K.N. Lee's Blog, page 13

All of Me by, Kelly Moran **Author Interview**

All of Me by, Kelly Moran **Author Interview**
Today we feature award-winning author, Kelly Moran. Her stories are perfect for anyone searching for romantic tales with twist. I am thrilled to share this interview with you all. Tell us what you think in the comments.

AUTHOR BIO:

Kelly Moran is a bestselling romance author of enchanting ever-afters. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself. She is a Catherine Award-Winner, Readers Choice Finalist, and a Finalist in RWA's 2014 Award of Excellence. She earned one of the 10 Best Reads by USA TODAY's HEA. Kelly's interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don't tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, three sons, and her black lab. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well. She loves stalkers and hearing from her readers. Sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on her books!
INTERVIEW 
When did you start writing?When I was very young. Before I could read, I made up stories. My first book was published in 2005.
Who are your top 3 favorite authors?Gah. Not fair. Kristan Higgins, Carla Neggers, & Nora Roberts (+ many more).
Favorite book?All of them. ALL.
Who is your greatest supporter?My best friend Lynn has always had my back both in and out of the writing world. I'm also SO blessed to have the two best critique partners in the world: AJ Nuest and Mackenzie Crowne.
What are you working on now?I'm working on a new contemporary series tentatively called Redwood Ridge. Also working on a witch trilogy and possibly a follow up to Exposure called Rapture.
What is the hardest part about writing?Probably the negative reviews. We breathe, sweat, and bleed our books, and if a reader doesn't connect, that's hard.The easiest?The last and first chapter. Always flows well for me.
What advice do you have for other aspiring authors?I actually wrote a Goodreads article about this! See here: http://tinyurl.com/oaoj3fr
Do you want to say anything to your readers and fans?I love you all so hard. Honestly, we authors write for two main reasons: to shut up the voices in our heads and because of readers. Thank you! xo
If you could live anywhere, where would that be?Hm. I live in Wisconsin, but have a lot of family in the Carolinas. Probably NC or SC. Would love to travel to England, Ireland, the Pacific Northwest, and Maine one day, though.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?Wow. Hm. Reading minds, I think. Would make for awesome research and I could freak people out. LOL.
AUTHOR LINKS:Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/prkhtuaFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorkellymoranAmazon: http://tinyurl.com/ocavcboTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorkmoranPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorkmoranTumblr: http://authorkellymoran.tumblr.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/authorkellymoran/Google+: https://plus.google.com/+KellyMoranauthorYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/authorkellymoran Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/moransmoxies/Website: http://www.authorkellymoran.com
ALL OF ME

Amazon U.S.: http://tinyurl.com/nk8lxn7B&N: http://tinyurl.com/prxda65iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/qzkyq74Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/pz7bq3cGoogle: http://tinyurl.com/kb3pqa7
BLURB:For ten months, bestselling novelist Alec Winston hasn't been able to type a single word, and he's coming dangerously close to breaching his publishing contract. An invitation from his brother to spend the summer in Wilmington Beach might be just the thing to blast through his writer's block. Yet Alec discovers more than a spark of inspiration on the sunny sands. He meets an amber-eyed muse who makes him think about much more than books . . .Faith Armstrong has finally gathered the courage to leave her past behind and accepted a job as a private tutor, hoping for a fresh start on the North Carolina coast. This is the home she's always longed for--not just a place, but a state of mind. She's felt invisible her whole life, so the host of new friends and the attention of a sexy author have her head spinning.But Alec has a secret that could prove this isn't the life Faith dreamed of after all . . .
"Fun, emotional, and totally engaging." ~CARLA NEGGERS, New York Times bestselling author

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The Third Power (BlackMyst Trilogy Book 3)

The Third Power (BlackMyst Trilogy Book 3) 










The struggle for the Dagger of Torrill has brought Delvengard and Sorak to war. But a long forgotten third power has risen, scheming to bring destruction to both kingdoms. 

Meanwhile, Beynn and Fritz learn the full extent of the green dagger’s third power as they journey through BlackMyst and through time itself in this exciting conclusion to the BlackMyst Trilogy.
Amazon
About the Author
Kelly Hess grew up with a love of reading science fiction and fantasy, which inspired him to write his BlackMyst trilogy. Kelly currently lives with his wife and son in Vacaville, California.












Couldn't put it downBy pan on May 1, 2013Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I truly enjoyed this book. The order was received before it was due which was very nice. The ending surprised me which made the book a true delight. I look forward to many more delightful and fun stories from Kelly Hess.Comment  Was this review helpful to you?  These three books kept my interest throughout because the author made me want to find out what happens next to the characters. One of the few books that made me sorry there wasn't another chapter.Comment  Was this review helpful to you?  The exciting Black Myst series continues. These books are a great read. Share them with your adventure loving 10-14 year-old.

AUTHOR TAG!

The Lost Heir (New Release)

The Lost Heir (New Release)

Isabella Foxworthy was just another girl…until she learned she was an empath, able to read the energy of others. A secret world known as the Violet City lies beneath her family’s hotel in Los Angeles. Through this discovery, Isabella is catapulted into a whirlwind of magic, adventure, and danger. The Violet City holds the key to protecting her stability; her family hotel, her friends, and her very sanity. With morphlings, empaths, and fair folk also comes a powerful entity that twists her mind into knots, threatening everything she loves. Now, Isabella and her new friends—a guitar-playing jock, his gifted but neurotic brother, and a set of over-indulged twins—have until her 16th birthday to save her world with the help of someone who's been lost for a very long time...the lost Foxworthy heir. But will they find him in time? And will he be a friend or foe?


The Lost HeirAvailable on Amazom


About the Author
Allison Whitmore was born in Los Angeles and studied literature and writing at Long Island University. She spent several years teaching English and history after earning her master's degree at Mount St. Mary's University. Outside of writing and reading, Allison loves classic Hollywood films, and spending time with her family and friends. In 2011, she started working on The Lost Heir (Book I in The Diadem Chronicles) with two of her good friends, Erin Virginia and Grace Arden. She is grateful to have them along for the ride as she developed the characters and etched out the massive story world of the novel and the exciting series-to-come. Amazon Author PageWebsiteNewsletterTwitterFacebook
The Co-Authors:
Erin Virginia spent the first years of her life in Tokyo, Japan before finishing her formative years in a suburb of Chicago. She attributes her wild imagination and her love of reading to her family. She loved working with her two best friends as the three of them created mayhem and magic with The Lost Heir in her new home, Los Angeles. Grace Arden was born in Philadelphia. She has always lived in the imaginative world and grew up fascinated by dark stories, fantasy and romance. Grace plans to empower the world through her looking glass mirror perspective on life. She currently resides in Los Angeles.

Publishing Goals for the New Year!

Publishing Goals for the New Year!
What is your favorite writing/publishing memory from 2015?

2015 has been one of the greatest years of my life! Hands down, publishing Rise of the Flame was my favorite memory. This is the story that I started when I was eleven years old. I've kept these characters in my heart and dreams for such a long time, it was amazing to see them come to life. I initially self-published Rise of the Flame, but life took an even better turn when my publisher, Booktrope, picked it up and re-published it! I'm also super excited to work with Patchwork Press for a few of my new releases!What story are you most looking forward to working on in 2016?
This is such a difficult question! I have so many! I would have to say Night of the Storm: The Eura Chronicles Book Two and Lyrinian Blade: The Chronicles of Koa Book Three. Both books are part of series that I enjoy writing so much. Fans write me on my Facebook page all of the time to ask me when these books will be released. I cannot wait to surprise them with the release of these books!Are you the type of person who makes New Year’s resolutions? Why or why not?I try to set goals for myself each year. I think it's important to set goals and actively try to attain them.What area(s) of your writing/publishing process are you going to work on improving in 2016? (dialogue, marketing, output, pacing, formatting, etc.)I really want to try new forms of marketing. Recently, I started being more active on sites such as Wattpad, Instagram, and Tumblr. I also want to go to more conferences, conventions, and book signings.How would you describe a successful publishing year in 2016? What goals are you working toward?
In 2016 I plan to improve my pacing. I really want to put out more books. My goal is to publish a book every two months. So, if I can have 6 books published next year, I would be thrilled! Wish me luck!If you had to guess, what do you think your biggest challenge will be when it comes to publishing and writing next year?
Time! That was so easy. Everything gets put on hold when you have a baby. My family will always come first. Still, I make time to work on my writing whether that's when my son takes a nap or goes to bed for the night, because when he wakes up, he is my primary focus.How far ahead do you plan your writing schedule? Do you prefer to prepare or to see where your muses take you?
I really don't have a stringent writing schedule. I write every day, but I really just let the stories form how they will. My book manager has urged me to put my schedule in writing and it does help to have a visual plan for when my books will be released.Tell us about something non-book related that you’re currently looking forward to for 2016.I am really looking forward to finally taking my honeymoon with my husband! I know I'm going to miss my son, but we need a vacation! Also, I look forward to watching my son grow and learn more things about this beautiful world.If you could offer up one piece of advice to other authors and writers for 2016, what would it be?
My advice would be to stay consistent with your daily writing, never lose sight of what you want to accomplish, and connect with your readers as much as possible.

What about you? What goals (bookish and otherwise) are you planning to work toward in 2016? Let us know in the comments! Weapenry will be giving away ebook packs of both Refilling Your Inkwell by Kellie Sheridan, and Surviving First Drafts by Erica Crouch to three randomly selected commenters across the posts going up this week. Be sure to either include your email address or to Tweet at us @patchwork_press along with your goals so we can get in touch if you win!


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K.N. LEE'S TOP 5 YOUTUBE CHANNELS

The Scarlett Legacy Teaser Trailer

It's live! Check out the teaser trailer for The Scarlett Legacy! Woodland Creek​



Wizards. Shifters. Murderers. 

Welcome to Woodland Creek, where one family of wizards gives new meaning to organized crime. 




Evie Scarlett is a shy college student. She also happens to be a wizard. She wanted two things: marry Parker Drake and leave Woodland Creek and her crazy family of wizards behind.

But when Hugh Prince, a dangerous crime boss, is mysteriously murdered while awaiting trial for her father's murder, all eyes turn to the Scarlett family. 


The arrival of Hugh's youngest son, Avalon brings a century-old feud to a dangerous climax. From the Old World of magic, this vengeful wizard is more powerful than anyone in her family, and gives Evie's older brother a choice: die or give Evie to him. 




When Evie's plans for escape are broken by familial duty, she must find a way to protect those she loves and win back her freedom. What she finds is an ancient power that she never knew she had...and an unmistakable attraction to the man that threatens to ruin everything good in her life.
Available on Amazon

An Interview with author Valerie C. Woods “Katrin’s Chronicles: The Canon of Jacqueléne Dyanne, Vol.1”

 An Interview with author Valerie C. Woods “Katrin’s Chronicles: The Canon of Jacqueléne Dyanne, Vol.1”
Valerie C. WoodsBiography

Ms. Woods is a film and television writer/producer working on network and cable drama series such as Touched By An Angel, Any Day Now and Soul Food. She is a Co-Executive Producer/writer on the mini-series Tulsa for the Oprah Winfrey Network and writing/developing the film Tempest Rising for actress/producer Phylicia Rashad.

An avid reader while growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Ms. Woods began writing when, as a struggling actress in New York, she couldn’t find suitable audition material for women of color. This led her to write a book of audition monologues, Something for Everyone (50 Original Monologues). The book was initially self-published and is now published by renowned theatrical play publisher, Samuel French, Inc. (www.VCWoods.com)

After adapting an average play into a better screenplay, Ms. Woods was awarded a Walt Disney Screenwriting Fellowship and followed that up with writing and producing on network and cable drama series such as Under One Roof, Touched By An Angel, Promised Land, Any Day Now and Soul Food.

But fiction, her first love, compelled her to enter the world of prose. She had always written bits of fiction, short stories and a little poetry here and there.
In November 2012, Ms. Woods founded a micro-press: BooksEndependent, LLC (www.BooksEndependent.com) to support her work and the work of other new, independent authors of fiction and non-fiction.

The first title was Ms. Woods’ novella, I Believe... A Ghost Story for the Holidays. (Amazon.com) Then, what began as a gift became her second publication.
Several years ago, needing a birthday present for her sister Ms. Woods wrote a short story about a girl detective -- a highly fictionalized autobiography of the adventures she and her sister experienced in childhood. Another story was written for Christmas, then one for Mother's Day. That’s when Ms. Woods realized she was writing the kind of novel she and her sister would have loved to read as children, but which didn’t exist – the adventures of African-American Girl Detectives!
The result, Katrin's Chronicles: The Canon of Jacqueléne Dyanne, Vol. 1 is now available in paperback and Kindle edition at Amazon.com.




An Interview with author, Valerie C. Woods“Katrin’s Chronicles: The Canon of Jacqueléne Dyanne, Vol.1”

1) You've had a very successful career as a television writer.  How is writing a novel different than writing an episode of television?  
Both forms of writing require specific writing skills. What’s common to both is telling a good story. When writing for television the storyteller utilizes dialogue, great characters, action and interesting settings to convey the complexities of the story.  And though dialogue is very important, television is a visual medium. Whenever possible, “show” rather than “tell” the audience.  The writer needs to know what will successfully play onscreen, in a visual sense, and what is better played in dialogue. And also, write in such a way that the director, the actor’s, casting, set design and everyone else involved in bringing it to the screen can visualize the world from your script.
When writing a novel, the work of the author is to use prose to create the entire world in the mind’s eye of the reader. The author does the casting, set design, special effects, location scouting, directing, the reshoots, editing (at least the first pass!), all with the power of prose.
I remember the first time I was on set for a script I’d written. It was wonderful to see it come together, often just as you imagined. And, I love hearing from readers who became immersed in a world I’d created in a book. It’s all good!

2) Did you read a lot as a kid?  Have you always been interested in "genre" (mysteries, SF, fantasy, etc.) material?  Name your favorite book and author from when you were Katrin's age, and explain why it appealed to you so much.
As a child, reading was one of my favorite pastimes. I saw my share of television, too. But it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized my mom limited our television viewing. Television was never our “babysitter.” But we could read to our heart’s content. And although we were athletic and active kids, especially in the summertime, some of my best memories are about sitting on our back porch reading. One time, I was there reading a book called “The Sherwood Ring”  -- about a modern day girl on a lonely estate where she becomes acquainted with the ghosts of her colonial ancestors. I was so completely in that world, I had no clue my picture was being taken, until my sister showed me the photograph.
I never thought of myself as having an interest in “genre” material, but when I look at my childhood reading list, then I guess that’s exactly what I read. Aside from literary classics like “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” or “The Secret Garden,” there were my genre favorites, like “A Wrinkle in Time,” “Encyclopedia Brown,” Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, The Merlin Trilogy, Nancy Drew, Harriet the Spy.  And I remember the first book I read that didn’t have illustrations was called “The Ghost.”
And, looking back to the 1960s, I also realize the absence of adventure stories featuring people who looked like me. I didn’t question it then, but now, I’m like, where are the black girl detectives? That’s one of the main reasons why I wrote Katrin’s Chronicles. The other is that I needed a birthday gift for my sister, so I wrote her a short, and wildly exaggerated, story about us growing up.
3) How much of this book is autobiographical and how much is pure fiction? Name a few parts that are examples of each.

"That’s kind of hard to say. I was the same age as Katrin in this time period and was the youngest in the family, living on Chicago’s South Side. I have an older sister who is very smart and very intuitive. And we did have adventures in which she was the organizer and leader, when we were young. So the basic bones of the book are taken from my personal history. And a great deal is straight from my imagination.

For instance, my sister and I were big readers and visited the library often. My mother was the church secretary at our local church and my father did work construction. However, the experience the characters have at the Central Library is pure fiction, there was never an alleged kidnapping plot with the church minister’s son, and my father, well now that I think about it, he was pretty much the man I wrote about."

4) Why do you think kids growing up in the 21st century will be interested in stuff that went on in the 1960's? Which stuff in particular, and why?

"As a child of the ‘60s I certainly enjoyed reading novels about kids my age from historical time periods. A favorite book of mine was “Johnny Tremaine” as was Mary Stewart’s Merlin trilogy that started with “The Crystal Cave” and tells of Merlin as a child into young adulthood.

What I related to in these stories were relationships, struggles, politics, rivalries, heroes and villains – they all existed then and they still do in each generation. The details may change, but the essence of truth, of good vs. evil, these are eternal truths and it was helpful to me to know that kids like me got through tough times then and I could get through any tough times now.

There is a young woman who did an advance review of the book. She noted certain things in the book were still true today. For instance, at one point Katrin’s Mom says, “You two are stronger than I was at your age. Tougher. I guess you have to be these days.” This 14-year-old reviewer wrote in the margin '[This is] what people say now, in 2013 as well.'
To young people in 2013, the childhood of many adults (the 1960's) is a historical era they don't much know about.

The times were on edge in the 60s and they are again in 2013. Though the characters in the book are not directly involved in the national issues, they do become involved locally. I hope the story shows young people they can contribute at whatever level to which they have access. And, most importantly, to trust the wisdom of their inner voice."
5) How is the city of Chicago like a non-speaking character in the book?

Ah, Chicago! I loved growing up in Chicago. And it was because of my parents. They raised us to explore, reach out, be independent and recognize that our neighborhood is also part of a much bigger world and to not be afraid to access that larger world. My father especially loved the city. As a construction worker he had jobs in a lot of different areas. Like most Chicagoans, we’d spend summer days at the lake, or visit Buckingham Fountain at night to see the multi-colored light display. And, like in the book, we made trips to see the Christmas displays on State St. at Carson Pirie Scott or Marshall Field’s Department Stores.

Chicago landmarks are fascinating to me, especially the old Water Tower that survived the great Chicago Fire of 1871. The city is known for its architecture. In 1968, the Hancock Building was still being built. There was no Sears Tower yet, but we have family photos of pictures taken at Buckingham Fountain, (I think all Chicagoans do!) in front of the Museum of Science & Industry, Jackson Park Beach, Wrigley Field, Comiskey Park, the list goes on.

Chicago’s identity was mirrored in each of us. It anchored us. And Chicago also has an attitude like no other city. And I hope the characters reflect that. It would be an entirely different story if set in a different city.


13-year-old, Katrin DuBois decides it's never to soon to start an autobiography. She needs to set the record straight about the outrageous rumors concerning certain adventures that began when she was in 6th grade. That's when her elder sister, 8th grader J. Dyanne, began exhibiting extraordinary detecting powers. Volume 1 begins in the late summer of 1968 on the south side of Chicago, a turbulent time before cell phones, laptops and text messages became essential elements of pre-teen life. The girls manage to thrive in a world of social change with multi-generational family support, creative quick-thinking and fearless inquisitiveness. The dog days of August find them prohibited by their parents from visiting the Central Library downtown because of the riots during the Democratic Convention. However, there's plenty of adventure in their own neighborhood as they become swept up in family mysteries, neighborhood political schemes and discovery of a surprising legacy of psychic, even supernatural, talent.


"Katrin’s Chronicles is not a novel—it is an experience. It is the kind of story that can only be written by someone with a deep, knowing love of their characters and an abiding sense of place and time. This is a novel you can fall in love with. The atmosphere, the smells and the sounds of this beautiful world, created by Ms. Woods, is surely a world she has inhabited.

Although the funny and exciting adventures of the two young detectives would seem to be perfect for young teenagers, I also think this world of long ago will be a welcoming and healing place for many adults." David Man, author of "About Acting...and Surviving the Sharks
"My grand daughter likes strong girl detectives and I downloaded the book for her. She loved it and hopes there will be more. I asked her to tell me the plot and that took an hour of complicated stories. So I guess she really liked the book." Shirley Sacks, author of “Bella Mell
"When I finished reading this book, I found myself thinking, "Boy, I can't wait for the next book in the series!" Katrin's Chronicles is great fiction. Well written, thoughtful, and funny, it is a mystery about two sister detectives in Chicago in the 1960's. It was a great read for me, as well as for my 10 and 13 year old girls who found themselves immediately drawn into the characters and the situations and couldn't put the book down! I highly recommend Katrin's Chronicles!" – Dawn Comer-Jefferson, co-author of “The Promise”

Available on Amazon  a Rafflecopter giveaway

K.N. Lee Parties with the Yelp Elite!

Tonight I partied with the Yelp Elite! Check out my mini-documentary and interview with the NC Community Marketing Representative of Taco Mac!

How to Travel Affordably!

Today I share my super saver tips for travelling affordably. I really hope it helps you guys. Do you have any tips? Put them in the comments. And don't forget to share with your friends.