An Interview with NYTimes Best Selling Author Angela Knight

Since this is a blog about things Jen and I love this post is about one of my author idols. I can't remember when I picked up my first novel of Angela Knights but let me just say, its a day that I am grateful for! Her writing is fantastic and I am so captivated when I dive into her world.

Last July, (2013) I had the opportunity to travel to Vegas for a writing convention where I just so happened to run into her at the book fair and yeah, totally got my photo with her. After of course, I wigged out and made a total fan girl mess of myself!

She was super nice about the whole thing and signed one of her media items for me (since I was a spaz and left my book of hers on my desk at home!)

So on a whim, I emailed her asking if I could interview her and she said yes! How lucky am I, right?

So with out further delay, here is my fan girl big moment of April - an Interview with Angela Knight!

Ms. Knight, thank you so much for agreeing to let me interview you. You’re the first author that I have followed for years that I get to interview and I am just so touched you said yes! First thing I want to ask you, where do all of your ideas come from? I know that it is said inspiration hits in any place but is there something specific you do to give you such range in your writing?

AK: I am thrilled you asked me, not to mention touched.

My ideas come from all kinds of places. I read  a lot of books and watch a lot of movies and television. Often I'll find something about a character that intrigues me, and I'll think about how to spin that idea in an entirely different direction. For example, I was watching a Bond movie -- one of the Pierce Brosnan ones -- and he was doing something wildly improbable. I thought, "That would be a lot more believable if he we a vampire." So I got the idea for a vampire secret agent who had been working for the American government since George Washington hired him during the Revolutionary War. That book became MASTER OF THE NIGHT, the first Mageverse novel.

My favorite series of yours is the Mageverse world … HOW did you come up with that? Every time I read your novels those suck me in for weeks! 

AK: Thank you so much! The core of the Mageverse comes from two of my childhood/teenage passions: King Arthur and vampires. So I thought, "What if Arthur WAS a vampire?" But I didn't want to do the standard vampire rules, so I spent a couple of days brainstorming how to create my vampires and what rules limited their strengths. I decided that sex was the key to transforming a man into a vampire or a woman into a witch because these were supposed to be erotic romances, and I had to come up with a reason for them to go to bed early and often.

Erotica – now that is a hot topic! What made you branch out into this and do you prefer it to your other writings?

AK: I love writing erotic romance. But I'm not really interested in doing straight erotica without a romance component, because that's just not interesting to me. I love to watch the romance develop between my couple, and find its expression through sex. I like paranormal, but if you told me I couldn't write love scenes or romance, I would really miss it.

How long does it take you to write your stories, on average, and how long (word count) are they? Do you find some series are easier than others to write?

AK: My books are 400 pages or 100,000 words long, and they take about six months. As to which series is easier, it depends on the book. Some books come really easily, but with others, it seems I really struggle. Sometimes I just get blocked, and I have to figure out how to get around the problem before I can progress. 

What about Characters, do you have a favorite of yours that always stands out above the rest, or do you love them equally? 

I really like Arthur and Gwen. Arthur can be a bastard if you piss him off, but at the same time, he's a deeply heroic character despite his temper. He would give his life in a heartbeat to save innocents. 

Do you plot out all of your story lines or does it all grow organically? Do you find one way easier than the other? 

I have to plot my books. Otherwise I get completely stuck and can't write at all. I need to really know what comes next.

How old were you when you first started reading?

I was in the second grade--but I started writing in the third. My first book was the MOUSE WHO WENT TO THE MOON, which I wrote in pencil and illustrated in crayon. 

And do you have a favorite author? 

Nora Roberts/JD Robb. I also love JR Ward and Jim Butcher, as well as Patricia Briggs.

When looking back over your career is there anything you wish you had tried but didn't? 

Urban fantasy. I love urban fantasy. I would like to give that a shot someday.

Any advice for new authors that strive to be like you? 

Don't be too hard on yourself. You have to believe in yourself, because otherwise you can keep yourself from finishing ANYTHING. Remember you can't publish a book you don't finish!

I always do a rapid question round whenever I do interviews so please forgive me but I just HAD to know some of these answers. You have been one of my favorite authors for so long that some of these I have been wondering about for a while.

Lightening round….

Male POV or Female POV which do you prefer to write: That's tough. Male, I guess, though I like both. 

Short Stories or Novels, which do you read. Novels.

Ebook or Print: I'm coming to really like ebooks.

Louisa May Alcott or Charles Dickens. Dickens.

Reading at the Beach or Reading in the Mountains Beach.

Ash & Jen's Top Ten 80's One Drink Wishes

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The Count Down Begins!!
For those of us who are born in the 80's there are always lots of 'lists' or 'things' that you should know and remember being an 80's child.

Some of these things are extremely obvious, like the awesomeness of ThunderCats and My Little Ponies. Others not so much, like remembering the old Coca-Cola Christmas commercials with Sprite and Santa Clause.

And then there are the classics like Goonies and Sixteen Candles.

So where does Twisted Admiration fall when it comes to us 80's ladies?

We fall back on the drink! The Top Ten Celebrities that were famous in the 80's who we want to have drinks with!

Now - no judging! Especially from you youngins who are 90's children! This is Ash and Jen's dream list ... and trust me, there will be more awesomeness to come...

Starting out the pact at Number 10 is ... James Spader. Now some of you might think of him as a late 90's early 2000's star but you would be wrong! He is deff one of the 80's! You can find him in such classics as Pretty in Pink and Mannequin. Tell me it doesn't get more 'classic' than that!
Oh Mr. Spader, what would it take for Jen and I to sit across the table with you to share a drink? We don't bite ... hard ....

Next, and most certainly a fan favorite is the great and powerful, Henry Winkler. Just because he is #9 doesn't mean he is low man on the totem pole. He started out on great classics like the Mary Tyler Moore show but really set sail with Happy Days. Now, I know what you are going to say, "That is a 70's show!" But I have in deed confirmed with IMDb it lasted through 1984! Hey, I was one years old then, it counts!

Every 80's crowd has a ring leader and who would be better than the wonderful lady who falls in at #8, Molly Ringwall. Come on, she was in everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING! Who better to have all the gossip than the 80's Queen herself? You know every teenage girl now wants the school hottie to show up at her house on her sweet sixteen with a cake full of candles and a dining room table to give you our special birthday kiss.

What awkward high school moment wouldn't be complete without the King of the Nerds himself, our main man coming in at #7, Anthony Michael Hall. Now come on, you know that all you men out there ran to your sisters drawer (or mom's) to pull out their bra's, secure them to your heads and pray for that hottie to pop through the magical worm hole that will appear in your room. Mr. Hall gave hope to all those awkward nerds who didn't know one day they would rule the world.

This next one I hold near and dear to my heart ... He was the source of my very first cuss word. He made the Delorean a popular car. Our #6 is the one, the only, Michael J. Fox! When I was still in diapers my parents took me to see Back to the Future in 1985. The next morning my mom tells me I woke up really early and started saying, "Son of a Bitch" just like Marty McFly.
So Mr. Fox - tell me, how does it feel to influence even the youngest of fans? Yes, drinks with him would be stellar!

#5 is one that all children, not just ones from the 80's should hold near and dear to our hearts. He affected and influenced more people than anyone could have predicted when his show first started. The late, Mr. Rodgers. It has been said that he received mail from kids of all ages and for all reasons. From abusive households to children with disabilities to your typical run of the mill youth. He was loved and treasured by all. And still is.
Mr. Rodgers, oh how I wish you could be, really could be, my neighbor.

Our #4 comes in with the best kind of weekend getaway's. He is the one you want to have on speed dial when you’re in a pickle and just need a clever way to withdraw a few bucks and set sail. Andrew McCarthy. Also a member of the Pretty in Pink and Mannequin cast, Mr. McCarthy taught all of us 80's children that sometimes the best solution to a problem is a little voodoo and some good dancing music.
Mr. McCarthy, I ask you, what is your favorite song to shake your hips to and do you ever wish Weekend at Bernie’s could really happen?

Sometimes it is just too hard to assign a number to just one person so coming in at a tie for #2 & 3 are two great actors simply known as, The Corey’s! Corey Feldman and Corey Haim had many known successes individually but they are best known for their joint rolls in The Lost Boys. Other great movies that you should note that they appeared in that helped mold the 80's are, Gremlins, Stand by me, The Goonies and License to Drive.
The Corey’s were many a women's heart throbs and if I could have a single drink with them I'd take a shot. And have one amazing toast.

And finally, in honor of his first appearance on Twitter we have our #1 spot reserved for the great, the Mr. Robert Downey Jr, Mr. Ironman Himself! This all-time heart throb stole laughs in his rolls on Saturday Night Live and had his touch of nerd love with Weird Science. Now the current Marvel Man of Action, Ironman, fan girls everywhere fight for the right to get just a glimpse of the legend himself. One look at that killer smile tells you everything - if you want a good time, this is the man to have it with.
So one drink, one question, what will it be? Why Mr. Robert Downey Jr I ask you ... What's your #1 favorite movie of the 80's?

So there you have it ... Ash and Jen's top ten celebs of the 80's that we wish we could have a drink with. Who would you add to this list and why?

For us, it’s hard to pick just ten but sometimes, the tough decisions have to be made. But have no fear, the top 90's are right around the corner.

Chris vs Chris

I think it is time I have a little confession. I am the blog's lunatic. I love debates and I am a pretty blunt girl when it comes to topics. I blame it on my upbringing and education.

So this morning when I was talking my blogs with my mother I was like you know mom the other day I was asked which is hotter

Chris Evans or Chris Hemsworth?

What the *()%^&%_*& type of question is that????

That is like asking to choose your favorite food or dessert. Seriously impossible.

So I took the question to my fellow blog girl Ashley... Here is her response

You need help, like professional help!!!!
That's my thoughts
And I don't think I could help you they are both great

So as you can see, she was zero help and she told me something I already know. SO I took the question to my fellow female co-workers. What I didn't expect, was the all out debate I would stir in my office. People took the question to their facebook pages, twitter & friends.

In the end it was pretty much 50/50. While I think it is impossible to chose, every single lady answered the question within 10 seconds and gave their answer why... and they are passionate about their Chris of choice. Oh, and women are perverted, some comments I heard made me blush, and that is not easy to do.

What did I find out, the ladies here are loving Chris Evans right now

"did you see those arms? Girl I know a few places he could put those"
"Girl that suit shows all the right body parts"
"I am 50, and he makes me want to go all Mrs. Robinson"
"girl give me 5 minutes with him, just five minutes"

Never fear Hemsworth lovers... I got some pretty awesome quotes on him too

"that Australian accent and that long hair, yeah I just want to pull it"
"swoon, serious swoon"
" He has hair that I just want to grab and pull"

"He just makes think of impossibly naughty ideas."

They all said his wife is one lucky lady. I agree.

Even my gay friend had an opinion

"Neither, I prefer Robert Downey Jr and refuse to comment"

Thanks. that is really freaking helpful.

one of my male co-workers told me he was slightly offended I didn't ask him and he wanted to give his opinion.

He is straight and it is quite possibly the best thought process I have heard when it came to choosing a Chris.

And according to him, if he had to choose he would first have to look at their body, and in his opinion Hemsworth has the better body, but then you look at the character the personify and the Captain America comb over makes you think he is going to take you to the opera and buy you drinks which is boring, but Hemsworth makes you think he is going to pick you up on the back of his Harley and make you do things you never even imagined.

So in the end? he choose Hemsworth.
I don't think I ever laughed this hard in my life at work.

So I took a moment and asked my other co-worker (a female, she said she wants her name out ther in case either Chris actually reads this nonsense, it is Latrina) to follow up on my male co-workers thoughts...

TELL (name removed) I SAID YES FOR THOR! HE GETS IT. I CAN TAKE MYSELF TO THE OPERA AND BUY MY OWN DRINKS.

Well this is when one of my managers gets involved and tells me his opinion. He said girls need to go for the good boys, and Hemsworth looks like a true gentleman and Evans looks like a bad boy....

Huh, another co worker said he looked like the boring good guy. Talk about confusion.

This was also the part of the day that Ash emails me & says I am so glad you are working hard.

For the record to my boss if you ever read this, I have settled four cases today AND I am engaging fellow co-workers in a very colorful debate

We took my supervisor out for lunch and they debated the topic with me even more.

So I took it to our young 20 something waitress.

Chris Hemsworth.
hmmmm.

So here is the dilemma, who do I think is hotter?

Hemsworth no wait Evans... but Hemsworth grrr Evans....

Yeah I am conflicted. Talk about having a complicated dilemma.

So I decided to dig a little more into the topic.

PS: The tally at this time was Evans 39 Hemsworth 14

This is when I realized my blog partner Ash thinks I am a lunatic and I might get replaced after writing this post... I don't think she wants to associate with a lunatic.

So I do what any sensible lunatic would do, I took the question to her husband, which sparked a very fantastic twitter debate.

In the end, he choose Hemsworth, because Hemsworth is the new Zac Efron

After lunch my other male co-worker said he has no clue who either is (he hasn't seen any of the Marvel universe movies GASP!!!!) so he entered both names in google. He choose Evans right away. I then said but you haven't seen them without their shirt. Which he then googles both names plus no shirt. He still rolled with Evans.

Wanna have fun? Google Chris Hemsworth No Shirt then Google Chris Evans No Shirt

Yeah I wonder what the IT department is gonna think when they read this office's google searches.

Another male co-worker said Hemsworth because he would hate to be the first dude that dates his ex-girlfriend.

See Scientific research.

At the end of the day I have FINALLY made my decision.

After all day debating who would you rather?

I think I am just going to roll with No Comment. :)

I wouldn't turn either down, I know Bad Jen, but I never said I was a good girl

The tally at the end of the day? WHO freaking cares they are both hot, and seriously WOULD YOU turn either down??

Let's Fangirl Over Chris Evans

If I was asked to describe my thoughts on Mr. Evans, the word mouthwatering comes to mind, or perhaps yummy, or maybe wowza. I guess you really can't just describe him in on word.

If that ad doesn't make you buy Gucci Guilty I don't know what will?

Mr. Evans has been on my list FOREVER, I am pretty sure I started to dig him when he did Celluar in 2004. I remember seeing that movie and thinking, where the hell are all the hot dudes like that on my college campus?

Anyway as usual when it comes to talking celebs, I digress.

He has gone from doing teenage movie parodies to being Captain America

and what a Captain America he is...
It is no secret, that I think Chris Hemsworth is quite possibly Thor Reincarnated he is just WAYYYY to beautiful to be human (actually I considered cashing out my 401k to get him to sign my Thor poster at Sacramento Comic Con, seriously how sick is that? Thank God I snapped out of it)

Ugh again off topic...

The point I am trying to make before getting on one of my famous sexy super hero rants is Chris Evans is really starting to grow on me. In a very big way. In fact this past week I have determine he is in my top 3. Yes you read that correctly. Top 3.

Why you ask?


1. You should not ask such stupid questions, look at him.
2. If you are still asking such a stupid question I have determined that not only is he beautiful, he seems to have his shit together.


I am a firm believer that some actors are douchbags, I dated every type of douchbag in college, so when it comes to men, I have a true asshole radar, I know before a pretty boy opens his mouth whether he is an ass or not. 97% of the time I am correct.

Chris Evans totally does not give off that vibe. I know I know, I have never met him, and if he ever stumbles across this post, he will likely be weirded out. Sigh yet again, I am getting off topic.

Where was I? oh, yes Chris Evans is more than a hot face/body

Sure he has that sexy Boston boy err man thing going for him with his no nonsense attitude but lately the interviews I have read and seen, make me realize that he has a lot going from him, and did I mention he is like... hot?

If you can stop focusing on those beautiful blue eyes, chisled cheeks and amazing body that man has... you will realize that actually he is one well spoken dude. I totally like how he made sure to get the facts straight and that he isn't leaving the industry anytime soon on Entertainment Tonight. Cause you know even the professional writers get their facts twisted.

I would like to thank the stars he isn't leaving anytime soon. Seriously, don't leave us Chris, who else will we fangirl over?

So fellow fans of Chris, I would like to share some of the hottest photos I have found of this super hero. And man oh man he is sexy...

Fun Sexy Chris Evans Article