Let The Dead Sleep by Heather Graham 

By John Rabb

Author Heather Graham is arguably one of the best writers in paranormal, ghost stories of today. She has written over 100 novels and novellas, starting back in 1983 with WHEN WE NEXT LOVE. Since then Heather has done far more for the writing community by being a founder of the Florida chapter of the Romance Writers of America and since 1999 she has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball for charity and in 2003 they honored her by giving her the lifetime achievement award. Every Labor Day since 2006 in New Orleans, Heather has hosted her own writing event called Writers for New Orleans. Working outside the pages of a book is something that separates Heather from all authors. Now Heather is back with her latest book LET THE DEAD SLEEP. Her newest series the Krewe of Hunters, has four books that came out in April of 2012 with THE UNSEEN followed by THE UNHOLY, THE UNSPOKEN and finished up in August 2012 with THE UNINVITED. Heather loves to take the reader on a journey into the paranormal emotional realm and LET THE DEAD SLEEP continues on that track, so let’s see what Heather has in store for us:

It was stolen from a New Orleans grave – the centuries-old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It’s an object desired by collectors – and by those with wickedness in their hearts.

One day, its current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty’s antiques shop on Royal Street, the shop she inherited from her father. But before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead…and Danni discovers that she’s inherited much more than she realized. In the store is a book filled with secret writing: instructions for defeating evil entities. She’d dismissed it as a curiosity…until the arrival of this statue, with its long history of evil and even longer trail of death.

Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past. He believes that doing the right thing isn’t a job – it’s a way of life. And the right thing to do is find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers. He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations.

Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced, that love can be temporary. And yet their connection is primal. Mesmerizing. They also know that their story won’t end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again.

Below is the exclusive interview we conducted with Heather, so enjoy!

LET THE DEAD SLEEP is your latest book, what can you tell us about the book that is not on the back cover?

The characters are people I’ve been mulling in my mind for a long time. I love New Orleans and spend a great deal of time there–and put on Writers for New Orleans every year! I was walking in the French Quarter to visit a friend at her shop one day and found the exact corner where I planned to place Danni Cafferty’s shop. Sometimes we live in our minds a little too much–I’m beginning to feel that I can really go there!

This is the ninth book in your Krewe of Hunters series, when you started did you expect to be this far in?

Let the Dead Sleep isn’t part of the Krewe series; it’s a new separate series. But, the Krewe is not going away yet–there will be three more this summer, THE NIGHT IS WATCHING, THE NIGHT IS ALIVE, and THE NIGHT IS FOREVER. The Krewe are based in northern Virginia, but they travel around the world. While Cafferty and Quinn will have to travel some in the future, this series will be heavily based in New Orleans.

The Krewe of Hunters will keep expanding?

It’s a big country!

Most of your books are set in a different place or era, is there one place or era that you still want to explore in your books?

My father was from Stirling Scotland and my mother was from Dublin, Ireland. The older I get, the more I wish I could listen to them again and capture some of the great tales they told me. In the future, someone will be traveling across the pond. When I was theater student, I got to “apprentice” at the Abbey in Dublin and it was phenomenal. Thanks to a Kathryn Falk road trip years ago and my name being Graham, I was interviewed for “Where in the World is Matt Lauer” at Edinburgh Castle. Both Scotland and Ireland are amazing–it sounds like a great plan to have a good reason to get back!

What is the best compliment you can receive from a fan?

The best is when someone tells you that a book you wrote helped get them through a tough time in your life. That feels really terrific. It’s also wonderful when someone tells you that you kept them up all night reading. Then again, any and all compliments are truly appreciated!

What happened at one of your book signings that people still can’t believe happened?

I think the most bizarre was when a reader insisted that I should be the high priestess for his vampire coven–he could just tell I was the real thing. I tried to politely tell him that no, in real life I’m actually a practicing Catholic (practicing because I’m sure I have it far from right.) It was a little scary–that made him happy. He told me it was so close to the same thing that I’d be just fine. The bookseller graciously stepped in and got me out the back door after I graciously (I hope) declined once again. The one that put me in my place happened in Gettysburg; I wasn’t at a signing, I was traveling with my family. I’d just had a series of books based on the Civil War come out–ONE WORE BLUE, ONE WORE GRAY, and AND ONE RODE WEST. My kids came running up to tell me that they were being carried in the Abraham Lincoln Museum. I was on cloud nine, so happy. I was holding one of the books and the sales lady came up to me and asked if she could help me. I looked at her and said, “Um–this is my book.” She smiled at me and said, “Oh, no, it’s not honey. Not until you’ve paid me for it.” Still, a great day!

We would like to thank Heather for taking the time out of her very busy schedule to give us a little look inside her world. For more information about Heather and all her works, check out her website.

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Heather Graham is the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author of over a hundred novels including suspense, paranormal, historical, and mainstream Christmas fare. She lives in Miami, Florida, her home, and an easy shot down to the Keys where she can indulge in her passion for diving. Travel, research, and ballroom dancing also help keep her sane; she is the mother of five, and also resides with two dogs, a cat, and an albino skunk. She is CEO of Slush Pile Productions, a recording company and production house for various charity events.