Welcome, Booklovers, to the first Coffee Chat of 2018!
This week's guest is scifi/romance writer Kayelle Allen, featuring her latest release: Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire.
How do you take your coffee, Kayelle?
KA: I like it with sugar free Italian Sweet Cream. Yum!
Ally: While I get those coffees ready, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She's a US Navy veteran who's been married so long she's tenured.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I started writing when I was a child and used to get high marks from teachers. Because everyone told me I "had a way with words" I decided I would to be a writer."
Contact Links:
https://kayelleallen.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/kayelleallen
Facebook https://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/kayelleallen/
Instafreebie https://www.instafreebie.com/discover/author/5186/kayelle_allen
Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She's a US Navy veteran who's been married so long she's tenured.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I started writing when I was a child and used to get high marks from teachers. Because everyone told me I "had a way with words" I decided I would to be a writer."
Contact Links:
https://kayelleallen.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/kayelleallen
Facebook https://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/kayelleallen/
Instafreebie https://www.instafreebie.com/discover/author/5186/kayelle_allen
Interview:
Ally: What type of book did you bring to feature today?
KA: Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire is science fiction with romantic elements (no explicit content or profanity) but rated PG13 for science fiction violence. Its length is about 74,000 words / 300 pages.
Ally: How did you select the title for your feature book?
KA: Pietas is known among his people as the Bringer of Chaos so I used that as the series name. The first book was Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas and when I started it, I expected that would be a one book deal. Well... I'm already working on book 3! I was going to call book 2 Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas: Harvest of Blood, but it sounded like a horror novel. I mentioned that to Barbara White Daille, an author friend of mine, and she suggested Forged in Fire. I knew immediately that would work.
Ally: Talk about your typical writing day.
KA: I set aside one day a week for training purposes. I read books about writing, study programs, catch up on writer blogs and so on. I go into the rest of the week energized from that. First thing in the morning is my writing time. I'm a very early riser - often up at 4:30 or so. I write until 7 in the morning and then jump on email and social media. Sometimes I write in the evening. I will get up out of bed at 2 am and write if an idea hits me. I've learned to write whenever I have a chance and carry something with me always to make notes.
Ally: Who or what inspired you to write fiction?
KA: My mother was a writer. She only had a poem published, but it was her lifelong dream to write. She was in love with words. I took after her and fell in love with them too. I used to sit next to her and write. I remember distinctly that I learned to write CAT in school and came home eager to show her. I told her now I could write cat stories. How odd is it that I have a race of catlike creatures in my science fiction universe?
Ally: How do you choose and name your characters?
KA: It can be a chore with names but the characters choose them, not me. I can't arbitrarily call Pietas (my main character) something else. Once I know their names, I know them, history and all. It's rather weird sometimes.
Ally: Help us get to know your main character by answering these questions:
Ally: What is it about Pietas that will make readers care about him?
KA: Pietas is an Ultra, a race of genetically enhanced superhumans who are far beyond human in their capabilities. They are essentially immortal. You'd think a character like that would have no vulnerabilities. But Pietas and his twin sister are the only Ultras ever born. All the rest were created by humans, or by a select group of other Ultras. He was his father's experiment, and once born, was reared to be a perfect soldier. Pietas realized at a young age that his father didn't love him. He only wanted a perfect product that he could reproduce. His father wanted to create an army of children who would do his bidding. So Pietas has made it his life's work to undermine everything his father does. When it comes to family, Pietas is fragile. His heart has been shattered repeatedly. He's been betrayed at every turn. His heart is a fortress and few manage to penetrate the walls. In this book, he lets in Joss, a telepath and warrior he has trusted for centuries. He also relies on Six, an altered human who's been resurrected with Ultra blood. And he bonds with a sentient panther whose name means Loyal Warrior. Tiklaus follows him everywhere and protects him. This ginormous beast just wants to be his kitty. Pietas, who hides his heart from everyone, opens it wide to this ferocious beast. It was wonderful to write their scenes. They contain both humor and moments so touching it brings tears to your eyes. The entire book has great scenes with humor, but also moments of violence. When you live for vengeance, the opportunity to strike finds you.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
KA: I have a novella coming out this spring. No date yet, but sometime in March or April I think. This will be a prequel book for the Antonello Brothers series (At the Mercy of Her Pleasure and For Women Only). And I am writing Bringer of Chaos: Watch Your Six, the next book for Pietas.
Ally: Now let's talk about you. What is your favorite non-writing hobby?
KA: I love creating artwork. You should see the banners I do for my books. I have thousands of stock images that I've saved over the years. One of my favorite things to do is scour photo sites for good pictures. I find it as relaxing as a good nap.
Ally: Staying with the theme of getting to know you, here are a few quick answer questions...Ally: Thanks for being our first guest of 2018, Kayelle. Let's leave readers with a taste of your new release, Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire.
KA: Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire is science fiction with romantic elements (no explicit content or profanity) but rated PG13 for science fiction violence. Its length is about 74,000 words / 300 pages.
Ally: How did you select the title for your feature book?
KA: Pietas is known among his people as the Bringer of Chaos so I used that as the series name. The first book was Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas and when I started it, I expected that would be a one book deal. Well... I'm already working on book 3! I was going to call book 2 Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas: Harvest of Blood, but it sounded like a horror novel. I mentioned that to Barbara White Daille, an author friend of mine, and she suggested Forged in Fire. I knew immediately that would work.
Ally: Talk about your typical writing day.
KA: I set aside one day a week for training purposes. I read books about writing, study programs, catch up on writer blogs and so on. I go into the rest of the week energized from that. First thing in the morning is my writing time. I'm a very early riser - often up at 4:30 or so. I write until 7 in the morning and then jump on email and social media. Sometimes I write in the evening. I will get up out of bed at 2 am and write if an idea hits me. I've learned to write whenever I have a chance and carry something with me always to make notes.
Ally: Who or what inspired you to write fiction?
KA: My mother was a writer. She only had a poem published, but it was her lifelong dream to write. She was in love with words. I took after her and fell in love with them too. I used to sit next to her and write. I remember distinctly that I learned to write CAT in school and came home eager to show her. I told her now I could write cat stories. How odd is it that I have a race of catlike creatures in my science fiction universe?
Ally: How do you choose and name your characters?
KA: It can be a chore with names but the characters choose them, not me. I can't arbitrarily call Pietas (my main character) something else. Once I know their names, I know them, history and all. It's rather weird sometimes.
Ally: Help us get to know your main character by answering these questions:
- 1) age, gender: Pietas is male; 1,219 years old (yes, that's right)
- 2) color of hair and eyes: platinum white hair (straight) and electric turquoise blue eyes) -- interesting thing about that. His father designed him to be extremely beautiful. Almost soft, somewhat feminine in appearance. But the man inside is hard as steel. He pays no attention to his looks and cuts his hair with a dagger. His father can have the credit for how Pietas looks. He prefers to be lauded for his honor.
- 3) level of education and/or training: He has centuries of training and an eidetic memory. He can forget nothing.
- 4) favorite color: teal or turquoise
- 5) style of clothes: in this book he's in rags because of his ordeal, but he generally wears his uniform, white with teal trim.
- 6) his pets, if any: well, he's been "adopted" by a ginormous panther, so I'll say a "kitty"
Ally: What is it about Pietas that will make readers care about him?
KA: Pietas is an Ultra, a race of genetically enhanced superhumans who are far beyond human in their capabilities. They are essentially immortal. You'd think a character like that would have no vulnerabilities. But Pietas and his twin sister are the only Ultras ever born. All the rest were created by humans, or by a select group of other Ultras. He was his father's experiment, and once born, was reared to be a perfect soldier. Pietas realized at a young age that his father didn't love him. He only wanted a perfect product that he could reproduce. His father wanted to create an army of children who would do his bidding. So Pietas has made it his life's work to undermine everything his father does. When it comes to family, Pietas is fragile. His heart has been shattered repeatedly. He's been betrayed at every turn. His heart is a fortress and few manage to penetrate the walls. In this book, he lets in Joss, a telepath and warrior he has trusted for centuries. He also relies on Six, an altered human who's been resurrected with Ultra blood. And he bonds with a sentient panther whose name means Loyal Warrior. Tiklaus follows him everywhere and protects him. This ginormous beast just wants to be his kitty. Pietas, who hides his heart from everyone, opens it wide to this ferocious beast. It was wonderful to write their scenes. They contain both humor and moments so touching it brings tears to your eyes. The entire book has great scenes with humor, but also moments of violence. When you live for vengeance, the opportunity to strike finds you.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
KA: I have a novella coming out this spring. No date yet, but sometime in March or April I think. This will be a prequel book for the Antonello Brothers series (At the Mercy of Her Pleasure and For Women Only). And I am writing Bringer of Chaos: Watch Your Six, the next book for Pietas.
Ally: Now let's talk about you. What is your favorite non-writing hobby?
KA: I love creating artwork. You should see the banners I do for my books. I have thousands of stock images that I've saved over the years. One of my favorite things to do is scour photo sites for good pictures. I find it as relaxing as a good nap.
Ally: Staying with the theme of getting to know you, here are a few quick answer questions...Ally: Thanks for being our first guest of 2018, Kayelle. Let's leave readers with a taste of your new release, Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire.
- a. favorite book: The Persian Boy by Mary Renault and Teot's War by Heather Gladney
- b. book you're currently reading: Creating Character Arcs by KM Weiland
- c. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: JD Robb! I love her In Death series
- d. favorite tv show: the new Lethal Weapon, and I really love Bull
- e. favorite movie: The Hobbit series, but especially the Five Armies
- f. favorite book boyfriend: Roark from the In Death series
- g. Do you believe in love at first sight? yes. Been married 44 years to prove it happens!
Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire
Genre: scifi
PG-13
What if you were a soldier marooned on an undeveloped planet? What if you had no food and few survival tools? What if you'd been genetically engineered? No matter how agonizing the wound, you'd survive. No matter how you died, you'd come back.
It could be worse. You could be here alone. But that's the problem. You're not.
On one hand, there's a tribe of sentient panthers who protect you. Although you hate humans, the one who was dumped on this planet with you has become a trusted friend. The beautiful telepathic warrior you've loved since forever is at your side.
On the other hand, half a million people who depend on you are trapped inside stasis pods, waiting for you to save them. It wouldn't be so bad if you could wake up a few at a time. But the traitors who abandoned you and your followers set the timers to release all half million.
At the same time.
You're facing an ecological disaster and over five hundred thousand hungry, thirsty, homeless immortals.
Worse still, before you can build shelter, figure out how to grow food, or set up a government, you must take back command from a ruthless enemy you've fought for centuries.
Your brutal, merciless father.
Talk about being forged in fire...
Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever.
Buy Link:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bringer-Chaos-Forged-Marooned-Barren-ebook/dp/B077BRSRP4
EXCERPT:
In this scene, Pietas has been playing with the panther, a huge animal he calls Tiklaus. The name means "Loyal Warrior."
The panther batted at him, knocked Pietas onto his back and then flipped itself down beside him. Tiklaus wrapped its front legs around his arm and gnawed at it in gentle play while the hind feet kicked him without injury. Claws flashed, but did no harm.
Now I know how a chew toy feels. Pietas blew out a breath.
When the panther draped itself over his chest, he struggled to slide out from under but could not get up. The animal weighed less than he did, but with no visible effort, it kept Pietas from rising.
"I concede, my friend. You win."
The panther ignored him.
"Tiklaus, off."
Nothing.
"Off, please."
The panther yawned, opening a huge maw. Fangs flashed.
Pietas tried a signal that worked with sparring partners and asked for release by double-tapping the panther's side.
The cat stood at once and stepped over him. It shook from nose to tail, then sat and groomed itself.
He stood and brushed himself off. Standing beside Tiklaus, who reached him mid-thigh, Pietas took pride in knowing this sweet, playful cat was also the snarling ball of animal rage that had nailed Mahikos to the ground.
Pietas ensured no one was on the path in either direction before he knelt and scratched the cat's ears. "Who's a good kitty?"
The animal sneaked in a lick of his hand and face and flopped down on its back.
"My Tiklaus, that's who. Tiklaus is a good kitty." He rubbed the smooth belly. "Yes, you are! Such a good, big kitty. You're my kitty, aren't you? Good, good kitty."
The panther accepted the attention, one paw twitching. After a moment, it stood and shook itself. A purring sound rumbled from its chest. It sat, licked one paw and added a lick of Pietas's face as well.
He chuckled. "Thank you for the bath." He hugged the panther's neck. "You have as soft a heart as I do but you don't show it either. Pact, my friend. I won't tell if you won't." He kissed Tiklaus on the nose.
The panther bumped its head against Pietas, then bounded to a tree and up it.
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