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M. L. Lacy Madonna Lacy is the author of Chrysalis – The Awakening. Her intense love for the Rocky Mountains, and the American West, are often reflected in her story lines for her Chrysalis series.  A vivid imagination of places and people allows her to create fictional worlds that push established storytelling boundaries. M.L. Lacy is married living in far north Forth Worth, Texas, is the mother of two sons, and the grandmother of three granddaughters. http://www.filedby.com/author/m_l_lacy/3473516       Books-And-Authors.net:  Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?   M. L. Lacy: I’m from Indiana. My early childhood was spent in Anderson where I attended St. Ambrose until the 8th grade. Then we moved to the country and I graduated from Frankton High School. I wouldn’t say I was an avid reader. I was more of a dreamer and my imagination was always in play. I would take the stories I had in my head and build on them until I was satisfied. But, I never thought about putting pen to paper and being a writer. I couldn’t see myself sitting at a typewriter, (personal computers weren’t available), and typing out a story. I preferred to think it and tell it. I loved science fiction when I was growing up, still do. I always had witches, vampires, and werewolves in my stories. It wasn’t until about five years ago when I decide to write and of course, what started off as a small story soon grew into a 600-page novel.         Books-And-Authors.net:  Why do you write?   M. L. Lacy: It relaxes me. I can escape into my imagination. Plus I challenge myself.       Books-And-Authors.net:  Who is Bree Campbell? who is Esmeralda? Who is Steven? Who is Thomas?   M. L. Lacy: Bree is the heroine of the story. Currently, she is 32, mortal and full of surprises.   Esmeralda is her arch nemesis, and the evil-doer of the series. And Thomas…well you’ll just have to read the book.       Books-And-Authors.net:  I looked up the word A "Chrysalis" and wikipedia.org returned " (Latin chrysallis, or nympha is the pupal stage of butterflies. The term is derived from the metallic gold-colouration found in the pupae of many butterflies referred to by the Greek term χρυσός (chrysós) for gold." Explain your book title and how it relates to the story? M. L. Lacy: The heroine has been protected all her life from the evil forces that wish to see her dead. Her family and a clan of vampires have kept her wrapped in a cocoon of their protection. As Book 1 begins, she is at the age of transitioning into a very powerful magical. She’s coming into her own, she learning about her new world– she is developing and unfolding her wings (figuratively not literally) as she starts to gain the knowledge that has been kept from her.         Books-And-Authors.net:  The vampire genre is "HOT" right now -- What will readers find different in Chrysalis - The Awakening: Book 1 & Chrysalis - Tribulations: Book 2 from vampire books/stories/movies that are out there now?     M. L. Lacy: I am taking you through Bree’s world. I have the main plot and a few subplots going. It’s a very busy world for Aubrey Marie Campbell and I want you to travel with me as we go through a month in the life…   My worlds are my way; my worlds are not your normal paranormal realms. I never followed the mythical rules about those creatures. My reasoning was, they had been around forever, so surely, like all things, they had evolved. I want to blend my characters with the mortals.   I have Traditional vampires but I also have the Non-conformist (non-coms for short), those that still drink human blood, they go about getting it in a different manner. They come out in the day, well, the Traditional’s do prefer the night, but anyone in the Magical realm could be your doctor, your lawyer, your teacher or plumber.   My Magical’s, which is what I call their race, are so very different from mortals, yet in so many ways they are just like mortals.       Books-And-Authors.net:  So now let's discuss your new book Chrysalis - Tribulations: Book 2 -- Where are you taking your characters that will challenge them more than book 1?   M. L. Lacy: Each member is growing into their ‘skin’, as book 2 unfolds, all their personalities are coming into play and I want the reader to develop their own closeness to each member.   Bree’s protectors will also have to come to terms Bree. They have protected her all her life, and now that she is aware of this Realm, she’s starting to do things her way.   And Bree, herself, is becoming close to her clan as she struggles to understand their views and their ways.         Books-And-Authors.net:  In another interview you say "I take pieces of people and mold them into my characters so you can't point a finger and say 'I know who that is.' " – Explain.   M. L. Lacy: When my friends started reading my story, they kept trying to figure out who each character was in the book. I didn’t have anyone person in mine when I started to develop them. They are a blending of many different traits from many different people to get the personalities I wanted for that one individual. So Steven, or Rick or Bree is not like anyone I know because they are a composite of many different people, but I know my characters completely.       Books-And-Authors.net:  What is it about the paranormal genre you enjoy? And why?   M. L. Lacy: The impossible and the possible. You can let your imagination go wild with both. There are no rules. You can create worlds to get lost in. Yes, you can do that with normal fiction, but then you have to follow the rules of nature. But the paranormal world opens up avenues of make believe with no limits.         Books-And-Authors.net:  If Hollywood called and asked you to personally cast Chrysalis series into 2 different films or a mini series - Who would you cast and why?   M. L. Lacy: Oh dear…it would have to stay with the age group of my characters…I haven’t a clue. I have always enjoyed Richard Dean Anderson and I could see him as Rick. David Tennant would make a good Steven. Betty White or Angela Lansbury would make a good Mildred. Allison Scagliotti would make a good Bree. Colin Ferguson would make a good Stanley, or Gary or Billy. Jerry Lacy would make a terrific Thomas (that goes back to my Dark Shadow’s days). Sharon Stone as Esmeralda.         Books-And-Authors.net:  What are readers saying about the Chrysalis series ?   M. L. Lacy: I have heard repeatedly how I draw you into the plot and make you feel as if you are part of the story.  Many have commented on my writing style. It’s relax and common – it’s normal. I’m telling you a story and you don’t want to put the book down. And, much to my delight I am constantly asked when the next book will be out.       Books-And-Authors.net:  What do you hope to achieve with the Chrysalis series ? M. L. Lacy: To bring you along as this story unfolds. I want you to have a vested interest in the out come. I want you to care about these people and I want you to be jubilant when the evil looses and the good wins. I want you to feel you have taken part in making it happen. I want you eagerly turn each page to find out what happens and hate to put the book down. And finally, I want you to be happy with the ending, upset that it has ended and desperately wanting the next saga. That’s what I want for this series. Have I achieved that? Most of my readers think so; you will have to decide on your own if this story compels you to read on and imagine the possibilities.           Books-And-Authors.net:  What was the last book you read?   M. L. Lacy: Steve Berry—the Charlemagne Pursuit       Books-And-Authors.net:  What's next?   M. L. Lacy: I’m working on another series. It’s going a little slower as this series is still so strong in my mind.       Books-And-Authors.net:  Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?   M. L. Lacy: I paint – not in the typical fashion. I paint by dotting the picture, much like the aboriginal artwork. I scrapbook—which tells stories through the pictures. I belong to a writer’s group. And I people watch—not sure that’s a hobby but I get ideas from it, make up stories about the people.

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