 Kylie Griffin’s Wild Fantasies! Posted by Anna Campbell Jan 27 2012, 12:02 am
It’s my great pleasure today to introduce to you a dear friend and talented Golden Heart-winning author whose debut romance VENGEANCE BORN is out next month. Kylie Griffin and I have known each other for years, hooking up through a mutual friend on the breakfast shift at the very glam Langham Hotel in Melbourne back at the 2005 Romance Writers of Australia conference. Kylie was a contest queen and is always happy to help another writer so I think it’s karma (as well as talent) that led to her getting a three-book contract for her “‘Light Blade” series. Nalini Singh, New York Times bestseller and all round cool chick, described VENGEANCE BORN as “unique and filled with compelling mystery.” You can find out about Kylie and her multi award-winning romances from Berkley at her website: www.kyliegriffin.com By the way, Kylie’s also a talented photographer. Check out the beautiful shots of the area where she lives and some of the locals that illustrate this post. Kylie, welcome to the lair! I’ve been so looking forward to your visit, ever since you sold. Great to see an Aussie hitting the big time. Congratulations on the release of your debut, VENGEANCE BORN, the first in the “Light Blade” series. Can you tell us about this story? Anna, it’s so exciting to be here. Thanks for inviting me over!
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…
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…as I said, something for everyone! Never a dull moment! What were the inspirations behind this book?
I played a game of ‘what if…’ to learn more about her. It seems a strange thing to say that I had fun considering the possibilities of a crossbreed child born as the result of a rape. But the idea of a bastard child bred for revenge against an old enemy gave me a huge range of character traits and plot lines to play with. How would the environment influence her development? Could any one person or influence balance her horrendous upbringing? How could they or it affect her? Which traits would dominate? I decided that Annika would have strength and courage backed by a determination to free herself – there would be no waiting around for someone to save her (I love a strong heroine) – but, because of her upbringing, she’d also harbor a flawed sense of worth and need for acceptance. And so, VENGEANCE BORN came into being… When I first started playing with ideas for this series, I knew I wanted to make it (at a minimum) a trilogy. The scope of the external plot wasn’t going to fit in just one book. While the series isn’t epic fantasy in its purest form, it does have similar elements. The world is entirely fictional, there are different races (not just humans), the plots employ typical themes such as a quest, a guiding deity, struggles against an opposing force, the threat of world domination, revenge and redemption, but readers also get to focus on a romance between main characters. Without giving away any spoilers, in VENGEANCE BORN readers quickly learn the Na’Reish outnumber the humans, and that the human race is under threat of enslavement. Annika and the other Na’Chi prove to be the key to humanity’s survival, although no one realises it at the time, and it takes Kalan to engineer a change. This change and some of the broader themes continue throughout ALLIANCE FORGED and Book #3 in the series, although we see them unfolding through other characters and their personal stories and romances. Readers will also get to learn more about each of the races in these stories.
This trilogy will tie up some over-arching plot threads but there’s plenty of scope to incorporate other threads and extend the series beyond three books. Some secondary characters are already demanding that their stories be told, so I hope I get the chance to tell them. We love call stories in the lair. Can you give us yours? Ohh, so do I. Reading how others get the call always encouraged and inspired me to keep persevering. Where to begin? Let me roll back the clock…to Oct.16th 2010, a little after I’d returned from attending the Romance Writers of America conference, where I’d won a Golden Heart (paranormal section for unpublished writers). As a result of pitching and querying, I’d received several offers of representation and I was in the midst of organising telephone calls, matching schedules and time zones (no easy feat, especially when daylight savings has just kicked in!).
Long story short, I ended up with seven offers of representation, and it was on my last phone call that I found my new agent – Elaine Spencer from The Knight Agency. I really, really connected with her. Elaine began working her magic. Within 24hrs she’d sent out “Bloodborn” to three other publishing houses and contacted the two I already had it sitting at as a result of pitch sessions at conferences. We decided to accept Berkley’s offer – and I came away with a three-book deal. Now, for a bit of an interesting aside, this time concerning Leis Pederson – three years ago I entered an Romance Writers of New Zealand writing competition with the then (only three chapters) version of “Bloodborn”. It won and Leis was the final judge – she requested the full but I didn’t have it finished. It took another year and another ms in between before I finished “Bloodborn”. I entered it into the Emily in 2010 – won the paranormal section and Best of the Best. And as the prize for that Leis Pederson critiqued 30 pages. She read my work and requested the full. So it ended up with her in a round about way a couple of years after she’d first requested it. Things have seemed to have come full circle. Weird coincidence or fate? You decide.
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 this. Here’s the blurb: 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. And, all going well, Book #3 (untitled) is scheduled for an early 2013 release. Both books 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! You live in a really beautiful part of the world – I love the beautiful photos of western New South Wales on your website. I’d love you to tell us about YOUR Australia. Do you think that dramatic landscape inspires your writing? The landscape certainly provides a peaceful setting for my writing and there have been times I’ve retreated to the great outdoors for a walk to clear the mind or think over a problem. Getting out and away and into nature does help in that respect. As for my Australia – I’m definitely a country girl through and through. While I love visiting the big cities or larger towns to see friends or family, I’m most comfortable and love open spaces. I also do a lot of driving to get to places out where I live (I travel an 86 miles round trip to do my grocery shopping & if I want to get to a larger place of 60,000 people, it’s a 186 mile round trip).
In the summer I love sitting outside in a camper chair and gazing up at the Milky Way. The village I live in has about half a dozen street lights and they’re spaced so far apart they really don’t interfere with stargazing, so you get an awesome, clear view of the night sky. It’s huge! At these times I’m often reminded of this stanza in the poem My Country by Dorothea McKellar. I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of droughts and flooding rains. I love her far horizons, I love her jewel-sea, Her beauty and her terror - The wide brown land for me! She certainly captured the heart and vision of Australia and it’s her words I recall when I return home from a trip away. And when friends and family visit me they often get to see a myriad of local wildlife, some who make themselves right at home in my backyard or under the house – kangaroos, echidnas, lorikeets, koalas (and the odd King Brown snake) – a treat I sometimes take for granted. I love that poem too! Kylie, is there anything you’d like to ask our Banditas and Bandita Buddies?
Kylie has very generously offered one of our commenters today a copy of her debut VENGEANCE BORN. So get commenting, people! TweetPosted in Alliance Forged, Anna Campbell, Australian Authors, Bandita Booty, Blade of Light Series, Debut authors, fantasy, Guest Authors, Kylie Griffin, paranormal, Vengeance Born Comments149 thoughts on “Kylie Griffin’s Wild Fantasies!” |
  
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by Anna Campbell
Can you tell us about the Light Blade series as a whole?
So if readers like this sort of epic-style story with a good romance then the Light Blade series is one to try. While each can be read as stand-alone romances I’d recommend reading them in sequence for the full impact.
The blurbs sound intriguing, Will definitely keep a look out for them at the book shop. Thanks Anna for introducing us to another great Aussie talent.
Hi Susan
You got the GR do you have plans for him I am sure this is your first time with him
Have Fun
Helen
Posted a comment below – sorry, forgot I could reply in the box!
Susan, Kylie’s really well known in local romance circles. She went beyond being a contest queen to being a contest EMPRESS! I can’t wait to read her book at last!
I was only following in the footsteps of some other well-known, famous contest queens (aka one Anna Campbell & Paula Roe) – that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!!!
Snort, I think our completely unnatural love of contests was a real bonding factor in our friendship!
Methinks you’re right!
Your book sounds like it’ll be a great read. I am looking forward to it and the other two books of the trilogy. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy and best wishes on your release!
bettysunflower at hotmail.com
Ditto the message above!
Bettye, I love our guests in the lair but there’s really something special about a debut author coming to see us, isn’t there? So exciting! Congratulations again, Kylie!
Thank you.
I love fantasy romance, that’s my fav subgenre together with Historical Romance. I’ve just started reading PNR (hooked after reading Thea Harrison’s Dragon Bound); there seems to be quite a fine line btwn PNR & fantasy romance?
I like best books with magic or dragons (or both!).
Love the covers of the books; absolutely gorgeous!
Linda, the line is thin between the PNR and fantasy romance. I look at it as PNR being the umbrella term for all the sub-genres that can be included under it – urban fantasy, fantasy romance, time travel, science fiction romance, and so on.
But I guess you can also look at PNR as modern day settings intertwined with the paranormal – think JRWard’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, or Pamela Palmer’s Ferals or the Dark-Hunter from Sherrilyn Kenyon.
I’d include Thea Harrison, Jean Johnson and Elizabeth Vaughan as more fantasy romance. Other worlds, other times mixed with the paranormal.
And I’m with you on loving dragons – my first fantasy read was DRAGONFLIGHT by Anne McCaffrey. I love her Pern series! Oh, and I also have a fab dragon tattoo that takes up most of my right forearm (I posted a photo of it in Oct.2011 on my blog).
And Gene Mollica is the incredibly talented artist who designed the covers for VENGEANCE BORN and ALLIANCE FORGED. I certainly hope he’s commissioned to work on the third cover.
Linda, the covers really are gorgeous, aren’t they?
I was wondering do your readers like reading books in this genre?
I write vampire romance; and quite a few people who read my stuff enjoy it. However, I am my own worst critic before it even hits the public.
What do like or loathe about it?
there slow times where no story ideas come to me… I hate that. Then there’s the times when I need to edit my stories; and that takes up an immense amount of time too.
Do they have a favorite author?
If I could tell you my favourite author, it would change each time you asked me. However Stephen King has shaped me a lot in the way I write. I try to keep my adverbs to a minimum and write as though I’m having an ordinary conversation; so people don’t get lost.
What makes their worlds and characters so fascinating?
SK uses a small amount of characters and shoves the into ‘what-if’ situations… and I’ve taken up his style of writing, it’s fun and unplanned.
Mozette, I so hear you on the self critic comment – as writers I don’t think we’ll get away from that – LOL! I have a couple of good friends who whop me upside the head when I hit a funk like that. They tell me to suck it up and get over it – love them for it
.
And I have a list of favorite authors as long as my arm, some move to the top depending on what I’m hankering to read. At the moment I’m on a Sarah McCarthy binge (she’s a new to me author and I love her erotic westerns, I think it’s the emotional roller coaster ride her characters go through that really grab me).
Mozette, I laughed at your favorite author changing all the time. I hear you!
Your book sounds great. I do love to read paranormal. I love Lara Adrian’s “Midnight Breed” seies and JR Ward’s “Black Dagger Brotherhood” Series. They make people who come to life after dark sound so sexy.
Ahh, Gail, you’ve named one of my must-buy series – the BDB’s! Zsadist’s story is my all time favorite so far. I’ve worn the spine out on that copy and need to get another!
Her vampires with a twist were the first series I discovered that deviated from the traditional vamp-type stories.
I’m hoping she writes Blay and Quinn’s story some day. That’s one worth waiting for!
Gail, I haven’t read the Lara Adrians but I love the J.R. Wards. At one stage, I was quite obsessed with those
Hi Anna and Kylie
I LOVE Nalini Singh…both her Guild Hunter series and her Psy-changeling series would have to be at the top of my fave para/rom/psy/fan books.
There is just something about the way she writes her characters and their relationships that draws me in with only a minimal amount of reading and they feel like family. And the worlds that she has created are just so completely ‘real’ that I wish I could go for a visit!!
I’m having fun stalking you on your blog tour Kylie, (not in a creepy way I promise!!)
Thanks for the great interview Anna
Hello, Cath! (waving across the ditch to NZ here, folks)
Nalini is another must-buy for me too! Her Psy/Changeling series are awesome – my fav. book is CARESSED BY ICE – I love Judd!!!! And Nalini is one of my all time fav. authors as well.
Last RWNZ conference I wore a t-shirt my friend gave me that said, “I want to be Nalini Singh when I grow up.” and when she saw it she had the biggest laugh. We took a photo of us together for posterity – one of my fav.moments of the conference.
Forgot to add, I’m glad to see you’re interested enough to stalk…umm, I mean follow my blog tour
– there’s lots of information at each stop about the book, the series, I’ve tried not to repeat myself too much!
Kylie, I bet Nalini got a kick out of the T-shirts. In 2010, we actually went to three conferences together, RomCon, RWAmerica and RWAustralia. And then the following February we did ARRA in Sydney. I’ve missed seeing her so much over the last year.
Cath, Nalini’s great, isn’t she? I love how for all the world building, she keeps the focus on the emotion. Makes for really powerful stories.
G’day, Susan. Anna is a honey isn’t she? I was so excited when she asked if I’d like to visit the Romance Bandits.
I had the pleasure of meeting a few of the ladies who reside here, as well as the out of control rooster, at the RWA 2010 Literacy Signing. I think I might have even have a photo of the rooster with Christina Brooke.
Aww, Kylie, aren’t you lovely? Actually I think I was so keen to have you on the Bandits, I booked you in the minute you had a release day
Hi Kylie,
Lucky you with no light pollution to contend with while stargazing.
My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. I love their quirky sense of humour.
Sandy, the view we have of the Milky Way here in the southern hemisphere is awesome. I recently stayed up to some unearthly hour of 2am to watch the full lunar eclipse – it was amazing. I think in the time I stood staring up at the sky, I saw half a dozen satellites (man-made) crossing the sky as well as three falling stars). And mid-last year (middle of our winter) I went out at about 1am to watch a meteorite shower. Spectacular!!!
OMGoodness – Douglas Adams and his Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series just cracked me up, too!!! It’s such a zany series – the BBC made it into a TV series that aired here in the ’80′s and I watched it religiously. I loved the trivia imparted by the guide.
Kylie, if you’re a certain age, the Hitchhikers lines were catchphrases. Still sit up and take notice if anything adds up to 42.
Oh, the memories! LOL
Marvin: Life? Don’t talk to me about life!
And I did go and look this one up in my copy of the book because all I could remember was the bit about bad poetry and gnawing off his leg…
The Book: Vogon poetry is the third worst in the Universe. The second worst is that of the Azgoths of Kria. During a recitation by their Poet Master Grunthos the Flatulent of his poem “Ode to a Small Lump of Green Putty I Found in My Armpit One Midsummer Morning” four of his audience members died of internal hemorrhaging, and the President of the Mid-Galactic Arts Nobbling Council survived by gnawing one of his own legs off. The very worst poetry in the universe was written by Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings of Sussex. Thankfully it was destroyed when the earth was.
Oh, I”d forgotten that. Actually I love that a lot of HHGTTG has reached the broader culture. Love that if I want to translate something, I just go to Babel Fish!
Sandy, I adore Douglas Adams. I’ve got a quote from him about deadlines on my coffee mug right now – he loves deadlines, he loves the sound they make as they whizz by! He left us far too early, didn’t he? I’ve seen interviews with him, absolutely lovely man.
Unfortunately for us, yes he did, Anna. Have you read any of his Dirk Gently series? They’re hilarious – naturally.
Kylie, I have the BBC series of HGTTG on DVD. My favourite Marvin quote was “Brain the size of a planet and you want me to…”
And don’t even get me started on Slartybartfast
Ditto with Slartybartfast – that name just cracks me up every time! And Marvin, poor Marvin…*snigger*
Love brain the size of a planet! No, I haven’t read Dirk Gently. I must!
Hi Betty, thanks for the good wishes and good luck in the draw!
I love your sunflower photo – it’s one of the staple crops the farmers around here grow. In fact they have an annual competition that’s been running close to 50 years for the best sunflower, best tonnage per acre, largest crop etc.
Whoo Hoo Kylie is in the Lair YAY
I love the sound of this book Kylie so good, I only started reading paranormal/sci-fi/urban fantasty not long ago I am basiclly a historical reader but I am loving these genres and apart from the great heroes and heroines it is the world building that I love the different places and styles as well as traits that the characters have and the need to fight for a better understanding of the different worlds that seem to be merging.
I love Nalini Singh’s series both of them and am loving Tracey O’Hara’s series as well. I am sure athere are lots more out there and more that I have read but the mind is coming up blank at the moment.
Huge congrats on the release Kylie I look forward to reading this one will be off looking for it very soon. Thanks Anna for inviting Kylie along today oh and Kylie I love the pictures I love getting out in the bush for long drives doesn’t happen enough these days sadly.
Have Fun
Helen
Hey, Helen! I love hearing about paranormal converts – welcome to the Dark Side!!!!
You’ve certainly started with some great authors and their books. If you like Tracey’s work I know her series is just being released on audio – if you’re anything like me, sometimes all the time you have to read is by listening to audio CD’s in the car on the way to town.
If you’re looking for a couple of other PNR recommendations can I suggest Denise Rossetti (another DownUnder author) – I love her Four-Pentacle series, not mention her other books) and Mel Teshco (she has a great Winged & Dangerous gargoyle series).
I hope you get to take a drive out in the bush soon – it’s so revitalising! Thanks again for your congrats on the release of my series – it’s a hoot meeting you all!
Yes Kylie the mind was a blank I love Denise’s Four -Pentacale series I have the last one on the TBR Pile
Have Fun
Helen
Ohh, THE LONE WARRIOR! I’ve read it half a dozen times already and it’s by far my most fav. of all in the series to date. (I have a lot of fav books)
Helen, isn’t it wonderful to have Kylie in the lair promoting her book. Our liddle girl’s all dun growed up
LOL – not sure how much more growing I can do, Anna! *snicker* (I’m 5’1″ for those who don’t know)
Yeah, short stuff (she said at 5’2″)!
Another common denominator, Ms.Campbell! *hee-hee*
Welcome Kylie,
I do read paranormals, but am not so familiar with fantasy novels. For paranormals, I enjoy ghost and psychic stories the most and my favorite authors include Christine Feehan and Cynthia Eden.
Jane, I love a good ghost story. Some of my favorite movies are ghost movies too. Like The Ghost and Mrs. Muir or a Portrait of Jenny. Something so beautifully poignant in a ghost love story.
Those are great movies, Anna. I love Gene Tierney.
She was so lovely, wasn’t she? And Rex is HAWTTTTT in that film!
I was channel surfing the other night and happened to spot GHOST on TV – and was totally hooked by the story again.
Patrick Swayze is such a yummy guy, sigh, but the chemistry between his character & Demy Moore’s is captivating. And I absolutely love Whoopie Goldberg – she is such a versatile (and funny) actress.
Ohh, Christine Feehan, ghosts – I’m going to hazard a guess that you’re reading her Ghostwalker series – I love how she’s worked in psychic powers with the soldiers and heroines, terrific concept, but I’m woefully behind on keeping up with the series.
Oh, well will catch up, one day!
Perhaps VENGEANCE BORN might be your introduction to fantasy romance (*waggling eyebrows*
)???? Good luck with the draw!
Ooh, Kylie, SUTTTTTTTALLLLL!
Although, yanno, could be true. We all only need one great book to convert us to a subgenre. I never read SuperRomance until Sarah Mayberry made me read hers and now I’m a devotee.
Confession time – I have to admit I was never a huge historical romance fan. Never thought they’d appeal to me (strange given I loved history!). I adored western historicals but never thought I’d like any other sub-genre.
But then I discovered Sandra Hill’s VIKING time-travel series, closely followed by FORBIDDEN by Helen Kirkman (I bought it based on the cover alone and then discovered she wrote Celtic/Saxon/Viking romances).
Strangely enough I was also captivated by the characters in a book called CLAIMING THE COURTESAN & UNTOUCHED (which is my all time fav. of someone we know!
).
I was an historical romance convert. And yes, Anna’s right, it only takes one book to begin a love of a sub-genre.
Wow, Kylie–so excited to make your acquaintance! The Lair is such a lovely place for finding new-to-me authors and books! Congrats on your upcoming debut–the Light Blade world and series sounds fabulous! I do love fantasy stories and scifi–there’s so much more to the “getting away from it all” when the world itself is so different from (and sometimes so intriguingly mirrors) our own. Thanks for sharing your story–looking forward to adding these to my TBR!
Some of my other favorites (including many already mentioned–Ms. Singh, Ms. McCarthy, Ms. Rosetti…) are Ann Aguirre (not so much fantasy, although her Corine Solomon series is I think considered UF?), Larissa Ione, Jess Granger, Meljean Brook, Patricia Briggs…
Smorgasbord! Wow, I love this list of authors you reeled off, Fedora.
Ann Aguirre – her Sarantha Jax series is fantastic and I LOVE her Ellen Connor co-authored New Age Dawning post-apocalyptic series. Just finished DAYBREAK actually. Would love to read more of that world.
The world-building is what sucks me in to PNR, whatever the sub-genre. Unfamiliar but familiar enough to resonate (or fascinate!).
Thanks for the warm welcome!
Hi Fedora! So glad you loved hearing about Kylie and her books. Sounds like they’re right up your alley.
I completely concur–I hesitated before reading the Dark Age Dawning series just because it’s a bit darker than I typically pick up, but it was AMAZING. I was SO sad to finish Daybreak only because it was the last one!
I do like reading fantasy. It’s wonderful to explore the other world-ness. (It’s a word!!)
Great to see a reader of fantasy, Mary! And I agree, the other worldliness of the genre is a huge drawcard!
Mary, isn’t it wonderful to see another Aussie taking the stage internationally?
What a great post Kylie (and Anna!)
Your call story is delicious Kylie, love how all your hard work has paid off for you – big time. I’ve got this one on order – can’t wait to hook into a totally new read! =)
G’day, Mel! Good to see you here! Hey, folks, this is the Mel Teshco I was referring to earlier in my reply to Helen!
Thank you for already ordering VB, my eternal gratitude to you! Enjoy when you get it.
Hiya Mel! Waving madly at you! Kylie’s book sounds fab, doesn’t it?
Hi Kylie and Anna
Congrats on your books Kylie… I have only been reading paranormal for a short time and I think the first ones I read were Nalini’s psy-changeling series …. I did not realise there were all these genres, I was mainly into historical but now read all sorts .. love the photo’s .. I am in Sydney so do not get such a clear view of the sky like you
Barb, I grew up on a farm and I remember the beautiful skies. The full moon was so bright without other light to interfere with it that sometimes it would keep you awake at night. I miss that!
Hey, Barb, you’re close to a good spot to view the night sky – do you get up into the Blue Mountains at all? There’s some awesome vantage points out there.
And so good to hear you’re a new convert to the PNR genre – and what a great author to find. Nalini’s books do suck you right in, eh? Now that you’ve discovered PNR your To BE read pile will be chocka’s!!!
Oh, Kylie, I cannot wait to get my hands on your books. No Kindle purchase here; the covers are just too gorgeous!
What a wonderful selling story.:)
I read across the board. As long as I’m close to a happy ending, it doesn’t even have to be a “romance” (but it certainly helps!) When I was younger, my favorite fantasy stories was the Spellsinger series by Alan Dean Foster. JonTom is pulled into a fantasy world by a turtle wizard Clothahump. The wizard is searching for engineers…and Jon is a sanitation engineer. It’s funny and brilliantly written. I also read each of the Iron Fey books by Julie Kagawa at least twice.
Huge congratulations on your upcoming releases!
Gillian, I received my first copy of VB this Monday gone, and even though I’ve seen the cover in a jpeg for a gazillion months (or so it seems
) holding it in my hands and seeing it is a sigh-worthy moment. So I get your wanting to see it in “print”.
I have to admit I haven’t yet read Julie Kagawa or Alan Dean Foster – so many books, so little time … sigh …
Hi Gillian! Weren’t you girls Golden Heart finalists together in Orlando? Kylie’s books sound fantastic (in all senses of the word!), don’t they? I love the sound of those Alan Dean Foster books. I’ve never heard of them before. I must check them out.
We were indeed GH finalists together, Anna – go the Unsinkables!
sounds so interesting book, i love all genre book especially historical, young adult / fantasy and pararorm and i love the cover book and your shot pic
Eli, the cover gets you at hello, doesn’t it?
G’day Eli, thanks for popping in and saying hi. Do you have a favorite historical author or time period? Regency, Victorian, Viking, ancient historical, western?
It’s lovely to hear compliments on the book covers (Gene Mollica the cover artist says it’s also one thing he likes getting feedback on), and I’m sure the girls who took my photo will also appreciate the good thoughts.
Kylie, I think that’s a lovely photo of you!
Thank you.
Kylie, what a fabulous story. I love that you got the call from Leis amid interviewing agents.
Can’t wait for your release!
Abigail, it’s a great call story, isn’t it?
(*waving madly*) Another GH Unsinkable! Hi, Abigail!
It was a hectic time during the whole agent/editor hunting process – not a lot of sleep that week, and lots of time zone juggling.
I don’t mind a bit of the fantastical, and ghost stories are some of my favorites. What I don’t like about this genre the most is when names are created or places or beings and the names are hard to pronounce. I end up just glossing over those names and eventually I lose interest in the book as I have no connection to the main characters.
Molly, what an interesting take. I must say I like the exotic names – makes me aware I’m in a different universe. Hhorses fhor chourses, I guess!
I’ve read a few books with words that were hard to pronounce, LilMissMolly, so I understand where you’re coming from.
I ended up making up my own or nicknamed them with the first letter they started with – eg. Sphoristonium would end up as the S-word! If the world-building did its job then I forgave the unpronounceable names.
Hi,
Your book osunds good. I enjoy paranormal books of all types.
Thanks for swinging by, Sandy!
Ahh, an omnivore of PNR!!! Great to hear.
Hi Kylie,
If reading your blog was this much fun, I can’t even imagine your books. Can’t wait! I loved your call story. And I truly loved the pictures from your Australia. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but the three weeks I spent in your country when my daughter did a semester at the University of Melbourne were the most magical I’ve ever spent. It’s an amazing place. So, thanks for bringing it alive again, and I wish you nothing but amazing success with your book! Congratulations.
Lizbeth, aren’t those photos gorgeous? I loved that Kylie let me put them up to let me share how beautiful Australia is. So glad you enjoyed your visit here – hope you get back. Three weeks isn’t long enough. And I think for Americans, we’re a pretty easy country to travel in. We speak English (well, at least a variety of it, LOL!) and the people are generally pretty friendly.
Don’t forget we also drive on the left side of the road!
Another Unsinkable – hi, Liz!!! I’m glad you enjoyed the interview – Anna had some wonderful questions, a lot of fun to answer.
And I’m thrilled you enjoyed visiting Australia – there’s such a diverse range of places to visit – you’re going to have to schedule a re-visit sometime in the future!
I’d love to show you around my neck of the woods if you’re ever in the area!
*Side Note: It’s just occurred to me not everyone will be familiar with why I’ve been calling a few of these ladies ‘the Unsinkables” – each year the finalists in the RWA Golden Heart come up with a class name. The year we were finalists the conference was to be held in Nashville, but the city experienced those terrible, terrible floods and the venue had to be changed. We adopted the name Unsinkables in honor of those affected by the floods and who rebuild afterwards but also because writers are a stubborn lot and we weren’t going give up on our dream of being published.
Kylie, welcome to the Lair! This kind of book is right up my alley, and I’ll definitely be checking it out. I love epic fantasy, have since discovering The Lord of the Rings in college. C. L. Wilson’s Tairen Soul series has a similar feel but with way more romance, of course.
I think one reason I love epic stories is because the stakes are so much higher. The h/h can’t be together unless they also save the world.
Nancy, I have to say YOU were one person I immediately thought of when I knew Kylie was coming on today.
I would be surprised if you hadn’t.
Nancy, we share a love for Tolkien then! My 5th grade teacher read THE HOBBIT to my class and I was hooked!
I loved creating the overarching external plot for the Light Blade series. It unfolds over the first three books and it ties up by the end of Bk#3.
If my editor wants more in this series then I have another plot that will unfold over the next 3 or 4 books, all involving secondary characters you’ll meet in VENGEANCE BORN, ALLIANCE FORGED and Untitled Bk#3!
Kylie, I love big, overarching plots. I hope you get to write those next three.
Me too, Nancy!
Your covers are just gorgeous. Actually, I just found this genre and I fell in love with it. I read a story by Kathryne Kennedy and she is now my favorite author. She has an Elven series that I’m really enjoying and I also read Beneath the 13 moons. Your books sound like something I too would fall in love with! I just love the imagination that can create such new and different worlds that really take me away!
Hey, Catslady, that’s right! It just takes one book to make somebody a convert. So glad you’re broadening your genres!
The wonder of discovering a new author or genre is amazing, isn’t it? I’m glad you settled on the fantasy genre, Catslady (love you name BTW
). I hope you enjoy VENGEANCE BORN!
Forgot to say congrats on your debut–oops! Best of luck with this series.
Thanks, Nancy!
I ADORE your covers.
And I agree with Anna – gorgeous shots!
Congratulations on not only your debut novel, but your debut series!
Julia, and once I thought of Nancy, the next person I thought of was YOU!
Thank you, Julia! I gather by Anna’s comment you’re a diehard PNR reader – woohoo!!!
Hi Kylie! Lovely to have you here and thanks to Anna for hosting. Many congratulations on your debut!
I’m amazed at the complex minds of fantasy and paranormal writers–the way you conjure up worlds in your head and bring them to life for your readers. It takes a special talent to do that. Do you have any advice for aspiring fantasy writers?
Ooh, great question, Christina! I’d love to see what Kylie says in response. Thanks for swinging by!
Christina, thanks for the warm welcome, and very good question…hmm, I might answer this with three suggests – the first one is advice from other authors & booksellers in my very early days as a member of RWAustralia and developing my craft.
1.Read widely. Read lots of PNR books and not just in the fantasy romance genre – branch out into all the sub-genres, see what others are writing and how they’re doing it. Sometimes an idea they’ve created can springboard into something unique of your own.
Also read straight fantasy/SF, there’s a lot you can pick up from absorption. I began reading in the SF/F genre as a young child and it was only in my late teens that I discovered PNR even existed. I was in heaven after that! LOL
Much of my love for world-building comes from these early years of reading straight SF/F (Anne McCaffrey, Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey just to name a few authors who inspired me). I have little doubt I absorbed much of the “how to and what to” from reading these types of books.
2. Develop a love for history – I have a massive collection of books on countries histories, costumes, weapons, myths & legends, martial arts etc. etc.
Egyptian, Viking, Mayan, Australian Colonial, Native American, Celtic and so on.
Much of the “basics” or the skeletal structure of what you create can be based on the familiar, just given your own unique twists.
For example, the Na’Reish race in the Light Blade series have a caste structure – I bastardised this idea from the feudal system of English & European history.
When creating an entirely new world or culture (not just one set on Earth or in modern day times) you need to know your world inside out – the culture, politics, rules/laws/taboos, sex/relationships, clothing, traditions, foods, geography – everything, even if it isn’t included or mentioned in your book.
The more real you see it in your head the more that will help you develop the characters and storyline. Does that make sense?
3. Keep a book/series bible. I have a Series Bible, discovering I needed one by the time I was halfway through writing ALLIANCE FORGED.
I needed a detail about hair color for a secondary character. I knew she’d been mentioned in VENGEANCE BORN but do you think I find the obscure reference among the 400 odd pages in the manuscript – it took me forever!
So, create a bible. I set out a spiral bound notepad with tabbed sections and sub-dissections (it’s the way my organised, slightly OCD mind prefers to work
) – human characters, Na’Reish & Na’Chi – major players to minor characters for each race, places, plants, animals, sayings, political structure, military, cultural traditions, phrases/language, maps, synopses, GMC charts for the hero/heroine, plot points & “clues/set up hints” for the next book etc.etc.etc.
For each book I added details under the headings, even if it was the most obscure thing.
How you set up your bible depends on your own preferences but it comes in handy – you can flick to a page and find the information you need in seconds.
Here ends my lecture!
(sorry, I was so long winded but it was a fantastic question!)
Hi, Kylie, a hearty welcome to the Lair! Your series sounds excellent. I’ve been looking for a fantasy that wasn’t TOO fantasy-ish LOL. I don’t like a lot of complicated world building, guess my brain’s too small.
But your series sounds perfect! Is Berkley making the books available electronically?
Hey, Jo, it’s great to have debut authors on, isn’t it? Thanks for swinging by. So glad you love the sound of Kylie’s book. I’m sure Berkley will release it as an e-book, won’t they, Kylie?
Thanks for the hearty welcome, Jo.
Yes, the books are being released in print and as e-books.
Places like Penguin, Amazon, Borders, B&N, IndieBooks, Books-a-million and so on will have VB as an e-book.
Oh, and I meant to comment on how lovely your photography is. Such color and clear lines of focus!
The thing I find hardest — don’t laugh — about fantasy or scifi books is the pronunciation of strange names and places. I love when the author includes a guide, not only on how to pronounce them, but how to identify them.
Jo, I’m a guaranteed book nerd. I love things like family trees and maps and glossaries.
Jo, it’s an interesting comment you made about including a glossary for word pronunciation. It’s a conversation I’ve had with my editor and I’m umm’ing and ahh’ing about including one in the series.
One thing that is definitely going into ALLIANCE FORGED and Bk#3 are maps – growing up on a diet of fantasy as a kid, every book used to have a map of the world. I poured over them, loved tracking the characters journey on it. So my love of that has been a factor in deciding to include maps in my series!
Oops, I also forgot to thank you for your compliment on my photography. As you can see I enjoy taking photos of landscapes and nature, not so much portraits of people.
Congratulations on your debut, Kylie! I can’t believe the big day has arrived! Loved your call story. I’d call it destiny.
Fab interview, Anna!
Hey, thanks, V. I’ve been really looking forward to having Kylie to visit!
Hi Vanessa! (and fellow Unsinkable, yes, another one!
)You’re right, I think it was destiny, with a dash of goal setting thrown in.
Thanks for dropping by.
Hi Kylie,
I’m coming very late to the party but had to say how great it is to see you here. I was fascinated hearing you talk about plotting a series. I have enough trouble managing one book! More power to you. Best of luck and keep those books coming!
Annie, Kylie has been such a stalwart of Romance Writers of Australia, I’m so thrilled for her that her first book is coming out! Thanks for swinging by.
I’ve had to learn to semi-plot, Annie. Especially now I’m required to submit a synopsis with my partial to my editor.
I guess I begin most of my books as a scener – I can see the opening, bits in the middle, where I want it to finish, but I have no idea how I’m going to get there – a bit like standing on a hill looking out over a foggy landscape and only spotting the tops of other hills in the distance.
As the Light Blade series has developed I’ve begun jotting down the big picture plot points in the back of my series bible – letting the ideas stew and see which will work and where they’re going to be layered into what book.
So, not a strict plotter as some writers are, but I’m learning a very necessary skill.
Congrats on your debut, the series sounds fantastic.
I love epic-fantasy and paranormal romance, or any combination of the two. I like the great characters, the paranormal beings that are so different from what I know, and the adventure. Two of my favorite paranormal romance authors are Keri Arthur and Jeaniene Frost. They have rich, very developed worlds and absolutely fabulous characters that I love to follow from book to book in their series.
Barbara, sounds like these might be just your cup of tea too, then! Excellent!
Thanks for the congrats and good wishes, Barbara.
You’re a girl after my own heart! Following authors with their series is an obsession of mine too.
Welcome to the Lair, Kylie! And congratulations on your debut. It looks like you’re going to be hitting the shelves with a resounding HURRAH! Your covers are simply gorgeous. I can’t wait to see them up close and personal.
Thanks so much for sharing your call story and the photographs of your corner of the world. Both are truly inspiring.
One of my favorite paranormal authors is Jennifer Lyon. Her Wing Slayer Hunters are a completely unique breed of hero. I’m in love with all of them!
Thank you, Kate, I’ve had such a warm welcome here in the Lair. It’s been an absolute pleasure visiting – so much to chat about and share!
Hi Kate! Don’t you love having debut authors in the lair? Always fun. Glad you enjoyed the interview. Is Jennifer Lyon one of Jennifer Ashley’s pseudonyms? I’ve got a feeling she writes paranormals as well as historicals.
Time-travel romances are a heap of fun – I’m addicted to Sandra Hill’s VIKING series – I have NEVER laughed so much, the hero or heroine of each of her books come from either the past or the future and end up in the exact opposite setting. Her humor comes from so many sources – the difference in language usage, changes of meaning of language, the differences in culture/time – it’s great!
Oh, I hear you on the carting of eskies (coolers) and ice-bricks! In summer, days out here can reach a scorching 110F or more, so buying the frozen items comes last on the list because then it’s a race against time to get them home before they melt! ;-D Gotta love the Aussie heat – NOT!
Hi, Kylie! Congrats on your debut book(s)!
I usually don’t read paranormals, but have enjoyed a few TT books where the heroine goes back in time. I liked one where the hero came from 1880s Montana to present-day Montana.
I did read a few of Melissa Mayhue’s paras about the Fey. The first 3 were good, but the 4th was filled with such shocking and frequent use of language that it was hard to read the story. Too bad because it could have been a great follow-up story.
I travel about 40 miles one-way for groceries, too, but it’s no big deal….except on really hot days when I have to load several coolers and lots of ice in the car.
Deb, sounds like you and Kylie live in similarly far-flung places. Thanks for swinging past. I love time travels. I thought there’d be a bit of a revival of them a few years ago but it didn’t seem to really take. Pity.
Darn, I must have hit the wrong REPLY button, Deb – sorry, but your answer is in the box above!
I saw your reply, Kylie; all good.
It sure helps that I can go Interstate and drive 70 mph, though, when I go get groceries. (We have a little store here, but that’s just for bread and milk, you know?) I’ve been doing it for 24 years, so am used to it. It never gets up to 110 here in Iowa, but can get to 100 with the humidity/heat index. Thanks again for the interview, Anna and Kylie.
I do know exactly the sort of store you’re talking about Deb! We have one that doubles as a drop off point for the postal service (it’s only a leased postal run not an actual post office).
Koko’s sells the usual bread and milk, a few grocery items (packaged, frozen or tinned, nothing fresh), petrol, some oil/coolant products and snack foods.
We also have a pub, a one-teacher primary school, one-man police station, two churches, an agricultural supply store and two emergency rescue services (fire brigade and State Emergency Service, both run on volunteers) and about 100 residents.
Hey, Anna and Kylie! Great interview and welcome to the Bandit Lair, Kylie. We’re glad to have you.
Your books sound very interesting. I love the powerplay between two world colliding, and of course the need for light to win out over dark! My kids tend to read fantasy novels more so than I, must be a generation thing. Even in paranormal romances I am limited by how much I can or cannot suspend my disbelief. If there’s enough “real world” mixed in I do better with the series.
Oh…LOVE the photos!
Suz, the photos made me really want to go down and visit Kylie – oh, and of course her bubbly charm! LOL! Thanks for swinging by.
Two peas in a pod, Ms.Campbell.
G’day Suzanne! You guys are all so welcoming – thank you!
I suppose there is a bit of symbolism in the Light Blade series – LOL – hadn’t purposefully looked at it in that light before (no pun intended). I do like a bit of good vs.not so good in my stories (I won’t label it as evil as I think the “bad” guys always have their reasons for doing what they did and it all a matter of perspective).
And you never know, there might be a character from my “bad guys” who ends up revealing/redeeming him/herself and isn’t as awful as we’ve been led to believe! (yep, that was a big hint for one of story lines coming up in the series ;-D)
Hi Kylie and Anna!! A little late (blame the storm!) but I wanted to drop by and say huge congrats on the upcoming releae of VENGEANCE BORN, Kylie! You know how much I’m looking forward to reading this series
You’re never too late, Christina!
Thanks for calling in. You’ve been having wild weather? Yuk! I thought it was heatwaves! What a weird summer season this one has turned out to be.
Christina, it’s been a really strange summer here in SEQ too. We’ve had a week of really heavy rain – we had a foot of rain in three hours a couple of days ago. Quite scary seeing that much come down at once! Thanks for swinging by!
Sorry I’m so late to the party – just got in after a long, long, long day – but I had to say Hi to another Berkley Babe.
While Leis is not my editor, I think I talk more to her than Cindy! She’s a sweetheart. Congratulations on the sale and the three book deal.
I do like fantasy – I love the pure creativity of the world-building and the magical sense that comes from the various life-forces – but I’m completely blank at the moment on a particular author or title. it’s a pain getting old
. Again – Congrats Kylie and best wishes on your debut!
Hey, Donna, it’s great to meet a fellow Berkley babe.
Leis is a wonderful editor – I’ve learned quite a lot working with her in the short amount of time I’ve been with her.
Thanks for your good wishes and sharing your love of a good PNR! (my memory at the moment is shocking – so much on my plate that I have everything jotted down on my digital calendar as well as the one I have on my wall, and even then I forgot an appointment late last week
)
Hi Donna! Great to see you. I’d forgotten you two shared a publisher! How cool. You can hang at at the RWA party together!
Susan, congrats on the GR, our own little demon !!
Wow, Kylie, those photographs are AMAZING !! And La Campbell can tell you what a sucker I am for fabulous photos of Oz !
I love living in the country for all the reasons you mentioned. No kangaroos here in Alabama but we do have possums and raccoons and deer and the occasional copperhead snake.
I love paranormal and fantasy romance novels for the same reason – they take me into a world completely different from the world we live in. Sheer escapism! I love all of the possibilities inherent in these stories. Sometimes I need a complete vacation from reality and novels like yours offer me that !
Louisa, aren’t you another one of the Orlando GH gals? Or were you the year before? So many talented people to keep track off. So glad you enjoyed the interview!
Louisa, sounds like you’re a country gal too. When I spent 6 months in Pennsylvania (at university), I loved the bird life – didn’t recognise a single one and it felt like I’d entered an alien world! LOL
And I so hear you on the escapism aspect of reading PNR – I love being so engrossed that when I look up from a book that it takes me a good few seconds to realise exactly where I am.
Thanks so much, everyone. Thanks to Kylie for being a great guest. And thanks to everyone for giving her such a warm welcome to the lair. I’m sure it’s not the last time we’ll see her
Don’t forget to check back to see who won the copy of VENGEANCE BORN!
I’ve had a fabulous time here in the Bandits Lair – thank you to everyone for making me feel so welcome. I’ve had a ball meeting you all and answering your questions and reading your comments!
And thank you again, Anna, for inviting me over. You’ve been a most gracious host!
Whew! An amazing response to your visit Kylie! Just wanted to pop in and say “Hi”. I loved the photo tour of your part of the world, so thanks for sharing.
I’m excitedly awaiting the delivery of my pre-ordered copy of Vengence Born, so no need to put me in the draw. All the very best with sales, but something tells me you won’t need luck!
Hi LaVerne! So good to see you dropping in!
It’s been an incredible visit to the Bandits Lair – so many people to talk to, so many topics! LOL
Thankyou for pre-ordering VB, I do hope I get to thank you in person at the RWNZ conference this year.
I love the cover for Vengeance Born. It makes me want to visit that world especially when it does seem to have a bit of everything for everyone. That’s the sort of world-building I like; different elements involved like adventure and romance.
Hi Na, great to see you here in the Lair.
It’s wonderful to hear so many say they like the cover of VB. I have to agree with you about how the cover can convey that special snippet of world-building. I love looking at the cover of the books I buy to see if there are any hints as to what the story may be or what special features might be portrayed by or on the character.
And now having gone through the production process of helping produce a cover it has more significance.