I was stuck for a blog topic today, so I posted a shout-out to my Facebook fans. What would they like to ask me? Here are a few of their questions and my responses:
From Gayle: “What do you miss about the 80′s, or 90′s depending on your age group. I miss not having to carry a cell phone everywhere.”
ME: I didn’t have to think long about this. From the 80s, I miss big hair! And big-hair bands like Cinderella, Warrant, and Poison. http://www.pinterest.com/kaloia/favorite-80-s-big-hair-bands/ 
I miss my friend Mona…we were super close through middle school and most of high school. Oh, and Miami Vice! Jeez, I could on all day about what I miss. 
LOL.
From the 90s? I miss Buffy. Yes, she didn’t start until 1997, but really, the whole decade should belong to her. Just sayin. Which brings me to…
Jim asked: “Why do female leads work so well in Urban Fantasy?”
ME: Jim is big fan of my Kali Sweet series, and I owe him the next book (shooting for October, Jim!). I love to read UF as well as write it (Buffy is a huge influence), but I’d never thought about the fact that nearly all of the UF authors I read (including our own Jen Estep) have female leads and are in first person POV. Maybe because I’m female, I prefer reading a female’s point of view regardless if she’s a demon, witch, vampire, or elemental. I also personally like a female lead because UF heroines have to be uber tough – tougher even than my romantic suspense heroines, since they’re dealing with supernatural forces – yet they typically have as many relationship hang-ups and issues as the rest of mere mortals.
From Amanda: “Do you feel any pressure from your readers when you write something you know they will not like in your story? For example, killing off a favorite character. Or do you stay true to the story line in your head?”
ME: I’ve only killed off a favorite character once in my Kali Sweet series…and after I killed him, I brought him back (one of the perks of writing UF!) I write with fans in mind, and since I’m invested in these characters as much as they are, I go with what feels right. Hopefully, that gut feeling keeps my readers happy.
From Donnell: “Because I know you like your gadgets – with technology changing every time we blink, how do you keep up with it in your books?”
ME: I answered this one on my FB page, but I’ll answer it here too. I have two teenage sons. They know about every gadget out there and every social media outlet available…especially those that keep things secret from Mom. LOL. Honestly, the CIA should hire them. They’re experts at covert ops!
From Amy (Remus): “Conrad.”
ME: Not a question, a character. Conrad Flynn is a spy in my Super Agent series. A spy Amy Remus virtually stalks (he loves it). I decided to ask Con a few questions to make Amy happy.
ME: What’s playing on your iPod?
Con: Celtic Woman.
ME <making a face>: I never figured you for a CW fan.
Con: I’m not even sure who the hell they are. Julia stole my iPod and loaded it with this crap to get back at me for forgetting about our anniversary last week.
ME: How many years?
Con: Before my death or after?
ME: You make it sound like you’re a vampire. Or a zombie.
Con: I have zombie tendencies before I have that first cup of coffee in the morning.
ME: So how many years total with Julia, before and after you faked your death to keep her safe?
Con: We’ve been together since The Farm. I was her training instructor. I can’t disclose exact dates, but let’s just say we’ve been together long enough she knows that deleting Creed and Coldplay from my iPod and putting that other shit on it is far worse punishment than yelling at me.
ME: At The Farm, she brought you to your knees with a well-aimed—
Con (crossing his legs): Let’s not go there.
ME: Right. Speaking of zombies, what’s your favorite zombie movie?
Con: Resident Evil. I’ve always wanted to load my Beretta with quarters and shoot some terrorist in the ass.
ME: Dog or cat?
Con <scratching his head>: For what type of mission?
ME: Not a mission. As a pet.
Con: Whichever one Julia prefers.
ME: She’s got you whipped, doesn’t she?
Con: What’s wrong with being whipped? It can be fun, especially when the whipper is an intelligent, beautiful woman who makes the best pancakes this side of the Mississippi.
ME: You’re hoping she’s reading this blog post, aren’t you?
Con: Damn straight. I have a lot of groveling to do over that anniversary screw-up.
ME: Operation Sheba, your book, is being re-released next month. Amy and I are having a hard time capturing the essence of Conrad Flynn for the cover art. If you could pick an actor to model for the cover, who would you pick?
Con: Why would I pick someone else to be on the cover? I’ll model for it. Tell Amy to get her camera.
ME: There you go, Amy. He’s all yours. <wink>
