Contest & Conversation with Bestselling Author Kathryne Kennedy about Her Latest in her Elvin Series,THE LORD OF ILLUSION

The Lord of Illusion

Series: 3rd book in The Elvin Series

by

Paranormal Romance

Author

Kathryne Kennedy

Why do you write?

KK: I’ve been writing since I learned how to read. It comes as naturally to me as breathing.

Name one eye-opening thing you learned from your book research.

KK: Historically that some doctors considered a woman’s orgasm as a type of madness. That actually cracked me up.

Do you have a favorite motto?

KK: If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Do you have a favorite fictional hero?  Favorite fictional heroine?

KK: My favorites are always those from the book I just finished writing. So currently, it would be Millicent and Gareth from the forthcoming Everlasting Enchantment.

Which fictional character would you hang out with?

KK: Millicent. I would love to see her shift into a panther.

What is one of your favorite book covers, your own or someone else’s?


KK: I adore Patricia McKillip’s covers, especially Alphabet of Thorn. The artistry and detail are amazing. My publisher also does a fabulous job on covers…they keep getting better and better. They gave me a sneak peek at the re-release cover for Enchanting the Lady, and I love it! There’s a small dragonette on the heroine’s shoulder.

What would readers be surprised to learn about you?


KK: I honestly don’t know.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever learned by Googling your name?


KK: So now I had to go and Google it. :} I’m surprised to see I have a Wikipedia page…there’s some mistakes in it, so I wonder who provided the info? Ah, well, the mysteries of the internet.

If you could go backward or forward in time which would you chose?  Why?


KK: Backward. I would like to have a chat with Jesus Christ.

Kathryne, please share with us more about your third THE ELVIN LORDS installment THE LORD OF ILLUSION released by Sourcebooks Casablanca.


KK:  The Lord of Illusion features a scholar, Drystan Hawkes, who has been searching for years to find the one woman who might hold the key to freeing England from its slavery to the Elven Lords who invaded the country long ago. It’s about Camille Ashton, a girl enslaved in Dreamhame palace by the elven lord of glamour and illusion. It’s about healing hearts, and finding true love, and ultimately using that strength to conquer a great evil.

I noticed that you’re THE ELVIN LORDS series in the late 18^th century aka the Classical, or Georgian, period. What is it about the time period that peaks your curiosity that made you set your series in?


KK: I had written a series in the Victorian era, and wanted to explore a different period in history. The Georgian era was a time of decadence, luxury and romance, a perfect foil for the personalities of my elven lords.

Okay, I want to give a warm welcome to, Camille Ashton and Lord Drystan Hawke. (Waving franticly, trying to get the besotted couple’s attention). I know you two have gone through a lot to get to your happily ever after so I will try to be brief. (Blushes scarlet as she catches the intimate glance between the newlyweds), clears her throat...

Okay, so you two are still in the honeymoon stage, I see. I would like to know what each of you thought when you first laid eyes on the other. Was it love at first sight?

Camille: I had forgotten what love was. So for me, no…I was too busy struggling to survive. (Lowers her eyes and squeezes Drystan’s hand.) He had to teach me how to love again.

Drystan: I had been dreaming of Camille for so long that I think I was in love with her before we even met. (The corner of his lip twitches.) When I first saw her in person, she was covered in black ash and some sort of smelly grease…and looked determined to shoot me. So I’m not sure if love at first sight would qualify to describe our first meeting.

When you met, did you believe in true love? You can all answer. I’m quite curious to know all of your opinions.


Camille: No. (She sighs.) Love seemed like something only the wealthy could afford, and the dalliances were so brief it was more of a game than anything else.

Drystan: (Shaking his head, long white-blond hair brushing broad shoulders.) Camille had never heard of poetry. But I…I loved to read, and knew of many great romances. I believed in true love…I believed in it enough for the both of us.

Camille, name the one thing about Drystan that you believe won your heart.


Camille: Only one? (She raises a white-blond brow.) That’s hard…but perhaps it was when he saved my life…or when Grimor’ee, a dragon, made him jealous…or when he read my first poem to me…or when…I’m sorry, it’s so hard to choose.

My Lord, name one thing about Camille that you believe changed your outlook on love.


Drystan: I thought that when I met her, it would be like the stories in my books. She would fall into my arms and the earth would move and birds would sing. (He laughs, tugs at a pointed ear.) But it was nothing like that. It was better. It was real and complicated and everything love should truly be.

And now, back to Kathryne…

Kathryne, while you were writing Camille and Drystan’s story was there a scene that popped out the most?


KK: Definitely. When Drystan took Camille to the elven garden. It still stands out in my mind as beautiful, sensual, and poignant.

Kathryne, what is more difficult to write: an intense sexual scene or a heart-wrenching emotional scene?  Why?


KK: The sexual scenes are the easiest for me to write. My fingers fly across the keyboard. :} What’s difficult is weaving in the emotional context for each of those scenes, how they further the relationship between my hero and heroine. Why? I think it requires more vulnerability on my part—to lower my own defenses and write from the heart.

When you were writing THE LORD OF ILLUSION did you have music playing in the background?  If yes, what type?  Does music play an intricate part in your writing?


KK: Music inspires me, and I can visualize scenes while listening to a song. But I must have quiet when I write, because I need to immerse myself in the story, with no distractions that might keep me in the real world.

Which do you find is most important to you as a writer, voice or story? Why?


KK: Both. You have to have an interesting story to tell, and an accessible voice to tell it. Like all the other elements of storytelling, they must be woven together.

Kathryne, please share with desperate readers where they can connect with you in cyber world. =)


KK: At my website, http://www.kathrynekennedy.com. If you go to my BIO page, I have links to all the other social networking sites I’m a part of, where you can hook up with me. :}

I know this is a difficult question with there being so many amazing authors out there to choose from but who are some of the GOT-TO-HAVE authors in your TBR pile?


KK: Patricia McKillip, Sharon Shinn, Andre Norton, Erin Quinn, Jude Deveraux, Robin McKinley, Eloisa James, Robin Hobb…just off the top of my head.

What’s next in the works for you?  When can readers expect to see it out on shelves in their local bookstores?


KK: The re-release of Enchanting the Lady, and then the brand-new fourth book in the Relics of Merlin series, Everlasting Enchantment.

Kathryne, thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with Over the Edge Reviews readers and myself; it has really been a blast getting to know more about you and your books.

KK: It’s my pleasure! And thank you for putting together such a fun and fascinating interview! I’m looking forward to reading the comments from readers today, and wish everyone the best of luck in the giveaway!

THE LORD OF ILLUSION BY KATHRYNE KENNEDY—IN STORES FEBRUARY 2012

He'll do anything to save her...


Rebel Lord Drystan Hawkes dreams of fighting for England's freedom from the endless evils of the Elven Lords. He gets his chance when he finds a clue to opening the magic portal to Elfhame, and he must race to find the slave girl who holds the key to the mystery. But even as Drystan rescues Camille Ashton from Dreamhame Palace, it becomes unclear exactly who is saving whom.

For the fate of humankind lies with Camille...


Enslaved for years in a realm where illusion and glamour reign, Camille has learned to trust nothing and no one. But she's truly spellbound when she meets Drystan--a man different from any she's ever known, and the force of their passion may yet be strong enough to banish the Elven Lords from this world forever.

Praise for The Lord of Illusion

“The world sings with vivid imagery and fantastic magic, and all the previous characters join forces in a thrilling final fight for humankind.” —Publishers Weekly Starred review

“The hero and heroine are also out of the ordinary, and while this novel remains true to romance-genre mores, Kennedy infuses it with unexpected plot twists that will keep fantasy readers enthralled, too.” —Booklist Starred review

“Superb writing and a fast-moving plot combined with magical passion make this a real page-turner!” —RT Book Reviews 4 ½ Stars and Top Pick of the Month

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Sourcebooks

BooksAMillion

Chapters/Indigo

Kathryne’s Bookseller Directory

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathryne Kennedy is a critically acclaimed, best-selling, award-winning author of magical romances. She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at www.kathrynekennedy.com. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives with her wonderful family in Arizona, where she is working on the next book in her Relics of Merlin series, Everlasting Enchantment.

~ CONTEST~

RCJR is proud to present historical paranormal romance author Kathryne Kennedy's Sourcebook release, THE LORD OF ILLUSION, the third installment in his phenomenal The Elvin series. 

THE PRIZE: Two lucky readers will win their very own copy of THE LORD OF ILLUSION

To enter: Please leave a comment for Kathryne Kennedy including your email address.

*Connect with RCJR eZine at:

***

Contest is open to ALL

It will runs until February 29, 2012

I will contact the winners directly on March 1, 2012

HAPPY READING! =)