K.N. Lee's Blog, page 68

My Interview With Thomas Manning!

Less than two weeks ago, K.N. Lee released her debut novel – The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld. In that time she’s already received a number of raving reviews, including my own which was a 4.5 out of 5. Today, I managed to track her down by using my acceptable hunting skills and…Okay, okay I messaged her on Twitter. I thought it would be fun to talk to K.N. Lee about her process, her book and her future! * Minor spoilers ahead *
 
Tom - Where did you come up with the idea of Koa and her story?
K.N. Lee - Koa all began with a dream. There was a girl sitting in her living room and eating popcorn. Someone knocked on her door… She answered and the person tried to hurt her. In this dream, the intruder turned out to be the victim, because this girl was not an ordinary girl. She turned the tables and killed the intruder. Then, she turned to her cat and the cat spoke back to her. There you go! Koa and her cat Raven were born! I like the idea of people not being what they seem. The quiet girl that no one pays attention to can turn out to be the most powerful one in the room. I like to create strong female protagonists, and Koa is definitely that!
Tom - Absolutely, I think you did a great job with her development. Speaking of development, I really enjoyed some of the creatures you created. What was your process for creating them?
K.N. Lee - I grew up reading Anne Rice, and I think (aside from Dracula) that she has the best vampire lore. Therefore, I wanted my version of vampires to be different. My vampires come from a completely different background that I haven’t seen in other books. They have special abilities and aren’t as easy to kill.
As for my other creations, Syths, Scayors, War-Breeders, and Jems, they are purely from nightmares and dreams that I’ve had. I imagined Syths to be these monk-like creatures with tattoos of an ancient dialect etched into their faces. They are big and strong, but not too bright.
Scayors are part humanoid, and part technology. One beta reader said that they reminded her of Transformers! They are tall, metallic, creatures that patrol the Netherworld’s cities…like police.Then we have Jems. At one point, I actually started a story about these creatures but decided to add them to Koa’s world. They’re beautiful, colorful female creatures that patrol the Netherworld’s path to the Gate. They make sure that no one leaves, and no one enters. I think they came from my memory of Medusa. I saw her as a child and I came up with creatures that resembled her.
War-Breeders came from a need to have a character that was solely around for his strength and expertise in battle. Tristan is a top-ranked War-Breeder. Tall, muscular, and covered in scars. As a MMORPG gamer, I love the idea of a balanced party. You need your mages, your tanks, and your fighters. Tristan is definitely a tank…he is the one you send out to take all of the damage.
Tom – I love how you compare your crew in Chronicles of Koa to an MMORPG party. I totally get that and I can’t wait to learn more about them in the next book.Who was your favorite character to write about besides Koa?
K.N. Lee - Halston!!! I am in love with him. He is such an interesting character that I might need to write a story just about his life before he met Koa. Tall, blonde, intelligent, and British. What else do you need? He has such an interesting backstory that he gives that perfect blend of mystery and intrigue to the book. I especially like his relationship to Koa. You’ll see more of that play out in the next book in the series. I also like Al. You’ll see a lot of that Metal-Mind in the next book as well!
Tom - You’ve written quite a few plot twists in the book. Were they mapped out before you wrote them or did they evolve as you were writing?
K.N. Lee - When I wrote the first chapter I knew that the cat would talk, and I wanted to save that for the end…but the twist that I didn’t see coming was that the cat was Koa’s mother. That had me stunned when I wrote that sentence. I love it when the story has a mind of its own! As for the other twists, I had them mapped out. I had a clear vision of where I wanted the story to go, and I somehow managed to stick to it.
Tom – Speaking of where the story went, you left us with a cliffhanger at the end, though it felt appropriate I think. Was your intention always to end at that point, or did it just feel natural when you reached it?
K.N. Lee - Well, initially book one and book two were one large novel, and I sat back and thought…this book has two major climaxes. So, I decided to split them into two books. I feel that the cliffhanger at the end came after such a powerful revelation for Koa, that continuing to the next stage would have been anti-climactic.
Tom – Great point! As I’ve said in my review, I’m really looking forward to the next book. I know the first one just came out, but I’d like to know how book 2′s progressing along.
K.N. Lee - I’m kind of lucky since I already have much of the next book done! I have the beginning and the end…I just need to fill in the middle with a few scenes I have in mind. There will be a lot more character development, especially for the secondary characters. You’ll see Ian come out of the background (**hint**) there is a huge reveal about that guy! I didn’t even see it coming! Also, Tristan will get his moment in the spotlight. We haven’t seen what that War-Breeder can do yet, and I think everyone will be pleased. Then…we have good ole Bund. A villain we all hate. He will do lots of damage in this next book. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
Tom – Can you tell us anything about the title or plot from book 2 yet?
K.N. Lee - I am playing around with a few title options, but I think I like The Chronicles of Koa: Lyrinian Blade. Koa’s legendary sword is one of the coolest weapons in the book…next to Halston’s infinity gun. The sword will get to see a lot of action in this next book, and we’ll get to learn more about Koa’s father and the sword’s origins. In this next book, we’ll get to see how Koa’s relationship with Jax and Halston gets complicated, and they will all have to deal with Bund. We cannot forget who started this war, and who sent Bund to hunt Koa down. Greggan. I will introduce the vampire King to the world. You thought Bund was bad…wait until you meet this guy.
Tom – I have to say I regret not adding the sword into my review. It was awesome! You speak of how some readers told you they were reminded of Transformers, etc. but when Koa’s dagger extended into the sword I immediately thought of Thundercats, one of my favorite cartoons as a kid. The leader of the group had a sword that acted very similarly.As for Greggan I think we’re all anxious to meet him and see what he’s capable of!Who are your favorite authors and did any of them inspire you towards writing?
K.N. Lee - My favorite authors are Stephen King, Anne Rice, Terry Goodkind, and I recently fell in love with Brandon Sanderson. Those are my favorite fantasy/horror authors, but I have a deep passion for the classics as well. I love Charles Dickens, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen, and Alexander Dumas. The fantasy authors inspired my imaginative side, but the classic authors fostered my romantic side. I like to have a blend of both. I must say that Stephen King’s book, On Writing, inspires me each time I sit before my computer screen and doubt myself. I will never give up. I hope I make him proud someday.
Tom - What’s your routine, or process while you are writing?
K.N. Lee - I carry a notebook with me everywhere. I never let an idea slip away without writing it down. I also document my dreams. Some of my best dark poems and horror stories have come from my twisted dreams. Why are they so twisted? I have no idea… When I am working on a story or novel, I listen to movie soundtracks such as Lord of the Rings, Braveheart, The Dark Knight, Battlestar Gallactica…Blade Runner, and Celtic music. Music definitely puts me in an ultra-creative mood. I sometimes light scented candles or incense when I want to transport my imagination to a foreign land.
Sometimes I’ll start with an outline, but that is rare. I prefer to just have a character in mind and start from the beginning. I enjoy the surprises and ways the characters seem to take over the story and direct it where they want it to go. I do try to write at least 1000 words a day, but I am a writing machine, I write much more than that on most days! Nothing brings me greater joy, so it isn’t a difficult process for me. One thing that slows me down, however, is that I continuously edit every sentence as I go. That can sometimes stall my progress, but I can’t help it!
Tom - Do you have any additional story ideas that you’ll be writing besides Koa? If so can you tell us anything about them?
K.N. Lee - Funny thing you’ve asked. The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld is my first published novel, however, it is the fourth book that I’ve written. I have an epic fantasy trilogy that took me years to write. Rise of the Flame, Night of the Storm, and Dawn of the Forgotten. It is a high fantasy trilogy set in a world that I created. I wrote Koa’s series because I was impatient and wanted something out there with my name on it while I hunt for publishers for my trilogy. Finding an agent or publisher is a daunting process, but I am one determined little lady! Now that I am done with Koa, and almost done with her second book, I have the time to devote to securing that agent or publisher for my trilogy. Lilae, the main character in my trilogy has been in my head since I was eleven years old and typing on my mother’s typewriter. I look forward to introducing her to the world. You thought Koa was feisty…wait until you meet this fire-manipulating, teleporting, dagger wielding, red-head!
Tom – I certainly hope we see that trilogy sometime soon! The titles are fantastic and I look forward to meeting Lilae!Thank you so much K.N. Lee for taking the time to talk to us! Available Now!http://www.amazon.com/The-Chronicles-Koa-Netherworld-ebook/dp/B00CR0T5KW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1368410312&sr=1-1www.TheChroniclesofKoa.comwww.Facebook.com/knycoleleewww.Twitter.com/knycole_lee

Memorial Day SALE!! The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld

This weekend only The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld is $2.99! Get your copy today! Welcome to a world where vampires must “register,” humans sell their services as pets, and angels patrol the Earth. This is Koa’s world. Koa Ryeo-won is a half-blood. She works alongside her best friend Halston in the Netherworld division. With her legendary, enchanted Lyrinian sword, Koa and the other agents keep order in the mortal world.

Someone is letting rogue supernatural creatures out of the Netherworld and Koa is determined to find out why. She is missing memories of her early teen years, when her vampire father brought her to the Netherworld. Koa will stop at nothing to retrieve those memories and break her mother’s curse.

Koa had it all, an attractive human pet, a sprawling manor, and the ability to walk in the sun. A Netherworld serial killer, with a craving for little girls, threatens it all. Is Koa ready to return to the Netherworld to release the one creature that can protect all that she holds dear? Is she really ready to reclaim those lost memories?

An Interview With Author, Asya Pekurovskaya!!

Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia. 

What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book was a memoir titled When my Time Came to Chant with S.D.It was a story of my married life in a Russian bohemian gang of late sixties. My leading character was my husband, Sergey Dovlatov, a fib master and an author of considerable renown in Russia. I was inspired to write the memoir by his untimely death. 

Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life?
I write full time no less than 12 hours a day, and the only way I can balance my family life with writing is by parting with my husband for about half a year. We happen to live both in the US and Germany. 

What jobs have you held that influence your stories?
During the first decade of my American life I was getting my PhD at Stanford and teaching Literature and literary theories at Reed College. For the second decade I plunged into the world of commerce. There I managed to secure myself financially, thus enabling myself to write obligation free.  None of these experiences were admitted to my stories.   

Do you have a specific writing style?
Although I write both non–fiction and fiction (screen plays, poetry and children stories), I like to think I have a specific writing style. Two things support my belief. I tend to break away from a strict notion of genre and I write in two languages (English and Russian) thus transplanting the oddities of one mode of expression into the other and vice versa.  

How did you come up with the titles?
I do not find title pick is a matter of great significance. Books are rarely selected by titles. Most influential authors that come to mind failed to create enticing titles: Don Quixote by Cervantes, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, Ulysses by James Joyce, The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, Inspector Generalby Nikolaj Gogol, The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann. On the other hand, Catch 22,for example, seems to be a formidable title yet it kept its author (Joseph Heller) waiting forever before he enjoyed even a moderate success with readers. My title, Spark the Stone Man must be a mediocre one although I hope the books are not.

Is there a message in your books that you want readers to grasp?
The only message I would like my readers to grasp, is the one I created for myself: DON’T OPEN NEW WORLDS, OPEN YOUR EYES.

How much of your books are realistic?
My books are totally realistic in a sense that their characters (both fictional and non–fictional) mirror myself. It is me who is both real and non–real, both guileless and guileful.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Not really.

What books have most influenced your life?
There are so many magnificent authors that affected me one way or another that I am not sure I can give justice to them even in part. William Faulkner, Henri Miller, Andrey Bely, Lawrence Stern, Marcel Proust, Franz Kafka, D.H.Lawrence, Jonathan Frazer, Gary Shteyngart, Neil Gaiman, August Burroughs, are among the few I profoundly enjoyed reading.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Nikolaj Gogol (1809-1852).

What book are you reading now?
The Basic Problems of Phenomenology by Martin Heidegger and Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Yes, mainly Russian authors, Tender Theater by Nikolay Kononov, for example.

What are your current projects?
I am revising and translating my book published in 2010 by Aletheia Publishers in Russia. It is titled the Hermetic World of Immanuel Kant: Beyond Hearing and Vision.  I am also finishing my children’s series titled Spark’s Further Exploits (mainly writing poems both in Russian and English).

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
A company called Novel Laureate School Visits supports me by having selected my children’s series as a gift to Nobel laureates visiting American public schools, and most talented students that attend the American public schools.

Do you see writing as a career?
Rather a lifestyle.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I perpetually rewrite my books. I do so even after I publish them. In a way, I feel I am more an editor than a content creator.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
That is an embarrassing recollection. As I was surrounded by writers, I once pushed myself into writing a story, too. Should I manage to finish it, it would have been a contrived piece of rubbish. Luckily I was unable to bring it to completion and discarded.  And it took me twenty years before I could sit down to write something which I was compelled to write. 

Can you share a little of your current work with us?
With my non–fiction project I am now writing an introductory note to Kant’s Critique of Practical Reason. As this chapter follows my detailed reading of Kant’s Critique of Pure ReasonI have devised an untried alternative. I wrote a fictional story of a man named Josef K. who lived in a fictitious world built on Kantian moral principles (arguably adopted by the Nazi state) by Franz Kafka. Joseph K. is actually both Kant and Kafka enacting the plot of The Process in such a way that Kant leads a nocturnal life and Kafka’s character acts in the day time.  For my children project I am working with a wonderful composer who writes music to my little poems and also supplants me with musical scores for which I create new poems. This is a novel and most enchanting experience for me. 
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Two things: starting a story and finishing it.

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
I do not leave my desk to create stories thus hoping to mimic the style of Marcel Proust.

Who designed the covers?
The covers of my children series are designed by an amazing animation artist, Olga Titova. She has received a British Academy Award and was nominated for an Oscar, alas, for the texts written by Shakespeare and Chaucer. She is also the one who brings to light the slightest inconsistencies in my plots.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
It is easier for me to create enticing scoundrels than enticing stars.  
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I learned that negative comments, regardless of how irrelevant they seem to be, can be construed as view points worthy of consideration and positive comments, no matter how unobliging they seem to be, can always be construed as a critique and used for further improvement.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
I feel there is no writing for fun, as writing is a condition which, once it grips you, will never release. 

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Please, don’t be lax about my writing.

What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
To get inside some characters’ minds. 

What do you think about e-publishing versus technical publishing?
I like e–publishing especially because technical publishing tends to create rigid rules that kill ingenious writing.

Do you have an agent or publisher? How did you go about finding one?
My books written in Russian were published effortlessly. For publishing my children’s books I created a publishing company, Pekasus, and engaged five people in the process. My several attempts to sell translation rights have failed. However, I have not really attempted to do so in a systematic fashion. When all six books are published in a hard cover and e-pub formats and equipped with musical scores and professionally narrated CDs, I will do the marketing full scale. 

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Perhaps, Japan.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
I want to be able to turn into animals and insects at my whim. 

For More on Asya:
 http://www.an-animation.com/


 

Review of The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld by Thomas R. Manning!!

The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld is the debut novel of K.N. Lee. The story follows Koa, a mysterious hybrid vampire who thirsts for blood, but can walk in the daylight and fly. Yes, I said fly. Due to circumstances that are unknown to us at the beginning of the book, Koa is special, not only because of her power of flight, but because she is wanted by creatures of the Netherworld. As you read this book, you’ll be entertained and thrown from left to right with the various revelations and plot twists that are revealed throughout. The ending was very satisfying for me, though I will tell you that it ends on a cliffhanger. The good news is that this cliffhanger didn’t leave me frustrated, but excited for the next book in the series!

K.N. Lee developed a wonderful cast of characters and creatures for her novel. Vampires take the center stage in the story, but they’re not in any way the bland, overused vampires you see in other books. I really enjoyed learning about the different types of vampires, ones that are from the Netherworld and ones that are created on Earth. I thought the ‘pet’ system was very cool and smart. By choosing a human pet for each vampire, they are able to contain their blood thirst from the public eye. All vampires are also required to register with the Netherworld Netherworld Division, of which Koa is an agent. If vampires are running loose around the world, it’s the divisions job to take care of them. Besides vampires you’ll read about a fallen angel seeking redemption, demons, and even creatures created by K.N. Lee herself. She did a great job designing these creatures and the world they inhabit. Two of the first supporting characters you meet, Halston and Raven the cat, were brilliantly developed, and their interaction with Koa is fun to read. Other supporting characters are similarly well developed, but they’re not in the spotlight as much as Halston and Raven are. 

I only really found two things that could be improved on with the next entry in the series – I praised the interactions between three of the main characters, but I did find some of the dialogue in the book to be a bit blocky, not as smooth as it could’ve been. Also, there are some grammatical errors in the book, not so many that will lessen the enjoyment of the story, but they are noticeable nonetheless. 
K.N. Lee has done a fantastic job with her debut novel. It has a fantastic story, twists and turns throughout, and some mysteries you won’t see coming. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books as she writes them. The Chronicles of Koa #2 will certainly be a day one purchase for me! 
The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld Book Score – 4.5/5
Available on Amazon!

 
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An Interview with Author, Erren Grey Wolf!!

Where are you from? I was conceived in Durham County, England, and was a fetus when my parents set foot in Canada. I was made in England and exported to Canada. At least, my physical body was. My soul, of course, came from the Spirit World, as everyone’s did. I’ve lived in Canada all my life in several places.
What inspired you to write your first book? I had a nervous breakdown at the end of 2004 and thereafter had to take Lithium for Bipolar Disorder. It made my hands shake, so I had to quit art school. I really wanted to be an artist and I was good at it, but I could no longer hold my hands steady enough to measure the models. It was with a heavy heart that I had to quite, but my creativity demanded an outlet and I began writing about the daydreams I had when I was a teenager. Once I set down to writing seriously, a whole saga exploded into my mind. I have published the first two books of what might be a ten-book saga.
Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life? Due to my Bipolar Disorder, the time it takes for me to get to sleep, the amount of sleep, and the time I get up is completely unpredictable, but whenever I do get up, I write and keep writing until 10 o’clock when CTV News comes on. I’m on Vancouver Island and I visit my best friend on the mainland every so often to play Arkham Horror.
What jobs have you held that influence your stories? None.Do you have a specific writing style?I write the stories I see in my head and those stories inspire me to write poems, so my books have small poems placed intermittently throughout.
How did you come up with the title? Beneath the Surface is all about hidden things. The two brothers are telepathic and can see beneath the surface of other people’s minds. In every book, there are secrets needing to be discovered. The Lost Boy cannot be found because he is stolen away by the Forest Queen and lives in an etheric palace beneath the surface of the Mississauga Forest. Long-Lost Brother is when Sean’s telepathy fully awakens. He finds his lost brother amongst a pack of wolves and brings him home, but they discover the secrets with their father’s mind which shock them!
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? I want people to empathize with the characters so they feel the sorrows they feel. Basically, I want people to understand what trauma is like. A trauma lasting only minutes can last a thousand lifetimes. In The Lost Boy, the mother dies during childbirth, leaving the father and the son traumatized. Sean, the eldest son, abandons his baby brother out of grief, blaming him for their mother’s death. He realizes his mistake later and tries to find the boy who is now lost. In Long-Lost Brother, Sean finds his brother, but when he brings him home, Erren cannot eat the mundane foods of the outer world after eating the spiritual foods of the Otherworld. Sean is desperate to save him from starvation, but their father’s attitude complicates matters. He still has flashbacks of his wife’s tragic death and pushes his youngest son away, emotionally. Erren knows he is unwanted and does not want to live. In the next book, “Haunted,” the father is much better, but still has to deal with his trauma. In the later books, the two brothers join the military and then I’ll be talking about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
How much of the book is realistic? Do you mean non-fictional or are you asking if it is set in a real world and not a world filled with unicorns and rainbows? It is fictional, but there is no magic. The extraordinary Talents the two brothers have are abilities found in rare people, although I may push the limits a bit. They have telepathy and their third eyes are open, so they can see auras, elementals (fairies), and thought-forms. Fairies are real. I have described them according to the book, The Real World of Fairies, by Dora Van Gelder, who was a rare person who could really see them. She describes them much the same way as one might compile a field guide of birds. Erren has the abilities to be immune to the cold. This is real, too. I once saw a yogi on TV and he put himself in a small box and this was placed in freezing cold water. The next day or so, I can’t remember how long it was, he came out and he didn’t suffocate or die of hypothermia. So all the abilities the brothers have are found in the real world, although, as I said, I pushed the limits a bit. The stories are set in a future world, but I wanted it to be as realistic as possible, while also being imaginative.
A re experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life? A lot of the stories are my own life described symbolically. I know about trauma, so I write from experience. Erren is my alter ego, so the traumas he suffers are my own, especially in the later books when he suffers from PTSD.
What books have most influenced your life most? I love The Lord of the Rings. There is a great purpose for good people to fight against evil. The same is true in my books, although the battle doesn’t really start until the end of the fourth book.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? J. R. R. Tolkien.
What book are you reading now? I am trying to get through the humungous commemorative edition of the Necronomicon, by H.P. Lovecraft. He’s a good writer, but he really overdoes it. I mean, how many stories can he tell about a man with frail nerves who goes mad after seeing something that is so terrible it is indescribable?
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? I love Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Series.
What are your current projects? I’m working on Beneath the Surface: Haunted, which it the third book in the series. After that is Wolfboy, the fourth book, which is almost completely finished. The fifth book is The Wicked Deed, where Erren is tortured in a satanic ritual and becomes an assassin. His telepathic bond with his brother is cut off and he is hidden in darkness while Sean tries to find him. The sixth book is The Dragon Assassin, where Erren kills many people and his brother follows his visions to try to find him before he kills again and before someone kills him. The seventh book is The White Temple Hopsital, where Sean brings his brother to heal him as much as possible before the court trial in the next, etc. I won’t say anymore!
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members. The Government of Canada. When I had my nervous breakdown and was diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder (Bipolar Disorder with some symptoms of schizophrenia), I could no longer work, so my psychiatrist and case manager put me on disability. If that had not happened, I wouldn’t have had the time to write. That was a great blessing. It was as if the devil destroyed my life, but God gave me a break and said, “You no longer have to work. Now’s your chance to make use of this time to write!”
Do you see writing as a career? Writing is a career. It is the only thing I have left that I am able to do. With chronic insomnia, in spite of having three different anti-anxiety medicines, I would never be able to hold down a nine-to-five job. Sometimes my depression is so bad that I end up in bed all day. Writing really is the only thing I can do. My life is destroyed, but my vocabulary and imagination are intact. I can still dream. They say that people with Bipolar Disorder are often extremely creative. I believe that is true for me as well.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? No.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? As I said, when I had to quit art school, I sought another outlet for my creativity and began writing about the stories I’ve had in my head since I was a teenager.
Can you share a little of your current work with us? Excerpt from The Lost Boy:
Sean was like a foxhunter poised upon his horse with his hounds all around him, waiting for the blare of the trumpet to set him loose after the fleeing fox. Despite his doubts, Sean’s quest had taken him over into a realm where logic seemed to hold no sway and he was now as bound to his chosen task as if the magic of the mythical Wild Hunt had caught hold of him. With her last words, his dead mother had pulled back her bow like the great Celtic Goddess of the Black Forest, Abnoba the Huntress, and had launched her eldest son like a shining arrow of hope into the dark forest to find her little boy.Excerpt from Long-Lost Brother:Sean lowered his head like a fierce stag protecting a tender fawn against a predator. He looked up from beneath his angry brows and threatened with bold words like deadly prongs aimed at the doctor, “Don’t you dare touch him! There is no way in hell I will let the brain doctors anywhere near my little brother! If I see anyone come at us with a scalpel, I swear to God I will kill them!”
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Marketing. I really, really hate the marketing aspect of writing. I wish I had someone to do it for me. I have never been business-oriented like my entrepreneurial brother.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work? J.R.R. Tolkein. The thing I like best in The Lord of the Rings is the companionship between Frodo and Sam. It is so pure and loyal. I have taken that idea and used it in my books. The two brothers, Sean and Erren, have a bond like that which is pure and loyal. Sean didn’t realize it at first, when he abandoned his baby brother in the forest in the first book, but after finding him in the second book, he realizes that Erren is his best little buddy. Thereafter, Sean is always looking out for him.
Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)? Not yet.
Who designed the covers? I designed the covers. The Lost Boy has tree roots, symbolizing things hidden beneath the surface. The roots are a public domain image, but I painted the wolf’s head myself in acrylic.Long-Lost Brother has two images I purchased from BIG stock images online and I modified them for my vision of the book cover. The peach symbolizes the Otherwordly fruits that Erren can no longer have and starves. The wolf howling symbolizes Erren’s Totem and the fact that he ran amongst the wolves in the forest when not living in the etheric palace. The book is blue and the wolf is mournful because Erren receives one shock after another in the outer world and learns about sorrow.
What was the hardest part of writing your book? Editing and proofreading. It seemed that no matter how much I reread my book, there were still typos or errors I kept catching. It’s a good thing my dad is a metallurgical engineer who used to proofread technical journals. He has been a great help. It’s always good to have a fresh set of eyes review your work.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? I learned all about formatting my books for various publishers.
Do you have any advice for other writers? If you have a good story, believe in yourself and never stop writing. Even if you get a dozen rejections, just keep on writing. Never give up.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? Thank you for enjoying my books.
What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life? One of the challenges was creating a whole world, or rather two worlds. Humanity now lives in the Frey Solar System, inhabiting two planets in neighbouring orbits. I created calendar systems and bar graphs so that, in the future books, when people travel from one planet to the other, I could keep track of the time on the calendars. A Freyan year, for example, equals three Midgard years. They both use the 24-hour day system and the same days of the week, but the Freyan days are longer, so the days of the week keep sliding around the Midgard days. I wanted to be mathematically accurate for fear that someone would say, “Hey! It’s not possible for this person to be on this planet at this time, when he just came back from the other planet,” or whatever. I kept thinking of Neil deGrasse Tyson, the astrophysicist, and I had done my best to make sure he can’t pick holes in my planetary calendar systems!
What do you think about e-publishing versus technical publishing? E-publishing if fine IF you have money to put into marketing. If not, you need a traditional publisher.
Do you have an agent or publisher? How did you go about finding one? I am looking for a literary agent. I have a copy of 2013 Guide To Literary Agents, by Chuck Sanbuchino, and have sent out a bunch of query letters hoping to find a literary agent. It is fun to self-publish and to do everything yourself, but as I said, I really hate marketing! I’d rather have a literary agent and a traditional publisher.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Some place warm.
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Telekinesis. If I had this power, I would never have suffered the traumas I have had in life that literally drove me insane!

For More on Erren Grey Wolf:

Author of Beneath the Surface: The Lost Boy (V1) and Long-Lost Brother (V2).
http://www.errengreywolf.ca/
http://www.twitter.com/errengreywolf
The Lost Boy (V1): Sean Archer seeks redemption by hunting the haunted forest for the little brother he so carelessly abandoned out of grief for the loss of their mother.
Long-Lost Brother (V2): Sean finds his lost brother under unusual circumstances which awaken his latent telepathy and metaphysical sight. Unfortunately, when he brings his brother home, the boy cannot eat the foods of the outer world after eating the foods of the Otherworld. Sean is desperate to find a solution before his brother starves to death.  

5 Star Review From Fellow Author, Glenna Maynard For The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld

  The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld. Available on Amazon.Publication Date: May 11, 2013
Book Description:Welcome to a world where vampires must “register,” humans sell their services as pets, and angels patrol the Earth. This is Koa’s world. Koa Ryeo-won is a half-blood. She works alongside her best friend Halston in the Netherworld division. With her legendary, enchanted Lyrinian sword, Koa and the other agents keep order in the mortal world. Someone is letting rogue supernatural creatures out of the Netherworld and Koa is determined to find out why. She is missing memories of her early teen years, when her vampire father brought her to the Netherworld. Koa will stop at nothing to retrieve those memories and break her mother’s curse.Koa had it all, an attractive human pet, a sprawling manor, and the ability to walk in the sun. A Netherworld serial killer, with a craving for little girls, threatens it all. Is Koa ready to return to the Netherworld to release the one creature that can protect all that she holds dear? Is she really ready to reclaim those lost memories?Review By Author of Beautiful Strangers, Glenna Maynard:
" The ending had me on edge. I have to say I have not read a vampire novel like this one before. Koa is a very intriguing character. I love all the different creatures. I had a hard time writing this review because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I could see some of the scenes playing out like a movie in my head. I can not wait to find out what happens next! K.N.Lee took me on adventure to the Netherworld that did not disappoint."  For More on Glenna Maynard and Her Novel Beautiful Strangers:    glennamaynard.blogspot.com  https://twitter.com/gchellewrites  

Waiting For a Sign- a poem

Waiting For a SignK.N. Lee
Composed of meaty flesh Crumpled boneAnd sticky yeastThe translucent irisOf yellow and greenGlaringStaringWaiting for a signThis wicked beastYearns for a feastOf your soul and mine

First Day of School- Writing Prompt and Response From Author, Lawrence BoarerPitchford!!

It's your first day of school. You just moved to this town and don't know anyone. What do you do to make an impression? 

Response From Author, Lawrence BoarerPitchford:  Halloway stood on his porch looking out at the rural road just beyond the white picket fence. Though it was paved, the road was covered in a thick layer of dust, just like everything else in the small town of Bayford. Turning around he looked up at the thatched roof; the uneven lines of the roof sagged and rose like a wild sea. The frosted panes of glass sparkled in the morning sunlight. In the distance he could see a cloud of dust traveling toward his new home.  
“Mummy? Why did we come here? I don’t like it, and I don’t want to go to this new school,” he said with a frown.  
“Look my love. At one time we could get away with home-schooling, but your father and I have to work. Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll make a good impression. Just don’t be afraid, and like we discussed, be outgoing,” his mother said as she handed him a brown bag with his favorite lunch tucked inside. She patted him on the head and waited for the bus to arrive.  
The yellow bus pulled up. Kids were yelling, paper was flying around inside, and a mean looking boy leered out at Halloway. As he climbed into the bus, the mean kid came forward and sat next to him. The bus moved, and they were on their way to school.
Halloway could hear the bumps and jumbles of the road as the vehicle traveled along its way. They stopped again and a little red-haired girl got onboard. The mean kid looked at her, then stuck out his tongue at her. She looked out the window. Halloway could see her trying to hold back tears.  
“So, yer the new kid?” the mean boy began. “I don’t like new kids. Every day you’ll have to pay me two quid to keep me from kicking your arse. Got me?”  
Halloway felt the fear rising into his throat. He’d tried to plead with his mother, not to put him into this type of situation, but she was deaf to his plight. He looked out the window. The bully grabbed him by the chin and pulled his head around so they were face to face. “I said two bob, or I’ll bop ya.”  
“I don’t want to get into a fight. My mummy said…”  
The bully laughed, “Your mum? She’s a dike – do you know what that is?”  
“A dam to hold back water?” Halloway retorted. The bully looked at him with dead eyes. “Also, I don’t like to be touched,” he brushed the bully’s hand from his face.  
“You stop bothering that lad and sit over there,” the bus driver said, and the bully changed seats, next to the red haired girl.  
The girl looked terrified. She tried to make herself as small as possible, but the bully crowded in on her. He pulled her pigtail and she sobbed. He stuck his tongue out again and she cried.  
“Hey, meanie,” Hallowy said.  
The bully looked over at him, “What new kid?” 
Halloway pointed his finger at the boy, “lacerta,” he said.
The bully immediately began to shrink until he was flat on his stomach. His eyes bulged, and his arms and legs shrank in. Quickly he grew a scaly tail and every few second his tongue would shoot out and back in. 
“Thank you,” the little red head said.  
The whole bus began clapping, and many thanks were offered up. The bus driver turned back and shrugged his shoulders. “That boy will never learn. He should have known not to mess with you Egyptians and your wrappings and such. No harm done son. Now keep an eye on him. If he gets out and isn’t transformed back, there will be hell to pay. Oh, and I’m afraid I’ll have to tell your mummy about this.” He turned back and the bus drove on until they reached the Hill Top Academy of Magic.  
True to his word the bus driver told the Headmaster and the Headmaster called his mummy. Halloway was given a warning, and twenty demerits, but wasn’t kicked out of school, mostly because he stood up for someone defenseless. From that point forward, he’d become the hero of the O’l HTAM; a honor that would last him until his resurrection.
For More On Lawrence BoarerPitchford:  https://www.facebook.com/BoarerPitchfordAuthor 

First Day of School- Writing Prompt and Response From Author, Lawrence Pitchford!!

It's your first day of school. You just moved to this town and don't know anyone. What do you do to make an impression? 

Response From Author, Lawrence Pitchford:  Halloway stood on his porch looking out at the rural road just beyond the white picket fence. Though it was paved, the road was covered in a thick layer of dust, just like everything else in the small town of Bayford. Turning around he looked up at the thatched roof; the uneven lines of the roof sagged and rose like a wild sea. The frosted panes of glass sparkled in the morning sunlight. In the distance he could see a cloud of dust traveling toward his new home.  
“Mummy? Why did we come here? I don’t like it, and I don’t want to go to this new school,” he said with a frown.  
“Look my love. At one time we could get away with home-schooling, but your father and I have to work. Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll make a good impression. Just don’t be afraid, and like we discussed, be outgoing,” his mother said as she handed him a brown bag with his favorite lunch tucked inside. She patted him on the head and waited for the bus to arrive.  
The yellow bus pulled up. Kids were yelling, paper was flying around inside, and a mean looking boy leered out at Halloway. As he climbed into the bus, the mean kid came forward and sat next to him. The bus moved, and they were on their way to school.
Halloway could hear the bumps and jumbles of the road as the vehicle traveled along its way. They stopped again and a little red-haired girl got onboard. The mean kid looked at her, then stuck out his tongue at her. She looked out the window. Halloway could see her trying to hold back tears.  
“So, yer the new kid?” the mean boy began. “I don’t like new kids. Every day you’ll have to pay me two quid to keep me from kicking your arse. Got me?”  
Halloway felt the fear rising into his throat. He’d tried to plead with his mother, not to put him into this type of situation, but she was deaf to his plight. He looked out the window. The bully grabbed him by the chin and pulled his head around so they were face to face. “I said two bob, or I’ll bop ya.”  
“I don’t want to get into a fight. My mummy said…”  
The bully laughed, “Your mum? She’s a dike – do you know what that is?”  
“A dam to hold back water?” Halloway retorted. The bully looked at him with dead eyes. “Also, I don’t like to be touched,” he brushed the bully’s hand from his face.  
“You stop bothering that lad and sit over there,” the bus driver said, and the bully changed seats, next to the red haired girl.  
The girl looked terrified. She tried to make herself as small as possible, but the bully crowded in on her. He pulled her pigtail and she sobbed. He stuck his tongue out again and she cried.  
“Hey, meanie,” Hallowy said.  
The bully looked over at him, “What new kid?” 
Halloway pointed his finger at the boy, “lacerta,” he said.
The bully immediately began to shrink until he was flat on his stomach. His eyes bulged, and his arms and legs shrank in. Quickly he grew a scaly tail and every few second his tongue would shoot out and back in. 
“Thank you,” the little red head said.  
The whole bus began clapping, and many thanks were offered up. The bus driver turned back and shrugged his shoulders. “That boy will never learn. He should have known not to mess with you Egyptians and your wrappings and such. No harm done son. Now keep an eye on him. If he gets out and isn’t transformed back, there will be hell to pay. Oh, and I’m afraid I’ll have to tell your mummy about this.” He turned back and the bus drove on until they reached the Hill Top Academy of Magic.  
True to his word the bus driver told the Headmaster and the Headmaster called his mummy. Halloway was given a warning, and twenty demerits, but wasn’t kicked out of school, mostly because he stood up for someone defenseless. From that point forward, he’d become the hero of the O’l HTAM; a honor that would last him until his resurrection.
For More On Lawrence Pitchford:  https://www.facebook.com/BoarerPitchfordAuthor 

Writing Challenge With Author, Erren Grey Wolf!

"Challenge: In 2000 words or less, write about a woman who protects the secret of the mysterious lake in the forest."   The Result: THE MAIDEN OF SYLVAN LAKE By Erren Grey Wolf     Sylvan Lake was once an empty crater made by the strike of a meteor. It looked as if the hand of God had thrown a small grenade at the Earth. Over the ages, it had collected water until it became an isolated lake in the middle of the Mystic Forest. The lake was serene most of the time, except when a storm disturbed it. Fish swam within it only because some brave men had found it and put them there. Once found, however, they left in a hurry and never returned. Word travelled that the lake was haunted, but the daring few who journeyed there came screaming back with frightening tales of how some members in their party had died there.  Edgar, the football captain at Badgerhills College, heard the tales of this enigmatic lake and wanted a challenge. During summer break, he and four others set forth to visit Sylvan Lake to bring back a trout or two to brag to their peers. They sought not to eat the fish, but to mount it with pride on a wall with the words, “Rainbow Trout Caught In Sylvan Lake.” Edgar liked to boast and this would be a major addition to his wall of athletic trophies!  Edgar led the way as they entered the Mystic Forest. Two women followed him and two men were at the rear, sharing the burden of carrying a canoe. All wore backpacks full of gear.  “How far is it?” asked Amanda, a short young woman with Chinese features.  “A two-day hike,” said Edgar. “We’ll have to camp along the way. Having doubts?”  “No way!” she said proudly. “If you can do it, so can I!”  “Good going, sister!” praised Julia, the cheerleader, reaching forward to pat her friend on the shoulder.  “Yeah, we’ll see,” said James doubtfully from the back of the line. “We might have to leave the girlies behind!”   “Why the hell would you want to do that?” asked Orlando, the fastest runner at the college. He looked at the woman right in front of him with her long blonde hair held back in a ponytail that seemed to dangle enticingly before his eyes. “I think Julia is hot!”  “Hey!” protested Amanda. “What about me?!”  “I think you’re hot!” said James, the head of the soccer team. “You wanna sleep in my tent, honey?”  “Ick! No!” she said distastefully. “I just wanted an ego boost, not an egotistical jerk!”  Edgar looked back briefly and intervened, “That’s enough, everyone! Remember, we’re a team! We must get along if we are to be successful!”  “Yes, sir!” obeyed James with a sneer behind Edgar’s back.  Julia said to Amanda a bit protectively, “You and I will stick together. Let the boys have their own tent!”  “Sounds good to me!” said Amanda cheerily.  When they arrived at Sylvan Lake, they set up camp between the forest and the pebbly shore. It was late, so they made a campfire and cooked dinner. As they sat around the fire, the full moon shone its reflected light upon them. They could see a million stars in the sky. The students seemed like good friends sharing tales around the fire, but something sinister lurked in the heart of one of them.  When Amanda went into the forest alone to tend to her business in private, she encountered James on her way back. “Out of my way, jerk!” she demanded as she tried to go around him.  He grabbed her by the arm, put a hand over her mouth, and pushed her to the ground in the pitch-black forest. She dropped her flashlight and tried to scream, but he was so strong. She lost her footing and fell on her back. She struggled against him, while he tore at her clothes like a wild animal.  No one ever heard the screams she cried within her mind.  When it was over, he threatened, “Don’t you dare tell anyone! They’ll be ashamed of you and you’ll never be able to face them again!”  He left her in the forest, infected with shame, and she cried in the darkness alone.  When she returned, she was not her cheery self. Julia asked, “Are you all right?”  Amanda merely said, “I’m just tired.” The two girls slept inside their exclusive tent and the boys slept in theirs. No one else knew of the dastardly deed that James had committed that night.  The next day, Amanda opted to go fishing last, so Julie, James, and Orlando used the canoe to fish first. Edgar stayed behind with a rifle to make sure no wild animals came to their camp. While he was guarding at the edge of the forest and the canoe was far in the centre of the lake, Amanda sadly walked to the shore and knelt down at the edge of the water. She didn’t care if her knees got wet; she just looked at her horrible reflection in the still water. She was the proud winner of the swim team and now she felt so ashamed. Her tears fell like raindrops onto the surface of the water, causing small ripples, as she cried quietly so no one would know her sorrow.  Someone heard her.  That night, when the group was sitting around the campfire, everyone was joking and smiling, except for one who forced a smile to hide her shame. Those not involved in the crime never knew anything was wrong. No one saw the ripple in the water in the moonlit night.   No one saw it coming closer.  It looked like something was swimming just beneath the surface of the lake, creating a V-shaped ripple that looked like an arrowhead aimed at the camp, but something much larger than a trout made this disturbance.  When it neared the shore, something began to emerge. A woman’s head rose up slowly until her mysterious eyes were just above the water level. Those intense eyes never blinked. In the dark, you could not see her colouring. If you could, you would be shocked! Her hair was so dark a blue it was almost black. Her skin was light blue and her haunting eyes were the colour of cobalt. Those beautiful, mystical eyes stared with anger towards the camp.  She came closer.  When her feet touched the bottom, she walked towards the shore with purpose. She arose, the goddess of the lake; she emerged from the water so smoothly, so fluidly, as if she were part of the lake itself. Her hair was so long it dripped down to the small of her back. Her angry gaze never left the campfire; it never blinked as she moved closer.  She flowed across the shore like a ballerina, barely making a sound on the pebbles. An azure blue gown hung wetly to her knees. She had the perfect features of a Greek goddess, with haunting, focused eyes.  They saw her.  Edgar wondered, “Who the hell is that?”  In the dark lit only by the campfire, it was difficult to see her unusual complexion.  James grinned wickedly and stood up to say, “Well, hello, lady!”  Julia stood up and admonished, “Shut up, James!” She was able to see the woman was soaking wet and asked with concern, “Are you all right? Do you need a blanket?”  All this time, the water woman’s eyes fixed upon James. In truth, she had never taken her eyes off him. When she came within a couple of metres of him, she smiled with her unblinking eyes and reached out a hand to him, beckoning him closer like a siren.  James was not one to refuse an invitation from a pretty lady, and when there was none, he invited himself. He went to her and she put her cold, wet hands on the sides of his face and kissed him. He put his arms around her wet body to feel her cold skin through the thin, dripping gown. He didn’t notice anything unusual about her. He didn’t care that she was soaking wet and might be cold. He was a selfish man.  Orlando scolded, “James! For God’s sake, man!”  James ignored his friends and was lost in the kiss as he groped the unnamed woman.  Julia crossed her arms and said, “What an asshole!”  Amanda never said a word.  This situation changed for James. His eyes went wide and he tried to pull away, but the enigmatic beauty’s supernatural hold on him was too strong.  Edgar stood up, seeing James struggle, and said, “James, are you OK, man?”  The woman let James go with an eerie, satisfied smile. He backed away from her unsteadily, trying to breathe, and fell on his back. He struggled to his hands and knees as Edgar got out his rifle. Orlando and Julia came to his aid, looking worried, but Amanda stayed where she was, trying to look small and unnoticeable.  Orlando knelt beside James and said, “He’s choking!”  Julia looked at the mysterious woman, who exuded a power beyond all men, and demanded, “What did you do to him?!”  James choked, trying to get a breath, but water poured out of his mouth in great amounts. More water poured out than could possibly have been held in his lungs and stomach combined. It continued pouring out.  The maiden stood silently with the campfire reflecting demonically in her angry eyes as James drowned to death on land.  Orlando said in shock, “He’s dead! Where the hell is the water coming from?!”  The water was still pouring out the dead man’s mouth.  Edgar pointed the rifle at the woman and demanded, “What the hell did you do to him?”  She fixed her unblinking eyes on Edgar, in defiance of his weapon, and spoke with all the power of an enraged goddess, “How DARE you come here and commit crimes in MY realm!”  Terrified, Orlando stood up and hurried back towards Edgar, the only one with a weapon. Julia, eyes wide, moved back towards Amanda.  “What crimes?” asked Edgar. “We’ve committed no crimes here!”  The blue woman pointed towards the small, hunched figure and said, “Tell them!”  Amanda looked down and shook her head. Tears began to form in her eyes.  Julia looked away from the dangerous woman to put a hand on her friends shoulder and asked, “Amanda, what’s wrong?”  Amanda burst into tears and covered her face in her hands.  “TELL THEM!” ordered the maiden of the lake with a power beyond mere mortals.  Orlando asked, “Tell us what? What the hell is going on here?”  In a small voice, barely heard by the rest of her group, Amanda said, “He raped me.”  Julia gasped, “Oh my God!”  The two men were silent.  The maiden stretched her hand towards Amanda and beckoned her serenely, “Come, child, and I will take away your sorrow.”   Amanda looked at the woman and stood up without a second thought.  “No, Amanda!” exclaimed Julia in horror.  Amanda moved towards the woman.  Julia grabbed her arm to stop her, warning, “Don’t do it! She already killed James!”  Through her tears, Amanda said angrily, “He deserved it! I don’t!” She shook her arm free and walked towards the woman.   Edgar warned, “Don’t do it, Amanda!”  Orlando added, “Amanda! She’ll kill you!”  A wet, blue hand grasped Amanda’s and pulled her to stand beside her. The maiden then warned, “Get out of my realm or I will drown you ALL!”  Those words sent chills of terror throughout the group, except for Amanda. As for her, she continued holding the maiden’s hand as she led her to the shore.  Her friends shouted after her, but were too afraid to approach. They watched her slowly enter the water in horror until she and the maiden disappeared beneath its surface.  No one ever saw Amanda again, but the next time a party came to the lake seeking adventure, they saw a blue woman rise up from the still waters, this time with Chinese features.
  For More On Erren Grey Wolf:
Author of Beneath the Surface: The Lost Boy
http://www.errengreywolf.ca/
http://www.twitter.com/errengreywolf
The Lost Boy: Sean Archer seeks redemption by hunting the haunted forest for the little brother he so carelessly abandoned out of grief for the loss of their mother. [image error]