Whispers In The Shadows is the second book in the Legends Unleashed series. It was preceded by What Legends Are Made Of. Like all the titles in this series, Whispers In The Shadows was created from my love of paranormal romances and fantasy worlds where anything can happen. I have strived to write fast-paced and well-developed plots with unexpected twists and multifaceted characters. Another purpose of writing Legends Unleashed was to create strong female protagonists who transcend the ordinary to find a beautiful life. It’s definitely an escapist series inspired by imagination and boundless possibilities.
2) Was there one character who you enjoyed writing about more than any others?
I loved writing and developing the character of Forrester from my TV series, Harbor Boys. He is undoubtedly flawed but strives very hard to overcome the less than stellar circumstances he was born into. He is strong, both physically and mentally, ruggedly handsome and possesses a rational foresight that aids him when he’s inevitably put into difficult situations. I admire these traits and find Forrester to be an extremely interesting character to write.
3) Who was the hardest character to write about?
To date, Ariel from Harbor Boys has been the hardest character for me to write. My biggest issues with her was developing flaws and making her multifaceted – two traits which are essential for every character. I liken Ariel to a siren because she is a natural beauty who has a seductive essence. Unfortunately, her effect on men often lands them in trouble. When it comes to choosing a man, Ariel knows what she wants and has extremely high expectations. Not surprising then, Forrester is the only character worthy of her love. Creating a relationship between two characters who are secure in themselves has proven to be difficult. In fiction, the course of true love should never run smoothly, so I’ve used external forces to cause drama in their relationship. As I continue to develop Ariel throughout the series, I want to show a side of her which isn’t so pretty. Then I want to uncover the truth of how that came to be. Additionally, I will be putting Ariel in a situation that will forever change her life – and it all comes down to one massive decision.
4) The plot sounds super interesting, tell us female readers more about the magical forest and too-good-to-be-true men!
The magical forest, called the Dark Forest, appears in Rival To Survival. In the story we meet Scarlet, a young woman who seemingly has everything but is nonetheless bored with her life. Scarlet’s world is turned upside-down when she meets Harv. However, it’s not just his love that changes her, it’s also his secret about his origin. Harv is from the Dark Forest – a place where magical mushrooms grow. These mushrooms, which forever sustain life, come with a price though, and Scarlet and Harv will have to learn the hard way how dangerous eternal youth can be. Rival To Survival may be the most difficult story from the Legends Unleashed series to read because I use underlying literary devices to give the story additional meaning. Nevertheless, Rival To Survival is filled with passion and puts Scarlet in multiple positions where she has to make life-changing decisions. It is definitely an unexpected read!
In The Truth About Fairy Tales, Lila wants to find her prince charming, even if it means using an internet dating service. Matched with the handsome and courteous Phillip, Lila thinks she’s found a man who is the epitome of perfection. Unfortunately, Phillip is a little too perfect. When Lila discovers that Phillip is a technologically advanced robot, Lila must decide if their love is real. The Truth About Fairy Tales is a romantic comedy about the trials and tribulations of finding the man of your dreams. There are also sci-fi elements to add action and suspense.
5) Did you design the cover for Whispers In The Shadows or have a hand in it?
I was responsible for conceptualizing and making the cover. I actually create all the cover art for my titles that are published by Diamond Dust Books and Treasure Cove Books. I love art which is dark, mysterious and, for my older readers, sexy. Paranormal themed covers featuring whimsical forests, stars, mist, gothic flowers, the moon, women in flowing dresses and shirtless sexy men top my favorites list. Since paranormal romance is such a popular genre right now, I love all the beautiful covers that are being designed; I can literally spend hours in a bookstore just looking at them!
6) Will there be a sequel to Whispers In The Shadows or is this a standalone novel?
I am currently working on What Fairy Tales Are Made Of. Most likely, it will be the last book in the Legends Unleashed series because I have two young adult novels that have been waiting to be written for several years now. Here’s a sneak peek of the forthcoming stories:
Wrath Of The Witch
When newlyweds Jay and Ashleigh Minden move to a small town, they discover a local history filled with legends, curses and witchcraft. Gypsy Moon
A night at the Solstice Street Festival changes Ella’s life forever when she meets Damon – a handsome gypsy who is a member of a clan torn apart by betrayal and kidnap.A Walk In Warlock Woods
A camping trip turns deadly when Cheyenne discovers a strange new world and a handsome warlock who is desperate to escape from it. A Darker Shade Of Red
When Miranda, an aspiring artist, becomes possessed by a famous dead painter, she seeks help from the smart and sexy museum curator.7) Tell us a little about your short film, The Rarity.
The Rarity is a feature film script which was optioned by the Australian company, Spirit Rider Productions. In order to get funding for the feature, we created a short film to introduce the characters and the mythology behind the vampire world of Pamveer. Below is the blurb from the North American DVD which will be available shortly.
The Rarity
Strange things have been happening in a quiet Australian suburb, and it all started when the Fords moved in. After witnessing an unusual attack, local resident, Hayden vows to uncover the truth about her new neighbors. Unfortunately, Hayden’s brother, Levi, has fallen hard for the Ford’s beautiful and seductive daughter, Jillian. What soon unravels is a tale of a half-human/half-vampire’s desire to belong and the danger that follows her wherever she goes.
Please be sure to watch the official trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URAS3utDlqo), behind the scenes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TPejDwPa1g&feature=related) and interviews with the cast and crew (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v067Dv4OLI&feature=related)
8) What does it take to write a script for a movie? Is it any different than writing a novel?
Writing a feature length film is extremely different from writing a novel. Although I took a few cinema courses in university, it was more theory-based so I had to learn the technical aspects of screenwriting from The Screenwriter’s Bible, reading produced scripts and talking to industry professionals. Screenplays are a very disciplined form of writing that follows a strict structure. A feature length screenplay is 90-120 pages, has three acts and requires specific formatting for descriptions and dialogue. All descriptions must show a story that is one hundred percent visual. Therefore, any descriptions that can’t be filmed have no place in a screenplay. Dialogue must be unique to each character and should provide character and plot development. This is also true in novel writing, but it’s more difficult to accomplish in screenwriting since inner thoughts and feelings aren’t as accessible to the audience as they are in lengthy novels. Finally, a screenplay must be enjoyable to read. When a manager, producer, investor, etc. reads a screenplay, they should be met with an actual story rather than blatant directions of how to tell a story.
9) Do you plan on making another short film soon?
I have written several short scripts that are scheduled to go into production in 2012. Unfortunately, the entertainment industry is very unstable so I try not to get excited about a project until it is completed. If all goes well, I especially look forward to watching my award-winning short story, The Gap, come to life. The screen adaptation, entitled Too Sensible For Love, tells the story of Alexa – a hardworking waitress with big dreams who is slowly becoming jaded because of her poor living and work conditions. When she meets a rich man who can seemingly give her everything, she loses sight of her original dream and becomes obsessed with wealthy living. However, wealth has a dark side and Alexa has to learn this the hard way. I always have trouble describing Too Sensible For Love because it’s a really multifaceted story. It’s a dark romantic comedy with social commentary running throughout it. Other short scripts I’m looking forward to are Love’s Folly – a romantic comedy that will keep viewers guessing until the end – and Circular – a chilling social commentary about war.
Want to win a PDF of Sir Tristan’s Estate? E-mail heather_beck2002@yahoo.ca with the subject line “Legends Unleashed Contest”. In the body of the e-mail answer the following question: What is the name of Heather’s latest film? Five winners will be chosen at random on January 22, 2012.
All titles in the Legends Unleashed series is on sale exclusively at Trapezium E-books (http://www.trapeziumebooks.com/index.php?route=product/manufacturer&manufacturer_id=58) for $1. Sale ends January 22, 2012.
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