K.N. Lee's Blog, page 53
November 3, 2013
Willa & Max- a poem
Willa and Max
K.N. Lee
Willa had a little boyA red cheeked fellowWho brought her joyHe smiled And sangIn his darling little voiceBut Willa was faced With a difficult choice
Max was his nameOnly four, you seeWith curly brown hairAnd eyes of green His tiny hands Were fused into clawsHe had pale white skinAnd markings on his paws
Max was not A normal child...But a creature from her closetFrom a place hiddenBut wildHe'd snuggle into her soft warm bedSing her to sleepAnd that's when he fedWhile Willa sleptLittle Max would feastFor he was more than a goblinBut a growing beast
Willa had a little boyA red cheeked fellowWho brought her joyHe smiled And sangIn his darling little voiceBut Willa was faced With a difficult choice
Max was his nameOnly four, you seeWith curly brown hairAnd eyes of green His tiny hands Were fused into clawsHe had pale white skinAnd markings on his paws
Max was not A normal child...But a creature from her closetFrom a place hiddenBut wildHe'd snuggle into her soft warm bedSing her to sleepAnd that's when he fedWhile Willa sleptLittle Max would feastFor he was more than a goblinBut a growing beast
October 29, 2013
Writing a Book is an Adventure!
Writing a book is an adventure.
The excitement builds within your stomach as you etch your first word onto a blank page. Your mind unlocks as hundreds of I walked paths expose themselves to you.
It is time to create your own world, fill it with unique characters, and ultimately tell a story.
I began my journey to the Netherworld last November. It all began as an experiment. I was inspired by my friend, Melinda Metz, the author of the Roswell series and many other amazing books.
Each week I would write a chapter and before I knew it, people all over the world were reading and telling me how much they enjoyed Koa, Halston, and their team of supernatural agents. Before I knew it, I had a book. Well...two actually.
I had the skeleton of The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld, and the sequel, Lyrinian Blade.
Writing a book is fun...but it is not always easy. Netherworld seemed to write itself. Lyrinian Blade...not so much. I find myself at a crossroads. There are so many characters that I want to give the spotlight and so little time. I'm a perfectionist, but sometimes that can work to my disadvantage.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I've changed the plot to Lyrinain Blade at least three times! Whew! It's true. Once you change a book's plot so many times, you can being confused or...lost. Thankfully, I found me way once again by:
1st- Letting the manuscript rest2nd- Listening to my dreams
By taking a step away from the manuscript, it somehow (through the power and magic of the fairy muses) worked itself out.
And now, I am energized and ready to share this incredible tale of revenge, the bond between a mother and her daughter, love, betrayal, and as always...one badass half-blood with an enchanted sword. ;) Stay tuned, Lyrinian Blade will be released this December!
The excitement builds within your stomach as you etch your first word onto a blank page. Your mind unlocks as hundreds of I walked paths expose themselves to you.
It is time to create your own world, fill it with unique characters, and ultimately tell a story. I began my journey to the Netherworld last November. It all began as an experiment. I was inspired by my friend, Melinda Metz, the author of the Roswell series and many other amazing books.
Each week I would write a chapter and before I knew it, people all over the world were reading and telling me how much they enjoyed Koa, Halston, and their team of supernatural agents. Before I knew it, I had a book. Well...two actually.
I had the skeleton of The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld, and the sequel, Lyrinian Blade. Writing a book is fun...but it is not always easy. Netherworld seemed to write itself. Lyrinian Blade...not so much. I find myself at a crossroads. There are so many characters that I want to give the spotlight and so little time. I'm a perfectionist, but sometimes that can work to my disadvantage.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I've changed the plot to Lyrinain Blade at least three times! Whew! It's true. Once you change a book's plot so many times, you can being confused or...lost. Thankfully, I found me way once again by:
1st- Letting the manuscript rest2nd- Listening to my dreams
By taking a step away from the manuscript, it somehow (through the power and magic of the fairy muses) worked itself out.
And now, I am energized and ready to share this incredible tale of revenge, the bond between a mother and her daughter, love, betrayal, and as always...one badass half-blood with an enchanted sword. ;) Stay tuned, Lyrinian Blade will be released this December!
October 28, 2013
Enchanted Winter (Chapter 3)
Enchanted WinterChapter 3 K.N. Lee
As Winter fell, her breath was sucked from her lungs. She squeezed her eyes shut and reached for Dancer. Dancer grabbed her by the arm with its claw and held tight.
Winter opened her eyes to the cold of the wind as Dancer flew her high above the clouds. She sucked in the cool air and tried to calm her breathing. The dart in her neck left her paralyzed and sent a shock of searing hot pain into her bloodstream.
Winter winced and cried out. Her neck froze, her shoulders followed, and she realized with horror that soon, her entire body would be completely frozen.
Her mind raced with her options. As long as Dancer didn't let go, she might escape the dangerous tribes of the Wild Lands. Winter tried to keep her eyes open. If she closed her eyes before she froze, she would not be able to see what was happening.
Her head spun and her heart thumped so loudly that it was she could hear. Her ears burned with the sound of her own heartbeat. It was steady, and continued to slow, until, it stopped.
~~~
A soft murmur woke Winter. She opened her silver eyes and stared into the eyes of a little girl. Winter tried to move. Her arms were pinned to her sides and her legs were bound by thick, rough, ropes. Winter's eyes widened.
"Let me go. Please," she pleaded to the little girl. They were in a tent made out of hides and painted with clay and dull green paint. The little girl touched Winter's face with her cold hands and sat back on her heels. Her hair was yellow like Lady Cecily's and she had green eyes that matched the paint on the inside of the tents walls. Her skin was brown like Winter's though, and covered with blue markings.
Winter could tell by the child's markings that she was a hunter and part of the Oaiku tribe. Many tribes escaped through the slit in between worlds in the final days. Winter knew all of them. She wondered if they knew who she was.
Winter felt her eyes water. She hoped that they didn't know who she was. She could not risk her identity being discovered. Not even by a tribe that was related to her own. Once the Morai and the Oaiku were bonded and shared many relatives and racial traits.
Winter heard footsteps outside and her skin tightened with fear. She met the girl's eyes, with a look of intensity that drew the child in like a moth to a flame.
"Please, sweet girl. Help me get free from these binds."
The girl shook her head. She traced a line across her neck indicating death.
Winter was speechless. She watched the girl, feeling her hopes fade. The tents flap opened and an old man bent over to enter. He was followed by a much younger man. The old man wore cloaks, gray and covered with the history of his people. He was a shaman.
Winter tensed. She would not be able to hide her identity from that man. She closed her eyes, speaking inside her head, hoping that her mother's gifts hadn't completely left her.
Her body filled with warmth and she glowed.
Mother please bless meWith all the gifts of land and seaCarry meFrom this placeWith wings of silverAnd strides of grace
Winter recited the words over and over inside her head. She had no other choice. She knew that they were staring at her, but she hoped that perhaps this time, when she opened her eyes, she would be somewhere else. Somewhere far away from Master Blakeney's manor, the Wildlands, and back in the Old World.
When she heard the old man speak, she knew that once again, her words were not heard. Her magic had failed her again.
"They took much more from you than your freedom," the old man said.
Winter didn't open her eyes. She simply sobbed softly. She was heartbroken. Being a slave for so long was not as painful as having her power abandon her.
Winter opened her eyes when she felt him draw closer. She did have one measure of power that would never fail her, and she was ready to use it if he tried to harm her. Winter's eyes burned a silver light into the old man's as she glared at him.
He lowered his eyes as he knelt beside her cot. He bowed.
"Forgive me, Enchanted Winter," he said. "I have not come to harm you. I am Gulati. I am not the one who tied you up, but the one who convinced the tribe's folk not to send you back to the humans."
Winter let the intensity of her eyes fade slightly as she listened to his words. "Why would they send me back? If you know who I am, what good would it do to let the humans use me?"
Gulati nodded, eagerly. "Exactly! That's what I tried to explain to them. We were once bonded, the Morais and the Oaiku. Fairies like us as are a dying breed. They would send you back to the fairies, just for a few more seasons of sun."
Winter frowned. "Why? We never needed Summer, Spring, or Fall before? There was a reason they were only allowed to thrive in Earth."
Gulati shrugged. "When Earth was opened to us, the people became used to the other fairy gods. They no longer want Winter to rule us anymore. They no longer want you."
Winter wished that she could sit up. She felt a strong warning in her belly. What she was hearing was deeply unsettling.
Gulati reached for her and she cringed. He touched her forehead with his red fingers and chanted.
Winter calmed then. She knew the chant and slowly felt the sensation return to her body. She could move again. Still bound, it was better than being completely paralyzed.
When Winter opened her eyes, she saw the girl smiling at her. The girl's two front teeth were missing and yet she was prettier than ever.
Gulati gave her a half smile. "I'm sorry, but that's all I can do right now."
Winter nodded. "Thank you."
Gulati took her hand in his and Winter tried to sit up. He helped her prop herself against the wooden headboard of the cot. The candle flickered in the on the small table beside the little girl. She grinned at Winter and waved her hand through the fire, catching a flame in the palm of her hand.
Winter's brows furrowed as she watched the child play. She was a special child. That was clear.
Winter licked her dry lips and glanced at Gulati. "Does the tribe know who I am?"
Gulati shook his head. His messy white hair fell into his face. "No. Only I know of your identity."
Winter breathed with relief. "Good."
Gulati motioned for the younger man to come kneel beside him. Winter observed him. His hair was yellow like the child's, and long.
"Reki and Mionna will help you escape tonight."
Winter raised a brow. "The child?"
Gulati nodded. "She's my apprentice. She has excellent tracking skills. Don't worry, she is mature for a seven year old."
Winter looked from Mionna to Reki. He never let his eyes leave her. He never smiled either. He was older than her, perhaps by a decade or so. He had an attractive face, a little roughened by age and the sun, but nice enough for Winter to take notice. She swallowed and looked away.
Gulati noticed. "Reki is a warrior. He'll protect you, and help you make it through the Wild Lands."
Alarm came to Winter's face. "Where is my tetra?"
Gulati's face paled. He looked to Reki.
Reki didn't betray any emotion, but he answered her question. "The archers shot it out of the sky."
Winter felt her eyes sting with fresh tears, and her body fill with a rage that threatened to turn everyone in the vicinity to dust. She shook but controlled the rage. There were innocent people around. She must control herself.
Gulati came to his feet and Reki handed him his staff.
Mionna snipped her binds away with a sharp knife. The girl brought her face close to Winter's.
"Sorry, Enchanted Winter," she said. "I couldn't let you go until master said so. You will forgive me. Won't you?"
Winter looked into Mionna's eyes. She cupped the girls face in her hands and kissed her forehead. There were nights that she dreamt of a daughter of her own. A daughter that she could pass her gifts onto. A daughter that would one day take her place as a fairy god.
Mionna smiled. "Thank you."
Winter nodded and returned the smile. She came to her feet. stretched her wings, and retracted them once more, so that they lie flat against her back.
She looked over to Gulati. "Thank you. I won't forget your kindness."
Gulati bowed to her. Reki and Mionna did as well. "I never thought I'd be in the presence of a god."
Winter put her finger to her mouth. "Shh. No one must know. Let the people think what they want, but not that they had their own season god in their midst. I have work to do. This world needs to be put right once again."
Gulati nodded. His green eyes sparkled. Winter felt saddened. She had to get her powers back. She knew exactly what she needed to do. Dread washed over her.
Many people were going to have to die.
As Winter fell, her breath was sucked from her lungs. She squeezed her eyes shut and reached for Dancer. Dancer grabbed her by the arm with its claw and held tight.
Winter opened her eyes to the cold of the wind as Dancer flew her high above the clouds. She sucked in the cool air and tried to calm her breathing. The dart in her neck left her paralyzed and sent a shock of searing hot pain into her bloodstream.
Winter winced and cried out. Her neck froze, her shoulders followed, and she realized with horror that soon, her entire body would be completely frozen.
Her mind raced with her options. As long as Dancer didn't let go, she might escape the dangerous tribes of the Wild Lands. Winter tried to keep her eyes open. If she closed her eyes before she froze, she would not be able to see what was happening.
Her head spun and her heart thumped so loudly that it was she could hear. Her ears burned with the sound of her own heartbeat. It was steady, and continued to slow, until, it stopped.
~~~
A soft murmur woke Winter. She opened her silver eyes and stared into the eyes of a little girl. Winter tried to move. Her arms were pinned to her sides and her legs were bound by thick, rough, ropes. Winter's eyes widened.
"Let me go. Please," she pleaded to the little girl. They were in a tent made out of hides and painted with clay and dull green paint. The little girl touched Winter's face with her cold hands and sat back on her heels. Her hair was yellow like Lady Cecily's and she had green eyes that matched the paint on the inside of the tents walls. Her skin was brown like Winter's though, and covered with blue markings.
Winter could tell by the child's markings that she was a hunter and part of the Oaiku tribe. Many tribes escaped through the slit in between worlds in the final days. Winter knew all of them. She wondered if they knew who she was.
Winter felt her eyes water. She hoped that they didn't know who she was. She could not risk her identity being discovered. Not even by a tribe that was related to her own. Once the Morai and the Oaiku were bonded and shared many relatives and racial traits.
Winter heard footsteps outside and her skin tightened with fear. She met the girl's eyes, with a look of intensity that drew the child in like a moth to a flame.
"Please, sweet girl. Help me get free from these binds."
The girl shook her head. She traced a line across her neck indicating death.
Winter was speechless. She watched the girl, feeling her hopes fade. The tents flap opened and an old man bent over to enter. He was followed by a much younger man. The old man wore cloaks, gray and covered with the history of his people. He was a shaman.
Winter tensed. She would not be able to hide her identity from that man. She closed her eyes, speaking inside her head, hoping that her mother's gifts hadn't completely left her.
Her body filled with warmth and she glowed.
Mother please bless meWith all the gifts of land and seaCarry meFrom this placeWith wings of silverAnd strides of grace
Winter recited the words over and over inside her head. She had no other choice. She knew that they were staring at her, but she hoped that perhaps this time, when she opened her eyes, she would be somewhere else. Somewhere far away from Master Blakeney's manor, the Wildlands, and back in the Old World.
When she heard the old man speak, she knew that once again, her words were not heard. Her magic had failed her again.
"They took much more from you than your freedom," the old man said.
Winter didn't open her eyes. She simply sobbed softly. She was heartbroken. Being a slave for so long was not as painful as having her power abandon her.
Winter opened her eyes when she felt him draw closer. She did have one measure of power that would never fail her, and she was ready to use it if he tried to harm her. Winter's eyes burned a silver light into the old man's as she glared at him.
He lowered his eyes as he knelt beside her cot. He bowed.
"Forgive me, Enchanted Winter," he said. "I have not come to harm you. I am Gulati. I am not the one who tied you up, but the one who convinced the tribe's folk not to send you back to the humans."
Winter let the intensity of her eyes fade slightly as she listened to his words. "Why would they send me back? If you know who I am, what good would it do to let the humans use me?"
Gulati nodded, eagerly. "Exactly! That's what I tried to explain to them. We were once bonded, the Morais and the Oaiku. Fairies like us as are a dying breed. They would send you back to the fairies, just for a few more seasons of sun."
Winter frowned. "Why? We never needed Summer, Spring, or Fall before? There was a reason they were only allowed to thrive in Earth."
Gulati shrugged. "When Earth was opened to us, the people became used to the other fairy gods. They no longer want Winter to rule us anymore. They no longer want you."
Winter wished that she could sit up. She felt a strong warning in her belly. What she was hearing was deeply unsettling.
Gulati reached for her and she cringed. He touched her forehead with his red fingers and chanted.
Winter calmed then. She knew the chant and slowly felt the sensation return to her body. She could move again. Still bound, it was better than being completely paralyzed.
When Winter opened her eyes, she saw the girl smiling at her. The girl's two front teeth were missing and yet she was prettier than ever.
Gulati gave her a half smile. "I'm sorry, but that's all I can do right now."
Winter nodded. "Thank you."
Gulati took her hand in his and Winter tried to sit up. He helped her prop herself against the wooden headboard of the cot. The candle flickered in the on the small table beside the little girl. She grinned at Winter and waved her hand through the fire, catching a flame in the palm of her hand.
Winter's brows furrowed as she watched the child play. She was a special child. That was clear.
Winter licked her dry lips and glanced at Gulati. "Does the tribe know who I am?"
Gulati shook his head. His messy white hair fell into his face. "No. Only I know of your identity."
Winter breathed with relief. "Good."
Gulati motioned for the younger man to come kneel beside him. Winter observed him. His hair was yellow like the child's, and long.
"Reki and Mionna will help you escape tonight."
Winter raised a brow. "The child?"
Gulati nodded. "She's my apprentice. She has excellent tracking skills. Don't worry, she is mature for a seven year old."
Winter looked from Mionna to Reki. He never let his eyes leave her. He never smiled either. He was older than her, perhaps by a decade or so. He had an attractive face, a little roughened by age and the sun, but nice enough for Winter to take notice. She swallowed and looked away.
Gulati noticed. "Reki is a warrior. He'll protect you, and help you make it through the Wild Lands."
Alarm came to Winter's face. "Where is my tetra?"
Gulati's face paled. He looked to Reki.
Reki didn't betray any emotion, but he answered her question. "The archers shot it out of the sky."
Winter felt her eyes sting with fresh tears, and her body fill with a rage that threatened to turn everyone in the vicinity to dust. She shook but controlled the rage. There were innocent people around. She must control herself.
Gulati came to his feet and Reki handed him his staff.
Mionna snipped her binds away with a sharp knife. The girl brought her face close to Winter's.
"Sorry, Enchanted Winter," she said. "I couldn't let you go until master said so. You will forgive me. Won't you?"
Winter looked into Mionna's eyes. She cupped the girls face in her hands and kissed her forehead. There were nights that she dreamt of a daughter of her own. A daughter that she could pass her gifts onto. A daughter that would one day take her place as a fairy god.
Mionna smiled. "Thank you."
Winter nodded and returned the smile. She came to her feet. stretched her wings, and retracted them once more, so that they lie flat against her back.
She looked over to Gulati. "Thank you. I won't forget your kindness."
Gulati bowed to her. Reki and Mionna did as well. "I never thought I'd be in the presence of a god."
Winter put her finger to her mouth. "Shh. No one must know. Let the people think what they want, but not that they had their own season god in their midst. I have work to do. This world needs to be put right once again."
Gulati nodded. His green eyes sparkled. Winter felt saddened. She had to get her powers back. She knew exactly what she needed to do. Dread washed over her.
Many people were going to have to die.
October 25, 2013
The Nomad Scrolls: Welcome to Puerto Rico! Bienvinidos!
The Nomad Scrolls: Welcome to Puerto Rico! Bienvinidos!: Yes, this post is super late! Better late than never...right? This past June I took a glorious trip to Puerto Rico.
October 24, 2013
Join Author, K.N. Lee, on an adventure!!
Www.gofundme.com/Koabooktour
Join me on an adventure!
It's crunch time! Woohoo! Next week, October 31st to be exact, I'll be heading to the World Fantasy Con in Brighton, UK!
Hooray!
I'm attending this convention to promote my books, The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld and Thicker Than Blood, and in hopes of finding an agent.
I've managed to raise half of my goal thanks to a few generous friends, fans, and family! Now, I'm hoping you can help me raise the rest before I leave next week!
I'm not asking for charity. No way! I'm actually giving rewards for donations:
Signed copies of The Chronicles of KoaKoa t-shirtsKoa key chainsKoa notepadsI'll even name a character after you in the series! You'll also receive recognition in the sequel and on my website www.thechroniclesofkoa.com
I'll be documenting my journey to the UK through a series of photos, video, journal entries, and articles on all of my sites: www.writelikeawizard.com Www.thenomadscrolls.com
The World Fantasy Con is only the beginning. When I return I will be touring the US:
New York Georgia North Carolina Washington California
Let's do this!
Www.gofundme.com/koabooktour
Join me on an adventure!
It's crunch time! Woohoo! Next week, October 31st to be exact, I'll be heading to the World Fantasy Con in Brighton, UK!
Hooray!
I'm attending this convention to promote my books, The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld and Thicker Than Blood, and in hopes of finding an agent.
I've managed to raise half of my goal thanks to a few generous friends, fans, and family! Now, I'm hoping you can help me raise the rest before I leave next week!
I'm not asking for charity. No way! I'm actually giving rewards for donations:
Signed copies of The Chronicles of KoaKoa t-shirtsKoa key chainsKoa notepadsI'll even name a character after you in the series! You'll also receive recognition in the sequel and on my website www.thechroniclesofkoa.com
I'll be documenting my journey to the UK through a series of photos, video, journal entries, and articles on all of my sites: www.writelikeawizard.com Www.thenomadscrolls.com
The World Fantasy Con is only the beginning. When I return I will be touring the US:
New York Georgia North Carolina Washington California
Let's do this!
Www.gofundme.com/koabooktour
October 23, 2013
Waking Up Dead!! **BOOK BLAST**
Waking Up Dead by, Margo Bond Collins When Callie Taylor died, she expected to go to heaven—or maybe hell. Instead, when she was murdered in Dallas by some jerk with a knife and a bad-mommy complex, she went to Alabama. Now she’s seen another murder, and she can’t just let it go; she must find a way to make sure the police figure out who really killed Molly McClatchy before an innocent man goes to prison, all the while trying to determine how and why she woke up dead in Alabama.Review Callie, the unlikely hero in Margo Bond Collins' paranormal mystery, Waking Up Dead , is smart, sarcastic, and very funny. It's fun to watch her figure out her limitations as a ghost and see how she works at getting the real murderer caught. The other supporting characters in the book are almost as much fun. They're real-life people who somehow are able to see and communicate with Callie. Along with the fun and paranormal stuff, however, Collins has written a first-rate mystery with spot-on detection headed by Callie and her unlikely sidekick, Maw-Maw. Waking Up Dead rocks. I loved every minute I spent reading it. ~Jack Magnus
The author has deftly woven a tale of mystery, murder, and suspense. It is a fast paced book that leaves the reader wanting more. There are two plots in the story, both of which are equally filled with suspense. Mystery books are always exciting for readers because there are many avenues for readers to put on their thinking caps and solve the puzzle before the author reveals all. Apart from how Callie landed up in Alabama after her death, the plot of Molly McClatchey's murder is equally intriguing. The author has managed to run the two murder stories together without making it too heavy for reader. ~Mamta Madhavan
Callie is amazing because even though she's dead and most would assume she has limitless powers (she doesn't), she's just like a regular person. Her biting wit and sarcasm are evident on every page but the people who are chosen to help her are just as interesting and funny along the way. Waking up Dead is great in how it details a life after death and the truth of what happens to those ghosts who are simply stuck in the real world with no way of moving on or going home. ~Samantha Rivera About the Author
Margo Bond Collins is the author of the paranormal mystery Waking up Dead from Solstice Shadows Publishing, and Legally Undead, first in the Vampirarchy urban fantasy series, coming in 2014 from World Weaver Press. She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college English online. She loves paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. Buy Waking Up Dead on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Dead-ebook/dp/B00FOXWLM8/Connect with MargoAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollinsEmail: MargoBondCollins@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.MargoBondCollins.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin @MargoBondCollinGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchyFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollinsFacebook Novel Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waking-Up-Dead/502076076537575Tumblr: http://vampirarchybooks.tumblr.com/Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/Be sure to add Waking Up Dead to your Goodreads bookshelves: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18428064-waking-up-dead_____________________________________________Book Trailers:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_TmvpxxBwhttp://youtu.be/KUBg83s4BOU
October 22, 2013
Lyrinian Blade (The Chronicles of Koa #2) Chapter 1 Sample
The Chronicles of Koa:Lyrinian Blade
K.N. Lee
Chapter 1
A red dress. Koa would never have been caught dead in all red, but today was the day of her wedding. This wasn’t to be a human wedding, but a Netherworld wedding…a vampire wedding.Koa scrunched up her nose as she looked down at the billowy gown, littered with crystals and black taffeta. She looked like a gothic spin on a Disney princess. Even at twelve, Koa knew she did not fit the role of such a character. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her nerves. Koa’s stomach was filled with anxious feelings. Her small hands shook and she wanted to cry.What am I doing here, Koa kept asking herself. She kind of understood what was happening, but most of it still didn’t make sense to her. Koa was afraid of this dark and mysterious place, where the population was composed of creatures that would have given normal girls nightmares.Koa was glad that her father still held her hand. From the time that they had arrived, he had held her hand and told her to trust him. It was hard. Entering a world of nightmares would be frightening to any little girl. Koa tried to hide her fear. She didn’t want to show her father that she was weak. She didn’t want to shame him on this important day.I have to do this, Koa thought as she tugged at the high collar of her gown. She frowned. The lace made her throat itch. To make father proud. Koa rolled her eyes. Koa looked up at her father, who walked steadily by her side as they led the procession through the streets of the Central Dominance, formerly known as Lyrinia before the Great Divide. The Netherworld was no longer at peace. It hadn’t been that way for centuries. Koa swallowed as she looked at the creatures that stared at her as she passed by. Netherworld vamps, War-Breeders, Jems, Syths, even ghouls came out of their hiding spots to catch a glimpse at the mysterious half-blood princess. Koa was the girl that was meant to bring peace back to the Netherworld. Koa tried not to stare back at the horrific creatures all around. Most of all, the Scayors frightened her. They were like police. Made out of metal and Syth bodies, they towered over the crowd, with their eyes casting a green glow over wherever they gazed. She shuddered when their eyes lingered over her. “Father,” Koa breathed. She clutched his arm.Koa’s father, King Atticus of Elyan looked down at her. His soft green eyes that matched hers were serious today. This was an important moment. Koa was the only one that could stop the slaughter of his people. “What is it, darling?” Koa looked ahead at the sparkling, golden palace before them. Her voice was caught in her throat. She’d been gazing at it from the moment they emerged from the caverns. From the cliffs that led down to the levels of the Netherworld by steep narrow staircases, she could see the golden palace. The palace stood out like a candle’s flame in the dark. Stretched high towards the level above, it was an enchanted place. Surrounded by black buildings and towers, no one could mistake that the golden structure was the palace that housed an ancient line of Netherworld vamps and a king that had been trying to conquer her father’s kingdom for centuries.This was the place that would be Koa’s new home and King Greggan’s teenage son, Prince Jax would be her new husband. Koa felt sick to her stomach. The palace was indeed beautiful, but she missed her mother more than anything. She missed the sound of her voice and her sweet scent. She missed having her mother hold her and smooth her hair whenever she was sad and lonely. Koa stopped abruptly. Her father frowned. Everyone was watching. The guards that were leading them looked ready to seize her and force her forward. He leaned down to her ear. “What’s wrong?” Koa tensed. “I want to go home.” Her father patted her hand and when one of the Syth guards stepped forward, he whipped out the Lyrinian sword with lightning speed. Everyone gasped and stepped back as the ring of steel rang throughout the air. Even Koa held her breath as her eyes shot to the blade.The Syths were like monks, but covered in tattoos of Netherworld dialect all over their bald heads. They wore heavy black cloaks with the hoods down and carried whips and crossbows.King Atticus’s raptor like glare burned into the Syths, warning them to keep their distance. He didn’t even have to say a word. The glow of the black blade was enough to make the large, brutish creatures rethink their actions. Black, beady, eyes glanced down at the red glow and stepped back. Atticus waited a moment longer, making sure they knew how serious he was. Koa had trained with that sword before. One day it would be hers. Koa remembered the euphoric feeling of holding that hilt. The heaviness of it, and the pulsing of the power into her body. She also knew how deadly it was, and how it would not be put away until all surrounding evil was vanquished.Koa still held her breath, wondering if she and her father were going to have to fight her way out because of her inability to accept her fate.She flinched when her father’s glare came down on her. “Koa,” he began softly. “This is your home.” Koa shook her head, but avoided his eyes. She looked around. The air was stale, not like the fresh, fragrant air of Paris. The sky was dark, lit only by an artificial Disc Moon that cast different colors across the land whenever the hour changed. She missed the moon of Earth. She missed the sun, the trees, and flowers. The Netherworld felt like a nightmare that she would never awaken from. No matter what color the day was in the Netherworld, it was always too dark for her. Koa’s father didn’t understand her love for daylight. King Atticus had never seen real daylight. The sun’s rays would kill him, as it would any other vampire, Netherworld or New World. Koa was different. She wished he would understand. Her father gave her hand a squeeze. “You are half Netherworld vampire, Koa. This is where you belong, amongst your people.” Koa shook her head. “I am also half human, Father.” Atticus didn’t say anything. He looked down at her and pursed his thin lips. Koa thought of how her father looked like an Italian mobster from movies. His imposing stature and sharp features demanded respect. Most people were afraid of him. Koa could see why. He had a look about him that was completely different from her mother’s. Her mother had delicate features. She was Korean, and had the gentlest brown eyes Koa had ever seen. Once again, her stomach tied into knots. She tried to push down the anger she felt towards her father. Koa didn’t like feeling that way. It threatened to ruin the relationship she had just started to develop with him. He’d taken Koa and her mother from poverty, and shown them a life of privilege and riches. “Bring mother here, and maybe I won’t feel so homesick,” Koa reasoned, her green eyes hopeful. Atticus shook his head. “My darling girl. You will see that this is the place for you. You belong here with your people. The treaty has already been signed.” He leaned closer to her ear and whispered. “Your mother cannot come here Koa. She is safe in the mortal world. If we do not fulfill our side of the treaty, she will be in danger. Now, is that what you want?” Koa’s face paled. Her lips trembled. She shook her head quickly. Just the thought of someone harming her mother made her feel sick. She didn’t know what she would do if she lost that sweet, loving, woman. She looked into her father’s eyes. “Do you understand what I am telling you?” Koa nodded. She understood, but she still didn’t agree with what was happening. Atticus smiled and stroked her pale white cheek. “But I don’t want to do this,” Koa whispered.Atticus’s smile faded, but his eyes didn’t turn cold on her as she expected. He knelt down to her level and cupped her cheek.“I know, my dear girl, but sometimes we have to do things that we don’t want to…to protect those that we love.”Koa frowned then. She wasn’t sure what he meant by that. All she knew was that this entire ordeal was unfair, and that no one had asked her permission.“May I?” Faun, one of the vampire women sent to dress and prepare Koa asked of Atticus.Atticus nodded and Faun scampered over to fix Koa’s long black hair that reached the small of her back. Koa didn’t take her eyes from her father’s. She hoped that he would see how miserable she was. She tried to look as sad and pathetic as possible.Faun glanced at Koa’s face with dull violet eyes, making sure Koa’s part was perfectly straight so that her hair fell in long ringlets that had taken nearly an hour to do just right. She checked that the red lipstick hadn’t bled onto Koa’s teeth or chin. Black liner, red lips, and rosy cheeks. Koa was ready. Still, her heart was broken.Atticus locked arms with Koa. “Shall we continue, darling?”Koa couldn’t bring herself to look at her father again. Her eyes were burning from the tears that threatened to gush forth. She gave a quick nod, and once again, they were walking down the black stone walkway that led to the large stone doors of the Lyrinian palace.Koa felt her heart pattering against her ribcage. She felt like she might have an anxiety attack. So many eyes staring. So much anticipation in the air.When Koa stepped through the doors and followed the guards through the long, brightly lit corridors, she contemplated flying away. She’d thought of it often. She could simply lift herself into the air, and head for the Gate, but visions of her mother being harmed kept her firmly planted to the ground. Koa felt numb, like she was walking to her prison cell. She felt her eyes pool when she saw the entrance to the grand ballroom, where she would meet this mysterious prince and be forever doomed. Koa stepped into the room, into a flood of light and decorations. Her heart thumped. She felt something she hadn’t expected. Koa’s face flooded with blood as her eyes met those of the prince.No one else mattered. Nothing else existed as Koa’s eyes cut through the crowd and down to the set of five thrones as Koa and her father stopped before the platform.“Princess Evina, 1st Queen Katya, 2nd Queen Lera, your highness, King Greggan, and Prince Jax, behold King Atticus of Elyan and Princess Koa.”Koa heard the introductions but something odd was happening. She stared at Prince Jax with her mouth agape. He was the most attractive person she had ever seen in her life. Piercing dark blue eyes, dark blood red hair and a perfectly sculpted chin and nose. Koa felt her face flush as he looked her up and down. Then, he did something that made her grin, despite her previous fears and doubts.Prince Jax winked at her.
Coming December 2013
The Butterflies- A Poem
The Butterflies
K.N. Lee
The butterflies Buzz buzzLike busy beesInsideMy nightmares Haunt without mercyThere is nowhere to hide
One wink of sleepAnd I fallDown downWith screams of terrorClutching GraspingFor anythingSobbingGaspingWhat horrors will tonight bring? As I drift into the darkFear creeps inAnd fills my heartThis world is oddQuite strangePeople I don't knowFriends without namesVillains and foesWith sharp teethAnd black eyesGreet me with painAnd promises to terrorize
The butterflies Buzz buzzWarning And beckoning tooI grab a hold of its glittering wingsAnd let it fly me to somewhere new
One wink of sleepAnd I fallDown downWith screams of terrorClutching GraspingFor anythingSobbingGaspingWhat horrors will tonight bring? As I drift into the darkFear creeps inAnd fills my heartThis world is oddQuite strangePeople I don't knowFriends without namesVillains and foesWith sharp teethAnd black eyesGreet me with painAnd promises to terrorize
The butterflies Buzz buzzWarning And beckoning tooI grab a hold of its glittering wingsAnd let it fly me to somewhere new
An interview with author, Margo Bond Collins!
Introducing the author of, Waking Up Dead, Margo Bond Collins!
Where are you from? I grew up in a small college town in Texas—the home of the only place one could get a degree in rodeo!
What inspired you to write your first book?I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. But about ten years ago, a friend suggested I join in National Novel Writing Month (nanowrimo.org). Until then, I had always written short stories. That year, I finished the first draft of what would eventually become Legally Undead—it will be my second published novel, but it’s the first one I wrote. My first published novel, Waking Up Dead, was inspired by a single moment when I lived in Alabama for a few years. I remember driving to work one morning and seeing just a wisp of fog move across the statue in the middle of the town square. The statue was of some Civil War figure, and I remember thinking that it looked oddly ghostly. In between teaching classes that day (I’m a college professor in my other life), I started writing Callie’s story. Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life? I don’t so much balance as juggle. In my other life, I’m a college professor; I teach English courses online and write academic articles. Plus my husband and I have a three-year-old daughter. There’s never enough time in the day!How did you come up with the title? My grandmother used to say it: “Someday you’re going to wake up dead, and then you’ll be sorry.” It always made me laugh.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?I didn’t realize until after I had finished writing Waking Up Dead that it was so very much about the continuing effects of racism in our world. The Deep South setting made that issue easy to address, but it’s certainly not an issue that is limited to the South. I don’t know if there’s a take-away “message,” precisely, but I do hope the book reminds readers that we’re all just people.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?In Waking Up Dead, the character of Maw-Maw is actually largely based on a combination of my own grandmother and great-grandmother--the only real difference is that they were white and from Texas rather than black and from Alabama. Otherwise, she talks like them and acts like them. It's my great-grandmother's voice I hear in my head when I write her dialogue, my grandmother's movements I see when I picture her walking around. Physically, I imagine her looking a bit like Ruby Dee in the television movie version of The Stand. But her attitude? That's straight from my own family!
What books have most influenced your life most?Ha! Never ask an English professor to discuss books unless you want the multi-paragraph answer! Like most novelists, I am a voracious reader in my field, which means that I read all kinds of urban fantasy and paranormal fiction. But in addition to being an urban fantasy writer, I have Ph.D. in eighteenth-century British literature. This means that any time anyone wants to talk books, I have more than my share to say! In early British literature, I love the classics—but especially the stories with heroes and monsters: Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Knight’s Tale. I love Shakespeare’s plays, but my favorites to teach are Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream because each is such a great example of its genre. Hamlet’s tragedy seems virtually unavoidable, and Midsummer’s comedy hits all the high (and low!) points.In my own sub-specialty of eighteenth-century British literature, I love the early novels written by some of the first women to make a living writing in England, such as Aphra Behn, Eliza Haywood, and Delarivier Manley. Behn’s 1688 novel Oroonokotells the story of a king who became a slave and found the woman he loved in the process, only to kill her and their unborn child to save them from slavery. In Haywood’s Fantomina (1724), a young noblewoman sets off on a sexual adventure full of disguises and intrigue. And in Manley’s The Wife’s Resentment(1720), a young woman takes revenge against her unfaithful husband with a gruesome murder. These early novels influenced later gothic tales, with virtuous damsels in distress and monstrous villains out to destroy them.I think these various loves in more traditional literature—monsters, heroes, strong women, and gothic settings—are all parts of what have influenced my love of urban fantasy and horror. I love seeing many of the same tropes and ideas in more recent publications that influenced earlier works, as well.
What book are you reading now?I just, moments ago, finished re-reading Sunshine by Robin McKinley. I re-read this book about once every twelve to eighteen months. McKinley does a beautiful job of setting up a world that is almost, but not exactly, like our own. The eponymous protagonist almost seems to ramble sometimes, but the voice is perfectly her own and the things she reveals about herself are beautifully woven back into the plot. Also, the vampires are creepy as all get-out!
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?Always. I recently read Bonnie Milani’s Home World and loved it. Amanda Bonilla’s books are new to me, and I’m thrilled to have found them! And in no particular order, I adore the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs; The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead; the Kate Daniels Magic series by Ilona Andrews; the Stray series by Rachel Vincent; Kitty the Werewolf series by Carrie Vaughn; The Spider’s Web series by Jennifer Estep.
What are your current projects?As an academic, I write articles about television and movies, so I often have something running in the background. I tend to incorporate the things I love into my writing life, so I’ve written articles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, The Walking Dead, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries. Pretty much anything with a supernatural slant. I’m also currently working on sequels to Waking Up Dead and Legally Undead and I’m writing a paranormal romance novel. I’m also editing collections of academic essays on Farscape, Teen Wolf, and The Vampire Diaries.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.The Taylors—a group of friends from college (many years ago now!) who have become like extended family. My heroine is named Callie Taylor in honor of them.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?Always. The best thing I ever learned to do as a writer was to decide that I was done with a project—because I could tweak it for the rest of eternity!
Can you share a little of your current work with us?Here’s an excerpt from Waking Up Dead:
When I died, I expected to go to heaven. Okay. Maybe hell. It’s not like I was perfect or anything. But I was sort of hoping for heaven. Instead, I went to Alabama.Yeah. I know. It’s weird. I died in Dallas, my hometown. I was killed, actually. Murdered. I’ll spare you the gruesome details. I don’t like to remember them myself. Some jerk with a knife--and probably a Bad-Mommy complex. Believe me, if I knew where he was, I’d go haunt his ass.At any rate, by the time death came, I was ready for it--ready to stop hurting, ready to let go. I didn’t even fight it.And then I woke up dead in Alabama. Talk about pissed off.You know, even reincarnation would have been fine with me--I could have started over, clean slate and all that. Human, cow, bug. Whatever. But no. I ended up haunting someplace I’d never even been.That’s not the way it’s supposed to work, right? Ghosts are supposed to be the tortured spirits of those who cannot let go of their earthly existence. If they could be convinced to follow the light, they’d leave behind said earthly existence and quit scaring the bejesus out of the poor folks who run across them. That’s what all those “ghost hunter” shows on television tell us.Let me tell you something. The living don’t know jack about the dead.Not this dead chick, anyway.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?I get stuck, like everyone. I hit writer’s block sometimes. But when that happens, I usually switch over to another project or go for a walk. But I loathe editing and revising. I know it must be done, but I hate it with a fiery passion.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?Unfair question! I have lots (see my multi-paragraph answer about books, above). That said, here are some of my current favorites: Neil Gaiman, Charles Stross, China Mieville, Holly Black, Mark Danielewski, Ann Aguirre.
Neil Gaiman is wonderful! I'll have to check out the others.Who designed the covers?Kelly Abell designed the cover of Waking Up Dead, though I had more input than I think is usual.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?Figuring out the plot. About halfway through I figured out that I was going to need to solve the mystery before the characters did! So at that point I decided where I was headed, generally—but the characters took me where I needed to go.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?As I was writing Waking Up Dead, I had to find out when the thousand-dollar bill was discontinued. It was last printed in 1946 and totally discontinued in 1969.
Do you have any advice for other writers?The very best advice I ever got was just this: keep writing new things. Always have a work in progress. Finish writing a piece, do a quick edit, and submit it somewhere for publication. Then move on to the next project. Don’t wait to hear back—that way lies madness! If it’s rejected (and often it will be; that’s the nature of writing for publication), don’t let it get you down. Just send it out again and go back to your work in progress.
What do you think about e-publishing versus technical publishing?I think they both have their place. I am a fan of ebooks; I like being able to carry hundreds of books around in my phone. But I fear that 300 years from now, many of those books will be lost because the technology will have changed too much for people to read them. So I think we should keep them both alive as print forms.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?I’ve lived many places that interest me: New York City, New Orleans, Los Angeles. I am glad to be back home in Texas, though I love to travel often.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?Slowing down time so I could get more done!
Excellent answer! Thanks for joining us, Margo! -K.N. Lee
About the Author:
Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. Waking Up Dead is her first published novel. Her second novel, Legally Undead, is an urban fantasy, forthcoming in 2014 from World Weaver Press.
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Buy Waking Up Dead on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Dead-ebook/dp/B00FOXWLM8/Connect with MargoAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollinsEmail: MargoBondCollins@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.MargoBondCollins.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin @MargoBondCollinGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchyFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollinsFacebook Novel Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waking-Up-Dead/502076076537575Tumblr: http://vampirarchybooks.tumblr.com/Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/
Be sure to add Waking Up Dead to your Goodreads bookshelves: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18428064-waking-up-dead
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Book Trailers:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_TmvpxxBwhttp://youtu.be/KUBg83s4BOU 100%
Where are you from? I grew up in a small college town in Texas—the home of the only place one could get a degree in rodeo!
What inspired you to write your first book?I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. But about ten years ago, a friend suggested I join in National Novel Writing Month (nanowrimo.org). Until then, I had always written short stories. That year, I finished the first draft of what would eventually become Legally Undead—it will be my second published novel, but it’s the first one I wrote. My first published novel, Waking Up Dead, was inspired by a single moment when I lived in Alabama for a few years. I remember driving to work one morning and seeing just a wisp of fog move across the statue in the middle of the town square. The statue was of some Civil War figure, and I remember thinking that it looked oddly ghostly. In between teaching classes that day (I’m a college professor in my other life), I started writing Callie’s story. Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life? I don’t so much balance as juggle. In my other life, I’m a college professor; I teach English courses online and write academic articles. Plus my husband and I have a three-year-old daughter. There’s never enough time in the day!How did you come up with the title? My grandmother used to say it: “Someday you’re going to wake up dead, and then you’ll be sorry.” It always made me laugh.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?I didn’t realize until after I had finished writing Waking Up Dead that it was so very much about the continuing effects of racism in our world. The Deep South setting made that issue easy to address, but it’s certainly not an issue that is limited to the South. I don’t know if there’s a take-away “message,” precisely, but I do hope the book reminds readers that we’re all just people.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?In Waking Up Dead, the character of Maw-Maw is actually largely based on a combination of my own grandmother and great-grandmother--the only real difference is that they were white and from Texas rather than black and from Alabama. Otherwise, she talks like them and acts like them. It's my great-grandmother's voice I hear in my head when I write her dialogue, my grandmother's movements I see when I picture her walking around. Physically, I imagine her looking a bit like Ruby Dee in the television movie version of The Stand. But her attitude? That's straight from my own family!
What books have most influenced your life most?Ha! Never ask an English professor to discuss books unless you want the multi-paragraph answer! Like most novelists, I am a voracious reader in my field, which means that I read all kinds of urban fantasy and paranormal fiction. But in addition to being an urban fantasy writer, I have Ph.D. in eighteenth-century British literature. This means that any time anyone wants to talk books, I have more than my share to say! In early British literature, I love the classics—but especially the stories with heroes and monsters: Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Knight’s Tale. I love Shakespeare’s plays, but my favorites to teach are Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream because each is such a great example of its genre. Hamlet’s tragedy seems virtually unavoidable, and Midsummer’s comedy hits all the high (and low!) points.In my own sub-specialty of eighteenth-century British literature, I love the early novels written by some of the first women to make a living writing in England, such as Aphra Behn, Eliza Haywood, and Delarivier Manley. Behn’s 1688 novel Oroonokotells the story of a king who became a slave and found the woman he loved in the process, only to kill her and their unborn child to save them from slavery. In Haywood’s Fantomina (1724), a young noblewoman sets off on a sexual adventure full of disguises and intrigue. And in Manley’s The Wife’s Resentment(1720), a young woman takes revenge against her unfaithful husband with a gruesome murder. These early novels influenced later gothic tales, with virtuous damsels in distress and monstrous villains out to destroy them.I think these various loves in more traditional literature—monsters, heroes, strong women, and gothic settings—are all parts of what have influenced my love of urban fantasy and horror. I love seeing many of the same tropes and ideas in more recent publications that influenced earlier works, as well.
What book are you reading now?I just, moments ago, finished re-reading Sunshine by Robin McKinley. I re-read this book about once every twelve to eighteen months. McKinley does a beautiful job of setting up a world that is almost, but not exactly, like our own. The eponymous protagonist almost seems to ramble sometimes, but the voice is perfectly her own and the things she reveals about herself are beautifully woven back into the plot. Also, the vampires are creepy as all get-out!
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?Always. I recently read Bonnie Milani’s Home World and loved it. Amanda Bonilla’s books are new to me, and I’m thrilled to have found them! And in no particular order, I adore the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs; The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead; the Kate Daniels Magic series by Ilona Andrews; the Stray series by Rachel Vincent; Kitty the Werewolf series by Carrie Vaughn; The Spider’s Web series by Jennifer Estep.
What are your current projects?As an academic, I write articles about television and movies, so I often have something running in the background. I tend to incorporate the things I love into my writing life, so I’ve written articles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, The Walking Dead, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries. Pretty much anything with a supernatural slant. I’m also currently working on sequels to Waking Up Dead and Legally Undead and I’m writing a paranormal romance novel. I’m also editing collections of academic essays on Farscape, Teen Wolf, and The Vampire Diaries.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.The Taylors—a group of friends from college (many years ago now!) who have become like extended family. My heroine is named Callie Taylor in honor of them.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?Always. The best thing I ever learned to do as a writer was to decide that I was done with a project—because I could tweak it for the rest of eternity!
Can you share a little of your current work with us?Here’s an excerpt from Waking Up Dead:
When I died, I expected to go to heaven. Okay. Maybe hell. It’s not like I was perfect or anything. But I was sort of hoping for heaven. Instead, I went to Alabama.Yeah. I know. It’s weird. I died in Dallas, my hometown. I was killed, actually. Murdered. I’ll spare you the gruesome details. I don’t like to remember them myself. Some jerk with a knife--and probably a Bad-Mommy complex. Believe me, if I knew where he was, I’d go haunt his ass.At any rate, by the time death came, I was ready for it--ready to stop hurting, ready to let go. I didn’t even fight it.And then I woke up dead in Alabama. Talk about pissed off.You know, even reincarnation would have been fine with me--I could have started over, clean slate and all that. Human, cow, bug. Whatever. But no. I ended up haunting someplace I’d never even been.That’s not the way it’s supposed to work, right? Ghosts are supposed to be the tortured spirits of those who cannot let go of their earthly existence. If they could be convinced to follow the light, they’d leave behind said earthly existence and quit scaring the bejesus out of the poor folks who run across them. That’s what all those “ghost hunter” shows on television tell us.Let me tell you something. The living don’t know jack about the dead.Not this dead chick, anyway.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?I get stuck, like everyone. I hit writer’s block sometimes. But when that happens, I usually switch over to another project or go for a walk. But I loathe editing and revising. I know it must be done, but I hate it with a fiery passion.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?Unfair question! I have lots (see my multi-paragraph answer about books, above). That said, here are some of my current favorites: Neil Gaiman, Charles Stross, China Mieville, Holly Black, Mark Danielewski, Ann Aguirre.
Neil Gaiman is wonderful! I'll have to check out the others.Who designed the covers?Kelly Abell designed the cover of Waking Up Dead, though I had more input than I think is usual.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?Figuring out the plot. About halfway through I figured out that I was going to need to solve the mystery before the characters did! So at that point I decided where I was headed, generally—but the characters took me where I needed to go.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?As I was writing Waking Up Dead, I had to find out when the thousand-dollar bill was discontinued. It was last printed in 1946 and totally discontinued in 1969.
Do you have any advice for other writers?The very best advice I ever got was just this: keep writing new things. Always have a work in progress. Finish writing a piece, do a quick edit, and submit it somewhere for publication. Then move on to the next project. Don’t wait to hear back—that way lies madness! If it’s rejected (and often it will be; that’s the nature of writing for publication), don’t let it get you down. Just send it out again and go back to your work in progress.
What do you think about e-publishing versus technical publishing?I think they both have their place. I am a fan of ebooks; I like being able to carry hundreds of books around in my phone. But I fear that 300 years from now, many of those books will be lost because the technology will have changed too much for people to read them. So I think we should keep them both alive as print forms.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?I’ve lived many places that interest me: New York City, New Orleans, Los Angeles. I am glad to be back home in Texas, though I love to travel often.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?Slowing down time so I could get more done!
Excellent answer! Thanks for joining us, Margo! -K.N. Lee
About the Author:
Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. Waking Up Dead is her first published novel. Her second novel, Legally Undead, is an urban fantasy, forthcoming in 2014 from World Weaver Press._____________________________________________
Buy Waking Up Dead on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Dead-ebook/dp/B00FOXWLM8/Connect with MargoAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollinsEmail: MargoBondCollins@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.MargoBondCollins.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin @MargoBondCollinGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchyFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollinsFacebook Novel Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waking-Up-Dead/502076076537575Tumblr: http://vampirarchybooks.tumblr.com/Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/
Be sure to add Waking Up Dead to your Goodreads bookshelves: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18428064-waking-up-dead
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Book Trailers:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_TmvpxxBwhttp://youtu.be/KUBg83s4BOU 100%
October 21, 2013
A Compilation of Interviews With Author, K.N. Lee!!
An Urban Fantasy: The Magical Dreams of K.N. Lee
Blog Tour Stop by Author K.N. Lee!Interview and Giveaway with K.N. Lee, author of Netherworld (The Chronicles of Koa) Talk Tuesday with K.N. Lee and her High/Urban Fantasy, The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld Interview with K.N. Lee, author of The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld
Join me as I talk to a famous author, K.N. Lee! She will be talking about what makes her writing unique! Author Interview: K.N. Lee K.N. Lee's The Chronicles of Koa Blog Tour Stop Review & Giveaway My interview with the Intriguing K N Lee
Blog Tour Stop by Author K.N. Lee!Interview and Giveaway with K.N. Lee, author of Netherworld (The Chronicles of Koa) Talk Tuesday with K.N. Lee and her High/Urban Fantasy, The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld Interview with K.N. Lee, author of The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld
Join me as I talk to a famous author, K.N. Lee! She will be talking about what makes her writing unique! Author Interview: K.N. Lee K.N. Lee's The Chronicles of Koa Blog Tour Stop Review & Giveaway My interview with the Intriguing K N Lee
