Alix Rickloff

Get Lost in This Story…

The magic she tries to hide…

Born a lady, but reduced to surviving in the slums of Dublin, Catriona O’Connell has been hired to steal a mysterious book from Aidan Douglas, Earl of Kilronan. But Cat is secretly Other, an age-old mixture of Fey and human—something Aidan recognizes immediately when he surprises the lovely young burglar in his library, about to steal a magical diary.

…is the magic he desperately wants.

From the moment Aidan sees her, Cat’s spirited beauty enchants him, but her uncanny abilities are what he truly needs, for Cat can understand the mystical language in the diary he inherited from his murdered father. So Aidan makes an offer: translate the book or be thrown in prison as a thief. And as Cat slowly deciphers each page, she and Aidan are drawn together by passion . . .and into the violence of the Other world that is the Kilronan legacy. Can they defeat those who seek the book, or are their lives in even greater danger than their hearts?

Today, we welcome paranormal historical romance author Alix Rickloff to the blog! Alix has never been able to decide who she enjoys reading more; Austen or Tolkien. That lifelong indecision drove her to create stories of her own, combining those distinct loves. Her writing awards include a final in the Golden Heart, while Romantic Times Magazine calls her work both compelling and original.

Her latest series set in Regency Ireland, The Heirs of Kilronan, follows the children of the old Earl of Kilronan as they struggle against the fallout from the evil their father unleashed before his death.

EARL OF DARKNESS featuring Aidan Douglas, the eldest son and heir to the title earl of Kilronan, is the first book in the series which releases TODAY! The second book, LORD OF SHADOWS is due to be released in July 2011 with the third and final book, whose title is still under consideration, coming out in January 2012.

So, let's meet Alix!

Heather: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Alix: Can I have three movies? I absolutely adored Peter Jackson’s LOTR trilogy. The casting was spot-on (Viggo Mortensen was delicious as Aragorn), the adaptation of Tolkein’s books to the screen was fabulous, and the attention to detail was amazing. I still use the soundtrack from those movies to inspire my own muse.

Heather: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

Alix: Beauty and the Beast. The idea of a woman’s love healing a man who’s been damaged in some way is a theme I’ve used over and over in my own writing.

Heather: Where do you read and how often?

Alix: I usually read in bed before I turn out the light. That is unless it’s a book that completely takes me over in which case I read everywhere and without stopping until I’m finished. Family? What family?

Heather: What sound or noise do you love?

Alix: Spring peepers. When they start singing I know winter’s almost over.

Heather: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Alix: See answer to question #1. Yes, I use music to inspire. It can be anything from the soundtracks to LOTR or The Last of the Mohicans to Enya, Wagner, or Muse, depending on the scene and the emotional impact.

Heather: Be honest, when reading 1^st person...do you miss the hero’s POV?

Alix: Yes. I like knowing what the man is thinking. I’ve begun to notice author’s writing the heroine’s POV in 1^st and the hero’s in 3^rd. I guess that’s one way to get around that problem.

Heather: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

Alix: Breathe a great big sigh of relief.

Heather: What do you do to unwind and relax?

Alix: No surprise—I read. Or enjoy a family movie night at home complete with popcorn.

Heather: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Alix: Oh, I so wish I could say I ignored reviews and never let them influence me. But the sad truth is that I do read them. And no matter how many fantastic reviews I receive, it’s always the one negative comment that sticks with me for days.

Heather: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

Alix: Coffee. Cream and sugar first so when I pour the coffee in, it’s instantly stirred. A trick I learned from my husband.

Heather: Dog person or cat person?

Alix: Cat. I love their independence.

HEATHER’S GOTTA ASK –ALIX’S GOTTA ANSWER J

Heather: So, we know you write regencies with that “Something Other”. If YOU could have a “something other” element or power in your life, what would it be?

Alix: That’s an easy one—the ability to clone myself.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Since the holidays have just passed, I want to know what everyone’s favorite gift was this year.

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?

Yes, I will give away a copy of EARL OF DARKNESS to one lucky commenter.

Thanks for coming by today, Alix!

If you’d like to learn more about Alix, visit her website or find her on Facebook.

www.AlixRickloff.com

www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Alix-Rickloff/101434889914147?ref=ts

www.BlameItOnTheMuse.com

Readers, don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance at the drawing.

We will announce a winner here and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Lost-In-A-Story/

You can also follow us on Twitter @GetLostInAStory