Kiki Howell, Author of the incredible new release "Torn Asunder" joins us here on the Naughty Nights Press Blog Today. You can find Kiki's explicit paranormal romance book at the Excessica Publishing Store here
The magick is not only inside the content of the book but in how it is written. Kiki tells a absolutely stimulating visual story of romance and eroticism with a little shapeshifting and magick thrown in that truly leaves you breathless! ~Gina Kincade
Hi Kiki! Thank you so much for taking some time to answer a few questions! It is an honour and a pleasure to have you here on the Naughty Nights Press blog.
1. Could you tell us a little about yourself? What a typical day is like for you? Favorite foods, favorite color, anything that you would like to share with us.
Me, well, I am an eclectic mix. I have a degree to teach Secondary English Education, married an English teacher, but no longer teach myself. I am a certified Feng Shui practioner too. I have two boys, a cosmic joke as competition makes no sense to me, so I just show up to games and endure. My youngest is a boxer *groans* I love to read, write, draw, knit and bake. My favourite foods are pizza and chocolate cake – pretty normal there. But, my favourite colors are kind of a joke. When I got married my husband commented that all the clothes hanging in the closet were off-white or brown. He wanted to know what I had against colors, but I pointed out there was a green sweater in there as well.
2. What was your goal for yourself as a writer when you started? Did you meet or surpass it or did it change for you along the way?
One of my favourite things to do is visit Borders. I can spend hours there. So I have always dreamed of seeing my books on their shelves. But, what changed, or has delayed the realization of that dream yet, is that my first story published was written in response to a writing exercise to write in a genre I was not comfortable with - which I took to mean one I wasn’t familiar with. I had just read my first erotic book, so I gave it a try. A lot of my stories are only ebooks, and the print ones are published with smaller pressest. So, while they are not on shelves, it is a dream come true to have an editor read a story and want to publish it – period. Would still like to see one of my books in Borders someday, but I would have to say that my dreams are already coming true.
3. How did you decide to write books in your specific genre? Was there anything that influenced your choice?
Opps, I just answered that partially above, as far as the erotic genre goes. However, my first love is paranormal. I don’t know when or how that fascination started, but it seems to have always been there. Historical romance is a genre I more recently fell in love with and had to try my hand at.
4. What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?
Most rewarding is having a reader tell you how your book affected them, or that they just couldn’t stop reading it. Of course, prior to publication, I just love being lost in a world of my own creation as I write. Most challenging, for this perfectionist, would have to be getting to a point where I can say the story is done.
5. Did anyone in your own life inspire your main characters?
Since they are a witch and shapeshifter in Regency England, I am going to go with no! LOL! But, my novella, Rituals, was inspired by a story I heard and just couldn’t shake. I had to write a happy ending to the situation.
6. How did you get the idea for "Torn Asunder"?
I just started thinking about how magical I thought Regency England was and ideas for a paranormal story set there started coming to me. Actually, "Torn Asunder" was a short story to begin with. An editor told me that she loved it, but wanted more. I wrote it to a short novel before putting it on Authonomy where suggestions made it grow to novel length.
7. What is the most challenging aspect of being an author? What are the most rewarding aspects?
Having one of those days where the words are just flowing as if from some other source, that’s a good day. Just the opposite, a day when the best I can write is a description of a chair, well that is challenging because I know the words are there. I just have to get them unstuck.
8. What are some of your favorite literary works?
When I studied in college, I loved English literature, Jane Austin and Virginia Woolf stand out. I absolutely loved Minority Literature as well, with a special place in my heart for Native American books. I loved teaching YA as well, The Outsiders and The Chocolate War were favourites. I actually met Robert Cormier at an English Teacher conference and was so blown away by him.
9. Please share with us what can we expect from you next? Will there be a sequel?
Right now I am putting the finishing touches on a novel inspired by a trip to Salem, MA I took this summer. My second more mainstream story. But, I have 5 more releases set for 2011 already which are paranormal, erotic romances. So far "Torn Asunder" has no sequel, but you can never discount such a thing.
10. Do you have any upcoming appearances? If so where can our readers find you?
So far, I have the following dates set, but have more in the works as well:
Jan 24th – Guest Moderator at Just Another Paranormal Monday Yahoo Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ParanormalMonday/, as well as being a guest at http://kamladyotherworld.blogspot.com
Jan 24th - Guest Blogging at http://amomentwithmystee.blogspot.com
Jan 27th - Guest Blogging and Contest at http://ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com
Feb 1st - Author Interview at http://margaret-paranormalromanceauthor.blogspot.com
Feb 3rd - Author Interview at http://immortylrevolution.blogspot.com
Feb 5th – Guest Blog at Nice N Naughty Authors, http://nicennaughtyauthors.blogspot.com
Feb 7th – Guest Blog at Hannah Howell’s Blog, http://hhowellauthor.blogspot.com
Feb 10th – Guest Blog at Historical Belles & Beaus, http://historicalbellesandbeaus.blogspot.com
Feb 12th - Author Chat at Warren-Trumbell County Public Library, Main Branch 2PM {Author Reading, Q&A, Book Signing} www.wtcpl.org
Week of Feb 14th - I am the Spotlight Author at Whipped Cream, http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/index.htm
Feb 23rd – Guest Blog at Historical Hussies, http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com
May 7th, 2011 - Ohioana Book Festival, Columbus, Ohio
11. Can you please share with us how old you were when you wrote your first story?
Uhm, not really. LOL! Poor memory! I know I wrote stories at a young age, but I liked to draw just as much at the time. I don’t even know what happened to those prior to college. I do have drawings saved though, not sure why that is. I do have a few stories tucked away that I wrote in college though they will probably never see the light of day
12. Besides being a writer, what other types of jobs have you held?
Teacher for a short time, Feng Shui Practioner since 1992, and I was a Stay-at-Home Mom for a Decade before I started writing again.
13. Is there a specific bit of advice you would give to an aspiring author who is looking to publish their work? Traditional or Self-Publishing, which would you suggest?
Actually, I think they each suit different people. I think the author will know which one suits them if they are honest with themselves. Advice though is simple. Just be true to your own voice. It really shows in the work.
14. Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?
I am also a reviewer for Suspense Magazine. Check out the January Magazine which just hit bookshelves. I am featured in the Contributor’s Corner there this month. I have been so excited about it. http://www.suspensemagazine.com
Thank you Kiki. Your participation is greatly appreciated! We wish you the best of luck on the remainder of your blog tour and hope to see you back here again real soon with more incredible books!
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For your pleasure, here is an Excerpt from "Torn Asunder" that I am sure will have you wanting more!
EXCERPT:
The roses, elegant in their refinement, fell from one another with little grace as she undid the paper around them. Staggering back a few steps until her back met with the wall, she slid down to the floor letting the wrapping and flowers fall where they may. Aubrey wrapped her arms tightly around her midsection. Her chest ached more with each beat of her heart as she swallowed hard, blinked away the mistiness over her eyes, and remembered.
It had been the beginning of the season, a bit over a fortnight ago, when she first encountered Edmund Bryant, the Marquess of Dalysbury. Although she rolled her eyes still at the title, she felt impelled to live through it all again--through the days of fantasy in which she had allowed herself to participate. Love at first sight didn't always give way to rational thinking. It did, however, make possible even the wavering delusions of believing impossible dreams could come true. She had just come to London to live with Lord and Lady Sanderly, her cousins who had paid for her travels under the guise of giving a poor relation of marriageable age a chance to find a good husband.
Whereas, the truth of the matter was, she was a relation who had shown a great aptitude for learning of the magical powers she had inherited. The good Lord and Lady, while holding the public title of Earl and Countess, were actually descendants of one of the notorious Pendle witches. They were to teach her to harness and utilize her innate talents in secret while flaunting her about from various parties and balls in the public eye.
She recalled with a weak smile the first ball Lord and Lady Sanderly had thrown to immerse her into proper society. At the time, she had consciously gripped her hands before her waist to resist fidgeting while trying hard to fix to memory all of the titles of those to whom she was being introduced. Her level of discomfort had increased, however, as an unsettled awareness of someone in the room, a haunting premonition of sorts, had made her heart race and her mouth dry. She had paid mind to ignore the successive shivers which rushed the length of her spine until they pooled as heat in her tightening stomach.
Reminded she was holding her breath only when forced to speak, her ribs had begun to ache. When a chill more pervasive that any she had ever known even in the drafty county cottage she had been raised in permeated her shoulders, she had turned in the direction of the source, and her eyes had met with a man standing just across the room looking back at her. She had immediately felt challenged to not look away from the gaze of his dark eyes. They radiated a raw energy unlike anything she had ever encountered before even among those with her own esoteric abilities.
A connection was made. Her heart beat at a frantic, uneven pace like a horse racing over shoddy roads. At the same time, a vague forewarning had made her break out in a glistening of sweat while she fought the urge to escape as well the need to move toward the man. She had given merit to her reactions based only on the fact she had captured the glance of an aristocratic gentleman with a lady in a lavish satin gown on his arm of obviously higher circumstances.
Engrossed in his fine manners, she watched as his hand removed the one holding onto him from his arm with a slight nod of his head. The lady in return had given him a slight curtsy but glorious smile before turning back to her other acquaintances which Aubrey recognized to be a duke and duchess she had recently met. His tempestuous form fit in posh attire spun on the heel of his expensive footwear to find her again with his haunted and hungry eyes. He seemed an odd mix of rugged and refined. She had felt the thrill and danger of being pursued by a beast which lurked inside of the man.
Also by Kiki Howell "Irreconcilable Differences" will be released April 22, 2011 in eBook and Trade Paperback from Excessica Publishing. Watch for it! I know I will be!
Blurb
In a world where wizards and sorcerers do not get along due to differences in their magic, sorcerer, Aaron is hired to guard the wizard, Myleana. However, the attraction between them once locked in an unusual lab under his own wall of protection ignites in otherworldly ways.
When they come under attack and all they believed in becomes questionable, will these two remain separated by their world's prejudices? Will the lies, betrayals and opinions of even their own families stand in the way of the alchemy of sex, especially when sorcery and wizardry come into play?
Genres: Contemporary, Paranormal (wizard and sorcerer), Erotic Romance
Adult Content Warnings: Explicit Graphic Language and Sexual Magic
Check out more of Kiki Howell's upcoming releases on her web page
Kiki Howell - Coming Soon
Post By:
~ Lady Gina Kincade, The Mistress
Author of Erotic and Erotic Paranormal Romance
Mistress Journals Erotic Stories Forum, Founder and Administrator
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Information for this post is "borrowed" from Kiki Howell's web page with the sole purpose of promotion of her work. All information and photos remain the copyright of Kiki howell. http://www.kikihowell.com
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Thanks so much for having me :)
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