Interview with K.A. Emmons Author of The Blood Race
Give a warm welcome to K.A. Emmons, author of The Blood Race Trilogy. Today we are taking a look at the first two books, The Blood Race and Worlds Beneath.
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about K.A and The Blood Race trilogy.
What defines you as an author? As a person? Are they one in the same?
That’s an excellent question. I truly think that what defines me as a person and as a writer are definitely one and the same… for me, writing is simply part of who I am. It’s how I understand myself and the world around me. Writing is how I think and live. It helps me in every imaginable way. I’m a very faith-oriented person, and my writing is much the same; the stories I weave create themselves, springing from this idea that anything is possible, and that we are innately powerful beings with limitless potential. It’s ideas like these that totally power me as a person, and as a writer.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
I’ve been writing seriously since I was around 11 years old, and my family was actually instrumental in inspiring and encouraging me to write. I have incredibly inspiring artists for parents, and they were always motivating me to find my own path and pursue my dreams in unconventional ways. On top of that, my sister and I have always been very close. She’s a writer herself, and we spent most of our childhood sitting around our family’s dining room table with pots of tea and ink on our fingers; scribbling away at some new story idea.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
If even one of my readers takes away this idea that we are powerful and made for so much, well, I’d be thrilled. In my stories and characters I see a common race toward something bigger – a concept that fills me: that we are far more powerful than we realize, and that, no matter who we are, or where we come from, there is a warrior inside each and every single one of us, just waiting to break out.
Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?
Ideas typically come flying at me like a rabid goose from out of left field, and I’m frightfully notorious for never writing anything down. I’m a brooder, so I typically just spend 90% of my time and energy thinking about the story and turning it round in my mind like a gem until the story is written and finished. I’ve always been fascinated by the illusive randomness of inspiration, actually – and how it often does come out of “nowhere”.
Tell us a little about The Blood Race:
All Ion Jacobs ever wanted was to be normal. But when you’re capable of killing with your very thoughts, it’s hard to blend in with the crowd.
Running from his past and living in fear of being discovered, Ion knows he will never be an average college student. But when Hawk, the beautiful, mysterious girl next door unearths his darkest secret, Ion’s life is flipped upside-down. He’s shocked to discover a whole world of people just like him — a world in another dimension, where things like levitation, shape-shifting, and immortality are not only possible… they’re normal.
Forced to keep more secrets than ever before, Ion struggles to control his powers in the real world while commuting between realms — until his arch enemy starts a fight he can’t escape. Now he has sealed the fate of the Dimension, severing their connection to the real world, and locking himself inside forever. But a deadly threat hidden in plain sight may cost Ion more than just his freedom — it may cost him his life.
The Blood Race is the first book in K.A. Emmons’ riveting new sci-fi/fantasy thriller series. If you like epic urban fantasy, fresh takes on super powers, deep allegories, raw emotions and intricate plots that surprise you at every turn, you’ll love the first novel in Emmons’ page-turning series.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/LBV7Nh-1YQo
A peek between the pages of The Blood Race, Book One:
I had no idea
where I was or who I was really speaking to, in fact. Up until the car
incident, Sensei had simply been “the crazy old guy next door.” Now he was
beginning to feel like my only connection to sanity. I had no reason to trust
him, but something in me gravitated towards it.
where I was or who I was really speaking to, in fact. Up until the car
incident, Sensei had simply been “the crazy old guy next door.” Now he was
beginning to feel like my only connection to sanity. I had no reason to trust
him, but something in me gravitated towards it.
“Sensei, how did
you know about me?” I asked. “Hawk said that you’ve been watching me—how did
you find me? How did you know about my powers?”
you know about me?” I asked. “Hawk said that you’ve been watching me—how did
you find me? How did you know about my powers?”
His deep-set
eyes studied my face. “You still have not answered the question.”
eyes studied my face. “You still have not answered the question.”
I held his gaze
for a moment, then let go of a sigh. “I don’t know the answer to your question.
I don’t even know who I am.”
for a moment, then let go of a sigh. “I don’t know the answer to your question.
I don’t even know who I am.”
“Would you like
to know who you are?” I nodded slightly.
to know who you are?” I nodded slightly.
“Then that is
the answer to the question,” he said. “You wish to learn who you really are.
Where you have come from. And it is for that reason that you have been brought
here.”
the answer to the question,” he said. “You wish to learn who you really are.
Where you have come from. And it is for that reason that you have been brought
here.”
“But why?” I
asked.
asked.
“Because you
were created to protect that which is to come, Ion.”
were created to protect that which is to come, Ion.”
I thought about
it for a moment before shaking my head. “I don’t get it.” “Every generation to
walk the earth has, hidden within its repetition and
it for a moment before shaking my head. “I don’t get it.” “Every generation to
walk the earth has, hidden within its repetition and
pattern, a few
who will resist. A few who will realize that they are inherently different from
others,” Sensei replied. “Most will follow the pattern cut through the density
of the forest, because they are afraid to stray from that which is familiar.
But a few will stray—the anomalies. Those who recognize their own powers and
allow their abilities to guide them.”
who will resist. A few who will realize that they are inherently different from
others,” Sensei replied. “Most will follow the pattern cut through the density
of the forest, because they are afraid to stray from that which is familiar.
But a few will stray—the anomalies. Those who recognize their own powers and
allow their abilities to guide them.”
There was that
word again. The word that had provoked me to the point of driving a knife
through Hawk’s hand only hours before. Coming from him, though, it didn’t have
the same effect.
word again. The word that had provoked me to the point of driving a knife
through Hawk’s hand only hours before. Coming from him, though, it didn’t have
the same effect.
“I created this
dimension to protect you. Because you are the only ones who have awakened to
protect the future from what it has become.”
dimension to protect you. Because you are the only ones who have awakened to
protect the future from what it has become.”
“How do you know
what the future is going to be like?” I asked. “You talk about it like it
already exists.”
what the future is going to be like?” I asked. “You talk about it like it
already exists.”
“Because,” he
said, “I have seen it.” “You’ve seen the future?”
said, “I have seen it.” “You’ve seen the future?”
Sensei nodded.
“So this whole…”
I looked for the right word. “Dimension. You created it?”
I looked for the right word. “Dimension. You created it?”
“I am it.”
I stared at him.
“Wait, what?”
“Wait, what?”
“When you healed
Hawk, when you altered reality with your very thoughts, you projected that
which is within you into that which is without. When you practice that for
eternity, this,” he gestured towards our surroundings, “is the result.”
Hawk, when you altered reality with your very thoughts, you projected that
which is within you into that which is without. When you practice that for
eternity, this,” he gestured towards our surroundings, “is the result.”
“You’ve found
every one of us… every one of the anomalies?” “From past, present, and future.”
every one of us… every one of the anomalies?” “From past, present, and future.”
My head was
starting to hurt.
starting to hurt.
“You were the
one who fixed my face, weren’t you.” It wasn’t a question. Sensei nodded. “I
could imagine how much it hurt.”
one who fixed my face, weren’t you.” It wasn’t a question. Sensei nodded. “I
could imagine how much it hurt.”
“Yeah, well. You
imagined correctly.” I laughed mirthlessly. “God, this is
imagined correctly.” I laughed mirthlessly. “God, this is
insane.”
“It is your
choice to make, Ion. Hawk will teach you how to utilize the portals, and you
may come and go.” He folded his hands. “Or you may return to your world
permanently—but you must tell no one what we have discussed or what you have
seen here.”
choice to make, Ion. Hawk will teach you how to utilize the portals, and you
may come and go.” He folded his hands. “Or you may return to your world
permanently—but you must tell no one what we have discussed or what you have
seen here.”
“I want to
stay,” I said, without hesitation, surprising myself.
stay,” I said, without hesitation, surprising myself.
Tell us a bit about the second book, Worlds Beneath:
I used to think that seeing was believing, but now, as I struggle to stay alive below the ravine, I begin to realize that – good or bad – I will see whatever I believe.
“Who are you, Icarus, that the earth opens its mouth to receive your blood?” Sensei’s words were my last thoughts before I fell into the bottomless ravine, plunging toward my own death, and bringing about Hawk’s at the same time. Or so I thought.
I woke up underwater. I awoke in a strange and unfamiliar world, filled with maze-like forest, shadows, and nightmares seemingly as vivid and dangerous as reality. I had no idea who I was, or how I got there – I couldn’t remember anything, until I remembered her: Hawk. The other half of my soul.
I knew that in order for her to stay alive, I had to survive and find a way out. But that’s easier said than done when you’re trapped in a realm as deadly as your every thought – and dominated by a hierarchy of ravenous wolf packs.
Alerted by a dream, I realize that Hawk has left the Dimension to come find me. For an instant, I rediscover hope. But that hope quickly burns to ash when I realize that we may not be the only ones down here. Someone else with a thirst for her blood may have survived the fall too. And I may have just lured her right into the jaws of a predator even fiercer than the wolves.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/hDa7Tc9CQnE
A peek between the pages of Worlds Beneath, Book Two:
I would be lying
if I said I wasn’t scared. The very things that were potential beacons of hope
were also bright red warning flags. There was no way for me to know what I was
walking into.
if I said I wasn’t scared. The very things that were potential beacons of hope
were also bright red warning flags. There was no way for me to know what I was
walking into.
I waited until
nightfall. Until the sky was dark and the stars were like sparkling pinpricks
in satin overhead. I watched him light a fresh fire after failing to rekindle
the last, using two rocks. It reminded me of my own newly acquired ability to
channel fire. When I thought about it, I could practically feel the heat
tingling in the tips of my wings.
nightfall. Until the sky was dark and the stars were like sparkling pinpricks
in satin overhead. I watched him light a fresh fire after failing to rekindle
the last, using two rocks. It reminded me of my own newly acquired ability to
channel fire. When I thought about it, I could practically feel the heat
tingling in the tips of my wings.
He sat down,
cross-legged, by the fire, and the black wolves dispersed into the woods,
seeming on edge as the starlight flickered down through the trees. I heard
distant howls on occasion.
cross-legged, by the fire, and the black wolves dispersed into the woods,
seeming on edge as the starlight flickered down through the trees. I heard
distant howls on occasion.
The young man’s
features were illuminated by the crackling fire. He seemed to have all but
forgotten I was there. He held a small journal in his hand and seemed to be
writing or making a sketch with charcoal.
features were illuminated by the crackling fire. He seemed to have all but
forgotten I was there. He held a small journal in his hand and seemed to be
writing or making a sketch with charcoal.
Finally, he rose
again and went inside the shelter, and the opportunity for me to make my
entrance presented itself.
again and went inside the shelter, and the opportunity for me to make my
entrance presented itself.
I left the
branch and flew several yards into the forest. I landed softly on the ground
below and transformed back into my human form. I didn’t want him to know I
could shift; that had to remain a secret.
branch and flew several yards into the forest. I landed softly on the ground
below and transformed back into my human form. I didn’t want him to know I
could shift; that had to remain a secret.
I straightened
my clothes and took a shaky breath.
my clothes and took a shaky breath.
I slowed to a
halt at the very edge of the clearing, waiting to see if and when he would
emerge from the shelter. When he didn’t, I finally stepped forward into the
clearing.
halt at the very edge of the clearing, waiting to see if and when he would
emerge from the shelter. When he didn’t, I finally stepped forward into the
clearing.
I walked farther
in towards the flickering shades of yellow and orange. The snap of a twig under
my foot disrupted the chorus of crickets and the distant, occasional howls. It
was enough to cause an audible stir from within the shelter. A moment later the
curtain parted. The dark eyes met mine from across the flames. He stared at me
like someone who hadn’t seen another living soul in a hundred years.
in towards the flickering shades of yellow and orange. The snap of a twig under
my foot disrupted the chorus of crickets and the distant, occasional howls. It
was enough to cause an audible stir from within the shelter. A moment later the
curtain parted. The dark eyes met mine from across the flames. He stared at me
like someone who hadn’t seen another living soul in a hundred years.
He stepped out
completely. The connection between our eyes didn’t falter.
completely. The connection between our eyes didn’t falter.
“Who are you?”
he asked, in a curious voice edged with an accent. “Where did you come from?”
he asked, in a curious voice edged with an accent. “Where did you come from?”
I pulled in a
deep breath, debating what kind of cover story to give.
deep breath, debating what kind of cover story to give.
“The wolves,” I
replied slowly. “I followed one of the black wolves, and it led me here.”
replied slowly. “I followed one of the black wolves, and it led me here.”
I swallowed,
watching his expression closely. “Where exactly is this place?” I asked.
watching his expression closely. “Where exactly is this place?” I asked.
He stared at me
for a moment longer, seeming puzzled by the question, and then he looked around
us. “Must everything have a name?” He seemed to be musing more than asking. “It
is reality. I know nothing beyond it.”
for a moment longer, seeming puzzled by the question, and then he looked around
us. “Must everything have a name?” He seemed to be musing more than asking. “It
is reality. I know nothing beyond it.”
“Nothing?” I
questioned. “You’ve always lived here?” He nodded. “It certainly feels like
it.”
questioned. “You’ve always lived here?” He nodded. “It certainly feels like
it.”
“Are you alone
here?” He nodded again. “How is that possible?”
here?” He nodded again. “How is that possible?”
He shrugged,
turning his attention back to me. “Could I not ask the same of you?”
turning his attention back to me. “Could I not ask the same of you?”
He could indeed.
I struggled to
come up with something to say.
come up with something to say.
“I awoke in a
place like this, but covered in snow.” I thought back to the tunnel in the
embankment. “And then the wolf led me here. The wolves you talk to.”
place like this, but covered in snow.” I thought back to the tunnel in the
embankment. “And then the wolf led me here. The wolves you talk to.”
He studied me a
moment longer and then smiled. “I talk to them because they are mine.”
moment longer and then smiled. “I talk to them because they are mine.”
“Yours?”
He knelt beside
the fire, picking up the journal and closing it. “It is hard for you to
understand, but if you stay, you will learn that no one knows where exactly
this place is.”
the fire, picking up the journal and closing it. “It is hard for you to
understand, but if you stay, you will learn that no one knows where exactly
this place is.”
He paused to
pick up a stick with which he began prodding the fire. “And no one knows how to
leave,” he said, seeming to muse once more to himself. “Or should I say,
escape.”
pick up a stick with which he began prodding the fire. “And no one knows how to
leave,” he said, seeming to muse once more to himself. “Or should I say,
escape.”
I watched him
for a moment. “I don’t want to stay.” “You wish to find your way home, then?”
for a moment. “I don’t want to stay.” “You wish to find your way home, then?”
About the Author:
When she’s not hermiting away in her colorfully-painted home office writing her next science fiction, passionate story-teller Kate Emmons is probably working on the nonprofit organization she founded, Blue Freedom. An organization designed to teach students and young adults about whales and dolphins and the importance of keeping them in the wild.
Katie’s other passions include traveling, hiking, and surfing, which she also loves to blog about.
She lives in the often-snowy hills of rugged Vermont with her husband and dog named Rocket.
Website: https://kaemmons.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaemmonsauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmonswrites
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Blood Race Trilogy!
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