Interview with kelley Grant, author of The Obsidian Temple
Title: The Obsidian Temple
Author: Kelley Grant
Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Format: Kindle
After a harrowing escape to the desert, Sulis Hasifel finds her calling is not yet fulfilled. Traveling to the Obsidian Temple—the site of an ancient divine battle—Sulis is tasked with mentoring Ava, a young girl with a troubled past. Together, they join a group of magically gifted warriors to re-make the very fabric of the universe. But the fate of the world hinges on whether Ava can harness her power, and some trials cannot be overcome.
Returning to Illian, Sulis's twin Kadar finds that his lover, Farrah, has abandoned their newborn daughter for the revolutionary cause. Not willing to give up his dream of a family, Kadar vows to stay by Farrah's side. But when he finds that Farrah is willing to anger the gods to aid the Forsaken caste's uprising, and as she steps farther down a violent and dark path, Kadar must decide if he will help her…or let the world spin out of control.
In this mesmerizing sequel to Desert Rising, Kelley Grant brings us back to the cities of Illian and Shpeth, drawing her epic fantasy tale closer to the trilogy's stunning conclusion.
ORDER INFORMATION The Obsidian Temple is available for purchase at
Q: Welcome to The Writer's Life, Kelley Grant. Can
you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?
A: I’ve been writing since before college. But
it wasn’t until college that I decided I wanted to write and publish novels. My
debut novel, Desert Rising, was chosen
by Harper Voyager in the open submission contest last year for their Impulse
program. Only about a dozen out of the 5,000 novels submitted were chosen. It
got a starred review from Publishers
Weekly.
Q: Can you please tell us about your book and why
you wrote it?
A: The Obsidian Temple is the second book
of the Desert Rising series. Sulis
and her great feline Djinn return to be swept up in a prophecy and the secrets
of her desert home. Her twin Kadar is entangled in the plight of her Forsaken
love as the city of Illian erupts into turmoil.
Q: What were some of the biggest challenges you
faced writing it?
A: This is
the middle novel of a trilogy. Keeping it a complete, engrossing story, while
building tension for the final book, was a tricky process.
Q: Do you have a press kit and what do you include
in it? Does this press kit appear online
and, if so, can you provide a link to where we can see it?
A: No, I do
not have a press kit.
Q: Have you either spoken to groups of people about
your book or appeared on radio or TV?
What are your upcoming plans for doing so?
A: I spoke on
an epic fantasy panel at Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo in April, along
with Naomi Novik, Peter Brett and Patrick Rothfuss. I will be doing a book signing
at the Book Loft in Columbus, Ohio July 26th and a writing seminar
in Dover, Ohio September 26th.
Q: Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind
sharing who he/she is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even
feel it’s necessary to have one?
A: I am
currently looking for an agent. Harper Voyager accepted my novel through an
unagented period, and I chose to hire a lawyer to help negotiate my contract. I
do feel it is necessary to have an agent. Agents are on your side throughout
the entire publishing process – from editing to publicity. Authors can use all
the support they can get in this often baffling process.
Q: Did you, your agent or publisher prepare a media
blitz before the book came out and would you like to tell us about it?
A: My Harper
Voyager publicist has set up a blog tour through Pump Up Your Books. Harper
Voyager has reduced the first ebook of the series, Desert Rising, to $.99 as a promotion, with a teaser in the back of
the book for The Obsidian Temple.
Q: Do you plan subsequent books?
A: Yes. The
final book of the series will be released in Spring 2016. I am also considering
a second series, set back in time, in the same world.
Q: Thank you for your interview, Kelley Grant. Would you like to tell my readers where they
can find you on the web and how everyone can buy your book?
A: Website: www.kelleygrantbooks.com
Twitter:
@kgrantwrites
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/kelleygrantbooks
The Obsidian Temple releases in ebook on
July 21st and can be found in any ebookstore like Amazon, Barnes and
Noble, Harpercollins.com, Ibooks. The mass market paperback will release in
August and can be ordered at any bookstore.
Kelley Grant grew up in the hills of Ohio’s Amish country. Her best friends were the books she read, stories she created and the forest and fields that inspired her. She and her husband live on a wooded hilltop and are owned by five cats, a dog and numerous uninvited critters. Besides writing, Kelley teaches yoga and meditation, sings kirtan with her husband, and designs brochures and media.
For More Information
Visit Kelley at her website
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