Interview with romance author K. Reed

Today's guest author, K. Reed, writes romance with a twist. She's here to talk about Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire and she has some wonderful post-apocalypse survival baskets to give to randomly drawn commentors during the virtual book tour. Details follow the interview.

Bio:

Too many post-apocalyptic stories, movies, and what-ifs crowded her head, and K Reed decided to do something about it. So she plotted one out, decided an historical post-apocalyptic romance was the way to go, and wrote that one instead.

A lover of all things historical, of strong heroes with equally strong heroines, and of sexy pirates, she’s going to explore the post-apocalyptic world of plague-ridden 1804 and the gritty criminal element of Victorian England.

Luckily she has an understanding family, supportive friends, and a day job that offers her the flexibility she needs to plot, plan, and write. Sure, one day she’d like to travel the country in search of fantastic storylines and great locale pictures, but for now she’ll stick to the east coast and the internet.

Welcome, K. Please tell us about your current release.

Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire isn’t your usual Regency romance. In fact, I’d hazard to say there’s not another Regency romance like this…period. You see, Dark Inheritance is an alternate history where a plague has infected Regency Era England and the sumptuous ballrooms and gossiping matrons have been silenced.

It’s a fight for survival. Death has decimated the populace and those who are left riot, steal, and murder for the few resources left.

Grayson, Baron Harwich, struggles to maintain what order he can manage in a small portion of England. Juliette, Lady Adair, simply struggles to survive when all around her succumb. It’s a fight not only for survival but to try and restore what once was.

What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to do something very different in a genre I was very familiar with. After all, who doesn’t love Mr. Darcy? But I didn’t want to brave the normal fare and be lost among other Regency writers. So I invented this world.

It really sprung from my twisted little mind. I always wonder about the what ifs. The alternate history, the odd events, the could have happens. It all draws me in.

What exciting story are you working on next?

My next series is a bit of a different project for me. While I normally set things in the Regency Era, I’m moving up in time to the Victorian Era, the late Victorians, the 1880s. No alternate history here, but romantic suspense with a serial killer and all the Sherlock Holmes-type aspect to it. The major difference being my ‘detectives’ aren’t going to be super sleuths with major leaps in logic, rather a normal couple with an interest in criminology trying to solve a very complex mystery.

Added into this Victorian trilogy the same rules of society I might normally play with, or in the case of Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire, completely reinvent. I plan to use those rules to define the romantic elements of the story.

Aside from the Victorian trilogy, I’m going to work on another different project. I’ve been asked to co-author a cookbook based on the Edwardian Era. I’m looking forward to starting that project; it should be fun putting together the typical daily meals for the era, and including the etiquette and entertaining tips that go along with it.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I don’t remember ever not dabbling in writing since a young age. But to consider myself a writer, I’d say when I finished my first book. Finished as in completed it, not necessarily all the other things that go with that such as editing, editing, and editing.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like?  If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I don’t write full time, not in the strictest sense, but it feels like it. I find time here and there, I make my writing a priority and schedule times to do so even with my day job and all the other obligations that go with family, friends, and life. Would I like to write full time? YES! Perhaps one day.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I don’t know that I have one. I’m a pretty boring writer when it comes to the actual writing part. I sit down, set my mind to it, and just write.

Yeah, even typing that it sounds boring!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

It was a toss-up—The President of the United States…or Wonder Woman.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Alternate history seems to be all the rage, what with Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the complete list of Harry Turtledove, and several short-lived TV series about going back in time to fix something. Quantum Leap anyone? So my question to you is…what would you find an interesting topic for an alternate history? An historical like I did or something more current?

Here's a blurb for Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire:

The once glittering ballrooms of Regency England now lay desolate. A plague has ravaged the countryside. The government has fallen. What vestiges of order remained have been consumed by the endless funeral pyres. 

Grayson, once the Baron of Harwich, sought only to protect his people. Rescuing a half-dead woman was not among his plans. But something about her pulled at him. Perhaps it was her beauty, still evident beneath the pallor of loss. Perhaps it was the recently fired rifle at her side. Or maybe he was simply tried of death. All he knew was that the plague had taken too much already. He couldn’t let it take her as well.

Lady Juliette Adair had been ready to die with her brother. She didn't expect to be shown mercy in a world that had no room for mercy. When Grayson saved her she questioned his motives but soon found herself intrigued by him, drawn to him. 

Societal rules were a thing of the past, dead along with the ton. Juliette had no manner by which to measure her growing closeness to Grayson any longer. But when she discovers he may not be the man she thought she knew more is at stake than just her heart. The secrets she carries could make a king or destroy one.

Here's an excerpt for Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire:

“How do you survive if you gather every beggar you find?” she wondered softly.

Grayson took a step closer and, even if he didn’t know himself why he insisted on taking her back to Harwich, answered honestly. “I’ve never taken one before now.”

Shaking her head, Juliette glanced to her brother. “Do not start with me, then. I should be here.” She gestured to the body. “By his side.”

When her eyes met his again, he saw it. Despite her weakness, her delicate state, strength sparked in her blue eyes. Unbidden, fury flashed through him at her words, at a sentiment that contrasted with the look in her eyes.

He’d given his men strict instructions. No matter what they saw, how many begged for mercy, they were to perform their duties—find supplies to help their village, their people.  Never had they disobeyed him.

Today marked the first time his commands had been broken. And it was he who had broken them. Instinct, an unnamed feeling, wouldn’t allow him to leave her behind. Grayson was drawn to her, wanted her. Juliette touched a part of him he’d thought long abandoned.

Leaning closer, Grayson said clearly, “I have no interest in your absolution.”

Thanks for stopping by, K. 


Readers, if you'd like to connect with K, she's on Twitter. Dark Inheritance can be purchased through All Romance, Amazon, Barnes &  Noble, or CreateSpace.

And don't forget, the author will award nine Post-apocalypse survival baskets (which include tea, a fan, a shawl, a bracelet and more -- Plus ONE Grand Prize basket will include an iPod Touch) to randomly drawn commentors during the tour - US/Canada only. So, comment below and leave your e-mail if you'd like a chance to win. And to increase your chances, you can follow her tour and comment at other stops.