Sixteen-year-old Sydlynn Hayle lives in a paranormal family of witches, demons and vampires, including her father, undead uncle and his girlfriend, and her demon cat, Sassafras. Though she’s always longed for the chance to be normal and ordinary, she loves her family more than anything. Bullied because she tries to fit in instead of being herself, Syd learns the value of non-conformity while finally understanding her power is an important part of her that won’t be denied.

With a solid mix of action, adventure, paranormal people, high school angst/romance and baddies popping out of the woodwork, Family Magic introduces you to the first in a twenty-volume series, the Hayle Coven Novels (all of which are already in publication, so no waiting! YAY!)

Yay – there’s nothing we hate more.
What kind of paranormal novels are these?
Family Magic is young adult paranormal with a dash of romance and a whole heaping pile of action/adventure.

With twenty books to read we’re going to get to know Syd very well. Give us a headstart, though.
Syd came to me in the middle of the night and demanded I get up and write down her story. She hasn’t left me alone since–can you say demanding? As a matter of fact, I’m already part-way through her second series, set seven years after the Hayle Coven Novels end. She never ceases to amaze me with her depth of understanding about herself and others, how she grows and changes over time despite hardships and devastating losses. The fierceness of her character when she’s feeling protective of those she loves and the laugh-out-loud humor of her internal dialogue make me love her with every new book I write in her voice. She’s become almost as real to me as some of my own family and I can’t imagine a day when she goes quiet.

Who are the Hayle Coven novels aimed at? I’ve talked to everyone from thirteen-year-olds who love magic to grandparents with a passion for family sagas. There is very little swearing and, though the main character ages from sixteen in book one to twenty-two in the final volume, I’m a firm believer in reality based on family friendly. I wanted the series to be read and enjoyed by all ages and I seem to have succeeded.

We’re amazed that you’ve found the time to write 20 books.
I have over 50 books in publication right now!

But book two of the Hayle Coven Novels, Witch Hunt, is a must. The sequel to Family Magic will keep you coming back for more, I’m sure of it.

50 books!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a card-carrying nerdgirl who still feels socially awkward sometimes, but laughs about it anyway. I can’t cook to save my soul, but I’m an expert in consuming chocolate in all forms. Blonde, gray-eyed, sarcastic with a hearty laugh I never censor, I love telling stories more than anything in the world and feel blessed to do so for a living. I hang my hat on the gorgeous east coast of Canada with my patient husband and six demanding cats.

Do you have a website where we can keep up with your work?
I surely do! You can find me at www.pattilarsen.com.

How can we follow you on Twitter and/or Facebook?
I’d love that! I’m @PattiLarsen on Twitter and I’m always delighted to see new faces on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pattilarsenauthor.

What’s next?
I’m a fairly prolific writer and tend to put out one to two books a month, though I’ve slowed down some since I published my 50th novel the first of March this year. I’m continuing with Syd’s story while working on a serial series in an entirely new Universe.

I’ve written TV pilots and screenplays in the past, and I’m right now adapting one of the shows I created into a thirteen-episode project I’m hoping will have a strong small-screen feel. I love experimenting!

Stories obviously come easily to you. If we give you four random words – Man, Woman, Mexico, Future – can you give us a brief storyline?
Post-Yellowstone caldera eruption, a mass exodus to the Mexican border by citizens of the US separates a man and his beloved wife. As they struggle to survive the devastation and humanity’s inevitable degradation to the survival of the strongest, only their hope to find each other again keeps them moving forward–and alive.

Okay, you do realize that’s cruel, right? (filing the idea away among the gazillion I already have…)