1) Where can I find a copy of DARK RAPTURE?

— Unfortunately, copies of DARK RAPTURE are rare. The initial print run was small, and they sold out a few months after release in January of 1997. You may find one in a used book store. Amazon and eBay also sell used books. If I had copies of DARK RAPTURE, I would offer them for sale on my web site, but alas, I've but 4 books myself.

2) What's up with the sequel to DARK RAPTURE, titled WICKED ANGELS?

— I had initially sold the sequel to Zebra about a year after selling them DARK RAPTURE. It was scheduled for a 1998 release. But at the last minute it was decided that the vampire market was dead at the time. (No pun intended, but heck, take it however you like.) WICKED ANGELS was dropped from the publishing schedule and replaced with MY LADY MADNESS.

WICKED ANGELS takes place about a year following the events in DARK RAPTURE. There is no new romance, though Sebastian and Scarlet's relationship is put to the test by Vince Lyons. I particularly love this story because there are two flashbacks; one to medieval Spain, the other to 18th century Venice. (I like flashbacks.) :-)

I did sell WICKED ANGELS to the electronic publisher Dreams Unlimited, and it was for sale in 1999. That e-publisher no longer exists, and the rights to WICKED ANGELS have returned to me. Now the story is...well, just sitting there. I think it would be great to reprint DARK RAPTURE, then offer WICKED ANGELS a few months later. If WICKED ANGELS ever does see print, then I'll start working on the third story I've planned for the series, GYPSY.

GYPSY takes place after Sebastian was transformed to a vampire, and before he meets Scarlet. (But if you've read DARK RAPTURE you know Scarlet was there when Sebastian was transformed. Figure that one out!) Anyway, GYPSY is set in 19th century Andalusia, and features lots of flamenco guitar and dancing and even a bull-fight or two. This one promises to be fun. But I haven't started the story yet, and will not until perhaps it is sold to a publisher.

Additional note about the vampire series: You must understand, when I wrote DARK RAPTURE I was not writing a 'romance'. I was just writing this vampire story that had been in my head for a while and needed to be put on paper. I wasn't an avid romance reader at the time, nor did I know who or what RWA was. So I sent off DR to a New York publisher in hopes of being published. It sold. I finally asked my editor (about two months before publication) just what the spine would read. Will it say 'horror'? Or 'fiction'? Her reply, (to my sweet little idiotic self) was it's a romance. Ah! So that was the first time I realized I had written romantic fiction. Though, if you ask me now, I still think it's a little edgy for romance.

Anyway! By the time I'd begun to learn about romance and etc., WICKED ANGELS had already been written. It wasn't written to be the traditional romance sequel where another set of characters from the previous story are given their chance at a love affair. It was simply written as a 'what happens next' story. And that's the way I like it; that's the way I'll keep it. Because of that, though, I'm sure I'll have great difficulty convincing a romance publisher to even read it. Sure, there's romance. Sebastian and Scarlet are back together again. There's a flashback story that parallel's the first half of the book featuring a 13th century Spanish vampire couple. But it's not classic romance. Nor is it entirely a mainstream fiction book. (I would compare it to the continuation series ala Anne Rice, but heck, who am I?)

3) How come you only write stories set in France?

—France? Paris? The 17th and 18th century! I love 'em! And what setting is more romantic than Paris? I have this great fascination with France, particularly Paris. I've not yet been out of the United States, but I did just apply for my passport, so I'm ready to go! Attribute my fascination to the wonderful stories set in that country, including THE THREE MUSKETEERS, CYRANO DE BERGERAC, and DANGEROUS LIAISONS. And boy, can the French make good movies. (Check out LE PACTE DES LOUP. It's excellent. For more movie recomendations, check my Must-See Movies list.)

And just for those who are keeping track...DARK RAPTURE was set in contemporary Los Angeles. (With, of course, time travel to 18th century Paris.) And FLAWLESS is my first book to feature multiple settings, including, Paris, London, Berlin and New York.

4) Why aren't more romances set in France?

— I don't know! They are few and far between. And what surprises me most is that readers are always commenting that they enjoy my stories, and are delightly surprised at the location. So why are the majority of historical romances set in England and Scotland? You got me. I've always wondered if it was that the research material for those countries is so much more available than that on France. I'm sure that's not it.

5) How long did it take you to sell your first book?

— Six months. I spent two years writing DARK RAPTURE, then, studied the market and decided on a publisher. The first publisher I sent the story to called me six months later with an offer to buy. The rest, as they say, is history!

6) Who the heck is Michele Hauf? I've never seen a picture of her.

— Well that's because I'm extremely camera shy. Heck, I'm just plain shy. If you've spoken to me at a conference or book signing, (or at least tried to hold a conversation with me) you might have noticed that I'm just a quiet chick. And that's the way I like it. I do have a photo around here...somewhere. And I know there's a picture of my lovely visage up at Vampire Vixens. ;-)

7) Who's Bob?

—That would be my son. But his real name is not Bob. Go figure. :-)

8) What about the rest of your family?

— There is a Girl and a Hubby, as well as two Cats.

9) Why aren't you writing historicals anymore?

— I am writing historicals, I'm just not selling them at the moment. Historicals are my first love. I will never stop writing them.