Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Blog Tour: Telepathic Clans #2: Succubus Unleashed by BR Kingsolver

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
Click HERE for more information.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my second day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to host book two of the Telepathic Clans.

The author has joined us for an interview:
Where did you find the inspiration to write The Telepathic Clans Saga?
When I started thinking about what kind of character could be strong, kick-ass, and blatantly sexual while still being one of the good guys.

I started researching paranormal "powers", and managed to put together a coherent list of talents and myths people have envisioned through the centuries. One of the myths I find particularly humorous is that of the succubus. The medieval church used that myth to demonize sexual women.  I thought about the idea of a different kind of succubus, a telepath who could drain a man’s life energy, but wasn’t aligned with the devil, and didn’t do him permanent harm.

From there the idea started to grow. I envisioned a matriarchal society, worshipping a Goddess, with Telepathic Gifts where the women are as strong as the men -- a society of equals. And in an equal society, women and men are free to express their sexual identities.

The idea of a powerful succubus, a member of a telepathic race, as a character for my books was born. Who better to fight against evil than the one thing a patriarchal society fears the most?

Was there a scene in the book you found particularly hard to write?
Not really. But making the sex scenes hot is hard, much more difficult than people think. When I first wrote them, they were very mechanical. It took a lot of revision and help from my beta readers.

Did you get inspiration from someone specific to write your characters?
The characters just come to me. I don’t have a problem dreaming up characters. In fact, I’ve been told that I include too many characters in my books. There are some fascinating people that ended up being cut. My books tend to start as an idea for a character, and then I develop a story for them.

How did you become a writer?
I’ve always had an active imagination and composed stories in my head. I started reading urban fantasy a couple of years ago and loved the stories. When I received a Nook for my birthday, I discovered self-published works. I was talking about that with a friend and mentioned that I thought I had a story that people would like and she encouraged me to try and write it.

Do you have a writing process/schedule? Is there a particular place you feel more inspired to write?
I can write anywhere. I’ve written in coffee shops, on planes, at a desk and sitting on the couch watching TV. When the story is flowing, it’s very easy and I can write anywhere, anytime. It’s the revisions and editing stages where it becomes difficult and I have to force myself to sit down and work.

What is the most satisfying part of being an author?
Seeing the cover on a web site is one. It’s a feeling of accomplishment. The other is having people tell me they enjoyed one of my books.

What do you usually do when you’re not writing?
Right now, I just started a new job and I’m working a lot of hours. That’s why the third book took so long to finish. Over the past four years, I’ve renovated a 100-year-old row house in Baltimore, doing much of the work myself. I like to travel and see new places, hike and ski. My two basset hounds like the hiking part most of all.

Are you working on any new projects at the moment?
I have two projects I’ve started. One is a paranormal mystery/thriller set in the Telepathic Clans’ world with a telepathic s detective. The other is a YA or New Adult paranormal romance in a completely different setting. The main character in that book is a Valkyrie going to university at Oxford. Eventually, I need to write the fourth book to finish Brenna and Rebecca’s story, but I have to get away from that world for awhile.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start writing?
First, have a good story. Second, spend some time learning the technical aspects of writing, i.e. how to tell that story. When I first started, I didn’t understand “show” versus “tell”. I still have some trouble with that. Third, find beta readers who will give you honest, in-depth criticism and listen to them. Last, find a good editor. I was a newspaper editor for five years and have been writing and editing in the business world all my working life. No one is qualified to edit their own writing. The easiest way to turn a reader off, especially a reviewer, is to have a book full of technical errors.


More About the author:
I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.

I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school and I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff in Canada.

I have a very significant other, two cats and two Basset Hounds. I’m currently living in Baltimore, nine blocks from the harbor, but still own a home in New Mexico that I see too infrequently.

Twitter: @BRKINGSOLVER



Succubus Unleashed
Book 2 of the Telepathic Clans Saga
BR Kingsolver

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance (Adult/New Adult)
Cover Artist: Mia Darien
 Buys Links:
AMAZON   BN   SMASHWORDS     GOODREADS     Also available on Apple iTunes book store

Book Description:
It's not easy being a succubus.

After a crash course in learning about her genetic heritage, Brenna O'Donnell has discovered what it really means to be a succubus and has learned to embrace her strange Gift. Her major concern is whether Collin will accept her for what she is. As she adjusts to telepathic society, others in the Clan have plans that will strip the last of her freedom. Rival Clans still hunt succubi, and discovering their dark motives is paramount.

The social season is also around the corner, including events that Brenna never imagined in her wildest dreams. The succubi, representatives of the Goddess on earth, are at the center of an ancient worship. And if a girl is going to be the center of attention, then obviously she needs a new dress.

My thoughts:
     Fantastic story.  We jump right back into Brenna's world without missing a beat.  Brenna has embraced her new life and gifts and is better than ever.  Collin is fabulous (are there really men similar - even without the "gifts"? 
      The story brings us more into the lifestyle and lives of the clan and its ways and workings.  We meet new characters but get to have our favorites from book one back too.  
      As action packed and edge of the seat as book one, this is a great second book, but could easily stand alone - don't miss this great story.  I can't wait for book three.