Today I’m excited to introduce you to the author, Nikki Rae! She has just recently completed The Sunshine Series, a dark romantic paranormal tale for the new adult crowd. I’ve followed her online for a few years now, from the beginning of this series, and can tell you that Nikki Rae loves what she does–sharing stories. In only six questions, we cover why she likes to tell dark stories, her fears, Halloween costumes, book recommendations, and what she’s working on next! Let’s jump in…
You write dark, scary, romantic tales. Why do you like to tell these stories?
I’ve always gravitated towards darker things. I think the reason is because sometimes dark subject matter can be done in an over dramatic way, and I wanted to make it more realistic for readers. Romance is a fun element to include, and I like trying to scare people, but I also think it’s important to explore the darker spots in human nature, to recognize that they’re there, and see what the possible outcomes can be.
What scares you?
Well, spiders. Aside from that, aliens or anything having to do with space. Mermaids and water. Anything vast where not all of it has been explored.
What was your very best Halloween costume?
I think the best costume I ever had was one year I went as Xena, Warrior Princess, but everyone thought I was a witch with armor on. I didn’t even care. I got to carry around a sword and a chakra made out of cardboard and tinfoil and I was by far the coolest fourth grader ever.
If you could get us to read one dark or scary story, what would it be?
ooh. That’s a tough one. I’d say one of my favorite fictional ones is Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott, and Neil Gaiman has a few short stories that are scarier and darker, my favorite being “The Price”. Non-fiction wise, I pick Augusten Burroughs every time.
I would be remiss not to mention that you’ve just completed a trilogy! Congratulations! What’s next for you?
Thank you! Next up is a stand alone spin off novel that is centered more around horror and suspense than The Sunshine Series is. I’m very excited about that one. : )
Anything else you’d like us to know about you & the dark?
Okay, don’t laugh, but I used to be terrified of the dark. Not because it was “The Dark”, but because I couldn’t see anything. I think it probably has something to do with the whole being afraid of “vastness” and not knowing what could be underneath it all. But now I really like the dark. I can sit for hours in a dark room. Weird.
About Sunshine, the first in The Sunshine Series:
18 year old Sophie Jean is pretty good at acting normal. Sure, she’s not exactly happy, but happiness is nothing compared to being like everyone else. She can pretend she’s not allergic to the sun. She can hide what her ex-boyfriend did to her. She can cover up the scars she’s made for herself. Ignore anything. Forget anything. Then Myles enters her life, and he has more than a few secrets of his own. When accident after accident keeps happening to Sophie, she can’t help noticing that he’s everywhere. That he knows too much. That she’s remembering too much.
It’s one thing covering up her own dark past, but does she really need to worry about people finding out just how much Myles likes her? Or that despite how much she doesn’t want to repeat past mistakes, she kind of likes him back? Not to mention the fact that she now has to conceal that Myles drinks blood-that he says he’s about four hundred years old.
She almost forgot about that part.
But Sophie has no plans to ruin the normal life she has created for herself. She can deal with this little glitch, no problem. Even if word has gotten around to the wrong vampire about Sophie and Myles, even if she’s putting the few people she loves at risk. Suddenly, those who were monsters before are just people, and the monsters? They’re real. Now being a normal human being is the least of her problems. Now she has to stay alive.
Find Sunshine on Amazon.
About Nikki Rae:
Nikki Rae is a student and writer who lives in New Jersey. She is an independent author and has appeared numerously on Amazon Best Seller lists. She is the author of The Sunshine Series and concentrates on making her imaginary characters as real as possible. She writes mainly dark, scary, romantic tales, but she’ll try anything once. When she is not writing, reading, or thinking, you can find her spending time with animals, drawing in a quiet corner, or studying people. Closely.
You can follow her on facebook, twitter, or blog and check out her books on Amazon.