Today, THE SCENT OF SHADOWS: THE FIRST SIGN OF THE ZODIAC, is on the shelves. To celebrate, we have a special treat: an interview with its author, Vicki Pettersson.

Vicki has agreed to answer our nine questions—three on her, three on her craft, and three on her novel. So, let's get to it.

THE AUTHOR

Good Karma Reviews: So...what¹s your zodiac sign?

Vicki Pettersson: I’m a Sagittarius – the Archer, of course! (What – like I’m going to write about someone else’s sign? {G})

GKR:  Let¹s say through fortunate circumstances, you¹re rewarded with an afternoon to spend in the company of any one author. Whose brain are you going to pick?

VP: No contest: Dennis Lehane. His skill and heart and mind and prose and pacing and plotting and … geez, he’s as perfect a writer as you can get. In short, I want to be him when I grow up.

GKR: Who¹s your favorite superhero?

VP: I don’t think she officially counts a superhero, but I’m going with Modesty Blaise. She uses all the tools at her disposal – body, mind, bank account, loyal sidekick – and does so with far more panache than her contemporary, James Bond. She also has that touch of realism that I demand in my fiction. If I suspend disbelief in a few key areas I can pretend she actually exists. I also respect that she can drink me under the table. What a woman.

HER CRAFT

GKR:  When did you become serious about getting published? Were you the one who decided you were ready, or did someone else encourage you to try?

VP: I don’t think anyone expects you to sit down and actually finish a novel, so it’s something that must be inner driven. I was twenty-six when I decided to do it, and it was like flipping a switch. “Today I’m going to write a novel.” And I was obsessed with it every day from that point on. That said, my husband was always very encouraging…probably because I was a raving bitch on the days I didn’t write.

GKR: Has your attitude towards writing changed since you entered the industry?

VP: Yes. I don’t let whim or mood dictate whether I get to the page or not. I act like a professional because it’s required of me, and I love that extra push. When I was an athlete I always did best with the coaches who yelled and pushed me and I find it’s no different with writing. Mind, my editor clearly doesn’t yet at me, but knowing she’s there and expecting a great performance is just as inspiring.

GKR: Do you feel there¹s a difference between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance?

VP: UF may have romantic elements, but not the happy ending required of a paranormal romance. PR may have fantastical elements, but not at the expense of the romance. It’s all about what’s brought to the forefront versus what’s left as a supporting subplot. The romance in my fiction reflects the romance in my life – it’s a strong and important element, but not the be-all and end-all of my personal story.

HER NOVEL: THE SCENT OF SHADOWS

GKR:  As your series relies on astrology, or at least the zodiac, for most of its mythology, did you base your characters on the traits and personalities associated with their zodiac signs?

VP: Once I know which character corresponds with a given sign on the zodiac wheel I do take some time to research the most common traits assigned to that sign. I’m often surprised to find they line up nicely, but if not I don’t sweat it much. Every sign has its renegade members and the astrology, like everything else, is secondary to the story.

GKR: You have an almost "magical" balance between humor and action in your more intense scenes. Is this an influence of comic books or a reflection of the Urban Fantasy genre?

VP: You think? Thank you! Yet I wasn’t directly influenced by either comics or urban fantasy … it’s just storytelling. If I have a big scene I need to hit, I make sure the preceeding scene is its exact opposite. So if there’s a crisis scene – let’s say a death – then I make sure the scene just before it is shorter, faster, and lighter. The reader can only take so much, you know? I also ‘speak’ to the coming scene, drop it into the reader’s mind, and then I make sure I deliver on everything promised in that big scene. That’s the goal, anyway.

GKR: How crucial was life in Vegas to the genesis of this series? Did any of your experiences as a showgirl help to characterize Olivia and/or Joanna Archer?

VP: My goal was to bring to life a side of Vegas that even people who’ve visited here might not have experienced. I thought of the city as a character while writing SCENT, one that Joanna and the other troop members wouldn’t exist – at least, not in the same form – without. As for the showgirl influence, the books play a lot with the idea of people not always being what they seem, how we have one face we wear in public and another, very different one, just below that. The dichotomy between what went on onstage versus what happened backstage – how we appeared versus how we really were – certainly fed into that. I also made the best friends of my life during that time, women I can both be serious with and with whom I can play the total fool. So I think you can tell from the text that I really like women. Frankly, I pity the woman who doesn’t have good girlfriends.

Thank you so much for the interview, Vicki. We really appreciated you taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on your debut, and we look forward to reading many great books from you in the future.

Readers, if you would like to learn more about Vicki Pettersson, please see her bio and FAQ. We were careful not to repeat questions that she has already answered on her website.