AccessRomance interviews author Denise A. Agnew.

AR: You have a long and diverse back list. What can you tell us about the different genres you write in, what genre your most recent releases have fallen under, and what kind of stories you having coming in the future?

Denise: I've always enjoyed writing whatever flavor I feel like at the moment, and as a result I've written books in paranormal, romantic suspense, erotic romance, contemporary romance, romantic comedy and historical. Most often I've combined paranormal and romantic suspense. Since 2002, I've concentrated more on erotic romantic suspense with paranormal combined. I'll most likely continue that trend for the near future for my Special Investigations Agency series. I do have a futuristic/fantasy trilogy coming up as well.

AR: Your latest book is TREACHEROUS WISHES. Tell us a bit about this story.

Treacherous Wishes is the sequel to Dangerous Intentions. Both stories are romantic suspense with paranormal elements, but Treacherous Wishes deals even more with the paranormal. Both stories are set with the Taggert Security Team, a bodyguard agency. Originally these stories were spicy romantic suspense, but when I moved them to Ellora's Cave, I naturally made them more erotic in nature. In Treacherous Wishes, the heroine's psychic abilities return to her when a murderous stalker who killed her sister decides it is time to hunt the heroine. The hero doesn't believe in the supernatural, but when her life is threatened he'll do anything to protect her. They've known each other for several months and have danced around attraction, flirting shamelessly but never acting on their high-powered physical and emotional feelings for each other. I've always enjoyed keeping readers on the edge of their seats, dying for the couple to consummate their love for each other. In Treacherous Wishes, the couple have a tremendously strong physical attraction intertwined irrevocably with their mental attraction. Also, in this story, I created one of my most villainous bad guys ever! I loved it!

AR: You like to set your stories in a variety of locations, and you yourself have lived in quite a few different places around the world. In what way has that influenced your writing?

Denise: When I first wrote my time travel BRIDGE THROUGH THE MIST (out of print right now), which I set in Scotland, I did a ton of research and had other sources that could help me with questions. But, I didn't finish the novel until after I visited Scotland and experienced the country first hand. I think if an author is able to visit the location they are writing about, it gives their work a special flavor and authenticity. Living in England, visiting places like Wales and Scotland...all of it inspired me beyond my wildest dreams. The English climate appealed to me. I'll have to admit when it was gloomy in England I achieved some of my best writing. It was incredible.

AR: Are there any recurring themes in your books, any particular conflicts or relationships that you find yourself drawn to?

Denise: My themes run sometimes to the discovery of inner strength and characters finding that within themselves. My heroines are women who are strong, but don't always realize the extent of their own strength until they run into a harrowing situation. My heroes are usually alpha males, but not in an obnoxious sense. They're strong, extremely protective, but they respect women. My heroes would die for the heroine and do anything to keep her safe from a threat. Also, even before I started writing erotic romance, I've thoroughly enjoyed designing characters who are very sexual beings. The men have a fiery intensity, their craving for the heroine almost overwhelming. The heroines are vulnerable in some way when it comes to the hero, even though the heroines aren't pushovers or doormats in any way. I'm drawn to showing that real love that can't be broken does exist, and I try to illustrate it in each of my novels.

AR: What do you do besides writing? Do you have any hobbies that influence your stories in any way?

Denise: I read extensively, but I also enjoy participating in archery and archaeology. More than one of my novels have featured things to do with archaeology. Archery hasn't been a big part in any of my novels yet, but never say never.

And now for some questions posed by our readers of the AR All-A-Blog.

AR Reader: Which of your characters would you like to have as a neighbor?

Denise: Good question! Probably Dana Cumming's Aunt Lucille from MARSHALL'S LAW (out of print at the moment). She's zany, funny, and warm-hearted. Although she's older than the heroine, she has a youthfulness that encourages the heroine to loosen up.

AR Reader: Are there days when you wish you had chosen any other profession? If so, what would your "dream job" be?

Denise: Actually, no. There are other jobs that I think I would have enjoyed as a profession, though none of them would have fulfilled me as writing has done. I've been a volunteer archaeologist for twenty years and that's fulfilling, I volunteered in a museum as well and that was fantastic. I think those two volunteer experiences filled cravings for those experiences. Although I'm not volunteering in a museum now, I'll never forget the wonderful things I learned during that time.

AR Reader: Have you ever based a character on a family member or friend?

Denise: Yes. I think every author does this whether they admit it or not. I've never used someone I know as an entire character, but there are bits and pieces of many people I've encountered and known in many of my characters.

AR Reader: What is your favorite genre to write in?

Denise: Romantic suspense with paranormal mixed in.

AR Reader: What do your heroes have in common?

Denise: As I mentioned before, they are all physically strong, action-oriented men often in dangerous professions. They're protective, love unto death types of guys, intense, occasionally they brood, but they all have a sense of humor. They are highly-sexual men.