Interview with author Alys B. Cohen

 

Me: Where did you get the idea for your book?

Alys: A couple years ago I had a conversation with a friend who was gushing about how ideal a character in a popular book was.  She wasn’t able to see the abusive aspects of his behavior, and just parroted the popular lines about how he broke in to watch her sleep because he couldn’t bear to be away from her, and how sweet that was, and how he only tried controlling her because he loved her.  Having been with someone like this, it alarmed me how many women are defending as romantic the very behavior that should never be accepted, and that indicates abuse.  I don’t want young women and teens to only have books about abuse being painted as the ideal.

 I think most of us have heard the line (and I’m paraphrasing since there’s no one official way to say it), “If you don’t like something, do it better, and if you can’t do it at all, then shut up about it.”  Well, after getting off a chat with her, I thought of this.  Without saying anything to my sweetheart, I grabbed the keys to my truck, went to the store, bought a bunch of index cards, notebooks, pens, and a binder, went home, sat on my bed, and started creating characters. 

 

Me: Who are your favorite characters in your book and why?

Alys: I’m going to skip why I love the main characters.  Too predictable. 

 Emma and Sunil were in the very first chapter of the very first draft.  These two are married in every aspect but the legal, and have been for a long time.  Their relationship has been tested over a very long period of time.  Their relationship predates civil rights and the legality of interracial relationships, but that story is for the backstory miniseries I have in mind.  Still, in the Sacred Blood trilogy itself you see their relationship is a very tender one, one full of love and support. 

 Sunil is the unofficial second-in-charge in the family, after Gabrielle (the oldest member of it), even though he was the fourth to join.  In his mortal life, he was a practitioner of Vajrayana, and some elements of his faith are evident.  He exudes calmness, never raises his voice, promotes peace, forgiveness, compromise, and acceptance, and doesn’t relish eating meat, though it is necessary for him, and cherishes the pursuit of new knowledge on a level that makes it as vital to him as breathing.  He is the perfect support for Emma, who suffered a great injustice that nearly cost her her life.

Through her time, Emma hasn’t managed to move past what happened to her.  You can read about some of that in Sacred Honor.  She is a kind soul who is deeply dedicated to her husband, and tries to help whenever she can.  But she panics at the thought of anyone outside their circle of trust knowing the truth about them. 

Emma’s relationship with Sunil seems a bit old-fashioned by today’s standards.  He is leader in it, though Emma actually has equal say, when she chooses to use it.

 

Me: What themes does your book present?

Alys: Learning to step outside of one’s established comfort zone is a big theme.  Staying with what is comfortable, which is often simply when is known, isn’t always a good thing, especially that zone is harmful.  Juliette had to do this to overcome the oppression she had lived with, and to escape abuse.

The desire and will to survive are driving themes, for not only Juliette, but all the protagonists, even when their ways of trying to do so don’t make sense when only the surface is viewed.

 

Me: How many books do you have in this series?

Alys: So far only Sacred Blood is complete and available.  Sacred Honor and Sacred Heart are both in first draft-mode.  I also have an 8-book novella miniseries planned, one each for Juliette, Tristan, and the other six in the family, for their stories before this trilogy and before meeting each other.  I’m also tossing around the idea of a larger universe for them.

 

Me: What makes you choose to write fantasy?

Alys: I’ve got two reasons.  The first is that, because I wrote this trilogy in response to abusing relationships being peddled to readers of supernatural books as the ideal, I needed an inlet into that reading demographic.

The second may give a bit of a spoiler.  Let’s just say that I needed a lack of police involvement to be reasonable.  Humans call the police if a human relative is missing without a trace for an extended period of time.  Supernatural beings do not.

 

Me: What authors influence your writing?

Alys: I try to push against being influenced because I want my writing style to be my own, but am probably the most influenced by JK Rowling anyway.  I like how she created a large world right under the noses of humans, though there isn’t a way to get to a version of Diagon Alley in my series!

If anything, I think that I’ve been anti-influenced more than anything, by writers whose books I strongly dislike, and by several in-depth critical reviews I’ve read that pick apart problems in some well-known books.

 

Me: Why do you think fantasy books are so popular?

Alys: A lot of people who like to read enjoy a chance to take a mental break from their daily lives.  I’ve noticed, at least among people I’ve had chats with about this, that books that take place in the real world with non-supernatural characters can leave them feeling their own lives are lacking.  Why do those characters have the luck that earned them comfort and riches, or got them perfect health and beauty and admiration of all?  It’s difficult to compare your own life to a supernatural character’s and to feel like yours is lacking when those characters have many more years on their side, or abilities foresee the future, and it’s just plain accepted that most supernatural beings are beautiful and attractive.  Fantasy books elevate us from subconsciously comparing our lives against those in a book, to not feeling that need to do so so strongly, and to just join in and enjoy it.

And to bring up a couple forbidden-by-society topics, the religion and politics that divide our real world’s societies can’t affect the characters in fantasy stories so much, if at all.  Read Nora Roberts’ Dream trilogy, and you can feel how taxes come April are going to be a drag.  Characters in fantasy books, even if they’re hidden in our world, just plain don’t have to deal with the aggravating things we have to deal with.  Why would supernatural characters debate Democrat versus Republican policy if they have their own supernatural governments to deal with, with problems we don’t have to worry about?

 

Me: How many books have you written?

If we only count books since I’ve decided to seriously pursue writing, then I’ve completed one and have two others as first drafts.  If we count over the course of my lifetime, then about 15 novels, one medical memoir, and about two dozen children’s books that I also illustrated.  Some of those were when I was very young though, and probably wouldn’t count. 

 

Me: Where do you see the fantasy book market 10 years from now?

Alys: I see it being the favored genre.  Where once most fantasy books featured the same few beings, mostly vampires, zombies, and werewolves, readers and writers are starting to expand out into lesser-known creatures, and some that are known, but have been ignored, such as angels.  Writers are also stretching accepted supernatural canon in new ways, further expanding what can happen.

I think the epic fantasy market will remain a bit of a niche market, as it has been for a long time.  Tolkien is a bit of an anomaly with how his epic fantasies went mainstream.

 

Me: What makes your book different from other fantasy books?

Alys: Other fantasy books tend to give the feeling being in their world at all times, at least once that world is introduced.  Harry Potter, aside from a couple chapters early on in the first book, was submerged in the wizarding world, and once back in the muggle world, was still in the wizarding world.  Eowyn was in Middle Earth with absolutely no human world as we know it.  Bella Swan was a human who, while she lived in Washington State with her human father and attended human high school, was so busy in the supernatural world with vampires and humans that it felt like she only occasionally visited our world.

However Juliette, Tristan, and the rest of his family, live firmly in the real world, despite only one of them being human.  There is no magic or magical ability giving them the ability to drive “safely” at 200MPH or to fly over cities.  They are subject to our laws.  You can’t tell who is supernatural or not by touching them, poking them with sticks to see if they bleed, or seeing how many sets of chromosomes they have.  The supernatural characters are very human. 

Juliette and the rest visit the supernatural/fantasy world instead of occasionally stepping out of it.  One experienced, that other world that is not seen as highly desirable.  Unlike Bella and Harry, but similar to Elena (Vampire Diaries), Juliette does not want to join it, nor does she want to leave behind her human life, despite its struggles.  In fact, she embraces the challenges ahead, even when given an option most people would be quick to accept.  To her, being a plain ol’ human is revered.  Humanity is good.  Living and dying are part of life, and they are good.  Our world, with all its flaws, is good.

Another huge difference is how this book ends, which not only takes this book firmly out of the realm of romance, but is unlike any other fantasy book I’ve come across.  I’m not even going to hint at what I mean.

Excerpt from Sacred Blood


Seeking answers, Juliette grabbed the book still beside her and opened to a painting on canvas mounded to the page.  The man appeared slightly younger than Tristan, wearing a white cravat and vest and a fine black frock coat.  He sat in front of an elaborate oriental tapestry.  The year written beneath had faded to a deep tobacco color: 1814.  The detailing in the portrait indicated an artist’s skill, and must have cost a small fortune.
         She turned the page to an ink drawing and a tin photograph, dated 1839 and 1850.  The paint on his emerald tie and cream vest had discolored in spots, though the coat was still dark and even.  The fabric flared from his hips down and matched his top hat.  In the photographic portrait to its right, he sat on a plush chair in a studio, leaning against a table, his pinstriped suit fit close. In his hand he held a pocket watch Juliette recognized as the one he always carried with him.  She studied his face, ignoring the large, fake sideburns he wore.  His eyes stared at the photographer with a fierce intensity, almost as if staring through time directly at her.  
       Reluctant to leave the page, she flipped to the back pages of 20^th-century photographs. Most of them also had other members of Tristan's family.  So many familiar faces at various points in history forced her to believe Emma had told some truth.  Nothing in her world made sense anymore. 

 

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(Print books will be arriving soon.)

 

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Author Interview with Laura Carlson of American Editing Services

 

Me: Where did you get the idea for your book?

Laura: I always wanted to write about vampires. I know that sounds ridiculous, but some of my earliest childhood memories consist of playing with a Dracula figurine and a Snow White doll. I made up all sorts of dark tales that involved haunted castles, ghosts, mummies, and a handsome vampire. The desire to tell a story that involved similar characters never really left. This particular idea, however, came to me when I was in college.

 

Me: Who are your favorite characters in your book and why?

Laura: I think Oliver is my favorite, mostly because he’s so uncouth. He’s also based on a good friend of mine who can make me laugh nonstop.

 

Me: What themes does your book present?

Laura: Oh boy, as soon as I saw the word “themes” I began to squirm! J I actually never really factored in themes (in the true literary sense) for this book, mostly because it’s for casual consumption. But, I will say that when I wrote the book I wanted to address the idea of not fitting in. It happens to all of us at one time or another, and I thought it was really important to write a lead character who was strong in spite of the fact that she can’t seem to fit in.

 

Me: How many books do you have in this series?

Laura: I have at least four more planned, but who knows? I’m really having fun writing about this world and these characters, so I don’t know when I’ll eventually wrap up the series. I do, however, have the last book outlined, so there is an ending.

 

Me: What made you choose to write fantasy?

Laura: I think I’ve always been drawn to the genre. I’m a paranormal romance girl at heart.

 

Me: What authors influence your writing?

Laura: Hard question! Way, way too many to count. Katie MacAlister, Meg Cabbot, Maggie Stievater, Janet Evanovich, Ann Brashares—and the list goes on!

 

Me: Why do you think fantasy books are so popular?

Laura: Hmmm, that’s a really hard question to answer. I can only speak for myself, but I’d say it’s because it allows us to believe that there might be something more than what we consider “reality.” It takes something mysterious and unknown and allows us to imagine what it might be like to live in that world. I read once that, when imagining a place, experience, etc., the brain activates the same areas it would if you were actually encountering those places, experiences, and so on. Essentially, your mind can’t tell the difference between the two.

 

Me: How many books have you written?

Laura: I’ve published two books, I’m sitting on another two manuscripts that may or may not see the light of day, and I’m working on the third installment in The Unearthly series as we speak.

 

Me: Where do you see the fantasy book market 10 years from now?

Laura: I see the genre expanding quite a bit as more and more indie authors publish their books. Those readers who’ve been dying to read a good book on something obscure will probably have a better selection in ten years than they do now.

 

Me: What makes your book different from other fantasy books?

Laura: Gosh this is a tough question, mostly because when I think of fantasy, I think of everything from high fantasy to urban fantasy, and between that broad spectrum, my book probably falls comfortably in the middle. I will say this—my book deals with a world where pretty much all types of supernaturals exist. Fairies, werewolves, vampires, witches, psychics, and so on. I think that distinguishes from a fair amount of YA fantasy books that only deal with one or a few types of otherworldly beings.

 

 

 

 

Excerpt from The Unearthly

 

          

 

           I was in a burning house.

The oppressive heat evaporated the tears that ran down my cheeks, but my tiny hand still tried to swipe them away.

It was the sight of my small hand that made me lucid.

Not this again. Knowing it was a dream didn’t stop the events from unfolding as they always had.

Smoke choked my lungs and obscured my vision. Which room was I in? I never could remember, no matter how many times the events played out.

Out of the smoke came a figure.

“Dad!” I yelled, my voice sweet and high-pitched.

He scooped me up as the wooden beams above us shuddered, and he led us through the smoky corridors. I watched from over my father’s shoulder as fire ate up my house.

I blinked and a man stood amidst the flames.

My skin chilled despite the heat. Not him.

I gripped the expensive cloth of my father’s suit and twisted it beneath my fingers.

The fire stung my eyes and I blinked. When I opened them again, the man was gone.

At some point my father stopped. The fire was not so bad here.

Another figure appeared out of the haze. Cecilia. I was passed over to her, out of my dad’s arms.

“Dad?” I was scared again.

I hated this part.

He kissed me on the top of my head. “I love you angel.” He turned away, disappearing into the smoke.

“Don’t leave me!” I cried. But he was gone.

Cecilia led us through the house. I recognized my room along the way; my favorite teddy bear was lying on the floor, burning up before my eyes.

Cecilia carried me to our pantry. Barely glancing at the dried goods, she unlatched a trap door set into the floor. She dropped me down into the musty space before climbing down herself. I glanced back up through the trap door, wondering where my dad was.

She took my hand and led me through the darkness. 

 

 

 

 

Contact the Author

 

Laura Carlson, Editor

American Editing Services

Site: www.americaneditingservices.com

Blog: www.americaneditingservices.blogspot.com

Tel: +1.415.745.1764

Twitter: @AmericanEditing

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmericanEditingServices

 

Where to Buy The Unearthly

 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Unearthly-1-ebook/dp/B00DMT6VTA/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Firebolt by Adrienne Woods

 

 

Title: Firebolt
Series: The Dragonian Series Book One
Author: Adrienne Woods
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: GMTA  Publishing – Mythos Press
Date of Publication: 20th November 2013
ISBN: 13: 978-1491244654
Number of pages: 289
Word Count: 95 000
Cover Artist: Mary Park and Kitty Bullard

Book Description

 

Dragons. Right. Teenage girls don't believe in fairy tales, and sixteen-year-old Elena Watkins was no different.Until the night a fairy tale killed her father.

 

Now Elena is in a new world, and a new school. The cutest guy around may be an evil dragon, a prince wants Elena's heart, and a long dead sorcerer may be waking up to kill her. Oh and the only way Elena's going to graduate is on the back of a dragon of her own.

Teenage girls don't believe in fairy tales. Now it's time for Elena to believe in...herself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the author

 Author Bio:

 

I was born and raised in South Africa, where I still live with my husband, and two beautiful little girls. I always knew that I was going to be a writer but it only started to happen about four years ago, now I can’t stop writing.

In my free time, If I get any because Moms don’t really have free time, I love to spend time with friends, if it’s a girls night out, or just a movie, I’m a very chilled person.

My writing career is starting with Firebolt, book one with the Dragonian Series, there will be four books in total and two to three books that is about the stories taking place inside The Dragonian Series.

I do write in different Genres, I have a woman’s fiction called the Pregnancy Diaries, but it would be published under another name. And then I have a paranormal series, called the Watercress series. There are about ten novels in that one.
So, plenty of novels to come out, so little time.

I hope you are going to embrace the Dragonian Series as much as I loved writing them.

 

 

Connect with Adrienne:

 

Blog http://woodsadrienne.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dragonian-Series/301375039891281
Twitter: erichb3
Goodreads: Adrienne Woods
Google+: Adrienne Woods

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Character Interview with Elena Watkins

 

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting another character, a beautiful girl named Elena. This is what she had to say.

 

Me: Elena, welcome, tell us a bit about yourself.

 

EW: (She looks at the carpet, a bit nervous.) What can I say, I’m 16, have moved around more times in my life that I can count on my fingers and toes, and as much as dragons frighten me, I sort of dig them.

 

(We both give nervous laughs.)

 

Me: I know exactly what you mean. How did you land in the world with all its dragons and riders?

 

EW: (Her eyes start to tear up, but she sniffs, and wipes a strand of blonde hair from her face.) My dad used to tell me stories about them when I was little. For some reason I can’t remember all the details, but I do remember that it was a special world hidden from the human realm where dragons and magic are real, like you are in front of me. We used to run away every three months. I never knew from what until that night. (She looks at the carpet) It wasn’t an easy life, and as much as I hated every single time we fled, I would gladly do it again if it meant having my dad back.

 

(My throat tightens up.) Me: You mean that your dad is no longer with us anymore?

 

EW: (She shakes her head.) He died the night five dragons attacked us on Interstate 40.

 

(I felt emotional with her, even though I never met her father.) Me: Is that how you ended up in Paegeia?
 

EW: (She nods.) I didn’t know the ins and outs of how I got to the infirmary in Dragonia Academy, only that a guy, or should I say a dragon, named Matt rescued me and took me to Paegeia because of my dark mark.

 

Me: So you have the mark of the riders too?

 

EW. Yeah, it’s not so great knowing that soon you’ll have to fight a dragon that is twenty times your size, but how can I share my fear with my two best friends? One is part of a dent, something that is way out of this world. I mean her dragon, George, used to hate her, but after she claimed him, he started to hang on to every word that crossed her lips as if it was the last thing she would ever say. The dent thing is still a bit confusing, but they say it’s rare, and a bond like that can never be broken. My other friend, Sammy, is a Fire-Tail. A dragon that can incinerate your butt on the spot. I don’t think she would do it though.

 

(I give her a small smile.) Me: So you don’t want to be a dragon rider?

 

EW: Would you like to claim something that can breathe fire, or acid. Not to mention flying on one. I did it once, not so cool. I thought I was going to die.

 

Me: You flew on a dragon?

 

EW: Yes, it was a dumb thing to do, and I will never do it again. I will die if my friends find out that I’m afraid of heights.

 

(I give a small laugh.) Me: I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh.

 

(She laughs too.) EW: You understand now why I don’t want to be a Dragonian. (She sighs.) I’ve got no choice though. My mark is very dark. They’ve said they have never seen one this dark, although plenty of the board members of Dragonia Academy think I don’t belong inside their school because of what my father was: a dragon. I’m the first offspring of a dragon that’s been born with the dragon rider’s mark.

 

(My face grows in terror.) Me: Your father was a dragon? ( I look at my charts. They should’ve told me that she was a dragon.) Are you a dragon?

 

EW: (She giggles.) No, although my father’s one, a human and dragon offspring doesn’t have a dragon form. I’m human. As far as my father being a dragon, I guess I should’ve seen that one, but I never did. He was really good hiding it. He was one of the Metallic Dragons, the good type, and they say that the Metallics can go years without their dragon form. So I guess that’s what Dad did.

 

Me: Okay, let’s move over to the lighter side. Do you have a special someone?

 

EW: (She gives me that smile, the one you give whenever you think about your special someone.) Yes, but he’s royalty and I’m just a commoner. I’m sure they used to hang people like me in the old days.

 

Me: Is his name Lucian?

 

EW: Have you met him? (She seems to be a totally different person. Her face lights up and her smile would go all the way around her head if it wasn’t for her ears.)

 

Me: I had the pleasure. He is a true gentleman.

 

EW: He is.

 

Me: Well, Elena. I guess that was it. I would love to chat more with you and how you feel about everything, but our time is up. So I guess I just have to find out more about you in Firebolt. Thank you so much for joining me today and I wish you all the luck with riding on dragons.

 

EW: Me riding on dragons that will never happen again, but thanks for having me here. It was nice talking to someone normal.

We both laugh, and she gets up, giving me a wave as she exits and vanishes.

 

 

Amethyst Eyes by Debbie Brown

The Media Kit

 

As an author, the Media Kit will soon become an indispensable tool.

In all honesty, before becoming an author, I did not know what this was. Now don’t get me wrong, I understood what it was supposed to be, without knowing exactly what it should be composed of. Within the space of a week, I had heard about the media kit, saw one, followed a webinar on it and made my own. When my book started on its first blog tour, this quickly became a great tool to have on hand. It kept me from having to repeat the same information over and over again, made sure I didn’t leave out any details, and in some cases, offered more info than requested.

 

I strongly suggest you put all the info into one document, including the photos. You should, however, send both the author pic and the book cover pic separately, giving the recipient the option of a better quality image to work with.

 

OK, so here goes:

 

            -A  professional head shot, (link to the photo in high resolution). IF you cannot afford one, then take the time to have someone take a good picture of you in a clean, clutter free environment;

            -your resume (especially if you write non-fiction). This gives your writing credibility;

            -your biography;

            -interview topics;

            -media appearances, guest talks, book signings etc. (links);

            -a high resolution picture of your book;

            -the book blurb;

            -an excerpt from the book;

            -other people’s comments, reviews and recommendations. You can pick and choose one-liners from each review;

            -the link to your book trailer. If you don’t have one, you should think about getting/making one;

            -contact info: email, facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, blog, web page, etc.

            -purchase links: Amazon, B&N, Chapters, etc.

 

Add to it as you see fit. The idea is to have an instant package that can be shipped off in a matter of seconds. You will not regret the time spent on this. You end up with a professional tool that will quickly become indispensable.

 

 

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Interview with author K.C. Rivers, author of Prince of Light

 

 

 

 

Me: Where did you get the idea for your book?

 

K.C.: It was an inspiration born from many of my different major fandoms. I think one of the primary influences was actually after I watched the movie Hellboy II: The Golden Army. This surprises most people who ask me this question, because they tend to think that Lord of the Rings was my main inspiration, knowing how big a fan I am of that series. LotR certainly did inspire in many ways, but I adored Prince Nuada’s character in Hellboy II, and that was what made me start imagining the sort of alternate world I would want to visit. I began to contemplate who I would want to meet and who I would grow to love if I traveled to that world. The story and characters simply poured forth after that.

 

Me: Who are your favorite characters in your book and why?

 

K.C.: Honestly, I think Delanor is my favorite, which also might come as a surprise. Delanor is the young mage who befriends the main character, Evanthe, and he’s never had any sort of real friendship before meeting her. He was originally supposed to be just a “filler” character of no real importance. Basically, I needed someone to show Evanthe the ropes until the main storyline got going, but he ended up becoming a very intricate part of the plot, and I can’t imagine the story without him now.

 

My other favorite would be Faolan (pronounced “FAY-len”). He’s a half-dragon, half-man beast who has a personality that lies somewhere between human and animal. His little quirks and unwavering loyalty to Evanthe make him great fun to write. And honestly, who wouldn’t want that for a bodyguard/friend?

 

Me: What themes does your book present?

 

K.C.: Hmm. That’s a tough one. The most common theme in the story tends to lean towards not judging others by appearances, though that wasn’t actually planned. Evanthe is presented with many tough situations, and at times her ability to accept the creatures around her despite what she’s heard about them or how they look is what ends up saving her. Likewise, learning to see that a beautiful face doesn’t always mean a beautiful person is something that she discovers pretty quickly. She has to discover where her loyalty lies, because sometimes the people who want her to trust them the most are the ones who aren’t so trustworthy.

 

Me: How many books do you have in this series?

 

K.C.: I plan for it to be a trilogy, but the first book is the only one available at the moment. If I have a burst of inspiration, it might stretch to four books in total, but three is what I have planned for now.

 

Me: What makes you choose to write fantasy?

 

K.C.: Well, I’ve always been a bit of a geek, which means that I’ve always had a fascination for magical elements. I’ve loved fantasy ever since I was a kid. I grew up on My Little Pony, video games (mainly Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda), and classic Disney movies (Sleeping Beauty is still my all-time favorite). Consequently, I learned to love the animal sidekicks, magical abilities, and timeless tales of good versus evil. I’ve also always had a bit of an elf fetish, so it only made sense that I would write a story involving one.

Medieval fantasy is still my favorite, so it tends to be what I gravitate towards when I’m writing. I do like a broad diversity in general, but there's something about swords and magic that always holds the most appeal to me. Yes, it’s often romanticized with dashing knights and beautiful princesses, but I still love it. Not to mention I adore dragons and will use any excuse possible to include at least one in my storyline.

 

Me: What authors influence your writing?

 

K.C.: Like so many fantasy authors, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were some of the biggest influences on my writing. I read The Chronicles of Narnia many times and chose The Hobbit for one of my high school book reports. Some of my other favorite authors have included Rick Riordan, Michael Sullivan and Veronica Roth.

 

Rick Riordan has a fantastic sense of humor that is very apparent in his writing. While I haven’t read many books in his newer series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians remains one of my favorites. Michael Sullivan has a wonderful gift for classic medieval fantasy, and the Riryia Revelations series is simply amazing. He’s similar enough to Tolkien to make you appreciate his talent for world-building, yet his own stories are uniquely his own, as are his characters. Definitely one of my top recommended epic fantasy authors. Veronica Roth has a realistic, gritty quality to her books, and the edge-of-your-seat action in Divergent made me devour it in a matter of days. (I still need to read Allegiant. I’ve been sadly lacking in time for it, however.) Each one of these authors is so very unique, and they bring a different element and style to their works.

 

Me: Why do you think fantasy books are so popular?

 

K.C.: I think everyone likes to imagine the impossible, from superheroes to mythical creatures. How many of us have pictured what it would be like to have our own dragon? (I have!) Fantasy stories are unique in the sense that they transport us to places where nothing is what it seems, and anything can happen. There are no limitations of reality and no rules. Whatever the author’s imagination creates is the “normal” for that particular setting. I love having that sort of space to work with as a writer. My world is expressly mine. It’s a wonderful feeling.  

 

Me: How many books have you written?

 

K.C.: I’ve written several short stories, but Prince of Light was my first “official” finished book. I had another book that I had started many years ago, but in all honesty it wasn’t all that good. There are a few other “works in progress” at the moment, but right now I’m trying to concentrate all of my efforts into book two.

 

Me: Where do you see the fantasy book market 10 years from now?

 

K.C.: Trends seem to come and go, but I honestly hope the fantasy market won’t change too drastically in the near future. It’s impossible to predict, for certain. There might be different fads, like urban fantasy instead of medieval, that sort of thing, but I like to think that there will always be a call for great fantasy. For YA, I could see it waning a bit in the upcoming years. Contemporary seems to be growing in popularity, and there was quite a saturation of urban fantasy and dystopian for a while. The thing about fantasy is the enormous diversity available, which means that there’s always something new to explore. Hopefully that means that it will always be around.

 

As an author, I don’t really write for whatever is popular, and I think many other authors do the same. I write what I like. If someone else reads it and likes it, my day has been made. (I really am easy to please.)

 

Me: What makes your book different from other fantasy books?

 

K.C.: I know many authors say this, but it’s difficult to pinpoint. While my story features everything from dragons to mages to shape shifters to elves, I think it’s the relationships between the characters that makes it so unique. Most of the feedback that I’ve received has been in favor of the characters specifically. It makes me happy to know that they feel “fleshed out.” I already love them entirely, and it's thrilling to know that someone else out there loves them, too.

 

 

 

 

Author Bio: K.C. Rivers is a self-proclaimed geek with a particular fetish for elves, pirates, and winged creatures. She often finds inspiration for her writing from the scenic outdoors that her native Oregon has to offer. When she’s not playing the piano, writing, or reading, she can usually be found taking a long walk or enjoying a cup of coffee. She currently lives with her husband, two dogs and cat. Prince of Light is her first novel.

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KC-Rivers/217129291722692

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcrivers

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/kcrivers

Web site: http://kcrivers.com

 

 

Available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Light-K-C-Rivers-ebook/dp/B00AVDWA6S/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1384363138

 

It's only on Amazon at the moment, but that will change in the future.  Both the e-book and the paperback are available.

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

There was darkness all around us, making it almost impossible to run through the forest. The moon was only half-full, and the tall, ancient trees didn’t allow any extra light. Branches slapped at my face, stinging my cheeks.

 

“Faster, Evanthe!” My mother was gasping for breath behind me. We ran harder, our legs burning with each step. The attack had been so sudden. I could hear voices shouting behind us and knew it had to be the men who had raided the village. Common thieves, seeking an easy victim. Though rumors had spread through the town of a new band of outlaws that were formerly mercenaries, no one had really believed them until now.

 

Our long nightdresses tripped us up, making it difficult to stay ahead of them. “Where can we go?” I asked, holding my fingers against a cramp in my side.

 

"It doesn’t matter. Just keep moving.” There was hardness in my mother’s voice. It made me feel determined to outrun our pursuers.

 

The forest floor began to slope upwards, and we had to slow our pace. It didn’t make sense to me. Why would the outlaws target us? My father was not the richest lord in this area. He was too honest to take advantage of the people in his care. As soon as he had discovered that the castle had been breached, he’d pulled my mother and me from our beds and raced with us to the edge of the forest. Then he’d left us, promising that he would catch up when the danger was past.

 

If the men who attacked were as skilled as my father had thought them to be, it would be only a matter of time before they found two women in the forest. They were killers, bred only to feast on the pain and terror of those they hunted.

 

“Keep going,” my mother urged me. “We have to find someplace to hide.”

 

We kept climbing. The night was becoming colder, and soon we were both shivering in our flimsy nightdresses. We came to a stop beside a fallen tree, resting our weary legs. My body ached. The voices came again, closer this time. I felt my mother’s hand grasp mine in the darkness.

 

“We’re near the top, Evanthe.” Something changed in her voice as she spoke to me. I knew I wasn’t going to like what she had to say. “Keep going until you reach the peak of the hill. Find a hiding place and do not let them see you.”

 

“No,” I protested. “We’re going together.”

 

Her fingers brushed the side of my face. “We can’t outrun them. You go ahead. I will go back to your father and keep them away from you.”

 

I shook my head. “I can’t do this by myself.”

 

“Yes, you can.” She leaned over and kissed my forehead. “I love you.”

 

She stood up before I could say anything more. I clung to her hand, but she pulled away. Tears filled my eyes and I blinked rapidly.

 

“I love you, too,” I whispered.

 

“Go now, Evanthe. While you have a chance. Run!” I heard her begin the descent down the side of the mountain. I didn’t want her to leave.

 

Fear gripping my heart, I forced my body to turn away. I had to keep going. I couldn’t let this opportunity be wasted. I prayed for both of my parents, hoping for their safe return to me. I could feel torn holes in my nightdress, and the night air licked my damp skin like an icy kiss. I was trembling, a chill settling into my bones, but still I kept moving. The voices grew fainter and fainter behind me, and I didn’t stop climbing until exhaustion overtook me.

 

The air had changed. It smelled different, perhaps because I was higher up now. A sudden snap of a branch to my left made my heart leap in my chest. I could feel a shrub next to my body and went on all fours, feeling along the ground. I pushed the branches aside, a few of them hitting my eyes and wrapping in my lengthy blonde hair before I finally found a way underneath. I kept my back to the tree that was growing right next to the bush, so that no one could attack me from behind. For once I was grateful of my small stature.

 

I heard more footsteps, but the darkness was so thick that I couldn’t see anything. I was terrified, suspended in the unknown. Something – or someone – was very close. The branches moved, and I felt a warm breath against my arm. My head snapped to the right where a pair of red, fiery eyes glowed in the shadows. Then darkness overtook me completely.