Q+A with Jill Archer + Fiery Edge of Steel Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Jill Archer.  Jill is the author of Dark Light of Day and Fiery Edge of Steel.

Keep reading for a chance to win a signed copy of Fiery Edge of Steel by Jill Archer!

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Jill:  I started writing when I was on maternity leave for the first time, a little over ten years ago. I’ve been a lifelong reader, but I had no idea what I was doing when I started writing. My first novel attempt was just a string of scenes with common characters. That “manuscript” is unfinished and likely always will be. My next attempt was a sprawling sf/fantasy behemoth. I made it to the end, but it was completely unmarketable and I 86’d it deep in my desk drawer. My third attempt was Dark Light of Day.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Jill:  I’ve always been a speculative fiction fan. When I was in elementary school, I read every Ruth Chew book I could find. In middle school, I read a lot of John Saul and Stephen King. In junior high, I read a lot of Anne McCaffrey. In college and law school, it was Anne Rice. There were other authors too, of course. I often wish that I’d kept a reading journal. In any case, I’ve always been drawn (in books, movies, and tv shows) to the strange and unusual, to things that are alien, otherworldly, or supernatural, to fantasy worlds with magic and monsters.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Jill:  I think I’ve said in the past that I’d like my supernatural talent to be stopping time, so that I could get everything done that I wanted to get done. But that wish is a sign of my age and, frankly, pretty boring, right? :-) So I’ll say instead that I’d really love to have the power to make people see an illusion. I’m fascinated by illusionists. In a way, I think all novelists strive to be grand illusionists. But they use words instead of magic.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Jill:  Anyone who has read Dark Light of Day will enjoy seeing Noon’s continued growth as a character. I try to spend as much time developing her internal growth arc as I do the external plot. That said, you don’t have to have read Dark Light of Day to read Fiery Edge of Steel. (Reading DLOD first will give you a greater understanding of the world, the different types of magic, and the character relationships, but I tried to make Fiery Edge self-supporting).

In general, Fiery Edge of Steel would appeal to anyone who likes fantasy with elements of mystery and romance. It’s an adventure tale with lots of action, magic, demons, and a plot twist or two.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Jill:  I usually defer on this question for a number of reasons but figured this time it might be fun to muse about young actresses and the roles they’ve played. So, for Noon, here goes:

I think my top choice (if Dark Light of Day were coming out this summer – ha! ;-)) would be Ellen Page. Why? Well, for starters, I simply adore her. But also because of her work in Inception (she played brainy dream architect Ariadne), Whip It (she played naïve but tough underdog Bliss Cavender), and Juno (she played the titular role and proved she’s equally adept at portraying funny and serious in the same role).

Runner-up: Emma Roberts (Nancy Drew, although Noon is older, edgier, and tougher than Nancy Drew).

Don’t know enough about them but interesting to consider: Victoria Justice (Wren in Fun Size) and Naomi Scott (Mo in Lemonade Mouth).

For Ari Carmine? Hmm… maybe Andrew Garfield (Amazing Spider-Man, although he’d have to bulk up a bit). Possibly Kit Harington (but if his acting style is as quiet, reserved, and reactive as Jon Snow’s is in the show Game of Thrones, it wouldn’t mesh with Ari’s character. :-D)

For Rafe Sinclair? Alex Pettyfer looks like a good match looks wise, but I’m not very familiar with his work (okay, I’ll admit, I did see Magic Mike. And I am Number Four is on my list of movies that I want to see).

Fiery Edge of Steel (Noon Onyx #2) by Jill Archer

Lucifer and his army triumphed at Armageddon, leaving humans and demons living in uncertain peace based on sacrifice and strict laws. It is up to those with mixed demon and human blood, the Host, to prevent society from falling into anarchy.

Noon Onyx is the first female Host in memory to wield the destructive waning magic that is used to maintain order among the demons. Her unique abilities, paired with a lack of control and reluctance to kill, have branded her as an outsider from her peers. Only her powerful lover, Ari Carmine, and a roguish and mysterious Angel, Rafe Sinclair, support her unconventional ways.

When Noon is shipped off to a remote outpost to investigate several unusual disappearances, a task which will most likely involve trying and killing the patron demon of that area, it seems Luck is not on her side. But when the outpost settlers claim that an ancient and evil foe has stepped out of legend to commit the crimes, Noon realizes that she could be facing something much worse than she ever imagined.

Release date May 28, 2013.

Thank you Jill for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Jill Archer and her books, please visit her website.

***Fiery Edge of Steel Giveaway***

We are giving away one signed copy of Fiery Edge of Steel by Jill Archer.

To enter, leave a comment on this post and please include your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is open to US ONLY.  Giveaway ends June 13, 2014 midnight EST.