Yasmine Galenorn is a busy, talented, and diverse author. She writes the Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon Series for Berkley and now pens the Indigo Court urban fantasy series. In the past, she wrote mysteries and nonfiction metaphysical books, and her books have hit the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists numerous times. Yasmine is also a shamanic witch who describes her life as "a blend of teacups and tattoos." NIGHT MYST, the first book in her new series, releases this month and author Jeaniene Frost calls it "erotic and darkly bewitching...A mix of magic and passion sure to captivate readers."
What inspired the story and what is the series premise?
One night, some time back I had a very brief dream. I'm very visual and not only dream in vivid color, but detail too. So I had this dream about a living painting. As I watched the painting, I saw a magical wood. In the wood lived an evil Fae queen who played with spiders and mist. She was attempting to catch a young woman who was looking for her aunt, who'd also been captured by the evil queen. And creatures of all sorts--from legend and lore--filled the painting.
I woke up, wrote it down, and tucked it away, but the dream stuck in my mind. So I told my agent about it and came up with a brief synopsis of the world and wrote about ten pages. She sent it to my editor, and I received a contract for the series.
Your books are labeled urban fantasy. What about this story also makes it a thriller?
NIGHT MYST has a lot of gothicka/horror to it. There's no guarantee it will end happily. I think most UF has both thriller and mystery aspects, as well as paranormal romance--it's a great place for us cross-genre writers to nestle in.
Your career is a terrific example of "write what you know." How closely is your fiction tied to your lifestyle as shamanic witch?
I've got a very good background in folklore and magic so that my worlds seem believable. They are not based on modern magical practices, but since I am a shamanic witch and know my way around the end of a wand, I can easily extrapolate. ~grins~
How do you approach writing a series, a single book? Do you outline in advance or let the story tell itself?
I've never sold a standalone that wasn't nonfiction. All my fiction has been through series--two mystery series, and now two urban fantasy series. For the mysteries I had to outline; it was a given. But I'm an organic writer, and my best work is done by letting the story evolve and tell itself. I know the highlights of the book when I start but that's all. All of my Otherworld and Indigo Court books are written this way.
What real-life women have inspired you or served as models for your characters?
In terms of real-life women? No one person in particular, but in general: Women who refuse to be doormats, who stand up for themselves, who aren't afraid to be different. Who go after success, are ambitious, and don't see a schism between the competitive sides of themselves and their nature as women.
Social networking is now an integral part of the writing life. How much time do you spend social networking and what are your favorite activities?
WAY too much, but it's a big part of promo now and much easier than going on tour. I hit Twitter everyday, and stream my Twitter feed through both my Facebook Fan page and my Myspace. My husband helps take care of MySpace for me. I keep my profile page on Facebook private, but interact with readers on the fan page. I also have my website and forums. (The forums are down for maintenance at the moment.)
I'm probably fondest of Twitter. I can play on there, jump off when I need to, jump back on--it's the most informal. And it's great for networking. I've met a LOT of other authors and even editors, agents, etc. on Twitter. While I've got a great agent, and of course have my editor at Berkley, it's always good to network and meet others in the industry.
What genres do you read and what is the best book you've read recently?
I read just about anything--from urban fantasy to paranormal romance to supernatural/horror, to mysteries, thrillers, cyberpunk, and fantasy. I don't read westerns, political thrillers, or computer textbooks. The best book I've read lately was Patricia Briggs' SILVER BORNE. Love her Mercy Thompson series.
What else would you like to tell readers about NIGHT MYST?
NIGHT MYST is a whole new take on vampire mythology. With my love for legend and lore, I've mixed the Fae with the vampires and come up with a new demonic race from which to run. I had a nightmare the other night about MYST, who is Queen of the Indigo Court in my world. Woke up panicking. That's gotta be the best of times for a writer, when our own creations terrify us! ~grins~
L.J. Sellers is an award-winning journalist, editor, novelist, and occasional standup comic based in Eugene, Oregon. She writes the Detective Wade Jackson mystery series: Two are in print, The Sex Club and Secrets to Die For, and two more are in the works. L.J. also enjoys cycling, gardening, social networking, and hanging out with her family.
