Title: What Lies
Within Us
Author: Kiki Howell
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Gothic/Paranormal/Romance/Contemporary/
Suspense/Thriller
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: Nov 1 2014
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
After receiving a letter from an aunt she never knew
existed, Kyna Hughes travels to Ireland only to find out that her whole life
has been a series of well-orchestrated lies. Suddenly, this poor girl from the
foothills of the Alleghany Mountains is thrust into a life of not only the
wealthy and affluent, but of dark magic and secret societies. As Kyna learns of
the magic hidden inside her, purposefully stunted as she grew up for her
protection, she must now battle mystical hauntings which are the result of
curses while getting a crash course in utilizing her powers. Kidnappings and
satanic weddings become her daily events as she struggles not to lose her heart
to one of two men—a former Navy SEAL hired to protect her or a wizard hired to
train her. Soon she will realize just how true it is that “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared
to what lies within us.”
Excerpt
She nodded as he pulled her door shut. Then, she turned to
see her bed illuminated in another round of lightening. The sensation of having
caught a ball of it settled over her hands. Turning them until her palms faced
up, the way they shook wasn’t exactly fear, or flight, but all fight. She
curled her fingers in, let her nails bite into her palms. Angry, she made a few
stiff and heavy strides back to bed. Not only did everyone here baffle or
betray her, as did her ominous surroundings, but her own body took cues from the
vivid imaginings of those she’d encountered today.
As her eyes closed again, she swore the power in her body
build with each bolt outside her window. Her skin crackled with some sort of
electricity of its own, frying what was left of her brain that she tried to
force into a fitful sleep.
The sudden awareness of being watched courted with the
sensation of having her life energy pulled from her body. As she opened her
eyes, weak and dizzy, a streak of lightening backlit a black form at the edge
of her bed. Kyna scrambled until her back hit the wooden backboard with a
breath-stopping thump. Her muscles ached in earnest almost as if small cramps
had taken over her body. Small figments of light, burning silver threads,
extended from herself to the shadowy person.
Fear, the kind that freezes time, makes every bone in a body
cold, gave way to anger, red-hot and resilient. In a cold sweat, she sprang
from the covers. Her arms extended with her palms out in front of her as if
signaling stop. Pushing against the dark energy that seemed to suck her very
life from her, she sliced, in her mind, the cords. Imaginary or not, nightmare
or pure horror, the glowing threads broke and fell. Tiny shards of light hung
in the air a second before they disappeared.
Finally, a scream ripped from her lungs. The shriek was
outrage laced with angst. The shadow at the end of her bed fell to black smoke,
which seeped into the wooden floor. Running to her door and throwing it open
like it weighed nothing, she ran smack into Aedan in the hall.
Suddenly, though still shaking, she became aware of her soft
breasts throbbing having hit the solid muscle of his chest. His arms strong
around her, his fingers pressed firmly into her back, and her eyes closed, the
shadow image reappeared in her mind’s eye.
“I got you,” he whispered as her body went through some mini
fear-induced seizure for a second.
Her breath released, hot and fast. Kyna panted herself past
calm into aroused. However, the house wouldn’t allow her attention to be
diverted. Thunder rocked the walls. Once her eyes opened, shadows formed and
unformed around her.
“Can you see them?” she whispered to Aedan.
“See who?”
“I’m going crazy,” she growled.
“No, your aunt warned me of this type of magic. The group
after you, they use dark magic that forms some sort of mystical hauntings.
Nothing should hurt you, though they may give the appearance of it. Your aunt
can explain it better in the morning. For now, let’s get you back to bed.”
“It took from me. It took something from me with these bright
cords. Don’t leave me,” she begged and then winced.
Uncharacteristically weak, she wondered if her courage all
these years came so easy due to nothing real eventful having happened in her
life. No. No way. She promised
herself to be brave, to make her mother proud, no matter what they threw her
way.
“I won’t leave you this time,” Aedan promised. “I’ll sit in
the chair and watch you sleep. I’ve probably gotten more than you already at
this point. There’re only a few hours left now until morning. But, he or it
took what?”
“It felt like the shadowy image was draining my life from
me, not blood, just energy or something. A life force maybe. It felt so real,
like my heart slowed and my mind became fuzzy. I got so weak.”
“I’m sure it is all part of the haunting, some magical
images and feelings projected onto you to scare you.”
She bought the explanation, had to in an attempt to get any
sleep at all with the shadows that still lingered. Pretend. You’re just
pretend, she challenged them with her thoughts as she stood at the foot of
the bed.
“Silly,” she scoffed.
“What? Because I see nothing silly about being afraid of
something you don’t even understand. Sometimes fear is good, that is if you let
it fuel you rather than make you quit,” Aedan advised.
“I meant it was silly that I was trying to threaten them
with my mind, as if because they are shadows they can hear my thoughts. Seen
too many ghost movies I think.”
“You’re not silly at all. Most women would have run from
this place screaming, demanding to be driven to the airport in her beautiful,
white nightgown,” he soothed, voice deep and gravely. “Now, off to bed with you
my brave woman.”
Comforted by his praise, she obeyed. Yet, Aedan in the same
room also made sleep not come easily, just for a whole other set of reasons
entirely.
Places to find: What Lies Within Us
Where do the ideas
for your books come from? Guess some mysterious, yet finicky muse.
Seriously, ideas just pop into my head from seemingly out of nowhere, sometimes
just a character, sometimes just a situation, and sometimes the whole plot.
Problem with this sort of inspiration is that when the muse decides to be quiet,
I got nothing to write! In those cases I like to go looking at anthology calls
for submission for some inspiration.
Have you ever
co-written book/books? If so was it difficult? If not would you ever consider
co-writing with another author? Yes, I have, and I would definitely do it
again. The book is called, The Sum of All, and I co-authored it with Emma
Hillman. She wanted to try writing in the paranormal genre that I usually do,
and I wanted to try my hand at some hotter erotic situations like she writes.
We had two main female characters, and we each wrote one’s POV, so every other
chapter. I’d write one chapter from my characters POV, she’d read it and then
continue the next chapter in her character’s POV. Worked great! And, I think we
learned a lot from each other. It really went along flawlessly.
Where do you get your
character names from? I search baby name guides usually looking for a
meaning, but sometimes the name origin comes into play too, like with my latest
Irish novel, I stuck to Irish names.
What type of research
goes into your writing? It depends on what part I need to know about, but
typically I spend a few days in research before I incorporate what I’ve learned
into my plot outline. For my Gothic, Irish novel, What Lies Within Us, I had to
research secret societies in Ireland as well as many spells. I took what I
learned and made it my own so the story would be believable but not completely
factual. For example, with spells, I look them up, utilize the symbolic elements,
but play with the order and words spoken to fit my story needs.
Are your family and
friends supportive of your writing? I would have to say mostly. My
immediate family, my husband and two teenage sons, are amazing, always in my
corner, there to hug me when things are rough and celebrate with me when things
go right. My parents as well as some aunts and uncles, a few cousins have read some
of my books (well the ones I’ll let my dad read lol), but I’ve had some friends
and family that I no longer have relationships with because they had such
issues with what I write, and not just the books with the erotic content, but
some had issue with the magic content, because you know you are what you write
*winks and giggles* Although, my question always is, if you think I’m a witch,
then why don’t you think I’m a shape-shifting time traveler too?
Do you remember when
your interest in writing came about? Very young. I was an avid reader from
the minute I could, and I would find myself finishing a book and then daydreaming,
re-writing scenes to the way I wished they’d have gone. Somewhere along the
line I decided to try my hand at it. I even imagined my name on covers of
books.
Other then writing
what are your interests? I love hanging out with my family and watching movies
or our favorite TV shows. I’m a huge bookworm, and I love to knit. I’m looking into
more active hobbies, just not actively!
Did you learn
anything from writing your books, if so what was it? I’ve developed
somewhat of a tough skin, and learned to be me without apology or excuse. Not
everyone is going to like what you create, and in this business with reviews
and such, people are very vocal if they don’t like it. In this industry, don’t
speak unless you have something nice to say does not apply. I don’t mind honest
reviews or constructive criticism, but some bash books in very mean ways. I
guess as a reader myself, I wouldn’t do it, if I don’t like a book I just won’t
review it. I believe in helping the world by telling them what I do really
like. Sorry, think I got off topic there.
What are your current
WIP? Can you share with us? Actually, it’s still too vague to really put
into words, but I am working on ironing out a pagan series. Most of my time at
the moment is being spent on a fulfilling a different kind of writing dream, a
new venture with an charity anthology I’m putting together for a very
worthwhile, dear to my heart, cause. You can read all about it on my blog http://anauthorsmusings.blogspot.com/2014/11/paid-call-for-submission-we-go-on.html
Faves
Food - Chocolate in all shapes and forms!
Color - Beige
Quote – “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”
Father James Keller
Movie – Practical Magic
Music – Breaking Benjamin
This
or That
Rain or Snow - Snow
Facebook or Twitter - Facebook
Mac or PC - PC
Coffee or Tea – Tea (But, only because my stomach hates
coffee!)
.jpg)
Ever since she was
young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real
characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours
lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with
just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she
pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in
English. She has now had over forty stories published, and could not be
more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real
world.
In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder. She's also had three flash fiction stories win writing contests. In the fall of 2013, her novel, Hidden Salem, made the Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers Lists in 3 categories: Paranormal, Suspense and Ghosts. You can find out more about Kiki on her website www.kikihowell.com or stop by her blog http://anauthorsmusings.blogspot.com/
Where to find: Kiki Howell
Other Books by: Kiki Howell
Thank you so much for having me. Enjoyed our chat :)
ReplyDelete