Yolanda Sfetsos Talks About Inspiration

On Pins and Needles

by Yolanda Sfetsos

Sierra Fox, Book 3

All it takes is one freak to turn everything into a demonic ritual.

Sierra Fox’s relationship with sexy werewolf Jason Papan is going great, but it doesn’t take a psychic to tell her someone’s out to get her. As usual, though, there’s too much else going on to worry about just another assassination attempt.

In addition to the demon-possessed freaks that still want her, a whole new bucket of trouble has been dumped in her path. The half-sister Sierra never knew she had isn’t a typical teenager. Willow comes with supernatural baggage that grows heavier every time someone close to her dies. And the load gets bigger every time the police find the body of another young girl.

Now Sierra’s not only dealing with the target on her own back, but the one that a power-hungry woman has painted on her poltergeist-magnet sister. As she finds herself drawn into the thick of a murder investigation, Sierra must face her deepest fears and embrace the darkest of her powers to overcome the looming threat. Or the prediction of her death might just come true.

Warning: Spook catching: never gets any easier, neither does trying to avoid being killed by a shadowy organization. Always expect the unexpected—dangerous vampires, poltergeists and demon-obsessed freaks. At least the werewolf is pleasurably safe.

ON PINS AND NEEDLES is now available from Samhain Publishing.

Inspiration

Hello, it's nice to be here today. Firstly, I'd like to thank The Book Nympho for having me over.

The third book in my urban fantasy series was released a few days ago from Samhain Publishing. On Pins and Needles is part of the ongoing story of Sierra Fox—a spook catcher from Sydney, Australia. Her life keeps getting more complicated and dangerous with each installment.

I remember when this character was nothing but a small idea with big potential. Years ago, hubby and I watched a movie called Thirteen Ghosts. It wasn’t a great movie, but the ghost hunter angle totally captivated me. Afterwards, I remember the whispers of a character and the beginnings of a world where ghosts lived alongside humans starting to take shape. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was a spark that I carried around for a while. Until I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

That was how Sierra and her world were born. It took me several years to actually write it, and the first book went through some pretty severe changes. I think I rewrote it twice, until everything started to flow together and led into a much bigger story.

Inspiration strikes when I least expect it, but when it does I know it’s best to jot everything down as soon as it hits. Something really small can spark it—like a not-so-great horror movie, lol—but my subconscious can turn it into a whole story pretty quickly. There are also particular times when I get inspired—going for a walk usually floods my mind with ideas, snippets, and even answers to problems I might have been pondering beforehand.

I find research really inspiring too. Sometimes while researching, I might be reading over an article and something clicks into place. While I was brainstorming On Pins and Needles I was especially inspired by a picture I found online of a mythological creature. As soon as I saw it, I knew exactly who the villain would be!

Like I said, inspiration can strike just about anywhere and anytime. I just have to make sure I have a pen and paper handy, or my Galaxy Note. ;)

What inspires you?

Thanks for reading, Yolanda

Wife. Mother. Writer. Bibliophile. Dreamer. Animal lover. Intrigued by the supernatural. Horror freak. Zombie enthusiast. Movie & music fan. Slave to her muse. Yolanda lives in Sydney, Australia with her awesome husband, lovely daughter, and cheeky cat.

  

Review: A Patch of Darkness by Yolanda Sfetsos

A Patch of Darkness
by Yolanda Sfetsos 
(Sierra Fox, #1)
Urban Fantasy
★★★

In a perfect world, Sierra Fox would have stayed away from the Council she left years ago. But in this world—where spirits have the right to walk among the living—it’s her job to round up troublesome spooks and bring them before that very same Council.

Though her desk is piled high with open cases, she can’t resist an anonymous summons to a mysterious late-night meeting with a bunch of other hunters, each of whom seems to have a unique specialty. The news is dire: something is tearing at the fabric of the universe. If the hunters can’t find who or why in time, something’s going to give in a very messy way.

As current cases, family secrets, new clues and her tangled love life slowly wind themselves into an impossible knot, Sierra finds herself the target of a power-sucking duo intent on stealing her mojo. And realizing she holds the key to the last hope of sealing the widening rift. (From Goodreads)

REVIEW:

A Patch of Darkness is the first installment of the Sierra Fox urban fantasy series. Sierra is a ghost catcher, who owns her own agency, but she must follow the rulers set by the Ghost Catcher Council.

When she notices demons are now crossing over into her world, she decides to investigate. She is teamed up with various otherworldly creatures, such as vampires, werewolves, witches and more, to find the tear that is allowing other beings to crossover. This book is rounded by double agents and a little romance. Sierra has a boyfriend but there is some sexual tension between Sierra and a coworker – I would like to see how that little love triangle plays out in the coming books. As for secondary characters, there were a lot and there are many loose ends. Honestly, Sierra’s character was a bit hard for me to identify with, she is indecisive, which was a tad annoying.

The next book is Split at the Seams and I've already added it to my to read list. If you enjoy urban fantasy this is a good read. The world building and back story is intriguing and gives the reader something to look forward to in the next book.