UFI welcomes Author Stacey Kennedy. Thanks for Joining us!!
What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?
I am a total chicken when it comes to things that go bump in the night. I hate horror movies, I hope that I never see a ghost for real, and I believe in anything that is totally unbelievable. Which, of course, is hilarious because I write stories about scary supernaturals.
What do you enjoy doing on your down time?
I am a proud TV addict. I watch a lot of TV with my hubby. What can I say? I love storytelling in any form!
What is your Favorite part of writing?
World building is my favorite part of writing. I enjoy creating things from my imagination and somehow making them work in a story. It’s an exciting way to spend your day.
Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?
I need coffee. It’s a must-have, and I can’t write a single word without it.
What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?
Anything by Keri Arthur and Chloe Neill. I’m a HUGE fan of both these ladies, and if I ever got to meet them, I would go fan-girl all over them!
How would you pitch WITCHES BE BURNED to someone who has not heard of it before?
Kyden is the leather kilt-wearing, sword-wielding hero. Nexi is a rookie guardian and witch, who is battling to find her place in this new paranormal world she’s entered. Toss in a romance in there, and it’s basically just a fast-paced sexy ride!
Can you tell us a little bit about the world that WITCHES BE BURNED is set in?
In this series, we have guardians, witches, vampires, werewolves, and demons -- just about any supernatural creature there is. The heroes are typical alpha-men, but show a softer and sweeter side with their heroine. The heroines are strong women, who are ready to fight right alongside their guys. You’ll also find a sense of family and close friendships among the characters. I, for one, think that is so important to storytelling, because it’s so important in our lives. I know I need my friends and family all the time, so I couldn’t imagine writing a story without that element.
Do you have a favorite scene in WITCHES BE BURNED?
The scene below is my favorite from Witches Be Burned, because it’s so Nexi and Kyden. They are both strong characters, but the power play between them somehow ends up being sexy and fun!
The thing I love about these characters is they are who they are, and they aren’t trying to change each other. But it’s an amusing time watching these two battle it out!
In no time, she was outside with Kyden next to her. The night air brushed her skin and the silence drifted around them. She couldn’t resist moving closer to him, his heat simply calling to her. He might be angry, but he happened to look off-the-charts hot that way.
He dipped his head, his warm minty breath brushing across her face. “Now, then, dare to tell me why you came tonight when I never ordered it?”
As the Elite Guardian, Kyden did have authority over her. In those terms, she never should have showed up at the scene. But she knew if she didn’t push this matter, he’d always keep her out, coming up with one excuse or another.
She smiled sensually. “What can I say? Watching you fight is the best kind of foreplay.”
“Ah, so that’s why you did this?” One brow arched. “Need some excitement, do you?”
“Of course.” She grinned, blinking innocently at him and wiggling against the growing hardness resting against her belly. “I thought it might make for a fun night.”
The arousal in his eyes was replacing the hard edge. “I’ll hold you to that, you know.” A deep flush crept over his cheeks, hinting at sexual promise. “If your plan was to start something tonight, I expect it to be finished later.”
She stood on her tiptoes, dropping a quick kiss on his lips. “Whatcha waiting for? Let’s finish it now.”
That’s all she got out before his lips crushed against hers, stealing the world from around her. When Kyden touched her, time stopped. His kisses possessed her soul and she experienced the burn of each one right down to her toes. It wasn’t just a joining of lips, but a joining of passion that she’d never believe existed if she hadn’t experienced it herself. Apart, they were Nexi and Kyden. Together, they were something different, something stronger, something that created a fire that could never be extinguished.
By the time he broke away, they were both breathing heavily.
“That, Álainn”—the nickname, meaning beautiful in Gaelic, a language passed along from the older generation in the Otherworld, fueled the need swelling inside her, especially because he had a way of purring the word—“would be in your immediate future, if I wasn’t someone who actually followed protocol. Tonight needs to be reported to the Council.”
“See, and that’s why your Goody Two-shoes way”—she stepped back, forcing some cooler air between them—“sucks.”
Kyden’s devilish grin—a smile that belonged to a man so arrogant from knowing his worth—slowly spread across his face. “Yet I’m not the one who is often in trouble with the Council, am I, darlin’?”
She accepted the jab—she was a bit of a rule breaker and didn’t possess a filter when it came to her mouth. “I would follow the rules if they made sense. And, might I add, weren’t made up from some caveman beating his chest to protect what he calls mine.”
He dropped his chin, brought his eyes level to hers, and a tightness appeared in his features, igniting a fierce heat in her belly. “You do realize that any other guardian would be punished for showing up like you did tonight.” His voice was far too husky to be taken seriously.
She rubbed herself against his hard length pressing so deliciously against her in a tempting offer. “Oh, I’m not worried. I can give the one who dishes out the punishments sexy times. Doesn’t that exclude me from such punishments?”
“No, Álainn.” Intensity crossed Kyden’s expression, causing Nexi to wonder how she could get him to break the rules just for tonight, as he added, “It means my punishments can be more creative.”
Which one character out of all your books was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?
Easiest character: Kyden. I never have trouble writing a sexy, alpha-male hero. It’s always a fun time being inside his head.
Hardest character: Nexi. She’s complicated and very strong headed, so sometimes she is tricky to write. I never want her too come off too strong, but I always want to make sure I stay true to her character. It sometimes takes a few tries to get her character right.
What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?
I’m ending the Club Sin series in October, so we still have two more books coming out before we have to say goodbye to the series. After that, I’ll be working on the spin-off series, The Dungeon’s Key, which is releasing in 2016. The first book in the series is Micah, and I can hardly wait for that series to come out! It’s sexy fun!!
Club Sin - http://www.staceykennedy.com/the-club-sin-series-4-book-bundle/
Micah - http://www.amazon.com/Micah-Dungeons-Key-Stacey-Kennedy-ebook/dp/B00TCI48WC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429804467&sr=8-1&keywords=micah+stacey
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Find Stacey and her books
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Witched Be BurnedMagic & Mayhem #2
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In Stacey Kennedy’s steamy paranormal romance novel, a rookie guardian sworn to combat the undead risks life and love in a world of violence, witchcraft, and seduction.Excerpt #2:
Nexi Jones has lost her family, she’s been stripped of her guardian duties, and she’s still learning the ins and outs of white magic. At least she has Kyden, the smoldering hot elite guardian who’s been there for her every step of the way. But just as Nexi completes her training, tragedy strikes the Otherworld when a fellow guardian is murdered by a group of rogue vampires. Ready or not, she and Kyden trek into the Earthworld to hunt down a killer—and Nexi alone will be put to the ultimate test.
Although Kyden knows that Nexi must fight her own battles, his guardian instincts are raging as he struggles to keep her close. The ruthlessness of these vampires is like nothing he’s ever seen. And at their helm is the Black Witch Astoria, a demon with one burning desire: to shed Nexi’s blood in the name of vengeance. What troubles Kyden even more, though, is the warlock who covets Nexi’s heart. Let the devil do his worst . . . all Kyden can do is love and protect Nexi until his last breath.
Hot irritation burned like a blast of Fire magic through Nexi as her feet connected with the grass below. She snapped her eyes open the split second the raw energy from the portal vanished. Dressed in her typical female guardian gear of a brown leather bra and kilt, with a scabbard across her shoulder that held her sword on her back, she nearly stepped forward but then noticed Haven approaching. Heady amusement nearly stole her irritation, but that emotion didn’t belong to her. It belonged to Haven.
More important, it belonged to their soul-bond.
A deep connection gifted these two witches belonging to the same coven. The link was a sensitive one, allowing for emotions to be shared, making them closer. Nexi often wondered if that’s why the bond existed—it made the ties to a coven that much tighter.
As Nexi caught sight of Haven’s smile, she grumbled, “This is so not funny.”
“Yeah, it kinda is.” The softness in her voice was just so Haven, as was the warmth in her stare. “I told Kyden he was dead for leaving you behind.”
“Dead is an understatement.” Nexi shook her head in pure frustration, gazing around the tree-lined street. When silence greeted her, she added, “You think he’d know better than to piss a woman off who carries a sword and damn well knows how to use it.”
Haven snorted a laugh. “Apparently not.”
Nexi sighed, cooling the irritation inside. Anger would get her nowhere with Kyden, and would only put him on alert. “That caveman needs to get some sense smacked into him.”
Haven gave a leveled look. “He’s just worried about you.”
“I get that—and appreciate it,” Nexi replied with a bit of bite. “But being worried and shielding me completely are two totally different things.”
Sadness reached Haven’s eyes, leaving Nexi wondering if her soul-sister agreed with Kyden. Maybe Haven wanted Nexi away from the danger as well. It’s not that Nexi didn’t understand why Kyden’s macho behavior had increased this past month, because, well, she did.
While Kyden had a typical upbringing in his supernatural life, Nexi’s life had more of a dramatic flair. Twenty-five years ago, the power hungry vampire, Lazarus, wanted to return Earth to the time when vampires were hunters instead of feeding off bagged blood or willing humans. To do this, he killed Nexi’s birth mother, Tillie, for the power within her blood. A task only obtained by drinking a witch to death. A large portion, or even half, of a witch’s blood wouldn’t have any effect, but to drain a witch to her last breath resulted in a transfer of powers.
When the power wasn’t enough for him to succeed in his takeover of the Council to rule the Otherworld, he went into hiding to avoid being hunted by the Council for his crimes. It was at that time, Nexi’s birth father, Drake, sent her into the Earthworld to live among humans for protection.
Then Lazarus devised his plan to return for Nexi to steal her unique power.
He and his pack of werewolves almost killed Nexi and Kyden in the process.
Yet there was one thing Lazarus never counted on: Nexi.
He certainly didn’t see it coming when she ended his life—since her magic, as both
guardian and witch, proved stronger than the vampire jacked up on Tillie’s magic.
She sighed at her thoughts and added to Haven, “I get that Kyden’s . . . sensitive . . . about it all, but he needs to stop protecting me.” Since that night with Lazarus, she hadn’t looked back. Of course, Kyden wasn’t seeing eye-to-eye with her on that point. With her witch magic now centered in soul, and with six months of guardian fighting behind her, she’d never been stronger. Something that Kyden was choosing to ignore, and the reason why he hadn’t taken her out on an assignment yet.
Haven placed a comforting hand on Nexi’s arm and a dose of balmy love seeped into the bond. “Perhaps the problem is you’re both just guardians who want to protect what they feel is most important to them.”
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