Transcript March 26th, 2011: Q&A + Giveaway w Laura Bickle (& surprise guest Sparky!) – Fires, Ghosts, Lanterns & Salamanders – the dangerous forces of Laura Bickle’s UF

Today we had special guest @Laura_Bickle, author of UF novels EMBERS, SPARKS & under the name of Alayna Williams, DARK ORACLE & ROGUE ORACLE. We focused on world & characters of EMBERS & SPARKS: MC Anya is an arson investigator with very unique abilities. Throw in ghosts, ghost hunters, fire elementals, dark forces & more in the city of Detroit and you see there’s a lot of potential for things to get explosive!

PLUS we had a TWO book GIVEAWAY today!

During Q&A section we had heads-up one of Ms. Bickle’s many interesting characters was going to appear to indulge in a little grilling of his/her own! It turned out Sparky the Fire Salamander (a fire elemental with an attitude, a.k.a. Anya’s protector/familiar) has a talent for typing with talons, for getting in trouble (oh boy does he!) and also for helping with giveaways. Thank you Sparky!

Our lucky winner of two books by our special guest today, chosen by random.org & Sparky was: @michellemacewan CONGRATULATIONS!

And if you don’t already follow @Laura_Bickle and @SparkySalamndr I highly recommend it – much useful fodder for UF readers and writers both! Enjoy.

sandrawickham:	RT @UF_Chat: #GIVEAWAY today in #UFChat during our very special Q&A with @Laura_Bickle – see here for details! http://bit.ly/dRNbqm 3pmPST/6pmEST
7:30 pm	UF_Chat:	Want to see author roasted by own character? #UFchat TODAY has ringside seats! Ask character a Q & be entered to 2 bk #giveaway!
7:30 pm	inkgypsy:	Want to see author roasted by own character? #UFchat TODAY has ringside seats! Ask character a Q & be entered to 2 bk #giveaway!
7:30 pm	tordotUF:	RT @UF_Chat: Want to see author roasted by own character? #UFchat TODAY has ringside seats! Ask character a Q & be entered to 2 bk #giveaway!
7:31 pm	BeasBookNook:	RT @UF_Chat: Want to see author roasted by own character? #UFchat TODAY has ringside seats! Ask character a Q & be entered to 2 bk #giveaway!
7:31 pm	shadowflame1974:	RT @UF_Chat: Want to see author roasted by own character? #UFchat TODAY has ringside seats! Ask character a Q & be entered to 2 bk #giveaway!
8:04 pm	UF_Chat:	2 hrs to #UFchat! Guest author @Laura_Bickle heats things up w Q&A, 2 bk #giveaway & a mystery guest to grill her! 3pmPT/6pmET
8:04 pm	inkgypsy:	2 hrs to #UFchat! Guest author @Laura_Bickle heats things up w Q&A, 2 bk #giveaway & a mystery guest to grill her! 3pmPT/6pmET
8:09 pm	scootercarlyle:	Writers and Small Town Cliches http://bit.ly/hQlcFN #fiction #writing #UFchat #writersroad
9:00 pm	inkgypsy:	In 1 hr: Fiery beings, investigating mediums, ghosts on the run & a TWO BOOK #giveaway w @Laura_Bickle guesting in #UFchat today! 3pmPT
9:00 pm	UF_Chat:	In 1 hr: Fiery beings, investigating mediums, ghosts on the run & a TWO BOOK #giveaway w @Laura_Bickle guesting in #UFchat today! 3pmPT
9:15 pm	shadowflame1974:	RT @UF_Chat: In 1 hr: Fiery beings, investigating mediums, ghosts on the run & a TWO BOOK #giveaway w @Laura_Bickle guesting in #UFchat today! 3pmPT
9:16 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@marcellaburnard Awww! Thanks! @Laura_Bickle guesting in #UFchat today! 3pmPT Just follow #UFChat to play along!
9:18 pm	marcellaburnard:	Great author, good friend and fellow Word Whore! @Laura_Bickle guesting in #UFchat today! 3pmPT Just follow #UFChat to play along!?
9:33 pm	UF_Chat:	RT @marcellaburnard: Great author, good friend and fellow Word Whore! @Laura_Bickle guesting in #UFchat today! 3pmPT Just follow #UFChat to play along!?
9:33 pm	inkgypsy:	RT @marcellaburnard: Great author, good friend and fellow Word Whore! @Laura_Bickle guesting in #UFchat today! 3pmPT Just follow #UFChat to play along!?
9:40 pm	inkgypsy:	20 MINS: #giveaway Fires, Ghosts, Lanterns & Salamanders ? dangerous forces of @Laura_Bickle?s UF in today’s #UFchat @3pmPT/6pmET #GIVEAWAY!
9:41 pm	shadowflame1974:	RT @inkgypsy: 20 MINS: Fires, Ghosts, Lanterns & Salamanders dangerous forces of @Laura_Bickle?s UF in today’s #UFchat @3pmPT/6pmET
9:44 pm	tadbo:	RT @inkgypsy: 20 MINS: #giveaway Fires, Ghosts, Lanterns & Salamanders ? dangerous forces of @Laura_Bickle?s UF in #UFchat @3pmPT/6pmET
9:50 pm	inkgypsy:	PRIMER for #UFchat early birds: EMBERS by @Laura_Bickle http://bit.ly/hruaGI
9:50 pm	UF_Chat:	PRIMER for #UFchat early birds: EMBERS by @Laura_Bickle http://bit.ly/hruaGI
9:50 pm	shadowflame1974:	10 minutes till go time! Today’s #UFchat with @Laura_Bickle
9:51 pm	inkgypsy:	PRIMER #2 for #UFchat early birds: playing with fire today in #UFchat! http://bit.ly/dRNbqm #UFchat
9:51 pm	UF_Chat:	PRIMER #2 for #UFchat early birds: playing with fire today in #UFchat! http://bit.ly/dRNbqm #UFchat
9:57 pm	shadowflame1974:	so who is our mystery guest going to be today? #UFchat with @Laura_Bickle in just a few minutes!
9:58 pm	UF_Chat:	Pulling on my extreme protection & hazmat suit with my boots & #UFchat mod helmet! I’m told our mystery guest causes magical mayhem! #UFchat
9:58 pm	inkgypsy:	Pulling on my extreme protection & hazmat suit with my boots & #UFchat mod helmet! I’m told our mystery guest causes magical mayhem! #UFchat
9:58 pm	tordotUF:	@UF_Chat can we start guessing the identity of the mystery guest? #ufchat
10:00 pm	UF_Chat:	@tordotUF For sure! But I won’t know for sure until you know, though I have some ideas… #UFchat
10:00 pm	shadowflame1974:	*Plays MONSTER by Skillet for intro* #UFchat
10:01 pm	UF_Chat:	@shadowflame1974 Linkage! (please) LOL #UFchat
10:01 pm	tordotUF:	@UF_Chat I’m guessing Sparky #ufchat
10:01 pm	UF_Chat:	3, 2, 1.. we’re now LIVE with today’s special #UFCHAT – there’s smoke, there’s fire, there are hazards & a hot guest today!
10:01 pm	KerrySchafer:	RT @Laura_Bickle: @marcellaburnard Awww! Thanks! @Laura_Bickle guesting in #UFchat today! 3pmPT Just follow #UFChat to play along!
10:01 pm	UF_Chat:	Today: special guest @Laura_Bickle author of UF novels EMBERS, SPARKS & under name Alayna Williams, DARK ORACLE & ROGUE ORACLE #UFchat
10:02 pm	UF_Chat:	We?ll be focusing on world & characters of EMBERS & SPARKS: arson investigator w unique abilities, ghosts, fire elementals & more! #UFchat
10:02 pm	UF_Chat:	PLUS we have a TWO book #GIVEAWAY today! Stay tuned for the guidelines to be entered: #UFchat
10:02 pm	UF_Chat:	During Q&A section we?ve had heads-up one of Ms. Bickle?s characters will appear to indulge in a little grilling of his/her own! #UFChat
10:02 pm	UF_Chat:	When mystery guest appears, questions addressed to him/her (character) will be entered into our giveaway! #UFchat
10:02 pm	UF_Chat:	Books up for grabs: EMBERS & ROGUE ORACLE! Both by @Laura_Bickle (also writing as Alayna Williams) Covers: http://bit.ly/dRNbqm #UFchat
10:03 pm	UF_Chat:	Let?s warm up the seat a bit before we turn the heat on @Laura_Bickle, altho she?s welcome to join in Q?s early. #UFchat
10:03 pm	UF_Chat:	S: EMBERS/SPARKS are unique in UF novel world w forces of fire, ghosts and protective (&otherworldly) salamanders. #UFchat
10:03 pm	UF_Chat:	Q1: How have you seen fire used in the UF genre and was it a controlled force or a naturally occurring phenomena? #UFchat
10:03 pm	shadowflame1974:	heheheh Monster by Skillet http://youtu.be/1mjlM_RnsVE #UFchat
10:04 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Hee…I love “Monster.” Never heard it before! #UFchat
10:05 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Fire is one of those truly elemental forces that seems to have a mind of its own. #UFchat #UFChat
10:05 pm	UF_Chat:	Did I stump everyone on the very first question?? OOps – next! #UFchat
10:06 pm	UF_Chat:	Q2: What potential do you see for using fire as a force in UF? #UFchat
10:06 pm	shadowflame1974:	I thought it was completely appropriate as it came up on my playlist at that time. #UFChat
10:06 pm	tordotUF:	The UF Chat is on @Laura_Bickle author of UF novels EMBERS, SPARKS & under Alayna Williams, DARK ORACLE & ROGUE ORACLE use hashtag #UFchat
10:06 pm	shadowflame1974:	#UFchat Fire can be representative of a lot of things. Destruction, passion, rebirth,
10:07 pm	ladytechie:	A1. I am combing my memory for fire as a force. Fire Elemental in Jennifer Estep’s series. It is a tool/weapon #UFChat
10:07 pm	byharryconnolly:	RT @tordotUF: The UF Chat is on @Laura_Bickle author of UF novels EMBERS, SPARKS & under Alayna Williams, DARK ORACLE & ROGUE ORACLE use hashtag #UFchat
10:07 pm	inkgypsy:	Fire is obviously hugely & suddenly destructive in natural world but we use it every day too. Think UF could mirror that. #UFchat
10:08 pm	Syrten:	Oh! I have an answer to Q1. @NicolePeeler uses fire in first and second book, generated by ifrit. They’re made of fire. #UFchat
10:08 pm	UF_Chat:	@ladytechie Ooh yes! That’s pretty interesting – love that series. #UFchat
10:08 pm	inkgypsy:	@Syrten Ifrit! woot! Magical beings using fire are everywhere in mythology/folklore – great to see UF starting to use those! #UFchat
10:09 pm	Laura_Bickle:	I wonder if we shy away from fire more, because of that whole pesky civilization thing? #UFchat
10:09 pm	UF_Chat:	Q2a: How might fire be used against OR ?FOR? typical UF creatures? (weres, vamps, ghosts, etc) #UFchat
10:09 pm	shadowflame1974:	There are dragons, salamanders, phoenix along with other creatures from legend that use fire. #UFchat
10:09 pm	ladytechie:	It always seems like a negative force. One that is destructive instead of a tool. #UFChat
10:10 pm	shadowflame1974:	#UFchat flaming zombies anyone? lol
10:10 pm	ladytechie:	Discovery of Witches, fire element comes in, no spoiler given. #UFChat
10:10 pm	inkgypsy:	@ladytechie Paradox really as they say we never would have crawled out of the caves without it! (love the paradox) #UFchat
10:10 pm	inkgypsy:	@shadowflame1974 Heh! (re flaming zombies) #UFchat
10:11 pm	UF_Chat:	Q3: What are some connections between ghosts and fire in folklore and myth? (hint: the Xmas/Yule #UFchat touched on this!) #UFchat
10:11 pm	ladytechie:	Yes, all about the user @inkgypsy #UFChat
10:11 pm	last_lines:	popping in #ufchat
10:12 pm	Syrten:	Hmmm… Burning down demonically haunted houses? Like in Ghost Hunt #UFchat
10:12 pm	UF_Chat:	Q4: What ?creatures of fire? exist in myth and folklore that you know of – both popular and the more obscure? #UFchat
10:12 pm	UF_Chat:	@shadowflame1974 I see you read my mind there! Nice list – care to expand? #UFchat
10:14 pm	UF_Chat:	@Syrten Who wrote that one? Not familiar with it *slaps own wrist* #UFchat
10:14 pm	michellemacewan:	Hi, not long up here in OZ, is it OK to join in? #UFchat
10:14 pm	pauljessup:	@UF_Chat Salamander, phoenix #UFchat
10:14 pm	UF_Chat:	Are we having connection issues today? Lot of tweets then big gaps.. odd. #UFchat
10:15 pm	UF_Chat:	@michellemacewan Of course! Welcome. We just started – group warm up questions before guest gets grilled. #UFchat
10:15 pm	ladytechie:	@pauljessup Phoenix! That’s good! I can’t think of a thing but elemental witches! #UFChat
10:15 pm	UF_Chat:	Q5: Ghosts also play prominent role in Laura?s books. What types of characters have a lot of interaction/influence on ghosts? #UFchat
10:15 pm	ladytechie:	No, it is a brain fart on my part. Grading finals most of the day and no brain power. #UFChat
10:16 pm	ladytechie:	A5. Mediums #UFChat
10:16 pm	UF_Chat:	RE Q5: Also think jobs that ave interaction with ghosts! #UFchat
10:16 pm	Jess_Haines:	@UF_Chat Sorry, I’d be chatting, but I’m working on a project that I fell behind on. =/ #UFchat
10:16 pm	Syrten:	@UF_Chat It’s an anime/manga/light novel… Light novel by Fuyumi Oni. Manga by Shiho Inada. #UFchat
10:17 pm	tordotUF:	@UF_Chat Reapers. Seeing a lot of those lately #ufchat
10:17 pm	inkgypsy:	@Syrten I will have to look it up – much manga subject matter overlaps with UF. #UFchat
10:17 pm	UF_Chat:	Q6: Laura?s MC is Anya – an arson investigator and a special type of medium. How has UF used mediums to date? #UFchat
10:17 pm	michellemacewan:	Fire is transformation ( late point.. sorry ) #UFchat
10:18 pm	shadowflame1974:	#UFchat firebird, will-o-whisp, Kitsume, along with other animals such as cats being “fire” related. and 3 of the zodiac signs
10:18 pm	UF_Chat:	Q6a: What ?special forces?/jobs would you LIKE to see explored/used in a UF novel? Why? #UFchat
10:18 pm	michellemacewan:	@UF_Chat Great! #UFchat
10:18 pm	UF_Chat:	@shadowflame1974 yay! There’s so much potential its almost odd we don’t see fire-based stories more in UF! #UFchat
10:18 pm	ladytechie:	A6. I like the vampires used as weapons idea I’ve seen. #UFChat
10:19 pm	UF_Chat:	Q7: Imagine a firefighter in a UF world. What might be some things they would be up against? #UFchat
10:19 pm	michellemacewan:	Ghosts pick up on the sensitive – the character who is sensitive will always be open to contact with otherworldly beings #UFchat
10:19 pm	Syrten:	@inkgypsy Yep, a great source of UF while being different than what’s usually found here. Although lots of hereditary vampires, lol #UFchat
10:20 pm	ladytechie:	A6 I like the idea of special ops with different elemental control powers. #UFChat
10:20 pm	inkgypsy:	@Syrten Hereditary vampires – heh. That’s a whole other kind of problem! #UFchat
10:20 pm	UF_Chat:	RT @ladytechie: A6 I like the idea of special ops with different elemental control powers. #UFChat
10:20 pm	michellemacewan:	@UF_Chat creatures that are able to draw from the elements? #UFchat
10:20 pm	shadowflame1974:	Q6a #UFchat I’d like to see Pyro’s as firefighters. To fight fire use fire, or at least intimately understand it
10:21 pm	UF_Chat:	Q8: Anya?s companion/familiar is a fire salamander elemental. How might this be very useful to a UF MC? #UFchat
10:21 pm	Syrten:	Q7 Pyrokinetics, or people who can start fires with their mind. #UFChat
10:21 pm	UF_Chat:	Q8a: How might having a fire elemental companion be a pain in the proverbial? #UFchat
10:21 pm	UF_Chat:	Q8b: What things might bother or be a challenge to a fire salamander? #UFchat
10:22 pm	ladytechie:	A8. How does one heal/hurt a fire salamander? #UFChat
10:23 pm	UF_Chat:	@ladytechie That is an excellent question – you’ll have to roast our guest over that one! #UFchat
10:23 pm	michellemacewan:	@UF_Chat 8b On a psychic level you could hurt it – losing connection, for eg #UFchat
10:23 pm	shadowflame1974:	#UFchat Q8a I wouldn’t want to take the elemental to the gas station.
10:23 pm	UF_Chat:	Speaking of guests: do we have our hottie author @Laura_Bickle in the house? #UFchat
10:23 pm	dduane:	(just wandering through) #UFChat
10:23 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Thanks so much for having me! I?m so excited to get the chance to chat. #UFchat
10:23 pm	UF_Chat:	She’s here!! It?s now time to put our special guest @Laura_Bickle in the hot seat. #UFchat
10:24 pm	UF_Chat:	Welcome @Laura_Bickle! Thank you SO much for joining us today: expertise, mystery guest character & free books! Yum! #UFchat
10:24 pm	UF_Chat:	Questions fr mod 1st (all welcome to comment!) & when mystery guest appears, floor opens for Q?s to Laura AND esp. character! #UFchat
10:24 pm	UF_Chat:	(Note: pls ?@? Laura w Q?s. Same for character – Twitter name revealed when appears! Pls use hashtag so all can follow) #UFchat
10:24 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Your latest release = ROGUE ORACLE (2nd/series), written under Alayna Williams & getting great reviews! Congrats!! #UFChat
10:24 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Thanks very much. I?m super excited?though timing for that book turned out to be odd for a story about Chernobyl. ;-S #UFchat
10:25 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Can you expand on the Chernobyl aspect very quickly – though we’ll be focusing on your other series mainly today? #UFchat
10:26 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Sure. In ROGUE ORACLE, my Tarot-wielding protagonist and federal agent partner are on the trail of a Chernobyl survivor selling…#UFchat
10:26 pm	Laura_Bickle:	…nuclear secrets he’s culled from ex-spies on the international black market.#UFchat
10:27 pm	ladytechie:	@Laura_Bickle I’m from Detroit and grew up there so I have to ask why you chose Detroit as the backdrop for your story? #UFChat
10:27 pm	UF_Chat:	This author doesn’t mess around folks! Goes for big stories w lots of potential for big bad trouble! & that includes characters! #UFchat
10:27 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Do you want to take @ladytechies question? I’ll wait – I’m interested too! #Ufchat
10:28 pm	Laura_Bickle:	…like the Detroit Salt Mine, DIA, and Michigan Central Station. So many places with their own gravitational pull. #UFchat
10:29 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@ladytechie My husband’s from Detroit. He played tour guide for me, showed me..#UFchat
10:29 pm	UF_Chat:	RT @ladytechie My husband is from Detroit. He played tour guide for me…showed me some very neat magical places…#UFchat
10:29 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q9: Could you comment on that series? How is diff from Anya K series & why did you decide to release under diff name? #UFchat
10:29 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@ladytechie Sorry for the lost flow. But there are so many magical places there that I fell in love with. #UFchat
10:30 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle That series being the ORACLE series – sorry we jumped into SPARK/EMBERS very quickly there. #UFchat
10:30 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Tara Sheridan is a criminal profiler who uses Tarot cards to solve crimes. It?s a mashup of science and magic?#UFchat
10:30 pm	Laura_Bickle:	?appealing to fans of X-Files and Fringe. Fun with dark matter, radiation, oracles, and conspiracies?#UFchat
10:31 pm	Laura_Bickle:	?Since EMBERS and DARK ORACLE were released close together, publisher thought it would be confusing for readers. “Alayna” hatched #UFchat
10:31 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q9a: Both series focus on criminal investigators, s/thing which you’re qualified to write! Can you tell us about that? #UFchat
10:32 pm	Laura_Bickle:	I?ve worked in and around criminal justice for more than ten years, and have an MA in criminology. #UFchat
10:32 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Was fun to finally apply the trivia bits I?d learned? #UFchat ?but I also learned a lot of new things
10:32 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Arson investigation, for instance, was all new to me. Fun research – research is the best part of the work. #UFchat
10:32 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q9b: Would U pls explain briefly how it is to write 2 UF series under 2 diff. names? (advant./disadv.) #UFchat
10:33 pm	Laura_Bickle:	I don?t know that I would do that again. It was originally a decision to keep the series distinct, with alternate release dates?#UFchat
10:33 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Didn?t want to confuse the readers?#UFchat ?but I think that it can get a bit cumbersome.
10:33 pm	Laura_Bickle:	And hard to build an audience when you?re scattered. #UFchat
10:34 pm	inkgypsy:	Well we’ll help you. And spread the word of your awesome! @Laura_Bickle #UFChat (Plus being a hottie has to help! lol)
10:34 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q10: When did you decide Urban Fantasy was the genre for you? What is the draw for you as a writer? #UFchat
10:35 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Aww…thanks! *blushes* #UFchat
10:35 pm	Laura_Bickle:	I love that the field is wide open. There are no real ?rules? as far as an HEA ending or limits on the magic or technology?#UFchat
10:36 pm	Laura_Bickle:	?and I like that the magic is grounded in reality. Makes it very believable for me. #UFchat
10:36 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q10a: Anything about your background in criminal justice that spurred U toward UF or fired imagination (so to speak)? #UFchat
10:36 pm	Laura_Bickle:	I did get sorta burnt out on CJ. I?m now working in a library, actually. It?s a tough field… #UFchat
10:37 pm	Laura_Bickle:	And anybody who works in it knows that there are stories you just can?t tell?#UFchat
10:37 pm	Laura_Bickle:	?and you can?t save or fix the real world. But I sure can change and fix the worlds I imagine. #UFchat
10:37 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q11: Two words I see repeatedly re your work: ?unique? & ?exciting?. (Congrats!) What are readers responding to? #UFchat
10:37 pm	leapetra:	sorry really late, house guests would not leave #ufchat
10:38 pm	Laura_Bickle:	That?s really thrilling to read that. I try to work with out of the box ideas. Stuff I haven?t seen before, experiment? #Ufchat
10:38 pm	UF_Chat:	@leapetra That can be so bothersome! lol – glad you could join us today! #UFchat
10:38 pm	SullivanMcPig:	The real fans will find you no matter what name you use @Laura_Bickle And hard to build an audience when you?re scattered. #UFchat
10:38 pm	GraylinFox:	RT @UF_Chat: 3, 2, 1.. we’re now LIVE with today’s special #UFCHAT – there’s smoke, there’s fire, there are hazards & a hot guest today!
10:38 pm	Laura_Bickle:	??cause I want new territory of my own, to learn new things. LOL. #Ufchat
10:38 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q11a: Why do you think aspects such as a fire salamander haven?t been tackled in the UF genre much if at all? #UFchat
10:38 pm	SparkySalamandr:	Hey. You. HUMAN. Where the hell is the hair dryer? #Ufchat
10:39 pm	GraylinFox:	RT @UF_Chat: Books up for grabs: EMBERS & ROGUE ORACLE! Both by @Laura_Bickle (also writing as Alayna Williams) Covers: http://bit.ly/dRNbqm #UFchat
10:39 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Awww. Jeesh. Sorry, guys. Salamander at the keyboard. What do you want with the hair dryer? #Ufchat
10:39 pm	ladytechie:	@SparkySalamandr Aww! How cool are you? #UFChat
10:39 pm	shadowflame1974:	RT @SparkySalamandr: Hey. You. HUMAN. Where the hell is the hair dryer? #Ufchat >>> EEP!
10:39 pm	UF_Chat:	Um – hang on – did we just have another guest appear?? @Laura_Bickle can you confirm – is he “yours”? #UFchat
10:40 pm	GraylinFox:	RT @UF_Chat: Q6a: What ?special forces?/jobs would you LIKE to see explored/used in a UF novel? Why? #UFchat
10:40 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Fire salamanders haven?t gotten much press since Paracelsus? time. This is why. #Ufchat
10:40 pm	SparkySalamandr:	I?m cold. Spring hasn?t sprung here. I wanna snuggle with the hair dryer. *lashes tail* #Ufchat
10:40 pm	shadowflame1974:	Oh the um, attitude humh? #UFchat
10:40 pm	GraylinFox:	RT @UF_Chat: Q4: What ?creatures of fire? exist in myth and folklore that you know of – both popular and the more obscure? #UFchat
10:40 pm	UF_Chat:	This is it folks – our mystery guest is SPARKY the FIRE SALAMANDER! #UFchat
10:40 pm	UF_Chat:	QUICK! Ask @SparkySalamandr a question NOW to be entered into the 2 bk #giveaway! #UFchat
10:40 pm	shadowflame1974:	@SparkySalamandr @Inkgypsy has a nice warm coffee pot #UFchat
10:41 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Sigh. Yes. Sparky is ALL MINE. #ufchat
10:41 pm	Abigail_ATUF:	RT @UF_Chat: QUICK! Ask @SparkySalamandr a question NOW to be entered into the 2 bk #giveaway! #UFchat
10:41 pm	tordotUF:	RT @UF_Chat: QUICK! Ask @SparkySalamandr a question NOW to be entered into the 2 bk #giveaway! #UFchat
10:41 pm	michellemacewan:	@Laura_Bickle@SparkySalamandr pop over here Sparky, we have 2 fires going this morning! #UFchat
10:41 pm	Laura_Bickle:	But?damn it, Sparky! You?re allowed to sleep in the clothes dryer as long as you don?t allow the cats in there. #Ufchat
10:41 pm	NancyMcGregor:	RT @UF_Chat: QUICK! Ask @SparkySalamandr a question NOW to be entered into the 2 bk #giveaway! #UFchat
10:42 pm	UF_Chat:	#giveaway #giveaway #giveaway #giveaway!! Open for entries now – talk to our surprise fiery guest & be entered for free books! #UFchat
10:42 pm	GraylinFox:	RT @UF_Chat: QUICK! Ask @SparkySalamandr a question NOW to be entered into the 2 bk #giveaway! #UFchat
10:42 pm	DaniMonsch:	@Laura_Bickle looking back, would you still use 2 separate names, or would you keep to the one? #UFchat
10:42 pm	inkgypsy:	@Laura_Bickle I have to ask – do you ever call him Spanky by mistake? (Or not so much by mistake?) #UFchat
10:42 pm	SparkySalamandr:	@michellemacewan At last, a human with some sense! My human is FREEZING me. #ufchat
10:42 pm	ladytechie:	@SparkySalamandr What do you like most about your job? #UFChat
10:43 pm	UF_Chat:	@SparkySalamandr How does one ?keep a fire salamander on a leash?? (ie. How/why can Anya make you ?behave?)? #UFchat
10:43 pm	leapetra:	I’m not sure what to ask a fire elemental… #ufchat
10:43 pm	michellemacewan:	@SparkySalamandr Oh NO! We have a lovely wood fired stove here.. warms the water too.. #UFchat
10:44 pm	SparkySalamandr:	@ladytechie Roasting marshmallows and sleeping in the clothes dryer. Best of times! #ufchat
10:44 pm	shadowflame1974:	@SparkySalamandr I have the heaters going today. I agree warm is better. #UFchat
10:44 pm	inkgypsy:	@SparkySalamandr What do you think of firefighters in general? #UFchat
10:45 pm	michellemacewan:	@SparkySalamandr How do you entice your food into the hairdryer Sparky? #UFchat
10:46 pm	SparkySalamandr:	Feh. I?m bound to a necklace that Anya’s mom gave her. I can?t wander too far away from it. Good bling to take naps in. #ufchat
10:46 pm	shadowflame1974:	@SparkySalamandr so what exactly does a familiar like you do? #UFchat
10:46 pm	Laura_Bickle:	See what I have to deal with? This is why he?s not allowed to speak in the books. #Ufchat
10:46 pm	leapetra:	@SparkySalamandr Davinci said Salamanders had no stomachs, I find that hard to believe, what food do you like? #ufchat
10:47 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@shadowflame1974 *puffs up speckled chest* I gnaw on ghosts. I’m a darn good protector. #ufchat
10:47 pm	SparkySalamandr:	*puffs up speckled chest* I gnaw on ghosts. I’m a darn good protector. #ufchat
10:47 pm	michellemacewan:	@SparkySalamandr Finally! freedom of speech for Sparky.. #UFchat
10:47 pm	shadowflame1974:	@SparkySalamandr ohhh sounds like fun. #UFchat
10:47 pm	SparkySalamandr:	@leapetra Ghosts. I love to nom on some ghosts. And cell phones. And pretty much anything electronic. #ufchat
10:48 pm	inkgypsy:	@SparkySalamandr What?s your favorite toy? #UFchat
10:48 pm	SparkySalamandr:	The addiction to chewing on electronic devices is why Anya can’t have nice things. She says. #UFchat
10:48 pm	shadowflame1974:	@SparkySalamandr oh? so you disrupt electromagnet fields too? #UFchat
10:48 pm	Syrten:	@SparkySalamandr How can you eat ghosts? Aren’t they a bit incorporeal and unnommable? #UFchat
10:49 pm	SparkySalamandr:	@inkgypsy My plush Glo-Worm. *blushes* It lights up when I snuggle with it. #Ufchat
10:49 pm	SparkySalamandr:	@Syrten I’m also pretty incorporeal, myself. Only Anya can see me. And cats… #ufchat
10:49 pm	michellemacewan:	@SparkySalamandr Hmm feeding off the energy .. yum that sounds good Sparky.. does it increase your powers? #UFchat
10:50 pm	SparkySalamandr:	…when cats stare at the ceiling and chase nothing, it’s usually one of us salamanders. #ufchat
10:50 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@michellemacewan I feel pretty damn sleepy after a big ‘ol ghost snack. Time for a nap. #ufchat
10:51 pm	SparkySalamandr:	@syrten I usually feel pretty sleepy after a big ‘ol ghost snack. Time for a nap. #ufchat
10:51 pm	michellemacewan:	@Laura_Bickle ok, so can I ask you a question please Laura? #UFchat
10:51 pm	inkgypsy:	We know it was Anya?s mother that gave you to her, tho know v little about mother. @SparkySalamandr What do you remember re her? #UFchat
10:52 pm	SparkySalamandr:	@shadowflame1974 Oh, yes.I also set off sprinkler systems…like at the crime lab (tucks tail between legs) #ufchat
10:52 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle I think Sparky has taken over the chat! Do you think he’d mind if I asked you some more questions? #UFchat
10:52 pm	SparkySalamandr:	@inkgypsy Anya?s mom was a lovely gal. But she dabbled in some magical stuff she shouldn?t. Had terrible taste in men. Sigh… #ufchat
10:53 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Fire away. I’m sitting on the little twerp so he doesn’t keep typing! #ufchat
10:53 pm	UF_Chat:	@michellemacewan PLEASE! Sparky is stealing the show (although I admit I wish our chat was going to be MUCH longer now – FUN!) #UFchat
10:53 pm	michellemacewan:	@Laura_Bickle Can you talk more about your comment about ‘grounding the magic in reality’ ? #UFchat
10:54 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q12: Wow – so that was Sparky! Does he surprise you as much as he surprises the readers (& twitter followers?) #UFchat
10:55 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Due to time disappearing (yikes!) I’m going to skip questions here and there – wish we had time for them all! #UFchat
10:55 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@michellemacewan I try to keep the research details as accurate as possible, so that the world feels real to me.. #ufchat
10:56 pm	Laura_Bickle:	…and so that the magical elements are more believable (I hope!). #UFchat
10:56 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Sparky is a pain in the ass. I adore him, but his speckled self occupies too much real estate in my head. #Ufchat
10:57 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q14: Can you explain more about the ghost hunting? What is it they do? Rescue people from ghosts or ghosts from world? #UFchat
10:57 pm	Laura_Bickle:	A bit of both. Ghosts can be very malicious in my world, and are becoming more so. Anya’s eccentric group of ghost hunters has… #UFChat
10:58 pm	Laura_Bickle:	…their hands full putting out metaphysical fires. They believe it’s a symptom of general unrest, some darkness moving in. #UFchat
10:58 pm	UF_Chat:	S: One of my favorite places in series is bar where the ghost investigators meet, the Devil?s Bathtub, complete with its history! #UFchat
10:58 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q15: Do you remember where that idea came from? What about the name? Why a bathtub?! #UFchat
10:59 pm	inkgypsy:	@Laura_Bickle Some great darkness?? Well there’s a series set-up if I ever heard one! Looking forward to it! #UFchat
10:59 pm	Laura_Bickle:	That was sort of a spur-of-the-moment thing. The bar was a speakeasy during Prohibition, so it was associated with vice. #ufchat
11:00 pm	inkgypsy:	@Laura_Bickle Q16: Anya?s witch friend Katie seems to know a lot about elementals – why? How does she know stuff Anya doesn?t? #UFchat
11:00 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q16: Anya?s witch friend Katie seems to know a lot about elementals – why? How does she know stuff Anya doesn?t? #UFchat
11:00 pm	Laura_Bickle:	And I liked the idea of a clawfoot bathtub filled with pennies in the middle of the bar. Wishing to the devil. #ufchat
11:01 pm	michellemacewan:	@Laura_Bickle Love that bathtub! #UFchat
11:02 pm	inkgypsy:	@Laura_Bickle Seriously cool idea! (clawfoot bathtub – the hardknocked wishing to the devil – asking for trouble!) #UFchat
11:02 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Katie’s still learning to apply what she’s learned in spellbooks to the physical world as a ghost hunter. #ufchat
11:03 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q18: In what ways are fire & ghosts are directly connected in your series? Did you base on any mythology? #UFchat
11:04 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Katie is something like a librarian of magickal lore. #ufchat
11:04 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Katie is something like a librarian of magickal lore. #ufchat
11:05 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Ghosts and fire are both energy. Both unpredictable. And they’ve both been with us since the beginning of civilization. #ufchat
11:05 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q19: What is a ?lantern? and is that your own creation? What was the ?spark? that helped form that character aspect? #UFchat
11:06 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Anya devours ghosts, but she doesn’t know where they go when she destroys them. And that bothers her. #ufchat
11:06 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Yup. The lanterns were my idea. They’re the rarest kind of medium. Where other mediums allow spirits to use their hands and voices.. #ufchat
11:07 pm	UF_chat2:	Overtime but wanted to give people chance to ask Laura questions! Please @ Laura directly & use #UFchat hashtag so all can follow. Go!
11:07 pm	Laura_Bickle:	…to communicate, a Lantern allows the spirit into her body. Then, she incinerates it. Not a pretty process. And it makes Anya… #UFchat
11:07 pm	Laura_Bickle:	…like she’s always taking out the spiritual garbage. #ufchat
11:08 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q23: If you could ask your readers a question about urban fantasy, what would that be? #UFchat
11:08 pm	Laura_Bickle:	What would you like to see next? #UFchat
11:08 pm	UF_Chat:	Have at it people! Can you answer @Laura_Bickle?s question? (Every answer is entered as another chance to win!) #UFchat
11:09 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q24: For those not familiar w bks pls fill blanks: If you like __ &/or __ you?d like EMBERS/SPARKS. #UFchat
11:09 pm	michellemacewan:	@Laura_Bickle I would like to see the Lanterns develop their power in a new way – maybe tapping into something else #UFchat
11:10 pm	Laura_Bickle:	If you like the idea of Ghostbusters in Detroit with dragons and arson?you?ll like EMBERS/SPARKS. But it?s kind of dark and gritty. #Ufchat
11:10 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@michellemacewan I would, too. Nobody really knows what purpose they serve. Except Sparky, and he’s not talking. #ufchat
11:11 pm	michellemacewan:	@Laura_Bickle I am intrigued already! #UFchat
11:11 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle What about the ORACLE series? (same fill in the blanks) #UFchat
11:11 pm	larissa_sarah:	YES!RT @Laura_Bickle: If U lk the idea of Ghostbusters in Detroit w/ dragons & arson?you?ll lk EMBERS/SPARKS. kind of dark & gritty. #Ufchat
11:11 pm	StacyMaynard:	I dont really have a question but I love how unique and inventive all of your books are #ufchat
11:12 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@larissa_sarah @michellemacewan Thank you! #Ufchat
11:12 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@stacymaynard Thanks! #ufchat
11:12 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Q26: Do U have anything (websites, writing, pet projects etc) you?d like to draw our attention to? Any last comments? #UFchat
11:13 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@UF_Chat Thank you so much for having me…thank you to everyone who chatted…and thanks for tolerating my newbie tech goofs! :-S #ufchat
11:14 pm	UF_Chat:	Thank you so much for being our special guest today in #UFchat @Laura_Bickle! and for letting Sparky ?off the leash? for a bit too.
11:14 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle A very special thank you also for providing your awesome books for a giveaway today! *cheering* #UFchat
11:14 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Thank you for having me! #UFchat
11:14 pm	UF_Chat:	#UFchat peeps welcome to hang with @Laura_Bickle as long as she?s able while I go tally entries & random.org chooses our winner! #UFchat
11:14 pm	leapetra:	@UF_Chat I wish I could have been here for the whole thing #ufchat
11:15 pm	michellemacewan:	@Laura_Bickle Thank you so much Laura – I am looking forward to reading more from you! Thankyou #UFchat and great meeting Sparky too!
11:15 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@leapatra Thank you for stopping in! It was great to meet you! #ufchat
11:16 pm	Syrten:	@Laura_Bickle Great tweetchat #UFchat
11:16 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Thanks, @syrten ! I appreciate it! #ufchat
11:17 pm	shadowflame1974:	@Laura_Bickle thank you for chatting and letting Sparky out. Can’t wait to get these books #UFchat
11:17 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@shadowflame1974 Thanks! Sparky is a PITA, but I adore him. He’s a composite of all the pets I’ve had over time. #ufchat
11:17 pm	BeasBookNook:	RT @larissa_sarah: YES!RT @Laura_Bickle: If U lk the idea of Ghostbusters in Detroit w/ dragons & arson?you?ll lk EMBERS/SPARKS. kind of dark & gritty. #Ufchat
11:18 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Please check your DMs #UFchat
11:18 pm	Laura_Bickle:	I always seem to wind up giving my protagonists pets. I think it’s because I want them to have a little bit of unconditional love #ufchat
11:19 pm	inkgypsy:	@Laura_Bickle I love that your protagonists have pets! What’s Tara’s pet in the ORACLE series? #UFchat
11:19 pm	SparkySalamandr:	And our winner is…@michellemacewan ! Please DM Laura or me, and I’ll put your books in the mail! *wags tail* #ufchat
11:20 pm	Syrten:	@michellemacewan Congrats! #ufchat
11:20 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Tara has a cat, Oscar, and winds up with a dog who belonged to a scientist who vanished while working on discovering dark matter. #ufchat
11:20 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_Bickle Totally forgot to mention how awesomely lucky you’ve been w your covers! I hope you have poster sized for your wall! #UFchat
11:20 pm	michellemacewan:	@Laura_Bickle it’s a great idea – pets, special friends.. it’s such a great way to expand the dimensions of the character. #UFchat
11:20 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Hee. I have been SUPER lucky with the cover love. Thanks! #ufchat
11:21 pm	UF_Chat:	RT @SparkySalamandr: And our winner is…@michellemacewan ! Please DM Laura or me, and I’ll put your books in the mail! *wags tail* #ufchat
11:21 pm	michellemacewan:	@SparkySalamandr Oh THANKYOU so much! I am thrilled! #UFchat
11:21 pm	leapetra:	@michellemacewan congrats #ufchat
11:21 pm	Laura_Bickle:	@michellemacewan I think it’s because I’ve always had them around, and characters tend to let their guards down around them. #ufchat
11:21 pm	UF_Chat:	And our lucky winner of TWO books today, chosen by random.org & Sparky is: @michellemacewan CONGRATULATIONS! #UFchat
11:22 pm	UF_Chat:	Thanks again to @Laura_Bickle for being our special guest and for providing such awesome books today! #UFchat
11:22 pm	Laura_Bickle:	You cannot see Sparky, but he’s doing a terribly awkward happy dance. #ufchat
11:23 pm	UF_Chat:	And thank YOU @SparkySalamandr for such an awesome surprise today! I have a feeling we could have chatted the whole hour w you! #UFchat
11:23 pm	michellemacewan:	@UF_Chat Thankyou #UFchat
11:23 pm	Laura_Bickle:	Thanks for hosting us! #ufchat
11:23 pm	UF_Chat:	My imagination is very happy about this! lol!RT @Laura_Bickle: You cannot see Sparky, but he’s doing a terribly awkward happy dance. #ufchat
11:23 pm	UF_Chat:	@Laura_BIckle We wish you every success w your writing & hope you can join us again to talk more about your work (Sparky too!). #UFchat
11:24 pm	UF_Chat:	That wraps up today?s #UFchat! See you next week for more energizing UF topics! Don?t forget Tues #mythbeasts chat @ 6:30pmEST!
11:24 pm	UF_Chat:	Resources and links on @Laura_Bickle and her work next: #UFchat
11:24 pm	UF_Chat:	Laura Bickle website: http://bit.ly/i4dYcC #UFchat
11:24 pm	UF_Chat:	Interview with Laura Bickle at My Bookish Ways: http://bit.ly/dOkPq7 #UFChat
11:24 pm	leapetra:	@UF_Chat #mythbeasts is about Centaurs and Satyrs #ufchat
11:25 pm	Syrten:	I look forward to next week #UFchat Cya everyone
11:25 pm	UF_Chat:	Also up front: remembering Japan today too: Authors for Japan website: http://bit.ly/gVNT5W Info here: http://bit.ly/i2mUrj #UFchat
11:25 pm	SparkySalamandr:	You KNOW that she doesn’t let me out much. *pouts* #ufchat
11:25 pm	UF_Chat:	Artists for Japan ?Tsunami Relief art effort & auction http://bit.ly/g7rCXv #UFchat (folks will be interested in creatures painted too)
11:26 pm	UF_Chat:	Guest blog by @Laura_Bickle – pseudonymns and multiple personalities: http://bit.ly/ijKkDD #UFchat
11:26 pm	UF_Chat:	Best & Worst Job Prospects in the Urban Fantasy Economy for 2011 (note firefighter is one of these!) http://bit.ly/cpKuv3 #UFChat
11:27 pm	UF_Chat:	Sparky the Salamander?s Twitter account: http://bit.ly/hfaSb0 #UFchat -A MUST FOLLOW! He is hilarious (& kinda raunchy Perfect UF friend.
11:27 pm	UF_Chat:	Letter to the Reader about Sparky & SPARKS http://bit.ly/fsmGEF #UFchat
11:27 pm	UF_Chat:	Some fire elemental images to inspire you! http://bit.ly/fFeG6s #UFChat
11:27 pm	UF_Chat:	Fire elementals ? Salamanders http://bit.ly/eVlKec #UFchat
11:27 pm	larissa_sarah:	RT @UF_Chat: Letter to the Reader about Sparky & SPARKS http://bit.ly/fsmGEF #UFchat
11:27 pm	UF_Chat:	Salamander ? legendary creature (Wikipedia) http://bit.ly/g5GntD #UFchat
11:27 pm	larissa_sarah:	RT @UF_Chat: Sparky the Salamander?s Twitter account: http://bit.ly/hfaSb0 #UFchat -A MUST FOLLOW! He is hilar? (cont) http://deck.ly/~i7dHE
11:27 pm	UF_Chat:	Salamanders (Dragonarama) http://bit.ly/ehjMNz #UFchat
11:29 pm	UF_Chat:	Hope your imagination has been fired up today! Stay warm everyone (except Southern Hemisphere – keep it cool – heh) #UFchat LIGHTS OUT!!
11:29 pm	UF_Chat:	RT @leapetra: @UF_Chat #mythbeasts is about Centaurs and Satyrs #ufchat
11:29 pm	inkgypsy:	RT @leapetra: @UF_Chat #mythbeasts is about Centaurs and Satyrs #ufchat
11:54 pm	michellemacewan:	RT @UF_Chat: Laura Bickle website: http://bit.ly/i4dYcC #UFchat
11:58 pm	michellemacewan:	Check out Laura’s interview,she was great on #UFchat today RT @UF_Chat:Interview with Laura Bickle at My Bookish Ways: http://bit.ly/dOkPq7

_________END OF TRANSCRIPT FOR MARCH 26TH 2011_________

See you all next Saturday: Roundtable week!

@InkGypsy

April 3, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »