Interview with author Calinda B.

RomFan Reviews Interview Questions for Calinda B. July 24th

Tell us about your upcoming release for the Wicked series?

Called Wicked Whispering, Book III in the Wicked Series, the book revolves around a character name Kai Williams. Kai is a 6’5” experienced scuba diver with a wild, unruly mixture of golden brown hair, streaked with red. In front, there is one strip of light blond hair. His eyes are also strange – a smoky gray defines the edges of the iris which is lined with a sliver of pale mint green. A darker band of translucent green, flecked with robin’s egg blue and gold completes the array.

Kai thinks he is a freak and he is, in fact, quite different (and little does he know but he will find out he is far stranger than he could have imagined!). He can sense the “signature” of mammals, feeling their presence before he can see them. He can look into a human’s eyes and see the individual’s longing and despair, hopes and dreams. And when he is around the magnificent humpback whale, he falls into an ecstatic rapture that consumes him, opens his heart and could cause him to lose his life while being deep in the ocean. As a result of all these different abilities, he’s pretty aloof around people, never allowing closeness to anyone. When he meets the beautiful young diver, Cassandra Evans, he has to make a choice whether or not to love. Fighting this choice, he comes face to face with evil, as well as an insistent whispering that threatens his sanity and the lives of those whom he loves.

His connection with characters from the first two books in the series - the beautiful red-headed Galaxy Dancer and ka’kriyayaga Chérie Abella Manhattan; Cameron Delaney Tyson, Chérie’s life partner and the bearer of the star dreamling, a ferocious feline creature from another galaxy; and the mysterious cosmos hopping “other half of Chérie” character simply known as Kayden -forces him to learn to accept himself, confront his demons and learn to love, at last. There’s mystery, mischief and mayhem accompanying them at every step, as well as saucy, erotic fun, making this a thrilling and satisfying read.

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?

Begin at the beginning, I say! A Wicked Awakening, Book I in the Wicked Series, lays the foundation for the entire series, developing the background of the main heroine, Chérie Abella Manhattan and her beau, Cam Tyson. While she starts out as a wimp, she learns that she is an amazing being! Book II, A Wicked Beginning, delves into Cam’s background and puts him face to face with the supernatural, something he does not believe in. If you did not want to read the series, though, I am assured that Book III, Wicked Whispering, stands alone nicely.

What genre's and authors would we find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?

I love to read sexy paranormal, including the works of Karen Marie Moning, JR Ward, Jennifer Estep and Jacqueline Carey. Additionally, I read all of the Sookie Stackhouse vampire books; as well as the lengthy series by George R.R. Martin (I learned not to sympathize with any character, though, since misfortune and/or death seems to befall everyone). Recently, I slogged through the tortuous Fifty Shades series by E.L. James. I must confess, by the time I got to the end I did not care a whit what kind of sex Ana and Christian engaged in, nor did I care for their endless smirking, groaning, gasping, or shy smiles.  I like sex as much as the next gal, having experimented freely in my day but jeez, E.L. James! I “get it” that those two lovebirds liked to have sex of every kind. All I wanted to find out was how Christian Grey fared. Recovering from an abusive past can be arduous.

When creating your characters what comes first what they look like or their personality?

Good question. I’d say I start at the outside and work inward. However, having dated men who looked like my gorgeous hero characters, I always give them a flaw or two so I can tolerate writing about them. I like characters who are complex and unique, who can or are willing to explore their vulnerability and who ultimately take responsibility for their actions – except for the villains, of course!

What’s something fans would find fascinating about you?

My gosh, that’s a loaded question. I have had such a colorful life that friends have asked me if I made it all up! “I wish,” I told them. “You don’t get to make up this kind of life.” I’ve lived a life of outdoor, high risk adventure, inner exploration and tons of inner growth. How about this – I taught stern, serious high ranking fire officials from Moscow how to walk hot coals. They all started out with their arms folded over their chests. By the time the night ended they were ecstatic, swinging me around and asking me to make the fire hotter.

Another thing that pops to mind is that I survived a brain aneurysm. About 13 years ago I was in a ghastly, emotionally abusive marriage. I wanted out. I hated my life. After yet another argument, I fainted on the deck, woke up 6 weeks later and did one thing and one thing alone while I was in the hospital – decide to live or die. I am glad I chose to live because after I left the abuse I took responsibility for my actions, I met the love of my life and have a fantastic, happy life now.

A biography has been written about you. What do you think the title would be?

My Strange Little Friend! That is what one of my closest friends said about me after she read my first book, A Wicked Awakening.

 Can you tell us anything about what you have coming up next?

One of the things that fascinates me is to study/write about an animal and weave the qualities of that animal into the book. For instance, in A Wicked Beginning, I made up a creature called a star dreamling – a ferocious feline from another galaxy whose sole purpose seemed to be tormenting Cam Tyson. In Wicked Whispering, I was captivated by humpback whales and explored both the mystical significance of leviathans, as well as the scientific/behavioral aspects of them as taught me by a long time whale scientist and whale researcher, Dr. Fred Sharp, the co-founder of the Alaska Whale Foundation. Book IV, tentatively entitled A Wicked Ending, focuses on the lives of wolves. Chérie, Cam, Kai and Cassandra are all in the book, but the main emphasis is on Zuri Davidson, Chérie’s best friend, and Manoko Wikaira-Williams, Kai’s behemoth of a brother, as well as Spirit Tracker. We learn about Mano through his sense of moral duty and obligation and his search for love.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Absolutely! I want to remind my readers that you are far greater than you give yourselves credit for and that you can heal through just about anything if you face your demons and your darkness and take responsibility for your actions. I always tell people – if I can heal and change, anybody can!

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

This chick thinks outside the box. Prolonged exposure may prove hazardous to your belief system. People who prefer the shallow end of the pool must use extreme caution.

Short Story Book Blurb: A WICKED CHOICE

A Wicked Choice:  When C decides she wants to have an earthly experience, there’s no telling what the consequences will be for the rest of the Galaxy Dancers, especially her beloved consort, K.

This 4150-word  humorous, sexy, tongue-in-cheek sci-fi short story is for those who want to dip their feet in the wicked world of the Wicked Series and for the fans of the Wicked Series who have wondered how the Galaxy Dancers came to Earth in the first place. Just blame on on a woman’s curiosity and desire for new experiences.

Book #1 Blurb: A WICKED AWAKENING

Chérie’s just a small town girl living life the way she thinks it’s supposed to be. She’s got a great guy, a great job and a whole lot of things that don’t make sense. Like, why can’t she stick up for herself? And why did this mysterious guy walk up behind her on the dance floor, whisper “sexy girl” in her ear, make her body quake with sensation and then disappear? Who is this crazy old woman with eyes like an eagle and braids that blaze with fire who keeps dropping into her world? And where are all these bewilderingly vivid dreams coming from with the mysterious guy as the main attraction? Chérie wants answers. She finds these answers and more as she faces her past, and comes face to face with a future that is more remarkable than she ever dreamed possible.

Book #2 Blurb: A WICKED BEGINNING

 Cameron Delaney Tyson’s just an ordinary guy, living an ordinary life, trying to sort out his issues along the way — or that’s what he keeps trying to tell himself, that is. He doesn’t believe in the supernatural, thinks dreams are just daily recycling, and lives in the here and now. Meanwhile, a vicious star dreamling from another galaxy is tracking him, he’s trying to prove himself to the woman of his heart and soul and an ex-playmate is stalking him through sex magic and nightmares. What’s an ordinary guy going to do?

 

Book #3 Blurb: WICKED WHISPERING

Kai Williams hears voices…wicked whisperings that threaten his sanity…his life and livelihood…and his ability to love. When the whispering begins to destroy all that he cherishes, he does what any red-blooded guy would do: he goes deep into the darkness, deep into the sea that cherishes and nourishes his soul. There he comes face to face and eye to eye with evil and more heartbreak than he ever knew possible.

 

The WICKED SERIES Purchase Links:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes purchase links can be found at Calinda’s website page: http://calindab.com/buy.aspx .

Kindle purchase quick link: http://www.amazon.com/Calinda-B/e/B005DHC69S

Author Bio:

The Fun Part: Calinda B was told early on that she should be a writer. She heard frequent praise for her writing, as well as her sense of humor. Scoffing at such admonitions and praise, she went on to pursue her life of adventure, chock full of the things that make up a well-rounded adventurous life: music (yup, she was a singer in a rock and roll band), dance (even performed hip hop in Russia), rock climbing (ever hung from a rock wall a few stories up? Yikes!), fire walking (taught high-ranking Moscow fire officials how to walk the coals), kayaking, scuba diving (she’s in love with sharks), travel, and falling in love again and again.

The Daily Grind: An award-winning web designer and certified SEO specialist, Calinda B has worked in the Internet industry as a web page designer/developer since the early 1990′s. She has also taught web site design and computer graphics at community colleges in Northern California. In addition to writing, Calinda B creates fine art and music, and enjoys scuba diving, kayaking, and bike riding. Calinda B makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with the love of her life and her two cats. She is currently working on the fourth book in The Wicked Series, tentatively entitled A Wicked Ending.

Social links: For more about Calinda B and her work, visit her website…

Or her blog…

Amazon Author page…

Follow Calinda B on Twitter…

Or visit her on Facebook here  or here…

 Giveaway Details:

•      One randomly drawn commenter from the tour will win a $20 Amazon gift card.

•      Please leave a comment along with your broken up email addy.

•      Contest is open the duration of the tour (July 23 - July 27) and Internationally.

•      Winner will be randomly selected and notified via email.

Tour Stops:

http://events.litconnect.com/the-wicked-series-by-calinda-b

Remember, the more tour stops you comment on, the greater your chances of winning!