SOURCEBOOKS,INC. AND MY BOOK ADDICTION AND MORE PRESENTS MAGICAL FANTASY ROMANCE AUTHOR KATHRYNE KENNEDY TODAY!!

ABOUT AUTHOR,KATHRYNe KENNEDY!!!

Kathryne Kennedy is a critically acclaimed, best-selling, award-winning author of magical romances. She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at www.kathrynekennedy.com. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives with her wonderful family in Arizona, where she is working on the next book in her Relics of Merlin series, Everlasting Enchantment.

THE CHALLENGES OF WRITING FANTASY ROMANCE

Hello Wendy and team! It’s a pleasure to be here at My Book Addiction and More to talk about some of the challenges I faced when writing the fantasy romance in my series, The Elven Lords.

The first words that sprang to my mind when I read your question about what challenges I face when writing fantasy romance were: weaving, focus and believability.

I’ll start with the last, because I have to think of that the moment I start writing any book. How do you make an England that has been invaded by elven lords from another world believable? How do you make a character with superhuman powers, pointed ears, and a perfect physique believable enough for readers to fall in love with?

I face similar challenges in every book I write, and the way I try to overcome this obstacle is by making a connection with the reader…and myself. Because I have to believe in the world and characters in order to share that belief with others. So, how do I make that connection?

Primarily with details, and this is where focus becomes important. I have to be in the story when I write. I have to see the characters in my mind. So I involve all of my senses. What I can see, taste, smell, feel, etc. This makes a connection. And then there are the emotions. If I can connect with what my character is feeling, he will become a real person to me, and hopefully to my readers. No matter how extraordinary my characters are, if they possess feelings I can relate to, and goals and motivations that are realistic to me, they become believable.

Focus is critical as I have to get back into their heads before they can move forward in a scene. Their personalities grow with each page and any decision or action they take is based on their choices, not mine. So even something as minor as walking across a room, or as major as making love, has to be in their character, with their motivation and purpose.

I always have a general idea of the plot—where the story will take me—and I have a general idea of my character’s strengths and weaknesses. But the story itself unfolds as I write, and I have to see each scene in my head—I have to be in that scene—before I can get it down in words. If I can’t visualize it, I can’t write about it. I can’t pass along that vision to my reader.

I also use details of the history of the world to make a connection with reality to make the world believable, and this is where weaving becomes important. I have to take the fantasy elements and the romance elements and weave them together as part of the overall plot. And because I use history as a backdrop, I have to add this third element into the pattern. The best way to show you how I do this is by example, so here’s an excerpt from The Lord of Illusion to show you what I mean:

As if she had conjured him with a thought, Imperial Lord Roden entered the room, frighteningly resplendent in cloth of gold, the skirt of his coat swirling about him as if caught in some invisible wind. Gold thread had also been woven in the lace at his throat and sleeves, even finer strands creating the design of a dragon in the clocks of his hose. His long white hair flowed down his back like a river of sparkling silver, his pointed ears peeking through the strands of it. Large golden faceted eyes surveyed the room, only the malignant expression on his face robbing it from glorious beauty.

Silence enveloped the room at his entrance. He appeared to enjoy it.

I hope you found it interesting to discover some of the challenges I face in writing fantasy romance, and the way I approach them. I would love to hear from readers about how they connect with a story! And thanks a million for visiting with me today!

As Always, My Magical Best,

Kathryne

 Thank you Kathryne, for visting with us and our readers today.It is a pleasure to have you visit with us!!!

THE LORD OF ILLUSION BY KATHRYNE KENNEDY—IN STORES FEBRUARY 2012

Mass Market Paperback:448 pages

Publisher:Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 7, 2012)

Language:English

ISBN-10:1402236549

ISBN-13: 978-1402236549

(FROM THE PUBLISHER)

He’ll do anything to save her…
Rebel Lord Drystan Hawkes dreams of fighting for England’s freedom from the endless evils of the Elven Lords. He gets his chance when he finds a clue to opening the magic portal to Elfhame, and he must race to find the slave girl who holds the key to the mystery. But even as Drystan rescues Camille Ashton from Dreamhame Palace, it becomes unclear exactly who is saving whom.

For the fate of humankind lies with Camille…
Enslaved for years in a realm where illusion and glamour reign, Camille has learned to trust nothing and no one. But she’s truly spellbound when she meets Drystan–a man different from any she’s ever known, and the force of their passion may yet be strong enough to banish the Elven Lords from this world forever.

Praise for The Lord of Illusion

“The world sings with vivid imagery and fantastic magic, and all the previous characters join forces in a thrilling final fight for humankind.” —Publishers Weekly Starred review

“The hero and heroine are also out of the ordinary, and while this novel remains true to romance-genre mores, Kennedy infuses it with unexpected plot twists that will keep fantasy readers enthralled, too.” —Booklist Starred review

“Superb writing and a fast-moving plot combined with magical passion make this a real page-turner!” —RT Book Reviews 4 ½ Stars and Top Pick of the Month

 WHERE TO BUY “THE LORD OF ILLUSION” BY KATHRYN KENNEDY:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Sourcebooks

BooksAMillion

Chapters/Indigo

Kathryne’s Bookseller Directory

**Readers go forth and linked,facebook,twitter,blog about Kathryne Kennedy’s “The Lord of Illusion”**

***GIVEAWAY***

*Sponsored by the publisher*

Thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks,Inc. we are offering 2 lucky commenters a print copy of “The Lord of Illusion” by Kathryne Kennedy.(2 winners 1 book each). Open to U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. Boxes,please. Giveaway will run from today February 17 until February 24,2012.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

**COMING SOON** 

**Visit www.mybookaddictionreviws.wordpress.com for our “Thoughts” on “The Lord of Illusion” by Kathyne Kennedy**