Interview A. Dee Carey

by

Jaxine Daniels

1) Dee, tell us about your love for all things medieval and foxes.

All things medieval have interested me since I was a child. My favorite movie and book was Ivanhoe. The foxes are sort of new. I always thought of them as mystical until I began to write about them I had never seen one. Since I became the Fox Lady I’ve seen many.

2) What inspired this book?

This is always a hard question for me. I can’t really pinpoint the moment. I was working with my first critique partner and suggested the idea to her and she said go for it. So I did.

3) Tell us a bit about your hero and heroine. What inspires them?

The heroine is a matter of fact strong woman who believes she can do anything. When she is turned to a fox, it does not trouble her, she figures it is just another adventure. The hero is an orphaned royal who is primarily concerned with staying alive. When they learn they are part of a Druid Ordination they find they are to conform to rules other than their own. Natch they hate rules.

4) Tell us a bit about your writing life and your "not writing" life.

My writing life is unusual as I don’t have a specific time to write. I write when I can and when engaging in my “not writing” life I do laundry, cook, clean and all the other household pursuits that are so much fun.

5) What is your all time favorite book and why?

This is also a tough one. I love all the Harry Potter books, but the book I’ve re-read countless times is the Mist of Avalon. Why? Each time I read the book I find something new. Partly because my life takes different tracks as I age, so I look at things differently. The other part is the book is multi layered and I find new layers with each reading.

6) If you could have coffee with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

I would pick my daughter Casey. She encourages me when I am hesitant, cheers me on when I make a small headway. And finds that everyone else is dumb if they don’t buy my books. She is my daughter, cheerleader and confidant.

7) Are you an outliner or a "seat of the pant" writer?

I start with index cards of ideas. Put them in some semblance of order, then move to a color coded flow chart. This is my outline as I like to see the entire book on a single page. I frequently take side trips from this road map, so in some ways I am a pantser as well as a plotter.

8) What's on your Christmas list?

Another tough one. I would like to see everyone in the world as happy and content as I am. I want for nothing, which is why I write fantasy. My reality is perfect.

9) Tell us some things that are on your "I want to do this someday" list.

I want to ride bare backed naked in the surf. And I want to go to Ireland. I think the latter is more of a possibility.

10) If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you like to have with you. Which of your characters do you want with you? Why?

(1) A bible It has all the answers. (2) My laptop with an endless battery. Self explanatory. (3) An endless supply of fresh fruit and an occasional steak. Because I like fruit and love steaks. The character I would like with me would be Aaron from “The Vixen” he is smart enough to keep his mouth shut and faces adversity with ease.

I love to write and find it is the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. If anyone wants to quiz me further, feel free.