Interview and Giveaway: Vicki Lewis Thompson

Please help me welcome NY Times Best Selling Author Vicki Lewis Thompson.  Vicki is the author of several books, including The Hex Series, The Nerd Series, and The Babe Series. 

1. For any new readers, could you tell us about the Babes on Brooms series?
VLT: Two sisters, both witches, get themselves into magical trouble. In BLONDE WITH A WAND, Anica gets upset with her boyfriend and in her anger turns him into a cat. Bad for him, worse for her, because the magical infraction of transforming a human causes her to lose her magic. So how will she change him back? In CHICK WITH A CHARM, Anica's sister Lily, who has learned nothing from her sister's story, slips a devotion potion into the drink of a guy she's interested in. The potion works, but then she discovers that she really cares about him and can't tell if his devotion is real or a result of her misplaced magic.

2. Anica and Lily sound like strong heroines. What comes first, the characters or the story?
VTL: Oh, tough question! Probably the characters, but I remember thinking how cool it would be if the heroine turned the hero into a cat, which is story, not character. They sort of came at the same time, I think.

3. Will there be more Babes on Brooms books? Are you working on any other projects you would like to share with us?
VLT: For now, I've put aside Babes on Brooms for an exciting (to me, at least, LOL) new project -- comic werewolves. The first one WEREWOLF IN MANHATTAN comes out in February, 2011, and I had a great time writing it. I'm now working on the second book in that series.

4. If you weren't a New York Times bestselling author, which career choice would you pursue?
VLT: I honestly can't imagine. I LOVE this job. I love being able to work at home, to play with imaginary friends, to network with readers and writers. The world of books is my world, so I suppose I'd have to be in that world somehow, maybe as an editor or a bookseller. Okay, running a cool bookstore would be fun. Other than that, I can imagine *possibly* operating a bed and breakfast. Nah. I can't cook worth beans so the breakfast would be inedible and I'd be a failure at that.

5. For you, what is the most difficult part of the writing process? How do you overcome this challenge?VLT: Writing a synopsis before writing the book, because I've finally acknowledged that I like to discover the book as I go along. I don't know the characters until I've written about them for awhile, maybe a hundred pages or so. I have to write a synopsis for my editor, so I do the best I can with it and admit to myself and to her that this is a guess as to how the book will go. I'm never sure until I type the last page how it will turn out -- other than happily ever after, of course. :-)

6. A man in a long trench coat approaches you on the street. He whips open his jacket and you see...VIALS. He is selling magic potions for health, love, beauty, wealth-anything you desire. Which potion would you purchase?
VLT: What a cool concept! I'm so glad he's not a flasher, LOL. I would choose tolerance. I like to think I'm a tolerant person, but then I'll catch myself being extremely intolerant of a person or situation, and I realize I have much to learn about this trait. Ha! Bet you thought I'd choose love. But I have that, and I know where to get more. The tolerance thing, though, is more elusive.

7. Lastly, what is your favorite way to unwind after a hard day of writing? Any guilty pleasures?
VLT: If it's cold enough outside, which can be problematic in Arizona, I love building a fire and sharing a glass of wine with a friend. If it's too hot for the fire, then I have to make do with just sharing the wine with a friend.

Vicki, thank you for taking the time to interview with us.  Congratulations on your amazing writing career.  I know we will be looking for your Werewolf story next February!
For more information about Vicki and her books, visit her website or on goodreads.

Contest Time...

I am offering one lucky reader their choice of Babes book.  The winner can choose either Chick With A Charm or Blonde With A Wand!  Open to everyone who can receive books from Book Depository! The giveaway ends May 17th.  Please complete the form.  Don't forget to leave some love in the comments for Vicki!