K.N. Lee's Blog, page 43

Kindle Countdown DEALS!

Here are the following Kindle Countdown Deals of the day!
Amazon Bestseller, The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld
What would you do if a demon threatened your mother's life? If you're like Koa, you'd sharpen your enchanted sword and go after him...

Our world is threatened by the creatures of an alternate land called the Netherworld. Good thing Koa and the Netherworld division are there to keep the vampire population in check. Koa is a powerful half-blood with a mysterious past. Her best friend is her boss, she has a cursed mother, an enchanted sword, and an attractive human pet.

Koa also has a problem. A Netherworld serial killer, with a taste for little girls, threatens everything Koa has worked hard to protect. Not even Koa's boss, Halston can stop him. But he knows one prisoner that can. Too bad that prison is in the Netherworld.
 Is Koa ready to journey to the Netherworld to release the one creature that can break her mother's curse and protect all that she holds dear? 99 cents! Today Only!
The Amazon Bestseller, Thicker Than Blood  Is this Heaven? Is this Hell? There's only one way to tell...

Thicker Than Blood
Twin sisters journey to a mysterious place...Did I mention that they're dead?

Where is Katie?
A little girl is locked in a room that has been boarded shut from the outside. She hasn't seen her parent's faces in years. Why are her parents afraid of her?

The Galloway Lake
A young track star is kidnapped, tortured, and tossed into a lake. I wonder if her kidnapper knew that lake was on a haunted plantation. Will she survive this night?

Three paranormal stories that will make your skin crawl... $1.99 Today Only

Dark Prophet Official Book Trailer

Book Two of the Best-Selling Novel, The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld
Not all vampires are created equal...
Koa is a half-blood vampire with not only the ability to fly, but survive in the sun's light. She will do anything to protect her mother, and break her curse. The demon, Bund, wants more than her mother's life. He wants something from Koa, a power that she doesn't even know she has, and will rip through as many humans as he can to get her to surrender.
Agent Koa Ryeo-won, and her boss, Halston, formed a crew of supernatural agents to stop Bund. But is a prophet, a temptress, a War-Breeder, a half-blood with an enchanted sword, and a few angels enough to stop what Bund has planned?
In the midst of a war between the humans of the mortal world, and the creatures of the Netherworld, Koa discovers the truth of her past. She finds herself torn between two men, and in the center of everything. Faced with all of her returned memories, Koa also finds herself more powerful than ever. Being a half-blood is hard enough, but what exactly is Koa's other half?
The truth can save...or destroy everything.
Will the Netherworld Division stand behind Koa once they learn her secret?
 
Available on Amazon

Get Ready for the K.N. Lee World Tour!

Join the author of the bestselling Chronicles of Koa series, K.N. Lee, for fantastic fun at the major conventions of 2014. She'll have a table at Dragon Con in Atlanta this Labor Day, and will appear at World Fantasy Con in Washington, D.C., and British Fantasy Con in the City of York, England.
Visit her website for details!

Bring any of her titles to these events and she will be happy to sign them for you! Stay tuned for more giveaways, contests, and worldwide book signings!

Interview with author, Natasha Powell

Introducing the author of The Gentleman, Natasha Powell!
Where are you from?The High seas Rgggh. Okay, Tampa, Florida. But that doesn’t sound as cool.What inspired you to write The Gentleman?It started as a short story I wanted to turn in when I was a teen, but the original idea replicated the twilight zone movie waaay too much, so I had to modify it and change it to where it is now.Originally, I was going to write my Middle School book, Sonny Mendoza and the Cooty Monster but once I saw that I spent more time writing The Gentleman, I switched gears.How did you come up with the title?It sounded cool. Sorry, there wasn’t a deeper meaning behind it.
What books have most influenced your life most?Fantasy: C.S. Lewis’ Screw Tape Letters and all things Tolkien. Sci fi: Rudy Rucker (Wetware), Robert Jordon (Wheel of Time series), Kevin Anderson (Titan A.E.), Frank Herbert (Dune Series)Horror: The Gunslinger by Steven King, Anything Edgar Allan Poe, and Clive Barker (Pen head anyone?)
What book are you reading now?Not fair, I’m reading like eight. But now, Red Rising by Pierce Brown.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?I’m getting into self-published and hybrid authors more now that I’ve taken that route and I can say that I am fans of Ksenia Anske (Siren Suicides), Chuck Wendig, John Horner Jacobs, Dara Beevas (has a great self publishing book out there), K.N. Lee, Jeff Menapace and so many others.
We are also fans of Ksenia Anske and K.N. Lee! Good choices. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?I would hang out less with my friends and do more writing. Since I also love sports, sometimes I find it hard to choose between the two. Sports usually wins.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?I’m working on three novels right now. One is a compilation of short stories, which will include extended versions of the short stories from the Gentleman and 10 others. Another one is not even sci/fi or fantasy because it’s a thriller/suspense. I know, I should only write in one genre.And another one is a YA series that I plan to release later this year.Not to mention, I have three screenplays I’ve written (If you call now), writing, or about to write.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?Editing. Does that count?
Who designed the cover?
I did, and I learned a lot by doing so.
Good job on your cover, Natasha!
What was the hardest part of writing your book?Trying to find an editor that wouldn’t charge 3,000 dollars to edit my book.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?I have to leave my house to get anything done because being home is a huge distraction.
Do you have any advice for other writers?Write. Write until you’re tired of writing then write until you cannot stand your computer. Because in the end, all that hard work will pay off.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?Enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. And if you find errors that need to be corrected, please don’t hesitate to send me an email. Oh, and feel free to contact me, especially if you enjoyed the book. And now...more fun!
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?On a boat somewhere in the ocean.If you could have any super power, what would it be? Only one? Okay, the ability to do any martial arts.What is your favorite anime?Yu Yu HakushoFavorite Game?Depends on the decade. As a kid it was Super Smash Bros 64 and as an adult the Call of Duty series is my fave.
Thanks for stopping by Write Like a Wizard. It was a pleasure meeting you!

The Gentleman **Book Blast**

James Greene would do anything to keep his soul. But his year on the run from the demon known as The Gentleman, has left him with two choices: kill himself, or pay the piper. While in a dumpy hotel in Florida, wrestling with the thoughts of suicide, a letter sent from a stranger gives James a third choice: get rid of him once and for all.
 
The letter leads him to his family’s plantation home in Athens, Georgia. There, he discovers not only his family's secrets, but also The Gentleman’s true intentions. The Gentleman offers James a deal he can’t resist. Play the last game, and if he wins, he gets to keep his soul.

Excerpt: James squeezed his eyes shut and prayed to God, any God that happened to hear him. He prayed until his mouth was too dry to open. Then he prayed in his head.The commotion ended, and the ominous presence left. He lifted his trembling hand to the newly cracked window, pushed the curtain away, and saw nothing. After turning on the lights, he sat at the edge of the bed with his head in his hands.“Only one more day. I’ve had one hundred fucking miles, and now this.” He drove his fist into the wall beside the bed. The pain caused him to wave his hand.“It’s one of the hallucinations. You haven’t slept in what, three days? It’s like the time in Macon.” He rubbed his head.A letter swished into his room from under the door and floated beside him onto the tattered covers. James leapt from it. His eyes widened at the sight of the handwriting.“It’s just paper,” he muttered. Mustering the courage, he seized the letter. It shook in his unsteady hands as he read the words.
I want my soul, and since I’m such a nice guy, I’ll give you until December 22 at 1:30 am. I know where you’re at. No need to run, it’ll only make things worse. Oh, and clean up.From The Gentleman, with Love
James’ thoughts spun. He looked around the room for something, anything, to help him stand upright, but instead landed on the bed. The words raced through his mind, smashing the good memories aside.“I can’t leave?” He tugged at his hair and wiped the sweat from his face. What he’d spent the last several months planning was all for nothing. A deep emptiness filled his soul. Not even the burning of the rum could fill it. He curled into a ball and wept himself to sleep.
Links to purchase book -Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B00JQC0FDK; Kobo; Smashwords

You're Invited! K.N. Lee's Online Author Party

 Come join us on Saturday, April 19th for KN Lee's Author Blowout and Q&A session! Now is your chance to ask author, K.N. Lee anything...and win amazing prizes! See you Saturday, April 19th at 6pm EST. 

Where? 

On your computer! Let's party in our pj's!

Fun, games, prizes & trouble! We'll be discussing The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld and Dark Prophet.

Don't forget to join us!
MORE INFO TO COME! RSVP Here!

When All Else Fails, I Must Write

Despite the pressing issues of life and the obstacles that one might face, there must be an outlet for everyone. For me, that is the ability to create worlds and pen characters into creation. It is this gift that keeps me sane. 
The launch of Dark Prophet came at the perfect time. Emotional turmoil gave way to a revelation. After weeks of procrastination and fretting over the completion of the highly anticipated sequel to The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld, it took a moment of heartache to set my pen ablaze and finish the story. I admit, I put Koa through a lot of suffering. I made her feel my pain and was delighted to see her triumph.
Truly, pain can be awfully inspiring. 
Writing is therapy for the soul. That was the title of an English paper I wrote in college. The assignment was to write about your favorite activity and why you love it so much. Is it the fact that writing creates an escape from reality? Or, is it the fact that it gives the soul an outlet for its desires and dreams? I think it is both. 
And so, when all else fails...I must write.
Stay tuned for more works by author, K.N. Lee in 2014.

The Chronicles of Koa: NetherworldDark Prophet ( Book Two of The Chronicles of Koa)Rise of the Flame- Coming in MayHer Haunted Shadow- Coming  July

War Kids **Book Blast and Author Feature**

When fourteen-year-old Jada wakes up in a hospital, the last thing she thinks is that her life has completely changed forever. But when the very real civil war forces her to flee from every open space, she must use the firearm skills her father taught her to reunite with him and protect herself. 
Armed with a single gun and a key to an unknown locker, Jada crosses Syria on a journey with a group of children called the Fearless Freedom Fighters. With the leader, Zak, they mount a plan to rescue their fathers while they try to cope with the merciless murders of their families. As Jada and Zak lead the group together, love blossoms, but with soldiers hot on their tail, they need to stay vigilant in the face of war. 
WAR KIDS - deals with the very real crisis of the ongoing Syrian Civil War through the eyes of young children as they try to stay strong despite the overwhelming presence of death. The novel provides a number of perspectives from young characters as they deal with the deaths of their families, the destruction of their villages and their ongoing need to survive



Hayley Lawson is the author of War Kids. She has written a young adult contemporary novel set in Syria; a story about the Syrian Civil war though the eyes of children. 
She was born in Lancaster, England. Growing up in a single parent household with five other siblings; was hard, and also character building.
As a young child she found a passion for drawing, and continued this into adulthood, graduating from the University of Central Lancashire, England with a BA(Hons) in fashion design.  
At aged twenty seven, Hayley and her husband packed up their belongings for a lifelong dream to move to California. Her America dream was complete with the birth of her daughter. Her love for traveling, continued after the birth of her daughter traveling around America with the family, and the best traveled dog.A new job positioned opened up New York, and the family decide to relocate to Long Island, NY, which is where she currently resides. 
On August 21 she was moved by the images of the Syrian conflict, and embarked on an unlikely journey of writing her first novel.

The Ticking Ring ( A Free Short Story)

The K.N. Lee
www.Kn-Lee.com
Ella’s breath escaped her lips in a puff of smoke. She licked her lips. The taste of her sweet mango lip gloss made her smile. Snow fell from the sky in steady sheets, covering everything in a thick layer of white. She took a sip of her hot chocolate and delighted in the way the thick liquid warmed her from the inside out. She sighed and snuggled into Jack’s side. Ella frowned to herself as she shivered. She wore two layers of clothing, a coat, gloves, a hat, and a scarf, and was still freezing. She couldn’t understand how Jack could tolerate the cold with nothing but a thin jacket and scarf.“How long are we supposed to wait out here?” Ella looked around at the quiet park. The trees swayed slightly with the cold wind. The stars above seemed to flicker around the pale moon. Jack shrugged. He pulled her in closer and kissed her left cheek. “Maybe another five minutes, tops. You okay?”Ella nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. “Yeah. I’m just cold. I’m a southern girl. I’m not used to this Arctic chill.”Jack chuckled and wrapped her in his coat. “We’re in Ireland, not Iceland! You mean to tell me they don’t have winters in Savannah?”Ella glanced up at him. A snowflake rested on her nose. She closed one eye and scrunched up her nose as she looked at it. “Not like this. I’m sorry darling, but I’ve never been a fan of the cold.” “That’s unfortunate,” Jack said. A hint of disappointment in his voice made her pause. She kissed him on the cheek and dusted more snow off her knees. “I just hope that whatever you have planned happens quickly. I’m getting buried in snow.” Ella made a face. “I didn’t even know Ireland got so much snow!”Jack stood. He pulled her up to her feet. He winked at her. “It normally doesn’t, sweetheart.”Ella heard a howling as the wind picked up. She looked around, startled. “What is it, Jack?” Her voice came out cracked. She clutched his arm and held on, expecting to be carried away as the wind blew fiercely at the both of them.Ella saw a light in the distance. She squealed. “What is that?”Jack turned to face her. He grinned as Ella covered her mouth. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle. She’d always loved his eyes. The day they met on her tour of Ireland exactly one year ago, she’d felt something almost magical whenever she looked into them. Now, she was almost afraid. She started to take a step away, but Jack took her hands in his. Ella stood still. The wind wrapped around them, but she didn’t care. Something in his eyes calmed her. He kissed both of the backs of her hands and went to his knees.Ella’s jaw hung open as she realized what was happening. Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a glittering box.“Jack!” Ella’s eyes widened. She looked around, there were people all around. Watching them. Smiling. Cheering her on in silence. “Ella,” Jack began. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”Ella shivered. “Who are all of these people?” They all wore blue, and had the same shade of white hair that Jack had, and the same glow in their blue eyes. “They are my family. I knew from the moment I saw you that you were meant to be my queen.” Jack opened the box and the sound of a piccolo began to fill her ears. Ella gasped at the large diamond set in a golden band. She froze as he took off her glove and slipped it onto her finger. The ring was light, but warmed her entire body. She felt a wave of joy flood her body. The joy was so euphoric that she almost lost herself in the sensation. Her mind raced. Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment. She had dreamed about being proposed to since she was a child, but she never imagined such an elaborate scene.Ella bit her lip, and winced at the pain. She wasn’t dreaming. Something fantastical was happening and she didn’t know how to process it. All she could do was look around in awe, glancing at Jack’s smiling face from time to time.Jack’s family continued cheering in silence. They were shouting, smiling, and clapping, but she could hear nothing. Jack looked so happy and hopeful. His charming smile reached from ear to ear. He nodded her on. “Will you, my love? Will you be my queen?”“Queen?” Ella croaked. Her eyes widened even more as the diamond on her left ring finger began to glow and tick like a clock. The ticking grew so loud that the sound of the piccolo was drowned out by it.Jack closed the ring box and the music abruptly stopped. He came to his feet, kissed her gently on the lips, and pulled her away at arm’s length. “Yes, Ella. I’m asking you not only to marry me, but to be my queen.”Ella’s brows furrowed. She swallowed a lump in her throat. “Queen of what?”Jack chuckled. “Your innocence and purity is what drew me to you.”Ella shook her head. “I don’t understand, Jack.”Jack turned her toward the wall of wind that encircled them. The faces of his family began to swirl away and vanish. Their images were replaced by a castle made of ice. “Have you ever heard the name, Jack Frost?”Ella shot a look at him. “No…you’re not telling me you’re theJack Frost?”Jack nodded and pointed to the ice castle. “That is my home, where I rule all of winter. I need a queen, someone to help me rule winter and watch over the children of the world.”Ella covered her mouth with her hands. The glow of the ring drew her attention again. It continued to tick. “Why is the ring ticking?”Jack stroked her cheek. His smile faded. “It has a timer. You don’t have much longer to make your choice.”Ella paled. She hated decisions. She hated pressure. But, she knew she loved Jack.“Tell me, my love. Will you chose to go back to your life before me, where you’ll forget you ever met me, or, will you join me in my kingdom? Together we can change the colors of the leaves in autumn, create art and wonder for people to enjoy. We can spread winter snow and joy to the people of the world. Doesn’t that sound glorious?”Ella glanced at him. Her eyes examined his face. His white skin was perfect. His white hair was soft and flew around his face as the wind continued to sweep around them. Ella couldn’t help but smile. His happiness was infectious. Jack was as cheerful and happy as a boy. She couldn’t remember seeing him that happy before. Not even she could make him as happy as when he spoke of spreading winter and creating art with the seasons. Ella pulled her hand from his and took a step toward the vision of his castle. It was a grand sight. The beauty of its towers and gardens of blue and white flowers was captivating. She contemplated his words. “Will I be able to see my family?”Jack was silent. Ella glanced back at him. He shook his head. Ella felt her body fill with sadness. She couldn’t imagine a life without her mother, father, and two brothers. Then, she thought of being a queen. She smiled. She’d be able to live with Jack in happiness.In a cold ice castle, Ella thought. Her smile faded and she looked down at the ring. The ticking made her shudder. Her time was running out. She could feel it.Ella knew her choice. She took the ring off and handed it to Jack. Tears filled her eyes when she looked at his face. The look of devastation seemed to morph his features. She was almost too afraid to look at him any longer. She put her glove back on and looked down at her feet.“I’m sorry, Jack. I love you, but I could never leave my family.”Jack went to his knees and held his hands in prayer. His eyes were wide with hope. Tears froze on his cheeks. “But, Ella. What if I brought your family to my castle as well? There are tons of rooms. They’d be happy there. You’d be happy. Right?”Ella went to her knees before him and took his hands in hers. She kissed his hands and used them to cup her face. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his palms on her cheeks and his fresh evergreen smell for the last time. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Darling, you cannot bring my entire family. Even a life with them in your castle would be a lonely one. Take my brother for example. You bring him along, but what about his wife’s friends and family? Could you bring them too? Can you bring my entire family tree…and theirfriends and extended family?”Jack’s shoulders slumped. “I suppose not.”Ella offered a small smile, and wiped a frozen tear from his cheek. “I love you, but I cannot live the life of a queen in your world.”Jack nodded. “I understand.”Ella kissed him. She held back a sob as she whispered in his ear. “I’ll love you forever. And I will not forget you. I will remember you with each snowflake and winter wind. You’ll be with me every time I jump in a pile of orange leaves with my nieces and nephews, or when I drink hot chocolate and watch the kids in the neighborhood build snowmen.”Jack laughed softly. “You’re right, Ella.”Ella gasped as he vanished. She was all alone in the snow, confused and unsure of what had happened. Then, she heard a soft voice on the wind.“I’ll always be with you.” You can find The Ticking Ring and many other stories in the free publication of A World of Joy!

Free E-Book Download (Wicked Webs)

This week you can download author, K.N. Lee's dark poetry collection Wicked Webs for FREE!!

Sample Poetry from the Collection!
The Last Slumber
K.N. Lee 

The window fogsDrips with mistI don't want to get out of bedNightmares and night scaresThe demons swarm my headI peel my eyelids openAnd meet with the eerie blackIt's coldSimply frigidBut there is no turning back I climb to my knees and bowThe ghost taps my shoulderAnd whispersYou're ready now...I slowly look up ShiverAnd cover my earsGlance back at my body and swallow fresh tears






Available on Amazon