1. What drew you to paranormal romance writing? Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I like to say I was born with a pen in my hand. The truth is, my love of writing was born of a love of reading. I read voraciously as a child (as I do today) and I still have the large collection of children’s and Young Adult books I read and adored. My writing epiphany came in sixth grade, when my teacher required my class to read and adapt a YA novel into a stage play. The act of turning that prose into a script, and then performing the play for the entire school, was an incredibly exciting experience. I knew at that moment that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. In the years that followed, I offered to write every skit or play that was required in school, and my university thesis was a YA novel. As for paranormal writing—see question 6.

2. Of all the characters you’ve created, who are some of your favorites to bring to life?

I’ve enjoyed all the characters I’ve created so much, I can’t choose a favorite! It was an honor and a thrill to get into the minds and hearts of real-life authors like Jane Austen (The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen) and Charlotte, Anne, and Emily Brontë (The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë.) I felt such a responsibility while writing those books to get everything right—to be true to those remarkable women and their histories. It was equally thrilling to create a dashing and romantic version of Dracula in Dracula, My Love, to breathe life into Bram Stoker’s Mina Harker, to invent back stories for them both, and to have them fall passionately in love. (In the process, I fell in love with Dracula myself.) And I loved creating Nicole and Michael in Nocturne. Because I completely invented those characters and their situation from scratch, it gave me a lot more freedom to let my imagination run wild.

3. What inspired Nocturne?

Nocturne came to be because the wonderful team at Vanguard Press loved my portrayal of a charismatic vampire in Dracula, My Love. They asked me to write a similarly thrilling, romantic novel for them, to come out in time for Valentine’s Day. The only requirement was that it be a contemporary love story that featured a vampire. I quickly settled on a storyline that excited me: a woman is snowbound for days in the Colorado mountains with a gorgeous, reclusive, fascinating man—who happens to be a vampire. They fall deeply in love, a profoundly meaningful experience that is destined to change them both forever. But when she learns her host’s terrifying secret, she has nowhere run but into the blizzard raging outside, and he is the only one who can save her life. I was so enthralled by the story and characters that the tale poured out of me. I’ve been so honored and thrilled by the advance reviews. All Things Urban Fantasy described Nocturne as “The perfect novel to read on a cold winter night. Just beautiful.” Romance Reviews Today called the book “an emotionally heartfelt love story with an unexpected ending that will bring tears to your eyes,” and Merry Genre Go Round Reviews said, “Readers will relish this strong, romantic suspense thriller.” I hope you and your readers agree, as this book is very dear to my heart!

4. How would you describe Nicole Whitcomb?

Nicole is an intelligent, sensitive, thoughtful, well-read, adventurous, loving, athletic, kind woman with a great sense of humor. She’s also one of the walking wounded. She’s so traumatized by a mistake she made in the past that she can’t forgive herself, and has been unable to move forward in her life.

5. Can you give us a sneak peek into some future projects you’re working on?

I’m finishing the revisions for Forbidden, a YA novel that I co-wrote with my son Ryan. The book is about a teenage girl who discovers she’s half-angel and falls in love with the gorgeous, mysterious, new boy in school—who’s an angel gone AWOL. It will be published by HarperTeen in early 2012.

6. I really enjoyed Dracula, My Love. What drew you to vampires?

I’ve been interested in them for years, ever since my son Ryan asked me to co-author a screenplay that featured vampires. I love vampires because they have everything we want. They’re good-looking, powerful, dangerous, immortal, and eternally youthful. With all the time in the world to educate and better themselves, a vampire ought to be a fascinating creature, and good at just about everything. That’s a very interesting character to write. There’s something very compelling to me in the idea of a “good” vampire—a being who’s madly in love with a mortal woman, and struggles every day against his dark inner nature because he wants to keep her safe. I think a person who was a good-hearted human being is still going to be good-hearted after they’ve been changed—but they’ll be a tortured soul, because they must drink blood to survive, an act that could kill an innocent human being. In Nocturne, Michael is just such a vampire—a highly intelligent, accomplished man who has sequestered himself in the Rockies so he won’t hurt anyone.

7. Can you give us any new movie news on The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë ?

The producers who optioned the book are seeking just the right team (financial backing, production company, director, actors) to bring the book to life. These things can take a while. Keep your fingers crossed.

8. I’m a big Austen fan, what can you tell us about the Jane Austen Made Me Do It anthology?

The anthology editor, Laurel Ann Nattress, sold the idea to Ballantine Books (Random House) and then assembled a group of authors to contribute short stories inspired by Jane Austen, her novels, and her philosophies of life and love. The stories range from historical continuations of her plots and characters to contemporary spin-offs and comedies. I was honored when Laurel Ann asked me to participate. I had a great time writing my short story. Although I’ve been sworn to secrecy about the story’s precise subject, I can tell you that it’s written from Jane Austen’s point of view, just like my novel about Jane. The exciting news for readers is that in addition to more than twenty stories by Austen authors, one spot has been reserved for the lucky Grand Prize winner of the Jane Austen Made Me Do It Short Story Contest. You can learn more about the contest here. The book is due out in October 2011.

9. Do you have any book signing/tours planned?

I keep my schedule updated here: http://www.syriejames.com/guestspeaking.php

10. What is the best writing advice you’ve ever been given? If you can’t think of anything specific then what advice would you offer an aspiring writer?

Mark Twain once said: “Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” I agree with that advice. If I can leave you with one message today, it’s this: no matter who you are, what you do, or what you wish for … give yourself permission to go after your dreams. Do it now. I believe that if you educate yourself, keep your goals in sight, and put in the hard work, you can achieve your dreams—no matter how impossible or unlikely they may seem to someone else!

Syrie James, hailed by Los Angeles Magazine as the queen of nineteenth century re-imaginings, is the critically acclaimed author of NOCTURNE, as well as three novels of historical fiction: DRACULA, MY LOVE, the sensuous tale of Mina Harker’s secret love affair with Dracula; the international bestseller THE LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN, the untold story of Jane Austen’s romance, named a Best First Novel of 2008 by Library Journal; and THE SECRET DIARIES OF CHARLOTTE BRONTE, the story of Charlotte Bronte’s life, romance, and literary career, which was selected as a 2009 Great Group Read by the Women’s National Book Association. Syrie also co-authored a YA novel with her son Ryan that will be published by HarperTeen in 2012.