Author Interview ~ D.R. Perry

D.R. Perry lives in Rhode Island, where all her books are set. Although she's not a native New Englander, once up north she got so inspired she couldn't leave. A wild Northern Muse attacked. D.R. used Typing; it was Super Effective. D.R. writes all kinds of things. Mostly, they have strange and unusual elements. Not strange isotopes or Strontium or anything like that, but creatures who are people or people who are creatures. Beware of the Attack Poetry and rampant puns. Keep off the grass, or the song parodies may bite. She lives with her husband, daughter, and dog in the Ocean State, which she loves to remind people is not an island and not Long Island. D.R. is well aware that her home state has both of those things, but isn't defined by them. Maybe she likes it here so much because it reminds her that she's also more than the sum of her parts. Barely Awake on Amazon “Oh, I’ve got a reputation for more than supreme intelligence.” I almost couldn’t believe Bobby was trying to kid around again. Probably just a way to stay awake, but that was my assignment. I could play that game. “Haven’t you heard my big snarky attitude has been everywhere?” “Just today. Mostly, you have a reputation for acing every subject.” He yawned. “Rumor is, you’re the type of girl who never gets Bs.” “Be glad I’m using my academic powers for good, then.” I glanced at the shelf labels as I stalked past them, searching for the right ones. “Oh yeah, I’m glad. I can imagine what might happen if you went over to the Dark Side.” “And that is?” I smirked at the Star Wars reference, imagining the Imperial March playing as I paced the stacks. “Darth Lynn would convince every professor to use a pass/fail rubric. Guys like me would end up with our borderline grades force-choked.” Bobby Tremain’s life used to seem charmed, but since his dad’s crippling accident, he has an avalanche of problems. He’s the first in his family to have a shot at college, also the first to head north of Louisiana. An early snow calls his Bear to hibernate a week before finals, but he needs to pass or he flunks out of Providence Paranormal College. Lynn Frampton’s loneliness is almost more than she can take. She went to college on the other side of the country to get away from the persistent curse of unpopularity in a small town. Once at college, Lynn’s prickly personality has pushed everyone away yet again. At least, she’s at the top of her class. Bobby needs Lynn’s help to stay awake and pass his exam, and she discovers she needs companionship more than she’d ever imagined. Lynn’s all set to transfer to a school back home, but Bobby thinks she’s his mate. Can he keep awake long enough to pass, and more importantly, convince his love to stay? Let this introductory novella transport you to Providence Paranormal College. Extrahumans of all types abound on this urban campus on the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island. This Ivy-League college recently opened its doors to anyone with enough talent. The Admissions Department at PPC enrolls humans with extraordinary grades, the magically and psychically inclined, vampires, werewolves, changelings, and even magic shifters like dragons and Kelpies. Come take a tour! If you like YA and NA Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy with strong romantic subplots, you’ll feel right at home here. Fangs for the Memories on Amazon “Oh, please. Don’t tell me you’re going to do the whole brooding vampire thing. That trope’s more tired than a hibernating bear shifter.” “There’s a reason we brood, you know.” I shook my head. Blaine couldn’t possibly understand. “Yeah, yeah. I know. The whole ‘I’m dangerous, stay away from me and find a nice normal guy’ thing.” Blaine chuckled. I blinked, surprised because he sounded about as rueful as I felt. “I get it. I turn into a scaly beast with fiery halitosis. Almost everyone I meet is highly flammable. Danger, danger, Will Robinson.” “So why get on my case if you get the whole threat to your loved ones thing?” “Because it’s more bull than a Minotaur. Ladies know what they want, and in this day and age, they go after it. The guy from the wrong side of wherever nobly giving up on love so the girl can ‘stay good’ is so 1985. Of course, you came of age then, so I shouldn’t be surprised.” Blaine kicked at the ground, kicking up some of the grass under the toe of his boot. He stared down instead of out. “Woah, dude.” I shifted my weight and put my hands on my hips. “I came to help investigate, not get dating advice.” “Package deal, my friend.” Blaine turned his head, smirking at me. “You bring it, I advice it.” “Millennials.” I sighed. “Gen-Xers.” Blaine’s eyes rolled so far back in his head he could probably see his brain. “Whatever.” I blew my bangs off my forehead. “I just. Can’t. Even.” Blaine held his hands out in front of him like he held an invisible basketball.” Memory is a tricky business. No one remembers Maddie May. That’s fine with her; just a side effect of Umbral magic. Unfortunately, she has to take the Magic Theory Lab at Providence Paranormal College. Maddie won’t pass if the Professor can’t remember her. Henry Baxter’s a psychic vampire who can store total recall for himself and others. He’s been in business since 1986, but new regulations mean he needs a degree to keep operating. Going back to college after sixty years on earth is definitely a drag, especially since society treats vampires as second-class citizens. The woman everyone forgets and the man who remembers everything seem a natural pair. While Maddie’s all for it, Henry keeps pushing her away. But what if the only way they’ll survive is together? Return to Providence Paranormal College in this full-length novel. Extrahumans of all types abound on this urban campus on the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island. This Ivy-League college recently opened its doors to anyone with enough talent. The Admissions Department at PPC enrolls humans with extraordinary grades, the magically and psychically inclined, vampires, werewolves, changelings, and even magic shifters like dragons and Kelpies. Come take a tour! If you like YA and NA Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy with strong romantic subplots, you’ll feel right at home here Author Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads I recently caught up with D.R. Perry and had the opportunity to ask a few questions. Carol Ann: What genre would you say the book falls into? D.R. Perry: Paranormal Romantic Comedy for this series so far. In the works, I have some Urban Fantasy Parody and some Historical Urban Fantasy. Those are for next year, mostly. One of the Historicals will be ready sometime this summer, but I might send it to a small press instead. With Historical there's so much to fact check. It might need more eyes. Carol Ann: Are there any trigger warnings and/or explicit content readers should know about? D.R. Perry: Barely Awake has a couple of love scenes that focus on emotions. A couple of swear words you hear on broadcast TV. Carol Ann: Do you have any upcoming events? D.R. Perry: A bunch! I'm doing the Book Fanatics Launch, Stardust Always anthology release party, the Merely This Ultimate Release Festival, The Longest NightWatch writing competition some local farmer's markets in Rhode Island, and Rhode Island ComiCon. Carol Ann: What is next for you? Do you have anything in the works? D.R. Perry: Book 3 in my series will be out sometime after May 23rd. I'm working on a release per month up through December. My daughter's starting preschool this fall, too. Needless to say, I'm a busy writer and mom! Carol Ann: Do you have any special mentions? (Editor, cover art etc...) D.R. Perry: Everyone involved in the charity anthologies and events have been awesome. I love working with people on these types of projects. Maybe I do too many, but they're so much fun and for great causes. Carol Ann: What was your favourite book when you were growing up? D.R. Perry: The entire Oz series by L. Frank Baum. I read my copies literally to pieces. I love the diverse characters, humor, and fantasy elements in Oz and the surrounding kingdoms. There's so much more to it than what's in the movie. Carol Ann: If you could meet any character from any book, who would it be? Why? D.R. Perry: My goodness, that's a tough call. I think I'd want to meet Samwise Gamgee. He's been a hero of mine for a long time. I have million and one questions for him about how not to kill the plants in my garden. Carol Ann: When did you realize you were meant to be a writer? D.R. Perry: My heart's known ever since I understood writing books could be a career. But my head just didn't believe it. Here I am about to turn 42, working as a full-time author. It's great so far! I especially love when a line or three crack me up in the coffee shop and the gals who work there nod, smile, and say "there she goes again." Carol Ann: What has been the worst mistake you have made in your writing career? D.R. Perry: Not starting. I wanted everything to be perfect before starting. Perfect time, perfect place, perfect light, and music. But that only left me stuck not writing. The only way to get anywhere is to start walking already, even if there's gum on your shoe and litter on the sidewalk, you know? Carol Ann: What is the best moment you have had with a fan? D.R. Perry: Oh wow, I don't have any of those that I know of yet. We've got central air at our house, no need for fans. I'd love to have one with a pretty pattern on it that snaps open and shut, though. Those are very handy on picnics in the summer. Thank you for your time! Have additional questions? D.R. Perry will be available online from 10:00 A.M. To 11:00 A.M. (EST) May 22, 2016, for a Facebook takeover event. Authors Support the Fort ~ A Fort McMurray Fundraiser – Facebook Takeover