KATHRYNE KENNEDY: MEET, PIKACHU, MY RESCUE PUPPY!

It's my pleasure to, again, have Kathryne Kennedy (and Pikachu) visiting Over Coffee. It's been a while since I've had the privilege of having her here. As you may know she writes some fabulous stories involving all manner of magical creatures and I particularly enjoy her Relics of Merlin series.  

Hello Sia and friends! It’s wonderful to be back here talking with you all again! Although I have already posted about my new puppy on my personal blog, I had to share some new photos and news about her! I named my new girl Pikachu, and if any of you have kids who play Pokemon, you’ll know where I took the name from.

I found her on the following website, and it was such a thrill to see the words ADOPTED, and know that I was the one they referred to: http://www.adoptapet.com/pet/9725112-buckeye-arizona-chihuahua-mix

This is a wonderful place to find a new dog if you are looking for one, so you might want to go to the site when you can browse for a while.

This poor puppy was part of the ‘miracle litter’, because she was scheduled for euthanizing along with her brothers. Theirs is kind of a sad story, but if you have the stomach for it, you can read about them all here: http://www.homeanimalrescue.com/litter1.html#top

Otherwise, just know that she was rescued by some amazing people, and found a wonderful new home with me. I adore her, as you can probably tell from my photos. The first picture cracks me up, cause I swear she looks like she’s laughing at me. And see the little brush in the background? Yeah, I try, but she thinks it’s another game, and winds up attacking the brush and then stealing it from me.

In the second photo I am talking to her, and like usual, she’s trying to understand what I’m saying. She’s a quick learner, and I swear she already knows what I’m telling her most of the time.

In the third picture, you can see the mix of Chihuahua and…I’m guessing maybe a dachshund? I’m not sure, but whoever her parents are, they made an adorable puppy. 

In the fourth, she’s doing one of her favorite things: snuggling into the covers. She loves to dive in them and growl and pretend she’s a commando. 

In the fifth, she has dropped her toy over the edge of the bed, and in the last picture, you can see why I can’t find her half of the time. I have brown floors and carpet, and she blends in like a little ghost. I’ll say, “Where’s Pikachu?” And look down and there she is, staring up at me with a grin. Sheesh, I love this little dog.

I've written several books that include animals, including fantasy creatures like shapeshifters in the Relics of Merlin series. I think my love of animals has inspired many of the critters I write about. 

I’d love to hear about your pets, and how they came to be a part of your lives.

My Magical Best,

Kathryne

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

BUY: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Chapters/Indigo,
 IndieBound, iBookstore

EVERLASTING ENCHANTMENT  STORES DECEMBER 2013

Power Magic is Afoot …

Millicent Pantere has lived her entire life in the notorious London Underground. She cares nothing for the problems of the crown or the intrigues of society. But the ladies of the realm are acting strangely, and Millicent is coerced into tracking down the rumors of a mysterious man—a magic man who comes in the night and disappears at dawn.

And So the Hunt Begins…

Millicent's search leads her to one of Merlin's legendary relics and the seductive knight whose fate is bound up with it. Centuries ago, Sir Gareth Solimere made the mistake of seducing the wrong woman, and he has been trapped ever since by a diabolical curse. He's looking for the one who can break the enchantment—but in this world, there is no love without betrayal...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Kathryne Kennedy is a critically acclaimed, bestselling, award-winning author of magical romances. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives with her wonderful family in Glendale, Arizona. For more information and ongoing contests, please visit www.kathrynekennedy.com.

MY BIGGEST WRITING CHALLENGE

It's my pleasure to have author, Kathryne Kennedy, visiting Over Coffee again. I truly enjoy having authors visit, of course, but one the added benefit of this blog is being able to have those authors whose books I love to read. I love vivid worlds peopled by unforgettable characters and settings. Kathryne's books always provide me with an escape into a new place. Her stories are better than Calgon at taking away, lol!

I have to admit, I wondered about her writing process. She graciously shares with us her greatest challenge in telling her stories. 

Thank you so much, Sia, for having me here today. It’s such a pleasure to talk with you and your readers once again! I’m looking forward to responding to the comments.

Today I thought I’d share one of my biggest challenges in telling a story, and I hope both readers and writers find it helpful.

I often find that the biggest challenge I face in telling a story is in how I write. I admire writers who can write anywhere, under any circumstances. But for me, I have to have total focus on my story and characters, and distractions can make that difficult.

A reader once told me “You paint pictures with words.” It made me really look at how I sit down and write a story. 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.

It kinda works the same way with my characters. 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.

So what happens when I can’t find my focus? When other issues (like life) cloud my thinking? I’ve found several things that help:

• I read my last few pages, allowing me to immerse myself back into the scene or characters. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll go back even farther, until I truly empathize with my characters again, and am living back in their world.

• I make a list of all the things that are demanding my time or mental energy, put it aside with the promise that I will get to each issue after I write my goal for the day. This helps focus my full attention back on my writing.

• If I’m facing the end of a scene and am not sure where to go next, I go back to my original outline for the general plot, and that gives me back my direction.

• I help myself the day before. When I’m immersed, the ideas start flowing. So before I stop writing for the day, I’ll put short notes right where I've left off, telling what will happen next in the scene.

• If I’m having a truly difficult time facing the keyboard, I give myself permission to stare at a blank screen. I do not have to write anything. I will just sit down and stare at the screen. This relieves the pressure, and my mind and fingers have yet to fail to get something written for that day…even though I don’t ‘have’ to.

• If you’re a writer and share my challenges, I hope you’ve found some of my solutions helpful, and I sure would like to hear any you might like to add.
• If you’re a reader, I hope this post helps you to understand what my writing process is like, and I’d love to hear what you think.

THE LADY OF THE STORM BY KATHRYNE KENNEDY—IN STORES AUGUST 2011
Giles is bound to protect her...
In a kingdom viciously ruled by warlike elven lords, village blacksmith Giles Beaumont reluctantly swears to protect the half-elf, half-human Cecily Sutton, never dreaming that he will fall under her enchanting spell.
But duty soon turns to desire...
When Cecily's father disappears, Cecily and Giles set out to find him. But, as their journey unfolds, duty is quickly replaced by desire—and the search for Cecily's father leads to a magical destiny that could end the rule of the elven lords forever...Excerpt.  BOOK TRAILER

THE LADY OF THE STORM is a great read for those who love epic fantasy romance... love story between two strong-minded people set against the backdrop of intrigue, magic, 

and incredible danger.

My Review

“Fantastical creatures, magical spells, lengthy quests, angst, and passion will satisfy readers looking for a romance plot in a well-developed fantasy setting.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Kennedy’s exquisite world building and terrific plotting make this a must-read.”

—Booklist Starred Review

Buy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, BooksAMillion,
Chapters/Indigo, Kathryne’s Bookseller Directory

The publisher is giving away two copies of The Lady Of The Storm, to two commenters on today's blog. Limited to the US and Canada. IF you want to be entered into the drawing for her book, please contact me at siamckye@gmail.com with your contact info. Thank you!

Kathryne Kennedy is an acclaimed, best-selling, award-winning author of magical romances. She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at http://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 The Elven Lords series, The Lord of Illusion (February 2012).

Melding Life And Wrting

It's my pleasure to have, Kathryne Kennedy, visting with us today. Kathryne has the knack of creating magical worlds and inviting you to come play. She's a wonderful storyteller with a great sense of humor and the ability to connect you with her characters and world.

There is a much work involved with creating a new series. It's not only one story you have to concern yourself with, but several. By the time an author has sold the series, they must not only define the world and its laws, but give a character sketch of each set of characters in the projected series, and a brief synopsis of each of the projected stories within the series.

So how does an author juggle their life and the life of the world of characters?


A big hello to Sia and all of her readers! It’s a pleasure to be back here again.


It was suggested that I write a post about how I juggle my writing life and my real life, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I don’t necessarily juggle. It’s more of a melding of the two.

The great thing about being a writer is that you can work anywhere, and inspiration comes at any time. The most common places for me to have sudden inspiration is in the shower (which is why I keep a notebook in there, although my bathroom floor has a tendency to get soapy and wet), that fuzzy state between waking and sleeping, while I’m talking with my family about my latest book, and whenever I just relax and rest. It’s almost as if the back of my brain is constantly working and it just takes a nudge to allow it to come out.


So truly, I guess I’m thinking about writing all of the time, especially when I get caught up in a new magical world like the one I created in The Fire Lord’s Lover. It explains many things. Like, why I have a tendency to wander off in the middle of a conversation, and have to ask my friend what in the world I was talking about to get back on track. Or why I have a tendency to walk into the corners of walls, or forget why I went into a room, or where I was going.


Is that why writers are thought of as a bit kooky?


Or is it just me? Maybe other writers have a way to juggle both worlds and I just haven’t mastered the trick of it yet. But I can see someone make a gesture and I’ll immediately think of how I can incorporate that into my character. Or watch people interact and think of how charming that would be for my hero/heroine. Or fall in love with a character from a movie and launch into an entirely new world with evolved characters of my own. Or see a wedding and wonder what characteristics made these two fall in love with each other and how they managed to overcome any obstacles in their way. Or suddenly wonder why things are the way they are, and what could change to alter the world as it is? Or see a single girl, and create a man that would be perfect for her. Or vice versa.


I lived, breathed, and slept The Fire Lord’s Lover. I can’t turn the creativity on and off, although there are times when my imagination stalls, and other times when it jumps so far ahead of me that I can’t see the ending of where it’s taking me.


But despite looking like a bit of an airhead most of the time, I have to admit that I love it. There’s an old saying that life is what you make it, and I think that’s true. What you carry around in your head, what thoughts you choose to focus on, becomes your life; because it’s the way you perceive your world (that half-empty, half-full glass of water thing).


For me, I carry around love stories, new worlds of magic, characters that charm me, adventures that I can lose myself in. My life is wonderful, no matter what I’m doing in the ‘real’ world, so maybe not being able to juggle is a good thing.

• If you’re a writer, do you find yourself thinking about your writing most of the time?
•  
• Or if you’re an avid reader, do you find yourself remembering a great scene from a novel you just finished reading?

I’d love to hear about it!

~ * ~ * ~* ~

Fire Lord's Lover

If his powers are discovered, his father will destroy him...

In a magical land ruled by ruthless Elven Lords, the Fire Lord's son Dominic Raikes plays a deadly game to conceal his growing might from his malevolent father, until his arranged bride awakens in him passions he thought he had buried forever.


Unless his bride kills him first...


Lady Cassandra has been raised in outward purity and innocence, while secretly being trained as an assassin. Her mission is to bring down the Elven Lord and his champion son. But when she gets to court she discovers that nothing is what it seems, least of all the man she married...


Then Dominic and Cassandra together discover an unspeakable evil, one that threatens the destruction of the magical realm they would give their souls to save... Excerpt

See my review (4 1/2 stars a great read, must have book) for this series and book at Night Owl Reviews

Buy: Amazon,  Barnes and Noble,  Borders, BooksAMillion,  Chapters/Indigo.

Kathryne Kennedy is a multipublished, award-winning author of magical romances. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives in Arizona with her wonderful family—which includes two very tiny Chihuahuas.

She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at: http://www.kathrynekennedy.com/.

Kathryne Kennedy Interview

I had the opportunity to chat a bit with Kathryne Kennedy, author of Relics of Merlin, My Unfair Lady, which I reviewed recently and loved, and a new series I’m looking forward to reading, The Elven Lords.

I like books that linger in my mind long after I finish them. Stories that I can periodically pull out and again *visit* the world and characters. If I can recall the plot and characters and their names two weeks, two months later, then the author has truly written a good book. There are a few authors that do that for me and Kathryne is one of them. These are the books that go on my keeper shelf, much to my husband’s dismay, since we’ve been hauling my *keeper shelves* around all our married life. :-)


Kathryne, I’m so glad you could visit with us a bit today. At the risk of sounding all fan girlish, I have to tell you, I love your books. Your characters and world are so well crafted I feel if I could just find the door to the past, I’d be able to go and visit.

You’ve published, what a dozen books, now? Do you have a favorite?

• Err, no. I’m not that prolific. :} I’m happy to write a book a year…although I’m going for two, right now. My favorite book is always the one I’ve just finished writing, which just recently is The Fire Lord’s Lover. I’m still wrapped up with the characters and their story and it’s always sad to leave them behind. Until I start my next book. Then that one will be my favorite.

In My Unfair Lady, there aren’t any of the “magical” elements that marked many of your other historicals. What made you decided to “play it straight”, so to speak?

• I wrote My Unfair Lady prior to the Relics of Merlin (Enchanting the Lady, Double Enchantment, Enchanting the Beast) series. I have always loved historicals, and wanted to try my hand at writing one. Yet, the whole time I was writing it, I kept thinking…what if? It didn’t seem fair that only the males inherited the titles, yet, titles were originally gained by right-of-arms. So what if I could even the odds up a bit? What if there was another power besides the sword, that of magic, which a woman could wield as easily as a man. And if there was magic, how did it get there? And wouldn’t titles be based on how much magical power one wielded? And so when I finished My Unfair Lady, I had the basis for an entirely new magical world.

What was the most fun about writing this story?

• Oh, gosh, I had so much fun writing My Unfair Lady that it’s hard to find what was the most fun! Maybe Summer’s best friend Maria, teaching the monkey how to ‘eavesdrop’ properly. Or Summer’s little Chihuahua hiding under skirts and chewing the Duke’s shoes. Or Summer herself, with her outrageous honesty and unfailing courage. Or when the monkey jumped in the freezing pond and the look he gave Summer? Or the Duke and his shocked expressions…and his thing with boots?

What's special about your hero? What makes him different?

• Byron, the Duke of Monchester, is just so very guarded that he’s difficult to get to know. He is too sensitive, and because of this, he’s built up solid walls. Only someone like Summer, who is so compassionate and honest, could chip away those defenses to reveal the true man beneath that suave arrogance and sophistication. I think that I honestly grew to know Byron through Summer, and I’m sort of unsure if I would have done so without her.

Which scene in My Unfair Lady did you love writing and why?

• It actually teared me up a bit, but the one in which the little fox she rescued doesn’t survive, and the Duke helps her bury it, and despite his protestations to firmly deny it if Summer ever tells anyone of it, says a prayer over the little grave. Despite Byron’s demeanor, that one scene defined him as a man, and revealed Summer’s reliance on his love…whether she realized it at the time or not.


• And then--okay, sorry, there’s two--the scene at the end of the book where they are each trying to seduce the other without knowing it. Now, that was such a joy to write!

Like many of us, you’ve had a rough year. How are you able to continue writing when under stress? What does your writing bring to your life?

• I don’t know what happened this year. It was just one horrible thing after another. It was almost as if God said, “Let’s see how much she can take before she cracks.” The major reason I made it through the year was having my writing to focus on. There were times when it was difficult to write, of course. But most of the time, I could bury myself in my magical world and leave all the trauma of my real life behind me. My writing brings me such joy, along with all the readers who are kind enough to share it with me, that I don’t know how I could manage to continue without it.

I can relate that whole one thing after another...

What can we expect from you next? Can you discuss your new series at all?

• Absolutely! I am so very excited about The Elven Lords…and very much infatuated with the heroes these wicked elven have created in this new world.

BOOK ONE: THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER
Fighting for control of a Georgian England that is split into seven domains, elven warlords use their human slaves to breed an endless supply of soldiers for their armies.

Dominic Raikes, the half-blood son of the Elven Lord himself, is one such warrior. Betrothed to Lady Cassandra, who has been raised in a convent to keep her pure, he little suspects that she’s been secretly trained as an assassin to murder his father.

Dominic and Cassandra soon discover that each one is not what they seem, but the price of trust may be their very lives, and the destruction of the magical realm each is desperately trying to save…

This sounds like a fabulous story. I can’t wait to read it. I’ve noticed your paranormals are mainly “magical” in content and set in the past. What draws you to writing your magical stories set in Georgian, Regency, and Victorian periods?

• I love all of those eras, of course. :} I love tweaking history and imagining a different world changed by magic. I can experience all of the pageantry, drama, and glorious richness of the past and take it even one step further with magic.

This Series will be released when?

• Book one, The Fire Lord’s Lover, is scheduled for release July 2010. And although they don’t have the cover up yet (you’re previewing it here), it’s already available for pre-order on Amazon. Very cool. :}

Wow, pre-order already? Very cool, indeed.

Finally, anything special you’re doing for the holidays? Do you guys have any special traditions?

• We do…we did…but I’m not sure how things will be this year. I can tell you that I have personally resolved to cherish every person in my family from this point onward. And all of my friends. Because life is ever changing and these times may not come again.

Kathryne, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be here and answer my questions.

• My absolute pleasure, Sia. You are one of those persons I cherish. :}

Thank you, Kathryne, what a lovely thing to hear. Here's to 2010. May it be a great year for us both! :-)

• Question: What makes a book magical enough for you so you put it on your *keeper shelf*?

Kathryne will be giving away a copy of her book to a commenter today.

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Kathryne Kennedy is a college graduate and business owner, and is a multipublished, award-winning author of magical romances. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives in Arizona with her wonderful family—which includes two very tiny Chihuahuas.

She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at: http://www.kathrynekennedy.com/

My Unfair Lady Review

My Unfair Lady
By: Kathryne Kennedy
Product ISBN: 9781402229909
Price: $6.99
Publication Date: December 2009

Pygmalion meets the wild west in this lively and unusual historical romance by award-winning author Kathryne Kennedy

• Back Cover Blurb:

A Wild West heiress, Summer Wine Lee knows that she's not an acceptable bride for her fiance's knickerbocker family. She grew up in an Arizona mining town, cares more for critters than people, carries a knife under her skirts, and, worst of all, she has a highly improper secret from her past. But she also has high hopes that a real English Duke can teach her how to be a lady.

Were it not for his father's gambling debts, the Duke of Monchester would never have stooped to civilize Summer. But the more time he spends with her, and the more social scrapes he has to rescue her from, the more he finds it impossible to change her into a proper lady. How could he, when he's falling in love with her just the way she is?

"If you have not discovered Kathryne Kennedy's romances yet, you are truly missing out." Merrimon Book Reviews

• My Thoughts:

My Unfair Lady was a delight to read on several levels.

Ms. Kennedy’s a pro at creating memorable characters, comical situations, a fun dialog, and an endearing love story.

The characterization of Summer, Maria (I have a couple of friends like her), and Byron were well done. Even her depiction of historical figures and villains, were realistically crafted. Not a cardboard figure to be found.

I loved that both M/C’s had hidden emotional conflict and only hinted at and unveiled slowly throughout the story. Both were very much a product of their respective worlds. I liked the way Ms. Kennedy obviously researched and reflected that research into her story. How insular the titled aristocrats were in Victorian England. They were somewhat inbred and confined by rigid rules of conduct—only allowed to marry within a certain strata, and the anathema of Gentry working any kind of trade. It was a time when the great fortunes were waning in the *modern* world of the time, necessitating importing rich brides, and many American brides with fortunes were sought and many titles were *bought by* rich American families.

Ms. Kennedy presents a fresh, independent American Miss into a very structured setting. Summer is a very capable young woman not given to vapors or panic when facing unknown situations. She is from frontier America where even women are crack shots, well able to defend both home and hearth and put food on the table.

Imagine the reaction of Byron’s world to such a young woman? His shock and gradual respect, especially given his prejudice against *title hunting* American women, his surprise that Summer needed little protection; in fact she tries to protect him. Her spunk and frankness is like a fresh breath of air in a stale room.

Ms. Kennedy creates a believable world. She also has a wonderful love story between Byron and Summer Lee Wine. Both are fighting the attraction and when they do come together it’s hot.

I loved Summer’s attachments to her *critters* and Byron's reaction to those critters (his poor boots). There were many comical situations that had me laughing out loud or giggling at the word picture.

The dialog is full colloquiums and the contrast between the two worlds is hilarious in places.

If you enjoy reading a good historical, you have to read My Unfair Lady. It’s one that leaves a glow in your heart and a smile on your lips.

As Summer Lee would say, “Tarnation, you write a great story, Ms. Kathyrne!”

Excerpt from My Unfair Lady:

"Maria, this had better work," Summer muttered to the empty drawing room. For this was her friend's plan, not her own. Summer had wanted to hire one of the American heiresses who had already married a title; the ones that had gone through money so quickly entertaining Prince Albert that they sponsored young American girls looking for an introduction into society.

"Not good enough," Maria had responded, flipping her long, black hair over her shoulder. "Trust me when I tell ya', if ya' want to be a lady, ya' hire a man to teach ya' how to do it. And I finally discovered the perfect fellow, a poor Duke with two falling down castles who's feared by all in the social circle for his quick wit and nasty tongue...but is also a particular favorite of his Highness."

Summer couldn't take her eyes off the man who strode towards her home. All the other men wore those bowler hats, so he was easy to pick out, for his blond hair reflected the feeble rays of England's sun and glowed a golden yellow. He wore it unfashionably long and bare of the pomade that slicked most other men's hair back. Summer liked it.

The Duke wore a long coat of pale blue, narrow trousers and a deep blue cravat. He carried no umbrella or cane, and as he passed a group of gentlemen going in the opposite direction she realized that he was also not a particularly tall man. For some reason this made her feel more at ease, so that when the bell jangled, and Maria came in to announce that she had a visitor, Summer felt almost quite calm.

Until he walked into the room.

"Are you Miss Lee?" inquired the Duke as he ran his eyes from the top of her head to the tips of her kidskin boots. "Miss Summer Wine Lee?" The deep richness of his voice made her heart turn over.

FYI: I WILL BE INTERVIEWING KATHYRNE KENNEDY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH. SHE WILL ALSO BE SHARING SOME INFO ON HER NEWEST SERIES, A HISTORICAL PARA, TO BE PUBLISHED IN 2010.

CAN I JUST SAY, I LOVE THE PREMISE?

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Kathryne Kennedy is a college graduate and business owner, and is a multipublished, award-winning author of magical romances. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives in Arizona with her wonderful family—which includes two very tiny Chihuahuas.



She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at: http://www.kathrynekennedy.com/

Following Your Heart

I was fortunate to be able to have Kathryne Kennedy stop by for a chat about writing. She’s an author who really appreciates her readers and I love her recommendations to aspiring authors and published authors.

Kathryne touches or writing not what you know but what you want to know and the importance of following your heart when you write. Jealousy and negativity are so destructive to our creative spirit and she gives some good advice on how to deal with those emotions.

I struggled with what to write for this blog entry. If I sat down and was talking with a friend over coffee, or in my case, tea, it would depend on if I were talking to a reader or a writer. To a reader, I would talk about how much I love to build worlds, how I manage to take the eras that I love in history--Georgian, Regency, Victorian--and change them to magical, enchanting places. I would talk about my latest book, how the hero and heroine were so perfect for each other, but had to find that out for themselves. My friend and I would laugh about some of my characters: the were-snake Sarah and her tendency to shed. The were-penguin butler. The were-duck footman. And we would sigh with longing that in some alternate universe my heroes really would exist.

Now to an aspiring writer, I would give some advice on writing that I wish someone would have given me before I started. To write what truly interests you, not necessarily what you know. I had heard long ago that for a writer to produce a great book, they should write what they know. That made me scratch my head. Fiction is pretend…how can I know what a were-lion would act like? How can I know what historical England is like when I’ve never been there? I think a better way to put it would be, write what you want to know. That’s what research is for. And that’s what your imagination is for. And following your own heart will produce a great book.

To a really good friend who has just sold their first book, I would give some advice on what I’ve learned about being an author to help them through their own journey. You might have written a wonderful book, but if no one knows about it, it won’t matter. Think of all the authors you’ve stumbled across, and thought, wow, this is wonderful! How come I’ve never heard of this author before? So market your book. Do whatever you’re comfortable with, whether it’s social networking, guest blogging, or sending bookmarks to booksellers. But do something to get your name out there. And first and foremost, get a website.

And I would caution a dear friend to develop a thick skin. I know your book is fabulous…but you can’t please everyone. What one person will love about your book, another may not. Does that mean you should change the way you write? Does that mean that you should listen when someone says they didn’t like some element about your book? Absolutely not. Remember to write what you love, and fans will follow. The important thing is that you are receiving an emotional response to your work. And then go look at the reviews for some of your favorite author’s books on Amazon.

And then I would caution my friend about something I’ve noticed writers doing that they may not even be aware of. Do not to be jealous of another writer’s success. When a friend tells you about some milestone for them--a new contract, perhaps a starred review--be happy for them. Every writer’s journey is different, and your successes will be different. Don’t belittle another author’s accomplishments, because when you achieve your own personal milestone, there’s nothing better than having good friends to celebrate it with.

And along those same lines, steer clear of negative people. It might even be a member of your own family. Self-doubt may be one of the hardest things a writer has to overcome, and you don’t need someone pushing bad vibes at you. Find people who make you feel good when you interact with them. Good about yourself. Good about your writing. And develop that relationship. Your muse will thank you.

To a reader or a writer, I would finish with a big hug. Either would be someone I would cherish.

"I'm going into surgery on Tuesday, and I will be non-functioning (it's major surgery on my neck) for two weeks after that. I would be happy to give away an autographed copy of a book from the Relics of Merlin series to one lucky commenter."

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Kathryne Kennedy is a multi-published, award winning author of magical romances. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives in Arizona with her wonderful family—which includes two very tiny Chihuahuas. She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at: http://www.kathrynekennedy.com/

The RELICS OF MERLIN series from Dorchester Publishing:"Simply delightful!"~Publishers Weekly