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Interview by Peter Syslo
Infernal Dreams:"Dark Moon Magick", the fourth book in the "Moon" series, is being released in the near future. Without revealing any secrets, could you tell us a little bit about what we can expect in this installment of the series?
Rose Marie Wolf:Readers of my series will know from the final pages of Hunter's Moon, as well as the blurb for Dark Moon Magick, that Rose is now pregnant and Jason is gone. Both characters will go on a self-search of sorts--Jason more literally as his personal journey takes him far from home. In this final book of the series, readers will learn some new secrets about Jason, Rose and certain members of the pack, as well as an introduction to some new characters that can change everything the werewolves have ever known. It's an emotional tale, one I think sums up the series very well.
ID:You also have an upcoming release of a novel called, "Changed". Can you give us an overview of what that work will be about?
RMW:Changed is a novel written from the point-of-view of Cheyenne , a half-blood werewolf who was introduced in Blood Moon. This book is her journal, and in it she tells how she became a werewolf and how being "Changed" has changed (yeah, repetition. Fun.) her life.
ID:Aside from the supernatural and the horror genre, who are some other authors who have been an influence on you and your writing?
RMW:I can't point out any one particular author or genre that has influenced me. I read anything and everything. I guess you can say I've picked up a little from every book I've read. When I read, I take notice of some of the key style elements some authors use, both good and bad. I try to utilize these elements, or avoid them in some cases, to grow as a writer. I've learned a lot that way.
ID:On your website, you have links to the poetry that you have written. Are you interested in writing in any other genres or styles?
RMW:I am interested in one day writing historical fiction. I have a huge love of history and culture and I would love to write something showcasing that. Right now, however, my head is so full of paranormal adventures and spin-off ideas--it might be years before I ever break into another genre! My poetry was written during my most early writing phase, but I would like to perhaps redo a few poems and write a few new ones and have a book published eventually.
ID:I've spoken a little bit to another female author about the role of women in the horror genre. What is your opinion of and experience with being a creative, female force in today's horror scene?
RMW:I think it is empowering to see women rising to the top in horror. In my opinion, it seems to be a genre dominated by men. It's usually men who seem to enjoy the blood and gore and violence. I'm glad that more women are stepping up and being creative and writing books and movies and standing out. It makes me feel good to be a part of that.
ID:I saw that you have a work in progress called "Bound in Blood", which you listed as being the first book in the "Bound" series. This time, you are focusing on the vampire as the main character. Was it challenging to write for a character (the vampire) who lives by a whole different set of rules (as opposed to the werewolf)?
RMW:It has been more challenging to write the vampire as opposed to the werewolf. I think, however, that stems from the fact I've been writing werewolves for a few years now. I have to break out of that mindset to create this entirely different creature. But, I have found I enjoy writing the vampire almost as much as the werewolf and I hope that my fans will enjoy the interesting twists with the archetype of the vampire.
ID:Do you want to tell us about any of your other works that are in progress?
RMW:Besides the Bound Series, I am working on a free short story for my website. It is an In-Between the Moon Series story involving some of the younger characters introduced in Blood Moon. Currently, Part One is available, with Part Two coming shortly. There are also a few other stories that are in the fundamental stages of plotting, but I'm hoping to begin work on those in the next year or so.
ID:I wanted to ask you about the e-book format. Computer storage capacities are constantly increasing, processors are faster, and portability is now a reality. I think that the internet and computers, in general, are the second incarnation of the Gutenberg printing press. What are your thoughts on the digital revolution and what do you think are some pros and cons?
RMW:I love that books are becoming digital. Do you know how easy it is to get a book now? Point, click, download and read. It's that simple. I love it. However, there are some people who have not yet become part of this digital revolution, so many of the sales I could possibly make are lost because they don't have a computer, or a credit card and can't download the books in their digital format. Many people are excited when I tell them about my books, yet when I mention they are e-books, the look turns to disappointment. There are so many missed opportunities, and yet, my books can be purchased and downloaded worldwide. I have mixed feelings about it.
ID:Have you thought about or have you been approached about adapting any of your novels to film?
RMW:Oh, I think about it all the time. In fact, when I was writing the Moon Series, I often thought it out in my head as if it were a film. Fans have approached me and mentioned how they would love to see a movie based on my books, or possibly several movies. It makes me tingle thinking about it.
ID:What are some of your film influences and do you have a favorite film portrayal of the werewolf or the vampire?
RMW:It's not exactly a horror movie, but when I was writing Sweet Moon Dreams and Blood Moon, I watched Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill movies. I'm not sure why, but it helped me to write. During the last few books, I watched a lot of television shows, mostly Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed.
Honestly, I don't have a favorite film portrayal of a werewolf or vampire. I started writing my books because I wanted to get away from that. I wanted something different than what Hollywood showed. I wanted a different type of werewolf.
ID:I like the fact that you have created your own world/own set of rules, regarding the werewolf. You keep with tradition, in a general sense, but details like the fact that they could "shift" in and out of three states (human, werewolf, and complete wolf) and the fact that silver bullets won't exactly kill them, really puts an interesting spin on things. In your writing, what did you want to bring to the werewolf that you felt really hadn't been addressed in previous written or film portrayals of the character?
RMW:I think I brought a new sense of familiarity to the werewolf. I made them human. Sure, they can change into a wolf. They're feral. But they have human emotions and desires. Human thoughts and dreams. I want people to relate to them more, and not just think they are a mindless killing monster. I wanted them to be the good guys.
ID:I have heard many descriptions of the werewolf and vampire as being characters that are on "the fringe" of society – the characters don't "fit in" and often times are conflicted, trying to come to terms with new found powers, etc. Do you think that this is a reason why people embrace these characters – because of that quest to accept one's self and to gain acceptance from others?
RMW:Entirely. People are always searching for something within themselves. The vampire and werewolf are very relatable in aspect, as they are always constantly struggling with something--power, instinct, desire, acceptance. There's that darkness to them that has many of us craving a mystery of ourselves, and just like the vampire and the werewolf, we find it from within.
ID:I love that you donate a percentage to the Humane Society in your area. What is the best advice that you can give to people about how they can help the cause of animals.
RMW:I suggest contacting your local animal shelter. There's so much you can do. If you can't afford monetary donations, you can donate your time. Many of these places need people to volunteer in helping the animals. Some places need newspapers, or pet food. But mostly, they need your support.
ID:What are some of your other interests and hobbies, aside from writing?
RMW:I like watching movies and T.V., and obviously reading, although I think that goes hand-in-hand with writing. My favorite thing to do to waste time is play on Myspace. It's my newest addiction.
ID:Finally, do you have any appearances or book-signings that you will be doing with your upcoming releases?
RMW:I will be having a booksigning on Saturday October 18th at the Waldenbooks in the North Park Mall in Marion , Indiana from 2-4 P.M. I will be autographing copies of Blood Moon on that day, so if you are in the area, I'd love to see you there.