Interview:
Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.
I think it's self-indulgence. I love writing the world that Roan and Paris dwell in, but I love writing for Roan specifically. In a strange way, he's my attempt at a superhero, although far from your typical one, and even he would balk at the comparison. It's one of those things that you think about idly from time to time. What if you could do things no one else could do, and what if you paid a huge price for it? And what if few people saw it as heroic, and most saw it as horrific? Yet, Roan's just a guy trying to do his job and live his life, although he's growing more and more aware that he isn't your average anything, not even your average werecat. His life just grows more complicated, and it's hardly ever his fault. Sometimes I feel bad for all I put him through, but that's the life of a writer. If you weren't mean to your characters occasionally, where's the fun?
What are you working on now? Anything you want to tell us about?
A manuscript on spec I'd rather not talk about because I might jinx it. But the Infected series continues, mainly because I find it hard to give up on that world, and I like Roan and his assorted cast of oddballs so much.
What books are currently on your nightstand/bedside? Anything coming you are dying to read?
So many, it's kind of pathetic. Right now I think I have a couple of books going, although all I can remember right now is Lewis Black's "I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas", Darwyn Cooke's "Parker: The Outfit", and the "Making Contact" anthology. (Yes, I had a story in it, but I haven't read other peoples' contributions, so I'm reading them now.)
As for books I'm looking forward to, any time Ken Bruen puts out a book, I'm the first in line to get it.
If one of your books were to be made into a movie, which book would you choose and who do you see playing your characters and why?
I actually think my Infected series would make a better TV show, like on AMC or another cable channel willing to take a shot on a horror/detective show with a gay male protagonist. How cool would that be? Doesn't even have to be Roan, that's just something I'd love to see.
But, if it were a movie, I think the first book, Infected: Prey is the logical place to start. I've thought of casting, and Paris would be nigh on impossible to cast. For Roan I've decided I like Tom Hardy, someone who can get physical and isn't too handsome (but still striking), yet has real physical heft. My best friend wants Hugh Jackman for Paris, and I'll go along with that, but I really can't imagine any actor being Paris. He's such a specific type in my own head and I can't even loosely match him up with anyone. I'm open to suggestions.
What is your favorite pizza toppings?
Lots of sauce - good red sauce. And cheese. While I'm willing to go along with olives and pepperoni and all that, I can be made very happy by a saucy cheese pizza.
Which do you prefer: Mac or PC?
I love Macs, but I can't currently afford any. So I'm PC by default.
What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to one of your characters?
Kill them. Which I seem to do with a lot of them. But, having said that, I've made the transformation scenes in my Infected series just godawful and painful, and if I were them, I'd hate me for it. Death might seem like a mercy considering what I put those sods through.
Which of your books contains the sexiest love scene? (if you have one that is )
None yet. I guess sex has always been beside the point. But never say never.
Which of your covers is your favorite?
Ooh, tough. Well, this one for Infected: Bloodlines I like a lot. I liked the first as well, but there's a mystery in Bloodlines look that demands to be solved.
Which of your books was the easiest to write?
Well, the second half of Infected: Prey (Prey, in other words), was a snap. Not that the first half was hard, but Prey just zipped along. I think because I had to really establish the world and the main characters in Infected, which meant I could just go nuts with Prey.
What is the hardest part of writing your books?
It depends, but usually it's the end. I want a good, solid ending, but I have a tendency to end on somber notes. I've tried to rectify that, but I'm not sure I've been all that successful. One story had an ending that killed me. It was actually painful to write and I hated to do it, but I also knew this was how it had to end. I'm not saying what story, but I think my readers will be able to figure it out.
Where can readers find you on the ‘net for more information on you, your books and other fun stuff?
I will admit I'm a bit cagey on information about me, but I have writing and other stuff available at my website, www.andreaspeed.com . I also do reviews at www.CXpulp.com (comics, TV shows, movies) and I'm on the board of book reviewers over at www.JoeBobBriggs.com . I regularly engage in jackassery over on Twitter, @aspeed, and I have a Facebook page where you will often get treated to things I think are funny. Just for oddities sake, I also have a bunch of "soundtracks" for the books at http://8tracks.com/notmanos , many being character specific. Mainly because I listen to a ton of music whilst writing, and it occasionally leaks into the stories, so I figured it might be nice to have an interactive element to it.
Sneak Peek into Infected: Bloodlines, coming December 17th from Dreamspinner Press
In a world where a werecat virus has changed society, Roan McKichan, a born infected and ex-cop, works as a private detective trying to solve crimes involving other infecteds.
The newly married Roan is struggling to balance his work with his home life as he grows increasingly distracted by his husband Paris's declining health. The newly married Roan is struggling to balance his work with his home life as he grows increasingly distracted by his husband Paris's declining health. One case with strong emotions attached takes up most of his time: finding the murderer of a missing little rich girl. It's a family with secrets so toxic they'd rather no one investigate, and there's no shortage of suspects. But despite the dangers and obstructions involved, Roan won't stop... until he loses something infinitely precious as well.
Excerpt:
Roan patted him on the back awkwardly and noticed, since they were so close, that he smelled like mousse, Calvin Klein cologne, fabric softener, and… something a bit more chemical, coming through his pores. He held him back at arm’s length, and looked him in the eyes (those blue eyes were contacts—were the brown eyes real, or were they contacts too? Suddenly he wondered if he’d ever seen the real color of Matt’s eyes). “Matt, are you using again?”
He looked deeply confused. “What? No. Why would you ask that?”
“I’m smelling something chemical on you, medicinal.”
“Medicinal?” He repeated, his blond brows dropping down in confusion. “I can’t think why that would be… unless… my therapist has me on Norpramin. Are you smelling that?”
“Could be. What is it?”
“An antidepressant. Prozac did nothing for me, and Xanax gave me a headache. I feel a lot calmer on Norpramin, less like I have ADD.”
Roan nodded. “You seem calmer.” He really didn’t like therapists throwing happy pills at everyone, but they did seem to help some people. They seemed to help Matt, which was good. Obviously he’d needed some kind of help.
As Roan moved past him toward the door, Matt said, “That’s weird. I didn’t think Norpramin had a smell.”
“Everything has a smell, especially when it’s processed through the body.” He’d come back out into the main office, and Paris heard that, which made him smile charitably at Matt.
“Is he giving you the ‘how I smell things’ lecture?”
Roan scowled at him, but there wasn’t much heat behind it. It was nice to see Paris so animated, so happy. “It’s not a lecture.”
“It’s fascinating really,” Matt said, being kind. “I never thought about how we smell things, and how much different it must be for you guys… umm, I mean for Roan. You don’t have the super smell thing, do you?”
Paris shook his head, still smiling. “Nope. The perfume counter at Macy’s holds no terror for me. Well, beyond the usual.”
“Lucky bastard. Rub it in, why don’t you?” It was his usual response, stripped almost bare of sarcasm.
Matt and Paris exchanged a little small talk before Matt left, and Roan assured him he’d call as soon as there were any developments. Once he was gone, Paris said, “Goddamn, puppy grew up hot, didn’t he? We should ask if he’s into threesomes. Oh hell, if you’re involved, he’ll say yes so fast you’d think his pants were attached with Velcro.”
“Very funny. Who called?”
“Oh, that. Now that was weird.” He picked up the note he’d made and looked at it, even though it was unlikely he needed to. “It was a woman—sounded kind of old—who said her name was Doctor Petra Rosenberg. Now there’s a name for you, huh? Anyways, she said it was imperative, see, I wrote it down,”—he did, he had “imperative” in quote marks and everything—“that you call her as soon as possible. She said you’d know what it was about.”
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