Interview with "Down to You" author Michelle Leighton

Michelle Leighton has written 14 novels, 12 of which are now available on Amazon! Her most recent novel “Down to You” is currently available here, while the sequel entitled “Up to Me” will be released in January. Be sure to “like” Michelle on Facebook and follow her on twitter.

You write a lot of paranormal novels. What is your favorite paranormal novel that you’ve read?

“Well, because I don’t want to be TOO obvious and go with Twilight (which is probably my favorite), I’ll go with my next favorite series. It’s an adult series by Lara Adrian called The Breed.  They’re steamy vampire romances.  Tied with that one would probably be the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward.  They’re fabulous, too.  Next would probably be the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.  I’m way behind on all these BTW.  LOL  My TBR list is like the leaning tower of Pisa!  LOL”

 Do you have a prefer writing YA or adult books? Is one easier for you?

“Now that I’ve written adult, I think I prefer it. I try very, very hard to be conscientious about the type of material I include in books intended for younger readers.  Therefore, it’s a little more…constrictive.  I don’t write erotica by any stretch of the imagination, but having the freedom to include a little steam is very liberating.  Also, as it turns out, that’s some of my favorite writing.  LOL  I love me some steam!!  So I guess I’d have to say definitely adult!” 

 “Down To You” has one of the best triangles I’ve come across in a while. How did you come up with the concept for the book?

“Well, the first incarnation of the book had them as only brothers.  They weren’t Cash and Nash.  Then, as I began to work through their personalities and their lives in my head, I began to see that they should be twins, that they were meant to be twins.  Then, as I was writing the story, the plot twist occurred to me, so I had to go back and rework a bit of the first part so that I could develop it as it needed to be developed.  It was tricky and I was scared to death I wouldn’t be able to pull it off just right. I wanted to hint at it, but not make it too obvious.”

You’ve recently posted what you think the twins will look like in “Up To Me”, but who is your dream cast for the characters in “Down To You”?

“Let me first say that these characters always begin in my head.  They’re never inspired by real people, so finding real people who look just like them is a little more difficult.  That being said, these people remind me of my cast, but may not be exactly what they’d look like.  For instance, it’s easier to get an overall “look” or “feel” for someone than it is to get their eye color right.  LOL  So, some coloring variations notwithstanding, (and using Charlie Hunnam as the twins), I would choose the following:

 Olivia: Kendall Jenner

Ginger: Cameron Diaz

Marco: Zac Efron

Marissa: Blake Lively

Gabe: Alex Pettyfer

Darrin: Paul Rudd

Taryn is hard to do.  I picture the Angelina Jolie from Gone in 60 Seconds for her, only much witchier.  LOL”

Obviously Olivia struggles a lot between choosing Cash or Nash, who would you chose?

“Probably Cash. I love a bad boy and, even though he is so much more than that when you get to know him, he never quite loses that appeal.”

Whose POV was it the most fun for you to write in? 

“Probably Ginger.  Zany girls are always so much fun to write. They say anything and everything and I love it!”

 Can we talk about UTM and that crazy epilogue in DTY! I know UTM will be released in January, but can you give us a little sneak peak?

 “How about some teasing thoughts?  There will be another interesting love triangle.  There will be danger.  There will be heat.  Lots and lots of heat.  There will be help, there will be new love, there will be satisfaction, and all of that without tearing Cash and Olivia apart.  How does that sound?  Confusing?  Intriguing?  Steamy?  Hopefully all that and more!”

 Do you have plans to have more than two books in the DTY series? 

 “Yes, there will be a third book.  There could possibly be a fourth, semi-related story, depending on how you all feel about Gavin once you meet him.”

What is the last book you read? 

 “Hearts in Darkness by Laura Kaye.”

I know picking a favorite book, can be like choosing a favorite child, but we’re still going to ask. Do you have a personal favorite book of your own that you’ve written?

 “I swear this is not about promoting this book, but Down to You is probably my favorite.  I love Cash and it was so much fun to write.  And it’s sexy.  Very, very sexy, which I really like:).”