Guest Blog by Kylie Griffin, author of The Light Blade series, and Giveaway - April 8, 2013

Please welcome Kylie Griffin to The Qwillery! Allegiance Sworn (The Light Blade 3) was published on April 2, 2013.  And the Mass Market Paperback version of Vengeance Born (The Light Blade 1) was also published.

The First Kiss...

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite parts of any romance novel is the first kiss between the hero and heroine.

While I savor the opening chapters - getting to know the characters and the story line - nothing beats the thrill of watching the hero and heroine's romantic journey grow. The looks, the realisation of desire, the wondering, the physical attraction, until they succumb to temptation and share that first kiss. It’s even better if the attraction is unwanted!

If the author has balanced attraction with conflict then the tension will keep me flipping the pages as I seek the answers to questions like - When will it happen? What will trigger it? Who's going to make the first move? What's it going to be like? Will they both enjoy it? What will happen afterward?

And then the cycle begins again as the relationship develops. I love it!
In ALLEGIANCE SWORN, Arek and Imhara’s have a very Romeo & Juliette-like relationship. Both the hero and heroine are from warring houses, a romance between them doesn’t seem possible, especially since one of them has sworn to kill the other.

Arek’s human, and a Light Blade warrior who’s made it his life’s work to avenge the death of his parents by killing any demon his blade comes into contact with. Imhara is Na’Reish, a full-blood demon, and from the moment they meet Arek vows to kill her.

One could believe that this is a tragedy waiting to happen. But what if one of them presented the other with the chance to kill the demon responsible for the murder of their family - just as Imhara does with Arek?

And what if Imhara wasn’t the evil enemy Arek believed her to be? What if she, and her people defied usual Na’Reish practices, living double lives, preferring to honor the Old Ways, meaning they don’t enslave humans and accept the half-blood Na’Chi?

Does all that make a relationship remotely possible? You bet it does!

And their first kiss is a doozy!

Cautious hope filled Imhara even though Arek’s expression vacillated between confusion and anger, uncertainty and frustration. She’d goaded him with what had to be his greatest fear sleeping with the enemy— and he faced it head-on when she’d half expected him to lash out using his Gift.

Emotions darkened his gaze, and the scents radiating from him lasted no longer than the fraction of a heartbeat before changing, each fighting for dominance as he struggled with her demand.

A few days ago he’d have tried to kill her; now the restraint he showed was progress, and she sent a prayer of thanks heavenward for it. Yet just how far she could push him remained to be seen.

Instinct told her he disliked backing down, but she had to know just how committed he truly was, for both their sakes. Once in Gannec territory, and exposed to the scrutiny of Savyr and scores of other Na’Reishi, acting out of character or refusing to commit to this role one hundred percent would endanger everyone who came with them to the Enclave.

Arek’s throat worked as he swallowed, the pulse there beating a rapid tattoo beneath his skin. “You’re bluffing.” Tension roughened his voice.

The challenge skated across her nerves, like a flame licking fuel.

His nostrils flared and his chest rose and fell on a sharp breath. That, combined with the heat of his hard body, reminded her that although he seemed furious and besieged by doubt, there was a familiar, spicy heat mixed in the scents surrounding him.

Sexual heat. Lust or desire, it didn’t matter; a reaction to something she’d said or done. It was there.

Earlier that week, during their confrontation with Yur, she’d dismissed his response as accidental, unwanted. This time instinct told her there was more to it. Exhilaration stroked heated fingers from her scalp to her breasts, then settled low in her abdomen.

“Am I?” A small smile tugged at her lips. That he wasn’t as repulsed by her presence as she believed him to be sparked wicked thoughts. Her heart began to race. “Then call me on it.”

Her husky tone caught her by surprise as much as it did Arek. Provoking him probably wasn’t fair, but just how he would respond filled her with anticipation, the sort she hadn’t felt in a very, very long time.

He blinked, a muscle in his jaw twitching even as his eyes locked with hers. Deep blue heat simmered in their depths— like the hottest flames of a blacksmith’s forge— a heartbeat before his lips slanted across hers.

His mouth smothered her gasp. She gripped his upper arms, muscular biceps taut and steel hard, intending to push him away. A gut reaction. His hands sank into her hair, his fingers mimicking the hold she had on him— tangling, tightening, taking control; something she detested in other males but accepted from Arek. This time.

His fingers applied steady pressure, angling her head so that her lips parted. His tongue speared into her mouth.

Once.

Twice.

The thrusting motion heated her faster than she thought possible, combusting her from the inside out. She caught his tongue with her lips, sucked at it, stroked it with her own, needing ... no, craving it more than her next breath. He tasted of the same earthy spice that filled her nostrils.

Exotic. Exquisite.

Arek’s deep-throated groan turned up the temperature until her blood boiled in her veins. She arched against him, hissing her pleasure into his mouth, her breasts and nipples so sensitive from the friction the sensation shot straight to her core.

Yet beneath all that, her heart soared. His actions restored hope in her plan and confirmed what instinct had been telling her about this warrior. With his help, her parents’ legacy stood a chance of surviving.

Shoving all that aside, Imhara pushed her fingers deeper into his hair. She wanted to enjoy their kiss.

Do they have a happy ending? Well...that's something you might have to discover for yourself *grin*.

In the meantime, I'm curious - what's your favorite part in a romance novel? Is it the first meeting of the hero and heroine? The first kiss? Something else?

Care to share your thoughts on this? I have a signed copy of ALLEGIANCE SWORN I’d love to give away. And the draw is open internationally!





About The Light Blade

Allegiance Sworn
The Light Blade 3
Berkley Trade, April 2, 2013.
Trade Paperback and eBook, 416 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 demon leader seeks to unify the races…

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Fishpond : Penguin Australia : Penguin USA

Alliance Forged
The Light Blade 2
Berkley Trade, July 3, 2012
Trade Paperback and eBook, 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.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound
Fishpond : Penguin Australia : Penguin USA

Vengeance Born

Light Blade 1
Berkley, February 7, 2012
Trade Paperback and eBook, 336 pages
Berkley, April 2, 2013
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 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 an unlikely champion is born…

Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na’Reish leader, 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…

Kalan is a Light Blade warrior who 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 of his people, he faces the task of stopping the demons.

When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father’s dungeon, she agrees to free him in exchange for his protection. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they journey to the border and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into a civil war…

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound
Fishpond : Penguin Australia : Penguin USA

Links are to the Mass Market Paperback

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



Website  ~  Blog  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads  ~  Shelfari






The Giveaway

What:  One commenter will win a copy of Allegiance Sworn (The Light Blade 3) from Kylie.

How:   Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 12:00AM US Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 16, 2013. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change at any time.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Kylie Griffin and Giveaway - July 15, 2012

Please welcome Kylie Griffin to The Qwillery. Kylie is the author of The Light Blade series. Alliance Forged (The Light Blade 2) was published on July 3, 2012.

TQ:  Welcome back to The Qwillery!

Kylie:  Hi, Sally, it's great be back - I had such a lovely visit last time. Your readers were so welcoming and I loved meeting them!


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

Kylie:  Definitely the first draft! I can see scenes in my head but that first painful pulling out of the words and putting it all onto the screen is the tough part. I love editing because it means I have the bare bones and then can always layer and add or delete as needed.

Other than that, it's the juggling of two jobs - I teach at a local primary school and write in my time outside this. Sometimes it's hard to balance the two.


TQ:   If you were stranded on a deserted island for one year, which 5 novels would you want to have with you?

Kylie:  A survival guide written by Bear Grylls!

And in between learning from Bear, I'd read Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey, Caressed by Ice - Nalini Singh, Rapture - Jacqueline Frank and The Lone Warrior - Denise Rossetti. All four ladies are awesome writers and these are my favorite books form their series so far.


TQ:  What do you wish you'd known when the 1st book in your Light Blade series, Vengeance Born, came out that you know now?

Kylie:  The whole experience of promotion and marketing your work. While you might hear about it from other authors, until you experience it yourself you don't realise what it can entail. Making decisions about how you're going to go about it and what you need to do, and do it efficiently, is a steep learning curve.

I'm glad I sketched out a rough marketing/promotion plan and a budget as a guide. I had no idea if I was doing it right but it helped me keep track of everything, and I took notes along the way so I could improve what I was doing.

One thing I've definitely learned is that there's no one more motivated than you to get your book out there and into readers hands than you the author! :-)


TQ:   Please tell us something about Alliance Forged, the second novel in your Light Blade series, that is not in the book description.

Kylie:  Without giving away any spoilers? Well, in the book it's the end of Summer! Hmm, not quite what you were hoping for? OK, something else then - LOL.

Readers will learn more about Kymora, Kalan and Arek's shared past - specifically how Kymora came to be the high priestess and how she relied on both Kalan and Arek to help her through the first few years of her tenure.

Here's a snippet:

[Kymora] ticked off her fingers as she went. “I was twenty- one . . . an acolyte completing my studies . . . still discovering the limitations of my Gift . . . and blind.” She licked her lips, her mouth dry. “Suddenly, I was expected to lead as the head of our order. The position demanded I make decisions about religious affairs and give opinions to Councilors who were twice my age.”
“Wasn’t Kalan your Chosen then?” Varian asked.
“Not for another two years.”
“All of them were followers of the Lady, surely they had faith in Her decision?”
“While they couldn’t refuse Her choice, the Council debated it for three weeks.” Her pulse throbbed so hard her whole body tingled. She stroked her amulet, lips thinning. “They agreed that the skill involved with my Gift and the insights that came from it would offset the issue of appointing one so young to the position of Temple Elect.”
“They needed an excuse to accept your appointment? Condescending idiots!”
His outrage on her behalf heartened Kymora, but still she ducked her head.
“Kymora?” Varian’s hand covered hers, inhibiting her action. “What’s wrong?”
“They might have needed an excuse to value my appointment”— her voice wavered and she cleared her throat twice before being able to continue—“but so did I. I needed them to accept me so badly it was easier to let them believe what they wanted. Although by doing that, everyone assumed I could cope.
“For a while I even convinced myself I could. Eventually the complexities of the issues were way beyond my expertise.” A strangled laugh escaped from her before she could stop it. “I realized too late I couldn’t confide or turn to any of my teachers or other Servants for advice.”
“They wanted a confident leader, not one who had doubts or concerns as real as their own.”
Kymora nodded. “My own desires isolated me.”
“Why do you blame yourself when their lack of faith contributed to the mess as well?”
She gave a half shrug. “I turned to Kalan and Arek for help, but I let them believe they were two of several people I asked for counsel. We talked over problems, made lists of solutions. I spent hours in the Temple in meditation and prayer. With the Lady’s patience and their guidance, I struggled through the two years until Kalan became Chosen.
“I’m sure the Lady meant it as a lesson in humility, and I took it as such, but that time of my life isn’t something I’m proud of so I’ve kept it to myself.”

TQ:  Which character(s) in the Light Blade series has surprised you the most?

Kylie:  Two characters from this series have caught me by surprise.

Arek, Annika's half-brother (he appears in all three books in the series). Originally, I'd planned to have the whole brother and sister joyful meeting and bonding happening once Annika reached Sacred Lake but my subconscious had other plans and their blood relationship became a huge barrier for Arek to deal with and overcome. Given that he'd lost his mother to demons (she was a Light Blade warrior and he'd been led to believe she'd fallen in battle), he naturally hated everything demon, and that depth of emotion isn't some you can get over quickly. So, his attempt to kill Annika during their first meeting meant I had to adjust my whole perception of how I saw their story thread panning out. LOL

The other is Rissa, the child healer. I never planned to write her into VENGEANCE BORN, the first book in the series, but she just appeared out of the blue. As I began writing the scene where Annika had just fled the Blade Council chamber after being subject to their prejudice and hostility, I could see this curly haired child with the gift for feeling when someone's spirit was in pain. Bold, precocious & worldly-wise, she just literally crashed through the hedge to meet Annika and became one of her first friends at Sacred Lake. And it looks like she's going to be a regular secondary character in the series as she appears in ALLIANCE FORGED.


TQ:  Are there any other genres in which you would like to write in addition to Fantasy?

Kylie:  Absolutely! I've two science fiction romance series with Bk#1 in each already written and I'm dying to rewrite a post-apocalyptic series I've had sitting in a box with other stories for years.

These are all projects my agent and I will be talking over with my editor, so I can't give any real details yet. :-)


TQ:   What's next?

Kylie:  ALLEGIANCE SWORN is the third book in the series and is slated for release 2nd April, 2013.

ALLEGIANCE SWORN
Book #3 of the Light Blade series

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 demon leader seeks to unify the races…

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…

N.B. I've just been informed by my editor - good news for mass market paperback fans - Berkley has made the decision to release VENGEANCE BORN in this format and it's also coming out 2nd April, 2013! Woohoo!


TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Kylie:  Thank you so much for having me! I've enjoyed the interview and look forward to interacting with your readers again (time zones permitting given I'm in Australia, so there might be a bit of a lag in between responses! (-: )

GIVEAWAY QUESTION - "Many paranormal romance book are part of a series. Do you enjoy reading books in a series or would you prefer stand-alones? If you answered yes to reading series, what is it about a series that you enjoy the most?"



The Light Blade Series

Alliance Forged
The Light Blade 2
Berkley Sensation, July 3, 2012
Trade Paperback and eBook, 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.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound
Fishpond : Penguin Australia : Penguin USA

Vengeance Born

Light Blade 1
Berkley Sensation, February 7, 2012
Trade Paperback and eBook, 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...

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound
Fishpond : Penguin Australia : Penguin USA

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
Newsletter: (sign up form on blog or website)
Facebook
Twitter
GoodReads
Shelfari




The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a copy of Alliance Forged (The Light Blade 2) from Kylie, who will be picking the winner!

How:  Leave a comment answering Kylie's question:

Many paranormal romance book are part of a series. Do you enjoy reading 

books in a series or would you prefer stand-alones? If you answered yes to reading 

series, what is it about a series that you enjoy the most? 

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

You MUST 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 Sunday, July 22, 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.*

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...

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound
Fishpond : Penguin Australia : Penguin USA

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.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound
Fishpond : Penguin USA

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.*