Interview: Kathryne Kennedy + Fire Lord's Lover contest

Today I welcome Kathryne Kennedy, the author of The Fire Lord's Lover. This great historical fantasy romance.

At the bottom of this post is a giveaway for 2 copies.

Tell me something about yourself, so we get a better understanding about the woman behind the author.

I grew up in the Air Force, so we traveled quite a bit when I was younger. My only constant was family, so they are very important to me. I’ve been married over thirty years, have two sons in college, who I’m very proud of. I’m fiercely loyal, a bit of a control freak, and I love meeting new people. My mother is like one of those earth goddesses, very nurturing and caring, and my father (who I lost last year) was a businessman with a high level of ethics and morals, and loved giving to others (they are both heavily involved with the Lions Club). I’m fortunate to be able to say that I inherited a bit of both of their qualities.



Your newest book is called The Fire Lord’s Lover; can you tell me what it is about?It’s the first book in my new series, THE ELVEN LORDS, about a Georgian England that has been taken over by seven mad elves who use their magic, and humans, in their war games to win the king, who has become nothing more than a trophy. Humans and half-breeds have formed a Rebellion to free themselves from the oppression of elven rule, and In THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER, Lady Cassandra was trained as an assassin to murder the fire lord. In an arranged marriage to General Dominic Raikes, a general in the lord’s army, she gets close to the elven lord, but unfortunately, a bit too close to Dominic. Despite good reasons to keep their distance from one another, Dominic & Cassandra fall in love, imperiling not only the Rebellion’s cause, but also their very lives.


How come this mix of fantasy and romance?
I combine everything I love; historical, fantasy and romance. I find it exciting to create new worlds and new adventures, with that first rush of falling in love as an equally important part of the story.

I see that you have written a lot of other books. Could you tell me about those?
MY UNFAIR LADY, a Victorian romance of complete fun, was published a few months ago, and there may still be a copy or two on bookstore shelves. In December of this year, my first novel, BENEATH THE THIRTEEN MOONS, will be available in MM paperback, and this book takes place on a different world of magic and romance. I also wrote THE RELICS OF MERLIN series, which is another alternate magical England, about the descendants of Merlin in the Victorian era.

Who is your favorite hero or heroine from your books? What makes them so special?
For me, it’s always the h/h from the book I’m currently working on. I fall in love with them, and am always sad to say goodbye when the book is finished. And then I start a new one, and begin to fall in love all over again.

Which book of those you have written is your favorite, and what makes it so?
Again, it’s the book I’m currently working on. It takes me 7 months or so to write a book, so I have to be in love with what I’m doing in order to stay with it.

Are you working on something new and exciting right now?
I just finished up THE LADY OF THE STORM, book 2 in THE ELVEN LORDS series. I’ll be doing my final edits on it this week, which is always the fun part for me, as I get to revisit the story and characters once again. I think you’ll be able to guess whose story it is once you read THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER.


What kinds of books do you read? Any fav authors?
I read fantasy, and romance, and any combination of the two when I can find them. That’s not very often, and I think this is why I combine genres. It’s what I’d like to read.

Any advice for wannabe writers?
I’ve given advice several times on my tour, so I would like to add something new. Be aware of how you are marketing yourself. In your blogs, on your website, amongst your fellow authors. When you sell that first book, and you will, given enough persistence, you are launching your name, not just a book. Readers will want to know what to expect from you.

Thanks!

And thank you, Linda, for having me here! I will be popping in all day, and look forward to responding to any comments.

And thank you for coming by :)

THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER BY KATHRYNE KENNEDY—IN STORES JULY 2010
Kathryne Kennedy's historical fantasy romances have garnered awards and a growing readership. This exciting new series, set against the lavish backdrops of Georgian and Victorian England so beloved by romance readers, is deliciously dark and exciting.


Fighting for control of a kingdom that is split into seven domains, Elven warlords use their human slaves to breed an endless supply of soldiers for their armies. Dominic Raikes, the half-blood son of the Elven Lord himself is one such warrior. Betrothed to Lady Cassandra, who has been raised in a convent to keep her pure, he little suspects that she's been secretly trained as an assassin to murder his father. Dominic and Cassandra soon discover that each one is not what they seem, but the price of trust may be their very lives, and the destruction of the magical realm each is desperately trying to save…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathryne Kennedy is a multipublished, award-winning author of magical romances. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives in Arizona with her wonderful family—which includes two very tiny Chihuahuas. She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at: www.KathryneKennedy.com.

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Borders
BooksAMillion
Chapters/Indigo
Kathryne’s Bookseller Directory


GIVEAWAY:
Thanks to Sourcebooks I have 2 copies to give away today.


Rules: Open to US and Canada
Ends July 11th


So be free to ask Kathryne any questions any of you have, or comment on the book.

Or even ask me what I thought ;) (I gladly tell).

Review: The Fire Lord's Lover - Kathryne Kennedy

 Elven Lords, book 1

Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance
Pages:
Published; June 6th 2010 Sourcebooks Casablanca

If his powers are discovered, his father will destroy him...
In a magical land ruled by ruthless Elven Lords, the Fire Lord's son Dominic Raikes plays a deadly game to conceal his growing might from his malevolent father, until his arranged bride awakens in him passions he thought he had buried forever.

Unless his bride kills him first...
Lady Cassandra has been raised in outward purity and innocence, while secretly being trained as an assassin. Her mission is to bring down the Elven Lord and his champion son. But when she gets to court she discovers that nothing is what it seems, least of all the man she married...

Then Dominic and Cassandra together discover an unspeakable evil, one that threatens the destruction of the magical realm they would give their souls to save...

I really enjoyed this book, elves! Lol, do I need to say more. Well, ok I have to.

First there is Dominic, cold and lacking a heart, or at least that he plays at. He is the bastard son to The Fire Lord that rules London. Long ago some Elven Lords grew bored and conquered England. The world turned a blind eye when riches came from their reign and magic. They are cruel creatures that do not care for humans, those could just as well be cattle. Dominic is used by his father as a general and he does everything to try to hide his heart. Until..

..he meets his bride Cassandra. She has been sent to kill The Fire Lord and his bastard son. But she soon finds herself questioning things, and perhaps falling for the col hearted General.

First I have to say that i loved this word, it's this alternate world/history/timeline kind of story. What if there actually were elves before, but then the portals to that world closed? And some came back, and with some offspring here and there nobles now have magic too. Little, but still some. It's a world where England is divided into realms, there is a king, but he is just a prize that the Lords fight over. because they need their games, else they grow bored, and then they are as dangerous as they get. It was an England I would have loved to see, even if the country was ruled by dictators, beautiful dictators.

Dominic, oh he was such an ass, but he had to be. He has learnt that feelings, and friendship is dangerous to those he loves. So he is as cold as his father. Ice-cold to his new bride that melt under his fingers. I knew he was doing it for all the right reasons, but still I ached for her. Cassandra melts by this handsome elf, she feels passion, and slowly something is building up, while I scream, trust each other! She is not some nice little bride either, no, she has a mind of her own, pretty dangerous, but she wants freedom from this wicked rule.

Two people falling in love, one crazy Elven Lord who wants a new champion, some cool magic, jealousy, an England you have not seen before, and a world that has so much more to offer. What is there not to like, and oh yes, passion too.

As for which genre this is, hm, well historical romance fans will love it, paranormal romance fans will too, and those with an eye out for fantasy romance. Quite a win win.

Reason for reading: On my copy you couldn't see his eyes, kind of liked that, he looked more dark. Still love it, and look at those ears!

Reason for reading: Copy thanks to Sourcebooks.

Final thoughts: Why are there not elves and magic in England, I'd love to visit (if I could return home afterwards with my life intact afterwards.)

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