Chrystalla Thoma's Blog, page 11
May 16, 2012
Free book today and general update on writing
Morning boys girls and androids. 
I’ve been absent for some time – work (translations) and writing took up my time and wrenched me away from the internet and my blog.
So I’m back, beware! And I’ve got a couple of updates for you.
First of all, Rex Rising is free today (16th May) and if you haven’t got a copy, grab it now, as I don’t know if and when I will ever set it free again. Instead I will be concentrating more on writing and publishing new stories.
Second, I’d like to give an update on my dragon book. For those of you who didn’t hear about this, I’ve signed a contract with Tyche Books (the same lovely people who published the “Ride the Moon” anthology in which I have a short story) to write a non-fiction book about dragons. Now the book has an official page – and this means I have to put my butt down in a chair and start writing!
Third, I’m writing book 3 of Elei’s Chronicles (Rex: Equilibirum) as we speak and I’m currently half-way through. I’m very excited about it, and I hope you’re looking forward to it as well…
Have a very nice day!
April 18, 2012
Interview with Guest Author SB Knight
Today I have as my guest published author SB Knight. His paranormal fantasy (vampires) “Born of this Blood” has recently been published by MuseItUp publishing with more books in the series (The Blood Chronicles) coming out later this year and the next.
Chrys: Hi dear Brian, welcome! Tell us a few things about yourself!
Brian: Hello! Where do I start with this question? I am an American author. I’m not sure what that means but the first time I was called that I thought it interesting. I have also been referred to as a southern gentleman and if anyone has heard my accent they would know the southern part is very true. I work hard on the gentleman part of that description. I enjoy traveling and plan to do more of it in the coming years. My time in Italy was fantastic!
Chrys: Tell us about your published novel Born of Blood, what is it about? What inspired you to write it?
Brian: Born of Blood is my debut novel and book one of the Blood Chronicles. It is the harrowing story of a family fighting to survive, and possibly defeat, the immortal monster that stalks them relentlessly. But this age old evil has dark plans and, if successful, will prove that there is a fate worse than death.
What inspired me to write Born of Blood? First, I am a big vampire fan. I should clarify here, I am a big Bram Stoker type vampire fan. I like intelligent, cunning, brutal, vampires. That type of vampire seems to be disappearing from books in this day and age. I wanted to see if I could write a vampire novel with the type of vampire I like and a plot that is both exciting and unique. Yes, that was a big challenge. Unique plots are rare when it comes to vampires but I stumbled upon an idea one day that blossomed into something I believe is both unique and exciting. As it turned out, the story grew from one novel to a series of three.
Chrys: I see that Born of Blood is a series – have you already written the sequels? Was it hard/easy?
Brian: Yes, the second book of the Blood Chronicles series will be released in October of this year. For me, the trick was to continue the overall story but make book two strong enough to carry its own weight. Many see the middle book or middle movie the weaker of any series and I tried to avoid that. The easy part was knowing where I was in the story, how to start this novel, and where I wanted to end it. The hard part was making sure I picked up all the unfinished story lines from Born of Blood so they could either continue or finish in the sequel. The fun part was seeing a new portion of the saga unfold before my eyes.
Chrys: You are a fellow Muser – published with MuseItUp as I am. How did you find the whole publishing experience? Was it as you imagined it to be?
Brian: Before I came to MuseItUp I submitted a different novel to other publishing companies and was rejected. Yes, I received a heavy dose of rejection and it was not fun. I shelved that novel and wrote Born of Blood. To be honest, I had thoughts of not submitting Born of Blood to publishers either. I was very close to leaving it on the shelf.
I remember talking to my wife about it and making the decision to take a chance with it so I began looking for small publishers who published Dark Fantasy. I submitted to three companies and all three were interested in it. This might surprise some but I researched each company as much as I could. MuseItUp had the advantage because I knew Lea from the online conference she has every October. It was tough getting noticed by publishers but extremely exciting once I did. I would say it was what I imagined it to be except for one thing, MuseItUp made the experience more of a friendly atmosphere compared to the all business atmosphere I was prepared for. I was very happy about that.
Chrys: Do you only write dark fantasy? What are you working on currently?
Brian: At this time yes, I am writing only Dark Fantasy. I have plans to venture out one day but I’m not sure when that will happen. I truly enjoy writing the stories that dance in my imagination. Currently I am working on my third novel which is a departure from the Blood Chronicles. I have received feedback from my beta readers and making one last run through the pages before I submit it to my publisher. So far the feedback has been very good as many refer to the story as intense. It is my hope that you will see Demathia Rising released sometime next year. You can stay up-to-date on that and all my novels on my website: www.sb-knight.com.
Chrys: What can we find you doing apart from writing fiction?
Brian: Aside from writing I am also a civil and environmental engineer (that happens to be my full time job). I enjoy being outdoors, planting my garden every year, building things as small as race cars with my son to as big as a stone patio in my back yard. I also fish, hike, and go camping; although I don’t do those as often as I would like. You will also find me playing and watching sports.
Chrys: What advice do you have for aspiring novelists?
Brian: Patience and perseverance. The patience will pay off when you are waiting to hear back from publishers. The perseverance will be critical when you receive rejections, negative feedback, and/or no response at all. Don’t just write, challenge your writing. Find the areas where you feel weakest and write to those areas. Each story is a new idea but also a new opportunity to expand and sharpen your skills. Recognize that each day you write, even if it is just 5 words, is an accomplishment and gift. There are many writers in the world but there are many more who dream to write.
Buy Links:
MuseItUp Bookstore
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Meet the author:
SB Knight
Website: http://www.sb-knight.com
Blog: http://the-new-author.blogspot.com
Business: www.premiumpromotions.biz
April 4, 2012
Guest Author Katie Salidas and release of “Soulstone”
Today I have here author Katie Salidas. Katie writes about vampires, and her series “Immortalis Carpe Noctem” has just seen a new addition – Book 4 of the series, called “Soulstone”, has just been released.
Chrys: Hi dear Katie and welcome. Can you tell us what the inspiration behind Soulstone is?
Katie: Soulstone is book 4 in my Immortalis series. The overall inspiration for the series has always been exploring what it might be like to really live as a vampire. I don’t like to sugar coat things I like to deal with the nitty gritty of it all: what would it be like to drink blood, to kill, to deal with humans and werewolves, witches, etc… But, for Soulstone, the main plot point and driving force behind the story was to answer the question, “What will happen to Lysander.” That was the spark that ignited the story into existence.
At the end of book three, Pandora’s Box, I left readers with that question as well as a magical artifact that had the capability of trapping a vampire soul within it. This irresistible item is not only important to Alyssa, our main character (since it holds the fate of her lover within it), but also the Acta Sanctorum, a dangerous fanatical religious organization bent on the destruction of anything “Unnatural.”
Once those elements were put into place, the story blossomed up around it, taking us through the streets of Boston to the snowy woods in the north and the Olde Town werewolf pack’s sanctuary for a huge battle.
Chrys: Wonderful. Just one more question: Is this the last book of this series or should be expect more? What else is in store?
Katie: I have a feeling Alyssa’s adventures will continue on for a long time to come. I’d personally love to give this series the same longevity as other popular Urban Fantasy works like the Sookie Stackhouse series, but it’s best to take things one book at a time.
I’ haven’t yet started on Book 5, but I left plenty to continue on with. What will happen to our mortal friend Fallon? Will she turn wolf to remain with her lover and Olde Town wolf pack leader, Aiden? Will the Peregrinus clan be able to turn the tables on the Acta Sanctorum and finally rid the world of them? How will Ian deal with his eternal injuries, and what happened to Zuri? There are many many questions that have arisen and still need to be answered and as long as Alyssa has a story to tell, I plan on continuing on with this series.
Thank you so much for reading, and if you want to check out my other novels, you can find me at http://www.katiesalidas.com
(New Release)
Soulstone (Book 4)
It’s a desperate time for rookie vampire Alyssa, and her sanity is hanging by a slender thread. Her clan is still reeling from the monumental battle with Aniketos; a battle that claimed the body of Lysander, her sire and lover, and trapped his spirit in a mysterious crystal. A Soulstone.
Unfortunately, no amount of magic has been able to release Lysander’s spirit, and the stone is starting to fade. Weeks of effort have proved futile. Her clan, the Peregrinus, have all but given up hope. Only Alyssa still believes her lover can be released. In despair, Alyssa begs the help of the local witch coven, and unwittingly exposes the supernaturals of Boston to unwanted attention from the Acta Sanctorum.
The Saints converge on the city and begin their cleansing crusade to rid the world of all things “Unnatural.” In the middle of an all-out war, but no closer to a solution to the dying stone, Alyssa is left with an unenviable choice: save her mate, or save her clan.
Pandora’s Box (Book 3)
After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she’d learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package – a Pandora’s Box.
Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it?
When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.
Powerless against the ancient evil, the clan flees Las Vegas for Boston, with only a slim hope for salvation. Could Lysander’s old journals hold the key? And what if they don’t?
And how welcome will they be in a city run by a whole different kind of supernatural being?
Werewolves…
Hunters & Prey (Book 2)
Becoming a vampire saved Alyssa from death, but the price was high: the loss of everything and everyone attached to her mortal life. She’s still learning to cope when a surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum’s most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the friend she’s missed more than anything.
Alyssa breaks vampire law by revealing her new, true self to her old friend, a fact which causes strong division in the group that should support her most: her clan.
Immortalis Carpe Noctem (Book 1)
Becoming a vampire is easy. Living with the condition… that’s the hard part.
Bleeding to death after brutal mugging, twenty-five year old Alyssa is rescued by the most unlikely hero: the handsome and aloof vampire, Lysander.
His gift of immortal blood initiates Alyssa into a frightening, eternally dark world filled with: bloodlust, religious fanaticism, and thousand-year old vendettas.
With Lysander as her guide, Alyssa will have to learn what it takes to survive in the immortal world. She’ll have to find the strength to accept her new reality and carpe noctem; or give in, and submit to final death.
To purchase the Immortalis books (In print and ebook):
About Katie Salidas:
Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.
And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…
Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.
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Guest Author Katie Salidas and release of "Soulstone"
Today I have here author Katie Salidas. Katie writes about vampires, and her series "Immortalis Carpe Noctem" has just seen a new addition – Book 4 of the series, called "Soulstone", has just been released.
Chrys: Hi dear Katie and welcome. Can you tell us what the inspiration behind Soulstone is?
Katie: Soulstone is book 4 in my Immortalis series. The overall inspiration for the series has always been exploring what it might be like to really live as a vampire. I don't like to sugar coat things I like to deal with the nitty gritty of it all: what would it be like to drink blood, to kill, to deal with humans and werewolves, witches, etc… But, for Soulstone, the main plot point and driving force behind the story was to answer the question, "What will happen to Lysander." That was the spark that ignited the story into existence.
At the end of book three, Pandora's Box, I left readers with that question as well as a magical artifact that had the capability of trapping a vampire soul within it. This irresistible item is not only important to Alyssa, our main character (since it holds the fate of her lover within it), but also the Acta Sanctorum, a dangerous fanatical religious organization bent on the destruction of anything "Unnatural."
Once those elements were put into place, the story blossomed up around it, taking us through the streets of Boston to the snowy woods in the north and the Olde Town werewolf pack's sanctuary for a huge battle.
Chrys: Wonderful. Just one more question: Is this the last book of this series or should be expect more? What else is in store?
Katie: I have a feeling Alyssa's adventures will continue on for a long time to come. I'd personally love to give this series the same longevity as other popular Urban Fantasy works like the Sookie Stackhouse series, but it's best to take things one book at a time.
I' haven't yet started on Book 5, but I left plenty to continue on with. What will happen to our mortal friend Fallon? Will she turn wolf to remain with her lover and Olde Town wolf pack leader, Aiden? Will the Peregrinus clan be able to turn the tables on the Acta Sanctorum and finally rid the world of them? How will Ian deal with his eternal injuries, and what happened to Zuri? There are many many questions that have arisen and still need to be answered and as long as Alyssa has a story to tell, I plan on continuing on with this series.
Thank you so much for reading, and if you want to check out my other novels, you can find me at http://www.katiesalidas.com
(New Release)
Soulstone (Book 4)
It's a desperate time for rookie vampire Alyssa, and her sanity is hanging by a slender thread. Her clan is still reeling from the monumental battle with Aniketos; a battle that claimed the body of Lysander, her sire and lover, and trapped his spirit in a mysterious crystal. A Soulstone.
Unfortunately, no amount of magic has been able to release Lysander's spirit, and the stone is starting to fade. Weeks of effort have proved futile. Her clan, the Peregrinus, have all but given up hope. Only Alyssa still believes her lover can be released. In despair, Alyssa begs the help of the local witch coven, and unwittingly exposes the supernaturals of Boston to unwanted attention from the Acta Sanctorum.
The Saints converge on the city and begin their cleansing crusade to rid the world of all things "Unnatural." In the middle of an all-out war, but no closer to a solution to the dying stone, Alyssa is left with an unenviable choice: save her mate, or save her clan.
Pandora's Box (Book 3)
After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she'd learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package – a Pandora's Box.
Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it?
When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.
Powerless against the ancient evil, the clan flees Las Vegas for Boston, with only a slim hope for salvation. Could Lysander's old journals hold the key? And what if they don't?
And how welcome will they be in a city run by a whole different kind of supernatural being?
Werewolves…
Hunters & Prey (Book 2)
Becoming a vampire saved Alyssa from death, but the price was high: the loss of everything and everyone attached to her mortal life. She's still learning to cope when a surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum's most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the friend she's missed more than anything.
Alyssa breaks vampire law by revealing her new, true self to her old friend, a fact which causes strong division in the group that should support her most: her clan.
Immortalis Carpe Noctem (Book 1)
Becoming a vampire is easy. Living with the condition… that's the hard part.
Bleeding to death after brutal mugging, twenty-five year old Alyssa is rescued by the most unlikely hero: the handsome and aloof vampire, Lysander.
His gift of immortal blood initiates Alyssa into a frightening, eternally dark world filled with: bloodlust, religious fanaticism, and thousand-year old vendettas.
With Lysander as her guide, Alyssa will have to learn what it takes to survive in the immortal world. She'll have to find the strength to accept her new reality and carpe noctem; or give in, and submit to final death.
To purchase the Immortalis books (In print and ebook):
About Katie Salidas:
Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.
And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…
Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.
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March 29, 2012
Guest Author: Marion Sipe
Today I have a guest, a great author of epic and urban fantasy, Marion Sipe. Her epic fantasy book "A Sign in Blood" is free today, so if you haven't grab a copy. I highly recommend it.
So, I give the floor to Marion!
Hello all!
I'm Marion Sipe and I'm here today with Chrystalla Thoma (Thank you, Chrys!) to talk about my epic fantasy novel, "A Sign in Blood".
For me, it's the characters that make a story. While you have to have a good plot, and hopefully a fascinating world, none of it matters if the characters can't pull their weight. And two of my favorite characters from "A Sign in Blood" are Bastian and Carial.
They're a lot a like in some ways, and totally different in others. They're both trying to make the world a better place, to help those who can't help themselves. They're both rebels and renegades, but they come from very different places. While Carial was raised in the rebellion, Bastian was raised in the temples. In some ways, he's more of a realist than Carial. Carial is an idealist, while Bastian is practical and down-to-earth.
Because Bastian's position as Full Rank Clergy puts him right in the enemy's midst, he's also more paranoid and suspicious than Carial who has been—more or less—insulated by the rebellion. Until betrayal comes to the Underground itself, which rather flips Carial's world upside down. That's not to say that Carial's had it easy. His people are constantly hounded, unable to settle, unable to create any real life for themselves.
So, while Bastian and Carial are from the same culture, and agree about many things, their essential viewpoints are quite different. Which made their interactions a lot of fun to write. While they strive for the same goals, they often have different ideas about how to get there. They're both caught in the middle of something huge, with people looking to them for guidance, and they're both risking their own lives—as well as the lives of others—in ways with which they're not always comfortable.
I also really love these characters because they're not your typical "hero" types. Bastian is a scribe and a translator, and if you handed him a sword he'd probably hold it between his thumb and forefinger. He just wouldn't know what to do with it, and he'd be cautious. Carial is more of a fighter, but his people aren't allowed to possess things like swords and, though he'd love to get his hands on some, he'd have only a little more idea what to do with one than Bastian. Instead of eschewing weapons, however, he and his people make their own, working with what they've got to try and even things up.
He's not always happy with the results. There are times when he can't do enough, or when the options are whittled away and he has to take the course of action he thought he'd never use. Both he and Bastian are faced with some hard decisions. As to whether or not they make the right ones… Well, go grab a free copy and find out!
To learn more about Marion Sipe, A Sign in Blood, or her other works, visit:
http://marionsipe.blogspot.com
Where to find "A Sign in Blood":
Remember that the novel is *free* today.
March 22, 2012
Interview with EPIC winner author Cyrus Keith
Today I have as my guest author Cyrus Keith. He writes techno-thrillers of high caliber and has just won the EPIC award in the category thriller for his first novel out "Becoming Nadia"!!!
Not that I'm surprised, having read Cyrus's books (it's a trilogy! all amazing novels!) – but a thrill all the same.
So, without further ado…
Chrys: Cyrus, how does fame feel after winning the EPIC award (and did you invest in a good pair of sunglasses to avoid paparazzi?)
Cyrus: Still trying to wrap my head around this "fame" thing. It's kind of
weird, really. I was on the phone at the elevator right after the ceremony, and when the doors opened here was this whole load of people! So, thinks I to myself, let's make the most of the moment. And I says out loud into the phone ('cause that's what I do on the phone) "Hey, Guess what I have in my hand? I just won the EPIC Award for Best Thriller!" And someone in the crowd says, "Where can I get it?" So I whips my hand to my suit jacket pocket and out come the promotional bookmarks. Everyone got one, and I got to tell my friend what just h
appened, and about twenty minutes later I actually remembered to breathe.Really, Chrys, I don't see myself as "famous" yet. Right now, my "sunglasses" amount to a convenient pen name I use when I want to be Cyrus Keith, and another name when I prefer to be private and hang out with my friends. So far that's enough.
I'll call myself "famous" when my by-line is five times bigger than the title of the book.
Chrys: You're very modest.
Winning such a prize is no small thing, and even if you're not chased around like Robert Pattinson (Twilight?), I'm sure many more people know your name now, which is great, cause you deserve it! Now, please tell us about this series and what else to expect from you – book 3? more stories set in this world?
C yr
us: I'm excited to say I submitted Part Three of the NADIA Project to my publisher last Tuesday before I left for EPICon. Critical Mass closes out the NADIA Project, but I still have a surprise coming, a bonus if you will. It's coming quick, and it's going to be so cool I wish I could tell you about it! But I guess I'll let everyone who's interested keep up with me on Facebook. You can see photos of the EPIC conference at the beautiful (and haunted) Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, too. Back to the Project, I have other works coming set in this world. But they are not part of the NADIA Project. I'll just let you see that when they come along.
Chrys: Having been allowed a look into this yet unpublished third book, let me say it rocks!!!
What are your future writing plans? will you explore other universes, other genres?
Cyrus: I'd be foolish not to try. I still have a hard sci-fi bug gnawing at me
, and I have two historical novels on the back burner. There's yet another rip-roaring techno-thriller in the works as well. I'll probably be using different by-lines for these diverse projects, to establish brands in those genres. But they will be there.Thanks so much for having me, Chrys! I've been wanting to stop by your place for a while! Now, where's the coffee?
Chrys: Thank you so much for dropping by.
And good luck with everything (not that you need it)You can find Cyrus here:
MuseItUp Publishing
Amazon
March 12, 2012
Quick announcement: Rex Rising on sale for a few days!
For the release of Rex Cresting (Book 2 of Elei's Chronicles), I have decided to put Rex Rising (Book 1 of the series) at 99c for a couple of days.
In celebration.
So, if you haven't already, grab a copy and get ready for book 2.
Happy Reading!
March 9, 2012
Rex Cresting (Book 2 of Elei’s Chronicles) is out now!
So, after many delays and much ado, here is the sequel to Rex Rising:
REX CRESTING (BOOK TWO OF ELEI’S CHRONICLES)
Still recovering at a hospital on the north coast of Dakru, Elei is convinced that his part in bringing down the Gultur is over. Rex has infected the other race and their dictatorial system is starting to collapse. Not every Gultur, though, has been affected, and on top of that, inside Elei’s body, Rex has matured and goes through another transformation. Elei isn’t sure he can survive Rex’s new strength — but that may prove the last of his worries as the Gultur descend on him again.
Links:
So I am glad I more or less made the third of my deadlines (first it was Xmas 2011, then end February 2012, then first week of March 2012)! I will write more about this experience and the series and everything on another day.
Let me only add that Rex Rising (Book 1 in the series) is free today and tomorrow, in case you haven’t got it yet.
Link:
Book 3 (Rex: Equilibrium) is due out this Summer.
Happy Reading!
Rex Cresting (Book 2 of Elei's Chronicles) is out now!
So, after many delays and much ado, here is the sequel to Rex Rising:
REX CRESTING (BOOK TWO OF ELEI'S CHRONICLES)
Still recovering at a hospital on the north coast of Dakru, Elei is convinced that his part in bringing down the Gultur is over. Rex has infected the other race and their dictatorial system is starting to collapse. Not every Gultur, though, has been affected, and on top of that, inside Elei's body, Rex has matured and goes through another transformation. Elei isn't sure he can survive Rex's new strength — but that may prove the last of his worries as the Gultur descend on him again.
Links:
So I am glad I more or less made the third of my deadlines (first it was Xmas 2011, then end February 2012, then first week of March 2012)! I will write more about this experience and the series and everything on another day.
Let me only add that Rex Rising (Book 1 in the series) is free today and tomorrow, in case you haven't got it yet.
Link:
Book 3 (Rex: Equilibrium) is due out this Summer.
Happy Reading!
March 2, 2012
Guest interview with author Katherine Hawkings
Chrys: Hi and welcome to my blog! Why don't you tell us a few words about yourself first?
Katherine: A few words about myself? Does the fact I was sorely tempted to quote Dumbledore just now tell you anything? I'm a Kiwi girl, currently living in England. I love chocolate, playing ice hockey, snakes and kittens but I hate sand sticking to my skin, asparagus and spiders.
Chrys: HP fans, woohoo! 
What genre(s) do you write and why?
Katherine: I primarily write young adult books, but the genres vary widely. At the moment I have a sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal romance and a historical romance in the works. I guess it's probably influenced by what I've read in the past and various interests of my own. I prefer young adult because I quite like writin gin the first person, and I find the stories flow a lot faster too.
Chrys: What can you tell us about your writing projects and recent releases?
Katherine: I'm currently focusing on a fantasy about a half-elvish girl called Mali called The Gilded Blade. It's the first of a new trilogy which includes trolls, sirens and maybe a nice big battle.
Chrys: Tell us about your latest release!
Katherine: My latest release is also my first. It is called The Sphinx Project and is the first in The Chimaera Chronicles. The story features a genetically modified girl called Michaela and her friends as they escape the labs in which they were created. It's got a lot of action and is quite fast moving.
Not many people can say their entire existence has been one big lab experiment: poked and prodded by scientists, genetically modified to be the best and endure the worst, subjected to daily tests and trials that would kill a normal human. All Michaela wants is her own life, to be able to go to school, flirt with boys, maybe eat ice cream now and then. So when the chance to escape finally comes, Michaela and her sister grab it, taking their friends with them.
But they weren't the only ones to find their way out of those labs. Following close behind are another breed of creature, one that doesn't know the difference between right and wrong, who exist only to feed their own hunger. The appearance of a strange boy who seems too much like them to be a coincidence makes things even more confusing. But as the world begins to literally fall apart around them, Michaela must accept his help, especially when she could lose the very thing she holds dearest: her sister.
Chrys: If you weren't a writer, what would you be?
Katherine: I like to think I'd be an actress, but the whole stage-fright thing would probably stop that idea in it's tracks. There are so many things I'd like to do with myself, I don't know which one I would pick. At university I studied sport science and nutrition, so I could have followed that path, but I'm also tempted by film-making, marketing and event management.
Chrys: What gave you the idea for this book?
Katherine: I've always been interested in people with special abilities, and a while back I read several articles British legislation regarding the creation and disposal of hybrid creatures. It clicked really well with a scene I'd written and it ended up evolving into The Sphinx Project,
Chrys: Do you have a favorite scene in the book?
Katherine: I would have to say my favourite scene is when Michaela first meets Matt, but if I told you any more I'd ruin it for you.
Chrys: What kind of research did you do for this story?
Katherine: Like I said there was the newspapers, but most of the research was actually scoping out specific locations. The story is set in America, and although I've visited one of the locations from the book before the others were a complete mystery to me.
Chrys: Where can people learn more about you and your writing?
Katherine: My blog is probably the best place: http://katherinehawkings.blogspot.com/
Links:
Purchase links:
Amazon US
