Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Karilyn Bentley and Magical Dragons Visit!

interview with Suzanne
Banditas and Bandit Buddies I'd love for you to help me welcome a very good friend, Karilyn Bentley to the lair. Karilyn is here to tell us all about her debut paranormal romance, MAGICAL LOVER.

Suz: Welcome Karilyn! Pull up a barstool and we'll share some sangria punch in honor of your first visit as a guest. As you know I've been so excited about showcasing your book in the lair. We Banditas LOVE call stories. Would you tell us how you got the call for your first sale?

Karilyn: Hi Suzie! Hi Banditas and Bandit Buddies! Yum, I love your sangria punch (takes another sip). I've been excited too about you showcasing my book! ? (puts the sangria down lest she drink too much and make no sense)


The Call.

My first story published was a novella in the Taming of the Wolf anthology put out by The Wild Rose Press a couple of years ago. I entered a contest where they chose the top six stories and placed as number four. The winners were announced online and I logged in and saw my name.

It was Halloween so all these kids were coming to the door and I was jumping around in a state of shock. Since the winners were noted online and I didn't get a call from an editor I kept thinking I had it wrong, that I couldn't have won. So I kept going to the door and dumping candy in bags and then running back to stare at my name on the winners list. It was rather surreal.

The Call for Magical Lover was more like a series of emails between my editor and me about changes I needed in order for her to contract the story. I made the changes and-yippee!!-she made the offer! And here we are with my first novel.

Suz: We've had some interesting shape shifter books pop up in the Bandit Lair. Yours is particularly interesting as yours is a dragon shifter. Why did you choose this particular shifter?

Karilyn: When I decided to write romance, I knew I needed a world to return to (because people were going to buy my books and want to read more stories from me, right?? I've always been a big fan of fantasies, so it was natural to set the world in a whole different place. And I've always liked a story with dragons. At the time I wrote Magical Lover, there were very few dragon shifters out there. It took six years and more revisions than I can count to bring Magical Lover to its print form.

Suz: At the beginning of MAGICAL LOVER, Thoren, your hero has a special goal regarding halflings when he meets Keara, your heroine. What is that mission?

Karilyn: Thoren is a reconnaissance specialist, who has been tasked with finding Halflings and returning them to Draconia. Apparently, many of the male Draconi have been parking their scales in non-Draconi females' caves and producing offspring. As a whole, Draconi are very picky about keeping magical beings on their land. Hence Thoren's Halfling finding duties.

Suz: Keara is in a bit of a predicament when she meets Thoren. How does she get out of it?

Karilyn: Keara has red hair and green eyes (a sure sign of a Halfling, although she doesn't know that's what she is) and has the misfortune of living in a town that shuns all coloring except for brown hair and brown eyes. As one of the town's outcasts, she is believed to be a witch and is caught by the town's nobleman. Instead of killing her, he plans on marrying her, which to her way of thinking is worse than death. Enter Thoren to the rescue.

Suz: Was it easy building a world for dragon shifters? By the way, we have our own dragon here in the Lair, so I'm sure Ermingarde is going to demand we keep a copy here for her to read!

Karilyn: I do hope Ermingarde likes the dragon shifters in Magical Lover! I'll be happy to give her a copy. One doesn't want to upset a dragon! Personally, I think world building is fun. It wasn't hard to do since the story came to me in this world, but like all world building, one has to be consistent. I had to know the way the world worked, what the rules were and never break those rules. Occasionally that created problems, but then, natural laws in our world create problems too.

Suz: What's next for our readers to expect from you?

Karilyn: I'm so glad you asked! I have a novella coming out next month featuring the wolf pack from Werewolves of London, the novella in the Taming of the Wolf anthology (which BTW is no longer available for sale. Bummer. I'm working on getting the novella back out, though). Wolf Mates releases on 10/19/11 from The Wild Rose Press. I'm also working on Warrior Lover, which is the story after Magical Lover.

Here's a blurb and excerpt from Magical Lover.

Blurb:
In a world where men can become dragons, Thoren is one of the most powerful. As a shape-shifting Draconi, Thoren wants nothing more than to continue searching for Halfling children, and returning them to Draconia. The last thing he wants or needs is a mate-until he meets Keara, an outcast unaware of the power that lies within her. Keara doesn't know what to make of Thoren or of the magic he practices. She learned early to keep her magic hidden-her witchy red hair and green eyes are burden enough. When Thoren offers his hand in place of a forced marriage with Lord Simon, Keara jumps at the chance to leave her town behind. But she fears Thoren will shun her when he discovers the truth about her abilities. Can Thoren convince Keara she is his lifemate, or will her secret talent be the wedge that drives them apart?

Excerpt:


"I know enough to realize she denied you." The stranger growled at Lord Simon, his voice gentling as he turned to Keara. "She will take me though, won't you?"


Keara locked her gaze on the stranger, drawn by his green eyes that looked so much like her own. She had never seen green eyes on anyone else, but knew what they meant. Remembered what her grandmother had told her about them.


"Green eyes are the mark of evil, girl," the old woman liked to say. "Be wary of them."
The wind whipped the stranger's hair about his face. A chiseled jaw topped by firm lips that whitened around the edges and a long straight nose comprised a face tightened in anger. His compelling eyes bored into hers.


She couldn't stop staring at those eyes, all the while his fingers continued their steady pattern against her mark, sending sensuous feelings coursing through her veins.


A stranger or Lord Simon? The man whose touch sent zingers of pleasure throughout her body, or the possibly crazy, but socially acceptable man who might have her best interest in mind. Did she actually think that?


There was no choice. It took two tries to get the words out of her dry mouth.


"I'll take you." She lifted her chin toward the stranger and said a silent prayer he would spare her life.

Thank you again Banditas and Bandit Buddies for letting me stop by! If you'd like to contact me, my contact info is on my website: www.karilynbentley.com.

I'll be giving away a free pdf of Magical Lover to one lucky commentator. What is your favorite type of shifter and why?

58 comments:

Sheree said...

I'm still hoping to read about a giant-insect shifter someday... ;)

Donna MacMeans said...

Hey congrats Sheree. The GR is yours today, though he may be fat and lazy after feasting on Tawny's potato salad.

I think I'll pass on Sheree's insect shifters (grin). I think I saw enough of those in Mexico!

Karilyn - your dragon shifters are intriguing. Hope you start a trend. Good Luck with these.

Kim in Baltimore said...

Nanaue is a shark shapeshifter on Oahu! His inland cave (cut off from retreating tides) is embeded in the Waianae Mountain Range near Yokohama Bay.

Helen said...

Well done Sheree have fun with him

Karilyn

I do love the sound of this book I soo love shapeshifters most of the ones I have read have been wolves or big cats but I have read one book with dragon shifters in it (Kendra Leigh Castle) and loved it.

Probably because I have read more about big cat shifters they would be my favourite they are so sleek, but that could easily change to dragons very soon LOL.

Loved the blurb and the excerpt congrats on the release and thanks Suz for inviting Karilyn along today to meet us I do love meeting new authors

Have Fun
Helen

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Sheree,
Thank you for stopping by! When you find that insect shifter, let me know. That sounds like an interesting story! :)

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Donna,
Thank you for stopping by! Hope you enjoy the story!

Have a great day!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Kim,
Great idea about a shark shapeshifter! Thank you for stopping by!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Helen,
Thank you for the kind words! I too like cat or wolf shifters. But there is just something about dragons. :) Hope you enjoy the story!

Kathy Ivan said...

Good morning, Karilyn. I'm about halfway through this book and its FABULOUS! Great story and great worldbuilding. I am so enjoying it. Congratulations on your release and wishing you many more sales. :-)

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Kathy,
Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm so glad to hear you are enjoying the book! Have a great day!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Sheree! Has the Golden Rooster visiting affected you mind? GIANT-INSECT SHIFTERS?!?! LOL

There is a book with a lizard shifter by Catherine Spangler. I think it's the one titled Shadow Fires. But I can't remember exactly. You might like that one. It's sorta close to giant-insect shifters.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Donna! Glad you're home from Mexico!

We're not quite that far south, but we do have some rather giant bugs around here, that's for sure!

I saw some really cool dragon art when doing this blog, but couldn't find any on the free sites to post. I'm thinking that would be one fierce hero!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Kim! Nanaue is a shark shapeshifter on Oahu! His inland cave (cut off from retreating tides) is embeded in the Waianae Mountain Range near Yokohama Bay.

How cool! Is this part of the Hawaiian culture mythology? What's the story?

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Helen! How are things down in Australia?

I like to read about cat shifters, too, but since I'm allergic to cats, am thinking I'd never want to meet one! Wolf shifters...now there's something I can get into!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Kathy Ivan! Thanks for popping in from the Plotting Princesses blog today. Always a pleasure to see you here!

I agree, Karilyn did a great job in her world building, didn't she?

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Okay, to answer your question, Karilyn, I love wolf shifters and bear shifters! Yep, nothing like a big old growly bear to make me think hero!! hehehe

Angela Hicks said...

Hi Karilyn!

I love your dragon shifters!

They're super hot and so interesting. Congratulations on your new release!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Suzie,
Thank you again for having me visit you bandits today! Sherilyn Kenyon has some bear shifters for you, if you haven't already read them. And of course, my wolf shifters come out next month. :) Dragons still rule though! hehe!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Angela,
Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words! Hope you enjoy the story!

Have a great day!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Karilyn! Welcome to the Lair! We're so happy to have you visit with us, esp. if you bring dragons along.

(Ermingarde gets lonely sometimes, though she'd never admit it.)

I love the sound of your book. Then again, I love me some dragons. Grins.

My fav shifter would have to be dragons - I loved Patty Briggs's shifter in Dragon Bones; but I also love the cats, like the shifters in the old Witch World books by Andre Norton.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Sheree, btw congrats on nabbing the rooster!

and Donna, you said: I think I'll pass on Sheree's insect shifters (grin). I think I saw enough of those in Mexico!

*shudder* I think I'd pass on those too...

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Kathy! Glad you stopped in. You said: Great story and great worldbuilding. I am so enjoying it. Congratulations on your release and wishing you many more sales. :-)

Oh, lovely! So glad you're reading it!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Suz! Thanks for having Karilyn on today!

You said: Yep, nothing like a big old growly bear to make me think hero!! hehehe

Grins. GrizzerBears. That would make a good shifter. Who writes bear-shifters?

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Ah, Karilyn answered my question. Which of Kenyon's books have bear-shifters, Karilyn?

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Jeanne:
Grins. GrizzerBears. That would make a good shifter. Who writes bear-shifters?


Like Karilyn said, Sherrilyn has a great group of bear shifters in the Pellietier family. And they're all hunky blonds!!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Suz said: Like Karilyn said, Sherrilyn has a great group of bear shifters in the Pellietier family. And they're all hunky blonds!!

Ah! Excellent! Love me some bears...

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Jeanne,
Glad to help out Ermingarde. Can't let a dragon go lonely (or hungry!). That's great that you enjoy dragon shifters! We have something in common! :) Hope you enjoy the story!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Jeanne,
To answer your question, one of Sherilyn's recent bear releases is No Mercy. Yummy hunky bears! :)

Dianna Love said...

Congrats Sheree - he's hard to catch. :)

Karilyn - Your book sounds wonderful. I saw a lot of fabulous dragon art this weekend at DragonCon - talk about a creature that brings out all sorts of emotion from fear to love. Congratulations on selling and best wishes on your career.

Anna Sugden said...

Welcome to the Lair, Karilyn - congrats on your release.

I must admit to being a traditionalist when it comes to shifters - love the big cats. That said, I loved the hawk shifter in Jess Andersen's Nightkeepers series. I also love Virginia Kantra's selkies - do they count?

The idea of a dragon shifter is cool!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Dianna,
Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words! Maybe I should try to attend DragonCon. Gotta love me some dragons. :)

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Anna,
I think we can count the selkies as shifters. :) I like cats too, but as I'm allergic to them, I tend to prefer the canine variety or of course, dragons! :)Thank you for stopping by! Hope you enjoy the story!

Rebekah E. said...

It is too hard to pick my favorite shifter I really like them all.

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Rebekah,
Thank you for stopping by! There are a lot of good shifters out there. Along with good shifter stories. :) Enjoy the rest of your day!

Minna said...

Well, I like dragon and wolf shifters. I don't know why, I just like them.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Karilyn said: To answer your question, one of Sherilyn's recent bear releases is No Mercy. Yummy hunky bears! :)

Grins. Obviously, someone else who thinks fur is good.

Grins.

Joan said...

Welcome Karilyn!!!!!

My, my....Suz gave you only the sangria punch? I have an in with the Goddess Sangria for the full on stuff.

Have a goblet, mortal.....

Your dragon shapeshifters sound fab and I do love me some fantasy. Good luck and every success with this series.

You've done wolves and dragons...any other stories brewing?

Joan said...

An insect shapeshifter story would not have a HEA in my book.

The hero oh, come...(squish)

Um, to be continued :D

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Minna,
Thank you for stopping by. I'm with you on the love for dragon and wolf shifters. :) Everyone has their favs!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Jeanne,
Fur is great! Keeps you warm in the winter. It's all soft. Oh my, must get on another topic. :)

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Joan,
Thank you for the sangria! Yummy! :) I do hope you enjoy Thoren and Keara's story. For right now, I only have dragon and wolf shifters brewing. But stick around, I'm sure something else will come to mind. :)

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Sheree! I wonder if the Rooster is a secret shape shifter! He's certainly shifty!

Welcome to the lair, Karilyn! Pull up a cabana boy and make yourself comfy. Congratulations on the release of MAGICAL LOVER. I love the idea of dragon shape shifter - some of my favorite books are the Shana Abe series about the Drakon.

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Anna,
Thank you! I'll have to call over one of those cabana boys as soon as I finish my drink. :) I like Shana Abe's Drakon books too. Dragon shifters are great, if I may say so. Hope you enjoy Magical Lover!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Welcome to the Lair, Karilyn!

Thanx so much for inviting her, Suz! Yes, we do love our shifters around here! And LOL, Fo on the GR being SHIFTY. He certainly is that! ;-)

I loved Katie MacAlister's dragon shifters, and ALL of Sherrilyn's critters. Though I must admit that wolf-shifters always leave me wondering about doggie breath, and cats and their self grooming are a bit off-putting too. That must be why my faves are selkies. Well, and they are Celtic too. ;-)

AC

catslady said...

I like the large cats but I don't think I've ever read about a shape-shifter dragon and that sounds very exciting and new!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Loucinda aka AC,
Thank you for stopping by and saying hi! I love your post! Have never thought of shifters having doggy breath or wanting to groom themselves and hacking up hairballs on dates. :) Hope you enjoy the dragon shifters in Magical Lover!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Catslady,
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you like the dragon shifters in Magical Lover!

Kate Carlisle said...

Welcome to the Lair, Karilyn! Sorry I'm a little late. I just hope there's some sangria left for me! :-)

Great interview, Suz and Karilyn! I love dragon shifters! Talk about an alpha male, right? Your excerpt was so intriguing, I'm already hooked. I'll be downloading this one for sure!

And a shark shapeshifter, Kim? Love that idea!

Ooh, and a Rooster shapeshifter!Congrats on snagging the beast, Sheree. Love your giant-insect shapeshifter, too. Snork!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Kate,
Thank you for stopping by! There's plenty of sangria left for you. :) Happy to hear that you enjoyed the excerpt! Hope you like the book too!

Have a great evening!

Cassondra said...

Hi Karilyn, and welcome!

I have a thing for dragons, and your story sounds lovely. *sigh* Now my tbr pile will grow even taller WAH!

Nancy said...

Sheree, congrats on the bird!

Karilyn, welcome, and congrats on your release. I think I'd pick a wolf shifter if I have to pick.

Good luck wirh the book!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Cassondra,
Thank you for saying hi! I'm glad to hear you like dragons and hope you enjoy Magical Lover! I have one of those ever growing TBR piles too. :)

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Nancy,
Thank you! I like wolf shifters too. :) Hope you have a great evening!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Thank you so much for welcoming me to the Lair today! You Bandits made me feel right at home. I'm signing off now since I have to get up bright and early before the sun tomorrow. Hope you all have a great evening! Happy reading!

pjpuppymom said...

Hi Karilyn! Welcome to the lair. I was introduced to dragon shifters a couple years ago and, have to admit, fell a bit in love. :) I'm looking forward to reading your story!

Fedora said...

Great to meet you, Karilyn! Dragon shifters are among my favorites; I also like the wolves and big cats :) Shifters in general are a very fun type of character to read about!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi PJ,
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoy Magical Lover. :) Dragon shifters are great!

Have a great day!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Flchen1,
Thank you for stopping by! I like cat and wolf shifters too. :) They are fun to read about. Enjoy the rest of your day!