Monday, October 14, 2013

Interview with fantasy romance author Patricia Knight

Today’s interview is with fantasy romance author Patricia A. Knight as she tours her newest novel, book 2 of The Verdantian Series, Hers to Choose.

Patricia has several giveaways to lucky people during her tour, including 20 e-copies of the book and 5 print copies of the book. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, visit other tour stops and enter there, too.

Bio:
Patricia A. Knight is the pen name for an eternal romantic who lives in Dallas, Texas surrounded by her horses, dogs and the best man on the face of the earth – oh yeah, and the most enormous bullfrogs you will ever see. Word to the wise: don’t swim in the pool after dark.

Welcome, Patricia. Please tell us a little bit about Hers to Choose.
Mentally scarred from her years as prisoner to the off-world invaders, Lady Sophillia Glorianna DeLorion, doubts she can be a fit sexual partner for any man – even one whose passionate green eyes make her remember what it is to desire.

Commander of the Queen’s Royal Guard, Eric DeStroia had grown up watching the corrosive, soul-killing effects of arranged, aristocratic marriage and vowed to remain alone. But under his hardened military exterior, Eric has a kind heart. When the second Tetriarch suggests he marry a noble woman rescued from the enemy, Eric reconsiders, consoling himself with visions of sheltering a wounded dove under his mighty arm. Instead, he discovers a fierce falcon that refuses to stoop to his lure.

In the aftermath of their resounding defeat, a survivor from the enemy camp plotted a return to Verdantia to exact retribution. His first objective is the recapture of Lady Sophillia DeLorion. She had been unreachable until she went to the Oshtesh. Now, only Eric DeStroia stands in his way.

Hers to Choose is a sweet love story about two disillusioned people coming together under unlikely circumstances. As a team, they overcome multiple threats and harsh separation. During the process, they realize there is much about the other that is admirable. Hers to Choose is the story of their unfolding love.

What inspired you to write this book?
Lady Sophi was a character in a previous book. I fell in love with her courage and she demanded I tell her story. I don’t know about other authors, but I have very bossy heroes and heroines. They don’t hesitate to demand a book or completely rewrite the plot line if it is not to their liking.

Excerpt from Hers to Choose:
At dusk the next day, Sophi’s flight filtered into Sh’r Un Kree from the surrounding hillsides.
As they gathered in the designated courtyard, she made a small adjustment to Brio’s bridle.
“Are these the legendary wasteland horses we lowlanders hear stories about?” Commander DeStroia’s deep voice caught her attention. I didn’t hear his approach. Taught stealth by my brother, no doubt.
“Yes.” She followed his gaze as he examined her flight’s small, hardy mounts and the equally small, hardy women astride them. “Petrina—she has a fiery temper to match her red hair, but she is my right hand. The brunette beside her is Adonia, our medica. Her knowledge of herbs is indispensable and this is Rhea, our best tracker. Layna, Eudora and Maeve complete our flight. Their precision in hitting their targets is uncanny. We don’t look like much, but we will not burden you, Commander. We are quite self-sufficient.”
 “I never imagined otherwise, Lady DeLorion.”
She stiffened. “I do not use my courtesy title. I am no longer that person. I prefer ‘Flight Leader’.”
His eyes examined her but he nodded agreeably. “Flight Leader. We will leave upon the half-hour. Take position beside me at the front. Your flight can muster behind you.”
“No. It is not our way. We will ride the ridges and shadowed places in twos and threes. We will be there but you will not see us.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t like it. I cannot protect you if I cannot see you.”
“I do not ask your permission, Commander. I am in far less danger with my flight than with you who lack experience in the desert wilds. I knew you were coming hours before you arrived. Sound carries great distances in the wastelands—and the dust! Your numbers hang a sign in the desert air, ‘attention—riders approach’.”
She swirled her robes away from her legs and vaulted onto her gelding. A whistled birdcall caught her archers’ attention. “We flank Commander DeStroia. Ride out.”
Sophi felt the Commander’s eyes on her as she and her flight faded into the desert night.

* * *

When Sophi and her women had faded from sight, Eric strode into the stable yard where his four rides of the Queen’s Royal Guard assembled, preparing for the order to mount. Frustration chewed on his temper. I was prepared for a shy, withdrawn woman, not this—Valkyrie. It is difficult to “escort” a woman when you don’t know where she is, when she doesn’t want or need an escort in the first place.
“Queen’s Guard! Prepare to mount! Mount!” he barked, swinging up onto his horse. “Rides! By twos. Form up!” Cavalrymen paired off and formed orderly lines, broken every eight riders by a colorful pennant bearing the insignia of their unit.
 “Queen’s Guard! At the walk! March!” Eric ordered.
As his horse’s long stride swung through the arches of the village wall, his second-in-command rode up to him.
“Commander?”
“Captain.”
“Do we leave without Lady DeLorion?”
“No.” Eric fumed in silence.
“Commander?”
“What!”
The man cleared his throat nervously. “Where is Lady DeLorion?”
“Good question, Captain Biron. If you see her, let me know.”

What exciting story comes next?
Hers to Cherish and one of my most favorite characters of all. A reviewer dubbed him, “Ramsey the Great.” LOL  Here’s the blurb:

When Ramsey DeKieran, disgraced nobleman and accused murderer, is offered a pardon Ram knows there’ll be a catch. The High Lord of Verdantia offers him a clean slate in exchange for the off-world rescue of a Verdantian noblewoman – a suicide mission that has already cost the lives of good men. The one redeeming feature is the assistance of the stunning captain of Verdantia’s elite mercenary team.

For Captain Steffania Rickard, assisting DeKieran in the rescue of a woman critical to the future of Verdantia will be difficult enough. The rouge trips all her triggers – good and bad. Infinitely worse, to fit into the culture of Vxloncia, she must pose as Ram's sex slave. The sexually dominant Ramsey is nothing if not perceptive and Steffania doubts her carefully disguised and deeply hidden desires will remain concealed.

Their mission takes on new meaning when they unmask a heinous program of enslavement, long cloaked in secrecy. Together they must find a way to overcome their initial animosity and recover a woman vital to the future of their race. Together, they would have to bring a malicious entity to justice. In the maelstrom of sex, savagery, domination and submission, Ram and Steffania will need all their wits and strength to survive.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Oh…I guess when I had a 85,000 word manuscript. I thought that probably qualified to boot me into the, “I am a writer,” column.

Do you write full time? If so, what’s your work day like?
I am so blessed. I write full time. Even so, with social media (vital for promoting and telling people that you exist), doing my share for my critique partners and so on, it sometimes becomes difficult to squeeze in time to write. My workday starts at 7:30 a.m. I stagger into the kitchen, pour a cup of Starbucks’ French Roast, add a spoon of sugar and a blop of 2% milk and then it’s off to my office and the computer. I have been known to plant my buttocks in that chair for upwards of ten hours. Recently, I started setting the alarm on the oven to go off every two hours and making myself get on the treadmill for thirty minutes or go outside and pull weeds. My joints are much happier when I do this.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Probably setting the oven alarm for every two hours to make me get up. I am just guessing, but I doubt may writers do that.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A horse. [laughter] It wasn’t enough to ride one. I wanted to BE one. I had to settle for riding and showing which I have done all my life.

Anything additional you want to share with your readers?
Just an enormous thank you to all of ya’ll who read my books and take the time to let me know how you feel. I walk around in a fuzzy, warm daze when I realize I have entertained and touched someone with the words that flow from my keyboard.

I love to hear from my readers and can be reached at http://www.trollriverpub.com/ or my website.

Check out my latest “Hunk of the Day,” book releases, contests, and other fun stuff on my Facebook page

Other ways to connect include:

Thanks, Patricia. This has been fun.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


2 comments:

BrandiKae said...

Thank you for hosting :) Great interview!

Unknown said...

Hi Lisa,

Just wanted to stop by and thank you for the lovely interview and spotlight on Hers To Choose. It was a pleasure to meet you.

Patricia