Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Alanna Coca Guest Blog

Today, I turn the blog over to twitter pal, Alanna Coca.

Hello! My name is Alanna Coca. I write romance novels, and my favorite genre is romantic suspense. Travis has offered me a spot on his blog to talk about my latest release PreView.

Here's the blurb:
Architect Ryann Phillips lives a normal life—except for her psychic dreams. Few of her premonitions make sense, or even cause her to lose sleep, until she dreams about a vicious murder and is compelled to warn the would-be victim.
Attorney Trevor Kearney doesn’t believe it when Ryann claims his client’s life is in danger. Nevertheless, he’s intrigued by her ability to hold up to his questioning, and by the unexpected attraction he feels for the beautiful woman. He reluctantly agrees to work together to keep his client safe…and to spend more time with Ryann.
Ryann hasn’t met anyone who infuriates and arouses her like Trevor does. He may question her psychic visions, but there’s no doubting their sexual chemistry. As they grow closer, their relationship could put them in the path of a killer and inadvertently set the course of events in motion…


I sat down with Ryann the other day, because there are a lot of things I'd like to know about this psychic heroine. I thought I'd share our conversation with you.
Alanna: "Hello, Ryann?"
Ryann: "Yes, how are you?"
A: "I'm just fine. Sorry I'm a little flustered. I guess I was expecting someone a little more…um…"
R: "Outlandish?"
A: "Well…yeah. You're wearing jeans and a tee-shirt, not a flowing paisley dress and turban like I imagined when I heard you were psychic."
R: "You're the crazy one. You wrote me."
A: "Oh yeah. That's right. So anyway, tell me what it's like to see the future. I've always wanted to be able to do that."
R: "You have?" Her brow furrows. "Why would you want to do that?"
A: I shrug "I don't know. Sounds like it would be interesting. Maybe find out the World Series score and pick the best players for my fantasy team?"
R: She laughs. "If I ever have a sports-related vision, you'll be the first to know."
A: "Obviously. But really, you've had these visions for a while. When did you realize that your dreams were merging with reality?"
R: "The visions began when I was a teen. I blame puberty and the whacky hormones bouncing through my system. At first I just assumed they were just very realistic dreams. Most of my visions are completely harmless snippets of strangers' lives. A child learning to ride a bike, or a young man's graduation day. Nothing that would make me think these were actually real people. One vision was disturbing enough that I told my friend Ashley about it. She urged me to take it seriously, and it was a good thing I did, it meant the life of a little boy."
A: "What, really?"
R: She looks away, and picks imaginary lint off her jeans. "Yes. He'd wandered away from home. I saw where he slept in my vision, and I was able to direct the police to him."
A: "You look embarrassed about it. I think if it were me, I'd be shouting from the rooftops."
R: "Unlike you, I don't want to be branded a freak."
A: "I see." I scratch through my notes for Ryann's role in a sequel. "Do you have any other talents?"
R: "Well, I'm an architect, so I think I do a pretty good job drawing a straight line."
A: "With a ruler." I roll my eyes. "I meant psychic talents."
R: "No, just these weird premonitions. I can't even control them." She takes a drink of water. "Maybe I'd rather be able to move things with my mind."
A: "Well that might be interesting in a romance." I grin. "How about mind-reading? Can you do that?"
R: "No. If I could, it would have been a lot easier to figure out what happened in the dream about Victoria's murder."
A: "Oh yeah you're right. Maybe I should have written some mindreading in there for you."
R: "A little late for that."
A: "Another book maybe. I'm full of ideas."
R: "Oh!" She scoots to the edge of her seat. "Maybe write one for Ashley. She really needs a happily ever after. Give her a guy who snores. She hates that."
A: "You're evil! I love it." I Jot new notes. "How about Trevor's friend Kevin? He's a little too cocky for her I think, but putting characters in difficult positions is one of my favorite things to do."
R: She snorts. "Don't I know it?"
A: "Hey, those positions I put you and Trevor in weren't my idea. I'm just the conductor for you guys. You of all people must know that."
R: "Trevor and I don't need your help any more, thank you very much."
A: "Is that so? Do tell."
R: "That will have to be off the record. Trevor is a private person really. He'd kill me for talking about our sex life."
A: "Well, he must not have read PreView. I'm afraid I spilled some beans there."
R: "Yeah you did. Maybe I'll read those scenes to him. His blush is so cute."
A: "I can imagine. He's a sexy guy anyway." I fan myself. "Okay, before we go off the record, I'll thank Travis for letting us use your blog to chat. I'll be sure to clean up after we're done. I'd love to give away a copy of PreView to one of your readers! Just leave a comment, any comment, and in the morning I'll randomly choose one to win. Thanks for sitting down with me, Ryann. Best of luck with your premonitions. If you have any more interesting ones, let me know."
R: "I can't wait to tell Trevor about Ashley and Kevin. He's going to laugh."

Always a voracious reader, Alanna began writing poetry in grade school, and short stories in high school. She started her first novel, Wyoming Solace, years ago with a legal pad and pencil, often written in the wee hours of the morning when she needed something to do to relax. Before long the story lived on her computer desktop, where it sat patiently awaiting periodic visits from the reluctant writer. After her first release, she moved to romantic suspense and contemporary romance, but keeps the cowboys close to her heart. She loves to write stories to keep a reader guessing, and surprise them in the end. Alanna continues to write love stories, because who doesn’t love a happy ending? For a spicier selection of romance novels by Alanna, see what her alter ego Olivia Brynn is up to at oliviabrynn.com



4 comments:

Travis Erwin said...

I think every author should interview their characters before they start the actual story. It's a great way to make them come alive and learn their voice, attitude and other tidbits.

Alanna Coca said...

This is the first time I interviewed a character. I had fun! Thanks again for having me

Charles Gramlich said...

I actually kind of conduct interviews with my characters at times when I'm starting a story. I pretend I've met them on the road and we're talking around a fire while the wind is chill at our back. It helps characterize them.

Alanna Coca said...

I should do this more often! I didn't realize what a great exercise it is. Charles, you're the winner of a copy of PreView! Thanks for stopping by Travis' place to visit. I'll try to find you via your Blogger bio, but if not, email me at alanna@ alannacoca. com