Today for UTC After Dark, we have one of our favorite authors were today with us! Ilona Andrews is at UTC! Everyone scream! Creating alternate worlds that take us by storm, Ilona Andrews rocks our socks off with both their Kate Daniels series and The Edge series. For more information on these books, check our their website here. Now let’s get to the good stuff!
We are extremely excited to have you here with us today at Under The Covers!
Thanks, we are happy to be here.
We are eagerly anticipating your next Kate Daniel’s book which is going to be about Andrea, can you give us any hints? Do Rafe and Andrea make up?
We are maybe half way into it and so far they have not. I don’t know if I am allowed to give that away. I am pulling for Roman.
We are also big fans of your Edge series, what gave you the idea for the world of the Edge, the Weird and the Broken?
I think we both wanted there to be more to the world than there is. When you are little you believe in magic, than you grow up and you don’t. But what if there was another world, parallel to ours, and another that was completely different? Where would you live, in the mundane broken with all the modern conveniences, or in a realm ruled by magic? I think Ilona and I would live in the Edge, we would want to have it both ways. In my mind, the Edge is another frontier, filled with pioneering folk and those who reject the norms and laws of society, it is lawless and wild, but also a place to be free, we find that appealing.
While writing an ongoing series, do you find yourself planning ahead? Do you find yourself changing ideas as you go along?
We usually have a plan and a plot for every book before we start and yes we also frequently change it as we go along. Sometimes, we turn a book in to our
editor and then beg her to let us re-write it. We are trying to do that less often.
How would you say Kate Daniels has grown over the course of the series so far?
Kate was very much a loner, she actively avoided responsibility and relationships. Over the course of the books she changed and started forming friendships, for instance Andrea, and is now not only a surrogate parent to Julie, she is mated to Curran and responsible for the well being of every shapershifter in Atlanta. She has also, unwittingly cultivated an inner circle of loyal misfits, Derek, Barabbas, Ascanio, Naeemah, Jezabel. At one point in the next book, Curran will make a remark about this that will catch her completely off guard, she does not plan it, it just happens.
When you started writing, did you ever expect the success that has come with your books?
Never, if you had told us three or four years ago that would be making a living from writing we would have laughed. It is amazing to me that we get to stay home and hangout pretty much every day. We sit next to each other and make up stories, and people pay us for it. That is crazy.
How easy is it to write with your significant other?
Totally easy. We have been married for 16 years. I think of us as kids when we met and we have grown up together and now have kids of our own. Working together is like being married, you play off of each other’s strengths and hopefully we are better together. Also, important are compromise & understanding. I don’t know how non couples can co-write something, I don’t think we could do it.
You have a novella released in the Angels of Darkness anthology. Can you tell us a bit about it?
Well, we wanted to do something dark and less funny. Our editor knew we had the story, and asked if we would consider finishing it and submitting it for the anthology. Since we are huge fans of Nalini and Meljean, we were flattered. I don’t know how to describe the story without it sounding kinda creepy. A nice lady and her daughter are attacked by freaks, then rescued by other monsters, they save her in exchange for letting one of the Alphas, Lucas, feed on her. Somehow that does not sound romantic. I think we knew that people were going to love or hate it, but we still would not change it, we are stubborn like that.
Are you planning on continuing this as a series?
Glad you liked the story, we have got a mixed reaction from it. Yeah, we would like to re-boot the series and maybe self publish it, or maybe with a different house. We honestly had to compromise a bit with our editor to get it accepted. It would have been even darker and grittier otherwise.
Curran is currently my favorite hero! Why do you think readers find the Beast Lord so desirable?
He is very masculine, he is strong but not cruel, violent but also intelligent, he lives by a code. He will not for instance harm a child or force himself on a woman. He demands absolute loyalty from his followers but would die protecting them. He can be arrogant and vain, but also funny sometimes. However, his best quality or trait is that he loves Kate unconditionally, he knows who she is and what she can do, but does not care. We all deserve that I think.
Fun questions! When Jeaniene Frost stopped by for a chat last month, she told us that Kate Daniels and her heroine, Catherine Crawfield would make good friends. If given the day to do as they please, what do you think they would do together?
First, I must disclose the fact that Jeaniene is Ilona’s BFF. They talk on the phone for all the time and hang out together at Cons. Cat and Kate would most likely kill something and then go have a drink at the bar. That is what J and Ilona would do, well the bar part anyway. J just told me on the phone that Bones and Curran would have “great sexual chemistry.”
If you could cast Kate and Curran for TV or Film, who would be your ideal person to play them?
For me Eva Green of Casino Royale, would be a great Kate, for Curran I like Daniel Craig but Ilona is more for Chris Hemsworth who was Thor. He would be great I have to admit.
Ilona Andrews is graciously giving away TWO SIGNED copies of Fate’s Edge to one International reader and one US reader.
To enter, please:
1. Be a follower
2. Fill out the form below
Love the interview! Ilona is one of my favorite authors! I love to read interviews of my favs because it gives me an insight into the creators of my favoritevamps/shifters/witches!
Thanks for the awesome interview!
I love Ilona’s book covers! I’ve yet to read her books, but they all look so cool and intriguing. Thanks for the giveaway!
Great interview! I always love hearing from these two.
–And put me on the Chris Hemsworth train! Meow.
Love the question on the writing combo and the ideas on marriage and working together. It’s all about the balance baby!
Excellent interview!! Love Kate, Curran, and the gang, and am very interested in other Andrews’ worlds. 🙂
Great interview. And I love your books. I simply adore your Kate Daniels series. I’ve just gotten into your Edge series and am hooked on that one also. You certein have the mgic touch when it comes to writting.
LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com
I love Ilona’s books and the Kate Daniels books can never be boring, I’m always carrying a book to reread if I get a chance.
I love reading their interviews as they’re so down to earth and really know how to get involved with their readers!
Great interview! I love her books!!!!
I love love love the Kate Daniels books. I find the Edge series a little slower but am enjoying it none the less. Keep writing them and I will read them
awesome interview thanks! one of my fav authors, am never dissapointed… thanks for the great contest too!
Thanks for the interview! I love the Ilona Andrews writing duo, it’s so cool that you get to write together. And Chris Hemsworth would be the perfect Curran, I agree with that casting choice wholeheartedly! Book Savvy Babe
I love that the authors of some of my favorite books are so accomodating to their fans. I love reading interviews and snippets and all of the other extras they give us. Thanks!
Great interview! I can’t wait to read Fate’s Edge.
Such a great interview! Love the insight of the great writers I follow. TY for the giveaway chance!
sacredmoon1(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Great interview. I’ve yet to read any of those books, but maybe I’ll win one here today cause I hear they are great!
OMG, the comment about Bones and Curran gave me shivers. I know THAT visual will be in my head for awhile. Terrific interview!
Loved the interview. It’s great to hear Ilona and Gordon talk about their books.
Thanks for the awesome post! I just got the first two books of this series for my un-birthday and I’m working on the Kate Daniels series.
I love these covers and I love reading their interviews 🙂
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
I have been wanting to read Alpha’s for a while now. I finally got my copy. I like it dark 😉
Best writing couple out there. They create the perfect characters and worlds. Thanks for the contest
Awesome interview! I have to agree with Eva Green, and Daniel Craig seems almost too mature in looks for Curran. Liam Hemsworth on the other hand would fit perfectly… yum. xD
Loved the interview. I’ve read every one of the Kate and Curren books but haven’t started with The Edge yet.
I enjoyed this interview. It amazes me when people write as a team and it works. I hope they are able to write their ‘dark’ story into a series. I hate hearing when authors feel restricted in their creativity. Fun questions about Cat and Kate!
Thank you for the posting and for the giveaway opportunity.
Love the interview! I think i just discovered a new favourite author. I Love Jeaniene’s characters, so i guess I’d love Ilona’s too… Can’t wait to read one of her books.
rea0903 AT gmail DOT com
Thank you so much for taking the time for this wonderful interview and sharing. I also appreciate the giveaway opportunity. I am definitely intrigued by Fate’s Edge. I love Kate and would expect no less from Audrey 🙂
Loved the interview ^_^
I only discovered these books last summer but have systematically devoured them since then. I can’t even decide which series I like more because both are amazing!
This is so exciting! Ilona Andrews is one of my favorite authors. Woohoo!!!!!
i’m so happy for this interviews^^
thanks you for the giveaway
all the best
Great interview, stangely enough I did not know Ilona Andrews was actually a husband wife team. How cool is that?
I love this author! Thanks for the great review
Great interview.I enjoyed reading it.Thanks for the giveaway.
Great interview, such a great couple, I love that they write together!
Cool to get to know the authors of some of my favorite books!
That is so cool that you all are a husband and wife writing duo!!!
Lol @ Bone and Curran having “great sexual chemistry”! It’s great that Ilona and Jeaniene are such great friends- I’m glad they’d only do the bar part *wink* Great interview!
Sarah:)
This was sooo cool! I love this talented duo! Great questions! nice to get to know them a little bit.
Thanks!!
Thanks for the author’s clarifications! Can’t wait to read the next one.
love to read. great intervew.
I think it’s great how they write together. Kate Daniels is next on my list. So many great things were said about the series, I’m eager to find out and compare them with Cat and Bones!!
😀
I have enjoyed every book you have written so far, but the Kate Daniels series is my favorite. I have been listening to the audiobook version and think the narrator has Kate’s voice down perfectly. Does it match what you think she would sound like too?
Who would of guessed that my two fav authors were friends lol.
Great interview! I would pick Chris Hemsworth, too. thanks for the giveaway
Fantastic Interview. I love just about anything that Ilona & Gordon write. May they have many more years of writing ahead of them!
Ilona is definitely one of, if not my all time favorite authors ever and I do believe every book written by Ilona is simply magical!
Thanks for the wonderful interview and of course amazing giveaway!
Love the interview, would really love to win!
Great interview! Would love to win!
love the interview, a lot of interesting questions (and answers^^)
thank you also for the giveaway
It’s always nice to raed interviews with authors you appreciate. Thank you for this one, and for the original questions (and obviously to Ilona&Gordon for being here!).
Great interview. Love the cover. Thanks for the chance.
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Have been waiting for the next Kate book but this is a good substitute.