Inked Beauty by Cadance Blevins is book two in the Wicked Inked Duet series; which the blurb and cover will be released TODAY. We had the pleasure of speaking with the author for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.
Candace Blevins writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, contemporary BDSM romance, and two kick-ass motorcycle club series.
With more than fifty published novels, Candace continues to create stories with strong women, and she pulls from her vast knowledge of mythologies, ancient religions, and history to create a paranormal world that fits neatly into our real one. She lives with her husband of twenty-five years and their youngest daughter. Their oldest daughter has flown the nest, but frequently comes home for visits.
The family’s beloved, goofy, retired racing greyhounds are usually at her side as she writes, quietly keeping her company. Or sometimes not so quietly.
When did you start writing?
2007
What was it like growing up?
When I was seven, I remember going from a motorcycle race to a ballet recital, cleaning up as best as I could in the back of the huge old Thunderbird. My mom had me in ballet class, and my dad had me racing motorcycles. I think I was happiest when I was reading, though. My mom realized I was smarter than them before I started kindergarten, and they went into debt to purchase a set of encyclopedias and the Childcraft books that went with them. My parents made a ton of mistakes, but this was probably the best thing they ever did for me. I read and reread those encyclopedias until I went to a school with a decent library in the sixth grade, and I had access to a treasure trove of books. I was a brainiac cheerleader in high school, friends with the geeks and the popular kids. I’ve danced professionally, modeled for some big names, and worked as a professional juggler for a few years. Mostly, though, it’s my intelligence that’s paid the bills. Accountant, project manager for a commercial contractor, IT professional, and for a little over a decade now, author.
How was your early life?
I chose to stay single in my twenties, and I traveled the world and had a blast. Then I met my soul mate at twenty-eight, married at thirty, and became a mom for the first time at thirty-five. By the time I became a mother, I was ready to stay home and enjoy my children. But my twenties? Let’s just say there was a lot of fun to be had.
What has been the biggest influence in your career?
I wrote my first book because, at the time, BDSM books were written by people who had never felt the kiss of a whip or negotiated for a consensual power exchange. I’ve been in the lifestyle since my early twenties and was certain I could do better. After writing three stories I knew weren’t good enough, I thought the fourth might be. I submitted it to a few publishers, and three of them accepted it, I decided on the one I liked best, and the rest is history. My preferred genre when reading is urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and I eventually wrote the urban fantasy world I’d had in my dead for decades.
Tell us about your newest release.
I wrote a vampire from the very beginning who was terrifying, and only safe to be around because of his loyalty to the Master Vampire. Gavin was never intended to get a happily ever after, but more than a decade after I first wrote him, my muse told me who his true love was going to be. I argued, but the muse won, and so, we have Gavin’s story, which took two books to tell because he’s always been difficult.
Which book of yours would you call your favorite child?
The final book in my urban fantasy series, UNHUMAN ACTS, though this seven-book series has to be read in order, so one must start with ONLY HUMAN and work your way to the end.
What inspired you to write this book?
I’ve had this paranormal world in my head for decades, with three kinds of vampires (because the mythologies don’t work if there’s only one kind) and shifters of every variety, not just werewolves. Also, gods and demigods, and a way to tie the Norse, Greek, Roman, Chinese, Incan, and other pantheons (and associated mythologies) together so they don’t conflict. I’ve gotten to know the main characters over the years, long before I thought I might ever write the story. And then, one day, I felt as if I’d grown enough as a writer to do my series justice, and I started writing it.
What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?
Reading, swimming, playing with the dogs, and spending time with my husband and kids. With one child grown and the other about to graduate high school, we’re entering a new phase of our lives.
What does your writing space look like?
Mostly, I either write in bed or my recliner. In the spring and fall, I occasionally take my laptop outside.
If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?
An Adventurous Life. Or maybe, Kinky Adventures.
How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?
I’ve been writing Gavin’s story on and off for years. It was in process before my dad died a year and a half ago, and then I just couldn’t finish a book. For a year, I wrote three to ten thousand words daily on a half-dozen books, but I couldn’t make it to the Happily Ever After for any of my couples. Finally, I wrote a follow-up book to a couple who’d already found their HEA, and that let me finish a book. I wrote a Christmas novel after that, then finished a dark romance I’d been working on for a while, then went back to Gavin’s story and finally managed to finish it. Generally speaking, my process is to get to know my characters, their backstory, their strengths, and their weaknesses — to live with them a while before I start writing their book. By the time I start writing, we’re good friends.
Favorite reads?
The Lord of the Rings, The Story of O, the In Death series, and so many more.
Do you have any book recommendations?
This is always a problem for me without some context. Tell me what you enjoy reading, and I’ll probably be able to tell you a few books you’ll enjoy, but without knowing your preferences, it’s hard. Maybe I’ll recommend Dune or TLoTR, or maybe I’ll recommend a Nalini Singh book, or a Jeaniene Frost one. Perhaps you’re looking for lighthearted and fun, in which case you might want to spend some time with Stephanie Plum.
What’s your next big project?
I started a long plot arc a few books ago, and I’ll tie it up in the next two books. I’ll be writing the stories for two more characters who’ve been around since the beginning, and making sure I get their stories exactly right is a big deal.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Work on your craft, learn how to make use of constructive criticism, but hold onto your unique voice as you improve your skills. And if you go the self-publishing route, pay professionals to help you put a quality product out — that means an editor, formatter, and cover artist, at a minimum.
Follow Cadace:
You can visit Candace on the web at candaceblevins.com
feel free to friend her on Facebook at facebook.com/candacesblevins,
TikTok at tiktok.com/@candaceblevins,
Goodreads at goodreads.com/CandaceBlevins.
You can also join facebook.com/groups/CandacesKinksters to get sneak peeks into what she’s writing now, images that inspire her, and the occasional juicy teaser.
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