is one of the best collections I have read from Red Sage yet. From historical to the fantastical, I was swept away to different lands and times. This is truly a collection that sends your senses into overdrive. Visually stimulating, as well as physically and mentally stimulating, I found myself on the edge of my seat in anticipation of what would happen next. My two favorite stories in this anthology were FOREVER MY LOVE and EDUCATING EVA." - Dark Angel Reviews
Read an excerpt from Forever, My Love
Visit Calista Fox's web site
About Calista Fox
Award-winning author Calista Fox began her professional fiction-writing career in 2004, following an exciting career in PR, where she specialized in writing speeches and Congressional testimonies. Her books have received rave reviews and she is also the recipient of a Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Novella.
Calista attended college on a Journalism scholarship and has worked on newspapers as an editor and reporter. She holds degrees in General Studies and Communications. Calista divides her time between Arizona, San Diego and various other locales in the U.S. and abroad. She has traveled the country several times over by Lear Jet, always with her laptop in tow, and is a spa aficionado. Visit the author at www.calistafox.com.
Backlist
Secrets Anthologies:
In the Heat of the Night-Secrets Vol. 13 (July 2005)
Intimate Rendezvous-Secrets Vol. 17 (Dec. 2006)-Book 1: Rendezvous Trilogy
Midnight Rendezvous-Secrets Vol. 22 (Dec. 2007)-Book 2: Rendezvous Trilogy
Forever My Love-Secrets Vol. 23 (July 2008)
Secret Rendezvous-Secrets Vol. 26 (Dec. 2008)-Book 3: Rendezvous Trilogy
Other Releases:
One Wish-eRed Sage (Nov. 2007)b
High Voltage-eRed Sage (March 2008)
Until Jake-Ellora's Cave (May 2008)
Jaden's Wicked Witch-Ellora's Cave (June 2008)
Forever In Her Eyes-Ellora's Cave (August 2008)
The Devil's Kitchen-Ellora's Cave (TBD 2008)
Single Title Release:
Object of Desire-Red Sage Publishing (2008)
An Interview with Calista Fox
By Holly Hewson for The Romance Studio
HH: Calista, thank you for talking with us at TRS. Please tell us about your contribution to the latest Secrets Volume 23, Forever My Love.
CF: Thanks for once again allowing me the opportunity to talk to readers about my latest book! Forever My Love is featured in Secrets Volume 23 and it's my fourth novella for Secrets. In some respects, I feel like there's everything in this story including the kitchen sink! I clearly did not heed the general rule of keeping the plot simple for such a short page count, but the twists and turns just kept presenting themselves and I let them guide me through the book. The heroine, Aja, is a witch from the 16th century. But she doesn't know it, because her powers have been preserved while she is reincarnated every century, until the time comes for her to reclaim the powers and help save the mystical world of magik, where she was raised. Watching over her all this time is a man who has loved Aja for half a millennium, even though she has no idea who he is during each reincarnation. Christian St. James is a powerful, lethal vampire. He's fiercely protective of Aja and just as dedicated to her cause as she is once her powers are restored. Unfortunately, evil intervenes in the form of a cruel sorcerer, determined to keep Aja and Christian apart and destroy the world they both love.
HH: Your heroine is woman of destiny and your hero is her vampire guardian. Where did you get the idea for this incredible story of two worlds, past and present?
CF: I was a huge fan of Secrets anthologies before I dared to write a novella for them. This was actually the second story I wrote for Red Sage a few years ago, though my other novellas were published before it. Thinking back on this story, I was fascinated by Mary Janice Davidson and Angela Knight's (among others) paranormal stories, and so their creativity inspired me to write a story that was unique and complex. Admittedly, this story could easily be a full-length novel! I worried that I had too much happening in the plot to squeeze it all into a novella, but my editor loved it, and reviewers and readers are responding positively, so I'm thrilled I jumped off the cliff and went for it, so to speak!
As for developing the actual concept of the story… You picked up on the one thing I tried hardest to convey and that's an unexpected colliding of two worlds-the past and the present. Old and new. But I also wanted to build in a lot of tragedy and suspense, along with a scorching-hot love affair that stands the test of time. Yes, if you're looking for the kitchen sink, it really is in there!
HH: What sort of research went into this story?
CF: I absolutely loved all the research I did on witchcraft. I am, by no means, an expert after all of this, but I am deeply fascinated. And I had enough information left over to write a second story, Jaden's Wicked Witch (Ellora's Cave), which I had the pleasure to talk about here last month!
HH: What do you like best about Christian?
CF: Oh, so many things! In fact, he's one of my favorite heroes. I think I rolled in Christian every conceivable trait that makes a man a sizzling hot, dedicated hero. First, he's gorgeous. Okay! You don't have to be gorgeous to be a hero, but in the land of romance writers and readers, it's a good start! Second, he's committed to Aja. Body, heart and soul. He seeks his own immortality in order to protect her through the centuries, even though he knows she won't remember him or her love for him upon each reincarnation. Five hundred years pass, and the man is still wholly devoted to Aja. I love that! Which leads to my third point-he's tormented. I love tortured heroes who have the odds stacked against them but they persevere anyway. Especially when they do it for the woman they love. And, finally, he's strong of mind, heart, character, and spirit. Physically, as well, of course. All of these things make him a really sexy hero!
HH: What's it like to be included in the widely popular Secrets collections?
CF: I love Secrets! My fifth novella (Secret Rendezvous) comes out in December (Secrets Volume 26) and it's the third story in the Rendezvous trilogy. But I'm not just a Secrets author. I'm a huge fan of the anthologies. I love the tight writing, the unique stories, the sexy romances, and the fact that I typically get four different genres wrapped into one book. The covers are absolutely beautiful as well. The new talent is worth checking out!
As a side note, Red Sage Publishing (the Secrets publisher) will also be publishing my novel, Object of Desire.
HH: What are you working on now?
CF: Lots of new books! My biggest projects are a paranormal suspense novel with erotic elements, and a series of erotic romance novellas set in Savannah, GA, which are all individually titled, but which fall under the series title, All Things Decadent.
HH: What's a typical writing day for you?
CF: Lately, it's been tough to find time for writing because of life's little blips, but I am now getting back into it, For me, if I can spend a few hours in the morning and a few at night on a book, I'm pretty happy. But I carry my laptop everywhere I go and I write every chance I get. I used to think I was the type of writer who needed a particular ambience to write, but I've found that I can crank out pages on an airplane, in a hotel bar, in a cab or, on the rare occasion I'm at home, in my office.
HH: How do you celebrate a good writing day?
CF: I actually don't celebrate those because I tend to always feel like I could have done more. But, I always, always celebrate a new contract, a great review and a new release! Typically that involves dinner out with champagne!
HH: What do you do when you get stuck in a story?
CF: Great question! I usually whine to my critique partner, Rachelle Chase. (Sex Lounge and Sin Club, Kensington). For instance, I'm working on a big commercial fiction book and the character is not a tamable one and I keep trying to tame her. Luckily, Rachelle is great at reminding me to let the characters guide me. If you force them into a box, they can turn out flat and ruin the story.
HH: What's your favorite way to interact with readers?
CF: I used to be terrified of book signings, which is weird because I'm a very social person. But I've never really embraced the concept of "selling" my books to readers or doing self-promo, so I hated signings at first. But lately, I've discovered that readers come to my table because of my elegant book covers that pique their interest. We get to chatting and inevitably they ask me which book I would recommend for them based off our conversation. This is actually a lot of fun! And what's really great is that they read the story and email me to tell me I nailed it by picking the perfect story to introduce them to my work and the Secrets anthologies. Those emails make my day!
By the way, please stop by my website in August for all-new contests! www.calistafox.com.
Thanks again for having me!
HH: Thank you!
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