Welcome to my stop on B.R. Kingsolver's Virtual Book Tour for Succubus Rising. Please be sure to leave a comment or question for B.R. below to let her know you stopped by.
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Interview with B.R. Kingsolver
Me: Where did you find the inspiration to write The Telepathic Clans Saga?
B.R.: When I started thinking about what kind of character could be strong, kick-ass, and blatantly sexual while still being one of the good guys. I started researching paranormal "powers", and managed to put together a coherent list of talents and myths people have envisioned through the centuries. One of the myths I find particularly humorous is that of the succubus. The medieval church used that myth to demonize sexual women. I thought about the idea of a different kind of succubus, a telepath who could drain a man’s life energy, but wasn’t aligned with the devil, and didn’t do him permanent harm.
From there the idea started to grow. I envisioned a matriarchal society, worshipping a Goddess, with Telepathic Gifts where the women are as strong as the men -- a society of equals. And in an equal society, women and men are free to express their sexual identities.
The idea of a powerful succubus, a member of a telepathic race, as a character for my books was born. Who better to fight against evil than the one thing a patriarchal society fears the most?
Me: Was there a scene in the book you found particularly hard to write?
B.R.: Not really. But making the sex scenes hot is hard, much more difficult than people think. When I first wrote them, they were very mechanical. It took a lot of revision and help from my beta readers.
Me: Did you get inspiration from someone specific to write your characters?
B.R.: The characters just come to me. I don’t have a problem dreaming up characters. In fact, I’ve been told that I include too many characters in my books. There are some fascinating people that ended up being cut. My books tend to start as an idea for a character, and then I develop a story for them.
Me: How did you become a writer?
B.R.: I’ve always had an active imagination and composed stories in my head. I started reading urban fantasy a couple of years ago and loved the stories. When I received a Nook for my birthday, I discovered self-published works. I was talking about that with a friend and mentioned that I thought I had a story that people would like and she encouraged me to try and write it.
Me: Do you have a writing process/schedule? Is there a particular place you feel more inspired to write?
B.R.: I can write anywhere. I’ve written in coffee shops, on planes, at a desk and sitting on the couch watching TV. When the story is flowing, it’s very easy and I can write anywhere, anytime. It’s the revisions and editing stages where it becomes difficult and I have to force myself to sit down and work. Me: What is the most satisfying part of being an author?
B.R.: Seeing the cover on a web site is one. It’s a feeling of accomplishment. The other is having people tell me they enjoyed one of my books.
Me: What do you usually do when you’re not writing?
B.R.: Right now, I just started a new job and I’m working a lot of hours. That’s why the third book took so long to finish. Over the past four years, I’ve renovated a 100-year-old row house in Baltimore, doing much of the work myself. I like to travel and see new places, hike and ski. My two basset hounds like the hiking part most of all.
Me: Are you working on any new projects at the moment?
B.R.: I have two projects I’ve started. One is a paranormal mystery/thriller set in the Telepathic Clans’ world with a telepathic s detective. The other is a YA or New Adult paranormal romance in a completely different setting. The main character in that book is a Valkyrie going to university at Oxford. Eventually, I need to write the fourth book to finish Brenna and Rebecca’s story, but I have to get away from that world for awhile.
Me: What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start writing?
B.R.: First, have a good story. Second, spend some time learning the technical aspects of writing, i.e. how to tell that story. When I first started, I didn’t understand “show” versus “tell”. I still have some trouble with that. Third, find beta readers who will give you honest, in-depth criticism and listen to them. Last, find a good editor. I was a newspaper editor for five years and have been writing and editing in the business world all my working life. No one is qualified to edit their own writing. The easiest way to turn a reader off, especially a reviewer, is to have a book full of technical errors.
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Succubus Rising
by B.R. Kingsolver
Telepathic Clans Saga, Book 3
Publisher: B. R. Kingsolver
Release Date: February 14, 2013
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
ASIN: B00BG2XTNG
Length: 254 Pages
Buy Links:
Book Description:
The Goddess has plans for Brenna and Rebecca. And the Goddess has a wicked sense of humor.
Rebecca Healy is a true wilder, growing up with no contact or knowledge of other telepaths. Discovered by a Clan member on the streets of San Francisco, she felt like she’d hit the jackpot. Finally, she knew what she was, or at least she thought she did.
When Brenna O’Donnell, long-lost heir of the O’Donnell Clan, and the strongest telepath in history, is returned to her family, she and Rebecca form a tight bond. Brenna has it all, looks, money, power, and men falling all over her.
Rebecca isn’t jealous, but it would be nice to find someone who would really love her and stick around in the morning. She’s intrigued by a handsome South American general, but of course, he has his sights set on Brenna. Carlos de Vargas wants more than love. His Clan has its back to the wall, and they hope for an alliance with O’Donnell. An alliance that would lead to war.
The story began in The Succubus Gift and continued in Succubus Unleashed. In Succubus Rising, questions are answered and new mysteries are revealed.
Excerpt:
Brenna had no choice about taking a limo, so she offered a ride to the group. They all went out to eat together then rode to the reception. Watching Jeremy and Margaret over dinner, it became obvious to her they were falling hard for each other. She counted Jeremy as a close friend and was happy for him.
Still fresh to Washington, Brenna enjoyed the reception. It was so much like being in a movie with all the beautiful dresses and elegant surroundings. Carlos was the perfect escort, introducing her to many influential people, and she also made a number of contacts through Margaret. There was some hostility from a few of the Argentine telepaths, but the ambassador was very polite. Indeed, he was complimentary about her work on the Ecuadorian trade treaty and asked for her card.
Flushed and feeling quite good, she thanked Carlos for holding her coat as they prepared to leave. He proposed a place for late drinks and dessert and Margaret agreed. Rebecca called for the limo and they went outside.
There was a line of cars waiting, and their limo was fourth in line. As they waited, she watched the other people standing around. Finally, their car pulled up, and as Carlos stepped forward she had a flash of danger from the entrance of the embassy.
“Gun,” Rebecca cried.
Jeremy pushed Margaret behind him and leapt at Carlos, pushing him. Brenna located the woman holding the gun and smashed her shields, seizing control of her mind, but it took far longer than it normally did, and she was too late to stop her pulling the trigger. The shot sounded very loud, and she saw Jeremy and Carlos fall.
JEREMY! A mental scream assaulted the minds of all who were able to hear it.
Rebecca jumped toward the shooter, wresting the pistol from her hand. O’Donnell Protectors swarmed the scene along with the security guards from the embassy. Hands urged Brenna into the limo, and she resisted only long enough to make sure Margaret was with her. She saw Rebecca grab the shooter and physically pick her up and carry her to the car, throwing her in the open trunk. One of the Protectors slammed it shut while a line of O’Donnell Protectors stopped several men who attempted to follow her.
Clambering into the limo, Brenna saw Carlos who was pale but alert. Jeremy lay against the far door, holding his arm and covered in blood.
Margaret frantically scrambled toward him, but Rebecca restrained her.
“Let Brenna see to him,” Rebecca spoke into Margaret’s ear, “she’s a healer. He’s only wounded and it’s not too bad. He’ll be okay, Margaret, he’ll be okay.” She tried to enter the older woman’s mind to calm her, but found shields blocking her.
My God, Brenna, she’s a telepath.
I know. She’s the one who screamed, Brenna answered. Then she entered Jeremy’s mind and sought out the wound. He’d taken the bullet in the right bicep, but it missed the bone. She searched for any damage to major veins or arteries and didn’t find any. A huge sense of relief rushed through her and she started working on shutting off the bleeding. The other Protector in the back of the limo with them handed her a pressure bandage.
I need two. It’s all the way through, she told him. He fumbled in his kit and handed her another. She got Jeremy out of his jacket and ripped the sleeve of his shirt, exposing the wounds. She applied the pressure bandages and then took the roll of tape the Protector handed her. The wound covered, she began shutting off the bleeding with her Healing Gift.
Do we need a hospital? Rebecca asked.
No, Brenna answered. The limo took a turn and she knew it was headed for the O’Donnell compound.
Two healers were awaiting them when they arrived. She turned Jeremy over to them and looked down at the blood on her dress. It would never come out of the silk.
“Well, this was an expensive evening,” she said to no one in particular. Turning around she found the rest of her party standing in the foyer. Rebecca still held Margaret and Carlos stood with Protectors close around him.
“He’s okay,” she told them and saw them relax. “Where’s the bitch who shot Jeremy?”
“On her way to the basement,” Rebecca told her. “Do you still have her mind?”
“Yeah. Margaret, Jeremy is going to be all right. The wound isn’t very bad. Do you understand me? He’s going to be all right.”
Townsend stared at Brenna, wide-eyed and confused.
Margaret, Jeremy’s going to be okay. He’s not badly hurt, Brenna sent on a spear.
“Oh my God. What are you?” the congresswoman asked, terror filled her voice.
I’m a telepath, just like you are. Margaret, we’re the good guys. Please, let us help you.
“A telepath?” Margaret said, her face blank and her eyes wild.
Brenna could feel the chaos in the woman’s mind. Using her O’Donnell Gift as carefully and gently as she could, she found her way through weaknesses in the woman’s shields and managed to lay a comfort on her. Margaret calmed, and the tension seemed to drain out of her body. She slumped and Rebecca held her up. Two Protectors picked her up and carried her to an upstairs bedroom.
BR Kingsolver
Author Bio:
I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.
I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school and I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff in Canada.
I have a very significant other, two cats and two Basset Hounds. I’m currently living in Baltimore, nine blocks from the harbor, but still own a home in New Mexico that I see too infrequently.
Website: http://brkingsolver.com
Twitter: @BRKINGSOLVER
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brkingsolver
Tour Schedule:
March 25 - Queen of the Night - Guest Post/PROMO
March 27 - Waiting on Sunday to Drown - Review/Guest Post
March 28 - Phantasmic Reads - Review/Interview
April 1 - Cozie Corner - Review
April 2 - Must Read Faster - Guest Post/PROMO
April 3 - The Wormhole - Review/Interview
April 4 - The Book Faery Reviews - Guest Post/PROMO
April 5 - Pink Fluffy Hearts - PROMO
April 7 - Sylv Jenkis - Guest Post/PROMO
April 8 - Beloved Books - Guest Post/PROMO
April 9 - RABT Reviews - Review
