Anya Bast has come close to perfecting the art of mixing fun fantastical stories with a sexy edge that makes for some steamy reading. Anya has published three popular paranormal series with Berkley and a fourth on the way later this year. She’s also published with various epublishers as well.
With Samhain, Anya has a new series starting that features shifters, vampires an a post-apocalyptic world that will melt your socks off. The first book in the Doomsyear series – The Twisted Kiss – is out January 24th.
Welcome to The Book Pushers Anya!
The Book Pushers: Can tell us a little about The Twisted Kiss, and the Doomsyear series?
Anya: Sure! The Twisted Kiss is first in a new post-apocalyptic series I’ll be writing for Samhain. In this world, most of the earth’s population has mutated into vampires and werewolves, thanks to the blundering of the military when they attempt to bio-engineer the perfect soldier. Here’s the blurb for the book….
Sometimes it takes just one kiss…
Kylie Mitchell lives in a world of monsters. Thanks to a military experiment gone viral, over half the population is gone and most of what remains has mutated into storybook werewolves and vampires. In this new Earth, only the tough survive, and Kylie has more than enough reason to want to be left alone.
When the Council of the Wise decrees that she must mate with a potent vampire and a powerful werewolf, Kylie resents their intrusion into her self-imposed exile. As one of the last humans on Earth, she always assumed she’d be safe from the super-psychics’ machinations, and she’s not ready to trust her heart to anyone.
Michael and Christian share no great love for each other, but they have one thing in common—their long-time desire for Kylie. Determined to ensure she doesn’t spend the rest of her lonely life wallowing in needless guilt, they choose to put aside their differences and work together, never allowing her time to think as they seduce her body and mind, hoping their love will tempt her heart to open to them.
Yet just as she begins to bloom under their fiercely protective attention, a twisted and monstrous figure from the past rises up, threatening to destroy everything…
The Book Pushers: What made you decide to move to a post-apocalyptic world?
Anya: I LOVE post-apocalyptic fiction because a.) it’s dark as hell and, b.) it has so much possibility for worldbuilding. It’s a great setting for romance, in my opinion. You have that often bleak landscape, where hope is a precious thing, then the tiny light of love sparks and catches…. What a great contrast!
The Book Pushers: How many books with be in the Doomsyear series, and will it follow a series of interconnected characters?
Anya: I’m not sure how many books will be in the series. It really depends on how the series does and what kind of feedback I get from readers. It also, of course, depends on my level of inspiration with the world. If I feel like a series has run its course, I end it. I don’t believe in forcing a series past its natural life. It will follow interconnecting characters, yes.
The Book Pushers: How challenging is it for you to have more then one series running at a time?
Anya: I usually only work on one project at a time, so it’s not that hard for me to switch back and forth. The worlds the different series are set in are pretty distinctive. Luckily, I don’t confuse them. 🙂
The Book Pushers: Looking at your backlist you have moved between genres more than once. Is there one in particular you enjoy writing more then the others?
Anya: Well, I do move between sub-genres of paranormal fiction, but I very, very rarely move out of paranormal altogether. So, whether the story is historical, post-apocalyptic, has a modern, urban setting, they all have one thing in common, they’re fantastical in one way or another. I love all of them, but may prefer one sub-genre over the rest at any particular time. The ability to switch sub-genres keeps me from becoming bored creatively.
The Book Pushers: Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy are ever changing their boundaries. What do you think makes them so appealing to readers and what does these genres say to you?
Anya: I think people want an interesting story with compelling characters. That’s true across all genres. If other readers are like me, they turn to paranormal romance and urban fantasy to be transported into a different world and leave the mundane behind. There are very few limits in speculative fiction. A writer’s imagination is allowed to run wild and take the reader along for the ride.
The Book Pushers: Do you have any future projects planned that you can share with us?
Anya: Right now I’m working on an urban fantasy book (currently) titled Smoke and Bone. I’m also working on the sequel to Embrace of the Damned, the first book in a new paranormal romance series that features immortal Viking warriors, shamans and witches. And, of course, yet another project is the sequel to The Twisted Kiss. I have no shortage of things to work on.
The Book Pushers: Out of all your heroes, who would you be tempted to marry, kiss, or chuck off a cliff?
Anya: Hmmm…I would have to go with Broder Calderson from Embrace of the Damned. I’d be tempted to do all three of those things to him. He’s a pretty strong guy from an age when men protected their women…even when those women didn’t want (or need) protection. His heart is in the right place, but he has trouble dealing with the modern day female. Despite this, his passion and protectiveness are attractive qualities, and all of it is seated in a very attractive package.
The Book Pushers: Out of your heroines, who do you think is the most kick-ass and could hold her own against other kick ass heroines?
Anya: I might have to pick Isabelle from Witch Blood for that one. In the beginning of the book she’s literally attempting to freeze the bad guy’s…well, let’s just say “family jewels”…off with her bare hands. I would never want to cross her.
The Book Pushers: And finally, if you had to write a scene where there was a night out at a pub or fancy dinner, which characters of yours would:
Anya: Get drunk the most? Adam Tyrell (from Witch Heart) Brawl? Niall Quinn (from Midnight Enchantment) Have wild dirty sex in the kitchen cupboard? Gabriel Mac Braire (from Wicked Enchantment)
Thanks so much for the interview! I would like to offer a giveaway. I’ll pick one winner from the replies to this post for an ebook of The Twisted Kiss.
Thanks so much Anya for being here today!! The giveaway will end on January 23rd and is open internationally.
Great interview! Looking forward to reading the book. 🙂
Wow!! Awesome interview!!!
I am looking forward to The Twisted Kiss!!
I have been reading your works for a while now,
And everyone is worth the read!! Though I must say that
I am eager to read about immortal Viking warriors, shamans and witches.
Thank you and A Blessed Day to you
Deana
Awesome interview with Anya! I love all of her books and absolutely can’t wait till the 24th to get this one. (if I don’t win it, that is…hint hint)
Thanks.
Great interview
thanks you for the international giveaway too , i would be very happy to discover your book
all the best
Looking forward to the new series…. Good luck!
Great interview, even better was the excerpt I read for ‘The Twisted Kiss’! It left me wanting more and is on my TBB list 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway.
Great interview. Defiantly agree with Isabelle being the most kick ass heroine.
Can’t wait to Read this series
Awesome interview! I can’t wait for this new series and to read the book! Paranormal is one of my favorite genres.
I love PNR and UF, and this book sounds great! Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
Enjoyed the interview. This sounds like a great new series!
Hi all ~ Thanks so much for stopping by to read and comment!
post-apocalyptic fiction? I will admit that I like post apocalyptic movies like 2012, Independence Day, etc. I’ll have to check this out
Hello Anya!
Congrats on the new release. The Twisted Kiss has so many of my favorite romance elements. I love marriage of convenience stories so Kylie being forced to mate with the two men is right up my alley. I like the tension that is created when a relationship is forced on a couple or a threesome in this case. I also love paranormal romance. Shifters are my favorite but vamps are a close second. I can’t wait to read this story!
Great interview.I love Anya’s books.
I’m looking forward to reading The Twisted Kiss.
LOVED the interview! Anya is a new to me author, but I’ve really great things about her work and can’t wait to try it myself… I’ll definitely be starting with The Twisted Kiss! I just love the cover and the story seems right up my paranormal alley:) Thanks for the giveaway & CONGRATS on your latest release, Anya!!!
yadkny@hotmail.cm
Thanks for such s fun interview! I’ve enjoyed Anya’s books and cant wait for the new releases! Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like another great series from you and you lucked out with the cover Gods
Scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
Great interview! I love post-apocalyptic stories! I can’t wait to for this one to come out.
Great interview. This book sounds awesome and I really want to read it. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I would love to read a scene where Niall got in an all out bar brawl! Great interview
usignolc(at)yahoo.com
Your books are always a can’t be put down til the very last sentence kind of read. I soooo look forward to reading The Twisted Kiss, it sounds hot and steamy with the kind of twist you do so well.
Great interview ladies. Only one more week until release day. Congratulations, early, on the release. I love Samhain books.
Marika Weber
maw1725@gmail.com
Hi Anya,
So many great stories to look forward to this year. Isabelle from Witch Blood was one of my favorite characters too. And I’ve gotta say that I love your book titles.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Good interview. Love all of your books can’t wait to get my hands oh this one.
Robin
robinky42(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi there! I haven’t read your books yet, but I do have the Embraced series, I must get crackin on those! All of your books sound good, I’m really looking forward to this one. Thanks for the chance to win it. (I really like that cover by the way!! )
Artesia at comcast dot net
Great interviews. I read anything that is Anya Bast.
Great interview. The Twisted Kiss sounds good. Love the cover. Thank you for the giveaway.
I recently discovered post-apocalyptic stories and I’m really liking them. I’m trying to find more and your book sounds great. Thank you for the interview.
Great interview!
Twisted Kiss seems like its going to be Awesome! I will make sure to let the patrons know about this one when asked about post-apocalyptic stories 🙂 looking forward to it. Great Cover btw
Great interview! I love Anya Basts Fae and Witch series books! I’m looking forward to reading this one!
this is just the type of book that my daughter reads. She is always looking for new authors. I will point her your way.
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