Q&A with author Raine Thomas

Today I have the lovely Raine Thomas with me. Raine is the author of The Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy.

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
Oh, gosh. There have been so many! I’d like to say it was an inspirational biography or something, but I don’t generally read those. I’ll go with “The Bride” by Julie Garwood. It’s a historical romance that was pointed out to me randomly in a bookstore by a complete stranger. I started reading it and couldn’t leave without buying it. Her style was much fresher than the standard at the time, and her characters were so well depicted. She inspired me to want to write romance.

Who is your favourite author and why?
Nora Roberts. I absolutely love how she develops characters and effortlessly evokes emotion. She writes “guys” better than any romance author I know. I’ve probably read every one of her books, and the plots are never stale or “phoned in.” I am in awe of her abilities.

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers. 

Besides the covers for the Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy you mean? (Ha!). Any of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments covers. They’re fantastic!

If you could have a dinner party with any author from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
It would have to be Edgar Allan Poe. I’ve always been fascinated by his work. Even my dog is named Poe. Having worked in the field of mental health for a number of years, I think our conversation would be rather fascinating.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I’m largely inspired by music. Some of my inspiration has also come from the people I’ve met. Youth facing and overcoming challenges also serves as a big source of inspiration to me.

Where is your favourite place to write?
During the heat of summer, inside on my couch. When weather permits, I love sitting outside on the porch.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
I’d have to say “The Silence of the Lambs.” I might have even liked the movie more than the book.

What are your books about?
The Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy (Becoming, Central and Foretold) follow sisters Amber, Olivia and Skye as they discover that they aren’t entirely human. What they are is half-Estilorian, a race of beings that once existed alongside humans. Because the Estilorians have powers and abilities beyond that of humans, humans grew to resent them and warred against them. Thus, the Estilorians created their own plane of existence, removing themselves from humanity and becoming the objects of human myths and legends (think gods and goddesses, angels, etc.). As the sisters are introduced to this world, they find love, adventure and quite a bit of danger along the way, culminating in a battle foretold long before their births.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters? 

Oh, that is TOUGH! The sisters are triplets. They all have long brown hair and they’re eighteen, so I could possibly see an actress like Selena Gomez or Ashley Greene playing them. Gabriel, James and Caleb are harder. I think with darker hair and a bit of bulking up muscle-wise, Chace Crawford would make a good Gabriel. For James, the cleft in the chin, the dark blond hair in a choppy cut…Zak Efron would probably be a good fit. I have yet to find the perfect Caleb. If he were a few years younger, Will Young would actually have been great for his role, though.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I’m a big baseball fan. The Atlanta Braves, in particular.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
Orlando is called The City Beautiful, and it really is a lovely city. It’s also home to “The Mouse” and “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” Not such a bad place to live.

Winter or summer? Winter.
Ebook or paperback? Ebook. Er…paperback. Do I have to choose?
Favourite food? Tacos. Any kind.
Sporty or couch potato? Total potato.
Cook or be cooked for? If I value my health and livelihood, I should be cooked for whenever possible.
Link to your website, blog or both: My website is http://www.rainethomas.com and my blog is http://RaineThomas.com/blog/. I’m also on Twitter (http://twitter/Raine_Thomas) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/rainethomas) and welcome followers and friends!