Interview with Ella J Phoenix
*Where did you get the inspiration for the Dragon Heat series?
I dreamt it. I don’t remember what I was reading at the time, but I went to bed one night and woke up with the entire first chapter of Dragon Heat (Book 1) drafted in my head.
What really drove me to write this series though was the fact that there aren’t many romance series about a group of female warriors. There are loads of band of brothers – like J.R. Wards’ Black Dagger brotherhood and Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld for example - but I haven’t seen many bands of sisters. And let’s face it; we can kick-ass as hard as our strong, powerful male heroes!
*How many books do you have planned in this series? Any hints you can give us for what's in store next?
I initially thought of having 3 novels – Book 1 is the love story between Zoricah and Tardieh; in Book 2, Samantha resolves her love-hate relationship with Hikuro, and in Book 3, Yara … beep (spoiler alert!). But as I write Book 3 now, I’ve already been thinking of expanding the series because I’m falling in love with the new characters I’m creating. So, yeah, watch this space!
*If your books were to be made into a movie, who would be your top picks for the cast?
Hmm, that’s a though one but I would choose Anne Hathaway as Zoricah, Cameron Diaz as Samantha, Hale Berry as Yara, Hugh Jackman as Tardieh, Daniel Dae Kim as Hikuro, Johnny Depp as Dyam, Bradley Cooper as Joel. Maybe.
*Could you tell us a little about the ups and downs you have experienced in publishing?
You need to really loooove to write to become a novel writer because it’s not easy – we do share a piece of us, offer our heart in a platter for people to review it! But after your first “I can’t wait to read the next one” review, all the pain vanishes.
*What are some of your favorite books in the paranormal genre?
There are so many! It’s almost not fair to name a few – but if I had to… I really enjoyed the first 4 books of J. R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series and Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld.
*If you could tell readers one thing about yourself or your books, what would that be?
Hmm, I would say that reading and then writing paranormal erotica books brought the spark back into my life.
*What is the craziest or at least most interesting thing you have ever done?
One week after I met my husband, I asked him to move in with me (he said yes, of course). Then, two months later he asked me to move to London with him, and I said yes. Of course. It was the best decision of my life!
*Finish this statement: "You'll like the Dragon Heat series if... I help my readers keep the spark of passion alive in their lives, the same way my favorite authors helped me.
Thanks Ella!!
Author Info:
It wasn't very cool to spend five years working my ass off for no money. But, I have to say, it was then that I made my first attempts into the literary world. The first ones were writing children’s plays for my family’s language school. After a couple of blunders, I decided to translate Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream into a dancing and kicking play. It was so much fun that after that, let’s just say that I caught the bug.
But it was really my mother who brought me into writing. I call her “my catalyst” – she’s always been the one who I went to for advice on my acting career, my travel adventures, my love life… And she was always the one to say, “Go for it!”
So, I did. I travelled around the world, lived in several different continents, met several great people and had not-so-great lovers. In one of my “go for it” adventures, I met my husband. And then my life really changed. I’m not saying that my marriage is perfect. No, I wouldn’t lie to you like that, now, would I?
In the beginning it was fantastic. We were in love and living together after two weeks into our relationship. But as we all know - passion has a very bright but short blaze. After a few years, I found myself still loving him, but not wanting him as much as I used to. Around that time I started devouring at least two erotica romances per month. And, what do you know - my marriage went back in full swing again. Of course that I was fantasizing about the vampires and werewolves I read in the books, but did it really matter? What’s the difference between doing that and buying naughty-nun-and-priest outfits? It’s all about using your imagination to bring the spark back to your love life, isn’t it?
A few months later, I started a project with my mom – did I mention she’s a fantastic writer? Yep, she is, but life wasn’t very kind to her, and after a handful of really nice books, she threw in the towel. So I made a commitment to myself to get her to write again. While working with her, I came across a few literary agents that were actively looking for new paranormal romances. But when I suggested it to my mother, she came back with – “Why don’t you write it?”
That made me stop and I asked myself, “Yeah, why don’t I write it?”
It wasn’t easy but after years travelling around the world, translating other people’s work and devouring paranormal romances, I finally took the courage to put my passion into words and start my first novel, Dragon Heat – Book One. In less than two days I finished the full synopsis of Book One and the first thoughts for two and three.
Now, I am developing a new series, dedicated to one of my favorite characters I created in Dragon Heat but unfortunately could not give him the attention he deserved. My mom is now back writing and working on her new novel. And my marriage is still going very very well - thank you very much.
I hope you enjoy your read and that my book inspires you to get out there and dare, the same way the novels I read inspired me.
By Apa Dobrý, go for it!
Ella
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Book Info:
Sometimes life takes you down a completely different path from the one you had originally planned. After successfully rescuing the daughter of a draconian senator and other innocent women from a vampire psychopath, Sam and fellow warriors, Zoricah and Yara, have to trade sunny New York for gloomy London. Time is running out on their unfinished mission. More innocent people will die if they don’t catch the person behind the attacks in New York. But something is making Sam lose control of her powers. Something or someone. Ever since her first - and quite heated - encounter with Hikuro, her energies had gone haywire. The vampire king’s second in command affected her in a way no one had ever before. Her torment, however, is bound to get worse, with Hikuro’s unexpected arrival in London.
Ever since she set foot on vampire territory, Sam had turned Hikuro’s carefully controlled life upside down. He doesn’t trust her, but some strange force pulled him toward her; an inexplicable attraction that defies centuries of training. But if Hikuro is to keep his king safe, he must keep a close eye on Sam, even if he loses his sanity and his heart in the process.
