Cate: Please welcome Amy Ruttan. Amy, will you please share a short bio with us?Amy: Amy discovered her love of the written word when she realized that she could no longer act out the fantastical romances in her head with her dolls. Writing about delicious heroes was much more fun than playing with plastic men dolls with the inevitable flesh-colored tighty-whities.
She loves history, the paranormal, and will spew out historical facts like a volcano, much to her dearest hubby's chagrin.
When she's not thinking about the next sensual romp, she's chasing after two rug rats and reading anything spicy she can get her hands on.
Cate: Tell us about Enemy Enchantress and where it's available.
Amy: Enemy Enchantress is the book of my heart, the first I attempted and finished. It is available from Eternal Press The war may be over, but the battle has just begun…
Lord Edwin fought bravely for his king. His reward, marriage to a former enemy. On his way north, he encounters a mysterious maiden who ensnares his mind—and his passion. Then in the blink of an eye she vanishes.
Aislinn knows the husband she wishes for—someone like the handsome, virile man she met in the woods—is no more than a fantasy. Her discovery that this very man is to be hers brings no comfort, for a Centeris could never love her for what she is. Sidhe. The superstitious Centeri could kill her for that.
Yet death may come even if she manages to hide her true self from the gentle warrior. The perpetrator behind a series of attacks wants more than to destroy the precarious peace. They want her powers.
To save her people she must reveal herself and risk his love. Or leave him to face the challenge. Alone.
Cate: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Amy:
“I did not expect it to be you.”
“Nor I you,” he whispered, dropping her braid and rubbing his hands over her shoulders. “I was not looking forward to bedding a shrewish virgin.”
When she turned and looked over her shoulder at him, she was smiling.
“I will tell you truthfully that I do not wish to live in Southern Divide. I planned to drive my husband away with my heathen ways.”
Edwin let out a loud chuckle and turned her to face him. He rested his hands on her shoulders. “No harm shall befall you. We are husband and wife now.”
“I’m not a follower of your religion.”
“You’re a witch,” he stated, remembering the first time he saw her. A Mid Dividian lady was not looked upon with much favor, but a Mid Dividian witch… They would have her burnt at the stake despite the fact she was his wife.
“I am not a witch. I am an enchantress.”
Cate: Oo, nice. :) I love the title too. What inspired you to write about the theme?
Amy: I was at home with my first child, bored out of my mind while she napped and the story just wandered into my head. I started to write it here and there, but it really didn’t take off until after my second child was born and I entered the first 3 chapters in the Central Ohio Fiction Writer’s Ignite the Flame contest. It finalled, and I knew I had to pursue writing.
Cate: How do you develop your plots and characters?
Amy: The characters just seem to walk into my head fully formed. A lot of my plots seem to come from my dreams or daydreams. If it’s a historical I research a bit about the time period and get ideas of plot from that. I do a lot of brainstorming and write the synopsis first. Of course, by the time I’m ready to submit the synopsis is lengthened or changed to suit the story but at least most of the hard work is done.
Cate: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?
Amy: Yes, my characters are very real to me. Even after I’m done with them. I think about them quite a lot, but usually new ones come and take their place.
Cate: What's next for you?
Amy: Book 2 in the Enchantress series is coming out September 7, 2010 from Eternal Press. It’s titled Sorceress from the Sea and is all about Edwin’s brother Alfwyn who is one of my favorite characters.
Cate: Very cool. Any other published works?
Author: I have several books with Ellora’s Cave and Cerridwen Press. Details of my backlist can be found on my website www.amyruttan.com
Cate: Describe your writing in three words.
Amy: Imaginative, spicy, sexy.
Cate: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
Amy: The most challenging is editing. I go through several drafts before I’m ready to submit. I seem to pick a certain word and use it over and over again, so culling back on repetitive words has been my challenge. Most rewarding, hearing from the fans, hearing that a story I wrote was enjoyed by them.
Cate: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Amy: Well, it wasn’t really a comment but when I was doing a book signing recently in Toronto with Ellora’s Cave I signed a couple of books for Klingons. They were very good natured and let me sign their books in their human names instead of making me spell Klingon. Very memorable.
Cate: Ah, so you have intergalactic fans! Great!
Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Amy: Oh there are so many. Connie Mason, definitely one of the first romance authors I read. I heart Margaret Moore and have the privilege of knowing her through my RWA chapter. I am also a HUGE fan of Katie MacAlister and J.R. Ward. Of course there’s also Roald Dahl, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Laura Ingalls Wilder who shaped the course of my childhood towards fanciful.
Cate: Where can you be found on the web?
Amy: My email is contact@amyruttan.com. I love to hear from readers.
My website is www.amyruttan.com and I have a Twitter account, which I’m very active on at www.twitter.com/ruttanamy. I’m also on Goodreads, and have a author corner at Coffee Time Romance.
Cate: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Amy: Who is your favorite romantic hero? Mine is Mr. Darcy.
Cate: Readers, Amy is giving away an ebook copy of Enemy Enchantress to a random commenter... so start commenting. She'll pick a winner on the evening of Monday, July 12.
Thanks for being my guest, Amy! Wishing you much success with Enemy Enchantress.
Amy: Thanks for having me Cate!
