Sci-Fi Encounters: Interviews with Cara Bristol and R.L. Naquin

For my first interview today I talked with Cara Bristol, who's just released Warrior, the final volume in her Breeder science-fiction romance trilogy. The first two novels, Breeder and Terran, are from Loose Id, and Warrior is published by the author.

A little more about Cara (courtesy of the author):

Cara has written everything from mainstream long and short fiction to non-fiction magazine and newspaper articles. The author of the popular Rod and Cane Society domestic discipline series, Cara writes spanking fiction most often, but her published works also include contemporary, paranormal and science-fiction erotic romances. She lives in the Midwest with her husband. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, traveling and watching reality TV shows.

The blurb for Warrior:

Between war and duty, they find love…

On a planet where women are chattel, Anika is to be delivered to become the mate of an Alpha Commander. Secretly in love with another, she is unable to accept the arrangement and flees. Bound by his duty, her lover Urazi intends to bring her back to fulfill her function. But war intervenes, and as their planet fights a desperate battle against a villainous despot, Anika and Urazi become united in their determination to save their people. But with their lives on the line, the love they share may become the biggest risk of all.

Veronica: What three things influenced you the most in writing this series?

Cara: There were so many inspirations and influences that impacted the Breeder series, but I think I can focus on three! First was my impression of oppressive regimes and cultures. I perceive a pervasive bleakness in those cultures, and I tried to re-create that mood in the Breeder series. Second was the impact of enculturation and brainwashing. What if everything you believed with absolute certainty — your core values — wasn't true at all? And third, if you've read the first two books, you know that women don't fare well in the male-dominated society of Parseon. Women in general are too passive. I wanted to see them take control of their lives. In Warrior, they finally do. In Warrior, the women decide they are mad, and they are not going to take it anymore!

Veronica: An understatement! It's been a very interesting struggle to follow. How do you feel about ending the series?

Cara: It's a little bittersweet. The characters have become so real to me, it's like saying goodbye to friends who are moving far away. I think I included everything I wanted to. I'm not second-guessing myself, but there were different ways I could have handled the series, and I wonder "what if?" For instance, each book "stars" a different hero and heroine so that each one can be read as a stand-alone. But what if I had stuck with Dak and Omra from book one? Made Omra the final victor? But then I wouldn't have gotten to know Tara the Terran and Anika from Warrior so well. And they are wonderful heroines! So, no regrets!

Veronica: I enjoyed meeting each couple myself. Will you write more in this universe?

Cara: I hope to. I set the stage in the epilogue of Warrior for a spin-off series that would feature the grown children of the current Breeder series characters. Right now the idea is still nebulous, and I need to massage it awhile.

Veronica: What books are you anticipating reading in the near future?

Cara: I still need to read Insurgent, book two of Veronica Roth's Divergent series, and Reap & Redeem, book two of Lisa Medley's urban fantasy Reaper series.

You can learn more about Cara and her books at carabristol.com.

INTERVIEW WITH R.L. NAQUIN

My second interview today is a complete change of pace — R.L. Naquin, author of Demons in My Driveway, the latest entry in the Monster Haven urban fantasy series from Carina Press. I think R.L. has some of the coolest book titles out there.

A little background on R.L. (courtesy of the author):

Rachel's head is packed with an outrageous amount of useless Disney trivia. She is terrified of thunder, but not of lightning, and often recites the Disneyland dedication speech during storms to keep herself calm. She finds it appalling that nobody from Disney has called yet with her castle move-in date.

Originally from Northern California, she has a tendency to move every few years, resulting in a total of seven different states and a six-year stint in England. Currently, she's planning her next grand adventure. Rachel has one heroic husband, two grown kids, a crazy-catlady starter kit, and an imaginary dog named Waffles.

She doesn't have time for a real dog.

The blurb for Demons in My Driveway (courtesy of Carina Press):

Zoey Donovan—Aegis and co-opted protector of all things supernatural—is moving up in the Hidden world. Actually, she's being dropkicked onto the front lines of a fight between the newly formed Cult of Imagination and Hidden governments everywhere.

The Cult is opening portals and unleashing demons, vampires and werewolves, growing closer to breaking the lock that holds back the zombie apocalypse with every world they crack open. Oh, and they want every last Aegis in the world dead, and a roving band of Hidden worshippers is only too eager to assist.

On the upside, Zoey finally has her mother back. But having another Aegis around—one with very different ideas on how to run things—is proving difficult. For their own safety, they're stuck inside Zoey's home. What was once a haven is now a prison, further straining maternal relations and alienating her reaper boyfriend. Taking down a cult and saving the world—again—would be a lot easier if she could go farther than her own driveway.

Veronica: What three things have inspired you most as a writer?

R.L.: I'm inspired by the countless books I've read throughout my life — the good ones that made me smile, the bad ones that made me angry for falling short of my expectations, and the absolutely amazing books that simultaneously gave me joy and a sense of deep grief because I'll never write something that beautiful. Bits of conversation in a coffee shop, the unexplainable way one leaf blows the opposite direction of all the other leaves in the pile, strange stories in the news of impossible phenomenon — those sorts of things fuel me and inspire me. The publishing industry is changing right now, and I've seen so many writers find success as a result of those changes. I'm inspired every day by new stories of people who are taking their dreams of publishing success and making them a reality.

Veronica: What was your inspiration for the Monster Haven series?

R.L.: I wanted to write an urban fantasy with humor and heart and with a main character who wasn't damaged or snarky — just someone who could be you or me. The love story between Zoey and Riley the reaper is slow, the way it is in real life. One of the best parts of a romance, I think, is the beginning, when everything is new and unsure and filled with butterflies. I kept them in that stage for two or three books.

Veronica: Who was your favorite character to write and why?

R.L.: As much as I love Maurice the closet monster, Kam the djinn is one of my favorites to write. She was trapped in a box for a century, with brief escapes every two decades or so. Because of that, sometimes she gets the vernacular wrong for our time. She'll be perfectly fine one minute, the next she's telling everybody to move their gams or that something is totally tubular. She's unpredictable and fun.

Veronica: Can you share your favorite quote from the books?

R.L.:

"Zoey, you have to get inside. No arguments. No being tough. You have to get out of the way. Every last person here came to keep you and your mom safe." As he spoke, he half dragged me inside. I'm sure if I'd protested, he'd have picked me up and carried me.

Veronica: If you could visit a fantasy or sci-fi world, where would you go and why?

R.L.: Oh, I've been waiting for Narnia to open a door for me since I was a little girl. If I ever disappear, check the back of my closet.

You can find out more about R.L. and her books at www.rlnaquin.com.

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Amazon best-seller Veronica Scott is a two-time recipient of the SFR Galaxy Award and has written a number of science-fiction and paranormal romances. Her latest is Mission to Mahjundar . You can find out more about her and her books at veronicascott.wordpress.com. Please e-mail Veronica at scifiencounters@gmail.com about content related to this column. Due to the volume of mail, e-mails may not be answered personally, but all will be read.