Today, I have the lovely Jaime Rush here to talk about her Offspring series. The third book in the series, Touching Darkness, was just released on April 27, 2010.
One lucky commenter will have a chance to win the entire series: A Perfect Darkness, Out of the Darkness, and Touching Darkness. Details are listed at the end of the post.
Visit Jaime around the web here: Website | Blog | Facebook
You can read an excerpt from Touching Darkness here.
Welcome Jaime!
DFT: Could you start things off by telling us a little about The Offspring Series?
It’s about a group of twenty-somethings who live ordinary lives but possess extraordinary psychic abilities. They are the Offspring of parents involved in a mysterious experiment gone awry. Sexy…dangerous…outcasts… They are being hunted by the government and others like them. Together they must find the truth and fight an enemy out to destroy them.
DFT: Touching Darkness is the third book in your The Offspring series. For readers new to the series, can you give us a quick overview of A Perfect Darkness and Out of the Darkness?
In A Perfect Darkness, we meet Amy and Lucas just before Lucas is captured by the enemy. Amy must join forces with two dubious allies, friends of Lucas’s, to save him. In Out of the Darkness, we meet two new Offspring who are brought into the group, Zoe and Rand. Their goal is to infiltrate the Offspring who are working for the enemy, and they do contact Nicholas. But is he a good guy or not?
DFT: Can the books function as a stand alone or do we need to read the series from the beginning?
As with any series, it’s always a richer experience to read from the beginning. However, I’ve tried very hard to make each book stand alone, with just enough information to catch up new readers without inundating them with history.
DFT: Can you tell us a little about the main characters in Touching Darkness?
We meet Nicholas, who’s been contracted by the government to use his psychic skill for finding things to rescue hostages. But first he’s been tasked with finding these terrible Rogues (who are actually the good guys). As he begins to doubt his boss, he’s also falling for his boss’s assistant, Olivia, who is loyal to the program. Maybe a bit too loyal. She’s in the way of finding the truth, but can he convince her to see beyond her blind faith? And what will it cost her when she does?
DFT: If you could describe your main characters with only 3 words, what would they be?
Nicholas: black and white
Olivia: quietly adventurous, loyal
DFT: Tell us something about your research process and the choices you make when creating the story.
I did a lot of research on programs the government actually did undertake to use psychic abilities to spy, and even kill, the enemy (who was, at the time, the U.S.S.R.). I also researched psychic abilities, and read about many tests that were done to “prove” their existence. It was interesting how many hits there were, but things psychic are never 100% reliable or reproducible.
I let which characters are featured next be an organic part of the plot, which brought in new characters for books 2 and 3. We go back to the original two in the group for books 4 and 5.
DFT: Do you have a long-term plan or goal for this story universe? What happens after book 3, Touching Darkness?
Book 4 wraps up the government arc. I think that’s long enough for readers to follow, and thus, they get satisfaction at seeing an ending. Book 5 jumps off of that arc, but is mostly separate. And book 5 will be totally separate, other than it will still feature Offspring.
DFT: Who is your favorite character in this book, and why?
I love Olivia because she really grows through the book. She doesn’t want to see the truth, but she becomes strong enough to face it, even though it will change everything she’s ever believed. And she will lose everything she’s ever had, too. She begins as sheltered by an overbearing family but has a hidden, naughty side that was a surprise to me.
DFT: Do you have a favorite scene or line from Touching Darkness?
The scene where Olivia throws caution to the wind and proposes having an affair with Nicholas, consequences be damned. Of course, she doesn’t know what those consequences will actually be until later. Of course, it’s all worth it!
DFT: What is your favorite part of writing this series?
I love the dynamics of the people. They’re all different, wounded, but they’re thrown together and have to make the best of it. It’s been great fun watching them grow.
DFT: What other projects are you working on that you would like to tell us about?
I’m very excited about the next book, which is Eric Aruda’s story. Readers have been clamoring for his story, and though I wasn’t even sure there was going to be a story for him at the beginning, he really grew on me, too. Burning Darkness comes out in January 2011.
DFT: What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?
Does it make any difference if readers buy books used? And I would say YES! Authors get no compensation, nor any sales credit, for used or pirated books, and sometimes those authors don’t get new contracts due to low sales. So it hurts not only the author but those who love her or his work. In tough financial times at least buy some of your books new, because publishers listen to numbers more than anything else.
DFT: What books/genres do you read when you have the chance? Any must read authors or series?
Most of my reading is either research or business publications, though I do read fiction as much as I can. I love Heather Graham, Linnea Sinclair, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, and Janet Evanovich.
DFT: What is your definition of a “bad writing day”? How do you deal with bad writing days?
A bad writing day is when I am actually in writing mode and I’m too busy with either promotion or business details to actually write. It’s very frustrating, but I take a deep breath and remind myself that I like interacting with readers and it’s all part of my job.
DFT: Do you have a particular writing process or any writing rituals?
I try to take care of business and email first thing, so it’s out of the way and I can focus on the writing. I love writing, so I don’t have to push myself to get into the space. I do need to clear my desk and my cluttered agenda, though. The actual writing is a small part of my writing life, sadly enough. I finish the draft in about four weeks, and all the rest is editing and the business end.
DFT: If you weren’t writing, what would you want to be doing for a living?
Being creative, I’d still do artistic things, like photography (I love taking unusual photos, which I’ve posted to my Myspace and Facebook pages). I had thought about going into graphic arts at one point, but writing has always been my first love.
DFT: If you could be any paranormal creature, which one would you be and why?
I’d love to be a shapeshifter and turn into a bird. Like those wonderful flying dreams we all have, just the sensation of soaring on the currents and looking down at the world would be great. And to get somewhere fast, no traffic… heavenly.
DFT: Thanks Jaime for taking the time to stop by.
GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:
One lucky commenter will have a chance to win the entire series: A Perfect Darkness, Out of the Darkness, and Touching Darkness.
To enter, leave a comment below answering the following question:
What would you choose as your favorite paranormal ability, be it turning into a creature or having a psychic ability?
1. +1 entry for answering the question (required).
2. +2 entries for becoming a follower of this blog and Dark Faerie Tales on Twitter.
3. +3 entries for tweeting about this contest, blogging about it, linking via your sidebar etc…(please tell me where!).
4. Giveaway is open to everyone.
5. Please include your email address in your comment.
6. Giveaway ends Friday, June 4th at 11:59 PM EST.
7. The winner will be picked with the help of Random.org.
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