Thank you, Christina, for having me! It's such a pleasure to meet new people and readers. When readers hear about my newest release, Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella, the first question I get is “What’s a novella?” which is then followed by a discussion of why I made this a novella. In short, because the characters ran away with me. In long, well…here goes.
First of all, a novella is longer than a short story and shorter than a novel. Genesis is actually a little long to technically be called a novella. However, it’s barely more than half the length of the books in the main series and I didn’t want readers to feel misled, thinking it’s a full-length novel when it really isn’t. I also didn’t want anyone to think it’s part of the main series, because it’s not—it takes place over 2,000 years ago with different characters. In either case, readers would be disappointed. Besides, I’ve never been one to conform to “their” boxes, especially when it comes to word count and story telling.
Originally, however, Genesis wasn’t even going to be its own book at all. My initial thought was that it would open the third book in the Soul Savers Series, Devotion (releases February 2012). After two books of Alexis, the main character of the series, trying to find out what she is, she finally gets an inkling in Purpose, book 2. But I’m mean and didn’t reveal everything to the reader—that was to come in the first part of the next book.
But as I began writing Alexis's ancestors' history, the characters—Andrew, Jordan and Cassandra—really grabbed my heart and soul. They have such interesting stories and deserved more than just the first few chapters of a book about Alexis. Once I had the freedom to give them their own story, they gave me all the goods. In fact, I had to make the decision to keep the focus on Jordan and Cassandra, because Andrew’s story can be its own novella by itself!
This is how my writing goes—a character starts coming to me, usually with a scene or, in the case of Jordan and Cassandra, with a full story, and then as I get to know them, they start telling me all about their lives. So although I knew what happened to Jordan and Cassandra when I first started, it went from, “This happened, then he did this and she did that and then wham! This resulted. The end.” To plot twists and turns, additional characters, subplots, relationships that needed defined… In other words, it grew from a quick narrative into a real story that needed telling.
Fortunately, it all worked out because Devotion is so jam-packed with action, mystery and suspense, it just doesn’t have room for the Genesis story. And readers get this little bit of back story and history with real characters and plot rather than boring narrative. Better yet, even if you haven’t read Promise and Purpose, you can read Genesis first and not be lost. So it’s another way to enter the Soul Savers world. Yay! We all win!
Thanks again, Christina, for being such a gracious hostess! I hope you all will check my Soul Savers Series.
About Kristie's books:
Genesis
A father who reveals his truth.
Twins who take different paths—one light, one dark.
Angels who have plans for them both
And Demons who do as well.
So the Earthly battle for souls ignites…
A tale that is over 2,000 years old, this is the story of the Amadis beginnings.
Twins who take different paths—one light, one dark.
Angels who have plans for them both
And Demons who do as well.
So the Earthly battle for souls ignites…
A tale that is over 2,000 years old, this is the story of the Amadis beginnings.
Promise
When Alexis Ames is attacked by creatures that can’t be real, she decides it’s time she learns who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their family’s secrets closely. After meeting the inhumanly attractive, multi-talented Tristan Knight, however, Alexis retreats behind her façade of normalcy…until she discovers he’s not exactly normal either. Then their secrets begin to unravel.
Their union brings hope and promise to her family’s secret society, the Angels’ army, and to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy – Satan’s minions and Tristan’s creators. After all, Alexis and Tristan are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.
Purpose
Lost in despair, Alexis teeters on the edge of an abyss, her lifeline of hope fraying into a thin thread. If it snaps, she’ll plunge into complete darkness. With the help of her son and her writing, she’s been able to hold on. Until now. Erratic impulses, disturbing delusions and her own demonic blood threaten her sanity. When she’s forced to choose between hanging onto hope or letting go to serve her Amadis purposes, she faces a decision with inconceivable sacrifices.
Alexis runs to the one place she thinks will provide answers, only to find herself at the center of another battle of good versus evil, not only with the Daemoni, not only within herself…but also against the worst opponent imaginable. But even if she wins, what will she lose?
About the Author
Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, with the first two books, Promise and Purpose, available now and the third book, Devotion, coming February 2012. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis, coming October 2011.
Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at:
Author's Website & Blog: http://www.kristiecook.com/
Series Website: http://www.soulsaversseries.com/
1 comment:
Thank you so much for your guest post Kristie!!
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