Bewitching Exclusive Excerpt:
Cabe moved closer and put his arm around her. “Are you afraid?”“Of what?”
“Of war.”
“Yes.”
“What scares you the most?”
“That I’ll let everybody down.”
“You won’t.”
He stroked the side of her face. She looked up at him and closed her eyes. The next sensation she experienced was the brush of his lips against hers. In the chilled air, he was the warmth she craved. He pulled off the cloth that tied her hair and ran his fingers through it. The fondling awakened her senses. There was nothing else. No forest, no war—just the need to feel his strong body against hers and the taste of his mouth. Her hair blew with the wind. He grasped her around the waist, and she tossed her head back to expose herself to the pleasure of his kisses on her neck and his hands on her body. Their lust enveloped her soul, but it could not contain her mind.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, as she rested her fingers on his chest to gently hold him back.
“Cabe, I want you. But tonight, I am a warrior.”
He held her close and gently bit her neck. The sensation aroused her. “I want you too.”
“Will you find me after the war?” she said into the night.
“I’ll be at your side.”
Author Info
Motivated by nature’s mysteries and the complexity of human behavior, Ivy Keating writes science fiction and fantasy novels that explore the relationship between mankind and the natural world. A master’s degree in social work helps her understand the nature of her characters as they struggle with the repercussions of their actions.
Her first novel, Camouflage, was inspired by the landscape and natural beauty of New England. Sarana and the Dark King, was imagined from a mental picture of the Great Lakes. The proximity of these bodies of water and the land that surrounds them conjured the images of separate kingdoms—at least they did in her mind. Ivy believes that her challenge as a writer is to take a setting that intrigues her and create a plot that is both clever and surprising.
The Book Junkie Reads . . .Reckless Dreams Interview with . . . Ivy Keating . . .
Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?
Writing is not ingrained in me. In fact, I struggle with the written word. It’s an incredible art, and I need several painful rounds with my editor before a book is ready for release. What I can do is tell a story. This is ingrained in me. I never have writer’s block, and I can write for hours non-stop.
What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just free writing)?
All I need to start writing is the time. I find any mood I’m in works because, inevitably, there’s a character that possesses those feelings. I write science fiction and fantasy, so the plot can literally expand out of this world. I’m bound by nothing except the creation of the story, and this is such an enjoyable space I can easily step right into it.
Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?
I have tremendous respect for my characters. I may start writing them, but inevitably they become “real” people that I can listen to. I have a master’s degree in social work and I’ve studied human behavior. Once my characters are established in their environment, they can tell me what they would do and how they would react. By the middle of the novel, we are working on the plot together.
Do you have a character that you have been working on for a long time that still isn't quite ready, but fills you with excitement to work on the story?
This does not exactly answer the question; however, there is a character that I would like to highlight in the sequel to Sarana and the Dark King.
Lahna is the twin sister of the oracle Alani. She is the tortured mistress of the evil Dark King. Her character is complex. Considering what she’s been through, she could be bitter and evil or a crusader for good. Figuring out which way she will go is an exciting thought.
Have you ever felt that there was something inside of you that you couldn't control? If so what? If no what spurs you to reach for the unexperienced?
What a great question. I can’t think of anything inside me that I can’t control. However, I can explain what spurs me to reach for the “unexperienced”. It’s an energy, like a repetitive thought, that just won’t quit. It reminds me throughout the day of whatever it is I want to achieve. This energy was with me when I wrote my first book, Camouflage. I had never written a novel before; I was not an English major; I don’t keep a diary or journal. But, I had a story I had to tell: a story about what would happen if a deadly prehistoric creature was discovered in a local park. The thought would not leave me, and I had to take the journey into writing.
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