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Friday, February 10, 2012

Interview with Kylie Griffin and Giveaway - February 10, 2012

Please welcome Kylie Griffin to The Qwillery as part of the 2012 Debut Author Challenge Interviews. Vengeance Born (The Light Blade 1), Kylie's debut, was published on February 7, 2012.


TQ:  What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Kylie:  I write from beginning to end when I draft – I can’t write scenes out of order. I jot points down, or a few sentences when a scene comes to me and save them in a BITS file, but until I arrive at that point in the draft, it’s sequence in the plot and the full impact of it isn’t realized.

TQ:  Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Kylie:  Ahh, such a complicated question, and only because I straddle the fence with genres. When I first started getting into reading, I devoured straight fantasy and science fiction, stories written authors like Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey, David Eddings and Rowena Corey Daniells.

In my late teens I discovered the romance genre and then paranormal romance – all my favorite genres combined – I was in heaven!

Must-buys for me in this genre are Nalini Singh, Lora Leigh, Joss Ware, Elizabeth Vaughn, Larissa Ione, Denise Rossetti, JRWard, Sara Creasy and JRWard.

But of all of these authors, Anne McCaffrey had the greatest influence on me as a writer. Her stories fired my imagination and inspired me to write my own. I loved how well she combined all the elements of good fantasy/SF and never shied away from including a romance in the story. The best of all worlds! :-)

TQ:  Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Kylie:  I’m evolving. In my early years as a writer I was a definite panster. I have boxes of unfinished manuscripts stored under my bed thanks to this rather inefficient method.

But as I’ve developed my craft, and now that I’m published and required to submit sample chapters and a synopsis to my editor, I’ve had to evolve into a semi-plotter.

I usually know how I want to start and end a story but everything else in between is fuzzy. I begin writing and as the story takes shape I see scenes.

Imagine walking through a foggy valley and every so often you come to the crest of a hill and see another in the distance and head for it. That’s how I get through the middle of the story. I just have to make sure the journey takes me to the ending I want. Most times this method works.

TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Kylie:  Writing the first draft, particularly the first 30000 words. It’s the time when the story, the characters, the world is all new.

I’m uncovering elements of each as I write. I’m getting into the characters heads, learning who they are and how they think, feel, and act. I’m discovering their world step by step beside them.

Once I get past that first third of the book I know them and the rest comes a lot more easily.

TQ:  Describe Vengeance Born (The Light Blade 1) in 140 characters or less.

Kylie:  A bastard born heroine and warrior hero uncover ancient secrets, struggle with prejudice, and who discover a love that will save three races.

TQ:  What inspired you to write Vengeance Born?

Kylie:  Ideas for new books usually come as I’m writing another. It was about a year before I put fingers to keyboard to write Vengeance Born that I saw Annika, the heroine, in exactly the same scene as the one that opens the book.

She was descending into father’s dungeon about to meet a human Light Blade warrior for the first time, about to begin her escape and achieve her goal of beginning a new life.

The scene was so vivid I jotted down the details and, as I finished writing another paranormal manuscript, Annika remained at the back of my mind. I daydreamed a lot of ‘what if…’ scenarios to discover her story.

It seems a strange thing to say that I had fun considering the possibilities of a crossbreed child born as the result of a rape.

How would the environment influence her development? Could any one person influence or balance her upbringing? What role would they play? How could they affect her? Which character traits would develop because of her situation? What strengths and weaknesses would she have?

I decided that Annika would have strength and courage backed by a determination to free herself – there would be no waiting around for someone to save her (I love a strong heroine) – but, because of her upbringing, she’d also harbor a flawed sense of worth and need for acceptance.

TQ:  What sort of research did you do for Vengeance Born?

Kylie:  The wonderful thing about the paranormal genre is that a lot of what I write can be all made up, but I suppose we have to base our ideas on something that’s familiar with then give it our own unique twist.

I drew maps, so scoured atlases for geographical details that I could include in mine.

Scriptures from the bible and the Christian ethos also influenced the development of the deity character, her followers – the Light Blade warrior caste and some others in Vengeance Born.

I poured through numerous costume and ancient weapons books for details about clothing, daggers, swords, shields, armor etc. but for most part everything else came from my imagination.

TQ:  Who was the easiest character to write and why? Hardest and why?

Kylie:  The easiest was Annika. I had that connection with her from the very first time I saw her descending into the dungeon. I focused a lot on her in the initial daydreaming stages.

Kalan proved the most challenging and a lot of that was trying to make the dialogue sound like a guy speaking.

TQ:  Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in Vengeance Born?

Kylie:  There’s an escape scene in the opening chapters of the book that I just loved writing. The whole emotional tug and pull of the characters in conflict but then also connecting.

Annika and Kalan have this tentative thread of trust born of a common need to escape her father and Na’Reish territory. They discover some of the more unpleasant facets about each other in that scene – their inbuilt prejudices of one another’s races – yet they reach a point where they realize what they believe isn’t necessarily true. It’s one of the first major turning points in their relationship with one another.

Another of my favorite scenes is in Chapter 15. Without giving too many details away, readers learn more about Annika's past, see Kalan's reaction to it and both explore the physical attraction developing between them. It’s all about trust, commitment and connections.

No spoiler but here’s just a snippet...

     Annika swung her legs around to sit on the ledge facing inward, her gaze fixed on him as she tried to sort out the tangle of emotions his words evoked. He was treating her as if she were human, and making it easy for her to forget the fact that she wasn’t.
     She shouldn’t like that but she did. She clenched her hand around the edge of her cloak. His recent behavior was making it safe to share things she’d never have thought to reveal to anyone else. He didn’t criticize her, didn’t laugh at her ignorance, hadn’t taken advantage of her weaknesses. Other than Hesia, no one had ever kept their promises to her.
     He treated her like a friend.
     Annika started to shake. Not in fear, but with the strength of an unknown emotion filling her heart. With every beat, the warmth of it spread through her. He stood close enough that she could feel the heat of his body, even through two cloaks. She lifted her hand toward him then hesitated.
     Touching Kalan, exposing her need for him, lifted the hairs on her neck. She hated being vulnerable. But she wanted to show him the same amount of trust he’d finally given her.
Mouth dry, she cupped his cheek then trailed her fingers along his stubbled jaw and shuddered, liking the rough sensation of it beneath the palm of her hand. Her gaze dropped to his lips. They looked soft, unlike the rest of his lean body. She wanted to kiss him but wasn’t sure if she had the courage. The scent of his arousal filled her lungs.
     “I don’t bite.” The corners of his mouth turned upward ever so slightly. “Not unless you want me to.”
TQ:  What's next?

Kylie:  ALLIANCE FORGED, the second book in this series is out 3rd July 2012, so I’m at the tail end of the publishing process with it as I type this.

And, all going well, Book #3 (untitled) is scheduled for an early 2013 release. Both books feature characters introduced in VENGEANCE BORN.

On the new manuscript/writing front I’m thinking of finishing off a sci-fi/space opera romance that I started just before I received ‘the call’ from Berkley back in late 2010…unless, of course, I’m contracted for more in the Light Blade series! :-)

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Kylie:  Thanks so much for having me – it’s been a hoot and I really enjoyed answering your questions.


Read Kylie's Guest Blog - Hail the Strong Heroine! - by clicking here.


About The Light Blade Series

Vengeance Born
Light Blade 1
Berkley Sensation, February 7, 2012
Trade Paperback, 336 pages

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not pure bred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born...

Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na'Reish King, longs for more than her tormented life among her father's people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she's gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy...

With the Na'Reish vastly outnumbering them, Kalan, a Light Blade warrior, knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na'Reish Horde have increased. As Chosen-leader, he faces the task of stopping the demons-and convincing the Council of aging Light Blade warriors that change is necessary for survival.

When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father's dungeon, her dream of escape seems within reach. She agrees to free him in exchange for his protection once they reach human territory. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they face not only the perilous journey to the border but enemies within the Council-and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into civil war...


Alliance Forged
The Light Blade 2
Berkley Sensation, July 3, 2012
Trade Paperback, 368 pages

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a blind priestess lays claim to a half-breed warrior, body and soul…

Hunted and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage, the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed to fail.

Varian, leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness inside him.

When the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart a war, the key to the survival of both races—Na’Chi and human— is an alliance. However, when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the woman he loves.


About Kylie

Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures.

Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.

Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at www.kyliegriffin.com



Kylie's Links:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
GoodReads:
Shelfari


The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a copy of Vengeance Born (The Light Blade 1) for Kylie!

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:

Who is/are some of your favorite strong heroine(s)? (books/comics/TV/movies)

Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)   Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Friday, February 17, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*

68 comments:

  1. OH I love my heroines. Selene from Underworld, Anita Blake, Rachel Morgan from the Hallows, Kate Daniels, Merit from Chicagoland vamps, Devon Monk's Magic series to name a few of my favs.
    +gfc Teril
    terilhack at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Teril hit a LOT of my favorites as well! I love Rachel Morgan, Kate Daniels, and Mercy Thompson.

    +1 comment
    +1 follower
    +1 Tweeted (https://twitter.com/#!/RebeLovesBooks/status/168017876693946369)

    rwschwarz11ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahh, Rebe, a bit of a Patricia Briggs fan - great taste! :-)

      Delete
  3. G'day Teril, you definitely have my vote for Selene from Underworld - I love that series! But wow, what a gathering all those characters would make if we were to get them together in one place! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  4. One of my favorite strong heroines is Claire from Outlander. I would have been dead in about three days if what happened to her happened to me.

    Kylie, congratulations on your release and for being blessed by the cover gods! How gorgeous are they??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Abigail, is this the time to confess I've yet to read OUTLANDER? I know, I know, get thee to a bookstore and buy it!!! It's on my to do list as sooooo many people have recommended it. I will, I promise! :-)

      Thanks for the congrats and yes, Gene Mollica is the name of this particular 'cover god' - he's done both books. Hoping he can do the third in the series!

      Delete
  5. I would have to say some of my favs are Anita Blake from Laurell K Hamilton, Cat Crawfield from Jeaniene Frost, Mercy Thompson from Patricia Briggs, and Rachel from Kim Harrison. Those are just a few of them.
    Loved the snippet from the book. Also what fantastic covers for these books. Thanks for the chance to win.
    christinebails@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm seeing some clear favorites for strong heroines happening :-)

      Chrisbails, glad you liked the snippet and covers for the Light Blade series. Good luck in the draw.

      Delete
  6. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one my favorite strong heroines. Please enter me in contest. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tore, Joss Whedon has some great heroines - Buffy, Inara (from Firefly), Echo (from Dollhouse).

      Delete
  7. Betty Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, and Joan Crawford played characters we were strong and smart women. I loved their movies!

    I look forward in reading this series; it’s on my must have list.

    +1 comment
    +1 follower

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    Booklover0226 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tracey D, thanks for listing off some movie heroines. Audrey Hepburn was one of my old time movie favorites.

      Delete
  8. oops forgot.
    Shared giveaway on facebook.
    https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fqwillery.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F02%2Finterview-with-kylie-griffin-and.html%3Fspref%3Dfb&t=Interview+with+Kylie+Griffin+and+Giveaway+-+Februa...
    Shared on twitter.
    The Qwillery: Interview with Kylie Griffin and Giveaway - Februa... http://qwillery.blogspot.com/2012/02/interview-with-kylie-griffin-and.html?spref=tw
    +1 comment
    +1 facebook and twitter
    +1 follower by email and GFC-christinebails@yahoo.com Chrisbails

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've just started watching a TV show called 'Once Upon a Time' which has lots of fairy tale charcters in it but focuses on the tale of Snow White (with a twist of course!) and man can she kick some ass!!
    Definately check it out if you have a chance Kylie.

    One of my fave book heroines has to be Elena from Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series. Major kick arse and super hot!

    Many thanks for the teaser snippet...(“I don’t bite.” The corners of his mouth turned upward ever so slightly. “Not unless you want me to.”) LOVE when guys do that quirky lip thingy and are all cheeky and sweet and up to no good!!

    Thanks for another chance to win a copy of VB :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cath! (waving)

      I really liked the look of the shorts of Once Upon a Time (a little dark and gritty, something I like). And Nalini is one of my all time favorite authors in the paranormal genre, so many good female characters. :-)

      Thanks for following the tour! Good luck in the draw!

      Delete
  10. oh Doh....
    +1 comment
    +1 follower

    cbcowley@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I LOVE Kate Daniels and loved Anita Blake in the first books of the series. Thank you for the interview and giveaway! :D
    Vengeance Born sounds really interesting. I have it now on my wishlist! :D

    +1 comment
    +1 follower (Giada M.)

    fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Giada, I prefer the early books of Anita Blake too.

      Delete
  12. I love Kate of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews... kick-ass, gorgeous and NOT stupid! :)

    (+1) Comment
    (+1) Twitted at: https://twitter.com/#!/cherrymischivus/status/168048198508740609
    (+1) Follower. My GFC name is Cherry.

    Cherry Mischievous
    cherrymischif-darkward [at] yahoo [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  13. That's a long list! The short list--Kate Daniels (Illona Andrews), Gin Blanco (Jennifer Estep), Eve Dallas (J.D. Robb), Mira (Jocelynn Drake), Maliha Crane (Dakota Banks)and Janelle Angelline (Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy)...and of course Buffy!!

    The series sounds like a fantastic read! Adding it to my TBB shopping list!

    elizabeth @ bookattict . com (subscribe)
    GFC: BookAttict
    Twitter: @BookAttict
    Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/BookAttict/status/168054707795931136

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cherry & BookAttict - some familiar names cropping up here on these lists. I love how some heroines really resonate and have wide appeal with readers.

      Thanks to both of you for dropping in and commenting. BookAttict thanks for adding the Light Blade series to your TBB list. :-)

      Delete
  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for the wonderful post and giveaway!

    I'd have to say that my fav strong heroines include: Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan; Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson; Marjorie Liu's Maxine Kiss; Jennifer Estep's Gin Blanco; J.D. Robb's Eve Dallas... etc. etc. etc.

    Congrats on the new release! Thanks for the teaser :)

    +1 comment
    +1 gfc: erin
    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love kates daniels, mercy thompson and Cat ( night huntress serie)
    so strong willed and determined women

    thanks you a lot for opening this giveaway worldwide
    all the best

    +1comment
    +1blog follow ( gfc: miki and email)

    isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. G'day Erin & Miki, the unofficial poll rates Kate & Mercy up there towards the top. :-)

      Thanks for the congrats - it's been a bit of an insane week but some very special memories being created with this release, Erin.

      And my pleasure opening up the giveaway internationally, Miki.

      Delete
  17. My favorite strong movie heroine is Trinity from The Matrix- she rocks!

    Your book series looks really good!

    +1 comment
    +1 email follower

    debbie at burdeen dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahh, another movie heroine, and from one of my fav.SF series - the Matrix. Have to admit I cried in REVOLUTIONS.

      Good luck in the draw, Debbie.

      Delete
  18. Eve Dallas is one of the strongest heroines I've ever "met". I also love Amelia Peabody in the Elizabeth Peters series.

    Congratulations on your amazing release!

    ReplyDelete
  19. In TV my favourite heroine has to be Buffy - she just changed the world for me. Books-wise I would say Kate Daniels has grown so much since the series started.

    GFC follower - Mel S
    notanotherbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Gillian! Thanks for joining me here! And there's another vote for Eve Dallas.

      Hey, Mel. Interesting that you made the comment about Kate growing and developing as a character in the series. Has anyone else seen this happen with any of their favorite heroines/series?

      Delete
  20. Thank you so much for the chance to win! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom
    GFC Krystal Larson
    I love Buffy too! But Spike always took the cake in that show :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Krystal, I see there's another Buffy fan. I have to say I liked Faith, not so much when she turned bad but when Angel helped her to redeem herself.

      Delete
  21. An insightful interview, thank you. Favourite heroines? First I would have to say Emma Peel from the original Avengers TV series. She's beautiful inside and out, classy and can kick butt. Next, Captain Kathryn Janeway of the starship Voyager. Gillian L is bang on with Amelia Peabody. Capt/Major Samantha Carter from Stargate, Sarah Jane Smith from the original Dr WHO. Ah dear, the list goes on...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandy! Hey, thanks for dropping in., good to see you here! Ohh, you've just touched on one of my favorite heroines in space - Janeway.

      And yes, there's a plethora of strong female characters out there to draw upon these days. So many heroines, so little time... :-)

      Delete
  22. Oh wow. Great interview. I've seen this book around and like the sounds of it. :)

    And thank you for the giveaway.

    My favorite Heroine... I think Wonderwoman started my spiraling into books and all. But she was on the tv. lol. But over all in books, that is a hard question. I don't think I can pick just one. lol.

    Follower of Qwillery.

    Thank you!

    MyWorldinwordsandpages{at}gmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. G'day Melissa, there were some good questions in the interview - the one I found the hardest was being asked to pick a favorite scene from the book. :-)

      Ohh, Wonderwoman! The cartoon or the TV show with Linda Carter? I loved her magic lasso. LOL

      All the best for the draw!

      Delete
    2. I like asking that question too, always curious. But I know you have to enjoy them all, or they wouldn't be there. :)

      Oh I was a Linda Carter fan. lol. I know they are working on a new Wonderwoman movie, but no one will ever match Linda Carter! lol.

      Thank you!

      Delete
    3. Remaking Wonder Woman? Hmm, I wonder who they'll get to replace LC? True though, it's hard to replace a good original actor.

      Delete
    4. I was trying to find more on it, but I guess it was a tv series they were trying to do. But didn't fly. That's alright, they should just 're-master' the old series and put it back on. ha ha.

      Delete
  23. I think Merit from The Chicagoland Vampires is a very strong heroine! That is one of my favorite series :D

    +1 comment
    +1 follower
    +1 tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/jwitt33/status/168131744011264000

    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. OMG, so many heroines... I loved Sarah Jane Smith from Dr. Who (I see someone else mentioned her... I'm so sorry she's no longer with us... I enjoyed her spin-off series too). AND, who could not mention Buffy. She set a new bar for heroines.
    Thanks so much for this giveaway. I love BOTH of the cover and the books both sound great.
    I'm a Qwillery follower.
    lindalou(at)cfl(dot)rr(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Julie W, thanks for sharing your strong heroine.

      Lindalou, like Sandy, we seem to be fans of the earlier incarnations of Dr.Who. And you're right Buffy certainly gave way to a whole new wave of strong female heroines on TV.

      Delete
  25. I like Anita Blake and Rachel Morgan and Eve Dallas
    debby236 at gmail dot com follower

    ReplyDelete
  26. My favorite (but flawed..hy aren't we all?) heroine is Mac from the Fever series. She has so much growth and change that happens to her, tragedy and emotional breakdown. But in the end she comes out of the fire stronger than ever.
    Great little excerpt...wish it were longer =)
    Hope your book does well for you!

    GFC follower Lexi
    eyesofblueice (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Three of my favorite strong heroines are Jennifer Estep's Gin Blanco, Keri Arthur's Riley Jensen and Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock. The Light Blade series sounds fantastic. I'm looking forward to reading this series.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com
    GFC follower - Barbara E.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Debby, thanks for sharing.

      Lexi, your well wishes are appreciated. Glad you liked the excerpt. There are others posted. You'll just have to hunt down my blog tour schedule (it's on my website or blog) and you can catch up on the others I've shared! :-)

      G'day Barbara E., nice to see fellow Aussie author Keri Arthur's Riley Jensen mentioned! :-) Good luck in the draw for VENGEANCE BORN!

      Delete
  28. What absolutely gorgeous covers!

    I just so have Star Wars on my brain at the moment what with the release of Episode 1 in 3D, Princess Leia has always been 1 of my fav strong heroines.

    +1 comment
    +1 GFC follow
    +1 tweet https://twitter.com/#!/LindaThum/status/168189161709375488

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Linda, thank you - Gene Mollica is the cover artist and he just captured Annika to a T in this cover, and the background is exactly as I imagined the wintery scene when she and Kalan escape from heer father's dungeon.

      Yay, a Star Wars and Princess Leia fan! :-)

      Delete
  29. Hi Kylie,

    I'm doing a catch up here!! And woot, your book arrived on Friday so I can' wait to read it!

    As for fav heroines... though not paranormal, Nicole Ashton from Lady Vixen would be one, and probably Elena from Bitten.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mel, it's has been a bit like that this week hasn't it! Great you could drop by here at the Qwillery - and yay on getting VENGEANCE BORN in the mail. I hope you enjoy the read! :-)

      Thanks for participating in this post too!

      Delete
  30. I would say any of Kresley Cole's heroines.

    I follow the blog.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I've just re-read the HARRY POTTER books - Hermione Granger is fresh in my mind. Very smart & strong.

    I follow

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love Buffy from the tv series. She's strong but also faces everyday problems. I used to love Anita Blake, but she changed so much during the series and I don't like how she turned out to be.

    blog follower

    aliasgirl at libero dot it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's an interesting conundrum when a character in a series is popular but then the characters changes.

      Thanks for dropping in bn100, Marybelle & Reading mind.

      Delete
  33. AHHH I've seen Vengeance Born on Goodreads a few months back AND I WANT THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS NOWW!! Haha. It looks so awesome! Especially that cover. So badass, mysterious, and surreal. The synopsis is very intriguing too.

    As for favourite strong heroine....Katsa from Graceling, maybe? Or Elena from the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh.:)

    Thanks for this amazing giveaway!

    +1 Comment
    +1 Follower (CYP @ A Bookalicious Story)
    +1 Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/CYPyeti/status/168326432899072001)

    CYP
    cypsays_hi[@]hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi CYP, thank you for the compliment on the cover and your enthusiasm! LOL I hope you end up with a copy in your hands somehow and then you can check out the action, mystery and romance that is VENGEANCE BORN.

      Delete
  34. Luckily there are a lot of strong heroines to choose from. I love Eve Dallas from JD Robb's In Death series.

    GFC: ML
    Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/Rogue237/status/168447050659270656
    mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com

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  35. Ooo, there are so many! Definitely Buffy from BTVS TV series, Mac from Fever book series, any heroine by Lilith Saintcrow, Kara Gillian from Diana Rowland books, Kate Daniels series - Ilona and Gordon Andrews just rock!
    +1 comment
    +1 follower
    +1 blog share: http://nocturnalbookreviews.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html
    impy80 at hotmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. ML & kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews - great to see you both here! There are so many strong heroines to choose from and this is one of things I love about this genre.

      I haven't yet read any JDRobb or Lilith Saintcrow - must look them up (so many books, so little time! LOL).

      Delete
  36. Kresley Coles characters Myst the Coveted,Regan the Radiant,Emmaline,Kaderin the Cold Hearted and Gena Showalters characters Ashlyn Darrow ,Anya, goddess of anarchy,Danika Ford,Bianka the harpy and all alot of others I love love love strong heroines .
    I follow via gfc
    wanda f
    and email flanagan@mebtel.net
    I blogged
    http://ilovealldogs.blogspot.com/
    tweeted

    https://twitter.com/#!/lilblupixie/status/168537420067897344
    flanagan@mebtel.net

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  37. Jennifer esteps gin blanco is one of my fav.. nalini singhs characters are all strong females.. ilona andrews' kate daniels.. gail carriger's Alexia Tarabotti.. i grew up reading Julie Garwood and Jayne Ann Krentz.. their characters are strong women and i fell in love!!

    alainala AT hotmail DOT ca

    +1 for following

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  38. G'day Wanda F & Alainala, thanks for sharing your fav.strong heroines.

    Alainala you've mentioned one of my most fav. authors - Nalini Singh. I love her Psy/Changeling series and the heroines she creates (not to mention the heroes! LOL)

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  39. Buffy! She is smart, funny and she kiks ass! I love her!
    +1 comment
    +1 GFC follower as Sofija Kapranova
    +1 tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/soni_sonik/status/168613201011941376
    kapranova.sofija@gmail.com

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  40. And another vote for Buffy! Thanks, Sofija. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks so much everyone for dropping in and sharing your thoughts about which characters made for a strong heroine.

    Thanks also to the Qwillery for inviting me to participate in the 2012 Debut Author Challenge, I've had a hoot of a time with the posts and interview as well as meeting some of your readers here.

    Whoever wins the copy of VENGEANCE BORN, I really hope you enjoy Annika and Kalan's story as much as I did writing it. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  42. I would have to say Charlie from the Charlie Madigan series, Merit from Chicagoland Vampires series, and Cat from the Night Huntress series. I know there are more but those are a few that popped into my head. Thanks for a great interview. Book sounds great. Thanks for a chance.

    sariahwalters at gmail dot com

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  43. One of my favourite strong heroines is:

    Shirah of "The Dovekeepers," a fiercely independent, strong-willed, and modern woman of her time (70 C.E.) who practices hidden occult powers and acts as matriarch to the women in "The Dovekeepers."

    Already a follower of The Qwillery +1
    Will mention giveaway on Twitter +1

    Thanks,
    Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez
    zegarcia(dot)alvarez(at)gmail(dot)com
    On Twitter: @ZaraAlexis

    ReplyDelete
  44. G'day Sariah, oh yes, I agree with you about Charlie Madigan from Kelly Gay's UF series!

    Hey, ZaraAlexis, hmm, I have to admit I haven't heard of Shirah of The Dovekeepers. Must google it and find out more about her. :-)

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