The Winner of a copy of Kylie's book, Vengeance Born, is Tina Rucci. Thank you all for stopping by and leaving a comment. It's a fabulous book!

Today I take great pleasure in introducing you to my fellow Book in 50 Days author, Kylie Griffin. Kylie won the Golden Heart Paranormal section in 2010 and has not looked back. This year she has two books coming out with Berkley – the first, Vengeance Born, this month!

I’ve managed to get her to guest blog on Regency Seductions to share a little about her writing journey and her fabulous debut romance, Vengeance Born.

BIO

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 at www.kyliegriffin.com

Bron, thanks so much for having me as your guest today on your blog. It’s exciting to be sitting in the interviewee chair instead of conducting it! LOL

I’m looking forward to sharing more about my debut book, VENGEANCE BORN, being released with Berkley on February 7^th (just a week away!!!!! I’m a little bit excited, can you tell?).

OK, fire away with the questions!

Author Facts

Pseudonym or Given Name? Why a pseudonym?

Griffin is a pseudonym but it’s my paternal great-grandmother’s name.

G is more middle of the bookshelf than my original surname; I wanted to keep it in the family as well as the genre! J

Location: outback New South Wales. It’s a lovely part of Australia – volcanic mountains dotting the landscape, wide open plains stretching to the horizon, rural farming area so lots of crops and stock, fresh air, open skies that are so dark and clear at night you can see the Milky Way. 

Published Genre: Paranormal romance (Berkley Sensation)

Website: www.kyliegriffin.com

First published in: 2012.

The Nitty Gritty

Title: VENGEANCE BORN (Bk#1 of the Light Blade series)

Setting: paranormal world where demons and humans once used to co-exist peacefully together but are now at war with one another.

Hero: Kalan – human Light Blade warrior

Heroine: Annika – a Na’Chi woman (a crossbred between human and demon) who possesses strong healing powers.

Scene you would never cut from the book.

The one scene I’d like to share is a spoiler so I’ll have to go with another – sorry!

Hmm, there’s a scene early on in the book where Annika is escaping from her father’s dungeon with Kalan. At the last minute she hesitates, the impact of her decision to escape hitting home.

Hesia patted her back. “You know I won’t make it. I’m far too old to run.” The woman released her and placed the healer’s pouch on her shoulder. Gnarled fingers gently traced her face. “May the Lady bless your path.” Her gaze met his. “Both of you. Go swiftly now, and don’t look back.”

A gentle push started Annika on her way but at the last corner in the corridor, her steps slowed. What was she doing? She placed a hand on the cold, stone wall, her fingernails digging into the grimy surface.

An ache started deep within her chest and spread outward, expanding to include her lungs. She labored to suck each breath in, and hot tears stung in her eyes and made her throat ache. She was leaving the woman who’d been more her mentor, protector, and best friend, the closest thing she’d had to a mother since her own had died giving birth to her twenty-five years ago. And here she was leaving behind the only person who’d ever loved and cared for her. For a half-blood outcast.

Annika’s leaving behind Hesia, her mentor, knowing her father will likely kill her for the part she’s played in their escape, she’s giving up her life as she knows it (as bad as it is it’s one she knows and is familiar with) for an uncertain one living among humans, and she’s placing her life in the hands of a warrior who would, in other circumstances, probably kill her.

It’s a huge turning point for Annika. She has the chance to change her circumstances but she has to trust in a stranger and his word to achieve a goal she’s longed for all her life. For someone who doesn’t trust easily this is a huge moment.

What’s one quirky thing about your hero and heroine?

Oh, I like this question.

Kalan has a thing for hot baths – he loves them, indulges in them when he can. If he lived in the modern world he’d be the one with a jacuzzi in his apartment. But being on the run from the Na’Reish with Annika, baths are in short supply, but they do come across a hot spring… J

Annika’s quirk isn’t as pleasant, quite the opposite. She sits on the pitches of roofs. It’s purely a survival tactic. Growing up as Na’Chi, her mixed heritage makes her a social outcast with both the Na’Reish and their human slaves.

As a child she was bullied and physically abused by others. To avoid this she used to hide on rooftops. From there she could spot the bullies coming and take advantage of any hidey-holes or escape routes she could see from that height.

The strategy is one she uses even as an adult – as you’ll see in the latter part of the story when Annika arrives in the city where Kalan lives.

What do you think readers will like about this book?

I think there’s a bit of everything for everyone in VENGEANCE BORN.

For readers who like fantasy world building, there’s plenty of those elements in the plot and sub-plots – creatures, paranormal powers, a deity, conflict between races, secrets unveiled and political machinations.

If you want romance, Annika and Kalan struggle against personal prejudices, flaws and other external hurdles to find love.

There’s intrigue and mystery – some twists and turns in the plot will satisfy this craving. Some secrets you may anticipate, others I hope you don’t see coming.

Action – fighting, a chase scene, death, escaping from dungeons, rebellion…check!

As I said, something for everyone… J

VENGEANCE BORN blurb 

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not pure bred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born…

Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na’Reish King, longs for more than her tormented life among her father’s people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she’s gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy.

With the Na’Reish vastly outnumbering them, Kalan, a Light Blade warrior, knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na’Reish Horde have increased. As Chosen-leader, he faces the task of stopping the demons—and convincing the Council of aging Light Blade warriors that change is necessary for survival.

When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father’s dungeon, her dream of escape seems within reach. She agrees to free him in exchange for his protection once they reach human territory. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they face not only the perilous journey to the border but enemies within the Council—and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into civil war…

What do you enjoy the most in the publishing process?

Nothing beats seeing the cover of your book for the first time. When my editor takes our ideas to the cover conference to decide on the concept for the cover I can’t wait to hear what they decide on. Then a couple of months later she sends me the cover design and I get this excited ball of energy in my gut when I see the email in my inbox.

But besides that, in the nitty-gritty part of the process, I’d have to say I enjoy editing. I’ve received a few sideways “are-you-crazy” looks for this answer but I do love it. Getting feedback from an impartial eye helps spot potential weaknesses are areas that could be improved and I love the challenge of reworking those bits to make the story better.

What do you least like about the publishing process?

I won’t say I hate it but I do struggle with giving my stories a title. The thesaurus gets used A LOT when I’m working with my editor on an appropriate title! LOL

What’s next for you? 

ALLIANCE FORGED, the second book in this series is out in early July, so I’m at the tail end of the publishing process with it as I type. And, all going well, Book #3 (untitled) is scheduled for an early 2013 release. Both feature characters introduced in VENGEANCE BORN.

On the new manuscript/writing front I’m thinking of finishing off a sci-fi/space opera romance that I started just before I received ‘the call’ from Berkley back in late 2010…unless, of course, I’m contracted for more in the Light Blade series! There are some secondary characters demanding that their stories to be told. It’d be great to get the chance to write them.

A Bit of Fun

Favorite color: Green.

Hunkiest hero ever: Hugh Jackman (sigh). 

Cat or dog (or other): Definitely cats – plural. I share my home with 3 moggies – Splat, Panda & Furball.

First book you remember reading: A collection of Hans Christian Anderson fairytales – original version, you know the sort where Cinderella’s sisters had their eyes picked out by crows – it had all the blood, gore and bad consequences. Everything to fire and inspire a child’s imagination! J

Author living or dead you’d most like to meet: Anne McCaffrey – her book DRAGONFLIGHT showed me fantasy and romance could be combined and inspired me to write the same.

Most daring thing you've done in your life: Tandem skydiving in Queenstown, New Zealand – what a rush! I was on a high for about a week afterwards.

Timeout/relaxation for me includes: Reading, pottering in the garden, making patchwork quilts (that is so addictive once I get started), indulging in photography (mostly nature and landscape shots in color & black & white).

Special quote/saying you like: “Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe in you.” ― Cynthia Kersey

I’ve had this one up on my office wall for many years and it’s one I always pass on to other writing friends, especially when they’re going through a tough time.

LINKS

Website: http://www.kyliegriffin.com

Blog: www.kyliegriffinromance.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kylie-Griffin-paranormal-romance/152760788151938

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KylieGriffin1

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882841.Kylie_Griffin

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/Kylie_Griffin-author

If you'd like to win a copy of Kylie's book, leave a comment telling her the name of her hero in VENGENANCE BORN - open internationally.