Monday, August 22, 2011

B. K. Walker on Her Paranormal World

Today, I welcome B. K. Walker to Immortyl Revolution. She is part of the Romancing the Darkside Tour.  I'll be hosting several other authors as part of this series.  There will be drawings to go with these posts.  I've asked the authors to provide me with a little insight on how they build their paranormal worlds.  So without further ado, here is B. K.! 







Thank you so much Denise for having back at your blog. It's always a pleasure chatting with your readers. I'm having so much fun touring with these magnificent authors for Romancing Your Dark Side Tour. It's still early and already I've met some great people. Before we get started, I just want to let your readers know that by leaving a comment today and at any blog along this tour they will be entered into our grand prize drawing for a brand new Kindle and a Virtual Gift Basket full of goodies. You gain an entry for each blog you comment at, and you can find the entire schedule with a giveaway at each stop over at http://www.vbtcafe.com/.






Today's giveaway - 2 e-copies of Night Secrets, or readers choice of e-book from my backlist. Please leave a comment for B. K. in order to enter.  Names will be chosen by random drawing.  Commenters must post by midnight EDT Wed. 8/23/11. Please provide an email address where you may be contacted.



Creating My Paranormal World in an Everyday Setting


I love writing in the paranormal fiction genre. Not only can I create a world all of my own, but I can make things happen that you may not normally see. I can throw my characters in a modern day life, I can take them back in time, I can create magic that may never have even been heard of in our world. That's the greatness of writing in this type of genre. I can just let my imagination run wild.


What's the catch though? It must be believable. Even though I write about vampires, werewolves, witches, faeries, and whatever else I may throw into the mix, my characters, no matter what I'm writing, must be believable. If a reader can't connect, or imagine that character in it's description, then I'm not doing my job. Yes, you may see things in my vampires or werewolves that you see in other novels, but what separates my writing from the rest? It's the mix. Not too often do you see vampires, witches, werewolves, and/or faeries all in one story, and if you do, it's often for a brief scene. With my writing though, my make believe all work together, coincide together, live together. They may not always like each other, but they are all there in the forefront making the action happen. I've been told many times by readers that they've never seen such a diverse group of characters in their reading as what they've read in my books. The plus side, it works. It creates a world for readers that not only is believable, but that they want to read to find out more.






In Dares And Dreams, my main character, Lannie Spenser is a witch coming into her full powers when she turns 21. What she faces is also becoming half vampire, like her mother who is already a Vamp-Witch, in order to save herself and her coven from an evil vampire king that hunts her for those powers.


In Immortyl Kisses, Raine is hunted by a rogue vampire simply because she smells good. She's protected by a vampire and a werewolf, and she harbors feelings for both. Both vampire and werewolf must work together to keep her safe, and then in comes a witch giving them guidance as to what is to become and fights by their side as well.

Night Secrets, Keara Crosby is from a fey lineage, but shapeshifting is the power she develops fully. Meeting Channing, a werewolf, and Corbin a vampire, she is introduced to a world she only thought was make believe. As things start happening to her, she needs to find the answers. Only in her crazy Wiccan aunt will she find what she seeks and learn of a heritage that her late parents tried to protect her from. As you can see, once again I have quite the mix thrown into my storyline.
 I like playing with all of the different folk lore. It's fun to research it, figure out how I can change it up, and create my own twist to the existing lore, if you will. My muse just loves creating these characters and the plots to go with them. We create some pretty intense action and most times a surprising twist that the reader just wasn't expecting. I love the element of surprise (*chuckling*).






BK Walker currently lives in Transylvania, (j/k Central Pennsylvania), with her three children, Brittney, Hunter and Danny, her dogs Rancid, Sadie and Haven, a cat named Whiskers and a goldfish named Fat Albert. She has always had a love for reading and writing, even as a child she created stories reading them to her stuffed animals. With a love for vampires and werewolves, you will not be disappointed with her writing as she mixes up the paranormal juice. Aside from writing, BK also supports Indie Authors organizing virtual book tours, helping them to market and promote their work. Her book review site, BWB Reviews, is just another small way she contributes to the reading world. With many stories floating around in her head, she writes when she gets the time between working as a Pediatric Home Care Nurse, being a single mother, and continuing her college education in Graphic Art Design. When she's not arguing with her muse, you will often find her at a baseball game with her boys or drinking iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts enjoying a good book.






Keara Crosby had the perfect life. Her family was not hurting for anything. When her parents are suddenly killed, Keara must learn to live without them. After mourning their death for two months, Keara starts to live again. She follows her favorite band, hangs with her best friend Jared, and falls for the new kid on the block.

When her favorite band is playing at Night Secrets, a new club downtown, she takes her first outing since her parents death and finds this mysterious boy watching her. Mesmerized by his lapus blue eyes, she can't help but feel drawn to him. Her body responds to him in ways she never thought possible, and she needs to figure out why. What is it about Channing that has her yearning for his touch?

Not only is Keara drawn to Channing, but the owner of Night Secrets seems to be drawn to her. Giving her special treatment, she can't help but wonder what he's hiding, and the sense she's seen him before. When she's attacked in the parking lot, her world turns inside out, literally. Keara will soon learn that secrets of the night, just may be the death of her.



Night Secrets Excerpt



I almost made it to the kitchen when Aunt Aingeal

came running out of my room. She had an incense in her

hand and stopped in front of me fanning the smoke

around my body, chanting in Gaelic. I watched her in

amazement for a few moments, then I’d had enough.

“Aunt Aingeal please? I really would like to get a bite

to eat, and can’t even understand a word you are saying.

What is it with you?”

She paused her actions and looked at me. “Yer father

'as nev'r told ya. I should’ve figured as mooch. Child, I

be placin' prootection upon ya. Go git yer grub and we be

talkin'.” She sniffed the air around me. “I know of yer

accident, an' of tha' thing tha' brung ya 'ome. Ya put

yerself in too mooch danger all tha time. Now go. Go

eat, ya be lookn' like crap, an' th'n be comin' ta see me.”

I looked at her in disbelief. She turned and went to her

room. What the heck was that all about? She was such

a weird woman. What didn’t my father tell me? We’ve

always had a pretty open relationship. I did with both my

parents. I shook my head and headed for the kitchen. I

couldn’t wait to hear this one.

After I filled my stomach Jamison was already

questioning me. “Miss Keara, do you feel better now?”

“Yes Jamison. I am full and feel like a million bucks.

Thanks.”

“You look much better than when you first arrived

home.

Thank goodness you’re okay. I‘m glad you ate it all. It

will help you regain your strength.” He smiled.

“Let me ask you something Jamison.”

“Of course Miss Keara.” He stood at attention.

“Is there anything about my dad that I should know

about? Something I don’t know?”

Confusion was evident in his expression, yet I waited.

He pondered the question for a minute before he

answered. “I don’t believe so Miss Keara. Why are you

asking?”

I sipped my tea. “It’s something Aingeal said. She

said ‘Your father has not told you. I should have figured

as much. I just don’t know what she could mean.” I

absently took another sip of tea.

“I’m not sure Miss Keara. You know your father never

spoke of Aingeal much. She is a bit…..eccentric shall I

say?”

“That she is Jamison. That she is. Well, I must go talk

to her and find out. Thanks for the tea and soup Jamison.

You’re the best.” I kissed his cheek and headed to

Aingeal’s room.

From the hall I could smell her incense. The aroma

was strong, a mix of coconut and sage. What was with

her and her witchery? I just didn’t get it. I could hear her

chanting again as I tapped on her door. “Aunt Aingeal,

can I come in?”

The door opened, a fog of smoke rolling out into the

hallway. She peered around the door so just her head

was visible. Her long red hair was wrapped in a black,

silk scarf. Her ears had large silver hoops dangling from

them. A silver chain with some weird looking stone hung

from her neck. “Come in me child. Come in.”

This was the first time I’d ever been in her room since

she moved here. Looking around I couldn’t believe all the

things she had. Shelves upon shelves lined the walls,

and bottles of every shape and size, all different colors

sat upon them. There were old books on a shelf that sat

on the floor, they looked ancient.

“Sit down me child. We must talk.”

“What is the incense for?”

“Fer yer prootection child.” She pulled two chairs up to

a round glass table and motioned for me to sit. She

busied herself gathering a brass ball on a chain, some

crystals, and a book off the shelf. She walked over to the

other end of the room and grabbed a purple bottle that

looked fit for a genie.

“What are you doing Aunt Aingeal?”

“Shush, me child. I be tellin' ya once I’ve all I be

needin'.”

So I waited. Once she was done she came to sit in the

chair opposite me at the glass table. She spread all the

items out in front of us and opened her book. “Now.

Thar’s a lot fer ya ta be learnin‘. Yer father, bless 'is soul,

nev'r wanted ta believe nor carry on our heritage. He

thought it rubbish, but he was a fool.”

“What heritage? What are you talking about?”

“Listen me child, and I will be tell’n ya.”

“Okay.” I raised my hands in surrender.

“Our family comes from a long line of Celtics from

Ireland. Ya wer' n't born a Crosby, but yer true name is

Flannery.”

“What? Where did Crosby come from?” I knew we

were Irish with the flaming red hair we all had, but never

b. k. walker

22 comments:

Denise Verrico said...

Always a pleasure to have you here!

Writing Innovations said...

Thanks so much Denise...this tour has been so much fun I love meeting all the new people too :).

BK

Denise Verrico said...

I'm always intrigued by the different paranormal worlds that authors build.

Sally Bibrary said...

So very wonderful to see you being celebrated as an author, BK, instead of as the grand-mistress and sometimes ring-master of book tours galore!

Love your comments on the mix of paranormal beauties and beasties - it's so much more fun when authors explore the entire realm of possibilities, and do so realistically.

Debra Chapoton, author said...

Incense for protection? Hmm, intriguing. I like the flow of the speakers voices, too. Great talent you have there, BK.
I'd love to enter the drawing, too. bigpinelodge at gmail dot com

RachelintheOC said...

Thrilled to lend my support to the awesomely wonderful BK -- she's a light for all us indie authors as well as an enormously talented author herself.

Hell yea put me down to win something!

RachelintheOC at gmail dot com.

But even if I don't win, I'll buy her books anyway cuz she so totally rocks.

Unknown said...

LOL Sally thank you for stopping in. It is nice to be on the other side for once :).

Deb thank you for stopping in :). You are definitely entered.

Rachel you know I just love you to death! Literally LOL here, You Are Entered for sure haha. Thanks for stopping in :).

BK

Cara Marsi said...

I to am happy to see BK lauded for her books. I love the premise of your books and your rich imagination, BK. I'm intrigued by the idea of a vamp-witch. So good to hear about your books and to delve into your imagination.

carolyn4books@aol.com

Unknown said...

BK....I have enjoyed this tour immensley! Getting to know you has really been fun! You rock!
viajeradelmar@aol.com

tammy ramey said...

the cover is gorgeous, and the book sounds like a wonderful read. i can't wait to get started.

trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com

Nightly Cafe said...

Cara - thank you so much for stopping in :). I'm so happy you're intrigued.

Nikki - You are the one that ROCKS! Thanks for all your support.

Tammy - Thank you for stopping in. I designed that cover myself :).

BK

Idiot Cook said...

I agree with the others, especially what Sally said: it's great to see YOU being celebrated! (By the way, WHEN do you sleep???) Book sounds great. Happy writing! :)

Denise Verrico said...

You are so right! B. K. spends so much time promoting other authors that it's great to see her out strutting her stuff. She's to be commended!

Nightly Cafe said...

Hey Robyn - so nice to see you here :). Thanks for stopping in!

Thanks Denise! It's definitely different being on this side of the tours :).

BK

Nightly Cafe said...

Oh...and Robyn - I rarely sleep haha I'm a vampire! (*clapping hands*) I crack me up!

BK

Gary Wedlund said...

Alright, I am appealing to a paranormal authority here. Denise and I have this ongoing argument about footwear. I'm on the side that any decent paranormal romance has to have shoes. Stop laughing. I have written urban fantasy that borders on paranormal romance, and I always have shoes. I think they are essential.

My last character, Satan's daughter, Ruth, really likes shoes, given they had no shoes in Hell. Her current pair of shoes, in my most recent work, are candy-apple, Christian Louboutin booties.

Not that the shoes have to be candy-apple, Christian Louboutin booties. Just saying. Please correct Denise on this, and set her on the straight and narrow.

Ann Charles said...

I love paranormal books and the worlds within them, and I'm a big fan of B.K. Walker, who is very kind and generous AND a wonderful author. Great interview, fun to read! Thank you!

Nightly Cafe said...

Gary - I have to say that most of my characters where steel toed army boots, BLACK! So I'm not sure though that I've ever really considered shoes of importance in writing...that is until now! LOL! I'm really not sure who's right haha.

Ann- thank you so much for stopping in! I'm a big fan of you too and if anyone hasn't read her books yet - DO IT! Nearly Departed in Deadwood is PHENOMENAL! I've still yet to read Optical Delusions In Deadwood, book 2, but I will! :).

Denise thank you again so much for hosting me today! I had a blast! Thanks to everyone that also stopped in :). You Rock!

BK

Denise Verrico said...

Gary has a foot fetish. Not all females are obsessed with shoes, but apparently he is.

Historical Writer/Editor said...

Intriguing concept. The blurb is eye-catching.

Nightly Cafe said...

LOL Denise - it cracked me up about the shoes haha.

Thanks for stopping in History Writer!

BK

Sandy said...

This excerpt really has me intrigued.