Interview with Carmen de Sousa, author of the Creatus Series

Today, I’m delighted to present to you a truly terrific lady. Carmen de Sousa is one of the gems of eNovel Authors at Work that’s worth looking into. Not only has she published a delightful array of fantasy gems, but she’s one of the most helpful, giving people I know. Through her sites, she supports and promotes fellow indies during their promos and is always helpful and keen to offer advice. Her latest release, Eidolon, is book 4 in her Creatus series and as you’ll see below, its cover is awesome. Makes me want to grab it and dig right in!

Before we get to our online chat, make sure to browse through Carmen’s titles below. You’ll be pleased to see one of her books is permanently FREE!

 

Book 4 in the Creatus Series.

Not all phantoms are myths…

For four thousand years, creatus have concealed themselves from the humans who hunted them almost to extinction. Now, one rogue faction wants the world to know they exist.

Meghan only wants to be normal, and for the first time in her life, she feels she might have a chance to be herself. As she finds herself between creatus families with different ideals and their roles within the human race, she struggles to find her way. Only, her path leads her right into the arms of a wanted man.

Not only will she have to fight for the man she loves, she’ll have to fight for her very life.

The Creatus Series is not your typical paranormal story…it’s a realistic romantic mystery based on the myths you’ve heard your entire life. Prepare to believe…

Find it now on Amazon

 

 

 

Book 1 in the Creatus Series.

In every myth, there’s a modicum of truth

For four thousand years, creatus have concealed themselves from the humans who hunted them almost to extinction. Unwittingly, one creatus will endanger them all…

As with most of his family, Derrick Ashton knows his future and what position he’s destined to fill within his unique society. Everything changes, however, when he breaks one of his family’s strictest laws and falls in love–with a human. In his quest to protect the woman he can never have, a twist of faith propels him into a new role that will cause dissension among his family and endanger the anonymity that they’ve strived for thousands of years to protect. Now, he will risk everything to save the girl from humans and his own kind. The one thing he can’t save her from, however…is herself.

The Creatus Series is not your normal paranormal story…it’s a realistic romantic mystery based on the myths you’ve heard your entire life. Prepare to believe.

Note: The events in Creatus (They Exist) start fourteen years prior to the events in Creatus. I highly recommend you read this novella before Creatus so you can get a look into the characters’ lives leading up to the full story. Only the last chapter and first chapter overlap, and they are from a different point of view. Prepare yourself for a cliffhanger ending, though.

Find it now on Amazon

 

 

 

The Library (Where Life Checks Out) is a Murder Mystery with a hint of paranormal and a dab of romance.

When Mark Waters decided to be a detective, he didn’t plan to investigate ghosts. But as he sifts through evidence of a supposed suicide by train, he learns a murder that took place eighty years ago may directly affect his case. Six months after the strange occurrences at The Depot, there’s another murder. This time, The Library holds secrets of several murders, and the dead won’t rest until the murderer checks out too.

Find it now on Amazon

 

 

 

FREE! 

(The Depot is permafree, but check price before downloading).

The Depot (When Life and Death Cross Tracks) is a thirteen-thousand-word mini mystery with a ghostly edge by bestselling romantic-suspense author Carmen DeSousa. If you are looking for her full-length novels, please check out her Amazon author page.

They say The Depot is haunted. But in all the years homicide detective Mark Waters has visited the ancient train station turned restaurant, he’s never seen proof. Until now. As he investigates a supposed suicide by train, he learns secrets of a murder that took place eighty years ago may directly affect his case.

The Depot was originally published January 2013. While there have been a few updates, this is the original story. Happy reading!

Find it now on Amazon   FREE!

 

 

 

Hello Carmen and welcome to my blog!

Thank you for the invitation, Fros.

Tell us a little about The Library and the Depot that I’m showcasing today. What has inspired you to write them?

Funny story… The Library (Where Life Checks Out) came about per readers’ demands. I’d decided to write a series of short stories on my website with reader interaction. I published the first one, then readers demanded I bring back one of the supporting characters, Mark Waters, so I did. Then, after that, my avid-reading friends fell in love with Mark and wanted him to get a full novel. So, since I always listen to my readers, I wrote it. After all, what kind of a writer would I be if I didn’t listen to my readers? Both stories are included in The Library, which as mentioned above is on sale today, or readers can download just the short story, The Depot, free.

What was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?

Try not to laugh… I think I was eight, and I wrote a story about giant fleas. It was actually pretty imaginative now that I look back, but who would ever want to read a story about giant fleas? I wrote several other stories I can’t remember clearly, but then when I was in college, I wrote my first novella, and my professor cheered—right after he cried. He wanted something clever and funny; I write modern-day fairy tales, and if you remember the fairy tales growing up as a kid, they actually weren’t mild, so imagine that for grown-ups.

I love fairy tales. And did you see? I didn’t laugh about the giant flees…much! (giggles) What other writing have you done? Anything else published?

Thirteen published right now, and three in the oven. I tend to stay pregnant. LOL! As soon as I finish one and send it off to my beta readers, I’m usually already busy on the next story. I’m obsessed!

I envy your rhythm! Well done, Carmen. Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

My favorite, of course, is reading. Thankfully, hubby is an avid reader too, so when the weather is nice, we’ll often spend our day at the pool or beach reading. If the weather isn’t nice, a coffee shop works perfectly. We also love to mountain bike, hike, and kayak.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters, or do any of them have traits you wish you had?

Ummm…yes. But, I’ll never tell which character it is. I will say this, my hubby is a retired police detective, and I’ve been through a lot in my life, so I will NEVER run out of stories.

Well, you know what they say about writers and their hardships in life. It’s material! So I bet you’ll reap the benefits to the full. What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

I have four series working…and I know it sounds unusual, but I work on all of them at the same time. I write and write and write until I can’t write anymore, then if the words still don’t come, I walk away and work on another project. My characters are very needy, and yet, they’re controlling. Before I know it, they’ll come back, demanding that I continue their story. It may sound like a dysfunctional relationship, but we have an understanding.

Wow, you’re like the Duracell bunny of writing! How fortunate for you. What genres do you read mostly, and what are you reading now?

I love just about anything that isn’t too graphic in any manner. I have a great imagination; that’s why I read and write, so I don’t need every murder or sex scene spelled out to me specifically. The only thing I don’t write is chick lit, so I find I enjoy those more, as I’m not always thinking how I’d write the scene. Right now, I’m reading Hold on my Heart by Tracy Brogan. I just finished two other books by her in the last couple of months. I’m very loyal. If I like an author’s book, I’ll read everything they write.

Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

If you love writing, never give up; never surrender! If you decide to write a book because you thought it was a way to make money, and you don’t live and breathe it, give up! Writing isn’t a 9-5 job. You have to live it, breathe it, eat it, and sleep it. It will demand everything that is inside of you. But in the end, if you love it, and stick with it, you’ll never be happier when you receive feedback from readers how you touched their soul.

Great advice and so true… Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

I, of course, share new releases, excerpts, and giveaways on my books, but…I love to share posts on writing, marketing, and sometimes just life. I write about everything I’ve experienced on my journey as a writer, and if there’s something I haven’t written about, ask me. I will do my best to answer you, and I might even write a blog post in your honor. Here’s the list of my most popular posts: http://www.carmendesousa.com/p/popular-posts-on-writingmarketing.html

If you could have one superpower what would it be?

Is wisdom a superpower?

Heck, why not?

Well, I hope so, because that is what I’d wish for the most. I’ve made many mistakes in my life, and if I had that one power, I’m sure I could have avoided them. But then again, I might not have as many situations to write about. So, I think I’d choose strength. Not like Superman strength with bulging muscles and the ability to fly without the body mechanics required to do so, but more like one of my favorite characters in the Creatus Series, Tori. She’s like Wonder Woman in the flesh, but more believable. It’d be nice to walk down the street, never having to fear anyone.

Great choice, Carmen! If you could choose another profession, what would that be?

I did that… I went for the money and spent fifteen years in a career I hated because I was making six figures. You know what…it wasn’t worth it. I’d do anything to get back those years and just write.

I hear you…I spent twenty years doing office work too. I could have spent them writing and nurturing my spirit instead of feeling cleustrophobic. But you know, there were no tools and no outlets for indies back then. I choose not to have regrets and I am sure you can see it too that it all happened for a reason. To paraphrase the words of the great Steve Jobs, “when you go back and join the dots, it all starts to make sense”.

Yes, I’ll agree to that!

Well, Carmen, it’s been wonderful having you here! Thank you so much for your visit.

It’s been a pleasure, Fros. Thank you so much for the invitation.

 

BIO

As most authors, I blame my leap into a full-time career as a professional writer on my love of reading. Reading has always been an escape for me. When life was rough as a child, I could always disappear into a book. But I found something else… I discovered that writing out my thoughts was healing. Not only could I create hope for my protagonists, but I could do away with the antagonists–legally.

When I penned my first novel, She Belongs to Me, I allowed only my cousin and best friend to read it. They are the reason I write. They pushed me to publish, as they felt my stories would give others, who’ve experienced tragedies, hope. So now, even though I still write for me, I mainly write for my readers who continually encourage me that my words touched their soul.

Although some of my stories dance on a paranormal edge, they all share a common thread or romance, mystery, suspense, and hope.

CONNECT WITH CARMEN

Website: http://www.carmendesousa.com/

You can find all my social media links on my Amazon page.

Copy and paste this universal link to your browser to get there: viewAuthor.at/CarmenDeSousa