K.N. Lee's Blog, page 45

Book Signing!

Author K.N. Lee will be signing copies of The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld, Dark Prophet, Empty Your Heart, Wicked Webs, and
Thicker Than Blood! There will be photo ops, refreshments, and giveaways. Come and ask questions, get a photo with the author, and have her sign your book with a personalized message!

Order your copy on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, or purchase a book at the location!

March 22, 2014
The Last Word
230 EAST W.T. HARRIS BLVD SUITE B11 CHARLOTTE NC 28262
LOCATED IN THE GRAND PROMENADE SHOPPING CENTER,
704.966.9673 - thelastwordcharlotte@gmail.com





 
 

More info on www.Kn-Lee.com

Author Interview: Casey Clipper!

I'm thrilled to introduce our guest, Casey Clipper!
Bio:
Casey Clipper is from Pittsburgh, PA which naturally makes her a football, hockey, and baseball fan. She is a contemporary romance author. Casey is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Three Rivers Romance Writers, ASMSG, IAN, and IBPA. Follow Casey on her Facebook fan page for giveaways and contests, Twitter, and find out about upcoming releases on her website.


Interview:Where are you from?I was born and raised in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, which is where I still reside. I love this city. Most people don’t realize how much there is to do in Pittsburgh. Sports in an enormous part of the city: from professional, college, and high school to little league athletes in baseball, football, hockey, and recreational sports.  What inspired you to write your first book? What genre is it?The very first book I wrote will never see the light of day. I actually wrote it after reading an extremely popular series. After I’d finished reading the final book in that series, I sat back and thought, “I would have totally written that differently.” That first book I wrote turned into a seven book series, and if I ever decide to release them, I’ll start from scratch and rewrite. My first three releases are contemporary romance and I’ll stick with that genre. I love romance, but I love to put a twist on the happily-ever-after. Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life? Unfortunately, I have to work full time in order to pay the mortgage. When I come home from work I basically work another full-time job writing. Luckily, I have an extremely supportive husband and sons. My boys are older so they’re independent, giving me the opportunity to get lost in writing. How did you come up with the title?I’m terrible at titling my books. Absolutely terrible. I don’t know why, but my mind goes blank. I turn to my family, friends, and betas for help. 
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?I belong to the Romance Writers of America. One of the requirements as a member is each book is required to have a satisfactory ending. Authors can’t leave readers hanging and you must have some sort of happily-ever-after. Personally, I don’t go out of my way to convey a certain message. But each one of my books suggests that you never know what life will throw at you. That a simple, inconsequential meeting can alter your fate.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?I believe every author throws their own life experiences into their work, purposely or subconsciously. That being said, I can’t say that the struggles my characters go through are based on a specific incident or someone I know. So, my work is subconscious.
What books have most influenced your life most?The books that have most recently influenced my life are the darker romance novels or great romance series that don’t string you along. When an author does that, they have me hooked. As a reader I hate to have to read 3, 4, 5 books in order for a plot to resolve. These authors and their series I’m a rabid fan of and influence my work: J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Olivia Cunning’s Sinners on Tour series, Jennifer Probst’s Marriage to a Billionare Series, Lexi Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries series, and Elizabeth Reyes’ The Moreno Brothers series. I’m really excited to see how they turn Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl into a movie and what they do with the ending.  
What book are you reading now?The series I just finished is the Undeniable series by Madeline Sheehan. The series is about a motorcycle club and let me tell you she holds true to the biker lifestyle. There are no hearts and flowers in this romance series. She nails it.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?I can’t say anything I’ve read recently is from a new author. But new to me? Definitely Madeline Sheehan.
What are your current projects?On January 31st I’m releasing three prequels to my novel The Boss’s Love. Darren’s story, Derrick’s story, and Courtney’s story. I had many readers who asked for more after this novel. So in order to make my readers happy, I delve into the three main characters’ past before they come together in The Boss’s Love. Darren's story is his struggle to find the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. Courtney's story is her struggle with being sheltered her entire life by those closest to her, which unknowingly helps lead her into a relationship she can't break free from. Derrick's story is his realization that he's actually fallen in love with a woman who he'll spend the rest of his life trying to protect and shelter from all that's harmful in the world. All of their back stories leave off at a particular scene in The Boss's Love.   
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?The Boss’s Love is currently going under major edits. I’m trying to make the novel shorter without taking away from the story. So a 2ndedition will be out soon after the prequels are released. I’m really excited about it.
Can you share a little of your current work with us? Excerpts from Darren’s Prequel to The Boss’s Love:At that very moment, a gorgeous, tiny woman rushed around the side of the building, her heels clicking off the cement, drawing attention from all three men. She stopped, giving him a once over then glanced at Jack and Carl. Darren stiffened. Stunning didn't begin to describe her. Enormous blue eyes and long painted lashes grew even wider when she gave him a second swipe. A grey business suit accented her perfect figure, while long strawberry-blonde hair sat slightly askew. Oh, lord, those heels she wore. Closing his eyes briefly, he groaned, imagining those black Louboutins wrapped around his back. The moment to himself only lasted a few seconds, but it felt like minutes. Opening his eyes, he found her smiling his direction. Good God, she was phenomenal."Mr. Murphy? I'm so sorry, but Jackie couldn't make it today, so I'll be showing you the building...if you don't mind," the woman said. Her voice was that of an angel. Soft and demure with a hint of forcefulness, probably from being in sales.Giving her his most brilliant smile, he held out his hand. "Absolutely not, Miss...?""Millen, Courtney Millen." She took his hand into hers in a proper business handshake. Automatically glancing down at her ring finger, hope registered. Not engaged. Too soon, she took back her hand and pulled out a set of keys to the empty building. When opened, he held the door for her in the perfect gentlemanly fashion. Unable to help himself, he placed his hand on the small of her back in a protective gesture. He didn't notice Jack and Carl give each other knowing glances. Immediately, Courtney went into her pitch on the first floor lobby, giving him a tour of the entire floor, including the elevator, staircase, and two offices located on ground level. "There are six floors and that includes the lobby. The sixth floor isn't used for office space. It's utilized as storage and maintenance. What exactly are you looking for? I'm sorry, Ms. Sparks didn't have the opportunity to give me much details."Darren couldn't have been more thrilled that Ms. Sparks clearly pawned him off onto Courtney. He might have to actually thank the woman. "I need a place to open a computer business."****Totally fixated upon her lips, Darren barely heard a word she said. The sound of her voice registered in her ears. He knew she was saying something important, but what, he had no idea. It was a good thing Jack and Carl would be able to let him know the details of the building.As they toured the floors, he kept extremely close to her, continually placing his hand on her back when they left and entered rooms. He loved the fact she allowed it. Purposely brushing against her, he felt the need to touch her and take in more of that natural scent.At the fourth and fifth floors, she showed him the view that went up Fifth Avenue. She explained it would be a great selling point for renters, and he couldn't have agreed more. Though she could have shown him a view of the dumpsters, telling him the benefits and he would agree.On the fifth floor, when she stepped through an office doorway, her heel caught on the carpet and she fell face first towards the doorframe. Quick enough to catch her before she cracked her head open, that's when he was a goner. While on her way down, she latched onto the front of his shirt, her small, delicate hands splayed on his hard chest. Perfect. She felt fantastic in his arms, melting into him as if she belonged there. Fitting perfectly. Made specifically for him. "Are you all right?" he asked, his voice turning husky.She glanced down at her heel, which had a carpet fiber wrapped around it. "I'm stuck."He wished she would stay stuck. Permanently.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?I’m a pantser, which means I don’t outline and write from that. I wish I had it in me to outline, but frankly I enjoy sitting down at my laptop and letting it flow. But the down side of that is I constantly have to go back to reference what I wrote. I try jotting down on index cards, but I tend to toss those around. Hopefully with the bedroom I just converted into an office this will make me more organized.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?Putting it out there after I finished. It’s scary to open yourself up for people to critique. It would be far easier to write it then let it sit on my laptop collecting dust. How many writers do that? Many. Too many. I can sympathize. To take that leap is nerve-wracking.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?If you're passionate about what you're writing, no matter what the subject or genre is, keep at it. But write within your means. In other words, find and use your own voice. You don't have to put pressure on yourself to write the next Gone with the Wind, Great Gatsby, Great Expectations, or Pride and Prejudice. The Boss's Love is my third release and it wasn't until then that I truly found my voice. My editor is championing me to stick with that sub-genre and continue down that path. Find an editor who will help and inspire that voice. A good editor will. Entertain your readers, and yes, make it a good read by finding a proofreader and editor, but entertain with your voice. That's what will make you unique and gain you a following.
Do you have any advice for other writers?Always, always, always keep this in mind. We're in the entertainment industry. Since we've chosen this path, it opens us up for ridicule and wickedness. That's the price we pay. Just like the movie, television, and music industry opens themselves up for review, so do we. It's hard to say develop thick skin. That's impossible. Your work is your sweat and tears. When someone tries to demean that, it stings. Badly. Find yourself a group of writers/authors and friends that are supportive and will help you through those times. Because every single one of us will experience those moments.    
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?I love the fact that my readers are so passionate about The Boss’s Love. That they love the story and the twists. I appreciate and love it when they message me with what they want to see, who their favorite hero is, and what they took away from the story. Trust me, I take every single comment into consideration, which is why I wrote the prequels. Because of you and for you. I love to know that you connected with my work. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Do you have an agent or publisher? How did you go about finding one?I’m self-published. For well over a year I have submitted queries to publishers and agents and like every other author out there I’ve received many rejection letters. The industry, specifically the romance industry, is so saturated that it’s extremely difficult to break through the doors of a publisher or agent. Which I look at as paying my dues. But I lack patience. So instead of sitting on my work for years, I decided to self-publish. For the past year I’ve done the work myself as well as continued to submit and pitch. My 2014 New Year’s Resolution is to stop submitting to agents and publishers and pour all my concentration into self- publishing. Because my time is limited with working full-time, this decision frees up an area that hasn’t worked for me so far.   If you could live anywhere, where would it be?Hawaii. Beach, tropics, warmth all year round. Yep. Kind of cliché, but still, it’s Hawaii.  If you could have any super power, what would it be?Ooooh, if I could transport myself from one place to another in a blink of an eye, I’d totally relish that power (My commute to and from work is the reason for this. I lose so much time in the car daily). Is that a super power? I’m gonna say yes, yes it is. 
Website:
http://www.caseyclipper.com/www/index.html
Facebook Fan Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Casey-Clipper-Author/336540986441850
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/cclipper2

 

Web of Light: By, Kyra Dune: Excerpt

Web of Light (Excerpt) Kyra Dune
 Valdor didn’t hesitate, didn’t take even a moment to think on what might happen, he simply ran. What he hit was not a solid wall, but a sort of thickness. For him, passing the statue was like walking through water with weighted feet. The air pressed against him, trapping the breath in his lungs. And it was cold. So cold what little breath he could manage frosted before his eyes.             He broke free to the other side as Seva entered the temple. After glancing back once at the other heirs, Valdor sprinted across the open space and up the steps to the door. There, he paused. Before him was a wide chamber, almost every inch of which was covered with a mosaic depicting a bloody battle between figures unlike any creatures he had ever seen. It hurt his mind to gaze too long upon any one of them.             Instead, he focused his attention on Seva, who was standing in the only clear spot in the chamber. A twisted rope painted on the floor made a circle around this spot and above it a Gari-Za woman in flowing gray robes sat on a throne of flames. A benevolent smile touched the woman’s lips, but her eyes were cold black orbs.            Seva’s head was tilted back as if she were looking up at the woman, but her eyes were closed. Valdor moved cautiously forward, wincing as his footsteps echoed in the silence. His lips parted and he started to speak her name, but the word wouldn’t come. The feeling in this place was something so foreign to his senses he couldn’t name it. It crawled across his skin and made his ears buzz.             He came to a stop when he reached the rope circle. Fear was an acid taste at the back of his throat. Much as he wanted to reach out for Seva, there was a deep feeling of alarm inside him that would not allow his feet to move forward.              If things had gone on much longer, he might have worked up the nerve to do it, because he was not really as much of a coward as his father had made him believe he was. But he didn’t have to.              Seva’s entire body bucked, her back arching and her neck snapping back. She drew in a gasping breath, then collapsed. Valdor caught her before she hit the floor as her upper body crossed the line to his side. She shivered as if cold, then grew still. Valdor pulled her the rest of the way out of the circle, then lifted her up into his arms. She was light, but he was unused to such labor and staggered under her weight. Still, he managed to carry her out of the temple. Once they were down the steps and crossing the open space, Seva stirred and her eyelids fluttered open. Valdor gazed down into her bright blue eyes and was lost. Any uncertainty about his feelings toward her evaporated in that moment.           “If I put you down, can you walk?” he asked.           “I...I think so. Yes.” She looked over his shoulder toward the temple. “What happened in there?”            “Don’t you know?” He carefully put her back on her feet            Her eyes met his again as she shook her head. “I remember looking up at the statue and hearing Iza talk about the chosen one. Then everything is a blank. Except...” She laid a steadying hand against his arm. “I don’t know. I feel...something, but it’s...” She sighed. “I’m so tired all of a sudden.”             “Come on.” He slid his arm around her waist. “Let’s get you back to the carriage.”

Web of Light: By, Kyra Dune: Exceprt

Web of Light (Excerpt) Kyra Dune
 Valdor didn’t hesitate, didn’t take even a moment to think on what might happen, he simply ran. What he hit was not a solid wall, but a sort of thickness. For him, passing the statue was like walking through water with weighted feet. The air pressed against him, trapping the breath in his lungs. And it was cold. So cold what little breath he could manage frosted before his eyes.             He broke free to the other side as Seva entered the temple. After glancing back once at the other heirs, Valdor sprinted across the open space and up the steps to the door. There, he paused. Before him was a wide chamber, almost every inch of which was covered with a mosaic depicting a bloody battle between figures unlike any creatures he had ever seen. It hurt his mind to gaze too long upon any one of them.             Instead, he focused his attention on Seva, who was standing in the only clear spot in the chamber. A twisted rope painted on the floor made a circle around this spot and above it a Gari-Za woman in flowing gray robes sat on a throne of flames. A benevolent smile touched the woman’s lips, but her eyes were cold black orbs.            Seva’s head was tilted back as if she were looking up at the woman, but her eyes were closed. Valdor moved cautiously forward, wincing as his footsteps echoed in the silence. His lips parted and he started to speak her name, but the word wouldn’t come. The feeling in this place was something so foreign to his senses he couldn’t name it. It crawled across his skin and made his ears buzz.             He came to a stop when he reached the rope circle. Fear was an acid taste at the back of his throat. Much as he wanted to reach out for Seva, there was a deep feeling of alarm inside him that would not allow his feet to move forward.              If things had gone on much longer, he might have worked up the nerve to do it, because he was not really as much of a coward as his father had made him believe he was. But he didn’t have to.              Seva’s entire body bucked, her back arching and her neck snapping back. She drew in a gasping breath, then collapsed. Valdor caught her before she hit the floor as her upper body crossed the line to his side. She shivered as if cold, then grew still. Valdor pulled her the rest of the way out of the circle, then lifted her up into his arms. She was light, but he was unused to such labor and staggered under her weight. Still, he managed to carry her out of the temple. Once they were down the steps and crossing the open space, Seva stirred and her eyelids fluttered open. Valdor gazed down into her bright blue eyes and was lost. Any uncertainty about his feelings toward her evaporated in that moment.           “If I put you down, can you walk?” he asked.           “I...I think so. Yes.” She looked over his shoulder toward the temple. “What happened in there?”            “Don’t you know?” He carefully put her back on her feet            Her eyes met his again as she shook her head. “I remember looking up at the statue and hearing Iza talk about the chosen one. Then everything is a blank. Except...” She laid a steadying hand against his arm. “I don’t know. I feel...something, but it’s...” She sighed. “I’m so tired all of a sudden.”             “Come on.” He slid his arm around her waist. “Let’s get you back to the carriage.”

Author Interview: Kyra Dune

I'm happy to introduce this week's guest, author Kyra Dune!Where are you from?
I was born in Oklahoma, but I spent a big part of my life traveling with my family.
What inspired you to write your first book? What genre is it?
My first book was inspired by a song. It's a fantasy/adventure novel.
That's lovely! Tell us, do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life?
I'm single and I write full time, so I really don't have much to juggle. I spend most of my time writing.
How did you come up with the title?
The titles of my books just sort of come to me most of the time. I don't usually have to think about it.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Before you decide to run, make sure there's really something to run from.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
No.
What book are you reading now?
Tithe by Holly Black.
What are your current projects?
Right now I have five projects in the works. Firestorm is a fantasy/spy thriller and the second book in the Crossfire Duology. Higher Power and Oracle (book one and two in the Prophesy Of The Cataclysm Trilogy) are both epic fantasy. Chasing The Whirlwind is a YA urban fantasy and book two in the Dragon Within Series. And The Watchtower War is high fantasy and is the final book in the Time Of Shadows Series.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
This is a brief excerpt from my latest release, Shadow King (Time Of Shadows Book Three)
Dominus scoffed. “You really think you’re capable of calling a dragon?”
     Kaida’s smile faltered as she lay the book back on the table. “Let me show you what I’ve been working on and maybe you will too.”
     “I’m waiting.”
     She fixed her gaze on the book, her lips trembling ever so slightly as she read the spell. “Incendia extraho spirius mico veneficus lux antiquus serpens lucror adeo is quisnam dico vos efficio meus liceor.”
     The light in the lamp flickered as above the book a ball of flame slowly materialized. It grew brighter, writhing and turning in an unseen wind. Wings of flame unfurled, a barbed tail flicked, and then the dragon lifted its head and stared at Dominus with coal black eyes.
     Casson gasped. “Gods save us.” His voice sounded strangled. “A dragon.”
     “Isn’t it beautiful?” Kaida asked, completely ignoring her brother’s horrified expression. “The book calls this a dragon’s doppleganger and it says that if the spell is done right, it can call a real dragon.”
     At the moment, Dominus was much more interested in the dragon right in front of him, rather than one that might or might not currently be hiding out in the mountains. True, a real dragon would be of greater use, but he was not certain that Kaida was capable of handling such a beast yet.
     “Is this a true dragon?” he asked. “Or is it only for show?”
     “Ignis,” Kaida said, and the dragon threw back its head to let out a belt of fire toward the ceiling. Casson flinched.
     The heat from the fire was real enough, but could it burn? “Very nice show, but is it useful?”
     “There’s nothing flammable down here but the books,” Kaida said.
     Dominus looked toward Casson, who visibly paled beneath his gaze. “I can think of something we could try the fire out on.”
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
First drafts are always hardest for me. Taking a blank page and creating a world on it isn't easy.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
My best advice is don't ever let anybody tell you there's a right or wrong way to go about writing a novel. You find the method that works best for you and go with it.
Do you have an agent or publisher? How did you go about finding one?No agent, but I have had books published with three separate small press publications. I found them by doing a lot of research online and talking to other writers. Recently, I've decided to branch out into self publishing. So, we'll see how that goes.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Anywhere near an ocean and I'd be a happy girl.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Telekinesis. What would be cooler than being able to move things around with your mind?
For More on Kyra:

Author Bio


Kyra Dune was born in Oklahoma, but spent most of her life travelling with her family. She is the author of more than a dozen fantasy novels, including: Shadow of the Dragon, Elfblood, and Firebrand.As a child, her favorite stories were those that told of ordinary children being whisked away to magical lands. She has yet to find her own secret wardrobe or rabbit hole, but she hasn’t given up the search. You never know what might be waiting over the next rainbow.


Connect With Me: Facebook      Twitter    Blog    Website     Goodreads   Pinterest     
Watch My Book Trailers:   YouTube
Buy My Books: Amazon   Amazon UK   Barnes & Noble   

 

Art

Fury
And madness
The color of red
Glittering gold sparkles
These images in my head
Thick paint
So rich in its shine
A graceful stroke 

Gray Zone (**Book Blast** & Author Feature)

Author Biography Veronica Tabares had many opportunities to witness the effects of bullying while working as head librarian at a private school. When she realized that modern technology had enhanced the bully's ability to cause pain—with students seemingly unaware of the true danger of the electronic toys that ruled their days—she designed an anti-bullying curriculum to incorporate into her lessons.
As a librarian, Veronica is aware that young people need a user-friendly way to understand the problem. They need to easily grasp both how a bully works and how to recognize the signs that someone is a bullying victim. Gray Zone was written to give them that knowledge and to open a much-needed dialog.
Veronica has a master of library and information science and a bachelor of arts in anthropology, both from the University of Washington. She also has a master of fine arts in creative writing from Full Sail University.



Book Description The victim of a cyber-prank gone viral, Autumn was forced to transfer schools—not exactly what she wanted to do as a sophomore. But what choice did she have when all her personal information was posted all over the web for anyone to see? When threatening comments started to trickle in, the police said her only chance to avoid stalkers was to move schools and start over.
Determined to make the best of her situation, Autumn realized that she had been given an opportunity to reinvent herself; to become the outgoing, popular, not-at-all-shy girl she'd always wanted to be. Something that was impossible while surrounded by lifelong friends who thought they knew her better than she knew herself.
  But even the best plans go awry. As soon as Autumn arrives at her new school, she meets Maurice—a bully of monumental proportions who steps on toes, beats up kids, and generally makes life miserable for everyone. Things seem to be looking up when Autumn learns that her best friend Sophie Rose is transferring to her new school, too—but then Sophie starts keeping her distance from Autumn. Soon, Autumn feels those old, familiar feelings of sadness and inadequacy returning, as she wonders if Sophie Rose felt Autumn was no longer good enough to be her friend.
Bullied at school and online, adrift without the support of her best friend in the murky waters of high school, where one wrong move can earn an unflattering nickname that will stick until graduation, Autumn believes she failed miserably at changing the old habits that had given her that shy girl reputation in the first place. Not only could she not move from reserved to rambunctious, she couldn't even get to normal.
But when a tragedy shakes Autumn's world, she stops feeling sad about what happened to her. Now she's angry—and she's determined to put a stop to this cyber-torture and bullying of herself and the people she loves in this powerful and poignant novel.

Available on  Amazon And Barnes and Noble!

Dark Prophet! **Cover Reveal**

And now... the moment we've all been anxiously awaiting. I present to you, Dark Prophet's cover reveal!




Pre-order your signed copy today!

Read an exclusive chapter on CM Albert Writes.

Author Interview: Brandy Rivers

Introducing author, Brandy Rivers!Where are you from?
- I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest all my life. Always in Western Washington.
What inspired you to write your first book? What genre is it? - I have had stories in my head for as long as I can remember. I started hundreds of stories that never were finished until about five years ago. I have 12 or so finished manuscripts on my laptop that I need to actually spruce up and do something with. Some of which I may never fix.
The first book I published was just a story I couldn’t get out of my head long enough to do anything else. I typed it pretty fast. Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life? - Full time. I’m a stay at home mom so I have time to write. I’m a multitasker so it fits into everything sort of. How did you come up with the title? - There seemed to be a theme in the book so I went with that. It fits for several reasons, but you should read it to find out why.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? - I don’t know. There was a theme for me, it wasn’t intentional, and I didn’t realize it until I was editing and it jumped at me. So, I don’t know that I wanted a message to be obvious, but I guess there is one in a roundabout way.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
- No. They are pure fantasy. I try to avoid making anyone too much like someone I know. I mean I might see shades of someone or something in what I write, but not to the point I would say it was based off them.
What books have most influenced your life most? - Oh, that is so hard. I suppose for writing was reading HP Mallory and finding out about her success. I had been trying to go traditional and someone told me to change everything about my main character. That didn’t go over well, and I decided to do it myself. It’s working out well so far.
What book are you reading now?
- Echoes of Silence by Magen McMinimy. It’s the fifth book in her Half-Blood Vampire series. I’ve read all but these last three of all of her books and love her. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? - I just recently found Michelle Graves. I love her stories. Then there is Felicia Tatum who writes a couple genres but so far I love her books as well.
What are your current projects? - Nights Embrace. It’s my first book outside the Others of Edenton Series, but it does correlate. In fact Roxy and Trevor wind up in Edenton at one point.
Roxy has been moving through life during the day, and losing herself in her writing at night. Then she meets Trevor and he turns everything upside down. He seems too good to be real, but no one’s perfect and she can’t help wondering what his flaws are. She’s about to be thrown into a world she only dreams about but never believed in. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? - Nope. I tried doing things differently 62 times. I have the files to back up that statement. Until Tremaine showed up, it fell apart every single time. I got to one particular scene that took a turn I didn’t expect and everything fell into place, which is why I called the book Falling Into Place.
Can you share a little of your current work with us? Sure. I’m assuming you meant the one that just came out in December. That would be Falling Into place.
Liz didn’t figure she would solve the problem any easier than Preston and Robert, who were both gifted mages with a lot more training than she had. Her focus was mostly on averting her attention from Robert who made her tingly all over. She didn’t want to think about the way she wanted him to wrap his arms around her and hold her, among other things she refused to even consider. Her legs were curled up under her, her hand was tangled in her hair to keep it off her face as she pretended to read. “Come on, Ace, tell me you figured it out,” Preston practically pleaded. Then it clicked. She knew exactly what it meant. One night, when she couldn’t sleep she was playing with different types of energy. Tremaine had told her how to combine two totally different spells to form a new. She’d been doing it ever since, and never figured out the significance. It came naturally, but apparently it was an advanced technique. She tapped her finger on the page and looked into Preston’s cool blue eyes. His hair stood in every direction from the many times he’d dragged his fingers through it. “It’s not that hard,” she told him. “They want you to combine two different elements to form your own spell.” “How in the world do you do that?” Preston slumped back in his seat. “That’s impossible. Liz took a look around the empty diner. Preston’s mother ran the place, and most of the customers were Other, so hopefully she wouldn’t scare a nosy human. She caught her lip between her teeth and dragged Preston’s empty plate over. Drawing two circles on the plate, she created one ring of fire and one ring of arcing electricity. Robert’s jaw fell open, and then he whispered, “How?” Her eyes flashed up, but all she saw was amazement on his face. Preston whispered in awe, “I’ve only ever seen advanced mages use two elements at once, and never separate at the same time.” “You need to concentrate fire to one hand and lightning to the other.” Her eyes lifted to Preston’s then Robert’s. “Now watch.” She dragged her fingers toward the middle and the spells merged, expanding as they zapped and sizzled the salt still on the plate. Preston reached out and touched before she could pull her hands away. He yelped in pain as he blew on his fingers. “Wow, that’s insane.” Robert chuckled, but when she met his gaze, he smiled back at her. “Can you teach us?” She nodded slightly. “Sure. Hold out your hands.” Preston frowned, but put his hands out. Robert did the same but held his palms upright. “Like Robert,” she told Preston and then held her own out. “Imagine a flickering flame in one palm.” Robert’s right palm flared to life, while Preston’s left did. “Now concentrate and envision the electricity dancing in your other hand.” There was a spark in Robert’s. He gasped and she felt the charge as he moved to put his hands closer. “Wait.” She closed her hands over his palms before he could meld the spells. His magic washed over her and she barely held back a whimper as their gazes locked. Her voice came out breathless. “You want to be outside the first time you do that. It can cause a big blast.” There was another crackle and Preston jumped. His spells fizzled out as he bounced in his seat. “I did it, I really did it.” Liz yanked her hands back and shoved them under her thighs as her gaze swung to Preston who was beyond excited.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? - Making sure what I see in my head is what the reader sees. I love my beta’s for this reason. When they don’t get something they point it out and I can fix it.
What was the hardest part of writing your book? - Altering what I wrote to actually make sense in a few places. I mean, I write lots of magic and action, and sometimes I think whatever I put down works, but it doesn’t always. I don’t mind when a beta tells me, “Brandy, that makes no sense. Fix it.” In fact I prefer it when they tell me that stuff. The beta’s who just gush don’t get to beta again. I will give them the book early for a review, but when I’m trying to fix problems, I need them to be pointed out.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? - That people you don’t personally know can sometimes be better at critiquing than people you know. They are less afraid of hurting your feelings. I don’t know about everyone, but I want the honest feedback as long as it isn’t bashing. I want someone who points out a hole, or whatever that doesn’t make sense. I might do as the reader suggests, but I can at least figure out how to get them on the same page as me. Sometimes it was just a matter of not portraying a reaction very well. Then I can go in and make the whole thing make more sense.
Do you have any advice for other writers? Find good, honest beta’s who won’t bash you, but will tell you like it is. Find someone who doesn’t mind saying, something like, “You had me until here, and then this happens and I don’t get it because it’s missing some detail, or you wrote something that led me to believe this would happen and this happens.” Also, make sure those same people aren’t going to be offended when you do everything they suggest. They are there to help you polish your story, but they are the writer, so sometimes you have to take what they point out and take your own direction. If they get pissy about that, they aren’t a good beta. They are there to help, not dictate.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? - Thank you reader, you all are amazing. I’m always blown away by the overwhelmingly great response people have had to my books. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but to have people who respond on my facebook page, or send me a tweet, you guys are awesome. And the people who have taken the time to review the books are amazing too. Thank you, all of you.
Do you have an agent or publisher? How did you go about finding one? Nope. I did try for a long time, but at the time I wasn’t what they were looking for. Now I’m where I want to be without one. I’m no longer looking, and unless they came to me with one spectacular offer, I wouldn’t take them up on one.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Besides Western Washington that I love, Ireland. I would go in a heartbeat and stay. If you could have any super power, what would it be? - Oh, I would love to have magic. My kind of mage magic or druid magic. I love the idea of wielding elements, creating protection, and just the different things you could do.  For more on Brandy Rivers: Bio:


I’m Brandy L Rivers and I write Adult Paranormal Romance. I have three awesome kids and a wonderful husband. We live up in Washington State. I started reading young, but I skipped YA altogether. I went from Choose Your Own Adventures, into JRR Tolkien, Stephen King, Robert McCammon, Dean R Koontz at like ten. Then I moved on to Anne Rice, and every vampire book I could get my hands on. So my obsession with monsters and magic started early. Website - www.brandylrivers.com Facebook - www.facebook.com/brandylrivers Twitter - www.twitter.com/brandylrivers Amazon - http://Author.to/BrandyLRivers   Goodreads – http://goodreads.com/brandylrivers

I Want to Soothe Her- a poem

I Want to Soothe Her K.N. Lee
I want to soothe herHold herAnd let her knowThese tears will dry And the wind will blowToxic kissesLeave such dark marksBut the sun sheds raysThat smooth out the scarsSuch sobs are healingLike the river flowsSuch sobs are purgingPleasing And essential To letting him go Dark clouds fade quicklyThere is no doubtBreathe in Breathe him out