Please help me welcome Kara Ashley Dey to my blog today. She’s given me a great interview which I think you’ll find interesting. She’s also giving away a pair of fabulous ruby colored stone earrings. Here is a picture. Now if you want a chance to win those fabulous earrings, leave her a comment.

Q: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be, and why?
KARA: I love living in the US, but if I lived outside of the US again, I’d choose Barcelona. I had never even thought to visit Spain until my husband suggested it a few years ago. Since then, a stop in Barcelona is a must whenever we go to Europe. I love the medieval section of the city. I enjoy walking down its narrow streets, observing the artists, taking in the pleasurable scents that come from the many cafes, and I enjoy meandering down to the beach and eating paella and sampling tapas.

Q: Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?
KARA: Yes. I started out as an opera singer–a dramatic or spinto soprano back then–not much demand for this where I lived. And I did Music Theatre, too. Learning how to belt was the bomb. After this I went back to school for animation and worked many years in TV and film as a lighting lead, compositor and texture artist. That career was a pleasure and fulfilling, in its own way. My life has been a lazy Susan, of sorts. I spin the tray and see what treat comes up for me. What’s next? Ah! Writing again. Yay!

Between those careers, I worked as a shoe saleswoman at different stores. I loved that job while I was in school, too! I worked in a cute little Birkenstock store. Laid-back earth-loving people are so kind and appreciate good service and good shoes. I still consider working at that little shoe store one of my favorite jobs ever. Working at Neimans? (Shudder) One of my least favorite…

Q: Do you have other talents? Or is there a talent you don’t have that you wish you did?
KARA: Well, it sure would be awesome to snorkel admirably, but I’m like a rock and panic if I kick coral. Other than that, I got pretty lucky when they handed out talents. I’ve been able to do almost anything I set my heart to do–maybe not perfectly, but I get by. “Jack of all trades, Master of none” can turn into “Master of quite a few” if one lives long enough. But this also depends on sheer stubbornness. A “do or die” mentality.

Q: What is your next project and when will it be released?
KARA: I’m returning to a book I finished a few years ago but put off some final decisions. I needed to distance my mind from some advice that didn’t quite settle with my gut feelings. With the help of my original beta readers and my editor, I’ve gotten back to the original structure of the story. It’s an urban fantasy about a vampire and a psychic. I especially love this one because part of it takes place in Barcelona. After that I will return to Cassie and Skai’s world. Captain Alexxus has a few more things to take care of.

Q: Where do you get the ideas for your stories?
KARA: Almost always from dreams: either from dreams while I am asleep or from daydreams. I have thoroughly entertained and coddled that “character flaw.” Long ago this drove my teachers nuts–thank goodness I didn’t care. It’s my life, and in it, I love to sleep and I love to dream, and when I cannot sleep, I will daydream. That’s all there is to it. I watch a lot of science channels so my brain files everything and creates some pretty intense “what if” nightmares in the process. Those are my favorite. It’s scary fun! I love my brain when it does that. (Brain Hug).

Q: How does your family feel about your writing career?
KARA: Very supportive. Thank goodness! It helps I do all the housework…for now…

Q: How much time do you spend promoting your books? What works best for you?
KARA: Ugh…Too much time! Lol. Don’t we all? I don’t know when to pull away. In a ten hour day, I will spend well over half of it on marketing or working on my web stuff. I have found Twitter indispensable, which is funny since it took me forever to get on board.

Q: How has your experience with self-publishing been?
KARA: Slow but steady.

Q: What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?
KARA: I got really good advice early on. The most important? This is a marathon, not a sprint. With embracing self-publishing and selling ebooks, we just have to remember to keep on “keeping on.” It takes a while to be discovered. And to write our next books as soon as possible. That’s what I am focused on now.

Q: What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your book(s)?
KARA: Control. That’s the easy answer. If I’m brutally honest… It came down to trust. It’s a hard enough journey, without tricksters gnawing away at that feeling in your bones or scoffing at your common sense. I hate to say it, but saboteurs are out there and sometimes they wear the biggest of smiles. I decided to find an excellent editor and trust myself. I can always improve as long as I can trust the instruction/advice given.

Q: Where can readers find you?
KARA: I’m on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/kara.ashley.dey
Twitter as @KaraAshleyDey
And I have a couple websites:
http://karaashleydey.com
http://deyforlove.com
http://karaashleydey.blogspot.com (I especially love my blog, and hang around here most often.)

Q: Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?
KARA: Print will be out soon, by the end of next month. My ebook is available here: http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Sky-ebook/dp/B00ARQSJLY

Keep checking back on my FB Page as I expand to other retail sites. And I do enjoy the occasional giveaway, like today. One lucky reader who leaves a comment will win a Stealing Sky bracelet. It is inspired by the ruby earrings Cassie’s mother gave to her.

Thank you so much for having me here today, Cynthia! You are a precious jewel.
–Kara

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.