~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~it's all about the love~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Author Megan Derr interview and give-away


My guest today is Megan Derr, fabulous author of m/m romance books, co-owner of Less Than Three Press LLC and winner of the most awesome Twitter-er award (not really but she is awesome). Megan has a holiday story coming out on December 21 called The Christmas Package.

Welcome! It’s so awesome that you’re here Megan. Are you ready?

Ready Set Go! It's awesome to be here :D Thank you for having me ^__^


I'm going to start the interview by sneaking in my congratulations to Megan for winning "Best Gay Paranormal/Horror" for her book Midnight! Congrats and way to go! (now to the questions)

1.     How did you get started writing m/m romance? Did you always want to be a writer?

I always loved reading, but writing was something I put on a pedestal forever. It wasn't until college, when a friend dragged me to a writing class and I started hesitantly poking at fanfic, that I realized I could write—and really really wanted to be a writer :3 


2.     Did you have any early influences either in this genre or any other?

Weirdly, Stephen King is one of my greatest influences. Growing up, I read romance, fantasy, and Stephen King (but pretty much no other horror). My mom would read some of his stories to us at night, so he's stuck with me in ways that other authors haven't.

3.     What is the hardest part about writing for you?

Description. I hate long, involved descriptions of things, so I have a bad habit of going to the other extreme and making mine too short. Length, in general, is difficult for me. I'm a very minimalist writer, I always boggle when I write something extremely long and it takes me forever (and I still say that in the hands of someone else, the story would be twice as long).

4.     Does any one of your books hold a special place in your heart?

Prisoner will always be my baby. That was the first story where I set out with
a very specific goal in mind and, at least in my opinion, completely nailed it. 
I love Kria and its inhabitants and will never tire of playing there. I love Dieter 
and Beraht and they'll always be my number one :D

5.     Tell us a little about your Christmas story. Is it a new story or related to one of 
your other books?

The Christmas Package is a sequel to a short story I wrote for the M/M 
Romance Group on GoodReads called Delivery with a Smile. The premise for that first story was a fun one, about an innocuous delivery man who stumbles into an awkward situation with a hitman :3  The Christmas Package takes place several months after Delivery with a Smile, and shows the characters still stumbling along in their odd relationship.

6.     Do you have a writing quirk? (ie computer has to be facing a certain way, cup of coffee on the left, certain music playing, etc)

Honestly the only thing I need is relative silence. I can't write when the TV is on or I can hear other conversations. Music is sometimes okay. Location or what I'm writing with (computer, notebook, ipad), etc, doesn't matter, but I do need quiet.

7.     Do you have any writing or reading squicks? Things you don’t like to read and can’t see yourself ever writing?

I'll try most anything once, though I don't know that I would do slavery or noncon well since they're not something I generally like reading, and I think BDSM and such is way out of my league.  But I also like challenges, so I hate to say NEVER to something.

8.     You and your sister started Less Than Three Press, how did that decision come about and how are you enjoying it?

Samantha came up with the idea. I was in the midst of self-publishing and thinking of trying to submit stories to publishers when she called me and said 'let's do this' and I said 'you're crazy, but okay.'  We wanted to publish books that we liked, and our own way, so that is what we've set out to do. Lucky for the two of us, Sasha joined us and together the three of us have managed very well indeed :D It's a lot of fun, even if it's crazy busy.  I never thought I would be a publisher, but I would be completely crushed if I ever stopped now.

9.     What’s next on your plate? What are you working on?

My major goals are The Lost Gods, a five books series, and Sword of the King, which is set in the same verse as Dance with the Devil. I'm also working on a handful of short stories for various and sundry things and have been informed that a story about Gladiators is officially on my to-do list. (K-lee’s note – Hahahahahaha!) :3

10. Finally – a few quick choices:
a.     Coffee or tea  - Coffee!
b.     Dog or cat - Cat! We own six now :3
c.      Beach or mountains - Beach
d.     Pecs or abs - Pecs
e.     Smile or eyes - Smile
f.      Cowboys or rockstars  -Can I have one of each?
g.     Who would win in a fight – vampires or werewolves? And why.
Vampires. Anything that actually managed to survive death and come back stronger, with special powers, and a taste for blood is nothing to fuck with, even if you're a furry badass :3

Thank you, Megan. You rock, sista.  J

You're a rockstar :D


Megan has generously offered up an IOU copy of her holiday story, the Christmas Package, to one lucky commenter on my blog. REMEMBER TO PUT YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT.

CONTEST WILL BE OPEN AND WINNER DRAWN ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16.

If you don’t win, you can pick it up On December 21 at Less Than 3 Press

Be sure to check out Megan’s website for information on how to buy her other fabulous books at Megan Derr.





34 comments:

  1. A sequel to 'Delivery with a smile' COOL!!
    I loved 'Delivery with a smile' :D
    *puts book in wishlist*

    Great interview and kudos for having the balls to start your own publishing company.

    blaine(at)blainedarden(dot)com

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  2. Me, me! I want it! (Count me in for the contest. :P)

    Megan, I struggle with description, too. Usually I don't enjoy lots and lots of description and when it comes to character descriptions, aside from a few of the most important features (hair, eyes, important tattoos, etc), I usually describe very little to allow readers to imagine the character the way they want to. I guess minimal description is probably one of my bigger flaws...but it's just kind of my style.

    BTW, I'm glad you and Sam started up LT3. I'm very happy to be on board with y'all. :D

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  3. I liked reading "Delivery with a Smile", so I'm glad you decided to make a sequel.
    I still have "The Missing Butterfly" in my to read list, book recommended by K-lee on her blog. :)

    Thanks K-lee and Megan for this interview.

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  4. I loved Delivery With A Smile. Icannot wait to read more :-) I really enjoy your writing.
    Stacia

    ladykatana@comcast.net

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  5. Great interview. :)

    I, for one, am glad you started writing. Can't wait to read The Christmas Package.

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  6. I have enjoyed all of the books of Megans books that I have Read!

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  7. thank you for this wonderful interview with Megan Derr, K-Lee!

    i love to read The Christmas Package too so i am entering the contest as well! ^_^

    dyoklako at gmail dot com

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  8. Great interview. Can't wait to read The Christmas Package. Thanks for the giveaway.

    e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

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  9. I can't wait! I love Delivery with a Smile and I want more of Jack and Allen!
    ajkeegan9@yahoo.com

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  10. I love Megan as an author and a person. She's pretty much the only writer who's entire works I've wanted to collect. Everyone else is a book here or there, no one has caught my reading tooth like she has. I hope she keeps on keeping on.

    vriosart(at)gmail

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  11. This was very cute and I am so happy to hear all about writers and how they work :b

    And even thought vampires might be stronger, werewolves will always be first in my heart <3

    I would love to be entered in this lovely contest.

    email is: Beanidjess @ gmail . com

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  12. Megan Derr: after following you and your writing for the last few years I'm suprised you have a problem with length and description! I love everything you've posted!

    Also, I'd love to be in the drawing! blackcat348@gmail.com

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  13. Oh helloooooo. Yes please. I'm always excited when Megan puts out new books ^_^

    reeology@gmail.com

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  14. You guys are as awesome as Megan. Thanks for coming to my blog and showing her some love.

    Personally, I think Megan's writing is almost like poetry sometimes and the books I've read are never devoid of description. But I guess we all have out little things that we struggle more with. Perhaps I should do my own interview and reveal mine? :P

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  15. Megan provides so many shiny stories that I reckon she's got some magic potion to give her 48hr days to get them all written.

    Good to know there's a sequel to 'Delivery with a smile'. Winning it would be the spinkles on the cake.

    Mara.Ismine "at" gmail.com

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  16. Great interview! I can't wait to read The Christmas Package, and I love all of your books!
    ~Alicia
    alleycat2468@hotmail.com

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  17. Thank you for dropping by, lovely people, and for your wonderful comments <3 <3 <3

    Much love to K-Lee for having me ::squishes::

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  18. This looks so good!! Count me in please.

    Courtney S
    aunt_cori(at)yahoo.com

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  19. i loved delivery with a smile!

    xiaoxiong6712@gmail.com

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  20. i loved delivery with a smile!

    xiaoxiong6712@gmail.com

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  21. This sounds great :-D

    Sarah S

    Sarahs7836(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. You're right. Who could choose between cowboys and rockstars?? Better yet, let's mix them together!
    Anyway, I am excited for this contest. I love your work Megan so am very happy to enter.
    Thanks for the opportunity!

    m.lanz28@ymail.com

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. Please count me in! I loved 'Delivery With a Smile' and would love to revisit!

    qbeeqt(at)yahoo(dot)com

    (sorry, had to delete first comment 'coz I forgot to put my email addy...ditz that I am!)

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  25. Please count me in!
    I can't wait to read this one.

    ~Amanda
    ryn.barker@gmail.com

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  26. ...gladiators? :D

    Delivery with a smile was fun and I look forward to reading The Christmas Package. And most likely about the gladiators, too.

    misnoumerXyahooXcom

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  27. I am really excited to get to read this story! I hope I win!

    Heather
    hmgooss@gmail.com

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  28. Megan, your to-do list makes me sooo happy! :3 And I love the fact that both 'The Christmas Package' and 'Meant To Be' are both coming out this month, making December even more awesome than it already is~

    d(dot)r(dot)ricco(at)hotmail(dot)com
    d.r.ricco@hotmail.com

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  29. Add me. Add me.

    A sequel for "Delivery with a Smile"!!!. Yay.

    I love Prisoner and happiness for the to-do list.

    katleap@msn.com

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  30. I absolutely loved Delivery With a Smile! I'm so glad there's a sequel.

    wildeeper-at-gmail-dot-com

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  31. Wonderful interview - thank you both!

    I discovered Megan's writing with The Bastard Prince and fell in love...with Kria and with Megan's writing ;) I'm so glad Megan that you will never tire of playing there :) Oh, and Delivery to a Smile sounds good, but Prisoner is next on my list, especially since it is your favourite.

    And while I love description I don't like it to overshadow characterization, which is my first love. I need to be inside the character's heads first and foremost.

    And I'm not sure if I'm too late for the contest since it is already Friday evening here (the downside to being at the bottom of the world is that we're ahead of the rest :) If not, my email address is: orannia(at)gmail(dot)com

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  32. Thanks for the comments guys. The winner is dyoklako. Congrats!

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  33. Lovely interview
    please put my name in the sack :)
    Marie*

    marie_sis@fsmail.net

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