Get Lost Again with Historical Romance author Kris Kennedy!

Get Lost in These Stories…

DECEPTION   Medieval

Con man Kieran has a history of staggering successes and one truly awful failure.  Now, he's on a mission of revenge, he has planned for everything.  Except the appearance of the one woman who can bring the whole thing crashing down around him

Excerpt: http://www.kriskennedy.net/178

Claiming Her: Elizabethan Ireland.

 

Aodh Mac Con Rardove has returned to Ireland to reclaim what his family’s heritage.  He plans to conquer everything: the castle, the lands, the lady.  Unfortunately the lady has no intention of being conquered so easily.  But then, things don't always turned out as planned....    

Excerpt: http://www.kriskennedy.net/183

I am so excited to welcome back fellow historical author and agency sister, Kris Kennedy on the blog today.  I was first introduced to her stories when I heard an editor raving about this fabulous Medieval story she’d just bought after someone on a panel had asked if Medievals were dead.  That same day, I was given Kris’ book, The Irish Warrior, by another person who said I had to read it and I thought, “That’s twice in a row I’ve heard her name. I’ll have to check her out.”  And believe me, Kris’s books live up to the hype—and, as I’ve learned as we’ve gotten to know each other, just a truly nice person.  I highly encourage you to pick up one of her stories today!      

So, let’s get to the Get Lost Interview!!!

Heather:  How often to you get lost in a story?  

Kris:  I checked out our interview from last time, and I see we talked about this same question back then—and my reply is the same, a year later: “Not often enough—I’m too busy.”  Eek.  I find that scary.  Understandable, but scary, because means I’m not reading enough.  So, thanks for the reality check.  I must find a way to make time. It’s difficult, though.  When there’s nothing shouting your attention, you can always find things purring for it.  It seems frivolous to sit down on the couch to do nothing but read for enjoyment.  Note to Self: Add more frivolity to days. . . .

Heather:  What’s the first book you remember reading?  

Kris:  Hmmm, I can’t be sure that it was the first—in fact, I’m sure it wasn’t the first--but I recall reading the Uncle Wiggly stories. 

And the pancake man.  And any and every horse book I could get my hands on.

Heather:  What’s your favorite fairy tale?

Kris:  I love the ones that have a theme of ‘what you thought was your darkest/worst/least loveable side was the very thing you needed to save you” theme.  The Ugly Duckling approach to morality tales.  :)

Heather:  What turns you off like nothing else?

Kris:  Arrogance that isn’t earned.  An adult being intentionally mean to any creature smaller or weaker than they are.

Heather:  Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind? 

Kris:  I see I answered this one before too!  And my cutting edge reply of “Sometimes” still stands, but I think I can elaborate more meaningfully.  It depends on where I’m at with ‘flow.’ If I’m flowing, I can—and do—crank the music as loud as it will go, and nothing, I mean nothing, can derail me.  Nerf darts to the head, the alarm on the oven beeping, no impact.  (You may be able to guess this not always a good thing.)  But other times, when I’m not ‘inside’ the story/ character/ scene, then I need silence.  At those times, I almost I feel like a detective hound dog, my nose down to the ground, sniffing out the story, every so often lifting my head to listen to a sound.  And during those times, I can’t have music. 

Heather:  What was the first story you remember writing? 

Kris:  Oh, my, that requires embarrassing answers.  As a kid, I penciled stories about my friends and me, and let me tell you, we have some hair-raising adventures! (On the page, that is, in my imagination.)  The first romance I wrote was a Revolutionary War-era story with an Irish hero.  It will N.E.V.E.R. see the light of day.  

Heather:  Who’s your favorite villain?

Kris:  Well, if I can step out of the realm of books and enter the realm of stories-in-general, I adore Alan Rickman as the Sherriff of Nottingham in the movie Prince of Thieves (Robin Hood). 

Also, Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisbourne in the BBC production of Robin Hood.

 

Hmmm…I’m noticing a theme here.

Heather:  What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?  
Kris:  Well, it’s never a clear line of, “Oh, look at me, I’m done!”  Being ‘done’ is not a steady state; it’s a bendable line.  But if we’re talking “the first thing I do after I send the story off to editor/formatter” then what I generally do is anything with my son, anything at all, where he gets my full attention. Then, when hubby gets home, we drink the champagne he’ll have brought.  :)

Heather:  If you were given a chance to travel to the past where would you go and specifically why? 

Kris:  To the middle ages, of course!  With a gun and a couple expensive horses, wearing Kevlar and knowing a LOT more French than I currently do.

Heather:  Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Kris:  Oh, sure.  :)  I love readers, and while less-than-positive reviews can hurt or even be embarrassing, that doesn’t mean I can’t handle it.  (Mockery or personal attacks are different, of course)   At heart, I’m a craftswoman, and I want to get better.  I have critique partners, and a rather brutal inner editor, but even so, I miss things.  Reviews can sometimes can help me see those.  I tend to have a good sense of which reviews have nailed a true problem (rather than it being a taste issue, or an “I wish you’d written THIS book instead of THAT one” sort of thing.)   That said, I rarely go seeking reviews.   

Heather:  Which is your favorite language other than your native language? 

Kris:  That would be Irish, of course!  :)  

Heather’s GOTTA ASK – Kris’s GOTTA ANSWER  J

Heather:  Can you tell our readers a little about the new venture you’re involved in, Rock*It Reads?

Kris:  Why, yes I can!  :)

Rock*It Reads is a new idea, a ‘brand’ of traditionally published authors who are self-publishing as well.  Each of the Rock*It Reads authors has made a commitment to put out only high-quality self-published works, on par with her New York works.  We’ve got a website (http://rockitreads.com), a newsletter, Twitter and Facebook pages, and an eye-catching logo for our books. 

Rock*It Reads isn’t a publisher.  These are 100% self-published works, done by each author, on her own dime, on her own time.  We’ve simply banded together to form Rock*It Reads to help our readers find other great self-published romances.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Kris:  How bad is too bad?  I’m looking for bad boy heroes, alpha heroes who push the edge. I think of my heroes as the “good alpha,” men so confident and secure in themselves they aren’t threatened by an equally-strong woman.  But that doesn’t mean they’re nice.  Oh, no, not even close.  Kier, the hero in DECEPTION, is a con man out for revenge, and Aodh, (CLAIMING HER) is a treasonous soldier who takes what he wants.   Which kind of bad boy hero lights your fire the hottest?    

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?**

 Kris:  I’ll be giving away two of my books!

First, an e-copy of my upcoming self-published super hot historical romance novella CLAIMING HER when it releases later this summer.  Excerpt: http://www.kriskennedy.net/183

Second, a print copy of my upcoming book from Pocket, DECEPTION, which will be sent once it releases. Excerpt: http://www.kriskennedy.net/178

Thanks so much for being with us today, Kris!  Where can your fans learn more about you on the web?

Website: http://kriskennedy.net

Newsletter sign-up (which will let you know when Claiming Her is releasing): http://kriskennedy.net/subscribe-to-newsletter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KrisKennedy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrisKennedyBooks

*Please click on photos for links to attributing websites. Thanks!

Kris Kennedy

Get Lost in This Story…

A warrior with questionable intentions . . .
On the eve of Magna Carta, Jamie Lost, King John’s favored lieutenant, is sent on a mission: retrieve an exiled priest with dangerous information before the rebel forces close in.  The mission is simple, until he encounters a mysterious woman on an errand of her own.  She first steals his quarry, then his heart.    

A lady of remarkable courage . . .
Eva is also seeking Father Peter, but she intends to protect him from a secret that endangers his life, even if it costs her own.  She is well aware danger lies everywhere, especially in the knight showing too much interest in her activities.  But deep inside, Eva knows the danger lies not in Jamie, but in her, in the desire he awakens in her body and her heart.

A secret that could overthrow the king. 
When a mysterious band of armed mercenaries upends both their plans and abducts the priest, Jamie and Eva form an uneasy alliance.   As civil war unfolds around them, they embark on an epic journey that betrays the truth about their identities, their unexpected loyalties, and the dangerous attraction that will seal their fates forever.

Their love can save a kingdom. Or destroy it.  DEFIANT.

I am so excited to host fellow historical author and agency sister, Kris Kennedy on the blog today.  I was first introduced to her stories when I heard an editor raving about this fabulous Medieval story she’d just bought after someone on a panel had asked if Medievals were dead.  That same day, I was given Kris’ book, The Irish Warrior, by another person who said I had to read it and I thought, “That’s twice now I’ve heard her name in one day. I’ll have to check her out.”  And believe me, Kris’s books live up to the hype—and, as I’ve learned as we’ve gotten to know each other, she's just truly a nice person, which is a total bonus!  I highly encourage you to pick up one of her stories today.    

Wife, mom and former psychotherapist, Kris Kennedy left behind the office for the wilds of medieval England and Ireland, writing sexy, adventure-filled medieval romances for Pocket Books.  Her current release, DEFIANT, got a starred review from Publishers Weekly.  Her former release, THE IRISH WARRIOR, won RWA® 2008 Golden Heart Award for Best Unpublished Historical Romance, and released in June 2009 from Kensington.  Visit the website for more info, or to drop Kris a line: http://kriskennedy.net

So, let’s get to the Get Lost Interview!!!

Heather:  What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Kris:  That is incredibly hard, in part because ‘favorite’ depends on mood.  But some of the movies I watch over and over for nothing-but-fun escapism include Jaws and two of the three Indy movies.

Heather:  How often to you get lost in a story? 

Kris:  I wish I could find more time! These days, I’m pretty driven on tasks—write a scene, clean something (anything—I’m not picky, and everything can use it), drop off at school, pick up from school, walk the dog, play games with kids, go to the baseball practice, go to the baseball game, shop, cook, clean up, write some more, fall into bed.

Heather:  What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

Kris:  Hot, sexy adventure.  I’m pretty liberal with my definition of ‘adventure.’  I need it to feel exciting and sweeping with engaging, humorous characters, and as long as it’s got all that and it involves a battle of wills, I’m probably good.  :-)

Heather:  What’s your favorite “love” word?

Kris:  My son and I say we’re in love with each other. :-)  It’s not how we adults mean the phrase, but it works perfectly.  The notion of being ‘inside’ of love with another person is pretty amazing to me, and exactly how I feel.  :-)

Heather:  Where do you read and how often?

Kris:  I’m a mom with deadlines, so I read whenever I can grab a moment, which isn’t often. I always read before bed, but sometimes that doesn’t last long. :-) What would feel like real luxury is to read during the day, on the couch, with no plans to do anything else but read some more.  Maybe take a nap. LOL I’m so wild and crazy.

Heather:  Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Kris:  Sometimes I do!  And if so, it’s always an alternative rock kinda sound.  Think Goo Goo Dolls

Heather:  Is writing or story-telling easier for you?

Kris:  I love them both with a fierce love.  I think writing is easiest, storytelling comes next, and writing well is the hardest of all. ;-)

Heather:  Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why?

Kris:  Oooh, cool question!  You know what?  I’d love to have ALL the heroes from my stories together for a BBQ.  And we’re going to make it a potluck.  Yep.  Some of them are secretly great cooks.  (Anyone who knows the books can try & guess which. :-) )

And I just realized something.   They’d all get along.  Really well.  What a great image. I picture a lot of laughter and storytelling. 

Heather’s GOTTA ASK – Kris’s GOTTA ANSWER  J

Heather:  As much as I LOVE Regency historicals, I am so very thrilled to see how well your fantastic Medievals are doing!  Please tell us how they came about, what you love so much about that time and what kept you writing when the publishing world insisted Medievals were dead.

Kris:  Honestly, had someone implanted my business-savvy, retrospective mind on my younger, story-loving self, I may have tried to write in other, higher-selling sub-genres.  But all I  knew is what moved me, what excited me, so I wrote there.

I think there is something so inherently dramatic and romantic about the middle ages.  Knights, battles, a certain kind of lawlessness that can allow anything to happen…it’s pretty ripe for tension and conflict and sensual energy.

That said, I have snippets of stories set in other eras.  I have easily half written of a story set in 1650’s, as well as a few Revolutionary War era stories, a few Georgian era ones mocked up, and even some contemporaries!   One day, I’ll get to them.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Kris:  What are some of the elements YOU all consider most romantic?  Do you like the lawlessness of the wild west?  The refined polish of the Regency drawing room?  Something else entirely?  What feels like great backdrop for a romance, and why?

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?**

Kris:  Yes, we’ll be giving away a copy of Defiant to one random commenter.

Thanks so much for being with us today, Kris!  Where can your fans learn more about you on the web?

http://kriskennedy.net

http://twitter.com/KrisKennedy

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kris-Kennedy/300051018336

**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Be sure to join us next week, when Maureen hosts Barrie Summy on Monday and I host Emma Wildes on Tuesday!

CHERRY ADAIR

HUSH . . . it's Cherry Adair...
Pocket
ISBN: 978-1439153826


In the sultry heat of a deadly jungle, lovers must pull off a dangerous and daring rescue.

National bestselling author Cherry Adair introduces an edgy, sexy new suspense series with this exhilarating international tale of hide and seek.

A reckless adventure in a deadly paradise.

Thrill seekers Zakary and Gideon Stark travel the globe in search of extreme adventure, but a trip to Venezuela to jump off the world’s highest falls catapults them into a perilous game of life or death – where they don’t know the rules.

A one-night stand that will change his life forever.

Kidnapped with a woman Zak knows nothing about, the brothers are held prisoner deep in the jungle. A risky, death-defying escape separates them and nearly claims Zak’s life…until his recovery reveals a baffling new sixth sense.

An unexpected diversion with lethal consequences.
Now, to find his missing brother, Zak and the mysterious Acadia Gray will have to out-smart, out-gun, and out-maneuver not just the brutal kidnappers but also a new player who joins the adrenaline game: a ruthless opponent who wants the Stark brothers dead – at any cost.

MY FRIEND . . . CHERRY ADAIR
New York Times bestselling author Cherry Adair has carved a niche for herself with her sexy, sassy, fast-paced, action adventure novels which have appeared on numerous bestsellers lists, won dozens of awards and garnered praise from reviewers and fans alike. She hates first drafts, has a passion for mentoring unpublished writers, and is hard at work on two new series – CUTTER CAY and LODESTONE.

What this short introduction can't tell you or show you is Cherry's dynamic personality. It's hard for me to remember that we met in a very quiet moment (probably the last we ever shared lol). After a very long, tiring, Kiss of Death tour of the FBI building, I shared a step with another redhead to rest. It was my first conference, my first tour, my first time to be around authors I didn't really know. I was very niave and I'm embarassed to admit I had no idea who Cherry was... But she took me under her wing anyway. Every year at conference I was greeted with smooches, hugs, and a stern: ARE YOU WRITING? And when I finally sold and was able to call my long-time friend with the best news of my career...still more words of wisdom: Writers Write. Get busy on the second book. "Yes ma'am!"

THE FUN STUFF

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?
CHERRY: Ahhh. Gone With The Wind. I snuck it out of the adult library when I was 12. I rewrote the ending immediately and never looked back.

ANGI: What’s your favorite “love” word?
CHERRY: Sweetheart

ANGI: What turns you off like nothing else?
CHERRY: Negativity

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?
CHERRY: I read anything I can get my hands on, unfortunately the more I write, the less time I have to read.

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?
CHERRY: Small children laughing (and them crying does just the opposite. Lol)

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?
CHERRY: Action Adventure *grin*

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?
CHERRY: A story about a fairy looking for her wings. I was 4.

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
CHERRY: Gone With The Wind & Con Air.

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?
CHERRY: Alan Rickman. (also the sexiest villain ever!)

ANGI: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?
CHERRY: They are the same thing to me.

ANGI: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?
CHERRY: That it makes my heart sing when they contact me, and that talking with them on Facebook every day is better than a vacation for me. *grin*

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: I absolutely adore you, woman! From the first time we met on the steps of the Hoover building in DC, you have been one of the authors in my life that consistently inspired and encouraged me to write. But who encourages you? What keeps you consistently writing? Where do the new ideas come from?
CHERRY’S GOTTA ANSWER: The new ideas just bubble up 24/7- Magic. Lol . I have two things that keep me motivated and bring me ridiculous amounts of joy every single day. The first are my readers, who keep things real, are extremely amusing, and come and play with me every day on Facebook (where I spent far too much time for all those reasons *grin*). They are THE best, and every day I want to show up on their doorsteps and give them a hug. *grin* I also have a passion for new, and yet to be published authors. When someone tries so hard, when they beat their heads against walls at every turn, and then triumph because they didn’t give up, when they sell their first book, it makes me incredibly proud. It also renews my faith in this crazy, hard, and wonderful business of being an author.

There is absolutely no better job in the world than doing exactly what I do.

Thanks for inviting me. I’ll send the winner of the drawing a copy of HUSH.

This was a lot of fun. *grin*

Smooches,
Cherry

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only. If an electronic Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?
I’d love to get some questions from your readers. Everyone who asks a question will get a little prezzie from me *grin*

THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHERRY, for juggling all your deadlines to hang out with us today. Readers, you can find Cherry at her Website: cherryadair.com; follow her on Twitter: CherryAdair; see her fabulous HUSH video on YouTube; or become one of her "Pips" on Facebook: Cherry Adair.

Join Heather tomorrow when she hosts Kathryn Smith & have fun with Cat's blog on Friday. Next week I welcome back friend and fellow Intrigue author Paula Graves as she interviews the characters in her May release. Til next week ~Angi

Alix Rickloff

Get Lost in This Story…

The magic she tries to hide…

Born a lady, but reduced to surviving in the slums of Dublin, Catriona O’Connell has been hired to steal a mysterious book from Aidan Douglas, Earl of Kilronan. But Cat is secretly Other, an age-old mixture of Fey and human—something Aidan recognizes immediately when he surprises the lovely young burglar in his library, about to steal a magical diary.

…is the magic he desperately wants.

From the moment Aidan sees her, Cat’s spirited beauty enchants him, but her uncanny abilities are what he truly needs, for Cat can understand the mystical language in the diary he inherited from his murdered father. So Aidan makes an offer: translate the book or be thrown in prison as a thief. And as Cat slowly deciphers each page, she and Aidan are drawn together by passion . . .and into the violence of the Other world that is the Kilronan legacy. Can they defeat those who seek the book, or are their lives in even greater danger than their hearts?

Today, we welcome paranormal historical romance author Alix Rickloff to the blog! Alix has never been able to decide who she enjoys reading more; Austen or Tolkien. That lifelong indecision drove her to create stories of her own, combining those distinct loves. Her writing awards include a final in the Golden Heart, while Romantic Times Magazine calls her work both compelling and original.

Her latest series set in Regency Ireland, The Heirs of Kilronan, follows the children of the old Earl of Kilronan as they struggle against the fallout from the evil their father unleashed before his death.

EARL OF DARKNESS featuring Aidan Douglas, the eldest son and heir to the title earl of Kilronan, is the first book in the series which releases TODAY! The second book, LORD OF SHADOWS is due to be released in July 2011 with the third and final book, whose title is still under consideration, coming out in January 2012.

So, let's meet Alix!

Heather: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Alix: Can I have three movies? I absolutely adored Peter Jackson’s LOTR trilogy. The casting was spot-on (Viggo Mortensen was delicious as Aragorn), the adaptation of Tolkein’s books to the screen was fabulous, and the attention to detail was amazing. I still use the soundtrack from those movies to inspire my own muse.

Heather: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

Alix: Beauty and the Beast. The idea of a woman’s love healing a man who’s been damaged in some way is a theme I’ve used over and over in my own writing.

Heather: Where do you read and how often?

Alix: I usually read in bed before I turn out the light. That is unless it’s a book that completely takes me over in which case I read everywhere and without stopping until I’m finished. Family? What family?

Heather: What sound or noise do you love?

Alix: Spring peepers. When they start singing I know winter’s almost over.

Heather: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Alix: See answer to question #1. Yes, I use music to inspire. It can be anything from the soundtracks to LOTR or The Last of the Mohicans to Enya, Wagner, or Muse, depending on the scene and the emotional impact.

Heather: Be honest, when reading 1^st person...do you miss the hero’s POV?

Alix: Yes. I like knowing what the man is thinking. I’ve begun to notice author’s writing the heroine’s POV in 1^st and the hero’s in 3^rd. I guess that’s one way to get around that problem.

Heather: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

Alix: Breathe a great big sigh of relief.

Heather: What do you do to unwind and relax?

Alix: No surprise—I read. Or enjoy a family movie night at home complete with popcorn.

Heather: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Alix: Oh, I so wish I could say I ignored reviews and never let them influence me. But the sad truth is that I do read them. And no matter how many fantastic reviews I receive, it’s always the one negative comment that sticks with me for days.

Heather: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

Alix: Coffee. Cream and sugar first so when I pour the coffee in, it’s instantly stirred. A trick I learned from my husband.

Heather: Dog person or cat person?

Alix: Cat. I love their independence.

HEATHER’S GOTTA ASK –ALIX’S GOTTA ANSWER J

Heather: So, we know you write regencies with that “Something Other”. If YOU could have a “something other” element or power in your life, what would it be?

Alix: That’s an easy one—the ability to clone myself.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Since the holidays have just passed, I want to know what everyone’s favorite gift was this year.

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?

Yes, I will give away a copy of EARL OF DARKNESS to one lucky commenter.

Thanks for coming by today, Alix!

If you’d like to learn more about Alix, visit her website or find her on Facebook.

www.AlixRickloff.com

www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Alix-Rickloff/101434889914147?ref=ts

www.BlameItOnTheMuse.com

Readers, don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance at the drawing.

We will announce a winner here and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Lost-In-A-Story/

You can also follow us on Twitter @GetLostInAStory