Today we bring you another very special author spotlight on The Book Smugglers – this time with the delightful paranormal romance/urban fantasy author Lori Devoti!
Lori is the author of the Amazons series starring two different honest to goodness Amazons…in a modern day setting. The series so far has two titles to its name: Amazon Ink and Amazon Queen.
Meet Mel: Business owner. Dedicated mom. Natural-born Amazon.It’s been ten years since Melanippe Saka left the Amazon tribe in order to create a normal life for her daughter, Harmony. True, running a tattoo parlor in Madison, Wisconsin, while living with your Amazon warrior mother and priestess grandmother is not everyone’s idea of normal, but Mel thinks she’s succeeded at blending in as human.
Turns out she’s wrong. Someone knows all about her, someone who’s targeting young Amazon girls, and no way is Mel going to let Harmony become tangled in this deadly web. With her mother love in overdrive, Ms. Melanippe Saka is quite a force…even when she’s facing a barrage of distractions — including a persistent detective whose interest in Mel goes beyond professional, a sexy tattoo artist with secrets of his own, and a seriously angry Amazon queen who views Mel as a prime suspect. To find answers, Mel will have to do the one thing she swore she’d never do: embrace her powers and admit that you can take the girl out of the tribe…but you can’t take the tribe out of the girl.
Being an Amazon ruler just became a royal pain.Amazon queen Zery Kostovska has never questioned tribe traditions. After all, these rules have kept the tribe strong for millennia and enabled them to live undetected, even in modern-day America. Zery is tough, fair, commanding—the perfect Amazon leader.At least, she was. A new high priestess with a penchant for secrecy and technology is threatening Zery’s rule. Plus, with the discovery of the Amazon sons, males with the same skills as their female counterparts, even Zery can’t deny that the tribe must change. But how? Some want to cooperate with the sons. Others believe brutal new leadership is needed—and are willing to kill to make it happen.
Once, Zery’s word was law. Now, she has no idea who to trust, especially with one powerful Amazon son making her question all her instincts. For Zery, tribe comes first, but the battle drawing near is unlike any she’s faced before . . . and losing might cost her both the tribe and her life.
To celebrate her new release, Amazon Queen, we are having the wonderful Lori Devoti over for an interactive Q&A and a chance to win her books! We have TEN copies of Amazon Queen up for grabs. Entry is easy and simple, per usual – just leave a comment here asking Lori a question (about her series, her writing process, secret Wonder Woman obsessions, etc). The contest is open to all, and will run until Saturday, April 17th at 11:59PM (PST). Good luck, and let the questions begin.
Please and give it up for Lori Devoti!
Hi, everyone! I’m excited to be here and ready to answer any questions you may have. My Amazon series (Amazon Ink, 2009 and Amazon Queen, coming April 27th) is near and dear to my heart, but don’t think you have to keep your questions to them. I can talk writing, reality TV, books, kids and dogs until your ears bleed. I’m also in the middle of a kitchen remodel, the third we’ve done ourselves, and can whine with the best of them about the necessity of exercising after 40. Hit me!
Lori Devoti grew up in southern Missouri and attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where she earned a Bachelor of Journalism. The author of two contemporary romances and half-a-dozen paranormal romances, Lori made her fantasy debut last year with AMAZON INK.
You can read more about Lori online at her website and her blog.
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70 Responses to Interactive Q&A and Giveaway with Lori Devoti
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Is there any special music, show, anything that helps you focus. I always like a little noise in the background whether it’s music or the TV, so I’m curious as to other’s writing habits.
Dottie
I don’t know if anyone has asked this question already but although I know very little about the ancient Amazons, I do recall reading that they actually cut of obe of their breasts and also that they had special rules for the conduct of men in their sociaty. Is this correct ? Did you come across this in any of your research >
Thanks for the giveaway.
Carol T
Speaking of reality TV, what is your can’t miss show? I used to be a fan of reality TV, wouldn’t miss Survivor, Big Brother, and The Amazing Race, but I got tired of them all, don’t watch any of them now except House Hunters – can’t miss that one.
I haven’t heard of these books before but they really sound great and are going on my must read list.
What made you decide to go with urban fantasy instead of paranormal romance?
How much influence did the portrayals of Amazons in TV/movies effect your characters? I’m a huge Xena: Warrior Princess fan, did you ever see the show?
How many books do you plan on having in this series?
Just popping in to say S&S has posted an excerpt from Amazon Queen if anyone is interested. http://ow.ly/1xtaz
I’ll check back later on questions–I’m off to jog.
Oh, except one thing. I did watch Wonder Woman, I just wasn’t a particular fan…but Xena! I loved Xena!
Congrats on the release! I just saw a post about your book on another blog.
Amazons are something I don’t think I’ve read about in paranormal/urban fantasy so that alone has piqued my interest.
My question for you is have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published as of yet?
Ok I have to ask what’s made you go through three kitchen remodels?
Mm… Questions like this are hard. I have many but I don’t want to ask silly ones.
And I promise never to ask “where do your ideas come from?” lol.
Really, though, I’m wondering if you have any particular tactics to get through the first draft of a novel? Especially around the middle right after you’ve got that honeymoon feeling wearing off but you haven’t kicked into the “yay, things are coming together” phase? I hope that makes some sort of sense.
PS I know as an author, you don’t get a lot of say in this, but I still have to really really compliment you on the cover art of your books. I’d pick them up from a B&N shelf… if we had B&N here, lol.
Hello! I’ve not read any fiction about Amazons, but I was wondering what you think of the gruesome parts of the old Amazon legends, for example, the self-mutilation?
I don’t know if anyone has asked this yet, but are you a plotter or a pantser when it comes to writing your novels?
I am just curious about your childhood. Is there a genre that you really wanted to write about, but have not yet done so? And will you do so in the future to broaden your horizons, so to speak?
You book sounds amazing and I can’t wait to read it.
icewoman96 at gmail dot com
Lori,
People have probably asked this, but how does a girl from Missouri end up in Madison?
I have lived in Wisconsin my whole life, and love it, but I don’t know a lot of people who choose the frozen tundra!
Thanks!
Katie
Do have any ideas for future books, anything covering something as unique as Amazonians?
Hi Lori! I have to blushingly confess that somehow your Amazon series flew under my radar, so I’m very read you were featured here and I discovered youa nd your series, added them to my TBR list! I love mythology, so I’m curious to see how you combined something of the old mythological world and traditions with the modern urban setting, it sounds exciting!
My question would be 1) is there any other genre you’d like to try yourself out at? 2) What are your future projects/plans, if you can talk about them?
Thank you very much!
Hi Ms Devoti
The Amazon books sound absoloutely amazing, I really cannot wait to read them!
heres my question, it’s pretty simple but must be asked: Do you find yourself writing yourself int acharacter, like what you dream you could be? While you’re writing do you find yourself imagining that you are your protagonist? Does imagination help with your writing. I think the main question coming out of this is; do you write for your readers or do you write for yourself.
Ok so thats about 10 questions. Sorry! Haha
Ahhh double posted, because I posted it anonymously last time accidentally!
Hi Ms Devoti
The Amazon books sound absoloutely amazing, I really cannot wait to read them!
heres my question, it’s pretty simple but must be asked: Do you find yourself writing yourself int acharacter, like what you dream you could be? While you’re writing do you find yourself imagining that you are your protagonist? Does imagination help with your writing. I think the main question coming out of this is; do you write for your readers or do you write for yourself.
Ok so thats about 10 questions. Sorry! Haha
Hi Lori,
Which were your favourite books from 2009? Which books are the ones you are most looking forward to in 2010?
Lori – Congrats on the book release. Its on my wishlist. You mentioned in a previous post that you liked the Uglies series. How do you feel about the YA genre? Do you think books labeled YA are at an advantage or disadvantage?