Books

Interview with Kathryn Amurra, Author of the “Soothsayer’s Path” Series and the New “Heart’s True Desire” Series

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Today it is my honor and pleasure to share my interview with author, Kathryn Amurra. Kathryn is an award winning author. She has four previously published novels, one in progress, and one that just came out on March 12th. See my post about her new release here.

Q: You won the Georgia Romance Authors’ 2020 Maggie Award for Excellence in the Unpublished Historical Romance category. I’m guessing the book that won that accolade has since been      published. Will you please share which book that is? Also, please share what it felt like or meant to you to win that award.

A: The book that won the award was the second book I published in my Ancient Rome historical romance series Soothsayer’s Path, and that book is called Admonition. It is about a young widow named Sabina who believes she caused her husband’s untimely death with her careless words, so she takes a vow of silence, letting everyone around her think she has been cursed. The hero, Lucius, seems to understand her, even with her self-imposed silence, but when he becomes the target of a political plot, Sabina must decide whether breaking her silence will save his life or merely seal his fate. It was a dream come true to win the Maggie for that book. It happened during Covid, so there was no awards ceremony, and I didn’t even know I’d won until someone from the Georgia Romance Writers emailed me to congratulate me!

Q: According to your Amazon Bio, you have a day job as an intellectual property attorney. Could you tell us what an intellectual property attorney is?  Then, please tell us when you knew you wanted to be an author and why?

A: Intellectual property includes patents (protection for new inventions such as new products, methods of making things, etc.); trademarks (source identifiers, which could be words like AMAZON, designs like the Golden Arches, colors like UPS’s brown color—really anything that conveys a brand); and copyrights (like the rights you have in a book you wrote!). After high school I received a degree in mechanical engineering, worked as an engineer for a few years (where I met my husband), then quit job and went to law school with my husband. When I graduated from law school, I began working as a patent attorney and gradually moved into other areas of intellectual property law. But I’ve always loved to write and have been writing stories since grade school. It has always been my passion. I was just never courageous enough to pursue it formally until about ten years ago.

Kelly: Wow! You’ve done some amazing things. I, for one, am so glad you found your courage to pursue your passion for writing.

Q: Soothsayer, your first published novel and first book in the “Soothsayers Path Series, was published May 2, 2020. How long was the process of writing to published?

A: I started writing Soothsayer in May of 2017, so it took me a full three years to get that one ready to publish! I entered Soothsayer into several writing contests to get critiques and feedback on it, which were very helpful, but the turning point for me was when I won a critique from best-selling romance author Haywood Smith on the first 50 pages of Soothsayer.  She gave me extremely good advice, and then after I revised the book she was kind enough to read the first 100 pages and give me even more advice. I learned a lot from her, and her feedback really improved my writing.

Kelly: Yes, as a writer, I, too, know how important it is to have another writer or an editor who can help you along the writing journey.

Q: According to your Amazon Bio, there is another book in the “Soothsayers Path Series” in the works. Any idea how long your fans will have to wait for this book, and will it be the final book in this series?

A: I started writing the fourth book in the Soothsayer’s Path series soon after publishing Birthright (Book 3), but then I got a wild idea to re-write the first two books I’d written and shelved (which would become Amulet and Timeless), so I put Book 4 on hold. Although it’s still on hold because I’m currently working on a Young Adult Romance based on all the crazy stories my 17-year-old comes home with, I have a very clear idea of Book 4 (called Guardian) and I’m hoping to pick it back up by the end of this year.  I’ll be self-publishing that one, so let’s say it’ll be out by September of 2026, maybe?

Kelly: Oh, how exciting! A YA Romance. Yes, the creative mind of a writer can sometimes cause us to take an unexpected turn to write something we hadn’t planned on in the middle of something else. Also, sometimes things in life cause us to take a break from writing, releasing a book later than we first planned. I hope our readers understand that and will keep watching for these upcoming books. I know I will!

Q: On April 3, 2024, the first book in your latest series, “Heart’s True Desire” was published. It is titled, Amulet. According to Amazon, your first three books don’t have a publisher listed, but Amulet is listed as being published by The Wild Rose Press, Inc. So tell us, did you begin as an indie published author? If so, what made you to decide to switch to traditional publishing?

A: I tried to publish through a publisher with the Soothsayer’s Path series, but my submissions were rejected by agents and publishers because, I was told, Ancient Rome doesn’t sell. So, I decided to publish those on my own because I’d gotten enough feedback, from people not related to me, that the stories were of publishable quality. When I re-wrote the books that became Amulet and Timeless, I decided to try the publisher route again, and this time I was offered a contract from The Wild Rose Press. Having a publisher is nice because you don’t have to deal with formatting the books and there is someone to help with editing. For me, having a publisher—a third party judge of what readers will buy—offer me a contract was also a validation. It meant that I had something that someone in the business thought was worth publishing. But the publisher gets a cut of the profits, as they well should, so I end up making much less per book on the ones with The Wild Rose Press than those I’ve published on my own. With my work-in-progress, the YA, I would like to see if I can get an agent and get a bigger publishing company to buy that book.  We’ll see. It’s just nice to have something to work toward, especially since I love the work!

Q: Your latest series, “Heart’s True Desire”, is a duology, is that right?

The first book, already released, Amulet, and the soon to be released, Timeless.

     I hope you don’t mind my sharing this, but in our communication in regard to me reading and reviewing an ARC of Timeless, you mentioned that this was actually the first book you had written some time ago, when you decided you wanted to write a publishable book. So, would you please tell us why it ended up being published after four other books you wrote?

A: Heart’s True Desire is actually a trilogy, and the next book, called Unholy, will also be published by The Wild Rose Press, probably in early 2026. Unholy will involve the amulet from the first book and is a vampire story that takes place on a college campus. It does not have your typical vampire-human romance ending, but hopefully readers will enjoy it.

Because Timeless was the first book I wrote, it wasn’t very well written. I learned that after submitting the book to agents and editors unsuccessfully. So, I set the manuscript aside and wrote Amulet. Amulet was better (I had learned a few things in that time), but it still had a lot of problems. My storytelling skills really improved with the next book I wrote, Soothsayer, and after getting a lot of feedback and encouragement, I self-published that one. I then wrote and published the next two books in the series, Admonition and Birthright, and I had started writing the fourth (Guardian) when I had the idea to go back and rewrite my first two books Timeless and Amulet, so I set Guardian aside. After more feedback on those re-written books, I went back and re-wrote Timeless (again), adding the story of the ring to relate it to the amulet in Amulet so that the two books could be part of a series. Because Amulet had the more thorough story of the magical amulet and ring’s origin, I thought it made more sense to have Amulet be Book 1 of the series.

Q: After all this, is Timeless nearer and dearer to your heart than your previously published books, or has one of the other books taken that place? Also, of all your published books and Timeless, which is your favorite character from your books and why?

A: There are things I love about all my books, but the book that is closest to my heart really is Timeless. Timeless has a lot of me in it—I began writing it a few years after my mother passed away, so Erin’s grief in the story is mine, too. As for favorite characters, there is something about the hero in Admonition, Lucius, that I absolutely adore. He is confident, almost cocky, but sensitive and sweet at the same time. He is exactly what Sabina needs, and he knows it, but he gives her the space to discover it for herself (for the most part). And he is willing to die for her honor, which, to me, is absolutely swoon worthy.

Kelly: I’m sorry for your loss. Yes, we often put a lot of ourselves in at least one of our books, and sometimes writing a story is therapeutic and helps us heal.

Q: Do readers need to read Amulet before reading Timeless? Also, is there anything else you’d like to share about Timeless before this interview ends?

A: There is a prologue in Timeless that explains the history of the ring and the amulet, so readers will have no problem picking up Timeless without having read Amulet. But if they want a little more about the history of the magical stones, they might want to go back and read Amulet, too!

Q: Thank you so much for your time and for answering these questions, Kathryn. I hope this interview will get a lot of notice and send more readers to your books. Before, we wrap it all up, what else would you like readers to know about you or your books? And, where can readers find you?

A: Thanks so much for talking with me, Kelly, and for all your great questions. It’s a pleasure to have this opportunity to share my story (and the story of my stories) with you! I hope your readers will enjoy my books and will visit my website at https://www.kathrynamurra.com. I have a newsletter that comes out once a month where I share my thoughts on various topics (both romantic and philosophical) and provide updates on what I’m reading and writing. Anyone can subscribe by using the contact form on my website or emailing me directly at kathrynamurra@gmail.com.

My books can be purchased through the links on my website or at the following locations:

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRYWP6SW/

Nook – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/timeless-kathryn-amurra/1146795420

Apple – https://books.apple.com/us/book/timeless/id6740036208

Thanks again for this opportunity!

    

New Release!

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A new book by Kathryn Amurra is available to purchase today! You can find it on Amazon in paperback and ebook, and I’m sure it’s available other places as well. It is the second book in her “Heart’s True Desire” series. You won’t want to miss this book!

I received a free Advanced Reader Copy to write a review. Here is my honest review:

Timeless by Kathryn Amurra is the second book in her “Heart’s True Desire” series. It is a unique story. The male main character, William Abbott, has lived a very long life. He believes his unusually long life is a curse because of something that happened in his past.

The female main character, Erin Dovetree, has no interest in a romantic relationship, until she meets the landlord of the building her grandmother lives in, William Abbot. Not only is Will extremely good-looking, but Erin notices a sadness about him. She finds him mysterious and intriguing.

The story switches back and forth between a past century and the modern day. Ms. Amurra does an excellent job of moving the reader seamlessly back and forth between the two time frames in a way that flows well and is never jolting.

Both William and Erin have their struggles, and this reader couldn’t stop turning pages in hopes that both characters would find love and true happiness. Along their journeys, there were times this reader smiled, laughed out loud, and gasped. Timeless by Kathryn Amurra kept me up past my bedtime more than one night.

One of my favorite things about Timeless is that Ms. Amurra kept at least one of her characters consistent to the very end, which I found quite pleasing and fulfilling, making the end that much more satisfying. Timeless is one of those books I was sad to see end, but I’m sure I will re-read it multiple times over future years, which is something I rarely do. Timeless isn’t just a good romance story. In my opinion, it is a wonderful love story. The kind I don’t find often in today’s world. Both the story and the characters will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you, Kathryn Amurra for Timeless, for wonderful, engaging lovable characters, and a story that resonates with the reader long after the last page. Thank you for a book that includes some important life lessons, and a book that will remain on my Top 10 Favorites list for all time

A Book You Won’t Want to Miss!

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I have been reading Kathryn Amurra’s books ever since her first release in 2020. There is one I haven’t read yet, but will soon! But, today I want you to know about Kathryn Amurra’s upcoming release, Timeless! It is the second book in the “Heart’s True Desire” series, and you can preorder your copy today!

I guarantee you won’t want to miss this book, and while you wait for it’s release, which will happen on March 12, 2025, if you haven’t read the first book in the “Heart’s True Desire” series, Amulet, I suggest you get it and read it while you wait for your copy of Timeless.

Here are the links to preorder Timeless NOW:

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRYWP6SW/

Nook – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/timeless-kathryn-amurra/1146795420

Apple – https://books.apple.com/us/book/timeless/id6740036208

Here’s the book blurb for Timeless:

Erin Dovetree cannot forgive her father for cheating on her mother years ago and has sworn off men altogether. That is until destiny leads her to her grandmother’s incredibly attractive and mysterious landlord.

William Abbott has lived for over a hundred years, cursed with a static and unnatural existence as punishment for his past sins. Although drawn to the lovely and intelligent Erin, he refuses to subject her to the fate that is his alone to bear.

As Erin pieces together the story of Will’s past and discovers the true cause of his timeless existence, she must reconsider the judgments she has made in her own life. And to have any chance at a life together, she and Will must find answers to the questions that have plagued them both.

I finished reading Timeless last night, and let me just say, “I LOVE IT!” Watch for my upcoming Book Review of Timeless, as the release date gets a little closer.

In the meantime, I encourage you to read Amulet, the first book in Ms. Amurra’s “Heart’s True Desire” series. Though both Amulet and Timeless can be read as stand alones, Amulet does have a bit of background for and a connection to Timeless.

For sensitive readers, I will mention that Amulet has profanity in the first chapter or two, as well as in a later chapter, during a telephone conversations between two characters. I, too, am not a fan of profanity, but I was able to skim over the words and keep reading because I was invested in the characters and the story, and thankfully, the profanity was not excessive.

Book Review: Silk by E. B. Roshan

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Silk is the first graphic novel by E.B. Roshan. It follows a brother and sister into the jungle of a fantasy world, where the girl protects spider like creatures who spin a fine silk. However, her brother works for a group of men who believe the spiders are a danger to the people living in the city. As he is torn between his family’s beliefs and his job, a disagreement ensues and the boy is endangered. Will his sister be able to save him?

Although I am not a fan of graphic novels, I found this one to be unique. I like that it is educational in both a scientific and moral sense. The artwork is unique and is black and white. It fits well with the fantasy, jungle, and city setting the story takes place in.

This story is easy to read, and I believe children of middle grades will enjoy it.

Book Review: The Lonely Mortician by D. M. Tregaskis

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I never have time to read an entire book in one sitting, and usually that doesn’t bother me. However, when I started reading The Lonely Mortician by D. M. Tregaskis, I did not want to put it down, and every time I had to, I couldn’t wait until I could pick it up again. I love Closed Door Romance stories in any genre and I read a LOT of them, but I can honestly say that I have never read one like The Lonely Mortician before.

D. M. Tregaskis wrote a story with a very complex story line and a lot of complications for the main female character, but I never once felt like it was bogged down or confusing. From Cinn’s job as a mortician, to someone haunting the house, to the dating game to raise funds for a community library, I was fully engaged in the story.

I found Cinn to be completely relatable and fully understood her confusion in regard to the men she dated for the dating game show. I felt her pain in the loss of people she loved, and not just in death. I also enjoyed watching Cinn’s change from the beginning of the story to the end. It was very realistic.

When two men, from the dating show, expressed serious interest in Cinn, I thought I knew which one I wanted her to choose. However, as the story progressed, that choice appeared much harder and not as crystal clear. D. M. Tregaskis also included some unique elements as well as some unexpected twists, which added depth and more than one positive message to the book.

This was the first book by D. M. Tregaskis I have read, but it will not be the last! I highly recommend The Lonely Mortician by D. M. Tregaskis to anyone from young adults to adults of all ages who enjoy fun, unique romance stories, and I can’t wait to get my next D. M. Tregaskis book.

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell

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A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure is the debut novel of Angela Bell, and what a debut it is!

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book, and once I did, I couldn’t wait to read it. While reading it, I found it increasingly difficult to put down. Unfortunately, I only have 2-3 hours each evening to spend reading. However, this past Sunday, I spent about 5 hours reading this book because I enjoyed it so much!

I have to say that Angela Bell is an outstanding author. This book is incredibly well written and is very unique. The characters grab your heart from the start. The troubles they face and the adventures they have keep you turning pages. A couple of the characters are quite quirky, which adds some unexpected twists and extra fun to the story. There are even some animal characters that have very interesting personalities and behaviors that add to the uniqueness and adventure. This novel includes adventure, history, steampunk, characters who face struggles that we can relate to, danger, suspense, and a sweet romance. Who could ask for more?

It’s also quite apparent that Ms. Bell not only enjoys using metaphors, but is a master at using metaphors. Her metaphors paint pictures in the reader’s mind and add to the fun of reading this book.

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure is also a story about faith, and as I read, I found a need to grab a journal and write down my favorite wise and inspirational quotes from the book:

“What-ifs are not acquainted with what-is, and they spread horrid falsehoods about what-will-be, so why bother entertaining them? I’d sooner invite hope into my home — for even when her predictions miss the mark, she makes for pleasant company and eats far less food.”

“Oh Clara Marie. The Lord never promised that life would be safe. But He did promise to be with us always. Whatever the harrowing journey life may bring, rest assured, you shall never be left to face it alone.”

“Romance and adventure are the idealistic scribblings of Austen and Dumas. Like Elizabeth Bennet and Athos, they are not real. Nor do they exist off the page. To believe otherwise is to suffer disillusionment and heartbreak.”

Elizabeth Bennet’s happily-ever-after might be a work of fiction, but love is real enough. Sometimes it takes idealistic scribblings to remind us of that truth when the whole of our very real, very dark world makes it feel like a lie.”

“You are A maker. Not THE Maker.” Miss Stanton gave his hand a firm squeeze. “Just as Grand would never expect a clock to fix its own windings, God would never expect us to mend our own hearts.”

“Lift your face to the heavens, granddaughter mine! Recall the joyous wonder of dwelling and dreaming beneath a canopy of stars, embracing the peace found in total dependence on Him who spoke their radiance into being. That is my wish for you. That is my prayer.”

“Not all people are treated as palaces, admired by travelers and protected by armed guard. Some of us are treated as a cobbled road, trod upon and soon forgotten. That’s just the way of things.”

“Love is much like a flower, child. You can’t guarantee it’ll grow or endure a bitter winter to bloom again. All you can do is plant what you’re given, tend it faithfully, and rely on the God who cares for the lillies of the field as much as He cares for our hearts.”

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure has definitely won a spot on my Top Ten Favorite Books of All Time and I will never forget characters, Theodore, Clara, Mrs. S, Grand, and even Mr. Forrester, as well as Fred, Phileas, Honorine, and Todd.

I will be eagerly awaiting what Angela Bell has for her readers next.

A Few Thoughts on A Promise for Ellie by Lauraine Snelling

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I recently finished reading A Promise for Ellie by Lauraine Snelling. It is an older book by this author, and is the first book in her “Daughters of Blessing” series. It is the first book I have ever read by Ms. Snelling, and I read it because someone lent it to me and because someone who reviewed my book suggested that if readers like books Lauraine Snelling, they will most likely like my book. Therefore, I wanted to know if my writing is similar, in any way, to Ms. Snelling’s.

So, what did I find? Well, I think this book is too old for me to really use for comparison. This book was copyrighted in 2006.

Ms. Snelling began her writing career in 1982, which interesting enough was the year I graduated from high school. Lauraine Snelling’s first book was written for young adult readers. If you go to her website and click on the “Meet Lauraine” tab, you will find that she then continued to write more horse books for young girls, but has also added historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers. Over the years, she has published more than 80 books to date.

So, back to my thoughts on A Promise for Ellie by Lauraine Snelling. I did find some similarity of style between this book and what I write. However, I would like to read a more recent book by Ms. Snelling at some point to have a better idea of any possible similarities between her writing and mine. I do know that Ms. Snelling writes historical fiction, and many of her books are set in the historical west.

I have read books by other authors, who also write historical fiction set in the historical west, and I suspect my books could be similar to more authors who write about this time period and setting simply because of the time period and setting, as well as the things we discover in our research and include in our books.

I am honored to have a reviewer suggest that readers of Lauraine Snelling, who has been a successful author for many years, would also enjoy my current book, and quite possibly my upcoming books.

An Author Interview of Kelly F. Barr by Jodie Wolfe

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Today, I want to share an interview that Author, Jodie Wolfe did with me to help promote Love by Pony Express. I hope you learn something you didn’t know, about Love by Pony Express, the upcoming books that will be part of the “Stars Into Horses” series, or about me.

Simply click here to go to Jodie’s interview post. Then, come back here and leave a comment or question for me in the comments section.

A New Book by a New Author

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I want to introduce you to:

Marilyn K Blair is a new author and this is her first book. Watch this video to see more about it.

Then keep visiting here at my blog because I will post a review of Iris and Mo, as well as an author interview with Marilyn K Blair in the near future.