Friday FabOoolousness – Kait Nolan, Seeing Red

I first met Kait Nolan online in early 2011.  She was actually one of the first writers to help me understand the Twitterverse and practically held my hand as I started my new journey into social media.

Author Kait Nolan

Not only is Kait friendly, she is multi-talented and strives to assist other writers on a daily basis.  First and foremost, she writes paranormal romance (YA and adult) – the reason we’re featuring her today here at Friday FabOoolousness.  Kait also blogs, sharing tasty meals and gluten-free treats with the rest of us.  But perhaps even more impressive than her writing and culinary skills, is the fact that Kait manages a self-created online writing community and challenge, A Round of Words in Eighty Days, or Row80 to the “rowers”.

I’m a proud Row80 participant, and I recommend it to any and all writers – published and non-published.  Heck, I would shout it from the rooftops if I didn’t think my neighbors would call the cops.  Row80 is one of the best communities of writers on the Internet today.  Rowers encourage others, support one another, and help each other to the finish line.  All because of Kait…

Did I mention that Kait has one of the best personalities and senses of humor out there?  Don’t believe me?

Just read her bio:

Kait Nolan is stuck in an office all day, sometimes juggling all three of her jobs at once with the skill of a trained bear—sometimes with a similar temperament. After hours, she uses her powers for good, creating escapist fiction. The work of this Mississippi native is packed with action, romance, and the kinds of imaginative paranormal creatures you’d want to sweep you off your feet…or eat your boss.  When she’s not working or writing, she’s in her kitchen, heading up a revolution to Retake Homemade from her cooking blog, Pots and Plots.

Red:

Every fairy tale has a dark side…

Elodie Rose has a secret. Any day, she’ll become a wolf and succumb to the violence that’s cursed her family for centuries. For seventeen years she’s hidden who and what she is. But now someone knows the truth and is determined to exterminate her family line. Living on borrowed time in the midst of this dangerous game of hide and seek, the last thing Elodie needs to do is fall in love. But Sawyer is determined to protect her, and the brooding, angry boy is more than what he seems. Can they outsmart a madman? And if they survive, will they find a way to beat the curse for good?

*****

When you were a little girl, did you dream of one day writing a bestseller, or did you have something else in mind?

Oh heck yeah.  I’ve been telling stories to entertain myself since I was knee-high, as I was the only girl in a neighborhood of boys who thought I had cooties (silly boys).  I couldn’t imagine a better job than telling stories for a living, so I set my cap on that when I was twelve years old, and other than a handful of detours for stuff like, you know, college and master’s degrees, I haven’t wavered.

Where do you find the inspiration for your stories?

There’s no one place.  A snatch of conversation.  Random articles from the net.  A scrap of a fairy tale or myth.  Dreams.  Sometimes just a random “what if…?” thought.

Who are a few of your favorite authors?

Nalini Singh, J.R. Ward, Cassandra Clare, Lilith Saintcrow, Maggie Stiefvater, Nora Roberts, Marjorie M. Liu, and Madeleine L’Engle.   This list could get REALLY long…

The cover art for Red is amazing.  Did you design it yourself?

Oh good God no.  I hired a professional cover designer, Robin Ludwig of Robin Ludwig Designs.  She’s amazingly talented and has done all but one of my covers.

Many writers imagine a celebrity or familiar face when developing their characters.  Did you have anyone particular in mind when writing your protagonist Elodie Rose and why?

I often do, but in this particular case, I had the cover art done early on, so I really had the girl from the cover in my head.

Speaking of celebrities, who are you thinking of at this very moment?

Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn.  We’re watching Return of the King on Bluray.

Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn; I really liked him in The Perfect Murder.

In addition to writing, you publish a weekly food blog titled “Pots and Plots” and you founded the Round of Words in Eighty Days Challenge, more commonly known as Row80 to the Twitterverse.  How do you find the time? 

I am freakishly organized and possibly need an intervention for my addiction to lists.  But mostly it’s that you find time for what you love.  I’m going to cook anyway and calculate all the nutrition information for my meals, which I am gonna write down anyway in order to remember and make it again. It doesn’t take much more time to take pics and put everything up at Pots and Plots—which I actually started so I could access all my favorite recipes from anywhere without needing to take my recipe box.  As for ROW80, well each round I’m joined by ten fabulous sponsors who help me crack the whip, I mean inspire everybody to keep going.

What other hobbies do you enjoy that we don’t know about?

I’m into photography, horseback riding (which I haven’t had an opportunity to do in ages), and hiking.

I wouldn’t be myself without asking about television… What are your favorite television programs airing today? 

NCIS, Bones, Once Upon a Time, Grimm, and Rizzoli & Isles

What is your favorite movie all-time?

It is so not possible to answer that question.  Pride and Prejudice (BBC mini-series), Star Wars the original trilogy only, and the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy

What snacks do you order when at a movie theater? 

Sour Patch Kids and popcorn—butter please!

You write paranormal romance.  Name your favorite book, movie, and television series featuring the paranormal. 

Book: Again, not a fair question to try to narrow it down, but I suppose by dint of how many times I’ve read it, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Movie: Ok, I really had to think about this one because everything that comes to mind is not actually paranormal, it’s fantasy.  I think I’d have to say Stardust because it’s a combination of both.  Or maybe Xmen.  Love Wolverine.

TV series: Um, Buffy, hello?  Followed closely by the first four seasons of Supernatural.  Love me some Dean.

Dean Winchester...enough said.

Before we go, do you believe in fairy tales?

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy…In all fairy tales there is a grain of truth.  Who are we to say which grain is true?

*****

Need more Kait?  Catch up with her at her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads accounts.

Do you have a question for Kait?  Have you read Red – if so, share your thoughts.  What’s your favorite fairy tale – actual tale, TV adaptation, or movie and why?  I’d love to hear from you! 

Before we go, remember to grab your copy of Red if you haven’t already!  Available in ebook from Smashwords, Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon DE,  Sony, the iBookstore, Diesel Ebooks, XinXii, and All Romance EBooks.

Also available in paperback from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository (free international shipping!) and Createspace.

*****

And last but not least, here is a taste of a few of Kait’s other stories…enjoy!

Paranormal beings exist, among us, around us. Their strictest rule: keep the secret.

Forsaken by Shadow

When Embry’s father is kidnapped by human scientists and the Council of Races makes a firm decision of non-intervention, enforcer Embry Hollister must turn her back on her job and her government to go rogue and seek the help of the one great love from her past. Banished from her world years ago, his memory wiped, Cade Shepherd has a new name, a new life, and no knowledge her kind exist. Can he relearn the Shadow Walker skills he learned from her father? And, if they survive, will Embry be able to walk away again?

Devil’s Eye

Trouble. That’s what wolf-shifter Mick thinks when a beautiful woman appears in his New Orleans bar with a hurricane at her back. His first impression is confirmed when Sophie starts asking questions about his missing waitress, Liza. Mick will do anything to rescue a member of the pack he’s made for himself, including forming an unlikely alliance with a woman with a badge.

Blindsight

Isla’s ability as a Seer has made her a life-long captive of a paranormal crime lord. Fae assassin, Ransom, offers her a chance at escape, but when she touches his hand she sees only blood, horror, and apocalypse. What reason can Ransom have for wanting to rescue her, and can she possibly trust a man who deals in death?

Genesis…it’s only the beginning

Genesis is the compilation of Kait’s two novellas and short story, previously published and available individually.  Buy them together and save!

Available in e-book from Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Barnes and Noble, Sony, the iBookstore,  Diesel Ebooks, XinXii, and Smashwords.

Also available in paperback from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository (for international readers) and Createspace.