A Debut Author To Watch: Meet Juliana Stone!!!

We're back and have another debut author for you to fall head over heels in love with, TLN'ers!!

I had the pleasure of "meeting" the wickedly awesome Juliana Stone over at the Total Exposure yahoo group. I instantly fell for the premise of HIS DARKEST HUNGER. Sexy shapeshifters and danger?? Sheesh! Sign me up!

Jaxon and Libby's love story is set to grace book shelves on March 30th! Lucky for us, Juliana found some time to give us look into her world of writing!


If you're done oogling that gorgeous cover, let's get rolling!


1)If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Smart, Sassy and Clumsy as all hell.

2)Using three words, describe your voice.

Dark yet funny.

3)Novice writer to Published Author: How have you grown as a writer?

I think it’s hard to pin point exactly how I’ve grown. There was a lot of room for improvement! I think for me, a lot of technical aspects are much improved. I’ve finished a second book and after going through copy edits with the first, when I started writing the second book, there were already things I knew to change. A great copy editor can teach you a lot.

4)What's the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome in your writing?

For me personally, it’s been a lack of confidence. Though I dreamed of writing for a long time and dabbled in many forms of it, whether it was writing music or poetry, I’ve never had “schooling” so to speak. I had no clue what a lot of the technical terms meant. Imagine my first conference less than two years ago, I’d just signed with an agent, was meeting all these fabulous authors who were talking, Black Moment, deep point of view, and I had no clue what the heck they were talking about. It was quite intimidating. But, I was lucky to be surrounded by an amazing bunch of writer friends who answered any and all questions I needed to ask. Which I did. A lot.

5)Do you have any advice for aspiring writers on submitting to agents and publishers?

Do your homework. Make sure you research the agents and publishers you want to submit to. If you’re looking to sub erotic paranormal, you obviously need a house that publishes that genre and an agent that represents it. Once you have a shortlist make sure your query is sparkling clean, to the point. And if you’re lucky enough to get an offer of representation, don’t be afraid to ask questions….don’t be afraid to approach the agent’s other clients and find out if they’re happy. In fact, my agent was more than willing to give me contact info on her other authors.

6)Tell us a little bit about how you got "The Call".

Well, to be honest I was in the tub. Seriously, my agent had called the week before with the news that an editor at Avon loved the book and would call me Monday to chat (this was a Thursday night). So, Monday came and went. Tuesday came and went and I was a mess of nerves. I thought for sure it was a no go. My agent calmed me and told me things would be fine. Wednesday afternoon the editor called. We talked about the book. We talked about my vision for the series. We clicked. But she didn’t say I AM GONNA OFFER FOR YOUR BOOK. So, I hung up and waited and took the phone everywhere with me, even into the bathroom. And the next afternoon, a week after that initial call from my agent she called to put me out of my misery! Avon bought two books, and I can say that just recently, I was offered a second contract for 2 more books in this series….and the waiting was still gruesome! LOL, it does not get any better! In fact, for whatever reason, this second sale meant more to me.

7)What does 2010 hold in store for Juliana Stone?

2010 is going to be an amazing year of firsts for me. I has my first ebook release from Samhain Publishing in February, Black Legacy, and the first book in my Jaguar Warrior series releases from Avon in April, followed by the second in November! I feel really, really lucky to be able to do this, and am so incredibly happy that such an amazing house as Avon took a chance on me! The first book, His Darkest Hunger tells the story of Jaxon and Libby.

Blurb:

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he's finally found her. The hunt is over…

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair; of her treachery; of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant the game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine…

Yah-Hoo! Jaxon sounds as smooth as whisky and just as satisfying! You can bet I'll be swinging by the bookstore to nab my copy. I do so love my shapeshifters!

I'd like to extend a very big Thank You to Juliana for letting me interview her. I can't wait to fall in love with Jaxon and know I'll be pining for the next book! If you'd like to get the 'deets' on Juliana Stone, please click on over to her website: http://julianastone.com/

Hope your week treats ya right, TLN'ers! How about a little Practical Magic to get your day going?! Here's STEVIE NICKS and CHERYL CROW singing IF YOU EVER DID BELIEVE.Congrats and Best Wishes, Juliana!!We're rooting for you, lady! :)