Some while ago I was on Twitter when I caught an author asking if anybody would like to host her book as part of a blog tour. As I think that blog tours are a fun idea and it later ensued that I knew Claudia already (we had met through the original Thursday Thirteen meme) I was very happy to take part. So I sent her some interview questions and without further ado: Welcome, Claudia!

Tell us a bit about your novel The Fey. What’s it about? Who is the main character?

At its most basic level, The Fey is about a young woman, Alexandra Hargreaves, who was cruising along in her life. She had a wonderful job, a great team of people to work with, a handsome devoted husband and a wonderful home. In the wink of an eye, everything changes. We meet her at the moment of that change. And everything just gets worse.

The Fey is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you riveted to the page from start to finish. The romance will warm your heart. You’ll even laugh at the antics of Alex and her friends.

How long have you been a writer? Is it something you always did, or something you aspired to and then did?

I’ve written, and told, stories all of my life. As a child, I always wanted to be an author. Life had other plans for me. I returned to writing with a self-help column, Claudia’s Corner, in a local newspaper in 1995. I wrote inspirational self-help for the Open Grove for about six years.

It’s been a long and winding path back to writing fiction. I’m grateful now for the opportunity write a serial fiction called Denver Cereal as well as start the Alex the Fey thriller series with The Fey.

What kinds of writing do you do, and which do you like best? Why?

I enjoy writing both fiction and non-fiction. I enjoy the concrete nature of non-fiction. My job is simply to help make facts understandable to the average person. I enjoy working with the language to make that happen.

My true love is writing fiction. I love the opportunity to meet a character and learn about their lives. I’m always amazed at what happens on a page. For me, writing fiction is a marvelous experience of discovery.

To anyone interested in becoming a writer, what advice would you give?

If you want to be a writer, then write. Don’t mess around with classes or groups or conferences. Do what the professionals do and write. There are more people capable of reading now than in any other time in the world.

The Internet provides marvelous opportunities to connect with readers.
If you aren’t writing now, then don’t worry about it. Go out and live your life. Gain life experiences. There will be a time when those experiences will form the backbone of your stories.

What do you do for fun (other than write?)

I’m a beekeeper. I keep a couple of beehives behind my home in Denver. I have large vegetable gardens in the summer and enjoy knitting in the winter. Living in Colorado, my husband and I enjoy getting out hiking and backpacking in the summer. I’m also a big fitness buff. I’m training for the Rock and Roll half marathon in Las Vegas this December. I enjoy lifting weights.

The Fey is the first in the Alex the Fey thriller series. What can you tell us about the series?

We follow Alex, her family and friends through the series. The second book, Learning to Stand, takes off where The Fey ends. Will Alex be able to step into herself and her new life? The third book, Who I Am, finds Alex attempting to live her new life. While I have eight books outlined, I enjoy these characters and will continue to tell their story as long as they have story to tell.

How can readers get a copy of The Fey?
For a 10 percent Raven’s Range discount at our store, feel free to use this code: QU86XUYL. The Fey is serialized at AlextheFey.com and is also available at Amazon (discount doesn’t work there). The novel will run through the end of the year, then will be removed.

Learning to Stand, the second in the Alex the Fey series, will take its place in February, 2010.

Claudia has graciously offered a signed copy of her book to a reader of Raven’s Range. Come back tomorrow for details of a blog contest to win!

Disclosure: Claudia has a generous affiliate program for her blog tour hosts, though I didn’t hear about that until after I offered blog space. She is still looking for hosts, so contact her to take part!

Books purchased using the discount code above do provide a financial kickback. Since Claudia is a supporter of Operation Shoebox, I have asked her to donate any money from Raven’s Range sales to that worthy non-profit. Don’t forget that you can check out the serialized novel at the link above: The try before you buy concept is a lovely move on this author’s part!