Today’s guest author, K. Reed, writes romance with a twist. She’s here to talk about Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire and she has some wonderful post-apocalypse survival baskets to give to randomly drawn commentors during the virtual book tour. Details follow the interview.
Bio:
Too many post-apocalyptic stories,
movies, and what-ifs crowded her head, and K Reed decided to do something about
it. So she plotted one out, decided an historical post-apocalyptic romance was
the way to go, and wrote that one instead.
movies, and what-ifs crowded her head, and K Reed decided to do something about
it. So she plotted one out, decided an historical post-apocalyptic romance was
the way to go, and wrote that one instead.
A lover of all things historical,
of strong heroes with equally strong heroines, and of sexy pirates, she’s going
to explore the post-apocalyptic world of plague-ridden 1804 and the gritty
criminal element of Victorian England.
of strong heroes with equally strong heroines, and of sexy pirates, she’s going
to explore the post-apocalyptic world of plague-ridden 1804 and the gritty
criminal element of Victorian England.
Luckily she has an understanding
family, supportive friends, and a day job that offers her the flexibility she
needs to plot, plan, and write. Sure, one day she’d like to travel the country
in search of fantastic storylines and great locale pictures, but for now she’ll
stick to the east coast and the internet.
family, supportive friends, and a day job that offers her the flexibility she
needs to plot, plan, and write. Sure, one day she’d like to travel the country
in search of fantastic storylines and great locale pictures, but for now she’ll
stick to the east coast and the internet.
Welcome, K. Please tell us about
your current release.
your current release.
Dark Inheritance:
Fallen Empire
isn’t your usual Regency romance. In fact, I’d hazard to say there’s not another
Regency romance like this…period. You see, Dark
Inheritance is an alternate history where a plague has infected Regency Era
England and the sumptuous ballrooms and gossiping matrons have been silenced.
Fallen Empire
isn’t your usual Regency romance. In fact, I’d hazard to say there’s not another
Regency romance like this…period. You see, Dark
Inheritance is an alternate history where a plague has infected Regency Era
England and the sumptuous ballrooms and gossiping matrons have been silenced.
It’s
a fight for survival. Death has decimated the populace and those who are left
riot, steal, and murder for the few resources left.
a fight for survival. Death has decimated the populace and those who are left
riot, steal, and murder for the few resources left.
Grayson,
Baron Harwich, struggles to maintain what order he can manage in a small
portion of England. Juliette, Lady Adair, simply struggles to survive when all
around her succumb. It’s a fight not only for survival but to try and restore
what once was.
Baron Harwich, struggles to maintain what order he can manage in a small
portion of England. Juliette, Lady Adair, simply struggles to survive when all
around her succumb. It’s a fight not only for survival but to try and restore
what once was.
What inspired you to
write this book?
write this book?
I
wanted to do something very different in a genre I was very familiar with.
After all, who doesn’t love Mr. Darcy? But I didn’t want to brave the normal
fare and be lost among other Regency writers. So I invented this world.
wanted to do something very different in a genre I was very familiar with.
After all, who doesn’t love Mr. Darcy? But I didn’t want to brave the normal
fare and be lost among other Regency writers. So I invented this world.
It
really sprung from my twisted little mind. I always wonder about the what ifs.
The alternate history, the odd events, the could have happens. It all draws me
in.
really sprung from my twisted little mind. I always wonder about the what ifs.
The alternate history, the odd events, the could have happens. It all draws me
in.
What exciting story
are you working on next?
are you working on next?
My
next series is a bit of a different project for me. While I normally set things
in the Regency Era, I’m moving up in time to the Victorian Era, the late
Victorians, the 1880s. No alternate history here, but romantic suspense with a
serial killer and all the Sherlock Holmes-type aspect to it. The major
difference being my ‘detectives’ aren’t going to be super sleuths with major
leaps in logic, rather a normal couple with an interest in criminology trying
to solve a very complex mystery.
next series is a bit of a different project for me. While I normally set things
in the Regency Era, I’m moving up in time to the Victorian Era, the late
Victorians, the 1880s. No alternate history here, but romantic suspense with a
serial killer and all the Sherlock Holmes-type aspect to it. The major
difference being my ‘detectives’ aren’t going to be super sleuths with major
leaps in logic, rather a normal couple with an interest in criminology trying
to solve a very complex mystery.
Added
into this Victorian trilogy the same rules of society I might normally play
with, or in the case of Dark Inheritance:
Fallen Empire, completely reinvent. I plan to use those rules to define the
romantic elements of the story.
into this Victorian trilogy the same rules of society I might normally play
with, or in the case of Dark Inheritance:
Fallen Empire, completely reinvent. I plan to use those rules to define the
romantic elements of the story.
Aside
from the Victorian trilogy, I’m going to work on another different project.
I’ve been asked to co-author a cookbook based on the Edwardian Era. I’m looking
forward to starting that project; it should be fun putting together the typical
daily meals for the era, and including the etiquette and entertaining tips that
go along with it.
from the Victorian trilogy, I’m going to work on another different project.
I’ve been asked to co-author a cookbook based on the Edwardian Era. I’m looking
forward to starting that project; it should be fun putting together the typical
daily meals for the era, and including the etiquette and entertaining tips that
go along with it.
When did you first
consider yourself a writer?
consider yourself a writer?
I
don’t remember ever not dabbling in writing since a young age. But to consider
myself a writer, I’d say when I
finished my first book. Finished as in completed it, not necessarily all the
other things that go with that such as editing, editing, and editing.
don’t remember ever not dabbling in writing since a young age. But to consider
myself a writer, I’d say when I
finished my first book. Finished as in completed it, not necessarily all the
other things that go with that such as editing, editing, and editing.
Do you write
full-time? If so, what’s your work day like?
If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to
write?
full-time? If so, what’s your work day like?
If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to
write?
I
don’t write full time, not in the strictest sense, but it feels like it. I find
time here and there, I make my writing a priority and schedule times to do so
even with my day job and all the other obligations that go with family,
friends, and life. Would I like to write full time? YES! Perhaps one day.
don’t write full time, not in the strictest sense, but it feels like it. I find
time here and there, I make my writing a priority and schedule times to do so
even with my day job and all the other obligations that go with family,
friends, and life. Would I like to write full time? YES! Perhaps one day.
What would you say is
your interesting writing quirk?
your interesting writing quirk?
I
don’t know that I have one. I’m a pretty boring writer when it comes to the actual
writing part. I sit down, set my mind to it, and just write.
don’t know that I have one. I’m a pretty boring writer when it comes to the actual
writing part. I sit down, set my mind to it, and just write.
Yeah,
even typing that it sounds boring!
even typing that it sounds boring!
As a child, what did
you want to be when you grew up?
you want to be when you grew up?
It
was a toss-up—The President of the United States…or Wonder Woman.
was a toss-up—The President of the United States…or Wonder Woman.
Anything additional
you want to share with the readers?
you want to share with the readers?
Alternate
history seems to be all the rage, what with Pride & Prejudice &
Zombies, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the complete list of Harry
Turtledove, and several short-lived TV series about going back in time to fix
something. Quantum Leap anyone? So my question to you is…what would you find an
interesting topic for an alternate history? An historical like I did or
something more current?
history seems to be all the rage, what with Pride & Prejudice &
Zombies, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the complete list of Harry
Turtledove, and several short-lived TV series about going back in time to fix
something. Quantum Leap anyone? So my question to you is…what would you find an
interesting topic for an alternate history? An historical like I did or
something more current?
Here’s a blurb for Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire:
The once glittering
ballrooms of Regency England now lay desolate. A plague has ravaged the
countryside. The government has fallen. What vestiges of order remained have
been consumed by the endless funeral pyres.
ballrooms of Regency England now lay desolate. A plague has ravaged the
countryside. The government has fallen. What vestiges of order remained have
been consumed by the endless funeral pyres.
Grayson, once the Baron of Harwich, sought only to protect his people. Rescuing
a half-dead woman was not among his plans. But something about her pulled at
him. Perhaps it was her beauty, still evident beneath the pallor of loss.
Perhaps it was the recently fired rifle at her side. Or maybe he was simply
tried of death. All he knew was that the plague had taken too much already. He
couldn’t let it take her as well.
Lady Juliette Adair had been ready to die with her brother. She didn’t expect
to be shown mercy in a world that had no room for mercy. When Grayson saved her
she questioned his motives but soon found herself intrigued by him, drawn to
him.
Societal rules were a thing of the past, dead along with the ton. Juliette had
no manner by which to measure her growing closeness to Grayson any longer. But
when she discovers he may not be the man she thought she knew more is at stake
than just her heart. The secrets she carries could make a king or destroy one.
Here’s an excerpt for Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire:
“How
do you survive if you gather every beggar you find?” she wondered softly.
do you survive if you gather every beggar you find?” she wondered softly.
Grayson
took a step closer and, even if he didn’t know himself why he insisted on
taking her back to Harwich, answered honestly. “I’ve never taken one before
now.”
took a step closer and, even if he didn’t know himself why he insisted on
taking her back to Harwich, answered honestly. “I’ve never taken one before
now.”
Shaking
her head, Juliette glanced to her brother. “Do not start with me, then. I
should be here.” She gestured to the body. “By his side.”
her head, Juliette glanced to her brother. “Do not start with me, then. I
should be here.” She gestured to the body. “By his side.”
When
her eyes met his again, he saw it. Despite her weakness, her delicate state,
strength sparked in her blue eyes. Unbidden, fury flashed through him at her
words, at a sentiment that contrasted with the look in her eyes.
her eyes met his again, he saw it. Despite her weakness, her delicate state,
strength sparked in her blue eyes. Unbidden, fury flashed through him at her
words, at a sentiment that contrasted with the look in her eyes.
He’d
given his men strict instructions. No matter what they saw, how many begged for
mercy, they were to perform their duties—find supplies to help their village,
their people. Never had they disobeyed him.
given his men strict instructions. No matter what they saw, how many begged for
mercy, they were to perform their duties—find supplies to help their village,
their people. Never had they disobeyed him.
Today
marked the first time his commands had been broken. And it was he who
had broken them. Instinct, an unnamed feeling, wouldn’t allow him to leave her
behind. Grayson was drawn to her, wanted her. Juliette touched a part of him
he’d thought long abandoned.
marked the first time his commands had been broken. And it was he who
had broken them. Instinct, an unnamed feeling, wouldn’t allow him to leave her
behind. Grayson was drawn to her, wanted her. Juliette touched a part of him
he’d thought long abandoned.
Leaning
closer, Grayson said clearly, “I have no interest in your absolution.”
closer, Grayson said clearly, “I have no interest in your absolution.”
Thanks for stopping by, K.
Readers, if you’d like to connect with K, she’s on Twitter. Dark Inheritance can be purchased through All Romance, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or CreateSpace.
And don’t forget, the author will award nine Post-apocalypse survival baskets (which include tea, a fan, a shawl, a bracelet and more — Plus ONE Grand Prize basket will include an iPod Touch) to randomly drawn commentors during the tour – US/Canada only. So, comment below and leave your e-mail if you’d like a chance to win. And to increase your chances, you can follow her tour and comment at other stops.
Good Morning!! I have to say that hands down Mr. Darcy is my ultimate dream man, so if you can twist a version of him into your book that is awesome!!!! Wonder-man still rocks and I think she actual did more good than the presidents..lol. I really am enjoying this tour! Your book sounds amazing. So I wanted ask, besides Mr. Darcy, who would have been your number 2 guy?
viajeradelmar@aol.com
Thank you for hosting K. today!
Thanks for having me today!
Nikki, let me think…in the Regency era? Richard Sharpe/Sean Bean. Hands down!
Co-authoring an Edwardian era cookbook?? How interesting. How are you (or will you be) conducting your research? My community college has a culinary program. I could definitely see purchasing an historical cookbook for our students.
@capefearlibn
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
I enjoyed the interview. That's great inspiration for the book.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Catherine, I'm working with a co-writer who is a retired chef and she's doing all the recipies. I'm doing the introduction, entertaining aspects, and table settings. It's been very fun so far!
BN100–Thanks for dropping by!
Alternate histories can go wither way. I don't mind if its actual history and playing the "What If" game. But Messing with a class like P&P with zombies… ugh!! That book was ridiculous.
I can't wait for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter to hit theatres. I've always loved alternate histories. It's always fun to imagine the what ifs? It's one of the reasons I like steampunk novels so much. Thanks for sharing!!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com