During her virtual book tour, Barb will be awarding a $15 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!
Welcome, Barb. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born in Hawaii, a place rich with culture and storytellers. As a little girl, scary tales about vampires, werewolves, angels, demons, and witches were my favorite kind — much to my mother's dismay.
I was born in Hawaii, a place rich with culture and storytellers. As a little girl, scary tales about vampires, werewolves, angels, demons, and witches were my favorite kind — much to my mother's dismay.
The scarier, the better.
My love for the supernatural never went away, even after moving to Seattle, far from Hawaii's majestic beaches with unusual colors. Nothing compares to the landscapes of Maui, Lanai, or Oahu. But somehow, Seattle stole my heart anyway. It became the place where my love for stories took on a new form, in a book of my own: The Adventures of Little Arthur and Merlin the Magnificent. This book is for kids who love stories, just like I did.
Then I had an idea while sleeping.
One night, my mind began to work overtime. In a dream, I saw a unique storyline involving all the races and an epic battle of good versus evil. It was a modern day plot with a three thousand year old prophecy, The Blood Prophecy. I finished the first book in 2014, The Queen's Destiny. Two years later, I released The Queen's Enemy. The last book in the series, The Queen's Ascension, released on August 17, 2020.
Today, I live in Florida with its beaches and sunshine. But I'm still a Seattle girl at heart. And so all my stories take place in the Northwest.
I always keep to my roots when I write.
Please share a little bit about your current release.
Queen’s Ascension is the third book in the series that brings Amber closer to fulfilling her destiny. For a millennia, a prophecy has been foretold that a Queen will unite the supernatural races in an epic battle that will test everything she holds dear. Her friends, her love, her life – all will be tested as she prepares for the prophecy to come true.
What inspired you to write this book?
The original storyline for Queen’s Destiny came from a dream but once I started creating this world, the rest just evolved into the series as we know it today.
Excerpt from Blood Prophecy Three: Queen’s Ascension:
Merlin, Camelot, 1276
Deep within the woods surrounding Camelot, Merlin, a strapping young man with sharp blue eyes and dark black hair, and knowledge that surpassed his years, ran through the trees, darting past the shrubbery in hopes of reaching his destination.
Out of breath, he stopped in front of a wall of foliage and flowers. With a wave of his hand, he whispered, “Eowan,” and revealed a hidden door within the cobblestone wall. A charge of wind pushed his hair back as he entered the passageway, and behind him, the wall was sealed once more.
With every step he took, fire illuminated his path, until finally, he reached the opening, a large room filled with herbs and ancient ingredients. The rickety shelves on the walls were lined with books and scrolls.
He eyed the cauldron within the hearth and said, “Ignis flamma,” and a fire lit underneath the kettle and quickly started to bubble. Merlin racked the shelves looking for a specific book he had in mind.
“Aha.” He found the volume and reached for it. In his hands, he had a delicately crafted book, made from worn soft leather with embossed writing which read, Balocræftum. He blew on the cover to rid it from the dust and cracked it open. While perusing the pages, he flipped through eagerly. Merlin found what he was in search of.
In the middle was a hole gouged out from the pages. He reached inside and pulled out an amulet, magnificently encrusted with all sorts of gems and diamonds. It radiated light and glowed. He pulled it up to his face and inspected it, the jewel aglow in his visage. His eyes sparkled in admiration.
What exciting story are you working on next?
I’ve decided to continue the series. I wasn’t ready for it to end and neither were the readers. So, I have already started Book Four: The Rise of the Hunter.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I think when I was 9. I wrote a story for Language Arts at St. Anthony’s School in Hawaii. My fourth grade teacher told me that if I kept up my writing and storytelling, I can be a writer. She even told me to think of myself as a writer beginning that day.
I actually work as a Senior Level (Executive) IT Consultant, Personal Fitness Trainer and Nutrition Coach. It’s a busy day but I am primarily in IT. I love Fitness so much that I became a trainer and paired it with healthy eating. That’s the day job. But in the evenings and on weekends, I write. I don’t miss a day of writing, even if it is just a paragraph. I’m a perfectionist so I will rewrite my endings until I find the one perfect for me and the characters. With two grown kids, it makes it easier to find the time too.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Probably that I can write anywhere and I mean it! On a date, during a run or workout in the gym, anytime I get a thought I want to put it down!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always knew I wanted to be a mom. But, I also wanted to be an astronaut. I was so intrigued by the Space Program and the Engineering behind the shuttle.
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Thank you for being a guest on my blog!
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for having me here today!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteLet me k ow if we can help get you started on the series.
Deletegreat interview, thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteYou’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it
DeleteHello! Thanks so much for sharing your book with us. Always fun reading about another book to enjoy.
ReplyDelete