Latest Book: NiKoh’s Chosen: Family Matters
Buy Link: Amazon
BIO: Kenzie Michaels is the 'wild child' of author Molly Daniels. They cohabitate nicely inside the brain of a woman in Indiana who's the mother of three and 'Aunt Molly' to the entire neighborhood. A devout chocoholic, her hubby has learned to watch out when the characters in her head take over and not get too upset when the words are flowing and all concept of time is lost. (LOL)
Q: How did you celebrate publishing your first book?
A: My first book, All She Ever Wanted, arrived in May 2009. The family took me to lunch, then I celebrated that evening at a local coffee shop, where my local writer’s group met. We ate cake, passed out bookmarks to anyone who wanted one, plus explained what an ‘e-book’ was to those who hadn’t heard of them yet.
Q: What’s your writing schedule like? Do you strive for a certain amount of words each day?
A: I try to get in at least 1000 words each day, but since I chose to homeschool my youngest this year, that has been a challenge! I’m thankful I was able to write at all in the past 8 months, ha ha!
Q: What is the most important thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing?
A: Market my work on social media, especially the advance promotions. Plus, my publisher hosts seasonal release parties on Facebook, so it’s nice to take an hour to introduce my latest book, and interact with readers and other authors.
Q: How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?
A: Surprisingly, very little in this book, except for maybe ViShe, NiKoh’s Domestic (housekeeper). NiKoh’s late wife suffered from severe depression and NiKoh worked long hours, which gave ViShe pretty much complete control over the household. She decides what to fix for meals; takes care of everyone’s needs; and was a substitute mother for NiKoh’s son, once her daughter GiNae went off to the Academy.
Q: Do you eat comfort food/listen to music when writing?
A: My muse loves, in no particular order, Oreos, pretzels, Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies, Dove Milk Chocolate squares, and Fig Newtons.
Q: How do you choose names for your characters?
A: The characters generally tell me their names, but if I get stuck, I’ve been known to use the phone book, my HS yearbook, or close my eyes and point to an object! I fell into a bad habit a few years back of taking first names and transposing them into last names. I’m trying to get more creative, ha ha!
Though with my aliens, a friend challenged me to use the character names from Duck Dynasty, so I’ve tried to cleverly incorporate them. For instance, in book #1, Brock introduces himself on Earth as ‘Brock Robertson’. There are at least three hidden in NiKoh’s story.
Q: Covers. Ever get one you wish you could change?
A: I’ve been very fortunate with my cover artists! I can only think of two that I didn’t like the 1st draft and requested a change.
Q: Give one advice tip to an aspiring author.
A: Don’t get it RIGHT, get it WRITTEN. If you want to write, sit down and write. Don’t talk about the story; write it. Also familiarize yourself with basic grammar.
Q: If you could give a younger version of yourself advice, what would it be?
A: Take a creative writing course in college and find a writer’s group/book club, in order to begin your career path earlier. I found out there is an annual Writer’s Workshop on the campus of Ball State, even though I attended that university for two and a half years! I didn’t find out about it until nearly fifteen years later.
Q: How many stories are swirling around in your head? Do you keep a mental list, a computer file, or a spiral notebook filled with the ideas?
A: I have several partial stories saved on my flash drive. In 2009, I suddenly realized everything I was writing was stalling out after the first chapter, so I put them away and focused on other projects. I had no idea Heart’s Last Chance (The Chosen #1) was going to spawn four sequels, so as soon as the other three are written, I’ll get back to those partials.
Fun Stuff:
Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
A: Fourth of July has replaced Christmas as my favorite holiday, since it is more relaxing. My daughter’s birthday is the third, so we have a two day celebration for my ‘firecracker’.
Q: What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I sing in the church choir, plus was recently diagnosed as being 60% deaf in my right ear.
Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wanted to sing on either Lawrence Welk or Hee Haw, then set my sights on being an archaeologist. Until a certain movie came out when I was in high school. Since I had no desire to be chased by poison darts or large boulders, I picked a career choice which was much safer, ha ha!
Q: Favorite food.
A: I love pasta, bread, potatoes. Plus, milk chocolate.
Q: Favorite happy memory.
A: Spending three weeks with my grandparents in Florida every summer.
Q: Favorite drink.
A: Sweet Tea (esp McDonald’s!) I’ve also discovered I like Guinness beer.
Q: Hot summer days or chilly winter nights?
A: Definitely hot summer days!
Q: What is the top thing on your bucket list?
A: I would love to go back to Orlando, Florida and visit Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios.
Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
A: LOL…I have days where I’d love to clone myself in order to get everything done, but I’d also like to be able to teleport.
Tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!
Website: http://mollydaniels.wordpress.com/kenzies-korner/
Blog: http://kenziemichaels.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Kenzie-Michaels/248105468603737
Follow her on twitter: https://twitter.com/KenzieMichaels
Secret Cravings Publishing
Freya’s Bower Publishing
Amazon
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BLURB:
Still mourning the tragic death of his beautiful mate, could another Chosen one already be waiting for NiKoh SiLah? To avoid what he’s not ready to accept, he throws himself into his work at Planet Security.
Leaving the Academy behind to follow her dream of working with animals, GiNae SoJae returns home. Preoccupied with work and not ready to take a mate, she’s horrified when her body enters Maturity. GiNae fights the changes occurring within her. But during nightly dreams she cannot control, an unknown man teaches her the secrets of her body.
Will NiKoh and GiNae succumb to the paths they think have been chosen for them or will they discover the true Chosen life that awaits them?
EXCERPT:
“NiKoh, your pin has something wrong with it.”
NiKoh looked down at the Bonding Pin he had worn for the past sixteen years and frowned. The marital knot in the center of his family crest had separated.“ It may have done that after BeSai’s death.” His voice wavered a bit. “I had not noticed. Did yours do that, Mother?”
ReNae stepped closer to him and examined the pin. “You are young enough to take another Chosen. I have heard of this happening, and it usually means you are close to meeting her or have already done so.” She peered into her son’s eyes. “Are you aware of this?”
NiKoh shook his head, but a sudden vision of him with GiNae in his arms made him blanch and brought him up short. No…it is not possible!
“NiKoh?” His mother’s voice snapped him back to the present.
He shook his head to rid the picture in his mind. “I am sorry. So much has happened lately and I was not paying attention. I need to return to the office. Blessings, Mother. KiRah.” NiKoh teleported back to his office and told LyDie not to disturb him.
GiNae? But she has not reached Maturity yet.
Maybe she is entering the first stages. I have noticed I enjoy her company at our evening meal, and thought she seemed more relaxed around me. I do not think I have been visiting her in the dream state…I may have to activate the sensors tonight. If I remember correctly, BeSai and I had coordinating dreams.
But I remembered those! Surely I would remember dreams. I do not feel any different toward her than I did when she first came to live with us or even returned home from the Academy.
NiKoh paced the length of his office, searching his feelings. Aside from his initial embarrassment at being caught self-pleasuring himself the night GiNae returned home from the Academy, he had not given her much thought, until demanding they join him for the evening meal. Truthfully, it had been ViShe’s conversation he craved, but since GiNae had revealed an ability to tell humorous stories about her day, he found himself looking forward to seeing her. But that did not mean she is my Chosen, does it? It has been nearly twenty years since I went through this!
Available now at : Amazon
Anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks for having me today! I really enjoy hearing from readers, and encourage new writers, so please feel free to email or message me on social media with any questions or comments. Also, Book #1, Heart’s Last Chance, has been nominated in the LRC ‘Best Of’ awards. If you’re a member of the chat loop, I’d appreciate any votes cast my way. Here’s the link, https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/loveromancescafe/info and voting will be open through Saturday April 18th. Most important, keep reading!
