Thursday, March 20, 2014

Author, author... Win the Rings by K.D. Van Brunt

...read all about it !!!
 




Welcome KD, so great to have you here with us.  Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I live in the great state of Maryland with my wife and dog.  During the day, I work in a law firm.  I’ve written a number of non-fiction works, but this is my first novel—now,I’ve been trying to write this first novel for what seems like forever, but perhaps like a good wine it just takes time to come together.
 

Do real life events find their way into your stories?

Yes, but I try not to be too obvious.  Also, real places I’ve visited or lived at.



Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?

Not family usually (they’re kind of boring, actually), but definitely some of the more colorful people I’ve met over the years can see a hint of themselves in some characters. Bu usually, I find myself drawing on great characters I loved in books I read. 

 
 
Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?

There are some themes I enjoy reading, and so they tend to reappear.  I love underdogs.  I love redemption.  I love characters refusing to give up even in the face of hopeless situations and impossible odds. So, I want that stuff in my story.

 
 
When do you write?  Early morning? During the day sometime or all day?  After the kids go to bed?

A typical writing day for me begins at about 4:30am.  I’ll write until 7am or so and then go to work.  At work, I try to edit stuff I’ve already written at lunch, and then I’ll edit some more after work. So, my truly creative writing stage takes place in the early morning dark with a cup of coffee and a deadly silent house, interrupted only by the sound of my snoring dog who insists on sleeping at my feet wherever I am.  Sigh.

 
 
 
How do you feel about marketing your book?

Writing the book was like running a marathon—Just put one foot in front of the other and don't think about how many miles you still have to go.  Promoting it is beginning to feel like running a second marathon.  There’s so many millions of books clamoring for attention that it’s a real chore trying to be heard above the din. I thought I was social media savvy before, but there is a lot I didn’t know and have had to learn—mostly the hard way.  

You have to endure a ton of rejection getting a book published.  I knew that going in.  What I didn’t quite realize is that you have to endure another ton of rejection promoting your book too. 

 
 
 
What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?

Definitely Twitter and blogs that focus on particular subgenres. You need to go where the people are at who are the  readers for you type of book. And chef Boyardee, it bit ain’t easy—and with that, I think we may have the start of the lyrics to a really bad country song.

 
 
 
Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in?

Final manuscript, definitely. 

 
 
 
Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing?  If so, what is it?

Yes, science fiction.  As a kid,I grew up hooked on the genre—I loved Andre Norton, Heinlein, Asimov, etc. One day I’m going to take the plunge myself. 

 
 
 
Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?

I’m always the anti-hero/heroine.  The hero/heroine is always the person that made the right choices I didn’t make.

 
 
 
Just for fun, I have a few personal questions, 

Favorite 5

1)      Favorite Male Actor  - Russell Crowe

2)      Favorite vehicle – Chevrolet Camaro (my car)

3)      Favorite way to relax – Listening to my playlists

4)      Favorite ice cream – The darkest chocolate available

5)      Favorite outfit – Plain, worn out jeans and a sweatshirt

And for a bonus:  If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be?  (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)

I stay in the states, I like it here, but I’d probably go back to where I spent many years growing up–Seattle.

 
 
 
Where can our readers find you?? 

Email: kvbrunt@gmail.com

Twitter: @kdvanbrunt

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kdvanbrunt

Website/blog: www.kdvanbrunt.com


Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21395951-win-the-rings

 

 

Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?

 

My book WIN THE RINGS was published on March 7. You can read excerpts and bonus content and click through to Amazon to buy at my website (www.kdvanbrunt) or here (www.evernightteen.com).



Backcover:

Jace has been the property of the U.S. Army since they found out about her when she was five, and now she has become one of its most valuable weapons. But Jace is not the only one of her kind. Gray is one too, but with the help of his sister, he has spent most of his sixteen years hiding from the Army.

Now, the Army has found out about Gray and they cannot allow him to roam free. Operating on the theory that it takes one to catch one, Jace is send out with a special ops squad to hunt Gray down. But Jace is not the only one pursuing Gray, and the competition is after her too. What ensues is a desperate chase through city after city as duty and honor collide with love and sacrifice.

 Okay, one last thing before we let you leave us today.  Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share?  I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share but it's totally up to you.

I love to cook too.  Here’s a favorite of mine:

Reisling Chicken

Ingredients:

 

1 whole chicken cut into 8 pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

4 medium leeks, chopped

2 tablespoons shallot, chopped

4 medium carrots, chopped diagonally in one inch pieces

1-1/2 cups of a nice Alsatian Riesling (the rest of the bottle for the cook)

1 1/2 pound small red potatoes

2 tablespoons tarragon, chopped

1/2 cup crème fraîche or heavy cream

Fresh lemon juice to taste

 

Steps

*        Preheat oven to 350F with rack in middle.

*        Sprinkle Chicken pieces with salt and pepper.

*        Heat oil with 1 tablespoon butter in a wide 5-quart heavy ovenproof pot over medium-high heat and brown chicken. Transfer to a plate. Pour out the oil.

*        Cook leeks, shallot, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in remaining butter, covered, over medium-low heat until leeks are pale golden.

*        Add back chicken, skin sides up, with any juices from plate, carrots, and wine and boil until liquid is reduced by half.

*        Cover pot and braise chicken in oven until cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. 

*        While chicken braises, peel potatoes, cover with cold water and add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer until potatoes are just tender (15 minutes or so). Drain in a colander, then return to saucepan. Add tarragon and shake to coat.

*        Stir crème fraîche/heavy cream into chicken mixture and season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, then add potatoes.

 
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