Today I would like to welcome Kenzie Macallan to my blog. She is here to tell us all about her new book, Edges. which I believe is Book Two in the Art of Eros series.
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I give Edges four stars. I found the book to be a thrilling ride full of passion, and danger which is right up my alley. I loved the characters and I can not wait to read the rest of the books in the series. The story started out at a run and didn't stop until the last page. I read into the night. It was a wonderful read and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Suspense with a whole lot of romance. Kenzie did a wonderful job and I would like to thank her for letting me into her world. The only reason I gave her four instead of 5 stars is that at the beginning she talked about a Lesbian relationship and how she felt like her lesbian lover broke into her house. I don't read Gay/Lesbian books but other than that I would have given her 5 stars. I almost stopped reading it but then it had gotten so good I had to finish it.I'm glad I did.
BLURB:
Leigha Luccenzo is a strong, confident woman who has her life perfectly under control. But her nightmares have returned after a long absence. They are kept hidden from everyone. She comes home to find her apartment in shambles, the possible doing of her ex-lover Sydney. Layers of lies start to peel away. Her world begins to shift and unravel.
Dean is a hard-edged man with an appetite for beautiful women, fast bikes, and shattered souls. His secrets bind him, keeping him from any real relationship. They latch on to him from his past like locked chains. He see's behind Leigha's armor. Convincing her he can help becomes his mission. He hopes she's strong enough to handle what lies beneath, unlocking his guilt.
Through events out of her control, Leigha's faced to force her demons.
As other peoples secrets get entangled in her own, she struggles to get to the meaning of her nightmare. Can Dean help her uncover her truth?
EXCERPT:
Dean needed a distraction from the scene that just unfolded before him. Cooking would give him an escape. His hands trembled. He had been here before, only last time he completely fucked it up.
The fierce connection to the beautiful, strong creature in the next room would be his undoing. His past caught up with him. Did he honestly think he could bury himself in work and one-night stands to keep him from facing his past mistakes? Every time he thought about not being able to save her, the winch tightened in his chest, cutting off his air. Hunched over the cooking eggs, his memories flooded him. No other options presented themselves other than to keep Leigha safe. The emotions pulled at him from several directions, demanding his attention. Over the years he had tried to hammer them down, hoping they would leave of their own accord. He had even tried to drink them away without success.
"Hey, you okay?" She blew into the room like a warm Australian ocean breeze. They already have connections that only true lovers have with each other. That link that allowed you to feel and sense things about the other person.
He turned around and pasted on his model smile. "Yeah, just remembering something."
She walked over next to him as her eyes read his lie. "The model smile doesn't work on me, and the eggs are going to burn."
GUEST POST:
How important do you think the book cover is to an author?
I think a cover is extremely important for many reasons. For me, I choose very carefully whose on my covers. The model has to have the right vibe that goes with the lead male character in the book. I searched for about a year until I found Garry Turner, the cover mode for Edges. I started following him on Instagram and took time to get to know him. I didn't contact him until I knew I wanted him to be on the cover. There was just something about him. He's smart, funny, compassionate, and a competitive fitness model. As a writer, you are also presenting your story and your brand. My books have an edge and I want readers to get something from the story that makes them think, surprises them, and makes them want more. The Edges cover already has the reader wondering what he's thinking about, what's he looking at, and what's he going to do.
I also happen to like color. Each book in the Art of Eros Series is a different color. I actually see my stories in color. Truths was red and Edges was always going to be blue. Sometimes going against the trend can be a good thing. This book will be released during an American winter and when most covers are going dark or black and white. Given those factors, this cover has some pop.
Lastly, I think you need to get a professional cover design artist. I used Louisa Maggio for both Truths and Edges. I will be using her for the third book as well. She really understood what I wanted to achieve on this cover and took the time to get it right. Louisa is very creative and easy to work with.
INTERVIEW:
1. How long did it take you to write Edges?
I'm not the fastest writer you will ever meet. My full-time job keeps me busy. Unfortunately, writing is a second job for me. It takes about a year to write a book. I write the first draft and then let it sit for at least six weeks. I come back to it and do about four or five edits before I give it to an editor. Once I get it back from the editor, go through it two more times. When I think it's almost finalized, I give it to ARC readers and get feedback from them. Then I give it to one more editor before I do my final read. It's an exhaustive process, but one that I enjoy and is well worth it.
2. How did you come up with the characters?
These characters had been tapping me on the shoulder for awhile. I had been thinking about writing this series for about a year. I'm the type of writer where I need things to sit and tumble around in my head for a bit. I woke up one morning and had all three sisters, their names, their stories and the plotline. I have stayed true to their characters and the plotline. There have been a few tweaks here and there. These women are strong, yet vulnerable so wanted unique names for them. Luckily, I have an active imagination. Each of the sisters, Marabella, Leigha, and Raquelle, I feel hold a piece of me along with character traits I see in other people I've know over the years. They each have a trauma to overcome to get to their essence.
3. Did you do any research in order to write Edges?
There always seems to be some research involved when writing any book. I had to do research on New York City, mostly the Tribeca area. It allowed me to give a better description of Leigha's photography studio. I went on Google Maps and chose a building across the Hudson. It served as a place for her contemplation and revelations. I've been to NYC so I could draw on that for atmosphere. I also had to do research on Australia, especially the ASIS, which is much like the FBI. This allowed me to write an accurate account of Dean's job and experiences in the military. My husband was int he military and used to ride motorcycles so I asked him questions as well. The Dragon Road Ride bikes were strictly from my imagination.
4. What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a published author?
My advice to someone who wants to be a published author is do your research.
- Hire the best of everything, especially an editor. You always want your manuscript to look professional even if it costs some money.
- Know your craft. Honing your skills is an ongoing process but have the basics. Read bestselling authors you like to get a rhythm for their story.
- Work with an outline that can help you manage your character development, plotline, internal and external conflicts, and motivation, black moment, and character arc. There are many out there to choose from or you can create your own.
- It doesn't matter if you want to be with a traditional publishing house, or self-publish, your manuscript has to be clean and polished before you send it out or release it for sale.
- Have many people read it before you publish, not just friends and family. Get as much input as possible but know that you can't take it all to heart. Writing is subjective. It's a creative process. Take what you need to grow and learn, then go from there.
- Know going in that it's a lot of work but well worth it.
5. Explain what happens during a typical day of writing.
A typical day of writing starts on social media. It's important to stay on top of what's going on and stay in touch with readers and other authors. I try to go to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I also try to post to each of those daily, but I'm sometimes cramped for time. Then I dig into whatever I'm working on whether its a first draft or editing. I enjoy the editing process. It's like molding clay. You get to manipulate characters, words, and plotline to make it a stronger and better piece. I break for lunch, check social media, and go back to writing. Some days are spent on promotions, doing giveaways, takeovers, Facebook ads, Amazon ads, ect. I spend the latter part of the afternoon working out. My health and my time are really important. I really enjoy working out so I put it on my schedule every day. I have dinner with my husband which is equally important. I might go back to writing or quit for the day depending on how much I got done and where I am in my manuscript.The day always ends with reading a book. Some books are better than others but I usually get something out of it. You can even get something for a poorly written book.
AUTHOR BIO and LINKS:
Kenzie lives with her husband in New England. She has been fortunate enough to travel all over the world to places like Africa, Greece, Switzerland, Holland, France, England, and, of course, Scotland. Edinburg is one of her favorite places. Creativity seems to be part of her soul, as she paints portraits, takes photographs and bakes. They have all added to her overactive imagination especially writing about strong women and alpha men. She looks forward to adding to her adventures and yours through secrets, strengths, and passion.
https://twitter.com/kenzie_macallan
http://www.facebook.com/kenziemacallan
Kenzie Macallan will be awarding All-New Fire 7 Tablet with Alexa (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
