In November 2007, Firebrand, an urban fantasy, was released by Cerridwen Press, the mainstream arm of Ellora's Cave. Writing as P. K. Eden with fellow LSFW member (and NYC-RWA member), Patt Mihailoff, Firebrand has been commended for having lush worlds and colorful characters full of secrets and magic. It revolves around the fall of the Garden of Eden and the possibility of the Garden being restored. Firebrand won a Reviewer Choice Award for Fantasy Romance in January 2008. One reviewer called it worthy of Harry Potter and the Hobbit Series. A compliment like that is both humbling and exhilarating.
While writing romances has been my dream for many years, the book of my heart is a non-fiction work entitled, Hi Mom, How Are Things in Heaven, a book that developed after the death of my mom and deals with coping with grief though humor. I’ve had to put off writing that to meet some contractual deadlines. I hope to get to it very soon though.
Do you write full-time?
No, I work for the government full time until I either win a Pulitzer or get a movie deal. It could happen.
Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Cynthia and Constantine is a medieval historical romance. Lady Cynthia of Abertaine is trapped. Not only has her fiancé, Sir William Leyborne, not been back to the castle for over ten years, but she’s also not a titled Lady. Lord Simon of Cowell, a renegade warlord aligned with Mordred against Arthur and his Knights, has declared himself sovereign over Leyborne Castle and everything that once belonged to Sir William - including Cynthia.
Sir Constantine, Knight of the Round Table, has come to the shire to give Cynthia the news that her fiancé has fallen in battle. With him is William’s oral will giving all he owns to Cynthia as though they had been wed. But when he finds Cynthia and discovers the shire under the control of an evil warlord, he knows he cannot leave without first driving Simon and his soldiers from the land.
Drawn together by an attraction older than time, Cynthia and Constantine soon discover that though a vow made by a knight’s honor has brought them together, it may just also cost them their lives.
Why did you feel a need to write it?
Believe it or not, the concept for Cynthia and Constantine sprung up during a season of American Idol. I work for county government and once a month seven of us get together to have lunch. We call it the Lusty Ladies Lunch Group. We keep in touch via email.
During this particular season, Bo Bice and Constantine Maroulis were competing. Two of the Lusties choose these guys as their favorites. While we didn’t agree on who should win that season, we did all agree that they had ‘romance book cover’ hair; the kind of hair Knights in Shinning Armor had in days of yore.
Article comments
1 - Caridad Pineiro
Awesome interview, Kathye. Your positive attitude is always an inspiration to me!
2 - Kelly Hoffman
I have read most of Kathye Quick's books and I have to say they are the best books I have read in a long time. She really keeps you interested. Great work Mrs. Quick.
3 - Jane Foti
This book was so much fun from the idea to the final product. I can't wait for book two since it is Jane's book. What will Kathye spin from our conversations to the pages!