Richelle Mead Spotlight

It was my pleasure to have interviewed Richelle Mead for my Author Spotlight feature recently. Richelle is a paranormal author. Or rather, she is an author of the paranormal! LOL. (Yeah, I know, don't quit my day job.)

Anyway, read on to find out more about Ms. Mead.

Which of your books has been the hardest to write? Why?
My YA book Vampire Academy has actually been the hardest because YA gets put under a lot more scrutiny than adult fiction does. That’s not to say I was forced into writing what I didn’t want to; there are just a lot more guidelines to keep in mind. Plus, it took me a while to realize that teen voices aren’t too much different than adult ones. The writing was slow-going until I accepted that.

What do you feel is your strength as a writer? What do you do best?
I believe hands down that I do dialogue and characterization the best. So much so, in fact, that I sometimes let other details slip through. I’ll get so caught up in some wacky conversation that my editors have to reign me in and say, “Hey, describe the setting already!”

If one of your books was made into a movie, who would play the lead characters? Why?
This alarms a lot of people, but Denise Richards is probably the actress that most resembles Georgina the succubus physically. That wasn’t my intent—just something I noticed one day. As for who could really *play* her personality-wise…hmm, that’s one I’ve got to think on.

Tell me something about you that very few people know.
I love entering contests. It’s like a passive-aggressive response to my deeply-buried thrill-seeking nature. I get the same rush when one of my books goes on submission. Will I win the raffle—or the contract—or won’t I?

What is your favorite romantic movie with a bittersweet ending? What about a happy one?
Wow, it’s actually been a while since I’ve seen a romantic movie. I think my favorite happy ending one would be Amelie, and I’m not just saying that to sound all artsy and stuff. It’s such a wacky and whimsical movie…just the way love should be.

My favorite bittersweet one is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which I’ve only seen once because it’s so heartbreaking. Nonetheless, the movie is amazingly done…and also painfully realistic.

What was your last purchase?
A pair of jeans with sequins on the pockets designed for someone half my age. Yeah, I know.

Is there a skill you don’t have, but wish you did?
I wish I could sing. Correction: I wish I could sing well. I actually break out into song all the time around my house when I’m by myself. My cats seem to be particularly fond of show tunes. Unfortunately, they’re not very astute critics.

If you had to leave Seattle forever and move to another country, which would you choose and why?
I’d move to Canada, specifically Vancouver. Vancouver’s a lot like Seattle, except with better public transportation and night life. Plus, they do all sorts of adorable things in Canada. Like, they put hockey players on their money and teach their children about important political issues and world affairs.

What was the worst job you ever had?
Selling New Age hypnosis classes on the telephone. Please don’t make me elaborate on that. I’ve almost got it blocked out.

I read the blurb for Succubus Blues and noticed the drink reference. What a coincidence! When I’m not writing, I’m pulling espresso at Starbucks. Is your favorite drink the White Chocolate Mocha?
No, but strangely, whenever I write any of the succubus books, I really start craving mochas. When I write about Eugenie in Dark Swan, I crave her vice: Milky Ways. Thank goodness my book about a drug-abusing womanizer never went anywhere—there’s no telling what I’d be into then.
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Heh heh. It's been a while since I interviewed an author due to tight deadlines and my online class, so it's been fun getting back into it, made even more fun by the funny Richelle. Check out her Succubus Blues, out now from Kensington, her blog, and her beautiful website. If you go there, tell me if you don't see a resemblance between the author herself and the heroine on her book cover...