Juliana Stone, Interview by Michelle M. Pillow
(Originally published in Paranormal Underground Magazine)

Juliana Stone, Interview
By Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com

Paranormal Romance author, Juliana Stone, has lived an interesting life. This Canadian rock star toured with an all female band before settling down as a wife and mother, though it is rumored she still sneaks out for a gig now and again. However, over the last few years music has taken a back seat to writing. New York Times Bestseller, Christine Feehan, has called Juliana’s newest release, His Darkest Hunger (Avon Books, March 30, 2010), a “fantastic fresh world (that’s) impossible to put down.”

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Q: In your book, His Darkest Hunger, you delve into the world of shapeshifters, vampires and black magick. What inspired you to write about this?

JulianaI’ve always loved the idea of sleek sexy shifters, so when I was deciding on what kind of shapeshifter to feature, black jaguars were my number one choice.

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

Juliana:I knew I wanted to write about jaguars and while researching them came across the Jaguar Warriors and Eagle Warriors from the Aztec culture. They were fierce and became the basis for the world I created.

Q: What myths or legends inspired you?

Juliana:I don’t think any one in particular, but I certainly loved the idea that the jaguar warriors were linked to the dark underworld.

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

Juliana:I think we love to escape. No, I think we need to escape. I think that most adults are overworked, over stimulated that the world we live in can easily leave us weary. Books, music and movies help us to escape, and the paranormal world takes us anywhere and everywhere, with dangerous heroes and strong heroines. These kinds of stories challenge our imaginations in a way, a contemporary doesn’t. It’s also very rock and roll!

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

Juliana:I love True Blood, Supernatural and Vampire diaries. I also love all the Resident Evil movies! As for books there are way too many to name, although Christine Feehan is a fave!

Q: Do you believe in the supernatural? Or are you a skeptic?

Juliana:Nope, totally believe. Saw a ghost for reals when I was a teenager.

Q: Have you ever had a paranormal experience?

Juliana:When I was about 12 I was visited in my room by a very old lady. A picture had fallen off the wall and woke me up and there she was at the end of my bed. She was dressed very old fashioned and just stared at me. It scared the crap out of me at the time. I remember I could see her feet as if she was floating off the floor. Months later my father was knocking down walls to make a room larger (we lived in a century home) and in the walls were pictures, photos of young children and old fashioned cars….and guess who was in them?

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

Juliana:I would love to meet a shifter, any kind will do.

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

Juliana:I think it would be amazing to have such strong magick that you could actually change your physical body into something dark, sexy and strong!

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

Juliana:I’d probably say “Holy F—k” and hope like hell it was a friendly!

Q: What does the future hold for your jaguars?

Juliana:The Jaguar Warriors is my first series for Avon and it revolves around three sexy brothers. I’ve very excited to tell all of their stories. There will be the whole end of the world thing for them to deal with, but hey, they’ve all got strong women in their corners ready to deal.

Q: Have you ever been to a psychic and/or a past life regression? What did they predict for you?

Juliana:I went to a psychic once….she told me I’d outlive 3 husbands! LOL, I never did tell my husband that particular piece of info.

Q: Have you ever been abducted by aliens?

Juliana:Um, that would be a big NO…at least not that I remember….although there is that strange mark on my…

Thanks for joining us, Juliana!

You can learn more about Juliana and her books at her website, www.julianastone.com.