Book One of the Oneiroi Series
Release date: September
30, 2012
Blurb:
When Lucessa Sarcona awakes from a recurring dream, she has
no idea her life is about to be turned upside down. A stranger, familiar to her
dreams, shows up in the flesh, and Lucessa knows she’s either crazy or
experiencing something not of this world.A war ensues between three demigod brothers. One, trained to rule Erebos, is violently replaced. One forced to return to his homeland and lead the dream-gods of the Oneiroi. And one is charged with the impossible task of protecting Lucessa. How is she linked to the Oneiroi? Why do two brothers seek to keep her hidden and protected? And how does another plan to use her against the two demigods who love her?
Will Lucessa’s dream man have the courage to claim her as his own or will he bow to the command of another, forsaking the one he loves? Only in Her Dreams is a modern spin on a Greek legend--the new direction of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, moving from angels, demons, vampires, and witches and toward the realm of demigods.
Interview:
- Where did you get the idea for the novel?
Only in Her Dreams, The Oneiroi Book
1 came to me in a dream. Ironic, I know. Several times I dreamt of a man
watching me. He never approached, moved, or spoke, but stayed silently in the
background. I starting thinking: Who is this guy? What does he want?
A fellow writer -and self-proclaimed
dream expert- said the man may be someone I’ve come into contact with recently.
My next question: What if this mystery man from my dream showed up in real
life?
Only In Her Dreams, The Oneiroi Book
1 took off from there.
- Since becoming a writer, what’s the most exciting thing to ever
happen to you?
A Goodreads moderator emailed to let
me know she’d bought my book and was excited to start reading it. The next day
she emailed again to tell me she gifted the book for two friends…who also
happen to be co-moderators on Goodreads! I was honored, to say the least.
- What book are you currently reading or what was the last book you
read?
I’m reading Nine Rules to Break When
Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean. The genre I’m currently writing in dictates
what I read. I like to keep ‘in the zone’, so to speak. Historical Romance is a
hard genre to write because the readers know their stuff! They will call you on
any and every inaccuracy in your book.
- What was your first book that you ever wrote (very first one you
wrote, not published)?
My first book I wrote was a
historical romance. At the time I read a lot of series books and loved the
concept of returning characters and series that feature a whole family. I
outlined books featuring eight siblings; Vanity, Temperance, Valor, Prudence,
Virtue, Patience…the list goes on. At that point I was not ready, as a writer,
to undertake the task of doing this series justice (that was another sibling!).
So, after completing the first book in the series I hid it under my bed
(metaphorically) and there it has remained for the last nine years.
- What is your writing process?
Writing process…who needs a writing
process? Just kidding. I was a complete pantser while writing Only In Her
Dreams. I had the general questions I listed earlier and started writing. The
novel was 100% written in 45 days and then I spent six months editing it.
During the editing process I found out a lot about myself as a writer. For
example, I edit better in the wee hours of the morning and my writing is
enhanced in the evenings.
- Who are your favorite authors of all time?
My favorite paranormal romance
authors include JR Ward and Lara Adrian. In the Historical Romance genre I love
Stephanie Laurens, Christina Dodd, Julia Quinn, Pamela Britton, Catherine
Gayle, and Julie Garwood. I’m also a huge fan of Stephanie Meyers and Suzanne
Collins.
- At a book signing, do you just sign your name or do you write a
note? How do you come up with stuff to say?
How’d you know I just had my first
book signing? I enjoy adding a little personal note when I sign my books. One
of my treasured possessions is a Christina Dodd book. I was unable to attend
her signing, but my good friend and writer, Lauren Stewart, brought me back a
signed book. The note inside read, ‘Christina, sorry we missed you at the
signing. Until next time we meet. Christina Dodd.’ I’d like readers to feel the
joy I feel each time I think of the personal message written to me by my favorite author.
- What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
That along with working full-time,
writing/editing, blogging, and family stuff…I’m also a Girl Scout troop leader!
I spend weekends traipsing through the woods or playing with glitter, all at
the mercy of twelve six-year olds.
- How do you react to a bad review?
Fingers crossed! At the time of this
interview I haven’t received a bad review. Although, while still in the draft
stages for Only In Her Dreams I did have beta reader respond with issues they
felt needed to be addressed before I published. I love getting feedback on my
writing, be it positive or negative. Because of suggestions from my readers, I
was able to enhance and deepen my plot and characters.
- How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
Can I call it ‘my first book sale’
when it was my mom who bought it? LOL. I did like every other recently
published author does…I pushed the refresh button on my sales screen for three
days straight! Being a ‘Published Author’ is a surreal experience.
Excerpt:
Chapter 24
Lucessa
traversed the hallways that’d become so familiar to her over the last several
years. Nurses waved to her in greeting.
“Hello,
Marie,” Lucessa said, entering her mother’s sterile room.
“Well
aren’t you a pretty little thing. What’s your name?”
“I’m
Lucessa.”
“What
a familiar name, I think I once knew someone named Lucessa.”
She
held back the tears as her mother spoke her name. Ironically, this was the
place she could find normalcy as she sat with the woman who cared for her for
so many years and was so familiar. Most days immense sadness filled her. A
sadness so complete her heart felt ripped in two, but today she experienced
only comfort--and stability.
“How’s
your day going?” she asked her mother.
“Just
lots of resting.” Her mother’s eyes never left the window. “The weather is
dreadfully hot outside. I’ve changed my clothes three times.” Her eyebrows rose
and fell, her hands did the same. Her mother always did exaggerate her
feelings.
Lucessa
wasn’t surprised Marie didn’t know the season. In fact, she refused to leave
the main rooms of the home. Lucessa had originally selected this facility
because of the extensive gardens around the building, but her mother didn’t
venture out to enjoy what she once held dear.
Finally
her mother turned from the window and focused her eyes on her daughter’s. How can she not see our resemblance? A
spark of recognition passed across her face, but was quickly replaced with a
welcoming smile. “Well aren’t you a pretty little thing. What’s your name?”
Lucessa
was prepared for this, but it still caused her gut to turn and a heaviness to
settle on her heart. “Lucessa.”
“What
a familiar name, I think I once knew someone named Lucessa.”
Greg
hadn’t understood why she put herself through this hurt every time she visited.
He never understood the love she had for her mother and the responsibility she
felt to take care of her.
“I
need to talk to you.” It was unlikely Marie would remember once Lucessa left,
but her mother was a good listener and sometimes gave excellent advice.
“I
do hope I can help, dear,” Marie reached for Lucessa’s hand. “Please sit.”
Lucessa took her usual seat next to her mother’s rocking chair.
“My
problem has to do with two men.” It was awkward at first, always having to
bring her mother up to speed. “I have two men in my life. I’ve known both for a
very long time.”
“Men
are a hassle. You can’t live with them and you can’t bury them in the back
yard. That is just not good for the flowers.” Her mother’s eyes sparkled with
mischief. Most people mistook Marie for a nurse at the home when she was
responsive. Her hair was still a rich brown and her skin was wrinkle free. “Do
you love both of these men?”
“It
isn’t like that, M--” Lucessa caught herself before she called her mom. The
doctor said that when she visits it’s important she didn’t upset or confuse
Marie. This could cause harm to both her mother and the staff. “One is my
husband and the other is a man I’ve known for over twenty years. They’re both
staying with me, but there’s a lot of tension. Almost like they feel threatened
by each other.”
Lucessa
studied her mom knowing she’d have no reaction. She wouldn’t have remembered
Greg’s death.
“Tell
me about them, dear.” Marie shifted her position on the chair to face Lucessa.
“Well,
Greg, my husband left for Uganda over a year ago and he died of malaria two
months after he got there. He was shipped back to me in a box and it was too
painful for me to verify that it was indeed him in the casket.” She sighed.
“Then he shows up on my doorstep last night, beaten and bruised with no
explanation of where he’s been for the last year.”
“You’re
not happy to see him?” Her mother was a very perceptive person.
“That’s
the problem. I should be overjoyed to have him back.” A part of her hated using
her mother as a sounding board—a way to get her own thoughts straight.
“But
you don’t feel that way, and that troubles you.”
“Exactly,
I think it has something to do with the arrival of Maxim.” She paused, looking
to see if she’d confused her mother yet. “That is the man I’ve known for over
twenty years.”
“I
figured this,” Marie huffed. “He must be a very handsome man.”
“Why
do you say that?”
“Because
you blush every time you mention him.”
Wow, a mother will always know her
child’s heart of hearts.
Lucessa
pushed ahead, choosing to ignore her mother’s last comment. “Maxim thinks Greg
will hurt me again. He’s very protective of me.” This was an understatement.
His only responsibility was to protect her.
“He
sounds like a very special man. These types of men don’t come along very often.
I once had a man, Guy, he was the same as your Maxim, very protective of me and
our daughter, Lucessa.”
Lucessa
saw the wheels turning in her mother’s head, connecting her name and her
daughter’s name. Lucessa prayed for these moments every time she walked into
the nursing home. But the light of recognition faded as quickly as it appeared.
“Well
aren’t you a pretty little thing. What’s your name?”
Giveaway:
One ebook copy of Only in Her Dreams in up for grabs! Follow me somehow and leave a comment telling me how and what name. Don't forget your email!Author Bio:
Christina
McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged
her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since.
In
college, Christina took many courses to help develop and enhance her writing
skills. She completed a seventy-page dissertation on the need for community
policing in American society. Now, she focuses on Historical Romance, Urban
Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance. Her debut Urban Fantasy novel, Only in Her Dreams, will be released on
December 15, 2012.
Christina
lives in Northern California with her husband, daughter, two boxers, two cats, and a Beta fish named Marmaduke. If she’s not behind a computer screen or
book, she’s busy leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. She is very active in
several writing groups and a local book group.
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