Monday, October 06, 2014

Interview and Giveaway Borealis Ardor by Kay Phoenix



What inspired you to become an author?  

I wasn’t really inspired; I think I just always felt like I was.  I love to write and I’ve always been a daydreamer, sometimes a bit too much.  It feels good to write, just like an artist that needs to paint. 

Do you have a specific writing style?  

This story is written in first person, but I usually prefer second person since you can see what is happening in all of the character’s personal lives.  I like to incorporate real-life situations and some of my characters are based on people that I know.  Humor is a big part of my writing, although not so much in this story.

How did you come up with the title for your latest book?  

I wanted the title to be different enough that it would be memorable.  Part of the story takes place in Alaska so I incorporated the Aurora Borealis in the title.  And, my publisher was ok with the title I suggested.

What book are you reading now?  

“Fashionably Dead” by Robyn Peterman.  I absolutely love her sense of humor.

What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?  

I’m currently working on a full length contemporary romance that I’m tentatively titling “The Zookeeper”.  My critique partners have been amazing through this and I’m happy to say that I’m almost to “THE END”.  Here is the blurb:

Elizabeth Tanner was raised in a Zoo.  Literally.  But now that Zoo is in danger, not only from falling ticket sales, but also from a mysterious illness afflicting the animals.
Frank Adams, the newest Animal Care attendant, spent time behind bars himself.
But, in this Zoo, even the strongest bars can’t hold back the truth.
And the truth will be set free.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Suddenly, someone wrapped an arm around her from behind, covering her mouth and in one motion, lifted her off her feet.  He pulled her backwards silently, into the storeroom that housed various costumes and props, then into the utility closet at the end of the room.  Without removing the hand from her mouth, her captor turned her around and pushed her against the back wall of the closet, closing the door behind him so that they were packed in tightly.
She stomped on his foot and struggled.
“Elizabeth Tanner,” he whispered sternly, holding her tighter.  “I need you to be very calm, right now.  I need you to understand that you are in danger and I am going to protect you.”
She struggled again but he held her firmly. “Hold still.”
Elizabeth’s heart beat excitedly in her chest.  She was thoroughly confused by the current situation but for some inexplicable reason felt safer in the closet than outside of it.  She tried to distinguish her captor; there was something familiar about him.  The low light from the hall shone through the air slits in the door behind him so she could only see an outline of him, his face was in shadows.  There was something familiar in the way that his hair stood up.  And, in the way he smelled.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?  

I’d say my biggest hinderance is my need for perfection.  I get in my own way all the time!

Do you have to travel much to do research for your books? 

Gosh, that would be a dream!  This particular story is set partially in a remote cabin in Alaska and I’ve always wanted to go there.   I have other stories that take place in Africa, Hawaii, England and France.  I’d love to jump on a plane and write those trips off as research. 

Do you have any advice for other writers?  

Write the story of your heart.  No one else has been given your particular story to tell, and you never know who might want to read it and love it.



Borealis Ardor
Seasons of Passion
Winter Winds
Kay Phoenix

Genre:  paranormal romance
Publisher:  MuseItUp Publishing

ISBN:  978-1-77127-495-1
ASIN:  B00IA1QKFK

Number of pages:  58
Word Count:  14,709

Cover Artist:  Suzannah Safi

Book Description:  

Lauren Madison’s life started unraveling at a speed too fast for her to keep up with. Every truth she had taken for granted was torn away, and the pieces that were left painted no clear pictures at all…only more confusion.

The only pillar of strength in her fragile life was David Wagner, her bodyguard who was placed in witness protection. But, what had he seen that day, and why couldn’t she remember?

She had no choice but to run. And if her life was threatened again, who would be there to protect her?

Available at Amazon

Excerpt:

“You shouldn’t be here, Lauren.  Leave quickly.” The voice stopped me in my tracks.  It was David’s voice, in my head.  But, I shrugged it off and walked forward until I saw the new stone and the rectangle of earth in front of it that had noticeably less pine needles than the surrounding area.

I knelt beside it.

 “David Alan Wagner.  Beloved Son, Brother and Friend.”  The lines of the letters were etched deep and black, contrasting heavily against the light grey stone.  I gently lay the roses down and traced the letters with my finger.  There was a cross carved below the words.  I ran my hand along the entire edge of the top of the stone, feeling the rough edges in contrast to the freshly polished front and back.  I wondered how long the stone had been there.  Dad assured me he had taken care of the funeral expenses, and he must have made sure there was a rush order on the headstone.  There was a fresh bouquet of white roses lying at the base of the stone and it made me feel deeply saddened for his family, as well as for him.  As much as dad irritated the living hell out of me with his overprotective gestures, if I had to disappear forever and have him think I was dead, it would break my heart.  After we lost mom, we were all the family we had.

I loved David with my whole heart.  Even though we had only been together for two of the six months that he was assigned to me, I knew that he was the “one”.  I just knew it.  There was no explanation.  And, I was the “one” for him as well.  But, now he was gone, and it was unlikely that I would see him again, at least not any time soon.

I reached up to trace the “D” again and saw a strange light flash across the polished surface of the stone, which I realized with horror to be a set of headlights.

Who would be coming to a graveyard at this hour? Besides me of course? Teenagers with a Ouija board and bottle of Strawberry Hill wine in tow, perhaps?

I could take no chances.  I could have been followed.



About the Author:

Ms. Phoenix is a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, Nevada.  She serves on the board of the Las Vegas Romance Writers and is also a member of the Kiss of Death and Women’s Fiction chapters of Romance Writers of America.

In her spare time she enjoys hiking, camping and photography and is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Psychology.  She is also a member of the Vegas Artists Guild as a photographer.  Prior to writing, Kay was a Graphic Artist for 15 years in the casino industry.

Kay writes in the contemporary and paranormal romance categories, as well as non-fiction articles.  Please visit her website at www.KayPhoenix.com.

Website:   www.KayPhoenix.com




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1 comments:

Kay Phoenix said...

Thanks for having me. It was fun!