Toni Andrews — Cry Mercy

Today Toni Andrews, author of the Mercy Hollings series is visiting with us. This is your chance to grill…er…ask Toni about her books, her characters, and what’s in store for readers.

At the end of the interview there is more information about the book and how to win a copy for yourself.

Welcome, Toni.

1. Congratulations on the release of your third Mercy book. Please tell us about Cry Mercy, for the readers. What was your inspiration for the book?

Cry Mercy is the third book in a series (although they don’t have to be read in order) so it developed from the growth of the title character, Mercy Hollings.

Mercy has the ability to compel people to obey her. This sound like the coolest superpower ever, until you think about it. In addition to her continuing difficulty in controlling “the press,” as she calls it, there are constant, ongoing ethical challenges.

Mercy has always been a loner but, over the course of the first two episodes, she’d developed a circle of friends. She loves them but she’s still really uncomfortable with the whole idea. In Cry Mercy, a friend is going to ask her to break her own rules in order to help him. She’s got to decide just how far she’ll go to help a friend.

2. I’ve noticed that on Amazon it has been categorized as a Gothic. I find that rather unusual. I don’t think I have seen a Gothic novel for years. Do you care to comment on that?

I love Gothics, but I have to admit that Cry Mercy is miscategorised as a Gothic Romance; it’s neither. While Mercy is a fairly dark character, she lives in a very normal world. Of course, the places she has to visit in order to help out Tino, a Chicano street gang leader, are pretty sinister.

3. Do you think the categorization detracts in any way as far as the readers are concerned? I did notice there was one reviewer on Amazon who thought that it was misleading for the first Mercy novel.

Yes and no. I think that some people who pick up a Mercy Hollings novel expecting rippling abdominal muscles and heaving bosoms will be disappointed. But I get a lot of reviews and letters from people who say, “it wasn’t what I expected but I was pleasantly surprised.”

On the other hand, I think a lot of readers who would really enjoy the series are frightened off by the Paranormal Romance classification. Some readers, men especially, are afraid they’ll get romance cooties if they walk into that section of the bookstore.

The brave men who actually read the book absolutely love it. If anything, they’re more enthusiastic than the female readers.

4. I’ve also noticed that on Amazon, there is a fourth Mercy book in the line-up. Would you like to tell us a little bit about that fourth Mercy book?

A very little, as the final version of the contract (for three more books) has yet to be signed. :) Fans of the series will be happy to know that Sukey is going to step into the spotlight, and also that they will meet the mysterious Charity. And Charity holds the key to an enormous revelation about Mercy’s origins.

5. If I had read the first book of the series alone, without knowing about the others, I would have called it a paranormal romance, yet you’ve managed to turn this into a series of at least four books. Tell me how you managed to do that. Your readers certainly like and appreciate all of them together.

I tell people that it’s a little like the X-Files. Each episode has a complete story arc but, underlying the whole thing, there’s that darn alien conspiracy.

Each of the Mercy Hollings book contains a complete story. But the “mythology” – the story of Mercy’s origins and her search for her birth parents and the world from which they come – continues.

6. There are strong elements of urban fantasy in your series—except, of course there isn’t really a full scale war. Were you conscious of the popularity of urban fantasy when you were writing the series?

I’d never actually even heard the term until my agent, Miriam Kriss of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency, told me that’s what it was. I love Urban Fantasy, but, as you say, Cry Mercy is not typical of the genre. There are no mythical creatures or alternate worlds.

7. Do you think you’ll keep writing the series for as long as fans want you to or do you think there will be a natural end to the series?

Right now, I love the characters and can see them continuing for a long time. I’m inspired by Sue Grafton—I remember reading A is for Alibi when it came out in 1982. She’s coming out with U is for Undertow this December!

8. And what next from Toni Andrews for readers?

More Mercy Hollings books, of course. And I’m working on a straight-ahead women’s fiction novel right now. Several publishers are interested. My agent calls it “Sex in the City meets The First Wives Club.” I read an excerpt aloud on a VLog a couple of weeks ago, setting off a “tell me about your bad date” contest—your readers can watch that here.

Thanks so much for having me, Tracy!

___________________________

Here’s some more information about Toni’s latest Mercy Hollings installment.

Book Trailer:

Anyone who leaves a comment for Toni goes into the drawer to win a copy of Cry Mercy, with entries being closed by 8pm July 10, MST. Also:

A link to send your Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to get a signed book plate for your copy
Toni’s Blog
Toni’s TV show

Links to purchase the book:

Mira Books (discounted while they last!),
Amazon Amazon UK,
Barnes and Noble,
Indigo Books (Canada),
Rendezvous Romance (Australia)

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