Shelly, we're so glad you stopped by.
Q – What genre
do you write in
and what drew you
to it?
Shelly
Holt
– I
technically
write
paranormal
romance.
After
you
read
Tasting
Fire
it
becomes
obvious
that
the
story
really
straddles
several
different
genres.
There
are
elements
of
the
paranormal
in
that
the
plot
focuses
on
shape-shifters,
but
unlike
other
paranormal
romances
there
is
no
magic
in
Tasting
Fire.
The extremely
well developed plot uses
the hypothesis that shape-shifters
that are recorded in
the mythology and folktales
of cultures all over
the world and throughout
history actually developed
due to a bacterial
infection.
There are also
very strong spiritual
overtones that help
define the story and
bring it to its
incredibly satisfying
end. The
love scenes are smoking
hot and keep it
well within the parameters
of romance.
It's truly a
unique story.
Basically, I decided
to write the book
I always wanted to
read. One
of my favorite authors,
Sharon Shinn's extraordinary
world building skills, inspired
me to strive to
build a rich culture
for the Pari.
It takes several
chapters to explain
who they are and
what challenges they are
facing as a people. If you
are expecting the main
characters to just
jump in bed with
each other, like in
erotica, then you
might get a little
frustrated (no pun
intended).
The relationship
between the two
main love interests
develops, but slowly. Without explaining
the context of their
backgrounds, the relationship
just wouldn't have worked.
Q – What do
you think makes the
book a page turner?
Shelly Holt – The
incredibly fast paced
plot twists that occur
after the introduction
and budding romance of
the two main characters. I also
created well developed
secondary characters
that helped carry the
story.
Q
– How
many
works
in
progress
do
you
have
going
on?
Shelly Holt – I
have started the research
for still untitled second
book in the Tasting
Fire series.
Q – What other
authors if any
have influenced your writing?
Shelly
Holt
-
As
mentioned
earlier,
I
love
Sharon
Shinn's
Samaria
series.
One
thing
I
learned
from
her
work,
was
that
as
a
reader,
I
much
preferred
two
new
romantic
partners
to
be
introduced
in
each
book.
I also learned that less is more in romance. Overly descriptive scenes rob the reader from
creating the scene in their own mind. I
describe my characters physically, but rarely go overboard in relying on their
physical appearance to push the plot along.
I do call them the handsome shape-shifter and the beautiful scientist many times in the story,
but only to refrain from overusing their first names during the course of the
story.
Q – What do
you think is the
hardest part of
writing?
The easiest?
Shelly Holt – Editing
and copy proofing are
the hardest for me. It took
me three months to
edit and proof Tasting Fire
and that was working
at least 50-60 hours
a week on it. I probably
have read it at
least 500 times at
this point, and yes,
I see snow leopards
in my sleep.
The easiest for
me was creating the
mythology of the
Pari and bringing my
characters to life. Some characters
were a little more
of a challenge
than others.
I had to
work really hard to
make Kai Tenzin more
than just a cardboard
love interest.
I gave him
several of my
own personality traits
to flesh him out. For example, Kai
doesn't sleep on
planes, because I
don't sleep on planes. His relationship
problems with his
father, however, are not
a reflection of his author's
relationship with her father. I
get along just fine
with my dad.
Nawang, however, was
a totally different
story. He
just flowed out of
me, sometimes it felt
like I was taking
dictation from him
more than I was
writing him. Nawang is
honestly my favorite
character in Tasting
Fire and I think
it shows.
Rae was somewhere
in the middle of
the two, in terms
of difficulty. I lived
for two years in
Las Vegas and those
experiences definitely
helped me to build
her character.
For the record
though, I worked
in a call center
for a major international
bank. I
was never a topless
dancer!
Thanks for having
me visit today and
share my experience
of writing Tasting Fire
with your readers.
You're very welcome. I hope you have great success with your book.
BLURB:
Shape-shifters
have always walked the earth. Shrouded in myth and folklore, hiding in the
shadows, watching and waiting. Advances in modern science are now about to
reveal them to the world. Kai Tenzin is the self appointed leader of the Pari
people. He and his kind evolved from the most reclusive predators on earth.
They live and hunt in the most fearsome and rugged terrain known to man, the
Himalayas. Kai leaves his small village where the mountains touch the heavens,
determined to do anything to protect his people. When he is forced to enlist
the aid of the beautiful American scientist Dr. Rae Hales, the last thing he
expects to find is a woman who will ensnare his heart and endanger them all.
Their action-packed adventure will take them around the world to discover the
truth behind the legends and reveal the future of humanity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
The short
ride to Kizhi island was exhilarating on the open hydrofoil. Kai helped Rae off the boat as it docked at
the seven mile long island. The tour
group followed their guide off the dock and onto the island. They listened intently as the guide in
stilted English advised them that the site had become a world heritage site in nineteen-ninety. There were more than eighty pieces of wooden
architecture that made up the outdoor museum’s collection. The guide then gestured for the large group
to follow him. The tour group was led up
to a magnificent structure. The center
piece of the collection that was known as The Church of Transfiguration.
Rae felt as
if she had stepped right into a storybook.
The guide started his official recitation on the history of the
structure “the Church of Transfiguration has twenty two onion domes. It was built during the reign of Peter the
Great. No nails were used in the
construction and it was created by using interconnecting wood pieces
only.” Kai stood back taking picture
after picture of the breathtaking silver domes.
The guide then indicated for them to enter and put his finger over his
mouth to indicate silence.
As Kai and Rae walked in they could hear why
the guide silenced them. A trio of
singers were performing a deeply moving mass.
Behind them a gold leaf Russian icon painting glinted in the light that
was streaming in through the dusty windows.
The effect transported the tour group back in time. They were now in a time before digital
cameras, before cell phones, to a time when the Tzars ruled Imperial Russia
with an iron fist.
Author Information:
My name is Shelly Holt and I live in the middle of the harsh
and unforgiving Mojave desert. I write my stories looking out of a window that
shows sweeping desert views. Outside is a barren and severe landscape, yet
inside my head lives a world filled with exotic shape-shifters come to life,
pulled from the pages of myth and legend, ready to entice and seduce any reader
brave enough to take them on.
It's funny, I never wanted to be a writer! In 7th grade
English, we were given an assignment. We were told to write an original
poem and turn it in the next day. I was determined to turn in not a good
poem, but a great poem. I spent the whole night working on it instead of
watching my favorite show, The Waltons. (Hey! it was 1980.) I
turned it in the next day. Apparently, I succeeded a little too well and
was accused of copying it from a book. (1980 remember, no internet yet).
The teacher stated and I quote "this is too good for a seventh
grader, where did you copy it from?" Well, I didn't write for 30
years after that. In my 40's, after a life changing move to rural Nevada as a
caregiver to my father, I realized I needed a way to earn a little money on the
side. I did some research on the internet and read all about a certain
little book, about a certain little college student and a handsome billionaire
with some ahem! (issues.) I decided after reading that book, I could do
that, and Tasting Fire was born. I'll admit it's been strange revisiting a talent
buried deep inside for so long, forgotten, but apparently not lost. It's been
an important journey and one I am quite thankful for and excited to see where
it takes me.
Shelly Holt
P.S. Mr. Jordan, I really did write that poem!
Facebook
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http://www.amazon.com/Tasting-Fire-ebook/dp/B0098M7OOQ
