Amanda Ashley/Madeline Baker is a well know figure in the publishing world. Even though she never intended to be an author, her books have made the New York Times Bestseller List, the USA Today Bestseller List, and the Borders and Waldenbooks Bestseller lists. It all started one night when her husband was at work, her kids were in bed, and there was nothing on TV. She started writing a historical romance and the rest is history. Living in California, she is married to her high school sweetheart and together they have three handsome sons.

Thanks for being here with us today Amanda!

1. A bit of background is always important to bring us up to speed. Tell us about yourself Amanda, your work, and Madeline Baker.

I'm not sure what there is to tell. I guess I'm just your average housewife who writes romance novels. I enjoy movies and plays, walking my dog, playing with my grandkids, reading, fiddling with my web sites, wasting time on Facebook, and writing, of course.

Becoming a writer came as a surprise. It wasn't something I'd always wanted to do. Most people know I started writing because my husband worked nights and after my kids went to bed, there was nothing to do. I'd been reading a lot of romances and one night I started writing Comanche Flame. I've been writing ever since.

Amanda Ashley was born when I started writing paranormal romances and my editor thought I should take another name. Amanda and Ashley are the names of my granddaughters. They were thrilled at the idea.

2. Just a few weeks ago BENEATH THE MIDNIGHT MOON was released. Hardane is destined to marry another but his heart and desires belong to someone else, will we read about true love and heartache with possibly a very romantic HEA?

I can guarantee it! I really love this story, and this hero, who is also a shapeshifter.

Descended from ancient shapeshifters, Hardane could take on wolf form to stalk the darkness. But as a man he had long, sinfully black hair and a body to entice any woman.

He appeared to Kylene in her dreams, then rescued her from certain death at the executioner’s hand. He was promised to another, his marriage destined to end the brutal warfare between their two peoples. But no matter what the danger, no matter who tried to stop them, he would spirit her into the night and tempt her with a love like no other …

3. We are all about to bust for September the 4th to get here (WooHOOT) so we can read DESIRE THE NIGHT. A chained up vampire and the werewolf daughter of the Alpha, now that seems like an interesting love story- can you tell us a little about these two characters?

Oh, my gosh, I love, love, love this book! Gideon is such a hunk. I put him through such torture (at my editor's request). He's the perfect vampire hero. My heroine, Kay, is half-Indian and a werewolf. She was such fun to write, plus she's stronger than most of my heroines. She kicks butt a few times. And then there's my villain, Vera, a black witch, complete with a black cat. Gideon and Kay come together out of necessity, but, of course, they soon fall in love, and into lots of trouble with Kay's father, who isn't thrilled with his daughter's choice. This is one of my very favorite stories.

Held captive in a basement prison, wrapped in silver chains, the vampire Gideon is too weak to fight the monster who enslaves him. For years, she’s tapped his precious blood like a fountain of youth—sustaining him with human females she captures for his pleasure. But with the latest victim she brings him, he senses something intriguingly different. Something dangerous, yet oh so tempting.
Kay Alissano is no ordinary woman. Every full moon, she must answer the call of the wild—unleashing the wolf within. As daughter of the Shadow Pack’s Alpha, Kay is extremely powerful—and when she’s offered up to Gideon, she doesn’t surrender easily. In wolf form, she might be able unchain Gideon’s heart and set them both free—if only he can resist the urge to consume her, body and soul, before the next full moon.

4. How exciting, Ellen read from one of your books on her show, another was being read by a character on the TV show Renegade and wow then another appeared on CMT- that is so exciting- did you get notice that your books were going to be used or was it a surprise?

Total surprise, all three. And so exciting. Someone called to tell me that Ellen had read from my book, and since the show aired earlier where my friend was, I was able to watch it. You can't imagine how excited I was. I taped the show, of course.

5. Bound by Night is book one- with Drake and Elena falling in love, then Bound by Blood is book two with Drake and Elena’s daughter- Kaitlyn- will you continue this series?

I don't have any plans for a 3rd book at the moment, but you never know what the future holds.

6. For fun you like to go to movies and plays. What kind interests you most?

I love movies like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Hunger Games, and comedies like Leap Year, Knight and Day, Music and Lyrics. Strictly PG-13.

7. We hear you are a collector of Star Wars, Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera. Tell us about your collections, which items are your favorite, and which are the most unique?

As I mentioned above, I have a huge Star Wars collection. I think the most unique item is a poster for Return of the Jedi, only it's titled Revenge of the Jedi, which was the original title, and was later changed because the Jedi are peaceful.

I have some lovely Beauty and the Beast dolls and figures, and some Phantom figurines that I really love. I also have posters from Beauty and the Beast and Phantom that are signed by cast members, and photos of me (myself?) with the star of Phantom and the star of Beauty and the Beast.

8. Three main genres you write are paranormal, western, and historical romance. Do you have a favorite area that you like to put your ideas into, and do you have plans in the future to explore more genres?

I think my favorite thing to write is paranormal, because I can let my imagination go wherever it wants. Vampires, werewolves, witches, time travel- anything goes.

Right now, I'm working on a Beauty and the Beast story that I hope my editor will like, even though it isn't about vampires.

I don't have any plans to delve into any other genres at the moment.

9. With time all things change. Once the popularity of paranormal dies down, what do you think readers will flock to for their next popular read?

I wish I knew! I'd love to see historical romances make a comeback. With the popularity of Hell on Wheels and Longmire, I'm thinking that might be a possibility.

EC Blush is publishing a number of my old historicals - a book a month from September of this year through July of next year. I'm excited about that. The covers and excerpts are posted on my Baker website at www.madelinebaker.net

Thanks so much for having me here!

Don't forget to also stop by Amanda's web site for more information and to read the first chapters of both books, DESIRE THE NIGHT, and BENEATH THE MIDNIGHT MOON.
http://www.amandaashley.net/ 

Winner for Amanda's giveaway prize gets a choice of one of Amanda's awesome books!! (US Residents Only) Just please be a follower of this blog, leave your comment or question along with your email address. Thanks so much everyone.