We at TwoLips are very excited to bring you Rose Marie Wolf, author of Sweet Moon Dreams and Blood Moon, who brings her love of the paranormal to life in her stories. She also stands out for her openness and generous spirit. One of the ways that Ms. Wolf gives back is by donating a portion of the sales from her books to The Marion-Grant County Humane Society. Getting to know Ms. Wolf was very informative as well as a lot of fun. We hope that you enjoy reading this interview as much as we enjoyed conducting it!

Rose Marie, in your bio you mention how from a young age you never felt “quite normal.” Would you mind telling the readers what exactly you mean by that?

I just had a fascination with all things "not quite normal". When other girls my age were playing with Barbie dolls and dressing up, I was a re-enacting scene from Dracula with my dolls and creating my own little paranormal adventures. When other kids were reading Goosebumps books or Babysitter's Club, I was reading ghost stories and anything paranormal.

Also you talk about how a portion of your earnings goes to Marion-Grant County Humane Society. Is there a significant reason for that?

When I first began looking for a publisher for my book, Sweet Moon Dreams, I made a promise that if I were to get a publishing contract and finally make it, I would donate a part of what I earn to a charity. I wanted to give back to the community in some way. I am an animal lover, having several cats and dogs living with me, and I figured the best thing I could do was give back to the local animal shelter. I don't have a lot of free time to volunteer at the shelter, and I wanted to do something—anything—to give back. So, donating a portion of what I make from the sale of my books just seemed like the perfect thing to do. I feel better for it. I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to check out their local animal shelters and help out in any way they can.

What is the hardest part about being a writer?

Oh, that's a tough question. For me, the hardest part about being a writer is getting people interested in the books. Promoting is a big thing, and when you're on a tight budget like I am, it can get really difficult to do. I spend a lot of time looking for inexpensive or free promotional opportunities. The Internet is great for that and it has helped tremendously. I also find it hard to balance my day job, family life and writing, but I manage to get it done. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Do you do anything special to help motivate you while you're writing?

I listen to a lot of music when I write and sometimes, I'll watch television or movies. My favorite shows to watch while I’m writing anything paranormal are Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Charmed. I can pop in a DVD of Charmed, and after a few episodes, I've found I've written a lot more than I had planned to. Plus, I have a wonderful fiancé who is not afraid to tell me when I need to get to work. I love him for it.

What is the first book you remember reading?

Oh, that's been so long ago. I remember I was a big fan of anything having to do with paranormal, but I think the first book I ever read was a schoolbook. I don't remember the title, but it had something to do with a cat and a ball. I remembered looking down and seeing the word "cat" and actually reading and understanding it. I was so excited. I could read!

Do you talk to your characters?

All the time, but I try to do it when no one is watching. I don't want anyone to think I'm crazier than I already am.

Do they talk to you?

Sometimes, they won’t shut up! One particular character, Cheyenne, who is introduced in Blood Moon, has been stubbornly bugging me to work on her story, which just happens to be my Work-In-Progress at the moment. Sometimes, I just have to drop what I'm doing and listen.

What surprised you most after you first got published?

The fact that I was actually published surprised me most of all. I had been working hard at it for what seemed like forever and it actually happened. I guess I was also surprised when people began actually reading my books and emailing me to comment. That was amazing. I hadn't really expected to get a lot of comments, but it was wonderful that I did.

Are there any other aspects of writing you enjoy?

I enjoy everything about writing—except rewrites. Ugh. I hate having to go through and rework a manuscript before submission. No matter what I do, I always seemed to miss one or two little things, or maybe more than one or two. I guess it's a good thing there are some amazing editors out there. Otherwise, those mistakes might've stuck.

In recent years paranormal books have become more popular. Can you tell us why you choose the paranormal genre?

I've always been fascinated with paranormal, so it wasn't really a matter of me choosing that genre. I think the genre chose me. It just seemed…natural. Or is that supernatural?

How difficult was it to go from writing short stories to novel sized?

For me, it was quite easy. My stories always tend to grow. I can never write a short story. There always has to be so much more. With Sweet Moon Dreams, it was simply a matter of figuring out how it all fit. It grew so much that I had to break it into several other books.

How much input do you have with your book covers?

Anne Cain is the cover artist for the Moon series and she has done a fabulous job. I get to do a lot of input for the books covers. I tell Anne what I want to see, and what I don’t want to see, and describe the characters. Then she works out a draft of the art and after I view it, I email her with changes and corrections. The whole process of it produces the end result you see for the book covers.

What helps you get into the head of a man when writing the male characters in your stories?

Getting into the head of a man? That's a scary place to be… Really though, I have a wonderful fiancé who is more than willing to read over my male character's scenes. If something doesn't seem right, he'll let me know. It's always great to have a male's perspective on it. Even though he knows very little about writing, he's more than supportive of me and willing to help in whatever way he can, even if it's only to offer his perspective on things.

Where do your stories come from?

My ideas come from all over. They come from dreams and day to day observations. I get ideas from reading other books and authors, from watching movies and television. I am currently busy with a Work-in-Progress, the idea for which I got from the History Channel. When I get an idea, I write it down and then run with it.

Is there a special time you like to write? Place?

I write anytime, anywhere, but most usually I write on my days off from the day job, or at night when I get home. I just sit on the loveseat with my laptop while the television or radio plays and plug away. In a pinch, I can write in the break room at work, but I find too many distractions there.

Is it difficult to separate yourself from the story you while you are writing?

When I first began writing Sweet Moon Dreams, when it was still in its short story phase, Jason and Rose’s characters were based on my fiancé and myself. As time went on, I did learn to separate myself from the characters and they became completely different people, with different attitudes, lifestyles and appearances. Their names, however, remained the same. They just got stuck with it. I do try to get involved into the story by immersing myself in my characters’ feelings and emotions. If I'm writing a really dramatic scene, I may find myself feeling the emotions that my characters are feeling. It works vice versa. If I'm upset, I will usually write a scene in which one of my characters may be feeling the exact same thing I am.

Do you do something special to celebrate when you have a book released?

Usually, my fiancé and I have a wonderful dinner to celebrate. We may have a few drinks and just spend time together. Of course, we toast to the success of the new release and all those to come.

Do you have any advice to offer aspiring authors?

Just write what's in your hearts. Don't let others get you down. Keep writing and have fun.