So you wrote and sold a great book. Way to go!

Fans clamor for all the little extra details, the bonus peeks into how things are going for those characters after their happy ending. That’s wonderful, except you wrote those characters at least a year ago and if you’re doing it right, you’re working with a new cast to satisfy your current muse or to fulfill the current contract.

But then it’s suggested you put those brief forays and behind-the-scenes moments into a website or blog. Maybe even dive into twitter or facebook – microblogging as your character to increase your readership.

Is it worth it to wade back through the old stuff? Will the effort create something fresh and new?

More importantly, can you even connect with those characters again?

Of course you can. A character interview is a great way to catch up with characters from projects past.

Try these ideas to help make the reconnection as painless as possible: find a passage that makes you smile, remember a favorite character trait or quirk, and look over the research or your ‘out takes’ file to see what you can build from what didn’t make it into the published book.

Now that you’re back on board with the characters, put on your interviewer hat and get ready to take notes – fast.

Ask your main characters some pertinent questions about what’s transpired since you last saw them. What about their new life is most surprising? Any new or reclaimed hobbies? Seen any old enemies lurking about?

You’ve got the idea. Knowing your characters will make it easier for you to come up with much better questions. Only time and feedback will tell you if it’s fresh, but I believe it’s worth the effort.

If you’ve delivered characters fans enjoy, keeping them engaged and connected is vital to your continued success as an author. So be brave and go visit those friends you created on the page and share the fun with your fans.

Live the adventure!

Paranormal romances are the best in escapist reading and while I devour many authors, in many variations on the genre, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite paranormal romances – in no particular order.

To preface my list, you need to know my piano teacher filled the waiting room with comics: Batman, Spiderman, X-men, etc. (An effective ploy to encourage us to arrive early, I’m sure)

Those graphics swept me away from her modest basement to incredible adventures, but in my imagination, in my writer’s heart, I romanticized elaborate happily ever afters from the snippets of attraction provided by the artists and authors. (Gambit and Rogue belong together and you’ll never convince me otherwise)

And it’s only fair warning – I cheated on this list. In some instances I’ve used a paranormal romance series as one entry. I do this frequently when people make me choose a mere few for any list involving books. It comes from being a nice person and a voracious reader. Ah, well, we all must cope with our weaknesses. Here goes:

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon. The book that launched a thousand more! This is the one instance in my reading life when I finished a book and sat back so completely satisfied that I didn’t immediately pick up the next book in my to-be-read pile. Truly, I simply savored the experience – for days!

To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning. Historical? Check. Hunky hero? Check. Brave heroine? Check. Paranormal? check. Berserker legend makes this one super qualified!

The Irish Trilogy by Nora Roberts. Jewels of the Sun, Tears of the Moon, Heart of the Sea. Contemporary Nora romances – sure – but a fairy tale of her own design, while a light sub plot is enough of a paranormal romance element for me to include it here. Fine, you caught me. This trilogy (especially book 2) would show up in nearly any fave list I create. I stopped loaning out my copies of this series because they never came back (I’ve bought this set three times over – please don’t tell my husband). You want to read these? Great – get your own copy.

Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole. I’ve been hooked the Immortals After Dark series since the first book. There’s plenty of wit, wisdom and wild, brooding creatures in any of her titles.

Second Sight by Amanda Quick. This book launched the excellent Arcane Society series. These fabulous stories – in settings both historical and contemporary (w/a Jayne Anne Krentz) – will amuse, intrigue and entertain.

The beauty of this list is that people disagree with me all the time. In my opinion, that’s the point – and the greatest appeal of this wide open genre. These recommended paranormal romances had some inherent draw that spoke to me. As you read, you’ll discover something that does (or does not) speak to you and that is the best part of reading and sharing books!