Author Interview/#Giveaway: The Darkness of Glengowyn by Isabo Kelly

Little Blurb about yourself:

Hi! Thanks for having me here today. I grew up in Las Vegas (I know, wild huh? It was actually really boring and I couldn’t wait to get out). I went to Hawaii for my Bachelors’ degree in Zoology. After I got my degree, I moved back to Vegas for a bit where I worked at the Natural History Museum taking care of sharks and snakes. Then I moved with my folks to Germany and eventually landed in Ireland to do my Ph.D. in animal behavior. I met my now husband there—he has such a cute accent! Eventually we moved to New York City, where we still live. I’m a stay-at-home mom to two beautiful little boys and a full-time writer. Oh I’m also a travel addict, a Sudoku addict, and a chocolate and coffee addict. (Hello, my name is Isabo, and I’m a coffee addict *g*)

1. Who or what inspired you to become a writer?

IK: I’ve been writing since I was little—or I should say I’ve been telling stories since I was little—and my biggest inspirations for those stories were movies actually—Star Wars and Indian Jones had a huge impact on me (Harrison Ford!! Yummy!). I didn’t actually think I’d be a writer for real, though, until I got to college and had a particularly good English teacher who encouraged me to take the writing seriously. Until that point, I thought it would be a hobby while I worked as a scientist. Funny enough, I had several college teachers during my undergraduate years encourage me toward writing, despite the fact that I was in college getting a science degree. I have to thank them for helping me view writing as an actual option.


2. How long did it take you to write THE DARKNESS OF GLENGOWYN?

IK: I was about seven months pregnant with my second baby when I wrote the first draft of this book, and I wanted to get the draft finished before my due date. In the end, I wrote the full thing in a total of 18 days—two of those days earlier in the summer when I got the opening scene down, but the rest I wrote really quickly that October. I ended up writing the third book in the series the month after I finished this one and got that draft done in about 13 days (even though the book was longer!). I didn’t mean to, but I actually completed NaNoWriMo successfully because I was writing so fast. I was really motivated to finish the drafts before my maternity leave *g*

3. While writing how many times do you go back and rewrite a plot?

IK: I write really fast first drafts, usually all in one go without much editing. Then I go through the book at least another two, maybe three times before I send it off to my editor. Because I believe in the shitty first draft and fast writing to get the bones down (this technique works best for me), I do have to do a lot of editing. I’m getting better at it all though. I used to need 4 or 5 drafts before I could comfortably show anyone a book.

4. You run into a bookstore, where do you go first?

IK: I go right to the genre shelves. Usually Romance first followed by Science Fiction/Fantasy. Sometimes that order is reversed, but I hit up both those sections consistently when in the bookstore.


5. How many books in a month do you tend to read?

IK: Not nearly as many as I buy *g* I’m not very consistent in my reading either. Some months I only read 1 novel because I’m busy writing and too much into my own story to step into someone else’s world (though I’ll still read magazines and non-fiction during those periods). Other times, I binge on 4 or 5 books in a week. I also like to read novellas so I can squeeze in an entire story in a few hours and get my fiction fix even if I need to keep my focus on my current work-in-progress.

6. In all the books you've read. Who is your most favorite character and why?

IK: Oh this is impossible! There are so many memorable and beloved characters in my reading history. I guess I’d have to say Roarke from JD Robb’s In Death series rises to the top of the list. And Stephanie Plum in the early books is still one of my favorites too.

7. State 5 random facts about yourself.

IK: Hmmm, okay.
1. I was called the shark lady at the Natural History Museum in Las Vegas when I worked there.
2. I’m a really terrible housekeeper.
3. I work out a lot of my plots and initial story ideas while I’m in the shower (I actually get some privacy to think in the shower!)
4. I love to swim (I was a fish when I was younger).
5. If I won the lottery, I’d totally pack my boys up and go traveling more.

8. Your favorite Genre?

IK: Romance, fantasy, paranormal and science fiction (or any combination of those genres) are all about equal. I adore historical romance, too!

9. What are you currently reading?

IK: I’m busy writing so I’ve been sticking to novellas a lot lately. Currently I’m reading a historical romance anthology—Three Weddings and a Murder from authors Tessa Dare, Leigh Lavalle,
Courtney Milan and Carey Baldwin. And Tessa Dare’s A Week to Be Wicked is the full length novel I’m squeezing into my schedule.

10. What is the best book you've read?

IK: Another impossible question! LOL Though while I rarely re-read books, I have re-read Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie a couple of times so obviously that ranks up there. The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook is high ranking too.

11. Any new projects coming up?

After THE DARKNESS OF GLENGOWYN, I have the third book in the Fire and Tears series, WARRIOR’S DAWN, coming out July 29th, and I’m mulling over the fourth book in the series now. I’m also editing book 3 in my science fiction romance series The Naravan Chronicles—which I’m hoping to have out early in 2015.


Here’s your chance to market your book. Describe it. And why readers should pick it up?

THE DARKNESS OF GLENGOWYN is a gritty, dark fantasy romance that should appeal to readers of high fantasy and paranormal romance alike. This is the story of two Glengowyn elves—Nuala and Einar—who’ve been in love for centuries but are forbidden to be together. When they’re sent into the warzone of the neighboring human city and end up on the run from the bad guys, they find out resisting their love and attraction is impossible. But once they give in, they face the wrath of their king and queen. It’s a very sexy and exciting story (if I do say so myself *g*) and Einar is super hot. His devotion to Nuala is yummy and pretty irresistible.

The Darkness of Glengowyn
Fire and Tears
Book 2
Isabo Kelly

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Date of Publication: April 29, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-61922-046-1
ASIN: B00HSOHSCY

Number of pages: 151 pages
Word Count: 44,000 words
Cover Artist: Angela Waters

Amazon BN Samhain Kobo

Book Description:

They’ll risk forever death for one last chance together…

Nuala of Glengowyn hasn’t left her home city in over a century, but not by choice. Her skill as a weapons master has made her a prisoner of her people. Held apart, protected in the extreme—until Sorcerers attack the human city of Sinnale.

Sent to supply her unique magical arrows to help the humans, she is far from free.

The elf king and queen have sent a bodyguard, a fearsome warrior whose reputation has no rival. The only man she has ever wanted. Einar of Glengowyn.

Einar is known as a battle-crazed destroyer, so feared among elves he’s called by a single name: Darkness. And he has only one weakness—Nuala. Their union is forbidden, for melding their magics could destroy Nuala’s gifts. Yet as they journey to the war-torn city, no royal decree is a match for two hundred years of pent-up desire.

But even if they escape the war zone, their lives still hang in the balance. They must confront their sovereigns and prove love makes them stronger—or face their deaths.

Product Warnings: This book contains a deadly elf hero, a heroine who’s his match, a lot of sexy misbehaving, some hard language, racing through the streets, owls, arrows, evil Sorcerers, wicked minions, and a very dangerous elf king and queen.
EXCERPT 782 words

Nuala stared at Einar for a few more minutes, caught by his intensity. To escape, she glanced down at his injured arm. “I can wrap that for you.” She gestured to the wound.
He gave it a cursory glance. “It’s only a scratch.”
“But neither of us can afford to have you weakened.” She spun in a slow circle, then started opening doors. When she found a room that contained a couch, she led him inside. “Sit,” she ordered.
Without supplies, her only option for binding the wound was the hem of her riding robe. “Your knife.” She held out a hand without looking at him and pulled up the long length of material.
“It’s not necessary.”
“Don’t argue.” She wiggled her fingers, still focused on the material in her hand. His presence threw her off balance and looking directly at him made it worse. They hadn’t spent this much time together, alone and in close proximity, since…
She didn’t want to think about the last time.
After the knife hilt settled gently into her palm, she sliced a few lengths of silk along the split front hem of the robe. It would leave a wider V in the front, but since they had to travel quickly, she was considering cutting off the length completely anyway. Once the sun set, the early autumn nights were too cold to get rid of the over-robe altogether. It was designed to allow easy, free movement, with slits in front and back so she could sit astride her horse without the long material getting in the way. It had stayed out of her way during the earlier fight too. But those lengths of material could be put to better use. And the less she had to worry about right now, the better.
Once she had sufficient improvised bandages, she turned to Einar. “Take your tunic off,” she said, her voice as firm and emotionless as she could make it.
She tried not to be affected as he stood, removed his scabbard belt, then slipped his short vest off and dragged his tunic up over his head. Unfortunately, she couldn’t hold back her quickly drawn breath when the magnificent musculature of his chest was revealed in full.
This wasn’t the first time she’d seen him bare-chested, but the sight never ceased to stir her. When she looked up, she found him staring at her, his dark eyes black in the dim light leaking in through grimy windows. She swallowed and focused on his arm. Her heartbeat sped as she drew near enough to feel the heat of his skin and smell the tangy combination of his natural spicy musk mixed with the sweat of battle. With Einar, that combination had always overwhelmed her better judgment, targeting her most desperate desires. Only with him.
Yet another reason she’d spent so many years avoiding him.
Though her pulse pounded in her ears, she concentrated on making her hands steady, her touch gentle. She used one length of material to gently blot the worst of the blood away. Some still seeped slowly from the injury, but not enough to be dangerous. Once she’d gotten the area as clean as possible with a dry cloth, she used another length to tightly bind the wound.
His muscles flexed under her touch, which didn’t help. “Relax,” she ordered, her voice irritatingly husky.
He let out a long, slow exhale that brushed over the top of her head, and his biceps relaxed. She noticed at a glance, however, that his stomach muscles were tightly clenched. When she risked a peek at his face, his jaw was also tight, and he stared at the wall across from where they stood.
She turned back to her work, knowing she shouldn’t have risked this kind of proximity for this long. Einar had more power over her body and heart than any other elf. A fact they were both growing more aware of with each passing moment.
When she’d tied off the bandage, satisfied it would do for now, she stepped back and gestured at his leg without actually looking down. “Are you cut or was it just your trousers?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing as in no blood, or nothing as in you don’t wish me to bandage the wound?”
His gaze jumped from the wall to her and she took another involuntary step back. Heat, promise, need and something she didn’t want to admit seeing blazed out at her, an arrow right into her heart.
“You made it clear,” he said quietly, “that your magic was not something you could sacrifice. We should not remain this close. And I should not take off any more clothing around you.”


About the Author:

Isabo Kelly is the award-winning author of numerous fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romances. Her life has taken her from Las Vegas to Hawaii, where she got her BA in Zoology, back to Vegas where she looked after sharks, then on to Germany and Ireland where she got her Ph.D. in Animal Behavior.

Now Isabo focuses on writing. She lives in New York with her Irish husband, two beautiful boys, and funny dog. She works as a full time author and stay-at-home mom.

For more on Isabo and her books, visit her at www.isabokelly.com follow her on Twitter @IsaboKelly, or friend her on Facebook www.facebook.com/IsaboKelly

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722664.Isabo_Kelly



Tour giveaway

3 ebook copies of the first book in the Fire and Tears series—BRIGHTARROW BURNING.

1- $40 gift certificate to winner’s choice of B&N or Amazon

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