Sunday, September 23, 2018

An Interview with Grace Draven, author of Phoenix Unbound and Radiance

Tonight I'm sitting down with my long time friend, Grace Draven. Grace is the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance, and the upcoming romantic fantasy novel Phoenix Unbound, book one in her new Fallen Empire series.

Thank you for agreeing to do this interview, Grace. I’m so excited about your forthcoming book, Phoenix Unbound.

Can you tell readers what was the genesis for your novel?

The music and lyrics to the song “The Royal We” by The Silversun Pickups lit the initial spark for this story in my brain.  I kept imagining the siege of a walled city and the clash of cataphracts in opposing armies.  It was the foundation on which I built the book, moving back and forth on the manuscript’s timeline.  I’m not a linear writer, so I can easily hop from one scene to another at various points in the tale.

The setting is so lush and visual, it seemed so real. Did you loosely base your world’s geography or culture on places readers would know in our world?

Yes, absolutely. The Krael Empire is loosely based on the last days of the Roman and Babylonian empires.  The culture of the Savatar people is based on those that existed in the Pontic Steppe during the classical period--mainly the Sarmatians, but also the Scythians, and in some cases the Parthians and the Mongols.

As I read your book, I also felt ancient history come alive. Could you speak to that? Why gladiators, and how did you make something fantastical feel so real?

This is strictly my personal opinion, but I believe humanity is a warlike species when you get right down to brass tacks.  The gladiatorial games of Rome were just one aspect of ritualized combat for the entertainment of the masses, in which the winners live another day and the losers don’t.  The popular Incan game of tlachtli, in which the losing team was sacrificed to the gods, was hugely popular in Mesoamerican civilizations, so the Romans weren’t the only ones who enjoyed that kind of high-stakes entertainment.  

I think these types of games/ritual combats shone a spotlight on human behavior at its best and its worst.  In terms of fiction writing, it’s a gem of a trope to explore when building both characterization and plot arc.


Making a far away moment in time feel real is grounded in recognizing that history repeats itself because humanity, as a whole, doesn’t change much.  The worries, cares, and fears we had centuries, or even millennia ago, are reflected today (with modern tweaks based on technological advances and conveniences).  We still love, we still hope, we still fear, we still hate, we still grieve, we still die.  Only the settings in which we experience those emotions change. 

Phoenix Unbound is also a sweeping romance that takes readers on an incredible journey of discovery and growth for your main characters. There is also a bigger than life theme behind it all. I’m curious. Why this particular theme for this series?

It evolved as I wrote it, so the theme sort of blossomed out of the chapters as I put them down.  Strength comes in many forms, and often it’s not so much a birthright as it’s a skillset learned through trial by fire.  Bad things happen to good people all the time, and in a world like the one in Phoenix Unbound, which I’d like to think reflects actual history in many ways, life was nasty, brutal, short.  What got you through it was will and hope, the two elements I think on which the concept of strength are built.

I admit I had a few tears rolling down my cheeks while I wrapped myself in the love story playing out between Gilene and Azarion. It’s compelling with incredible emotional depth. The brilliant moments of poignancy touched my heart and soul. Just how many tissues did you go through writing this story? I know I stopped counting after five.

This will probably sound cold-blooded, but I’ve only had my eyes water from writing one small scene for a book that’s barely in the beginning stages and won’t be released for another couple of years.  That being said, if what I wrote moved you to tears, then I did something right.

Will readers see returning characters from Phoenix Unbound in future books?

Yes.  This is a trilogy in which each book focuses on a different couple within the same world, dealing with interconnected problems, and common enemies.  Characters in each book make appearances in the other books in the trilogy.

I know novel writing is a massive undertaking that demands more than just time in the chair. Is there any part of the process you enjoy more than others?

Writing THE END.  There is no greater joy than that.  Everything afterwards, such as revisions, etc. is just cake.  Research comes in a very close second, but I also recognize that if I’m not careful, I will let research become the rabbit hole I fall into and don’t come out of until hours or days later.  Not always time efficiently spent.

And now for the silly fun stuff…
If you had to pick a book boyfriend from any of your stories, whom would you pick and what book is he from?

Hard to choose, but it’s probably toss-up between Brishen from RADIANCE and Ballard from ENTREAT ME.  Both men have personality traits I find very attractive in my husband, so I’m definitely partial to those personality types.

I’d like to thank Grace Draven for sharing her time to talk with us about her latest book, Phoenix Unbound, which drops September 25, but is available for pre-order now! I’m calling this one an instant classic, ya’ll.



A woman with power over fire and illusion and an enslaved son of a chieftain battle a corrupt empire in this powerful and deeply emotional romantic fantasy from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance.

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital--her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.

But this year is different.

Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion--and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. Unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.

To protect her family and village, she will abandon everything to return to the Empire--and burn once more.

Links to pre-order:



Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/phoenix-unbound


Visit Grace's website at: www.gracedraven.com

“Grace Draven's exciting romantic fantasy features characters who are fresh and original. Their problems and triumphs will keep you reading into the night.”—Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author.

“Fierce and captivating, Phoenix Unbound is the story of a gladiator and a fire witch fighting for their freedom against an empire that wants them enslaved.  With impossible odds, breathtaking battles, terrifying magic, and an unlikely love, this book is a must read. Grace Draven is a master of romantic heroic fantasy.”—Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“With exquisitely drawn characters and superb worldbuilding, Phoenix Unbound once again proves Grace Draven's mastery of fantasy romance. This is exactly the kind of sweepingly romantic adventure story that I've been yearning for—and I can't wait for more.”—Meljean Brook, New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Seas Series

“Stunning! This book entices and mesmerizes to an astonishing degree. Like an intoxicating elixir, the more I read, the more I craved.”—Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author

“When it comes to fantasy romance, Draven is in a class by herself....A phenomenal start to what is sure to be an amazing series.”—RT Book Reviews


Thursday, May 24, 2018

Privacy Policy

As ya'll may know, I haven't been blogging much as my health has deteriorated quite a bit over the last few years, but this new wrinkle appeared and I'm late to the game, trying to update everything for the GDPR rules I just learned of, so I'm not even sure if I need this for my blog, but since I whipped up one for my website using a generator I found online, I figured I better slap it up here, since my blog isn't a WordPress blog, but still here on Blogger.  If I don't need it, then oh well, but if I do, then here it is. lol

http://cassandracurtis.blogspot.com/p/privacy-policy.html

Love all ya'll readers and sorry I haven't been very active. But for now, I'm still alive and sorta kickin' and not givin' up or givin' in just yet. Just call me stubborn. :)

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Wanted: Western Historical American Romance

WANTED: OUTLAW MAIL ORDER WIFE; BY PROXY (THE OUTLAW'S OF STONEY CREEK Book 2)

by Cia Leah


Kassidy Dillon didn't hesitate to take the next job Governor Robert Crandon needed her for. When he wired her about his nephew, Alex, and asked if she would become Alex's mail order bride by proxy, she accepted wholeheartedly. Alex needed a wife who could protect him from a neighboring rancher obsessed with getting his hands on Alex's land by marrying up with Red of the Redlace outlaw gang.



Alex Crandon was an educated man and not a gunslinger. He hated violence, but it seemed that Chandler Bradford and his wife Red were willing to kill him to get his land. When his Uncle Bob arranged a marriage for him to Kassidy Dillon, a pardoned outlaw, he accepted since Chandler blinded him in his left eye. He needed help and hoped that Kassidy, her brother Heath, and their gang didn't die protecting him and his land. 

AMZ: https://amzn.to/2HOSNO5

https://www.books2read.com/u/b5M9Nk

Monday, July 10, 2017

Amazon Prime Early Bird Deals Tonight!

Most of ya'll probably have heard about Amazon Prime Day, but did you know that some deals start tonight at 9 p.m. eastern time? If you are a subscription member to Amazon's Prime, you may want to bookmark a few of these so that when it goes LIVE tonight, you can find them fast.


One of the best deals that starts tonight is on the Echo Speaker.  At only $89.00 (Regularly $179.00) it's a top deal Amazon Prime members shouldn't miss.

Echo Speaker: http://amzn.to/2u1korr

Already have an Amazon Echo? Check out these sweet voice only deals that will be rotating through July 17th starting tonight at 7p.m.!

Tell Alexa to order and save on:

$50 off a Bose Soundlink Bluetooth Speaker III - http://amzn.to/2u1wocD



$100 off NETGEAR's Orbi Home WiFi System: AC2200 Tri 
Band Home Network - Router & Satellite Extender for up to 4000sqft of WiFi coverage (RBK40) Works with Amazon Alexa


Amazon is also offering these cool discount deals!

Audible memberships - 40% off (6 months for as low as $8.95 per month)
http://amzn.to/2tATAgI

Amazon Music Unlimited - (Amazon's streaming music service - get 4 months for only .99¢; this usually costs $7.99 a month to current Prime and streaming music members).
http://amzn.to/2sIOz2P

Amazon Video - Select titles for $4.99, and .99 video rentals!
http://amzn.to/2sJaneR


Want more cool deals for Prime Day? Check out these suggested books!


Warrior Goddess Training: Become the Woman You Are Meant to Be by HeatherAsh Amara (paperback)
http://amzn.to/2sYhFQ6




Make Star Quilts: 11 Stellar Projects to Sew by Alex Anderson and other contributors (paperback) http://amzn.to/2u6Hkp3










Game of Thrones versus History: Written in Blood edited by Brian A. Pavlac http://amzn.to/2tBSbXr










What? You can't take advantage of these deals because you don't have Prime? Click the linkie below to try Amazon Prime for a 30 days free trial and start grabbing Prime Day deals.

http://amzn.to/2v5mDHs


Happy Shopping!