NEW interview with K.K Allen

1. What inspired you to write The Summer Solstice: Enchanted?

The Summer Solstice: Enchanted was most definitely inspired by nature, magic, and love as I preach in my promos. When I was 12 I started writing contemporary romance novels in my spiral notebooks, but I never thought to have anything published. I simply enjoyed the process of writing and shaping a story but I always knew there was an element missing. It wasn’t until I moved to Florida in 2008 that I came up with the idea for The Summer Solstice: Enchanted. I spent time at the bookstore reading a lot and researching story ideas. Nothing clicked until one day I sat there for hours pouring over the Mythologies section and that’s when I was completely sucked into the subject of Midsummer/Summer Solstice. The festivities and rituals that take place during this time fascinated me. I found it beautiful, magical even, how celebrated nature and the seasons are to certain cultures. From there on it was like a floodgate of ideas opened and they still keep coming. I’m very excited about the History and Mythology I’ve created with the Summers in Enchanted. There’s a supernatural spin to this story that I’ve never explored in the past but I know now what that missing element was in my writing – it was magic.

2. How long was the writing process?

If I cut out all of the long breaks I took in between, I would say that The Summer Solstice: Enchanted took 12 months to research, outline, edit, and publish. I wrote four drafts of this novel which each took 2-3 months. And then I spent a good two months on editing. What most people don’t know is that the next book in the series was actually written with the first book but I cut it out and decided to make Enchanted more of an intro or soft launch for the series. It’s been doing really well so far so I think I made the right decision!

3. Have you ever been to Apollo Beach?

I don’t know why I laugh every time someone asks me this question. I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t visit Apollo Beach until after The Summer Solstice: Enchanted was written. It’s only an hour and a half drive away – but to my defense, for most of my writing process, I had no plans to publish this book. I relied on Google maps and images to shape my imagination. I did get a chance to visit Apollo Beach a few months ago and it confirmed all of the magic I wrote about and more. I have so many ideas for the rest of the series based on this one visit. I will have to go back when the Manatee Viewing Center opens in November.

4. Do you and Kat have anything in common?

Other than our hair color and taste in guys, I don’t think we have much in common. And unless there’s something my parents are keeping from me – our heritage lacks any magic. Kat is also much stronger mentally and emotionally than I was at 16. She is very grounded as a result of her bringing up which is a part of her character... Read More

The Summer Solstice: Enchanted

Synopsis:
Katrina "Kat" Summer has been sheltered and void of much social interaction her entire life. But her world changes drastically when her mother dies unexpectedly and she is forced move in with her estranged grandmother, a whimsical woman filled with wild tales of the Ancient Greek Mythology from which the Summer family descends. 

In the picturesque town of Apollo Beach, a small intercoastal community on the West side of Florida, Kat’s world takes on enchanting new beginnings. Rose encourages Kat to explore the Summer family heritage – but the more Kat discovers the more she realizes how many secrets her mother kept from her growing up. 

Leading to her 16th birthday, the day of the Summer Solstice, Kat is occupied with enigmatic visions and disturbing dreams with prophecies much too real to ignore. And after a run-in with the boy next door, a good looking guy her age named Alec Stone, Kat is more resolved than ever to find out the truth about her families’ past and what that has to do with her future. 

What Kat finds in Apollo Beach is a mythology surrounding the Summer Solstice that forever transforms her from the awkward girl she once was, to the enchanted Katrina Summer. 

To read my review, click here.

The Rise of the Verbal Villain: Author Interview

1: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a hip-hop addict that wants to infuse and manipulate as many words as possible, to express myself through rhyme and raps, to cause a commotion through emotion basically. I am a loner that loves words. I have endured bullying and to my last breath, I promise I aint gonna get bullied anymore nor will I sit back and watch anyone else get bullied. I know I have a way of weaving words now and will destroy anyone who dares challenge me verbally. 

2: What inspired you to write The Rise of the Verbal Villain?

I wanted to tell people my story, of how I developed my own armour using word ammo to fight back against my bullies. I believed I had a story to tell that even if just one teenager, adult, whatever, felt somehow inspired to stand up for themselves like I did, then the months of putting pen to paper was worth it. I subconsciously developed my alter-ego over a short period as I realised that a sharp wit and cutting comments will slay any dragons you may have. I just wanted people to know how I went from the old Lee to the new me, and hopefully to help people along the way.

3: How long was the writing process?

To get it ready for publication took about four months of weekend writing. The hardest part was writing the rhymes down onto paper. Writing a rap is so incredibly hard, even with a beat but doing it without one, that was tough. It was tough in the sense that I had to write the words in such a way that the rhyme would be read in... Read more

THE LEGENDS OF...

I'm almost always writing a story, usually something to do with the supernatural. In other words, I do a lot of research. In fact, I spend most my time researching than I do writing. I also do a lot of thinking. If I can't picture or believe in what I'm writing, its quite obvious neither will the reader. So, lets just say I daydream a lot and leave it at that.

Over the years, I've come across quite a few interesting myths and legends that I would now like to share with you all. More recently though, I came across a Hawaiian legend. I was so fascinated with it that I wanted to write a story based on it. But then I remembered how many pending stories I had already to work on and smartly decided against it.

The Legend of the Nightmarchers

What are Nightmarchers?
Nightmarchers are the ghost of ancient Hawaiian warriors. 
Some say they are spirits being guided to places unknown to us or to welcome new warriors to join in battle. While others say they are restless souls looking to reclaim their rightful territory, replay a battle gone awry, or avenge their own deaths. They march at sunset and just before sunrise. Anyone near their path may hear chanting and drum beating. It is also said they're clothed in decorated helmets and cloaks. 

When do the Nightmarchers come forth?
On the nights of Kane, Ku, Lono, Akua and Kaloa 

Where do they rise from?
Their burial sites.

How can one protect themselves from a Nightmarcher?
It is said that if you place the leaves of Ti, which is Cordyline fruticosa, an evergreen flowering plant in the Asparagus family, it will keep away all evil spirits. Also if you are in the Nightmarchers' bloodline, no harm will come to you.


The Legend of the Loup Garou

Now, I'm sure a lot of people haven't heard of this legend. In fact, if it wasn't for my parents, I, too wouldn't have known about it. Its a French legend of a human changing into a wolf at their own will. It is similar to the concept of a werewolf I suppose, except for the fact that its not affected in any way by the full moon. Also it looks more like a giant black cat, with beastly features than an actual wolf. 

The Legend of the Loup Garou hit Mauritius in the 90's. They called it Touni Minuit, which is translated as Naked Midnight in English. I think every kid in Mauritius grew up listening to the legend as told by their elders. While some people are skeptic about the legend, many who lived through the ordeal claimed that it really did happen. 

Although the creature never actually caused harm to anyone, it did however scare a lot of people. It broke into homes, smashing anything in sight. Many believed it was an evil spirit. An act of witchcraft.

There's not much online about this legend, just a few but most of them are written in French. But do have a look around and if you find anything detailed, please do let me know. 

All the information I've provided above related to the Loup Garou legend comes from people who was present during the time it struck in the 90's.


If you know of a myth or legend you think is unique, please do share.

THE RISE OF THE VERBAL VILLAIN

Synopsis:

Lee is sixteen and life is tough. A broken home and a hard time at high school with tears, jeers and fears seeming relentless and leaving him defenseless. Lee needs to stop this and fight back, but how? Is the answer in his ability to manipulate words? Can he battle back using rap? Is there a verbal villain waiting to be unleashed from its cage? Start reading about a timid and troubled teenager and end up supporting a word-slinging warrior of rhyme for our time.

To read my review, click here.

END OF FROSTBITE...OR NOT

Turns out, the VA fans are not giving up on Frostbite just yet.
If you'd like a second chance at making it happen, click here. Its a Facebook page that's been created to bring back Frostbite into production. All information is provided on the page. So head on over and help make it happen.

If you click here, you will be redirected onto the Frostbite campaign page, which is now closed due to insufficient funds. You will find details on the site concerning how much was raised and how much was suppose to be raised.

(LEAVING PARADISE) NOT FAR FROM REALITY

I absolutely love Leaving Paradise.
If you haven't read it, I would strongly recommend it.

Its a story between two teenagers, who are both suffering from the aftermath of a terrible accident. Maggie Armstrong who was hit, and Caleb Becker, who was behind the wheels. He paid the price by doing time in Juvie for a year. While Maggie, even after countless sessions of physio therapy treatments, still walks with a limp.

The story starts off with Caleb getting out of Juvie, relieved to finally be going home. But a lot has changed since his been gone, more so than he'd imagined. But having to face Maggie might be the worse thing of all.

This is their journey in finding strength and comfort in each other.

But what happens when the truth about that night comes out?



Okay so, while reading this book, I found myself wondering how bad could physio therapy actually be. I mean I've done physio before, so I was really surprised to see how painful it was for Maggie. When I'd gone a year ago, it was actually rather relaxing. So I was left with a big fat question mark.

But then today, I went to a new physio therapist. He looked like a nice guy and seemed to know his stuff. So I wasn't my usual paranoid self. I was completely at ease. But then I heard the guy he was seeing while I waited outside scream. And not a small scream, a full on I'm-getting-tortured-by-a-serial-killer scream. I won't lie, I started panicking a little. But I decided to be brave and see things through. That and the fact that my mom wouldn't let me make a  run for it even if I tried. To make myself feel better, I convinced myself that all treatments depend on the issue at hand. And mine wasn't too bad.

Or so I thought.

The moment he began, I wanted to make a run for it. Lets just say I've never felt so much pain in my life and this is coming from me; the Queen of Pain. I've always been a boss at dealing with pain.

Or so I thought.

He tortured me from head to toe. I came in with a painful back and left with a painful everything. He dug his elbow into my back, arms and thighs, so deep, it was literally grinding against my veins. I felt like they were moments away from bursting. I pretty much screamed and cried like a freaking baby. Hell, what he did to me made all those torture scenes in the movies look like a freaking delight!

And he had the nerve to tell me, next time will hurt even more.

Hurt even more? Those words made no sense to me. The possibility of something hurting more than what he'd done was freaking impossible.  But anyway, Maggie's kind of my hero now. Only a day and already I want to make a run for it. She stuck around for a few months. Fictional character, I know. But it makes you think of all those people out there that do this.


I'm in awed with each one of you.  You guys are brave and absolutely amazing. And don't forget it.