Interview of Author Maggie Berkley

Today I'm pleased to present an interview of romance author Maggie Berkley.
Latest Book: Enter the Night: Book One of the Morgan Crowe trilogy
Buy Link: http://redrosepublishing.com/books/index.php?manufacturers_id=97&osCsid=76901e73da628de76a17bff43af4c0fa

BIO:
A long time fan of dark fantasy with a touch of romance and horror, Maggie Berkley grew up in a world all her own, one she created as a teenager during her long times of parental lock down due to a rebellious nature. As a youth she created stories and plays for her friends to act out for anyone willing (and at times unwilling) to watch and as time went by drew upon her love of fantasy and horror to write longer stories and fan fiction. Due to the encouragement of friends and family she decided rather than keep her stories for herself she would publish and in doing so created different worlds to feature her vast imagination.

Q: Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
A: Morgan of course because she’s the type who would speak their mind no matter what the consequence and do whatever she wanted. Too many times I’ve been in a line or been in a movie theatre with rude and inconsiderate people and just wished I could walk over to them and ‘bam’ punch them or something. Haven’t you? Plus I feel close to her because mentally, I’ve experienced all her pain, anger and hopes. It’s hard when you write, start dreaming about or get insomnia because of your characters and not feel a bond to them.

Q: If one of your books became a movie, which celebrity would you like to star as one of your heroine? Tell us about your heroine.
A: Moon Goodblood. She’s not a well known actress but I think she would be great for Morgan because she has that strength and vulnerability I picture my heroine having. To be vulnerable doesn’t mean you have to cry and need some guy to ride in to save the day. It could mean that you have something inside yourself you keep hidden, sheltered and guarded.

Morgan Crowe, the main character of my novels, is a tough as nails assassin in the Sidhe Court and because of her horrendous temper and various other activities, finds herself banished to the lands of the humans. She’s not always nice, says what she wants and tends to grate upon the sensibilities of others but she has her own secrets and personal demons she fights against (and at times denies). She had always viewed love as a weakness and because of past hurts, takes a cynical view on relationships. Throughout the course of the trilogy she learns about what love really is, gains compassion for others and finally faces her past and her destiny.

Q: Do all your heroes and all heroines look the same in your mind as you “head write”?
A: Each has their own appearance and personality. I’ve had friends show me pictures and say ‘I think this is so in so’ and I just shake my head. You get a definite knowledge of what they look like and it’s not just anything. The characters become so real to me as I write them. I feel their anger and pain, their hopes and desires. Sometimes their actions (or reactions) can tork me off and I’ll be ‘What on earth are you doing?’ but I have to be true to their story. After all, they are the ones telling it to me.

Q: What’s your strongest point as a writer?
A: I think in making you feel something about the characters, whether its love or hate. Just like an actor has to convey their characters in a way for us (the audience)to have some form of emotion, writers have that same need and responsibility. There’s been books I’ve read that the character’s literally make me want to pull my hair out and others that brought me so deep into their thoughts or emotions I feel like I’m part of the story myself.

Q: What is your favorite romance book that you’ve read?
A: Sweet Medicine’s Prophecy: Sun Dancer’s Passion. I can’t remember the author for I read the book waaay long ago (I’m dating myself here). It was the first romance book I had ever read about and the heroine was a Cheyenne Indian maiden. It was part of a series but my heart always felt close to Sun Dancer. It was so beautifully written adding in not just a romance but a real back drop about the Cheyenne people too. What was great about this story is the reality the author brought to the romance. Life is not always full of butterflies and rainbows. Sometimes there’s heartbreak and tragedy too.

Q: What hobby do you enjoy when not writing?
A: Hobbies? What are those? LOL. For so long now I haven’t had time to do much of anything because I’ve been writing so much, but when I do find a way to squeak in something its usually reading. I love to read (I’m currently reading Brent Weeks ‘the Way of the Shadow’). My pride and joy is my library (I have over a thousand novels on my selves…much to my husband’s chagrin).

I also enjoy making jewelry (which I give away as gifts to family and friends), homemade soaps, remodeling my house and (if the urge strikes) sketch. When I was younger I used to want to be an author/artist and draw my own covers. Well, one part of the dream has taken place.

Tell us where we can find you!
http://maggieberkley.viviti.com
http://maggieberkley.yola.com
http//www.redrosepublishing.com/bookstore
http://twitter.com/maggieberkley
http://myspace.com/maggieberkley
http://facebook.com/maggieberkley

BLURB:
Be careful of who you trust.” Words of warning, something Morgan Crowe tended to ignore.

Born Morriganna nic Thulath over thousands of years ago in the ShadowedLands of the Immortal Sidhe, she was the leader of the Mor’sin’dar King’s Battle Crows. Named the Morrigu, she was deadly, precise and vengeful.

Favored by her King, Morgan lived an unrestrained life until her temper forced him to remove her from the Courts. For years she lived among the humans, keeping an eye out on things Fae and waiting until the time her beloved King resends his decision and welcomes her back with open arms. But things have changed within the Sidhe lands, deaths occurred and old rumors abound. Unknowingly Morgan has become the object of revenge of a hateful Queen and a sadistic enemy from her past.

Now enters a Were, shape changers with the natural ability to take animal form and with his appearance comes temptation and love. But is he all that he seems? And is she willing to defy her society to find out if he is. For Morgan, her world tumbles around in a whirlwind until all hell breaks loose.

EXCERPT:

"Morriganna."

Cracking her eyes open to slits, Morgan Crowe kept her breathing regular and soft as she glanced around the room, searching for what disturbed her sleep. The soft thrum of her fish tank on the far wall and the light purring of her little gray kitten, Sonji, reached her ears, but nothing else touched her sharp senses. All was quiet and peaceful.

After waiting a few moments longer, she sat up while slipping a gun out from under the pillow, turning her head slowly left, then right as her eyes scanned the dark room, looking for anything out of place. Someone called her name; she knew that, but no sign of anyone or anything stood out. Other than the dim light emulating from the fish tank, the room stood in total darkness, clouded in a blanket of night. Her eyes flickered over to the window high on the wall and the blackness beyond as she strained to find some noise that awoken her.

At a slight movement by her side, Morgan glanced down to see that Sonji had opened tired yellow eyes and yawned, watching her mistress warily. Slowly the kitten reached out one tiny paw and touched Morgan’s thigh as if reassuring her that everything was all right, that it was too early to get up and she needed to go back to sleep.

“Morriganna.”

Morgan’s body stiffened at the hollow voice that sounded both near and far. Cocking her head to listen harder she shivered as a cool breeze brushed across her bare skin, causing her nipples to harden and the muscles in her abdomen to clench. The hair on her arms stood on end as wintry chills from the lowering temperature ran down her spine.

Gradually a presence filled the room, causing the kitten next to her to arch her back up in fear until the soft gray fur stood on end. Baring her teeth, Sonji hissed at what she sensed but could not see, then with hast raced under the bed to hide, abandoning the woman to fend for herself. The mirrors and windows in the room frosted, starting first at the corners and then spread toward the center.

Morgan shivered at the growing coldness, pulling her bedspread over her nude body to cut out the chill as her breath left her mouth in small puffs of wraithlike clouds. With a sigh, she settled back to wait, watching the fog of her breath hang on the air as she replaced her gun under the pillow.

Morgan recognized the voice that woken her from her sleep, one she hadn’t heard in years but felt a slight bit of relief to know she was not forgotten. What a crappy time to be calling, she thought, glancing at the clock face on her nightstand. Three-thirty in the morning. It was too freaking early for this. As seconds clicked by, then minutes, irritation grew, driving out any want for communication of one of her kind. He sure seemed to be taking his own sweet time and she really didn’t have much patience for it. Not to mention that scrying by water made the room an icebox.

With a growl, Morgan tugged her blankets up over her shoulders, swearing under her breath as she tried to stave off the chill. Usually the cold didn’t bother her as her body adapted to any of the elements, but this was no natural frost forming. After several long minutes of silence, the caller decided to speak. About time, she snarled, trying to keep her teeth from clacking together.

“Good evening, Morriganna, I hath need to speak with thee.”

“Well hurry up and do it quick. You’re freezing my ass off.”

The feeling of power pulsating filled the room, giving it an illusion of walls coming alive and breathing as a brief moment of vertigo swept over the seated woman. Breathing deeply to calm her senses, she leaned her head back against the wall while drawing her knees up to her chest and closed her eyes. It was always disorientating talking to someone who wasn’t there, but considering this was the first “call” from any of the Mor’sin’dar since her banishment, who was she to complain? It was nice hearing a voice from her past.

Until the day her High King lifted her banishment from the Mor’sin’dar Court, she would have to make due with the company of humans. Though inventive and chatty, often irritating and somewhat amusing, Morgan desperately missed the company of her own people. Feeling a soft breeze caress her cheek and neck, she opened her eyes, drawing her attention back to what was at hand for the moment.

“Morriganna, thou needth to be careful. I hath warn thee, though I cannot reveal more except that trouble stir in the Courts.”

The rich warm voice of Eryn Sye, an informant of hers from her more active days, filled the room. He was always reliable for information, if not more, but it had been years since they last spoke. Blinking away the last remnants of sleep from her mind, Morgan straightened up. “What are you talking about, Eryn? You’re the first one to contact me in ages.”

“Something is happening in the ShadowedLands, Lady Death. Rumors are spreading and thy name hath been brought up several times.”

“Brought up? Brought up about what?” Morgan paused, gathering her thoughts as she focused her eyes on the center of her bed. Something was wrong. Eryn was never one to give out information without a price and now he was calling her unsolicited. She suddenly sat up straight, alert to what was not being said. “Why would someone from there be talking about me? About what? Coming back? I can’t until the High King bids me free passage back.” Her breath caught as a flitter of hope filled her chest. “Is that it? Am I going to be allowed back to Court? Is King Silvas lifting the ban?”

The room chilled a little more in response while from under the bed Sonji voiced her displeasure with a pitiful meow. Morgan ignored her cry and concentrated on what her friend was saying. “Talk to me, Eryn. What’s going on?”

“Just be careful, Morrigu, for thee hath enemies thou knowth not. I cannot speak more. I knowth not more except thou needth to be careful. Thou needth to be wary of all thou meet and do not let thy guard down. Things are not right here.”

“But is King Silvas going to lift the ban? Will I be allowed home?” Morgan asked, her heart beating at a quick pace at the thought of seeing her homeland once more. She waited for him to continue, but bit by bit the unearthly cold created by the water spell left the room as Eryn’s presence faded, the scry ending.

“Dammit.”

Anything else you’d like to add?
Yes, my next book ‘Behind the Throne: Book Two in the Morgan Crowe trilogy’ was released in September 2010 at Red Rose Publishing!