Another holiday gift: THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER is on sale!

PDF EBook $1.99 http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/fire-lords-lover.html

Kindle EBook $1.79 http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Lords-Lover-Elven-ebook/dp/B003PJ7ARE/ref=ntt_at_ep_edition_2_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

I love when my publisher makes these special offers to attract readers to new authors. What a great way to try out a book to see if you'd like the series! Anyhoo, the PDF EBook can also be read right on your computer, so if you don't have an e-reader, you can still take advantage of the special offer. The sale runs through January 8th, and, drum roll, here's the link to the entire list of books on sale from my publisher:

http://www.sourcebooks.com/it-all-started-when.html

Enjoy! And Happy Holidays!

HOPE…AND THE POWER OF LOVE

I actually wrote this post last year for my Casablanca group blog, but thought this was the perfect time of year to share it here on my own blog, especially with the upcoming release of THE LORD OF ILLUSION.

HOPE…AND THE POWER OF LOVE, By Kathryne Kennedy

When I read the theme for this month’s blog, I was working on my first round of edits for book 3 in THE ELVEN LORDS series, THE LORD OF ILLUSION, and came across a passage that fit perfectly into our theme. One of those serendipitous moments. :}

I think all writers deal with the concept of hope in their stories. No matter how bad things get, no matter how dispirited our characters are by the sometimes cruel situations we put them in, we always leave them hope.

Although, you, as the reader, know there’s going to be a happy ending because you are reading a romance, our characters don’t and we must give them the strength to keep fighting…or a little help in continuing to do so, as shown in the excerpt below from THE LORD OF ILLUSION. My heroine is strong on the outside, but inside she is broken. When her growing love for my hero allows her to open up, to allow the one part of her that she has been able to protect to become vulnerable, she is given the strength to work towards becoming whole again.


Could she be his love? She did not know. But he deserved an answer, and she tried to gather her thoughts to express her feelings…something she had never tried to do before. Something no one had ever asked of her. It had been long and long since anyone cared.

“How can I explain to you what it is like to be a slave?” Camille closed her eyes. “I remember when I was little I used to fight against the way my captors treated me. As if I had no rights…as if I had become a lesser person than anyone else. It enraged me and I would fight back. I would demand to be treated as if my opinions—my life—still mattered. And then the men would take what they wanted anyway. If I made too many of them angry or tried to run, I would be beaten. And after days, after months, after years…I fought for so long to be strong that I lost pieces of myself--of my heart--along the way.”

Camille opened her eyes, gazed at his handsome face, at the sympathy etched across his perfect features. She did not want him to feel sorry for her; she just wanted him to understand. She lifted her chin and leveled her voice. “I do not know if I will ever be able to get those parts of me back—to regain what I have lost. No matter how hard I try, no matter how hard you try…I am cursed…I am not a whole woman…there are so many reasons why I cannot ever offer what you are asking for.”

He picked up her hand and kissed it, his lips warm against her skin. “But you will allow me to try?”

An odd feeling swelled in her heart. Hope. He offered her hope, and she could not deny him.

She nodded.

His golden eyes darkened to brown. “In the meantime, I shall just have to love you enough for the both of us.”


Just as in real life, our characters must have hope that their situations will get better. That their dark moments will pass; that they can and will overcome whatever obstacles we throw at them. Hope gives courage and faith, and allows our characters to overcome incredible odds. Just like in real life. And just as in real life, our characters may need support from someone who loves them.

And so we get to the reason I love writing romance. There will always be someone to love them.

Wishing you Happy Reading,
Kathryne

The gifts keep coming--WHISPERS, by Erin Quinn, FREE TODAY at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006G75O6G/

The gifts keep coming--WHISPERS, a full length single title novel by Erin Quinn, FREE TODAY on Amazon! Spread the Word! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006G75O6G/

Merry Christmas!

Sharing one of my favorite pictures from here in the desert. Living plants that resemble rocks. (These are actually native to Africa, not Arizona.)

The world is full of wonders! Hoping you find many in your Christmas this year.

My Magical Best,
Kathryne

Free eBook at amazon today and tomorrow and day after Christmas! (12/22, 12/23, & 12/26)

Free eBook at amazon today and tomorrow and day after Christmas! (12/22, 12/23, & 12/26) http://www.amazon.com/A-Shiver-At-Twilight-ebook/dp/B0060C4KSU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324690990&sr=1-1

Don't miss the early bird registration for Desert Dreams conference!

2012 Desert Dreams Writers' Conference, April 27-29, 2012 in Scottsdale,
Arizona. Our early bird registration ends December 31, 2011.

2012 is the biggest Desert Dreams Conference yet! Saturday keynote speaker
is best-selling author ALLISON BRENNAN. Best-selling author BOB MAYER
presents his "Write It Forward" seminar on Friday afternoon in a four-hour
workshop (included in conference registration fee). MARTHA ALDERSON, aka The
Plot Whisperer, presents a two-hour workshop on Sunday morning.

Other speakers include: Beth Andrews, Terri Brisbin, Laurie
Schnebly-Campbell, Brenda Chin, Deni Deitz, Winnie Griggs, Michele
Grajkowski, Elizabeth Hoyt, Erin Kellison, Cindy Kirk, Gini Koch, Jess
Macallan, Brenda Novak, Erin Quinn, Tara Taylor Quinn, Caris Roane, Vijaya's
Schartz, Amber Scott, Maggie Shayne, Linda Style, Kris Tualla, Alexis
Walker, Tawny Weber, Cherry Weiner.

Conference registration includes Friday mixer and dinner, Friday afternoon
workshops, Saturday editor/agent panel, editor/agent appointment, Saturday
workshops, book signing, Saturday luncheon, Saturday night dinner and
brainstorming session, use of hospitality suite, Sunday Plot Whisperer
workshop, discounted rates at the all-suites Chaparral Suites Hotel in
Scottsdale.

Attendees are also eligible to enter the Realizing the Dream contest (open
to the first 50 contestants)

, which guarantees each entrant a read with an
editor or agent.

Everyone registered by December 31, 2011 will be entered into a drawing to
win a second editor/agent appointment.

Registration for RWA members is $215 through December 31, 2011; non-RWA
members pay $235 through 12/31/2011. Prices increase $20 on 1/1/2012.
Registration deadline is March 15, 2012, or earlier if all spaces sell out
sooner.

To register, visit <http://www,desertroserwa.org.>
http://www,desertroserwa.org. For questions, email Susan Lanier at
s%40desertroserwa.org> desertdreams@desertroserwa.org.

Susan Lanier

2012 Desert Dreams Conference Coordinator

April 27 - 29, 2012

<http://www.desertroserwa.org> www.desertroserwa.org

THE LORD OF ILLUSION receives a TOP PICK from RT BOOKReviews

THE LORD OF ILLUSION (ISBN 9781402236549)
by Kathryne Kennedy

Genre: Historical Romance, Paranormal, England
Sensuality: HOT
Setting: 1774 England

RT Rating ****1/2 TOP PICK!

Review: The third book in the Elven Lord series enhances the author’s outstanding reputation for worldbuilding and mesmerizing stories of love. Superb writing and a fast-moving plot combined with magical passion make this a real page-turner!

Lord Drystan Hawkes, half-breed son of a ruthless Elven lord, uncovers a clue to opening the portal that would force the Elven Lords out of England forever. His visions reveal that Camille Ashton, a slave in the Elven realm, holds the key to opening the portal. Drystan’s dream also tells him she is his soul mate.

Camille is completely entranced by Drystan’s goodness. Drystan discovers his magic grows when Camille is near or in danger. Their respect and passion blooms and soon Camille is determined to help open the portal, no matter the personal cost. Their love will give them the power to fight evil and win. (SOURCEBOOKS, Feb., 448 pp., $7.99)

Reviewed By: Kathe Robin

Thanks a million, Kathe! ~ Kathryne

DEAR SANTA http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/2011/12/dear-santa-by-kathryne-kennedy.html

http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/2011/12/dear-santa-by-kathryne-kennedy.html

THE LORD OF ILLUSION receives starred reviews from Booklist & Publishers Weekly

I'm honored to announce the following reviews for my upcoming release. My publicist did not have the names of the individual reviewers, but my sincere thanks goes out to them.

Running in this week's issue of Publishers Weekly:

The Lord of Illusion
Kathryne Kennedy. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (448p) ISBN 978-1-4022-3654-9

Fans will adore the satisfying conclusion (after The Lady of the Storm) of Kennedy’s Elven Lords romantic fantasy series. In a medieval England invaded by elves, the human rebellion has gained in strength thanks to the efforts of the elf/human half-breeds, and rebels have managed to steal several of the scepters that channel the lords’ magic. Drystan Hawkes is an unexpected hero, a curator and historian of magical artifacts. The scepters send him visions of Camille Ashton, one of the elves’ human slaves, and hint that she is the key to the rebellion’s success. In love with Camille from his visions, Drystan is overjoyed when he finally finds her, but daunted by the twin challenges of uncovering Camille’s powers and teaching her about loyalty, trust, and love. The world sings with vivid imagery and fantastic magic, and all the previous characters join forces in a thrilling final fight for humankind.

And running in the January 1st issue of Booklist:

The Lord of Illusion.

Kennedy, Kathryne (Author)

Feb 2012. 448 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $7.99. (9781402236549).

The third book in Kennedy’s Elven Lords series is the story of Drystan Hawkes and Camille Ashton. Forced to give up his birthright when it looked like his magic was powerful enough to condemn him, he was raised outside Elf-ruled England. She is a slave with rainbow-colored elven eyes, but no magic, and is seemingly cursed. Drystan has always been an outcast, taking refuge in books because of convulsions and visions inflicted on him by the scepters stolen by the Rebellion. Finding a rainbow-eyed girl seen in his visions becomes his obsession. Just as his research opens up clues as to the identity of the girl, the Rebellion taps Drystan to go to the palace of Lord Roden, which is where Camille is enslaved. Kennedy’s world-building, featuring an eighteenth-century England ruled by cruel Elven lords facing a rising rebellion of their half-human offspring, is superb. The hero and heroine are also out of the ordinary, and while this novel remains true to romance-genre mores, Kennedy infuses it with unexpected plot twists that will keep fantasy readers enthralled, too.

Book 2 in the Elven Lords series, The Lady of the Storm, was recently named a Top Romance Novel of 2011 by Booklist.

Sexy Santa story for 99 cents!

Treat yourself to a magical Christmas story by one of my favorite authors:

Kris Kringle is just an average guy living in the tiny town of North Pole, Maine where Christmas isn't just a holiday--it's a way of life. But not for Kris. He might be named after the big guy in red, but Kris is more Scrooge than Santa.

Until he wakes up from a night of partying with his friends to find himself in possession of a Santa suit, a toy bag and a puppy. Kris soon discovers that he's been relegated to Santa's naughty list and there's only one way to get his name removed....put on the suit and spread some cheer.

Lucky for Kris every cloud has a silver snowflake and his quest to get off that list lands him in the arms of the woman he's been lusting after for years.

It takes a little magic, but Kris is about to get everything he didn't even know he wanted for Christmas.

www.amazon.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

www.allromancebooks.com

www.smashwords.com