L.j. C
harles writes women’s fiction and YA novels. Her stories combine romance, mystery, and paranormal elements. We are please to present an interview with her, but first a book description of Lifethread by L.j. Charles: McKenna Fin is armed, dangerous, and in love for the first time. She’ll do anything to earn her humanity… except the one thing the Fate’s require. Stuck in her senior year of high school until she earns her humanity, McKenna Fin is responsible for cutting the lifethread of demons, and protecting teens from being possessed. McKenna is given a new responsibility, and possibly a quick way to earn her humanity—severing the lifethread of deserving humans. Her first assignment: Nathan Quinn. When Nathan becomes a primary demon target and gets sucked into Tartania, McKenna’s duty as a Fated priestess demands she follow. McKenna can rescue him, no problem, but then she’d have to cut his lifethread. And he’s the one and only guy she’s been attracted to since forever. The demons consider Nathan one of their own and fight to keep him. The time limit on Nathan’s life is about to run out, and McKenna has to make the decision: sever his lifethread, or battle demons, defy the Fates, and keep him for her own. Interview with L.j. Charles.
Which authors/books are you most influenced by?
I love everything Lilith Saintcrow has ever written. She has the amazing ability to become her characters, and it shows in every word she writes. Harlan Corben’s writing style has also influenced me. His style is clean as though every word is carefully chosen and carries the perfect flavor for a scene. That’s a hard-won gift that I strive for in everything I write. On the fun side, I’m always surprised by the delightful humor in Claudia Dain’s Courtesan series. I don’t write historicals, never will, but I love characters who make me laugh. There’s always a touch of humor in my novels. But the one author I admire the most is Jacqueline Winspear. Her books are amazing in every way. The research behind the story, the plot, the characters—she does everything right.
Considering a book from the first word you write to the moment you see it on a bookstore shelf, what’s your favorite part of the process? What’s your least favorite?
I have two favorite parts: when the “idea” blossoms for a new book, and when I’m writing the last chapter. There’s nothing as exciting as when the characters make themselves known, when they have names and personalities. I work from the character to the plot, so this a critical part of my process. And then the last chapter. When everything comes together and feels complete. That’s an amazing moment that’s always very special. Least favorite? When I get stuck on a plot point and have work through tweaking it to match the needs of my characters. Can you tell I’m a very character based writer?
When you start a new book, do you like to outline the entire story or fly by the seat of your pants? What about your characters? Do you figure them out entirely before you start writing or do they reveal themselves to you along the way? I’m a complete pantser. If I tried to outline a book it would never get written. I do have a semi-solid plan for how the book is going to end, and when I start a new chapter, where and how it will end, but the stuff in the middle, that happens as I write. My characters reveal themselves along the way. I know their names before I start writing, and am comfortable with their personalities, but they always surprise me—usually in the best ways possible.
What scene or bit of dialogue in the book are you most proud of and why? In Lifethread, I’m most proud of the scene where McKenna realizes she loves Nathan and brushes a tear from his cheek while he’s sleeping. They’ve just been through a horrendous experience together, are still in the early stages of learning who they are and what they mean to each other, and McKenna has never been in a relationship. She’s raw, vulnerable, and the rest of her life is in shreds. It’s the moment when she truly begins to understand what it means to be human.
If you could have one super power what would it be? I would want to be able to blink out just like Clotho’s apprentice priestess, Shea. The whole idea of disappearing sounds like such fun, and it would be so useful. The cliché fly on the wall, able to pop in and out of places with no one the wiser. Think of all the possibilities…
Lifethread March 2011
The Knowing June 2011
The Calling June 2011
Visit her website: www.luciejcharles.com
Twitter @luciejcharles
