New Year's Countdown with Caroline Hanson! ~Interview & Giveaway~

Happy Christmas Everyone!!! Now that all the presents are opened and parties are over (depending on when your reading this). You have one last event to look forward to New Years!! Here at The ParaNormal Romance Party, we are counting down the day with some great Authors & Giveaways! Today we have Caroline Hanson discussing her Valerie Dearborn Series!! Be sure to keep an eye on her in 2012!
Tell us a little about yourself Caroline!

I’m 5/4, a Sagitarius and enjoy short walks on the beach followed by a pina colada. I also have two kids, am an attorney and like to play tennis.

For those who have not had the pleasure of reading your Valerie Dearborn series, can you tell us a little about it?

I’ve read just about everything in the UF genre and quite extensively in Paranormal and hit a point where I got sick of what I was reading. The final straw was reading about a gal who shadowboxes first thing in the morning. I believe it was on page 1. I didn’t relate. And I wanted to. So, Valerie is a girl whose life has been changed by vamps. Her mom was murdered, her dad became a shell of himself and he’s dragged her all over the world hunting them. And she wants to go away and be really shallow and pretend vampires don’t exist. So she moves to London, tries to be normal and the vampire king (who is super hot- duh.) has other plans for her. For me the conflict I could relate to is how does someone do tough things when they are not tough and don’t want to be tough. And what is really important in life.

You have a prequel called Bewitching the Werewolf. I read it and enjoyed the short snippet! Is the story set around the same time as Love is Darkness it taking place and do we get to see those characters again??

BTW is a short story and will probably stay that way. It’s first person, light and short. It was more to showcase my writing style. It’s free. My thought was that people could try it out and if they liked it, they could read Love is Darkness. It’s first person, which was fun to write. But it’s also very light. And I prefer dark fantasy. So, while I have not ruled it out…don’t hold your breath. 

Love is Fear, book 2, just came out!! I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but after that huge cliffy at the end of book 1 I need it! What can we expect??

Hmm. This book is hard to describe because so much plot can be given away with very little information. The prologue is set in the 16^th century and introduces us to the Fey King, Cerdewellyn. He hates Lucas. This book is a lot racier so the chapter ends with an orgy. (Mom, you should have stopped reading on the last question. Sorry.) And then it’s right back into the hotel room with Jack and Val hashing out the Lucas problem.

Your vampires are more savage. They are what the original myths told us. They are selfish and do as they please. Emotionless and dangerous. Will there be any change to that?? Like maybe Lucas will be the exception and gain emotions or a little bit of humanity???

Everyone has their own take on vampires. For me, I don’t see how they can be good. They can’t survive on humans for centuries and not think of them as inferior. My vampires don’t have emotions because it gets dulled out over time. But they can feel again if they drink from an Empath. Val and Lucas, it’s a will they/won’t they situation. He WANTS her blood and is pretty worried about it too. He’s been in control of everything for a very long time and he’s not willing to give that up. This book will answer that question. I’ll leave it at that. Lol.

What are 3 words you would use to describe Jack, Valerie and Lucas?

What?!? Three?!? Love is Fear is 95,000 words, I don’t do brevity. Okay…um.

Jack—Vengeful, controlled, unhappy.

Valerie—Sassy, indecisive and stressed!

Lucas—Experienced, smart, ruthless.

What coming up for your series?? Any new projects up on the horizon??

Book 3 will be out in 2012. I’m also finishing a regency male/male erotica which may or may not come out under the Caroline Hanson pen-name and I might finish a short story that’s been hanging around for a bit.

Who has been your best or favorite character to write and why?

Sigh. My favorite character was Marion. And I think that says a lot about me. This book it’s been Rachel because she’s as funny as Val but a hell of a lot bitchier and more amoral.

A la twitter style.. using only 140 characters, describe Love is Darkness!!

Valerie Dearborn wants a cotton candy life, but it’s more like a puffer fish: pointy, unusual, and—if not prepared exactly right—deadly.

Who is your favorite Paranormal Romance Author? Any specific books or series?

I can’t choose one but the book I am waiting for is the JR Ward Quinn and Blay Novella. OMG. The last book was Craazy (extra a so you know JUST how crazy it was!) My mouth was hanging open at points.

Like all great stories, this series has a major love triangle. Do you know who Val will end up with and will it shock your fans?? **I personally don't know what team I'm on, I usually go for the bad boy, but in this case they both are!! lol**

Yeah. That’s really irritating actually. I had wanted it to be a genuine triangle for several books but by the end of the first book I had made some decisions and fallen for one of the characters and that really changed the second book. It didn’t go as I had planned. Curse his hotness!

What is your favorite drink or food to have at a Party?!?!

It’s not classy but it’s real. If you invite me to a party and have Ruffles and Onion Dip, I will not move. I’m like Elaine and Peppermint Schnapps. I see it and think ‘uh oh.’ You don’t really want a picture of onion dip do you? I don’t have an author photo. Yet. I got one done and it was terrible. I’m working on it.


I can't wait to get my hands on Love is Fear!! I will definitely be watching out for your other works in 2012!! Thank you for doing this interview Caroline!! Now for the Giveaway!!! There are 5 Love is Darkness ebooks up for grabs!! That means 5 lucky winners! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below, remember you can *sign in* to rafflecopter either through facebook, or using you name/email! :)

You can find Caroline on her BLOG, TWITTER, FB page and GOODREADS!

Bewitching the Werewolf FREE!! Amazon, Smashwords

Love is Darkness ebook: Amazon, BN.com, Smashwords

Love is Fear (book 2) ebook: Amazon, Smashwords

Read my review for Love is Darkness HERE!!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway