Happy Spring everyone! Today I would like to welcome to my blog, featured author, L.R Braden. Check out her info & our fun Q & A below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born and raised in Colorado, LR Braden makes her home in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her wonderful husband, precocious daughter, and psychotic cat.
She writes The Magicsmith urban fantasy series, is a member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and several of her short stories have received
Honorable Mention in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future contest. With degrees in both English literature and metalsmithing, she splits her time between writing and art.
Get To Know The Author: Q & A
Q: What is the most rewarding part of being a author?
A:I think the most rewarding part of being an author is when people I don't know reach out to tell me they enjoyed reading my work. It's the best feeling in the world to know that I can reach the lives of strangers.
Q: What age were you when you first started writing?
A: I wrote stories as a kid (doesn't everybody) and even used cardboard and thread to bind my own books. I attempted my first full novel when I was about fifteen, but stopped after the first hundred pages... which got me through the character introductions. Then I went to college and life got very busy (though I did write a number of short stories and poems during all that craziness). And then I graduated and got a job, and life got even busier (though I never stopped reading, and I spent a lot of time daydreaming what would later
become stories). Then one day, when I was 28 years old, I was reading a book (one of the Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs) and I thought to myself, "I could do this." So I did.
Q: As an author, what would you choose as your mascot?
A: My personal mascot is a fox. They're clever and adaptable, and really really cute.
Q: Do you karaoke? If so, What is your go to karaoke song?
A: I love karaoke, but I'll only do it in a private venue where I know the people. I'm not big on public appearances. That said, I'll sing any
song I know and quite a few that I don't. It's all about having fun.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to a aspiring author?
A: Be patient. Patient with yourself. Patient with your work. Patient with your family. Patient with all the professionals who'll have a part in creating your masterpiece and marketing it to the world. The road to publication can be long, so just keep putting one foot in front of the other (metaphorically speaking) and smile, because life is all about the journey.
******************************************************************************
“You think someone is trying to restart the war?” The idea that anyone could think a return to war was a good thing was horrifying, but sick as it made me, I couldn’t deny the possibility.
“It’s something to consider. Even if that isn’t the killer’s primary goal, it may well be the result. We can’t seek assistance from the human authorities without admitting the fae were aware of unregistered halfers living off the reservation, something that would constitute a breach in our peace agreement. However, if we seek our own justice and the criminal turns out to be human, the human government will see it as an unwarranted attack by the fae. In either case, the humans will react as they always do when frightened. They will lash out.”
Maggie’s black forest cake roiled in my stomach, threatening to come up. To think my friend’s death could mean an end to the peace between faeries and humans was inconceivable, but I could feel the truth of his words settle over me like a cloak weighing on my shoulders. “Please tell me you’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“That’s one of my tasks, yes. I was sent to identify the killer, recover the stolen artifacts, and prevent a return to war.”
“Yeah, sure.” The giggle that escaped sounded a little hysterical to my ears.
“Why not, right? ’Cause you’re all of one guy. No problem.”
He scowled, “You doubt my ability?”
“No offense, but that’s a pretty tall order.”
He puffed up with self-importance. “I’m not just one guy. I am a Knight of the Realm, and I am not alone.”
That brought me up short. “Who else is working on this?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You.”
The bottom fell out of my stomach even as the giggles bubbled up again.
I needed to get a grip before I fell apart completely, so I took a couple deep, calming breaths before replying. “Look, I don’t know who you thought I was when you came here, but you’re wrong. Yes, I was Aiden’s friend, but I’m just an artist. A human artist. There’s nothing special about me. If I had any crazy skills or powerful connections to help catch Aiden’s killer, I would have used them already. I can’t help you.”
He watched me carefully as he said, “I’m afraid you’re quite wrong, on all counts.”
-Excerpt From "A Drop of Magic" The Magicsmith Book 1
Want to read more?! Purchase "A Drop of Magic" and other books in The Magicsmith series at the websites below!
******************************************************************************
Get In Touch
Website: https://www.lrbraden.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BradenWriting
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurenRBraden
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenrbraden/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19305069.L_R_Braden
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/l-r-braden