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by: Tammie King
Date: 10/2009
Hello Linda,
Thanks for joining me today on Night Owl Romance.
Tammie King of NOR: To get us started can you please start by telling us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: I had three projects released this
year. "BLACKOUT" from Silhouette Nocturne Bites, "WOLF BAIT" from Nocturne
Bites, and ... "BARBIE AND THE BEAST" my American Title 3 top finaling book,
from Dorchester. "BARBIE AND THE BEAST" is light, quirky parnormal, and a Night
Owl Reviews top pick, and one of my personal favorites. It's a romp through the
world of paranormal dating. And very girly.
Since I crave both light and dark paranornmals, I write in both styles, in the
manner of a split personality. I just finished the fifth Nocturne project, and
will have three books coming out from them, back-to-back, in 2010. The series is
called "Wolf Moons", with "MOON MARKED" in January, "RED WOLF" in February, and
"WOLF TRAP" in March.
Werewolves rule!
The Nocturnes are sexy books about the relationships between genetic Weres and
people inducted into the Were clan by being bitten by a criminal werewolf in
Miami. Each book details the meeting of one couple affected by the Moon. And the
characters from this series all make appearances in the other books, so that we
get to know them even better.
I am so lucky, I know, to be able to do these things.
Tammie King of NOR: Could you please tell us a little about yourself?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: I'm a teacher by day, and a writer by
night. Some of my best ideas occur at 3 AM, when the family is fast asleep. My
day job is physical, so writing is a great compliment to that.
I love writing so much that I can actually get stressed if I can't get to my
computer. I keep a notebook handy at all times, and scribble down words or ideas
while I drive (look out on those roads in the west!). My Muse singing pretty
much continually. I live in the west on a big plot of land - yes, with snakes
and interesting desert bugs. I'm nuts enough to try to create green spaces
-gardens and lawns - despite water shortages. Love those draught-tolerant
plants!
I have a great husband who supports my writing endeavors (and the gardens)
completely. So I've been lucky also, in love.
Tammie King of NOR: If you could be one of the characters from this book – Who would you be? And why?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: Toss up, frankly. From "BARBIE AND THE
BEAST," Barbie Bradley, named after the doll, cracks me up. She's a teacher,
like myself, but a whole lot more clueless than I am about how the world works.
Sometimes, I envy that.
And then there's Dana Delmonico from "BLACKOUT." A savvy cop-turned she-wolf who
meets such a terrific guy, I get hot just thinking about it. Plus, she gets to
protect and serve.
Tammie King of NOR: Who or what influenced you when you wrote
these books? Did you have CD's, Songs, environments, etc?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: Ala "BARBIE AND THE BEAST" - my own
Barbie doll, sittting here on my shelf was an influence. Poor Barbie (the doll)
never got her man. Ken was non-committal. So - if she had to have a beau, and
with with the stigma of being... well... Barbie - what kind of a guy could (or
would) cope?
Answer: a werewolf named Darin.
 Tammie King of NOR: Can you please give us a sneak peek into the book?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: "Barbie and the Beast" is a
light-hearted tale of dating games, best friends, dogs, crypts, popping buttons,
danglinf participles, naked men in Ferraris (just kidding about the Ferraris,
and lots and lots of Oreo cookie consumption. Dedicated to all women who
remember, past or present, the pitfalls of dating.
Tammie King of NOR: Please tell us what you have planned next?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: More werewolves! But right now I'm
going back to my first publishing event (I got my start in the "Immortal Bad
Boys" vampire anthology from Brava) by writing a new vampire series for
Nocturne. Dark, sexy, atmospheric fare.
Tammie King of NOR: What kind of research did you do for this book? Did you enjoy the research process?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom:
For "Barbie and the Beast" - oh, yes. Lots of research. HA !
For the "Wolf Moon" series - I have some cop and FBI pals who filled me in on a
detail or two. Terrific stuff.
Tammie King of NOR: What would you like to tell your readers?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: Please try a little "light" with the
"dark." I have a story for everybody, and truly love what I do.
Tammie King of NOR: Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: Nope. No critique group. I know when
I'm in the "zone" or not. And I'm my best/worst critic.
Tammie King of NOR: What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: Readers can contact me through the
guest page on my website. www.lindathomas-sundstrom.com
I'll have a Facebook page by the end of 09, when I have a break from teaching.
And I can also be found on the Nocturen Authors website:
www.nocturneauthors.com
Tammie King of NOR: When did you first decide to submit your work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: I have always written stories for
myself. When a friend challenged me to write a "romance" I did. That one, (long
story) has been dusted off, and is being marketed right now. But my second try
was a vampire novellatargeted to Kate Duffy at Kensington Brava - and Kate
bought it three days after receiving it. So it was a friend who started all this
for me. I could just kiss her for that!
Tammie King of NOR: What was your first published work and when was it published?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: Cafe Heaven (An Autobiography of the
Afterlife) - fantasy genre - 2002
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: In romance/NY publisher: "Midnight
Court" in the Immortal Bad Boys anthology - Kensington Brava - 2004, and 2006.
Tammie King of NOR: What is the best and worst advice you have ever received?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: Best - from Yoda. "Do, or do not. There
is no TRY." Worst - from Kevin Costner. "Build it, and they will come."
Tammie King of NOR: Do you outline your books or just start writing?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom:
Pantser for most. Start with an idea, and let it rip. Yeah!
Outliner for Nocturne - they require a detailed synopsis for every book.
Tammie King of NOR: Who is your perfect hero? And why?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: Aragorn from The Lord Of The Rings.
Strong, sexy, rugged but intelligent. Fierce. Big heart. Loyal to a fault. And
most of all, noble of thought and deed. (sigh)
Tammie King of NOR: Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: A mainstream fictional biography. (Stay
tuned).
Thank you for this opportunity!
Interviewed by: Tammie King
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