Suzanne Interviews Amanda Quick

Suzanne: Your new Amanda Quick hardcover, SECOND SIGHT, hits stores this week. You've written a lot of books under your three different pen names (bet most of you didn't know I was a master/mistress of understatement) but you seem really excited about this one. Please tell us why.

Amanda/Jayne: You're right, I'm really jazzed about SECOND SIGHT. It's the launch book in my new series featuring The Arcane Society, a secret Victorian-era group dedicated to psychic/paranormal research. I've always loved working with the psychic stuff and this book gave me my chance to weave it into one of my novels of historical romantic-suspense.

Suzanne: I've read SECOND SIGHT and absolutely loved it! But for the sake of your readers who haven't had that pleasure yet, please share more with us.

Amanda/Jayne: My heroine, Venetia Milton, is a Victorian-era photographer with the psychic ability to see peoples' auras. Most of the time this is pretty cool because it enhances her talent for taking insightful portraits. But one night she witnesses a murder. The only thing she sees clearly is the killer's aura but that is more than enough to put her life in jeopardy.

Suzanne: I have to tell you that Venetia's particular talent fascinates me. Are there any other problems in store for her?

Amanda/Jayne: Yes, indeed. A while back she had a one night stand with a mysterious man she believes is conveniently dead. Now she's posing as his widow. The fake identity seemed like a good idea at the time and, after all, what harm could there be in pretending to be Mrs. Jones? The man is dead and her photography business is flourishing...

Turns out there is nothing like having a dead husband come back from the grave to ruin a fine spring morning and play havoc with your neatly arranged life.

Suzanne: Gotta admit that part made me laugh out loud! I love the humor in your books. I think it's one aspect of your amazing talent that has gone underappreciated. (Is there such a word?)

Amanda/Jayne: I suspect that is the case because not everyone gets my sense of humor. Needless to say, I am profoundly grateful to readers who do!

Suzanne: So, what does a Victorian lady do when she discovers an inconvenient husband on her doorstep?

Amanda/Jayne: Well, Venetia consigns her "husband' to the attic.

Suzanne: LOLOLOLOL Now tell us a bit more about your hero-in-the-attic.

Amanda/Jayne: Gabriel Jones is the Master of the mysterious Arcane Society. He's endowed with some powerful psychic talents and he's more than a little annoyed, to say the least, to discover that he's got a "wife". Also, he's not used to sleeping in an attic. But he feels a responsibility to protect Venetia. After all, when she appropriated his last name she had no way of knowing that she would attract the attentions of the very dangerous psychic killer who is out to destroy him.

Suzanne: I don't want to give away too much of this wonderful story, (which, as a reader, I hope is the first of many about The Arcane Society) but is there anything else you're willing to share with us about SECOND SIGHT?

Amanda/Jayne: One of the things that makes this series unusual is that it will cross over into my contemporary romantic-suspense word. The next Arcane Society novel, WHITE LIES, will be out next January under my Jayne Ann Krentz name. In that book we'll meet some of the modern-day descendents of The Arcane Society. The heroine of that story is a human lie-detector. Talk about having a psychic talent that can ruin your social life. Like, what man wants to date a woman who can detect every lie? A guy can even say he'll call you....

Suzanne: I can't wait! January 2007, you say? I'm going to mark that date on my calendar. Now, I'd also like to tell readers that SECOND SIGHT is in stores as we speak. They can also order a copy from any of the links below (Psst: amazon is offering 33% off and b&n.com will give you 30% off. Great deals! As for the Seattle Mystery Bookshop -- no discount -- but it does have signed copies which make terrific gifts).

P.S. Trust me, you're in for a real treat!