Interview + Giveaway with Denise Agnew!

WELCOME TO THE BLOG, DENISE! :)

Suspenseful, erotic, edgy, thrilling, romantic, adventurous. All these words describe Denise A. Agnew's award-winning novels. Romantic Times Book Review Magazine called her romantic suspense novels "top-notch" and her erotic romance PRIMORDIAL received a Top Pick from Romantic Times Book Review Magazine.

Denise's record proves that with paranormal, time travel, romantic comedy, contemporary, historical, erotic romance, and romantic suspense novels under her belt, she enjoys writing about a diverse range of subjects.

The fact she has lived in Colorado, Hawaii, and the United Kingdom has given her a lifetime of ideas. Her experiences with archaeology and archery have crept into her work, as well as numerous travels through the UK and Ireland.

Denise lives in Arizona with her real life hero, her husband.

 

 

 
Where to Find Denise:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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The_Book_Queen: Hi Denise! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Denise: First off, thanks so much for having me as a guest on your blog. I very much appreciate it! I’m the author of about forty-five romance novels in a wide variety of subgenres such as romantic suspense, paranormal romance, historical romance, fantasy romance, erotic romance, and contemporary. You name it, I’ve written it. Well, okay, I haven’t written science fiction romance. But I never say never. I describe myself as genre-hopping because I write whatever blows my skirt up. I’m most interested in writing the story that calls to me at the moment. I lean toward writing spooky stories and those with a lot of suspense woven into the fabric of the story.

TBQ: If you couldn't be a writer, what would you be instead?

D: Oh, man, that’s tough! Probably an archaeologist, or perhaps I’d work in some capacity at a university. I worked over fourteen years at two different universities before I became a full time writer. I also studied a lot of psychology, so who knows what direction I could go. (Wow--hey, at least you have options, right? And I think that would be very cool to be an archaeologist!)

TBQ: Your newest release, Shadows Wait, came out on Halloween and kicks off your Asylum Trilogy. Can you tell us a little bit about this book, and why readers are going to love it?

D: In Shadows Wait the reader is introduced to haunted Tranquil View Asylum and its dark legacy that started when it was built in 1888. The story is set in 1908, and we meet Lilly Luna, a young woman who was born in the asylum after her mother was committed there. Lilly “sees dead people” and talks to them—she’s essentially a medium. She’s tormented by friendly and evil ghosts. She falls in love with Morgan Healy, a doctor who realizes his own family has a sinister secret only when he delves deeper in the mysteries of the asylum and makes a deep romantic connection to Lilly. They come from entirely different worlds, and what brings them together is strong and fragile at the same time. Lilly is shunned because she’s perfectly sane, but she understands the insane and the evil that permeates the asylum. Lilly is vulnerable because she’s spent so much time in this insular world, and she educated herself. Imagine the difficulties of a grown woman who understands evil and the paranormal, but at the same time hasn’t experienced much of the normal outside world. Mix that with her romantic feelings for a brooding man with secrets of his own. There’s something of the “gothic” about this story, too.

The next two books (Shadows Rise and Shadows Fall) bring two more couples into danger, one in 1918 and the last in contemporary times.

Readers who like their reads “different” and appreciate dark paranormal may love this book. Those readers hungering for paranormal that doesn’t feature shape shifters, vampires or werewolves may also enjoy the entire trilogy.

TBQ: Are there other genres you would like to write about?

 

D: As I mentioned above I’ve written in almost every romance genre, but I’d also like to write straight horror. Although even if I did that there’s a good chance there would be a romance in the story.

TBQ: I know we all hate this question, author and reader alike. :) But I have to ask: What are a few of your favorite books and/or authors?

D: I love Dean Koontz’s The Good Guy, Dark Fall, Lightning, Phantoms, The Taking and so many of his other books. He writes fantastic female heroines and his books are truly not formula. He blends genres. His characters are wonderful, and he does feature romances in some of his books. As for romance novelists I have a ton of favorites and can’t possibly list them all.

TBQ: Have you ever fallen for a hero, either from one of your books or from another author? If so, who is he and what drew you to him?

D: Oh, man! Another tough question. There are so many. I’d have to say the hero in The Good Guy by Dean Koontz is awesome. He isn’t what you think he is. He’s this guy just trying to do the right thing by the heroine, and yet there is so much more to him than meets the eye. And I just love how you don’t find that out until the end…you don’t know his entire history or his true background right away. I like it when an author trickles out the clues. More than anything I appreciate a hero who is complicated. He isn’t just an alpha or beta kinda guy who acts one way. He has layers and isn’t perfect. I think a hero in a romance novel should take his own journey in the story and not just be there to act as a romantic interest for the heroine. A hero who can show his vulnerabilities with his strengths and isn’t perfect is awesome.

TBQ: What's next-- Can you tell us a little bit about your upcoming releases or WIP?

D: Next up is Blackout, which is available probably in February 2013. I’m describing it as a sort of post apoc, suspense, paranormal contemporary romance. It features a heroine who survived a natural disaster before, and now a solar flare throws the world into chaos. She’s had ten years to rebuild her life after her ex-husband’s suicide, and her world is now getting tipped upside down again. The ex-marine federal marshal hero has secrets he doesn’t want to reveal to the heroine—things that will surely drive her away. But there’s a lot going on in this story. The grid might go down, and then there’s haunted house that draws the hero and heroine into its dark world. I consider it a mash up of genres, and I loved creating it. I’m also working on the third novella in a military romance trilogy (Gunn Brothers Trilogy) that is also suspense/thriller oriented. Plus…I’m finishing up a historical romance trilogy that features dimension travel. You could say I’m a busy lady. J 

 

SPEED ROUND:

A day on a secluded island OR a day at the spa?

Secluded island.

Reading a spicy romance novel OR a sweet “my-heart-skips-a-beat” one?

Spicy.

Which would you rather have an affair with: a sexy highlander OR a devilishly handsome English lord?

Highlander.

Hot summer days OR cold winter nights?

Cold winter  nights.

Where would your dream house be: in the city, where all the action is OR nestled in the mountain where you can enjoy the quiet and the wilderness?

Mountains.

If you could live in any time period, past or future, which one would it be?

I’d live in the Belle Epoque…the time between 1890 and 1914 essentially.

Cover Lover OR Blurb Fan?

Blurb.

Steamy Novella OR Sweet Novel? (aka, Quickie or Slow Build Up?)

Well…I like slow build up erotic romance so steamy but with substance. J I want it all.

 

 

TBQ: And finally, tell us 3 unique/wacky/fun things about yourself:

 

I’m an Honorary Army Mountain Ranger, and if I told you how I got it…well, then I’d have to kill ya.

I wrote gothic romances as a teenager…all on notebook paper.

The first true horror novel I read was at eleven years old. The Exorcist.

 

 

The_Book_Queen: Thanks so much for stopping by, Denise, and please know that you are welcome back anytime! Do you have any questions for our readers—something to spark a good discussion? :)

 

Denise has a few questions for you!

1. Are there genres you’re getting tired of seeing out there…things that you feel are saturating the reading experience.

 2. What draws you to an author’s website the most?

 3. Do you follow authors on Facebook and Twitter?

 4. Any The Walking Dead fans?

 

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 Shadows Wait by Denise Agnew

Publisher: Denise A. Agnew (October 18, 2012)

Series: The Asylum, 1

Genre: Paranormal/Historical

 

Lilly Luna’s mother gave birth to her in an asylum for the mad. Growing up in an insane asylum exposed her to horrors few could imagine, and yet her compassion and ability to heal frightens the broken and the healthy alike. The town fears her. The sane shun her.

Morgan Healy’s father runs the creepy and rumor-maligned asylum. Morgan’s lineage is filled with insanity. Morgan holds together his crumbling family, hoping to escape his father’s legacy and the terrible secret it holds. When Lilly is hired as companion for Morgan’s sister, Morgan and Lilly form a reluctant alliance to corral the evil that seeps from Tranquil View and threatens not only the town, but also their growing love. 

 

 
Where to Buy:

Kindle | Smashwords

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Denise is giving away ONE paperback

 

to a lucky commenter! (Winner's

 

choice of her backlist books).

 

Open INT!

How to Enter:

• Leave a comment (with your email addy, please!)

Giveaway ends 11/19 -- Good Luck!

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Thanks for stopping by, Denise! :) This series sounds like a great one, I look forward to diving in! :)

 

Readers: Don't forget to answer Denise's questions, please!

1. Are there genres you’re getting tired of seeing out there…things that you feel are saturating the reading experience.

2. What draws you to an author’s website the most?

3. Do you follow authors on Facebook and Twitter?

4. Any The Walking Dead fans?

Enjoy!   


Until Next Time,

 

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!