Interview+Giveaway: Author Elizabeth Kolodziej

A big welcome to author Elizabeth Kolodziej to my blog today! She sat down and answered a few questions about herself and her series the Last Witch and is also giving away an e-copy of both books in the series!

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR, ELIZABETH KOLODZIEJ

A year after Vampyre Kisses came out Elizabeth J. Kolodziej makes her way back into the author scene with the second book for the The Last Witch Series, Werewolf Descent. Currently, Kolodziej (pronounced KO-LA-G), is working on many different short stories for anthology books. Along with the third book for The Last Witch Series being under way. Kolodziej continues to travel and study the folklore of vampires, werewolves and witches in the hopes of expanding her knowledge and her stories.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website  /  Facebook  / Twitter

INTERVIEW

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Lets see, I grew up in California for the first 12 years of my life and then moved to the east coast. Reading books was something naturally done in my family, so I grew up loving books. Everything about writing, reading, research, and so forth come second hand to me. Reading on the couch with my dog, Sherlock, and my cat, Ahmemotep, are some of the best times I have.

Can you tell us about your books in the Last Witch series?

The Last Witch series is a PNR about Faith, who finds out she is the last witch in the world, and Trent, her vampire boyfriend. In this world the Gods play a part in causing havoc and chaos. Currently there are two books out for the series, Vampyre Kisses and Werewolf Descent. Vampyre Kisses shows how Faith learns of her heritage and introduces the reader into a brand new kind of supernatural world, with a werewolf monarchy and the prince of werewolves playing a big part in the books; along with introducing a cross dressing psychic, a familiar that can fly, and a devilish mother with a secret of her own.

Werewolf Descent focuses a little more on the history of Zou Tai, considering I had a lot of readers asking about him and craving to know more. Now there will be a novella for Zou Tai but this book gives the reader a peak at his past. Faith and Trent have their own problems in this book though when their relationship becomes strained due to a psychic vampire, Vincent, coming into town desperately wanting to be with Faith. The second book is action packed with lots more steamy love scenes.

The third book in the series in Witch Devotions and will be out in 2012. This book is a continuation from the others and will be quite the dozy considering what happens at the end of Werewolf Descent.

What was your favorite part of the writing process of The Last Witch series?

The research! I am hands on when it comes to research for any of my stories when I can be. For instance, I wanted to really be able to describe Faith flying through the air. So I went parasailing to get an idea of how she would feel up in the sky with the wind at her face. I also love reading Greek Mythologies and old vampire folklore. One of the most difficult was researching werewolf folklore though. However I did find that the oldest story that mentions a werewolf is from Greek Mythology! I never knew that and found it almost kismet.

Where did the idea of The Last Witch series come from?

My love for Greek Mythology and the supernatural I would assume. There wasn’t just one thing in particular that gave me the idea for the series and it was a long process to write the first book. I think it was the character that truly helped out the most though. They were the ones telling me where the story was going.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

When I finished Vampyre Kisses. There were of course signs when I was younger. I always loved writing and it was my best subject in school. I wrote short stories all the time and had a very vivid imagination. But it wasn’t until I finished the first book that I looked at it and thought, ok what do I do with it now? That’s when I thought it might be something other people would like to read.

What is the most interesting comment you have received so far concerning The Last Witch series?

I had one reviewer say that I could give Tolkien a run for his money. I studied Tolkien in college and I have no clue how I could be as great as him. Then there was one comment I got about a reader wanting to kick me in the shins after they finished Werewolf Descent. I couldn’t stop laughing after I heard that one!

What has been the best advice you have ever been given?

Don’t read your reviews, along with every review is a good review. This is all true, I don’t read reviews less then 3 stars and even if I get a bad review it still means someone is talking about my books and me.

If you could ask yourself any interview question, what would you ask, and how would you answer it? Did you have an imaginary friend growing up? Yes, yes I did. I told my mother his name was Lucifer. I swear this is the honest to goodness truth. My family for one wasn’t religious so I don’t remember ever hearing that name. I knew about the devil but I don’t recall hearing Lucifer. Second, my mother is Jewish and my father Catholic but turned Agnostic. You can see why this was all very strange. If it makes you feel better he wasn’t around that long!

When you aren’t writing, what do you like to do?

Sleep! Haha. Being with my friends and making sure I have time for them is important to me. Traveling is something I love doing in my spare time, even if it is just a day trip. Being a nerd. Spending time with my kids (pets). I have a lot of different interests and will try anything twice; I’m the outgoing one in the group most of the time. So anything someone wants to do I am up for.

What is coming up next for you?

I really want to get the third book done and published along with getting a couple novellas out for the series. I know there will be one on Zou Tai but I’m also thinking of doing one on how the last witch died. Along with this, I love writing short stories for other publishing companies and getting into anthologies so I will probably be doing that. I am already in one book, I Believe in Werewolves, which was my first try at horror writing. Just keeping busy and writing, writing, writing!

VAMPYRE KISSES BLURB

Vampyre Kisses is an enthralling story about a young woman named Faith, who was content with her life, but deep down craved more excitement. Then a mysterious man named Trent enters her life and everything changes. Surprising to Faith, Trent is a green-eyed vampire from Ireland. She is even more surprised to find out that she is a witch, and the last of her kind.

Faith finds out that she is destined to restore her witch line and becomes more powerful as she gains confidence and knowledge, but danger lurks everywhere. Especially when unknown assailants steal the most important gems from the vampire master and werewolf royalty.

Now surrounded by a world full of mystifying vampires and werewolves, can Faith gain enough power to help her friends and rescue the stolen gems?

Amazon  /  Barnes and Noble

WEREWOLF DESCENT BLURB

Last witch in the world, Faith Scott, and her Irish vampire boyfriend Trent have just come back from fighting for their lives to recover the Vampiric Blood gem and Werewolf Moon gem. Thinking they could finally relax and work on the romance growing between them, they now meet a mysterious psychic vampire named Vincent who has his heart set on being with Faith.

Soon bizarre killings of Zou Tai’s werewolf pack begin, with rumors of an alchemist possessing the famed philosophers stone being the assailant; which, causes Faith to turn to Vincent for help in figuring out why the werewolves are being murdered.

It isn’t long before all those around them test Trent and Faith’s love, along with their abilities, once again. It is all Trent can do to keep Faith safe by his side while both go up against a deadly alchemist, deceptive gods, and having to rescue the werewolf prince; yet, after a deal with the God of Werewolves will Trent be able to save himself too?

Amazon  /  Barnes and Noble

GIVEAWAY

Elizabeth is giving away and e-copy of both Vampyre Kisses and Werewolf Descent to one lucky winner!! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to be eligible. Please read the contest rules. Contest is International and ends January 5, 2012!
a Rafflecopter giveaway