Lisa Plumley goes from bustles to broomsticks

Dayna Sterling’s always been betwixt and between. Born in a desert town populated by witches and blissfully ignorant humans, Dayna had magic, but no clue how to handle it. So she left to forge a workaday life among ordinary Joes. Which is fine, really—until the day one most extraordinary Joe turns everything upside down…

The assignment is simple. Trace the runaway witch; bring her home for compulsory “cusping” training. So why does Dayna set T.J. McAllister’s half-warlock blood buzzing? Maybe it’s the bonding spell that spontaneously connects them. Or the fact that T.J.’s powers go wonky whenever he’s around Dayna. In any case, the attraction is making it damn hard for T.J. to accomplish his most important mission: prevent a dangerous uprising by locating a powerful witch prophesied to help him. She could be anywhere. She could be closer than he thinks…

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When I started working on my latest book, My Favorite Witch, I entered a whole new world… literally! For the first time in more than ten years of writing professionally, I was free to indulge in a little “world building”—and let me tell you, I went for it! I dived right in and started creating a unique universe for my characters. I came up with a historical chronology, a social stratum, and multiple factions of witches—even a few “turned” humans, just to keep things interesting. It was such fun! I was having a blast. Seriously.

Partway through brainstorming, though, the process came to a screeching halt. Why? Because I’m known for writing contemporary romances and western historical romances. I’ve had more than two dozen of them published over the past decade or so. And although I do have a pair of time-travel novellas and a ghostly, Halloween-themed short story to my credit, those three hundred anthologized pages were the extent of my experience in the paranormal romance genre.

Who, I wondered abruptly, did I think I was?

Then the realization hit me: I’m a person who loves to create characters—and to get to know them. Whether that character is a rugged nineteenth century Pinkerton agent or a half warlock, half Patayan magical “guardian” is immaterial. The process is the same, and it’s intoxicating! Sure, runaway (failed) witch Dayna Sterling might not wear a bustle like the Arizona Territory telegraph operator heroine of my upcoming western for Harlequin Historicals, but she’s still relatable and flawed and (occasionally) funny… and she’s got a bunch of surprises in store for her, too!

With that little hiccup straightened out, I was off and running again—and writing my longest, most intricate book to date! My Favorite Witch might be my first-ever paranormal romance, but I truly hope it’s not my last. I’m currently writing a funny Christmas-themed contemporary romance for Zebra Books. After that, I’ll be working on another in my Morrow Creek series for Harlequin. And after that… Well, who knows?

I’m kicking around a Valentine’s Day idea for a contemporary romance. I have a (sixth!) Morrow Creek book to write. It’s hard to say where my enthusiasm and imagination will take me next. But I will say this: I do have a sequel plotted out for one of the secondary characters from My Favorite Witch (can you guess who?). I’m dying to write it! If My Favorite Witch does well (fingers crossed!), I think I’ll be able to.

In the meantime, you’re invited to dip a toe in my otherworldly world. You won’t find any broomsticks (my characters laugh at the thought!), but you will find a pair of fated, intertwined lovers whose paths cross in unexpected and entertaining ways. And I hope you’ll find a good time, too. Please drop by my Web site at http://www.lisaplumley.com/witch-excerpt.html to read the first chapter of My Favorite Witch, or visit Amazon.com to download a preview to your Kindle or iPod/iPod Touch today.

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Thank you for visiting Novel Thoughts, Ms Plumley!

Everyone, Ms Plumley is generously giving away one book each to three lucky readers (winners choice of Home for the Holidays or Hallowe’en Husbands) so come on over and chat books, magic, characters and world-building!