Paranormal Romance: a sub-genre that focuses on romance and includes elements beyond the range of scientific explanation, blending together themes from the genres of traditional fantasy, science fiction, or horror. Common hallmarks are romantic relationships between humans and vampires, shape shifters, ghosts, and other entities of a fantastic or otherworldly nature and can also include characters with psychic abilities.

Addict: (v) to habituate or abandon oneself to something compulsively or obsessively (see above)

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Character Interview & Giveaway with Adrian Phoenix's The Makers Song


PRA: I am incredibly excited to interview Dante Baptiste and Heather Wallace today. Heather and Dante are two fabulous characters from Adrian Phoenix's The Makers Song Series.
I know Dante’s not a big fan of interviews so I’ll try to be gentle. *looks over at Dante and grins* Well, unless you like it rough. *winks*

Dante: *laughs, the sound low and warm* Gentle? Ain’t familiar with that word. I only know rough, so go on, give me your best, chère. 

PRA: *looks over at Heather* Haha, sorry!

Heather: *smiles and flaps a hand* No need to apologize. I’m getting used to it. Hardly anyone says a word to Dante that isn’t brimming with sexual innuendo. Even me. *grins* I mean look at him.

Dante: *snorts*

Heather: *plants a quick kiss on his lips* Talk and innuendo I can deal with. But touching or kissing or groping – now that’s another matter altogether.

Dante: *teasing smile* Aw, I love it when you go all alpha female on me, catin.

Heather: *arches an eyebrow* And if someone was touching or kissing or groping me in front of you, Baptiste?

Dante: Depends. Do you want to be touched or not in this little scenario?

Heather: Does it make a difference?

Dante: *snorts* Mais fucking oui, chérie . If you wanted it, then the toucher or kisser or groper ends up with a few broken bones and just a bit of internal bleeding. No big deal, yeah? But if you didn’t want it, then the motherfucker’s dead.

Heather: Dead? Seriously?

Dante: In a heartbeat.

Heather: *teasing smile* Aw, I love it when you go all alpha nightkind on me, cher. But so not necessary. I’ve got a gun and know how to use it. Plus I have all my hand-to-hand combat skills learned at the Academy and during my career with the FBI. Anybody caught groping will find himself planted face first into a wall, kissing the brick.

Dante: *laughs* C’est ma femme. Me, I get to watch, yeah?

Heather: *winks, a mischievous smile on her lips* We’ll see, Baptiste.

PRA: *blushes* Okay, let’s get started. Dante, I know music is a big part of who you are. What inspired you to start writing your own songs?

Dante: To be honest, p’tite—I don’t remember. The first song I wrote, the reason why, what inspired me, is all part of my childhood, part of the memories stolen from me; memories I still hope to reclaim one night.

But as far as writing songs now, it’s like breathing, y’know? Like drinking in blood. Natural. Don’t think about it much. Music pulses through my veins, pools in my heart. I let it flow out through my fingertips and across the strings of my guitar. And then I sing – whatever’s raging inside – I give it voice. *laughs* Sounds more dramatic than it is, chère.

Von: That’s a relief, because you were sounding pretty poetry-ass cheesy and lame, man. But I know that’s the creative side of you, little brother, so I’m here to keep it all real. *winks at Crystal* Hey, darlin’, what’s shaking? I thought I’d drop by and translate for the artist here, if that’s all right. TRANSLATION: Dante writes songs in his head pretty much all the time, then plays with himself. I mean, his guitar.

Dante: *rolls his eyes* Thanks for setting the record straight on that.

Von: *wicked grin* Anytime, man.

PRA: *laughs* Heather, what’s your favorite song of Dante’s?

Heather: There’s several I love, “Falling” and “Underneath Her Window”, but one of my very favorites is one he wrote especially for me. Remember? In the courtyard? After our argument?

Dante: *laughs* Oh, I remember, catin.

PRA: Can you sing a few lines for us Dante? *bats eyelashes at him*

Von: *bats eyelashes too* Yeah, oh pretty, pretty please?

Dante: Dude. Never do that thing with your eyelashes again. *shudders* Not pretty.

Von: Maybe if I wore eyeliner or kohl or whatever the hell you call it like you . . .

Dante: No. Not even then.

Von: *laughs*

Dante: But on you (nods at Crystal) or Heather – all kinds of cute. Okay, here’s the song
*sings in a low and husky voice*: She ain’t afraid to tell me when I’m wrong and she ain’t afraid to catch me when I fall. And she’s been long overdue a song, ma belle femme, my queen of the mean right hook, my red-haired catin.

Dante: *switches to a clear and sexy falsetto which makes Von lift his eyebrows* And she calls me her pigheaded man, her maestro of stubborn, her very own puh-puh-puh pigheaded man . . .

PRA: *dreamy sigh* What’s the craziest moment you’ve had with a groupie, Dante?

Dante:  *laughs* Think I’ll keep that one to myself, p’tit. I wanna keep breathing.

Heather: Hey, whatever you did before we met, doesn’t matter.

Dante: *snorts* Uh huh. Sure. Famous last words. Sorry, chère. Ain’t touching that one.

PRA: *grins* Now for a question all the ladies want to know the answer to: On a scale from 1-10, how good of a kisser is Dante, Heather?

Heather: I’d give him a 15.

Von: *shakes his head* A little high, doll. I’d rate him a 10.

Heather: *arches eyebrow* If you added in tongue?

Von: Oh. Well. Then it’d be a 15, yeah. *looks at Dante* But he never slips me any.

Dante: *flips him off with double birds*

Von: *returns the gesture*

PRA: Dante, how old were you when you got your tattoo and what made you get a bat over your heart?

Dante: Don’t know how old I was,  p’tite. I did it sometime before Lucien found me on that wharf on the Mississippi, so I musta been . . . *he frowns* I just found out that I’m almost 24 years old and I’ve known Lucien for 5 years, so figure I was 17 or so when I got it. *shrugs* I’d started forming my own household – I’d met Von and Simone and Trey – and I needed to come up with a symbol to identify out house and to keep mortals under our protection safe from other nightkind.

Heather: Kind of like a cattle brand? Marking property?

Dante: Other nightkind saw it that way, yeah, catin. That’s how they used their household symbol. I chose the bat because it seemed like true nightkind. Plus I was making fun of the fanged assholes who made it necessary.

PRA: What made you open up your own club, and how did you come up with the name, Club Hell?

Dante: I wanted a place to showcase new musicians and local talent, a club that was focused on the music. Hell, it is New Orleans, yeah? *winks* And I named it Club Hell for the same reason I named the band Inferno . . .

PRA: Have you ever read the book, Dante’s Inferno?

Dante: Yup. And that’s the reason behind my answer above, chère. *grins*

PRA: Dante, how did it feel when you got your wings? Do you like flying? Practiced on your landings any? *grins*

Dante: It hurt like hell at first, p’tite. I honestly didn’t know what the fuck was happening. Caught me off-guard, for true.

Heather: *softly* Me too, Baptiste.

Von: Me three. But man, they look good on you—like they’ve always been a part of you. You were just a late bloomer, little brother. Now, once you learn a little grace . . . right now, you’re clumsy as sin with ‘em and funny as hell.

Dante: *snorts* That’s me, the evening’s entertainment.  I wasn’t sure I liked them or wanted them. But, I’m adjusting and they’re starting to feel more natural. But I gotta admit, I love the rush of flying. Landings? *laughs* Not so much. But I’m learning.

Von: To my vast amusement. Thanks, man.

*another mutual exchange of extended middle fingers between Von and Dante*

PRA: *laughs & shakes head* What do you think about Dante’s wings, Heather?

Heather: They’re gorgeous and I’m getting used to them. I was caught off-guard at first, but, yeah, I’m liking them. A lot. *smiles at Dante*
PRA: I haven’t been to New Orleans yet but want to visit soon, what’s the first thing I should do when I get there?

Dante: Oh, hell, we gotta get to N’awlins, p’tite. The first thing you should do is head for the French Quarter, get yourself a big-ass hurricane at a to-go window and walk the Quarter and just drink it all in – the smells, the music, the madness of Bourbon Street, the stroll on down to the river.

Von: Then get yourself another big-ass drink and head over to Club Hell on St. Peter. *winks*

Heather: I think the first think you should do is go to the Café du Monde in the French Quarter—on Decatur Street—and have beignets and café au lait. It is to die for.

PRA: Do you have any idea what the evil author has in store for you guys next? *waves at Adrian* Hi, Adrian, you know I love you!

Adrian: *waves* Love you back!

Heather: I’m hoping we get a chance to catch our breath, relax a little, but . . .

Dante: We don’t know what’s in store. Yeah, a little quiet time would be appreciated for true.

Von: Damn straight.

PRA: Thanks for the great interview guys, and I wish you the best of luck!

Dante: Merci beaucoup, chère. It was a fun interview.

Heather: It was. Thanks so much for having us!

Adrian: Thanks for having us! Here’s a little more info about the books:

You can read a chapter from the book that started it all. Here’s a link to a sample chapter of A Rush of Wings.

With Book Four, Etched in Bone, Dante faces his destiny and searches for a way to accept it on his own terms. To make his life, his own, at long last, and with Heather at his side. The former FBI agent is more than his partner and lover, she is also his anchor, his beacon, guiding him back from the edge of madness when his shattered past rises up and swallows him. But in Heather’s human family awaits an unexpected enemy. One who could force Dante to choose his darkest destiny—as the Great Destroyer.

Here’s a link to the first two chapters of Etched in Bone.

Etched in Bone was also a featured read for March on BN.com’s Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Book Club – which I’m very excited about.

Here’s a link for the first chapter of Black Dust Mambo.

Thanks so much for having me! It’s been a blast. You can also find me at:
Website  My blog  Facebook  Facebook Fan Page  Twitter  MySpace  Goodreads
Dante's Club Hell Forum
Dante's Club Hell Yahoo Group
Pocket After Dark





~*GIVEAWAY*~

Adrian is graciously offering a signed copy of anyone of her books, winner's choice, to one lucky reader! 

To enter, just leave a question or comment for Adrian or one of the Maker's Song gang. Make sure to leave a way to contact you with your comment! 

Giveaway will end at 11:59 pm on April 28th. One winner will be chosen at random using random.org and notified via email. Winner then has 48 hours to respond to winning notification before another winner is chosen. Open Internationally. Good luck!

57 comments:

Clary said...

This is such a great interview!! I love it. Love the convo between Dante and Heather in the beginning. hehe....

claroxide@yahoo.co.in

Megan@Riverina Romantics said...

I need to catch up on this series! I loved the character interview. They're always so fun!

rootml1@hotmail.com

LorettaLynn said...

Hello, ive never read any of theses books,But i would love to

elliott2668@yahoo.com

Nope said...

Love the books! I haven't read the last one yet, it's definitely on my list! Can't wait to see what you do with the characters next. :)

miarizzo at gmail dot com

Adrian Phoenix said...

Thanks so much for your comments, Clary, Meggerfly, LorettaLynn, and Mizz Rizz. Glad you enjoyed the interview!

afstone3 said...

Wonderful interview Adrian and nice to see the boys behaving themselves *cough cough* Heather always great to hear from you.
They are right though about New Orleans and the French Quarter just a little warning the drinks are all alcohol so you may do a little stumbling and watch out for the guys that walk up to you and try kissing you.
Please do not enter me in the contest I have all of Adrian's books.

M Cris said...

Oh, please tell me this giveaway is open internationally! :)

Heh, Dante and Heather sound like a really 'sweet' couple! LOL Would love to read their story.

cris_mv at hotmail dot com

Melissa said...

Loved this interview and as much as I LOVE Dante and Heather I must say.......Von is soooooooo getting my attention!!! Love this book series-it just keeps getting better :)

Holly said...

Great interview!!
I have not read any of this series yet. But I would like too!

fullmoonbites@gmail.com

Adrian Phoenix said...

Maria, yes, the contest is open internationally. My apology for forgetting to mention that!

Adrian Phoenix said...

Thanks so much, Annette!! HUGS!

connery said...

*shakes head, laughing* gotta love those two boys...but they keep us all on our toes and we love you, adrian, for bringing them both to us...and heather, hats off to you, hon...and stop by sometime for a drink, you know you're always welcome *winks*

and i too have all the books, some even in triplicate *grins* love you hon!

connery

Anonymous said...

Love the interview! But especially the drop in with Von. I just love that nomad. ::sigh:

Don't include me in the contest! I have all the books and think EVERYONE should read them!

lobdells said...

Gotta love Dante and Heather always, but throw in a little Von...it gets a little spicier!
Congrats Adrian your writing is like a fine wine it only gets better as you go! Looking forward to the next in this series & Black Heart Loa. Ok so we all know what book I am waiting for...Lucien.
~ Heather

Deb said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Deb said...

VON! *tackles and squishes* I am so glad your here! I just love you! You rock! Great interview by the way! *smiles and bats eyelashes at Von*


gracioushoneybee@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Great interview! Look forward to reading the series.

Anonymous said...

My computer is suffering from a bad case of the hickups, so I don't know it my comment posted or not.

dowellml.x@live.com

BLHmistress said...

Sigh I really love the accents and I absolutely love settings in New Orleans. Not sure who I like more Dante or Von.

vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

Patricia JL said...

That was a fun interview, especially when Von popped in.

Book Chatter Cath said...

I think Von just might steal me away from Dante!!!!
cbcowley@gmail.com

Shanese La'Tia said...

I loved it truly. I think Dante and Heather are perfect for each other. I really love the way they talk to each other, me and my friends talk the same way minus the accents.

Bo0kJunki3@gmail.com

wade2121 said...

I love these character interviews. Will there be a spin off series of other characters?

bat_lady said...

Just leaving my love for y'all, Dante, Heather,Von, and Adrian!!!
Big hugs forever!!!
Kerstin :)=

Unknown said...

I never laughed so hard with an interview!! LOL
Oh, my.... a man speaking french and murder... how much hotter can he get? LOL
He's totally my favorite 'hero' type... bad boy on the outside, somehow soft on the inside. And tattoos+piercings+singer+accent!!! GAH! (faints)

Thank you for making it international. :)

kah_cherub at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

Adrian your series really sounds good. I can't wait to read it. What other series have your wrote? Do you have any suggestions for someone who would like to write a book? Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Adrian Phoenix said...

Big thanks to Conn, DB, and Heather! All three of you are awesome and I really appreciate the support!

Dante and Von send kisses (and, yes, Heather's okay with that. LOL)

Hellions rule!!

Keep the bar open, Conn!

Unknown said...

Adrian- This looks like a wonderful series. I've heard so many great things about it. I'm looking so forward to reading it.
andreat78@yahoo.com

Adrian Phoenix said...

Heather, thanks! I hope to do a prequel series on Lucien featuring his time in Gehenna, his adventures throughout time up until he meets Dante's mother and we find out where he was the first 18 years of Dante's life.

Adrian Phoenix said...

Debbie, Von says: Oof! Hey, doll! Good to see you and you look damned fine batting those eyelashes. *winks*

Adrian Phoenix said...

Thanks so much, Monica!

Adrian Phoenix said...

BHLMistress, No worries, you can play with both. ;)

Thanks so much for your support!

Adrian Phoenix said...

Patricia Lynne,

Glad you enjoyed the interview. Von just buffed his nails against his shirt and said: "Just keeping it real, darlin'."

Barbara E. said...

I loved the interview and I'd love to win one of the Maker's Song books. I have several in the series, but still need some of them (and Black Dust Mambo).

Barbed1951 at aol dot com

Adrian Phoenix said...

Glad you enjoyed the interview, BookJunkie!

Adrian Phoenix said...

Hi Wade2121,

I'd like to do a book about Von at some point and I think it'd take several to tell Lucien's story (given that he's Fallen), but otherwise, no spinoff series planned. At this point anyway. :)

Adrian Phoenix said...

Big hugs back, Kerstin! Thanks for dropping by!

Adrian Phoenix said...

Glad you enjoyed the interview, Karla! And, yeah, I love a man who speaks Cajun too! ;)

Adrian Phoenix said...

Tore,
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy the books once you pick them up.

I also have the Cajun Hoodoo series (Black Dust Mambo and Black Heart Loa) about a fiery hoodoo apprentice in the Louisiana bayous.

The most important suggestion I can make as far as writing goes is: Sit down and write a story and finish it. Write every day, even if it is only for half an hour. And always follow your heart. Write what YOU would like to read.

Best wishes!

Adrian Phoenix said...

So glad you enjoyed the interview, Barbara! Thanks for dropping by!

Gail said...

The interview was fun and I really enjoyed the laid back Dante & Heather & Von too:-)
I don't remember how I found your books, but I'm so glad I did. I can't wait to see what happens next. I feel like I'm right there with Heather & Dante. Thank you for such a great series.

gsryley (at) gmail dot com

Carol said...

Great interview! Always love hearing from Dante & Heather and most of all Von *grins*
Really enjoyed EIB and waiting very impatiently for the next book - so get back to writing Adrian! LOL

whitewolfreads said...

This was a really fun interview to read. Sadly I haven't started reading these books yet (they have been sitting on my shelves for what feel like forever) but I;m really looking forward to them as soon as I find some spare time.

Thanks for the giveaway!

whitewolfreads AT gmail DOT com

ereader89 said...

Great interview! I just bought a copy of A Rush of Wings and I can't wait to get into the series.

elainareads AT aol DOT com

Unknown said...

What a great interview, put a big smile on my face. Such a great read, really enjoyed the song by the way. Can Von pull off eyeliner though? Can't have a mustache and eyeliner, too much to focus on LOL! Thanks for the giveaway, would loved a signed copy of one of these. So amazing.

Email:
drharleyquinn87 (at) gmail (dot) com

Allison said...

What a fun interview! :) I haven't started this series yet, but I can't wait until I do! Awesome giveaway!

brilliant dot love at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

Loved the interview. My question is, if this series were made into a film version, who do you see playing the main characters?
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

buddyt said...

No I am definitely NOT going to buy this book !

However I shall keep an eye out for Dante and Heather's book about the lives and loves of that lovable character Adrian Phoenix. Pity she is only a fictional character.

Carol T

buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

Dovile said...

I must admit I haven't read any of your books yet. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

Unknown said...

Have read all of Club Hell with Dante and Heather and friends.
Love them. Talk about exciting! Have not begun the Dark Mambo series yet. Would like to check it out.
Judy

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to stop in and show my love for Adrian , Dante , Von and heather .. I know I'm a bit late it's been a busy weekend. Love the interview as always adrian you rock!

Do not need to entered in the contest just wanted to support you guys..


Atthenna

Unknown said...

Awesome interview! Loved hearing from Dante, Heather, and Von. Quite intrigued about hearing more about Lucien also. Love your style Adrian!

Unknown said...

Forgot to leave e-mail...

klsprouse42@gmail.com

Adrian Phoenix said...

Thanks so much for your comments and support, everyone! I truly appreciate it and I'm glad y'all enjoyed the interview. :)

mbreakfield: I think unknowns would have to play the roles. I can't think of any current actors who would fit the bill. ;)

Jen said...

Great Interview! I love these things! I'm going to link back to you from my blog on my review for this book - Wish I owned it :)

Hell Kat said...

Awesome interview! I love Dante and the gang... especially Von!

donnas said...

Great interview. Im still catching up. Looking forward to reading more though.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

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