When historical romance author Barbara Devlin told me that Amazon was launching it's first ever historical romance Kindle World, I was thrilled. Even better, she then shared the information that the chosen World would be Kathryn LeVeque's medieval de Wolfe family and that Barbara and several other authors had already signed on to write novellas for the launch. I wasn't that familiar with Kindle World so Barbara put me in touch with the de Wolfe's creator, Kathyrn LeVeque. Our Q&A below should answer all your questions about this exciting new project that you can participate in too!
Thank you for visiting with us today, Kathryn. I understand
you’re about to embark on a new venture with Amazon’s Kindle World. For those
of us unfamiliar with this platform, please explain what Kindle World is and
how it works.
Thank you so much for having me! And
I’ll gladly explain Kindle Worlds - Kindle Worlds is a very unique site in the
world of fan fiction – Amazon licenses certain series and/or character worlds
from some of its most popular authors. Amazon then creates a ‘world’ for that
author, providing a platform where fans can write about that author’s
characters or series (whatever the World happens to encompass) and get paid for
it. The best part? Authors get to see fans creating amazing stories out of
their characters, and the fans doing the writing – using already-established
characters – make royalties when their books sell. Here’s why Kindle Worlds is
such a good idea: For readers who love a particular series and
would like to see other characters perhaps breakout into their own stories,
it’s a perfect time to give your idea a try. Why not? Every author started out
as a reader, so if you’re a reader who would like to see a particular character
have his/her own storyline and you already have an idea about it, why not write
your own story? If your story sells, you get paid. If you’re already an
author but would like to gain more readership by drawing on the readership of a
particular Kindle World, then it’s a perfect opportunity to use existing characters
and create a storyline around them.
That is so exciting for the world of historical romance! Please tell us about the de Wolfe Pack books
that you’ve created and what this partnership with Kindle World means for fans
of this popular series.
The de Wolfe Pack is based on the
House of de Wolfe, which was the basis for the very first novel I ever wrote.
The first book, THE WOLFE, is set in 13th century England along the
Scotland/England border. THE WOLFE has turned out to be my most popular novel
and there are, so far, five books in the series and growing.
This is what Kindle Worlds means to
fans of the de Wolfe Pack – well, let’s
be honest. I will never be able to write all of the stories I want to write
using my de Wolfe family. I have readers ask me constantly about a secondary
character having his own story, or maybe a child of de Wolfe having his/her own
story. I should live so long to write all of those stories! Therefore, the
World of the de Wolfe Pack allows for readers and other authors to write all of
those amazing stories I just don’t have the time – or even the imagination – to
write. I’m so deeply honored that readers and other authors would care enough
about my characters to take the time to write in my world, giving new life to
my de Wolfe family. I love to see what someone’s imagination can come up with
in putting my de Wolfe family in a different place and time.
Will other authors be participating in the launch? Who are
they and what will their participation entail?
I have fifteen wonderful, talented
authors participating in the launch. These ladies are A-listers as far as I’m
concerned and I’m so honored that they would lend their time and talent to my
World. Essentially, they were asked to write a novella using the House of de
Wolfe as the basis. That’s really it. They created ancestors and descendants –
Viking, Wild West, Regency, Shape-shifters, etc – and created all of these
utterly amazing stories. The authors
participating in the launch are (in no particular order):
Eliza Knight, Anna Markland,
Violetta Rand, Lana Williams, Elizabeth Rose, Victoria Vane, Victoria Zak,
Barbara Devlin, Hildie McQueen, Catherine Kean, Christina McKnight, Amanda
Mariel, Christy English, Scarlett Cole, and Meara Platt.
If you’ve not read these ladies yet,
I would strongly encourage you to do so. Each one of them is a spectacular
writer.
Will your Kindle World be open-ended or for a finite period
of time?
The World of de Wolfe Pack will be
up and running for ten years. Ten years of great stories!
How can readers participate? Will we be able to submit
stories? Purchase stories?
Readers can absolutely submit their
own stories! I would encourage them to do so! And, yes, you will be able to
purchase stories from all of the authors I listed PLUS more to come! I will be encouraging and asking authors and
readers to submit stories to my World for years to come, so there will always
be something new and great to read about the de Wolfe Pack.
What else are you working on?
It seems like I’m always working on
something - this brain never stops! Currently, I’m working on my December
release called DARK DESTROYER, which is also a de Wolfe Pack novel. After that, I’ve got nine novels and two new
collections slated for 2016. Busy, busy!
Where can readers connect with you online?
At my website at www.kathrynleveque.com, on Facebook at Kathryn Le Veque, Author, and on Twitter
@kathrynleveque. There are also at least three fan-run sites on Pinterest that
I’m aware of, including a de Wolfe Pack Kindle Worlds Pinterest page with some
beautiful cover art on it. I’m always very happy to hear from readers and try
to respond to everyone.
Thank you so much for answering my questions, Kathryn. Is
there anything you’d like to add?
Thank you so much for having me
today and thank you for your interest in the World of de Wolfe Pack and the
authors helping launch it. The Indie
community of authors is such a great group of women and I am very happy to call
many of them friend. Most importantly, I
always want to give a shout-out to the readers who make all things possible for
authors like me. Without you, there would be no me – I say that many times, but
it’s true. I have great respect and appreciation for my readers and I try my
best to keep them happy!
Would you like to ask the readers a question today?
Sure! I’d like to know (other than
Medieval Romance – heh!) what their favorite genres are and what genre, if any,
would they like to see me write in. I’m
always open to suggestions!
Thank you again for having me – it
was a pleasure!
Dark Destroyer
By Kathryn LeVeque
Release Date: December 24, 2015
Available for Pre-Order at only $0.99
1380 A.D. - The great-grandson of the legendary William de Wolfe is not as his family had hoped; although a man of legendary skill and strength, like his great-grandfather, Gates de Wolfe is something of a legendary rake as well. A man with an eye for women, he has left a string of broken hearts all across England and rumors of at least two bastards, possibly more. But Gates is also a man of humor, charm, and great charisma, making it difficult for women to resist him and making it even more difficult for men to despise him because he is such a likable character. Moreover, in battle, he is a destroyer - a knight without equal. He is a man to be feared.
Lady Kathalin de Lara is part of the mighty House of de Lara, great marcher lords. A young lady who has been educated in a convent, she is rather naive in the ways of men. When Gates meets Kathalin, he treats her with surprising respect. She is different from other women he has known and because he greatly respects the woman's uncle, a close friend, Gates makes no attempt at another conquest. He treats her with great regard. But in that regard, and in declaring she is out of bounds for his usual conquering ways, a seed of attraction for her sprouts. Gates, unexpectedly, begins to have real feelings for the lovely Lady Kathalin.
But his reputation as a rake works against him. No decent family, including the House of de Lara, will permit him to seriously court one of their daughters, and Kathalin's family denies his suit. For a spoiled, cavalier man who has always gotten what he wanted, Gates must face the reality that he must actually fight for what he wants and fight for a love he never knew he could feel.
Join Kathalin and Gates on an impossible adventure of life, love, discovery, and devotion that only angels dare to dream of.
Here are a few of the other authors, including Barbara Devlin, who are participating in the World of de Wolfe Pack launch.
Barbara has generously offered a giveaway today! Leave a comment to be entered to win one of the following:
Three ebook copies of Lone Wolfe
One 7" Kindle Fire
(U.S. only. International winner will receive $50 Amazon gift card substitute.)
LONE WOLFE by Barbara Devlin (Medieval Romance Novella)
It is the tempestuous time of the Wars of the Roses and, as the Lancasters and the Yorks battle for the Crown, Lady Desiderata de Mandeviel is caught in the games men play in their lust for power and privilege. Contracted to wed from birth, she welcomes a union with the love of her life, the greatest lancer in England, Titus Saint-Germain. When her father delivers news of her betrothed’s untimely demise, and demands she marry another, Desi must choose between her heart’s desire and family loyalty. Will Desi trust her instincts or yield to paternal authority?
Harboring a secret, the truth of his parentage, imparted by his mother on her deathbed, Titus Saint-Germain finds himself trapped between two warring factions with no escape. A loyal Yorkist, the warrior knight serves with distinction and valor, until his own men, in the heat of battle, betray him. It is a scene eerily similar to the one that claimed the life of his father, the great Titus de Wolfe, at Towton, with a singular exception. Help arrives in the form of an unlikely ally—an uncle unaware of his brother’s progeny. Will Titus resist fate and deny his destiny, or will the Lone Wolfe, at long last, journey home to the Lair?
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She swore to defy him to her dying breath... But passion blurs the line between love and hate...
The bluest blood and the hardest heart... at least when it comes to marriage... The daughter of a duke and granddaughter of a king, Adele of Vannes was bartered at birth in a marriage treaty for the sole purpose of producing a royal heir. When her philandering husband is slain by Norse marauders, she is coerced to wed again in order to protect her home and her people. Adele knows that her beloved Brittany needs a strong hand to survive, but how can she ever reconcile her bitterness and hatred with the desire she feels for her mortal enemy?
She’s the jewel he seeks for his Breton crown...A Barbarian bent on building a dynasty, Valdrik Vargr, ‘the Norse Wolf,’ is renowned for both his bravery in battle and shrewdness in statecraft. Setting his sights on claiming the kingdom of Brittany, he knows that siring sons from royal blood would solidify his hold, but the woman he would claim as his queen refuses to have him. Will he fuel her hatred by taking her to his bed, or will the man who strikes terror in the hearts of men be reduced to wooing his bride?
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BENEATH A SILVER SKY by Hildie McQueen (Western Historical Romance Novella)
Trouble follows Brogan Hage into Silver City, Idaho, when injuries force him to seek medical attention. An unexpected offer has him thinking about settling in the bustling town. Between outlaws showing up and a beautiful passionate woman, the hardened lawman is not sure which is more dangerous. Town doctor's daughter, Sarah Sutherland, finds herself fiercely attracted to the wounded U.S. Marshal in her care. The fact he has a reputation for ruthlessness does not stop her from falling in love. What happens with a young woman's first love is a hardened man?
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