Hi Everyone! I’m jumpin’ up and down with glee because my writer pal Tricia Skinner is here today for a visit, woot!

Hi, Trish! I’m thrilled you could join us today for a chat! Tell our readers a little about yourself. Something scandalous and not in your bio, perhaps? 😉
Hey, Celia. Scandalous, huh? What I’d like to share would freak out my Mom, so I’ll vaguely say it involved no clothing and running through a neighborhood on a dare.

LOL! Now I *really* want to know that story! But…let’s continue…What do you love about writing urban fantasy?
Nothing beats twisting the modern world into something new. I write stories that reflect scenarios I wish were real. For me, urban fantasy is freeing. The genre is one I also love to read. Most of the authors on ParaUnbound have written books I’ve read, so you ladies know exactly what I mean.

Does your former profession as a journalist influence your fiction writing?
Certainly, although I’ve had pros and cons writing with a news reporter background. The good involves writing quickly, writing tight, and writing dialogue that adds to the development of the story. The difficulty I face has to do with writing to length. I don’t do a lot of description or puff up my stories with scenes I don’t feel add strength to the story. Unfortunately, writing tight means I struggle to reach a specific manuscript length. That drives me nuts.

I was a lucky beta reader of your recent release, ANGEL KIN. What inspired you to write this series about Nephilim?
You’re an excellent beta reader, Celia. ::curtsies:: Thanks. Definitely my pleasure!
I’ve always been drawn to good versus evil stories. I also grew bored of stereotypes – angels are good, demons are bad, etc. Most stories made Nephilim the bad guys. A few years ago, the TV show Supernatural introduced angels into the storyline. They were not the perfect beings of the Bible and I loved it. I saw a way to mix what’s believed with an alternative lore.

I’m fascinated by your hero and bad guy’s superpower in ANGEL KIN: the ability to bend others to their will, make them do anything. What inspired you to write about this type of paranormal power?
Mind control was the best power for the twins. Cain and Abel are similar in many ways, but how and why they use their gift gave me much more conflict to put on the page. I chose it after asking myself what paranormal power would I want. Everyone has played that game, right? It was either that or push fire balls out my eyes.

Ah, destructive heat vision! That’s another good one.

What are your favorite hero and heroine types to write? Alpha, beta, gamma, snarky, badass, tortured, flawed, stubborn, patient, intelligent…
Ooh, I like this question! I’m on a mission to mix up the meaning of heroes and villains. I love the dark hero/heroine, but I’m insane for villains that have shades to them. Think Loki (and we should always think about Loki. Yum!) and Magneto. Or Black Widow. The gray hero, heroine and villain are more complex and interesting to write.

So true! Fun to write and to read. What’s your preference to read and write: dark or light urban fantasy?
Give me a full eclipse of urban fantasy, girl. Dark and dangerous to make my heart freeze in my veins. I want a romance that makes bats flutter in my gut. Show me sex scenes hot enough to send me up in flames.

Agreed! Now, tell us – What’s next in the Angel Assassins series?
ANGEL LOVER is coming out in August. I’m awaiting my first round of edits. This will be Kasdeja’s story. Kas’s paranormal power is mind reading, which isn’t much when you compare the other powers The Bound Ones (his team) hold.

Having had the honor of beta reading Kas’s story, let me just say: Kas Rules!

When you’re not writing kickass stories, what do you do for fun?
My preschool son and I have one day every week where we go off and do something fun. You could call it “date night” but I simply wanted a day when nothing on Earth interfered with my son’s happiness.

Thanks for visiting today, Trish! Before you go, here are the tough questions ;-)…
Favorite urban fantasy book series: The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
Favorite paranormal TV series: Supernatural
Thor or Loki? LOKI!
Vampire Diaries or True Blood? True Blood
Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars
Coffee or tea? Tea
Sweet or salty? Salty
Cats or dogs? Dogs, specifically Great Danes.

About Tricia Skinner
Tricia Skinner writes urban fantasy with twist of passion. She’s a former journalist who discovered her inspiration to write fiction as an escape from “real life.” Her reading tastes include fantasy (and its subgenres), paranormal, sci-fi, and history. When she’s not writing, Tricia is a newbie “green” practitioner, fitness procrastinator, and a technology geek. Her family includes a patient husband, a demigod son, and two Great Danes. She’s active in several writing communities and enjoys interacting with readers.

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Book Blurb:
While channeling Robin Hood’s “steal from the rich and give to the poor” attitude at a local politician’s house, ex-con Katie Logan witnesses a forced suicide. Dirty or not, supernatural or not, he didn’t deserve to die, especially not by his own hand. But with her record, stepping forward as a witness isn’t an option. On the run from the police and the murderer, she turns to The Bound Ones for help.
When a beautiful woman comes to The Bound Ones, half-angel assassin Cain is immediately drawn to her. But when she fingers him as the killer, he can come to only one conclusion. The twin he thought was dead is very much alive…and trying to send him a message. Unfortunately, that message is: “You’re next.”
It’s a race against time as Cain fights to save the woman he’s falling in love with before his brother Abel destroys them both.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Celia’s ANGEL KIN review –>