Saturday Spotlight is on author Tara S Wood

Welcome back once again vixens! Today is a special treat. Author Tara S. Wood is here today to tell us a bit about herself and her current series called In Blood. Grab your favorite beverage, sit down and let the interrogation...errr...interview begin! ~the Vixen

Do your stories tend to be character driven or plot driven?

Definitely character driven. That’s sort of how the whole idea for this series came about. Suddenly, I had all these people in my head clamoring for attention, and they would not be denied. So, I had to stop and listen and discover who they were. And as I got to know them, the stories of their lives just naturally evolved. And let me tell you, they are an interesting group. The things that happen to them are extraordinary.

Do you listen to music while writing? What kinds of music work best for you? Do different types of music help you for different types of scenes?

Oh, yes. Lots of music. I could compile soundtracks as companion pieces. HA! I listen to a fairly eclectic range of music, so it runs the gamut from classical to pop to rock. I will confess I have a secret guilty love of Justin Timberlake and Finnish goth metal. And what I listen to definitely depends on who I’m writing and what is happening in their lives at the moment. Although, if it’s a fight scene, I can pretty much guarantee I’ll be listening to “Mortal Kombat” or the soundtrack from “The Matrix”.

What kinds of stories are your comfort reads when you are sick or feeling low?

Historical and Regency romance. Those genres always seem to capture the sweeping majesty of a bygone era. It’s sort of wistful reading about gorgeous sword-wielding Highlanders or devilishly handsome Viscounts. They’re the kind of books you just want to curl up with on the sofa under a nice comfy blanket , preferably with a cup of Earl Grey close by.

Who is your favorite all time heroine? Why do they resonate so well with you?

I guess I would have to say Scout from Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. What I loved about her was her spunk and her innate wisdom. She was such an innocent little thing, and yet she had a maturity and a strength about her that was well beyond her years. She is the total package. Humor, warmth, loyalty, and determination.

Who inspires you and why? (loved ones, friends, authors, public figures, historical figures, actors, teachers etc)

The person who has inspired me the most would have to be my aunt, Ocia Jeffries. She is a remarkable woman. A retired schoolteacher, she has taught me to believe in myself and never give up. She has always been my biggest cheerleader, shaking her pom poms proudly. She has an inner strength and grace of character that is unmatched in anyone else I have ever known. One thing she has always said to me, and consequently is now something I tell my own daughter, is “I love you. Make good choices.” Words to live by.

In one or two sentences, give the core premise behind your story.

Three, but here goes. This story is about a vampire executioner investigating the murder of one of her race. Details push her to join reluctant forces with a human detective on an agenda of his own to track down the killer. When the chase leads to a pair of predators from their respective pasts, events take a dangerous turn, leaving the redemption they seek, their relationship, and their lives hanging in the balance. Whew.

What makes this hero hot and lovable?

*sighs and fans self* Oh, Decker. Decker, Decker, Decker. I just love him. He’s unfailingly loyal, determined, and has just enough self-doubt that you want to kiss all the hurt away. Even torn in his affections, he struggles to do the right thing and be strong for her sake, not his own. Writing Decker was a study in mood swings. One minute I was proud of him, the next I ached for him. He’s a man with a good heart (and we all know how sexy that is), yet underneath there is a smoldering predatory sexuality that brings out the “Oh, yes, take me now” in every woman with a pulse. Is it hot in here? Did it just get warm? Is it me?

How many books do you anticipate will be in this series?

Currently, I am projecting the In Blood series will be six, possibly seven books.

What are you working on now?

Right now, I am working on the second book in the In Blood series, tentatively titled “Burning in Blood: A Novel of The Penitent”, and I am in the process of editing and revising the first book in a yet to be titled urban fantasy series that I am co-authoring. Busy, busy.

Thank you so much for having me! I really enjoyed answering all of these. Best wishes to all the readers out there! Cheers!

About Tara

Tara Wood divides her time between creating domestic bliss and creating hot paranormal romance with the occasional side of kink. When not playing June Cleaver for her hubby and daughter, she can be found at the local Starbucks slamming back Frappuccinos and plotting out her next idea. Or she's watching the BBC. Tara resides with her wonderful and tolerant family in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. She is currently at work on several projects, one of them being the next book in her In Blood series. Redemption in Blood is her first novel.

Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/Hya32p

B&N: http://bit.ly/LkxaUY

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/140049

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RIBNovel

Twitter: @twoodwriter

Blurb from Redemption in Blood:  A Novel of The Penitent

Murder is serious business among vampires. If you kill, so do they. They are the Penitent – a military order among vampire society charged with one task only. Execute the condemned.

Vesper Hyde is a model Penitent. Solitary. Skilled. Deadly. Only once has she ever lost a target, even though it almost cost her life. Now the one that got away is back with a vengeance, and this time he's determined to finish the job. She needs to overcome the whispers of doubt and let her instinct and training take over to redeem her failure. But on this second time around, she doesn't expect a sidekick. A very sexy, stubborn, human sidekick.

Homicide Detective Decker Price has seen it all, including the murder of his wife at the hands of a twisted serial killer. When another murder pitches him headfirst into a world of vampires, witches, and sorcery, he is given a chance to mend shattered parts of his soul. But Vesper's world is as dark and alluring as the Penitent herself and he will come face to face with echoes of his past in order to help her keep a vicious enemy at bay.

If they are to succeed, they will need to push aside both their failings and work together to ensure the balance of their worlds remains unchanged. Redemption comes at a cost – is their love worth the price?