Welcome, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Amanda McIntyre for taking the time to answer these questions for Coffee Time Romance.

Amanda: Thank you very much, its great to be here!

What inspired you to write Cimmerian Reign, Book I; Forever My Love?

Amanda:  Inspiration can, of course come in many forms. This story however, was inspired by a friend of mine, who suggested that I write a novella for an anthology project with the theme of vampyres. Unsure if my skills would lend themselves to such a request, I gave it a go anyhow and was rather pleased with the result. So, too, my friend who later encouraged me to submit it to Venus Press for a single title publication.

How long did it take you to write Cimmerian Reign, Book I; Forever My Love?

Amanda:  Several drafts of this book lay on the editing room floor. It is unique, in that the “villainess/heroine” is the actual vampyre and the story revolves around her “grooming” this man over many years to fall in love with her and willingly accept his destiny and take his place at her side as Monarch of the ancient colony

What type of research did you have to do for this story and did you have any difficulties
writing it?

Amanda:  I watched several movies and researched websites on vampyres. Its a very different side of life, but it is very real to those who embrace the night. As far as difficulties?  

Only in trusting my instincts about how the story should play out. Its very rare to see the hero, though depicted as virile and handsome, caring and strong-yet maintaining a beta inside– become transformed by his destiny to an all-out protective to the death-alpha male. I suppose in some ways, it was the very core of Adam (my hero) that rises to the surface as he embraces his calling and his heart.

Will there be a series of books following this story, I see that it says Book I?

Amanda:   Yes, and I’m very excited! Book II of the Cimmerian Reign, will be released I believe, in February 2005, at Venus Press. CS Chatterley has penned the next book in the series and it is set in modern day,following where the first book left off. (Book I is set in turn of the century upstate New York) You may see mention of many of the same characters mingling within all the stories of the Cimmerian series. Plans are being made for yet another book in this series which will take readers on a journey back further in time, to the origin of the Cimmerian Vampyres back in the Ukraine.

Did you have the characters already plotted out or did they come to you as you were writing the book?

Amanda:  Forever My Love came to me loosely as characters I’d watched on the daytime soap opera, Dark Shadows. (WOW, DOES THAT DATE ME!) I took the haunting elements of the turn of the century architecture, mannerisms, and clothing and injected them with my “what-if?” philosophy.

Do you plan on using any of the characters from this story in future books?

Amanda:  I think that some characters may be mentioned in the series of books.  In anything you write, there is the possibility that while the work is in progress, the concept for a spin off story of one of  the characters is always present.

You say on your website that you entered a writing contest, how did you find out about the contest and what did you learn from it?

Amanda:  I stumbled upon the contest by accident as I surfed the website to find venues to test and further my writing. I’d already done a weekly non-fiction column for a newspaper (which I still do 6 years later) but when I had twins, and needed to stay home, I began to pursue a writing career in earnest.

What made you decide to become a writer, besides entering the contest, was it a dream?

Amanda:  No, not really to be honest. I always wanted to be a cartoonist for Disney. But life happens, and I truly believe that my writing is an offshoot of that dream. Instead of creating with pictures, I paint pictures with words.

You say you have kept your first manuscripts, will you publish them?

Amanda:  Not without serious polishing <g> I have learned in this business to never say never.  Interestingly, Tides of Autumn, written under my pen name Pamela Johnson, is a longer version of the exact story that was rejected by the anthology. I think of that rejection as a gauntlet that began my writing journey.

Have you ever suffered from Writers’ Block?

Amanda:  Definitely, planned and unplanned. By that I mean that not all writers block is caused by in ability to sit down and write. It can be caused by a host of variables, some you can control and move past, while others you need to allow yourself the time to walk through.

My good friend, Lori Soard, and I wrote a book called “So Your Muse Has Gone AWOL?” and we dedicated an entire chapter to this issue.  It was interesting to see from our author
survey, how alike and yet how very differently writers block affects different authors.

How do you handle deadlines and does your family help you with keeping on track?

Amanda:  I have the best family in the world. My husband, bless his heart, is my greatest fan. When I am under deadline, he takes over and manages things, even after a long day of work. I am so blessed that he loves to cook and it relaxes him to do so. My kids are great also, old enough now to understand, they too love to write, read, and tell stories. They excel in these areas in school and I like to think that something has rubbed off a bit.

Do you have any upcoming projects?

Amanda:  I have just recently acquired a fabulous agent, and I have three more books coming out (in addition to Forever My Love) at Venus Press in 2005. January 12th, I have a contemporary romance called “LOVERS & BARBELLS” -a love triangle of a different kind. In May, I will have a story called “RISKY BUSINESS” in the Sons of Zeus Line at Venus Press-this is the story of Eros and Psyche in mythology, only with a modern day twist. Later in July, I will have “TOO HOT TO HANDLE” released from Venus Press in their Aphrodisiac line.

Currently , I have a time-travel ultra-sensual SHAKE MY TREE available at Echelon Press in their Men of Entice line. This is a sassy little sequel to my award-winning first Men of Entice novella, Wild & Unruly (which is also still available at Echelon Press). In addition, under my other writing name of Pamela Johnson, I am working on several projects in contemporary romance genres.

And I hope to meet many Coffee Time Romance staff and fans at the Romantic Times Book lovers conference in April 2005 down in beautiful St Louis, Mo!

What encouraging words would you give to aspiring authors, if you could?

Amanda:  My favorite quote from one of my heroes in writing is this, and it is rumored this great author was rejected 68 times before he sold his first book. Don’t give up-if you believe yourself to be an author, be one.

“Be persistent. Editors change; tastes change; editorial markets change.  Too many beginning writers give up too easily.”~John Jakes

I would like to thank Amanda on behalf of Coffee Time Romance for chatting with us and we wish you good luck on your upcoming projects.

Amanda:  Thank you Sheryl, it was a pleasure.  I would like all Coffee Time readers, reviewers, and authors to check out the fabulous contest I am running in conjunction with my debut titles at Venus Press!  Contest Page