Megan's 5 star rated Contemporary Romance

Friday 25 May 2012

A Warm Welcome to K.Reed  Romance author with an historical twist

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.
Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire by K. Reed
BLURB:
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.

Before treating us to an excerpt K.Reed Reveals:

From where do you get inspiration and what inspired you to write Fallen Empire?
My latest book is very much out of the norm for a “Regency Romance.” I enjoy writing historicals greatly but I wanted a way to distinguish myself in the Regency marketplace. So one afternoon I was watching the history channel and they had a special on the French Revolution. Something in my brain clicked and I started wondering what it would be like to bring that kind of fear to England. A long winding road in my brain later and I came up with the idea for Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire.
In Dark Inheritance; a plague has devastated England and the book opens after the government has fallen and the country is in chaos. It was simply too delicious an idea not to write!

In a couple of sentences, describe the hero’s character. What do you like best/least about him? And the heroine? How do you relate to her?
The Hero in Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire is named Grayson Merrick, Baron Harwich; often referred to as the Baron or Harwich. Grayson is a survivor, yes, but he is also more. He has taken responsibility for his people, his estate and for whatever his part will be in the future politics of the country. He is willing to do what he has to do to protect what he believes in and sometimes that makes him more of a gray character than a white hat. The fact that he is a man simply trying to do the best he can is what I like best about him. He doesn’t have super powers just his own, sometimes flawed, judgment.
As to the heroine; her name is Lady Juliette Adair and like Grayson she has her own flawed judgment to deal with. She carries a secret and the weight of the responsibility behind that secret is something she takes very seriously. I think most of us can relate to someone who has a very difficult decision to make.

Who controls the story – you or your characters?

I control the story for the most part but on occasion the way a character is written or the way a bit of dialogue or even a body or background movement is done might inspire a slight change of direction. For me the story is an ever changing and growing entity until it is complete.
What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your books?
I hope that my readers are taken away to the setting I’ve place the story in. I hope they are involved with the main characters on a level that also inspires an emotional response from them.
Some of the best compliments I’ve ever received relate to a reader having been brought to tears or being on the edge of their seat until that particular part of the story progressed. But in the end I simply hope they really enjoyed a good story!
What do you like best and least about writing?
My favorite thing about writing is the creative process. Inventing the characters, deciding on the setting and really getting into the nitty gritty of the emotional development of the romance.
Do you have a writing routine?
Every spare moment I have I am either writing, thinking about my writing projects, working on something writing related or taking a break and feeling guilty that I am not creating at that moment! However, on a normal day I do set aside time for prep work, ancillary work and actual scene creation. I do try to take at least one day a week and rest but since I also have a ‘normal job’ too; I try to dedicate what I can to writing.
What is the best writing advice you have ever received?
To read “The First Five Pages” by Noah Lukeman. It is a wonderful book of advice for the young writer. 

What can we look forward to from you in the near future?

The first book after Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire that I will publish will be a Victorian Romantic Suspense featuring a sadistic serial killer out to cause havoc in 1883 London. It is the first in a trilogy that will explore not just the motivations of the killer but the effect on a developing romance involved in solving the crimes.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I’m a big movie buff so I often enjoy a trip to the multiplex. And an afternoon playing with the dog or gardening is always pleasant.

What would you most like to accomplish this year?
Hitting the New York Times Bestseller list! Keep your fingers crossed, please!
Follow the rest of the blog tour
And now for A Taste of Fallen Empire
He didn’t know what made him look, what sound captured his attention, but he suddenly knew he was not alone. Cursing his carelessness, he drew his sword and looked around. There, on the opposite side of the bed, pushed against the wall.

She lay on a settee, head resting on one arm, dark hair falling down the side of the sofa. He glanced to the bed, to the man there, and wondered who the dead pair were. She looked to have survived the plague; her face and neck were thin and smooth. Died of neglect, then. The last living being in the house and she couldn’t summon the strength to feed herself.

His eyes locked on the rifle lying just under her reach. Sheathing his sword, it was then he noticed that powder marks blackened her hands and were smudged along her face and neck. He quickly scanned the area, a small bag of powder and a case of shot rested on a nearby chair.


Cautiously walking closer, Grayson crouched before the prone figure and surprised himself by reaching out to touch her. He stopped just short of her cheek, curling his fingers into a fist. He took a brief moment to admire her beauty.
Even in death, she captivated.

Standing, he picked up the rifle and backed away, turning to search the rest of the room before he’d take the powder and shot.

That was when he heard her moan.


LINKS: Read more about the author at http://www.kreed.com/  email kreedauthor@yahoo.com BUY link Amazon 


Many thanks for dropping by today. Sounds great. Fingers crossed to see you on the NYT bestseller list!
Now leave a comment for the chance to win one of these great prizes: A post-apocalypse survival basket which includes tea, a fan, a shawl, a bracelet and more -- Plus ONE Grand Prize basket will include an iPod Touch (US/Canada)

10 comments:

  1. Thank you for hosting K. Reed today.

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  2. My fingers are crossed to hit the NYT bestseller list, too! :) Thanks for having me today.

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  3. Very pleased to have you here :)

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  4. I am a first time visitor. And glad I came. Enjoyed perusing this site. Would love to win the survival basket.
    JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

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  5. Looking forward to this book!

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  6. I love historical novels, and one in this genre sounds absolutely fascinating. I can hardly wait to read it.

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  7. Joye, Shauna, and Jane--glad you could stop by!

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  8. I'd love to see you on the NYT bestseller list! I noticed that you answered what you like best about writing...but not what you like least. That reads like polite avoidance...LOL! I really like the premise of Dark Inheritance and have it on my TBR list.

    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

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  9. Catherine, thanks for the weel wishes on the NYT list! Here's hoping. Now...if you really want to know what I dislike about writing:
    Those days when you DO have time and nothing works on paper
    Those days when your brain is overflowing with ideas and you have NO time
    Starting a story, that first chapter is the hardest since it's, well, first, and what anyone reading the book will judge.
    Writing the parts that have to be in but you don't want to.

    Looking at this list, it sounds like I don't like writing, when I do very much. But as with any love, there are times when the love is...less.

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  10. Good Luck on making the NYT list!! Your book being in a fresh category and the fact that it sounds amazing, to me are the makings of getting on it!! I have to ask. What are your top 5 all time favorite movies that helped inspire you to writing this book?

    viajeradelmar@aol.com

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