Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Wednesday Promo- Keena Kincaid


Today, please say hello to another Wild Rose Press author, Keena Kincaid. She's gong ot tell us a little about her latest release, Anam Cara.

Why do you write in this genre?

I love larger-than-life heroes, and this genre lends itself perfectly to men who are stronger, faster and more intense than the average male. What also interests me as a writer and a reader is how the hero struggles with the dark side of whatever extra “gift” he possesses. I find it boring when heroes are just superhuman. But if the gift is also a curse, i.e. makes them capable of great deeds, but also isolates or weakens them in some way, I’m hooked.

In ANAM CARA, I wanted the reader to understand the positive and negative aspects of Bran’s magical talents. A descendent of Druids, Bran may possess power, but much of the knowledge associated with it was lost in the millennium between the Roman invasion of England and my 12-century setting. He has little idea of how to use his magic except through trial and error. Primarily, he is a seer. On the surface, this is a good gift because Bran knows which lord will welcome him and which one will make him sleep in the rain. But what happens when he “sees” the lord murdered by his wife? Does Bran tell him? How could he break that news and not cast suspicion on himself? And what are the consequences if he says nothing and the lord is murdered?
This internal angst isn’t on par with Hamlet’s fatal flaw (I’m not writing tragedies, after all) but it does create wonderful conflict within my hero.

Additionally, by making my paranormals historical, I get to layer in societal biases and pressures that only make it more difficult for Bran to live in the “modern” world of medieval England. His ancient magic sets him apart from the world around him at the most basic level, religion, and increases his sense of isolation and need for secrecy.

Yes, more conflict and torture for my characters. I love it.

Bio:
Keena grew up on a farm slightly left of Nowhere, Ohio, where she made pets out of pigs, cows and a half-broke pony named Star. She learned to read by picking words out of an old history book of short stories about children: The Grecian slave boy. The girl from Pompeii. The English knight’s squire.

The stories stuck. She studied history in college and medieval history in graduate school. After honing her writing skills as a journalist, she switched to PR and fiction writing.

She inherited the family’s nomadic gene and has lived in Ohio, Indiana, New York, Missouri and North Carolina, with short stays in places from Colorado to the UK.

When not working or writing, Keena regales her niece and nephews with stories of quick-thinking ladies, mathematically challenged knights, and ill-mannered dragons that chew with their mouths open.

You can learn more about Keena at her website.

Thank you for being here today, Keena!

11 comments:

Miriam Newman said...

I'm halfway through this book and lovint it. It's on the back of my couch just waiting for me to get a moment to get horizontal and dive in again.

Eliza Knight said...

I love larger than life heroes too :) Great blog!

Renee said...

I've recently begun expanding my horizons beyond historicals. I love the sound of your story. I'll have to check it out.

Gotta love mega alpha heroes.

Renee

Anonymous said...

Great info on heroes in general, and specifically in this genre. Can't wait to get your book at the Windy City signing.

Anonymous said...

Keena, are you referring to Sir Cumference? I've got those books! ROFL. Wonderful interview. I'm a big fan of knights. Alas, Paradise Lost beats them hands down! Too familiar... And I swore I wouldn't get philosophical here!

Keena Kincaid said...

Thanks, Miriam. I'm glad you're enjoying ANAM CARA.

Keena Kincaid said...

Denise, I'll be signing at Windy City on Feb. 11, and I can't wait to share this book with my chapter mates.

Keena Kincaid said...

Skhye,
Well, I answered your comment, but I think blogger ate it. :-)

Anyway, Sir Cumference made me chuckle. I'll have to remember it. And if you're referring to Milton's Paradise Lost, it's a great book. I think pride as a curse would be an interesting character trait to explore (although Jane Austen has already done it better than I ever could).

LK Hunsaker said...

Keena, I have this downloaded and just waiting on the ereader I'm hoping to get for Christmas to start on it! I look forward to it.

I can't stand perfect heroes, either. How did they learn enough to become a hero if they have no flaws? It just doesn't add up. And who would want to live with it?

Keena Kincaid said...

I know, Liz. My 11-year-old niece is gaga over Edward Cullen, the vampire hero of Twilight. Me? I find him rather boring. Now it could be because he's forever 17 and I lost interest in 17-year-olds by the the time I was 18. LOL

Keena Kincaid said...

(hit post too soon) or it could be because Edward is, well, perfect. ;-)