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Author Interview with L.K. Rigel + Giveaway
Filed in Giveaways , Interview , L.K. Rigel , The Latin Lover Posted on June 17, 2011 @ 6:00 am
18 comments
Today we welcome to Book Lovers Inc. sci-fi romance author L.K. Rigel, who pens the epic sci-fi-fantasy-romance trilogy: the Apocalypto series (Space Junque
(To get a first taste of the stories, you can read my review of Space Junque and Spiderwork here on BLI.)
Stella: Hi Linda, welcome to Book Lovers Inc! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Linda: I live in California with my cat, Coleridge. I’ve been a newspaper reporter, a singing waitress, the lead singer in a band, and a court reporter, and I’ve written stories and songs all my life.
Stella: Can you describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser? Do you have any rituals or aids to help you get into the right mindset to write?
Linda: I must have coffee! Preferably a large latte with many shots of espresso and no foam. The two most important ingredients to a good writing day are coffee and time. My style is a hybrid of planning and pantsing. I first work out the story’s setting and what the characters want. Then I write from the middle outward. I usually write the end fairly close to when I start a new book. I almost always write the beginning last.
Stella: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?
Linda: The magic of books doesn’t happen in the writing but in the reading. A real Book Lover knows that. She comes alive herself within the world of the book, and outside the book she loves to talk with other Book Lovers about the characters and what happened in that world.
Stella: You write sci-fi romance. Could you tell us why you chose to write in this genre? Or you just had an idea for a story and it happened to be a sci-fi story?
Linda: I wrote Space Junque after I wrote Bleeder, as a prequel to explain how the fantastical world of Bleeder evolved from this realistic world, so it had to have some scientific credibility. As for the romance, I wouldn’t want to read a book without a love story, and writing one wouldn’t be any fun either!
Stella: Could you tell our readers a bit about your Apocalypto series? The unique world, the characters, species, the bigger picture?
Linda: About 80 years from now, pollution is so rampant that natural fertility is rare in human beings and most children are engineered in hospitals. Eco-terrorists plunge the entire world into war, and the god Samael purges the world with fire. The human race survives, and the gods are back. There are new species and mutated species. Fertile women are among the most powerful people on the planet, are paid obscene amounts for their services, and choose their clients from among the world’s royalty.
Stella: And then whet their appetite for Space Junque, Spiderwork and Bleeder by telling them a bit more about them?
Linda: In Space Junque, the old world falls apart and the gods return. With the aid of Jake Ardri, pilot of the Space Junque, Char Meadowlark has to battle eco-goons and deal with a goddess while trying to survive the apocalypse.
, the old world falls apart and the gods return. With the aid of Jake Ardri, pilot of the Space Junque, Char Meadowlark has to battle eco-goons and deal with a goddess while trying to survive the apocalypse.In Spiderwork, Durga the chosen one implements the new world order dictated by the goddess Asherah. She has no intention of falling in love, ever, but Khai of Luxor has his own ideas about that.
, Durga the chosen one implements the new world order dictated by the goddess Asherah. She has no intention of falling in love, ever, but Khai of Luxor has his own ideas about that.In Bleeder, the new world has been established for several generations. The heroine Mallory is positioned for a pampered life as a chalice, one of the world’s rare fertile females. The kings of Garrick are still trying to take over the world, and as Mallory becomes a key element in Garrick’s plans she also comes to question the world order that gives her such privilege.
, the new world has been established for several generations. The heroine Mallory is positioned for a pampered life as a chalice, one of the world’s rare fertile females. The kings of Garrick are still trying to take over the world, and as Mallory becomes a key element in Garrick’s plans she also comes to question the world order that gives her such privilege.
Stella: Is the Apocalypto series your first novels or did you write under another pen name? If yes, what kind of books?
Linda: I’ve finished many books over the years while learning how to write. The one that I might pull out for another look is a 500-plus page family saga about three generations set from 1776 to 1850. Yikes! It’s a great story – or bunch of stories. It might make a good trilogy – or doorstopper.
Stella: I’m curious to know what is the best thing about writing sci-fi romance?
Linda: Don’t forget the fantasy part! The best thing is being able to create new worlds with endless possibilities.
Stella: Can you share some behind the scenes secrets with us about the novels or your writing? (How long did it take you to write the novel? Were you writing them simultaneously? And from the moment they were/it was finished to publish it?)
Linda: I wrote Space Junque when Bleeder was on submission to two publishers. By the time I finished Space Junque, I had decided to go the independent route, so I pulled Bleeder from the publishers. When Space Junque came out, readers wanted to know more about Durga and what happened to Jake and Char, so Bleeder had to take another backseat for Spiderwork.
Stella: How many books are you planning in the Apocalypto series? What is next on your schedule?
Linda: I’m planning three more in the Apocalypto series. Copperhead tells Jordana’s story and goes back pre-apocalypse, gets into ghosting and the Talibanos Unidos and the DOGs. It covers a long time span from before the events of Space Junque up to the opening of Bleeder. Then there will be two more books after Bleeder on the time line.
Stella: Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your books?
Linda: If you like love stories, political intrigue, and characters with special powers, you’ll love the Apocalypto series.
Stella: Can you summarize the Apocalypto series for us twitterstyle (140 characters or less)? OR would you rather write a short twitter style introduction by some of the main characters?
Linda: RT: @Mallory wants @Edmund, the @Empanii want to be free @Garrick wants @Mallory – and shapeshifters stole her baby’s soul! #postapocapunk
Stella: If there was a literary crossover, which fictional hero/heroine could you imagine welcoming to your series as either BFF love interest or nemesis to the heroines?
Linda: I’ve been watching the HBO production of Game of Thrones, and I’ve fallen in love with Daenerys Targaryen. It would be fun to see Mallory and Daenerys team up to battle Lady Bron for control of Garrick.
Stella: Now some quick questions-answers (I’m not saying it will be easy):
Favourite book/author?Linda: This is impossible to answer! But at the moment, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series.
Stella: Literary character who you would like to have as best friend?
Linda: Jack Aubrey of the Aubrey-Maturin books.
Stella: Favourite movie?
Linda: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Stella: Author you would die to co-write a book with?
Linda: Lemony Snicket
Stella: Genre you could never write?
Linda: Horror
Stella: Genre you would like to try your hand at next?
Linda: I’m actually doing it right now – an erotic fairytale
Stella: Best thing about being an author?
Linda: Hearing that someone enjoyed a story I wrote.
Stella: Worst thing about being an author?
Linda: Constantly wanting to scream “read my book!” in a “leave Britney alone!” voice.
Stella: Please complete:
Linda: Deadlines make me get it done.
Bloggers make me so happy!
Stella: And last, can you share a little trivia about yourself not many people know about you?
Linda: In 2005, I had gastric bypass surgery and afterwards lost 110 pounds.
Stella: Thank you Linda for answering my questions!
You can find out more about Linda and her books at her website: http://www.lkrigel.com/
And you are in luck! For a limited time only you can get Space Junque (Book #1 in the Apocalypto series) free at iTunes and Spiderwork (Book #2) is free at Smashwords right now!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~
Linda generously offered a copy of Bleeder (Book #3) to a lucky commenter.
All you have to do is leave a comment/question for Linda.
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)
Please leave us a way to contact you.
(Email address or twitter name – no way to contact you – no entry).
This giveaway is open worldwide!
Giveaway ends on Saturday, July 2 and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good luck!
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Great interview! I must really say that the covers for your books are gorgeous – I wonder how much influence do you have on the final covers?
danaan at gmx dot at
Thanks for the contest!
I love the different takes and aspects of bringing god back to a destroyed and/or futuristic world. A very cool concept. I hope to get to read them some day.
jason at jasonkivela dot com
I agree with Birgit, covers are amazing! Also great interview 🙂 I always hate when someone ask me about my favourite book. i don´t have just one favourite book. It´s impossible for me choose just one so I´m glad when someone agrees with me 😀
Thanks for chance to win!
Rathouska.jana@gmail.com
Thanks for the question. I love my covers too, ha! I actually have final say over my covers.
Space Junque and Bleeder were designed completely by Robin Ludwig Design, and Robin designed the Spiderwork cover using art by Lady Symphonia.
Great interview. I love your cats name. I haven't read you as of yet. I generally stick w/paranormal but looks like I may be checking you out. These look really interesting. Okay, how did you come up with these names? They're different – I like them.
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
I do have strange titles, I admit it. But I love them!
Space junk is the term for all the debris that orbits earth, stuff left by astronauts or the result of random accidents. Jake, the hero, names his shuttle the Space Junque. He likes to say to women "do you want to see my Junque?" He thinks he's hilarious.
Durga, the heroine of Spiderwork, has a tattoo on her shoulder of a black widow spider. It was put there by the goddess Asherah when Asherah made Durga "the chosen one" to implement the rules of the new world order.
A few generations later, Mallory is an obscure noncitizen in a settlement whose life changes because she bleeds — she is made fertile by Asherah. Because of that, she's caught up in political intrigues at the highest level.
Great interview Linda! I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for Bleeder and it's one of the most intriguing and interesting books I've read all year. I loved it!
Great interview. Your books sound really good. And i love your covers. There beautiful! thank you!
shadow_kohler@att.net
Great interview! These books sound really interesting and I've already snagged the first two so I can start reading them 🙂
smaccall AT comcast.net
Your book covers are awesome and guaranteed to catch anyone's eye's. I can't was it to read my 1st book by you. I am going to order the 1st2 in the series and wait to see if maybe I win the 3rd, then if not I will have to order &buy it.
Christine
chrissy6341 at aol dot com
Great interview. This is the first time I've heard of your books but I really want to try one now. I can't wait to read them.
Christine and Danni –
That's fantastic – happy reading!
And for iBooks users, Spiderwork is also free there for awhile at this link http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/spiderwork-apocalypto-2/id433464145?mt=11
I enjoyed the interview and I can't wait to check out your books. I love SciFi Romance so your books really appeal to me.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
I love the cover of Spiderwork. The graphic is beautiful. I got both of the free books. I look forward to reading them. Thanks for the giveaway.
jepebATverizonDOTnet
BLEEDER looks like an amazing read. I loved the interview & will be reading all the books from the Apocalypto series. So pleased they were brought to my attention.
Would love to read this series! The cover is a very pretty colour ! =)
booksforcompany @ gmail.com
I'm excited to start reading this series. Thank you, Linda for writing these books and giving us the opportunity to win Bleeder.
ktsullivan03 at gmail.com
Congrats to this author on her weight loss! Quite an accomplishment.
meredithfl at gmail dot com