Special interview with paranormal romance author Amy McKinley

I have a special interview with paranormal romance author Amy McKinley today.

As she does a virtual book tour for her novel Hidden, Amy will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too.

Bio:

Amy McKinley is a freelance writer and author. She lives in Illinois with her husband, their four talented teenagers, and three mischievous cats. Her debut novel, Hidden is the first in the Five Fates Series. 

Welcome, Amy. Please tell us about Hidden.

Hidden is the first book in the Five Fates Series and I’m so excited for its release!

Half-demon, half-goddess, Jade’s fate makes her a pawn in an epic battle among the gods. Hidden on Earth with her sisters, she successfully avoids the Oneiroi—the dream gods—bent on her destruction until the prophecy, long dormant, awakens a dark shadow within her.

Roen, a reclusive Worr demon known for his battles against the Oneiroi, is called to protect Jade. Together they must unlock their mysterious connection and find a way to beat back destiny. Can she outsmart the prophecy, change her fate, and find love—even when she learns who is connected to her destruction?

Excerpt from Hidden:

Hades kissed his wife, Persephone, one last time before reluctantly relinquishing her above ground, where her mother impatiently waited.

“Behave while I’m gone, Hades.” Persephone traced a pink-kissed nail along her husband’s dark jawline.

He was loathe to shave too often as the rough stubble against her skin excited her. “Six months is ridiculously long,” he murmured against her lush lips. “Find a way to meet me at the meadow.”

Mischief danced in her eyes as she stepped onto the boat which would ferry her along the River Styx, leading her out of the Underworld. “It’s a date,” she purred, blowing her husband a sultry kiss.

That woman slays me. He watched until she was out of sight. Once his bride was gone, his attention returned to his beloved Underworld and the current state it was in.

Hades leapt onto his chariot. A resounding crack split the air as he commanded his four black horses to lead him past boiling lava pits and stalagmites to the deepest, fiery pits of the abyss—Tartarus.

Creatures scampered out of his way. Fallen angels and demons went about their business—lest they draw his anger—as he thundered past. Tormented screams echoed off cavernous walls and pools of fiery despair. His pulse roared in his veins. He reveled at what he was about to see…

The Fates’ curse had begun.

Reining his steeds to a halt, he dismounted, his black boots crunching on a mixture of bones and jagged pieces of rock. Amidst the prisons, the things of nightmares tortured imprisoned souls.

A laugh rumbled up from his gut and rolled out. He threw back his head then ran his hands through his black hair, freeing it from its tie. Pers wasn’t here right now, due to his brother, Zeus’s, acquiescence to Demeter.

Hades ignored the slow burn in his chest at the thought of his wife being gone for six long months and focused on the game of persecuting his brother instead, for he knew a thing or two about Aiesa’s offspring that Zeus did not.

An ear-splitting scream rent the air, snapping Hades out of his thoughts. New souls.

He knew who sent them. Although he benefitted from so many entering his domain, his brother would not be happy.

What a perfect time to pay Zeus a visit.

Do you ever wish you were someone else? Who?

Yes and no. I’m happy with so many aspects of my life. I have a wonderful family. But I do wish I looked like Angelina Jolie or Kate Hudson with the magical powers of Tabitha on Bewitched.

What did you do on your last birthday?

Ha! Sometimes I can’t even remember what I did yesterday with how busy my family is. One thing we always do is spend the day together. I love that. On my last birthday we made fondue and went to the movies.

What part of the writing process do you dread?

There are a few things I dread. A draggy middle, a transitional scene that’s slow, or a character I’m just not connecting with. That’s when I step back and do a character sketch and get to know the one that’s giving me such a hard time. Usually after spending an hour, or even a few days, everything clicks into place. And for the draggy middle and scenes that just aren’t working? Revise, revise, and revise!

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Absolutely! I listen to music while I write, which is funny because the playlists are on a loop and drive some members of my family crazy (Well, one is a writer too, so she gets it.). The thing is, I don’t really hear the songs after a while. They end up fading into the background and then I’m in a writer’s zone with music that corresponds to the mood of the scene.

So when I’m in writer’s block, I change the music and sometimes that shakes things up enough for me to begin again. If not, I may go for a walk.

Anything else you’d like to share with the readers?

I love connecting with my readers. I can be reached through these social media avenues:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Blog

Thank you, Amy!

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