30 Days of Demons, Day 16: Michele Hauf Back to Blog
Update: Time for winners! The winner of FAERIES GONE WILD is Barb Patric! And the winner of THE HIGHWAYMAN is bridget3420! Congrats!!!
I’m actually in the middle of reading Michele Hauf‘s latest release now (FAERIES GONE WILD), and I’ve got to say–it’s great. 🙂 If you’re looking for a hot paranormal author, then should definitely check out Michele’s stories. Welcome, Michele!
(And, guess what? Michele will be giving out not just one great prize today, but two!! She will giveaway a signed copy of THE HIGHWAYMAN and a copy of FAERIES GONE WILD. Be sure to comment for your chance to win!)
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I Kissed A Demon (And I Liked It)
Ok, so I didn’t actually kiss one. That would be…creepy. But I am coming around, meaning, I’m finally beginning to see the sexy side of demons.
My first paranormal romance, Dark Rapture (pubbed in ‘97) was about vampires. I lurve me some vampire. Vampires. Nom. I’ve been very happy writing vampires. They are sexy, aristocratic, never have one of those orange overdone suntans, and even if they do bite on the first date, it’s a kiss to remember.
The paranormal romance genre has exploded over the past few years. Werewolves are seeing their day in the spotlight. I never had an interest in the hairy dudes. Leave them for those authors who write them well. Until a werewolf walked in as a secondary character in one of my stories. Oh, man, I love those hairy guys now!
Which brings me to demons. Demons, to me, used to fall on the same level as werewolves. No, to be honest, they were actually much lower, the lowest of the low when it came to feasible romantic heroes. I just could not see not. Couldn’t wrap my head around a demonic being actually being tender and a love interest. Case in point: I did the Dark Enchantments series with three friends for Nocturne. Each of the other three had demon heroes. I told them “Nope, can’t do it. Can’t do a heroic demon.” So in my book, I had a demon hunter who slayed every demon in sight. And my upcoming July release, The Highwayman, features another demon slayer. He wields a whip that glows with anti-demon sigils, slicing demon heads off left and right. Hey, it’s fun kicking demon butt!
But some switch flipped in my brain recently. I confess, my current work in progress features a demon hero. A real live, conjured-from-the-depths-of-Hell demon. I initially balked at this hero. What the heck? He should be the villain, yes? How can some demon whose flesh is forged from black steel and whose black blood runs with a rage for slaying angels ever hold a mortal heroine tenderly and understand the concept of love? That’s when the switch flipped. What an awesome challenge! I’ve always liked dark, damaged heroes, and demons are as dark and damaged as they come. What a man to try and redeem on the page! (And if he looks like Gerard Butler? Oh yeah!)
So I guess what I’ve learned (and am constantly learning) is never say never when it comes to the paranormal and the vast variety of characters a writer can play with. I’ve expanded my reading interests with this new attitude as well. Used to be all—wait for it—vampires. Now I slip some demons into my TBR pile every once in a while, alongside the weres and faeries and shapeshifters.
Demons rock!
you are so right: demons rock! So keep them coming and we’ll keep reading them. Congratulations on your books, they are wonderful.
Demon’s definitely make wonderful heroes. There’s just something about them that makes you like them, at least for me. Can’t wait to read the Highwayman.
Where demons have an advantage is the food issue. Demons can probably sit down at a Chili’s with you and eat some spicy food. In fact, the hotter the better! Something the average vamp can’t do. And you don’t want to dine at Chili’s with a werewolf. Seriously. They have lousy table manners.
Demons rock. I look forward to checking out your books especially the Highwayman.
i love demons in books and fairies im in the middle of reading a lil of both i enjoy all sorts of paranormals but the ones with the hero with a past that needs to fix wrong doings and come out on top
I’m now really getting into reading about demons, since this is my favorite genre to read. I enjoy the Paranormal no matter what kind of characters are in them.
i used to read only vampire stories. After reading great reviews for werewolf and demon books,I’ve added them to my list. Now I have a huge TBR pile.
That cover for The Highwayman is great.
I agree Demons Rock!! I am obsessed with all things paranormal!!
So great to hear everyone is getting into demons! (and faeries)
I thought The Highwayman cover is great too. I imagined the hero looking a bit like Jared Padalecki (Sam!), and I think they got close enough.
Michele
I agree: Demons Rock! Love the cover to The Highwayman.
I used to read only vampires and werewolves, but now that I’ve found demons I love them! They really are wonderful heroes!
Hi Michele! I use to have your book Dark Rapture, and well I honestly don’t know what happened to it. I just remember loving the cover, and it was an awesome book!
But yeah I never gave demons much thought before. I knew of them just never gave them much thought of being the heros until recent books started. Then I was like “Wow, this is new and I like it. Different”
Great cover and if he is the demon than I’ll all for demons! :o)
Great cover for The Highwayman. Love the idea of the whip. 🙂
I think a demon that looks like Gerard would be one that anyone could love. 🙂
Lol, i used to be the same about werewolves, but then i saw how sexy they were. i am yet to read my first demon novel, but my blood already boils over them
Hey Michelle,
I actually picked up a copy of the re-release of Dark Rapture not to long ago. I love the Silhoute Nocturne books, I have the entire set of them so far.
I’m prob like most people here, I started reading about Vamps – Ann Rice in particular then from there I read Anita Blake and Susan Sizemore’s Laws of the Blood series and Christine Feehan’s dark series. From there it just exploded. I have 3 book shelf units that are full of over probably 700 books. (2 units hold my TBR books alone). Everyone jokes I have my own public library because I am always sharing my books with others.
Hi Michelle,
Congrats on the books. I too love a good demon book in between reading the vamps and the wolves.
I do admit I wasn’t sure if I could enjoy romances where demons were the heroes and heroines, but I was proved wrong. I enjoy them very much.
i just love all paranormal romance rather its vampires demons warewolfs want to read them all
Yeah, I love a dark, tormented hero. They’re so…..sexy and deep. And I love Demons, Vamps, shifters, you name it. But I like them all, from the humorous to the darkest tortured heros. I’m loving all the Demons popping up~~they actually make awesome heros, and love the whole misunderstood thing going on with them. Larissa Ione’s comes to mind first~~because her series makes it so clear there are nasty, deadly demons right along side the innocent one, and we have to learn to tell which are the gooies, and which are the baddies, lol.
Hi Michele! I can’t wait to read both of these books and I have them on my TBB list. I love all of your books and they are on my Autobuy list along with Cynthia’s books. Have a good one!
love that title. brings all sorts of things to mind. and if its paranormal I like it doesn’t matter what creature you write about if the story is good I’ll read it.
Great cover, and if demons look like that, I am all for them!
I loved the Tooth Fairy story is Faeries Gone Wild! I never thought Demons could make good hero’s as well, but I am very happy to have changed my mind. *G*
great covers!:)
DEMONS!! (Sorry, had to do my fan girl squeal *g*)
The Highway Man sounds really good!
Dark and tortured demons make the best heroes, because if you can save them, you’ve really accomplished a feat of uncompared redemption. Plus, they are usually hot hunks, too, and who doesn’t want a hot hunk to think about.
I am a very easily pleased reader – I love demon slayers and demons as long as they are hot and sexy and get the heroine’s blood boiling 😀
Love your work Michele! Looking forward to grabbing my copy of The Highwayman to add to my collection 😀 Totally let FARIES GONE WILD slip under my radar. Needing to add that to my TBR list.
I just saw the cover of The Highwayman in another blog (I forgot which one) and I thought that’s a cool title. The hero’s weapon sounds very cool, too.
Mmmm…Gerard Butler… 🙂
I didnt used to see the appeal of a demon hero but I am definately starting to come around.
As for the Highwayman’s weapon… It’s a whip that glows with demon sigils. (I think on the cover the art dept was going for the Ghostrider look, but hey, it’s all good.) The hero actually has a demon shadow within him, that’s been tormenting him for two centuries. It’s stolen all his pleasures. No sleep, no eating, and erm…well, he can have sex, but he hasn’t enjoyed it for centuries. (I know, way to torture a guy.) I’m hoping readers will enjoy this story. I had a lot of fun with the backstory. I love the image of an 18th highwayman in a long coat and pistols ready as the carriage approaches. I just modernized it a bit!
I agree. Demons rock!
gotta luv a good demon!
Demons do rock! You can dress them up all fancy and still know they’ve got a wild side.
Oooh, more demons!
Sounds like you’ve had quite a journey to writing demons. I’ve been fascinated by the varying ways they’ve been written. Definitely a challenge. I look forward to reading your demon hero.
I also am finding that I enjoy being on the path of demon heroes
I still like demons vs. demon humters. I do like a demon hero though, last year I read Cynthia Eden’s and Stacia Kane’s demon heroes and had to WOW!
Hugs, Danette
Love me some Demons, whats not to love about them, they are damaged heros, the best kind. We don’t want the perfect hero.
Michelle, you are so right! I too fell for the vampire thing years ago – I had a friend at work that would get me going on the sexiness of the fangs, etc and I’d totally drool! Demons, not so much. Like you, I thought that demons are bad and disgusting and how could they possibly be sexy?
But then I discovered the error of my ways after reading Kresly Cole’s Demon/Vampire/Valkyrie/witch series. I can now honestly say that if I came across a demon, I’d totally try to lick his horns. 😀
Have not readed your books but thay look great now i have to go to your web page and check you out.
i’m more of a vampire persone my self but im lerning to love demons to.
sasluvbooks@yahoo.com
Just like there are good and bad mortals and everything in between, why not the same for all those immortals and other beings, including some sexy demons.
Demon’s do rock!
that’s a gorgeous cover!!
You’re right, demons rock! Love fairies too, but not in the same book 🙂
Hi Michele! The Highwayman sounds great (I have a thing for them, probably because I love the poem of that name and the Loreena McKennitt song). I’ve read and enjoyed several of your Nocturnes, and especially liked one where Minnesota was a popular place for vampires because of the long nights in winter! Such fun!
Whoa. Faeries gone wild?! I should like to see that!
LOL at the spoof on Katy Perry’s lyrics……..
I kissed a Demon……and like it!!!
That SO works!!!!!!