Author Interview w/Excerpt & Giveaway ($15 Amazon/B&N GC) - Eolyn by Karin Rita Gastreich

Eolyn

by Karin Rita Gastreich

 

GENRE: Fantasy 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

BLURB: 

In a land ravaged by civil war, the Mage King Kedehen initiates a ruthless purge of the magas. Eolyn, last daughter of the magas and sole heiress to their forbidden craft, seeks refuge in the South Woods.

When she meets the mysterious Akmael, heir to the throne of this violent realm, she embarks on a path of hope, seduction, betrayal, and war. Desire draws Eolyn toward Akmael’s dark embrace, but fate binds her to Corey of East Selen, a cunning mage whose ambition challenges the limits of love and loyalty.

Can she trust either man?

Hunted in a realm of powerful wizards and brutal deceptions, Eolyn must find her own path to freedom or she will burn on the pyre.


"Vigorously told deceptions and battle scenes, with a romantic thread." -Publishers Weekly

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

EXCERPT: 

The Hunt for Eolyn 

Eolyn lunged at Akmael, hand raised to strike him. He caught her wrist in a vice-like grip that gave pause to her fury.  

In the silence that followed, Akmael measured the heat under Eolyn’s skin, the rhythm of her pulse, the condensation of her breath against the cool night air.  

“Eolyn.” He did not bother to hide the note of surprised hope in his voice. “Are you jealous?” 

She wrenched free of his hold. “Your magic is a disgrace! You have allowed your abilities to be twisted to foul ends. Dragon did not grant us these powers to invoke fear or take advantage of those weaker than ourselves. And our festivals are meant to celebrate the heritage of Moisehén, not to reinforce your authority, much less your sexual prowess.” 

“That may be the case, but your question about the third night of Bel-Aethne…It did not arise out of concern for the proper interpretation and practice of magic. Did it?” 

Eolyn cheeks flushed, but she lifted her chin. “There is no place for jealousy in a maga’s heart.” 

Akmael did not let her finish. He caught her lips in his. In an instant the spark granted to them as adolescents was reignited. Akmael wrapped his arms around her, inhaling her honey and wood aroma, intertwining his fingers in her silky hair, exploring every delicate contour of her face and throat. The force of his passion pushed her back against the raw trunk of a large tree. His hands traveled insatiable over the landscape of her body, at once familiar and new. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Talking with author Karin Rita Gastreich!

 

What is your writing environment? 

I have an office at home where I do most of my writing. But writing isn’t just about sitting in front of the computer and typing. I mull over stories and construct scenes in almost any environment: on the drive to work, during walks through the woods, in my dreams, while listening to music. I guess in a way, life is my writing environment.

Who is your perfect hero/heroine and why? 

The only perfect characters are the imperfect ones. I really like heroes and heroines to have some point of weakness that challenges them in every moment, throughout their lives. No one has perfect information, no one makes the right decision in every situation. I like to see these very human characteristics reflected in our heroes and heroines; it makes it easier, in the long run, for us to be heroes and heroines, too.

What authors have caught your interest lately and why?

I love Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus. It’s such a wonderful blend of fantasy, magic, and romance. I might have to read it again this summer.

 

What type of book have you always wanted to write?

Last year, I finished writing the third novel of The Silver Web trilogy, Daughter of Aithne. I realized, once I finished it, that Daughter of Aithne is the novel I’ve always wanted to write. Daughter of Aithne is the story of two powerful women opposed to each other and yet destined to end a thousand-year cycle of war. It is wonderfully complex and has an extraordinary cast of characters. It took two novels, Eolyn and the soon-to-be-released Sword of Shadows to lay the foundation for this novel. I am very much looking forward to its release next year.

 

Top 3 things on your bucket list?

I would like to spend a month (at least) in Spain, drinking wine, studying flamenco, and writing.  

I want to visit Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. 

I would also like to walk along the Great Wall of China.

 

How did you get the idea for this particular novel?

I’ve read a lot of different kinds of books, but my favorite genres are historical fiction and history. I’m particularly drawn to books about women in history, especially women in medieval and Renaissance times. Women have played important roles throughout history, yet so many of their stories are lost or ignored. In a lot of ways, Eolyn and her companion novels are a mix of the many stories I’ve read over the years about real medieval women.

 

What is your favorite scene in your new release? 

There is a battle scene between Eolyn and the Mage King, Akmael, where both of them shape-shift into wolves. I am a behavioral biologist, so I really enjoyed writing a fight from the perspective of two animals. There’s also a good deal of sexual tension between Eolyn and Akmael, so interweaving that into the conflict was a lot of fun.

What are you working on now and when can we expect it to be available?

Both of Eolyn’s companion novels are finished, so they will be rolled out soon. The Sword of Shadows should be available later this year. Daughter of Aithne is scheduled for release in 2017.  

I am also working on an urban fantasy/paranormal romance called The Hunting Grounds that I hope to release later this year.

 

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I like to drink wine and watch the sunset. I love walks through the forest and along the beach. I’m a travel addict, and I also enjoy reading and listening to music.

 

What is one interesting fact about you that readers don’t know?

I started my career in animal behavior by studying social wasps in the llanos of Venezuela. My research mentor sent me there with one of her post docs and four other undergraduate students. We waded through caiman-ridden swamps, watched flocks of parakeets fly overhead, and searched for the great potoo and other nocturnal animals after sunset. I’ll never forget that experience. It was one of the greatest summers of my life. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Karin Rita Gastreich writes stories of ordinary women and the extraordinary paths they choose. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is part of the biology faculty at Avila University. An ecologist by vocation, Karin has wandered forests and wildlands for over twenty years. Her past times include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance. In addition to The Silver Web trilogy, Karin has published short stories in World Jumping, Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, and 69 Flavors of Paranoia. She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency.

 

Website: http://krgastreich.com  

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EolynChronicles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eolyn-110814625640244/  

 

Purchase link for EOLYN: http://amzn.to/1rtdS86  

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

GIVEAWAY: 

Karin will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway