A Chat with an Author: Angie Fox

I saw the blurb for The Accidental Demon Slayer online (at The Good The Bad and The Unread) and was immediately curious about it – I even added it to my wish list. Then I got an ARC from the publishers and was extremely happy. After having such a fun time reading it, I had to contact Angie Fox and ask for a chat.

So without further ado, a chat with Angie Fox:

The Book Smugglers: The Accidental Demon Slayer is your first book and it is about to be released. You must be really excited right now! Can you share with us how ADS got to be published?

Angie: The Accidental Demon Slayer started off as a kernel of an idea that amused me. What if a straight laced preschool teacher suddenly learns she’s a demon slayer? And what if she has to learn about her powers on the run from a nasty, fifth level demon? Ohhh and wouldn’t it be fun if she’s running with her long-lost Grandma’s gang of geriatric biker witches?

I started writing and let the story evolve based on the characters and that central issue of what happens when a reluctant heroine is thrust into a series of extraordinary situations. And I knew the story was working when I couldn’t wait to get back to the keyboard every day. I finished the novel, sent it off on a Thursday and my editor bought it the following Tuesday. It was a real shock going from figuring out the last chapter to having a book contract in less than a week, but I’m enjoying every minute of the ride.

The Book Smugglers: Can you tell us about Lizzie Brown, your main character? Former primary school teacher turned Accidental Demon Slayer – she goes through a major change in this book. What else have you got in store for her?

Angie: Oh I have lots more in store for Lizzie. These next few weeks, I’m finishing up on edits to the second book in the series, called The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers (due out in April 2009). In it, Lizzie decides she’s going to learn everything about her powers, and at the same time, write the proverbial book on demon slaying. As you might have guessed – things don’t quite go according to plan.

The Book Smugglers: You have made some interesting choices in your book, adding some twists to the paranormal genre: we have a shape shifter that is a Griffin, a talking dog, a demon scientist and the best of all, witches in motorcycles that carry their spells in jars – how did you come up with all of that?

Angie: It made me smile. Seriously. I think writing needs to be fun and if I’m having a ball with geriatric biker witches who keep their spells in recycled Smuckers jars, hopefully my readers will enjoy it too.

A prime example of this is what happened with Pirate, the dog. When I sat down to write The Accidental Demon Slayer, I had no notes about a sidekick for my heroine. But in the second chapter, when Lizzie learns she’s a demon slayer and there are some very scary, very angry creatures on her tail, she takes comfort in her dog. As I was writing, I thought, ‘This is a sweet moment. Now how do I throw her off?’

I made the dog say something to her. Nothing big. After all, he’s only after the fettuccine from last week. And he knows exactly where Lizzie can find it (back of the fridge, to the left of the lettuce crisper, behind the mustard). It tickled me, so I did it. Thanks to her unholy powers, Lizzie can now understand her smart-mouthed Jack Russell Terrier. Pirate can say and do things that Lizzie can’t. He’s such a kick to write. And my editor loves him too. Pirate made the cover of the book – front and back. Not bad for a terrier.

The Book Smugglers: This is the first in a series of books, do you have the entire series planned out or are you working on a per book basis? What can we expect next?

Angie: Boy I would love to fudge and say I plan everything, but I don’t. The second book, The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers is written. Heck, I thought I had that one planned and it surprised me, especially when one of the surliest biker witches found love (on her own – the story evolved that way and I went with it). I do have a general plan for the third book in the series, but it will probably grow and change as I write.

The Book Smugglers: Speaking of witches in motorcycles – what would your biker witch name be?

Angie: Good question! How about Outlaw Angie? I’ve always wanted to be a rule breaker.

Oh and shameless plug alert: You can get your very own biker witch name at

http://quiz.angiefox.com/

The Book Smugglers: In your biography, you mention that as a kid you would have an emergency flashlight on hand in case you reached an unstoppable point in a book. What were some of the most irresistible books growing up?

Angie: Any and all of the Nancy Drew books, as well as Encyclopedia Brown. There was a series called The Mad Scientist’s Club that I adored. It was about these kids who would use their ingenuity to outsmart the bad guys (usually adults). As I grew older, I enjoyed Barbara Michaels (books like Be Buried in the Rain and Shattered Silk), Edgar Allen Poe and Ann Rice.

The Book Smugglers: You have a full time job as a copywriter, and yet still make the time to write fiction novels. What’s an average writing day like for you?

Angie: Well, I have three hats I wear: I work as a freelance advertising and promotions writer, I write books and I take care of my two small kids. I get most of my work done during my kids’ afternoon naps and at night, but there really is no average day for me. If I’m on a book deadline and have freelance deadlines, I may get up at 4:00 a.m. to write for a few hours before the kids wake up. That’s why I absolutely, positively must love what I’m writing or it would be too easy to hit the snooze. But when a story grabs hold of me, I have to get up, I have to make time and it’s a kick to get it down on paper.

The Book Smugglers: What are some of your influences/favorite books and authors?

Angie: Elizabeth Peters was the first author I read that made me want to try and write a book of my own. I have all of her Amelia Peabody books. Peters has such a way with words, such an amazing turn of phrase. And you can tell she loves what she’s writing. I thought: I want to do that too.

The Book Smugglers: What are you reading right now (and revisions/edits do not count!)?

Angie: I’m one of those people who always has a book in her purse. Right now, I’m addicted to the Sookie Stackhouse series. I loved Undead and Unworthy (although Undead and Unwed will always be my favorite). I read Katie MacAlister, Tate Hallaway, Stephanie Rowe, Michelle Rowen, Lynsay Sands, Elizabeth Peters, Laurell K Hamilton, JR Ward. I just discovered Kathy Love’s “Young Brothers” books (yes, I’ve been buried under a rock). I’m blowing through those right now. That’s actually kind of fun to know I have the next three books already on my shelf. I also have Erin McCarthy’s vegas vampires, the latest Michele Bardsley and Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series on my ever-growing TBR shelf. And I just read a really great cozy mystery by Rhys Bowen.

A big thank you to Angie Fox for stopping by at The Book Smugglers.

Angie Fox is the author of the award-winning Accidental Demon Slayer series. Critics call it, “fresh, unique and larger than life,” Angie simply calls it fun. That’s because she gets a kick out of surprising herself, and her readers, with plenty of plot twists, magical moments and sizzling romance. The first book in the series is called The Accidental Demon Slayer. The second, due out in April 2009, is The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers. Visit Angie at www.angiefox.com.

The Accidental Demon Slayer comes out July 29th.

And we are giving away a copy of The Accidental Demon Slayer! In order to enter, just leave a comment following this post! The contest will be open until Saturday, July 26th at MIDNIGHT (Pacific Standard Time, GMT -8). We will randomly select (using our wicked Sorting Hat) and announce the winner Sunday afternoon. Good luck!