#CMC15 Featured Author: Kristen Painter

Literary Escapism is one of the featured bloggers for Coastal Magic Convention 2015 and we get the extreme pleasure of showcasing some of the fabulous authors you’ll get to meet if you join LE in Daytona Beach next week.

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Kristen PainterI’m running a little behind with my last #CMC15 feature, which happens to be the ever lovely Kristen Painter, author of the series House of Comarré, Crescent City, and Sin City Collectors, in addition to a slew of other works.

For those not familiar with the House of Comarré series, Painter has created an addictive world which feels like an urban fantasy in a future setting…with familiar supernatural aspects. (Natassia’s review of Out for Blood).

Rebellion has a price.

The lacy gold mapped her entire body. A finely wrought filigree of stars, vines, flowers, butterflies, ancient symbols and words ran from her feet, up her legs, over her narrow waist, spanned her chest and finished down her arms to the tips of her fingers.

Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle’s body bears the telltale marks of a comarré—a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world…and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks.

Now, Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign.

KPainter-Garden of Dreams and DesiresThe Crescent City novels returns readers to the world of the Comarré, but from a different aspect. As Natassia said in her review of House of the Rising SunPainter created a new window into her established universe.” The third book in the series, Garden of Dreams and Desires, is due to release April 7, 2015.

Tourists are disappearing at an alarming rate. While Augustine and his lieutenants attempt to find them, Harlow and the evil spirit possessing her remain Augustine’s true focus. Freeing her from the spirit’s grasp is all he can think about, especially with no real solution on the horizon.

Then he discovers the tourists are disappearing because the witches are stealing souls to cast a dangerous chaos spell. Before he can stop them, Harlow becomes their victim. Now he must race the clock to set her free and end the witches’ machinations before the chaos spell strips every fae in New Orleans of their power and bring fae rule to an end.

Kristen’s latest series, the Sin City Collectors, is currently available as a Boxed Set, but I’m hoping this doesn’t mean that there won’t be more than the three stories already out there.

Welcome to Vegas. Home of the Sin City Collectors. The job description is easy: Bring the offending supernatural in to the Boss and don’t ask any questions.

And remember, What’s Collected in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

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Interview

Literary Escapism: For those of my readers unfamiliar with the Crescent City series, can you give us a brief look at this series and what readers are missing out on? Something we haven’t seen yet?

Kristen Painter: I think it’s something they probably haven’t seen since the fae that inhabit this world have come straight out of my brain. Combine them with the familiar setting of New Orleans and it’s a fun ride.

LE: What was it about the Fae in your Crescent City series that drew you to write about their culture? Is there a particular aspect of their world that we haven’t seen yet or you would like to explore more of in the future?

KP: I love the fae because I could really break new ground with them. Anything was possible since there were no preset rules. As with most creatures, I’m sure I’ll return to them at some point.

KPainter-Queen Of HeartsLE: For those of my readers unfamiliar with the Sin City series, can you give us a brief look at this series and what readers are missing out on? Something we haven’t seen yet?

KP: The series takes place in a supernatural Las Vegas and it’s just FUN. All the books are novellas, but they’re at least 35,000 words, making them really meaty reads for a shorter book. Plus two of the books are free right now! Queen of Hearts and Aces Wild.

LE: We’ve met the Sin City Collectors, but who are the side characters important to each of these characters – whether individually or as a couple? Was there one who made a bigger impact on the story than you thought they would?

KP: That would be the big boss. I can’t say more than that or I’d have to kill you. ;o)

LE: What is your favorite scene from the Crescent City series? From the Sin City series?  What makes it so special – characters, setting, dialogue, action?

KP: I don’t have one favorite scene – I never really do. When a book is done, it’s really more about how the whole thing works together.

LE: Which do you find is more central in your writing: the characters or world creation? Why?

KP: Characters. World building, while super important, just doesn’t take the same place on the main stage. Readers read to fall in love with the characters, to live through them. Characters always trump everything else.

LE: What was it about the fantasy genre that drew you to write in it? Was there a certain book that captured your imagination and lead you to thinking up your own fantastical stories or did it come to you naturally?

KP: I love any genre that lets my imagination go wild. And yes, it does come pretty naturally.

LE: When you’re not writing, what are you reading? Have you found an author that’s new to you and/or one that the rest of the world really needs to find? Is there a certain niche genre that you prefer to escape to? If so, why?

KP: I like historicals and biographies, but I’ll read whatever tickles my interest. Which right now is a cookbook. lol

LE: And my favorite question to ask…Which authors do you read and/or think “Damn! I wish I had thought of that”?

KP: I can’t recall ever thinking that. I have so many ideas that I have yet to write, I’m not sure I have room to entertain anyone else’s!

LE: What are you most looking forward to at Coastal Magic?

KP: Seeing old friends and meeting new readers!

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Meet Kristen Painter!

Award winning author Kristen Painter likes to balance her obsessions with shoes and cats by making the lives of her characters miserable and surprising her readers with interesting twists and incredible worlds. She writes paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Kristen lives in Florida with her retired Air Force husband and a horde of feline dependants. She is represented by the Knight Agency.

Contact Info: Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Tsu | GoodReads | BookLikes | Amazon | Instagram

KPainter-Blood RightsWant to purchase Kristen’s novels?
Sin City

  1. Queen of Hearts
  2. Double or Nothing
  3. Dead Man’s Hand
  4. Sin City Collectors Boxed Set

Crescent City

  1. House of the Rising Sun
  2. City of Eternal Night
  3. Garden of Dreams and Desires (Apr 7, 2015)

House of Comarre

  1. Blood Rights
  2. Flesh and Blood
  3. Bad Blood
  4. Out for Blood
  5. Last Blood
  6. Forbidden Blood

All Fired Up
Heart of Fire
Cowboy In The Kitchen
Dark Kiss Of The Reaper
Miss Bramble and the Leviathan
Her Viking Valentine

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.