6/28/2012

Kylie Griffin

ALLIANCE FORGED
A Novel of the Light Blade
Berkley Publishing Group
ISBN 10: 0425256014

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a blind priestess lays claim to a half-breed warrior, body and soul… 

Hunted and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage, the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed to fail. 

Varian, leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness inside him. 

When the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart a war, the key to the survival of both races—Na’Chi and human— is an alliance. However, when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the woman he loves. 

ALL ABOUT KYLIE
Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures. 

Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.              

Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website.  

Kylie's first release won the RWA Golden Heart in 2010. Please welcome back our Unsinkable sister...

THE Q&A
MAUREEN: What was your favorite book when you were 12?
KYLIE: THE HOBBIT by JRRTolkein - my 6th grade teacher read it to us one term and I loved it! When I went to my grandparents place I discovered the book in their library and my grandfather gave it to me to keep. I still have it.  

JILLIAN: Since the 2010 Golden Heart, what has been your most rewarding publishing moment?
KYLIE: Holding BLOODBORN (as it was titled then), the GH winning entry, in my hands as a print book (now known as VENGEANCE BORN). Opening that box of print books every author gets from their editor was an incredible moment. I was so excited I opened mine in the local post office, pulled out the first copy, looked at it and promptly burst into tears. It was such an emotional milestone. 

SIMONE: What inspires you daily?
KYLIE: For writing? Setting myself a word count and being accountable to someone for producing it. :-) In general? Nature. I love being outside in the garden, in the bush, sitting on rocks or sand at the beach listening to the waves, star gazing... 

CAT: What has surprised you the most about being published?
KYLIE: The way some people perceive you as being the "expert" on all things writerly once you get THE CALL. It's humbling (flattering and astounding) the number of emails from I've received asking me for my advice or opinion on certain topics.

I don't think of myself as an expert in anything - the simple fact is, I'm a newbie to the publishing industry.  I'm still learning about the business and I'll always continue to develop and improve my craft. Maybe in about 50 years I could reassess that point of view! :-D 

DONNEL: Complete this sentence. When I want to relax, I. . .
KYLIE: ...dive right into my To Be Read pile of books and gorge on them. I usually read them in an easy chair out in my back entertainment area (which is enclosed, so no flies or mozzies - mosquitoes). If there aren't any interruptions I can read two or three single title books in a day. I never get sick of reading. 

ANGI: Which already filmed movie represents your writing style?
KYLIE: The Lord of the Rings trilogy - fantasy, romance, adventure, friendship, sacrifice, other races, empirical wars, good vs. evil. 

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?
KYLIE: For times when my sweet tooth kicks in - chocolate (caramello or snack flavored). For the savory tooth - Twisties (an Australian cheesy or chicken flavored food). 

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: Who inspired your hero for ALLIANCE FORGED?
KYLIE’S NAME GOTTA ANSWER: Despite being a leader, Varian's been very much a loner all his life, looking from the outside in because of an event he experienced in his past.

Characters like Preacher in Pale Rider (actually Clint Eastwood played quite a few loner characters in his movies), Aragorn in LOTR, Riddick in Pitch Black, Mariner in Waterworld, Wolverine in X-Men, Max in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome all had troubled pasts or were isolated in some way because of something they did or had happen to them. 

Each of them ended up with leadership thrust upon them or in a role where they were responsible for someone and this was made harder as they struggled with personal demons. I guess these sorts of characters were all inspiration for Varian.
In Varian's case, he was lucky enough to end come across Kymora and...well, I can't tell you exactly what happens between them, but their story has a HEA (it's a romance after all)! :-) 

FINDING KYLIE:
Email    Website   Facebook   Twitter    GoodReads    Blogs    Shelfari  
Newsletter sign up on my website or blog
CHECK OUT KYLIE'S FIRST GLIAS INTERVIEW

UP NEXT FOR KYLIE:
ALLEGIANCE SWORN, the third book in the series. I don't have a confirmed release date or cover for it yet but as soon as I do I'll post it up on my website and other social media sites.

ALLEGIANCE SWORN
Book #3 of the Light Blade series

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races… 

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice. 

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…

PREVIOUS RELEASES:
VENGEANCE BORN
Berkley Sensation
ISBN 10: 0425245365
EXCERPT 

KYLIE’S GIVE-AWAY:
I'd love to offer a copy of ALLIANCE FORGED. Feel free to make it a random (international) draw, Angi. It will come from TBD but I'm happy to send out a signed bookplate to go with it. 

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed by the author. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter (#GetLostStories) or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join me tomorrow for the Q&A of my friend Robin Covington’s debut. ~Angi


THE QUESTION FOR TODAY
Kylie’s biggest vice are chocolate and a savory treat known as Twisties. What’s your biggest vice (besides chocolate!)?  FYI: remember that Kylie's located on a different continent...but she will respond.

39 comments:

  1. Caramel Pie. I decimate it. Aragorn, sigh. I'd like to decimate him to. I mean... well, you know what I mean. Can't wait for Allegiance Sworn, but first for Alliance Forged. Bring it on!

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  2. Ice cream! Vanilla flavoured & i'm especially partial to an NZ brand of ice cream called Tip Top. I could happily devour a whole tub my myself *guilty look*.

    Loved Vengeance Born which was one of the best books I read this year; can't wait to read Alliance Forged & waiting with baited breath for the cover of Allegiance Sworn to be revealed!

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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  3. Yummo, caramel pie! Almost as good as Caramello chocolate! Only 4 days to go, Kylie B, until ALLIANCE FORGED wings it way to your mailbox!!! :-)

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  4. Vanilla ice cream! There's a absolutely yummy brand from NZ called Tip Top that I can't resist. I can devour a whole tub *guilty look*

    Loved Vengeance Born which was one of the best bks I read this year; can't wait to read Alliance Forged & waiting with bated breath for the cover of Allegiance Sworn.

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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  5. A glass of red wine while chillaxing in a bubble bath surrounded by candles - helps the brain unwind and deal with plot issues and/or character issues. Only if the children leave me alone long enough, that is!

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  6. I can definitely go for the bubble bath & candles, Michelle, but I might swap that glass of red wine for a Bailey's! :-)

    As for the kids, you could try the Hansel & Gretel trick! :-P (it's a good thing I know your children, Chelle - they're astute enough to avoid the witch but she'd waylay them long enough for you to have your bath in peace and quiet).

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  7. i love popcorn beside chocolate, my friend just brought popcorn mixed with caramel and nuts but the cost is queit expensive about usd 7 T_T

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    1. Eli, I also like caramel popcorn, combines one of my favourite sweet tooth flavours! :-)

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  8. I have a weakness for chocolate, Dr Pepper and a salty/crunchy chip called Munchos. Junk food is a serious vice for me.

    geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com

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    1. Hi StacieD! :-) I wonder what it is about the sweet and savoury foods that appeal to us so much?

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  9. WELCOME BACK, Miss Kylie !
    And congrats on your second release !!

    I think I've mentioned this before, but I'm particularly addicted to Amaretto ice cream and adding white chocolate chips. Each time we splurge on the calories and go to the Marble Slab...I promise myself that I'm going for a different flavor. But I always come back to Amaretto!!

    ~Angi

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    Replies
    1. We all have our favourites, Angi! LOL

      Not sure I've come across Amaretto ice cream - what flavour is it like?

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  10. I like so much junk food but I think potato chips are my biggest vice since I just can't eat one.
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

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    1. Maureen that is sooooooo true! When I need a salt kick, instead of Twisties I go for plain potato chips followed by salt and vinegar.

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  11. Hi Kylie,
    I love twisties and caramello chocolate but Rashuns are way better!!
    They are similar to twisties but are cheese and bacon flavoured and my all time favourite chocolate is a Terry's Chocolate Orange. My DH usually tracks down this English chocolatey yumminess for me as birthday or Christmas treat :)
    bookschatter@gmail.com

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    1. Rashuns sound like our Bacon & Cheese balls, Cath. (great name eh? *smirk*) This talk of junk food is making me peckish!!!

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    2. LOL - gotta love those cheesy balls!!

      Ohh my...I'm sorry, mind in the gutter moment!!

      I just had a lovely salad for lunch *eye roll*, but a packet of rashuns and some chocy would go down a treat right about now, trip to the local shop might be needed :)

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  12. My biggest food vice is cheese, I can't seem to eat anything unless I put cheese on it. :D At least I get the low fat kind, but I still eat a lot of it. My biggest vice overall is definitely books, can't get enough of them either, as all my overflowing bookshelves can attest to.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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    1. Ahh, books! Sigh - you can never have too may of those. Barbara what a great vice to have. Cheese is a good one too - I've recently discovered Halloumi and Halloumi with chilli - yummo!

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  13. Vanilla ice cream! I can devour a whole tub! *guilty look*

    Loved Vengeance Born; can't wait to read Alliance Forged & waiting with bated breath for the cover of Allegiance Sworn to be revealed!

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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  14. I like bread.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. Any kind of fresh baked bread.

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    2. Ahh, it's the freshness - I love the smell of it when it first comes out of the oven! :-)

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  15. Vanilla Ice Cream! I can devour a whole tub *guilty look*

    Linda

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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  16. Vanilla Ice Cream! I can devour a whole tub *guilty look*

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  17. I am a huge chocoholic. I also love whiskey and bread pudding.

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    1. Ahh, another chocoholic! But, LilMissMolly, I hope it's not whiskey and bread pudding together!!! LOL

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  18. Vanilla Ice Cream!!! I can devour a whole tub *guilty look*

    Linda (thumbelinda03@yahoo.com)

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  19. Vanilla ice cream! I can devour a whole tub *guilty look*

    Loved Vengeance Born, can't wait to read Alliance Forged & waiting with bated breath for the cover of Allegiance Sworn to be revealed!

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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  20. Another Twisties fan, Kylie. Oh, and Burger Rings, chocolate, pizza, and too much Coke Zero. Keep up with the good work.

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    Replies
    1. Nothing like a good junk food binge - these comments are the makings for a darn good party! LOL

      Thanks for dropping in, Eleni! :-)

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  21. Aragorn...yeah he inspires me too. =)
    Twisties? Never heard of these, they look tasty though. Me? I am a sucker for home made pie. So good and bad for me that happens to be my favorite thing to make!

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  22. Lexi, is that pie as in sweet or savoury? If we're talking savoury I love a good Shepherd's Pie. Sweet - lemon meringue!

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  23. Vanilla ice cream! I can devour a whole tub!!

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    1. Oh yum! Ice cream - I love cookies & cream, mascapone, caramel, chocolate, lemon...the list could go on!

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  24. Sweet definitely, peach pie is my absolute fave. But a good Shepards Pie is always a hit too. Been a while since I have made that...sounds pretty good. =P

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    1. Hmm, yum. Cherry pie, lemon meringue or caramel - caramel is one of my favourite flavours. :-)

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