GUEST AUTHOR: Tracey O'Hara

Dark urban fantasy author, Tracey O’Hara, and her DARK BRETHREN series have made their mark with readers of this genre.

“Urban fantasy just got a major jolt of talent with O’Hara’s arrival. She makes an extremely strong debut, introducing a world that features a host of supernatural creatures. The pace is brisk and the danger intense. Passion, betrayal, and plot twists galore make for entertainment on a grand scale.”
-- Jill M. Smith of Romantic Times

“Intense, sexy, bold, NIGHT’S COLD KISS is a superb debut. Tracey O’Hara writes in a voice full of passion and power - I’m already waiting impatiently for the next book from this talented author.”
-- New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh

With comments like these Tracey’s series is destined to do well.

Her debut novel, NIGHT’S COLD KISS, was released in September 2009 with EOS/Harper Collins, and her second book, DEATH’S SWEET EMBRACE, is next to hit the shelves (date TBA).

Tracey was born in Tasmania, Australia and grew up in far north Queensland and with a supportive family she pursued her dream of writing. She discovered this passion in 2004 and joined Romance Writers of Australia and Romance Writers of America shortly afterwards.

Today we learn more about Tracey - her past, present and future.

Author name: Tracey O’Hara

Published genre/s: Urban Fantasy/romance & Erotica (w/a Tracie Sommers)

(Tracie Sommers is published with harlequin Spice Briefs and her book, TONIGHT MY LOVE, was releases in May'09.)

Favourite childhood toy: I had this weird little doll – it was one of those tiny pink plastic babies with a small kind of Barbie doll head (I think it was her little sister or something). It had dark hair I could brush and I used to make it little beds out of matchboxes and I would put it in my pocket. I loved that weird little mutant doll.  Kind of says it all, doesn’t it.

Mutant dolls, eh, Tracey? Enough said. ;-) Also reminds me of the time I kidnapped my sister's Barbie and gave her a haircut and drew scars all over her...I turned her into G.I.Joette...

Greatest Vice: DVDs and movies, and TV shows.

First Erica Hayes, now Tracey, and I have to admit to a huge DVD collection and love of movies...could there be a pattern beginning to appear with UF/para writers?!? Hmm...

Book you’re reading now: I am just finishing off Mel Teshco’s HER DARK LORD* and reading debut author and fellow 2008 paranormal Golden Heart finalist, Kelly Gay’s BETTER PART OF DARKNESS

(*Mel Teshco is another Aussie paranormal author who writes for Silhouette Nocturne BITES)

Most intriguing place you’ve visited: I got to go to San Francisco for the Golden Heart – and that was my first and only trip overseas. But my most memorable is when I was a kid and we spent a year living a hut on a property in north Queensland no running water, no electricity and no plumbing. It was the best time of my life.

Ohh, what a great experience you had as a kid - just one big adventure! It's intriguing what memories of growing up remain in our heads over time. It's usually the ones with the most emotional impact - good and bad.

A place you’ve yet to visit: The rest of the world. Too many places to name. Ireland, France, Africa – OMG, the list is too long.

Makes you wish for a transporter or TARDIS, eh?

Author/s in your genre who you enjoy reading: It’s hard to nail this genre down – for UF (urban fantasy) Vicki Pettersson, Keri Arthur, Kim Harrison, Jocelynn Drake and so many more I have yet to try. Paranormal romance Nalini Singh (though she's crossing into UF big time) and JR Ward are too of my favs. I like to read dark. The darker the better.

"Come to the Dark Side, Luke!" Oops, sorry, got a bit carried away there. Yes, I have to agree with you, Tracey - the darker, the grittier, the better. A more satisfying read all round!

Who or what influenced you to write in the genre/s you’re now published in? Two words – Stephen King. I loved the absolute sheer bloody terror he made me feel. And while I don’t write like that, I never will, I strive to one day scare the pants off people. Then there are the fantasy authors such as Raymond E Feist, Anne McCaffrey and George RR Martin.
I actually never even read any Urban Fantasy until I had written a lot of NIGHT'S COLD KISS. I didn’t even know it existed. I guess the thing that may have been my biggest influence is Buffy, the TV series. I love that series along with Angel, but there are times when I wished it could have been darker and grittier. That is what inspired me.

When developing a story who tends to appear first in your mind, the hero or heroine, and why? With NIGHT'S COLD KISS it was both, I guess my heroine beat my hero by half a thought. With DEATH'S SWEET EMBRACE – it was my heroine.

Writing Milestone/s: I have actually finished two whole books now. Yipeee!!! That is an awesome feeling. I can actually write more than one book.

You're right, Tracey, that euphoria is something anyone who's finished a book can identify with.

Latest release/project: I have just finished revisions on the second Dark Brethren novel and have started to work on my third which I am currently calling SIN'S DARK CARESS.

You have such fascinating titles for your books. I'd love to know how you came up with them...but that's another question for another day (unfortunately).

In your recent release/latest work, what about your hero or heroine inspired you? Okay – I have to talk about the hero in my latest WIP SIN'S DARK CARESS. I love him. Not because he is hot and sexy – well he is, I just haven’t seen that side of him yet, but I know it’s there. He's a burnt out homicide cop who is a drunk and addicted to a new drug called Blue Ice (which actually we find out later in the series it’s elvish). He’s got a mouth, lack of respect for authority and wears a crumpled trench coat.
His name is Lancelot McManus – but he’ll rip your arms off and beat you with the bloody ends if you dared to call him by his first name. He is coming through loud and clear – in fact, I had another hero in mind for this book – but good old Lancelot has convinced me he is it.

I wonder if he answers to Lance? Or does he prefer McManus? Well, I'll just have to wait until the book comes out, eh? Sigh.

Thanks for joining me here, Tracey, it's been great having you! If you'd like to find out more about Tracey, check out her website.

Now, for one lucky visitor, Tracey is generously giving away an eBook version of NIGHT'S COLD KISS from Fictionwise. Just leave a comment and you'll go into the draw!