wonderful…and confusing! The book that sold first (the fourth I’d completed), THE DARK GATE, was published in April 2007 by Silhouette Nocturne. I had entered it in the 2006 Golden Heart contest and it finaled. The final round is judged by acquiring editors, but they never reveal who. May 31, 2006, I got a call from Ann Leslie Tuttle with Silhouette books telling me she wanted to buy my book for Nocturne. Which was wonderful, but I’d never submitted it to Silhouette. And I’d never heard of Nocturne. (The first Nocturnes wouldn’t hit shelves for another four months.) After telling me she wanted the book she had to explain what the Nocturne line was. Of course, I knew she must have been one of my Golden Heart judges and she later admitted as much. My celebration consisted of calling everyone I knew. It was an amazing moment.



You also write Scottish time travel romances (a personal favorite of mine) under the name of Pamela Montgomerie. Would you tell us a bit about your recent time travel release, AMETHYST DESTINY?



AMETHYST DESTINY, the sequel to SAPPHIRE DREAM (which came out last summer), is set in 17th century Scotland. The blurb: Julia Brodie ignores her Scottish cousin’s orders not to touch the antique-looking necklace until she gets back to New York and finds herself yanked back to seventeenth-century Scotland. Talon thinks his own magic ring delivered the petite beauty to him to help him succeed in his latest mission. But when his mission puts her in mortal danger, he begins to realize love is the greatest magic of all.





 
What authors do you enjoy reading when you have time to get lost in a fictional world other than those of your making?

I have a number of favorites, depending on my mood. I’m totally engrossed in Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series. I also love Nalini Singh, JR Ward, Anna Campbell, Larissa Ione, and Sarah MacLean.

I understand your childhood dream was to become an astronaut. What four fictional characters would you take with you on a flight to the stars?

Oh, great question! Since my dream was ‘to explore strange new worlds’ (yes, I was a Star Trek fanatic), I’d want the strongest, most powerful, as my companions. Easy on the eye wouldn’t be a hardship, either. So I’m choosing four Feral Warriors, definitely. Which four, though, would be the question.

Hmmm, I'm sensing there might be a few stowaways on that spaceship!  What’s next from the creative imagination of Pamela Palmer/Pamela Montgomerie?

The fifth book in the Feral Warriors series, HUNGER UNTAMED, comes out next February. And I’m currently working on book six. I also have two more Esri books coming out from Harlequin at some point, though I’m still waiting on release dates.

Love that title!  I'll be eager to see what cover Avon comes up with for that one!  Pamela, thank you so much for visiting with us today.  Before I head off to order the Feral Warriors books, is there a question you’d like to ask our blog visitors?

I love the flight to the stars question, so I’ll turn it back to you guys. If you could take between one and four fictional characters with you on a flight to the stars (or to be stranded with you on a desert isle), who would it be?

I’ll choose one poster to receive a signed copy of DESIRE UNTAMED, the first book in my Feral Warriors series.

Thanks for having me!

~PJ and Pamela 

The Feral Warriors books, in order, are:
DESIRE UNTAMED
OBSESSION UNTAMED
PASSION UNTAMED
RAPTURE UNTAMED

30 comments:

  1. I am soo looking forward to the release of Rapture Untamed I have read and loved all of the Feral Warrior books so far and each one basically I have read in one stting they truly are not put downable and Jag's story I know is going to be fantastic Olivia is going to be one great heroine.

    A great question who would I take on a flight to the stars with me ?
    There are so many I would love to take they would have to be strong and rugged and I guess protective you never know what you might encounter out there.
    Lyon (Desire Untamed)
    Jag (Rapture Untamed)
    Gideon (Captive of Sin)
    Jardine (Sweetest Little Sin)
    2 Feral Warriors and 2 Historical Heros.
    I couldn't decide.

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  2. Good morning and welcome to the Dish, Pamela! We're so happy to have you join us today. Congrats on your upcoming release and the success of the Feral Warriors series!

    Great question...and very thought-provoking, as well. I would take Anthony Bridgerton (anyone that knows me well, knows this *g*), Michael "Saint" Halboro, Jack Travis, and Max Pesaro. I wanted to include some historical, contemporary, and paranormal men. ;-)

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  3. So glad to hear you're enjoying Pamela's series, Helen. I may just have to add these to my TBB list!! And great choices of who to take with you! Rowrrrr!

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  4. Hello Pamela! Congrats on your new release. I've never had the chance to read one of your books and would love to try one.

    If i could take anyone on a flight to the stars i would take:
    Sirius Black & Remus Lupin from HP
    Obi-Wan Kenobi (SW)
    Bit Carroway (Englands Perfect Hero)
    Tolly James ( A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior)
    Nick Montrose ( The Seduction of Sara)
    and i'm sure there is more. ^^

    Melissa

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  5. i haven't read the feral warrior series yet but it's one i've had my eye on for a while.

    the four fictional heroes i'd take with me to the stars:
    -E from Larissa Ione's Pleasure Unbound
    -judd from nalini singh's caressed by ice
    -zadist from jr ward's lover awakened
    -alex from meredith duran's wicked becomes you

    congrats on your soon to be released book pamela! :)

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  6. Hi everyone! Thanks for the welcome, Andrea!

    Helen and Karyn, I love that you're enjoying the Feral Warriors! It's so much fun for me to hear readers' favorite Feral. Everyone has a different choice, though a lot really like Jag. His story was so much fun to write! Such a bad boy.

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  7. jedisakora, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a great choice! You can't go wrong with a Jedi.

    chelleyreads, we have a lot of the same favorite authors. Judd is one scary dude, as is Zadist -- in totally different ways. Love Eidolon!

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  8. Karyn Gerrard said: Ross Cannon from Lady Sophia's Lover

    Ah, Ross Cannon...yeah, that is a GREAT choice, Karyn. And a great book, too!

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  9. Terrific choices, Melissa! Suzanne Enoch writes some of the best heroes, doesn't she?!?! Sigh.

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  10. chelleyreads said: -alex from meredith duran's wicked becomes you

    Chelley, one of these days I'm going to read a Meredith Duran book....

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  11. Hi, Pamela! Thanks for being with us today. Like PJ, I see I have to add the Feral Warrior books to my out-of-control TBR pile. :-)

    Love that question. I'm sure I could choose more than four, but I'll try to control myself. *g* I'll go with:


    Zsadist--my favorite Brother in J.R. Ward's BDB series

    Roarke-- sexy, richer than Croesus and just...*sigh*

    Mac MacKenzie -- I'm reading an ARC of Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage and I adore Mac!

    Jamie Fraser -- another tall, gorgeous Highlander. No wonder Claire went back in time (again) to reunite with him. *swoon*

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  12. PJ is traveling and doesn't have internet access at the moment. She wanted me to thank you again for being with us, Pamela.

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  13. Karyn, looks like Helen is not the only one with good taste and a great idea about choosing 2 paranormal and 2 historical heroes!

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  14. Melissa, it's hard to choose just four, isn't it?? LOL

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  15. Chelley, looks like we have another fan of Zsadist! Love him!

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  16. Just swooping in to say hello. Love your Feral Warriors series. Delish. And I'm not a paranormal reader either. Kim Castillo turned me on to them, bless her heart.

    Looking forward to more. Love that I also have historical romance heroes to look forward to, as well.

    It's all good!

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  17. Hi Gannon. Great to 'see' you! Oh yeah, Jamie Fraser. Be still my heart.

    Hi Santa! Kim's wonderful. I'm so glad she turned you onto the Ferals. :)

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  18. Hi, Santa! We can always count on Kim for great recommendations! :-)

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  19. Wonderful interview Pamela & PJ!!!

    I had no idea that you write Scottish time travels!! Love those kind of books.

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  20. *waving* Hey, Santa! Thanks for stopping by!

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  21. I would love to be stuck with several different characters, but Mr. Darcy would probably be my #1.

    Pamela,
    Did you write any short stories before, maybe with Linda Howard? For some reason your books sound so familiar. I use to read nothing but Anthologies several years ago.

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  22. I think I would just make do with Roarke from J.D. Robb's In Death Series, I think he would be more than enough.

    seriousreader at live dot com

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  23. LilMissMolly, Mr. Darcy is an excellent choice, especially if he looks like THE quintessential Mr. Darcy, Colin Firth!

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  24. I think I would just make do with Roarke from J.D. Robb's In Death Series, I think he would be more than enough.

    Hear, hear, Linda! *g*

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  25. Pamela, thank you so much for being our guest today. It's been a treat!

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  26. First, congratulations and good luck with the release of RAPTURE UNTAMED.
    Trying to decide who to take is difficult. I have a thing for Highlanders. Karen Marie Moning's Highlanders are awesome, but a lot to handle. My first romances were Julie Garwood's historicals and she has many worth Highlanders. Actually Janet Chapman's Highlanders might be the best bet. The are from the medieval Highlands, but live in the modern Maine woods. This is going to take more thought : )

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  27. Evening Pamela
    Feral Warriors sound great, I've not found them before--have to go check them out.
    I'd invite-
    Brodick Buchanan-Julie Garwood-Ransom
    James Malory-Johanna Lindsey-Gentle Rogue
    Jake Mallory-Eli Lowell-Amber Beach
    Clay Bennett--Nalini Singh-Mine to Possess

    Couple historicals,contemporary and a shapeshifter. Nice mix =)

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  28. LilMissMolly, my first novella came out this year in an anthology with Lynsay Sands, but I've had a couple of Nocturnes published, one of which came out right around the time Linda Howard published a Nocturne. That may be where you saw my name.

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  29. Thanks for having me on The Romance Dish!

    The winner of a signed copy of DESIRE UNTAMED is chelleyreads! Email me your snail mail address at pamela@pamelapalmer.net.

    Happy summer! (Or winter, if you're down under.)

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