~Interview, Book Review, Giveaway~ Party time with author Kristen Callihan!!

I am soo happy to have on the blog today, someone I literally loved their book so much I had to know more about them!! Can you believe how happy I was when I found out that she was able to do an interview for little old me!! LOL Well I was keeping my fingers crossed, knowing that authors tend to be really busy when their release date draws near, especially a DEBUT!! My prayers were answered LOL, so help me welcome an AMAZINGLY NEW AUTHOR.... KRISTEN CALLIHAN!!! 

I am soo happy you could do this interview for all of us!! Can you tell us a little about yourself Kristen!

Hmm…let’s see, I was born and raised in Maryland. I’m half Norwegian, half Irish-American. I’m a book lover, and read about 100 pages per hour, so I devour books like bon-bons. I like to cook, but hate baking –too much pressure! And if you put a bowl of French fries in front of me, I will not be able to keep from eating them. :)

Your debut novel Firelight, will be the first in your Darkest London Series. Can you tell us a little about it??

Sure. Firelight is a Victorian Gothic retelling of Beauty and The Beast with a Jack the Ripper style murder mystery surrounding it –just to keep our intrepid heroes on their toes. That’s the framework for the plot. At it’s heart, however, it’s a love story, one about learning to trust, not what you’re eyes see, but your heart, and your instincts.

How did you come up with the idea to combine 19^th Century London with the Paranormal??

Well I knew I was going to write a paranormal. It was unavoidable when I realized that Miranda was a pyrokinetic. 19^th century London was such an atmospheric place. This was the time of Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes, thick, rolling fogs, and black carriages rattling over cobblestone lanes. If you’re going to have a dark lord, shrouded in mystery and myth, it couldn’t work in present day. To me, it was the perfect setting.

How was the writing process? Are you a visual writer or do the characters 'speak' to you?

Writing Firelight was an exercise in speed. I couldn’t get the words down fast enough. It’s a heady experience, a lot like falling in love. You live, breathe, and dream the story until it’s done.

I would say that it’s about 50/50 for me. For me, stories always start with a conversation. I hear my characters speak, and their conversation drives the plot. But it’s also very visual. I definitely see the scenes unfold, see their facial expressions, and reactions.

What was your favorite scene to write?

I’m sitting here trying to think of an answer, and you know, I can remember each scene, when I wrote it, and how it felt. They all mean something to me. However, I think one of the easiest scenes, and one of the most fun for me, was the exchange between Miranda and Archer just after he’s fought the masked assailant, and they are left standing in an alley. That scene came out in about ten minutes…right up until Archer decided to haul Miranda’s skirt up. :) Then it got…ahem…harder to write, because the events that came next had to be written just so. 

If you had to choose which genre you favored most, would you choose Historical or Paranormal??

Oh, that’s hard. I go on gloms. So one week, I’d probably tell you historical. But then I’d tap out on that, so it would be paranormal. I love them both, which is probably why I chose to combine them.

What are 3 words you would use to describe Miranda?

Pragmatic, loyal, nosey. Though Miranda would argue that I should have said ‘brave’ instead of ‘nosey.’

Did you know you always wanted to be a writer??

No. I wanted to be a lawyer, fashion designer, pilot, TV producer, director, psychiatrist… Then I realized that I could be all those things and more through writing. :) I didn’t try to write until I was 28. When I could gladly sit for ten hours straight, writing away, I knew I had found my thing.

What were your feelings when you realized that your books were going to be published? How did you celebrate?

Relief. Lol. When I went on submission, I dreamt about that moment. Would I cry? Run amok in the street, scaring my neighbors? The reality of it was that it took a year to get an offer, and by that time, I read the email from my agent, sat back in my seat and thought, “Well, okay. One less thing.” It took about a week for it to really hit me. Then I just smiled like mad for days.

How did I celebrate? My family took me out to dinner, sisters, husbands, and all. And then they demanded that I take care of them financially from then on. :P And then I told them how much a writer really makes. They paid the bill. Gave me some pocket money for a rainy day, lol.

Will this series be just a trilogy, or is there any possibility to write more?

The series is set up to be open ended. I didn’t envision it that way. Honestly, I just wrote a book. But my editor told me that I might want to rethink that notion. As of now, I am under contract for four books: Firelight, Moonglow, Winterblaze, and book 4, which is untitled for now.  

Who has been your best or favorite character to write and why?

Archer and Miranda are pretty equal in my mind as favorites. However, Archer has a slight edge as he took over. A lot. His pain, his struggle, went much deeper than I expected. I’ll always have a soft spot for him.

A la twitter style.. using only 140 characters, describe Firelight!!

Ack! I’d have to say Firelight is: a Victorian Gothic romance in which a cursed lord must choose to lose his soul in order to save the woman he loves, not realizing that she no intention of losing him. 

Do you have any other projects coming up?

I am currently working on Moonglow, Daisy’s story, and Winterblaze, Poppy and Winston’s story. After that, I will start on Book 4 (poor untitled thing), which features characters introduced in Moonglow.

Who is your favorite Paranormal Romance Author? Any specific books or series?

Oh man, where to start? Kresley Cole is like crack to me, Larissa Ione, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook... In truth, the authors who so graciously provided me with a blurb for Firelight are my heroes. Having them read my book and liking it enough to praise it was almost more of a highlight for me than getting published.

What is you favorite drink or food to have at a Party?!?!

I’m notorious for throwing together party menus the day beforehand. It drives my highly organized friends nuts. But I’m terrible at pre-planning. My favorite dishes are ones that are EASY, so I don’t go nuts! I do have some go-to dishes, though. Chicken salad in endive leaves. Buy some good chicken salad at the store and spoon a bit into an endive leaf, arrange on a platter, and people think you slaved over it. :) And pizza. I’ll do white pizza with bacon, caramelized onions, and blue cheese, or pizza with pesto, tomato, and mozzarella. Cut them into small squares and serve.

I want to say a BIG thank you to Kristen!!! Your book is amazing and I am humbled to have been given an ARC! I wish you much success and can't wait for the next book!

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Rating

 Firelight (Darkest London #1) [ADULT]

By: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Release: Feb. 1, 2012
ARC copy given from NetGalley

Pages: 384

Blurb:

London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . .
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . . Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

________________

REVIEW:
1st line in the book---> "The knowledge that Archer would soon end the life of another cut at his soul with every step he took." 


WOW!! I was honestly speechless at how great this story was. What first caught my attention to this book was that the author combined my two favorite romance genres! Historical and Paranormal romances! When I was finished I immediately went online and ordered myself a print copy! This is one series that I had to have in my bookshelf, when I only order print copies of Kresley Cole, JR Ward, Lara Adrian to name a few.

This story has mystery, suspence, love and is an overall thrill ride as the author keeps you guessing until the very end. Lord Benjamin Archer is a cursed soul. He covers his whole body so no one can see his disfigured face. The last thing on his mind is love, thinking himself unlovable. Then he meets Miranda Ellis, a fiery woman who makes him believe that there might still be a chance for him at finding happiness. What he doesn't know is that Miranda also has a secret of her own. A deadly one that she has always had. They begin to feel their attraction grow into something more, but then gruesome murders start to arise and they all lead back to one man.... Archer. From there its a giant mystery game...What is behind the mask? What does the killer want? and Why has the killer also targeted Miranda???


Overall I thought it was amazing !! I loved the characters, there is so much depth to them that you begin to connect with the characters on an emotional level. The storyline is fast paced, and there are some very Steamy love scenes between Archer and Miranda. Kristen Callihan did an amazing job of integrating the paranormal into 19th Century London. I can't wait to read Moonglow!! I was left very intrigued about the hero in the next novel and want to know more!! I highly recommend this book, and I have a feeling this is only the beginning for more great things to come from debut author Kristen Callihan!!!!!


Fave Quotes:

 "Not want you?" He lifted his head off the pillow. "Not want you?" His eyes flared in the firelight. "Christ, Miri, murder and knife-wielding assassins aside, you are the greatest adventure of my life."

“You’ve no notion of the effect you have on me.” The words gave a hard tug to her belly. She closed her eyes and swallowed. “If by effect, you mean finding yourself in uncharted waters, wondering whether you are coming or going…” She stared at his shirt, watching his breath hitch. “Then I fear you have the same effect on me, my lord.”

Purchase Firelight

AMAZON | BN 

Kristen Callihan

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | WEBSITE

Because I rarely give 5 star ratings... and I really believe this deserves more!! I want to spread the word about Firelight. Soo one lucky follower will win a  PRINT copy of Firelight by Kristen Callihan!!! This contest is U.S. only. <srry but I promise I will make an INT contest soon> Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to be entered!! Good luck and Happy readings!!






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