Gotta Write Network would like to welcome Kai Andersen. Ms. Andersen has three books out now, and another contracted through Samhain publishing. Welcome and thank you for joining us.
Serena: I went to your website and did a little research before trying to write up this interview. I have to say that it is a very pretty site and that the content is amazing!
Kai: Thank you so much! I'm very proud of it, coz I designed and created the site myself. I have to tell you that it was very hard at the start, because I haven't ever put up a website at all!
Serena: There are a lot of wonderful things that I just HAVE to ask you about. First of all, in your bio you mention the strong heroine who isn't afraid to go after what she wants. Do you see yourself in that role?
Kai: Yes. I wasn't like that at all when I was younger. I was timid and shy. However, as I grew older, I realized that life is only so short and if I don't go after the things that I want or fight for them, I may regret it the rest of my life. And even if I don't get them, at least, I know that I've tried.
Serena: I noticed that your upcoming book, Mind Games 1: Mine Over Matter, has a fabulous role reversal; it's a dude in distress. That's totally in keeping with your ideal heroine, can you please tell us more about this book?
Kai: Actually, at the start of the book, it was Holly who was in distress. Hungry and desperate, Holly Donovan was also jobless and homeless. Finally, it was her former classmate, wealthy Becky Feldman, who helped her by offering her a job. This gave Holly the opportunity to meet Warren Feldman, Becky's sinfully sexy nephew. Sparks flew between the two, and things started to roll when Warren insisted on seducing her by using the very psychic powers that he despised. There's a small excerpt in my website where you can read about Warren's, uh, seduction: http://www.kai-andersen.com/WIPMG.html
Though Holly resisted at first, she eventually gave into the desires of her body. Their relationship grew and developed throughout the course of the book. However, unbeknownst to them, certain evil forces were at work against them and threatening their lives. When Warren was kidnapped and the villain tried to harm her, his power may be the only thing that can save them. Of course, not before Holly had a hand at rescuing Warren first! <g>
Serena:The excerpt you have posted for Mine Over Matter is just cruel. WHAT DID HE DO TO HER???? And when is it coming out?
Kai: What he did to her is… A SECRET!!! I just so love teasing all of you! It's an art we writers need to perfect once we published our first book. LOL
Mine Over Matter will be published by Samhain Publishing www.samhainpublishing.com and it would be due out later this year.
Serena:I'm also curious to hear the background about your recently released book, Heart of the Woolf. Could you please give us a rundown of both the book and the process behind the writing?
Kai:Heart of the Woolf is a werewolf paranormal story with romantic suspense elements. The story opens with Adrienne receiving phone threats and bizarre gifts that escalated into life-and-death situations over the course of the story. A woman with secrets, she didn't know whom to trust. One of these secrets is her lusty fantasies concerning her luscious boss, Jake Woolf. What she didn't know is that Jake is not only a werewolf, but an empath as well, able to pick up on her secret desires and longings.
Jake was inspired by my ex-boss, who has this great body, and ooh, this to-die-for and drool-worthy butt. I found myself getting distracted while working, very distracted. LOL I decided there and then that he has to have a book of his own! As I fantasize about him, a thought popped into my head: "What if he could hear my thoughts? Wouldn't that be great? Thus, Adrienne was born. For the summary and excerpt, follow this link: http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=250
Serena: You mention that it is the first in a series, can you tell us anything about forthcoming books in that series?
Kai: I'm currently working on the sequel to Heart of the Woolf, tentatively entitled Sleeping with the Woolf. The sequel continues the story of Jake and Adrienne as they encounter another barrier they'd have to hurdle in their growing relationship. Adrienne would come face to face with the mastermind who'd sought to exterminate her in Heart of the Woolf, and Jake would face his greatest fear. Jared and Marcy would continue to delight with their mutual barbs as they deny their attraction to one another.
The third book features Jared and Marcy's story. The plot is still hazy at this point, but being a PI, Jared is up to his neck in investigations as he has a mystery to solve, which is somehow connected to Marcy. Oops, 'nuff said, except that there's a villain here too.
Serena: You have another series out, Tales of Enchantment, can you tell us about it?
Kai: Presently, I have two books out in the Tales of Enchantment series. These books are based on known fairy tales that we know and love. Of course, I've added a few twists here and there. LOL
The first one, "The Question of Royalty," was based on the story of a prince who was looking to wed a real princess, entitled "The Princess and the Pea." The second one, "The Quest," was about this quest for "The Golden Bir." In "The Quest," Princess Giselda sets out on a quest to rescue her fiancé. On the journey, she fell in lust with her bodyguard, Rodin, who can't resist teaching her about the erotic arts of the bedchamber, only of course, they weren't doing it in the bedchamber! But much as Rodin loves her luscious body, he wants her heart even more. Their desperate quest may bring him destruction...or his greatest prize.
Serena: Do you have a favorite genre to read or write?
Kai: Romance with paranormal, suspense and fantasy elements are my absolute favorites! I also love reading stories with vampires and shifters, especially if the hero is one yummy and delicious stud of a man I'd love to bring home with me. On a permanent basis! LOL So, I suppose it isn't such a surprise that my writing would revolve around these themes.
Serena: I've noticed that there are a lot of paranormal themes in your books. Can you tell us why you are drawn to that?
Kai: I've always loved things which are out of the ordinary (except for ghosts - they scare me to death!). Mysteries always fascinate me, and I'd love to know how to develop my own psychic powers! Wouldn't it be grand if I can read everybody's mind? Then I'd know if someone were thinking bad things about me. <g>
Mainly, I'm fascinated with paranormals because I love exploring and theorizing how these powers work and how they could be used to get out of sticky situations or to put people in said sticky situations!
Serena: What else do you have in the works?
Kai: There's also my first vampire story, entitled Long Hard Winter. I'm very excited about this one because it's a story I've been wanting to write for a long time. It's a story about love, tragedy, loss, guilt and peace.
On the other hand, Dreamscape 1: Perchance to Dream is a paranormal in the tradition of Romeo and Juliet, complete with two feuding families. However, unlike Romeo and Juliet, Heath Sullivan would not let their love be deterred by divided family loyalties. One night, he bridged the chasm and came to Erica Langdon… in her dreams.
Serena: Is there anything else that you'd like to add?
Kai: Yes! I'd love for you to visit my site at http://www.kai-andersen.com/. I’m currently revamping my website, so please come and visit again at this same url. How do you know it's the new website? It would contain excerpts from the three works in progress books mentioned above. <g>
I may be reached here by email and I would be delighted if you would join me at my e-group. We're small at present, but we're sure to grow. I'm preparing contests and free Short Sensual Delights (sounds like ice cream, huh?), which are to come in the near future. In fact, I've just released one entitled "By Moonlight" a few weeks ago to the group. As a member of my group, you'll be the first to know and read about these things, as well as news about my upcoming books and works in progress! It isn't high-volume e-mail, or you can always set your membership to digest or special notice.
I also have a newly-created blog. Of course, there are only a few things there now, as I've just started, but I hope you come back and often to read my new entries! And comment on them, please! I'd like for someone to "talk to," or to slap me awake when I'm being stupid. LOL
