A PERFECT DARKNESS is part of the Offspring series, in which a group of twenty-somethings with enhanced psychic abilities discover they are the offspring of parents involved in a mysterious experiment. Together they must find the truth and fight an enemy out to destroy them.In this first book, a sexy stranger wakes Amy Shane in the dead of night with an urgent warning. He barely has time to whisper a few words before three men burst in and drag him away. But what Lucas Vanderwyck reveals shatters Amy's safe little world forever. Lucas and Amy share a connection beyond reality and a psychic gift--a gift that could get them killed.
So you want to know a little more about the author, Jaime Rush? She's the daughter of an exiled king. Living a life of both luxury and danger while ensconced in the family palace in their adopted land of Romania, she must be ever-vigilant of the dark forces that expunged her family from the beautiful and sacred land that was once called Eden.
Not! She's actually lived in the same west Florida town her entire life, with a wonderful family and wonderful friends. The loves to swim, work out, meditate and read--and, of course, write. Jaime has written eighteen books under the name of Tina Wainscott, and her first thriller is just coming out. Fortunately, she was able to sit down and answer a few questions for contributing editor, Christine Goff.
Your info says you've always been interested in unexplained mysteries and psychic phenomenon. How old were you when you first became interested, and what drew you in?
As far back as I can remember. I watched television shows about unsolved mysteries and I loved the show by the same name. I liked reading mystery fiction, but I also liked the aspect of not having a resolution. That's the ultimate what if, after all.
Do you have psychic abilities? For instance, your website states that you KNEW you'd be published, marry a fabulous guy and win a Toyota Supra. Did you really?
Yes, I really did! I've also had a sense of knowing things would be all right even when they sure didn't look like it. Recently I had this urge to stay back when the light turned green. I have a sports car; I like to get on it. I didn't this time, and the guy in the lane next to me drifted right into my lane.
A lot of people are drawn by the idea of psychic phenomenon or super powers. Is there a danger in dabbling?
Absolutely. The thing about the characters in my books is that they don't know the limits of their abilities. Or what others can do. That's true of dabbling, too. For instance, I'd never play with a Ouija board. I was horrified to see a pink kids' version at the toy store. You never know what doors you'll open. My mom's childhood home was haunted by spirits because her parents had séances.
You have lived in Florida all your life. Is that where your novels are set? If not, tell us something about the location you chose and why?
I have set a few of my Tina Wainscott novels in Florida, but my new series is set in Annapolis, Maryland. I'd been there once on a quick business trip years ago and remembered it was a nice place. But I had to choose the region out of necessity. The basis for my series is a real government project that occurred at Ft. Meade, MD, and my characters are offspring of the participants of that project. I wanted them to live in somewhat proximity to each other, and it made sense that many of them wouldn't stray very far from their roots. It wouldn't make sense if they all happened to end up in, say, Florida.
C: Most books require a certain amount of research. Tell us about researching the paranormal. Have you ever been scared out of your wits by something you've discovered?
I love researching the paranormal. Of course, there is a lot of, shall we say, questionable stuff out there. It's really a lot about our perception of reality. I was reading a book about astral projection that was supposed to teach you how to do it. I thought, "Hey, that would be cool." But then the author was telling us how he'd wake up and be somewhere else, and that kind of freaked me out. I passed.
All of your books are about couples. Is there a strong sexual element to your novels? And what is so important about the conveyance of love that it resonates throughout your work?
Romance has always been important to me in my stories, even the books that were really more mainstream. Mostly the romance element is about two people who have shut themselves off for some reason and how they find their way to love. Love is the most important thing of all. It teaches us and challenges us and makes us stronger.
The governmental experiment gone awry is a theme that has been done before, yet you make it unique and fresh by creating a combination of all the templates. What drew you to the idea?
The Star Gate program inspired me. I read about the classified government project conducted back in the 70's and 80's and found it fascinating that millions were spent on studying how remote viewing could be used to psychically spy on our enemies. There is still some controversy as to how effective the program was. There have been other programs where the government has spread disease or given substances to people without their knowledge or consent. I twisted those two concepts together. But I didn't want it to be about the actual subjects of the project. That seemed too science fiction-ish to me. I liked the idea of the children of those subjects trying to grapple with these psychic abilities and not knowing where they came from or why the government was either after them or interested in using them.
What's next in the series?
OUT OF THE DARKNESS comes out in October, 2009. We meet a new Offspring and watch the group undertake a new mission. And of course, there is a new central love story, but the group dynamic continues to grow and change.
For those interested in more info, Jaime loves to hear from readers (unless they're deranged or don't have something nice to say). You can reach her at PO Box 10622, Naples, Florida, or through her website at www.jaimerush.com.
Contributing editor Christine Goff is the award-winning author of the bestselling "Birdwatcher's Mystery" series. She began her career writing non-fiction for local, regional and national publication. Chosen Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' 2002 Writer of the Year, two of her novels were named finalists for the prestigious Willa Literary Award for Best Original Paperback Fiction; and her latest novel, DEATH SHOOTS A BIRDIE, was a named finalist for the Colorado Authors League 2008 Best Genre Fiction Award. Her novels focus on environmental concerns through bird-related issues. Currently, she is working on a new book; a thriller set in Israel.
As far back as I can remember. I watched television shows about unsolved mysteries and I loved the show by the same name. I liked reading mystery fiction, but I also liked the aspect of not having a resolution. That's the ultimate what if, after all.Do you have psychic abilities? For instance, your website states that you KNEW you'd be published, marry a fabulous guy and win a Toyota Supra. Did you really?
Yes, I really did! I've also had a sense of knowing things would be all right even when they sure didn't look like it. Recently I had this urge to stay back when the light turned green. I have a sports car; I like to get on it. I didn't this time, and the guy in the lane next to me drifted right into my lane.
A lot of people are drawn by the idea of psychic phenomenon or super powers. Is there a danger in dabbling?
Absolutely. The thing about the characters in my books is that they don't know the limits of their abilities. Or what others can do. That's true of dabbling, too. For instance, I'd never play with a Ouija board. I was horrified to see a pink kids' version at the toy store. You never know what doors you'll open. My mom's childhood home was haunted by spirits because her parents had séances.
You have lived in Florida all your life. Is that where your novels are set? If not, tell us something about the location you chose and why?
I have set a few of my Tina Wainscott novels in Florida, but my new series is set in Annapolis, Maryland. I'd been there once on a quick business trip years ago and remembered it was a nice place. But I had to choose the region out of necessity. The basis for my series is a real government project that occurred at Ft. Meade, MD, and my characters are offspring of the participants of that project. I wanted them to live in somewhat proximity to each other, and it made sense that many of them wouldn't stray very far from their roots. It wouldn't make sense if they all happened to end up in, say, Florida.
C: Most books require a certain amount of research. Tell us about researching the paranormal. Have you ever been scared out of your wits by something you've discovered?
I love researching the paranormal. Of course, there is a lot of, shall we say, questionable stuff out there. It's really a lot about our perception of reality. I was reading a book about astral projection that was supposed to teach you how to do it. I thought, "Hey, that would be cool." But then the author was telling us how he'd wake up and be somewhere else, and that kind of freaked me out. I passed.
All of your books are about couples. Is there a strong sexual element to your novels? And what is so important about the conveyance of love that it resonates throughout your work?
Romance has always been important to me in my stories, even the books that were really more mainstream. Mostly the romance element is about two people who have shut themselves off for some reason and how they find their way to love. Love is the most important thing of all. It teaches us and challenges us and makes us stronger.
The governmental experiment gone awry is a theme that has been done before, yet you make it unique and fresh by creating a combination of all the templates. What drew you to the idea?
The Star Gate program inspired me. I read about the classified government project conducted back in the 70's and 80's and found it fascinating that millions were spent on studying how remote viewing could be used to psychically spy on our enemies. There is still some controversy as to how effective the program was. There have been other programs where the government has spread disease or given substances to people without their knowledge or consent. I twisted those two concepts together. But I didn't want it to be about the actual subjects of the project. That seemed too science fiction-ish to me. I liked the idea of the children of those subjects trying to grapple with these psychic abilities and not knowing where they came from or why the government was either after them or interested in using them.
What's next in the series?
OUT OF THE DARKNESS comes out in October, 2009. We meet a new Offspring and watch the group undertake a new mission. And of course, there is a new central love story, but the group dynamic continues to grow and change.
For those interested in more info, Jaime loves to hear from readers (unless they're deranged or don't have something nice to say). You can reach her at PO Box 10622, Naples, Florida, or through her website at www.jaimerush.com.
Contributing editor Christine Goff is the award-winning author of the bestselling "Birdwatcher's Mystery" series. She began her career writing non-fiction for local, regional and national publication. Chosen Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' 2002 Writer of the Year, two of her novels were named finalists for the prestigious Willa Literary Award for Best Original Paperback Fiction; and her latest novel, DEATH SHOOTS A BIRDIE, was a named finalist for the Colorado Authors League 2008 Best Genre Fiction Award. Her novels focus on environmental concerns through bird-related issues. Currently, she is working on a new book; a thriller set in Israel.
