Hello everyone – Happy New
Year! :) Please help me welcome Isis Rushdan, author of paranormal
romance/urban fantasy novel, Kindred of the Fallen…excellent world building and
story-stars and I bet some of that creative wonder comes from her intelligence
officer background and her worldly travel. Before we get started with our
interview, here is a little about Isis…
Isis
Rushdan was born and raised in New York City. She has a B.A. in psychology from
The Ohio State University. Wanderlust has taken her across the globe and has
kept her moving every three years. Fortunately, she is blessed with a husband
who shares her passion for travel, movies and fantastic food. Prior to
following her bliss as a writer, she had a bright career as an intelligence
officer in the U.S. Air Force. She currently resides in sunny Florida, where
she hopes to finally establish roots with her
husband, son and canine kiddies.
Okay, Isis…here we go…first
question…
Please
tell us how the idea came to you for Kindred
of the Fallen. Please include all the fun details.
This might sound crazy, but I promise I’m sane. The characters
started talking to me one day while I was in the shower. They’d reached a major turning point in their
lives and demanded I listen to their problems. I asked if it could wait until I
was dressed, but they’re pretty strong-willed.
Your
response to that last question had me laughing – I love strong-willed
story-stars;)
What
drives, motivates, and/or inspires Cyrus?
Duty. Cyrus made a grave mistake years ago, selfishly putting
his personal desires ahead of duty. He’s spent the last two hundred years
trying to erase the shame by faithfully serving House Herut. He is dedicated to
breaking the curse wiping out Kindred, given the chance. Even if the heroine,
Serenity, wants absolutely nothing to do with redemption or what it entails.
Such
spiritual-natural names for your story-stars…nice :)
What’s
Serenity’s job? What does she do for a living?
One of her Kindred gifts enables her to read a human’s soul. She
uses it to create unique, but expensive, tattoos at her high-end shop, Soul Ink
Designs.
Quite
a unique job and psychic ability.
Give
us some insight into Serenity. What’s a bit of her back-story?
When she was five her mother abandoned the family and her broken-hearted
father committed suicide. At least that’s what she remembers. Her tragic
childhood has given her an overwhelming need to have a safe, stable life and to
hang on to the few friends she has. She also believes she’s human, until Cyrus
enters her life like a bolt of lightning.
Wow!
What a tough break Serenity had in her youth…and then to find out she’s not
human…whoa.
Can
you tell us about the abilities of Cyrus and Serenity?
Cyrus is a warrior: incredibly strong and fast.
Serenity is of the psi class. The true extent of her ability is
a bit of a mystery at first, but it’s extremely rare. The last Kindred with her
power decimated an entire colony in the 12th century in a fit of
rage. If she’s able to control her gift, she’ll be one of the most powerful
Kindred to ever live. If she can’t, she could end up killing those closest.
Serenity
sounds like quite the enigma of unrealized power ;)
Is
Kindred of the Fallen included in a series? If so, what series and can
you give us titles for other books in this series?
It’s the first in the Kindred Chronicles. My agent is working on
the contract for the second book, which is currently untitled, and I am writing
the third book.
Can
you share anything about the paranormal beings in
the story? What’s unique about them?
Kindred are descendants of powerful ancient beings who walked
the earth before humans. They were cursed for their transgressions and their
powers divided along with their souls into two different bodies as punishment.
Serenity and Cyrus are the reincarnation of one ancient being.
Warriors are what you’d typically expect in regards to their
strength and speed, but they can also shift in color as an evolutionary
defensive mechanism and get their wings if they connect with their mates.
Those of the psi class like Serenity run the gamut of superhero
type powers such as telekinesis, healing and precognition. In addition to her
soul-reading ability, her other gifts are quite unique, but I don’t want to
spoil anything for readers by giving too much away.
Serenity
has definitely gotten my attention; she comes across as a most compelling
personality.
Which
scene was your favorite to write?
Wow, tough question
since I have a few, but I’ll go with my favorite within the first 100 pages.
All Kindred have
inherent powers, but they also have a latent ability which can only be
activated after connecting with the energy stream of their kabashem or the mate
who is literally the other half of their soul. For example, warriors get their
wings.
For Serenity and
Cyrus, their latent gifts emerge in a life and death situation where both come
face to face with a deadly Kindred suffering from blood rage.
Where
can we find you?
You can learn more about me at:
Quickie Quiz
Getting to know Isis
Rushdan
2
Things you do to relax: Get a 90 minute hot stone
massage and watch Living Abroad or House Hunters International.
Favorite
sport to watch: Football in person, not on TV.
Cat
or Dog: Definitely dog. I’m allergic to cats.
Favorite
place to write: On a comfy sofa with an ocean view.
Place
you’ve always wanted to go, but haven’t: New Zealand
Breakfast
drink: Cappuccino with soy milk and a splash of
coconut syrup
Favorite
season: Autumn
What
are your hobbies /past times (besides writing): International travel and watching movies.
A big thank you to Kay Dee for having me here this week! I
appreciate the support on my tour.
Isis – thank you for being here
this week – I’m so happy to meet new authors, especially paranormal &
fantasy romance authors. Love hearing about your story and your story-stars, Kindred
of the Fallen.
KINDRED OF THE FALLEN
Kindred Chronicles Book
One
Isis Rushdan
Isis Rushdan
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Date of Publication: January 8, 2013
Cover Artist: Kanaxa
Book Description:
Serenity’s soul-reading ability lets her easily create
custom tattoos. Everything else in her life is a struggle, from trying to make
it work with her best friend, Evan, to nightmares and visions that make her
question her sanity.
Then she meets a man who sharpens her craving for
something more.
Cyrus has been preparing to claim her as his Blessed
mate—the other half of a split soul that, once reunited, is his only chance to
break the curse that plagues his people.
One moment, armed militants are firing questions
Serenity cannot answer. The next, she is safe in Cyrus’s arms…and learning she
isn’t even human. She is Kindred, blessed with preternatural powers, cursed to
suffer the twin horrors of the blood rage and the dark veil.
Their union is the greatest hope for redemption in a
thousand years, but not all Kindred want to be saved. A dark secret could snuff
out their lives before love has a chance to unite them…and redeem the Kindred
for all time.
Greater the love…sweeter the pleasure…higher the price
that must be paid.
You
are invited to participate in isis’s tour wide giveaway
$75 Amazon Gift Card and signed cover flat.
BBT page where giveaway is live
6 comments:
Kay Dee Royal said...
Good morning Isis and everyone. Thanks so much for stopping in:)
Not sure what's going on with my images and blogger, but for some reason they aren't cooperating with each other:(
Hopefully this is rememdied before the weeks end.
Your favorite place to write is on a comfy sofa with an ocean view...that sounds so amazing. I've been able to sit close to water (lakes) and write in the shadow of a shade tree...it was heaven. Not sure what it is about water, but it soothes the soul enough to really get that creative juice pumping:)
I have a question - what kind of research - if any, did you do to find out about the supernatural abilities of Serenity?
Margay said...
I would love to be near the ocean when I write, but alas, it is not possible. Yet. :)
Isis Rushdan said...
~ Kay Dee, thanks again for having me here today. Too bad you couldn't download the book. I'm in love with the cover.
Honestly, Serenity's abilities just came to me. I did have to do some research on tattoos, learn the lingo, and I even visited a few high-end shops to get a feel for what was realistic. I did do research on other abilities such as telekinesis and precognition.
~ Margay, I was super lucky to get a temporary duty assignment in the Air Force to Hampton, VA. I stayed in a beach house and had the magnificent pleasure of actually writing from a comfy sofa with an ocean view.
Isis - I'm continuing to work on uploading your cover art...I think I figured it out. I'm not the only one having this issue according to Blogger.
Again, so sorry for this delay.
YAY!!! I got it - downloaded Google Chrome and it seems to have remedied my issue:)
Thanks for your patience everyone...especially you, Isis.
My computer is clean and wishing everyone well *smiles* I love my laptop!
You said you went into a tattoo shop to get the feel of it - did you end up getting inked:) If so, what did you get?
Kay Dee, I'm having the same problem with blogger today. I'll try Chrome. Thanks for the tip and for putting up the cover!
Hi Isis!
I have put you on my TBR list. I love to write at the beach. I keep trying to convenience my hubby we should buy a condo at the beach. Maybe when the kids get out of college. Four more years and hopefully I'll be watching the waves roll in with my laptop and a glass of wine.
Hello Vivi:) Thanks so much for stopping in and visiting with Isis...yeah, wouldn't it be something to have an ocean view while writing. Thank goodness writers have a wild and wonderful imagination:)
Isis - have you been able to download images by uploading the Googlechrome? Roxanne asked about it - she hoped whatever was going on wasn't connected to the rafflecopter - and I'm pretty sure my issue was a fluke that happened at the same time I downloaded the rafflecopter. That site has to be safe from those dang germ worms that try to work their way into places they shouldn't be.
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