It’s great to have another author interview here at Book Whispers! Especially since it’s the talented Nikki Jefford! I had the pleasure of reading her debut title Entangled and now am I huge fan! (Look for my review tomorrow!)
Shera (Book Whispers): In your own words, introduce yourself. Nikki Jefford: Book addict and romance junkie stranded on San Juan Island (WA) with a fabulous Frenchman and wonderful Westie.
BW: Your book Entangled revolves around witches,
NJ: For TV: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Growing up, Diana Wynne Jones (Howl’s Moving Castle) sucked me into the world of fantasy and magic along with Matilda by Roald Dahl.
BW: Is there a plan in future books to have more than just witches in the storyline? Like vampires, werewolves, or some other crazy supernatural creatures?
NJ: The Spellbound series sticks to magic, but I have a vampire (slayer) series I’m releasing in the fall. It’s much darker than Spellbound and puts a new spin on how vampires originated. I had a beta reader compare it to Divergent when she read it last October. I’d never heard of Divergent so I read it (loved it!) and was honored by the comparison. Divergent raised the bar, which is why I’ve put aside the book for more editing.
BW: I loved the wicked sister approach to the storyline, especially since they’re twins. Was there a point when you were writing Entangled when you thought you’d gone too far?
NJ: Unfortunately, siblings can do some pretty horrendous things in real life. I’ll never forget when Amy March threw Jo’s manuscript into the fire in Little Women. I had a similar experience with my little sis, only she threw my first laptop on the floor. (At least in that case I only lost the laptop.)
When it came to the Perez twins, I stepped back and let them have at it. Some readers might be shocked when Gray wakes up from “the switch” in a boy’s bed, but that scene was a lot worse in my head. (I’ll spare you the details.)
BW: Are there plans for more books in the Entangled series past the second book?
NJ: Yes! There will be three books total and believe it or not they only get crazier.
BW: What are some of your favorite titles in the Urban Fantasy genre?
NJ: My favorite books at the moment combine action and adventure with the mystical. One of my favorite examples is Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. I’m also enjoying the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare. And, though nothing mystical is involved, I devoured The Hunger Games trilogy at the start of the year.
BW: When you're in a writing jam, is there a particular author you look to for inspiration? One that makes you ask, "What would ‘insert author's name here’ do?"
NJ: <laughs> I have the opposite problem: Too many ideas and not enough time. I’ve barely finished a novel before the next one starts writing itself in my head. Although Entangled is my first published novel, I wrote six practice novels before that and have been penning novellas, short stories, and articles all my life.
BW: Are there certain kinds of scenes that you find are easier to write, while others just seem to come easier?
NJ: I find kiss scenes tricky. They’re hard to pull off without sounding forced or cheesy. Heated exchanges on the other hand are my specialty. <wink>
BW: Between a vampire love interest and a werewolf love interest which do you prefer? (What team are you on? Team Vampire or Team Werewolf.)
NJ: Team Vampire!
BW: Go wild! Let us know something funny about you, share something that's on your mind, or anything else that's important about your books.
NJ: How about something random? I once snuck three hamsters on the plane ride from Seattle to Anchorage. Two escaped. One wandered up to first class where a woman screamed and pulled her feet onto her chair. The steward had to make an announcement that a second hamster was on the loose causing hilarity to ensue. I got all my hamsters back, at least, and at the end of the flight the captain came on to say: “Please remain in your seats until we have come to a complete stop. This includes all women, children… and hamsters.” My poor mother!
Giveaway:
Entangled by Nikki Jefford
Twin witches Graylee and Charlene Perez agree on one rule: No dating warlocks.
Not so easy when a certain rogue warlock is convinced he and Graylee belong together and will use anything, including magic, to try and impress Gray. When Charlene’s boyfriend dumps her, she threatens to kill either herself or the girl who stole Blake. Somehow, Gray ends up dead.
A Resurrection Spell Gone Wrong:
Two months after dying, Gray wakes up in Charlene’s body. As a witch, can anyone blame her mother for attempting to bring her daughter back to life? Only now Gray’s stuck sharing her sister’s body 50/50 in twenty-four hour shifts.
The race is on for Gray to find a way back inside her own body before Charlene purges her from existence. Raj McKenna is rumored to meddle in the black arts, not to mention he’s after Gray’s invisibility spell and worse – her heart. But Raj might be the only one powerful enough to save Gray from fading away forever.
The giveaway includes one free ebook copy of Entangled and a beautiful Entangled book mark. This giveaway is open up internationaly!
- As mentioned above the giveaway is open internationally.
- Fill out the form below. (Any information collected will be promptly deleted once the winner is chosen!)
- Leave a comment for me or the author!
