Guest Post & Giveaway with Author Virna DePaul

Today I want to Welcome the awesome Virna DePaul... Hi Virna!! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Danielle, thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog!  When thinking of a topic for today, I thought I’d focus on an important aspect of writing: meeting new people, whether they’re fictional or not.

Writers often give considerable thought to the names of their fictional characters.  How it sounds, what it means, whether beginning letters are repeated with other names, and whether the writer’s history has left the name with a bad connotation.  In addition, writers might try to find the name that “fits” the character’s background and back story.  A character’s name is basically a “short cut” or “clue” to who the character truly is. 

When it comes to meeting readers, writers often develop relationships through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.  They’ll come to know readers/friends/followers by their handles.  Occasionally, we get to meet readers at conferences or other events, learn more about them as individuals, and make the type of connections you just can’t get online.  Some of these connections remain casual, but others become the base for something deeper.

Whether it’s a fictional character or a real online friend, writers develop their craft by opening themselves to a variety of people, places, and situations.  This includes being willing to explore the intricacies of both the hero and villain alike.  For example, as I work on the first book of my romantic suspense series for HQN, I’ve found my villain growing in complexity.  When I can truly feel a moment of compassion or sympathy for my villain, I know I’m finally beginning to dig deep enough into his or her character. 

I’ve never been a writer whose characters “talk” to me.  Beyond the names and characteristics I give them, they remain more like tools than friends.  But if I can do my job well enough, give them form and heart and soul so readers think of them as “real” and care about their struggles, it’s at that point they are actually given breath. 

I’m going to New York this week for the RWA National Conference.  I’ll be spending lots of time with my fictional characters, old friends, and hopefully new friends alike.  I love that my writing has given me the chance to meet people like Danielle and those friendships in turn provide me the opportunity to introduce more readers to my characters.  It’s a wonderful circle!

Virna will be giving away  a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter. Are you looking forward to any upcoming conferences or which author are you most looking for to meeting? 

Good Luck!!!

Bio: Virna DePaul is a former criminal prosecutor who writes paranormal romantic suspense for Berkley (Para-Ops Novels), and contemporary romantic suspense for Harlequin Romanic Suspense and HQN.  www.virnadepaul.com

Synopsis

United by fate. Bound by desire.

Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and otherborn – humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA – still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.

CHOSEN BY BLOOD

Leader of an Otherborn clan, half-breed vampire Knox Devereaux would do anything to find a cure for the anti-vamp vaccine slowly starving his people into extinction. When the FBI contacts him about leading a team of hand-selected Others on a mission to reclaim the stolen antidote, Knox accepts. His new assignment places him in direct contact with Special Agent Felicia Locke, the beautiful human he’s craved since their very first meeting.

My Review Here 

Thank you so much Virna for stopping by and I look forward to having you stop by again soon. Hopefully I will get the chance to meet you soon since we chat so much and have a great time in NYC!!