Janni Nell, author of "Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator"


I’m delighted to be a guest on Jenny’s blog today. (Our books will be released by Carina Press on the same date: June 14th 2010.) We’re doing a blog swap, so pop over and check out her guest blog on http://www.janninell.com/

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How did you get the idea for Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator?

I wanted to write a kickass heroine. Since I love detective stories, it was a given that she would be an investigator of some kind. Since I also love mythology and letting my imagination have free rein, a paranormal investigator fit the bill nicely.

What do you enjoy most about writing in the paranormal genre?

The chance to let my imaginative go to weird and wonderful places. Plus I get to create wonderful paranormal characters like Casper, Allegra’s drop-dead gorgeous guardian angel.

Who is your favourite character in the book? Why?

Allegra because she’s tall, slim and kickass (things I’d like to be). She’s also a bit cheeky and says the kinds of snarky things I could never say in real life.

Do you have anything in common with Allegra?

We both like Barry Manilow’s music, dancing and coffee (although she drinks hers black).

Who are your favourite authors? Have they influenced the direction of your writing?

My favourite author is Susan Howatch. Her Starbridge and St Benet’s books are wonderful. Her characterisations are sublime – such depth.

Much as I’d love to write the kind of books she did ( I say did because, although she’s still alive, she doesn’t seem to be writing fiction any more) my ability lies in a different genre, so I can’t claim she’s influenced my work. But she’s given me hours of pleasurable reading.

When is your favourite time of day to write?

Definitely first thing in the morning. When I’m first drafting, I go hard for a few hours, then spend the rest of the day thinking about where the plot should go. When I’m editing I work all day. And sometimes into the night if I’m on a roll.

Other than writing, do you have any talents you’d like to share?

Well, it’s no secret I love to dance. And I do seem to have a bit of rhythm. Not that it’s a great talent but it’s the best I could come up with.

If you had a free day to do anything you wanted, what would you do?

Lie in the sun reading. (Sigh!)

What are you working on now?

The next Allegra Fairweather book. I’m about half way through the first draft. Hopefully it’ll be ready to submit in the not too distant future.

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Thanks so much for inviting me on your blog today, Jenny. I’ve had a ball. And thanks to everyone who’s dropped by. Until we meet again…

May your guardian angel watch over you.

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Allegra Fairweather here. Paranormal investigator. Got problems with specters? Shapeshifters? I’m the woman to call. Just don’t call me a Ghostbuster. The last guy who did that ended up flat on his back with my boot at his throat.

With my 99.5% success rate, solving the mystery of a bleeding rose that has sprung up on the shores of Loch Furness should have been an easy gig. But already I’ve heard the shriek of the local banshee, discovered two bodies (and then lost two bodies), and had a near-death encounter with a three-hundred-year-old ghost. And perhaps most dangerous of all, the hot pub owner who hired me now wants to show me exactly what’s under his kilt.

Luckily, I’m ably assisted by my very own guardian angel. I’m grateful for his help—but he’s also drop-dead gorgeous. A bit distracting when I’ve got a mystery to solve, and the clock is ticking…


3 responses to “Janni Nell, author of "Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator"”

  1. Thanks Cathryn :)It's such a busy week–a whirl of excitement with Carina launching. I'm running madly between blogs and the Two Lips chat http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TalkingTwoLips/ and trying to keep up on Twitter and catch up with my emails and…breathe.Honestly, if it wasn't for everyone's friendliness, I'd be a mess.

  2. Great interview, ladies. ….except for the Barry Manilow reference. Now I have "Mandy" stuck in my head.

  3. You're here! So happy 🙂 Oops. If you're here–I'm meant to be…Aaargh! I'm late!!! Over to your blog really fast.Thanks for a great post here, Janni

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