Featured Author:  Raani York

Please introduce yourself. Tell us a little about the person behind the pen.

I’m an author with a “normal daytime job”. Uhm… something needs to actually get food on the table. I wish I could live off writing, but I’m not far enough yet for that.

I work, I get back, I do some writing, I blog, and once in a while I get an idea and fulfill one of my dreams and goals. Whatever is in my mind. I as well am into Martial Arts and usually work out once a week.

And of course I take care of my little “furry family”, means my three Maine Coon cats, Jake, Charlet and Esme. (who do actually play quite a role in my blog.)

1.   What made you decide to write (the genre of your book), were there any influencing factors, or were any of the stories based on true events.

I am writing for quite some time now, started out with articles for little magazines, later for newspaper columns, even continuation love stories for women magazines. But I soon felt, this was not the writing I wanted to do.

I wanted more… a book… I couldn’t even tell when exactly the idea came into my head but I did feel the need to write down this story and when I was “done” I felt I hadn’t told all there is. So I just continued to the next book… and the next.

I do write fantasy books and besides a few of my family members and friends inspiring me to “form” my characters, the only one who didn’t inspire me, was myself. (Even though I have to admit a couple of my friends and my editor tell me, the main protagonist strongly reminds them of me)

 

My Trilogy has gotten its copyright and is truly mine, but has not been published yet. The first book “Dragonbride” is ready, but I think it really deserves a special publication and I work on it. There’s no exact date yet. For some reason there was always something coming up that delayed it and I start believing that has some reason I do not yet know about.

My second book of the Trilogy is nearly done editing and the third book is written, but hadn’t had editing yet.

After years of work on this Trilogy the characters grew on me and I had to finally say good bye to them. It was a little like “losing friends”.

 

In the meantime I have started another two manuscripts of another, entirely new Trilogy and I’m really surprised how easy they are to write.

1.   How do you promote your book, and do you find that difficult or just par for the course.

At this time I am still Networking. I can hardly really promote a book that doesn’t yet “exist”. It WILL be published, yes, and by then I think it will get the best possible promotion I can give it, but right now, I’m still in the “start-up” phase.

 

 

1.   Do you remember your first review and how it made you feel?  (If it was a bad one, also tell about your good one too).

I gave the Manuscript to a wonderful book expert, Kristen Lamb who allowed me to send it in since I won her monthly contest on her blog. She gave me a great review and comments on the parts of the manuscript she read and I was quite proud of it and still am.

I do figure by the time my first book really is published the reviews will come in – and even though I hope all of them will be great, I already am afraid they won’t be. And it scares me.

1.   Tell us about your book and if it’s a series and how the public is reacting to this book.

Dragonbride is the first book of the “Dragon Chronicles” Trilogy. It tells about a baby, growing up to be the only Magician on Earth. She’s taken care of by her Aunts and is taught Magic from a very young age. Her entire life she’s prepared to become the “Golden Dragon’s” wife. Of course she doesn’t believe it at first, she thinks it’s only her Aunt’s threat to make her behave – and then she is quite surprised when it turns out to be the truth. She does become the Golden Dragon’s wife. Her marriage isn’t quite the horror she fears – it’s more the opposite. She’s very happy. But then she and her husband find out that the Earth is in grave danger by the most evil creature appearing. And they go on a mission to save the Earth.

I don’t want to get the entire book told her within a few words. There are a few surprising things happening – and at the end, it will be like a “new beginning.

1.    Can you share any and all links that are important to you as a person and the book?  (You can relate more to a book if you know more about the author).

My Website:                   http://www.raaniyork.com/

My blog:                         http://raaniyork.wordpress.com/

My email:                       raaniyorkca@aol.com

 

Different Platforms:      

https://myspace.com/raaniyork

https://www.facebook.com/raaniyork

http://www.pinterest.com/raaniyorkca/boards/

https://plus.google.com/115854197563561201228/posts

https://twitter.com/RaaniYork

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/raani-york/5/922/b37

http://microcerpt.com/raaniyork/

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12628426-raani

1.     I’ll wrap it up with this question since “7” is a lucky numberJ.   Can you share an excerpt from your book, and I’d like to thank you so much for taking time to share your book with me. Please share as much as you’d like.

*****

Finally, we lay next to each other again, and I nestled against him. We both knew that it was time for the final part of the ritual.

Dragan sighed worriedly, and I looked into his eyes. His voice barely a whisper, he said, “I see fear in your eyes… but I see love as well. I hope from the bottom of my heart that this won’t destroy things before we’ve had a chance to start.”
I knew that nothing I said would help right now, so I just slipped out of his arms and let him get out of bed. It was torturous for both of us, and I could tell by his expression that he did not want to leave my side. He hated the idea that we had to be apart while he shapeshifted. I could almost feel his unhappiness physically. “Please, give me an hour.” I nodded silently.

(free translation of the Dragon’s diary…)

He hoped that he would not lose her, that she would not fear him for the rest of her life. Even his mother, Lea-Angela, had been so shocked that it took her a year to become used to her husband’s dragon form.

However, he knew that if it went badly he would do anything he could to help his wife through this – anything. He disappeared behind the tapestry that covered the passage leading to his own suite, which was much bigger than his wife’s to accommodate his true form. He needed a lot of space to be able to spread out and move around, especially when he bathed.

Dragons were very clean creatures, and he liked to spread his wings out after grooming himself, something he loved to do. Naturally, this room was covered in rare and expensive carpets, along with the other rooms in his quarters. He liked their warmth, and only the bathroom was uncarpeted for practical reason. It was tiled and there was a large drain in the tub. He felt quite comfortable after cleaning up and was ready to face his wife….

Within the hour I had bathed and changed my clothes. Three of my servants were there to help me; they gave me a gentle massage and applied a perfumed lotion to keep my skin moisturized.
“This is necessary,” Nemesis explained, “because the air-conditioning system down here can dry your skin out, Your Highness, and I’m sure that you want to appear as young and as beautiful as you can.” I nodded, but my thoughts were in the next room.
Standing now in my dark red night-gown, I realized that the moment of truth had come. Surprisingly, I felt not more than anticipation and curiosity.

I considered it a great privilege to see the Golden Dragon with my own eyes. I waved my hand to dismiss my servants and moved slowly towards the door.

Knocking politely on the door, I called in the dragons’ favored tongue, Latin. “Are you ready, milord?” A deep growl answered me. I interpreted this as a yes and entered his chambers.

The very first thing I saw was an immense claw, directly in front of me. Looking up, I followed the curve of his enormous shoulder. To the right was his coiled tail, its muscles twitching slightly.

I looked into his yellow reptilian eyes, the pupils narrow and slitted. His huge head was beautifully formed and not at all scary since I already knew my husband as a ‘human’; even his snout was perfectly formed. As our eyes met, we almost became lost in each other’s eyes.

I saw the folded wings and the razor-sharp claws, but what impressed me the most was his magnificent armor-plated body. Dragan’s shimmering golden scales were a mixture of shades from a yellow as rich as the summer sun and the darkest ochre, and everything in between.

When I had decided that I had seen enough, I bowed before him and said, “Milord Draco Beziehn’leliehv, I shall always be at your disposal no matter what form you take.”

A single tear slid down the scales covering his cheek, vanishing into a crevice. He seemed so emotional that he couldn’t speak; I was afraid that he’d croak like a frog if he tried to right now. I smiled at him and asked “Am I permitted to touch you, milord?”
The Golden Dragon nodded, answering in melodic voice that I found hypnotic. “Yes, milady, but be careful. My claws are as sharp as knives – don’t hurt yourself.”

Minding his words, I approached him and took care around his claws. I placed a hand on his golden scales. Even though he felt cool to the touch, I could feel the life-force within and the slow rhythm of his heart. But more importantly than that, I could feel his love for me.

I smiled as I stood before him. “You’re magnificent, my husband.”
In his thoughts I could sense his relief and pleasure at those words….

*****

Thank you very much for giving me the chance to be your guest. It was a lot of fun and a great opportunity. I really appreciate it!

Raani

***Thank you so much Raani for allowing me to interview you.  You have such BEAUTIFUL CATS, I have two and love them so much that their considered my “Babies” rather than my “pets”.    You are quite the accomplished author and I only wish you the best.