Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Virtual Book Tour + #Giveaway: A Violet Fire by Kelsey Quick @avioletfire1 @GoddessFish



A Violet Fire
by Kelsey Quick
GENRE: YA Fantasy/Paranormal Romance


BLURB:

"A vampire tale with a heady mix of defiance and doubt, rebellion and romance." — Kirkus Reviews

"There is not a single dull moment in this book... A Violet Fire has all the ingredients to become the next Hollywood movie about vampires." — Readers' Favorite

"In the Vampire Stratocracy of Cain, human blood is scarce. For centuries, councils have sought to assuage the blood shortage by enslaving and breeding humans, turning them into profitable supply units for the rich and the abled.

Today, eighteen-year-old Wavorly Sterling is officially a supply unit, bound to serve her blood willingly to her master for the rest of her life. One of only few humans that was not bred in Cain, Wavorly knows freedom better than anyone, and she is determined to escape the clutches of her oppressors—despite the allure of forbidden love."

Excerpt:


He grabs the hair on the back of my neck and pulls down, exposing the breadth. My mind leaps to my years of night terrors; to that vampire from ten years ago; to my mother changing before my eyes into one of the fallen. I nearly forget to breathe while terror floods my veins.

He’s going to turn me into one of them!

“No!  You can’t!” I scream as he lowers his face to the crook of my neck and shoulder, his hot breaths sending chills along my skin—as if each and every inch knows the horror that lies ahead.

“I can,” he says.

My fingers grasp at his immovable arms that have me locked against him. I pull and push with as much might as my hands can muster, to no avail. If I am dirt, he is steel.

Interview with Kelsey Quick

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Either a turtle or a sloth. I’m seriously so slow methodical when it comes to writing, that I actually get on my own nerves!

How many hours a day do you put into your writing?
Right now, none. But that’s because I am focusing all of my efforts on the marketing and promotion of this current novel. When I’m in writing season, I will most likely be spending 1-2 hours per day drafting, or about 1,000-2,000 words per day.

Do you read your book reviews? If yes, do they affect what you write in the future?
I do read my book reviews. There are many authors who do not, and many professionals who have advised me not to, but truthfully… I think that is horrible advice for all authors, especially self-published ones.

The reason being because publishing, at the end of the day, is a business, not a daycare, and it’s such a blessing that your audience gladly tells you upfront what they expect in their future purchases by way of their reviews. Whether they all moan and groan about certain tropes or offer up their wishes for more of a certain character, they are donating their valuable time to analyze your work. Because of book reviews, I’ve learned how to manage expectations; I’ve decided to put more effort and care into Savvy and Gemini’s characterization; I’ve scaled back Wavorly’s dislikeable traits; and I’ve added in two full scenes to explain some short-comings. They most definitely affect how I write in the future, and I believe—to a certain extent—they should. 

I really think it’s a missed opportunity if I decide to forego feedback for the sake of my thin skin. And let me tell you, over the last six months, my skin has gotten pretty rough and thick.

Do you leave hidden messages in your books that only a few people will find?
Hmm, what a fun question! I don’t think… I don’t think so. I do leave in some pretty theme-heavy lines for people who want to figure out why the curtains are blue, but other than that, not really! I think if I wrote contemporary, I would have more of those types of easter eggs in there.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in A Violet Fire?
The characters in A Violet Fire are all very different and they tug on your heart strings in different ways. Of course, Wavorly is the sane one of the book—the one we most relate to since she’s the only human who condemns vampires for enslaving them. Savvy, another supply unit in Wavorly’s class, is the very essence of purity. She has a good heart and a solid foundation, even if that foundation is brutal and sad enough for us to sympathize with her. Zein is a powerful pureblood vampire, and everything mysterious about this book. He personifies what we don’t know and lures us in with his teetering shifts in cruelty and compassion. He also fits the well-established vampire archetype of “tortured soul” which really makes the final scenes of A Violet Fire twisted, to be sure. 

Can you tell us a little bit about your next books or what you have planned for the future?
I don’t have much planned. I take my writing day by day. But I will say that I am working on the sequel to A Violet Fire, as well as a fun New Adult contemporary that is a reverse-gendered take on Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Do you allow yourself a certain number of hours to write or do you write as long as the words come?
Oh man, I wish I had the problem of writing too much. No, I let myself write for as long as the words come, as these times are so valuable and rare.

Do you have a certain number of words or pages you write per day? 
When it is writing season, I force myself to write 1,000-2,000 words per day, no matter the presence of my muse.

What inspires you to write?
Honestly, being alone in the wilderness. It really pulls me from the tunnel-vision of the day-to-day and opens me back up to creative possibilities.


Would you rather

Read fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction, I am an escapist.

Read series or stand-alone?
Stand-alone makes me feel more accomplished, but series pulls me in and allows me to get lost for an extended period. I would say series.

Read Science fiction or horror?
Science fiction! I love dystopian.

Read Stephen King or Dean Koontz
Stephen King, he’s so crazy with his talent and skill. I hope to become 25% of the writer he is one day.

Read the book or watch the movie?
Watch the movie, only because I have mild ADHD and prefer vibrant color and scenic displays.

Read an ebook or paperback?
ebook for the most part. But I love owning physical copies.

Be trapped alone for one month in a library with no computer or a room with a computer and Wi-Fi only?
I think in a room with a computer and Wi-Fi, only because I know that, psychologically, having no human interaction for that long would result negatively. 

Do a cross-country book store tour or blog tour online?
I would definitely love to do a cross-country book store tour! I love meeting people who want to meet me!





AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kelsey Quick is a novelist, artist, and businesswoman who loves her husband, huskies, and video games. Since the age of two, Kelsey has been bound and determined to create. From traditional impressionist paintings, to digital comic creation; from fanfiction to full-length novels… her desire for crisp and prime escapism is never-ending. A Violet Fire is her debut novel, harboring the idea she’s had and held dear to her heart for over a decade.




Pre-Order Links:

eBook on Amazon  ~ Hardcover/paperback on Amazon



Giveaway:

$25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC




Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.



8 comments:

James Robert said...

Great post and I appreciate getting to find out about another great book. Thanks for all you do and for the hard work you put into this. Greatly appreciated!

Sara Ruby Woolley said...

Do you play the scenes of what you are going to write your book while in bed listening to music sometimes or the sound of rain? Does music give you inspiration?

Bernie Wallace said...

Sounds like a fun read. I hope your book is a success.

Lottie said...

Great post - excellent!

Anonymous said...

Good Morning! Thank you Avid Reader for Hosting and thanks all for coming to be a part of my tour! I'm here to answer any questions you might have for me, so feel free to ask. :)

Much love,
Kelsey

Anonymous said...

Thank you James, Bernie, and Lottie. You guys rock :)

Anonymous said...

Sara, you always ask the best questions! Music is a must for me to get the creative juices flowing both in writing and in thinking up scenes! I actually find myself having the best ideas while driving and listening to aesthetic playlists, or while running and listening to those same playlists! It's rare for me to be able to sit in bed and just think about my scenes. Usually I get too restless and my mind jumps too much.

Rita Wray said...

Sounds like a good read.