Suvudu Universe

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Good morning, Jan! Can you please describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Jan DeLima] Wife, mom, author, gardener, artist, and somewhat acceptable cook. I love books, coffee, wine, carbohydrates baked with butter, and lazy afternoons with my family.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Celtic Moon?

[Jan DeLima] Celtic Moon is a shape-shifter urban fantasy romance. The fantasy world is derived from Celtic mythology, which is one of the original sources of shifter lore in history. It is set in current day Maine, in an isolated village surrounded by mountains and wilderness where an ancient clan of Celtic shifters has lived among us in secret for over a thousand years. Sophie, my heroine, is a mother of a teenager who has been on the run from the father of her son due to some brutal circumstances. Sophie is forced to return when her son begins to show signs of becoming a shifter like his father. Dylan, the father of her son, is overly protective and unaware of some events that have kept Sophie away while dealing with an impending war amongst his kind. I enjoyed pairing a typical alpha hero with a woman who refused to accept his behavior. The chemistry between these two characters was a writer’s dream come true.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Jan DeLima] At the time, I worked in the cataloging department of my library when a book on Celtic artifacts came across my desk. It reviewed findings and theories of Celtic beliefs from Celtic art, with depictions of men shifting into animals. Intrigued, I dove into researching Celtic mythology and found more material than I could possibly imagine on wolves and shape-shifting. Let’s just say my paranormal writer’s radar was dinging loudly.

My characters emerged soon after, demanding a place in this magical world. Celtic beliefs are nature orientated, so I scattered Celtic tribes across the globe in areas conducive to the habitats of wolves. Just to make things interesting, I also added a civil war, demented Guardians who want to restore their race back to the powerful creatures of Celtic lore, a mother who’s willing to protect her child at all costs, and a husband torn between the people he’s sworn to defend and the safety of his family.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Sophie?

[Jan DeLima] Survivor. Protector. Mother.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Dylan had a theme song, what would it be?

[Jan DeLima] Something epic! I listen to blues and jazz mostly, but that’s not the type of music I would associate with Dylan. I’ve had Here’s to Us by Halestorm in my head all day so let’s go with that.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Sophie is never without.

[Jan DeLima] A weapon.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Dylan’s bedroom?

[Jan DeLima] Another person other than his wife. Formal clothes. Items of comfort.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Sophie’s greatest regret?

[Jan DeLima] Not calling Dylan, the father of her child, sooner to learn why he’s so protective of the people who live in Rhuddin Village.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Jan DeLima] The library where I worked was a wonderful muse. I had a world of information at my fingertips for research. Also, I think humanity is interesting. We are not perfect—but we are not boring either.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Jan DeLima] I always have a cup of coffee by my desk, my dogs in the room, and a closed door. The house outside my small office is typically filled with teenagers and chaos.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What was your biggest distraction while working on Celtic Moon?

[Jan DeLima] My biggest challenge was finding the time to write. A good portion of Celtic Moon was written before my day job, from 4-7 a.m., and I’m not a morning person, but that was the only time I managed to be productive. It was all worth it!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Jan DeLima] I absolutely loved The Search by Nora Roberts. It was the perfect romantic suspense.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Jan DeLima] I have always been a prolific reader from the moment I learned how to read. However, Jude Deveraux always comes to mind first when asked this type of question, for writing the first romance novel I ever read, Twin of Fire, and therefore opening a door into what would become my favorite genre.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Jan DeLima] Gardening is my second passion. I love to walk around my perennial beds in the evenings after a day of writing.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Jan DeLima] They can go to the “Contact” page on my website at…

http://jandelima.com/contact.html

During deadline month I’m not on social media as much. I do check my email daily, but usually in the evenings.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Purchase Link:

About the book:

Like father, like son…

Sophie Thibodeau has been on the run from the father of her son for more than fifteen years. Now her son, Joshua, is changing, and her greatest fears are about to be realized. He’s going to end up being just like his father—a man who can change into a wolf.

Dylan Black has been hunting for Sophie since the night she ran from him—an obsession he cannot afford in the midst of an impending war. Dylan controls Rhuddin Village, an isolated town in Maine where he lives with an ancient Celtic tribe. One of the few of his clan who can still shift into a wolf, he must protect his people from the Guardians, vicious warriors who seek to destroy them.

When Sophie and Dylan come together for the sake of their son, their reunion reignites the fierce passion they once shared. For the first time in years, Dylan’s lost family is within his grasp. But will he lose them all over again? Are Joshua and Sophie strong enough to fight alongside Dylan in battle? Nothing less than the fate of his tribe depends on it…

About the author:

Jan lives in Maine with her husband of twenty years and their two teenage sons. Unlike many authors, Jan didn’t pen stories at an early age but has always been a dedicated reader. She loves stories and storytelling. It wasn’t until after her children entered school that she began writing. Raised in a military family, she lived in different countries such as Thailand and Germany, but home base has always been Maine. She brought a mixture of all her experiences to her first published novel, blending castles and Celtic lore with the wild nature of her home.