Kara Ashley Dey is my interview guest today, sharing a look at her science fiction novel, Stealing Sky. Don’t forget to leave a comment to enter in Kara’s giveaway!
Hi, Kara, welcome. Tell us a little about Stealing Sky. What inspired this story?
I always wanted to write a space pirate book, but I also hoped to turn the pirate theme on its head. Instead of the heroine being abducted by a roguish pirate captain, I wanted the hero to be captured by sexy female space pirates..
I also wrote a book that appealed to male and female readers of action-adventure stories and science fiction. Stealing Sky is definitely for men, too. Especially after the third chapter. It gets fun and hot. The hero, Skai, is not just a man without a shirt. I think men will respect and want to be him.
Blurb: STEALING SKY
Trapped in a secret war of imperial wills and insatiable revenge, Cassie and Skai can’t decide exactly where to place their fealty, faith, or guns.
The pawns and the players:
Cassie Brintman: Duke’s spoiled daughter to some, scandalous socialite to others, Cassie is set on proving all opinions about her wrong. She just has to escape punishment on her Gran’s swamp planet first. But plots and plans which take advantage of the sweetest of farm folk are destined to go awry, and Cassie finds there are worse prison wardens in space.
Skai Westford: Returning home from his last tour of duty in the Duke’s Red Flag Squadron, Skai settles back to life with his father and brother on NuTierra Ba. The last thing he wants is feminine drama, but it seems his boss’s granddaughter has no concern for his wants or his family’s well being. When he takes a stand against Cassie’s manipulative flirtations with his brother, Skai finds himself far from home and S.O.L.
Captain Alexxus: More than money drives this captain and her crew aboard Heaven’s Hand. None but those closest to her know the secret to her quest–a secret linked to the black eye-patch she rubs–her only tell to the horrors she has seen. She has a secret agenda that could destroy all of them.
Vixen: Captain Alexxus’s first mate, she will follow her beloved captain to the Eternal Tree of Eden or to the depths of hell.
Edmund Greene: The Duke’s Arrow. An assassin with a special interest in chasing down Heaven’s Hand, he’s intent on revenge and revisiting old addictions.
What are you working on now? Do you have any releases scheduled for this year?
I’m working on my editor’s notes for an urban fantasy. I hope to get that out yet this year. I will be publishing some short stories on Amazon for Halloween and Christmas.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
I like piecing everything together–as if my latest story were a jigsaw puzzle. I often get the ending before I get the beginning. Sometimes, the middle comes to me. Sometimes I can combine two or more short stories into a novel. Writing books is like making cheese, too. I mix all different ingredients carefully.Then I set them aside and let them age in my brain. I guess I could have compared the process to making wine, but I’m from Wisconsin…
Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, character, or…?
It starts either with a fantastic dream or something I’ve observed in everyday life or on SCIHD that makes me go “Hmmm.” Instead of thinking, “Isn’t that interesting,” and leaving it at that, I start to think, “But what if…” So I guess my writing starts with unintentional research. I dream military Sci-Fi all the time. World at War. War in Space. Sleeping is the best part of life, not counting writing and sex.
Do you have a favorite time of day for writing?
Late night. I can think. Everyone is asleep. This half of the world is nice and quiet.
What is your favorite scene from this story and why?
My favorite scenes are between Alexxus and Skai. A real relationship develops between them, despite their antagonist/hero positions. Probably the scene in the captains’ quarters is one of the most powerful I’ve written. It hurts my heart whenever I reread it.
What do you like to read?
These days I read practically everything. If it has a pretty cover–even better. I’m like a kid in the candy store when I go to brick and mortar bookstores.
Do you listen to music while you write? What are you listening to now?
I’m finishing the second book for a fantasy series I write (as A.H. De Carrasco) so I’m listening to a lot of Celtic music like Celtic Hearts, Clannad, Loreena McKennitt, and Connie Dover. When I wrote Stealing Sky I listened to trance and techno and Tiesto.
Who first introduced you to the love of reading?
A grade school librarian. I always loved the library. My mother was a teacher so I had a lot of time to get into mischief, while waiting for her after school. I’d listen to books on cassette or look through these really neat movie viewers. One of the first books I obsessed about was a Cinderella story with 3-D pictures. Loved the artwork. Then I read small books about the Greek and the Roman Gods. Soon after I began to read my brother’s books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Fairytales, Mythology and Science Fiction were my reading staples until I went to college, where I branched out more. They are still my favorites, though.
These are a few of my favorite things:
1. Cats in winter. So fluffy!
2. My DH’s leather jacket.
3. A falling star at 12:34 am.
A Giveaway! Kara will be giving one lucky commenter a $10 Amazon or B&N gift card. Do you download samples of new books before purchasing them?
Excerpt:
They maneuvered around the red light’s edge. A hulky black shadow stood in the middle of the glowing red. In disbelief, Cassie lifted her eyes to the ominous shadow’s source and nearly lost her footing.
“Mech!” she shouted, pointing. No denying, it was a beauty. On the intramural field, she might have whistled appreciatively, but at that moment, the sight of that perfect machine of sleek metal and recent design made her want to scream in pure terror.
“Go!” Skai pushed her forward. “Run!”
But the top of the water tower shuddered as the Mech landed upon the surface. Cassie fell to her knees from the force. She pushed forward, scrambling on hands and knees, while the sound of hydraulic legs whined above the ricocheting din.
She regained her footing and glanced back over her shoulder to Skai. He was approaching the Mech that stood over twice his size, his hand reaching to a gun holster, which he no longer wore—a military habit. He cursed. For a brief moment, she saw the surprised anger in his eyes, before he glanced back at the machine.
The Mech turned its attention from her to him. Taking two jolting steps forward, it covered Skai in shadow. A long metallic arm swung up, the arm’s mechanism twirling circularly, purring and clicking, while metal tiles smoothly pulled backward. The arm’s inner working pushed forward with a hiss, revealing a gun barrel.
“Oh! For Mau’s sake,” she moaned, terrified, as the arm shot once. Skai jerked backward. Cassie covered her mouth to keep from screaming. A second shot hit him in the stomach, and he doubled over.
Skai fell to his knees, then upon his stomach, and lay still. The Mech stomped toward him and lifted his limp body.
Was he dead? She stood, frozen, staring at his dangling arms and legs. Her stomach twisted painfully. Gran’s heavy meal surged up her throat.
Choking, she staggered away and moved toward the ladder. She was but ten paces to it, when she felt the Mech’s feet stomping, charging toward her. It paused. She calculated the distance. She wouldn’t make it.
Cassie braced for its aim. A thin whistle grew louder and louder, until she felt a sharp prick of pain at her shoulder. The tower pitched, as she fell onto her stomach, losing her breath and her supper. Then all went black.
Bio:
I’m a writer who likes fantasy, speculative and paranormal fiction with romantic elements. I also enjoy interviewing multi-talented artists and writers to find out what ‘makes them tick.’ Sharing experiences is a really great way to learn about the world and ourselves. Plus, I’m a firm believer in rejoicing in other people’s successes; it’s free and it feels great.
Living in Houston with my darling husband has taught me about the blessings of great neighbors and Texas BBQ. My favorite critics are my two plump cats that purr their pleasure at most everything I write.
To keep in touch:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaraAshleyDey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kara.ashley.dey
Blog: http://karaashleydey.blogspot.com (latest reviews in games, movies and books)
Websites:
http://deyforlove.com (Romance Reviews and News)
http://karaashleydey.com (Spell Caster interviews of multi-talented artists)
You can find Stealing Sky at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ARQSJLY/
babettejames.com 
Thanks for having me, Babette! 🙂
–Kara
To answer, no I don’t usually download samples. Sometimes, but not always – especially if the Author is an auto-buy for me. If it’s a completely new Author, the blurb is usually enough to tell me if I want to one-click. That’s not to say I *never* do, but it’s rare. If I’m captivated enough by the blurb, I’m going to get it. My thing with samples is I don’t want to get hooked and then buy anyway. Might as well do so from the beginning. 😀
Thanks for sharing with us Kara. It is an interesting question and as an Author, I’m curious to know too…
Thanks for stopping by, Margaret! Auto-buy definitely beats waiting in line at midnight! 😀
–Kara
I generally just read the excerpt or whatever is available about the book and maybe a comment or two left by readers. I totally discount any comment that talks about commas, sentence structure, or word usage because if I can read the excerpt I know I’ll be able to “fill in the blanks” or understand the story and for me the story is 99% of why I buy a book. Of course, if it is something written by one of my favorite authors, I buy it sight unseen!
Me too!
I remember the old pulp-fiction days, before computers, when there were a lot of errors made by humans. So I don’t get irritated by that. I also disregard the ratings that don’t include explanations. Thanks for stopping by!
–Kara
Oh I love that sample feature! I probably never read all the sample just enough that I know that a book is well written and that it interests me. In two or three pages I usually know if I’m hooked enough to keep reading. As an author, I prefer giving a big sample. If they’ve read that far, they aren’t going to quit. LOL
But if more people would use samples and blurbs as intended, I think they would be happier with their purchases.
So true, AoMS! 🙂
–Kara
I always check the sample before buying unless it’s an author I like. Samples tell if it’s well written, etc. People should use the sample and the blurb. That’s why it’s there! I think people would be happier with their purchases if the did. I find it funny when I read comments (Yes, I read them, too!) When someone complains that it is a short story, and it says in the blurb that it’s a short story, well… Is anyone using their head? But I’m a reader as well as a writer. I want to know what I’m buying.
Oh, I know! The short story comment is a killer. I’ve avoided putting my short stories up until now because of that fear. I’ll have to plaster the warning everywhere, right? Thanks for stopping in!
I usually don’t read science fiction, but after reading the excellent excerpt, which is excellent writing and draws me in, I am very intrigued wanting more 🙂 thank you for sharing!
Wow, Thanks Kay! I love that! 😀
–Kara
I absolutely love good science fiction romance! In fact, science fiction stories were what led me into romance…well, that and Fabio on the cover of a Johanna Lindsey book. Yes, I’m one of those buying a book by its cover people. Good luck with Stealing Sky!!!
Thanks Irene! Johanna Lindsey (and Kathleen Woodiwiss) books. Those covers…sigh.
Enjoyed your extract! Good luck with Stealing Sky.
I do read a sample before buying – if I don’t care for the way the author writes, there’s no sense in downloading it. And if I enjoy it – “one click” is right there. 🙂
Thanks for the comment, Cathy! Samples are great for trying out new authors. Most of the time, I end up purchasing the book anyway, but it’s a good filter.
–Kara 🙂
Absolutely. If the excerpt doesn’t give me a drive to read the story to see where it is going, I won’t buy the book. I can usually get an idea for the style of the writing and know if I am going to like a book or not within the first chapter or two.
So true, Corinne. I’m one of those readers who will give an author the first fifty pages. Sometimes science fiction or fantasy takes a little longer to get off the ground. But I once read a paranormal book by a favorite author; I gave her 100 pages and just couldn’t read anymore. Luckily her next book was fantastic. I wonder if I went back to that other one if I would like it, anyway. Might have been my mood! Hah! 😀 Thanks for stopping by!
–Kara
Vampwriterblog is our winner!!! I will be contacting shortly! Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
–Kara
If I understand correctly, I got picked (randomly I’m sure) but I’m happy anyway and look forward to getting a prize. I’ve done “gift cards” myself in blogs; however, unless the recipient turns around and buys one of my books it doesn’t help me one bit, so now if I offer something, I offer a digital copy of a book or two. Why not pick a couple of your books, perhaps “Stealing Sky” (since in my third book “Immortal Relations Coming Out” I’ll have a little bit of space action) My guardian vampires try to save mankind AGAIN! This time from both a rogue asteroid and a Gamma Ray burst from a Supernova (this is their first sojourn into space, but probably not their last). Of course, if you have a Paranormal work (I love vampires – that is why I write in the genre,’ but my vamps are good) a digital copy of that would be cool. That way YOU show a sale on one or two vs. me possibly buying something else (I wouldn’t). It’s what I’ve started doing for prizes on my blogs. (-;