INTERVIEW WITH CHARLIE KENMORE

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing author Charlie Kenmore. Before we head on down to the interview, where his amusing wit will be revealed to all, why don’t we take a gander at his debut release, Earth Angel.

There are seven parallel worlds known as the Seven Realms which are separated by a Veil. Six are inhabited by all manner of entities, some natural, some not. That may not be the case for much longer. The first portion of the High Sidhe Prophecy of the Sevens has been fulfilled. The Anarch, who is one with the Veil, has escaped. If she chooses, she can part or drop the Veil or she can lift the Veil in its entirety. The Seven Realms will converge. The laws of physics and magic will collide head on. Unless she is stopped, there will be nothing left.

Queen Amura has called for an assembly of the signatories to the High Sidhe’s Second Accords, a multi-realm peace treaty to consider how to deal with the threat of the Anarch. An Earthside TechnoWitch and other dark forces also are seeking to control the Anarch. Prince Dzhok (Jack) , High Sidhe Ambassador Salash (Jack’s oldest friend and lover), and Valkyrie Brunhilde set out to find and befriend the Anarch before all is lost.

So, Charlie, I understand Earth Angel is your début novel, but the subtitle suggests it will be part of a series. Did you have a vision when you started writing Earth Angel about how many books the series will end up comprising of?

CK: When I envisioned the Seven Realms, I had ideas for several different stories. There are currently four completed stories past Earth Angel. The sequel to Earth Angel is The Flow of Magic. Oceanus seeks to reconstruct the greatest tome on magic ever written to complete his life-long mission to resurrect Old Atlantis. Along the way, he kidnaps three of Jack’s daughters as part of his revenge. Next come two novellas, Que Sarah, Sarah and Play For Me (based on my screenplay).  In Que Sarah, Sarah, a 9,000 year cycle is ending for the Goddess Bastet. She must find a new human vessel, but an old enemy is killing off all of the candidates. Ralph, a huge talking black cat, must escort Sarah, the last candidate, past Inter-Realm bounty hunters, to Bastet’s holy city before the cycle ends. In Play For Me, a young succubus with issues comes to the city for a little grand theft, homicide and sex to take her mind off of the impending death of her mentor. The fourth tale is Arch Enemies. Kellan, a middle daughter of Jack and Salash, and her friends have to help stop the return of Formori (ew!), a misshapen race that hasn’t been heard from in eons. The Formori plan to use the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, as a portal to bring something nasty and huge Earthside. Hopefully, the Muse will share additional tales with me.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? Or was there something in your life that triggered the decision to follow that path?

CK:  I’ve written on and off for years. It is common knowledge that my significant other, D. Alexx Miller a/k/a “Alexx Momcat”, is a paranormal romance fanatic. A couple of years ago, while brainstorming on birthday gift ideas, I had an idea (note the lack of descriptive adjective before the word “idea”). Why don’t I just write her a paranormal romance? How hard can it be? I had written several full length screenplays, and a 20,000 word novella, along with numerous short stories. With a little over three months to go, I figured that I had plenty of time. I barely finished Book One in time for her birthday. Well, I got the paranormal part down. To my credit, there are romantic elements. However, to date, no one has accused me of writing a paranormal romance.

 Hehehehe. Do you have any kind of routine you follow when you’re preparing to write? For example, I have a coffee to hand, my most comfortable trousers on …. What do you do to get into the ‘zone’?

CK: First, I top off my iced tea. Then I make sure some kind of snack is readily available. For serious grind sessions, dark chocolate is snack of choice. Next, I place one or more dictionaries and thesauruses within arm’s reach, aaaaaaaand, I’m off.

Who would you say is your strongest character in Earth Angel? And what characteristics make them as such?

CK: I’d probably have to go with Jack (Prince Dzhok). He gets the most face time. Although the Qpiad are far stronger and faster than humans, he is significantly weaker physically than all of his female companions. So he has to show his strength through compassion and leadership.

Is your writing ever influenced by TV or movies?

CK: All the time. I frequently see shows and movies and think, Wow, that was awful. It serves as a constant reminder that my readers deserve something better including better dialogue, internally consistent plotting and temporal consistency, and believable characters and motivation.

If you could host a twenty minute Q&A session with any author, who would you choose and why?

CK: Tough call, probably James Patterson. I met him at a book signing a few years ago.

Oooh, interesting choice. Okay, exposure time: What are the first three books on your bookshelf—top shelf, left-to-right?

CK: We have bookshelves and books everywhere. I can’t even find the first bookshelf, much less the first three books. At one time, we attempted to sort Alexx’s paranormal authors alphabetically. That shelf has four books by Amanda Ashley. The glass covered case that holds signed editions starts out with Jim Butcher’s Cursor’s Fury, Christine Feehan’s Dark Celebration, and Karen Slaughter’s Indelible.

I have a Jim Butcher on my TBR list. And finally: I’ve been known to run from anything that resembles sci-fi or high fantasy. How would you convince me to stick around and read your book?

CK: First, I’d appeal to your rational side. Earth Angel is sui generis, a singular, one of a kind creation. It incorporates elements of fantasy and science fiction, but does not fall readily into either category. The settings are not so far removed from your experiences that you need to put on 3-D glasses to imagine them.  The science fiction elements focus more on the effects than on the workings of the technologies. Accordingly, you can tell yourself that you are not really reading a fantasy or a sci-fi novel.

Still not convinced? Then next I’d appeal to your romantic nature. Earth Angel may not be a typical paranormal romance, but it has romantic elements. Jack is a Qpiad (commonly misspelled as “cupid” in Earthside English). He is a Realm-class lover, who finds everything he is looking for in the heroines. The story ends at the reception for a double wedding. Seven Hells, the story was written as a birthday present!

If you are still pushing back from the table, I’d try sex next. Haven’t you ever wanted a lover who was a perfect fit every time, in every position, who guaranteed simultaneous orgasms? Haven’t you ever wondered about the consequences of having oral sex with an ice sprite? Honestly?

Okay, still not sold? Let’s try national pride. Some of the scenes take place in London, UK, Earthside. Jack drives a light blue 1973 Austin Marina by British Leyland.

If all of the above fails, then there is always duct tape.

Hehehehehe, okay, okay, you’ve convinced me this may be one to break the mould, LOL.

Many thanks, Charlie, for the interview. It was a lot of fun.

So … what about you guys? Has Charlie convinced you to give his book a go? It has romance …

Just in case, here’s where you can grab yourself a copy:

Damnation Books  (you have to register-free)

Amazon

All Romance Books

Charlie is a 52 year old professional from St. Louis, Missouri with one very significant other (A.K.A. “Alexx Momcat”), two grown kids, and two cats.  He enjoys collecting books, art and cooking.  But with his double and triple stacked bookshelves sagging, he looks forward to the new era of e-publishing.  An avid garage sale hunter, he is still searching for an oil painting by Edouard Leon Cortes (or anything from the Drip and Drool School like Pollack or Rothko that can be sold so he can buy my Cortes).

charliekenmore@gmail.com
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INTERVIEW: AUTHOR M.L. LACY

Today, I get to share my blog with the delightful M.L. Lacy, author of the Chrysalis series. Here’s a quick look at the cover and blurb before you duck downward to see what M.L. has to say for herself:

All families have secrets.  At 32, Bree Campbell discovers her entire life has been a secret.  A mortal born into a family of Magicals, she begins questioning everything and everyone around her.  The prophecy told at her birth speaks of a Chosen One; the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones charged with saving both the Mortal and Magical worlds.  Bree must face this reality and life with her new family; a clan of vampires protecting her.  The sorceress, Esmeralda, will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead.  None could then oppose her and she would be free to rid the world of all mortals.  Will Bree awaken the hidden powers and find inner strength needed to save the world?

Currently available as E-Book. Paperback due for release December 2011.

So, M.L.,Chrysalis is your debut novel. What was your writing process for that? How long did it take from seedling idea to seeing it published?

I sat down and wrote what came into my head. I wrote the initial draft in 30 days. It took me another 3 months to massage it…then I sat back and thought “how can I make this different than anything that’s out there” and it took me another 3 months to polish it.

There are a lot of novels out there about vampires right now? What makes your stand out from the rest? How is it different?

I deal with clans, covens, tribes, families, and relationships that are completely different from the human realm. My vampires live in clans, my werewolves live in packs, and my witches live in covens. All my magicals live in families of one type or another, and those not living in a family, I call the homeless.

That was an interesting concept—the vampires, have gatherings on the spring and fall equinox, and if a homeless wants to join a clan, they have to petition the clan for entry. If the clan accepts the petition, then they vet the homeless individual to ensure they will “fit in” with the clan before they accept them.

My magical realm’s views on intimacy differ greatly from the human realm. They live for centuries, their family ties are strong, and they view that intimacy as a special bond.

I have traditional vampires and the ones I call non-conformists (non-coms for short). They decided to break from the true nature of vampires. They get their drink (which is what I call their liquid food) on a daily basis from the blood banks that several vampire morticians operate. They go out in the daylight. They have a day life as well as a night life.

The magical realm and the human realm in my story are here to keep the world in balance, Esmeralda is threatening that balance, and Bree has to stop her.

Cool. So, are you easily inspired?

I am if I have an interest in the subject.

Do ideas for new stories pop into your head at the slightest prompt whilst mingling with the population of the world or do you tend to sit and plot and scheme before you have a basis for a story?

I’m a daydreamer and when my mind travels, the ideas pop. I’ve so many stories that are waiting in my head to get on paper…and soooo little time. I’m currently working 2 series and I have 3 others on the back burner. I always have the beginning and ending of any story ironed out and what happens in the middle is fun…it’s life and I go with it and let it take me on my journeys. I want all my stories different. I don’t want to get into the cookie-cutter mold.

I love, love, love the cover art for Chrysalis: The Awakening. I’m a big believer of cover art being a conveyer of what’s between the covers. How closely does yours relate to the story (other than the obvious butterfly/chrysalis theme)?

Bree is emerging from the protection of her family as she learns of the prophecy that foretold her birth. She’s coming into her own, she still stumbles but she’s blossoming, as she gains her footing, and she has the courage to push forward by herself if need be. She understands that at the end of her journey, death may take her, but she is courageous in her fight to save the realms.

Blurbs so often tell folk very little about the people who walk the pages. How about you toss out five words that describe Bree.

Trusting, loving, forgiving, courageous, and young-minded.

And can the reader expect a little romance for Bree? Or would that be asking for a spoiler?

I don’t think that would be a spoiler at all. Yes, there is more than a little romance in store for her and that’s something she is going to have to come to terms with, because the magical realm’s views on intimacy differ greatly from the human realm, as I said up above. They live for centuries, and so many come into their lives. The clan hierarchy is different from anything she imagined. However…Bree is not as fortunate as everyone else in the magical realm—she is only allowed seven for her eternity. I wanted this series to be different. I didn’t one the plain and simple, but it is written in a way to make you want to live in that realm, to have that much love, and to be that loved…as well as fighting the evil-doers! Let’s not forget the evil-doers!!

Yeah, those pesky evil-doers often get in the way, eh? Okay, let’s wrap up on an easy one: Shower us in five random facts about yourself.

I was born and raised in Indiana. I love vacationing in Yellowstone; I would live there if I could. I believe in ghosts…would love to talk to one. My favorite type of dog is a Dachshund and I love to write.

Thank you so much, M.L., for joining me today.

What about you guys? Does Chrysalis sound like your kind of read?

You can find out more about M L Lacy and her book series’ at:

website: www.mlllacy.com

Goodreads: M.L. Lacy

Facebook: M.L.Lacy (author)

Amazon: Chrysalis – The Awakening

Note from author: Chrysalis – The Awakening is now available on e-Book through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and all other on-line e-Book sites. I am excited about this saga and I hope you will travel with me as the story unfolds.

Book 2 in the series will be available June 2012.

SEAN HOLLOWAY MEETS … AIMEE LAINE!

Sean Holloway!

Tameable?

I thought so.

Until he went and snuck off to yet another author interview.

And what’s more?

He’s kicked me off the comments section for the rest of the day!

To find out what Darkness & Light’s Sean Holloway gets up to when he’s out of my control, visit Aimee Laine’s Blog!

Join Me at the J. Taylor Publishing Blog!

I’m featured over at J. Taylor Publishing today in an author interview. It would be great if you popped on over to check it out!