Interview and Giveaway: Kathryne Kennedy

Please join me in welcoming Kathryne Kennedy to Debbie's Book Bag today! Kathryne is here today to promote the release of her book, The Lord of Illusion. Many of you participated in the Elven Lord blog hop recently here on the blog and got a chance to win copies of all three books in the Elven Lord series, today two winners will get another chance to win a copy of the latest book in the series, see details at the end of the post.
 
DEB: Kathryne, it's been awhile since you've been with us here at Debbie's Book Bag, what have you been up to?
KK: I was finishing up the fourth book in my Relics of Merlin series, Everlasting Enchantment. In other words, I was having some magical fun. :}
 
DEB: Tell us a little bit about The Lord of Illusion and the Elven Lord's series.
KK: In The Elven Lords series, seven mad elven broke the barrier between worlds and conquered England, enslaving the people in their war games and playing chess on a bloody scale. They passed their beauty and magic down to their half-human children, and these half-breeds became the only hope of freeing England.

The Lord of Illusion is about a scholar, Drystan Hawkes, who has been searching for years to find the one woman who might hold the key to freeing England from its slavery to the elven lords. It’s about Camille Ashton, a girl enslaved in Dreamhame palace by the elven lord of glamour and illusion. It’s about healing hearts, and finding true love, and ultimately using that strength to conquer a great evil.
 
DEB: You obviously have a fantastic imagination, when did you start writing or dreaming about other worlds and fantasy type themes?
KK: I had my first story published in the school paper in second grade—I think it was about witches. I can remember telling my little sister stories at night before we fell asleep. The first book I remember reading was a book of fairy tales, so maybe that’s why my imagination always went in that direction.
 
DEB: Have you always been interested in elves? There are so many wonderful legends and stories about them, what was your inspiration for this story in particular?
KK: I fell in love with the concept of the Sidhe years ago. But when I saw Legolas in The Lord of the Rings movies, I knew I had to write my own world around these beautiful, captivating beings.
 
DEB: Do you have go-to fantasy writers that you like to read yourself or writers in general that inspire you?
KK: I have a long list of fantasy writers, as I’ve been devouring fantasy (or more broadly, speculative fiction) for a long time, before it became so generally popular. My husband introduced me to Michael Moorcock, and then I discovered Andre Norton, and Isaac Asimov. A few other authors off the top of my head are Robin Hobb, Dave Duncan, Sharon Shinn, Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley, Patricia Briggs…so many great writers!
 
DEB: Will the series continue or is three books the limit with this one?
KK: As you could probably tell, I left it open. There are a few adventures (and love stories) with the theft of the scepters, and Malcolm’s story…and years later if that seal in the doorway doesn’t stay closed. :}
 
DEB: What are you working on right now or what's coming up you can tell us about?
KK: Sourcebooks is re-releasing the first three books in the Relics of Merlin series, and I just finished a brand new fourth book, Everlasting Enchantment. But I have this new world in my head taking shape, about four sisters cursed with fractured magic…I’ll have to see if my publisher likes it. 

DEB: Do you have any advice for new writers?
KK: I seem to have a new answer to that question every time I’m asked. So today it will be to focus on your unique voice and stories. Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing, don’t compare your journey to others. I have yet to meet any authors whose experiences are the same in their path to publication.
 
DEB: What about pet peeves with writing or the industry in general?
KK: I don’t really have any. This is a business, like any other. Maybe with more unknowns, I guess. Sometimes you just have to be able to think two ways, with the creative side of your brain when it comes to the writing, and the logical side of the brain when it comes to the publishing and marketing.
 
DEB: Tell us one thing the readers may not know about you?
KK: I love fuzzy slipper socks. And collecting fairies. And reality shows and anything in 3D.

Thank you so much for the interesting questions, Debbie, and for having me here today! I look forward to talking to your readers. I sure would like to ask readers what I may not know about them. Favorite foods, flowers, books, candy? All my favorite subjects. :} And good luck to everyone in the giveaway!

My Magical Best,
Kathryne

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for two copies of The Lord of Illusion by Kathryne Kennedy.

~ You must be a GFC follower or E-mail subscriber to participate.
~ US and Canadian Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST March 6th. 

1. Kathryne wants to know some of your favorite things... foods, flowers, books, candy! Give her some answers in your comment.
2. Please fill out the FORM.