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EJ: When did you begin writing?
Marlene: I’ve written since second grade when we had a unit on journal writing, but I’ve written seriously since the late 1990s. My first young adult novel, Unexpected Development,a contemporary coming of age story, came out in 2004, then the first book in the Dead Is series, Dead Is the New Black, in 2008. Two more contemporary yas followed. Strange Fates is my first adult/New Adult urban fantasy novel.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Marlene: I trace my love of the paranormal and urban fantasy back to my early childhood. I’m the youngest of twelve children and my older sister used to babysit me. She and her best friend watched Dark Shadows religiously. Not exactly kindergarten viewing, but I loved it. And since I had all those older siblings, I read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings when I was in elementary school. A Wrinkle in Time is one of my all-time favorite books, so that was another influence. I also love to read fantasy, paranormal, and urban fantasy.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Marlene: I'd like to be able to divide into several mes, just to get everything done. Or a supernatural power to make people kinder to each other.
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Marlene: I think they’re going to love Nyx Fortuna, the immortal main character in Strange Fates. I love him. He’s a bit of a smart-ass, drinks too much, but has a good heart. He also has questionable taste in women. His aunts, the three remaining Fates, have been hunting him since his birth and when the book starts, he’s just arrived in Minneapolis to avenge his mother’s death and find the thread of fate, which will finally end his life.
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Marlene: This is a great question! I love to dream about this. The first three books in my teen Dead Is series have been optioned for TV by the Disney Channel, so I’ve spent a lot of time on that one. There’s a book trailer for Strange Fates and it was fascinating to take a look at a head shot and just KNOW that the person was or wasn’t right for the role. I had a great time playing casting director, but I don’t think I could narrow it down to just one guy. For Nyx Fortuna, I could see Tyler Hoechlin (he plays Derek on Teen Wolf) or Ryan Guzman (Step Up Revolution) in the role, but there are so many great actors, it’s hard to choose.
Strange Fates (Nyx Fortuna #1) by Marlene Perez.
The first in a line of three exciting new urban fantasy novels blending elements of Greek myth and forbidden romance against the backdrop of Minnesota's magical underworld.
Brooding, leather jacket-wearing Nyx Fortuna looks like a 20-something, and has for centuries now. As the son of the forgotten fourth Fate, Lady Fortuna, he has been hunted his entire life by the three Sisters of Fate that murdered his mother.
Fed up and out for revenge, Nyx comes to Minneapolis following a tip that his aunts have set up a business there. His goal to bring down his mother's killers and retrieve the thread of fate that has trapped him in the body of a twenty year old unable to age or die.
But when a chance meeting with the mysterious, dangerous and very mortal Elizabeth Abernathy throws off his plans, he must reconcile his humanity and his immortality.
Thank you Marlene for joining us here today at From the Shadows.
To learn more about Marlene Perez and her books, please visit her website.
**Strange Fates Giveaway**
We are giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner.
To enter, leave a comment on this post. Please include an email address so we may contact you if you win. This giveaway is international. Giveaway ends May 23, 2013 midnight EST.
