Our interview today is with Regan Walsh the author of Whisper Cape (4.5 stars on 47 reviews). Before we get to the interview a brief book description: A powerful woman, an extraordinary man, and a maniac who wants to destroy them. Fate has brought them together, but will it make them stronger or destroy them all in end? Escape to a world where the impossible becomes possible and sparks ignite.
Whisper Cape is a town of secrets and Addison MacKenna soon becomes tangled in a web of them. Plagued with nightmares of her father’s sudden and brutal death, Addie struggles with her anguish and refuses to believe his demise was accidental. Fighting to shake off one of those devastating early morning nightmares, Addison finds it even harder to escape from the vision of a man lying on the side of the road–a man she may have just killed. When she frantically tries to locate him, he seemingly disappears, just the beginning of strange occurrences in her life. She also cannot ignore the weird sensations in her own body. Suddenly, the impossible seems possible, but is that a blessing or a curse? Read more on Amazon.
Author Interview with Regan Walsh
1. What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?
I love talking about the setting for Whisper Cape. It’s a place dear to my heart. Several scenes in the book take place by the archway featured on the cover. This archway actually exists and I took that picture—darkened a bit for the cover—while on vacation with my husband. It was our anniversary. When I saw the figure formed in the center by the rocks thoughts started swirling around in my mind and visions of scenes began playing before my eyes.
This is the actual picture taken in Mendocino, California. Although the location for Whisper Cape is actually along the Oregon Coast, which we did visit to make sure I had the setting correct, I used this picture for several scenes. I think because I used actual places that I’d visited for the setting helped tremendously with the descriptions.
2. Do the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to their predicaments? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
Cael and Addie are real people to me. As with all characters I create, Addie has a bit of me in her. The way she asks multiple questions at once without waiting for an answer is something I do when I’m excited. The way she and Cael fall so hard for each other so quickly, I’ve been there and it is an exciting ride. I like to think of Cael and Addie as good friends, maybe my best friends and now, with the sequel, Reflections, Gerry and Maia have become very close to me. Maia is the woman I’ve always wanted to be.
3. How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes?
Addie evolves or changes—toughens up—as she learns to use her abilities. Cael on the other hand changes in the opposite direction and just like the next dumb guy in love, can’t get out of his own way fast enough to realize how hard he’s fallen.
4. In what ways do the events in the books reveal evidence of the author’s world view?
Hmmm… There a scene in the book where Cael and Addie are walking along the beach and he is explaining about their people and the subject of discrimination comes in to play. Here is a quote from Cael:
“Discrimination is a horrible reality. People are afraid of what they don’t understand.”
— Cael Sheridan
5. Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?
There is one scene that was a bit of a challenge for me. I wouldn’t say it made me uncomfortable but the character’s emotions involved were difficult to get down because sexual assault is a tricky subject and I needed to really get inside both of their heads. Not only Addie’s but Cael’s as well, the way he reacts is the way I would expect a man in love to react. I hope I got it right.
6. Was there a basis for your story? A previous experience? Something else?
I’d always been a fan of supernatural and paranormal but I wanted something different from vampires. I was a huge fan of the TV shows Charmed, Buffy, Angel, Heroes and the movie X-Men. I wanted something different but I wanted to write romance in it.
But then, I do believe it must have been Music of the Night.
Many things inspired me to write Whisper Cape. One of which is Phantom of the Opera. Two songs in particular had the most influence. I’m one of those writers who can’t write while listening to music. That doesn’t mean to say I’m not inspired by certain songs, and this held true when I wrote Whisper Cape. In fact, everywhere I went I had The Phantom of the Opera playing in my car and on my iPod when I went jogging, to the grocery store, even while performing that dreaded chore of cleaning the house. Though the Phantom did not inspire Cael’s character, the music did spark (no pun intended and if you don’t understand what I mean, ask me or, better yet, read the book!) my imagination for Addison’s. I’ve always said that Gerard Butler was my main influence for Gerry’s physique, although I have no idea about their personalities. I have to admit though, looking at this picture from back when the movie was made, Gerard could most definitely have been my vision for Cael. This is pre 300 days, but yummy.
There is a scene in Phantom of the Opera where Christine is in the cemetery singing to her deceased father. Of course, in the movie and the live production it is snowing so the setting has nothing to do with a particular scene I wrote for Whisper Cape. But the lyrics and the mood are what ignited my inspiration. Addison is distraught after almost fatally injuring Cael and runs to the edge of the cliff, wishing she could talk to her father once more. In the musical, right before Christine starts singing, she whispers about her father promising to send her the “Angel of Music.” After she sings “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” the Phantom sings, “Wandering Child,” luring her to him, reinforcing his deception of being the promised “Angel of Music.” It was the idea of Christine whispering to her father, singing to him and the combination of the figure in the archway that gave me the inspiration for that scene.
7. What research did you have to perform to back up your story? Any research which really opened your eyes or gave you new respect for a topic or profession?
I took a trip up the Oregon Coast to make sure I had the roads and the scenery right. Getting the layout of the town correct was important to me even though Whisper Cape is a fictitious town, it is located along the Oregon coast and I wanted to get that right. Research to me is more of an adventure, whether on the internet or traveling to a location. One of my favorite research adventures was a trip to Bora Bora. Although, I hadn’t even start writing Whisper Cape back then nor had I any idea that I might use Bora Bora somewhere in it, it was the best place to do research in my opinion.
8. What is your method for writing a book? A certain amount of hours every day? A certain routine? Are you character/story builder or an outliner or some other method?
I wish I could say I have a set routine but I don’t. I write when the mood strikes. I try to write every day even for a short while. Whisper Cape is most definitely character driven. Cael and Addie wrote the story. I did not have an outline for Whisper Cape. With Reflections, I did make an outline, only because the story is so complicated. But it is still very much character driven and Cael and Addie along with Gerry and Maia light the way. I have to write this way or it doesn’t seem real to me and in order to be any good, it has to be real and from my heart.
9. How do you get past writers block or distractions like the internet?
The internet is a distraction, but I deal with it. Sometimes it helps to pull away and come back. Showers help. Some of my best ideas come to me while I’m in the shower.
10. Favorite book from childhood.
The Littlest Witch
11. What’s on your desk? Can you see your desk? Describe what you see when you look around.
As I look at my desk I think, what a mess. There is a coffee cup that says, “Behind every strong soldier, there is even a stronger woman who raised him. ARMY Mom,” that is in desperate need of a refill, a box of tissues, sometimes I make myself cry, my current read, which I usually carry with me wherever I go, and a copy of Whisper Cape—needed for reference while writing Reflections. On the wall above my desk, hangs a picture of the archway featured on the cover of Whisper Cape and then there are pictures of my family. Several pieces of scratch paper are scattered around under my monitor.
About Regan aka Susan:
My friends and family know me as Susan Griscom, but I write the Whisper Cape Series under the name of Regan Walsh. I was born in a small town in Pennsylvania, and I love writing about characters living in small quaint towns and tend to lean toward the unusual and spooky. I read almost all genres but love paranormal romance and young adult the best and love writing in those genres.
The craft of writing, although dormant for years, never really left me. Many years later, and with the help of technology, I let my imagination run wild.
My paranormal playing field delves into a different milieu, abandoning vampires and werewolves, but not discounting them. Someday I might like to write a novel about vamps and those furry creatures. But for now I like the bizarre mixed with romance. A strong hero or heroine confronted with extraordinary forces of nature, powers and capabilities gets my blood running hot.
I live in Northern California with my very romantic husband, my small yippy dog, Riley, and humungous black cat, Saké (like the drink). My family consists of his and her children, four wonderful sons and one beautiful daughter, seven grandchildren. My greatest love in life is my family and those large and ever growing holiday dinners.
I enjoy traveling, hate running, but do it once in a while. Reading and writing are my favorite pastimes.
A quote from Susan:
I daydream often and sometimes my daydreams interrupt my daydreams. So I write to remember them. If I didn’t write, I think my mind would explode from an overload of fantasy and weirdness. To the annoyance of my friends and family, my characters sometimes become a part of my world. During my childhood, I would frequently get in trouble in school for daydreaming. Eventually, my vivid imagination paid off and I had the privilege of writing and co-directing my sixth-grade class play—a dreadful disaster, though not from my writing, of course, I must blame it on the acting.
Thank you, Anthony, for the interview and the opportunity to talk about my books on your blog.
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