Author Interview: Naomi Clark

Today I'd like to welcome Naomi Clark, who is stopping by to answer a few questions about her new Urban Fantasy release, Silver Kiss, which releases on March 1st. You can see my review here. Without further ado, here's the interview.

---

Sara: How would you describe your novel, Silver Kiss, in three sentences or less, for readers who haven’t heard of it before?

Naomi: SILVER KISS is the story of Ayla, a lone wolf returning to her pack, and the problems she faces in doing so. It’s also the story of a missing teenager, a dangerous drug, and how far some people will go to destroy the relationship between humans and werewolves.

Sara: How would you describe your main characters in one sentence?

Naomi: Hmm... Plucky, determined, maybe a little dysfunctional, but definitely loyal and loving.

Sara: Did you always know you were going to write a novel with GLBT characters, or did they sneak up on you?

Naomi: In honesty, they snuck up on me. I’d never written anything with GBLT characters at the forefront before, but once I’d decided to write a story for the QUEER WOLF anthology (where WOLF STRAP, the first Ayla story was published), Ayla and Shannon very much jumped into my head, and the rest of the cast quickly followed.

Sara: In Silver Kiss, it is mentioned that werewolf birth rates are decreasing. Is natural birth between two werewolves the only way to further the species, or can humans be bitten and turned into werewolves?

Naomi: No, in the world I’ve set up, humans can’t become werewolves. You’re either born one or you’re not. (At least not in the traditional sense, or from a werewolf bite, as Ayla discovered in WOLF STRAP.) Humans and werewolves can cross-breed, but there are no guarantees that the child will be able to shapeshift. And this is going to be explored further in future books!

Sara: What made you decide to set up the pack structure in a way that is different from the typical “one alpha wolf ruling with an iron fist” fashion?

Naomi: I thought that for werewolves to realistically live alongside humans, they’d have to make some changes to their pack structure. The sort of feudal system that worked when they were undercover wouldn’t be acceptable to humans, or practical in the modern world – too brutal, not enough human rights! The alphas still have a lot of influence, and there are still occasions when that iron fist comes down, but overall the pack has a more flexible, loose structure that lets the werewolves mix more freely with humans.

Sara: Can we look forward to more books in Ayla’s world?

Naomi: Definitely! I can promise you two more books in the Urban Wolf series, and I have ideas and plans for more after that. As long as people enjoy them, I’ll be happy to write them.

Sara: Who are your greatest influences, both in and out of the Urban Fantasy genre?

Naomi: I’m a big fan of Laurell K Hamilton’s first few Anita Blake books – those were the first urban fantasy novels I read, and they definitely got me into writing it. I also love Rachel Vincent, Caitlin Kittredge, and Stacia Kane. Outside of urban fantasy, I’m a long-time fan of Angela Carter and Terry Pratchett.

Sara: What are you currently reading?

Naomi: Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk – can’t put it down! I’m so glad I have Magic in the Shadows waiting for when I’m done.

* * *

I’ve got a great contest for everyone. There’s an ebook for a winner at the end of today and everyone who enters now will also be in the running for winning a signed print copy of SILVER KISS drawn at the end of the week. Just answer this simple question in your comment to be entered into both competitions:

What are you currently reading?

Follow the SILVER KISS BLOG TOUR for more chances to win. Check out the itinerary and join me on the next step of the tour. And there are even more prizes on 1st March, the official SILVER KISS release day and I’m live for a Twitter Release Party #silverkiss.



Visit the Silver Kiss page for a reading as Naomi Clark reads from Wolf Strap! (Released in parts over the course of the blog tour!)

---

Thank you so much to Naomi for coming by! And feel free to ask questions for Naomi in the comments.

To be entered into the ebook giveaway, just leave you're e-mail address in the comments. I'll pick a winner tomorrow (Thursday Feb. 25) and pass their e-mail along.