ℚ♫ Hidden: Five Fates [1] - Amy McKinley

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Amy McKinley to talk about her début novel, Hidden (2 November 2015, Champagne Books, 243pages), a Paranormal Romance, book one of the Five Fates series.

Don't miss out on lots of inspiration, fantasy, music and cats! ;-)

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | Review | About the Author | Giveaways & Tour Stops

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A very warm welcome to Amy McKinley.  Thank you for joining us today!

Before we begin with the actual interview, as we love music, Amy has shared with us her music playlist for Hidden - enjoy!

What was the inspiration for Hidden?

"Listening to a radio show host.  It was completely random, as a lot of ideas are.  I was driving and listening to the radio host talk about a celebrity who was having dreams about a demon and this idea just took form.  It totally spun off from one simple statement with nothing in common other than two words: dreams and demon.  I think it was just the right spark of creativity my mind needed to spin and play."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"I would absolutely love to say I’m an artist, like Jade.  But, sadly, I don’t have that ability.  While I adored art class, I lacked true patience in my younger years, as I still do.  While I can draw a badly crafted eye or hand, I cannot claim to be an artist. However, there are very gifted people in my family and I greatly admire their talent and that of several friends.

Personality wise, there are only a few traits that Jade and I share.  If Jade wants something, she will keep going until she gets it.  She has a terrible habit of twirling her hair and is deeply afraid of spiders.  I know, she’s half demon, so spiders?  What’s that all about?  But it’s just who she is and I share those traits with her to a degree, good or bad."

Afraid of spiders... that's what I call a quirk!

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover.  Can you tell us about your cover for Hidden - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"Trisha FitzGerald is the artist for my cover and she did a fantastic job.  I was thrilled when I first saw it.

The scene for the cover depicts Jade running.  To find out why I hope you’ll read her story. :-)"

Why should we read Hidden and the Five Fates Series, and what sets it apart from the rest?

"The mythology in the Five Fates Series is different than what is typically known about the gods, goddesses, and other immortals.  Each of the mythical creatures has a full story of their own."

Who would you recommend Hidden to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark Series, Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld Series, and Larissa Ione’s Lords of Deliverance Series, to name a few.

As for disclaimers?  Hmm, there are two scenes that I feel are a little iffy, but they do not fall into the categories that I’d really need to warn anyone about."

What do you like to write and read about?  Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I love to write paranormal romance, just can’t seem to help myself.  Creating worlds is so much fun.  I get lost in them.  It’s almost like a free-fall when I’m writing sometimes, especially the dream scenes.  The ones with the gods are exceptionally amusing and I’m instantly caught up in their larger than life personalities . Even as a kid they fascinated me.

As for reading, it depends on what I’m in the mood for.  I adore chick lit or romantic comedy, and of course paranormal and urban fantasy, but there are also many romantic suspense books taking up their fare share of shelf space.  And I’ll fall in love with contemporary as well.  It’s the romance, and the depth of the character’s stories, that pull me in and keep me coming back for more."

What is your writing process?

"I really like to outline and am a plotter at heart.  Hidden did not start out that way.  It began with an idea and developed, later an outline was added.  But the more I wrote, the more I realized how much outlining was really my thing and I incorporated more of a process for the next book.  With the start of an idea, plot points developed, a log line, and a rough draft of the back of the book blurb.  

Then I get to play and see where the story develops in-between the plot points.  

When I sit down to write, with music playing in the background, I’ll move all around my office.  For a while I’ll sit at my desk, then the couch, and finally working on the floor.  Staying in one place is not very easy to do for hours on end.  And I’m not alone while I work . I have three dedicated working cats.  They loyally follow me from place to place, putting in long hours of work (sleep :-) )."

Amy's cats hard at work.

Ahaha!  I have a few helpers like that as well.  In fact, three of them are doing just that as I am typing this!

What is in store next?

"I’m very excited that Champagne Books will release the second book in the series in the spring of 2016.  The next book [Taken] is Layla’s and I’m so thrilled for you get to know her story."

In fact your blog does give a little preview / synopsis for Taken:

" Scarred by childhood abduction, and cursed by the three Fates, Layla evolves into a deadly weapon.  What is honed for protection, when the prophecy activates, becomes a misused tool for death.  To survive, Layla must risk trusting another or becoming another."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"We have three cats and they are my little “working kitties”.  They love to work with me (and I use that term lightly…maybe nap is better).  One is usually sitting on my desk under the lamp or begging to sit in my lap.  The other takes up the small couch and gets annoyed if I decide to join him.  He moves onto the floor or chair, disgusted that I really thought he’d share the space (he cuddles with the kids, I irritate him).  The third is our baby (although she doesn’t look like it). She is the youngest and we have a little box in my office set up as a bed with blankets and pillows.  She cuddles in and likes to be tucked in.  They all have large personalities and love people.  They are one of my huge distractions when I write ;)"

The three working kitties: Karma, Tiger and Princess

Gorgeous!  The little one with the red collar has a cheeky  face, like our youngest kitty, Kahlua :-)
(You can meet our little monsters on our About Us page!)

Thank you again for being with us today, Amy, and I look forward to reading the Five Fates Series!

Hidden - available NOW!

UK:
US:

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