It’s such a treat to have Flossie Benton Rogers on my Blog today. She is the author of paranormal fantasy romances, and I absolutely love what she says on her award-winning website at www.flossiebentonrogers.com:
“Mysterious realms beckon me to play with more than what I see with my baby blues. If romance and adventure turn you on, you may be on the right lily pad!”
Hello, Flossie. Welcome!
FLOSSIE: Thank you for inviting me, Jennifer!
Flossie, the quote above reflects your wonderful blend of rich, well-drawn characters and fantastical settings in your Wytchfae Series. These appealing heroes and heroines spice up the page: in Wytchfae #2, Guardian of the Deep, you feature a succubus named Layla, whose mission is seducing sleeping men. Nice work if you can get it! Pair her up with Samael, a sexy merman who rules the ocean, and you have an unbeatable adventure that sweeps readers off their feet and into another world.
GUARDIAN OF THE DEEP
Blurb: A fiery succubus. A captivated undersea lord. With a shadow shifting demon hot on their trail, can they stay alive long enough to fall in love?
Flossie, you weave mythology into your stories so beautifully. What do you have in your own author’s bag of tricks that help you do that? What’s your inspiration?
Flossie: Old myths and tales honor the high stakes of humans living in a multi-dimensional reality full of magical surprises we tend to take for granted. My bag of tricks includes an interest in rune casting, tarot, astrology, numerology, gemstones, and Reiki.
Let’s play a game I call the moment when… share with us where you were the moment when the concept for your Wytchfae series came about.
Flossie: Writing has been something I’ve done all my life. Inspired by successful authors I knew such as Loretta Rogers and encouraged by my husband’s faith, as well as his gift of a new laptop, in the summer of 2011 I decided I was going to become a published author. I knew I wanted to write a series where the heroines were related or connected in some way, were kick ass, and had special powers. From under the bed I dragged a moldy NaNoWriMo first draft as a starting point of inspiration. Before long a Viking ghost started “tramping through my living room.” He was Ingvar, soon to be hero of Wytchfae Runes, and he proved to be a handful and also a godsend. He more or less introduced me to his soon to be heroine, Kelly. As Kelly and Ingvar formed from the mist, so did the Wytchfae world of parallel dimensions and dark, interconnecting tunnels deep within the caverns of the underworld.
Where were you the moment when you became interested in mythology?
Flossie: My early affinity for fairy tales, reading, and ancient times naturally flowed into a passion for mythology and literature. I recall a certain orange tree. Secluded high inside its boughs as a child, I was the fairy guardian of its magic and beheld all manner of wonders and mysteries.
Years later, there was a moment in time when I realized my mythological “take on life.” In 10th grade history class, our teacher Mr. McGill posed the following scenario:
“The world maintains that 2 + 2 = 4. How do we know there is not a little green invisible man always taking away one number, and that 2 + 2 is not really 5?”
That stunning moment resonated with me as a deep truth. In my books I try to touch into the profound magic that often goes unrecognized and unseen.
How about the moment when you got your first contract. How long was the journey from aspiring writer to published author?
Flossie: My various email accounts aggregate to my phone. After submitting my first novel for consideration on May 17, 2012, I became a feverish, demented email checker, a state of frenzy that continued undiminished for several weeks. Nothing came. Nothing came. Nothing came. Or at least not from the hallowed publisher. The consideration time listed on the website passed by. Did they not like my book? Was it a terrible book? The most horrible book ever written? How could that be when I had such wonderful critique partners? Sighing and scrolling my email on the phone, I spied a clump of emails. They squatted there in bold print, UNREAD. My heart pounding, I tapped open a 3-day old email. It was from the hallowed publisher. She loved my book. She wanted to publish my book. She had attached a contract! My husband said, “I knew you’d do it.” The book came out October 17, 2012.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Flossie: Read, travel, paint, crochet, and spend time with my grandsons, my precious Snickerdoodles.
Favorite quote from one of your books?
Flossie: From Mind Your Goddess: Hell’s blaze. I must look like a mermaid in a mud bog.
What’s on the horizon for you?
Flossie: I’m branching out into lighter paranormal with one of my current WIPs. The setting is a small town in the mid 1950’s with the hero returning from the Korean War, and there is a mere touch of whimsy and the supernatural.
Thanks for joining us, Flossie. It’s been a pleasure.
Flossie: Thank you, Jennifer. You’re a fab hostess.
Author Bio:
Flossie Benton Rogers shares her passion for mythical realms through sizzling dark fantasy romances with fairies, goddesses, witches, angels, and demons. Reiki, tarot, runes, and gemstones are sometimes part of the magical mix. Former library director and teacher, she is prodded on by her fur fae writing buddy, Marigold the calico. Flossie’s birth chart features sun in Sagittarius with a Taurus moon and Libra ascendant, as befits a 5th generation Floridian and freedom loving mystic.
Social Media Links:
Website : http://flossiebentonrogers.com
Blog: http://flossiebentonrogers.com/blog/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/FlossieBentonRogersAuthor
Twitter http://twitter.com/FrostFyre
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/Wytchfae
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/flossiebentonrogers
Goodreads author page http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6553203.Flossie_Benton_Rogers
Amazon author page http://amazon.com/author/flossiebentonrogers
Google+ https://plus.google.com/+FlossieBentonRogers/
Tumblr http://flossiebentonrogers.tumblr.com
Jennifer Taylor Writes 
Jennifer, thank you for giving me such wonderful questions and space on your blog. You rock!
What a fun interview. I loved all the “first moments.” I’ve enjoyed all of Flossie’s Wytchfae novels and look forward to the release of her newest project. I know i will be as captivated with her world in the 1950s as I have been with her extraordinary Wytchfae realms!
Thank you, Mae. I am pleased you enjoyed the interview and my books as well. You are super!
Reblogged this on Still Another Writer's Blog.
I fell in love with Ingvar the first time I met him. He will always be my favorite of your heroes unless you can top him. Great interview, Flossie; and thanks for the kudos.
Aww, thank you for the positive thoughts, Loretta. I’m glad Ingvar is your favorite. He’ll always have a special place in my heart.
A great interview from a great lady author.
I follow Flossie’s blog as it’s a gem of information on mythology, history and even divination.
I had the fortune to read many of her novels and all I can add is that they have two strong points: they are captivating, and their characters are real and endearing. Mrs.Benton has a beautiful turn of phrase and can deftly describe settings, places, worlds and characters.
Thank you Jennifer for showcasing a captivating story teller!
Carmen
You are so kind, Carmen. Thank you for your positive words. I am so glad you enjoy my stories and characters, especially as you have such vast knowledge and fertile imagination yourself!
How thoughtful of you to say, Linda. I almost majored in history, until I discovered that so much of it is opinion and opinion has at least two sides and often more. So, why not major in literature where the creative aspect is clear right up front? Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I appreciate all you do to support your fellow authors.
Flossie you are just a fount of information! I love your blogs AND your facebook posts. You always seem to have a finger on the pulse of the interesting historical things. Thanks for all you write.