This interview was originally published in Paranormal Underground Magazine, Oct 2009

Mandy M. Roth, Interview
By Michelle M. Pillow

October is an exciting month for lovers of the paranormal. The veil between worlds becomes a little more transparent, goblins and ghouls traipse the neighborhoods in search of candy and all over the world people are celebrating— Halloween, Samhain, Ancestor Night, Feast of the Dead, All Hallows Eve, Old Hallowmas, Hallowmass, Samana, Samhuinn, Samonios, The Feast of Sam-fuim and Geimhreadh. It is why I chose this wonderful month to begin a series of monthly paranormal author interviews.

First, a little about me, your interviewer: I’m a multi-published, award-winning author writing in many fiction genres including futuristic, paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy and dark paranormal. I’m also a co-owner of The Raven, where readers can enjoy a free, ongoing story. I’m a photographer, a skeptical believer and a huge fan of Paranormal Underground Magazine. So, you can imagine my excitement in being a small part of such a wonderful team!

For my first interview, I thought it highly appropriate to invite my Raven co-owner, an extraordinary paranormal and dark urban fantasy author, Mandy M. Roth, to join me. Mandy and I have co-authored several titles together and co-host Raven Radio. She’s highly prolific with over fifty published books and a book cover artist. Her latest book, Force of Attraction, releases this month (Oct. 9) from Samhain Publishing.

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Q: In your book, Force of Attraction, you delve into the world of futuristic paranormals with vampires, shifters and shamans. What inspired you to write about this?

Mandy:I have big love for anything sci-fi and futuristic. Combine that with my passion for the paranormal and you get Project Exorcism (series name).

Q: When world building, did you base your story off of known myths throughout history?

Mandy: I’ve borrowed from the Eastern European vampire myths, legends of were creatures from all walks of mythology and also a good deal of Native American-like supernatural aspects. I also took from history and humans’ ignorance to things they don’t understand or fear. So many times throughout history humans have tried to destroy what they don’t understand. In my series, Project Exorcism, the people on Earth gathered all the supernaturals and loaded them on multiple space vessels, sending them off to unmanned, habitable planets. Only one of the many crafts actually arrived at its assigned destination. The others crashed on various planets, causing the supernaturals on board to have to integrate with the humanoids at each location. Some did so without issue. Others, like the main villain in the storyline, decided to seize control and take advantage of everything at his disposal.

Q: Why do you think readers, and society in general, are fascinated by the paranormal?

Mandy:I think the unknown element is what draws so many people to the paranormal. Your imagination is really the only limit. Plus, throughout history man has turned to the supernatural and myths to explain what they couldn’t understand. I think it’s just natural.

Q: Do you have any paranormal pet projects?

Mandy:I co-host/co-author an online, free, ongoing paranormal story and radio show with fellow author Michelle M Pillow (hey, you might know her… grin).

Michelle: Nope, the name isn’t ringing any bells, lol

Q: Does your family have any special Halloween traditions? I know it’s your favorite holiday.

Mandy:Halloween is a big deal here at the Roth house. I even have a Halloween tree (similar to an xmas tree). We generally bake themed cookies, cakes, gingerbread houses, bob for apples, make popcorn balls, carve pumpkins (one year my brother had a pumpkin so big that an electric handsaw was required to carve it). We’ll often do some themed craft projects here as well as talk about Samhain and All Hallows Eve. I always dress up and pass out candy for the local kids. We also watch the cartoon version of The Legend of Sleepy Hallow every Halloween. I’m not sure why but I love that movie.

Q: What are your favorite paranormal shows, movies and books?

Mandy:Dracula by Bram Stroker, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstien, early Stephen King, Dark Shadows TV show from way back when, Being Human on the BBC and countless others.

Q: Do you believe in the supernatural?

Mandy:Of course.

Q: Have you ever had a paranormal experience?

Mandy:Growing up, I dabbled a lot in things better left unsaid. During that timeframe, many unexplainable things happened to me. As I grew up, matured and stopped the insanity, the oddness around me lessened but never fully went away.

Q: What kind of paranormal creatures do you wish you could meet?

Mandy: Vampire, werewolf, werecat of some sort just to make it even, a faerie, goblin, zombie, ghost, the grassman, bigfoot, etc. Okay. Any. The only one I’d not want to meet is the mothman. He wigs me out for some reason.

Q: If given the chance, would you become a vampire?

Mandy:Heck yeah! I don’t have any aversions to blood, living forever sounds good to me and I already avoid sunlight as much as possible. Can I take my answer back if vampires turn out to be hideous, drooling, mindless monsters?

Q: How would you react if you came face to face with a vampire?

Mandy:Honestly, I’m known to take things in stride. I’d most likely end up best buddies with it by the end of the night and be chatting it up on the net or cell phones the next night. It’s just the way I am. I do know I’d annoy the poor thing with endless questions on the myths surrounding them.

Q: What does the future hold for your writing?

Mandy:I have a Harlequin Spice Brief releasing sometime in the near future and am hoping to fill my schedule at my current publishers as well. Other than that, the sky is the limit.

Thanks for joining us, Mandy!

You can learn more about Mandy, her artwork and her books at her website, www.mandyroth.com. For The Raven, visit www.ravenhappyhour.com.

Interviewer Michelle M. Pillow is an award winning author of over sixty published books. She writes in many romance fiction genres and can be found at www.michellepillow.com.