Enter to win a copy of THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER at http://freshfiction.com/

Today I'm at Fresh Fiction blogging about HOW TO UNDRESS AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY GENTLEMAN, or, how to undress my hero in THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER. An actual writer’s guide to eighteenth century clothing…with a dash of magic. Stop by and leave a comment to be entered to win a free copy of THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER! http://freshfiction.com/

Adjustment to Blog Tour

I will appear at Sia McKye's blog discussing HOW I JUGGLE MY WRITING AND REAL LIFE...OR NOT this Friday, July 2nd, instead of today. I apologize for any confusion.

Dominic Raikes gets a K.I.S.S. from RTBookreviews!

I just picked up the July issue of RTBookreviews magazine, and much to my delighted surprise saw a picture of the cover for THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER and discovered that my hero, Dominic Raikes, was chosen as a Knight in Shining Armor (K.I.S.S.), an unforgettable hero for the month. Mac Mackenzie, the hero from my friend Jennifer Ashley's newest release, LADY ISABELLA'S SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE, was also chosen. Dominic is honored to be in such good company!

And I recently received another lovely review to share:

Rated 5/5: "Romantic fantasy author Kathryne Kennedy creates a surreal world blending fantasy with history in her captivating book THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER. This haunting story is populated with powerful three dimensional characters, including an all-knowing dragon, wonderfully detailed by Ms. Kennedy. Her unique plot, merging the worlds of elves and humans is brilliant. The hero and heroine ensnare the reader in their lives as they suffer and struggle to save the human race and find their own passionate happily ever after. Intriguing plot, engaging characters and a magical setting provide hours of entertainment. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this fantastical Elven Lords series from inspired storyteller Kathryne Kennedy."~Reviewed by Donna for Single Titles http://singletitles.com/?p=4331

Initial reviews for THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER

I was concerned that my readers may be taken aback by my new series, as it's much darker than my previous one. So it's with great happiness that I share some of the first reviews for Book One in THE ELVEN LORDS series: THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER.

Rated: 5/5 "The Fire Lord’s Lover is a stellar example of making historical romance fresh, exciting and special. I had a blast reading this book from cover to cover and it is absolutely going on my keeper shelf. The story is rich and vibrant, fast paced and engrossing. The romance that blossomed between Dominic and Cassandra is worthy of another re-read. I can’t wait to read more by this author. She’s amazing!"~Reviewed by Xeranthemum for Long and Short Reviews
http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2010/06/fire-lords-lover-by-kathryne-kennedy.html

Rated: 5/5 plus Outstanding Book "Kathryne Kennedy fans will find the ingredients they have grown to love in this author's work --- lovable characters, an enchanting world, a heart-warming romance and above all the magic of beautiful storytelling --- all brought together in a world that is darker but just as magical as her previous works. Romance readers who have not read Kathryne Kennedy are truly missing out. Few authors grab the imagination and the heart so deeply. Outstanding!"~Reviewed by Merrimon, Merrimon Book Reviews
http://www.bookilluminations.com/rev_fire_Lords_lover.html

Rated: 5/5 plus Reviewer Top Pick "Kathryne Kennedy is my go to author for elegant and sophisticated fantasy novels. She always introduces me to a new and memorable world that is fascinating, intriguing, and utterly unique. The Fire Lord's Lover is her finest work yet and I'm always awaiting her next story. Kathryne's books are the type you read again and again."~Reviewed by Tamazon for Night Owl Romance (Review will be posted on July 1)
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nightowlromance/reviews/ReviewSearch.aspx

Lots of chances to win a free copy of THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER!

That's right! THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER hits bookstores in July, and I'm blogging all over the place to celebrate the release. Stop by any of the following blogs on the date shown, leave a comment, and you're entered. The more blogs you visit, the better chance you have of winning, so I'll be posting where I'll be here on my personal blog starting the end of June. So be sure to stop by my blog often next month for the direct links. I've written posts of interest for both readers and writers, and you'll get an exclusive inside look at THE ELVEN LORDS series.

TFLL Virtual Tour Schedule

A copy of THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER will be given away at each blog!

6/28 HOW I JUGGLE MY WRITING AND REAL LIFE…OR NOT
Where I discuss my inability to master the art of juggling.
Sia McKye’s Thoughts Over Coffee
http://siamckye.blogspot.com/

6/30 HOW TO UNDRESS AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY GENTLEMAN
Or, how to undress my hero in THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER. An actual writer’s guide to eighteenth century clothing…with a dash of magic.
Fresh Fiction
http://freshfiction.com/

7/1 COMPARING THE WRITER’S LIFE TO A MOVIE STAR’S
Debunking the myth that a writer’s life is glamorous.
My Book Addiction and More
http://mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com/

7/1 LAUNCH PARTY! A MUSICAL JOURNEY
Join me on a musical journey through THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER.
http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/

7/2 INTERVIEW!
Deb’s Book Bag
http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/

7/5 WORLD-BUILDING…AND A MAP OF THE ELVEN LORDS’ REALM
The steps I took in building the realm of THE ELVEN LORDS, including a never-before-seen map of the seven elven sovereignties, kindly drawn by my DH.
Star-Crossed Romance
http://star-crossedromance.blogspot.com/

7/6 RELEASE DAY CELEBRATION! HOW TO TALK TO A DRAGON
My step-by-step guide to speaking with Ador, the black dragon in THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER
http://quinnessentials.blogspot.com/

7/7 INTERVIEW!
Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
http://books-forlife.blogspot.com/

7/9 TOP TEN REASONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH MY HERO
Or, how I managed to fall so hard.
Love Romance Passion
http://www.loveromancepassion.com/

7/12 BUILDING A FANTASY WORLD IN A HISTORICAL TIME PERIOD
Including the seven magical realms, and the levels of fire magic created for my villain and hero.
Historical Hussies http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com/

7/13 MY PRIVATE NOTES OF THE ELVEN LORDS SERIES
Are no longer private! A combination of my research, the original creation of the world and a peek at plot elements that haven’t been revealed yet.
Literary Escapism http://www.literaryescapism.com/

7/14 ORGANIC WRITING
A peek into my writing process.
Magical Musings www.magicalmusings.com

7/15 INTERVIEW!
The Life (and lies) of a Flying Inanimate Object http://www.haleymathiot.blogspot.com/

7/16 INTERVIEW!
http://muchcheaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

7/19 INTERVIEW!
Anna’s Book Blog http://annavivian.blogspot.com/

7/20 INTERVIEW!
Queen of Happy Endings http://alainereading.blogspot.com/

7/21 WHY I DECIDED TO COMBINE HISTORICAL & FANTASY
Including a new excerpt to show how the fantasy, historical & romantic elements combine in THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER.
Linda Banche Romance Author http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/

7/26 HOW TO UNDRESS AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY LADY
Or, how Dominic Raikes undresses Lady Cassandra. This is an actual writer’s guide to eighteenth century costume.
Night Owl Romance http://nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/

7/28 INTERVIEW!
For the Love of Words http://shaunaroberts.blogspot.com/

7/30 DOMINIC & CASSANDRA’S LOVE STORY
Including a never-before-seen romantic excerpt, and the song that inspired my hero.
Romance Junkies http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

Character Cards for THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER

During my upcoming virtual tour (more to follow on that in later posts), I posted the map of the seven sovereignties in THE ELVEN LORDS series, some of my history and notes that went into building the world, and research into the costume of the era. Today I thought I’d share my character cards.

When I first started writing, I had the luxury of working up entire pages on my characters: where they went to school, what was their favorite color, favorite food, etc. (Have you ever written up a character sheet for the game Dungeons & Dragons? Very fun…and sort of similar.)

But with deadlines, I no longer have the time to do that, and truly, I wound up using less than half of that information in the actual book. It just never came up in the plot. And most of the characterization was in my head to start, and as my book progressed, so did my character. Another one of the magical elements of writing.

So now I use index cards. They are easy to flip through while I’m writing and I can include little sketches or notes as my book progresses and refer back to them pretty quickly. The cards for THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER aren’t as crowded as the ones I’m using for book two, THE LADY OF THE STORM. But you can see my (rather awful) sketches that I created as the book developed, and other tidbits important to my characters.

I hope my readers enjoy another peek into my writing process, and that other writers may find some benefit in using my method of index cards. At the end of my blog tour, I will be adding all of the items mentioned here to my website.

Romantic Times reviews The Fire Lord's Lover

THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER by Kathryne Kennedy
Genre: England, Paranormal, Historical Romance
Setting: 1724 England
RT Rating: 4.5/5 Stars!

Book one of Kennedy's Elven Lords series is a melding of historical romance and fantasy, much like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. This enthralling story combines magic and realism as its excellent plot reaches out with great depth of emotion, heart-stopping action and characters easy to care about wrapped in a passionate love story.

In a magical world of England ruled by ruthless elven lords, Dominic Raikes, the half-breed son of the malevolent Fire Lord Mor'ded has submerged his human side in an attempt to keep his father unaware of his magical powers. Lady Cassandra Bridges, raised in purity and innocence, has been secretly trained as an assassin by the Rebellion, a band of humans who want England free of the Elven. An arranged marriage between her and Dominic is to take place within days.

Two unexpected events occur: she falls in love with her new husband and Dominic's reciprocal feelings free his human personality traits, such as passion, compassion and conscience. Together they fight to destroy the great evil being perpetrated upon the human race by the lords at the risk of their love and very existence, right up to the totally surprising climax. (SOURCEBOOKS, Jul., 384 pp., $7.99)

Reviewed By: Kathe Robin

Summer and Movies…and of course, Books!

Over at my Sourcebooks Casablanca blog, we have themes for every month, and I thought I’d share my post on summer for those of you who follow me on this blog:

When I heard that our theme for this month was summer, I had to smile. In other parts of the world, summer may be a time of family cookouts and camping and vacations. Winter is often the time to stay snugly indoors out of the snow and rain. In Arizona, winters are the best time of the year, where the temperatures are in the 70’s and everyone is out and about. But in the summer, where we hit temperatures of 120 plus degrees, it’s time for us desert-dwellers to stay inside. In the air-conditioning.

The good thing is, we have large malls, movie theaters, and lots of water attractions. Since my skin is so pale, I have a tendency to avoid the water parks, so for me, summer is all about movies. (And shopping, but that’s a given.)

I love the theater, the smell of popcorn, the drama of the big screen, the communion of a group of strangers sighing and laughing and crying over the same thing. And within the past few years, there are so many more movies that appeal to me. I have always been an avid science fiction/fantasy reader and the influx of so many more movies in this genre is a dream come true. From STAR WARS to MEN IN BLACK to LORD OF THE RINGS, I love them all. I’m grateful for the new technology that makes the production of these movies possible.

But as much as I love a good movie, I have to add that I will always prefer a good book.

Maybe it’s the imagination. When I’m reading, I use my imagination to picture the world and it’s characters. And my imagination is always better than reality, no matter how gorgeous the actors, no matter how fabulous our new technology can make dreams become real. (Although I have to admit, AVATAR came so very close!)

I just finished up some posts for my upcoming blog tour and in an interview I was asked that if my upcoming release, THE FIRE LORDS LOVER, was turned into a movie, which actor would play one of my heroes. Since Orlando Bloom (as Legolas in LORD OF THE RINGS) inspired my elven lords series, I chose him…but not as one of the elven lords themselves. For my heroes in THE ELVEN LORDS series are all half-breeds, humans with a mix of elven blood. And Orlando Bloom’s beauty is at least human. I think the elven lords themselves have become so beautiful in my mind that no real person could actually portray them.

My imagination will always be better than the reality. I wonder if that’s just a curse of the writer, or if all readers feel that way?

FOR WRITERS: Proofreading Service

I'm passing along a note I received from a reputable reviewer who is branching out in a new direction, for those of you who may have need of her services:

From an early age, I have been a voracious reader, words and grammar have always come easy to me, and I believe all of that was advantageous in my schooling and ultimately my chosen career.

I have a BS degree in English with a minor in journalism from California State University, Fresno. That segued very nicely into my decision to become a court reporter. In court reporting school, along with learning the steno machine, we also completed classes in English, vocabulary, medical terminology, procedural law, and a few others, all of which were never very difficult for me after my previous college years.

In my professional career I reported sworn testimony stenographically, transcribed and edited said testimony, proofread the transcripts, and then made necessary corrections to produce a final product for our attorney clients. I've learned to not only pinpoint punctuation and grammatical errors in a transcript, but consistency mistakes as well.

I believe it would be advantageous to you, as an author, to use my very competent and efficient proofreading skills. Utilizing a proofreader gives an author extra time for more important things. like writing!

If you are interested in my offer, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will answer any questions you have and we can discuss the process in-depth if you wish. If you do not require this type of service at present but know of a colleague who might, please forward my letter and information to them, if you so desire, with my permission and heartfelt thanks.

Sincerely,
Sandra Marlow
Aka Sandy M on the Internet
ILuvOceanBreezes@gmail

The Fire Lord's Lover at BookExpo America

My agent took these photos at BookExpo America, the largest event for industry professionals in the country. This is my editor, Deb Werksman, next to a display for THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER. Note that the cover has changed a wee bit. I wish I could have been there, and hope very much to attend next year to sign my books.

My fellow Book Cents Literary Agency authors, modeling the poster for me: Michelle Madow & Colby Marshall. Christine Witthohn fosters a supportive group within her agency (yes, she's fabulous like that) and I couldn't have appreciated them more!

My publisher also previewed the new cover for Beneath the Thirteen Moons, releasing December 2010. Ain't it fabulous?

Hellmouth Podcast

Bryan of Hellmouth Podcast recently contacted me and asked to review Book One in my RELICS OF MERLIN series, ENCHANTING THE LADY. I’m always a bit nervous when a man asks to review my books (which is ridiculous, since a lot of men read romances. But I guess it seems like the majority of men scoff at them…at least in public.) But his site primarily reviews the BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER series, and since my books are rich in fantasy, he thought he might enjoy it, so I sent it to him.

Anyhoo, it was such a different, interesting experience to ‘hear’ a review as opposed to reading it, that I thought I would pass along the link (scroll down to the white box with the headphones and click on Podcast: Play in New Window):
http://hellmouthpodcast.com/podcast/hmpc-0215-phases

Bryan has a smooth voice; compelling and entirely captivating. And he’s looking for more books to review. If you’d like to send him yours, you can contact him at: hellmouthpodcast@gmail.com