- Tell us about your latest release and what you think readers will enjoy about it.
Redemption Obsession was my first vampire ‘novel’. I’ve always loved vampires, so much so that I wasn’t really comfortable writing a book about them until now. I wanted to make certain that I could do them justice in an interesting way. This particular title has the sort of vampire back story that I can be happy with and as a result I feel it’s come off as a fun approach to a broad market.
I’m hoping that people will enjoy the progression of the main character. She changes a lot during the story and she’s got a special strength about her. I feel she’s someone that can be related to; not the supernatural stuff of course but the personal drive and goals. She wants what everyone else wants and she’s just on the verge of getting it. With all the hardships she has to face to get there, I hope that the readers will be able to embrace her struggle and find some way to relate to it themselves.
Care to tell us a little about the person behind the author name? What do you do for fun when not writing?
I watch a ton of film, read a variety of literature and play some video games. My movie appreciation manifests itself in a collection of DVDs that takes up more space than my furniture and sees me at the theater at least twice a week. As for books, I tend to bounce all over the place. I love Science Fiction and fantasy but more recently (I’d say in the last five years) I’ve found myself drawn to the modern fantasy books that have become so popular.
As for video games, I’ve got an X Box 360 and play entirely too many casual games on it. X Box Live is evil and entirely too addictive!
The holidays are coming. What is one of your favorite holiday traditions and why?
I’m a big fan of Halloween and one of my favorite activities has always been to carve pumpkins. Those stencil sets they sell now have allowed for some crazy creativity. My family and friends tend to have a big pumpkin carving party with food, movies and enough pumpkin slashing action for all. And as an aside, roasted pumpkin seeds are amazing. Best. Things. Ever.
Paranormal and Urban Fantasy are very popular genres right now. Is there a genre you enjoy but haven’t written yet?
I would like to do Historical Fiction. It’s always been fascinating to me but I’ve been daunted by the research. I feel it would be an injustice to the people who really lived to not throw oneself into such a project full force. I am also interested in the Old West genre as I could see some gritty stories coming out of that. Maybe I can combine the two and make the perfect novel to please my creative hunger.
If someone were to play you in a movie, what actor would it be and why?
Considering my love of film and movies that question is really hard to answer! It would be easier for me to suggest who would play my characters since I tend to have actors in mind as I go through the creation process. But I think it would have to be an unknown actor with a penchant for independent films and a sensibility for playing shy and slightly brooding.
What comes first: the plot or the characters?
When I set out to write a book, I tend to have a character in mind first. It’s rare for me to have a whole plot line in need of a person to experience it. When I create a character they have a lot of story to tell and that’s where I start building the world around them. Once the character has a strong foundation, then I can figure out how to weave their story into whatever challenges I’ve contrived for them to face. However, if I have to choose character or plot, to cut my answer a bit short, I would say that characters are always more important because they are what a reader latches on to. Because a plot happens to the people we fall in love with, I think that people are a little less critical when that part of a novel takes a lashing.
When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
‘Wow, did I really need to go to bed at 2:00 in the morning?’ Sleep is such a lost commodity, I swear!
We popped in for a spell and opened your fridge, what would we find there?
A lot of tortilla shells, plenty of Thomas Kemper Cream Soda, all the fixings for a crazy salad that could feed ten, about twenty bottles of water and some Hagen Das Cookie Dough Ice Cream. Hey, at least it’s clean!
You are awarded three cabana boys/girls and you can choose anyone (Celebrities, characters, etc). Who would you choose and why?
Jean Grey: One of my favorite characters ever, how could one not pick someone that’s attractive, smart and psychic? Advice and telekinesis are hard to pass up.
Elizabeth Moon: My absolute favorite author; an inspiration not only for writing but life accomplishment as well. I could only hope that so much talent would rub off 
Christian Bale: There are too many reasons ‘why’ to even begin to count.
You got a celebrity for 15 minutes, who would you chose and what would you do?
That’s a seriously tough question. I had a crazy dream where I was hanging out with Brendan Fraser. Ever since I heard his commentary on the first Mummy and read some interviews with him, I’ve thought he would be a great and down to earth guy to discuss the crazy show business thing with and he went to Cornish here in Seattle! Fifteen minutes isn’t time for much and I might be too busy being awed by a talented artist to really accomplish more than worship however, I can’t think of a celebrity that would be more fun to be shy around.
Sneak look into Redemption Obsession:
Before they even arrived at the bedroom door, Anne sighed audibly. “She’s so scared,” Anne’s voice was hardly a whisper. “It’s intoxicating.”
“Yes, isn’t it?” Sasha’s tone suggested that he was moved as well, but he maintained a firm grip on it. “We can indulge in the simplest things and draw an eternity from a single moment of emotion. It doesn’t always have to be fear. It can be lust or hate, happiness or love, so long as the feelings are pure and come unbidden to the person. Without that sensory taste, the sustenance we receive from their bodies becomes nothing more than a tactile thing to eat for survival. Emotions turn a meal into an experience.”
Anne took in his words with her eyes closed, her right hand pressed gently against the bedroom door. Mia was whimpering now, tears flowing down her checks unchecked. She did not have the peace of mind to call out a warning or cry for help. These things may or may not have saved her, but as she found herself more and more incapable of speech, shame began to settle over her. She had to do something, but her body would not respond.
“I want her now,” Anne spoke huskily, quivering with anticipation. “May I?”
“I don’t know,” Sasha replied, watching her thoughtfully. He enjoyed watching her pine for release and loved the agony that restraint was building in her. Anticipation always made release more pleasant. “I like that you’ve asked. Perhaps I should have her while you watch.”
“Please,” Anne turned to him with eyes full of desperation. “I don’t know if I could bear it if I’m not allowed to touch her. I can feel her soul crying out to me. She wants me, Sasha.”
“I’m sure she does, precious,” there was a hint of sarcasm in Sasha’s voice, but he smiled to offset the sting of it. “Take her then. Indulge your senses. Give her the same release you yearn for.”
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Hey there Caitlin,
I love this cover and man thoise guys on there are YUMMY!!! Who designed it? Where can we find this book?
X Box fanatic huh? What games do you like playing? I am a Final Fantasy 8 Girl.
Thanks for coming today!
Raine D.
We can thank the talented Martine Jardin for that cover. She does some amazing work!
The book can be found at: http://www.extasybooks.com. I hope people will check it out!
I’ve played a lot of Carcassone, Rock Band, Echo the Dolphin (anyone remember that one??) and Soul Calibur 4.
I love the look and feel of those Final Fantasy games but I’m a little out of touch with them. They are so beautiful!
I have read this book and I have to say that I -loved- it. Caitlin really captures this setting and feel quite well and I would recommend it to anyone that likes vampire novels. Tasteful and thoughtful, I can’t wait for the sequel!
And as an aside, this web site is awesome and cute! I love it!
Hi Nicole and thanks. Celia Kyle did a marvelous job on it and I LOVE it. LOL
There is sequel? Sweet. I willhave to read this one 1st. On my TBR list already. lol
Raine D.
Aw, thanks Nicole! I appreciate the compliment for sure! In answer to a sequel, I had intended Eternal Affairs to be a series. The second one is outlined and ready to be written just as soon as I finish some other obligations.
Until then, there’s a short story being released by Extasy Books here in October with Anne as the lead character. That is called ‘Requiem of the Silent’.