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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Kitty Blitz: The Curse Keepers



About the Curse Keepers
The wall between our world and that of vengeful spirits has protected humanity for more than 400 years. It’s about to come crashing down.
Ellie Lancaster has lived her whole life by the site of the mysterious Lost Colony of Roanoke, the Virginia settlement that vanished without a trace around 1590. Only the descendants of the two men who banished the spirits of an enemy tribe from the material realm know what really happened to the colony. Ellie is one of those descendants—a Curse Keeper. Her father took pains to teach her what he knew of the curse and the responsibilities of its guardians. He taught her that if the two Curse Keepers ever meet, the curse will be lifted, the gate will open, and the raging Native American spirits will be unleashed to seek their revenge.

Despite her father’s seriousness, Ellie has always taken the legend for a harmless fairy tale. Until she meets the darkly handsome, but downright infuriating, Collin Dailey and realizes everything she was told is true. For when they meet, it’s like the air is sucked from the room. Collin’s presence is electrifying… and it’s not just attraction Ellie feels, but the inexorable pull toward her destiny. The prophecy is real, and now Ellie and Collin must battle supernatural forces and their loathing—and passion—for each other to set things right.

The Curse Keepers are all that stand between the world and its destruction.

Today we have a interview with Denise on how Curse Keepers was brought to life


1) Is everything entirely fiction or is it actual myths/legends/or story-based
The beauty of THE CURSE KEEPERS it that it's a mix of fact and fiction. The Lost Colony is real. Everything I've written about Manteo, the Croatan Indian who befriended the colonist, is true to the best of my knowledge. (Although, I speculate much more about Manteo in my short story THIS PLACE IS DEATH that tells how the curse was created. It will be released in February 11, 2014) When possible, I've used actual Algonquian Indian gods and spirits, but so few are known, I've had to create names for some (like the wind gods--they are recorded but without names.)  But the creation story that Ellie experiences is part recorded beliefs mixed with my own imagination. 
2) Then following the first question, why did you pick this certain myth/legend. or story-based?
I was planning the last book of my popular urban fantasy series, Chosen, and I knew I wanted to write another UF series when it was done. The problem is that while I like reading about vampires and shifters, I don't want to write about them. So a my crit partner suggested I base it on the disappearance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Why did it disappear? Why DID it disappear? I wanted something completely unique so I decided to focus on the Algonquian Indians that were in the area when the colonists landed. When I read that the Algonquian's believed they got their strength for war from their gods and spirits and knowing the Native American tribes were hostile, I knew I had a motive to make the colony disappear.

3) How long does it take to research on the Curse Keepers?
Hours and hours and hours and hours. I'm serious. I started researching for the series months before I wrote THE CURSE KEEPERS and a ton while I was writing it. The biggest problem is that there's so little information about the Algonquian Indians I'd read pages of text to find a sentence that helped me. If I had to take a stab at how many hours I've spent researching, I'd guess a minimum of fifty hours. And I'm sure that's on the low side and doesn't count the two trips I've made to Roanoke Island and the town of Manteo. 


4) In the Curse Keepers you mention gods, which one do you find the most scariest? 
Okeus. And you'll find out why in the second book, THE CURSE BREAKERS. In the short story, THIS PLACE IS DEATH, Ananias Dare (also a real historical character--the son-in-law of Virginia governor John White) struggled to accept believing the Algonquaian gods existed since it went against his devout Christian beliefs. Manteo likens the gods to Christian beliefs, calling Okeus Satan. 


5) What's next for the Curse Keepers Series?
47North has contracted three books and three short stories for the series, although I have at least two more books planned. THIS PLACE IS DEATH, the short story showing the creation of the curse comes out February 11, 2014. THE CURSE BREAKERS, the second book releases on May 20, 2014. I'm about to begin writing the second short story-- which will be told entirely from Collin's point of view. 


Random questions
6) If you could have a power, what would it be?
I think I'd like to fly. Not very original, but I could get places faster. It's all about time management. ;)

7) Coffee or Soda?
Are you serious??? You're making me choose??? Okay, coffee. But you'll have to pry my Diet Coke from my aspartame preserved hands. 

8) Print or Ebooks?
I used to grudgingly read eBooks. Now I read them almost exclusively. I love being able to always have my book on my phone if I don't have my Kindle or my iPad.

9) Favorite Chocolate?
Anything dark chocolate. ... Now I craving chocolate.

Thanks Denise for stopping by and answering my questions, and don't worry I'm exactly the same way with my Diet Coke but I don't drink coffee. However I make my diet coke by sodastream, its been a very efficient move on my part :-)

As far a Ebooks, I much rather have the printed version it something you can touch and feel the paper and binding.  

Now time for a Giveaway!


About Denise Grover Swank


New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period.  Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.)  Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks.  She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.

You can find out more about Denise and her other books at: www.denisegroverswank.com.

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