Interview K.D. Friedrich, Author of Heart of a Wolf
Give a warm welcome to K.D. Friedrich author of Heart of a Wolf, second book in A Wicked Series.
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about K.D. and her paranormal romance, Heart of a Wolf, released March 12, 2018. Pssst, don’t forget to enter the rafflecopter at the end of the post
Lets start off with what inspired this particular story?
I knew when I first introduced Winter in book 1 of The Wicked Series that I wanted her to transform. When we first met Winter she was young, naïve, and sporting a crush on an older wolf. Her small town country persona needed to change. The only way for that to happen was for her to leave her small Pennsylvania town behind. This was the realization that inspired the story. From this realization, I developed the plot.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
I read. Funny, but it helps me get through any writer’s block that plaque me. If it’s really a bad case of writer’s block, I reread one of my favorite novels by an author I respect.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing novels for almost ten years now. Before that I wrote mainly poetry and short stories.
Why do you write what you write? Contemporary, paranormal, suspense, etc.
I started writing paranormal romance, because it was one of my favorite genres to read. I’ve always been intrigued by the supernatural. Writing about it has become a great joy for me. For hours, I can immerse myself in a world of vampires, shifters, and witches. Who wouldn’t love it? When I have to drift back into reality, I write my contemporary romances. Even though they’re still fiction, the characters bring me down to earth. Writing both balances me out.
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Excerpt Heart of a Wolf
said I like it rough,” Winter Leery muttered to herself.
bindings that tied her wrists were silk, not rope, and the room smelled of
roses, not dust and sweat.
tying her to the headboard of the minuscule rusty cot. For a group of no-good
thugs, they sure knew how to tie a knot. They certainly didn’t learn the skill
in the Boy Scouts. She doubted morals and merit ran high on her captors’ list
of qualities. Based on the way they dodged her defensive moves, she pegged them
as military or mercenaries.
neutral-colored stone walls. Being stuck in the same position for so long gave
her an excruciating cramp in her thigh. In an attempt to ease the ache, she
shifted. The change in position offered her momentary relief before the spasm
returned.
here.” She gritted her teeth.
incessant mildew stench clogging her senses. She glanced around at her prison.
No windows lined the damp cinder block room. Her only light came from a
dangling bulb hovering above her. Rows of rotted wooden shelves clung to the
wall on one side. On the other, she found a pile of cardboard boxes. No words
or logos decorated the cartons to give her any hint of her location or who
might have taken her.
summon her magic and like the dozens of times since they shoved her in this
cellar, she found her powers bound by an unseen barricade. Add on top of that,
her inability to reach the natural elements and she was as helpless as a human.
she’d peg the temperatures in her jail around twenty degrees. Outside, she
heard the wind whistling through the trees. Maintaining her body heat had
become difficult.
beings, had the ability to maintain their body temperature regardless of the
weather. Even under extreme conditions. But she was tired and drained. Staying
warm had snuffed out the little bit of strength she possessed. If she remained
in this freezing cellar much longer, she’d die from exposure. Not exactly a
fitting way to go for an elite guard.
lashes. “Suck it up, soldier,” she mumbled to herself.
“Think.”
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Heart of a Wolf, K.D. Friedrich, Paranormal Romance by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.
Interview M.R. Pilot Author of A Bloodline’s Echo
Give a warm welcome to M.R. Pilot, author of A Bloodline’s Echo, book one in The Avadi Series.
A peek between the pages of A Bloodline’s Echo.
Moonlight peeking through branches illuminates his face, allowing me to examine his features. I thought it was odd that he kept his hood up, even inside the Oak Hand. Aside from hardened lines drawn by worry, his face holds youth. He can’t be much older than I am.
He looks to the side as if considering his response, his hood falling back a bit. He has light freckles splashed across his cheekbones, long fair eyelashes and a square, chiseled jawbone. When his hazel eyes return to me, they flicker with amusement.
“Am I following you? Hmm. I don’t think so. Is the moth’s intent to follow the flame? I don’t know that either. But I can understand why the moth is drawn in by the flame. It’s intriguing, isn’t it? How something with the potential for such destruction can dance around with the innocence of a child?” he asks, his eyes lighting up and widening. “From the looks of it, you’re trying to run away from your discovery. You can’t—you carry it with you. May I ask where you’re headed?”
By now his hood has fallen to his shoulders and, even in the dark, I can tell his hair is a short, untamed crimson. This strange encounter is not what I expected from this still nameless, shadowy figure.
Resigned, I shake my head and sigh. “I’m looking for something I lost long ago, something that went in this direction. Who are you?”
He doesn’t bear an emblem, but I hadn’t pegged him for a trader anyway. He smiles and reaches out a hand in greeting. “I’m Rylo. Corinth, right? Although the dark-haired gentleman, perhaps your male counterpart, called you something else. What did you lose, a pet? I’m good with animals. I can help you find it.”
I grip Rylo’s hand. We both pause momentarily, assessing the situation. The contact generates heat far too quickly, and I break the connection.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged M.R. Pilot, The Avadi Series, Young Adult Fantasy/Romance by Tena Stetler with 3 comments.
Interview Carolyn M. Walker, Author of Immortal Descent
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Carolyn M. Walker and her Immortal Descent. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post.
Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?
My ideas come to me usually in three distinct ways.
- #1: Through a trigger. I might smell something or see something, and I’ll be whisked away to another time or place in my mind. Before I know it, this gets me thinking and bam, I’ve got a new idea or premise for a story.
- #2: Through a question. I’m always questioning everything. Why are we here? What’s the purpose of the universe? Why is the sky blue? Then my logical brain tries to make an answer. Sometimes I’ll come up with a question so interesting, I can’t help but think: “That would make a great story!”
- #1: Through dreams. I have had some of my BEST story ideas come to me through dreams. And yes, if I wake in the middle of the night, I turn the light on and scribble away, bleary-eyed, half-awake and all. For this reason, I sleep with a pad and pen next to my bed at all times. 😊
Do you find it easier to write from a male or female point of view? Why?
As a female, it would seem that a female point of view would be easier but interestingly enough, I wrote Immortal Descent from a male point of view! Did I wonder if my male voice was authentic? Did I question if I should shift the narrative? Was I out of my element at times? Absolutely! But I write from the heart and Ethan’s voice just spoke to me. Some other works I’m doing right now are from a female point of view and that suits me fine. I think once you are in tune with the character, it doesn’t make one easier than the other. At that point, I just go with it!
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
I want my readers to think and feel and contemplate. I want them to be left with something to ponder about, and feel something meaningful. I write dark fantasy and contemporary thrillers so some of the subject matter is gritty, thought-provoking and emotional. If the reader feels emotion, wonders about the characters beyond what’s written on the page, feels the story as they read it, then I’ve done my job. I want to give an experience. No two readers will have the same experience, but I want my stories to be fully and utterly worth their time! To me, that’s what good storytelling is all about!
screaming until he felt Rue shaking him. His eyes flew open and he stared up at
her face and into those bright silver eyes. For the briefest instant, all his
fear melted away when he looked up at her. He remembered the shadowed eyes of
the woman from the alleyway. These eyes were so different. Never had he seen
eyes as hers before, so intense—so bright, so capturing. He held her gaze,
almost afraid to look away. If he looked away, what would he see?
alright?” Rue asked in a quieter voice. It was soothing, so calming he couldn’t
believe he hadn’t noticed it before. “Can you speak?” she asked. He shook his
head and he felt the anxiety wheedle its way back into his mind. The attack.
have forgotten all of that?
that thing…she tried to kill me,” he whispered at last. He felt his heart
continuing to speed up.
memory now,” Rue assured. “It’s not happening to you anymore.”
words, Ethan glanced around the room, still paranoid. He tried to quiet the
quickened breaths, afraid the memory might become real again if he made a sound
any louder than a sigh.
he repeated and took a deep breath. Rue nodded and placed a hand on his
shoulder. He reached up and took hers in his, squeezing it. “So that’s what
happened to me—what I couldn’t remember.”
wanted to deny it, he couldn’t refute what he’d just seen. He couldn’t explain
it; he couldn’t justify it. All he could think of in that moment was it was all
real. What he’d just seen in those memories had been real.
was she?” Ethan asked, still speaking just above a whisper.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Adult Urban Fantasy, Carolyn M. Walker, Immortal Descent by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Interview Daniel Sugar Author of Salem Burning
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Daniel and his Salem Burning. Psst… Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post!
What inspired this particular story?
One day I thought, what if someone told a lie and it just happened to be true? And then I thought, and what if that happened in 1692? Once I started thinking about the Salem witch trials of 1692, I realized that that particular, well-known event in history would be an interesting backdrop for a discussion about the way men treat women. In fact, in one scene in “Salem Burning”, the heroine, Lilly Parris actually says to the young man who has destroyed her life, “Is this the way you treat women?” That’s really what the book is about – the way men treat women. I wanted to turn the Salem witch trials upside down and so I did and this time, the women win.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
I don’t believe in writer’s block. Your dentist doesn’t fail to show up because she has Dental Block. Your teachers don’t get Teacher’s Block. If writing is your job you have to just do it. I’m sure that every single day millions of people don’t want to go to work but they do and writers have to do the same. If you’re not feeling inspired, write anyway and then look at what you’ve written the next day. Even if most of it is terrible, you’ll probably find a tiny little something that you like. Just keep going – write for hours every day. Even if you’re not inspired – you have to just force yourself at first and eventually the writing will become a habit and everything will start to get easier. There are so many distraction: the internet, television, iPhones; there’s almost no end to it these days but you have to focus and force yourself to write. (Once your book is finished, you’ll be happy you did! THEN you can go to a movie
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?
Lilly Parris, the heroine of “Salem Burning”. She’s just so strong and brave and she has such amazing adventures. Her life is really quite cool – who wouldn’t want Lilly’s life? I know I would!
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
I’m so shy I didn’t tell anyone. The novel just recently went to #1 in its category in the Kindle Store in Canada and it has broken through into the top 40 in America so now I’m telling friends and family. (But it’s still scary!)
I understand totally. Now a little about your book.
PROLOGUE
ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND. 1550
The late-afternoon sun was slipping away and storm clouds and darkness were rapidly approaching as the happy eight-year-old girl carrying a straw basket filled with freshly-cut roses ran towards Delaney Castle.
Suddenly out of breath, Sarah Delaney stopped, sat down on the soft green grass and looked at her home. Delaney Castle was truly beautiful. Its stone walls and turrets so white they almost shimmered in the rapidly setting sun. It was hard to believe that a magnificent castle perched on top of a hill was actually her home. Hers! How lucky she was to live there and how blessed she was to have such wonderful parents. Parents who loved her so much they were making a magnificent birthday party for her that very evening. Overcome with happiness, Sarah could not help herself and as she stood up and ran into the castle she started to sing. “The birth day is the loveliest day. The birth day is filled with charm.”
Sarah’s beautiful, dark-haired mother, Evelyn Delaney, was clad in a breathtaking saffron gown and she was waiting for her daughter as Sarah ran into the castle.
Evelyn smiled, lifted a rose from Sarah’s straw basket and inhaled the flower’s scent. “Come along, Sarah. Everyone wants to see the birthday girl.”
Sarah kissed her mother on the cheek and said, “I am ready, mother.”
Sarah took her mother’s hand and together they walked into an enormous dining hall which was filled with relatives and friends who began to clap and cheer the moment Sarah entered the room.
Sarah scanned the room. The crowd was thick. There were so many people, too many people – but she only wanted one of them. Yet she could not find him. It was so frustrating. Where was he? Where was he? Suddenly she spotted him – her tall, handsome, blond father, Patrick Delaney, (clad in his finest tartan kilt and a velvet jacket). Sarah rushed into her father’s arms and he laughed and tossed her playfully into the air as Sarah squealed with delight. “Now we eat!” Patrick yelled. “Now we sing and dance as we let it be known to all that eight years ago, on the first of June, fifteen hundred and forty-two, my daughter, this young beauty named Sarah Delaney, was born in Scotland!”
The assembled guests cheered and, as if by magic, servants suddenly appeared in the vast dining hall, some carrying trays of food, some holding musical instruments which they began to play.
Delighted, the guests began to eat and sing and dance to the lively music which was almost drowned out by the sound of approaching thunder.
Sarah took her parents’ hands and the three of them sang along with their guests; raising their voices as the sounds of distant thunder grew closer and louder.
Suddenly, thunder exploded overhead, cold, impenetrable sheets of rain dropped from the black sky and long branches of lightning illuminated the castle as soldiers rushed into the dining hall with swords drawn.
Sarah Delaney screamed as a soldier cut off her father’s head.
Evelyn Delaney grabbed her terrified daughter and ran to the large portrait of Patrick Delaney that hung on one of the dining hall’s stone walls.
Soldiers ignored all cries for mercy and massacred the party guests, savagely, brutally, sparing no one.
Trembling, Evelyn pushed the portrait and the stone wall moved, revealing a secret passageway.
Evelyn quickly kissed her daughter. “Hurry now, Sarah. Save yourself.”
Suddenly, a soldier drove his sword into Evelyn’s chest and Sarah, still clutching the basket of roses rushed down the dark stone passageway.
“Run, Sarah!”
The soldier pulled the sword from Evelyn’s chest and then plunged it into her throat.
The moment Evelyn Delaney fell to the ground, dead, the soldier turned his attention to Sarah and rushed into the stone passageway.
As Sarah ran, she turned and looked behind her. The soldier was too fast. She was running with all her might but the soldier was getting closer.
A bright white flash of lightning illuminated the end of the passageway; illuminated freedom.
Sarah, exhausted, managed to squeeze through the passageway’s narrow opening just as the soldier lunged and tried to grab her.
The soldier was able to grab Sarah’s left shoe and tear if off her foot but Sarah was suddenly free.
The soldier was unable to fit through the passageway’s narrow opening and he screamed and swore and waved the child’s raw leather shoe as Sarah Delaney ran and ran and disappeared into the wet Scottish night.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Daniel Sugar, Historical Paranormal Romance, Salem Burning by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
