OBS reviewer Annabell had the opportunity to chat with author Raine Thomas about her novel, Becoming, which is the first book in her Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy. Thomas also opens up her husband, her favorite addiction, and what her own first kiss was like.

Annabell: How in the world did you come up with the Estilorians? Did anything help inspire or influence the plot of the story?

Raine Thomas: I was raised Catholic. Tales featuring guardian angels were among my regular bedtime stories, and they fascinated me. Thus, long before angels became the popular paranormal literary trend that they are, I vaguely considered writing a story about them. By the time my life settled enough that I could actually write, however, I saw that angels had already reached a height in popularity.

In order to keep my stories from falling victim to a passing trend or being considered just one of many containing the same types of beings, I decided I would create an entirely new concept. I asked myself, what if the stories humans knew of angels, mythological gods and goddesses, etc. were all based on reality? And voila! The Estilorians were born.

Annabell: Amber, Olivia, Skye and Gabriel each possess different type of gifts. If you could pick which one of their gifts to possess yourself which one would you choose and why?

Raine Thomas: I think I’d most want Amber’s ability to heal. I hate to see anyone suffering! While I have a feeling I would never have any peace if word got out, this would be an incredible ability to have.

Annabell: Amber is strong and no-nonsense. But she is also shy and reserved. I was able to relate to her because I am the same way. How did you approach creating Amber’s character? How do you relate to her character?

Raine Thomas: Amber is loosely based on a youth I worked with during my career in the field of children’s mental health. This particular seventeen-year-old girl had a very rough life. I met her after she was hospitalized for attempting to take her own life. After reaching that devastating low, she allowed me to help her turn her life around and I wanted to write a story, however fictionalized, that showed a heroine like her who faced a difficult upbringing and overcame it. Amber Hopkins is that character.

Annabell: Amber and Gabriel share such a close bond and trust each other without question. Where you inspired by your own relationship with your husband when creating Amber and Gabriel’s?

Raine Thomas: I’m a happily married woman of nearly eleven years, so that certainly does weigh into how I view relationships. Still, I know that healthy relationships require a lot of work and compromise, and nobody’s perfect! Much of the conflict in Amber and Gabriel’s relationship occurs before Becoming begins, as they’ve been best friends for six years. Thus, they understand each other very well and have established a strong foundation of trust. This is essential for them to overcome the external obstacles they must face together.

Annabell: Gabriel does many sweet and romantic things for Amber. What’s one of the most romantic things your husband has ever done for you? What is one of the most romantic things you have ever done for your husband?

Raine Thomas: My husband isn’t what you’d typically call the romantic type. Still, he does many sweet things that let me know how important I am to him. One of my favorite things that he did was booking a weekend getaway to the beach when I least expected it. So much fun!

Because my husband isn’t a mushy, romantic type, I haven’t arranged many grand or elaborate romantic moments for him. He’s a simple guy. He loves it when I manage to clear a Sunday and put together a bunch of snack foods so he can have the guys over to watch football, for example. So I try to do things like that as often as possible!

Annabell: The names of many of the Estilorians are unusual and unique. How did you choose them?

Raine Thomas: Some of the characters have names straight out of mythology or biblical stories. Yes…Gabriel is the Gabriel upon which human stories of the archangel are based, though it isn’t overtly stated. Similarly, Uriel and Saraqael are angel names. There are other characters, such as Knorbis and Malukali, whose names I made up. In the majority of cases, however, each character’s name was chosen with care, taking into consideration the name’s meaning and the traits of the character.

Annabell: I love the cover which was designed by Devan Edwards from Nimbi Design. How did you find Nimbi Design and how did the idea for the cover come about?

Raine Thomas: Devan is utterly brilliant—I can’t state that enough! I owe the bulk of my first book sales directly to her amazing covers. She’s a friend of another graphic designer I know here in Orlando, but my local contact thought Devan would be a better match for me. It turned out to be a supremely fortunate connection. She created the covers without me having a clue what I wanted. I love working with her, and I’m delighted that she’s now working with other authors in designing their covers!

Annabell: Central is the next book in the trilogy. What are some fun teasing hints you can give to readers for what they can expect to read?

Raine Thomas: Central shifts the focus among the daughters of Saraqael to Olivia, the second-born of the triplets. Olivia is a very centering character, balancing the reserved Amber and the effervescent Skye. She loves nature and animals, and her abilities and those of her sisters grow in this story. Readers will also get to know her Gloresti, James, who will learn all about humans and their stimulating emotions. Where Amber’s challenge is faith and Skye’s is control, Olivia’s is strength which will be put to the test in Central.

Annabell: Each of the girls receive a special weapon. My favorite was Amber’s. If you create a weapon and have it wield power, what kind of weapon would you create and what would you have it do?

Raine Thomas: Would it be possible to create a weapon that eliminates all weapons? I’ve got to admit, I’m a lover, not a fighter!

Annabell: Amber is addicted to orange juice. I share the very same addiction. What are some drinks or snacks you just love and could keep drinking or eating without tiring of?

Raine Thomas: Pasta. I eat some form of pasta (usually a veggie pasta) several times a week. I love it! Also, coffee. I have to have my cup of coffee every morning before I’m remotely coherent.

Annabell: Who are some of your favorite authors? How have they played an influence in your own writing?

Raine Thomas: There are a number of authors I love, but my top fave is definitely Nora Roberts. She writes characters with a depth and familiarity that amazes me! Her writing influences mine largely in how I write from the male perspective. Like her, I grew up with a number of brothers, and she taught me to draw on them as examples for my male characters. Although she writes adult romance and I write YA, I consider her a model to follow.

Annabell: What do you hope readers learn from Becoming?

Raine Thomas: I hope readers learn that no matter what challenges you face in life, if you believe in yourself and know when to turn to others for help, you can overcome them.

Annabell: What’s something you would be willing to tell your readers that they haven’t learned about you yet?

Raine Thomas: Hmm. Good question! Well, I’m afraid of dark water and those creatures lurking in its depths. Keep me away from lakes, ponds, and even the ocean if I can’t see the bottom!

Annabell: Time to “Get to Know the Author”

Raine Thomas: Favorite Spot to Write and to Read:

I most enjoy writing while sitting on my reclining sofa, and I love to read while sitting on the beach.

Favorite Fantasy/Sci-fi Book or Series:

In adult novels, my favorite fantasy book is probably Stephen King’s Eyes of the Dragon. I remember picking it up when I was a teenager and reading it cover to cover without a break. As for YA, I don’t think much could top Harry Potter.

Favorite Beach in Florida:

Although I’m the first to admit that I’ve only visited a fraction of this state’s gorgeous beaches, my favorite so far is Sanibel Island. What a terrific little getaway!

Out of all the characters you have written, which three have been your favorite to write and why?

My first favorite character to write was Amber. Her sarcasm and bafflement by all things girly was so much fun to write! On top of that, she was the character that inspired the entire series about the Estilorians, so she’ll always hold a special place with me.

My second favorite, which surprised me quite a lot, was Skye. In Becoming, Skye is notably “younger” in how she acts in comparison with her same-age sisters. She had a much different upbringing than they did, and she’s just simply immature. What readers will find by the time her story occurs in Foretold is that she actually grows the most as a character throughout the trilogy.

And my third favorite character to write was Zachariah, the male protagonist in Defy (the first book in my upcoming Firstborn trilogy). He’s what many readers will consider an anti-hero. Watching him grow as I write the trilogy has been awesome!

Favorite Couple From One of Your Favorite Books and Why:

My favorite fictional couple is Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Rourke from the “In Death” series of futuristic murder-mystery/romance books by J.D. Robb. I consider Eve one of the strongest female protagonists in fiction, having overcome a terrible past only to end up with one of the richest, most handsome and slightly shady men in the world. Sigh!

What was Your First Kiss Like:

My first kiss took place on the elementary school playground when I was eight, under the guise of a game of Truth or Dare. Little Stevie Smith followed through on a dare to pucker up and kiss me. I’ll never forget it!

Do You Own an E-Reader? If yes, what kind and what are some of the books you have on-hand to read?

I own one of the first generation Kindles and I love it! I’ve got more books in my to-read list than I could possibly mention, but among them are Toby Neal’s Blood Orchids, Kate Fuentes’ Elements series, Chelsea Fine’s Anew, and M.R. Merrick’s Shift. All are indie books that I can’t wait to read!

If you could travel to a different dimension, where would you hope to go and what would you hope to find? Does the other dimension have a name?

I have no desire to travel to a different dimension. Does that make me weird? I guess it might be kind of cool to travel to a dimension that’s more advanced than ours. I’d love to see what inventions they have!

Annabell: Thank you to author Raine Thomas! I had a lot of fun getting to know her more and how she approaches writing her novels. For more information on Raine Thomas and her books, check out her http://rainethomas.com/.