Laura Kaye-Interview and Giveaway with the author

Laura Kaye-Interview and Giveaway with the author.

On Friday June 1, Laura’s second instalment in her fantastic Vampire Warrior King’s series was released and we have the pleasure of interviewing this fabulous author today at The Reading Cafe.

TRC:  Hi Laura and welcome to The Reading Café. We would like to start with some background information.

Laura:  Sure! And thanks for hosting me here today!

 

TRC:  Please tell us about yourself.

Laura:  I write paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance and have seven books out so far, an eighth due to release in July. I’m also a wife, mom to two young girls (8 and almost 6), college history professor, and complete and total vampire addict. I live in Maryland right on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

TRC: You have always had an interest in writing since your early teens.  What or whom do you credit with your love of writing?

Laura:  I credit my love of writing to my love of reading. I think when you grow up with your nose buried in a book it’s easier to imagine stories of your own. As the only child of a single parent (who was also a huge reader), I spent a lot of time alone, and I passed much of it by reading. And all things paranormal were always my first love as a reader, so it’s also natural that I wrote so many paranormal now.

TRC:  Is there anything you find particularly challenging or difficult with writing?

Laura:  I find revising more challenging than writing the first draft. Once I get a scene in my head a certain way, it’s harder to move it around and see it in a new way. I also find that I usually have to go back through my first draft and layer in deeper emotional reaction, so now that’s just a regular part of my revision process.

TRC: In The Service of the King is the premiere novel in your Vampire Warrior King series. Would you please tell us about the premise?(see our review below)

Laura:  All the books in this series are set in a world in which there are seven remaining vampire warrior kings who are in alliance with an elite group of influential humans known as The Electorate Council, and together they fight the evil Soul Eaters, immortals addicted to stealing the souls of humans by exsanguinating them and eating their heart. In In the Service of the King, the hero, Kael MacQuillan, is forced to endure a feeding ritual he loathes in order to keep himself and his warriors strong for the fight.

TRC:  The premise behind the ‘proffering’ is an interesting concept. What was your inspiration behind the ‘proffering’?

Laura:  The Proffered are human women who are trained to service the vampire warrior elite, including the kings. The idea behind the Proffering as a ceremonial ritual was a, I hope, fun and darkly sexy way of combining a vampire’s compulsion for blood with sexual domination and submission.

TRC: Seduced by the Vampire King (released on June 1, 2012) is the second novel in the Vampire Warrior King series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?(See our review June 4)

Laura:  Seduced by the Vampire King plays on the enemies-to-lovers trope by forcing together a vampire who loathes himself so much he refuses to rule his people or take a mate, and a human woman who left her home to get away the vampires she was destined to serve. They both represent the last thing in the world the other wants. Here’s the blurb:

Seduced by the Vampire King:

Book 2: Vampire Warrior Kings Series American exchange student Kate Bordessa has fled to Russia to escape her family’s hopes that she’ll become one of the Proffered, human women who feed and mate with elite vampire warriors. But when she stumbles upon a wounded vampire in the streets of Moscow, she’s instinctively driven to protect him–and feels an undeniable spark of desire. Grieving over the deaths of his brothers, Vampire Warrior King Nikolai Vasilyev has thrown himself into battling his enemies, focused only on vengeance. Until the attack that brought him to Kate. Their sexual attraction explodes into a night of uncontrolled passion–a night that marks them as mates. Is their connection strong enough to convince them to embrace a destiny neither of them was expecting?

TRC:  There are 7 Vampire Warrior Kings according to the series outline. Will each Vampire Warrior King get his own storyline? If the series becomes a runaway hit, will your consider extending beyond your original number of books?

Laura:  For reasons that will become clear, there won’t be seven stories. Right now four are planned. I’m not sure yet whether there will be more stories to tell beyond the fourth, though I’m always willing to listen to my muse if she whips up a new story idea. So stay tuned!

TRC:  What are your plans for the third storyline in the series?

Laura:  The third story (as yet untitled) will be set in Tromso, Norway, and will feature Henrik Magnusson, Warrior King of the Northern Vampires, who is dying…

TRC:  The Hearts of the Anemoi is a series based in Greek mythology. Would you tell us about the premise of the series? What is the significance of the ‘Anemoi’?

Laura:  The Anemoi were directional wind gods the Greeks associated with the seasons and with controlling the weather. In Greek Mythology, there were four cardinal Anemoi (N=Boreas, W=Zephyros, S=Notos, E=Eurus) and a number of ordinal Anemoi (i.e., NE, SW, SE, etc). The cardinal Anemoi were fathered by Aeolus, a powerful and sometimes cruel storm god. I’m weaving a lot of the mythology about each of these individual gods into their respective stories, which will pit three of the Anemoi, along with some lesser gods, against the fourth Anemoi brother. The series will come to a head in a major Armageddon-style battle involving all the characters from the series.

TRC:  What was your inspiration behind the mythology concept?

Laura:  I’m trained in history and anthropology, and so basing fictional stories on mythology allows me to pull from those interests in some ways. Greek mythology is also a rich source of inspiration—talk about drama! With backstabbing gods, secret babies, illicit affairs, and powerful magic, Greek mythology is like the soap operas of the ancient world! Specifically, though, I came upon the mythology of the Anemoi when I was researching North of Need, the first book in the series. I thought my hero was a simple snowman come to life, but the story wouldn’t work that way. After spending an entire afternoon research the winter mythologies and folk lore of multiple cultures, I found the Anemoi and knew Owen was a snow god, destined heir to Boreas, Supreme God of the North Wind and Winter. The series rolled out from that.

TRC:  North of Need is the first book in the Heart of the Anemoi series. Would you please tell us something about the storyline?

Laura:  North of Need is a story about learning to heal and trust again after tragic loss. Here’s the blurb:

Her tears called a powerful snow god to life, but only her love can grant the humanity he craves… While attempting to escape the agonizing memories she associates with Christmas, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband–and collapses in tears against the snowman at the sight of what she’ll never have. Called to life by the power of Megan’s tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity. Megan is drawn to Owen’s mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things, and her heart opens enough to believe he’s a Christmas miracle. But this miracle comes with an expiration–before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow’s grief and learn to trust love again, or she’ll lose Owen forever.”

TRC:  West of Want is the second installment (release date July 10, 2012). Would you please tell us about the premise?

Laura:  I’m really excited about West of Want, because it will be my first book releasing in bookstores! West of Want features two people who have experienced an enormous amount of loss and betrayal and both feel unwanted and unlovable because of it. It’s a book that’s fundamentally about letting go of your past in order to claim your future. Here’s the blurb:

Betrayal is all he’s ever known, but in her, he’ll find a love strong enough to be trusted… When Marcella Raines’ twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she’s gravely injured–and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce–Ella fights to survive. Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn’t protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he’s sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph’s heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her. Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting…everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want–a love that can be trusted.

TRC:  Each of the book titles included the compass direction: North, South, East or West. Do you have any plans to extend the series beyond the original four?

Laura:  It’s totally possible. A new character arose in the second book who just might demand a full-length novel of his own. And there’s a possibility I might write a novella related to the series that would be published between books two and three—more on that to come! 

TRC:  Is there a message in your writing that you want to readers to understand?

Laura:  The most consistent message that runs through all of my work is one of hope—that there’s someone or someplace where we all belong, and we shouldn’t ever give up until we find it.

TRC:  Many authors bounce ideas between family members, friends or other authors. With whom do you bounce around ideas and why?

Laura:  My best friend Lea Nolan is a YA paranormal author with her first book coming out in October. She and I began writing together four years ago and do everything together. So she’s my first and foremost sounding board. I also belong to a writer’s group with a number of amazingly supportive and brilliant writers who are always able to help brainstorm out a plot or solve a problem.

TRC:  What are you currently working on?

Laura:  I am working on the follow-up story to my contemporary romance that released on May 15 called Her Forbidden Hero. The heroine’s brother from that story, Brady Scott, will be getting a story of his own, though I don’t have a title or a release date yet. But expect more of the same awesome tortured hero angst you got with Marco Vieri in Her Forbidden Hero. *grins*

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

 

Laura:  Just, always, thank you for the readers for giving my stories a chance and bringing my characters to life! I couldn’t do what I do without you!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – Pasta with homemade meat sauce and fresh garlic bread!

Favorite Dessert – Warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream

Favorite TV Show – Right now it’s probably Game of Thrones.

Favorite Movie – Ooh, this is a hard one…I don’t know if I could pick just one…Love Actually would be somewhere near the top of my list—how’s that?

Last Movie You Saw – the Chimpanzee movie with my girls. Amazing documentary with a compelling storyline…

Favorite Flower – Magnolia for the fragrance, yellow rose for the sentimental meaning

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Milk chocolate!

Do you have any pets? – Yes, a 10-year-old very cute but very bad Shepherd-Collie mix named Jack

TRC:  Laura, we would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. It is always a pleasure to read about the person behind the ‘author’. Thank you for sharing today.

Laura:  Thank you so much for having me here and for the fun questions! I would like to offer one commenter who leaves their email address an ebook of Seduced by the Vampire King! Just share one of your answers to the Lightning Round, above! Good luck!

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About Laura Kaye:

Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of over a half-dozen books in paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance. Hearts in Darkness is the EPIC eBook Award Winner for Best Novella and HOLT Medallion Award of Merit Winner for Best Romance Novella, Forever Freed is the NJRW Golden Leaf Winner for Best Paranormal of 2011 and is a finalist for two GDRWA Booksellers’ Best Awards, and North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, is a finalist for a FF&P PRISM award, was named GraveTells’ Best Book of 2011 and won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

**********GIVEAWAY*********

Laura is offering an ebook copy of her novel:  SEDUCED BY THE VAMPIRE KING

To be eligible for our giveaway:

1.  You must be a member of The Reading Cafe.  If you are not a member, please register using the LOG-IN tab at the top, or by using one of the social log-ins at the top right side.

2.  You MUST leave a comment answering one of the LIGHTNING ROUND QUESTIONS.

3.  Contest is open internationally.

4.  Contest runs from June 3 to June 7, 2012