 Born in the Midwest and raised all over the south, today's guest wrote her first story about a class field trip to the zoo at six. A passionate reader since she was 11, her reading interests centered around the dark side of literature. She devoured books about magic, vampires, and werewolves by the dozens. Monsters held a special fascination for her, be they human or beast. And eventually "I love these books" became "I think I can write these books," and she began creating fictional worlds of my own.
She dabbled with short stories all the way through junior high, high school, and college, but didn't begin writing seriously until several years later, when she started her first novel. After four manuscripts, she knew she'd found what she wanted to do with my life.
The Midnight Moon Café has the pleasure to introduce you a new voice in the urban fantasy world, Ms. Rachel Vincent.
MMC: Welcome to the Midnight Moon Café, Rachel. When did you first become interested in writing urban fantasy novels?
Rachel: Thanks! It’s great to be here. Um... my very first novel was sort of an urban fantasy (though it will never see the light of day in its current form), and I wrote it three and a half years ago. I haven’t looked back since.
MMC: Let's talk a little about world-building. How did you come up with your backstory for the Faythe Sander’s series? And how does that setting affect your main characters?
Rachel: Well, when I started Stray, the first novel, I had no idea it would become a series. I started out with nothing but Faythe, who wanted to stay at school, and Marc, who wanted her to come home. That novel was unplotted, so as I wrote, lots of the backstory simply fell into place, especially the reasons for the various chips on Faythe’s shoulders. But about half-way through the book, I got stumped with Marc. I didn’t know what to do with him, and finally I realized that was because I didn’t know him. So I sat down with a new, blank document and wrote out his history. Little of that actually made it into the book, but once I knew who he was, I could write him. And lots of readers say he’s their favorite character.
As for the world-building, there could be no story without it. Until I know what kind of world my characters inhabit, I can’t truly know who they are, because I don’t know what kinds of problems they’re dealing with. What their abilities and disadvantages are. What sorts of conflict they encounter. World-building is vital, and I only hope I’m doing it justice in the werecat books.
 MMC: Now that you mentioned it, tell us a but about your first novel, Stray.
Rachel: Stray is a coming-of-age story, set in a paranormal world. Faythe Sanders, the main character, grew up under an enormous amount of pressure. She was simultaneously coddled and restricted by family members who wanted her to understand how important a role she would play in their future, without stripping her identity from her. When we meet her, Faythe still has a lot to learn about life, and how it isn’t always fair. Over the course of the novel she does a lot of growing up, brought about by her first taste of real problems, and finally learns to take responsibility not only for herself, but for those she cares about.
By the end of the Stray, we’re seeing glimpses of the woman she’ll become: strong, determined, passionate, but still a woman of her own mind.
MMC: How did you come up with the character of Faythe Sanders?
Rachel: Ha! Sometimes I think I didn’t find her so much as she found me. She has a lot of the same impulses I had at her age, driven by passion, but un-tempered by either age or experience, at least in the beginning. But, really, coming up with Faythe was the easy part. Helping her grow has been hard work—but worth every bit of it.
MMC: What was the inspiration for your books?
Rachel: Honestly? The desire to see one of my books in print. Like most writers I know, I’ve had that desire for a very long time. Since junior high, at least. But I kind of lost that vision during and after college, when the "real world" seemed to be calling me. Fortunately, the real world had the wrong number. And really, sometimes I prefer my own imaginary worlds, because at least there I can make sure that ever atrocity is avenged. At least, that’s the goal...
MMC: Rogue came out just two days ago. This is the second in the Faythe Sander’s series, so how does this story continue your series?
 Rachel: Rogue is a book of growth, for both me and Faythe. She continues to mature and her training as an enforcer really helps with that. But at the heart of this story are two mysteries—a string of murders and a series of disappearances—that are obviously but inexplicably connected. Faythe has to find the connection in order to stop them. And in the process, she has to come to terms with her own past, which won’t be easy for anyone involved.
MMC: What do you enjoy most about writing Rogue?
Rachel: I loved writing the fight scenes. I feel like I really get to stretch my wings — or would that be claws? — with those. And I loved writing the ending. It’s not exactly a cliff hanger, but it definitely ends on a note of tension. And hopefully anticipation... But no peeking!
MMC: What challenges have you faced in the process of writing Rogue?
Rachel: On the technical side, with Rogue, I worked really hard on tightening my prose. My editor and I cut and tightened several times, trying really hard to make the book better without losing any of the story.
But regarding the creative aspect, I gave myself anxiety attacks trying to really nail one character’s dialogue. He’s bitter, and very, very angry—with good reason—and I needed to establish that without crossing the line into melodrama. I guess we’ll know soon whether or not I succeeded... ;-)
MMC: What’s your favorite aspect of your books?
Rachel: The emotional aspect: Faythe’s interaction with her friends and family. No question. Faythe works really hard to be happy, but every time she thinks she’s almost there, circumstance sticks a foot out and trips her up. I love exploring her relationship with her parents, and with Marc, and even with her brothers. She has four of them, and has a different relationship with each one. There isn’t a member of her friends-and-family circle she hasn’t been upset with at some point, but in the end, she would die to defend any one of them. And vice versa.
MMC: Let's say you've just landed a movie deal, and you get to pick the actress who'll play the heroine from your latest book. Who would you pick and why?
Rachel: Someone to play Faythe... Um, I think my top choice would be Megan Fox. I loved her in Transformers. And she has dark hair and pale eyes like Faythe, so I don’t think she’d be too much of a stretch, visually.
MMC: Are there more books coming out on this series? Can you give us a preview?
Rachel: Yes! Pride will be out in March ’09, and trust me, you don’t want to miss this one. In Pride, I had to take a step back from Faythe’s life on the ranch and her job as an enforcer to deal with the trouble she finds herself in at the end of Rogue. So Pride is the first (and so far only) book that doesn’t take place at least partly in Texas. In this one, we’ll see lots of Pride politics, escalating tension, plenty of action, and more than a little heartache. And a couple of fascinating new characters.
And for once, Faythe will use her mouth to get herself out of trouble. I love this book. It’s my editor’s favorite so far too.
MMC: Now to the fun questions. What's something that your readers may not know about you?
Rachel: Um... I carry a flash drive in my pocket at all times. Seriously. From the time I get up to the time I go to bed. That flash drive contains the most current version of every book I’ve ever written, and I keep it on me so that I won’t lose any work if there’s a fire or a tornado and I have to flee in a hurry. Also, I’m convinced that my creative output is directly proportionate to my chocolate intake.
MMC: What would you say are your three passions in life?
Rachel: Family. I’m the oldest of five and I have a large extended family, and most of us live in Oklahoma or Texas, so we see each other in large numbers several times a year.
Writing, obviously. I hardly know what to do with myself when I’m not writing.
Reading. If I have a free moment, chances are that I have a book in my hand. Though it seems like I have less and less free time each year, unfortunately.
MMC: Do you have any obsessions? Collections?
Rachel: I’m obsessed with the internet. I’m on all the time. I’m also obsessed with making my daily word-count goal. Otherwise I get nothing done. And I love chocolate. My current chocolate obsession is Lindor Truffles. You don’t want to know how many bags I’ve gone through in the past two months. Seriously.
MMC: Can you give us an idea of what your writing/working area looks like?
Rachel: Yes, though it may be a bit disappointing. I write in a recliner in my den, with nothing but my laptop and a lap desk. I don’t use a desk, or any actual, pen-and-paper files. Everything’s on my computer.
When I’m plotting, I use a big white board with color-coded post-it notes, and when it’s not in use, I just stand it against the wall behind my recliner.
MMC: Do you have a newsletter, blog, or website where fans can read about you and your books?
Rachel: Yes! My website is: rachelvincent.com. And I maintain a very active blog (with monthly book-and-chocolate giveaways!) at urbanfantasy.blogspot.com and a Yahoo group full of reader discussions. I also have a LiveJournal and a MySpace account, and you can get to either of those from the contact page on my website.
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Contest Time!
Ms. Vincent's second book, Rogue, came out on Tuesday, April 1. Here's a sneak peek:
 Blurb: Okay, so cats don't always land on their feet
I know that better than most. Since rejoining the Pride, I've made big decisions and even bigger mistakes: the kind paid for with innocent lives. As the first and only female enforcer, I have plenty to prove to my father, the Pride, and myself. And with murdered toms turning up in our territory, I'm working harder than ever , though I always find the energy for a little after-hours recreation with Marc, my partner both on and off duty.
But not all my mistakes are behind me. We're beginning to suspect that the dead are connected to a rash of missing human women, and that they can all be laid at my feet--two or four, take your pick. And one horrible indiscretion may yet cost me more than I can bear...
The author will be giving away a copy of Rogue among those who post in comments. This contest will end tomorrow at mid-day.Labels: interviews |
Please meet Hart. He's visiting the Cafe from out of town. See, he was talking to his cousin Darko, our illustrious MMC bartender, and he was excited to learn one of his favorite authors, Michele Hauf, will be interviewed for tomorrow's Midnight Brew. He had to come by and see her for himself. He's hoping you'll show up as well! 
