BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Legacy : Legacy [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Ellery Kane to talk about Legacy (17 September 2014, Balboa Press, 257 pages), a Young Adult Dystopian novel, book one of the Legacy series.

“Kane makes her story stand out…in the deft way she deals with heavy themes related to child abuse, PTSD, and the fear that people cannot ever truly leave the demons of their past behind…A dark, emotional story about rebellion, closely in the tradition of the Divergent and Legend trilogies.” –Kirkus Review

"Legacy is a book that is difficult to put down once started. I finished the book within a few hours... Legacy won't be a story readers will soon forget." ~ San Francisco Book Review

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | The Series | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to Ellery Kane; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

We start with the music playlist for Legacy that Ellery Kane has shared with us - enjoy!

What was the inspiration for the Legacy series?

"My work as a forensic psychologist inspired Legacy. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of patients, including violent criminals, sexual offenders, and victims of severe trauma. Through it all, there is one commonality: Everybody has secrets; everybody has a past. Some struggle to get over it; some learn from it; some are changed by it; some are haunted. What do we do with our pasts? And can we overcome them? Those questions fueled the idea behind Legacy. There are certainly little bits of me sprinkled throughout the entire Legacy series and within each of the characters, most obviously Lex’s mother, Victoria Knightley, who works as a forensic psychiatrist."

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

"The story of Legacy begins with the main character, Lex, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, leaving her mother and heading into the ghost-white fog. That was the image—both magical and haunting—I hoped to capture with the cover. Lucky for me, the very talented Giovanni Auriemma knew just what I was going for. He created this beautiful design, as well the covers for Prophecy, Revelation, and AWOL."

Why should we read the Legacy series and what sets it apart from the rest?

"My perspective and experiences as a forensic psychologist set the Legacy series apart. My work has not only changed me as an author but as a person as well, and it informs everything I write. I strive to create characters who are relatable, as flawed and real as the individuals I encounter every day, and I hope my readers will find themselves turning pages well into the night. Also, Legacy has something for everyone—heart-pounding action; a mysterious bad boy; love in its many forms; a generous heaping of humor; believable sci-fi; and a villain that you’ll love to hate. There’s even a dog."

Can you tell us something quirky about Legacy , its story and characters?

"As a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, I have visited every landmark in the Legacy series, some more than once."

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

"Legacy is intended for a young adult audience (12+)…or for those who are young at heart. Fans of science fiction or dystopian series like Divergent, Legend, and Hunger Games are sure to enjoy it! There is no profanity, mild sexual content, mild/moderate violence, and some drug use."

What is your writing process?

"I don’t have a standard writing process. Mostly, I squeeze in time to write whenever I can, and I try my best to write every day…even if it’s just one sentence. I have a general idea of where the plot is going, but I don’t do a formal outline. Instead, I jot a few scribbles to remind myself of what’s coming next. Counter to advice, I edit and rewrite a ton as I’m going along. A perfectionist at heart, I find it difficult to move on to a new chapter until I feel pretty good about the one I’m working on. And I always read my work aloud. It helps me identify problems (like using the same word too many times) and find places that sound clunky or lack flow. My favorite part of the writing process is the moment when you are totally in the zone—no writer’s block, no second-guessing yourself—just writing, writing, writing!"

What is in store next?

"Though Legacy can be enjoyed as a standalone (no spoilers here!), it is the first in a series. Prophecy, Revelation, and the just-released prequel, AWOL, are all available now! So you won’t have to wait to continue the adventure. Now that the Legacy series is complete, I am working on a thriller tentatively titled, Daddy Darkest."

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?

"This guy is my furry writing partner. Well, I do most of the writing. He does most of the sleeping and looking cute."

He definitely does cute really well... and I am sure he does try to add his own edits ;-) (my bunch send messages and change my computer settings... I am just waiting for them to buy something from Amazon!)

Many thanks for sharing him with us and for spending time with us!