Author Interview: Erin Bedford

Erin Bedford

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I don’t remember when I first wanted to be a writer. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember so I feel like I’ve always been a writer and it’s not really something I can stop being all willy nilly.

Do you write in a particular genre or do you like to bounce around to different ones?

Right now I write Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.

Is this / Are these the genre(s) that you also like to read?

For the most part. I read almost about anything but these are the ones I like the most.

Do you have a favorite genre to write?

I don’t have a particular genre that is my favorite. I do like writing some kind of romance element into all of my books though.

Do you have a favorite genre to read?

My favorite genre to read is paranormal romance, anything with sexy alpha males and sassy heroines.

What author has most influenced your life?

Rebecca Hamilton is one of my favorite authors. Not only is she an awesome writer, but she gives back to others and I hope to one day be able to help authors on as big of scale as she does.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to read and play video games. Anything with a great story line will have me obsessing over it forever.

What is your writing process?

It starts with an idea. That idea is then rolled around in my head for a while until I feel like I have the essence of the story down. Then comes the technical bits of outlining and character building. I don’t always actually follow my outline and sometimes my characters have a mind of their own and end up better than I planned.

Do you have a writing routine?

Right now it’s a right whenever I can squeeze it in between my day job and taking care of my one year old.

How long does it take you to write a book?

The first draft takes about a month, then the revising takes another month or two.

Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your books?

Any and everywhere.

What's next for you/What are you working on now?

I am currently working on two books. Each one a sequel to the previous one in their series.

Can you tell us 5 random things about yourself?

1. I have a full range singing voice.

2. I was in show choir for 5 years.

3. I have 5 tattoos.

4. My day job is a computer programmer.

5. I once really wanted to be a flight attendant.

Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans/readers?

Thank you all for your support. You make all the ups and downs of writing an exciting and challenging adventure.

Speed Round!

1. Favorite Food: Pizza

2. Favorite Color: Purple

3. Favorite Animal: Dragon

4. Favorite Book: Ella Enchanted

5. Favorite Movie: Labyrinth

6. Favorite Drink: Dr. Pepper

7. Favorite Restaurant: Wall of China

BOOK SPOTLIGHT

Title: Chasing Rabbits

Author: Erin Bedford

ISBN: 0692656391

Page count: 324

Genre: New Adult Urban Fantasy

Price: $2.99

Author Bio:

Erin Bedford is a new fantasy & paranormal romance author, a computer programmer by day, and a hobby hoarder. She enjoys playing RPG games alongside her husband as well as inventing nonsensical games for her daughter's amusement. Erin lives in the Omaha Nebraska Region and dreams of one day moving where the word snow is non-existent. Creating fantastical worlds have always been a secret passion of hers and she couldn't imagine writing any story without some kind of lovey-dovey or smexy goodness in it.

Blurb:

Alice was wrong – Wonderland wasn’t so wonderful after all.

Kat never expected to be back in her hometown, but when house sitting turns into a mad rabbit chase, Kat finds herself with a whole new set of problems. A two headed bird with a Game of Thrones obsession, a party full of tea addicts, and a Cheshire Cat who could seduce the pants off her grandma? And if the citizens weren’t bad enough their prince was off his rocker.

This wasn’t your run of the mill Wonderland. This was the Fae world, where rules are rules, and some things are exactly as they seem.

How long did it take to write the book?

This one took me about three months to write and I was still changing things up until a month before it released.

What inspired you to write the book?

This one is easy. Katy Perry’s music video Wide Awake started it all!

Did you do any research, and if so, what did that involve?

Well since it is an Alice in Wonderland retelling I had to do a lot of checking for copyrights and characters in the story. Not all of them made it into this one, but there may be appearances in the next books in the series. :-)

What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

That anything is possible and you have to see with more than your eyes to truly know what is going on around you.

Where can we go to buy your book?

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/ChasingRabbits16

B&N: http://smarturl.it/ChasingRabbitsBN

Any other links or info you'd like to share? Chasing Rabbits Facebook Fan Page: http://facebook.com/chasingrabbitsfantasy

Excerpt from book:

Before I could step through the rippling glass Chess grabbed me about the waist and pulled me flush against him. I opened my mouth to protest, even though it was hardly the time for flirting, but my words were swallowed by his mouth on mine. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was as if he were trying to eat me whole. His hands were splayed along my back and arms, and my skin heated from every inch he touched.

His tongue was rough, causing my mouth to tingle as he searched out my own. He pulled the appendage into his mouth, sucking on it hard enough for me to jerk back, nicking it on one of his sharpened canines. The blood from the wound seemed to spark something in him because a low rumble came from his throat. He pressed a hand to the back of my head to keep me from pulling away as his mouth worked on the wound.

The feeling of his mouth on mine made me lightheaded in the best of ways. In an effort to stay afloat, my hands gripped on to his vest and pulled him closer. I admit I was more than a little disappointed when my movement caused him to pull away.

My chest heaved as I tried to regain my breathing. He leaned his forehead against mine, his own breath coming out in pants. At least, I wasn’t the only one affected.

“What was that for?”

A cracking sound broke our little moment up and Chess took a step back. The billowing fog from the forest leaked in under the wardrobe door. All thoughts of Chess’s kiss fled my mind as terror began to overwhelm me. I didn’t want to know what lied behind that door.

“You need to go now, Kat.” He ushered me to the mirror before turning back to the door.

“Wait!” I tugged on his arm. “What about you?”

“Who? Me?” Chess gave a coy smile that didn’t reach his heated eyes. “I’m just a cat.”

“Are you mad? Come with us!” My voice became desperate as the door banged open. And then there was silence.

The light from the bedroom was gone. Inside the door laid only darkness. It was the kind of darkness you were afraid to look into for fear of someone looking back. I knew in the pit of my stomach bad things would happen if that darkness found me.

Chess turned to me once again and brushed his lips against the shell of my ear. My eyes were focused so much on the approaching darkness that I almost didn’t hear what he said. I frowned and my brow furrowed at his words, but before I could question him he shoved me through the mirror’s surface.

Do you have a Favorite Quote from the book or series?

“All of life’s a game. Only some of us are lucky enough to know whose playing. Would you like to play with me, my little kitty Kat?” – Cheshire S. Cat

What is in store next for you?

I am currently working on book two in the series and hope to have it out in September. All I can tell you is that it is called Chasing Cats and like its name sake will feature more of our sexy feline Cheshire S. Cat.

How much of yourself is reflected in this book (for example, professional expertise, personality, or other), and how?

I found a lot of my personality seeped into the main character Kat, such as her sassy mouth and frequent use of the f word. Also several scenarios in the book that happened to the main character actually happened in real life.

Tell us about your cover - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

I wanted something that portrayed the fantasy of the book but also the sensuality of it.Sarah Anderson is my cover artist and she is fabulous! I would recommend her to anyone looking for a unique cover that matches your book to the T.

Why should we read this book (or series) and what sets you apart from the rest? / What makes your book/series unique?

Chasing Rabbits is a wonderland and fae mash up giving the story a unique twist to the story we all know and love. It is dark, sexy, and funny as hell. You will not be bored for one minute of it.

Who would you recommend this book to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

This book is ideally for those who are 17 and older. There is quite a bit of cursing from the main character and some sexual scenarios. There are some dark aspect to the book, so it is not for the faint of heart.

Chasing Rabbits and Flames of Auriel will both be on sale for $0.99 on Amazon beginning tomorrow, June 15, 2016.

Thank you for stopping by! Check out Erin's books and sites, but don't forget to come back here for more author interviews.