Krystal Shannan Interviews - Karyn Gerrard - My Vampire Cover Model

Please help me welcome the fabulous Karyn Gerrard 

to the blog today!

Tell us a little about yourself, Karyn.

I am a middle aged, married Canadian lady with a vivid imagination and a deep passionate love for plotting. I no longer work so I have the luxury of sitting home every afternoon and plot to my heart's content. 

A voracious reader, I only started reading romances six years ago~ Shocking, I know. I have certainly embraced the genre and also rediscovered my long dormant love for writing.

Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose to write romance?

As a teenager, I wrote short stories and poems. Then a thing called life happened and I got away from writing for a long time.  Reading ‘Simply Love’ by Mary Balogh inspired me to try it myself. 

What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?

Creating the characters and the plots. I love to plot~

Tell us a little about your book. What inspired you to write it?

Sure! It’s a novella, a paranormal/contemporary/erotic romance.  Here is the blurb:  

Life changed for Deanna Brooks the night she attended a book signing for her aunt’s best-selling paranormal romance series. There she met Burney ‘The Cover God’ Sheridan. The model for the series’ fictional vampire hero, Burn is beyond handsome and has an overabundance of Irish charm. He’s too good to be true.

Burn Sheridan, a man with scores of past lives, has a secret: he is a vampire. Meeting Deanna is agony because for the first time in over two hundred years, Burn experiences the rarest of vampiric needs—the mate-of-the-soul connection. Keeping people at a distance has been Burn's existence for centuries, but Deanna makes his pledge of staying detached impossible.

Many obstacles lie ahead and the biggest of all may be Burn himself. Can Deanna and Burn overcome them and find lasting love?

~~~~

I noticed all the pictures being posted on Facebook of hot cover model Paul Marron on a tour with New York Times Best selling paranormal author, Kresley Cole. They were plugging the Book ‘Lothaire’ of which Paul is on the cover. My mind began to plot. What if the cover model in question really was—a vampire? It was amazing how it all clicked into place. I had it written in no time! Pure fantasy, but lots of fun to write. And Cover Models are the best inspiration!

Do you plot and outline or do you just write?  Plotter or Pantser?

Pantser. I have a vague idea where I am heading toward the ending, and sit and let the story flow. Sometimes, it takes me in directions I didn’t plan. Makes it fun.

Can you tell us about the process of getting your first book published?

If it wasn't for my husband, I never would have submitted. He kept telling me the story (Timeless Heart) was good. Imagine my shock when my time travel novella was accepted in 24 hours by Evernight Publishing last March. It happened so fast, and I haven’t looked back. I don’t have the agonizing story of dozens of rejections under my belt. I was lucky. Granted, I have had a couple of rejections since then, but for the most part, its all been good!

I'm lucky to have a supportive husband too! They make all the difference.

What advice would you give new authors?  What have you learned about the 

business?

Never give up. Keep writing. Write what you love. Get the story down first, then go back and edit.  Don't take any rejection personally (easy to say, I know) Jump back in the trenches~

Do you have another book in the works?

Yes! I have a Historical coming out in November with Silver Publishing, KNIGHT OF CHRISTMAS. Also have a short story for Decadent’s The Edge Line that is a historical coming sometime in December, THE BLIND CUPID. 

However, another upcoming release, THE HERO SANDWICH with Breathless Press (Nov 9) co-written with my bud and crit partner, Gayl Taylor, has M/F, F/M/F ménage and cougar themes, a first for me! Also I stuck my toe in the BDSM waters with THE BLIND CUPID. Though light BDSM, it certainly is something I may explore in a longer narrative down the road.  Also was just offered a contract for MY HIGHLANDER COVER MODEL from Decadent Publishing. 

Wow! You have been a busy lady! Congrats!

What do you like to do in your free time, besides read and write of course?

Love watching the Red Sox, but not so much this past season.

Love old movies, I can whip just about anyone in Trivial Pursuit Silver Screen edition~

Love to travel, hubby and I have been all over North America.

Where do you dream of going on vacation?

UK, specifically London, and Ireland and Scotland.  Very soon!

Boxers or Briefs?  

Tightie whities all the way~ Unless they are black boxer briefs, love those, too.

Cookies or cake?

Cake!

Pizza or hamburger?

Hamburger with cheese and bacon

Beer, Wine, or mixed drink?

White wine

(Hero/Heroine Character Questions)  Burn and Dean

What were your first impressions of each other? 

Burn: She fainted at my feet, what man would not be charmed by that? *wink*

Dean: It was your overpowering cologne! Anyway, look at him, no wonder I fainted.

What’s your favorite characteristic of each other? 

Dean: His stamina! Seriously, he is such a romantic gentleman *sigh*

Burn: Cheers, love. Isn’t she adorable? That would be my choice. Dean is imminently easy to love.

What are your plans for the near future? (together) We’re off to Ireland!

It was so great to have you Karyn.... now.... I must run off and read my newly purchased copy of My Vampire Cover Model! 

Be sure to visit Karyn @

SITE:  www.karyngerrard.com

FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/karyn.gerrard

TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/#!/KarynGerrard

GOODREADS–http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4848577.Karyn_Gerrard