I am pleased to have author Juliana Stone here for an interview today! Juliana’s first Avon release, His Darkest Hunger is available on March 30th at bookstores everywhere!

WLP: Can you tell us about his darkest hunger?

JS: I think the best way to do this is to let you all read the blurb! 

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he’s finally found her. The hunt is over…

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair; of her treachery; of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant the game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine…

WLP: What made you make Jaxon a jaguar shifter?

JS: This is an interesting question.  When I first decided to give this writing thing a try, I had ideas for a vamp series.  I wrote a proposal and sent it off…it was rejected in two weeks.  So, I decided that I needed to come up with something new.  One of my favourite books by Christine Feehan is Wild Rain.  It featured Leopard people…so the seed was planted.  I did some research and came across references to Jaguar Warriors, an ancient Aztec warrior clan and ran with it!  There is something very sensual, sexy about a black, powerful feline.  I love my jags.

WLP: What is your favourite element of the story?

JS: I think in this first story, it’s the relationship between Jaxon and Libby.  They have so much baggage, mistrust and pain between the two of them and yet, they are totally meant to be together.  I loved bridging the gap and allowing them to heal in order to come together.  Of course the whole paranormal thing is wonderful.  I also have a vampire, Ana and a Sorcerer Declan who is quite yummy as well….not to mention Jaxon’s sexy brothers….

WLP: Is there anything you haven’t been asked in an interview that you wished you had been asked?

JS: At this point I’d have to say no.  I’m so new to all of this that any question kinda rocks as I’m just happy people are interested enough to ask!

WLP: How do you get ready to write a love scene?

JS: I approach writing love scenes the same way I do the rest of the book.  When I write I need total silence.  I might listen to music leading up to writing, if I want to get into a certain frame of mind, but for the most part I need silence.  I think this is because I’m such a visual writer….I see the scene in my head and then put it on paper. 

WLP: Do you listen to music while you write? If so what?

JS: LOL, I guess I just kinda answered this question.  I will listen to certain songs to get into a specific frame of mind…I remember writing a melancholy scene and listening to “I’m with You” by Avril Lavigne.  I find that song so wistful, full of yearning and it totally got me to where I needed to be.

WLP: Speaking of music, I know that you used to front an all female rock band! Can you tell us a bit about that?

JS: Well, that was a long time ago and an amazing experience for me as a young adult.  I’ve always been attracted to the arts, music and words, and singing is something I totally love.  We hit the road and were unique because we were all female.  There wasn’t anything like that touring when we were.  It was a lot of fun, I travelled to many small and large towns, cities and met a ton of people.  I’ve been stranded in Quebec City when the bar we were at was shut down for drug violations.  That was scary the cops came in and raided the place, (we were clean but the patrons…not so much) and we were stuck with no money for an entire week very far from home.  But you learn to deal.

WLP: Have you done anything special for yourself because this is the first Avon release for you?

JS: We did huge celebrating when I sold, which was a year and half ago.  I mean, I literally decided to write a book, wrote it in 7 weeks, snagged a wonderful agent and she sold it in under 2 months.  I was thrilled….felt incredibly blessed because I know that it can take months and years for that first sale.  Just having an agent doesn’t guarantee a sale (though mine totally rocks)  So yeah, big celebration….but with the release on coming up March 30^th I think I might be having a spa day!

WLP: Name 3 things you couldn’t live without

Family

Music

Books

WLP: I know you love your wine, so what is your favourite brand?

JS: Right now I’m really wine from Argentina, Gato Negro is yummy.  I also like Open which is an Ontario VQA wine, it’s a cab/merlot.  Red is the way to go baby!

Thanks again Juliana for stopping by, I for one can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of His Darkest Hunger and search google for 90′s band girl Juliana pictures! Ha. You can always visit Juliana on her website.

Juliana is giving away a copy of His Darkest Hunger to one lucky winner….contest ends Friday March 19th at 11:59pm EST.

To enter, tell us Why Do You Like Shifters?