Today's Special - - Joan Kayse

It's St. Patrick's Day so who better to visit us today than our favorite Irish (by way of Kentucky) lass, Joan Kayse! You may know Joan from Romance Bandits or from her ancient Rome romances but she's here today to chat with us about a new direction in her writing. She's moved forward a few centuries and taken her talents to the magical, mystical Emerald Isle with a terrific new series. Let's find out more about it!

Hi Joan! It’s a pleasure to welcome you today to talk about your new Guardian Isle series. These books represent a new direction in your writing. Please tell us about the premise of the series and how many books there will be.

Hi Dishes! PJ, thanks for having me. Have you ever wondered how much gold was in the pot at the end of the rainbow? Turns out that pot of treasure contains more than precious metal, it contains the essences of life itself….foundation, resilience, knowledge and more. The gifts that comprise life. Each treasure is aligned with a warrior of the Leithprachaun clan, the solitary Fae assigned to protect them. As long as the treasures are contained, all is well. But what happens if they are lost or stolen?  The Guardian Isle series answers that when the curse of a Dark Banshee Queen separates the Leithprachauns from their essence. The time for renewing is upon them and if they can't find them and take them back, then darkness will destroy life as we know it.

There are nine books in this series.

Ruarc: Bound by Stone kicked off the series on February 21^st. What can readers expect from this first Guardian Isle book?

This book  introduces lovers of paranormal romance to a different take on the magical beings.  An alternate Irish mythology. Sure you've heard of Leprechauns, but that's just bad press from a ticked off Fae hierarchy. The Leithprachaun are proud, solitary Fae who must face the consequences of their father's mistakes and recover their treasures and save the world. Save existence.  In Ruarc: Bound By Stone, you meet Ruarc whose treasure portion is that of foundation . He's been feeling anything but stable as his treasure continues to elude him. His magic's going wonky and his High King, his brother Patric's not pleased. But neither are his brothers and sister who look to him to lead the way to redemption.  Being solitary in nature, used to being alone, he's stunned to find out the only way to ground himself is through the connection with a Cheile, a soulmate destined for only him. 

Ruarc and his clan have some pretty cool magical powers. If you were granted a magical power for yourself, what would you choose and why?

Well, there's fun magical powers and then the ones to save humankind. I guess I'll go with the fun choice and choose levitation.  That way, I wouldn't have to dislodge Cricket or Grayson the Monkey Cat from my lap when I want a snack :D

I think Rachel would probably approve of that power too! 

What inspired you to create this new series and why Ireland?

My inspiration came from my first trip to Ireland in 2002. It sounds SO cliché but I can say without a doubt that as soon as I touched down, I felt at home. My heritage is ¾ Irish and there was such a connection! I truly felt one with the world around me. Ireland is beyond description gorgeous even on those rainy days.  Creation occurred there and in my mind, that's where our world started…IN Ireland :D That's the why to the setting. This storyline was inspired by watching a REALLY handsome Irish stone mason working on…you guessed it…a stone wall! Yum. O.

Will these books be digital only or will they also be available in paperback?

Yes and yes. It will be available on Kindle, iTunes, Nook, GooglePlay and trade paperback.

After reading this book, I’ve decided I need to add breakfast at an Irish B&B to my bucket list. I know you enjoy playing in the kitchen, so what are your go-to breakfast dishes to make? Any Irish favorites?

My favorite breakfast to make is at Cracker Barrel or IHOP :D But I love scrambled eggs and bacon and being Southern a good biscuit and gravy would not be amiss. I'm really not sure how they decided what entailed an Irish breakfast on my visits there but two things I came to love. Muesli …though I figured out WHY on my second trip…I was putting Irish MILK/CREAM on that cereal LOL. And I developed a liking for white blood pudding. Very sausage like. Dang…now I'm craving some.

When can we expect the next book in the series (you’ve hooked me!) and are you able to tell us anything about it?

I plan to have the second book out by year's end. It will tell the tale of Brady Sullivan, whose treasure is music. The Irish are very connected to music and song and in that way spirit too. And it doesn't matter which instrument…I saw a guy play the spoons in a pub and he had his eyes closed connecting with the rhythm and the timing. Sigh. Love me some Irish trad music.

Is there anything you’d like to add about Ruarc, Aine or the other Guardians?

Just that I'm thrilled to bring stories with a fresh perspective in terms of paranormal beings. And to showcase the wonder that is Ireland.

Speaking of Ireland, I'm delighted to have you here on the day when everyone celebrates their Irish roots...whether they have them or not! Tell us, how do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Any special traditions? If money and time were no object and you could celebrate this holiday anywhere in the world, where would you be and with whom?

I wear green in some manner or fashion on St. Patrick's Day. If I'm off work that day, I will stop by for fish and chips at a local pub Molly Malone's. They have trad musicians that day and the atmosphere is energizing...even without the Guinness. :D I love the primal beat of a bodhran drum.

Oh, you have to know I'd be in Ireland, along the coast of the southwest or in Killarney deep in the National forest, sitting on a rise looking at the lakes. And hmmmm...would would I be with? I'd love to be with Patric, High King of the Leithprachaun. He has a lot on his place besides colcannon and could use a shoulder to lean on...and maybe a back rub...a temple massage...a...a...yeah...a shoulder to lean on. :D 

LOL! Not a bad way to spend the holiday! 

Thanks for visiting with us, Joan! Would you like to ask our readers a question?

You're welcome PJ and thanks again. Hmm…a question. What would you like to find in the pot at the end of the rainbow?

Joan is giving away one copy of Ruarc:Bound by Stone to a randomly chosen person who leaves a comment. Winner's choice of Kindle, Nook or print.

Life is grand—until the fate of the world is laid on your shoulders. Ruarc Dongahue should be used to life's unexpected twists and turns. After all, at age thirteen his own life was turned upside down when a stranger claimed him as his son—and informed him he was a Leithprachaun, a warrior of the Fae. Entrusted with the essences of life, the treasures of both mortal and Fae worlds, Ruarc grew into a man, becoming the warrior his clan expected, living life in the moment. Cue another twist when the wrath of the Dark Banshee queen steals and hides the treasures from the Leithprachaun's hands. Aye, life is feckin' grand. 

After the death of her family, Aine O'Neill stopped believing the stories of the Fae and magical worlds her Irish grandmother thrived on . She went from a dream filled young girl to a woman who lived by logic and common sense meeting the real world head on as an investigative journalist. But logic cannot ease her grief when her grandmother dies and she must travel to Ireland to settle her estate. In, out and she can get back to business. Instead she finds a dilapidated manor house and a hot, sexy Irishman who claims to be—a leprechaun. 

The essences of the world must be gathered together every third era for renewing to prevent the Fae and mortal realms from disintegrating into chaos. A trick that, as neither Ruarc nor his siblings have recovered them. Centuries spent searching have led him to an estate in the Irish countryside and a gorgeous Yank with emerald eyes, luscious curves and fiery spirit that sends the solitary Fae spinning. When he discovers she is the key to locating his essence he attempts to manipulate her into helping him . But its more than access to the property that Aine brings the Leithprachaun warrior. Time is short and with his magic and his heart spinning out of control, Ruarc must come to grips that there is more at stake than the world's existence...his heart and soul. 

The fate of the world lies in the Essences of Life, the treasures of both mortal and Fae realms. Once every third era, the Essences must be assembled together at the sacred stone circle or life will sink into chaos and death. The safeguarding of these treasures has rested in the hands of the Leithprachaun, the warrior clan of the Fae. The Dark Banshee queen has released her wrath on the warrior clan and stolen the precious items, cursing them to give their heart, something the capricious Fae cannot do, to find them. The renewing is rapidly approaching and time is running out. Will dark forces gain the power of life, dooming the world to extinction? 

Tick, tock…