The Phoenix Charm by Helen Scott Taylor

Welcome back Helen and Thank You for being with us and for the wonderful interview you’ve done with us. We all wish you the best of luck with The Phoenix Charm and hope to see much more of you in the future.

Terra ~ What was your inspiration behind The Phoenix Charm?

Helen ~ The Phoenix Charm is the sequel to The Magic Knot. The hero Michael was a secondary character in The Magic Knot and seemed the best choice for the next book in the series. In The Magic Knot, I took my characters to Ireland, so I wanted to keep the same Celtic-based fairy world but explore a different place. I chose Wales as it has a rich body of Celtic mythology to draw on for story ideas.

Terra ~ Is there a love of the very ancient past that has you writing Celtic romances and if so why?

Helen ~ I love exploring historic houses, castles, and monuments. Luckily for me, I am surrounded by them as I live in England. I enjoy weaving fantasy worlds that combine ancient Celtic mythology with our normal world to give the otherworldly sense of a parallel world running alongside our own.

Terra ~ Which of the creatures you have written about do you think you have had the greatest attachment to and why?

Helen ~ I suppose my vampiric, winged nightstalker Nightshade qualifies as a creature, although he’d be put out to be called a creature. He is a favorite of mine. My favorite character has to be Troy, the immortal father of the heroes from the first two books in the Magic Knot series.

Terra ~ Are The Magic Knot and The Phoenix Charm at all related or can they be read as standalone stories?

Helen ~ The Phoenix Charm is the sequel to The Magic Knot. Both books are set in the same fairy world and the second follows on in time sequence from the first. But the stories are written to work as stand-alones. Readers who have read The Phoenix Charm without reading The Magic Knot tell me they have no problem understanding the story. I think readers will get more out of the series if they do read the books in order though, as the secondary characters are developed through the series with more revealed about them in each book.

Terra ~ What is the possibility that you will continue on with the Magic Knot storylines in future books.

Helen ~ I plan five books in The Magic Knot series. The third book—The Ruby Kiss—is about Nightshade and will be released on Dec 28th 2010. I have a novella in The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance called The Feast of Beauty that is linked to my series. This is due out in a few weeks.

Terra ~ I haven’t had the chance to read The Phoenix Charm but thoroughly enjoyed The Magic Knot. What would you say to me to have me crave this new book with an obsession that I must have it come Hell or high water.

Helen ~ If you liked Michael in The Magic Knot then you’ll be amazed how he rises to the challenge of rescuing his little nephew from the Underworld. When I started writing the story, I never dreamed how much he’d have to sacrifice and how powerful he’d become. The poor guy really deserves his true love.

Terra ~ What’s it like now to have your second book in print? Is it just as exciting and nerve wracking as the anticipation of your first or is it a bit easier since you’ve already done one?

Helen ~ Because I knew the process second time around it wasn’t as nerve-wracking, but I doubt I’ll ever be relaxed about a book release. It is still just as exciting to see my new book on bookstore shelves.

Terra ~ Do you ever wonder how people will perceive your multi sub genre’ novels? The Phoenix Charm looks like it is not only Romance but also could fit into Fantasy, Historical Romance, Suspense and possibly light erotica.

Helen ~ Jennifer Ashley called my story Adventure-fantasy romance, and that is a wonderful description. The fantasy world does have historical elements as the King of the Underworld lives in a castle that sounds medieval, but it isn’t erotica.

Terra ~ I see from your bio that you are located in the UK. I love the history that the UK provides us with and it is such an ancient and quite breath taking set of Isles. What is it like to have so much inspiration right in your own preverbal back yard?

Helen ~ Living surrounded by countryside bursting with Celtic history did help inspire me to create my Magic Knot fantasy world. I have always enjoyed visiting historic houses and sites of interest. I like to take the history and put a magical twist on it.

Terra ~ What are your future plans in the literary world?

Helen ~ The third book in my Magic Knot Fairies series is due out in December. I also have a novella due out in a fantasy anthology in October. I plan to continue writing fantasy for a while, but I shall probably explore other mythologies to create new fantasy worlds. The novella I’m currently writing includes Norse mythology and I’m having fun with that. My favorite part of writing is creating the worlds.



HE'S PURE TEMPTATION.

Cordelia has sworn she'll abstain from looking into Michael's future--particularly when the image in the gilded smoke of her divination mirror shows him half naked. Yet she can't resist watching the sexy rascal slowly running his hand down his ribs, over his abdomen, flicking open the button on his jeans with a little flourish like a magician performing a trick.

SHE'S TRYING TO RESIST.

Respectable wise woman Cordelia restrains her secret water nymph sensuality with the Celtic symbols painted on her skin. But Michael's powerful fairy glamour leaves her breathless, off balance, struggling for control. When Gwyn ap Nudd, the Welsh King of the Underworld, steals away Michael's infant nephew, Cordelia must work with him to save the child. But how can she trust her instincts with Michael tempting her to explore the hidden elemental depths of her nature and insisting that she believe in the power of...The Phoenix Charm.



Contest Time ~ Go over to the link provided here ( http://www.helenscotttaylor.com/quiz/quiz.php?quiz=elements ) and take Helen's quiz then come back and let her know the answer to be entered to win a signed copy of The Phoenix Charm. One winner will be chosen mid week so don't daudle. Oh and don't forget the email addy or it doesn't count.