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An Interview with Kristen Painter

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An Interview with Kristen Painter

The Reading Cafe is happy to have the wonderful Kristen Painter as our guest today.

Kristen has her newest release, Out for Blood, coming on Tuesday, October 30th.  Yesterday we posted an early review of her terrific continuation of Kristen’s House of Comarre series. 

Kristen is here to talk to us about her latest book, as well as telling us a bit about herself.

Let’s meet Kristen.

Hi Kristen.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book, and it is a pleasure to have you here at The Reading Café.

TRC: Would you please tell us about yourself?


Kristen: This is a tough question. What do I say? I love pretty things, but I’m not sentimental. I have four cats and two fish tanks that fascinate me endlessly. I get cranky when I’m hungry (my husband made me add this.:) I’m fiercely loyal to my friends. I can be silly or serious. Family is important to me. I tend to speak before thinking, although I’m working on that one. Graphic novels are one of my favorite escapes. And I have a shopping addiction. I think that gives you a good general picture. Hah!

TRC: When and how did you become interested in writing?  Have you always liked to write?

Kristen: I’ve written stories since I’ve been able to hold a pencil and (mostly) spell the words necessary to get my ideas onto paper. I don’t know if I ever consciously thought “I want to be a writer.” I just always felt like I was one. If you write, you’re a writer. For me, it’s that simple.

TRC: What was your first book published?  What was your reaction when you saw your first published book?

Kristen: My first published book was All Fired Up from Samhain Publishing in 2010. Seeing that first book was pretty thrilling, as I think it is for most authors. There’s definitely a sense of, “Wow, I did it.” I had another genuinely heart-stopping moment when I first saw the cover for Blood Rights. It’s an amazing cover (the whole series of covers has been amazing!) and I feel really blessed to have ended up with them.

TRC: How did you come up with the idea of House of Comarré?  Can you please tell us the premise of the House of Comarré Series?

Kristen: The idea of Chrysabelle came to me in college – this mysterious, gold inked woman in a white gown who was far more dangerous than anyone realized. The rest of the series grew up around her with the basic premise of what if vampires had blood geishas? That’s loosely what I built off of.

 

TRC: Please tell us a little about Out for Blood, which is being released October 30th.

Kristen: Out For Blood will take the characters to some dark places emotionally, but I promise it will all be resolved in Last Blood in a very satisfying way.

LINKS TO PRE-ORDER
Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes and Noble

 

 

TRC: We have read that Last Blood, coming in July 2013 is the last book of House of Comarre series.  Was this your intent to end the series after 5 books?

Kristen: I didn’t have any real idea of how many books it would take to tell this story, I just told it the way it came to me and that turned out to be five books and one novella. I’m happy with that. I never wanted to be an author who hung on to a series longer than necessary. It’s still hard to say goodbye to the characters though – they’ve been a part of my life for a while now.

TRC: You have written Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.  Which genre do you prefer, and is there any other genre you are interested in writing?

Kristen: I’ve also written steampunk, but I definitely love Urban Fantasy. You can do so much crazy stuff in this genre and it’s perfectly acceptable. I love that!

TRC: Many people seem to be confused as to what is Urban Fantasy.  Can you explain the difference between Urban Fantasy & Fantasy or Paranormal?

Kristen: To me, if the book ends with a happy ever after, it’s paranormal romance. If the romance is just an element of the book, it might be Urban Fantasy.

TRC: What are you working on now? Do you have a new series planned?

Kristen: I just finished up book five, Last Blood, so now I’m working on my next series idea. I actually have two, so I don’t know what I’ll end up writing next. I’m excited about both of them, though, so whatever it is, I’m ready to write!

TRC: Who is your muse?

Kristen: I don’t really believe in muses – not any more than I believe in writer’s block. I write because telling stories is my job. I can always write something, always figure out a way to make something work. That’s what authors do. And those days that the writing is hard, but I get it done anyway? Those are some of the most rewarding because it’s often those days that produce some really great stuff.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Kristen: I just want to say I love my readers, love hearing from them and am always willing to interact with them on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KristenPainterAuthor.

Thank you, Kristen for answering our questions. We look forward to continuing to read your books, and to work with you again in the future. 

If you want to learn more about Kristen, you can find her at the following links:

Website: http://kristenpainter.com/
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

Kristen has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win a copy of any book from her House of Comarre series.

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Please post a comment and say hi to Kristen.

4.  Giveaway open to U.S. & Canada only.

5.  Contest runs from October 26rd – October 29th.


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Kristen Painter – Biography-Bibliography

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Kristen Painter – Biography-Bibliography


Biography
A little about me: I’m a former college English teacher, but I’ve held a crazy mix of other jobs including maitre’d for Wolfgang Puck, personal trainer, and sales for Christian Dior Bijoux. On the writing side of things, I’m a two-time Golden Heart finalist and have been on the board of three different RWA chapters. What can I say? I like getting involved. I’m not adverse to bossing people around either.
My forays into writing have been as varied as the jobs I’ve held. I’ve written poetry, articles for magazines, short stories, paranormal romances (that include fantasy, contemporary and steampunk genres) and now I’ve found a home with urban fantasy. I love worldbuilding and few genres give you the kind of license urban fantasy does.
I’m also the co-founder of the award-winning writer’s site Romancedivas.com. I blog occasionally at www.fictionistas.blogspot.com and tweet at twitter.com/Kristen_Painter more often than I should. You can also find me on my Facebook author page here: www.facebook.com/KristenPainterAuthor
I live in FL with my retired Air Force husband and a horde of feline dependents. I’m represented by The Knight Agency.

 

Bibliography

Urban Fantasy

House of Comarré series

Blood Rights – Release date – October, 2011
Flesh and Blood – Release date – November, 2011
Bad Blood – Release date – December, 2011
Out for Blood –  Release date – October, 2012
Last Blood – Release date – early 2013

Romance

All Fired Up – Release date- September, 2009
Her Viking Valentine – Release date – February, 2010
Heart of Fire – Release date – April, 2010
Miss Bramble and the Leviathan (novella) – Release date – October, 2010
The Perfect Dish – Release date – December 2010
Dark Kiss of the Reaper – Release date – March, 2011

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Out for Blood by Kristen Painter – a Review

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Out for Blood by Kristen Painter – a Review

Out for Blood by Kristen Painter is the 4th book in her House of Commare series. This story picks up shortly after Bad Blood left off.  Let’s start with the official description.

Description:
After nearly dying, Chrysabelle finds new determination to move beyond life as a comarré and grasp hold of some normality. Until the Kubai Mata bring a new task to her doorstep: rescue the child Tatiana has kidnapped, or Mal becomes enemy number one. But before Chrysabelle begins that mission, the mayor declares a curfew in Paradise City in hopes of controlling the othernatural population. A close friend gets caught and when Mal gets in over his head, Chrysabelle runs to his rescue and unwittingly unleashes a power that’s lain dormant in him for centuries. Will that power be enough to help them rescue the child in Tatiana’s clutches or will their trip to Corvinestri be their last?

 Review:

Chrysabelle is still trying to discover the ramifications from using the Ring of Sorrows gold as her signum.  After she initially pushes Mal away again, she regrets her actions and tries to make amends.  She finds herself in a situation, that literally kills her, and Mal thinking he has lost the love of his life, watches in amazement as she comes back to life.

Finally as the story progresses, we get to see the romance between Chrysabelle and Mal come to fruitation.  Mal loves Chrysabelle with everything he has, even though the voices of the beast inside him push him to be evil. But Out for Blood has many continuing stories ongoing, with the characters we have come to enjoy in the earlier books:

Tatiana is the villain, and her usual nasty self, but now she has a child she adores, a child who becomes the first born vampire, and whom will also be a daywalker.  Tatiana, who is feared by all,  will stop at nothing, even plot to kill those against her, who stand in her way.

Chrysabelle is also determined to find her brother, and save him from Tatiana, and asks Mal and friends to help her.  They also plan to take away the kidnapped vampire child from Tatiana.  With her unusual signum, which has given her abilities that she needs to find more about, Chrysabelle is now one of the strongest Commarres’.  Tatiana of course wants her.

Doc, who is a feline shapeshifter,  and Fi, who is a ghost,  are the other romantic couple, and now that Doc becomes the leader of his pack, the laws require him to marry the former leader’s wife.  Fi must go over and beyond to find a way to free Doc, even if it means putting her own life on the line.

Creek, who must still answer to the Kubai Mata, is forced to push Chrysabelle, to help bring back that child to them, as she goes to find her brother.  Creek comes under the spell of a soul taker, and under her influence causes the Mayor to make rash and dangerous decisions.  Those of which will endanger and anger his family & friends.

The Mayor having lost her daughter to vampires, is determined to retrieve her granddaughter, even if she is a vampire.  Her decision to become a vampire to give her immortality and to help her granddaughter, causes much destruction along the way.

There is a lot of action, and excitement, as each story heads for their own climax. There were a number of twists, and a surprise ending.  It wasn’t really a cliffhanger, but nevertheless, it was a shocker.  Kristen Painter does a fantastic job with her world building of vampires, comarre, shapeshifters, ghosts, etc.  This is also a unique storyline, very different then most vampire books.  You really need to read this series from the start to understand this world, and what the comarre are.  This was an excellent book, exciting read, and with that ending, we have to hope Painter gets us the next book fast. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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BLOOD RIGHTS (House of Comarre #1) by Kristin Painter

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BLOOD RIGHTS (House of Comarre #1) by Kristin Painter

BLOOD RIGHTS (House of Comarre #1) by Kristin Painter

BLOOD RIGHTS is the first novel in Kristin Painter’s House of Comarre Urban Fantasy series. Set in the year 2067, the first novel in the series introduces the reader to a wide variety of supernatural beings, terminology and a vampire premise that follows a different path than many vampire storylines. But a little background information is required to follow the premise.

Our heroine is Chrysabelle, one of the strongest and fiercest Comarre. The Comarre are a hybrid race of humans, specially trained in the warrior arts and in service to the vampire nobility. But the method of service is necessary for both parties-as the source of pure blood, the Comarre provide strength and nourishment to the vampires and in return, the vampire is able to drain the toxic effects of the pureblood buildup in the Comarre. It is both an honor and a duty to owe patronage and ‘blood rights’ to the vampire nobility, but Chrysabelle’s patron has been found murdered and the Ring of Sorrows is missing, and all suspicions turn to the woman who has sworn allegiance to the vampire for over a hundred years.

Chrysabelle must seek refuge and solace with her Aunt Maris. But time is running out. Hoping to discover the truth to Algernon’s murder, Chysabelle is sent forth looking for the one man Maris has told her to find. When Chrysabelle crosses paths with the fallen vampire Malkolm, her adventure into the underworld of demons, shapeshifters and fae, becomes a little more complicated when her true identity as a Comarre beckons the inner beast hidden beneath the façade of the recluse vampire.

Malkolm is a fallen vampire –cursed with the many deaths he has hastened at the hands of his beast. But the voices in his head continually urge the vampire towards another kill, and this time, their target is a beautiful Comarre, tattooed with the golden fretwork of the most powerful and pure. Although unwilling to admit she is in trouble, Crysabelle needs Malkolm’s help, but it is the call of her blood, that excites the beast hidden within. But fate has brought these two lonely beings together, and it will be blood that will bring them closer –still.

Tatiana is a powerful vampire with a motive of pure menace and vengeance. Hoping to secure the position of Dominus in one of the most powerful vampire Houses, Tatiana requires the Ring of Sorrows, and Algernon was the last known vampire to be in possession of the powerful jewel and now his Comarre is missing and presumed guilty of both murder and theft of the ring. The true nature of the ring has yet to be revealed, but Tatiana’s endeavor to discover its’ power will unleash an evil thought only to exist in mythology and lore. And the hunt for Tatiana will push Malkolm and Chrysabelle spiraling the depths of hidden passages, only to discover there are more secrets locked behind the façade of an aging Comarre and a vindictive vampire hoping to avenge the death of a child.

We are introduced to Malkolm’s constant companions-Fi, a ghost from his past that haunts his present, and Doc, the shapeshifting feline who has been cursed to the life of a house pet: Marissa as Chrysabelle’s aunt who has a few secrets of her own: and Dominic, a powerful vampire with connections to both Chrysabelle and her aunt.

Kristin Painter labels herself as a gothic urban fantasy writer. The genre is usually a dark look into the future world heading for destruction at the hands of the supernatural. Although there is little in the way of ‘urban fantasy’, the gothic tag is quite dark and evil. There is no sex, no foul language but the violence is bloody and sharp. The relationship between Chrysabelle and Malkolm is slow to build and even slower is their realization of the inevitable. I am not sure whether this series is YA. I cannot find any reference to the age discipline that the author has intended-with the lack of many of the ‘staples’ of an adult storyline, this novel could read as YA, except the characters are definitely NOT teens. Blood Rights has an interesting premise that offers a different twist to the vampire myth and legend. 

LINKS TO ORDER
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO / Books a Million

Reviewed by Sandy

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