Welcome Helen!
You write fantasy romance and paranormal romance. What attracted you to both of these genres?
I’ve been a huge fan of vampires since I can remember. Buffy is the best show ever and I just completed a rewatch for the zillionth time. As for fantasy, who doesn’t want to disappear to another world where castles and magic are the norm?
You also have written contemporary romance. Was it difficult separating this from your speculative fiction work?
I enjoy reading both contemporary romance and speculative fiction so separating them while writing wasn’t hard. Sometimes it’s easier to write what we know, but sometimes it’s easier to write something magical and out of this world. I’ve been enjoying the fantasy worlds lately so I might stay writing in these for a while.
Are you a plotter? Panster? Or somewhere in-between?
I’m a total pantser. Sometimes I start with an idea for a book, or a scene, or even a character, but I never know what is going to happen until I sit down and write.
Do you have advice for aspiring writers?
Honestly, I listened to so much advice when I first started that it was too much. So my advice is to listen to yourself. You know what you want to write, so do it.
How did you find the recent book signing Wild Out West (in Perth) where you were a signing author? What was your take-away from it?
Wild Out West was an amazing time! Louisa West and Julie Weaver put on a fabulous event for the authors and readers. Saturday night we had an exclusive author mingling hour before the VIP readers joined us. Drinks, food, lots of laughs and entertainment from the Drag Queen host Sassie Cassie, who I was lucky enough to have read out a part of my book. Sunday was book signing day and the many readers were so lovely. I even had my first reader bring a book from home for me to sign.
How do you fill the creative well?
Well, at the moment, my creative well is stone dry. My day job sucked up every last drop of precious imagination, but I have a new job now, so I’m hoping the well will start trickling again. As for filling it, I think that comes from everything around me, books, television, nature, animals, family, and a bit of free time to let my imagination run wild.
Can you tell us about your latest release?
Elise in Werewolf Land is a twisted Alice in Wonderland retelling and book 2 in the Vampire Tales series. Elise is one of a kind, a witch turned into a vampire, and in hiding from her evil family. Asher is a bad boy werewolf with a tortured past trapped in a curse made by her family. To free them both, Elise and Asher have to work together to escape Werewolf Land. A whole lot of crazy adventures ensues that brings them closer together, and the cocky werewolf and sassy witch find the sort of unconditional forever love neither of them thought they deserved.
What was your inspiration behind it?
Book 1 in the Vampire Tales, Isabel and the Werewolf Beast, is a twisted Beauty and the Beast retelling, so when the side character Asher said I have a story too, I sat down to think about what other fairytale retelling I could do. A few came to mind, but the one that stuck was Alice in Wonderland. I just love the craziness of the original story and knew that twisting it up would fit with book 1.
Elise in Werewolf Land
Book 2, Vampire Tales
Elise
For so long, I’ve remained hidden. My very existence should be impossible. Yet here I am, one of a kind, a vampire witch.
All the magical power of my witch heritage at my fingertips, combined with the strength and immortality of a vampire means I’m almost indestructible, but my sire is too protective. Too determined to keep me safe from my evil family.
An instant spark of awareness hits me the moment my sire delivers a comatose werewolf to my secret chamber. Then he reveals my brother’s dangerous magic has cursed Asher and they need my help. If I break the curse, I’ll end the last of my bloodline and I’ll finally be free.
The moment I use my magic, I know I’ve miscalculated the curse. Something pulls me into the darkness and now I’m stuck in werewolf land with no clue how to get out. Worse, I’m trapped with a werewolf who doesn’t know what I really am. I’m also a vampire, sworn enemy of werewolves, and related to the man who’d hurt him. If he finds out, the results could be disastrous.
Then there’s this incredible pull towards him…
Asher
I’d thought becoming a werewolf would make me strong and powerful, but it wasn’t enough to save me from the warlock’s attack. I’m not sure if I’m dead or alive… or trapped in something worse. Then a beautiful woman appears, a witch who says she’s come to help me.
The longer we stay in this strange place, the more it tries to harm us. If her magic wand can’t get us out, do we even stand a chance? But the longer I’m with her, the less I want to leave.
She’s beautiful, clever, and strong. Everything in me aches to kiss her and claim her as mine. I can’t help feeling if we escape this place, everything I feel about her will disappear, too.
Is this what it feels like when a werewolf finds their mate?
Alice in Wonderland meets the witches, vampires and werewolves of Vampire Diaries in this forced proximity, fated love, spicy paranormal romance.
It features a standalone romance with a happy ending for the main couple and completes the series.
Read the complete series
Helen Walton
Helen Walton is a tea drinking, chocoholic, romance writer. Stories are her obsession. She adores creating sweet and sensual romances containing a sprinkling of humor and the all-important happy ending. She lives in South Australia with her family, and menagerie of quirky animals where they all take her away from her book world and demand to be fed. Lucky for them, she enjoys cooking but prefers baking.
Connect with Helen on her website helenwaltonauthor.com
Loved learning more about you, Helen.
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