The Space Between blog tour: interview & review
It is the middle of the week and we are today's stop on The Space Between Blog Tour hosted by Reading Addiction Book Tours. We have our interview with author Kristie Cook and our review. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
The Space Between (The Book of Phoenix #1) by Kristie Cook
New Adult Paranormal Romance*Paperback/eBook, 393 pages
Published April 5th 2013 by Ang'dora Productions, LLC (first published April 2nd 2013)
When Life Falls to Pieces, Answers Lie in the Space Between
After a month-long dance tour through Italy, 20-year-old Leni Drago returns to Georgia to care for her great-uncle, only to find him gone, the home they shared empty and any evidence he ever existed wiped out. All that’s left is a journal she can’t open.
Jeric Winters has been searching for a piece of his past for over a year, only to reach a dead-end in Georgia. When an urgent and magnetic pull draws him out of his hotel room, he comes face-to-face with the beautiful dancer who’s been haunting his dreams day and night.
Jeric’s one to stay away from—a bad-boy, hit-it-and-quit-it type—but Leni can’t escape the fervent feelings between them. As their own existences begin to crumble around them and shadowy forms that are more monsters than men attack, they realize there’s more to the connection between them than physical fascination.
To solve the riddle their lives have become, they must embark on a journey that requires them to face their pasts and release their true souls. And they must do it fast—dark ones from another world are closing in, intent on killing them.
Permanently.
When did the spark for The Book of Phoenix hit you? Did you know it would be a series?
The idea sparked after my husband told me about a dream he had that became The Space Between. That was back in October 2011. At the time, I just had the basics and then the characters started coming to me over the next week or so. I can't say when I knew it would become a series. I knew early on there were all kinds of directions the concept could take and although it's planned as a trilogy now, there are still options for expanding that or doing spinoffs.
What are your thoughts about the New Adult genre?
I LOVE this genre. My other series, the Soul Savers, is also New Adult and I was told a few years ago that there was no market for main characters in the 18-25 age range. I thought it was crazy because that time of life - between high school and becoming a responsible adult with a career, mortgage and kids - is when we go through the most change. And stories are all about change. New Adult MCs have different issues and challenges to face than YA MCs and also different ways of approaching and overcoming those problems. There's a little more background the characters bring to the story, but outlook on life and love is still somewhat fresh. It's a fun age to write about (and relive vicariously).
What are your favorite things about Leni and Jeric?
I love Leni's spunk - when she allows it to come out. Also her funky style - a little bit of Bohemian, a little country and a little trendy. Jeric...well, let me count the tats. And the piercings. And the muscles underneath. lol Seriously, I love Jeric's brutal honesty and how he doesn't try to be something he's not (which Leni can and does learn from). What you see is what you get with him. I also love his protectiveness. He has no tolerance for bullies.
During the writing process, did anything truly surprise you?
Early on, it was finding out Jeric's deaf. I knew what he looked like and that he was a bad boy, but then I learned why he's like that...which led to realizing he's deaf. I thought, "Dude, really? As if writing from your point of view isn't hard enough?" But that's how he came to me and it all plays a part of the story.
Is it easier writing a second series?
In some ways, yes, but mostly, no. It's like starting a new love relationship - all new people to get to know, learn about and fall in love with. With the Soul Savers, I can dive right in, already knowing so much about the characters. With The Space Between, I had to stop and think more about why the characters did what they did - what were their motivations, was there a story behind their actions and did I need to include it, what would they do next, based on what I knew about them, etc. But I've yet to set any rules of this new world, so there's more freedom to adjust, while in SS, I have to remember rules I set back in book 1 or 2 and make sure I don't break them. It's all fun, though.
What is your best memory about the success of your Soul Savers series?
I think I'm living it right now - as I write this, I'm on my way to the UK for the London Book Fair and a signing tour (and on my way home by the time you read this). Of course, the Amazon Top 100 paid list is also quite memorable. *grin*
Do you have any outstanding memories from your book signings?
I imagine I will after this UK tour. Other than that, last year's RT Booklovers Convention was fun because I met fans in real life who I'd been chatting with online for years. I'm looking forward to that one again in May.
What are you working on now and what can readers expect to see in the next installment of The Book of Phoenix series?
I'm working on the next Soul Savers book right now, then the next part of The Book of Phoenix. In the next BoP book, we'll follow Leni and Jeric on their first mission as Guardians, as well as get to know some of the other members of the Phoenix.
About the author:
Kristie Cook
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, a New Adult paranormal romance/contemporary fantasy, with the first four books, Promise, Purpose, Devotion and Power available now and the next book coming in June 2013. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella, currently available. Over 160,000 Soul Savers books have been sold, with Promise peaking at #54 on the Amazon Top 100 Paid list and at #1 in the Amazon Fantasy category.
The Space Between, which releases April 2013, kicks off her second New Adult paranormal series, The Book of Phoenix.
Besides writing, Kristie 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:
Writing a review of The Space Between is hard--I don't want to say much about the story line for fear of revealing too much. This New Adult paranormal romance features a couple, dancer Leni and model Jeric, who accidentally meet in Italy. They are like magnets, inexplicably drawn to each other, though neither knows why. When Leni returns home to the US, Leni has to follow. From there their lives begin to drastically change. A world and events they never knew about is revealed. As their attraction draws them closer they must face the threats in order to stay alive and find out exactly what is going on between them.
Strong characters and a well realized world drew me into The Space Between. Leni is feisty and fun as she celebrates her last night with a dance troupe in Italy. As her home life crumbles, she is forced to delve deeper into everything and figure out what the strange leather bound book contains. She can't shake her strange feelings for underwear model Jeric. Why does she feel empty when he's not around? Jeric is a bad boy, such a player, and has no problem with the strange women who pick him up. When he spots the girl from his dreams in Italy, his life is seriously changed. He doesn't want to think about others, just the spirited girl with wild curls and green eyes.
Both characters were well written and the settings were vividly painted I felt I was there. The first half of the story was slower paced building up with tension as these two meet and figure out the obstacles plaguing them. The subject was refreshing and uniquely created. I liked Leni but was't crazy about Jeric. The paranormal aspect did surprise and intrigue me. Kristie Cook has a nice way of bringing scenes to life and making readers experience her character's emotions so strongly.
Rating: 3.5
1/2
Cover comment:
Works for me.
Book source:
I received a promotional copy in return for my honest review.
Laurie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the review. I hope it means 3 1/2 is a good one. I loved it and I think Jeric's character is intriguing because of being blind and still has a strong pull toward Leni. This is the first paranormal book I have read so it was a very new and exciting twist for me.
Jeric is definitely not for everyone. lol Curious about your thoughts on Jacey and Micah since you didn't mention them at all. :) Thank you for the review and for being a stop along the release tour!
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